All I want is to be hungry and be filled, overflowing with Your presence.
I keep failing but You keep pursuing. I keep walking away but You always restore me back. I keep doubting Your strength but You always fill me up with fresh load of trust whenever I surrender.
I am Yours. Make me Yours. Only Yours.
My heart may be at the crossroads right now but in these moments, I just want to say out loud to the whole world that my heart belongs to the One who saved it, the One who cares for it and the One who will protect it. God take charge!
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9 NKJV)”
Yes, God loves the sinner, and He hates the sin, but there is something amiss on the statement.
He also judges the sinner, but He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross; and to rise from the dead, in order for salvation to come to this cursed world.
So in conclusion, the statement: “God loves the sinner, and hates sin” is incomplete. It should go as this: “God loves the sinner, hates sin for He is holy and sin separates the sinner from God. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, both Man and God, to be the substitute to the death the sinner deserve, and for the sinner to receive a gift he did not deserve, that is, a relationship with God and salvation. The sinner can be restored to God upon realization of His works, and repentance for his sins.”
“The Puritan Jonathan Edwards likened his reawakening to the gospel to a man who had known, in his head, that honey was sweet, but for the first time had that sweetness burst alive in his mouth.” – JD Greear, from his work, “Gospel”
Praying for everyone who reads this post that the gospel will not be just mere knowledge but a great experience and a glorious encounter to share! #gospel #experienceoverknowldege #encounter
Hello mga people! 🙂 Salamat sa pagbasa ng courtship series ko! 🙂 Sobrang naapreciate ko ang mgacomments, personal message, at directions para mas mapabuti pa ang aking pagsusulat, at para magkaroon pa ako ng insights. Marahil ay may bias ang aking mga sinusulat, bilang ako ay isang lalaki, pero kayo ay makasisiguro na ang mga sinusulat ko ay mula kay God, at ito ay para rin sa Kanya. Muli, salamat sa pagtutok, pag-sang-ayon at pag-criticize ng mga sulatin ko, at ngayong tatapusin ko na ang series, sana ay malaman ninyo na ang problema sa pag-ibig ang isa sa mga kinakaharap ng mga tao lalo na ng mga kabataan ngayon. Maraming sawing puso na kailangang isalba, at ito ang naging inspirasyon ko para magsulat tungkol sa panliligaw o sa pag-ibig in general. Ang magiging last will ko ay hahatiin ko sa dalawa, isa para sa mga lalaki, at isa para sa mga babae. So eto na, sisimulan ko na! Salamat! 😀
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“Grabe, itong sugat sa puso ko, ano to eh, galing kay Andrea, nung binasted niya ako! Pero okay lang, may Riza pa ako, siya naman sa susunod na linggo!”
Normal na sa mga kalalakihan na ipagyabang ang mga kasawian niya sa pag-ibig. Kaya nga, para sa marami, macho daw ang mga lalaking papalit palit ng kasintahan. Yung maraming dyinodyowa.
Kunsabagay, di mo rin masisisi ang ganitong pag-iisip. Tulad nga ng napag-usapan namin sa small group kanina, marahil ang mga kalalakihan noong nakaraang mga siglo ay ganito mag-usap:
P1: Pare, itong peklat ko, nakuha ko to kay Augustus, yung heneral ng isang tribo! Pero look at me! Buhay pa me!
P2: Weak pare, ako kay Sigmund ko nakuha tong peklat ko sa ulo, dala dala niya yung malaking spada, pero tignan mo, may pag-iisip pa rin!
Natural na sa mga kalalakihan ang wild, ang ma-adventure, ang mayabang. Nasa genes na yan.
Ngunit, pagdating sa pag-ibig, ang kulturang ito ay dapat basagin.
Dahil kung ang lalaki, masaya sa peklat, ang mga kababaihan naman ay hindi. Marahil ay nakakita ka na ng ganitong scenario:
B1: EEEEW! May sugat is so laki, therefore, pangit pag nagkascar! Gonna put some sebo de macho after it make labas labas na!
B2: Waaaah. I have pimples in my pisngi, it is so like laki! Kailangan ng tanggalin!
