24 March

In John 4:29: Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ. . . The Samaritan woman and God's example of opening up to and inviting people should be copied. This is so because miracles happen when we open up. Don't just close your door to anyone you don't know. It may be a chance for them to know God.

I.T.

Sometimes I get frustrated for being commonplace, ordinary, typical - the age old car, usual job, normal life. If the way I live it up for the Kingdom of God is what is commonplace, ordinary, and typical to me then I could be truly blessed, even if in this world I can get persecuted for my faith. But take heart! Matthew 5:3 says "Blessed are the poor in spirit."

J.B.

23 march

"For the Word of God is living and active. . .it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Heb 4:12

Life is short, uncertain, and challenging which is why we need to be more aware of Jesus. We can't possibly give justice to the short but great life that we were given if we're not living it up for Jesus.

J.B.

21 March

John 10:10 states that the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. As Christians, it's the will of God that we have abundant lives. We should aim to open up to people, that way we enjoy life and not become stale. Gusto ni God i-enjoy natin buhay natin, 'wag tayo magkulong o maging loner. Don't isolate yourself just because you want to play safe. Isolation is a great burden and will rob us of happiness.

I.T.

20 March

The foundation of our faith will always be in knowing God and we'll never know Him unless we spend time in His presence. We need to follow this so that we experience Psalm 16:11: God will fill me with joy with His presence, with eternal pleasures at His hand.

I.T.


"Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted." Hebrew 2:18

Chambers mentions that self-pity is Satanic. It is a sin because it is like self-indulgence. We must learn to be aware of Jesus himself and not of ourselves. Everytime we are tempted to dwell on our self-pity, because for instance, someone had mistreated us, let us understand the presence of our Lord in our situation and that it is He who is the only one to overcome.

J.B.

18 March

"Discouragement is disillusioned self-love, and self-love may be love for my devotion to Jesus - not love to jesus Himself." O. Chambers

When we are faced with difficult circumstances, it is too easy sometimes to fall back on our self-awareness and this could produce a gap between us and the Lord. We tend to focus more on how hurt, how poor, how unworthy we are thereby putting more attention to ourself and not on Jesus.

J.B.

17 March 2009

My QT says that those that sow in tears reap in joy (Ps 126:5). For me it means that when we are sooo down, crying helplessly, that is when we should begin to trust God, cling to Him. When we are able to do that then we are assured of a great harvest in times of famine.

I.T.


"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matt 5:16

Swindoll emphasized how our Monday-Friday work is as sacred as our Sunday activities that's why we must exhibit consistent excellence. Pay attention to detail and take the time to create a remarkable work.

J.B.

16 March 2009

I am familiar with some verses but never get to memorizing the lot of them, including the numbers, unlike those inmates who I witness reciting such long verses from the bible. The pastor had encouraged me and I will start with one very powerful verse today:

"Restore to me the JOY of your SALVATION and grant me a WILLING SPIRIT to sustain me." Ps 31:12

J.B.

15 March 2009

Does Jesus and I have a history? My relationship with Jesus is one important thing that I would really like to cultivate. But does He know me? Do we have a relationship?

"The true sign of discipleship is intimate oneness with Him - a knowledge of Jesus that nothing can shake. " O. Chambers

To be indentified with Him is to live up to the name he calls me - a saint. As a Christian, I must not be troubled by those questions at all because what I am is a child of God. Whoever I am in the past is nothing because the new has come and I must live my life for Jesus.

J.B.

14 March 2009

As Christians, we have the power of taking authority. So when we feel something bad (loneliness, envy, lust), don't let it attach to you or else it will stay with us forever. Rather, take authority over it! As stated in Matt 16:19 whatever we bind on earth will be bound in heaven.

I.T.

13 March 2009

Gen 2:18 - The Lord said: It's not good for man to be alone.

I find this to be very reassuring. It doesn't necessarily tells us that we'll find a spouse. Rather it tells me that God knows our need for companionship. He may not give us an asawa but I know He'll send friends, family, officemates, strangers, along the journey to keep us company. And to think na alam naman nya na Siya lang dapat kuntento na tayo. Ganon ka-understanding ang God natin.

I.T.



"Desire accomplished is sweet to the soul." Prov 13:19a

I read Swindoll's article on Thoroughness and I immediately made a list of things I have been putting off and deadlines I haven't met. Swindoll mentioned something else apart from just getting things done:

"The difference between something good and something great is attention to detail."

Doing something with excellence. Abraham excelled when he bacame a friend of God, and so can we. Paying attention also goes to reading our bible - eating our ampalaya, digesting, and maybe regurgitating some for others.


J.B.

