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I woke up so early to prepare myself for the Friday church-service. I checked my phone and browsed my Facebook to see who gave me a private message, but no one sent me. Unfortunately I couldn’t use my bbm (Blackberry Messenger) to send my message to brother Andy because I did not have enough balance on my mobile (so pathetic). But all of a sudden my phone rang and I hastily took my phone and answered it with a Christian smile. It was brother Andy, he reminded me that I’ll pick him up into his place. I said yes and we agreed to meet at exactly 9:45 am. So, I rushed up and went to take a hot shower. After that, I prepared my bag and brother Bryan (from the music ministry) invited me to join them for breakfast. So, I went to the kitchen and joined them. This is the kind of life that we have in the pastoral house. Every Christian is born to be a blessing to everyone.
Something to ponder… 10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. - Ephesians 2:10 The message was being given by Ptr. Ted Penalba, he shared a lot of Bible verses to everyone as he delivered his message. I got struck to this verse and pondered on it. We are created according to God’s image and likeness. So we must act, talk, and deal other people in a Christ like attitude. Being Christians lead us to the right direction in spearheading what is right to be done. In our own little ways, we can make a big difference in realizing the aspirations of God as we follow His divine will. We came here in U.A.E. to work as we fulfill our duties and responsibilities to our family in the Philippines and fortunately, we are here to intensify more our Christian life. Many of us here in U.A.E. are so busy living and working and sometimes we are experiencing terrible exhaustion and congestion from our daily routines in our offices and our homes that we forget what we are living for. When things are going well as they flow smoothly according to what we expect them to be, the absence of purpose seems not to matter. We are unconsciously being distracted by the way our immediate impulses are being indulged. We sit down in our favorite restaurant looking at a menu; watch a new movie in the internet or in our TFC/OSN channels or read a magazine. But when life situations get difficult or impossible, it is then that we begin to see life different than we thought. It is then that the question of meaning of life comes into view. These relevant questions might play at the back of our mind: “What am I living?, “What am I living for?” These questions will surely lead us to a very deep self-reflection. This Bible verse directs us the purpose of God has for our lives in Christ. It shows us how to break-free from toxics in life. We can do it in Christ way. The speaker himself stressed on how to break the chains for having toxic relationships. He gave three B’s for causes: Blind, Bind, and Bury and also he gave three R’s for solutions: Remind, Release and Restore. We can set free from entrapment if we know our purpose in life. If our purpose in life is very clear and we do it with God’s guidance. We will treat trials as ways of becoming a better Christian in existence. After accepting the sermon from Senior Pastor Jun de Jesus at Saint Andrew’s Church for the Friday church service (July 27, 2012), the brethren were being informed and invited to attend a seminar at the Pastoral house about “Project Management”. Brother Andy and I rushed up and went towards the place and we were being counted as participants of the said seminar. The seminar was being spearheaded by the A.M.E.N. (Anointed Men Evangelizing Nations) Ministry. One of their objectives is to discover spiritual gifts through trainings and seminars. Conducting such seminars like this, realizes this objective of the ministry. The speaker was Bro. Mar Guico, a former Assistant Resident Engineer-QA/QC from Halcrow International, Abu Dhabi. He shared to us an interesting topic, “Project Quality Plan”. The seminar intensified our knowledge for us to be aware on the importance of meeting the standards in a company. The seminar was undoubtedly blessed by the Holy Spirit because we were so enthusiastic in participating and cooperating with the speaker. The speaker aroused our interest, when he gave us thought provoking questions. He practice some of the principles and methods of teaching because he handled the seminar in a very interesting manner. We learned a lot from the seminar. The highlight of the seminar was when the speaker connected the important points of the topic to our spiritual life. And not to mention, the guy who gave us the closing prayer made it more powerful in sharing his thoughts about the significance of the seminar in our Christian life. Why God Calls Us to Plan… (Something to ponder) “May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed” (Psalm 20:4). Many facets of an anticipated plan can be undoubtedly changed and influenced by actions and decisions we make today. If we plan ahead before jumping into actions, we can see the big differences of the results which are more positive than those unplanned actions. God wants only the best for his children. We, as Christians, when we make Him as the center of our planning, the results are more than of what we have expected. We can be so sure that when we plan, we are allowing God to give what’s best for us. Scripture: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me … that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel (Ephesians 6:18-20).
Message: The words of Paul in this passage could well be the request of every missionary who is on the field today. In the beginning of this epistle Paul mention these to whom he was writing his prayers and he is now asking that they remember him and his needs. The very life of the missionary, physical and spiritual, depends on prayer as a most vital link between the great storehouse of heaven and his very need. Paul makes it clear that praying one for another is the secret of strength and success in the work to which we have been called. PRAYER IS ALWAYS POSSIBLE I does not matter what hour of the day we choose to enter the secret place and come boldly to the throne of God for He never slumbers nor sleeps. His ears are always open to the cry of His child. Paul said, “Night and day praying exceedingly…” (I Thess. 3:10-13). Prayer is also possible in all places. While the“secret place” or prayer closet may be the most desirable, and the place in which we are most conscious of God’s presence, we can lift our heart in communion with Him no matter where we are. Many a missionary has experienced physical, financial or spiritual help from God at a crucial hour because“someone” stopped to pray at an unusual time or in an unusual place when a burden of prayer was laid upon his heart. (see chapter one in Amazing Answer to prayer, publish by World-Wide Missions). PRAYER IS ALWAYS PROFITABLE (1) It puts us in direct contact with God. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and and grace, to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16) (2) It acquaints God with our needs. “Be careful for nothing; but with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God”(Philippians 4:6). It is so easy for us to say, God already knows what i need. Why do I have to Him? James said, “ye have not, because ye ask not (James 4:2). If Jesus found that prayer was such a necessary part of His life, how much more do we need to present ourselves, our needs, our desires and our burden before the throne of grace? (see story pg 18 in Prayer Adventure publish by World-Wide Mission). (3) It opens the way for God to send the help. The book of Acts is filled with accounts of supernatural deliverances and miracles in answer to the prayers of the disciples and apostles in the early church. God has not changed his methods. He still listens to our prayers and answers them. (4) True is always successful. Jesus said, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it” (John 14:13). True prayer might be describe as that which is born of real belief and positive fait, Jesus said in Mark 11:24, “Therefore I say unto , What things so ever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them ). PRAYER IS ALWAYS POWERFUL (1) It set in motion the power of God to perform miracles. God has always done supernatural acts on behalf of His children and the Bible is full of such accounts. Lot’s deliverance from Sodom, the provision of water and food for the children of Israel in the wilderness, the revelation of king’s dream to Daniel and other such stories reveal this dramatic fact to us. (2) It makes Satan and his demons tremble. “Resist the devil, and he will from you” (James 4:7). The demons who possessed the man of Gadara cried out to be “let alone”and besought Jesus not to torment them. Our missionaries in the field today are confronted with demon possession and it is only the power of prayer that can protect and deliver. (3) It frees men from sin. Jesus warned the disciples to pray so that they would not be overcome by temptations (Luke 22:40). (4) It gives boldness and power to the message of the missionary. The words of Paul to our text contain the plea of Paul that prayer would be constantly offered for him that he might be bold in proclaiming the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The missionaries’ hands would be tied, their mouths closed and their feet stopped if our prayers for them were to be completely cut off. God help us to see how important it is for us to be always in prayer for them, presenting every phase of the program before the throne of God. |
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March 2016
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