Child of God

Choosing to find joy in the journey that God has set before me.

[cielipse]

The key of waiting on God lies securely on His words that says, “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) To wait on God means being still and being confident in the midst of uncertainty, knowing that He is right beside you. (From the book of Ms. Joena San Diego entitled A Million Scars and a Broken Heart)

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Are you having a hard time? Are you afraid of what’s happening in your life? Hey, do not be captured in that place where you just feel safe. You might be quiet there but your heart is anxious and afraid. Do not be confused – safety differs from security. Always remember that with GOD, you are secured. Live your purpose even if it means taking a leap of faith. Live your purpose even if it means getting out of your comfort zone.  Fill your heart with so much of who God is and you’ll never go wrong. Speak to Him! Seek Him! Trust Him! Believe in Him!

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“God can turn messy things into a beautiful one.”. This is just one of the many statements that has affected me so much. First, because it is in very simple words. And more, because it somehow understands my situation as a young adult and yet it’s able to change it into something challenging and inspirational. I have to admit that being young is associated with a lot of mess. I am uncertain of so many things. I am tentative in my decisions. I can be hasty in my decisions. I am a mess, even a total wreck too often. With all the deadlines to meet. With so many activities I have to attend. Not to mention the concerns in my family, friends, etc. I am a mess. And yet it uses my situation to tell me that I am not hopeless.

My miserable life can be transformed into a meaningful life. This is what faith can do. This is what Jesus can do to me. I believe that faith is an encounter with Jesus as a friend and as a companion along the way. It is to know Him in a deep and personal kind of way. That I have a friend in Jesus. And I know He will never abandon me or backstab me as so many of my friends have done to me. In Jesus, I found my best friend forever, my best “boyfriend” ever. I am using forever and ever because this is how we often finish our prayers. Indeed in Jesus, there is a forever and ever. His love is eternal. His fidelity is without end. I am so blessed to have found in Him a friend and a lover who is always faithful and true.

But my friendship with Jesus is not good all the time. I am aware of my weaknesses and shortcomings. My relationship with Him is not always sunny and bright. There are dark moments, confusing moments, desperate moments. I drift away from Him. I sin and conveniently forget about our “secret pacts and promises”. Being young and restless sometimes, I find my heart getting distracted by my problems, my mind unable to focus in prayer. Instead of consulting Him and drawing my strength from Him, I trust in my abilities more and the counsel of my so-called “best friends”. Jesus takes the back seat and I drive the wheel of my life. He’s not even in the passenger seat. I put Him where He does not belong, at the compartment. I take Him out only when I need Him. Like a spare tire, He’s needed, only when he’s needed. But when I am cruising, when everything is okay and fine, when the ride is smooth and flowing, there is no need for Him. How unfair and selfish I can be - so many times. But I am just amazed how patient He is with me. How tender His heart is and how loving and forgiving He can be. It is embarrassing, I know. How I can face Him still with my sinfulness and all. There are so many things that I still have to learn from Him. But He assures me that He’s willing to take and accept even my mess. That’s how much He loves me.

Perhaps, I will never be a perfect friend for Jesus. I can never measure up to His expectations. But His unconditional love gives me hope. That in time I shall make it and “finish the race” with Him. As long as I keep the faith and “run the race”, I know He’s always my buddy. He will lift me up and encourage me. He will stay with me even if everybody else have left me. I can only be grateful. He has blessed me so much – in spite of everything. The more I grow in my relationship with Him, the more I realize how unworthy I am of His love. But to find a friend in Him, that has made the difference in my life so far. I admit that I am still struggling in my relationship with Him but I do know the difference when I am near or far away from Him. My life is “messy” if I am away. My life is “easy” when He’s near. Indeed, my burdens become light because He’s with me. My crosses become so heavy because I don’t allow Him to help me.

Youth spirituality is not easy to define or to identify. It is always in a state of change that the moment I put a finger on it, it is no longer there. It is constantly flowing and changing. Like my moods and emotional outbursts, it is quite a struggle. At one moment I can be so fired up; at another I can be cold and detached as ice. The adults sometimes do not understand how we young people relate and connect with God. They think that we have become irreligious and atheists who have lost our way. They don’t understand that we are as committed as they are in our faith. We may just be different in our expressions and ways. But the heart and the desire to know God and to follow God are there. I hope and pray that as I walk along the path of life, I begin to discover more and more that we are all in this wonderful journey of walking back to our Father’s home, our true home.

