Showing posts with label devotion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label devotion. Show all posts

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Conviction

My Devotion
May 21, 2009

Romans 14:23 But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.

The scripture speaks for itself. When you have a conviction and you do not do it and went to the opposite way, you are sinning. These doubts come because of your conviction that one is right and the other is a wrong choice. It is not your own work but the Holy Spirit working in you. If you go against and do otherwise, you are committing the sin of disobedience to what the Lord is telling/ teaching/ compelling you to do. See your inner thoughts. Allow the Lord examine you. Open your heart to Him.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Why the passion?

My Devotion
May 13, 2009

Why the passion?


[When I look at the heart of the person within me, I see impurities… imperfections. For all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). I am now changed. God has transformed me. People think I try to be perfect. Nah… that’s useless. I only strive for excellence. This is the excellence that I know. Let’s put it this way, I just have all the time this vacation to finish the work before the deadlines. Let’s rid off all the “I’s” and focus on Him.]

Having the burden to pass the passion to the next generation, the idea of reviving YouthLink just flashed like lightning.

Deuteronomy 4:9 “But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.”

One of our mentors shared, “If you are the Joshua generation beware! After your generation, who’ll be next?” I never knew how important YouthLink is in the God’s Kingdom. What I am sure of is that it is the Lord Himself who started this good work. We are His followers who obey His commands. And upon this immediate call, I believe, spiritual growth will just follow only if we are rightly related with the Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that everyone who is called in their own ministries would really seek and receive God’s word which will specifically confirm their rightful calling and place in this generation. So that when troubles come, each would stand firm on His promises and would never be moved by the discouragement of the enemy but be more fully assured and encouraged that the Lord is with them in all situations.

Joshua 1:9 “This is my command – be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Friday, May 15, 2009

Proverbs 4:23 My heart

I have this thing in my heart (not a medical problem) that keeps on giving me unrest. I know I have to do something... yung parang pag di mo magawa di ka talga matahimik. I accidentally left my flash disk at home so I was not able to do all the tasks I'm supposed to do over the net at this hour. I don't know what's this in my heart. I asked the Lord last night if He wants me to pray for someone. I also prayed about some hidden sins that could be in my heart but this unrest still finds its way through me. God I trust You.

Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.
Song: Desert Song - Hillsong

Friday, May 8, 2009

Don't be passive... test everything!

My Devotion
May 7, 2009


DO NOT BE PASSIVE… TEST EVERYTHING!
AAG

The word of God is 100 percent true. But aside from the Bible, there are lots of literary works that we also read to equip us in different aspects of our spiritual lives. Rev. Robert A. French, author of Basic Discipleship, said that if there is a conflict between what the Bible says and what the other source says, trust the Bible and not the other source. Nowadays there are so many inspirational books sold in the stores. How do we distinguish between real Christianity and its contrary? 1 Thessalonians 5:21 says that we should test everything. See if they are from God and telling the truth accurately. Compare what they say to what the Bible says.* Make sure that the literature does not contradict the grace of salvation that comes only through faith in Jesus Christ, not from anyone or anything, even good works.


2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV) All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

Colossians 2:8 (NIV) See to it that no-one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.



* French, RA (2008). The cell leader’s discovery guide series: Discovery guide for basic discipleship. Makati, Philippines: Church Strengthening Ministry, Inc.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Commitment and Responsibility

My Devotion - April 29, 2009
Letter from the Editor

Summer has gone past. For students, it's now back to school. For those who have finished their studies, it is time to move into another phase of their lives. For some who are continually working, nothing has changed but the weather. But I believe many lives were transformed this past season by the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit.

The youth were so much blessed and prayed for during this year's summer camps. While all these were happening, were they really committing to take the responsibility as children of God regardless of their church membership? According to John Maxwell in The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player, commitment is a character quality that enables us to reach our goals and it is never an emotion. Furthermore, he stated, "It is one thing to believe in something you're doing and another to be totally committed to it."

Seeking God requires a hungry heart. Having a personal relationship with the Lord entails surrendering your life to the Lord. And deciding to live everyday on the basis of this new found faith implies you commitment to consistently work out this relationship even if at times you'd me out of your comfort zone.

