Tag Archives: Christianity

And So The Rebuke Came

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I just logged back in on Fb today. Naisipan ko mag-social media fasting buong araw kahapon after sharing about the issue with our neighbor to clear my head (the previous article). And yet nakita siguro ni God na my heart is still in turmoil kaya ito ang nangyari kahapon.

A Random Message But Just The Right One

I received a message sa LinkedIn. It’s from someone na hindi ko ka-connection and the message was about the last days here in this world before judgment day. It’s a random message from someone I barely know. Naisip ko baka nabasa nya ang blog ko at dito sya nag-message. Pero mukhang hindi.

Nagtaka din ako dahil professional profile ang account ko sa LinkedIn and wala akong kahit isang post doon about faith or Bible verses. Kaya naisip ko na baka inudyok din sya ng Panginoon to send that message randomly or on purpose.

How To Decipher God’s Message

Sa message ni Sir Joe, marami syang verses na pinapabasa as references. Naging habit ko na simula noong bagong born-again Christian pa lang ako na kapag may Bible verse na itinuro si God, I read the verses before it at ang mga susunod pang verses.

Sometimes buong chapter binabasa ko or several chapters. Pakiramdam ko kasi ang gusto ni God is malaman natin ang entirety ng Kanyang message hindi lang sa isang verse kundi sa buong konteksto ng Scripture.

How God Reveals Himself

Isa sa mga references na ibinigay ni Sir Joe ay Psalms 37:10. When I read the previous verses, doon ko nakita ang sagot ni God sa aking panalangin lately. Pero sino nga ba talaga si Sir Joe? Bakit nya ako pinadalhan ng message out of the blue but exactly at the right time – and exactly the answer that I was asking from God? Coincidence?

I guess paulit-ulit kong babanggitin na there is no such thing as coincidence sa faith. It is all part of God’s plans. When we seek Him with all our hearts and humble ourselves before Him, He always reveals Himself sa atin. At kadalasan sa mga paraan na ‘di kayang i-grasp ng ating human comprehension. Mahirap intindihin paano nangyari pero ang mahalaga, His message got through:

“Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper— it only leads to harm. For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the LORD will possess the land.” – Psalms 37:8-9

Nothing Is Ever Hidden From God

I guess patunay ito na God sees everything. Nakikita Nya anong laman ng mga puso natin. In my case, God knows how stubborn I can be and very determined when I want to do something. He knows all our plans, thus, He will rebuke when He knows our plans will do us more harm than good.

Regarding doon sa ibang Bible verses ni Sir Joe, curious ba kayo sa difference ng Earth and this world? Meron daw pagkakaiba. Share ko din dito anong idi-discuss ni Sir Joe na sobrang pinasalamatan ko for being used by God to deliver His message. 🙂 Pero patuloy pa rin ako sa pag-pray for God’s leading, wisdom, and discernment. We all badly need them ngayon. 🙏

Stubborn but still obeys when God says so,

Love In The Time Of COVID-19: A Wife’s Tale

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I initially thought about writing this article as a parody, but given the intensity of the pandemic’s impact on our emotional and psychological well-being, I decided to share my experiences as a wife during the community quarantine instead.

A lot of people have been sharing the positive outcome of this lockdown. They said it gave Mother Nature the time to heal. Some said it also gave opportunities for sharing, helping, and praying for others. Another benefit is we now have more time to strengthen family ties.

Learning All About The Complexity Of The Human Behavior

This last one is good, but I know some of you will agree it’s not as easy as it sounds. We all know that one of the complex concepts in this world is the human relationship. We were all created uniquely with varying personalities and characteristics.

Combine a group of different people in one room and one way or the other, there will be a clash of personalities. And also, let’s not forget domestic violence and how it can be aggravated during these times. This last one though is a serious case that requires professional intervention and assistance.

Some people felt awful they had to spend community quarantine alone, and yet some really wish this would end because they’re getting on each other’s nerves. The latter cannot be avoided. It is actually beneficial to get to know each other better and adjust accordingly regardless if this is a roommate, a sibling, a spouse, a relative, a parent, or a neighbor.

A Tale Of Two Lovers

That’s the case between me and my husband. This is, by far, the longest time we’ve spent together 24/7 since we got married back in 2015. And yet I appreciate the fact that my husband and I can spend even more quality time together now. I wouldn’t want any person to spend quarantine with other than him but next to God, of course. 🙂

Every single day, I discover something new about my husband. But since we’re the total opposite of each other, just imagine how hard it was for us to maneuver through this quarantine like gliding on smooth waters. On the contrary, it was like being back to the first few months of us being married. 😀

Seeing God In Others

Don’t get me wrong though. Most of our days together were spent meaningfully, peacefully, and happily. But as days turned to weeks and then now nearing to months, there were days when we would easily get irritated over something trivial because there were only the two of us in the house. And yet this setup reminded me how things are going to be when we grow old together.

I believe other families, parents, or married couples can relate to our experience. An example is when kids start to fight over who gets to use the iPad next or who will throw the trash out. Or when a parent gets irritated because all the kids are hooked on their gadgets all day long. Another instance would be sharing a room with a sibling you just don’t get along with very well.

God’s Eyes Are On Every Household

My husband and I would have some disagreements every now and then, and we’d both sulk and give each other a cold and silent treatment afterward. But since we live in a condo, it just doesn’t work very long given the very small space. 😅

I’d have to interact with him one way or the other and whether I like it or not because we’re just too close to one another, and yes, we only have each other. In fact, this was the case last week when we had our first huge fight during the quarantine.

Dealing With Differences

I told hubby to try cooking a new dish, and he’s also willing but he wanted me to teach him the step-by-step process. I’m a teacher, but given the heavy demands lately at home, I quipped a remark that offended him.

I told him to research how it’s done and to not get used to me spoon feeding him with how everything works here at home. Hubby explained he doesn’t learn new things that way, and I insisted that I learned new things that way and he should give it a try.

When Opposites Repel

Since hubby and I have such totally different backgrounds and upbringing, we somehow clash with how we do things at home. My mistake here was that I could’ve been more patient. But no, I guess the enemy took advantage of this sensitive situation to bring us back to our old fights.

Hubby retaliated with harsher words that made me do the same. And in the heated discussion, I just broke down and cried. I guess all those heavy emotions I’ve been keeping these past months just all welled up on me.

Trying To Play God

And my last retort to my hubby was, “you couldn’t see my pain and understand how I feel because God is not in you.” Then hubby retaliated by saying he’d leave once this quarantine is over.

I told him that he can do it now if he wants to because he just doesn’t care about me knowing we can get the virus anytime, and I’d be alone here if ever I get sick. Then, after saying that, I went inside the bedroom sobbing.

