Reconciliation

In my previous post, "Now Serving" I remember I told you that I have been to foreign land and years I have spent there has been a mix of whirlwind of happiness but it was not all holy. I have live my life in a worldly way. Hanging out with so-called-friends whom I trusted and gain supports and motivation. At the moment, I thought I was living a good life. Until I met a man, he has become the "peanut butter to my jelly" and for that moment I thought "we are the perfect two". Being in the relationship at that point in time, I knew something was wrong. There's always something strange about it. And it came to the point God has revealed, he was in current relationship with his long time girlfriend (which became his wife now by the way, the reason I know just keep on reading...) . I want to skip the part of how I pity-party-for-months, we all know how the story goes. But the main Plot of the story; I thought I could never forgive him, I wanted revenge, I want him to feel how hurt I was and how he made me feel so ashamed about myself. I have thoughts of him in a most hurtful situations every woman could possibly think of. Eventually, I moved on with my life and met the person who brought me back to Christ. He reads bible verses and took me to attend church every Sunday. I was hesitant, but you know God was so persistent. He keeps knocking at my heart, and just always  there waiting patiently for me to open it up to him.



The bible says:


"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

~ Colossians 3:13


...... You see, I have forgiven my-ex because of how God has forgiven me. It is said in the scriptures forgive in order to be free of the bitterness and of the bondage that hindrance growth in relationship with Him. Its true to fully understand God's ways is to simply follow him. "So if the son set you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36).



I am now currently attending a TFV class at Victory, our local church. And my ex and his wife is in the same class as I am, the odds and the awkwardness of seeing them there. I was uncomfortable, but I know it was never an accident. Out of all the classes and the many churches, why here? and why now? and why seat in front of me? I asked myself... But thank God for his good people. I had my friend Anne Centeno prayed for me, in this time of need when we are put in a situation particularly in "my situation" I just paused, prayed and listened. And thought of how God would respond, my group leader Jael told me "just be confident because God has redeemed you of your past". Isn't God good? He aims for you (like an arrow) and he will release you when he knows you will hit the mark. I know I needed to talk to his wife and God has place a desire in my heart to reach out to her. And I did, and by the grace of God I was even able to pray for both of them. My ex apologized after and I just told him, " I have forgiven you". Writing this part of the story in my life right now makes me wanna cry, thank God for his goodness, thank him for his promises. Its like watching a "telanovela" wherein the "bida" gets the last laugh but in my story its different. I never took my revenge but instead God has taught me to be forgiving and kind. Just like He did.



The bible says:

"All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

~ 2 Corinthians 5: 18 - 21


..... I have put down my hat to God, as the scriptures says God gave us the ministry of reconciliation for He will reconcile us for himself. My journey brought me to tears, heartaches, awkwardness but I would never want it any other way. As the scripture says we are Christ's ambassadors. Be reconciled to any painful past, past you never even want to think about. But be encourage, because through Christ you will be made righteous....




I leave you with this song, I am currently listening to "Voice of Truth". For those times God tells us to go out of our comfort zone. And where the GIANTS (our problems) tell us we will never win. Listen to the voice of truth (God) He is telling you "DO NOT BE AFRAID" because He tells you "THIS IS FOR MY GLORY"..... so just go and be confident, because "GOD IS WITH YOU"

A Few Good Men

It's been a while since I write as constant as I could, I actually have pending topics I really want to share. But time for me is harder to get by these days, as living a life committed to passion and love has been my hobby. Passion to do as much as I can to honor Him and obedience to do his will out of His love for me. As I have accepted the authority He bestowed on me, I have been called to do His every will. And its the very reason I created this blog, for others to know how God's love have been the core of the changes I am encountering in my daily life. I am not perfect, and I understand that now. Even living under obedience to him, my very nature is indeed weak. I draw my strength to God for those time I was fragile. And He never fails to send people to encourage and support me, He send his words through them to enlighten my soul. My journey does not stop when I have fallen short, but its a new chapter for me to stand against in every thing I believe in.

Our challenges does not pertains to the critically of the situation we are in. Its actually on the daily basis of our lives; how to control anger when traffic hits while riding the bus going to work, what to say when dealing with strangers who annoyed us, when talking with irritating colleagues or for some classmates, how to react when a boss yelled at you or when a customer demands too much from you, how to forgive when your siblings ruined the shoes you bought last week or how to respond when your dad thinks you are useless.  In these simple moments, God call unto us how should we respond.


The bible says:

"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God."

~ James 1:19-20

..... When you read the whole chapter of James 1:1-20 it discuss situations wherein we get tempted but also states what happens if we do. In general this verse summarizes how one should respond when temptation comes. Have time to listen but also be cautious when we speak to others. If someone tempt us to be angry, pause and reflect how God would react in his righteous way...


In the kind of world we are living today, the most bourgeois type of temptation is the "lust of the flesh" I would like to state situations based on what I have observed in the past and in the most current observations. The lust of the flesh would be predominantly seen through women wearing skimpy skirts and loose blouses or in a certain behavior that stimulates as such. But "men" nowadays, have known the power of "words" to coax, to entrap, and to eventually seduce a woman. Many women may have fallen or  unaware of it but its the very reason I was urge to post it here. In the workplace, in the streets, in the very comfort of our homes. It can be used by anyone either unintentionally or intentionally. My plea would be to again "guard our hearts" be cautious how we allow these things to   stimulate temptation. Just as what Ptr. Carlo said "flee" at the moment your awareness of what was said or seen just run away from it (1 Corinthians 6:18) . Whether a woman has desire to inappropriately dress or act improperly the bible tell us:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 

But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent 

has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

~ Matthew 5: 27 - 28 ~

~~~~~ 0 ~~~~~~

"Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, 

impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, 

fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, 

divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. 

I warn you, as I warned you before, 

that those who do such things 

will not inherit the kingdom of God".

~ Galatians 5:19-21 ~

..... Need I say more, those are the the exact words written in the bible for us to follow and instill in our hearts. 

"For I believe there are still a "few good men" among us, 

and my prayer is for us to recognize these struggles 

and let us not allow these thoughts to crawl into our minds and populate our hearts. For out of those little thoughts may also bear fruit of consequences and sin may come in. 

Let us return to the "word" for in times we face these kind of battles. God's words will be our armor".

.... In the same light, this is not to intentionally put fear in our hearts because we have sin we can no longer enter the gates of heaven. My prayer is for us to realize to be so in love with God, but be cautious in the works of the enemy. God's grace has save us, and will always be upon us. But not entitled to use grace alone for us to be save. Our salvation comes from God (A gift from God)  Its through and by him alone....

I leave you with these song, "Chains Be Broken" by Hillsong for I believe once those chains of impurities has been broken. We will be free indeed. Free of shame and guilt. God has always love us, He just wants us to come and follow him, all of his ways.

Also read my previous blog: A Midst The Storm