Typhoon Juan (Megi)

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As typhoon "Juan" (Megi) makes landfall in the Philippines, I remember how Jesus calmed the storm in the Sea of Galilee. I've posted the passage below:

Mark 4:35-40

⁵That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side."³⁶Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. ³⁷A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. ³⁸Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"
³⁹He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
⁴⁰He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

Jesus has authority even over nature. At His word, the turbulent winds and waves came to a halt. He was able to calm the storm then, He can do it today. The only question is, "Do you still have no faith?"

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A Very Tiring Week

My first week here at UP is beyond description. It drained me already. I can't believe how fast time flies. But God's faithfulness still shone ever brightly in the midst of everything. I even feel ashamed for having so little faith in Him and for being a constant worrier.

God is impressing this verse in my heart right now:

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

-Philippinas 4:6-7

I really need to trust God more. I know that He works out all things for the good of all those who love Him. But for some reason, I find it difficult to stay still and follow His leading.

I think I'm doing things on my own too much again. I need to find that sweet and quiet spot where only I and God will meet. I need to feel His presence envelope me like the sweet, fresh air in the morning.

I want to be right where He wants me to be. For now I am thankful for He gave me the strength to survive this week. I've had worse weeks, but I praise Him for He continues to tell me, "Pau, remember that I'm still in control."

Thank you, Lord! Amen.

The year that WAS

John 14:1-2

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.

This is the message of God for me in 2009. In the face of uncertainty, my Lord spoke to me in different circumstances. He showed me my faults, the hidden sins in my life and gave me the strength to let go and to trust in Him completely.

I learned to pray harder in 2009. I saw several miracles from God, answered prayers and changed lives-- evidences of the Divine looking after His sons and daughters here on earth.

God also showed me where to place several pieces of my life. He held my hand and pulled me back to see the bigger picture. Now I understand why I had to go through everything I experienced last year.

I learned to care for people more. I understood what it meant to love unconditionally. Though I am imperfect and my love will remain a pale comparison to Christ's, I had a glimpse of agape.

2009 taught me the urgency to share Christ. It showed me that more than anything, people needed Jesus in their lives. I learned to trust in God's leading. I learned to share Jesus more. I understood what Paul meant when he wrote, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel for it is the power of God for the salvation of all those who believe."

I praise God for the people He brought into my life. I am thankful for the teachers, disciplers, disciples, and family He gave me. They filled my heart with joy and reminded me of God's design for fellowship.

I grew last year. In some respect I had to force myself to grow. I longed for my past mentors, but God tore me from them that I might learn dependence in Him. There were tears that rolled down my cheek. There were nights of extreme despair. But in all these I understood what God meant when He said, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you."

There are wounds that remain. There are people I miss dearly. This will be carried on through 2010. But I remind myself that in 2009 God answered a two-year-old prayer for deliverance. I saw a miracle when God opened the door for me and invited me to step into freedom.

I continue to pray for the dearest people in my heart. I know there will be nights and days of uncertainty but the faithfulness of my God is my reminder. It wasn't my strength that enabled me to withstand the turbulence of the past year. All along, God was shielding me, encouraging me, helping me. I made it this far with Christ. I pray that He'll use me even more this year for His glory.

With Friends Once More

I just came from the birthday celebration of the first girl I courted. It was a wonderful time of reconnecting with old friends. A lot has changed and I can't help but wonder why I chose to leave them behind.

Still, I praise God for the time I spent with them. I surely missed these guys. I'm looking forward for the next reunion, maybe next year or so. I'm also glad to have shared the Gospel to one of my friends. It was purely God's work for the questions she threw were questions I knew how to answer. God made me remember and He gave me the right words at just the right time.

My heart is burning with passion right now. I want what I'm doing. I want to share Christ. I want to go out and care for people. I want to help the lost, to love them like how Jesus did. I thank God for giving me this passion. I'm eager to finish college and to start full-time ministry.

I know I haven't prayed much about this, but the desire is so great, even greater than my desire to pursue journalism. The zeal is growing stronger and stronger everytime I think about it, or everytime I live it out.

Oh, how I long to be fully in the service of my Savior. I really hope and pray that the Holy Spirit will lead me to the right decisions. There is another ministry I'm considering. For now I can't disclose it, but I know God can use me mightily in it. I really have to pray about these things, seriously.

It's amazing how a single party will affirm and confirm my passion to serve God. I pray that He will honor this desire and enable me to obey. I long to see my friends all kneeling before the throne of the Father, worshiping Him in spirit and in truth. And I long for my family to also belong in the family of God. These are the great prayers of my heart, and I know God will answer them according to His glory and will.