When Pride Gets In The Way

Hubby followed me and apologized saying he couldn’t just leave me here, especially not this time. But I guess the enemy just took hold of my pride, so I didn’t accept his apology and told him to leave me and I wouldn’t want to talk to him for the rest of the day. This happened around lunchtime.

I took a pitcher of water and crackers because I planned on fasting for the day. I was crying so much that the only thing I could do was grab my devotion notebook, read my daily devotion, and pray, all at the same time.

A Cold Heart Has No Room For God

I can hear my husband cooking in the kitchen and watching a cooking video. I felt awful that I didn’t help him out. But then again, pride just got in the way and I told myself that I won’t forgive him because he just hurt me a lot with his awful words. But no, he didn’t curse nor shout.

I finished my devotion and yet there was still hatred in my heart. I was somehow expecting him to come back and apologize again, which I know he wouldn’t do because I already turned him down the first time he did it.

Don’t Let The Sun Go Down Angry

Then, the entire afternoon passed by until came midnight. I can hear him scuffling in the living room and washing the cooking utensils so I assumed he has already eaten.

My heart was so heavy and I kept on praying like how Jesus prayed to God while He was on the Cross. That may He take this cup of suffering from me and yet not my will but let His will be done.

Thorn In A Flesh

I guess at this point the enemy came close to blinding me with lies. He almost succeeded but I guess God heard my prayer. I thought so negatively about my husband that I saw him as the “thorn in my flesh” who tempts me to sin.

Thorn in my flesh. I looked up that phrase on the internet and I found one article from Desiring God. There was my rebuke. John Piper said in the article that a thorn in the flesh is a beautiful gift but it comes with so much pain.

God’s Power Works Best In Weakness

And yet this is the pain where God reveals our weakness because it is in our weakness that His power works best. His Grace will be displayed in our weakness. But no, my heart remained stubborn. I don’t want to talk to him and make amends.

But I guess the Spirit just won’t allow it I let the sun go down angry and with bitterness against my husband. Then, a chapter in the Bible came into my mind (Matthew 24) on how Jesus speaks about the future – how loved ones and friends will betray believers.

Jesus Speaks About The Future

I wanted to reread it just to know if it’s already happening now between me and my husband. I read the NLT version of the entire chapter, and yet betrayal of loved ones and friends in particular wasn’t mentioned.

So I read the entire chapter again and again until the last couple of verses resonated with me deeply. I guess this time Scripture was able to break down the wall of lies that the enemy has placed in my heart.

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

– Matthew 24:45-51

Am I A Good Servant?

These verses are all about being a faithful and sensible servant and how God appointed him to look after other servants in the household and feed them. And that those who wouldn’t do what God has instructed will be torn into pieces and thrown into a pit where there will be gnashing of teeth.

I really felt like it was literally God’s message for me during this misunderstanding with my husband. Yes, I didn’t feed him and serve him, literally with food and figuratively of God’s love. God’s messages during this pandemic that kept on popping up in my devotion or in my heart are to serve one another in love and love one another as He has loved us.

How God Teaches Humility

Sadly, I failed God and yet He was so graceful to remind me once again of this calling. So I summed up the courage to go out of the room and talk to my husband. But there’s still a little bit of pride in me so I did go out but only to refill my pitcher with water.

Then this was where I was first struck down with humility. The rice that my husband cooked was untouched. So I checked out the dish rack and searched for eating utensils.

I found none. This only meant one thing – he didn’t eat the entire day (oh my dear Lord, what have I done 😭😭😭). So this slowly destroyed the enemy’s weapon. I went to my husband who’s seated in the dining table pretending not to notice me.

Be Ready To Forgive Always

I hugged him tight and kissed him in the forehead. I did that for a couple of minutes without saying anything because I was too convicted. Then it was my husband who apologized first and I followed it with my apology.

What pierced my heart even harder was when I asked him why he didn’t eat. He answered that he didn’t eat because I didn’t come out to eat, too. Oh my, more heart-wrenching moments there. I hugged him even tighter and apologized many times.

Being Unselflish Is A Way To God’s Heart

You see, hubby isn’t used to intermittent fasting. I told him he shouldn’t do that because it will shock his body. I, on the one hand, is used to it since we do it in church every now and then. He said it’s okay because we also need to lose weight since we did nothing but eat during the quarantine.

My consience though just won’t let him sleep through the night with an empty stomach. So I rummaged in our food shelves. Then I asked him to eat something even just a little to lessen the acid in his stomach, and we ate a couple of cupcakes together. The guilt and humility just all went through me.

God Shows Grace When We Least Deserve It

And it didn’t stop there. My husband who’s not used to not eating the entire day and fasted with me, came up to me while I was washing in the kitchen, hugged me, and said, “I really missed you today.”

Gaaaah, Lord, I’m so sorry for what I’ve done. 😦 I get it now. I’ve been doing this love thing wrong all this time. So, I looked at my husband and joked that we needed some “me” time and “me” space, too, since we live in a condo and we literally just rub elbows with each other often. I went on that we also need to apply social distancing even at home. This one made him laugh. 😉

A Beautiful Reminder

God used my husband – who may be or may not be my beautiful flesh in the thorn – to bring me pain that will make me a better servant. And I believe God knew this will happen. The night before this incident happened, we just started watching a series on Apple TV. And I know it’s not a coincidence that it’s entitled “Servant.”

And then just like how God sees everything, He reminded us gently about reality. This reality that we might actually die tomorrow, next week, or next month because of the pandemic. It’s as if He was asking us both why we’re wasting precious time on grudges and selfishness.

Letting Go Of Unforgiveness And Hatred

I did tell myself that I’d like to die at peace with everyone including him. This means there should be no room for bitterness, hatred, and unforgiveness. It’s just not the time for all of these.

All the more when this pandemic requires we die alone without any loved one beside us. We can never hug and kiss our loved ones or even hold their hands before we take our final breaths.

I know we wouldn’t want our last moments in this world full of regrets and not being able to make amends with people whom we have hurt or those who have hurt us. We no longer have the opportunity to do so. So yes, this is no longer the time for hate, but a time for love.

No matter how much we’re offended or how bitter we are by a lot of things, we can no longer let hatred linger in our hearts. Not in a time like this.

It Is Just All About Love

And I guess this is what God is trying to tell us. To “love others just like how I loved you.” To forgive others like how He has forgiven us. And to ask for forgiveness from Him and from others.

This is how God shifts our mindsets from seeing only what lies in front of us to realizing the bigger picture that lies ahead. It is about appreciating relationships more than ever. It is about being grateful and being accountable for the people He’s blessed you with. It is about celebrating what love is in the truest essence of the word. And lastly, it is about the simple things that we normally take for granted, but are actually more precious than money, silver, and gold.

