I've Got This!

"Do not sweat it out.  I've got this, remember?"
- God -


NOTE TO SELF:

God is sovereign.  God has dominion over all the earth.  God hasn't overlooked the affairs of this world.  And definitely He hasn't taken for granted the things that are happening to His children.

When has God failed you? 
Has God broken His promises to You?
Has He forgotten about you?
NEVER.

God's got this, remember? Trust in His perfect timing for He got everything under His control.

Remember that this is not about you.  This is about Him.  And the battle belongs to the Lord.

So keep calm and carry on glorifying God.

[Journal entry: April 7, 2014]

Jesus' Words

Photo credit: kimadamsmorgan.com

⁴⁹ The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
⁵⁰ “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.”
The man took Jesus at his word and departed. ⁵¹ While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. ⁵² When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.”
⁵³ Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed.

John 4: 49-53, NIV

Faith in Jesus' words is important. When He says He will, He will.
BELIEVE.

Everything Jesus says is true.
BELIEVE.


[Journal entry: February 20, 2012]

My Life, His Story

Photo courtesy: www.whatsmypart.com

My life is a testimony to the world. My life is not my story, but it's God's story.

Yes. It's His story, not mine.

Everything in my life that has happened, that is happening, and that will happen is not centered on me. It's God's story intended for His glory.

The Lord God blesses us with good things not because we deserve them. The Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins not because we deserve it. Because we never deserved it in the first place. But because of His great love and mercy for us. That out of our own wretchedness, He took us and saved us and loved us!

You see, when God blesses us, it is not because of our own goodness and faithfulness. God blesses us out of His goodness and faithfulness into our lives. When He prospers us, it's not about us and for us. It is about HIM and for Him to display His glory over our lives that other people would see how good and faithful He is. When God provides for us, it is not about us that we deserve it. It is about how faithful God is in providing for His children. It is how God takes care of His children. It is how God provides so that others may see His divine providence working out in our lives.

When God grants healing upon us, it is not only because we have faith in Him that He can heal us. He grants healing upon us to show to all peoples of the world that He is the Great Healer. You see, everything that is happening to us is not only about us. It's not only about our lives. We have a story to tell to the world how great, faithful, powerful, mighty, awesome, loving, and merciful our GOD is.

Our life stories are a testimony to the world of who GOD is. Our lives are His story.

It's not about me. It's not about us. It's about Him. All for His glory and honor so that the world may know that HE IS THE ONE TRUE LIVING GOD.

[Journal entry: April 7, 2014]

Drawing That Sword

7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.

8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”[a]

10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)

11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

- John 18:7-11

When the soldiers and some officials went to arrest Jesus, He did not deny that He was who they were looking for.  He said it with full authority, "I am He."  Every word Jesus uttered fulfilled what was prophesied about Him (verses 8-9).

Exponential Thinking

[Copied from HLM Sunday newsletter]

A Faith Declaration

Exponential Thinking Declaration

Photo courtesy: presbyterianrecord.ca

Today I am moving up to the next level.

I'm tired of doubting, and I'm finished with wavering.

I've made my choice; the verdict is in; and my decision is irrevocable.

I'm going all the way for God. There's no turning back now!

When Daddy God Gives Pinky Promise

Photo credits: 1000awesomethings.com

Hello Tuesday! Thank You, God, for a good morning! I expect good things to happen today. If this day won't bring me any good (if that were possible), it's okay. I am still one day closer to seeing God's promises being fulfilled!

Do Not Be Afraid

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.  When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.  But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard.  Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.

- Luke 1: 11-13

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.  But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God”

- Luke 1:29-30

That night the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham.  Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.”

- Genesis 26:24

See, the Lord your God has given you the land.  Go up and take possession of it as the Lord, the God of your fathers, told you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

- Deuteronomy 1:21

God always has four words for His people: DO NOT BE AFRAID.  When He speaks to His people, His introductory address is “Do not afraid.” When He calls His people, He commands them, “Do not be afraid.” Even His angels, the messengers, tell His people to not be afraid.   So I ask myself, “Is God that frightening to His chosen people for them to be in a fearful state? Why their first reaction would be to get frightened? What is there to be afraid of?”

“Do not be afraid” – a command from God; a comfort to those who fear; an assurance of God.  I guess those whom God called in the Bible were afraid of the unknown.  Same goes with us.  We are afraid of the uncertainty.  We are afraid of whom we do not know.  We are afraid of the big, overwhelming things.  We are afraid we might not handle things well.  We are afraid to believe in the promise; that it might not be fulfilled. There are many reasons to be afraid, but God commands us not to.  God comforts us not to be afraid, for He always brings good news, and He always fulfills good promises.