All praises to Him.

Hours before Christmas

We're five hours and 29 minutes away from Christmas and I'm here in my room blogging. My head aches and I feel tired and heavy. I don't know if it's because of the weather or the fact that I woke up late today.

I want to make this Christmas celebration a lot more special, but I don't know what to do. I want to stand up for CHRIST and share what His birth means. But a few hours before the 25th of December, I feel overcome with fear. I am not ashamed of the Gospel, but I don't know if I'm ready for it.

I'm perfectly comfortable sharing spiritual stuff with my parents now. But I'm not that comfortable with my tito and tita who are joining us for the Noche Buena. I pray that I can be bold tonight. I'm actually prepared to share the Gospel, having memorized it in my two years of knowing Christ. I even have a powepoint presentation for it.

But sharing Christ is more than that. I'm praying for a local Church that can follow up my family while I'm in Manila. I'm attending a Christian Church here, but I merely go there every break so I'm not really a part of the congregation. My home church is in UP Diliman, but even there I;m a bit detached, not as close as I'm supposed to be.

I know how this Christmas can be special-- it's me having to share Christ. I ask for your prayers. As the clock strikes twelve, may I muster the courage from the Spirit to stand up for Jesus who gave His life for me. Thank you.

Dec 22 Prayer

Lord,

I praise You for the new day! I lift my hand and bring glory to Your name for You have given me another day to serve You. It is my prayer, Lord, that You teach me to walk closely with You. Give me the strength to endure the lingering memories of a past I cannot seem to let go. Empower me with Your Spirit that I may live up to the cost of my salvation-- Your very life.

Father, I offer to You my weaknesses. I lay at the foot of Your cross the uncertainties that plague me and tear me. Show me, Lord, that You are God and You are in control. Cradle me in Your hands and calm the raging storm in me. I am but Your servant, but I know how much You love me.

Thank You, Lord, for the challenges. Thank You for showing me the Truth and for teaching me to accept You. I come before You, then, praying that You give me more compassion to the lost. Give me also the strength to care for my brothers and sisters. Show me the way to You. Teach me to help people get to know You more and more. Teach the love You have shown on the cross.

I love You, Lord. Protect those whom I love. Bring him back to You! Amen.

Prayer

Lord,

I'm sleepy and tired. I pray that tomorrow will be a lot better. I pray that I will be able to glorify you tomorrow. I'm so lost now. There are so many things bothering me right now. I pray that You give me strength and peace, that You continue to provide the energy and joy in my heart.

Lord, make me a channel of Your peace. Turn me into the vessel You want me to be. I am laying everything at the foot of Your cross. Amen.

Resuming my prayer blog

Father in heaven,

I am unworthy of Your grace. I am unworthy of Your love. Despite offering my life to You, I fall and am led astray. Forgive me, O Lord. Teach me to obey. Teach me to trust in You and to lay down my life for You.

I do not understand, Father, Your will. I am too far from You. I cannot hear Your small, still voice. I feel detached and anxious. O Lord, draw me nearer to You; bring me back to You.

You know my heart, Lord. You also know my inmost being. I lift my concerns to You and ask that You give me patience and teach me obedience.

Thank You, Lord.
Amen.

Status: graduating

I praise God for His faithfulness. :)

A Verse on Salvation

1 Corinthians 1:18

Verse 18 is pegged on verse 17 where Paul explained that the cross, Jesus Christ, is the source of salvation not humanity’s wisdom. It is not in the ability of the speaker sharing the Good News; it is the Good News itself that changes men and women.

Paul asserts in this verse that the “message of the cross” which can be the teaching about Jesus, His death and resurrection and the salvation by grace through faith, is “foolishness,” absurdity, or silliness to people who are perishing.

In other Bible translations, “are perishing” which is in present progressive is rendered in the present perfect. Basically, the tenses tell us that the action, though it happened in the past, continues to the present. Originally, this part of Paul’s letter highlights the certainty of death and judgment. Those who do not have Christ are sure to suffer eternal punishment. That is why the action continues to the present.

Those who are perishing refer to men and women who refuse to acknowledge Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. They are those who do not have a personal relationship with Christ. Remember that Christ’s invitation is an invitation of relationship. He calls everyone to know Him more. The first step, which is usually the most difficult, is repentance, the acknowledgement of one’s sinfulness and the turning away from darkness to light.

