Tag Archives: faith

A Prayerful 2015

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“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” – Romans 12:12

In every crusade, the knights engage in periods of time preparing for a victorious battle. In driving, you buckle up for safety. In school, you study so you will graduate. In almost every action, there is always a plan. But in life, how do you prepare?

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” – Proverbs 19:21

I bet this verse will remind us that not even us have the capability to completely prepare ourselves for what the future holds. As I enter this year, I realized I have so many in my hands right now that sometimes I feel as if I am drowning in a sea of opportunities, things to do and decisions. A swirling sea that seems endless with no beginning and yet no ending.

Decisions. Life can never be “life” without them. Each and every single day we decide, we choose. We choose what we will eat today, what we will wear tomorrow, what to ride today, etc. And yes, oftentimes we worry, we fret. Forgetting that God told us this:

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?…“- Matthew 6:25-26

Ah yes, Father. I am a worrier, full of doubts. Would any of you be right then if you assumed that I have no trust at all? Could be. But by God’s Grace I am still here worshiping, because His love never fails. For all throughout the changing seasons, He was there to guide me and usher me towards where I should be heading. Slowly learning to surrender and build the trust bit by bit, letting go of the world and slowly embracing more of Him each and every single day.

But it wasn’t smooth sailing. Conflicts, rage, heartaches, headaches, pain, sorrow, regret…have I made the wrong decisions?

And yet I was pacified with this:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7

And also this:

“But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” – James 1:6

I believe I can no longer give in to the shadow of doubts and affliction but believe in the power of prayers and surrendering to His mighty will. Yes, God’s will and His plans prevail. They always do. And that is the Good News. To hope is to trust. I guess that’s what it is to have faith. 🙂

Thus, I pray:

Oh Mighty Father, if we have acted upon our own free will in the past and failed, may You continue to guide us and make things right as we surrender to Your plans instead of ours. We pray that as plans shift, may You continue to touch and guard the hearts of those who will be affected. May You cover all the pain, remove all the hurt and bless us with forgiveness, acceptance, peace and love. And above it all, we will continue to hold on to the beautiful promises that You have for us until Your work in us is complete. Teach us to be patient, teach us to be calm. Considering that in all that we do and in all that we say, we will claim victory in Jesus’ Mighty Name. Amen.

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Siya Lamang

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SIYA LAMANG

Bakit nga ba kapag nasanay ka nung ikaw ay nagiisa na ang kapiling mo ay Siya,

May dumating man na iba, babalik at babalik ka pa din sa Kanya? 

(This is a short poem/feature that I wrote in the vernacular inspired by the scripture below.)

“I love you, O Lord, my strength.

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” – Psalm 18:1-2

The Spirit Lives

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Today is Friday, the end of the work week to most and the last day for the Prayer and Fasting 2015. This post is also my first entry for this year. Looks like what I have to write here will be something memorable. I hope. 😉

It’s been awhile since I wrote my last entry about my faith, if a few months back can be regarded as such. But I was prompted. Not just by anyone but by the One who lives in each and everyone of us who have been saved – the Spirit.

Thus, I begin my post.

I normally do not wake up at 5am. But I have been waking up at that time for how many consecutive days already. The tossing, turning and failed attempts to get back on hibernation mode can, I must say, add to the plentiful running thoughts in your head. I checked Instagram because I remembered I need to edit my profile. I saw something I did not like on the Newsfeed, I was tempted to judge – the mind can form in an instant the weapons of destruction. Not to them being criticized but to yourself who criticize, for a complete negative thought is nothing but already a crime.

BUT before negativity overcame me, I suddenly remembered a verse. My thoughts shifted – what book was it, what chapter, what verse, who said it, etc. I took my phone, typed the words I could remember from that verse on Google search and found myself reading verses upon verses until I stumbled upon this:

1 Corinthians 4:5 NIV

“Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.”

The verse was more of an answer to my beleaguered thoughts the past days than it is to the IG post I saw and my reaction to it. It just struck me how God can use simple things and simple ways as His means to provide you the answer you have been needing thus giving you the peace that you deserve.

And this was not the first time that happened. For every time I ask questions, every time I am unsure of something, every time I crave for an explanation, I was always reverted back to the Scriptures. And what I read are the only things that pacified me. I was supposed to write there ‘satisfied’ than ‘pacified’ but to me, satisfaction can be achieved without the feeling of being pacified. Satisfaction is for the time being while to be pacified is for the long run. Satisfaction is for that immediate craving while being pacified is for that deep longing.