Personally, I have a confession to make.  Sometimes, I find it hard to believe when God says not to be afraid.  Why? That is because I haven’t known God fully yet.  And to me, trusting someone whom you haven’t really known is not a good idea.  I admit that I still lack knowledge of who God really is, for I know there is something more about Him to discover every time I open the Bible.  But praise God! Praise God! He has not called me to be afraid, but to trust Him for He has proven Himself faithful.  I thank God for being patient with me, drawing me near to His Presence, wooing me towards His love, revealing Himself to me.  He whispers, “Do not be afraid, Sheslley, My child. You are mine, and I am with you. Trust in Me.”

Photo courtesy: care2.com

Great men and women of the Bible had surely experienced fear at one point in their lives.  As they have come to know more and more about God, their fear turned into faith!  God knows them inside out including their fears.  God knows every bit of our fears as well.

So why is it so hard to trust the God whom He had given His all for us?  Why is it that we are afraid of an unknown future when God holds the future? Why is it sometimes when God speaks, we are afraid to listen?

Why? For we haven’t fully known God Himself.  That is why Jesus had to come down from heaven to reveal who God really is.  And more of that, Jesus had to come down to earth to save mankind from death eternal.

[Journal entry: April 15, 2012]

Laugh at Him

While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler.  "Your daughter is dead," they said.  "Why bother the teacher any more?"  Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid; just believe."  He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.  When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion with people crying and wailing loudly.  He went in and said to them, "Why all this commotion and wailing?"  The child is not dead but asleep."  But they laughed at him.

- Mark 5:35-40

I confess that at times, I am one of those people who laughs at Jesus' words.  I can't help but laugh when God tells me something that He would do to my life that seems impossible.  It's just absurd. Crazy. LOL!

The Edge of His Cloak

When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus.  They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever he went -- into villages, towns or countryside -- they placed the sick in the marketplace.  They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.

- Mark 6: 53-56

Jesus was one famous, high-profile, head-turner, eye-catcher, headliner, history-maker individual of His time (and all time). He was like a magnet which people were drawn to Him wherever He went.

As I read the phrase, "as soon as," I could imagine Jesus stepping out of the boat and just as He stood having His deep breath, a man, probably a fisherman in his mid-age, while untangling his net, looked up, glanced at his side, and saw Jesus just arrived.  The fisherman to his surprise, tapped his buddy beside him with his elbow while saying, "Look! It's Jesus!"  Then, it went like a wildfire.  It was broadcasted throughout the whole region of Gennesaret that Jesus has arrived. I could imagine people crowded around Jesus.

The thickness of the crowd must have made Jesus and His disciples moved around town in a snail's speed. If this happened in modern day, Jesus must have been trending on Twitter, Top 1 in major search engines, and probably would have had a thousand "Likes" on Facebook and Instagram... hehehe!!!

Setting aside Jesus' popularity, what struck me in these verses was the response of the people.  They ran throughout the whole region; they carried their sick on mats; they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They followed Jesus to wherever He went.

And to me, this is the winner: They begged him to let them touch even the edge of His cloak [emphasis mine].  Imagine...the kind of faith they had!

Photo courtesy: bridegroomofmysoul.blogspot.com

The edge of His cloak.

The edge.

The.

Edge.

That's it. All who touched Him were healed.

All.

Touched.

Healed.

Imagine that!

Whoever Jesus touched was healed.  It is a given fact. This time, it's the other way around: whoever touched Him was healed. Jesus not only healed whom He touched, but also those who took the initiative to touch Him (even just the edge of His garment).

What's the secret to Jesus' healing power?

The power of healing did not come from touching Jesus' cloak.  The cloak did not have some special power.  Rather, it is by Jesus, through a person's faith, that one is healed. The kind of faith that says, Jesus can heal any disease and, that which is manifested through one's action. Only faith in Jesus can bring healing, and not through touching the edge of the cloak.

In Mark 5:34, Jesus said to the bleeding woman, "Daughter, your faith has healed you."  In Mark 9:23, Jesus said to the father of a demon-possessed boy, "Everything is possible for him who believes." In Mark 10:52, Jesus said to a blind beggar, "Go, your faith has healed you."

Faith is the key to healing.  Faith is the key to restoration.  Faith is the key to freedom.  And who is the object of faith? JESUS. How can one be saved? By faith in Jesus, not by works of our own.

