In God's Light (".)

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

#214- A New Year with GOD :)

January 1, 2013 (Tues)-
A blessed and reflective reading to all :)

Psalm 73:28

New International Version (NIV)

²⁸But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.

Glory to our Father God!

When we think of it, years passed by so quickly.

2012 was a year of "facing the giants" for me and my family. I can truly shout to the whole world that my GOD is bigger than anything else in this world-- the unexpected circumstance that we have to go back home in the Phils. and not stay in the U.S. anymore (my family and I went back home totally without work), my mom had a heart attack, relatives and dear friends dying, sicknesses, family struggles, financial problems.....yes, the list may go on and yet we were able to survive all because our Loving Father have carried us all through it in His loving arms, letting us feel so loved, protected, assuring us and giving us the confidence that He is In-charge.

And I can't help but share this, and to tell everyone that we will never know what's ahead this 2013, but I can assure you, if you let your life be in full-dependence to God, then you are in the best hands :)

Happy New Year; start it right; start it with GOD!

Praise to you dear JESUS!

Have a blessed day :)

Bible in a Year:

Read and contemplate with me--
The Bible is our source in living the Christian life; HE gave the Bible to us as our guide-read it and focus on God's Words everyday....to make it a habit, make it a practice, Amen :)
Bible in a Year:
Genesis 1-3; Matthew 1

Today is the day :)

If you have not received Jesus Christ yet in your heart, today is the day. May you embrace His love and His gift :)

"Lord Jesus, I believe You are truly the Son of God. I confess that I have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed. Please forgive all my wrongdoing, and let me live in relationship with You from now on. I receive You as my personal Savior, accepting the work You accomplished once and for all on the cross. Thank You for saving me. Help me to live a life that is pleasing to You. Amen."
(ref prayer by: Dr. Charles Stanley, InTouch Ministry)

Why am I doing this?
...."I am driven by the eternal destiny of others."

Friday, November 16, 2012

#213- Our Compassionate GOD

November 16, 2012 (Fri)-
A blessed and reflective reading to all :)
Jonah 1-4

New International Version (NIV)

Jonah Flees From the Lord

1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: ²“Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”

³But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish...

Jonah Goes to Nineveh

3 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time:²“Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”
³Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. ⁴Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.”⁵The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.
⁶When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. ⁷This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:

“By the decree of the king and his nobles:

Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. ⁸But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. ⁹Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”

¹⁰When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.

Jonah’s Anger at the Lord’s Compassion

^4...But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?”

⁵Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. ⁶Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. ⁷But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered.⁸When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”

⁹But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?”

“It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”
¹⁰But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. ¹¹And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”

Glory to our Amazing God!

Before I rest myself to sleep, I believe I am being prompted by the Holy Spirit to share to everyone what I have shared awhile ago with my son in his bed--- the story of Jonah :)

Have you heard the whole story of Jonah?

Have you opened the Bible and savor the beautiful story of the most compassionate God that we have?

Yes, this sharing is all about God and His most compassionate heart.

If we knew the story, it's about Jonah running away from God because God commanded him to go to Nineveh and preach repentance. However, Jonah did not readily obeyed, rather, he fled from God. But who can really flee from God? So Jonah, after being in the belly of a big fish, he prayed, repented and God heard his prayers. After which, Jonah then obeyed God, went to Nineveh and preached repentance.

The next verses I believe are the most beautiful part.....the people of Nineveh repented, even their king, and our God, our Loving and Compassionate God, forgave them all :)

How about Jonah? Jonah was in a way I believe so furious, he is angry at God because he want the Ninevites to be punished for their wickedness and not to let them be forgiven.

Jonah's reaction is usually and generally our reaction; that there should be no forgiveness to the wicked; that these evil people deserves severe punishment and not forgiveness; but in this beautiful book (Jonah), God reveals how compassionate He truly is....." (the LORD said...) why are you angry Jonah? Should I not have concern for the city of Nineveh, in which there are more than 120,000 people who cannot tell their right hand from their left..."

Yes, from the Old Testament times 'til the New Testament, and up to now, God is preaching repentance--- that we turn away from all our sins and wickedness, acknowledge Him as our God, and live our life for Him, because that is the greatest gift He is offering us all. It isn't time is up for all of us yet and we need to grab the opportunity of His offer of eternal life..........but never ever make it an opportunity cost--- to be sorry for eternity is costly.

Praise to you dear JESUS!

Have a blessed day :)

Bible in a Year:

Read the Bible in One Year- Here's a reading plan where you and I can focus on God's Words everyday....to make it a habit, make it a practice, Amen :)

Today is the day :)

Why am I doing this?
Simple...."I am driven by the eternal destiny of others."

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

#212- Obligation to Share GOD

November 7, 2012 (Wed)-
A blessed and reflective reading to all :)

Verse of the Day

He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.”Ephesians 1:9-10 NIV

(from Biblegateway)

Praise God, our Amazing Father in Heaven!