Sure, some writings satisfy but their ideas never last. Maybe because if they are human wisdom, they change. What the Scriptures offer is Godly wisdom written in consistency through the changing times. And something grounded is more believable than something unstable, right?

1 Corinthians 1:19 NIV

[For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”]

Indeed, there is so much a changed life can do. You thought for a moment you have it all from wisdom to riches, love in its worldly definition and power. Until came the time that you were stripped bare – you have nothing. Except now, the only thing you see is your Creator. And the only thing you have and you can be proud of is the Cross. Then you can only be happier, for you have been stripped FREE. The Spirit lives. 🙂

673ed0db15f7341fed67ec090f85afc2

( Photo credit: https://www.pinterest.com/wildbill666/for-me/)

Ode On Morality

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Tin Ginete

Beauty amid the blackness.

In every society, morality is that one thing that makes civilization intact by bringing public order. These are the moral dictates and code of ethics that I, too, was subjected for strict compliance not because I am a teacher but because I am a citizen of a civilized society.

If we are to look closely on all the generations, past and present, and the standard of morality today, can we actually say and claim that it has declined? Or is it all just a matter of generational gaps, adaptability and acceptance of the changing times?

Laws are the social constructs that preserve any community. As a Christian, I only got to know this one fact when I got saved – we are all governed by one law and that is His Word through the bible.

“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” – Psalm 119: 105

“Your Word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures. Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you. If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life.” – Psalm 119: 89-93

Would it be safe then to assume that we actually have no use for our current justice system? What about the laws we are obeying now? They are laws which could be as faulty and imperfect as the one who made them – man. They were made by the leaders of the generations before and the generation now.

Such are the questions that I asked and I was given the answers:

“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” – Romans 13: 1

“Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.” – Hebrews 13: 7

I used to be a critic of reality to the point that I dare question what is existing or preexisted. But the Truth was given and I stopped asking questions. And I, myself, can clearly attest to this:

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The standards of morality may change over time and yet there is this one law that stays true, valid and trustworthy for decades and centuries:

“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” – Joshua 1: 8

Bible reading and an attitude of prayer will get you that far in life. Because that is what the Law says. Not mine, not yours, but His. 🙂

“There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy.” – James 4: 12

Skepticism and Religion: A Take On the Movie GOD’S NOT DEAD

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Tin Ginete

GOD’S NOT DEAD

No, I am not a theologian. What I am posting here are all personal insights learned from several Christian articles wherein the apologetics are the ones I find extremely interesting. Why?

Let’s just say that I used to be a skeptic, a cynic when it comes to faith. Someone who sees faith as a religion – a name you put in that portion of any application form that requires your religious background. I used to question the existence of God. Yes, to me back then, God was distant.

I am writing this article in light of the movie God’s Not Dead. Not a spoiler for starters as I’d be tackling mostly sensitive and controversial issues that I believe have been the challenges of most Christians, new and old, in the faith. This won’t be very technical but purely reflective. 🙂

Being a Literature graduate way back college, we were bombarded in my major subjects with theories by philosophers like Descartes, Focault, and a whole lot of great thinkers who are responsible in creating the set of perspectives, ideals and approaches I have in life right now. Or I used to.

It was only after I got saved and was doing my Foundations for Victory classes that I came into a deeper understanding of what it means to be a Christian not by name but by faith. It first starts with having a personal relationship with God through accepting Jesus as your Savior, something that requires a personal encounter with Him. Most definitely you’ll be asking me, “What personal encounter are you referring to, Tin?” This is your personal experience as to why you made that 180-degree turn from your past and commit in striving to live a life of purity – your testimony to a changed life and a changed you.

I am not an atheist. I did not become an atheist even when I entered University of the Philippines Diliman which is known to many as a breeding ground of atheists and agnostics – well as far as stereotyping is concerned. But it is actually this diversity of cultures that made me appreciate being part of the institution. Because I have learned to be this – flexible and discerning. I would like to say I am critical but then again, the definition of critical is relative. Some view it as something negative in a way that it becomes synonymous to being judgmental. Some would view it though as something positive – an attitude of learning.

