Ps 50:13-15: "Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me."
Thank you, Lord, for your graciousness and mercy that you express your great love for us, telling us that we can be secure in You. You also show how just you are, Lord, and warn us against forgetting you, which I must've done a million times. Forgive me, Lord, and teach me how to sacrifice thank offerings to you.
In Ps 50:17-20, the Lord mentioned ways where man can forget Him: when we take no heed to His laws, associate with thieves and adulterers, and here's my favorite-when we speak continually against our brother/sister.
Ptr. Ed Lapiz preached about a man's tendency to talk against others, especially brothers/sisters in church who have fallen or sinned. It can be really tempting to talk about that person behind his/her back. I may even think that I'm just sharing the story to a very close friend of mine but I am in danger of slandering that person.
It was emphasized in the speech that we must guard ourselves and not talk against our bro/sis no matter how tempting it may be and may seem oh, so innocent. The first thing that we must do when we receive that sort of info is to pray for our brethren. And if we're the receiver of the information, stop your source from being in danger and instead intercede. There must be alot of other things to talk about.
J.B.
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Song of Songs 8:5 Who is this coming up from the desert leaning on her lover?
Am i leaner or am i leaned on?
I believe i am more leaned on when it comes to my family... and sometimes in my work environment. My two older sisters lean on me when they need to pour out something. They make me a sound board with their life :-) My parents lean on me financially and whenever they need to talk to somebody seriously. Kevin leans on me when he makes lambing. In work, my staff leans on me to direct the division. Truly, I sometimes groan!
However, in my christian life, I see myself as a leaner. I need God to support me! I lean on Him (full weight) when I am confronted with family decisions that tears me apart. When I am on my wit's end on how to handle family issues. I leaned on Him fully when Kevin got kicked out from school, caught doing something bad, when he got somebody pregnant. I lean on Him when i am so full of work, when deadlines are unending, when crucial decisions have to be made and i am at a lost on what to do. I lean on Him so that the burden is shared or becomes manageable.
Come to think of it... maybe those are the exact reasons why my family and division lean on me. God, i should try to be more patient with them. And God, i should be more obedient to you because i am not the only one leaning on you. I only have my family and work... You have the whole world.
I.T.
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with Ptr. Jon Almusara (3rd from left, front row)
Two ladies from Lakas-Angkan,N. Ecija share their insights on each quiet time that they have ever since they heard about "ampalaya".
DO SOMETHING
"Faith that does nothing is dead!" (James 2:26)
Faith is not the belief that God will do what you want. Faith is the belief that God will do what is right. God is always near and always available. Just waiting for your touch. So let him know. Demonstrate your devotion:
Write a letter.
Ask forgiveness.
Be baptized.
Feed a hungry person.
Pray.
Teach.
Go.
Do something that demonstrates faith. For faith with no effort is no faith at all. God will respond. He has never rejected a genuine gesture of faith. Never.
---He Still Moves Stones
Faith is not the belief that God will do what you want. Faith is the belief that God will do what is right. God is always near and always available. Just waiting for your touch. So let him know. Demonstrate your devotion:
Write a letter.
Ask forgiveness.
Be baptized.
Feed a hungry person.
Pray.
Teach.
Go.
Do something that demonstrates faith. For faith with no effort is no faith at all. God will respond. He has never rejected a genuine gesture of faith. Never.
---He Still Moves Stones
SOLE PROVIDER, SOLE COMFORTER (from The Applause of Heaven)
As long as Jesus is one of my options, he is not an option.
As long as you can carry your burdens alone, you don't need a burden bearer. As long as your situation brings you no grief, you will receive no comfort. And as long as you can take Him or leave Hin, you might as well leave Him, because He won't be taken half-heartedly.
But when you mourn, when you get to the point of sorrow for your sins, when you admit that you have no other option but to cast all your cares on Him, and when there is truly no other name that you can call, then cast all your cares on Him, for He is waiting in the midst of the storm.
As long as you can carry your burdens alone, you don't need a burden bearer. As long as your situation brings you no grief, you will receive no comfort. And as long as you can take Him or leave Hin, you might as well leave Him, because He won't be taken half-heartedly.
But when you mourn, when you get to the point of sorrow for your sins, when you admit that you have no other option but to cast all your cares on Him, and when there is truly no other name that you can call, then cast all your cares on Him, for He is waiting in the midst of the storm.
Single Professional Fellowship
with Ptr. Jon Almusara (3rd from left, front row)
visit the LAKAS-ANGKAN website!!
Amena Brown: Ressurection
What's AMPALAYA?
Ampalaya or bitter gourd is a vegetable which has a bitter taste but very high in nutrients and said to be good cure for anemics. For Christians, it is devotion, the essence of your faith - that which Christians almost never like. It is the reading and meditating on God's word. Our faith may be focused on good deeds and making the world a better place, but it is nothing without ampalaya.
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