Photo courtesy: thefaithpal.blogspot.com

How can one be completely healed? As it is written in Acts 3:16, "By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong.  It is in Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see."

There is power and healing in Jesus' touch.  There is power and healing in Jesus' name.  There is power and healing being released as we believe that Jesus can.  He can when we believe He says He can! And He will!

Believe!

Have faith!

Be assured!

Be confident that you can get healed, having faith even to the point of just brushing a tip of your finger on the edge of Jesus' cloak.

[Journal entry: July 12, 2012]

Lean On Whom?

Photo courtesy: rockleader.org

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

- Proverbs 3;5-6

Senses

Photo courtesy: Victory Philippines

You know, I just love my God.  He has common sense, a sense of humor, and often times, He doesn't make sense.

Makes me think: If He did make sense all the time, then it wouldn't require me of faith.

Now that makes sense.

[Journal entry: February 7, 2012]

Two Partings

Photo courtesy by Surf Forecast

So when people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them.  Now the Jordan is at the flood stage all during harvest.  Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing.  It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) was completely cut off.  So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.  The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.

- Joshua 3:14-17

FYI: There were two partings of the sea done by God. First, when the Israelites got out of Egypt and crossed the Red Sea.  Second, when the Israelites were about to enter the Promise Land, Canaan, and crossed over the Jordan River.  What God did once He can do it again.  God is faithful to His promise.  His power never runs out.  God is reliable and He can fulfill His promises in many ways that we could ever imagine. Most of the time, His ways don't make sense to us, but it is not our duty to understand all His "absurd" ways of doing things.  It is rather our duty to trust in His ways.  After all, He is God.  He knows what He is doing, and He is all the time in control.

Hallelujah, Father God!  Mighty are Your ways!  Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah, Father God!

[Journal entry: February 5, 2012]

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]

Standing Firm, Unwavered

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace,the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, o king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.

- Daniel 3: 17-18

The king commanded to the people to bow down and worship the gold image he built.  But these three friends of Daniel stood up to their conviction not to.  They would worship only one God and that is the God of Heaven.  They made a bold statement that whether God would rescue them or not, they will never bow down to other gods except to God.  Wow! That's integrity.  An indestructible one.  Fully tested into the blazing fire. Literally!

What if it were to happen to me?  What if I were one of those who will be put into fire for not following the king's instructions? I'm thinking if I were one of those men, I'd probably be afraid.  But God's mercy and power would be displayed for I believe He would strengthen me and give me courage to stand up to my conviction: to worship God alone.

These men showed incredible faith in God that He is able to save them from fire.  And if not, these men would never change their minds from worshiping the Lord.  These men are worthy of respect and honor for they have shown great faith and total dependence on God.

[PRAYER]

Father God, You are real and alive and You are able to save Your people from danger, even from death.  I pray Lord that You would strengthen my faith in You so that when my faith is put to test like this, I will stand on my unwavering conviction to worship only You.  Great is Your name!  Mighty is Your name! You alone deserve worship and honor!  In Jesus' name. Amen.

[Journal entry: June 2, 2011]

Is This Fair and Just?

For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God's anger against us.  We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed His blood, sacrificing His life for us.  God was being entirely fair and just when he did not punish those who sinned in former times.  And He is entirely fair and just in this present time when He declares sinners to be right in His sight because they believe in Jesus.

- Romans 3:25-26

Is this what you call fair and just?  God must have a totally different meaning of fairness and justice.  He sent Jesus to be punished of OUR sins and not us.  Jesus' blood paid for our sins -- for my sins.  Through the blood shed of Jesus I was declared righteous in God's sight.  Jesus who is sinless took the penalty of my sins and of your sins.  He died for us...for me...for you!

What all men have to do is to believe in the name of Jesus; to believe that Christ died for the sins of men and was resurrected by the power of God.  Now this is something!  This is being fair and just of God.  There's nothing we can do to earn acquittal but only to believe in His Son, Jesus.  If God were really fair, mankind has long before been annihilated on earth.

This is Good News!  This news is so good not to be shared to others.  Jesus took away the sins of the world in order for us to be right and to be reconciled with God.  Praise God that He has opened the hearts and minds of people for this to understand the truth about His love.  Praise God that He has chosen to reveal to me this truth about Him.  And because of this, it is also fair and just for me to share to others of what He has done for me.

[PRAYER]

Father God, thank You for being fair and just.  Thank You for You Son, Jesus because through Him, I am cleansed of my sins and I am reconciled with You.  Your love is great and so deep and so wide that You are willing to sacrifice Your only Son to die in place of me.  Your Son, Jesus, who is without sin became a sin for the world.

