CURE FOR INSOMNIA...GOD'S PEACE

Judges 21:25 (Today's New International Version)
25 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.


Judges 6:6 (Today's New International Version)
6 Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the LORD for help.



When there is no problem, most people hardly remember the Lord.
But when problem comes, they cry out to God.



Judges 6:11-24 (Today's New International Version)
11 The angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. 12 When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior."

Gideon was hiding from the Midianites while threshing wheat but the angel of the LORD called him mighty warrior. This was a prophecy because Gideon was about to become a mighty warrior as the Spirit of God would be with him.

13 "Pardon me, my lord," Gideon replied, "but if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, 'Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the LORD has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian."
14 The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?"
15 "Pardon me, my lord," Gideon replied, "but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."
16 The LORD answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together."
17 Gideon replied, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. 18 Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you." And the LORD said, "I will wait until you return."
19 Gideon went in, prepared a young goat, and from an ephah of flour he made bread without yeast. Putting the meat in a basket and its broth in a pot, he brought them out and offered them to him under the oak.
20 The angel of God said to him, "Take the meat and the unleavened bread, place them on this rock, and pour out the broth." And Gideon did so. 21 With the tip of the staff that was in his hand, the angel of the LORD touched the meat and the unleavened bread. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the LORD disappeared. 22 When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he exclaimed, "Ah, Sovereign LORD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!"
23 But the LORD said to him, "Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die."
24 So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD Is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

INSOMNIA is a present day problem all over the world. What keeps you awake? ...financial worries, midlife crisis, marital conflicts, unanswered prayers, bad decisions in life...Insomnia is the absence of peace.



There are three common things we struggle against:

1. world realities confronting us;

2. Satanic forces prowling at us; and

3. Our own flesh betraying us!



All these can cause stress and the tell-tale signs of a stressed-out person are:

1. questioning God



Judges 6:13 (Today's New International Version)
13 "Pardon me, my lord," Gideon replied, "but if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, 'Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the LORD has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian."

2. focusing on his weaknesses



Judges 6:15 (Today's New International Version)
15 "Pardon me, my lord," Gideon replied, "but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."

3. lack of faith and confidence in God's power



Judges 6:22-23 (Today's New International Version)
22 When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he exclaimed, "Ah, Sovereign LORD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!"
23 But the LORD said to him, "Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die."



On the contrary, if you have peace or SHALOM there is:

1. completion and fulfillment

2. sense of wholeness

3. presence of God in your life

4. harmony in relationship


John 14:27 (Today's New International Version)
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.


Some say, "I will have peace if all my obligations are already paid!" or "I will have peace if I already saved enough for my retirement." They are consumed with earthly things that they forget that there are higher things that one must be concerned with. The spiritual determines the physical. If we focus on the physical, we end up losing both.


We must remember the things that take away our peace:

1. disobedience and sinfulness


Ephesians 2:3 (Today's New International Version)
3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.


Isaiah 57:20-21 (Today's New International Version)
20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud.
21 "There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked."

What to do:

Ask for God's forgiveness and have His peace...but more than that, receive God's forgiveness and sin no more.

Colossians 1:19-22 (Today's New International Version)
19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—

2. problems and worries over many things

Philippians 4:5-7 (Today's New International Version)
5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

To restore the peace: have faith and confidence in God

Isaiah 26:3 (Today's New International Version)
3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

Psalm 4:8 (Today's New International Version)
8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.

3. disharmony and discord

Matthew 5:9 (Today's New International Version)
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Romans 12:18 (Today's New International Version)
18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

To restore peace: LOVE AND TRUST again!

2 Corinthians 13:11 (Today's New International Version)
11 Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

Colossians 3:15 (Today's New International Version)
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Invite the Holy Spirit to come into your heart to taste for yourself the sweetest fruits accorded to those who fully trust in Him.

Psalm 34:8 (New King James Version)
8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

Galatians 5:22-25 (Today's New International Version)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

SHALOM! ...and may the peace of God be with you all.

What Pleases God?

Numbers 14:7-10 (Today's New International Version)
7 and said to the entire Israelite assembly, "The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. 8 If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. 9 Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them."
10 But the whole assembly talked about stoning them. Then the glory of the LORD appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites.

The Israelites were destined to reach the Promised Land. It would have taken them only 2 years to do that but it took them 40 years because they did not obey nor please God.

Ephesians 5:5-10 (Today's New International Version)
5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord.

When you love somebody, you want to please whom you love. Let us now find out what pleases the Lord whom we should love with all our heart, mind, soul and strength:

1. FAITH

Hebrews 11:6 (Today's New International Version)
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Believe that God will answer your prayer when you diligently seek Him. When you asked and you did not receive, then ask again. Don't stop asking. Never quit.

Hebrews 3:19 (Today's New International Version)
19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.

Do not forfeit God's promise in your life because of unbelief.

2. OBEDIENCE

1 Samuel 15:22-23 (Today's New International Version)
22 But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king."

Hebrews 3:18 (Today's New International Version)
18 And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed?

Faith and obedience are always together. You cannot have faith if you are disobeying God. They are like the two sides of a coin; they always go together.

3. REVERENCE

Psalm 34:9 (Today's New International Version)
9 Fear the LORD, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing.

If you sow honor, you will reap honor. Those who honor God will have all they need.

Numbers 14:22-23 (Today's New International Version)
22 not one of those who saw my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times— 23 not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it.

4. HOLINESS

Romans 12:1 (Today's New International Version)
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is true worship.

Hebrews 3:16-17 (Today's New International Version)
16 Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? 17 And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness?

God wants to bless His people but if your life is like a cluttered garbage due to sins, this will hinder you from receiving His blessings.

5. THANKSGIVING

Psalm 69:30-31 (Today's New International Version)
30 I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.
31 This will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hooves.

If you arrived safely at your destination, wherever it is, thank God; for there are so many accidents happening around the world and you should be thankful that God has protected you and has kept you safe all throughout the journey.

Do not be like the Israelites who complained and grumbled against the Lord and wished that they died in Egypt or in the wilderness, and wanted to go back to Egypt. What they professed with their mouth came true. They all have died and never reached the Promised Land. Only their children were able to step on the land flowing with milk and honey.

Numbers 14:8 (Today's New International Version)
8 If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us.

Psalm 19:14 (Today's New International Version)
14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Prayer: Father God, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be always pleasing to you, not only for my sake but for those who will reap the consequences of my actions and my decisions. Amen.

Whom Should We Believe?

We all believe in something or someone? Some believe in horoscopes, others in psychic predictions...feng shui, tarot cards, magic tattoos, amulets or anting-anting, scapulars, images and statues...and the power of the saints. Who do you believe?

Why is it hard for many to believe in God alone? Why do people entrust their unknown future into the hands of the created instead of the Creator?