Hindi ko naman nilalahat ang mga babae sa example. Pero in general, ayaw ng babae ang nasasaktan, ayaw nilang napepeklatan and this is much more evident sa buhay emosyonal. Kaya nga, ang babae, pag nasasaktan, pupunta sa isang sulok at i-iiyak ang sama ng loob.
So ano ang punto ng pag-introdyus ng mga peklat sa last will na ito?
Mga kalalakihan, isaisip ang limang puntong ito:
1. Ang tunay na lalaki, hindi naglalatay ng peklat sa puso ng babae. Inaalagan niya ang babae. Hindi niya niloloko. Oo, marahil ay kayang kaya mong lunasan ang peklat mo pero pag babae ang nalalagyan, kadalasan matagal ang paghihilom. Be sensitive. Kahit na di mo kasintahan at kahit simpleng pakikipag-usap lang. Always use your brain and not your mouth. Kaugnay nito, stick to one na pards. Kahit na hindi mo pa siya nakikita, sa dahilang maaaring hindi pa siya nirereveal ni God sayo, wag ka ng makipagflirt. Keep your heart pure until you find the one. Para pag kinasal ka na, mapagyayabang mo sa friends mo na, IM FAITHFUL. Pag sinabi mo sa akin yun, sisigawan pa kita ng: C’MON!
2. Ang tunay na lalaki, kahit na narerebuke, kahit na nasasaktan dahil tinatama ang nakagisnang “kultura,” handang ipagyabang sa mundo na ang peklat na nasa puso niya ay tanda ng pagbabagong buhay. Wag matakot macorrect. Sa lahat nga na dapat matapang ang isang lalaki ay sa oras na kinakailangan niya ng pagtatama. Kung medyo nakakabastos na ang ginagawa sa babae, be ready na mapagsabihan ng isang nakakataas o isang taong may concern. Magkaroon ng sense of responsibility, dahil pag wala ka pa niyan, wala ka pang karapatang manligaw. Itinatama ka para sa isa pang malaking responsibilidad na kakaharapin mo sa hinaharap.
3. Ang tunay na lalaki, pinoprotektahan ang babae. Walang feminist dito sa statement ko. Bakit? Kasi nakadisenyo talaga ang mga lalaki para protektahan ang mga mahahalaga sa buhay nila, ang mga babae. Kung walang babae, walang nanay ang lalaki para mag-alala pag nagkasakit ang anak, walang asawang tutulungan ang mga husbands nila sa pagtahak ng isang kasal na buhay. At kung ako din ang tatanungin, mukhang mahirap na ang nakikita lang ng mata ko sa pang-araw-araw ay puro kalalakihan. Mahirap mamuhay sa mundo na kapareho mo ang tikas, ang pag-iisip at ang kilos. Women are here to complement the men. “Inspired by Adam’s sadness” ang peg kaya binuo si Eba. Kaya mga lalaki, laging tatandaan na hindi natin alipin ang mga babae, sila ay mga reynang kailangang hindi dapat sinusugatan, hindi sinasaktan. Ang mga lalaki ang bodyguard, not the other way around. Atsaka, bilang protektor, pinoprotektahan ng lalaki ang puri ng babae. Hindi ito isang basta-bastang bagay na sinasayang lang. Treasure the women, kasi, they deserve to be treasured.
4. Ang tunay na lalaki, hindi nagdedesisyon ng basta-basta. Dapat wais, dapat may conviction. Ang oo ay oo at ang hindi ay hindi. Pero hindi istrikto, kelangan may konsiderasyon. Basagin ang kultura at sterotype sa lalaki bilang: sumasagot ng iling, “bahala na,” tahimik, at macho pag maraming babae. Ang kultura, na sadyang naimprint na sa mga lalaki ay maaari pa ring maiba. Kailangan ng isang salita. While men are made to be wild, they are also made to be gentle. Tignan mo na lang si Hesus, isa siyang modelo ng isang pogi, isang kaaya-ayang lalaki. At tutungo tayo sa panlimang punto.