Right now, I appreciate having my husband around. It made the quarantine more bearable, and it made me fully understand how it is to love my husband as a wife according to the standards of God’s Words. There are a lot of things that my husband does now, which made me realize I should be proud God married me to him.

Basically, that is all that God is asking from us now. Just. Plain. Love.

“We love each other because he loved us first.” – 1 John 4:19

Staying in love until the worst,

 

 

An Offer Of Comfort To Those Who Suffer Financially

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This pandemic has made countless of people jobless. It is never easy to lose your only source of income, most especially in a time like this. And yet, I would like to offer an assurance that God’s eyes are on us now.

How God Teaches Humility

Yes, I also included myself because this scenario isn’t new to me anymore. As a freelancer, there were times wherein every month I would send out job applications and proposals to get projects and earn. There were plenty of times, too, that my proposals were rejected or there were no projects available for me to do.

This was how it was for me in the last 3 years. So I know how hard it is to be constantly looking for ways to earn a living. I am already quite too familiar with situations where you had to rely on one source of income only to make ends meet at home.

What God Wants vs What I Want

I had this calling to pursue a remote career. It wasn’t an easy decision on my end, and I did share in my previous articles the reasons why. When doubt overcomes me, however, I’d once again apply to an office job only to be rebuked by God later on. Then, I would have to let go of the opportunity. I spent countless days and months asking the Lord “why” and what was His purpose for placing me in this predicament.

Little did I know that these were the times that God was asking me to rely on Him COMPLETELY for provisions. It is these moments of being so uncertain if you will have food on the table the next day or none the following week that made me view God as to who He really is as a provider.

His Love Never Fails, Always

Did God fail me?

NO. Not even once. And I would like to emphasize that because He was there for me and my husband when we needed Him most. God knows my former worrisome nature will always clash with my faith. It is what the enemy will use to attack me, make me defenseless, and eventually fall into his trap.

But take heart when I say that God always rescues those who seek Him with all their hearts in moments of need. He blesses those who call out to Him FIRST and rewards them accordingly. These rewards are even more than what we initially asked from Him.

When Rivers Run Dry, Turn To God

Yes, I understand how it can be unsettling to lose a job that literally allows you to survive in this world. And yet, when we see God as the one who provided that job in the first place, we can be assured that He will provide us with another one or another avenue where our needs will be met.

Here’s a fascinating testimony that I haven’t shared yet because we experienced it just this week. I lost some clients at the beginning of this year until now, which led me and my husband to once again rely on his income alone.

Keep The Good Fight Of Faith

Last year, there was a bounty of financial breakthroughs. And if my memory serves me right, it was my husband who asked me to set aside some cash on top of our usual savings. I placed it in a white envelope and put it inside a drawer.

Since we don’t need the money at that time, we somehow forgot that we have it. So when we were making financial adjustments a couple of months later, it wasn’t included in the accounting.

God’s Grace Is More Than Enough

Then, the pandemic happened. We had to consolidate all our resources and make do with what’s available. By God’s grace, there’s more than enough for all our needs. Yes, all that we have now is more than enough.

While I do believe in saving for the future, I have such great faith in God that He is our ULTIMATE provider. Thus, we have nothing to worry about our future when it comes to all our needs.

Elijah’s God Is The Same God We Have Today

This is somehow similar to the story of Elijah in the Bible and how God sent ravens and the widow to feed him (book of Kings). The woman’s jug of oil and jar of flour never ran empty allowing Elijah, the woman, and her family to have enough food to eat and survive.

But since God can still sense a little bit of worry and doubt in me, He knew I needed an assurance that would once again prove that He is who He is when He says that nothing is impossible with Him.

God’s Surprises Just Never End

Fewer clients mean lesser work hours for me. I had plenty of time to contemplate, search for new opportunities, and do my hobbies. So I decided to pick up the pencil and do some sketches again.

The only available pad for me to work on, however, is a big one so I decided to divide a page into half. This means I’d have to place the new sketch paper on a different pad. And I would need something to keep it in place.

The paper clips came as a solution, and I rummaged through our office supplies but found none. Then I remembered that I used paper clips for the white envelopes we allotted for budgeting.

A Need Fulfilled At Just The Right Time

So I went to the drawer, searched for one white envelope, took it out, and I think you already guessed what I saw. Voila, there neatly tucked inside were 3 paper bills – safely forgotten.

I just couldn’t contain the surprising discovery to myself so I shared it with my husband who teased me that I’ve been secretly stashing money away. I think it’s his way of saying that he also forgot. 😁

God knows we would need it at exactly the right time. The money will still remain as emergency funds though, and yet I already have a plan where half of it will go. Ah yes, indeed, the five barley loaves and fishes are more than enough to feed thousands of people.

As this verse says,

“And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” – Philippians 4:19

So to all unemployed brothers and sisters out there right now, I pray that you will hold on to this promise:

“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” – 2 Corinthians 9:8

God will provide for you, too. Believe in this. ❤

I think I can hear God saying,

“My child, why are you still pursuing the demands of this world? Have I not shown you enough the past few months what really matters?

Why are you still worried about your needs? Have I not provided you with more than enough ever since you became My child?”

God would like to hear our answer, and let it be a good one. 😉

Always relies on God for provisions before and now,

P.S. This article is part of the 80 drafts that I am currently preparing as scheduled posts. I am targeting (by God’s grace) to reach the mark of 500 published articles here on my blog.

We just don’t know what could happen in the next few days, weeks, and years. But as long as there are technology and WordPress, these testimonies will live on. 😀

Methinks it is also best to wait it out until this worldwide crisis is over, and start looking for new career opportunities. Businesses will be flourishing by then. And yet, this entirely depends on God’s plans and His timing. In the meantime, have faith that God will cover all of your needs. 🙂

 

 

Today, I Write With Sadness

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I had to break my silence. Because it breaks my heart into pieces. Now I know how Paul must’ve felt when he addressed the problems of the early church in Corinth. (Reference: 1 and 2 Corinthians)

It pains me to see fellow believers breaking away from their faith. A couple of days ago, my Facebook newsfeed was flooded with hate posts including some Christian friends calling out names on other people, deleting friends on their list, and cursing downright at the current government and certain government officials.

Sadly, it is not COVID-19 that is making me sick. It is seeing these situations unfold right before my eyes that make me cry my heart out to the Lord. When the people involved are believers and Christians most especially, all the more painful.

