"Heart Broken"

Am I too shallow to ever feel this pain? to be heart broken for their loss? When most people don't even care, here I am mourning.










Today, I offer this page for all the persecuted Christians in the Middle East. May they all find rest and peace in the presence of God almighty.












The bible says:


"The Lord replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

~ Exodus 33:14














I leave you with the song "Oceans" sang by Hillsong to remind us to trust without borders wherever He will call us. In time where our feet may fail, remind ourselves that our faith will made stronger in the presence of our savior.

"Hypocrisy"

It's been awhile since I discuss a sensitive topic but I think today is one of them. Because this is so rampant and a pretty much common issue amongst the Christians of today. A friend who once told me:

"Some christians uses the word God's blessings even if they had to cheat and lie their way out of the situation, I don't think is a Christ-like thing at all"

 I have to agree with her, she was right! I would like to address this issue because this is a reality. We christians tend to uplift our wrong actions but using "God's blessing" as shield to appraise it. I was guilty of it and the worst part, I was not even aware I was doing it until a friend had to tell me about it.

Christians today are so caught up to quoting "My life is blessed all the time" and they have to live in a certain standard that puts them to pressure that they need to lie, cheat and pretend to make everything looks like a blessing. In the end not realizing they have fallen on the pit. The pit of pride and hypocrisy. We loose the real value why we are called "Christians" it is not to uplift our self image or appease ourselves but to glorify the Lord's name by our deeds and reaching out to the lost. Some Christians may not even want to hear this truth and even uses God's verse to wisely avoid the real issue. It's a sad reality that only few will accept their own mistakes when corrected even among Christians. I am not exempted of this and I am not condemning anyone. But my prayer is for us to realize that while we call ourselves Christians? Atleast respect the name that we carry and just live as what God would do Himself. I know it's not easy but every step even little change matters. Every moment counts and every day is a chance to start. Do it today.

In light with these I would like to share the words below:

"The perfect expression of love for God is found in Jesus' own example. And so the Elder writes, whoever claims to live in [God] must walk as Jesus did. This statement seems to raise the stakes to an impossible level. Who can live like Jesus did? All of Jesus' life demonstrated obedience to God, and that obedience was manifested above all in his death on the cross (see Jn 5:19-20; 10:15, 17-18). Again, the point is not that we must manifest perfect obedience in all that we do. Rather we are to reflect on our lives, asking whether our thoughts, words and deeds show that our primary allegiance is to the God who is light." read more....

~ Obedience to God's Commands, Biblegateway Commentaries

Leaving you with Sidewalk Prophets "The words I would say" 

Faith

Two years ago, when I started to fully surrender my life to Christ was the same year this blog was created in honor of God's love. I was compelled to share how God's love has moved the core of my existence. As I got to know Him, I learned my true identity and I am grateful ever since. Today, what I would like to share was the conversation I had with an atheist a couple years back. I was a new christian just starting to walk. But God let me cross path with someone who never believe God's existence. Below was our conversation:




Atheist: Are you a christian?
Me: Yes, I think I am.
Atheist: Have you seen your God?
Me: No, I haven't.
Atheist: Then, Why do you believe in Him?
Me: Do you believe in Albert Einstein?
Atheist: Yes, I absolutely do. There's a lot of books written about him.
Me: Have you seen him?
Atheist: No, I haven't.
Me: Same with my God. I haven't seen him and there is only one book created about Him but it's enough for me to know Him.



.....Silence.....



.......It was a random talk and I was not even sure where those words come from, but I'm pretty sure of what I believe in. You see, in this age many will come to you and many will doubt your faith. Are you really a Christian? Why does your God let you suffer? Why are there a lot of Christians persecuted? Where is your God? Why? Where? How? All these questions will haunt you and in time will daunt you. Until in time you yourself doubt if what you believe in is true. The world is full of lies, but the bible says:

"Jesus answered:

I am the way,

the truth and the life.

No one comes to the father,

except through me"

~ John 14:6 ~

..... My encouragement today, when the world caught you and you are not sure what to believe remember His words, His teachings, His goodness and His love. Remind yourself who do you believe in and who is your God? And this is where you draw your faith. 

