Oslo, Norway -Botanical Garden 18th Anniversary with God

I celebrated my 18th baptism anniversary in Norway during the COVID pandemic. (June 30th)

In a recent epiphany, it dawned on me that there are two kinds of people who previously claimed to be christians but left the church anyway. 

First, those who were overcome by worldly desires (Mark 4:19) and instead of being humble acknowledging sin against God, it is easier to just go with the flow and not being embarrassed at all about sin thinking that God is so gracious and it is OK to rely on self, justifying choices and fashioning a convenient God into their life. A God that can bless them with all the material things and relationships they desire. Forgetting that God is just and righteous.

Second are those that declare they are no longer christians after falling into sin or having a lifestyle that is not Christlike by perhaps their own standards and they cannot forgive themselves -based on their own standards. Satan has taken away the word that was sown in them (Mark 4:15)

I think in my 18 years, many times I have seen friends that have been swayed by either of these two. I felt really sad , I even got sick at some point and really angry. However, at times I am tempted to be or the other too. There were times that I feel like a failure in my Christian life I just want to give up and don't care. It is more convenient to just go to a convenient church with no accountability and just be self-righteous.(2 Timothy 3:5) 

I am able to keep moving forward with the help of faithful Christians and by the grace of God alone. I remind myself to forgive myself, ask help so I can find God's will for me and be confronted with my mistakes , my flaws and what I need to grow in.

Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

I am where I am now because God sees the bigger picture. He has a perfect plan and I am glad I am saved by grace.

15 years of experiencing the work of God's Grace

The past few months have been frantic for me.I'm walking through a tempest of anxiety,uncertainty,discouragement,insecurities,loneliness and hormonal imbalance : ) (I don't know, it just feels like this most of the time :p ).Mid-life perhaps?The seven year itch?I'm a horribly sinful person and I cannot save myself from myself, kind of like this passage:

Romans 7:15 ESV For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

In the same chapter, Paul inspires me to have hope like he had:

Romans 7:24-25
Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Through this tempest,I experienced the work of God's grace and the passages in the Bible jumping out at me: There are many,but I will only list some:

1. Only Jesus saves!He redeems me,rescues me-in the Present Tense, as He does this even now,again and again,without limit.- However,this is not an excuse to sin.

2.I understand that all the resources available to me-books,counselling,even the Bible itself, would not be enough to get rid of entanglement. Just reading good books,avoiding the cause of sin,beating myself up trying to forget,-these only offers temporary relief- (like just for a few minutes)-it would not be of any help if I am not in step with the spirit,broken before God and waiting on Him to vindicate me.I have to set my mind on things above.I had to go deeper than just asceticism.

Colossians 2:20-23
If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings?These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

Colossians 3:1-2
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

3.I can be so hopeless and depressed,my self-defeating thoughts can be paralyzing.But this is not God's will for me.I have been washed,sanctified and justified by Jesus' blood.Again ,no one can do this but Him.

1 Corinthians 6:11 ESV
And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

To the outside world,I may look put together(kind,brave,positive,intelligent-like how my sister describes me)-but inside I have a fierce battle of putting to death the misdeeds of the body and keeping the fire burning to please God by having my mind set on what the Spirit desires and having faith in Him.

4.My church family helps me-with their prayers and encouragement.God uses people to teach me with the help of His inspired word that teaches,corrects,rebukes and trains.

This year I am committing to memory Romans 8.

I'm also currently reading In His Steps by Charles M. Sheldon (html version from Project Gutenberg) with the challenge- What would Jesus do? and do it regardless of the result.

while it is still dark

umbrellas lend to the tropical feel

hmmm I like this angle 

it's not a painting-it is a framed fabric

Happy 14th Anniversary

I just celebrated my 14th spiritual birthday,14 years of a saving relationship with God.This is the God I worship:Scriptures are from the Holy Bible New International Version

He is the God who created heaven and earth (Nehemiah 9:6)

God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth. (John 4:24)

He desires mercy not sacrifice and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.(Hosea 6:6)

He doesn't change (James 1:17)

He is true to his promises (Psalm 33:4)

He is just (Col 3:25)

...and vast number of great,awesome,magnificent attributes.

