Follow @God

No it's not GOD as in the one true God we believe in. He's Richard Dawkins naming his twitter account as god with matching quote: "Hells yeah, it's me! You can email me at god@omnipotent.com"

I'm not here to advertise him. I won't even encourage you to follow him. I don't think he's a christian.

I'm here to ask a question. With thousands of people we follow: from celebrities to politicians to friends and online buddies, have we forgotten to really follow the one who so deserves to be followed?

Have we forgotten to follow GOD?

His tweets (TheBible) said: "Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you.#Bible" John 15:4 (The Message)

Before we get all caught up with technology and modern things, let us never forget GOD!

Have you prayed today?

Follow YourDailyWord @MikesSumondong

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!

Living A Routine Life?

Are you living a routine life?

Heres' the LIFE God has prepared for us!

John 10:10 (The Message)

"I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of."

Now you choose...

Should a Convict be Ordained? I say YES!

I bumped into a blogpost from Joyful Christian Wife. If you've been a follower of the blog, you would know I've linked back to this blog a while back on regards to the controversial Miss California Carrie Prejean and I have revered her post as The TRUE Christian Perspective.

This time I am surprised with her recent post. I just want to make it clear before I continue though, I don't disagree with her as a person and a sister in Christ but I would like to give what I think as a Christian on the topic at hand.

There was this man who was convicted of sodomy and sexual abuse on an 11 year old kid. Just recently the same man was ordained minister in a Louisville Kentucky Church.

Now there's the conflict.

Marlo of JCW stressed that even though she's all for forgiveness, she's saying that the Church must have the Wisdom and Common sense not to put this kind of man in a position of trust and spiritual authority in the community. She continued saying (giving facts based on statistics) that these "kind of people" will someday go back to their old ways and re offend again.

Let's read a passage in the Bible:

John 8:1-12 (New King James Version)
1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
2 Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. 3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” 6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.
7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”
11 She said, “No one, Lord.”
And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

And what happened to this woman?

She was the first WOMAN that the Lord had shown himself to after He resurrected!
Read the passage in John 20:11-18. Now that tells us something. Not just Mary Magdalene being special to the Lord but that this woman who was once an adulterous came to know Christ and was changed ENTIRELY! And if Jesus can do that to her, HE can do the same thing to this convicted turned minister!

Let me throw these questions,

Who are we to judge the worthiness or unworthiness of a person in serving God and I mean specifically as a minister? Didn't Peter deny Jesus but still was appointed to open the gospel to the Jews? Didn't Paul approve several killings of the saints but still was appointed by God to be an apostle to the Gentiles?

It's not about being worthy because if it is then no one is! It's not about your past but it is about the future God has in stored for you! It is not a question whether this man will be changed or not. What we know is Jesus can change LIVES even to the point of opposing what the statistics say. God is above our thoughts, our ways and the norms of this world!

To bring it a little further, didn't Jesus came to seek those who are lost? Should we start putting requirements before anybody can serve God?

It's an issue of calling not being worthy.

What do we learn from this?

Your past is not an issue and is irrelevant compared to the future God has prepared for you! Go and SERVE the LORD!

May God bless you! and May God continually be glorified!


P.S.

My dear readers, these are my thoughts and convictions based on what I know. I may not be the brightest Bible Scholar out there to handle this issue but what I've written is what I think is right. If you have reactions and responses, please don't hesitate to leave your comments.

The Truth Shall Make You Free | Happy Independence Day

John 8:31-36 (New King James Version)
The Truth Shall Make You Free

31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.

32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”

34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.

35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.

36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

As the United States celebrate their Independence Day today, I am reminded of the above passage. Truly, the freedom we have is but a "fake" freedom unless the Son has set us free. People think they're free because they can do anything, anywhere and anytime they want. But as Jesus had said, "whoever commits sin is a SLAVE to sin".

My prayer therefore, and I hope you join me is for God to break the chains of slavery to everyone who are enslaved by sin up until now. Be it drugs, addiction, pornography or even a simple theft and lie. All these are still considered sins before God and a lot of people are ensalved to these.

Today is also a reminder to all of us as well, that even though we have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ and had been set free from Death and Sin still a lot of times we pretend to be slaves to our human nature. We actually make ourselves slaves again when we choose to give in to temptation the devil is throwing at us when we could have rebuked and resisted it!

You see, today aside from the celebration of the Freedom the Lord Jesus Christ had given us for free is also a Day of Prayer for constant breaking of chains as we continue our Spiritual Journey with Him.

God Bless you!

It is for FREEDOM | Happy Independence Day

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of Slavery.

Galatians 5:1 (NIV)

When our great grand parents, Adam and Eve fell we had been under the yoke of slavery ever since. As an example, remember how Adam blamed Eve and how Eve blamed the serpent? Remember how Cain killed his brother because of envy? All these are results of us being enslaved to this body and its sinful desires. All of us, including me and the “holiest” you know are slaves to SIN. And because of this sin, we are all going to die. (Romans 3:23)

Death is the payment for SIN.

