And They Lived Happily Ever After

Sometimes in our lives we tend to forget that we are destined to WIN! Sometimes we think "Happily Ever After" only happens in Fairy Tales! To that though I give a resounding "ABSOLUTELY NOT!"

I remember my Pastor saying, "If it's not good yet, then it's not the end yet."

It's like we're just in a movie, we may fall several times but we know that in the end we will win!

The Bible says:

"Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." - Rom. 8:37 (NKJV)

"The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom." - Deut. 28:13 (NIV)

"Thus says the LORD to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s." - 2 Chron 2:15 (b)

Anymore proof?

It takes you though to believe for it to happen in you! And yes! "We will live happily ever after!"

It's what the Bible says that matters

"I have what the Bible says I have."

 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Gal. 3:29)

"I can do what the Bible says I can do."

 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.(Philippians 4:13)

"I am what the Bible says I am!"

Yet in all these things 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)

Outside of the Bible are lies and deceptions! 

Don't be tricked!

Read the BIBLE and know the TRUTH! 

And the TRUTH shall set you FREE!

Truest, Most Real and Amazing Love of All

This is supposed to be my entry to Testify to Love: Get a chance to win Avalon’s “The Greatest Hits” at my friend's blog: Gannsdeen.com.


Sadly it's late now. I wasn't able to read the part where he says the deadline in Nov. 30th and today is unfortunately December 1st. Now, I'm sure all of you are now shouting and asking why I didn't do it before the deadline. To answer that, I didn't notice and I forgot. LOL! Enough of that, here's my post:


My post is all about the Love that every man is dying to have. It's more than a feeling or anything else. It can't be faked, in fact it's THE most real thing. A lot of us have run from there to here, from hurt to more hurt, from failed expectations to more failed expectations. It's almost a hopeless cycle.


I had a conversation with a friend who just broke up with his boyfriend. This friend of mine is a "HE" as well, making their relationship a homosexual one. If 10 years ago, this kind of relationship is a taboo. At this time though, it has become a "normal" thing especially that I'm working in a call center. (Disclaimer: I don't agree to this kind of relationship but I respect my friends who are engaged in it). So back to my conversation with him. I asked him, what really happened? Why did they break up after more than a year? He answered (hesitantly) it's because he no longer understands what his partner really wants and that he now had grown tired meeting the needs of the other while expecting his own needs be met as well. Actually, most of the relationships we see right now is of this nature. You agree or not. Everyone engages in a relationship because they need something from the other person. It maybe financial needs, emotional support, or just having someone to lean on. Don't take me wrong, these are why there are relationships. For our needs to be met. But when these "meeting of our needs" become the center of the relationship then that's when it crumbles. When each one starts to take and expect instead of freely giving without expecting in return, that's when relationships end.

Love, I've explained to him must be selfless. For relationships to work, one must be willing to give and give and just give. With this he replied, "Isn't that unfair?". Of course it is. That's what love really is. Even if the other one doesn't give back, it just continues to love no matter what. This kind of love is seldom found. Especially when people who are looking for it doesn't have it in the first place?

Where is this Love then?

It's in the Father, the GOD who created everything including love and the ability to love.

Here's what the Bible says from The Message version:

But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him. Rom. 5:8

And John 3:16 from The Message version still:

"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

Now we were of no use whatever to him, but He still chose to love us. And he continues to love us no matter what. I mean, REALLY! It doesn't matter what you have done or what you are going to do, He'll continue to LOVE us.

When each partner has this Love then that's when relationships grow! Why? They're already filled with God's love that they just overflow without anymore taking.

Here's a song from Hillsong that would always tell me how Real, How TRUE and How Amazing God's Love is:

So You Would Come by Hillsong

God Bless you more and more!

I Do What I Don't Want To Do

I Do What I Don't Want To Do

How many times did you feel that way? Right now, that's what I am feeling. I don't know. I really don't.

I can just relate to what the Apostle Paul had said in his letters to the Romans:

 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin.  I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good.  So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t.  I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.  But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. [Romans 7:14 - 15 (New Living Translation)]

I believe that this experience will surely result to more praises to GOD! So please pray for me...

I can boldly say, apart from God's grace and love, I AM NOTHING!

Blessings to you more! May God's grace truly overflow in your life :-)

You Owe Somebody Your Love

Romans 1:13-14 (New King James Version) 13 Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. 14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise.