It is the latter that I see myself in. I question thoughts and beliefs to learn and be knowledgeable. Well of course, in my field of expertise, we were trained to be that when we do our research and criticize the works of selected novelists coming up with our own interpretation of the story. We learned that discourse of analysis which is very subjective – opinion-based most of the time.

I have nothing against philosophy. In fact, I love philosophy. Some great writers are part of my philosophical influences up to now and as much as I would like to unlearn their ideas, I know I couldn’t. 🙂

BUT this is where I would like to thank God. For He has given us the free will and the freedom to choose which would benefit us in the long run and would foster the kind of healthy attitude essential in living the kind of life patterned according to His will. And this is where He offered the greatest wisdom – His Word, which is the truth.

Sharing the Word is not as easy as typing it down and posting it on social media sites and that’s it. Even right now, I have to take responsibility for this write up and defend with utmost conviction every single word I have written here. More so when some of you would question the beliefs I have presented.

There is so much in the bible that skeptics and atheists would definitely question. The bible is His Word. But it is seen as a literary piece that is subject to all forms of interpretation. In fact, it is. Reading the bible without praying first to God to let the Spirit lead you while reading it will present more questionable and confusing ideas.

But this is where faith comes in – trusting that God will give you the clear answers through the Scripture. That is what the bible is to me – a guide, an answer key, your fall back when criticized for your faith and your bridge to firmly establish that connection with God.

But who is God?

The debate between Science and Religion regarding God and the origin of man will, I believe, continue from generations to generations. But I will be tackling more of these very controversial issues in my next article after the movie God’s Not Dead has been shown here in the Philippines on November. I do encourage you to watch it. 🙂

But for now, let me end this article by saying that pursuit of wisdom in this world is futile for the greatest wisdom can only be found in His Word. Godly wisdom is wisdom that gives life. Worldly wisdom gives death to your inner peace for oftentimes it creates chaos. The multitude of perspectives that the world offers are enough to make you discouraged, lost and unguided for they all are contradicting and they change through time.  Choosing to hold on to God’s wisdom is more than enough – it replenishes your spirits, gives you guidance, renews your strength, gives you a calm heart, an open mind and a gentle spirit.

Why seek for the worldly and temporal when God is offering you something that is solid and eternal? My prayer is that may you use your God-given free will to choose the BEST wisdom you can possibly attain in this life. 🙂

P.S.

You don’t need a degree to learn His philosophies. It’s as simple and as easy as that. It is only man who complicates what should be easy. 😉

How It Is To Live w/ Bipolar Disorder

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Tin Ginete

HOPE

Yes. I think I have it.

Although I wasn’t diagnosed, I believe I have a Bipolar Disorder II with Hypomania. It is mild but it still is a medical condition. Here is a link re bipolar disorder to help you understand better: http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.topic449381.files/Adobe_Acrobat_Format/WLecture_10_-_Bipolar_Disorder.pdf.

The news re Robin Williams’ death saddened me and reminded me of what I went through battling depression. The reason I took Special Education now is for me to understand myself more. Because the moment you realized you are different than others, you will seek for ways to help yourself and you want to help others too who may be going through the same thing.

Most of you think I am naturally gifted with those “talents.” The truth is that they are skills I acquired to help me combat depression without the medications. Doing art, playing the guitar, photography, dancing, writing and all my other hobbies all helped me take my mind off those depressive thoughts – they sidetrack all feelings of anxiety, paranoia, and fear.

I attempted to commit suicide twice. The one suicide incident wherein I was almost successful doing it was in 2012 after a very stressful and violent breakup.

BUT it was also on that same year when I got SAVED. I was introduced to the faith on January 2012 and made my altar call during the Singles’ Getaway last September 2012. I created this blog on October 2012, which now became my “megaphone” for my faith and my spiritual journey.

If I have been vocal about my faith in all social networking sites, it is not because I seek for attention nor for popularity but because I intend to share the FAITH that saved me from committing the greatest sin that one could ever do while alive. And I also hope to encourage those who are on the verge of losing hope as well to not give up.

Cry your heart out. Belt it out. Drop down on your knees, repent, pray aloud, cry His Name aloud, seek for His Grace BUT NEVER GIVE UP.

Because God did not give up on you and me. He sent His son Jesus Christ into this world to suffer the pain for us, to save us from our sins – to give us HOPE.

NO ONE and NOTHING else can save you from what you are going through EXCEPT our GOD. The moment you surrender your life to Him, you will feel His presence in your every breathing moment. You will feel the Holy Spirit in you. God will give you opportunities to create a new life and a chance to redeem yourself.