In the Old Testament, the Israelites need to get the first born and unblemished lamb (no spots whatsoever) that will serve as their sacrificial offering to cover up and to die for their sins. But this kind of sacrificial offering only covers up their sin at that time. It is just a temporary redemption. Because the next day, people commit sin again.

That’s the cycle. People sin, they offer sacrifices to be forgiven, and then they sin again. Sounds Familiar?


Imagine if this is the case, we’d end up killing millions of lambs or maybe bring them to extinction just for all of us to be forgiven. Or somebody would die for us on our behalf.


That’s the reason Jesus came! He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. (John 1:29). We can’t break ourselves free from the cycle. We can’t escape from it. So God made a way through Jesus Christ!


He died for us to be set free from this slavery! And to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12)


We no longer need to die because Jesus already died for us and whoever has the Son of God has life! (1 John 5:11-12). Praise the Lord!


Now will you take this free gift of Freedom Jesus is giving you? It’s a personal decision you need to make today!

This June 12 is the Independence Day of my country The Philippines while United States celebrates theirs this July 4th.

I’d like to take this opportunity to praise the Lord for everyone who fought and died to achieve this freedom we’re enjoying right now. These people deserve recognition and remembering. I praise the Lord Jesus Christ even more for it was Him who gave all of us the TRUE and REAL freedom that lasts not only in this lifetime but to a life everlasting as well!

Happy Independence Day! Happy Freedom Day!


Published by Your Daily Word

Why did Jesus Come?

Here's a verse that is so close to my heart. If the devil came to steal, kill and destroy, our Lord Jesus came to do this:

"My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life."
John 10:10b (New Living Translation)

Indeed, Jesus came to give us just that! But people ask why are bad things still happen? Why are we still suffering? Why are we not rich and successful yet? I may not be able to give you specific answers to these questions but surely I can give you THE key. THE Key, the way, the truth and the life is Jesus Christ.

Let me share to you a story about a Father and a son to further explain this point.

TAKE MY SON

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art.

When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.

About a month later, just before Christmas,there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands.

He said, 'Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art.' The young man held out this package. 'I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.'

The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. 'Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift.'

The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.

The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.

On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. 'We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?'

There was silence.

Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, 'We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.'

But the auctioneer persisted. 'Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?'

Another voice angrily. 'We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh's, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!'

But still the auctioneer continued. 'The son! The son! Who'll take the son?'

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. 'I'll give $10 for the painting..' Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.

'We have $10, who will bid $20?'

'Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters.'

The crowd was becoming angry.. They didn't want the picture of the son.

They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.

The auctioneer pounded the gavel. 'Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!'

A man sitting on the second row shouted, 'Now let's get on with the collection!'

The auctioneer laid down his gavel. 'I'm sorry, the auction is over.'

'What about the paintings?'

'I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings.

The man who took the son gets everything!'

God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: 'The son, the son, who'll take the son?'

Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, WHO SO EVER BELIEVETH, SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE...THAT'S LOVE

Published by YOUR DAILY WORD

Many Believed because of One Testimony

John 4:39 (NIV)

And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.”

Reflection:

This is a follow-up post to Make Known what God has Done Testify for the Lord. On that post, I encouraged everyone to testify in the comments field and so far 8 people had now made a difference and made known to the world wide web how God had been good to them. Praise the Lord! You can still leave your testimony, just click here.

Today, we'll learn how a testimony of a woman made a lot of people believed in Jesus Christ.

In the preceding verses (John 4:1-26), the woman had a personal encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. In that encounter the woman realized and believed that Jesus is the promised Messiah they've all been waiting for. This encounter was then used by God to invite all other Samaritans to believe in Jesus Christ!

Just like this woman, each of us had a personal encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. It can be an answered prayer or getting healed from a sickness or being rescued from danger or being victorious over addiction or a struggle. These encounters can vary from one person to another but I'm sure they're all amazing and great! Wouldn't you agree?

What made the people believed?

The woman testified! (John 4:29) Even how amazing your experiences are with God, if you don't share it, only you will be blessed by it. If you don't testify then no one else will hear it and no one else will believe. If we're wondering why our friends and family haven't believed in the Lord Jesus Christ yet, maybe we haven't testified about how God had been good to our lives.

Just say it! Just testify and God will do the rest!

Published by: Your Daily Word

Prayers are Answered | God gives you Joy

John 16:24 (BasicEnglishBible)

"Up to now you have made no request in my name: do so, and it will be answered, so that your hearts may be full of joy"

Reflection:

When I was still a new Christian, this is one of the first verses I have memorized (Yes, John3:16 was my very first). This is one verse that surely had encouraged me to continue and persevere in the faith. This is one verse that had fueled my faith in Him.

All of us have needs. Some have more wants which they sometimes consider needs. From food, shelter, clothing to gadgets, branded bags, vacation and many more, as human as we are we long for these things. Now, here's what God wants us to see. Our God is not just a God when you're praying, or when you go to church and when you read the Bible. He's a God of everything and anything in your life including these needs and yes the wants as well. God said in His Word:

"But I came so that my sheep will have life and so that they will have everything they need."