Romans 13:8 (New King James Version) Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

We all know we've been commissioned by God to go and make disciples. We all know all of us are sent out to the ends of the world to tell them the good news about the Lord Jesus Christ! Are doing it?

Yesterday, I was asked by my pastor to lead "The Lord's Supper". It was just the second time ever that I did it. You guess how tense I was. Anyway, I still reflected on God's Word and asked for His guidance on what He wants to tell His church. And here's the revelation:

"It's not enough for us to just remember the Lord's death and sacrifice for all of us and be glad about it. If it was then Jesus could have just died and then that's it. But NO, he didn't just die. He resurrected and ascended to heaven leaving us a commission to do! We are to remember but also we need to GO and tell them what we know."

Based on the verses above (Rom. 1:13-14 and Rom. 13:8), Paul as the apostle to the gentiles didn't just obey this commission but went up a level higher. He chose to be indebted and obligated to bear fruit in Rome.

What do you feel when you owe somebody? If you were like me, I had a time that I can't help myself but worry where to get the money to pay. There was a time that I was panicky because I needed to pay the amount the soonest possible time. You may have different experiences but one thing is common: there is this obligation and responsibility to pay ASAP!

What do we learn from this?

Let's all feel this "force of obligation" to share the GOOD NEWS to other people. Actually these are not really OTHER people because they are our friends, workmates and family. If Romans were entrusted to Paul, the people around us had been entrusted to us as well. Let us not be contented in living our lives without giving these people the chance in hearing/receiving the greatest gift we have received through the Lord Jesus Christ. We owe them our LOVE for them.

A fulfilled life is measured not by the success in career, or to how many places you've been to, or to how many clothes/bags you've bought, but yo how many souls you have brought to God.

Let's all be challenged! Let's all be indebted to love and share what we know.

God has the Power to Do what He has Promised

Romans 4:18-25 (New International Version)

18Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be."[d] 19Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah's womb was also dead. 20Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." 23The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, 24but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

There are a lot of promises that we can find in the Bible. In fact I think all of it are promises and truths that we can claim. Here are some of them:

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 2 Corinthians 4:8, 9

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who the are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5: 7

The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. Psalm 34:10

Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me. Isaiah 49:15,16

Now those are really great promises. Promises that we can really hold onto and believe in.

But I think that's not the main issue. The issue is "Are we Persuaded that God can do and will do what He had Promised?" These promises will remain futile and empty unless we choose to believe in them.

Abraham believed in God even how illogical and unrealistic the promises were that's why in the end "it was credited to him as righteousness".

SO why don't you review all the promises you have read and heard before and start to believe and have faith in God and be persuaded that GOD CAN!

God Bless you!

Put on the Lord Jesus Christ

Romans 13:14 (New King James Version)

"But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts."

In another version Romans 13:14 is stated as

"Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature."

Reflection:

I see two opposing "SHIRTS" here while we are the person to wear either of them. One is a shirt that puts ourselves first. A shirt that makes us dethrone God as Lord (Master) in our lives. A shirt that serves well our selfish and sinful desires. While the other one forgets your "SELF' and places GOD above all else. A shirt that allows GOD to build you up (sometimes to break you) for the better (to be more like Him). A shirt that fills your heart with Hope, Future, Love, Joy, Peace and all good things out there. And the shirt I am talking about is Jesus Christ!

In Romans, Paul was saying "PUT ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST", in NIV it says "CLOTHE YOURSELVES with the LORD JESUS CHRIST". Between the two Shirts, which one then would you choose?

What's more amazing is this; when you wear Jesus Christ (shirt) quoting from my friend makes you a "walking billboard" or others would say it an "open Bible" and truly indeed people are not just saved by words we say but also by the lives they see or in this case by the shirts we wear.

Everyday, don't go out wearing just your wonderful polo or pants, but let's all put on Jesus Christ!

Blessings to you more and more!

BEHAVE LIKE A CHRISTIAN

I am in no way the right person to say what's right and what's not in being a Christian and how a "CHRISTIAN" should behave because just like everybody else I too am a struggling one. Struggling to be more like Christ everyday. Struggling for Christ to continue molding me to be the person He created me to be.

But how do we really behave like a Christian? Let the Word of God spill the beans...

It's a letter/epistle of Paul to the Romans.


Romans 12:9-21 (New King James Version)

Behave Like a Christian


9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.

10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.

18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

20 Therefore

“ If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

You claim to be a Christian, right? Check back what Paul had to say?