It is important to know who your God is...who do you trust? "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household" (Acts 16:31) . He is God who became flesh (John 1:1 and 14), lived a sinless life (Hebrews 4:15), died for our sins (1 Peter 1:18), rose again to triumph over death (Luke 24:5-7), and promised to return to bring us into His eternal kingdom in heaven (John 14:2-3).

I am intimately acquainted with Whom I have believed...not just know Him by reading His Word but His Word lives in me. "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" (Psalm 34:8). There is a big difference between "knowing" and "experiencing" His presence and favor each day of your life. Everyone knows what an apple looks like but you have to taste it to know how sweet it is to your palate.

"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:16)...He is the Anointed One, The Messiah (Savior). He is Royalty and has a unique relationship with God, the Father, as His only begotten Son. We were buried with Him in baptism, but were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead (Colossians 2:12). We were dead thru sins but He has made us alive together with Him, having forgiven us our trespasses (Colossians 2:13). "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all pincipality and power." (Colossians 2:9).

Whom shall you be afraid? "For the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard" (Isaiah 52:12). He will go before you taking care of everything before you even arrive at your destination, and will go after you as your rear guard making sure that you are safe always. Entrust your spouse and your children unto the Lord. As Paul declared in 2 Timothy 1:12, "...for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day."

There will be tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, dangers lurking from everywhere around us but "...we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:37-39).

"He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32). The only thing required of us is: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." This is the first and great commandment; And the second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40).

There is, however, a protocol in approaching God: "...he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). Without faith, it is impossible to please Him. Doubt is a sin "...for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways" (James 6-8). You should love Him with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul, and all your strength...not halfheartedly or undecisively because if you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, He will spew you out of His mouth (Rev. 3:15).

Fear of Death

Death of someone we know speaks to us of our own mortality. One moment a friend was so happy, and then the next time around, he was already dead. Death can happen to anyone, young and old alike. This is not what God plans for us. The first man, Adam, trangressed against the Lord and death entered humanity. Death is cruel...hurting those loved ones that were left behind. God has a plan for our sorrow due to death of a loved one.

"Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous" (Romans 5:18-19).

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life" (John 5:24).
"For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 4:14). Christ's death perfects the sanctified (Hebrews 10:11-18).

Matthew 10:29-31
"29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."

Remember when you are going thru a test, the Lord is in full control. Never fear death. Trust in the One who shed His blood for us. When death shows up, face it with Jesus. We get to choose life over death. God has offered an unconditional pardon to everyone. Bow the knee to the One who paid for all these pains, suffering and death. He bore it out for all of us. Repent of your sins, leave the old life, drop the keys of the old door and throw them away, and let Jesus carry you through the storms of life and be His Savior and Lord. For Christians, death is not goodbye but "Bon Voyage!".

Lunas sa Kapighatian

Juan 16:33 Ang mga bagay na ito ay sinalita ko sa inyo, upang kayo'y magkaroon sa akin ng kapayapaan. Sa sanglibutan ay mayroon kayong kapighatian; nguni't laksan ninyo ang loob; aking dinaig ang sanglibutan.

1 Pedro 4
12 Mga minamahal, huwag kayong mangagtaka tungkol sa mahigpit na pagsubok sa inyo, na dumarating sa inyo upang kayo'y subukin, na waring ang nangyayari sa inyo'y di karaniwang bagay;
13 Kundi kayo'y mangagalak, sapagka't kayo'y mga karamay sa mga hirap ni Cristo; upang sa pagkahayag ng Kaniyang kaluwalhatian naman ay mangagalak kayo ng malabis na galak.

Mga Taga Roma 5
3 At hindi lamang gayon, kundi naman nangagagalak tayo sa ating mga kapighatian na nalalamang ang kapighatian ay gumagawa ng katiyagaan;
4 At ang katiyagaan, ng pagpapatunay; at ang pagpapatunay, ng pag asa;
5 At ang pag asa ay hindi humihiya; sapagka't ang pag-ibig ng Dios ay nabubuhos sa ating mga puso sa pamamagitan ng Espiritu Santo na ibinigay sa atin.

Santiago 1
3 Yamang nalalaman na ang pagsubok sa inyong pananampalataya ay gumagawa ng pagtitiis.
4 At inyong pabayaan na ang pagtitiis ay magkaroon ng sakdal na gawa, upang kayo'y maging sakdal at ganap, na walang anoman kakulangan.
5 Nguni't kung nagkukulang ng karunungan ang sinoman sa inyo, ay humingi sa Dios, na nagbibigay ng sagana sa lahat at hindi nanunumbat; at ito'y ibibigay sa kaniya.
6 Nguni't humingi siyang may pananampalataya, na walang anomang pagaalinlangan; sapagka't yaong nagaalinlangan ay katulad ng isang alon sa dagat na itinutulak ng hangin at ipinapadpad sa magkabikabila.

Mateo 11
28 Magsiparito sa Akin, kayong lahat na nangapapagal at nangabibigatang lubha, at kayo'y Aking papagpapahingahin.
29 Pasanin ninyo ang Aking pamatok at mag aral kayo sa Akin; sapagka't Ako'y maamo at mapagpakumbabang puso; at masusumpungan ninyo ang kapahingahan ng inyong mga kaluluwa;
30 Sapaka't malambot ang Aking pamatok, at magaan ang Aking pasan.

Mga Awit 133:1 Masdan ninyo, na pagkabuti at pagkaligaya sa mga magkakapatid na magsitahang magkakasama sa pagkakaisa!

Kapag sama-sama ang magkakapatid sa pananampalataya, anumang unos ng buhay ay malalagpasan at may panibagong magandang bukas na darating sa taong lubos na nagmamahal sa Dios.

Paano ba maging kalugod-lugod sa Diyos?

Exodo 33:17 "Sige, gagawin ko ang hiling mo sapagkat ako'y lugod na lugod sa iyo at kilalang-kilala kita, " sabi ni Yahweh.



Ang kausap dito ng Diyos ay si Moises. Paano ba siya naging kalugod-lugod sa Diyos? Masarap isipin na tayo rin ay kinalulugdan at kilalang-kilala ng Diyos katulad ni Moises...na ang bawa't hiling natin ay pinagbibigyan ng Diyos. Paano natin mararating ang ganitong kalapit na relasyon sa Diyos?



Ating basahin ang Exodo 33:12-23. Inaalam ni Moises ang mga panukala ng Diyos para masunod niya ang mga ito at patuloy na malugod sa kanya ang Diyos (v 13). Nababasa ng Diyos ang puso ni Moises at dito nakikita Niya ang pagmamalasakit ni Moises sa mga Israelita at kaisa siya ng Diyos sa hangaring mapalaya ang mga ito sa pagiging alipin ng mga tiga-Egypto. Makikita rin dito na hinahangad ni Moises na makasama nila ang Diyos sa kanilang paglalakbay upang malaman ng lahat na sila'y higit sa iba dahil sa Diyos (v 16). Hinahanap din niya lagi ang Diyos at gusto niyang makita ang anyo ng Diyos at ang Kanyang mga katangian (v18-19). Ibig sabihin nito, ang laman ng kanyang isip ay ang Diyos at kung paanong mapalapit sa Kanya. "Ipadarama ko ang aking pag-ibig at awa sa sinumang aking kinalulugdan.", ang sabi ni Yahweh. Paano mo mararanasan ang pag-ibig at awa ng Diyos? Kailangan munang ibigin mo at sundin Siya ng buong puso, buo mong pag-iisip, buo mong kaluluwa at ng iyong buong lakas...kapag nagawa mo na ito wala ng matitira pa para sa paggawa ng kasalanan.