God used the skills I acquired and my circumstances to make me better and stronger so I can serve Him, serve others, and spread the Good News. God surrounded me with people who helped in bringing me closer to Him, and who will remind me of Him every now and then. Because of God, I don’t look back to my past with pain and regret. I see my past as God opening the doors to a new life – spiritually restored and healed.

Bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition. There is no cure. But there are ways to manage it if you don’t want to take any medications. Although this has to be decided upon the assessment of a medical professional. Seek help if it is too much to bear. I sought help from my spiritual family, and I always have this Bible verse to remind me every time I have those depressive episodes. This Bible verse is what gives my life purpose and meaning:

“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” – John 15:4

If it wasn’t for my faith, I’ve long been gone. This testimony will speak how it really means to be BORN AGAIN through the Cross and through God’s love. ❤️🙏

“For it is by Grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” – Ephesians 2:8

FIREPROOF: How To Make Any Relationship Last

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This is an all-time favorite of mine. I have seen this movie for countless of times already and I’ve been crying over it for countless of times as well. 😀

It is not your typical romantic, fairy tale kind of movie. In fact, the movie is just too realistic to dismiss that you’ll find yourself relating to every single part of it.

But in general, this is a movie on relationships and how God makes all the difference when He is at the center of it.

More tissue rolls, please. 😉

 

SHE is the Other Pair

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Tin Ginete

Shoe on the Spot

Yes, that is how I call her – She. 😉

Her name is Sheryl San Diego. If you are wondering who she is and how is she related to that shoe above, please allow me to give you a brief rundown.

I was lost.

It is that one point in your life wherein you don’t know who to turn to. She is a Victory Group leader and I was assigned to her when I signed up to join a small group. I reached out because I could no longer carry on with the battle all to myself. He answered.

God gave me a spiritual family.

It is with She that I had my One to One Discipleship. It is a process which helps you commit to a deeper and more personal relationship with the Lord. We would meet every Sunday and discuss the Word through the One to One booklet. Every meeting starts and begins with a prayer. The entire time I had this with her, I was slowly being relieved of all my burdens – emotional baggage, pressure, stress and unanswered questions.

Tin Ginete

With my Victory Group leader, Sheryl San Diego (Photo credit: MJ Gotostos)

Until came the time that I finished it and I thought that was it. I already felt at ease after finishing our One to One Discipleship. What I didn’t know was that I was slowly being prepared for the main event, the Victory Weekend. It is that moment wherein I can say I COMPLETELY surrendered everything to God and COMPLETELY accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior.

Tin Ginete

3/3/13 Victory Weekend w/ She (Photo credit: Joyce Tan)

It was a 2-day event wherein the first day was allotted for baptism of the Holy Spirit and the second day for the water baptism. I was renewed, revived and made new.

Tin Ginete

Victory Weekend 3/3/13

I was found.

I am that 1 lost sheep and they were the 99. I was rescued but I was weak. God gave me an accountability partner to help me recover and to help me regain my strength in renewing my faith.

She is the other pair.

The one who helped me and accompanied me in my WALK with GOD. And I THANK her from the bottom of my heart for everything that she did – for being so patient and determined to see me finish the race towards a changed me. I learned a lot from her in my baby steps in my spiritual journey. She is indeed an epitome of a woman of God and a woman of faith – strong and devoted. And I am thankful to God for choosing her to be my partner in this lifetime walk with Him. I could not “walk” in my spiritual journey without her.

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.” – Matthew 18:19

Now that explains the shoe above. 😉

http://victory.org.ph/

#radicalsince1984 #myVictoryStory #everymemberaminister

The G Force

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Tin Ginete

Maleficent

#myVictoryStory

“How does your worship of God show up in your daily routine?”

I could think of numerous ways and yet two incidents which happened just recently would, I think, answer this question in one big bulk and can be applied in our activities of daily living.

You might wonder why I chose “The G Force” as my title. Pretty catchy and yes, it might remind you of the animated film G Force. But nope, you kinda guessed it wrong if you thought this is a movie review. 😉

It happened a couple weeks back for the first one and for the second one, just a few days ago. They’re two different incidents which took place in two different locations in different days and times. But yes, it has something to do with movies. In particular, the movie house.