Oh how magnificent is Your love!  I can boast of nothing to deserve Your love or merit. It is not because I'm good You saved me, but because of Your great love for me!  All I have to do is to believe that Jesus died for my sins.  Now I'm dead to sin and I'm alive in Christ Jesus!

Father God, I pray that You anoint my mind, my mouth, and my hands for the work of Your Kingdom -- that I may be able to share to others of Your awesomeness and of Your great love especially to those who don't know You and who haven't heard of Jesus yet.  This I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

[Journal entry: April 13, 2011]

A Piece of Paper

It's 1:00 in the morning and I was in bed pondering about things in life. Suddenly, I got up and grabbed a piece of paper; nothing on it.  Then, I wrote "For God to do in my life" on top and signed it at the bottom.

Father God,

As I place my trust in You, fill this empty paper with what You have prepared for me.  You are in charge of my life.  My times are in Your hands.  I submit to You my plans, my desires, and my future.  I'm looking forward to Your surprises, Father! Amen.

Claiming these verses:

• "For I know the plans I have for you", says the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11 
• No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him. - 1 Cor 2:9
• As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. - Isaiah 55:9

[Journal entry: October 9, 2010]

He is More Than Enough

Yesterday was a very good and intimate day for me with Tita Annie and Tita Ging. We had a lunch date and with it we talked a lot of things about our experiences, about others’ experiences, about the things that God has done in our lives, and so much more.


Tita Ging, my small group leader, asked me, “In what way you could say that God loves you?” I pondered for a while and answered, “The thought itself that God sent His Son to die for me. Of all people He chose me. He chose to die for me simply because He loves me.”


And another way I could say that God really loves me is because of mama. God gave me a wonderful mama. She was my back support, my emotional support, my mediator (between daddy and me), my encourager, my intercessor, my listener (to both of my meaningful and senseless ideas), and a lot more.

 

Photo courtesy: Orange Parents

I continued my reasoning and told Tita Ging that God took mama away because He wants me to know that He is enough. He is more than enough.  My dependency must not be on my mama, but on Him.  I remembered a month before mama passed away on September 2007, I prayed intensely to God declaring that he is more than enough in my life.  Yes. Those were the exact words I uttered – “He is more than enough! You are more than enough, Lord.”


I saw a piece of paper inserted in my Bible, which I wrote on Aug. 18, 2007:

"When everything in my life is stripped away and God is the only one left in me, I have more than enough!"

Call that a bold statement. I call it an impulsive (almost foolish) statement at that time.  Never in my thoughts came that more than a month after, God took my only ally away.  It was sudden. And yes, my bold declaration was put into test which I imagined it differently than what was happening.  God’s thoughts are indeed higher than my thoughts.  His ways are higher than my ways. When He took mama away, I didn’t question Him why He took her or why it had to happen.  My only question was, “Why so soon?”


This morning as I was brushing my hair, the question of Tita Ging ran through my mind again. “In what way you could say that God really loves you?”


My answer would still be the same: He gave me a wonderful mom for 23 years of my life.  Then I pondered, “Now that mama is gone does that mean God doesn’t love me anymore?”


I stand for the unwavering truth that God loves me.  Yes, He loves me and He is indeed more than enough.  He loves me and that’s final.  He loves me too much that He took mama away. And yes, I got that early morning answer from Him:

“I love you for you are My child.  I love you too much not to take your mother away.  If I hadn’t taken your mom that soon, would you hunger and thirst for more of Me?  If I hadn’t taken your mama away that soon, would  you grow? You would grow but not exponentially.  If I hadn’t taken your mama away that soon, would You experience the comfort I have for you during your deepest sorrow?  Would you know how sufficient My grace is for you?  Would you long for Me that much if I hadn’t taken your mama away?  Would you have known your real condition, your real heart, and your wall you have built against your daddy?  If I hadn’t taken your mama away that soon would you know what ‘I am more than enough’ really means?

You desire that I take captive of your heart. This is the way I choose to captivate you.  Remember, I know the plans I have for you; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  I love you that much!”

I could not forget what Os Hillman, author of The Upside of Adversity, wrote, “We must get beyond the immature notion that God is only interested in making us healthy, wealthy, and happy.  God wants so much for us than that.  He wants us to be wise, mature, obedient, bold, and committed.”


I praise the Lord for what He has done and for what He has revealed to me.  I praise God for His love is so wide, so long, so high, and so deep for me to really comprehend.  Yes Lord, You are more than enough! Glory to You alone!





[Jounal entry April 24, 2011]