I know they are victims, too, by evil forces that we don’t see. That is why I just vented my sentiments here on my blog so I won’t offend anyone because I value every relationship I have in my social network. I intend on keeping it that way forever. But I just want to ask this:

Have we lost everything that is Christlike in us? Where are the fruits of the Spirit? Whatever happened to God’s greatest commandment of loving one another just like how He loved us?

This is the Bible verse in the new shampoo bottle that hubby bought just last week. It came in very timely. And I know it is God calling us out to be who we really are. He knows the church will go through this.

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.” – John 13:34

 

I was hoping more from Christians to behave otherwise because we have a greater calling to be the salt and light of the world. We already have an idea of who God is and how Christianity works – discipleship, fellowship, personal relationship with God, etc.

Personally, I felt like I have failed in reminding those in my social network how to respond as a Christian in a time like this. It crushes my soul that they have forgotten all the wisdom found in the Bible – the very promise of God.

It hurts me even more knowing that I can only pray for them, and that if they won’t seek God’s forgiveness and instructions, we already have a picture what will happen next. The punishment is greater for those who already know Christ, and yet chose to disobey.

How could we forget so easily? How could we succumb to the temptations of the enemy and this world so easily?

I posted Bible verses on Facebook as a reminder to go back to God before it’s too late – to seek Him first before anything else. And yet, I, too, became a victim of this persecution and was called too complacent. That I don’t care at all for those who are most affected with this crisis (the weak and the poor) because they think I am rich, which I am not.

What’s worse is that I was blamed for being a Christian and that I was using Bible verses to make people hate God even more. I believe this is the part where we can see divisions in the church – when some of us choose to believe selected Bible verses only for a particular situation without taking the entirety of Scripture into consideration. And this is exactly what the enemy wants, to create dissensions among believers.

How come we were judged easily not knowing what my husband and I went through for the past years? My husband and I had to endure months to years of living from paycheck to paycheck.

We literally used coins to buy our daily meals making sure we won’t go out of the budget by spending 100 pesos a day only for 3 meals. We also lived in a tiny room that measures 12 feet x 6 feet and the kitchen, comfort room, dining area, and bedroom were all in there. We started out with no beds or mattresses except for sleeping bags, no dining table and chairs, and no refrigerator.

Our families may be well-off, but I told my husband that we need to learn to rely on God first when it comes to our needs and refrain from asking other people for help. So yes, when it comes to worldly poverty, we know how it felt. I know how it felt to be really in need owning nothing else but the clothes on my body because we experienced it firsthand.

And yet true enough, God helped us get through that ordeal. He blessed us in so many unexpected ways with more than what we have prayed for. Were there times that my husband and I cried (literally and figuratively) out to God? Yes, A LOT of times.

My husband once cried in the comfort room of his workplace while sharing to me about God’s favor over the phone. I cried, too, when my husband was asleep and while praying to God. And there were more of these times that we sure felt we’re undeserving and yet God provided still.

But instead of cursing God for putting us in that predicament, we praised Him even more and became closer to Him every single day. I believe this is the problem now. And this is the greatest test of faith that Christians need to endure.

To never lose sight of who God is when tough times become even tougher, when problems seem never-ending, when solutions just seem impossible, and when the future just seems 100% uncertain.

I once shared to my husband that even if it is a matter of life and death, we must not turn our backs on God and our calling as a Christian. That was how men of great faith in the Bible earned God’s favor. By staying true to their commitment even if it means giving up their lives for Him i. e. Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego; Daniel and the Lions; David and Goliath, etc.

When we are stretched to our limits and when we feel like being “burned” alive and we become impatient waiting for God’s answers, do we resort to solving things out on our own and depend once again on self-sufficiency instead on God?

I am praying this isn’t our mindset because it has already been written in the Bible that more of these problems will come – Luke 24 (Jesus Speaks About The Future). And I believe they will be more difficult, more heart-wrenching, and even more life-threatening.

We must not give in to this world. Not now, most especially for the Christians. The world needs us. This is the mission that God has set for each one of us to accomplish so we can be blameless when Jesus finally comes.

I encourage believers to share the Bible verses as is on social media instead of voicing out our sentiments. They are the exact words of God, thus, they have the authority to rebuke, remind, and encourage. What the world needs now is what God has to say and not really what each one of us has to say personally. “Less talk, fewer mistakes,” as they say.

If what we say is not in light of the Scripture, then, there is a higher chance of us saying the wrong things or being misinterpreted. If people still chose to persecute us for sharing Bible verses during a crisis, then they are going against the Word of God and not us per se. It is God, then, who has the authority to judge them and not us when the right time comes.

Help comes from God and God alone, and the government or other people are only instruments of those blessings. Help always comes. And yet this will all happen according to God’s will and according to God’s timeline.

The only problem is we don’t have enough faith to trust God completely that He will provide us with everything that we need may it be eternal salvation or material needs. Thus, we become desperate for answers and solutions.

How much of God do we really believe in when we call Him out as God, our Father? How much of what Jesus has done on the Cross will be enough for us to believe that He indeed came here to save this world and all the people in it?

I am currently on Facebook hibernation as part of my Holy Week fasting. My heart bleeds seeing this situation happen during Holy Week. My heart breaks that the Lord’s Name is being used in vain, exactly during the time when we’re supposed to be glorifying Him.

I am praying that during the Holy Week, God’s people will take it into their hearts what really happened on the Cross how many centuries ago. I pray that we will all have a moment of reflection and refresh the time when we were saved. I pray that after this week and in the coming months and years, believers will rise up to their calling as followers of Christ and bring victory to God’s name no matter the circumstance.

Being a Christian is hard, but that is part of our identity as Christ’s followers. And this is just one of the extreme tests of faith for all believers. I pray we all open our eyes and defeat the attempt of the enemy to deceive, which has already blinded some of our fellow sisters and brothers in Christ.

We are more than conquerors in Christ. His blood is in each one of us. Let’s listen to the Spirit. Let’s devote our time to the reading of Scripture more than ever. And lastly, let’s continue praying that the body of Christ will all be united in defeating all the attacks of the enemy.

Praying for God’s mercy to be upon us all,

God’s Message In A Bottle

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Yes, in a bottle – bottles of my shampoo and conditioner. 😃 I was supposed to write this yesterday, but I felt it best to post it today, Monday. The 14-day community quarantine imposed by the government also started yesterday. 

Prior to the implementation, panic buyers were already hoarding supplies in case of a total lockdown. Grocery stores were running out of supplies. I told my husband that we will refrain from going to the supermarkets since we still have groceries at home good enough for 2 or 3 days.

Aside from the fact that all the items we need were no longer available, there were long queues everywhere. The crowd was enormous, and yes, hilarious. The moment I saw online posts of people flocking the supermarkets, I just can’t understand what they were panicking about. 