I leave you with Chris Tomlin, "How great is our God"(world edition)

..... My desire soon every nation will sing the same song "How great is our God" may it be in whatever language there is, as long as its saying the same lyrics... For now, stay faithful and know Him more. The more you know How great is our God, then there is nothing else to believe in. I choose to believe and this is my faith..... "How great is our God"........ 

"Listen"

In the times of the Old Testament, God spoke with Moses through the burning bush while he was walking the sheep on Mount Sinai. God's voice was clear and mystified. The lack of capacity to do magic during their times is an assurance that it was God. But in a modern day such as ours, where everything seems possible and our knowledge to magic and sorcery exist. Will leave you a question how does God speaks to us? 

If you go through books, journals or even on the internet in these age, there will be a lot of ways how God can speak to us. Some would say through God's words, neighbors, nature and even music. I would have to say that how God speaks to each of us differently. I believe that you may just be passing by a street and you see a verse that God has placed for you to see. It brought you to tears because it was the word you actually need at the time. You may be missing out or maybe it's a confusing state how can it be God? but you see, this the main reason why burning bush no longer happen nowadays. Why? because we tend to be more skeptic of it. Some may find it a magic trick or a stunts played by anyone. It became a joke. And will you then listen? or just probably laugh at it or ignore it. 

God speaks to us in many forms, He knows us too well that He can sense our needs and the best to deliver His message. As you know God more, you would know its Him. It's when you have a relationship with Him that you understand how He speaks to you. When He does you would simply know it's Him.

"My sheep hear my voice, 

and I know them, 

and they follow me. 

I give them eternal life, 

and they will never perish, 

and no one will snatch them out of my hand".

~ John 10:27-28 

.... As it is written, "My Sheep hear my voice" and we are to follow Him. A sheep knows his shepherd's voice and when He calls. We will know it was Him. The spirit is upon us, in order to be sensitive to His voice. When you listen heartfully, I know you will hear Him and when you do? Just listen, and obey.

I leave you with the song "One Thing Remains" by Jesus Culture:

..... His love never fails and will never give up on us, no matter how many times we try to ignore His call. His great love will never fail, one thing remains His love never fails and His love will never run out on you. My desire is somehow just take time to hear in silence and open your heart. Believe and you shall hear and see God's goodness in your life.... He is alive as the river flows... He is alive in Spirit...

Choosing love and life

In a few days time its another year for me, an added number to my years of maturity. I like to think of it that way rather than seeing it as dreadful threat to my existence. Life is too short. "Live to love and love while you are living" just one of the most powerful essence in someone's life. The capacity to love can venture all possibilities. So today, since it's the "love month" I would like to share a story about love and life. You see, when you have to choose beyond this two options that's when it gets complicated. But my intention of writing this today is not to complicate things but rather encourage you to choose not just wisely decisions but choose godly decisions. The story you will read below is adapted from a real life story of Christians today.

"A sweet tragedy"

Leila works at a coffee shop and she loves what she does, she enjoys serving people coffee as for her seeing happy faces can cheer her up easily. People knows her moods as they are accustomed to her welcoming presence and when she's under the weather it clearly shows. She is also a die hard fan of films about romance and drama. Enrique however is a handsome witty young upcoming director, and was at the city for a short - film they were shooting across the street from where Leila works. Everyday he pass by the coffee shop to grab his favorite Venti Caramel Macchiato with extra caramel shots. Every single time Enrique comes to get his coffee Leila was there. It took a simple "hi" and "hello's" to make a short conversations that end up having breakfast at the dinners around the corner of the same street. The new friendship starts to blossom and Leila was captivated by the interest of being around the young director. To her it's love and passion that catches her attention to this middle-aged man who makes movies. And just like his love for coffee their meetings became frequent and people start to notice. You see, Leila is already committed to a wonderful man who is not perfect but has love her dearly for years. The kind of love that she can't live without. Sooner or later she found herself at a complicated situation wherein she needed to choose between the director who cared for her and showed her his works and his passion she was attracted to him in a way it was distracting her from her life. She was about to choose to cling on to what she thinks is love or her life? Love for the director and her life which is her fiancee. It's true that you may think you love two person at the same time but those love that we feel inside if you meditate closely enough you will see that the love you feel has different intensity. When you list down between recognizing advantages and disadvantages it's never enough criteria to choose. Love was never lost, you can always find reason to love something or a person. But life, is the only one you can have which can never be replaced once its gone its never coming back. And the best kind of life is a life which centers God. Love can be found inside a person's capability to share the feeling and the emotions. But life is a decision you make to continue to live with love and compassion. It's your everything, living is everything.