Ang Kanyang pahayag sa Kawikaan 8:17, "Mahal ko silang lahat na sa Aki'y nagmamahal, Pag hinanap Ako ng masikap, tiyak na masusumpungan." Hanapin Siya ng masikap...hindi tatamad-tamad, maglaan ng panahon para sa Kanya sa panalangin at pag-aaral ng Kanyang mga Salita. Kung tunay mo Siyang mahal aalamin mo ang Kanyang mga katangian at kung paano maging kalugod-lugod sa Kanya, hindi sa anupamang bagay kundi dahil mahal mo Siya. Masasabi mo bang mahal mo ang isang tao kung hindi mo siya kilalang lubusan? ...ni hindi mo man alam kung ano ang paborito niyang pagkain o himig na inaawit sa tuwina? o kung ano ang gusto niyang gawin sa araw-araw? o ano ang magpapaligaya sa kanya? Ang tunay na nagmamahal ay alam kung ano ang magpapaligaya sa kanyang minamahal. Kung alam mo na kung ano ang magpapaligaya sa Diyos at ginagawa mo ang mga bagay na ito, tunay mo nga Siyang mahal!



Ang pagpupuri sa Diyos sa pamamagitan ng mga awit na kasabay ng sayaw ay lubos na kinalulugdan ng Diyos. Awit 149:1 O si Yahweh ay purihin, awitan ng bagong awit, Purihin sa pagtitipon ng tapat sa pananalig. 3 Purihin sa pagsasayaw, purihin ang Kanyang ngalan; Alpa't tambol ay tugtugin, at siya ay papurihan. 4 Si Yahweh ay nagagalak sa Kanyang mga hirang, Sa nangagpapakumbaba'y tagumpay ang ibibigay.



Dapat nating tandaan na ang pagpupuri sa Diyos ay laging sinusundan ng tagumpay. Kapag tayo'y nagpupuri sa Kanya, inaamin natin na ang lahat ng bagay ay nagmula sa Kanya, at hindi mangyayari ang isang kabanata ng buhay natin kung hindi Niya pinayagang mangyari iyon...at nangyari iyon para sa lalu nating ikabubuti. Nagpapakumbaba tayo at nagpapasakop sa Kanya na lalung higit ang kapangyarihan sa anumang problema o bagyong dumaan. Kaya nga Niyang utusan ang malakas na hangin o ipo-ipo man at sila'y walang pag aalinlangang susunod sa Kanya.



Ang isa sa mga pinakamagandang kuwento sa Bibiya ay ng sakupin ni Josue at ng mga Israelita ang Jericho (Josue 6). Ang Jericho ay may isang "massive wall" na itinayo sa paligid ng siudad na walang sinumang kaaway na makalalampas dito. Inutusan lamang ng Diyos ang mga Israelita na lumigid sa palibot ng Jericho minsan isang araw sa loob ng ng anim na araw, at sa ikapitong araw hihipan ng malakas ang mga tambuli at sisigaw ng ubod-lakas ng pagpupuri sa Diyos at sa sandaling iyon, babagsak ang muog at walang sagabal na masasakop nila ang Jericho.



Uulitin ko ang pinakamalagang aral na ating dahat tandaan: Ang pagpupuri sa Diyos ay laging sinusundan ng tagumpay. Ito'y dahil nalulugod ang Diyos sa ating mga pagpupuri at ang bawa't hiling ng ating puso ay kanyang pagbibigyan.



Colosas 3:16 Ang mga salita ni Cristo ay itanim ninyong mabuti sa inyong isip. Mag paalalahanan kayo at magturuan nang buong kaalaman. Umawit kayo ng mga salmo, mga imno, at mga awiting espirituwal, na may pagpapasalamat sa Diyos.



Awit 59:16 Ngunit aawit ako, Pagkat ang taglay mo'y pambihirang lakas, Sa tuwing umaga ang aawitin ko'y pag-ibig mong wagas. 17 Pupurihin kita, Tagapagtanggol ko at aking kublihan, Diyos kong mapagmahal.



Katulad ni David na nagpupuri sa Diyos kasabay ng pagsayaw, purihin natin Siya na may galak ang puso at ipadamang mas malaki Siya sa pinakamalaki man nating problema. Ialay natin ang ating sarili bilang handog na buhay, banal at kalugud-lugod sa Kanya (Roma 12:1). Ito ang karapat-dapat na pagsamba sa Diyos.



Huwag nating ipailalim sa kapangyarihan ng kasalanan ang alinmang bahagi ng ating katawan bilang kasangkapan ng kasamaan. Sa halip, pasakop tayo sa Diyos bilang mga taong namatay at muling binuhay at ihandog sa Kanya ang buo nating pagkatao bilang kasangkapan ng katuwiran (Roma 6:13).



Sa gayon, kalulugdan Niya ang ating pag-awit na may kasabay na pagsayaw. Kaunting paalala lamang...hindi malulugod ang Diyos sa ating pagsamba o pagpupuri kung tayo'y nasa ilalim pa ng kasalanan...ni hindi Niya gustong marinig ang mga awit mo kung ikaw ay may itinatago pang kasalanan sa iyong buhay...baka sa halip na matuwa Siya ay mabuwisit pa Siya sa kakakanta mo ng wala sa tono...ibig kong sabihin wala pa sa estado na ikaw ay pinatawad na, pinalinis at pinaging ganap na ng dugo ni Kristo. Katulad ng mga pag aalay noong unang panahon, kailangang walang kapintasan ang iyong alay sa Diyos...pinaging dapat ni Kristo Jesus.



Kawikaan 15:8 Kasuklam-suklam kay Yahweh ang handog ng masama, Ngunit sa daing ng matuwid Siya ay natutuwa. 9 Sa gawang masama, si Yahweh ay namumuhi, Ngunit Kanyang minamahal ang sa matuwid ay lumalagi.



Ni ayaw nga Niyang marinig ang panalangin ng mga makasalanan pa. Panaghoy 3:44 Ang galit mo'y tila makapal na ulap na hindi malampasan ng aming mga dalangin. Juan 9:31 Alam nating hindi pinapakinggan ng Diyos ang mga makasalanan, ngunit pinakikinggan Niya ang mga tunay na nagmamahal sa Kanya.