Please Stop Panic Buying

The Department of Agriculture already mentioned in a press release that we have enough food supply that can even last up to 9 months. Panic buying will only lead to long lines and big crowds.

When this happens, shoppers will all be susceptible to acquiring the virus because of a lowered immune system due to stress. The chances of being exposed to possible infected persons who are asymptomatic will also be very high. 

Praying For God’s Will

As of writing, there are 11 deaths listed and about 140 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Philippines. I told my husband that the 14-day quarantine is not enough as this is only the onset of the epidemic and community transmission. And sadly, our government can only do so much in containing it given the country’s population of 109,140,500.

I told my husband we will wait out for the panic buying to wane and buy our food supplies this Sunday when supermarkets replenish their stocks and the partial lockdown begins. By then, most people have already bought their supplies and the number of buyers has already dissipated. It’s the perfect time to go out since everything we need is already available.

Shopping Was A Breeze

And it was indeed true. There were very few shoppers present last Sunday, and the grocery store already restocked most of the items. We decided to go out during lunchtime under the striking heat of the sun. It only took us less than 15 minutes to buy everything that we need (just the basics, we are against hoarding).

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I teased him that most people won’t be in panic buying mode every day because it’s very expensive. If supplies at the physical stores will still be out of stock, and the government implements a total lockdown, I already found alternatives to buy our groceries and medical supplies online. 

I shared with my husband that we really have nothing to worry for as long as we do our part in protecting ourselves and other people around us. Then God will do the rest for us. 

Surviving Trials Left And Right

My husband and I have been through severe testing and difficult trials in the past. There were times when we’re absolutely sure there’s no way we’re going to survive a trial.

But each time, God has ushered us through in unexpected ways that so often surprised us. I know that this is only one of the many trials we have to go through now where God will once again fight for us on our behalf. 

And this is where the story of God’s message in my shampoo and conditioner bottles will come in. 🙂

God’s Message In A Bottle

Nope, I didn’t hoard shampoos and conditioners. lol And neither am I promoting these products. I just want to share the wonderful story behind them. 

Last year, I had my hair rebonded because I was born with curly hair. My hair specialist advised I use a shampoo and a conditioner that are paraben-free. This will protect my hair from breakage and any further damage. She offered one which they sell in the salon but, unfortunately, it’s a bit pricey. 

So I told her I’m not buying it since I’m also using a hair treatment at home. It’s my first time hearing about a paraben-free shampoo, so I did my own research out of curiosity. And I found out that paraben-free and sulfate-free shampoos are best to use on chemically-treated hair. 

Why Human Nature

I chose the Human Nature brand based on customer reviews, which were mostly positive. I started using it last December, and so far, the results are satisfying.

A few weeks ago, the situation on the COVID-19 outbreak here in the Philippines escalated with the rising number of confirmed cases. It led me to contemplate everything I’ve been reading on the news.

This deep contemplation continued even while I was taking a shower. 😀 I stared at the shampoo and conditioner bottles in front of me while washing my hair and then, something caught my eye. 

Just below the expiration date and product code, I saw a familiar word. I read it aloud. Surprisingly, it’s a Bible verse. 😀

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Bible Verses Printed On Bottles

I was so amused that I immediately checked out the bottle of my conditioner and see if it also has one. Yes, there’s also a Bible verse printed out along with the product code and expiration date. 

 

Then it dawned on me that God must have seen what’s in my heart – the possibility of anxiety, worry, and fear to overcome my faith. I used to be a worrier before I became a born-again Christian and now a prayer warrior. 😉

I may be bold in sharing Bible verses in my social media profiles, but that’s because I have so little faith. Every time I share the gospel online, it’s actually my way of reminding myself about God’s calling for me the moment I feel like shrinking back. 

Here are the Bible verses in the bottles: 

“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.” – Galatians 5:13

“And she will have a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through His prophet:

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” – Matthew 1:21-23

 

We Need God Even More Now And He Knows

God knows I needed reassurance, a reminder – all of us do. That is why He called us to serve one another in love and take heart that “God is always with us.” The body of Christ will all work together to defeat this enemy by doing their assigned parts. 

How? Through the Spiritual gifts. I’ll share in the latter part of this article how being in tune with the Spirit is very important in discerning God’s messages, and eventually His answers to what we were praying for. 

A Coincidence Or A Sign?

I know some people would think this was just purely coincidence. In my case though, I have long given up the notion of coincidences when I became a born-again Christian. In fact, this was not the first time a sign or a miracle happened. And I believe more of these revelations will take place in the coming days, months, and years. 

As I continued to devote more time reading the Word, I thought it best to share it in any way possible to encourage other people during a time of crisis. I have also observed that sharing the Bible verse as is doesn’t get as many impressions from your audience as you want it to have.

One Way To Share The Gospel

However, there’s a way to get around that. Posting a photo that you know will get so many likes and placing the Bible verses as a caption might do the trick. Here’s the photo I chose and the Bible verses I included along with the post. Was I successful? I would like to believe that the first few Bible verses somehow came across (planting the ‘seed’) to anyone who saw that photo. 

 

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This photo was taken 6 years ago (2014) during a short modeling stint – my first and probably my last.

It doesn’t always have to be a picture of yourself because your Facebook friends might have the wrong impression of you being a narcissist. And that’s the least trait that we want them to think about us. 😀 A landscape photo or a photo of nature would do. It can actually be any photo. If you’re undecided, ask God for leading and discernment to know what to post and how to share it on social media.

His Leading Is Very Important

I always ask for God’s leading and discernment when it comes to sharing Bible verses that will best fit a specific situation. I discovered, though, that we can only hear His voice clearly when we’re not distracted by a lot of things around us. 

If I haven’t been sensitive enough and I was distracted enough, I sure wouldn’t notice the Bible verses in my shampoo and conditioner bottles. Nothing has changed in the way I pray at night before I sleep. The only thing that changed was my prayer points.

And one of them is sensitivity to the presence of the Holy Spirit. God never fails to answer us when He sees we are ready. And we can only be ready when we allow ourselves to be used by God completely according to His purpose. 

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A Calling For Believers To Take The Task Assigned

Devotion to the Word, a peaceful countenance, and more quiet time with the Lord – these are what every believer should do now. And it is the Spirit who will act on our behalf when we feel overwhelmed by everything around us. 

For the past weeks, I had a difficult time praying for “HEALING” as the numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to rise in the Philippines. God knows unbelief and doubt can overcome our faith when driven by worry and fear. And once again, God moved ahead of me. 