12 March 2009

We shouldn't let the slightest crack as the devil will get a foothold, which when unchecked becomes a stronghold. We then become like Rev 2:4, we will abandon God, our first love :(. Thus we should give God our full attention so that we will desire Him only. We need to keep reading His word. Only then can we be hopelessly and consistently in love with Him

I.T.


Ensuring even when things didn't turn out the way we wanted them - in a way, it is discipline and a way of not quenching the HolySpirit. God may want us to let go of a certain area in our life. Although it may hurt us to let go, how we endure through it is what matters. We may be embittered and discouraged, just like what happens when I indulge in negative attitudes and my manners have become unchecked. Nothing beats getting things right with God because we can hold on to His promise that there is something else - far better than what we expect.

"Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. . . and after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. (1 Peter 5:8,10)

J.B.

11 March 2009

We have to be very mindful of the things we allow our eyes to see and our ears to hear. We have to fill them with good things. We have to guard our hearts for it is the wellspring of life (Prov. 4:23). Not doing so kan disensitize us to evil, where we besome open to sinful influences. thus we have to keep asking: What are we filling up on?

I.T.


"Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary." Gal 6:9


Wow. Ok. This is really amazing because again just when I needed it, God's timing allowed me to have it - a reinforcement, an encouragement. I actually need tons more.

I don't have a joyful heart. I think it is irritating how some people can be so self-absorbed - and how this way of thinking makes me the one who is self-absorbed.

Lord, thank you for making me realize how offensive I can get to you and to others. Please help me have a change of heart.

J.B.

10 March 2009

My QT is in 1 John 5:14. It tells us that when we ask anything according to God's will, he hears us. This tells us that we hav to search the scripture that relates to our situation. Then we pray that back to Him while telling God our request. By doing this, we'll be confident that He'kk answer our prayers.

I.T.


"Some people eager for money have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." 1 Tim 6:10

The warnings are there in the bible and it is not just imperative for us to take heed but to actually inculcate and apply what has been clearly preached to us, lest we end up with a spirit undaunted by sin.


J.B.

7 March 2009 Dawn Watch with LASO Members

Exodus 19

v5. Now if you obey me fully and help my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasure possession.

In the chapter, we can see how holy God is and how we must check ourselves everytime we face Him. If our hearts are not right, then it might hinder us from truly calling on to Him.

God promises that He will make us His treasured possession. It might be out of the span of our knowledge to know what that actually means but to be a possession of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords has got to be something.

God placed limits around the mountain and He demants that people obey Him. It is only through obedience that we can prepare our hearts and have a relationship with Him.

6 March 2009

As believers, part of our testimony is being healthy and happy. We need to make changes that will be a step toward our total wellness. We need to reverse bad habits , repect ourselves enough to give ourselves the best care possible, allow simple pleasures in our lives. As stated in Proverbs 17:22, a cheerful heart is good medicine , but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

I.T.


God never ceases to help me, even when I think He isn't there. Everytime I go to my classes, I'm at my wits end. i feel like I do not have anything to teach, that I won't be able to go through it. But later on I'd find out that I actually made sense, that I didn't waste the student's time and all these is because of God's wisdom - truly amazing!

But I've been wondering about my heart. Last time I checked, I can't see through because of the opacity. The tide has swept in too much salt making it really dull. When the wave comes rushing in, trying to wash and refresh, my heart is so held in its place, it can't be budged, it can't follow its master. It did not rejoice, did not bask in the joy the water brings, had ceased to give thanks.


J.B.

5 March 2009

If we want a worldwide revival, we need to humble ourselves and pray, we need to turn from our wicked ways (2 Chron 7:14). For revival to happen, we need to fall on our faces before God. . . we need to be in a place of prayer. . . we need to get the garbage out of our lives. Let's challenge ourselves to give up something for God, let's take the time to pray for our nation.

I.T.


This is just incredible. When I read this passage form Chambers, I just exclaimed, "Lord, kinausap mo na naman ako a!"

"Choosing to suffer means that there must be something wrong with you, but choosing God's will even if it means you will suffer is something very different." O. Chambers

I honestly felt unfortunate and helpless at the thought that I am going to be stuck in teaching, but if it's God's will, then that's all I need to know because I can trust Him and the help of His Holy Spirit - that's all.

J.B.

4 Mar 2009

God longs, yearns and eagerly desires for us to fellowship with Him. He never meant Christianity to be merely a set of rules to be followed, an abstract theory that needs to be dissected or a doctrine that has a set of prayers and rituals that we should memorize. He wants us to have a relationship with Him, to experience His love so deeply that He becomes dearer to us than anything els. Because blessed are those who dwell in His house and presence as they will sing praises all day (Ps 84:4). That is true Christianity and that's what each of us believers should have with God.

I.T.