5. Para mabasag ng lalaki ang kulturang binigay na ng mundo, para maging open ang lalaki, para maging protektor ang lalaki, para maging mapagmahal ang lalaki, kailangan niya ang Diyos. Ang Diyos lamang ang magbibigay ng pagbabago sa isang tao. Ang taong walang konsepto ng Diyos at pilit na nag-NewNew Years Resolution ay hindi pa rin nagbabago, o hindi pa rin nakukuha ang tunay na kalayaan sa bisyo at kasamaang kinakasangkutan niya. Ang lalaking sadyang inuuna ang pagmamahalan nila ng Diyos ay ang mga taong mapagkumbaba, taong may respeto, taong may sentido ng responsibilidad, taong mahinahon at taong “submitted.” Hindi niya kailanman iisipin na mataas siya o boss dahil may Boss siya. At yun ay wala ng iba kundi ang Diyos.
Sabi nga sa Proverbs 4:23, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Hati-hatiin natin. ABOVE ALL ELSE, ibig sabihin, nakakahigit, matinding utos/suggestion. Sa lahat ng bagay, unang kinokunsidera. GUARD YOUR HEART, wag basta basta go ng go, kailangan, may assessment. Hindi lamang sa buhay pag-ibig, pati na rin sa pakikipagkaibigan, sa pananalapi, sa pakikipag-interact sa iba. Di ka bigay ng bigay, hindi ka rin kuha ng kuha. Be a good steward ng mga puso natin. IT IS THE WELLSPRING OF LIFE, ang mga puso natin ay may buhay. Kung ano ang inilalabas natin, kasama na ang buhay natin dun. Wag hayaang maubos. Laging pumunta sa Provider na laging irerefill ang wellspring. Huwag na huwag kang aalis. Dahil sa oras na ginawa mo yan, masasaktan ka dahil mauubusan ka ng “Source of Life”
Hindi pa huli na baguhin ang isip. Kung ikaw ay manliligaw at plano mi talagang pakasalan ang babae, isipin ang mga tanong na ito:
1. Kaya ko bang pagsilbihan ang babae? Yung ako lang ang nagsisilbi at walang tulong mula sa magulang?
2. Nagawa ko na ba ang mga dapat kong gawin bilang single? May naipon na ba ako para makabuo ng isang pamilya?
3. Matino ba ako? Mapoprotektahan ko kaya ang babae? Kaya ko bang basagin ang kultura ng mga loko-lokong lalaki?
Kung nasagot mo ng oo ang lahat, pwede na, mga 20 percent. Pag hindi, pagnilay-nilayan pa, baka naman kasi oo ang sagot mo sa huling tanong:
4. Ito ba ay laan ng Diyos para sa akin? Nai-open ko na ba ito sa aking mga mentor at evident naman ang growth niyo bilang couple? Talaga bang nai-counsel ko na kay God ang sitwasyon ko? Hindi ba ako nadadala ng emosyon? Kaya ko bang panatilihin ang puri ng magkabilang partido? Hindi ba kami magiging exclusive ? Magiging mas open ba kami sa mga kaibigan at mga mentors?
Maraming kailangang ikunsidera. Dahil lalaki ka, malaki ang parte mo sa desisyon. Hindi ka dapat mahina. WILD KA AT MALAKAS! Higit sa lahat, may Diyos kang mapupuntahan. At sa kanya ka dapat kumuha ng kalakasan.
Why do people fail? It is a question that is always asked by various people, including us Christians. You might be asking, “I can ask everything to God right? And since He can give as long as I have trust, why do I still fail?” or “Why him/her, despite being a non-believer, has more blessings than me?”
The answer is simply, we are still humans. We are not perfect. We have our own weaknesses, our own failures. We still live within our fleshy ideas and actions, whether you are a Christian or not. In fact, God wants us to know and accept this fact.