Fight The Good Fight Of Faith

This is what I’m holding on to now, and this is how I will end this article as well. I pray that this article may bring every believer out there an assurance that in all the verses He has revealed in the past days and weeks, only one thing stood out – God will remain by our side no matter what happens. 

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Please join me as I continue to pray for healing, comfort, peace, grace, courage, boldness, and strength to be upon each and every believer in this world. The enemy won’t stop now or anytime soon, and neither should we. 

Always believing in God’s miracles as we fight the good fight of faith,

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P.S. I told my husband that for as long as I’m breathing, I will continue worshiping the Lord. I prefer it that way than to cower in fear. Whatever may happen, let the will of the Lord be done always. 🙂

P.S. 2 I’ve been using Paulo Coehlo journals for my daily devotion, and there were some instances where I found God’s instructions through it. The artwork for March 12, which was also the start of the rapid increase of COVID-19 cases in the country, looked like the virus strain, for one.

Coincidence? I bet it’s all part of God’s plans. 🙂

 

 

 

Praying For Our Health Against COVID-19

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I’ll pause the Eventful February article series to share this write-up. This was originally posted on Facebook, and I thought it best to share it here to raise awareness, give hope, and pray for healing. I am also posting this in the vernacular with a few English sentences here and there for a little bit of context.

Heto so far na-compile kong mga kailangan at dapat nating gawin para iwas sa sakit aside sa pagsuot ng mask at paghugas ng kamay palagi:

  1. PRAYERS for overall wellness (best na panlaban)
  2. Sapat na tulog to boost the immune system (at least 6 hours, bawal zombie mode)
  3. Sun exposure to boost the immune system (summer naman kaya tara at mag-sunbathing na) SOURCE: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3166406/
  4. Well-hydrated to boost the immune system (nilagyan ko ng lime para maging alkaline water)
  5. Vit C to boost the immune system (pwede ring dalandanan, pinya, mangga at lahat ng prutas na sagana sa Vit C)
  6. Disinfect bathrooms and bedrooms (‘wag sobrahan sa kakalinis at need magpahinga to boost the immune system)

***Others (tulad sa akin na may allergic rhinitis)

  1. Betadine throat spray (thank you sa medical conference ng asawa ko last year)
  2. Nasal spray w/ aloe (thank you to my sister)
  3. Vicks inhaler (may kasama nang pang-sabit ang iba, sana necklace meron din)
  4. Joker (‘Laughter is the best medicine,’ ika nga nila. Sana napatawa ko kayo kahit konti.)

I stay at home all the time but my husband works in the office. At sabi nga nila, kahit anong paghahanda ang iyong gawin if it is part of God’s plan, mangyayari at mangyayari sya. Pero mabuti pa rin ang nagi-ingat. 🙏

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.” – Proverbs 17:22

“The Lord watches over you.” – Psalm 121:5

Praying that God will heal us all,

Eventful February Part 1: Valentine’s Day 2020

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Before I begin this article, I’d like to share a little bit of praise report. Thanks be to God because my skin allergy subsided leaving no trace or permanent marks on my skin. (Yay! Thank You, Lord. ❤️)

When I have an eczema attack, I usually have “battle scars” after the episode – dark spots take about 6 months before they lighten up. Yes, you can imagine a human Dalmatian when you see me. 😁

Our January may have been a bit of a rollercoaster ride with bad news everywhere around the globe. But we all rise above any adversity, right?

That’s all part of human nature – we fall, we rise. If we keep on falling, then we just keep on getting up and moving forward for as long as we breathe.

Welcoming February

I believe February and all the coming months this year are meant to be cherished along with those who are dear to us once an opportunity to do so becomes available. The January events are all a reminder that indeed, our lives here in this world are nothing more but short and fleeting.

Valentine’s Day

The Norwegian Couple 😍

My second sister and her husband from Norway were scheduled to visit the Philippines this month. And I sensed my bro-in-law was up to something. 😃

Hubby and I usually don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day lavishly because every day, for me, is a chance to show your love for others and not just on February 14.

I’m also against the commercialization of this celebration urging couples to look beyond material gifts as the only way of expressing true love. Though giving and receiving gifts are included in the different types of love languages, I believe love is something way deeper than that.

For one, love has to be a commitment. It goes beyond the daily “I love yous” we tell our partners. It is more about saying “I love you” when it’s too difficult to say it i. e. during an argument, after an offense, while in a painful situation, etc.

What Is Love?

Love is also about being selfless all the time. How far have we gone our way to do something for our loved ones? When we get tired, there is a tendency to complain. We see things from our own perspective only and regard situations as unfair. That is because we fail to remember that love has to be selfless, which is putting the needs of others before our own.

I can go on and on about what love is other than cute stuffed toys and lovely bouquets. There is nothing wrong with them being given as gifts, but the thought behind those gifts always and should matter more than the gifts themselves.

Love Languages

But here’s the catch. If your partner’s primary love language is giving gifts, by all means, let him or her be. Then lovingly express your gratitude when you receive them to make sure their efforts are appreciated. What always matters, anyway, is what will make your partner happy in the long haul.

So, our beloved spouses still went out of their way to surprise us with Valentine’s Day dinner and lovely roses even if we told them there’s no need. 😉

Love’s Deeper Meaning

I told my husband that the simple acts of love he does for me every single day outweigh any future gifts I’ll receive from him during Valentine’s Day. But since his love language is giving gifts, I assured him that every gift is well appreciated and well treasured.

My 6-year old preserved rose.

I actually preserved the first Valentine’s Day rose hubby gave me back when we’re still dating. I told him it’s my way of appreciating his efforts and placing a sentimental value on the gift. Unfortunately, it’s just impossible to preserve all the flowers I receive from him so it will probably be the first and last preserved rose. 😃

God’s Definition Of Love

When it comes to defining love, I follow God’s definition of it through His Word:

1 Corinthians 13

“1  If I speak in the tongues[1] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3  If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[2] but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 

12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

Love may be romantic to some, but to others, it can be painful. Love can bring destruction, and yet it also offers salvation. Love can be a sweet aroma, but it can also sting.

Whatever our experiences of love may be, we can all agree that at one point, it did change our lives for the better. 🙂

Saved by the love of God,

 

 

Oppression Of The Enemy: Standing Firm With Faith Intact

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While writing this, I have a full-blown skin allergy attack. I woke up 2 days ago with red, itchy patches on my skin without any clue what might have triggered them. Nothing was new in my routine nor in my diet, and neither am I too stressed to have another episode.

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Though the swelling subsided after I took an antihistamine and applied topical medication, a few red patches would come out in other parts of my body every now and then. Some of them are big enough to cover a specific area i.e. entire legs, entire arms, and entire neck.

This isn’t new.