"Patuloy na lumaki si Hesus. Umunlad ang Kaniyang karunungan at lalong kinalugdan ng Diyos at mga tao." (Lukas 2:52)

Si Hesus ang ating ganap na modelo na dapat tularan upang kalugdan tayo ng Diyos Ama. Umunlad siya sa karunungan, pisikal na anyo, espirituwal at sosyal...at lalo siyang kinalugdan ng mga tao (Lukas 2:52). Kailangang magkaroon tayo ng balanseng pamumuhay at ilagay sa tamang lugar ang bawat aspeto ng ating buhay.

"Si Samuel nama'y patuloy na lumaking kalugod-lugod kay Yahweh at kinagigiliwan ng mga tao." (1 Samuel 2:26)

Kailangan tayong magplano para sa sarili nating pag unlad sa lahat ng aspeto ng ating buhay. Importante na lumawak ang ating kaalaman hindi lamang sa Salita ng Diyos kundi sa mga bagay na magdudulot sa atin ng pag-unlad...kailangang magsanay tayo sa mabuting pakikitungo sa iba, sa pakikipag-usap, sa pang-unawa, at sa pakikisalamuha.

"Ang layunin ng tagubiling ito ay pabukalin ang pag-ibig buhat sa pusong dalisay, malinis na budhi, at tapat na pananampalataya." (1 Timoteo 1:5)

"...pagsikapan mong maging huwaran ng mga sumasampalataya: sa pananalita, ugali, pag-ibig, pananampalataya, at kabanalan." (1 Timoteo 4:12)

Ang paghihintay ay katumbas ng pagtitiwala...

Isaias 40

6 "Magpahayag ka," ang sabi ng tinig. "Ano ang ipapahayag ko?" tanong ko. Sumagot siya, "Ipahayag mong ang tao ay tulad ng damo, ang kanyang buhay ay tulad lamang ng bulaklak sa parang.

7 Nalalanta ang damo at ang mga bulaklak ay kumukupas, kung sila'y mahipan ng hangin. Ang tao nga ay tulad lamang ng damo.

8 Oo, ang damo'y nalalanta, at kumukupas ang mga bulaklak, ngunit ang salita ng Diyos ay hindi lilipas.



Mayroon ka bang alam na tao na nanatiling maganda o makisig sa habang panahon? Lahat at tumatanda, kumukupas maging ang pinakamaganda at pinakaguapong tao sa mundo. Tulad lamang tayo ng damo na nalalanta at ng bulaklak sa parang na kung mahipan na ng hangin ay nalalaglag at kumukupas. Kapag matanda na ay kulubot na ang balat, manipis ang buhok, wala ng ngipin, malabo na ang mga mata maging ang pandinig, laylay na ang balikat at mahina na ang tuhod (Mangangaral 12). Ito'y mga senyales na malapit ng magwakas ang ating mga araw sa mundo. Bagama't hindi natin alam ang takdang araw at oras kung kailan tayo mamamatay, ang mga bagay na ito ang nagpapahiwatig na sadyang malapit na nga ang takdang araw na iyon.

Sabi sa Mangangaral 12:1 Alalahanin mo ang Lumikha sa iyo sa panahon ng iyong kabataan bago dumating ang mga araw at taon na puno ng kaguluhan, panahong hindi mo na madama ang tamis ng mabuhay.

Paano mo nga aalalahanin ang Lumikha sa iyo? Basahin mo ang Kanyang mga Salita sa Bibliya. Ito ang magpapaalala sa iyo ng Kanyang mga kamangha-manghang ginawa at gagawin pa para sa iyo. Ito rin ang magpapaalab ng lumalamig mo ng pag-ibig sa Kanya...mga Salitang hindi lumilipas o kumukupas man, dumaan man ang maraming bagyo at unos sa buhay mo...mga Salitang magpawalang hanggan na magpapatibay ng iyong pananampalataya sa Kanya.

Isaias 40

27 Israel, bakit ikaw ay nagrereklamo na tila di alintana ni Yahweh ang kabalisahan mo, at tila di pansin ang iyong kaapihan?

28 Di ba ninyo alam, di ba ninyo talos, na itong si Yahweh ang walang hanggang Diyos? Siya ang lumikha ng buong daigdig, hindi Siya napapagod; sa isipan Niya'y walang makatatarok.

29 Ang mga mahina't napapagal ay pinalalakas.

30 Kahit kabataan ay napapagod at nanlulupaypay.

31 Ngunit ang nagtitiwala kay Yahweh ay magpapanibagong sigla. Ang lakas nila'y matutulad sa walang pagod na pakpak ng agila. Sila'y tatakbo ng tatakbo ngunit hindi manghihina, lalakad ng lalakad ngunit hindi mapapagod.

May mga panahon ba na sa iyong pagdarasal itinatanong mo sa Diyos kung bakit tila mandin hindi Niya dinirinig ang iyong mga panalangin? Bakit ka nababalisa at nagkukulang ng tiwala sa Kanya? Hindi ba Niya alam ang nangyayari sa iyo? Hindi pa man bumubukas ang iyong bibig ay alam na Niya ang iyong mga kailangan. Ang paghihintay ay katumbas ng malaking pagtitiwala sa Diyos na lumikha ng buong sandaigdig na ito. Mayroon bang mahirap gawin para sa Diyos? Siya ba'y napapagod at natutulog na katulad natin? Mayroon bang makatatarok ng Kanyang kaisipan o may tao bang hihigit pa sa Kanyang talino at kapangyarihan?

Ano ang dapat nating gawin sa mga oras ng ating paghihintay sa Kanyang kasagutan? Lubos na magtiwala sa Diyos! Dahil ang nagtitiwala sa Diyos ay nagkakaroon ng panibagong sigla, natutulad ang lakas nila sa walang pagod na pakpak ng agila. Sila'y tatakbo ng tatakbo ngunit hindi manghihina, lalakad ng lalakad ngunit hindi mapapagod. Sinasanay tayo ng Diyos sa pakikibaka sa anumang unos na dumating sa ating buhay. Pinatatatag Niya ang ating espirituwal na katauhan na mas mahigit at lalong mas mahalaga sa panlabas na katauhan...pagsasanay na tiyak na magbubunga para sa atin ng mas maganda at matagumpay na buhay dito sa mundo at lalung higit sa langit sa piling ng Amang Diyos at ng Anak na nagdusa at nagbuwis ng buhay para sa atin.

Ibinigay na nga Niya ang Kanyang bugtong na Anak para sa atin, mayroon pa ba Siyang hindi kayang ibigay para sa ikabubuti ng mga nagmamahal sa Kanya?

Click this website for a beautiful song entitled May Bukas Pa:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9hy7eWEURM

Knowing God Through Love

1 John 4
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
19 We love Him because He first loved us.

There is no greater love than God's love for us. All of us have sinned but instead of condemning us, He sent His beloved Son, Jesus, to pay for all our sins. The guilt of our sins were all nailed to the cross of the Son of Man who suffered tremendously for wrongs He never committed.

