In Solitude and Prayer

Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses.  But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

- Luke 5: 15-16

Despite the limelight, Jesus chose to be solitary.  Despite being as the crowd attraction, He chose to be alone and to commune with God through prayer.  After a day's work in His ministry, He never failed to pray to His Father in heaven; before the day started, He recharged His Spirit through prayer. He often did that -- being alone to pray.

The Day of the Lord

"And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.  Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.  Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.  I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke.  The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.  And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved;  for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the survivors whom the Lord calls."

- Joel 2: 28-32

There will be an appointed time during the last days for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon every believer.  May it be an elder, leader, child, educated, uneducated, man, woman -- anyone who believes in the Lord will experience the Spirit's outpouring.

For This Nation I Pray

Father God,

Glory to You, oh God, the Mighty One and Everlasting God.  Praise to You, the One who oversees the events of the world.  We revere Your name; of those who are Yours, You determine their steps.  Our lives belong to You, oh God.

I pray today for my nation, Philippines.  Bring revival upon this nation, oh God! Heal our land. Heal our people. You are the God of restoration; You are the God of healing. In Your name there is healing and power.  Father God, I pray that You may preserve this nation.  I also pray that You will break loose this nation of the bondage that keeps Philippines from worshiping and knowing You.  I rebuke the spirit of corruption upon this nation in Jesus' name! I rebuke the spirit of religiosity in Jesus' name. I rebuke the spirit of greed in Jesus' name. I rebuke the spirit of poverty in Jesus' name.  I rebuke the spirit of tradition and legalism in Jesus' name.  I rebuke the spirit of crab mentality in Jesus' name. In Jesus' name!

Father, I ask Your Holy Spirit to rain down on us -- on this nation.  Send us a new Spirit, oh God! Send us revival, oh God! Open the eyes of the people that they may know the One True Living God, and that they may see a need of a Savior in Christ Jesus.

What Dragon?

Three days more and it will be Chinese New Year.  Chinese and Filipino-Chinese will be celebrating their new year in many parts of the world including the Philippines. According to Chinese zodiac, this year will be the year of the dragon, but I say, "What dragon? It's the Year of the Lord, not the dragon's."

Chinese celebrate their new year with fireworks, dancing, food, and other traditional practices in red and in a symbol of a dragon.  To the Chinese, color red and the dragon bring good luck.  But in the Bible, the enemy (Satan) is described as the ancient serpent or what we call the dragon.  Dragon represents wickedness and evil -- that is, Satan. Revelation 12 clearly states Satan's wickedness and he's depicted as the dragon in this chapter.

A Letter to Daddy

Daddy,

     The other day was unexpected. I didn’t see it coming. It was sudden. I was a bit surprised that out of a simple question about tractor you erupted and said things off topic.  It was better it happened at least I got a glimpse of what’s inside your heart since we seldom talk. Don’t get me wrong. I sure don’t like having arguments with you. But if it’s the only way for us to communicate the deep, hidden things from our hearts, then it’s healthy. 

     About last Sunday, I’m sorry for the things I said that hurt you and displeased you. Please always remember that I don’t intend to harm you, I intend to protect you. But I don’t think I can protect you all the time, only God can. Though I can’t protect you as much as God can, my intentions for you are of pure love and care. 

     Although I may act indifferently, I do love you and respect you daddy. I am not your enemy. I am your ally, your back support, your family, and your only daughter. 

Fear Not, God Cares

Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Don’t be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows.

- Luke 12:7

Countless as it is, God knows the exact number of hairs that each person has.  He knows the very details of our lives.  He cares for us for we are worthy to Him.  We are worth more than anything.  Yes, we are.  God even gave His Son, Jesus to die for us!  That’s how worthy we are to Him.  The world sees our worth differently.  If one has power, fame, possession, and beauty, the world calls it worthy.  But God does not base our worthiness on those things.  He bases our worth and all of His creations on HIS LOVE.

Because God calls us to be worthy, He commands us not to be afraid.  Yes, it is a command.  We can face life without fear for He cares for us.  All we have to do is to come to Him, depend on Him, and trust Him that we are in His good hands.

I am worthy in the sight of God, and I am His precious one.  I need not to look at my self-worth on how the world perceives it rather on how God sees me.  I am worthy. I am being cared for.  I have a Father in heaven who watches the minute details of my life.

God commands not to be afraid; I should follow Him.  Only by the grace of God I am able to face life without fear.  I should not be troubled by what’s happening around me because God is in control.

[PRAYER]

Father God, thank You for putting worth in us.  Thank You that You care for us, mankind.  You are a Father who really cares and who really loves me.  Lord, teach me to trust in You and to submit to You all areas of my life.  Thank You, Lord, that I need not fear for You are there watching over me and even my household.  In Jesus’ name. Amen.

[Journal entry: April 20, 2011]

The Conviction for the Calling

As I was singing during the worship service, I was convicted to devote myself wholly to God, and to commit into His calling.

I declare today that:

My eyes will only look at You.

My lips will only speak of You.

My ears will only listen to You.

My hands will only serve You.

My feet will only go to places where You lead me to.

My breath will only breathe for You.

My strength will only exert for You.

My heart will only beat for You.

I cried not because I was so moved by the song, but because the conviction in my heart is so strong.  The calling of God for His work convicted me to say ‘Yes’ – to obey.  My ‘yes’ will only be for Him, and He wants an undivided heart.

Lord, I offer my body, soul, heart – my whole life for Your work, which You have called me to do so.  “What’s really important to me? What really matters to me?” I questioned myself.  Then my heart was captured by God again.  It is HE.

[Journal entry: May 1, 2011]

No Limits

God, where would I be if not for You? What would I have been doing if not for Your saving grace? Before You created the earth You thought of me.  Father God, I know my finite mind cannot contain Your greatness.  Father God, I know You are big. But how big are You? I cannot imagine. I cannot really fathom. :)

My own yardstick could not measure how big You are.  My yardstick could not measure how Sovereign You are. My own gauge could not measure or weigh Your power nor could I calculate the vastness of Your mercy and faithfulness.  And what about Your love?  I know that we could not exhaust it.  And Your forgiveness and grace?  Definitely it could not outnumber the grains of sand.

You are in a different league. You are YOU...You are God.

Father God, as I read through Isaiah 40 again, I am reminded of Your greatness and glory.  Your omnipotence cannot be compared to anything.

12Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?

15Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.

17Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing.

22He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers.  He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in.

28The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.

[Journal entry: October 12, 2011]