Christ be all around me

"Above and below me
Before and behind me
In every eye that sees me
Christ be all around me
Above and below me
Before and behind me
In every eye that sees me
Christ be all around me
Whoa...Whoa...Christ be all around me"


These are some of a few lines from the song "Christ be all around me" by Michael W. Smith from his latest album "Sovereign".

Whenever we perform this song in an international church in Bandung, I could really feel the blood rushing through my veins and my tears flowing from my eyes as I play the guitar. This is one of the big reasons that's why it's one of my favorite song.

There are times in my christian life that I go through periods when I don't get emotional leading from God which brings me to the question: Where are you God when I am in distress?

I cried out to Him and yet He seems to be just quiet and non responsive.

What am I supposed to do in times like this?

David did the same thing and the same response from God.

Why does God behave that way? What are the reasons behind it?


One thing I learned recently in the past is that God is a very good listener. He likes to hear our prayers addressed to Him because He wants us to be closer to Him. He doesn't give up so easily and give us the feedback that we want. In a deeper relationship with God, we need to be tough and determined to continually talk with God about the issues going on in our lives. He wants us to acknowledge Him  before everything else. He is a jealous God in which He deserves from the time He sacrificed His own Son for all of our sins. So, we just owe Him everything that we do in our lives.

When you don't see something, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Look at the stars in the daylight. You may not see them, but they are always there. Never gone. We should not cloud ourselves with illusion which happens around us. The devil wants us to believe that God is not always there so he can snatch us from the true living God. We must stay strong and firm from the promise that God has given us until the day He comes.

Remember: God is never gone.He is ever present in any direction wherever you are and whatever you are struggling with. If you need strength and wisdom, don't hesitate to come before Him, and He is much willing to hear your voice and eventually do something for your own good.

What does freedom really mean?

When I was still a kid, I felt like so lazy going to school. I felt so anxious when Sunday steps in knowing that tomorrow I had to drag myself to school. Damn! That was just horrible! I would always wish that time would fly me to the time when I already become mature, independent, and most especially, free to do the things I want to do.

Now, I am already here, but it seems like nothing has changed. I feel like I still get those awkward moments when Sunday kicks in especially before the sun sets down. Also, I still get those worries about tomorrows especially in my job. I got the chance to spend time my hobbies, favorite foods and other vested interests together with my love ones, family and to myself.  I felt like I'm still inside the box unable to stretch every inch of my arms and legs. Then, every night I ask myself, "Am I really free?"

Freedom is more than the fact that you can do everything you want. It means more like being free from your sins and old habits that do not glorify God. Breaking the chain of sin is not easy to do. It takes much more courage and strong faith that in the end, God is watching your back whenever you fall from your weakness ready to pick you up in His merciful hands. I am weak and yet I believe that God will help me finish the war against myself. Truly, the toughest guy you need to face is yourself.

This situation I am facing might be the same ground where you are standing right now. And I recommend you to stay put and wear the armor and carry the sword of God through His word and grace. Let's continue to ask for His comfort and wisdom so we will be guided accordingly.

I think that is the freedom I have always wanted for my entire life. Freedom from guilt and sins of the world.

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www.reginasfamilyseasons.com

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A Total Makeover

A couple of weeks ago, I went to the motorcycle shop for my motorcycle's makeover. I had its whole body covered with film to prevent it from scratch. I had my plate number cover that matched the color of my wheel linings. I changed its  muffler into a deep bassy one that does sound like a big bike.  And I had my side mirrors changed with the smaller and cooler ones.  Luckily, it went out very well and my motorcycle has never been as new as it was before. I was so happy that I got rid of the parts that made my motorcycle look awful.

When I went back home, the night before I slept, I was thinking if God can renew me inside especially with my faith towards Him because recently, I felt like a distance away from Him. I don't do the things I ever used to before like writing my blogs, reading at least three chapters in a day, and passionately praying especially before I hit the bed. I kept on praying every night that God will do something and pull everything in my life  back where it used to be. I am guilty for what I am now and I think I really need a makeover just like what I did with my motorcycle for I am sure that He would be so happy to see me as new as I was never before.

Here are the things I would be grateful to win them back:

I want to be as productive as before especially in writing my blogs and reading His word on a daily basis.

I want to be more sensitive to the people around me especially to the ones I love.

I want to be more fond of my work regardless of the rewards.

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."
                                                                                  -Psalm 51:10



I know that it would be really tough but I must believe that God will always be right here with me. I need to remember that He would be so happy if I would renew myself for his eternal glory and honor.



AMEN

Discouragements?

Discouragement!

My life in the recent days was filled with such very unpleasant word. I felt so ill each day I go to work till the night before I close my eyes. It is horrible. Yup, I understand that no matter how I shake my head from disappointment, there’s no way I could escape the horrible thing.

Every morning and night, before getting up on the bed, before laying my head on the pillow, my heart is throbbing in pain and anguish. I cry out to the Lord to comfort my weary mind, body and soul. My strength is getting weak, my joy is shrinking into vast sadness.

The pain still lingers now though I am still hoping that soon it will fade away to joy and peace of mind. My faith in Him is still on hold even though I am panting with blood sweat on my hands and body.

Every discouragement I face, I just recall how God has placed Paul into his unthinkable ministry to thousands of people. He rejoiced in the midst of rejection, punishment and even death. He rejoiced in the midst of all the discouragements from the apostles, his friends, and all the people around him.

New Year's Resolution: How to Make it Happen?

Beautiful fireworks display once again painted the night skies as we welcomed 2013 with feast and drinks together with our family and friends.