So I better not worship Him in vain lest I waste my life following rules of men.

Isaiah 29:13

“These people come near to me with their mouth
and honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship of me
is based on merely human rules they have been taught."

In the past months leading up to my 14th year,God have shown me areas that I have to grow in so I can be of better use to Him.It is a privilege to be shown favor by God even in the guise of hardship because of discipline.Because often times I can be disobedient.I can never be perfect in my lifetime,I'm always sinning-am I hopeless?Yes,on my own, but God will take care of me.I will lose if I live my life the way I want it....Going back ,if I hadn't been a Christian,I wouldn't be writing this.I would have been long dead or suffering from mental illness.

my convictions:

there is no lone Christianity--I belong to my church because God led me there,my spiritual family.There are many christian churches -yes because God wants to spread His word.We are put in a spiritual family to help us grow in our knowledge of God,to love others like Christ loved us-1 John 3:16.etc.How can a lone so-called christian do that?

LGBT--I attended Guy Hammond's class when he came to Manila.He talked about same-sex attraction.He discussed biblical truths about homosexuality and shared his testimony.

I couldn't remember if I learned about this insight from Guy but it is about 2 kinds of homosexuals-1 Timothy 1:10 ...for those practicing homosexuality and the ones who do not.

I would not say that I would completely understand all areas of it-response to attraction,behavior,conduct etc. because I am limited.Even my stand on it is questioned both by non-believers and believers.Should I give up and quit church because of the many apprehensions?This is a matter of opinion (my opinion about the areas) (Rom 14:1) so I just have to humble up and explain my self and clear out any misunderstandings.

People will understand what God wants after hearing the word;believing the message;repents;accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior and gets baptized as a pledge of good conscience and participating with Christ's death-burial and resurrection.But those who will not accept it, it is their choice.God gave us free will.But He definitely wants everyone to be with Him.

Giving/tithes-We enjoy our relationship with God when we give and we know He gives us many many things.We only give Him what comes from His hands.Everything comes from God.I give because God's church needs it and it is my way of worship.I believe in my church and we put it to good use to advance the Kingdom of God.I know this full well especially for our church in Lucena. I don't just depart with my money.

APLA General Santos 2014

Touchdown Gensan

Day 1:Nov 27
7:00 AM ETA Gen San
7:30 AM Check-in at Lime Lily Pension House, Makar Wharf

APLA Day 1 group discussion

9:00 AM APLA class on Paul's Background and the book of Colossians

Janito and  Palacios Family

7:00 PM Dinner at Yanzon Village, Lagao
8:00 PM back to pension house

APLA Day 2 with CJ and Belle

Day 2:Nov 28
9:00 AM APLA Colossians Chapter 3-4,Ephesians and Philemon

SM GenSan Christmas

7:00 PM Dinner with Family at Lagao
8:00 PM back to accommodation

with Kidapawan Church

Day 3:Nov 29
9:00 AM APLA at MGSCC bldg. book of Philippians
12:00 NN Tuna Lunch

delightful lunch

APLA Day 3 with teacher

                               Gumasa, Glan, Sarangani

1:30 PM ETD for Glan Beach

3:00 PM ETA Glan, Sarangani

beach games

Day 4:Nov 30
9:30 AM Worship service at MGSCC

Day 4 Worship Service at MGSCC near Joji Ilagan Int'l School

12:00 NN Lunch with family
1:30 ETD for airport

Gen San family 

3:00 ETD for Manila via Tiger Air

going back 

Manila with all the people who needs to hear God's word

11:00 ETA Lucena, Quezon

assorted cookies!!!!

December 1 - Jesse's Sinigang na Tuna Panga

Buddy's Lucban Pancit SM Lucena moments

We had another D-time hang-out at Global Pinoy for our Jesus Study review (from the previous devotional Mommy Conch missed),prayer and confession.All that within 30-45 minutes. After that we had halo halo at Buddy's Pancit Lucban ,originally from Lucban,Quezon,famous for Lucban Pancit and Lucban longanisa and other Quezon province dishes,even pizza yummy.