The message of salvation means nothing to such people. They may even laugh at and ridicule the bearers of the message. This is true then and it is very true now. But I believe what exists today is more of apathy to the message. People are simply uninterested. They think such topics are null, mindless and stupid. Without even analyzing the facts, they easily conclude that faith, Jesus, and salvation are only for the “religious.” These things have no room in a modern, scientific and empirical world.

This is a sad reality. However, in the same verse Paul said the same message is viewed by “those who are being saved” as the “power of God.” Those who are saved here refer to men and women who are delivered from the penalty of sin which is eternal death (Romans 6:23). They are those who have accepted Jesus as personal Lord and Savior by grace through faith and are slowly walking with Him into Christlikeness.

The verb may appear to suggest that salvation is a process. That it is not received in a one-time-big-time event. To misread the verse as such can strip the cross of its power. In fact, some use the verse to argue that salvation—being a process—is attained when good works are done. Is salvation a process?

Yes and no. To answer this, I will be a bit technical. Salvation in its fullness is viewed in three events—justification, sanctification and glorification. Our real issue is the first event which justification or the rendering of a verdict on a person as not guilty because it’s as if the person has not sinned.

Justification is the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. It is the most important for non-believers because it is here that they are ushered into the family of God. When one is justified, he or she is saved though still in a corrupted and fallen body. Justification gives the gift of eternal life, that is, a person is assured of eternal fellowship with God the moment he or she dies.

In Romans, Paul is focused on justification whenever he talks about salvation. If one is not justified, he or she cannot be sanctified much more glorified. Sanctification happens only to Christians. It is the continuous work of the Holy Spirit, molding a person into Christlikeness. It is the sanctification aspect of salvation that is a process. However, a person is already saved even before sanctification begins as long as he or she is justified.

Glorification will happen when Jesus Christ comes again. It is here when all believers are made perfect in and with God.

It is clear that justification is by grace through faith. Several passages in Romans show this. One such example is Romans 3:23-24: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…”

What is the implication of justification and salvation as something acquired by grace through faith in Jesus? Simple. This tells us that everyone, in the eyes of God deserves to suffer eternal damnation because this is the righteous punishment for sins (Rom 6:23). Because all have sinned (Rom 6:23) all must suffer eternal death.

However, the Good News is this: By God’s grace and love, He sent Jesus Christ to be the substitute for our sins. Jesus became the perfect sacrifice because He never sinned (Hebrews 4:15). His death satisfied the required punishment for sin. He died for us, so that we may live. He rose from the dead after three days for sin is not in Him, thus, death does not have a hold on him either.

By putting one’s faith in this revealed Truth, one is justified. It is grace (undeserved gift) and faith (trust and belief in Jesus) and nothing more, not good works, not religion, not philosophy. “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourself, it is the gift of God. Not by works so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).”

No matter how many good things you have done as long as you have no personal relationship with Jesus, salvation cannot be given to you. Good works are products of salvation for Christians. Those who try to use such as means will never attain salvation because of sin. Good works do not nullify sin. Sin is sin. It stays on the record. The Bible is clear that death is the only just equivalent of sin. God never said good works will negate sin. Besides, if one decides to pursue God by human effort, what God requires is perfection. Perfection here includes sinlessness. This can never be for sinful humanity.

Paul showed that for people who are saved and walking closely with Christ, the message of the cross is the “power of God.” It is such first because God’s Word changed them, plucked them from darkness to light. Second, it is through this message that they too can be channels or instruments for the spread of the Good News. Those who are saved hold on to this message and eagerly spread it. But those whose eyes remain closed find it either confusing or void.

Do you also want to view the message of the cross as the Power of God? If yes, say a little prayer. Acknowledge before God that you are a sinner and ask for forgiveness. Invite Him into your heart and ask Him to help you walk with Him, to get to know Him more and to mold you into Christlikeness.

If you have prayed and asked God to enter into your life, you have made the first step. You have sought Him and He will surely answer. You have started a relationship with God. It will be long but one worth-taking. Amen.

Remembering Sta. Clara

AS some of my friends opted to go to Marikina, I am stuck in the dorm, praying for their safety. The recent events brought back memories of my flashflood experience last year. Read it here.

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Lord,

Cover my friends with Your protection.

History

There's an age-old dictum that says, "Those who forget history are condemned to repeat it."

Surely, I have not forgotten the event. Surely I have not forsaken my life's history. Yet, worse than forgetting is watching people forget and, thus, fall to condemnation.

If only they would listen. If only they would look at me frantically waving, signalling them of a dead end. But no. They choose to go on their way. What, then, should I do God?