I have been diagnosed with eczema or atopic dermatitis since I was in college. Exposure to allergens such as dust, pollens, poultry, and certain types of seafood are among the triggers. Stress is also another factor.

We have a history of asthma in the family. So it was no longer a surprise when during the most stressful point of my college life (finishing the thesis), I had a major eczema breakout. Let’s just say this is one of the “thorns in my flesh” – a form of oppression.

This isn’t new either.

Every day we face oppression. Some might feel they are being oppressed by the government and by certain organizations. Others experience oppression at home through relational conflicts with parents, siblings, children, relatives, friends, coworkers, or a spouse.

There are those who have financial constraints as oppression, while others are oppressed because of depression, anxiety disorder, fear, guilt, shame, addiction, and other illnesses. Calamities and tragedies are also other forms of oppression wherein all human efforts tend to be futile in terms of being saved (literally and figuratively).

What Really Is Oppression?

I work from home, and I socialize during the weekends i.e. go to church, date my husband, meet friends, etc. Because of the nCoV breakout and my skin allergy attack, I had to stay at home to limit the chances of me acquiring the virus. This, in itself, is oppression.

As much as I’d like to worship God along with fellow believers in church, I had to seek comfort in the confines of our home. Thank God though our church has live streaming of its services.

We all know that being cut off and out of sync with fellow believers will make you more prone to the attacks of the enemy. One of my Bible study group leaders compare it to that of burning coal. Once you remove one from the rest, its fire will die out.

“A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” – Ecclesiastes 4:12

The same goes for us. Once we have remained lukewarm in our faith, the enemy’s oppression will get stronger and weaken our spirits making us vulnerable to temptations and sinning. Also, the testing of our faith will be even more challenging.

Learning From Job

Do you still remember what happened to Job? He went through severe testing and trials and was reduced to a mere mortal deemed powerless against the forces of the enemy. And yet, God proved the enemy wrong. In the end, the faithful servant was rewarded for his unflinching faith in God and God alone.

“My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.” – Psalm 73:26

“The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” – Psalm 18:2

“I will see Him for myself; my eyes will behold Him, and not as a stranger. How my heart yearns within me!” – Job 19:27

It is my prayer that in every trial and in every season of our lives, we will continue to rise above every oppression of the enemy. As long as we are breathing, we never back down trusting that God is greater than he who is in this world.

We have been called to fight the good fight of faith. That has always been our mission. Thus, we declare and we fight for it.

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Photo courtesy of Unsplash

Having said that, we can expect persecution at its worst, all types of it – emotionally, physically, mentally, financially, and spiritually. The bigger the purpose and work God has for us, the stronger the opposition. Because satan doesn’t like us preaching the Word of God at all. He will send out his army to prevent us from doing so as God’s servants.

We have to keep in mind that prior to Judgement Day, there will be great persecution among the followers of Christ. So we need to be READY and EQUIPPED.

How To Fight Wearing The Armor Of God

  1. Ask God what are the battles you need to fight for, what are the battles you need to let go and let God fight them for you, and what are the battles you need to fight together with Him.
  2. Seek for His protection and His wisdom DAILY through prayers.
  3. Claim the victory of salvation through the Cross.
  4. And lastly, wear God’s armor as you fight the evil forces of this world.

The Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

13 Therefore put on the FULL ARMOR OF GOD, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the BELT OF TRUTH buckled around your waist, with the BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the GOSPEL OF PEACE.

16 In addition to all this, take up the SHIELD OF FAITH, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the HELMET OF SALVATION and the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, which is the WORD OF GOD. 

18 And PRAY IN THE SPIRIT on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

– Ephesians 6:10-18

For God can be trusted to keep this promise:

“But in that coming day, no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the LORD; their vindication will come from me. I, the LORD, have spoken!” – Isaiah 54:17

Always fighting the good fight of FAITH,

 

 Read more: Jesus Speaks About The Future

 

God’s EK: What It Means To Live By Faith And Not By Sight

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I am writing this in the vernacular because of its local context. If I still have enough time today (I will do the laundry and clean the house 😀 ), I’ll write an English translation. 😊

What It Means To Live By Faith And Not By Sight

Ngayon ko lang lubusang naintindihan ang konsepto behind this mantra. Faith is about claiming the beautiful promises of God not when everything around us is doing well, but when everything else seems to go wrong.

What I am claiming now is that the life after this world is something to look forward to. And I am claiming it with excitement. ‘Yung tipong parang first time mong pumunta ng EK at wala kang idea anong meron doon. Pero maraming nagsasabi sa’yo na sobrang masaya daw doon at sobrang mage-enjoy ka.

Aside from that, hindi ka lang mag-isa ang mage-enjoy. May mga kasama ka. Na-imagine mo ba kayo ng mga barkada mo noong highschool? Magkakahawak-kamay. Magkaka-akbay. Nagtitilian at naglulundagan. Dahil punong-puno kayo ng excitement na malaman what is waiting for you doon sa pupuntahan nyo.

Imagine that scene. That is what it’s like to enter God’s EK. At itawag natin syang “Eternal Kingdom.” 😉👍

Always looking forward to entering God’s EK,

P.S.

Sa mga nangangamba na baka ‘di papasukin sa entrance, hindi pa naman huli ang lahat. Pwede pang pumila at bumili ng ticket.

Nakatatak sa ticket ay JESUS: Surrender/Salvation/Altar Call. Make-claim nyo sya sa hospital for sinners, the church. For FREE. 😊

Jesus Speaks About The Future: LUKE 21

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With all that is happening around the world, the only thing that matters is what Jesus has to say about the future. Worries, doubts, and anxieties are on the rise, and most of us are seeking Godly wisdom all the more each and every single day and asking for discernment about the things that we should all know.

About The Future: What It Holds

Last night, I was conducting research on the looming food crisis that the entire world may experience 3 decades from now. I found one article from the New York Times, which stated this:

“The report, prepared by more than 100 experts from 52 countries and released in summary form in Geneva on Thursday, found that the window to address the threat is closing rapidly. A half-billion people already live in places turning into desert, and soil is being lost between 10 and 100 times faster than it is forming, according to the report.

Climate change will make those threats even worse, as floods, drought, storms and other types of extreme weather threaten to disrupt, and over time shrink, the global food supply. Already, more than 10 percent of the world’s population remains undernourished, and some authors of the report warned in interviews that food shortages could lead to an increase in cross-border migration.

A particular danger is that food crises could develop on several continents at once, said Cynthia Rosenzweig, a senior research scientist at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies and one of the lead authors of the report. “The potential risk of multi-breadbasket failure is increasing,” she said. “All of these things are happening at the same time.”

