Following Him...

"A lot of people who worship Jesus don't actually follow Him. ~Rick Warren"

Test of True Christianity

I've been reading through blog posts today and I'm blown away with how real the "TRUE CHRISTIANITY" in the lives of these people.


The first one I read from Joshua Harris site. It's a story about a missionary named Paton.


Here's the story:

[When Paton declared his intention to take the gospel to the New Hebrides islands] a Mr. Dickson exploded, "The cannibals! You will be eaten by cannibals!" The memory of Williams and Harris on Erromanga was only 19 years old.

But to this Paton responded:

Mr. Dickson, you are advanced in years now, and your own prospect is soon to be laid in the grave, there to be eaten by worms; I confess to you, that if I can but live and die serving and honoring the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by Cannibals or by worms; and in the Great Day my Resurrection body will rise as fair as yours in the likeness of our risen Redeemer.

This is the courage and zeal each one us must have! A courage that no circumstance, no situation or problem can pull us back and prevent us from fulfilling what God wants to do through us. A courage that believes that if God leads, God will surely provide.
The second one is from Dan Lacich of Provocative Christian Living. It's a story about the blogger's friend.


Here's an excerpt from his post:


On November 8, 2009 in South Asia, I and two other pastors from The Austin Stone, were robbed and attacked by a small gang of South Asian youth. Unexpectedly, one of these youth sliced my left cheek with a straight razor. The wound was 5 inches long and an inch deep. It spanned from about my left sideburn to the left corner of my mouth. Fortunately, the two other men with me were physically unharmed. We ran for safety in the middle of the city, pleaded with locals for help, and finally ended up in the emergency room at a local hospital where a doctor stitched up my face with three layers of stitches.


Even though he suffered these, here's what he has to say:

Our suffering in South Asia was a "gracious thing" inthe sight of God! It was a gift of grace! Listen to the profound message of 1 Peter 2:19-21: "For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps."


I don't want to waste a good moment of suffering. The legacy that I want to leave on this earth and to my family is a heap of stories of radical, simple devotion to Jesus! I am learning that the Calvary Road is not a path merely to endure; rather, the Calvary Roadis to be embraced with joy and hope! The Calvary Road is a "gracious" road! That straight razor may be the greatest blessing of the year for my family and I as it leads me one step further on the Calvary Road - the Road that my Lord embraced on his way to die for thugs like me and the South Asian man who knifed me.

Read the whole post here: http://www.austinstone.org/current/god_gospel_mission/lessons_from_a_razor/


Such an amazing MEN of GOD! Such are True Christians!
Let's all desire to be just like them! Same Zeal! Same Enthusiasm! Same faith!
Praise the Lord!

God's Timing is Everything

Background: At work, an email came informing all Team Leads that there will be a Coach Swap this coming October. It means a Coach (which we call Team Lead in the Call Center) will be sent to the US (specifically to Reno, Nevada) to handle a team for one of the clients and in turn a coach from the client will work here in the Philippines. This is amazing and a great opportunity for me as all expenses will be shouldered by the company and the whole "swapping" thing will last for 6 weeks and it will be the first time for me to travel to the US. Just last week, it has been formally announced that it's my friend aL who have been chosen to go. Funny but he's called the "chosen one". ( don't know with my managers) lol!

What has this taught me?

Before that though, please know that I have prayed for this. I have asked my Pastor and the intercessory ministry, the whole church and my family to pray for it. I had an expectant heart. I had been declaring and claiming all the promises of the Lord for me as HIS child and apple of His eye. But still I wasn't chosen.

A lot of times, our prayers in the Lord aren't answered the way we want it to. This is so like the story of David. When Nathan had rebuked him for his sin against Uriah and Nathan prophesied:

Nathan replied, "The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. 14 But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt, the son born to you will die." [2 Sam. 12:13-14]

And then the story continued...

15 After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife had borne to David, and he became ill. 16 David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and went into his house and spent the nights lying on the ground. 17 The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them. [2 Sam. 12:15-17]

And we all know the son still died.

Back to the question, "What has this situation taught me?"

God's Timing is Everything

- Here's what I am believing: I will still be sent to the US but not now. Maybe I will not be sent at all. It doesn't matter: I WILL STILL Trust in GOD. It maybe the greatest opportunity out there but GOD doesn't follow man's timelines, He has HIS own seasons and plans and there's no way we can dictate Him. Whether HE chose to send me or not, HE remains to be GOD. Nothing can change that fact and I WILL STILL WORSHIP HIM.

In the Bible, there are two GREEK WORDs that refer to TIME: "chronos" and "kairos". Chronos is the time that you expect to really happen (e.g. Summer or Payday on the 15th and 30th, I believe is not the Kairos time for me. And I trust in GOD even more.

Here's what David did after he learned of his son's death:
20 Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.[2 Sam. 12:20]

Now that's what I'm talking about. That's a clear show and demonstration of TRUST on God's Timing and "ALL-Knowing" nature. I trust HIM that God knows what he's doing.

How many times do we get disappointed with every prayer unanswered?

How many times did we get hurt when things weren't going the way we have "fervently" praying for?

Let's check again. Let's have the same TRUST and FAITH David had. Let's trust and believe that God's Timing "KAIROS" is all that matters. and Yes, He was neither too early nor late but just on time all the time!

Praise the Lord!

Published by Your Daily Word
Thanks to kswpgoodfriends.wordpress.com the photo.