Jesus laid down His life for us so we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren (1 John 3:16). But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? (1 John 3:17).

If we say we love God but do not love His children, the truth is not in us (1 John 2:4). He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light and there is no cause for stumbling in him (1 John 2:9-10). This is the simple test of knowing Him. If there is no love in your heart for your neighbor or for a friend, you don't really know God and, naturally, don't love Him, too.

Whoever is born of God does not sin (1 John 5:18). Why? Because if you really love God, you will not do anything to displease Him, purposely and knowingly do anything that will hurt Him. Do you hurt the one you love? Of course not! If you hurt the one you love, you will also be hurting yourself.

Lastly, whoever is born of God, keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him (1 John 5:18). Whoever loves God, keeps himself clean and shining before God's eyes, not a smear of wickedness or evil in his heart because his whole heart is covered with love for God. And love for God is the only thing that God requires of us. This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask for anything according to His will, He hears us (1 John 5:14) and protects us from evil. No harm will befall on someone who loves God dearly.

Light as a feather...

Read: 2 Samuel 6:12-23

Light as a feather...this was how David H. Roper of RBC Ministries described David when he danced before the Lord with all his might (v 14), leaping and whirling (v 16) , and offering burnt and peace offerings, and blessing the people of Israel in the name of the Lord of Hosts (v 18).

To some, like Michal or the truly conservative sectors of our generation, this would seem undignified (v 20) but to David and, to me as well, this is just an expression of his joy in communing and worshiping God, dancing and singing from the heart, showing his great love for his Master, Creator, Friend, Ally, Provider, Protector and The Most Glorious Father in all of heaven and earth.

How wonderful it is to feel "light as a feather", no more heavy and worrisome baggages in tow, spirit flying up high seemingly reaching the highest of heavens, buoyant and free, displaying a somewhat youthful exuberance, exhilarating with joy and laughter, cheerful and singing as the birds of the air, showing love to everyone, floating aimlessly and carefree, feeling the warmth of God's embrace...WOW! that's the most amazing experience ever!

Click this website and keep falling in love with Him again...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uHlxvkJWfw

Free Will

Deut. 30
19 "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;"
20 "that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them."

1 Thes. 2
10 You are witnesses , and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe;
11 as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children,
12 that you would have a walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

Proverbs 22:1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold.

It is really a matter of choice...everyday we are to choose between evil and good...in small and great things...heaven and earth are our witnesses and also God...whatever we choose builds our character that eventually directs our own destiny...consequences of our choices in life.

Isaiah 1
19 "If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;
20 "but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword"; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Isaiah 30
1 "Woe to the rebellious children," says the Lord, "who take counsel, but not of Me, and who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, that they may add sin to sin;
2 "who walk to go down to Egypt, and have not asked My advice, to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!"

There are consequences for our every action...blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. Tough times make you lose your perspective so it is important that we pray unceasingly and immerse ourselves in God's Word, reading it day and night that we may receive counsel from God and devise our plans under the guidance of His Spirit strengthening the core of our heart by trusting only God and not man nor material wealth. We are totally responsible for all our actions. No one can assume responsibility for our sins nor can we point a finger to someone else who persuades us to commit a sin like Adam did, pointing his finger to Eve as the one who gave him the fruit of the forbidden tree...and Eve pointing her finger to the serpent as the one who deceived her and made her eat the fruit (Gen. 3:12-13).

It is character that determines who you are...a child of God or a child of His enemy, the devil. The Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts (1 Chro. 28:9). The Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you (2 Chro. 15:2). God is on the side of those who know His heart and mind and do His will. He is on the side of those who love Him with all of their hearts, mind, soul and strength. Nalulugod Siya sa mga taong nagmamahal sa Kanya ng higit sa anumang bagay o tao dito sa mundo maging sa langit man...at kapag nalugod Siya sa iyo, wala Siyang hindi ibibigay sa iyo. Magtatagumpay ka sa lahat ng iyong gagawin at mananatili ang Kanyang biyaya sa iyo sa habang panahon.

Read Genesis 39:7-12...kung paanong ipinakita ni Joseph ang magandang ehemplo ng isang may mabuting ugali na tumatalikod sa tukso para mapatunayan niya ang pagmamahal at pagsunod sa Diyos. Sa huli, biniyayaan siya ng Diyos dahil sa kanyang katapatan.

Character is being bigger on the inside than on the outside...growing more and more into the image of Christ, abstaining from every form of evil (1 Thes. 5:22) and choosing integrity rather than the pleasures of this world. We must decrease and Jesus increase in us, choosing a life of excellence and favor from God...then our heavenly Father will pour out His blessings on us as we continue to honor and love Him with all our heart.

Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God

Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. — 1 Corinthians 10:31



Quoting from the Daily Bread message for today:





"Blaise Pascal, the brilliant 17th century intellectual, made significant contributions in the fields of science and mathematics. He established the groundwork for the development of mechanical calculators and modern hydraulic operations. "



"As a young man, Pascal had a profound encounter with Jesus Christ. This life-changing experience motivated him to refocus his study from science and math to theology. "



"Pascal wrote a remarkable prayer that can help each believer in facing the tasks of life. He prayed: 'Lord, help me to do great things as though they were little, since I do them with Your power; and little things as though they were great, since I do them in Your name.'"



"Pascal’s supplication is profoundly scriptural. Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13) and admonishes us that “whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). Pascal echoes these admonitions to depend upon God for His power and to view every act as important, since it will reflect on His glory. "



"The next time you face a huge task, remember that God is your strength. And when you encounter a seemingly insignificant one,determine to do it with excellence to the glory of God. "— Dennis Fisher

Message from God for me today:


I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, and most importantly, whatever I do, small or great, I do all to the glory of God.

This message is very timely as I am taking care of my 83-year old father who suddenly was afflicted with Alzheimer's disease. Symptoms include not being able to remember current events in his life, inability to do simple tasks, unjustified suspicions in his mind, and sometimes, temper tantrums not wanting to be controlled in any way thinking that he is always right despite his memory problem.


It is difficult to take care of someone who is undergoing depression, not wanting to eat normally, insisting that something occurred but only in his mind, experiencing incontinence and hard of hearing...to name a few. Preparing his meal is already a daunting task because he cannot grind his food, and still, he is choosy on what he wants to eat making it hard for anyone to decide on what to offer him, be it juice or supplemental drink. He sleeps most of the time waking up only during meal times and merienda...but wakes up in the middle of the night to request for something to eat and before you can prepare it, he is already sleeping while sitting near the dinner table...and then waking you up again at 3 a.m. to replace his diaper. Day in and day out this is the routine, and if this happens in a very long time, you may either give up or lose your own sanity.



Promise of God for my life:



God will strengthen me and keep me sane all throughout the ordeal...even though lacking in sleep I will fly like an eagle and work, and still sing a joyful song of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord...because in retrospect, this is not an ordeal but an opportunity to do good for someone who had taken cared of me when I was young and frail of health.



Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right, 2 "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise: 3 "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth."



Paraphrasing...taking good care of a parent has a promise attached to it: I will have long life and enjoy it as well.



The command to obey:



Do all things through Christ and for the glory of God...whether it be cleaning the toilet and taking care of the soiled diapers full of weewee and pooh-pooh, whatever you call it.



Personal application:



Smile though your heart is aching, smile even though its breaking...click this website and sing with me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXUYO7NpcEU


Scripture verses to memorize:



I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13) and whatever I do, I do all to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31).



Prayer for today:



Whatever work I have to do O God, I will supply the willingness, but please, O please I beg of You supply the POWER, the PATIENCE, the JOY and whatever is needed to fulfill the job. In Jesus name, I pray with thanksgiving and praise to my AWESOME GOD. Amen & amen.

Do you really love God?

"Do you love Me?...Feed My sheep." - John 21:17

Three times Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love Me? Peter answered, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." Each time, Jesus answered, "Feed My Sheep."

If you were to prove your love for God, how would you do it? Where would you start? How well do you know Him?

If you really love a person, you want to know more about him...specifically know all details about him...when and where he was born, names of his close family or loved ones, favorite food, number one drink, favorite music, movies he loves to watch, places where he wants to go, activities he likes to do...because you are interested in whatever he does and what would please him. If you go to school together, the first thing you do upon reaching school is to look for him, you are not contented with just chatting with him over the phone, you couldn't get enough of him that you want to be near him always...just hearing his voice makes you glad inside...and oh, the letters he wrote to you, you would read them not just once or twice but five times or even more. You would even kiss the name that he signed!

Now, let us go back to the question, do you really love God? How well do you know Him? Do you talk to Him unceasingly? Do you seek Him every moment of your life? Do you read His love letters to you?...with passion and love, printing them in your heart that you memorize every word...even the dots and exclamation point! Do you know what would please Him? Do you know what would bring about His wrath? LOVE is all that He requires of you. If you really, really love Him, you will feed His sheep. But how can you feed His sheep if you, yourself, are not fed with His Word every single day of your life? If someone will ask you as a Christian, if you know God, can you truly and honestly say that you know Him intimately as a child of God. If you knew Him, you would hear even His whisper. If not, you have to ask yourself, "Is there any area in my life that is not pleasing to Him?" "Do I still have unforgiven sins?" A sin, no matter how small, can contaminate your whole soul as a tiny bacteria can do to a water no matter how pure. Ask forgiveness from God, and by the cleansing of the precious blood of Jesus on your whole being, body and soul...you can be free from the bondage of sin and remove the wall between you and God...so you can freely worship Him with joy in your heart.

Colossians 3
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

May you continue to grow and increase in the knowledge of God...because the more you know Him, the more you will love Him. All the laws and commandments of God are summed up in just one word, and that is LOVE (Galatians 5:14). If you love God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul and with all your strength, you will love and feed His sheep (John 21:17). Love is the motivating factor that will sustain you and help you fulfill your duty as a Christian and as a creation of God.

The Greatest Gift

1 Corinthians 13 (New King James Version)

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Eric Liddell, a former gold medal champion at the Olympic games, who spent the last 20 years of his life as a missionary teacher and rural pastor, paraphrased 1 Corinthians 13:6-8 as follows: "Love is never glad when others go wrong. Love finds no pleasure in injustice, but rejoices in the truth. Love is always slow to expose, it knows how to be silent. Love is always eager to believe the best about a person. Love is full of hope, full of patient endurance; love never fails."

A daughter was having problems with her dad because he wouldn't want to wear his hearing aid, thus he couldn't hear a word she was saying. He is alredy 83 years old, with cataract on both eyes, problem with incontinence, acid-reflux and other ailments. "If only he wears his hearing aid, there wouldn't be much of a problem taking care of him", she said in her mind while accompanying him to a bank where he transacts his pension every month. As if in response to her, a woman wearing a yellow t-shirt passed by her side and the printed bold and black letters at the back of the t-shirt talked loudly to the daughter, "If you listen with your heart, you can hear the deaf speaking." It was odd, she read it over and over again...thinking there was a mistake. But the message was true and deep...sooo deep it would make you think twice. The old man has difficulty in hearing, it is impolite to raise your voice so he could hear you... the proper thing to do is go near to the right ear that is still working and talk normally on that ear...simple solution! You have to love the person to be able to communicate with him easily. If you use your compassion and your heart in talking to him, he would hear you and there would be no misunderstanding whatsoever. Love conquers all even the hard of hearing.

Curses on Disobedience

Luke 13 (New King James Version)

6Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. 7So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?'
8" 'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. 9If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.' "

The clock is ticking...God is watching over the trees of the field. If His tree does not bear fruit, what do you think He will do to that tree? If a human being does not do the purpose for which he was created, what will God do to him?

1 Timothy 6:9 (New King James Version)

9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.

The focus of many is to be rich, to acquire more wealth, properties, jewelries, cars, houses and lots in exclusive subdivisions, top of the line computer gadgets, luxuries in life...what will happen if a man dies in the process of acquiring all these without taking into consideration the status of his own soul? What is 100 years of this lifetime in exchange for eternity? Are you foolish enough to fall into a trap of accumulating wealth on this earth while losing your soul in the process?

What are the penalties or curses for disobedience to God?

Deuteronomy 28 (New King James Version)

