Austin Miles Laluna

[tinxmiles]

Letting go is trusting God

[tinxmiles]

Do you still remember?

It was 5 o’clock in the afternoon of January 7, 2020 when I woke up with a verse being impressed by the Lord. Honestly, I am quite torn in the middle of which contexts will l be meditated due to the two different topics that He placed on my heart. Nevertheless, I first chose to ponder about this verse in response of a repentant heart:  “Go and shout this message to Jerusalem. This is what the Lord says: “I remember how eager you were to please me as a young bride long ago, how you loved me and followed me even through the barren wilderness.” - Jeremiah 2:2 (New Living Translation)

Honestly, I already had an encounter with this before. But I do believe that He is a living God who continuously reveals Himself to us (What a great privilege isn’t it?)  So to proceed, I just realized how selfish we are to become authoritarian thinking that we’re the only ones who has the right to vent out something to God; and not God Himself.  I was really rebuked once again with this line as God speaks to me and felt compelled to publish an article as soon as possible. Here’s God saying to us right now: 

Do you still remember?

“How eager we are to please Him as a young bride long ago..” “How we loved Him..” “How we followed Him.. “ “Even through the barren wilderness” The verse already speaks for itself.. But for more direct revelation we will try to expound it.  Do we still remember? 

How excited we are to serve Him..

How excited we are to win people for Him..

How excited we are on our ministries.. 

How excited we are to glorify Him on every part of our lives.. Do we still remember?  The times when we still have no other desire than to please God; that our hearts beat no other than God; that we have no other desire than to follow Him earnestly.. (all out, even through the “barren wilderness”) - NO MATTER WHAT THE COST IS.  Do we still remember?  Our main verse says.. “I remember” which means God is trying to reminisce everything.  And why is He trying to reminisce? 

Maybe because He already missed those intimate moments that we had with Him..  To close this statement, I would like to challenge everyone to repent and reminisce those sweet moments that you had with Him; remembering how intimate you were to the presence of God; how considerate you were on every decisions that you were trying to make - so that you can start again! Dear, you can start again. God offers His hands to have a brand new start with you! 

[tinxmiles]

God is so proud of you!

Have you ever been in a situation that seems hard for you to continue due to the circumstances that being bombarded unto you?  It might be because of your struggles within academics, peers, family, financial matters, direction and etc. But I would like you to know that Someone big up there is so proud of you! In fact, the most potent God of the Universe bragged about your goodness against Satan. The Bible says on Job 1:8 (New Living Translation), “Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.”

God even allowed Satan to test us not because He wanted to shame us. But because He wanted to shame Satan!!!

Tonight, God wants us to know that.. You are called to shame Satan in every part of your life! You are called to defeat Satan in every areas of your life! You are called to live your life to the full extent without being afraid of the possible setbacks being laid by the enemy!

He trusts in you. He believes in you. He loves you and He is fighting with you!  Have your hopes up, faithful servants! You are not alone in your battle. :) 

[tinxmiles]

REST WITH THE TRUTH

September 17, 2019

“Then Jesus said, “Come to Me all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” - Matthew 11:28 

“Hello po, Kamusta po ba tayo? “Okay pa din ba?” “Lumalaban pa din ba? o “Napagod na?” Alam niyo po ang sabi sa Exodus 3:7; “Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering.” “God hears your cries..”

“God sees where you are right now..”

“God sees your situation..”

“Alam ni Lord na napapagod ka na..” “Alam din ni Lord na medyo nag dodoubt ka na..” “He is all aware of it..” “He is aware of your sufferings..”

But you know what..

He still believes in you kahit ikaw nag dodoubt na..

“Alam niyo po, hindi mo naman kailangang tumigil para magpahinga sa labas..” “Kasi wala naman dun yung purpose mo..” Alam niyo po, ang sabi dito sa verse: “...and I will give you rest” - Matthew 11:28 “Ako mismo” “Si Lord mismo” Alam niyo po, baka siguro tayo napapagod ngayon at sinusubukang hanapin yung saya sa labas kasi ang katotohanan.. “hindi talaga tayo masaya kay Lord..” “Pampalipas oras lang natin Siya..” “Kaya mas naghahanap pa tayo ng saya sa ibang bagay..” God doesn’t wants to be burned out. In fact, He wanted us to be empowered! “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” - Romans 12:11

“baka siguro tayo napapagod ngayon kasi we are serving God without joy”

“If you do not serve the Lord your God with joy and enthusiasm for the abundant benefits that you have received, you will serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you..” - Deuteronomy 28:47-48a “O di kaya nananakawan tayo ng kaaway..” “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” - John 10:10 pero alam niyo po, ang title natin for today’s topic ay: “REST WITH THE TRUTH” “Rest with the Truth that you are not alone..” “Rest with the Truth na orchestrated ni Lord ang lahat ng bagay..” “Rest with the Truth na yung Lord na pinaglilingkuran mo ay hindi peke, kundi yung Katotohanan mismo..”

“Rest with the Truth na hindi lang basta imahinasyon ang lahat ng ‘to, pero eto mismo yung tunay na buhay..”

and the last but not the least..

“Rest with the Truth that Jesus is this Truth”

“I am the way, the truth and the life” - John 14:6

[tinxmiles]

DO YOU FEEL LOST?

Have you ever been in the situation of doubting about your calling just because you haven’t seen visions and heard His audible voice yet as a confirmation of His plan for your life?

May 26, 2019

Right after the Sunday Service I approached our Guest Speaker named “Raymond” A noble Man of God - Pastor, Evangelist, Church Planter in Japan and Philippines.

I asked him to pray for the desires of my heart and told him that..

“Alam ko pong tinatawag ako ni Lord for greater heights, but I doubt po kasi wala pa naman pong confirmation si Lord sa akin in terms of vision and audible voice of God” (non-verbatim)

Then I remembered some phrases of his prayers for me,

“It doesn’t really matter if there is no visions and audible voice of God yet. What matters is in the inside. What matters is his (my) desire” (non-verbatim) 

(The same as God’s revelation on me months ago)

It is not because he wanted us to neglect the visions and audible voice of God as a confirmation of our calling, rather he wanted us to not to neglect as well what God is trying to implant in our hearts. 

“Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desire” - Psalm 37:4 (New Living Translation)

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him“ - Philippians 2:13 (New Living Translation) 

We often interpret these verses as God as the one who provides our worldly desires.- na para bang tiga-bigay lang si Lord ng mga luho natin at nandiyan lang Siya kapag kailangan natin.

But this time He spoke differently, He wanted us to realized that..

“He implants desires on our hearts not because we want to, BUT BECAUSE HE WANT IT. And He wanted His plans to prevail on our lives.”

Note: Not all desires is from God. (Jeremiah 17:9) That’s why we have to be careful enough on discerning it properly. 

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Lord, sorry kung nag doubt ako sa pagkakatawag mo.  Lord, sorry kung nag doubt ako sa mga desires na nilalagay mo sa puso ko. Lord, sorry if i just interpreted it as my only mere emotions that I forgot na “oo nga pala, you are the one who implant desires on our life.” Lord, sorry kung mas naghangad pa ako ng visions and audible voice mo as a sign of confirmation without knowing na ang desires ay galing sa’yo. And it means you are trying to communicate on me through heart to heart conversation.