Proverbs 24:16 – “Even if good people fall seven times, they will get back up. But when trouble strikes the wicked, that’s the end of them.” (CEV)
The only difference is, we have God. We have someone who is always there to listen to your stories of unfaithfulness, to hug you whenever you shout a rant about your crazed academic life, to be there whenever you feel condemned about your inconsistent quiet times, and to give His word whenever doubt, worry and anxiety strikes you to the bone. We have God as a foundation in order for us to move on, even though you are in the Valley of the Shadow of Death.
Be encouraged as these seemingly negative things will be a part of your testimony. Imagine God cooking a delicious meal. He doesn’t care whether you provide Him with fresh or rotten ingredients. For Him, it is important that you are serving the ingredients, looking to Him and trusting that He will make a good dish! But I don’t say that we should always give rotten ingredients all the way. In fact, as we give rotten results, we are expected to learn from it, so that next time, when you deliver the same ingredient, it will be fresher than fresh. Jeremiah 8:4-5 shows that God wants us to turn back to Him every time we stumble and fall.
Jeremiah 8:4-5 – “The LORD said: People of Jerusalem, when you stumble and fall, you get back up, and if you take a wrong road, you turn around and go back. So why do you refuse to come back to me? Why do you hold so tightly to your false gods?” (CEV)
So do you worry of having a failing grade if you didn’t pass the exams tomorrow? Why not try to let go of that worry and ask God to assure you that He is in control? Do you worry of not being able to study because of other priorities? Why not let it go and ask God to take out the fear and provide calmness despite the situation in order for you to concentrate? Do you worry of the fact that you might disappoint God because of your actions this semester? Why not let it go and try to hold on to His promises, and start being delighted that God loves you no matter what! 😀 After all, He is the one that will move to your life, the genuine help that each one of us need in order for us to succeed.
Psalm 40:2-3 – “and pulled me from a lonely pit full of mud and mire. You let me stand on a rock with my feet firm, and you gave me a new song, a song of praise to you. Many will see this, and they will honor and trust you, the LORD God.” (CEV)
LET US FINISH THIS SEMESTER STRONG! 😀 WE CAN DO ALL THINGS, THROUGH GOD WHO STRENGTHENS US! 😀
It is funny and amazing how God uses books and publications to show His love for you. I am in the middle of my quiet time and I am so serious about it considering that these past few days, I didn’t have that much time to read my Bible or to devote enough time for Him by praying or just feeling His presence within me. With encouragement on my heart that is brewed by seeing people worship God lately this evening on LinK: Shout Night, I had an urge to read Ru Dela Torre’s weekly devotional book, Refuel: 53 Faith Building Pit-Stops on Your Road Trip.
Sensing that I am lost and I do not know the chapter I read last time (which was way way way back..), I randomly read two chapters. The second chapter that I just read really struck me deep in my heart. And I learned a new word in Hebrew and a new verse as well:
“Yet the Lord chose your ancestors as the objects of his love. And he chose you, their descendants, above all nations, as is evident today.” – Deuteronomy 10:15 (NLT, emphasis mine)
The context of the love stated on this verse is not just the normal love that we usually perceive. In its Hebrew translation, the love here means hasaq or in other words, binding love. The illustration is like, do you know the backpack-like thing mothers (or some dads) use for their babies in order for them to be flexible while their babies are safely strapped around that backpack-like thing? When the chapter used that illustration to show us what hasaq really is, I really imagine myself being with God safely strapped on Him with locks that have no keys! Again, locks with no keys! It is like what Paul said, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:38-39 NIV)
NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM THE BINDING LOVE OF GOD!
This is such a great blow for me as I have been condemning myself based on the actions that I did this week and for not putting Him as my top priority. But did you know what God said to me while reading the chapter/verse? “Kev, do not worry, I loved you for who you are, I still love you despite what you did, and I will love you even though your devotion for me is like a roller coaster ride.”
So let me encourage you with this: Warriors break their swords sometimes, but someone will always give you a sword so that you can carry on with your mission. That someone is our God. Even though you made the greatest mistake, even though it cause a lot of pain whether within yourself or towards others, God can always give you a fresh new start. All you have to do is to repent to Him, and ask Him to give you courage to mend things and to focus on His works and to what Jesus had done on the Cross. 🙂
Kevon. 