Mary: a Blessed Mother | Happy Mother's Day

Luke 2:35 (New International Version)

"...And a sword will pierce your own soul too."

Reflection:

The statement above was told to Mary, the mother of Jesus by Simeon after blessing Jesus in the temple. Read the full account in Luke 2:21-40.

Right here Simeon prophesied that even though you marvel right now of the thought that Jesus will someday be the savior of the world(Luke 2:33), a sword will at the same time pierce your own soul. After hearing this, Mary didn't say a word.

From the start up to this point, Mary just closed her mouth as a sign of her full submission and faith in God's will.

Even up to the point when Jesus was sentenced to death. She remained silent. When everyone was mocking her son, she remained silent. When rulers sneered at Jesus saying, "He saved others, let him save himself", she remained silent. When he was offered vinegar to drink, she didn't say a word. When Jesus, her son was catching his breath on the cross. She sitting near the cross, didn't say a word.

Surely, all these have pierced the mother's heart of Mary but she remained silent.

Why? Because she allowed God to do what God wanted to DO. Her son was not ordinary. His son is God and his son came to die for the world. She knew this even from the start. So even though it hurts her so much as a mother, she chose to forego of her own will and chose to lift up God's will.

How many times did we give up because we're already starting to feel pain? How many times have we given up on God when we started to struggle? How many times did we choose to do our will assuming God will just understand?

May we all be like Mary. May we all be like her in each and every circumstance, crossroad and decision in our lives. May we just be silent and allow God to do his will in our lives. May we just forget what we feel for once and allow God to just do his purposes IN us, through US and FOR us.

It's almost Mother's Day and I'd like to take this opportunity to Praise God and recognize my beloved mother, Marilyn Panuncialman. Hope you will too!


Personal Letter to my mom:

Dear Mom,

I love you.
I love you will all my heart and with all I am.
Thank you for being there for me every step of the way. (bahalag tanga ko, sometimes)
Thank you for disciplining me when I did something wrong.(ang kusi, sakit gyud!)
Thank you for providing everything I needed while I was still growing up. (sa pagpakaon sa dako nako nga appetite)
Thank you for being a model of excellence and success!
Thank you for loving me. You love me so much that I don't think I can ever out-love you.
I am so proud of you and I will always be whatever happens! (Promise!)
My prayer is for you to be happy always and for you to enjoy every good thing this life has to offer. Please know that I'll do everything I can do to make this possible.
I am your number 1 fan, number 1 supporter and number 1 lover.
If I am to be re-birthed, I won't choose any other mother but you.
You take care and be blessed always.
Happy Mother's Day!

Faith without Works is Dead

James 2:26 (New King James Version)
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Reflection:
Do you believe in God? Do you believe in Jesus Christ? Do you believe in the Bible? Even the demons believe and tremble. (James 2:19)


What differs us then from the devil as far as our "belief" is concern? James has the answer: WORKS as proof of our faith.


We say "I trust in you, Lord" but we worry when problems come. We proclaim we're Christians to our workmates and families but we join them in their drinking sessions and gossip meetings. We declare we're victorious in Christ but we act as losers in times of crisis. We shout "I can do all things through Christ" but we lack confidence when we're given responsiblities.



God is telling us today to LIVE according to what we believe in, to ACT as a believer and to REACT to situations and problems as one!


I was blessed with the song Luv is A Verb by DC Talk. The whole message of the song is that LOVE is not mere word but an action word and that it's something that you actually do. Just like faith, FAITH is a Verb. A word that you act on and do!


How have you been showing your faith?



Recommended Readings:

Without faith, Nothing Else Matters
Prayers Answered by God through Faith
Forsaking All for Christ

Published by: Your Daily Word

Without Faith, Nothing Else Matters

Reflection:

In our Christian lives, our Faith in God is very Important!

Through Faith, we know God created us from dust. Gen 1:26

Through Faith, we know God loves us. John 3:16

Through Faith, we know God sent his Son to die for us. I John 5:10-11

Through Faith, we know we've been saved from our sins. Romans 5:8

Through Faith, we know we're God's children. John 1:12

Through Faith, we know our Prayers will be answered. Matthew 7:7

Through Faith, we know we're geared toward success! Jer. 29:11

Through Faith, we know the Bible is True! 2 Timothy 4:16-17

Through Faith, we know Jesus will come back and bring us to a place he had prepared for us! John14:3

Through Faith, we continue, we persevere and we run the race no matter what.

Without it nothing else matters!

Let me take this opportunity to declare my Faith in the one True Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of all.

I trust Him with all my life and with my everything!

God Bless you more!

Published by: Your Daily Word

Prayers Answered By GOD through Faith

For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”

Mark 5:28 [NKJV]

This woman was healed immediately after she touched the clothes of Jesus Christ. A lot may have touched Jesus because a mob is following him but this woman did something different. She Believed! She had faith that her Prayers will be answered by God. She had been bleeding for 12 years and when she heard Jesus was passing by, she said to herself; "If Only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well." Jesus felt this and confirmed, "Woman, your faith has healed you!" [Mark 5:34].

What does it take for your Prayer to be Answered?

Have Faith! Believe that your needs will be met. Believe that your dreams will come true. Believe that you'll be promoted and be succesful in what you do. Believe that YOU Shall be Made Well. And yes, your faith shall heal you!

Recommended Readings:

Prayers Are Answered God gives you JOY

Prayer of Jabez

2 Daughters in 1 of Ptr. Guy from Heresy Today