John 10:10 [GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)]

He's a GOD who gives you life that makes you happy. He's a God that makes your heart be filled with joy! He's a God who wants you to have everything you need.

Read John 16:24, you'll see God waiting and anticipating for you to ask. He says, "UP UNTIL NOW, you still haven't asked anything". It's as if He's saying, "What are ya waiting for? Ask now!"

With your asking, he's promising an answer that will give your hearts Joy.

Such an amazing God indeed! Would you agree?

Now, what are you waiting for? Pray and Ask God right now!

Recommended Readings:

Prayer of Jabez

Stop Worrying God Knows Your Needs

God has a PLAN

Picture courtesy of ExtremeSelf

And God saw that IT WAS GOOD (Gen. 1:10) - Earth Hour

"And God saw that it was good."

Genesis 1:10 (NIV)

Reflection:

Let's all acknowledge that God is the creator of all things. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made [John 1:3] which includes even the most hi-tech gadgets we have today. But here's what I want us to look at. God said "...IT WAS GOOD." not just actually in Genesis 1:10 but also in 1:3, 1:12, 1:18, 1:21, 1:25 and in every day God created something. Yes! God created all these things: trees, mountains, landscapes, sun, stars, the sea, the rivers, the animals and the most special, US! And everytime he finishes a day creating something, he always ends up by saying; IT IS GOOD!

He in fact uses His creation to show forth his glory to everyone.

Now, what right do we have to damage what he has created beautifully? Damaging God's creation is disobedience before him. Even as simple as throwing your cigarette butts or plastic wrappers anywhere to as big as Factories emitting Carbon Dioxide and depositing wastes to the ocean, we damage this EARTH. On the other hand, even as simple as recycling plastic wrappers, cleaning your engines (for drivers), planting trees in your backyard or to as grand as organizing an event in your place, we can do something to save our Earth.

As Christians, we are expected to participate in this event even in our own simple ways. I have supported Earth Hour and now I'm supporting Earth Day this April 22! Anything for this Earth! Anything for God's creation! Anything for God! Now, how about you?

Recommended Readings:

Stop Worrying! God Knows your Needs

Give Thanks for Everything

Father - Hillsong United

John 3:16(King James Version)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

The following song you'll be listening in is entitled "Father" and was sung by Hillsong United.

This song tells us about God's Amazing Love for each one of us. His amazing love for you whoever you are who's reading this post right now. His amazing love never changes even if you don't know him and even if you don't believe in Him. His Love will remain steadfast, everlasting and unconditional no matter what. He has given His love so much that he had given up his only Son to die for us.

Let's all celebrate and be thankful for his Love forevermore!

Song lyrics | Father, I lyrics


Recommended Readings:

Father's Love Letter

Because of His great Love

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

Be a good Example, Be Humble as he is Humble

John 13:13, 14 (New International Version)

"You call me "Teacher" and "Lord," and rightly so, for that is what I am.

Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet,

you also should wash one another's feet.

Background:

This is during the LAST Supper of Jesus with the disciples, the night before Judas Iscariot betrayed him. Washing of feet at that time is a customary to the Jews and necessary knowing that they use Sandals most of the time. Washing of feet though is never done by a Jew, only a slave or other people with different nationality.

Reflection:

We'll look at two things from these verses:

1. Power of being an Example to others

- How will the future generations remember you? Will they look up to you and follow your footprints? Have you set a good example to others? Here Jesus became a great Example to his disciples saying even though He is the Lord and Teacher, He'd still wash their feet so they too can wash each other's feet. With this act, his message was sent across effectively.

2. Humility

- When was the last time you chose to accept your mistake and asked for forgiveness? When was the last time you still asked forgiveness even though it was not your fault? Here Jesus did a humbling act in washing his disciple's feet. There are a lot of reasons to justify why He shouldn't do it. One is He's the teacher and Lord. A lord doesn't wash his followers' feet. Second, he's a Jew and no Jew should do such a thing. Third, he's GOD, the creator of all things. But even if he knows his authority and "position", he still chose to bow down and washed his disciple's feet.

What is the Lord telling us?

Let us be great examples of what we say. Let us be doers of our declaration. If we say we're Christians then let's act like one. We cannot expect our friends, family, workmates to believe what we're saying if we're not showing it with our deeds. As James, the brother of Jesus, had said Faith without Deeds is Dead (James 2:14). Let our lives be an Open Book for others to read in proclaiming God's goodness. Let our lives be a blessing to everyone we meet.

Second, let's be humble as he is humble. Here's a passage from Philippians 2:3-11 to explain it:

3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,

but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

6Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and

became obedient to death: even death on a cross!

9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him

the name that is above every name,

10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and

on earth and under the earth,

11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

At the end of the day, it's Him who should be lifted up instead of us. It's Him who should be recognized not us.

God Bless you more!