First Incident

My bf and I decided to watch Maleficent at SM North Edsa Cinema. We then bought our tickets and reserved our seats ahead of time so we can tour around. Our seat numbers are G8 and G9. I was the one who chose them as I prefer to sit at the middle rows. Everything went fine until we got inside the movie house. When we searched for our seats, a couple was already seated there. So I asked them (while still holding our tickets), “Excuse me po. Ano po bang seat numbers ninyo?” The lady who is in her late 30s to mid 40s answered while rummaging her bag, “Actually hindi ko alam kasi hindi ko mahanap ‘yung tickets at ‘di ko na matandaaan.” I answered, “Kasi po seat numbers po namin ‘yang inuupuan ninyo.” I answered calmly for the second time. But this time, she answered back with a very indignant tone and told us, “Marami namang available na upuan, bakit hindi kayo umupo dun.” Again, I answered her calmly, “Kasi po, ito po yung pina-reserve po naming seat numbers.” She was adamant and other people are sensing the commotion already but I stood there and did not move an inch. Until she told her companion in a very angry voice that they should transfer seats and she said a lot of other things that are not directly addressed to me but she was just ranting her anger away.

We stood silently and waited. When we sat down in our seats, I told my bf, “If she would not budge in this seat, I will not say anything anymore but I will go to the management to fix this for us because I will not allow that I would give in to her request which is not right, in the first place, and end up in a similar situation once other people would ask us to transfer as the seats we are occupying are theirs.”

 Second Incident

This happened at Gateway Cineplex 10. My bf and I decided to watch Transformers: Age of Extinction and again chose G13 and G14 as our seats because G row is just my favorite. When we got inside the movie house, a girl and a boy were occupying the G15 and G16 seats. It was okay, no problem so far. BUT, the thing is, their shopping bags were placed in one of our seats (G14). So I approached the girl, who is the one occupying G15. I asked her, “Excuse me po, sainyo po ba ito? Kasi G13 and G14 kasi kami.” She looked at her bf and said, “E di ba marami namang bakante.” But the boy who is in his teens, apologetically said to me, “Ay sorry po, okay lang po. Sorry po talaga.” And ordered the girl to get the stuff. She hesitantly did it and mumbled something that was not pleasing to my ears at all. The boy was looking at me and said his apologies again. I just said, “It is okay. Thank you.” 

A few minutes later, two mid 20s girls arrived and asked the couple what their seat numbers were. We then found out that similar to the first incident, they didn’t know their seat numbers and lost their tickets. The girl now was getting hysterical at her bf and started accusing him of carelessly misplacing their tickets. The two girls, on the other hand, went outside to clarify the issue with the management. When they got back, the couple already transferred seats as they could not find their movie tickets.

So, the moral of the story is……it is all about G. 😀

G for GMRC (Good Manners and Right Conduct), G for my favorite row and of course, most importantly, G for God. Nah, I was just kidding for the first two Gs. But for the last one, I guess if it wasn’t for God and if it wasn’t for the Holy Spirit, I would’ve snapped back in those two incidences having temper issues way back when I wasn’t saved yet. I would’ve said a WHOLE LOT of negative words. But if there is one thing that faith has taught me, it is to think of God always in every single thing you do and in every single word you say. What if the person you are having that conflict with is God himself disguised in that form? And you flared up and forgot to keep your cool. Ugh, that is going to be a major epic fail. Now you wouldn’t want that, right? But in case you did flare up, no need to fret too much. Cry if you must. It is okay. We are humans, we get affected, we have emotions, and we feel. BUT you need to apologize, repent and think of better ways you would’ve handled it next time. 🙂

Because every single day in your life, your faith will be tested. Right from the moment you stepped out of the door of your house, from the moment you hailed a cab, a tricycle, a jeepney, a bus, or took the train to the office or even if you are just at home until the day ends, you will be given situations wherein without God in your life, if He is excluded in all you do, you will be making more and more sins which will make you miserable by the end of the day. Imagine that happening for 365 days. Whoa! That is equivalent to this: STRESS.

Patience, discipline and self-control through God’s guidance. That’s The G Force that will help you live up to how a Christian should behave. And having said that, I leave you with a bible verse below. 🙂

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. – Philippians 4:8

P.S.