I’ll be sharing more about this topic in my upcoming articles. But just a heads up, I have been sharing opportunities in the local agribusiness sector on social media. They include the recent programs that the Department of Agriculture launched to entice millennials to venture into farming.

‘No Money In Farming’

As expected, this was received with mixed reactions. A majority of social media users, however, are against the idea with only one reason rising above their comments – there is no money in agriculture. I felt it in my heart to disagree since money is no longer the main concern here. It is about sustaining this world and its inhabitants in the coming decades.

Countless research conducted by different agencies all over the world all boils down to one result – earth’s resources are depleting at an alarming rate. I believe it already signals the time to shift our focus if we want to leave behind a better world for future generations to live in.

Farming As A Profession

Farming, according to studies, is a declining profession, and yet I believe it will become a career superior to all other jobs in the coming decades. Why? Its by-product involves food, which is an essential commodity and included in the 3 basic needs required for mankind to survive – food, clothing, and shelter.

Let’s just put it this way. Even if we have millions of money, if there’s no food available to consume, our millions will be worthless and useless. This issue of declining food supplies is not a minor problem. It affects everyone on a global scale. I searched for “global food crisis” and one word stood out – “famine.”

What The Bible Says About Famines

I continued my search by typing “famine” and included the word “Bible” along with it. One of the results that popped up and caught my attention was LUKE 21. I ended up reading the entire chapter, and I’ll share the verses here as well.

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This chapter pretty much sums up everything that the world is going through now. Here’s how we can interpret some of the things mentioned in the Bible to what is currently happening around us:

EARTHQUAKES: volcanic eruptions, tsunamis

FAMINE: climate change, drought, super typhoons, food shortage

PLAGUE: sars, mers, corona virus

WAR – ongoing armed conflicts: Afghanistan Conflict, Mexican Drug War, Yemeni Crisis, Kurdish-Turkish Conflict, Somali Civil War, Iraq Conflict (Source: Wikipedia)

Luke 21:21 also has a personal calling, and I interpreted it as one of the reasons why I have this strong desire to go back to the province and live there. Each day I would claim the country lifestyle for me and my husband and our families. It is also the answer to the global food crisis that will take place decades from now since the city is just getting too congested day by day.

“Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city.” – Luke 21:21

This verse that stood out after hubby and I witnessed a perfect rainbow also seems to have a deeper meaning now:

And yet farming is not enough as a solution. It needs to be traditional farming that will limit the carbon released and any other environmental footprint we leave in the atmosphere. Indeed, the “farm-to-table” concept is just what we all need – go back to how things started similar to the Garden of Eden. The only difference is that there’s no hard labor in the Garden of Eden.

But the question still remains, “Is it already too late?”

Wisdom To Give Hope

It is my prayer that by reading this chapter about the future, everyone will be given hope that salvation, per se, is not about being kept alive from the dangers that are about to come.

As Jesus had said it, Himself, this world and the heavens will disappear. And yet, He also assures us that there is nothing to fear because salvation, which is life in eternity with our God, will be given to those who believe in Him.

Fear can never be our answer to escape the tragedies that will befall on us. They are inevitable, and they are bound to happen. But what God is asking from us is to be BRAVE and STRONG enough to face these trials until the time comes when we see Him face to face.

My Latest Convo With God

Just a few nights ago, I was having this unusual conversation with God. In fact, my prayer nights aren’t all the same. I pray about different things each night although there are particular prayer points that always pop up on some nights.

Sometimes I only pray a one-liner. Sometimes my prayer takes about an hour. These quiet times vary depending on how I felt and what I went through during the day. But oftentimes, they are all typical conversations you would have with an ordinary person.

My Prayer Life

How do I pray? No, I don’t usually utter my prayer. They are all just thoughts. Because my mind “talks” faster than my tongue. 😀

I also do this when I am about to sleep and when everything else around me is quiet. I could remember this one prayer night when I was seated on the bed, and my husband was sleeping soundly beside me.

I didn’t notice that my husband stirred and was startled when he saw me gazing towards the window, seated with my legs crossed, and with palms open. He asked me if I am okay. That was the time when we were just a newly married couple.

I think he was terrified I was doing “voodoo” or something on him. lol So I assured him that I was just praying. I can actually pray anywhere in the house with nobody disrupting me. But the thing is, I also pray over my husband each night. To be able to do this, I need to be beside him during my quiet time.

Eager Like A Child

Going back to the latest convo with God, I actually told Him I would love to see Him face to face. I am excited about how He would look like. My imagination was going out of bounds.

Will He be like a strong force of wind or blinding light? Will He be wearing golden robes flowing around? Will He be tall, small, huge, without a face, or with a face? And these questions just seem to go on and on.

Then later on, after realizing I might be asking too much, I just settle with I just want to hear His voice. Would it be a loud booming voice like a rumble of thunder? Or will it be a soft whisper?

When You Seek Him With All Your Heart

Sometimes I come to a point that I desperately ask God to answer and reveal Himself to me like how we expect humans to answer – hear a voice loud and clear with words that you can fully make out.

And when this doesn’t happen, I would just sigh with resignation knowing that God never acts in ways that we always imagine. But the never-ending questions of mine won’t stop there.

I’d still ask Him why it can’t be that way. I would realize then again that what I am insisting is my way and never about God’s ways. This is what I would tell Him in the end,

“Okay, Lord. That is all that I just want to say tonight. I just want to let you know what is going on in my mind and in my heart. I know you already know what they are even before I come before you and pray.

But somehow, when I let them be known to you by praying, the act, itself, gives me a comforting feeling. That there is this special dimension I am entering every time I have this quiet time with you, a very special place where I can just be myself and think about a lot of things so differently than how I think during the day.”

When Prayer Is The Only Weapon You Have

And this is the part where I will end this article. Because the Bible verse that created such a strong impact on me was Luke 21:36. God knows how much fear we would have to go through in this world as we face troubles of all kinds. And the first thing He said was to “PRAY.”

Are you afraid for your spouse, your children, your parents, your friends, and all the people you care about? PRAY. Are you going through extreme trials now? PRAY. Are you afraid of what will happen to this world decades or centuries from now? PRAY. 

These are the only things that God asked us to do when judgment day comes – PRAY and be STRONG. Why? It only means leaving everything else in His hands because HE IS IN CONTROL, and that He SAVES those who BELIEVES in His Name. ❤

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Believing that God is always MIGHTY to SAVE,

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P.S. Here’s the song that’s been running on my head for the past weeks now. I’m sharing this here because I want you to know that you are a Child of God, and God has CHOSEN you. ❤

Claim it because you have nothing to lose but MORE TO GAIN when you declare it. 🙂