I can't help but be humbled again while I am writing this post to share God and His words. The lasting imprint I've had which prompted me today's sharing was the message I've heard last Sunday's worship service at our church- CCF.

"Know CHRIST and make HIM known"-- yes, I am obligated to share God's love, mercy and His offer of eternal life. I am a Believer, I am a Christian, and as a child of my Almighty Father, I can't help but be prompted by the Holy Spirit living in me to be of service to HIM by writing about HIM.

The obligation to share HIM is out of love and HIS overwhelming mercy and faithfulness in my life and my family's.

It's been awhile, eight (8) months have passed when we went back home from Florida, U.S.A., and now back here in the Philippines. Though it's been a whirlwind of challenges, my family and I were able to cope with it thanks to the Almighty Saviour and Lord of Lords of our lives- Jesus Christ!!!!

It is not an easy adjustment, and yet, if you are to truly place your trust to Jesus, He will let you pass all trials and challenges with renewed vigor and strength and after awhile you can shout to the whole world-- I thank my GOD at all times for everything and anything!!!!

Yes, I always claim that my life is a constant testimony of God's love and faithfulness, and being HIS child, it is my proudest moment when I can talk about HIM, share HIM and live my life for HIM.

I love my GOD, and it is my prayer to all those being touched in one way or another by this post to experience the same by surrendering your life to JESUS!

Praise to our One and Only God-- Jesus Christ!!!!

Have a blessed day :)

Bible in a Year:

Read the Bible in One Year- Here's a reading plan where you and I can focus on God's Words everyday....to make it a habit, make it a practice, Amen :)

Today is the day :)

Why am I doing this?
Simple...."I am driven by the eternal destiny of others."

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

#211- Blessed Beyond Measure

October 24, 2012 (Wed)-
A blessed and reflective reading to all :)

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
Rejoice always,
pray continually,
give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Praise the Lord!

Have you felt how much God loves you since you were born until now?

I do!!

I can't help but share this beautiful message to all. I have felt God's overwhelming love for me through and through. And as I can't contain it, it overflows and its hard not to let everyone feel or see how my Loving Lord touches my life everyday. Yes, truly, with pride and humility, I am telling everyone my God loves me tremendously.

In its sincerest form, my way of giving back to the One True God that I know is to share my relationship with Him. And the only phrase I could always think of is-- "I am blessed beyond measure."

Are you?
How do you measure God's blessings for you?
Are you thankful to Him everyday?

Yes, I am blessed beyond measure. It doesn't necessarily mean that I am financially wealthy but I have Him and I am complete. Through Him, I and my family were able to weather all storms of our lives, past, present and I believe in my heart... even future.

My hope and my prayer is that everyone maybe able to recognize and form a loving, lasting and trusting relationship with Jesus...........because if you do, you will not just wonder what I am sharing but will also experience the same phrase I've been living with-- BBM- Blessed Beyond Measure.

Praise to our One and Only God-- Jesus Christ!!!!

Have a blessed day :)

Bible in a Year:

Read the Bible in One Year- Here's a reading plan where you and I can focus on God's Words everyday....to make it a habit, make it a practice, Amen :)

Today is the day :)

Why am I doing this?
Simple...."I am driven by the eternal destiny of others."

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

#210- ETERNITY IN OUR HEARTS

May 8, 2012-

He has also set eternity in the human heart; - Ecclesiastes 3:11

The full chapter:
Ecclesiastes 3 NIV

A Time for Everything
3 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race.

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.

14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.

15 Whatever is has already been,
and what will be has been before;
and God will call the past to account.

16 And I saw something else under the sun:
In the place of judgment—wickedness was there,
in the place of justice—wickedness was there.
17 I said to myself,
“God will bring into judgment
both the righteous and the wicked,
for there will be a time for every activity,
a time to judge every deed.”

18 I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. 19 Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. 20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”

22 So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?

My Thoughts:
God's words are always worth sharing :); truly, life is just a mist, here today, gone tomorrow; loved ones are getting sick and sometimes sicker, others have died-- my sister-in-law's mom, our ninong (the father of a very closed friend), and so amidst the sorrow we are/were all going through, God's words are really our stronghold-- Yes, this life is just a temporary life, and if we will all learn to contemplate how we can give meaning into it, we have to learn to seek God everyday-- He is the only one who can show us the way, He is our light, and through all these sorrows, in God's beautiful time, we will experience what God has stored for all of us who believe Him and who partakes to do His will; have a blessed day to everyone :)

Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Today is the day!

Lord Jesus, I ask You to forgive my sins and save me from eternal separation from God. By faith, I accept Your work and death on the cross as sufficient payment for my sins. Thank You for providing the way for me to know You and to have a relationship with my heavenly Father. Through faith in You, I have eternal life. Thank You also for hearing my prayers and loving me unconditionally. Please give me the strength, wisdom, and determination to walk in the center of Your will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you have just prayed this prayer—congratulations!