Psalm 34:8 says, "Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in Him." Let us commit our lives to the Lord and be amazed on how He'd transform us from victory to victory.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Never Give Up

April 25, 2009

I’ve been listening to Yolanda Adam’s song “Never give up.” Lately, we’ve been experiencing delays, difficulties and obstacles on YouthLink’s first issue. The person who does the lay-outing is not the person that was originally tasked to do it. We were able to release the electronic edition 3 weeks later than our goal. I know we’re not pleasing men but God. I am currently experiencing an interplay of encouragements and discouragements. It’s hard to usher the group if not everyone understands and carries the burden with you. I am depending on the Lord alone. No one would understand me but the Lord. Lord, if You are not glorified by all of these things that I am doing for you, cut off everything from me. If your hand will not be upon me on this group, please don’t allow me to take one more step ahead. Reveal to me your will. Lead me Lord. You know better than I. Romans 8:28 (NLT) “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Please Lord... I need You. Guide me... guide us.

On Relationships

March 1, 2009
Proverbs 20:6 Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?

God, I just rejected another guy who invited me to go out on a date with him. Obviously, a child of the living God would not go into that. Lord, I choose to go in faith regarding the partner I have been praying to you. I choose to find my partner through Your way and not my way according to Your divine purpose in my life. Jesus, I stand to my conviction knowing that my labor is not in vain. I choose to glorify your name even in the area of relationships.

Jesus, You know my heart. I surrender to you these longings, including the disappointments and past hurts. I love You and I would love to love You even more. But I praise You for your unchanging and constant love that is immeasureable. Father, please cover me and protect me from these men who’d look down on me and who’d abuse my kindness and accommodation.
Thank you Lord. I give You praise and thanks, in Jesus name.

When Reality and Expectations Don't Meet

December 30, 2008

WHEN REALITY AND EXPECTATIONS DON’T MEET

Disappointments keep on coming. The usual response is “why?” It can mask itself as an honest question but a check of heart might reveal a complaint. We can ask but we should not whine. God is God and we are but human. Maybe God is teaching us patience or a change in attitude. But the question still remains unanswered. When reality does not meet with our expectations, we often get dismayed. But our disappointments should not lead us to discouragement. Remember Habakkuk’s declaration on Habakkuk 3:17-19 (ESV):

Though the fig tree should not blossom,

nor fruit be on the vines,

the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food,

the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the Lord;

I will take joy in the God of my salvation.

God, the Lord, is my strength;

He makes my feet like the deer’s;

He makes me tread on my high places.

We have here a man with the right character who made a right response. It is never easy to hold to your bearing in pressing situations but a mature heart and mind can endure. And this is only through God’s grace that we are being changed from glory to glory. Let the joy of the Lord be our strength.

Romans 5:3-5 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Psalm 42:5

December 2, 2008

Psalm 42:5 Why am I discouraged? Why so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again – my Savior and my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember your kindness – from Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, form the land of Mount Mizar.

God, you know what happened this afternoon. Once again, I feel so small. I feel so discouraged because of my case discussion in Perio with my professor. Almost no correct answer came out from me. What shall I do? How should I see myself now? Discouragements are all around me but I am just refraining to entertain them. No one is there to console. No one is here to listen. No one will understand the pain in my heart. Is it pride Lord? Am I hurting because of the realization that I am slow in understanding Perio? I have done my part. I studied but the concepts just won’t stick in my mind. If people look down on me as weak, how should I respond? I read David’s writing here. He knows how to encourage himself in You. I don’t envy those who have partners or those who have someone beside them. I refuse to compare myself to them. I am your child and I want my satisfaction and comfort to come from You. I want to know you more in these times. Your word always says that blessed are those who weep for after it they will be laughing in joy. Jesus, I ask that my encouragement would come from You because You alone knows the depths of my heart. You even know my words even before they came out of my mouth. I am now talking out of ignorance because I haven’t known these from personal discovery but by reading your word as added knowledge. God I want to experience more of You. I want to know You more. My hope comes from You. Many will not understand why I cling to You like this. That is because they are still ignorant about You. But even if they criticize my devotion towards You, I’ll just go on because You are my God. I cannot be hindered by these discouragements. Jesus, You are my greatest encourager. God, You are a father to the fatherless.