What do we learn from this? We may not be the perfect guy who can do all those things but we can the person whose heart is fully dedicated to the Lord with humility accepting that he's not perfect yet with willingness to be broken and changed.

God Bless you!

Published by Your Daily Word

Jesus: You are my bestfriend!

Here's one song from Hillsong that I have been personally blessed with. It just sends out the message that Jesus is our Bestfriend and NOTHING will change that. Which is soooo true.

The Bible says:

Romans 8:38-39 (New King James Version)

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.


See, absolutely nothing can take us away from HIS love.

And when he's your bestfriend, you share everything to him, right? You tell him your secrets, successes and yes problems and struggles. A bestfriend would always want to listen.

The question is, would you like to accept his friendship? He's just waiting for you.

Best Friend by Hillsong (Marty Sampson)

Have you heard of the one called Savior?
Have you heard of His perfect love,
Have you heard of the one in heaven,
Have you heard how He gave His son'
Cause I found this love,
I believe in the Son. Show me Your way.

I believe in the One called Savior,
I believe He's the risen One,
I believe I'll live forever,
I believe that my king will come,
Cause I found this love,
I believe in the Son. Show me Your way.

Chorus:
Jesus, you are my best friend,
And you will always be,
And nothing will ever change that,
Jesus, you are my best friend,
And you will always be,
And nothing will ever change that.

Bridge:
Nothing will ever change that,
Nothing will ever change that,
Nothing will ever change that,
Nothing will ever change that.

Death is Inevitable | A look into Michael Jackson's Death

When everybody is still shocked with the death of the former Charlie’s Angel Farah Fawcett, another news broke out about Michael Jackson being rushed to UCLA due to cardiac arrest. And as of this writing UCLA had pronounced the Pop Superstar dead. When I first heard this, my first reaction was “Michael can’t be dead. He’s like Michael Jackson: the superstar!” I mean a powerful man as he is can’t easily die just like that. I hope you understand where I am coming from. But then again, we need to accept it he really is DEAD. Gone forever.

What’s my realization?

Death is inevitable! All of us will surely die in one way or another. Some may just go ahead of us but really we will just follow them. But you know what, God didn’t design this to be this way. God’s plan didn’t include death. His plan was for man to multiply and fill the earth. But when Adam and Eve fell, that’s when things got mixed up. That’s when things got deadly.

Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of SIN is DEATH.”

It was when Adam and Eve sinned that Death became inevitable.

But Romans 3:10 says, “There is none righteous, no, not one;”

What does that mean?

We’re all going to die.

What’s the point?

God has great plans for our lives. In fact his plan for you is not to harm you but prosper you and plans to give you hope and a future. It’s when we choose to do our own thing, that things get mixed up. It is when we listen to the devil, it is when we choose our own way and plans instead of God’s plans that things get messy. Just like what happened with Adam, Eve and the whole mankind at that, death then came in. It is when worry, discouragement, disappointment, unnecessary struggles, came into our lives when we live our live our own way.

What then?

Romans 12:2 says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Yes! You read it right. God’s will for our lives are good, acceptable and PERFECT for us! Wow! That is one great promise, don’t you think?

Here are the things that must be done for us to know the WILL of GOD:

1. SEEK
- We need to seek that Will of GOD and DO it! And God said when we seek with all our hearts, we shall find it! Jer. 29:13.

2. TRANSFORMATION BY RENEWAL
- Jesus said “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”. It takes for us to be re-birthed and renewed. Taking out the old mind and putting in the mind of Christ.

3. BE DIFFERENT
- Once we are re-birthed, we are no longer citizens of this world which means we should not act like one. Let’s not conform to the pattern of this world. When the world worries, we TRUST. When the world panics, we remain still and know that HE is GOD

At the end of the day, we are faced with two choices: God’s WILL or our WILL? What’s your choice?

God forgives you even though He knows | The Devil and The Duck Story

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 8:1 (KJV)

There's nothing you can do to make Him love you more. There's nothing we've done that could make Him close the door. Yes, God forgives us even though He knows we're unworthy. Even though he knows most often than not, we'd sin again. Praise the Lord for his grace. Because of that grace, there is now no condemnation!

Let me share to you a story I got to explain this point further.

The Devil and The Duck

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm.

He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods.

He practiced in the woods; but he could never hit the target.

Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner.

As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck.

Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it. He was shocked and grieved!

In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile; only to see his Sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch the next day Grandma said, 'Sally, let's wash the dishes'

But Sally said, 'Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen.'

Then she whispered to him, "Remember the duck?'