Oh and yes, my bf and I decided not to choose the G row from now on. I hope our fate in F and H rows are way better. Or worse? Looks like I’d have to pray to God before entering the movie house. I think that will be the best solution. 😀

Lordship: The Life After

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Tin Ginete

The Road

Imagine yourself on a highway which has a blind curve and you don’t see what’s behind it or if there is an incoming vehicle. You just don’t have any idea.

That was the feeling I always used to have. I was just cruising down this lane which we call “life” based on how this world defines it – complicated, troubled, dirty, rough, broken, pain, and suffering. They are but just some of the words that I could use to describe what life meant for me before. For I never knew who God and Jesus Christ really were back then.

Failed relationships.

They defined most of my past. It was always the search for that right love with the right person. It came to a point that I begged for it, and I sacrificed a lot to have it including my career, my studies, my family’s respect – all because of that enigma which we call “love.”

Love is all-encompassing. I can use all the words in the dictionary but not a single one will define it alone. Its definition varies. And yet it exists.

Yes, it does.

And the greatest example of this was through the son of our God, Jesus Christ – THE CROSS.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16

I got to know this kind of love when I got saved. It was that moment of surrendering everything to Him, simply because everything was too much to bear and I was lost. Not even my family nor my friends could help me from the dark abyss that I was in. I was helpless, depressed, hopeless, and desperate. Shame, guilt, and anger were creeping within me fast that I decided to reach out and ask for help before it was too late. And so I did ask for help – from Him.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 6:23

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” – Matthew 6:33

It was my brother who introduced me to the faith. I was apprehensive to say “yes” when he invited me to go to church at Victory Fort. But after attending the first service, revelations after revelations happened. Miracles and signs began appearing that not even my brother have the words to explain them.

It was then that I believed that indeed, we have a God. And He listens and sees everything.

But it wasn’t as easy as that. There were times when I was called back to who I was, and I was not consistent in going to church because it’s far from our place. I also had a hard time having fellowship with other believers. I still felt incomplete. The faith was there, but not really there.

Until finally, an incident wherein my life itself was put at stake made me do a 180-degree turn. It was then that I have decided to search for a Victory church in QC and found one at GT Toyota Asian Center (Victory QC) inside my alma mater in UP Diliman. After attending a couple of church services, I finally had the courage to approach the concierge and inquire about a Victory Group. A few days later, I was assigned to one group led by Sheryl San Diego, who became both my friend and my spiritual mentor. She offered if I’d like to undergo a One-to-One Discipleship with her to which I said, “Yes.”

That was how my spiritual journey begun. It was a slow but sure process of a series of transformations – an old self being peeled off inch by inch, layer by layer until came the Victory Weekend. Victory Weekend was the most unforgettable moment that highlighted my newfound love for Christ and God – the beginning of my spiritual journey and the day I committed to have a personal relationship with the Lord. This was indeed Lordship and the life after.

VictoryWeekend

Victory Weekend 3/3/13 (Photo credit: Charls de los Reyes)

Tin Ginete

Water baptism with Sheryl San Diego and Maj Yu (Photo credit: Joyce Tan)

I was nothing more but GRATEFUL, RENEWED, and READY to face the future. Even as I type this article down, I could not help but shed tears. It is not because of the past, but because I could not imagine living my life right now if it wasn’t for the GRACE – the gift of SALVATION.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here!” – 2 Corinthians 5:17

It’s been two years since I got saved. My salvation and walk with God did not promise a storm-free life, but it promised a storm-proof life through the “Armor of God.”

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” – Ephesians 6:11

Because now, I can confidently stand and say that by the love, grace and mercy of God, every heartbreak and headache will be just that. For your every loss, God will replace each of them with what you really need. You will be given new opportunities and relationships that will help you grow and nourish your faith. A new life so to speak.

And though I may fall sometimes, I know who to turn to and I know who to plead for help. Because I have a God who HEALS, a God who PROVIDES, a God who PROTECTS and a God who SAVES.

“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:31

“I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:13

I have nothing to fear. Not even death. For I know now that everything I have is not mine. I have learned to let go and let God take control of my life. I have learned to trust Him with my whole life.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” – 2 Timothy 1:7

I may leave this world anytime soon and yet until eternity I carry with me this verse that I hold dear in my heart:

“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” – 1 Timothy 6:12

And I will praise His Name forever and ever come what may. GLORY BE TO GOD!

Tin Ginete

Victory Weekend 3/3/13 (Photo credit: Charls de los Reyes)

http://victory.org.ph/

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