Mine to keep

It is mine to keep
this secret
this curse

No one knows but me
and He and he

Oh, the burden
the unspoken words that long to burst

But it's not my fight
Not mine to win nor lose
His and his alone

But where to stand?
What to do?

To be objective and watch?
Or subjective and do?

Oh, this gift and curse
To know more than I need to know
To see more than I have to see

Why, oh, why me?

Lord, I surrender to you...
Teach me what to do... :(

Whooa!!!

I pause for a while in prayer....

Oh Lord,

I thank you for your Love. I praise you for you are in control. You continue to surprise me; you give me joy in my sadness.

Father, what more can I ask now that I have you?

Forgive me for sometimes I stray. Forgive me for my heart is still unforgiving, still unyeilding. Lord, teach me to Love people more. Teach me to live a life that is truly pleasing to you. Teach me to live out my Christianity.

Oh, Lord, I lift up to you my pains. I lift up to you my fears. You are never far away from me, this I know. But Lord, remind me. Lord, continuously teach me.

Father, I pause and say this prayer with humility in my heart and praises in my lips. You are great Oh, Lord, the same before, today and tomorrow.

I lift to you everything and also ask that you guard my heart and my mind. Cradle me in your arms Oh, Lord, never let me go.

Lord, I also lift to you the people I love. All of them. Those who are near and those who are far. Protect them Oh, Lod. To those who do not know you yet, use me to show them who you are. Use me to express your love to them.

To those who do know you, teach me to minister to them as a brother. Teach me to be more patient and truly loving. Father, I lift to you the silent prayer of my heart, this which I have been lifting up for the longest time. You know it Lord, and I trust you. Teach me patience, Lord. 

Love... Teach me true love, Lord. Amen.

A Message

Jesus Christ, when His time to die was near, commanded His disciples to love one another. He said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, all men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” (John 13:34,35)

Very often, we may have neglected to do this. Instead of loving our brothers and sisters in Christ, we forget and continue living as men and women under sin and death. Jesus meant for us to unconditionally love one another—to go out of our way and comfort zones to actually show genuine concern and care for one another.

We are to ask ourselves, “Have we loved you unconditionally?”

We are guilty. We have fallen short. We do not know if we have truly loved you and the rest of our brothers and sisters as Jesus loved us.

But what is the Biblical response that will glorify the Lord? Should you repay our lack of love and failure to love with the same? Do you feel that our absence justifies detaching yourself to find love where it abounds?

We are brothers and sisters not because we belong to the same church, the same organization or the same dorm. God commanded us to love one another unconditionally because we belong to the same Body, we are justified by the same Blood, saved by the same Faith. We are brothers and sisters because we confess the same Jesus as Lord, we worship the same God the Father and we are indwelt by the same Holy Spirit.

And for this, the Apostle Paul urges us, “Be completely humble, and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4: 2,3)

Have we all been humble in our dealings with one another? Have we been patient? Have we bore one another in love? Have we kept the unity of the Spirit? Do we have peace?

Shame to us! In our lives we continue to conform to the ways and patterns of this world. Instead of humility, we have pride. Instead of patience, short temper. Instead of love, we have anger, deceit and malice. Instead of unity, there is division. Instead of peace, disagreement and hatred abound.

If Paul were alive today, he would tell us like he told the Church in Rome, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)

What is God’s will now? Does He desire for us to leave when we no longer feel comfortable with our brothers and sisters? Or is it His will that we learn to live together?

I believe He wants us to do the second one. To learn to live together, we need to strip off pretensions and masks. We have to live a life devoted to Him, focused on Him, leaving nothing to ourselves for Him.

Hebrews 10:24 tells us, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

On this fallen world, the company of believers is our glimpse of eternity. Here we encourage one another, we share one another’s burdens, we exhort one another, pray for one another, lift up praises of one another. We can do this if we are together. But even if one who is among us decides to leave, our prayers remain with him.

In the fellowship, we also rebuke the mistakes of one another. This may be the most difficult part of being a Christian, but if we refuse to confront with love, we are no different to the world that settles for superficial relationships.

Listen, for what I have to say, I say with finality. And trust me when I say writing these words was accompanied by prayer that I may use the most loving ones without watering down what you need to hear.

We are hurt by your choices. We acknowledge our shortcomings and ask for forgiveness. But we see pride in your decisions to carry your burdens alone. We see pride in your refusal to open up and actually deal with the root of the problem. We see pride for you constantly disregard our attempts to reach out. I am not alone in speaking these words. We are sorry. Trust us when we echo the Scripture: “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” (1 Corinthians 12:26)

Contrary to what you think, this is not about me and my hurts because I have lifted them to the Lord a very long time ago. I am not seeking to win you back for myself. We are seeking to win you back because you are to us a brother in Christ.