"Number you days." Ps. 90:42

"We gain wisdom when we lengthen our view of life." C. Swindoll

Wow. This is straight to the heart. I am so guilty of not being kind and compassionate. Sure I follow traffic rules, I mean there isn't much during my 5-minute trip from home to school but I do encounter several annoying jeepney and truck drivers. I look for justice when I am not being treated fairly. But again, bottomline is, we must be kind and compassionate, forgiving just as Christ forgave us.

J.B.

God said that... We must endure hardships as His good soldiers (2 Tim. 2:3). But the beauty of God's way is that no matter how harsh the hardships we are in, He always leads us to victory. He'll never abandon or leave us in battle. He is our ever present help in timesof trouble. Knowing that the matter is not IF God will deliver but WHEN God will deliver. Endure til we win!

I.T.



There must be something that's hindering me. I have been constantly reminded (by my sister, by my cell leader, by my not-cell-leader) to share the gospel and perhaps they think that because I face students everyday, I have all the opportunities in the world.

Chambers said: Our ordinary abilities will never worhip God unless they are transformed by the indwelling Son of God. We must make sure that our human flesh is kept in perfect submission to Him, allowing Him to work through it moment by moment.

I believe in God's timing and I know that if I'm just relying on whether I feel equipped or not, it's not going to work. God knows and He can tell me so I must first make sure that we're in a relationship wherein when He speaks, I can hear.

J.B.

2 Mar 2009

Last weekend, I didn't choose God. I chose what I thought I ought to accomplish but I ended up with nothing.

I decided to stay home. I waited for a package that didn't come, played the piano, set off to an errand that was fruitless.

Now I feel unsteady (bloated?) and I blame the lack of tea (I used to drink everyday but since the package hasn't arrived yet. . . ), too much sitting, worrying about surviving another week which already seems unproductive. haaay. . .

"Yet he (Abraham) did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised." Romans 4:20-21

I feel like there's a lot I need to do and I'm afraid I'm turning a deaf ear, staring blankly, wanting to be left alone.

I lack consistency. I have ideas, resources, talent, that are not put to good use. I blame the demands of my work. I seek change but lacks the faith.

"We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through FAITH and PATIENCE inherit what has been promised." Hebrews 6:11-12

J.B.

1 Mar 2009

"We are not here to prove that God answers prayers; but to be living trophies of God's grace." O. Chambers, Aug 6.

Tomorrow will be a week since I got the piano. I haven't been specifically asking for the piano but I've always wanted to have one and God knows it too. I know deep in my heart that I am passionate about music. What I'm actually asking for is for our family to have a new van. God gave me a piano.

"A Christian is someone who trusts in the knowledge and wisdom of God, not in his own abilities. If we have a purpose of our own, it destroys the simplicity and the calm, relazed pace which should be characteristic of God ." Aug 5.

And because He gave me that, I have complete trust in knowing that He's got really good reasons why and I don't need to ask.

J.B.

27 Feb 2009

It states in 2 peter 1:2 that grace and peace are ours in abundance thru the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. Actually this is a reminder for me :-) my work is soooooo demanding that it saps my energy. Nakakalimutan ko na magQT! kaya ayun it makes me lukring and irritable sometimes. Pero sabi nga ni God, if I abound in His knowledge, grace and peace will be mine. Kaya irene, magQT ka na! I have to keep reminding myself to make our Jesus the LORD over my circumstances... esp in my work...only then will i find peace. I have to SATURATE myself with God's words.

I.T.


"Our real test is in truly believing that God knows what He desires [in our lives]."

Complete trust - not on our abilities but on God's unfailing love for us. God is present in every detail of our lives and things do not just happen - they happen for a reason. Hence, we can live in simplicity like little children, knowing that God actually desires to be part of our lives.

J.B.

26 Feb 2009

"As song as you think that you are of value to Him, He cannot choose you, because you have purposes of your own to serve." O. Chambers

Chambers further says that our "strength of character, knowledge, and experience" do not matter. God chooses the weak and lowly. We are not to have goals of our own. Jesus, who is only concerned of our well-being and is willing to be our friend will determine that for us.

I submitted a job application to another agency, with hopes that I could leave teaching - which is a fulfilling job, no doubt, but is oh-so-taxing. I want to have time to play and learn the piano. If I am to continue teaching, I'm required to get a graduate course, giving me less and less time to do what I love (piano). Lately, I've been living to the lesson that it aint about me - my goals and my aspirations that are apart from God is of no value. It honestly hurts me to think that God might actually like the idea that I am teaching. Er, I don't really have any business figuring out what He thinks because His ways are not my ways and His thoughts aint mine to decipher. Whatever it is, I must rest assure that it's all for the better :). That, I believe, is faith.

J.B.