You have received Christ as your Savior and have made the best decision you will ever make—one that will change your life forever! (InTouch Ministries by Dr. Charles Stanley)

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

#209 Great Is Our GOD

March 28 (Wed)-
A blessed and reflective reading to all :)

2 Timothy 1 (NIV)
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,

2 To Timothy, my dear son:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Thanksgiving
3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

Appeal for Loyalty to Paul and the Gospel
6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.

13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

Examples of Disloyalty and Loyalty
15 You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.

16 May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. 17 On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. 18 May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.

Praise the Lord!

It's been awhile, I miss sharing my thoughts and my reflections everyday in my blog. I've been in a roller-coaster ride of challenges by our Lord Almighty and what I can share today, with humility and thankfulness, our Loving Lord is truly a great, great God!

My nanay (mother) had a heart attack last March 2; the doctor said she has been blessed to survive the attack. My little boy and I rushed home here in the Philippines to be with her, thankful to God that she was given an extension on her life.

March 6, we were back home in the Philippines, it was nanay's 72nd birthday, she looks weak that time and my heart can't contain the sadness I had seen when I saw my mom looks so frail. Two (2) weeks after, I let her undergo an angiography, a test/ procedure to check what's the state of her heart; when she was wheeled to the invasive/cardio room for her test, I am in tears to our Loving Lord, asking Him in fervent prayer to please let my mom be alright, let His healing hands touch her, let Him do a miracle for her, let her heart be better (because when she went a 2D echo, the findings is that her heart functions only 24% whereas the regular should be around 55-85%).

And the most beautiful part, our Loving Lord touched her, she did not show any blockages in the heart, and the doctor who did the procedure said that at the age of 72, he cannot believe it that my nanay has a clean heart-- but I know in my heart, our Loving Lord has touched and healed her.

I praise God for His miracle in my nanay's life; I can't contain my happiness that time when the doctor announced that she does not have to undergo angioplasty nor bypass.

Isn't it truly great-- our God is the God of miracles and healing!

And I love my God, my dear Jesus Christ, for letting me share this beautiful news to all of you.

It is not easy to be in the midst of the storm, somehow, if you don't know who's your Stronghold, you can be carried away, but assuredly, I can attest that our Heavenly Father, our dear Jesus Christ, is the only one whom we can depend on, He is our Stronghold, our Rock, our Refuge, and I am witnessing His constant grace and compassion to us all, especially to my mom as He continues to heal her, and I praise Him with all of me, and I will continue to serve Him, share Him, live my life for Him.

Life is not easy, but remember to always look up, pray, read His words, and He will sustain you all the days of your life.

Praise to our One and Only God-- Jesus Christ!!!!

Have a blessed day :)

Bible in a Year:

Read the Bible in One Year- Here's a reading plan where you and I can focus on God's Words everyday....to make it a habit, make it a practice, Amen :)

Today is the day :)

If you have not received Jesus Christ yet in your heart, today is the day. May you embrace His love and His gift :)

"Lord Jesus, I believe You are truly the Son of God. I confess that I have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed. Please forgive all my wrongdoing, and let me live in relationship with You from now on. I receive You as my personal Savior, accepting the work You accomplished once and for all on the cross. Thank You for saving me. Help me to live a life that is pleasing to You. Amen." (ref prayer by: Dr. Charles Stanley, InTouch Ministry)

Why am I doing this?
Simple...."I am driven by the eternal destiny of others."

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

#208 The Love of Money is the Root of All Kinds of Evil

A blessed and reflective reading to all :)

1 Timothy 6 (NIV)
1 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. 2 Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare of their slaves.

False Teachers and the Love of Money

These are the things you are to teach and insist on. 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.

Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Final Charge to Timothy

11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see.

To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, 21which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.

Grace be with you all.

Praise the Lord!

If all of us will learn the true meaning of godliness and contentment, this world will be much better to live in :)

Have a blessed day :)

Bible in a Year:

Read the Bible in One Year- Here's a reading plan where you and I can focus on God's Words everyday....to make it a habit, make it a practice, Amen :)

Today is the day :)

If you have not received Jesus Christ yet in your heart, today is the day. May you embrace His love and His gift :)

"Lord Jesus, I believe You are truly the Son of God. I confess that I have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed. Please forgive all my wrongdoing, and let me live in relationship with You from now on. I receive You as my personal Savior, accepting the work You accomplished once and for all on the cross. Thank You for saving me. Help me to live a life that is pleasing to You. Amen." (ref prayer by: Dr. Charles Stanley, InTouch Ministry)

Why am I doing this?
Simple...."I am driven by the eternal destiny of others."