Sorry for our lack of affection. Sorry for the words we said or the words unsaid. Sorry for the times you were not invited. Sorry for the jokes you missed. Sorry for all the times you were left out.

Trust me; it’s all up to you now. You may not believe all that I have said because they are contrary to what you experienced. But we have changed. God’s grace and love are beyond our understanding that even the grip of sin can be shattered by Him.

It’s all up to you now. We are here waiting. We are here praying. We are here hoping.

Have mercy on us, O God,

According to your unfailing love;

According to your great compassion

Blot out our transgressions

Wash away all our iniquity

And cleanse us from our sin

For we know our transgressions

And our sin is always before us

Against you, you only have we sinned

And done what is evil in your sight

So that you are proved right when you speak

And justified when you judge.

Surely we were sinful at birth

Sinful from the time our mothers conceived us

Surely you desire truth in the inner parts

You teach us wisdom in the inmost place.

Cleanse us with hyssop, and we will be clean

Wash us and we will be whiter than snow

Let us hear joy and gladness

Let the bones you have crushed rejoice

Hide your face from our sins

And blot out all our iniquity

Create in us a pure heart, O God,

And renew a steadfast spirit within us

Do not cast us from your presence

Or take your Holy Spirit from us.

Restore to us the joy of our salvation

And grant us a willing spirit to sustain us.

Happy Birthday.:’)

A sem that never ends

And I thought my semester has finally ended. Just now, however, I found out that my professor is using a monitor with a different aspect ratio, making our final website a mess before her eyes. Now I'm wondering whether to change the aspect ratio (whic is a lot of work once more) or to simply ask her to view the website using a computer with the right ratio. Haaaayyyy...

Oh Lord, when will this end. :(

Praises to our God

Another semester has passed and I praise God for His faithfulness despite my unfaithfulness. I confess that I had been too proud and independent during the trying times of this semester. However, God's mercy and His unfailing love continue to bring me to my knees in humble surrender to His Cross.

All praises and glory be to Him only and always. Amen. Thank you, Lord.

Prayer Six

Father,

I don't know what you want to teach me. I don't understand why I have to go through this pain. Every night I have prayed that you take this feeling away, but I am plagued until now. How much longer will I have to wait? Days? Months? Years? Eternity? I am fragile, Lord. I am so weak inside. The world thinks I am strong. People don't see me as I am because they refuse to. My Lord, I cry out to you. Please, take this feeling away so I may be freed from the pain that is engulfing my heart and my being. Lord, I pray for peace. I seek peace, Father. To you alone do I turn to. In your grace I entrust my fate for this world is deceitful. In tears, I come before you. In sorrow I plead. Lord, rescue my heart from the oceans of suffering. Hold my hand and pull me out of the valley of pain.

In the darkness you alone give light. Father, you have given this test. You have placed me in this situation. I don't know why; I don't know if I can withstand it. But Father, I am breaking slowly, painfully. I am crushed and in despair. I am wrecked and wounded. If you open my chest you will see my heart barely beating, blood gushing from the wounds. Lord, even before I sought you, even before I made this prayer, you know the groaning of my heart. Take it away, Lord. The pain tears me apart. Memories of a dark past haunt me to despair. Take them away, Father, and heal my brokenness. Piece me together. Make me whole once more.

I surrender to you, Father. All the days of joy, all the nights of sorrow, all that I am and will ever be. Take them all in your hands. Cradle my bruised spirit stripped by sorrow to the very core. Embrace me and let me feel your love. I no longer desire the joys of this world. I have gone through much pain and suffering and I still am. Do not be silent, Lord. Answer my prayer. Do not hide from your servant, Lord. Cast your eyes upon me. Feel my pain. Have mercy.

What is waiting for me, Lord? I am treading this world alone. I am a wanderer despised by many. I cling to you. Save me from totally losing faith. Do not let this pain dissolve the love you have shown on the cross. Do not let my sufferings cover the grace on calvary. Lord, the voice that tells me to give up is getting stronger. I am torn between my emotions and your truth. How can I stand alone, Lord? When the world crumbles before me will you be willing to take me?

You loved the world so much, you sent Jesus to die on the cross. I hold on to this truth. I may be in pain, trusting may be difficult but I turn to you and you alone. It is difficult, but I trust you on this.

Amen.