......Leila had chosen her fiancee, she realizes how much her fiancee had love her comparing it to the ones who didn't. She realizes how much God had love her for giving her his lovable and understanding fiancee. Despite being blinded by the mere attraction of what the enemy offered her she chose "life" the kind of life that centers God and the kind of life that brings her to His will. You might be confused for now because the enemy will try to convey you away from God's will for you. Lure you at the best way possible to distract and destroy you. But stop condemning yourself you are never made perfect. But God perfectly made you to walk through rocky road so that every situation; the tragedy, the excuse, the wrong decisions will make you realize that it's all part of His greater plan in your life. For without those simple tragedy you won't find your greatest journey. Leila and his fiancee are bound to get married this year and their love now abounds a hundred fold.

"Your tragedy 

is your 

greatest Journey"

~Mhelai Padawel

The bible says:

"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."

~ Ephesians 6:11-12

.....Being a christian is not being a perfect person with no blemish and free of sin in fact being a christian is like walking in an open field wherein your become a suitable target of the enemy just by carrying the name of Christ. Having an encounter with the schemes of the enemy have reminded us to armed ourselves of God's greatest weapons "His words and His love" "every single day". In this time when you have a broken heart or a broken soul remind yourself of God's grace because in Him there is no condemnation, you may be walking in a battle field but be secured that no matter how many times you may fall God is with you and you simply need to choose "life" and choose "God". It doesn't really matter who you were but what really matters is who you've continue to become because of God. Focus on what's really important but never forget what you have gone through. It's like leaving a stamp mark in a cave to keep record of your trials, so you can look back and see what God had overcome for you. Leave it in the cave and close it, you only visit it to leave another stamp mark but never ever carry them back. This an encouragement to a friend of mine who was lost but now found. A familiar face who have fallen but had risen up all for God's love.

I leave you with the song: "All for Love" 

by Hillsong United

Let this be an encouragement that even for how many times we have broken His heart, but still God forgives if only we ask that's how much He loves us

Breaking the Silence

The year 2013 has given me the hardest battle I have ever yet experienced since I started my Christian walk, but its true that the enemy will definitely try to steal the very joy God has given us. To try to make us stop by the outpouring of struggles, hoping we will breakdown and return to the world. And when we have fallen on our knees because of the heavy chains clamping on our feet. Just remember God is with us. Never be afraid because God will redeem us in His perfect time. His grace and love will surround us like a hurricane so strong removing the chains that is trying to embody us. Trying to strip us off the identity that God has brought us for. And when we are about to fail. Keep the faith. He will fight for us, carry and free us from any destruction the enemy have placed on us. Soon God will redeem us like a diamond cleansed and pure. Rekindling the joy back into our lives. So radiant it shines. Because through those "breakdowns God can make breakthroughs" by His loving grace the world will know His glory "in just a snap".So, If you have breakdowns in your life? Don't be afraid just remember to keep walking up not down. And in times the stairs of life are pulling you down. Just simply look up say His name and He will give you amazing power in many forms: courage, joy, love, peace and redemption.

I'm breaking my silence. For today I finally believe that 2014 has new and yet challenging beginning.

~ I saw how united my countrymen NOW compared to last year.
~ Ring on the Moon. (I find it as an encouragement although I know how it really is in science terminology)
~ Got married this year. (Aww...... will create more detailed blog for it... soon)
~ New Career for hubby.
~ New Courage and Strength.
~ Redeemed by God's grace.
~ Claimed God's Promise.

