Life

Life

Who are you to say that I am a loser?

When God says that I am more than conquerors.

I am received a new life because of someone has given it up

And now my life is now destined for a greater purpose

A purpose that is way too far than I can ever imagine

I am created not just because it happened

But I existed because someone have planned every details of my life

I was given with a journey to take

A journey that involves laughter, pain, troubles and learning

And as I take my path, every step leads me to wonder

That the reason why this journey is hard to take alone

Is because this life is meant to be shared with a Companion

Someone who has the light, the answers, the power and direction

Until such time, the journey became a series of encounter

Until I learned who actually devised the path

And to my amazement, I realized that

Even before I began this life

All of my needs, my longings have already been prepared for

And not just prepared for but even died for

To purchase the life that someone wants me to enjoy

A life of joy, everlasting love, freedom, grace and peace

And all this time, through it all, someone hand is already guiding me

Teaching me, whispering to me

That all the gaps, the bumps, valleys and even the prizes of this life

Are not actually the real life itself

But the real life begins when I start to journey with Him

As He unfold how this life should be lived

As He unfold how He died for this life for me to live

G12 National Conference 2017 - Day 1 Review Part 1

G12 National Conference 2017 - Day 1 Review Part 1

Finally, this is the day that I've been waiting for! Truly the annual G12 National Conference is really a must for everyone who wants to be immersed more in the G12 vision. The first day of the conference which is for the pastors and leaders was held at PICC today, October 23, 2017. And I can say that I am really blessed and challenged by God to move on to my next level. The following are my learnings from each topic.

Topic 1  - Pastor Art Sepulveda


He gave emphasis on the importance of a father or husbands in preservation of families. There is a

great impact on what the society would be if there is an absence of the father role in a family. It is not only important that a family has a father physically but it is even more important that the role of a father which God has established should be visible. The love, care, guidance, discipleship and good the husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing.More to that, husbands should be all out in their love for their wives exactly as Christ did for the church - a love marked by giving, not getting. In summary, because God purposed in his heart to raise families, it is important that the image of being a father should be restored in the heart of every men in order to produce a better society.
example should be available to the wife and the children. Marriage works in God's way so every marital relationship should be patterned according to how God designed it to be. Otherwise, we will only have imitation marriages if we don't go back to the original. The commitment of a couple should be founded in the Word of God. In doing the vision, it is very important to be intentional in family formation because that is what the vision is all about. Discipleship is restructuring a culture of society by changing one person at a time. And discipleship is what the world hungers for because it breaks purposelessness of an individual. In Ephesians  5:25-28, The Message Bible version says that

Topic 2 - Pastor Bert Pretorious

The theme of his message revolves around Philippians 1:1-11. I learned that like Paul, whenever we think of the disciples whom God has entrusted to us, we should give thanks to God. And whenever we pray for them, we should be filled with joy and not with fear, doubt or pressure. Another point that was mentioned is that we cannot disciple people whom we don't believe in. Like what Philippians 1:6 says, we should have faith in God's work that has began the life of our disciples and be confident that He will bring it to completion. So in discipleship, it is important that we have faith in our people for us to unleash them to their potentials.

What is the command? It was mentioned in Matthew 22:37-39 that we should love God and love people. And how should we love God? It was mentioned in Matthew 28:19-20 that we should go and make disciples of all nation and part of our mission is to teach them to obey everything Christ has commanded us which falls back to loving God and loving people. As we continue in this cycle, we are considered remaining Christ's love. Meaning, if we are not doing the vision, we are not remaining in the love of God. Just as how Christ revealed to His disciples everything He have heard from the Father, we should also do the same by making disciples.

I still have to add four more topics to share for day 1 but I already lack time because I still have to sleep early tomorrow for day 2. I'll add them tomorrow as well as the other new topics that I will learn. I'm praying for everyone who will attend to receive more to make a bigger impact as light of the world.

Remaining in Christ: Key to Fruitfulness

Devotional Entry - Oct. 11, 2017

Remaining in Christ: Key to Fruitfulness

"Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing." -John 15:5

"But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father." - John 15:7-8

"I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!"- John 15:9-11

"You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name."

John 15:16-17

Message:

- The first key to fruitfulness is to remain in Christ. As we remain in Him, He will remain in us. And once we unite my whole being to Christ, we become fruitful in Christlikeness and Christ-multiplying ministry. We should focus on living the life that Jesus wants us to live and the multiplication of the people whom God will entrust us shall follow.

- We cannot be fruitful if we separate ourselves from Christ

- The Word of God that remain in us is the key to unlock provisions and blessings from heaven. The Word of God that is planted in our hearts will result into an answered need of prayer. Therefore, we should work it out that the Word of God will remain in our hearts. By having God's Word planted in our hearts, we become confident to ask and receive anything from the Father. For faith comes from hearing the Word of God.

- Remaining in Christ's love means obeying His commandments. Jesus has loved me us even as the Father has loved Him. So we should remain in His love. His commands are an expression of His love and care for us. And if we continue to obey, we allow the love of Christ to serve and bless us because the benefit of obedience is  a blessed life.

- Jesus chose us to go and bear lasting fruit. We are called and chosen to be fruitful. Jesus has given everything to give us such an abundant life.

Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Words that give life. Today, I pray for your help so that I can remain in You, Your Words remain in me and that I remain in Your love by obeying Your commandments. I commit to You my heart and soul. May Your likeness be developed in me. And I declare victory as I crush Satan under my feet. Thank You Lord. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Acceptable Worship

Devotional Entry - May 23, 2017

"And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind He will find acceptable. This is the truly way to worship Him." - Romans 12:1

       Worship means expression of reverence and adoration to God. We can really say that we worship Him if we have a full revelation of His being and glory and walk according to it. We need to live a life that is away from the sting of death which is sin and be a holy sacrifice, perfect in goodness and righteousness. But for us to be able to do this, we have to be connected with Christ for He alone can give us life and purify us from all sins to be holy. With proper foundation, we can start worshiping Him through our life. Today's challenge is be connected with Jesus and live a lifestyle of worship. This is the kind of worship that is pleasing and acceptable to God.

What a Beautiful Name by Hillsong

You were the Word at the beginning
One with God the Lord Most High
Your hidden glory in creation
Now revealed in You our Christ

[Chorus 1]
What a beautiful Name it is
What a beautiful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King
What a beautiful Name it is
Nothing compares to this
What a beautiful Name it is
The Name of Jesus

[Verse 2]
You didn't want Heaven without us
So Jesus, You brought Heaven down
My sin was great, Your love was greater
What could separate us now?

[Chorus 2]
What a wonderful Name it is
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King
What a wonderful Name it is
Nothing compares to this
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus

[Instrumentals]

[Bridge 1]
Death could not hold You
The veil tore before You
You silenced the boast, of sin and grave
The Heavens are roaring
The praise of Your glory
For You are raised to life again

[Bridge 2]
You have no rival
You have no equal
Now and forever, God You reign
Yours is the Kingdom
Yours is the glory
Yours is the Name, above all names

[Chorus 3]
What a powerful Name it is
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King
What a powerful Name it is
Nothing can stand against
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus

[Bridge 2]
You have no rival
You have no equal
Now and forever, God You reign
Yours is the Kingdom
Yours is the glory
Yours is the Name, above all names

[Outro]
What a powerful Name it is
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King
What a powerful Name it is
Nothing can stand against
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus
What a powerful Name it is

The Name of Jesus!

Be With You by City Harvest Church (Reflection)

Be With You

Savior of my soul
I confide in you
Through all my darkest moment
In you I find my peace
My comfort when I'm weak
I trust in You, through storm and raging sea

Faithful, You're my God
You're the Glory and the Lifter of my head
Your light it fills my days
It leads me in Your ways
Forever I surrender all to You

And I live to worship You
My Jesus You're the only one for me
Nothing will ever take Your place
My precious Savior
Who can stand between my Lord and me

Lord I live to honor You
And I long to bring my life an offering
Take me higher
Draw me deeper
I give all to be with You

To be honest, I went through a dark moment of my life. I lost my passion in serving the Lord because of failures and disappointments with myself and those people who are around me. I was spiritually burnt out. But God is a God of unlimited grace. I struggled to press on to His presence only to find myself making things hard though they weren't have to be. Through the lyrics of this song, Who can stand between my Lord and me?, I was reminded of this Bible verse:

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:38-39

I realized that I don't have to give myself a hard time in connecting to the presence of God. It was His job to make the way for me and that is through the cross. All I need is to be truthful and open my heart to Him. Listening to this song, I just knelt down and all the tears rushed from my eyes for a long time. His presence is so full of grace, love and acceptance. His love truly never fails. His love is always fresh and always ready to fill those who hunger and thirst for Him. It melts all impurities of the heart It quiets all the battles of the mind. And all I can do is to cry, cry, and cry... Nothing will really ever take the place of my Lord and Savior. Now, I stand to my ground that in the name of Jesus, I can overcome. I believe that He will make many miracles in my life again just like what He always do before. I believe for fire, focus and freedom that He will intensify in my life!

Justified by Faith (Devotional Entry)

Monday - Sept. 9, 2013

Romans 4:25-5:1-2

"He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God."

Lessons:

1. My sins cost the death of Jesus.

2. Through His resurrection, I am justified, guilt-free, forgiven.

3. Being justified, I am reconciled again with God and now have peace with Him

4. Through Jesus, I gained access by faith into the grace of God.

JUSTIFIED BY FAITH

Reflection:

I learned that whatever I do, I cannot compare it to what Jesus has done for me. My life was so full of shame and sins. I fail a lot. I fall short of His glory most of the time. But whenever I go back to His Word and whenever I go back to His throne, still the same thing I see - HIS GRACE. Freely given. I learned that I cannot live without God. And wandering though only for a day would cause me a lot of trouble. Therefore, I should not dare to live without Him even a single moment. I learned that it is like suice because I go outside the covering of my God. Living my life the way I want is foolishness. Giving the control of my life to God is wisdom. I was reminded that God bought paid the cost to have me once more. And because of that, I should not disregard it again by letting the enemy take hold of any part of me. I am made and owned by my God. For even in the beginning, He purposed to give me a chance to exist and live.