15 “But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: 16 “Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the country. 17 “Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. 18 “Cursed shall be the fruit of your body and the produce of your land, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. 19 “Cursed shall you be when you come in, and cursed shall you be when you go out. 20 “The LORD will send on you cursing, confusion, and rebuke in all that you set your hand to do, until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly, because of the wickedness of your doings in which you have forsaken Me. 21 The LORD will make the plague cling to you until He has consumed you from the land which you are going to possess. 22 The LORD will strike you with consumption, with fever, with inflammation, with severe burning fever, with the sword, with scorching, and with mildew; they shall pursue you until you perish. 23 And your heavens which are over your head shall be bronze, and the earth which is under you shall be iron. 24 The LORD will change the rain of your land to powder and dust; from the heaven it shall come down on you until you are destroyed. 25 “The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies; you shall go out one way against them and flee seven ways before them; and you shall become troublesome to all the kingdoms of the earth. 26 Your carcasses shall be food for all the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and no one shall frighten them away. 27 The LORD will strike you with the boils of Egypt, with tumors, with the scab, and with the itch, from which you cannot be healed. 28 The LORD will strike you with madness and blindness and confusion of heart. 29 And you shall grope at noonday, as a blind man gropes in darkness; you shall not prosper in your ways; you shall be only oppressed and plundered continually, and no one shall save you.30 “You shall betroth a wife, but another man shall lie with her; you shall build a house, but you shall not dwell in it; you shall plant a vineyard, but shall not gather its grapes. 31 Your ox shall be slaughtered before your eyes, but you shall not eat of it; your donkey shall be violently taken away from before you, and shall not be restored to you; your sheep shall be given to your enemies, and you shall have no one to rescue them. 32 Your sons and your daughters shall be given to another people, and your eyes shall look and fail with longing for them all day long; and there shall be no strength in your hand. 33 A nation whom you have not known shall eat the fruit of your land and the produce of your labor, and you shall be only oppressed and crushed continually. 34 So you shall be driven mad because of the sight which your eyes see. 35 The LORD will strike you in the knees and on the legs with severe boils which cannot be healed, and from the sole of your foot to the top of your head. 36 “The LORD will bring you and the king whom you set over you to a nation which neither you nor your fathers have known, and there you shall serve other gods—wood and stone. 37 And you shall become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword among all nations where the LORD will drive you. 38 “You shall carry much seed out to the field but gather little in, for the locust shall consume it. 39 You shall plant vineyards and tend them, but you shall neither drink of the wine nor gather the grapes; for the worms shall eat them. 40 You shall have olive trees throughout all your territory, but you shall not anoint yourself with the oil; for your olives shall drop off. 41 You shall beget sons and daughters, but they shall not be yours; for they shall go into captivity. 42 Locusts shall consume all your trees and the produce of your land. 43 “The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. 44 He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail. 45 “Moreover all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you. 46 And they shall be upon you for a sign and a wonder, and on your descendants forever. 47 “Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, 48 therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in need of everything; and He will put a yoke of iron on your neck until He has destroyed you. 49 The LORD will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you will not understand, 50 a nation of fierce countenance, which does not respect the elderly nor show favor to the young. 51 And they shall eat the increase of your livestock and the produce of your land, until you are destroyed; they shall not leave you grain or new wine or oil, or the increase of your cattle or the offspring of your flocks, until they have destroyed you. 52 “They shall besiege you at all your gates until your high and fortified walls, in which you trust, come down throughout all your land; and they shall besiege you at all your gates throughout all your land which the LORD your God has given you. 53 You shall eat the fruit of your own body, the flesh of your sons and your daughters whom the LORD your God has given you, in the siege and desperate straits in which your enemy shall distress you. 54 The sensitive and very refined man among you will be hostile toward his brother, toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the rest of his children whom he leaves behind, 55 so that he will not give any of them the flesh of his children whom he will eat, because he has nothing left in the siege and desperate straits in which your enemy shall distress you at all your gates. 56 The tender and delicate woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground because of her delicateness and sensitivity, will refuse to the husband of her bosom, and to her son and her daughter, 57 her placenta which comes out from between her feet and her children whom she bears; for she will eat them secretly for lack of everything in the siege and desperate straits in which your enemy shall distress you at all your gates. 58 “If you do not carefully observe all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, THE LORD YOUR GOD, 59 then the LORD will bring upon you and your descendants extraordinary plagues—great and prolonged plagues—and serious and prolonged sicknesses. 60 Moreover He will bring back on you all the diseases of Egypt, of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you. 61 Also every sickness and every plague, which is not written in this Book of the Law, will the LORD bring upon you until you are destroyed. 62 You shall be left few in number, whereas you were as the stars of heaven in multitude, because you would not obey the voice of the LORD your God. 63 And it shall be, that just as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good and multiply you, so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you and bring you to nothing; and you shall be plucked from off the land which you go to possess. 64 “Then the LORD will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve other gods, which neither you nor your fathers have known—wood and stone. 65 And among those nations you shall find no rest, nor shall the sole of your foot have a resting place; but there the LORD will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and anguish of soul. 66 Your life shall hang in doubt before you; you shall fear day and night, and have no assurance of life. 67 In the morning you shall say, ‘Oh, that it were evening!’ And at evening you shall say, ‘Oh, that it were morning!’ because of the fear which terrifies your heart, and because of the sight which your eyes see. 68 “And the LORD will take you back to Egypt in ships, by the way of which I said to you, ‘You shall never see it again.’ And there you shall be offered for sale to your enemies as male and female slaves, but no one will buy you.”

Shouldn't it be much better to submit to God and follow His will on earth than to suffer any of these curses?

Blessings of Obedience

Deuteronomy 7 (New King James Version)

12 “Then it shall come to pass, because you listen to these judgments, and keep and do them, that the LORD your God will keep with you the covenant and the mercy which He swore to your fathers. 13 And He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your land, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flock, in the land of which He swore to your fathers to give you. 14 You shall be blessed above all peoples; there shall not be a male or female barren among you or among your livestock. 15 And the LORD will take away from you all sickness, and will afflict you with none of the terrible diseases of Egypt which you have known, but will lay them on all those who hate you. 16 Also you shall destroy all the peoples whom the LORD your God delivers over to you; your eye shall have no pity on them; nor shall you serve their gods, for that will be a snare to you. 17 “If you should say in your heart, ‘These nations are greater than I; how can I dispossess them?’— 18 you shall not be afraid of them, but you shall remember well what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt: 19 the great trials which your eyes saw, the signs and the wonders, the mighty hand and the outstretched arm, by which the LORD your God brought you out. So shall the LORD your God do to all the peoples of whom you are afraid. 20 Moreover the LORD your God will send the hornet among them until those who are left, who hide themselves from you, are destroyed. 21 You shall not be terrified of them; for the LORD your God, the great and awesome God, is among you. 22 And the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you little by little; you will be unable to destroy them at once, lest the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. 23 But the LORD your God will deliver them over to you, and will inflict defeat upon them until they are destroyed. 24 And He will deliver their kings into your hand, and you will destroy their name from under heaven; no one shall be able to stand against you until you have destroyed them. 25 You shall burn the carved images of their gods with fire; you shall not covet the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, lest you be snared by it; for it is an abomination to the LORD your God. 26 Nor shall you bring an abomination into your house, lest you be doomed to destruction like it. You shall utterly detest it and utterly abhor it, for it is an accursed thing.





Healing takes place when a person is obedient to God. He is not afflicted with a terrible disease because God takes good care of the son who serves Him well. The Lord even supplies his every need and, at times, suprises him with those that he wants. He is like a good Father to an obedient son who bears fruit in good season...but cuts off His ties with a disobedient person.





Malachi 3 (New King James Version)

17 “ They shall be Mine,” says the LORD of hosts, “ On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.” 18 Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.





Partial obedience is disobedience to God. In 1 Samuel 15 Saul spared King Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them when God commanded him thru Samuel to go and attack the sinners, the Amalekites, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them but kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey, fight against them until they are consumed. Saul did his mission and utterly destroyed the Amelekites but brought back their king, Agag. He and his men also took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the Lord in Gilgal, as he claimed was their purpose. But to God, obedience is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the smell of burnt offerings of fat rams. His rebellion is as the sin of withcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because he has rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected him from being king.