Before 2013 stepped into our calendar, many of us both young and old had already made their new year’s resolution.

But what does New Year’s resolution exactly mean? Are we able to do them successfully throughout the year?

A New Year's resolution simply means a change for better living.

 And by the way, why do we celebrate New Year on the month of January?

Julius Caesar is the one who proposed January 1 as the first day of the year because it was named after the Roman God, Janus, which is believed to be the God of doors and gates. This, then, symbolized the transition from one year to the other.


The top ten mostly overused resolutions are:

1. Save money.
2. Quit smoking.
3. Lose weight.
4. Quit drinking.
5. Get out of debt.
6. Work harder.
7. Be more patient.
8. Spend more time with family and friends.
9. Get a better job.
10. Help more.

These resolutions are frequently used by most of us and mostly we never get to fulfill them because we don’t monitor them consistently. We only have the courage to make a promise for the sake of celebrating New Year, not for our own sake. Making promises on this celebration has just become a habit not considering that it has a far greater meaning on us.

We tend to fail in accomplishing our goals because we do them alone selfishly. We need somebody to help us fulfill them accurately. We need our Lord as the center of our resolution for without Him all things are not possible. Ask Him to give us the strength that can hold us up during the painful process of changing ourselves into better people. (Philippians 4:13). Then, we ask our family and friends to help us in doing our goal for the whole year.

Making a resolution before and during the New Year doesn't end just like that. Fulfillment is the hardest process that many people fail to achieve because of several reasons. A resolution should bubble up from the heart of a true disciple of Christ, not on our selfish desires. As we embark into this New Year, let us embrace it with everlasting gladness, love, faith, hope, endurance and gentleness.(1 Timothy 6:11)

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From spiritual dryness to spiritual success!

For the recent weeks, I was fetching for ideas on how to beat myself from spiritual dryness until God chose Mark to deliver the message last Sunday.

I have been truly struggling for a couple of months and I thought that it was only me who feels it until Psalm 13 was revealed before my eyes.

Here how it goes.

Psalm 13

How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever?

How long will you hide your face from me?

How long must I wrestle with my thoughts

And day after day have sorrow in my heart?

How long will my enemy triumph over me?

Look on me and answer, LORD my God.

Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,

And my enemy will say, “I have overcome hime,”

And my foes will rejoice when I fall.

But I trust in your unfailing love;

My heart rejoices in your salvation.

I will sing the LORD’s praise,

for he has been good to me.

David is a very good example to those who are experiencing spiritual setback just like me. He is honest to the Lord in all his feelings. He expressed what he felt in plain language with great pain and anguish. In the end, his trust in him was unfailing and exemplifying in spite of all the misery he was facing. What a faithful servant he has shown for a faithful God. He kept holding on and he saw the fruit of his trust and faith to God.

Sometimes we think that God is away from us. Sometimes we think that he has forsaken us. Sometimes we don’t feel his power nor a shadow of his presence. But the real thing is, He is never gone. He is always there, watching us over on how we are going to react, make decisions and carry out his plans and promises.

For all these days, I thought that I had the worst case in terms of experiencing spiritual struggle. The Lord has been good to me. Now, I am finally over it. I have surpassed the test that I  thought I never would.

 photo credit: Manoj Kengudelu via photopin cc

photo credit: h.koppdelaney via photopin cc

When things seem like impossible for us to do...

  A couple of weeks ago, I had my third graders to make up and write their own story based from the single picture shown on the LCD projector.

As what I had expected, twenty two of them out of twenty five whined up because they said that it's a complicated task for them to make and there's nothing but only a single picture. All that I heard from that moment is the phrase, "It's so hard, it's impossible to do it." Others even said like, "It will take forever to finish this story!".

What would you expect? Writing is such a laborious task for most of them especially it's their first time to write a story.

Well, the good thing is I am ten miles ahead of them.  I was already expecting these feedback so I called their attention.

Right away, I made my own story based from the given picture on the spot. I used their names and a few places they know.

I kept on talking and telling the story, putting each strand from one to another until I came up with a beautiful ending. To their amazement, they didn't notice that I stood and spoke for about five minutes.

Then, one of them sitting at the back said,

 "Oh! That's nice! I also have my own funny story!" That's easy!"

Then, the child sitting in front said, "Ahhh! I know what my story is going to look like!"
After that, another child and the rest  kept on muttering, "I have got a good idea!".

Everyone was able to finish their own stories.When I got back to my desk, I was giggling with the stories they came up. And of course, I felt very satisfied with their work.

The following day came and I have picked the best stories in each class.
All of them could not believe that they could write stories of their own just like their favorite authors.
There were several of them who said, "I want to make another story and I will do my best this time."

Five minutes before the bell rang, I told them that they should not put their mouth first in doing a given task not only from a teacher, but also from other people especially their parents.

We must learn from the story of Gideon bringing only three hundred soldiers with him and their pitchers of water, torches and trumpets against more than a hundred thousand  trained and experienced Midianites and Amalekites.

Also, don't forget the Israelites who brought down the great walls of Jericho by means of marching around with and blowing their trumpets.

These were lesser persons and they don't have much money and authority but they were able to succeed because of only one thing, and that is faith. They did whine up like what we always do, but I think that's the way God wants to show us up that we must always put our trust and faith in him first, and not our tongues.

When things seem like impossible for us to do, be not afraid nor discouraged, because His ways are not our ways. He does things in mysterious ways. He does great things more than what we can imagine.


Have you ever felt that God was calling you to do a task for Him and yet you didn't listen because you believe you don't have the ability and resources to do such?

Well, be glad and you are blessed!