Our works reflect the one who we serve.

(Birthday post to follow. :D)

RARRR! 

In school, my English teacher turned some of our meetings to review sessions where my classmates and I were grouped and discussed things that we learned during our review last summer. In one of the sessions, one group discussed about techniques in answering analogies. Then, they showed the class a long list of phobias. (It is one of the topics that are usually used in analogies.) After the group discussed what was on the blackboard, our teacher asked each one of us to tell what our fear/s are. 

I asked my friends, “Saan nga ba ako takot?” They didn’t answer me properly because they were also panicking on what to say. When my turn came, I answered, pain. But, the thing is, I don’t really fear it. I said it just for the sake of answering my teacher.(Heh.) I could’ve answered failure but I knew in myself that I’d already overcame that two years ago. I was thinking, “Saan ba ako takot?”

“Heights? Nah.”

“Dilim? Di rin noh.”

“Gagamba, ipis, insekto? Di talaga eh.”

Yesterday, the students of MariSci went against the strong winds and rains of the typhoon in order to watch a film, which serves as our project in Social Studies for this quarter. My parents brought me to the mall because the rain was really pouring hard. In the car, they were talking about something. (Well. I didn’t want to eavesdrop but I couldn’t close my ears either.) They were talking something about mom’s band and whatever. Actually, I didn’t really care about what they’re talking about. After a few minutes, mom said, “Alam mo ba? Knowing the Lord is the most liberating experience that a person can ever have. With faith, all fears are gone. In experiencing Him, you’ll never be the same again. Mayroong change.”

*Ting

Knowing the Lord is the most liberating experience that a person can ever have. With faith, all fears are gone.

At that moment, I couldn’t help but smile. I got my answer. I remembered from past lessons that fear is the opposite of faith. Having faith in the Father that provides us with our needs, protects us from all dangers, does impossible things, loves us unconditionally, makes all those fears fall down. 

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. [Isaiah 41:10 NIV]

I thank God for this, reminding me to keep my faith firm. I shan’t wonder about what fears I might have or will have. Instead, I shall stand firm on who I think I am in Christ, on what I can do through Him and for Him. Yes, no more fears. Well, Kari Jobe already sang it. In His presence, no more fears. 

(God bless you, dear reader. :D Always remember that you are loved.)

(Here’s a smile for you dear reader. :D)

Christianity, as we always say, is not a religion. It is a relationship with the Lord. That relationship with the Lord is developed every time we spend time with Him(read our bibles) and He speaks to us everyday. So, spending time with God is a daily thing. Being a Christian is a daily thing.

Life is for the living of course. In Biology, a living organism is characterized by having an ability to acquire materials and energy, an ability to respond to stimuli, an ability to reproduce, an ability to grow and develop, etc. 

Combining both, we get a Jesus-centered life. It is a life that knows these: how much God loves us that He sent His only Son to die for our sins and to make us victorious; how to listen to God and to surrender(an act of total trust) every thing to Him, even the struggles, hardships, problems, and life. And… a life that does not conform to the world. 

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. [Romans 12:2]

As living Christians, we know that God enabled us to enter His presence and receive revelations from Him. (It is like acquiring materials energy.) As I said earlier, we can receive revelations, instructions, messages, warning, etc. from the Lord, and of course we receive these things not just to pile them up in our hearts and minds or fill our notebooks. We respond to what God says. (Yeah, I hope you got it. :D It is like responding to stimuli.) Next thing is that a Christian grows and develops. He does not stop from being a born again or being a baby. He matures in the Lord. He gets deeper and deeper in relationship with Him. He hungers for more of God. And He feeds on the Bread of Life. Lastly, a Christian has an ability to reproduce.(not just biologically)

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” [Matthew 28:18-20]

We are called to share the Gospel(The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ according to the scriptures) and produce fruits. We share and we guide those baby Christians with their walk with God and the time will come that they too will produce their own fruits. As I did say, we don’t just pile up the revelations of the Lord. We share them to other people(Christian or non-Christian friends or strangers). Those revelations might encourage, inspire, or lift their spirits up. 

If you are characterized by these, then you’re probably a living Christian organism. (:D)

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I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” [John 21:18]

This verse is what I received from the Lord last night. At first I was like “Then who now would want to grow up if someday someone else will lead him to a place that he doesn’t want to go?”

Then…. I remembered that a Christian Life is a selfless life. A life that takes you OUT of your comfort zone.

I realized that a person having a shallow relationship with the Lord will still do his own will (dress himself) and not the will of the Lord. I guess that kind of relationship can easily fade away. On the other hand, a person with a deep relationship with the Lord will let God dress him and he is not afraid to go anywhere the Lord leads him to because he knows that his God is with Him.  

The challenge for me is to go deeper in my relationship with the Lord. A life that is selfish, worldly and full of worries is nothing compared to a life that knows how great and powerful God is.

I am aiming for a life that will continue to know how magnificent God is. 

PS. I am alive. :D

If you know who you are in Christ, then fear must go.

Crying your heart out to the Lord and letting Him work on your heart. Once it’s finished and empty, He will fill in the cracks and heal the wounds. 

My family and I just came home from our province this afternoon. And about an hour ago, I had a mini-fight with mom. (Super walang kwenta lang nang pinagawayan namin na I won’t even dare to mention it.) I admit that it was my fault, that I was wrong. That’s why I didn’t say anything while she was scolding me. What I hate was that she was shouting. I don’t even know why she’s shouting(considering nga na sobrang babaw lang). But of course who knows, maybe she’s really disappointed on what I did(or what, gosh, I really don’t know). I didn’t argue with her because I don’t want to answer back. She’s my mother and I respect her. I have this very weak point. I over think too much (over na nga too much pa). After thinking too much, that’s when I started to really feel bad. (I did my thinking in the cr, maybe because it’s the quietest available room at that time) I’m not an emotional person but, because I was so down and guilty, i cried. A lot. I’m supposed to be extremely excited for tomorrow’s Boot Camp at church.

And there’s a similar situation like this before… 

It happened last April. Two nights before our church’s outreach program, I also had a mini-fight with mom(yes, siya ulit) (at super babaw lang uli ng pinagawayan namin, hayyy) I was soooooooo guilty. I cried so hard. I felt so alone and lonely. I kept on reminding myself of verses and that I don’t want to go back to who I was, to when I’m still not a Christian. It was the first time and it hurts. Then, I received a text from a friend and she temporarily comforted me. She even prayed for me. She reminded me of Jesus then I prayed to the Lord. And found the comfort that I really need. 

After I’m done crying, I went to our room. I wanted to talk or ask someone to pray for me but I don’t know why I didn’t do it. Then, I read the doodle I made last week. (It is a list of who I am in Christ. And by the grace of God I am what I am.) One sentence stood out among the rest.

“I am free from guilt and condemnation.”

I smiled and got a little teary. I prayed and read my bible. The next thing I did was to say sorry to myself for allowing this to happen AGAIN, to mom, and to the Father. Yes, I did feel disappointed with myself for what had happened. But, I know in myself that I did grow in Christ. My reaction tonight wasn’t as bad as my reaction last April (hindi kasi ako nagwala, hehe). 

I know in myself I did grow in Christ. I believed more. I knew Him more. But there’s still a lot more to know about Him. And I can’t wait. I’m happy that I had gone through this night with Jesus. Even though it’s just the two of us. I tell you. He is enough. 

**(I wonder why such things happen to me whenever I’m going to participate in church activities.)**

Excited again for Boot Camp! :D