Review the ten commandments given to Moses for the people of Israel and the first three commandments are all about reverence and worship of one true God. As written in Deuteronomy 4:24 "For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God." Making a carved image in the form of anything and worshipping it will provoke Him to anger. The one thing that God hated the most is idol worship. It is an abomination...detestable, loathsome, disgusting and provokes His extreme anger because idol worship is worshipping a mere creature rather than the Omnipotent, Almighty, All-Powerful Creator, meaning a grave insult to a Holy God.





How do you worship and pray to God? Who do you pray to? Matthew 6:6 pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Pray to your Father and not to a picture or a stone or a carved wooden image. They have ears but could not hear you. They cannot even move that you have to carry them in a procession. How can they grant what you wish and pray for?





Psalms 115 (New King James Version)

4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. 5 They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see; 6 They have ears, but they do not hear; Noses they have, but they do not smell; 7 They have hands, but they do not handle; Feet they have, but they do not walk; Nor do they mutter through their throat. 8 Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them.





Acts 17 (New King James Version)

29 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising.





Deuteronomy 5 (New King James Version)

7 ‘You shall have no other gods before Me. 8 ‘You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 9 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 10 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. 11 You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

If you want to get healed, you strictly follow your doctor's advice...why not follow your God's commandments. He created you so He knows every part of your body. He can make them well if He wants to. The first thing you should do is talk to Him...heart to heart...ask forgiveness for all your sins and request Him to help you obey His every command and, eventually, everything else will follow...blessing after blessing, grace and forgiveness, deep inner joy, peace of mind, and healing, both spiritually and physically.



Psalms 95 (New King James Version)

6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. We should kneel to the Lord and not to any picture claiming to resemble Him because no one has ever seen Him except His son, Jesus. Pray to Him in Spirit for He is Spirit.





Ephesians 6 (New King James Version)

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—





Romans 1 (New King James Version)

24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.





1 Peter 4 (New King James Version)

3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

This message is not in any way meant to offend or hurt anyone but to reveal the truth to everyone so that all will be saved as is the perfect will of God, our loving Father. I pray that your hearts and minds be open to accept the Word of God as the true doctrine of salvation. Amen.

Those who fear God need not fear death

2 Timothy 4:6 (King James Version)
For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.


Philippians 1:23 (New International Version)
I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;


Departure is a nautical term that suggests dying...severing ties with this world and getting to a better place where there is no more pain, sorrow, or suffering, completing the purpose for which we were made. For Christians, it is a time for joy and excitement and a hearty "Bon Voyage!"


Psalm 23:4 (New International Version)
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.


John 14:1-3 (New International Version)
1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.


It is like traveling to a distant land where you have never been before...there is excitement but at the same time fear of the unknown. No need for worrying because Jesus assured us that He is going there ahead to prepare a place for us and will come back and take us with Him so we may be where He is.


2 Peter 3:13 (New International Version)
But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.


10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.


11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.


The destruction of the existing earth will no longer be by flood but by fire... along with the sky above us which is the first heaven. We ought to live holy and godly lives as we look forward to the second coming of Christ who will bring us to a new heaven and a new earth.


1 Corinthians 2:9 (The New King James Version)
"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."


Galatians 6:9 (The New King James Version)
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.


All we need to do is to continue living a good life, doing the will of the Father here on earth, doing good to all, especially to those who are in of the household of faith and we shall reap the reward that God has in store for us. We should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ. For our citizenship is not here on earth but in heaven. We are here to learn and just passing through in our journey to heaven.


Revelations 3:5 (The New King James Version)
"He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels."


Revelation 21 (New King James Version)
1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” 6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Revelation 14:13 (New King James Version) "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.'" "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them."

This is the description of the New Jerusalem from Revelation 21:18 And the construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second was sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

If you knew you were dying...

If you knew you were dying, how would you spend your time? What would you say to the people you love? How would you live? Where would you go for consolation and comfort?

Proverbs 1:23 Turn at my reproof; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.

Malachi 3:7 "Yet from the days of your fathers you have gone away from My ordinances and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you," says the Lord of hosts.

Go back to God...make a clean slate, search your heart for any unforgiven sin. Ask the Lord, though your sins are as red as crimson, to make them as white as snow by the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, who died and paid dearly for all our iniquities. Receive the grace of forgiveness , make a complete turn around from sins, and begin to serve Him.

Malachi 3:17 "They shall be Mine," says the Lord of hosts, "on the day that I make them My jewels. 'And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him."

Serving the Lord is the best thing you can do for your life. Anyone who has kept His commandments and has served Him for a long period of time can be assured of God's mercy. He will be spared from hurting, harming or destroying...and will be taken cared of like a good son who has served him well. It is never too late to make amends with God. He can read your heart and will meet your needs halfway. The goal here is to be included in the Book of Life.

Malachi 3:16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name.

The Lord is not far from us who search Him. Acts 17:27 "so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 "for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, "For we are also His offspring!"

Read the Bible everyday and make someone happy each day of your remaining life...in the process you will be happier because you are learning from an awesome experience and becoming a better person. Hosea 6:6 "For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings."

Submit yourself to baptism in Christ. Romans 6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,
6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.
7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,
9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him...
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

Tatiao Ministry...

James 5:16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

I belong to a small group of Christians gathered together for a common purpose of helping the poor citizens of Tatiao, Silang in Cavite to improve their lives. We recently parted ways but stay connected with one another thru prayer and text messaging. Human as we are, we have differences yet transparent and at the same time comfortable enough to be ourselves...no pretentions nor hidden agenda. We reach out to each other and help meet each other's needs...genuinely and sincerely concern for each other's welfare. We are more than sisters or family members because of the love that binds us together. Though apart, we are together in prayer fostering unity and strength amongst us.

I'd like to believe that God is pleased in the unity of this group thereby opening the door for His complete healing for me and eventually for a sister named Evelyn...physically, spiritually, and emotionally. I got healed of hyperthyroidism without medications. Unbelievably, my recent thyroid function tests...TSH, FT3 and FT4 are now normal. Blood pressure reading also went down from as high as 156/105 to 120/80. Next on the line is my blood glucose level which can be controlled thru exercise and proper diet...no more white flour and sugar for me from now on. I am glad my eyes are wide open now on the importance of proper nutrition and exercise to maintain good health.

When we walk in love and unity, our prayers become more effective and something supernatural takes place...God pours out His abundant blessings and healing in our lives, our needs are abundantly supplied, and we experienced deep inner joy that nothing can compare in this world. Smile is as natural as breathing...and an aura of happiness and contentment is forever etched on our faces. As our mentor, Tita Myrna Sayoc said, "If Jesus is in you, it will surely show on your face!" We all turn away from sin afraid of losing the favor of God in our lives.

Christmas if fast approaching and I believe we can be together again visiting the folks in Tatiao and giving gifts...sharing blessings and ministering to people...we surely miss each other's company. See you all soon my dearest friends...