So Johnny did the dishes.

Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, 'I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper.'

Sally just smiled and said, 'well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help?

She whispered again, 'Remember the duck?' So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help.
After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's; he finally couldn't stand it any longer.

He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck.

Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug and said, 'Sweetheart, I know.. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you.'

Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done... And the devil keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, cheating, debt, fear, bad habits, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc.)...whatever it is...You need to know that:
God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing.

He has seen your whole life.... He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven. He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you.

The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness; He not only forgives you, but He forgets.


It is by God's grace and mercy that we are saved.

Go ahead and make the difference in someone's life today.

Share this with a friend and always remember:

God is at the window!

Published by Your Daily Word

God works for the Good

Genesis 50:20 (New International Version)
”You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

Reflection:

Joseph experienced being rejected by his own brothers by selling him to Egyptian traders. He became a slave to a foreign land. He was wrongly accused of rape when he refused to go to bed with Potiphar’s wife and was imprisoned because of that. Even with all of these, he still managed to say “God intended all of it for good”.

How many times did we ask God “Why?” when we were going through some difficult times? How many times did we get disappointed with God when our prayers weren’t answered right away or when God didn’t seem to answer at all? I too am guilty of this sometimes especially when things seem to be unbearable and uncontrollable and problems seem so big and unsolvable.

What is God telling us?

Things may come to discourage us. People may discriminate us at times or even inflict harm on us. Situations may seem so dark and hopeless. The devil may lead us to situations to harm and destroy us [John 10:10]. But Praise the Lord because of his Sovereignty! Even how things look right now, God is able to shift it for our good. Other people even those who are close to us may harm, put us down or destroy us but God can still tweak it for our good.

Paul wrote to the Romans saying:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
(Romans 8:28)

Don’t lose hope! Don’t be discouraged!

If you’re still not winning against your problems, be assured God is not done with it yet!

Nothing can separate us from God's Love

Romans 8:38-39 (New International Version)
38For I am convinced that neither death nor life,

neither angels nor demons,

neither the present nor the future,

nor any powers,

39neither 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.

Reflection:

Love as they say should be unconditional but how many times did you dislike a person because of something he did or he said? How many relationships, marriages, families had broken because the parties have fallen out of love because of some problems and personality conflicts.

It's sad even if we deny it, our love is most of the time conditional.

But, Praise the Lord! He said in Jeremiah 31:3, "I have loved you with an everlasting love, I have drawn you with my loving kindness." God's love is not just uncoditional but also everlasting. What he feels for you is not dependent on who you are and on what you've done in the past. It is just purely HIS NATURE to Love YOU no matter what.

The verse above [Romans 8:38 - 39] reinforces this fact all the more saying nothing, absolutely nothing can make Him un-love us.

Praise the Lord for his Love!

God Bless you!

Recommended Readings:

Because of His Great Love

Father's Love Letter

Give Thanks in Everything

I Thessalonians 5:18 (King James Version)
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Reflection:

Whatever happens, it is right to give thanks to our God. Thanking Him is an act of Faith believing that He’s above everything and that He’s in control of your life. We sometimes forget that all these things whether it’s good or bad are part of God’s plan for us. It maybe painful and gloomy at times but let us be assured with the Word of God:

Romans 8:28 (New International Version)
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

One of the most common sins people commit is “ungratefulness” or “lack of gratitude”. God is telling us today to thank Him for everything and in everything and to have FAITH in Him no matter what. Take courage, you’re in good hands!

God bless!

Recommended Readings:

Trust in Jesus Completely

Stop Worrying! God knows your Needs

Because of His Great Love

Romans 5:8 (New International Version)
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Reflection:

Christ didn’t die for us because we were worthy. He didn’t come down to save us because we deserve it. No! He came to seek and to save what was lost. He came to show you His love for you (John 3:16). Are you willing to accept his LOVE?

As the Song, So You Would Come by Hillsong would say:

Nothing you can do

Could make Him love you more

And nothing that you've done

Could make Him close the door

Because of His great love

He gave His only Son

Everything was done

So you would come

The Who Am I song lyrics reinforces this:

Not because of who I am,

But because of what you’ve done.

Not because of what I've done,

But because of who you are.

In this Lenten Season, let's all remember his Death and his Love which is the reason of this all!

God Bless You!

Read also:

Trust the Lord with All your heart

Thanks to davidtjordan.wordpress.com for the picture.

UPDATE:

A Guilty Murderer Set Free by MyBibleDevotional