"For I know the plans 

I have for you,” 

declares the LORD, 

“plans to prosper you 

and not to harm you, 

plans to give you hope and 

a future."

~ Jeremiah 29:11

..... I am still overwhelmed of the new life and a new beginning this new year has welcomed us. God's promise is true, noble and faithful despite our unfaithfulness. God's love is eternal and unconditional. And despite everything I had to face last year. I am secured in God's blessings. Unexpectedly with not enough words to even compare all the trials of the past. If the stairs of life got slippery and cracking up. I will remember to call His name. Because His ways is not the same us Ours. God's best may not be same as our own standard of "Best" but when it arrives you will know the reason why. Its in that moment you realize the connection you have with Him and how much He dearly loves you.








I leave you with this song; "Break Every Chain" by Jesus Culture






....To reminds us that there is power in the name of Jesus, to break every chain life is trying to feed us.... And if we feel that we are alone, remember there is army rising up to fight with us.....

STAND

I was reading my previous blogs and looking at what I have written for the past year. The learning's, teachings, and lessons God taught me created an impact of how I view life today. Time swift so fast and it's over a year now since I started this blog.  Today let me share with you something I contemplated in the previous months. If God is as real as what is written in the scriptures, so does Satan. And its true, when we draw closer to God, we attract him like a magnet that things begin to happen in our lives. You see, walking in faith with God will never be easy and this is not to scare or to put fear in our hearts but a reality that even the apostles before us have gone through. At one point in their lives they have experience hatred, stoned (in a form of curses, real stones, etc) and persecution.

The Bible says:

"In fact, everyone who wants to live 

a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted"

~ 2 Timothy 3:12

......Yes, you read it right. But persecution in our times are different compared to the persecution during the time of the apostles. You see, the battles of the apostles during their times are more physical while the battle we face today concerns our mind and how we control it.

“It is not that we don't have faith, 

it is just that Satan is trying to destroy

our faith with lies.” 

~ Joyce Meyer, 

 "Battlefield of the Mind"

...... Everyday we face persecution in different forms and ways. The enemy will tell us all sort of "lies" that we thought we have overcome in the past but because the enemy knows our weakness he knows how to aim. Soon our faith will be tested, some will cripple us and some will destroy us "spiritually" and this is our "BATTLE".  My encouragement is to read the following words;

If the enemy tells you:

"You are weak you can't stand on your own"  

Tell him:

"Yes, I am weak" but the scripture says:

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him."

~ Psalm 28:7

If you just started to walk with Christ and the enemy tells you:

"You will never change, you will be like that for the rest of your life"

Tell him:

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

~ Galatians 2:20

If the enemy tells you:

"No one loves YOU"

Tell him:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

~ John 3:16

If the enemy tells you:

"There is NO hope for you, you will never succeed in life"

Tell him:

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

~ Jeremiah 29:11 

.....The battle we face is how we remain to fix our mind to "Trust in GOD" despite all the lies and the trials the enemy throws at us. It's not about what God didn't give us when we prayed and asked Him too. But to recognize all the blessings God had given us without asking Him. The true test of faith is whether or not we receive His blessings but how faithful are we to God? Even if God said "No" to our prayers, even if God hasn't answered our call or even if everything around us changes. God is the same today, yesterday and tomorrow (Heb 13:8) The trials we go through has a purpose. It could be His way of molding a character within us, to teach us or to shape us, to be the "Woman or Man" God created us. We can't stand alone, but with God on our side we have already won the battle. In time you have that encounter just wait on God and be of good courage and He will strengthen your heart (Psalm 27:14) . Stay armed of God's wisdom. So when we face the enemy, we know what to tell him. If the pressure is to too strong just keep the faith and "Take a Stand" remind yourself that you are a "Princess" the daughter of a "King". He is with you. Remind ourselves, if God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31) .

Let me leave you with Chris Tomlin song "Our God" to remind us that "Our God" is greater than any problems we are having and will have in the future. And to keep telling ourselves these words:

"And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us. And if our God is with us, then what could stand against. Our is God Greater, stronger, awesome and higher than any other"