Let me end this with 1 Timothy 4:12 

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 

[cielipse]

We should be a woman God can truly lift up. But in what way? We must empty ourselves so that God can fill us and mold us to be a virtuous woman. As I seek to be a wife in the future, I will allow God to rule in my life and fill me with His grace. I pray that someday I will be like this Proverbs 31 woman.

[cielipse]

Happy mother’s day to these beautiful women of my life. I am forever grateful to the Lord for having you.

Mommy Nene - You have been an amazing mother to me and my siblings. I couldn’t thank you enough for the love that you have given me.  Your caring arms helped me grow up as the woman you want me to be. I am a witness of your unending love to daddy. You showed him what real love should be. Despite that he is no longer with us, I know that in your heart, he is always there. You never failed to show us what a mom should be. You are one of the greatest blessing that I received in my life. I pray that you will have longer years ahead. 

Mama Emy - I have known you for quite some time but you welcomed me just like your own daughter. You are a great mother for raising such wonderful children in Ate Mona, Ate Joyce, Ate Karen, Baby, and DJ. You are selfless, caring, and loving mother - and that makes you even more special. I couldn’t have joined a better family - thank you for accepting me with open arms. I pray that I will know you even more. I’m very grateful to have you as my second mother.

Again, happy mother’s day! Hoping that all the love you give comes back to the both of you ten thousandfold! Thank you for your unconditional love. 

I love you both always and forever.

[cielipse]

Oceans by Hillsong UNITED

Let us seek God with all our hearts and trust in His overwhelming love. I pray that no matter what you are going through today, you will take a leap of faith. When you seek God with all your heart, He will be found by you. Let the Holy Spirit leads us wherever He calls us.

[cielipse]

Brothers and sisters, let us fall in love deeply with God. Let us fill our lives with God’s presence and He will give us the desires of our hearts. 

[cielipse]

As we go along our lives, we will be facing more challenges but we are to be strong in the Lord. Let us find comfort in the fact that God is and will always be with us. 

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FEAR NOT, GOD IS OUR VICTOR!

When this pandemic happened, Jesus has already overcome it! There is this weird notion that when you become a Christian, people think life will be smooth sailing but truth is even if you accepted Christ in your life, there will still be bumps and grinds along the way. The fear of uncertainty arises in this ride and it is scary. But as Christians, how will we respond in overcoming the unknown?

1. Trust in the Lord and believe that this will end 

2. Endure the situation and find peace in Him 

3. Do things that will strengthen our faith to the Lord such as devoting our time in reading the Bible and talking to God through our prayers 

4. Demonstrate love and depend on God 

5. Obey God 

6. Have faith that He has overcome it all

We also realized that trials are inevitable reality in our lives. It comes without a warning. We do not know when these trials will end. During this pandemic, many have died, many have lost their jobs, and many have suffered already. But we should take it in the view of God. We are being tested in many ways – patience, strength, trust, and faith. God is giving us the opportunity to reflect and to grow our faith in Him. We must not fear because He will never forsake or leave us.

In our prayers, God gives us His message and reminders. God has a reason behind everything that is happening. We must obey Him and be strong in our faith in Him. Anything is possible with the Lord. We may not know what will happen tomorrow but can we imagine what God can do in one, two, three days? We must not worry for God is in control of everything and He will always be the victor in the end.

We won’t know what will happen after the lockdown. Yes, it will have a massive effect in our economy and our daily lives but we find solace knowing the ending of all of this: That Jesus' name will be known, glorified and lifted up! And this is where we find the endurance to run this race!

To God be the glory!

[cielipse]

PRAY. BELIEVE. RECEIVE.

Let us trust the Lord with all our hearts. He hears us. He cares for us. He loves us. Even in uncertainty, pray and have faith. Believe that God will answer.

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When others wronged us, we must train ourselves not to harm them. Instead, we must do right to them. Let us always bless other people with KINDNESS. Do things that will glorify God. Vengeance is not ours, it’s God’s.

[ryanmaherfaith]

@trustgodbro Amen if you receive it…

[ryanmaherfaith]

May our lives always be a living example of the love of God💗 tag someone you know who walks this out👇🏽⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ #Jesus #Christ #Bible #blessed #Christian #BibleVerseOfTheDay #Church #Scripture #BibleVerse #BibleStudy #jesusfreak #hope #gospel #Quote #RyanMaher #BibleQuotes #God #Love #JesusChrist #GoodNews #BibleVerses #GodIsGood #Christians #BibleQuote #Relationships #prayer #faith #encouragement #Pray #ChristianQuotes

[faithprayers]

Romans 8:31