Cheers to the New Year!

Every time a year ends, I do a bit of an evaluation of the year that has passed. For this year, 2012, I can say that a lot of good things happened. Of course, life is not all sugar and spice and everything nice; there were still occurrences, which I wished had not taken place, but I was able to pass through them and realize why our loving God allowed them to come about. After all, everything happens for a reason, and if you trust that whatever happens is part of God’s plan, you’ll know that things will always work out for the best.

Sometime around June, I felt friendless.  You see, the girls I spent time and ate lunch with at school abandoned me. Well, they did not technically abandon me, but I felt that way. They just drifted away, and I felt like they didn’t really wanna be with me. I don’t know, it’s just that I really felt shitty during those days. I was really lonely you see, I am not exaggerating.   Nevertheless, a good came out of my loneliness.  I was able to make new friends, and these new friends of mine (well they are not new anymore, but they were new during that time) are very caring and loving, and I feel really happy with them. They are not perfect, I am not perfect, there are times when we disagree on things, but we never seriously fight. We stay happy together. And I cannot imagine myself not being friends with them. I never really expected to be able to bond with them. They are guys, in the first place, and they hated me for my bossy attitude last 2011 (well K is a girl and she didn't hate me, but the rest of the gang are guys and they did despise me). Then again, I am very much thankful to have the chance to know them better and deeper. They are the best! Simply the best!   

It was also in June when I met this guy. This guy who has such beautiful eyes. He was sweet, and he would call me every now and then. But my flirting days with him are over. I have realized that he is way too handsome for me.

November has been a sweet month as well. Aside from being the month when I celebrate my birthday, I was able to go to the northern part of my country for a seminar during that month, and I met very nice, intelligent and sweet people. I was also elected as an officer of a regional organization, which is very wicked. Because of the fact that I am now an officer of that regional organization, I have additional responsibilities, but these responsibilities are nothing compared to the fact that I have additional friends.

To sum it up, I guess I can say that the icing on my cake for the year 2012 is the fact that I was able to gain a lot of wonderful chums. I am also happy that I am still in a relationship with God. I know there are times when I take Him for granted, but He loves me soooo much that He never lets me go. Indeed, what an amazing God I have! I am looking forward to 2013, and to the things, experiences and people that would come with it. Happy New Year, everyone! 

Christmas is Homecoming"

As we celebrate the Holidays this December, let us contemplate on the real meaning of Christmas.

Christmas is going back to one's home. It is going back to the Father. Some people avoid coming home to the Lord for they have failures, insecurities, etc. Some of us don’t even know how to come back to the Lord for we don't know Him, we don’t connect with Him through prayer, and we do not read the Bible.

Jesus told a parable about lost things, the parable of the lost son, the lost sheep and the lost coin. Focusing on the third one, a woman lost a coin and she looked for it all over her house. The reason why she did so was because that coin was important to her.

The coin symbolises us. A coin doesn't know that it is lost, at the same time, we usually don't know we are lost. This is because we are so occupied with what the world has to offer that we don’t know that we are missing the most important thing in our lives, a relationship to God.

We may have lost a lot of things: integrity, innocence, etc. We cannot regain those things, and that fact usually discourages us from going back to God. Nevertheless, we need to keep in mind that it is only God who can help us regain what we have lost. After all, Jesus came here to look for those who are lost, and with God, all things are possible.

Matt 11:28-30 (Message Bible) “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

God's plan for you is to stay close to Him. He wants us to remain at His side for He loves us that much.

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 "¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:^[a] The old has gone, the new is here! ¹⁸ All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation”

Eph 2:4-5 "⁴But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved."

The reason why there is Christmas is because we are all dead in sin, we needed a perfect saviour to save us.

2 Cor 9:15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

JESUS was the best gift God has given us.

Romans 8:39 "Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (KJV)

-excerpt from Ptr. Rudy Fernandez' message 

Firepower Ministries

December 25, 2012

additional explanations by me :)

10 Things To Do Before and During the Week of Your Final Examinations

1. read.
- Let's face it, no matter what your course/major is, you need to read your lectures if you want to be able to answer the questions in your exams.

2. make sure you have your examination permit, ballpen(s), calculator, etc.
- You must secure the things that you will need for the examination. In the school where I study, students will not be allowed to take the exams without their permit; hence, it is a must for us to secure it on or before the first day of the exams.

3. watch a movie.
- I don't know about you, but I do like to unwind before the exams. And unwinding means watching the movies I've been planning to watch for a long time. :)

4. have lunch at the mall.
- This is only a good idea if you still have an exam after lunch. I mean, if your exams finish before lunch, it will be more ideal and money-wise for you to just have lunch at home.

5. watch another movie.
- Unwind. Relax. Chill. 

6. go to mangafox.me

- I like to read manga... and when else is the best time for you to catch up on reading the mangas you have bookmarked on a certain manga site than during the week of the exams? (IDK if that makes any sense, or if that is grammatically correct. Oh well, IDC. XD)

7. watch comedy sketches at youtube.

- Youtube is a really fun site. And there are a lot of messed up youtubers there who make videos that can help you feel better regardless of what time is it or what is the season or what is going on around you or in your school.

8. go to the mall and ask your friend to treat you to ice cream. (Dairy Queen)

- Oh. Eating sweets, like ice cream, is a good way to relax. It is even better when someone else paid it for you. :)

9. sleep at around 1 to 3 AM.
- Since you will be watching a lot of movies, you won't notice the time anymore, and you'll end up in bed really late... or early in the morning. XD

10. wake up 30 minutes before/after your first exam for the day is supposed to start.
- Since you slept really late, you won't be able to get up even after your alarm has gone off a couple of times. Then, when you finally open your eyes, you'll see what time it is and hurry to the bathroom cause you know your're either going to be late or you already are late. :)


So, the things above are the things I do before and during the week of my exams. It depends if you want to follow my footsteps, but I advise that you don't. I mean, only an idiot would do those things. And I can be an idiot at certain times... and most of the time, I act like a moron when I know that I shouldn't do so. Oh well, it's not like I actually need to study. >:)

:DDDDDDDDDDDDD ♥ ♥ ♥

Prayer Mountain

Last Saturday, I let go of the chance to have fun with my friends and to be one with nature by doing some tree-planting in a place in Antipolo just so I can have an intimate time with God in a prayer mountain in Antipolo. :D

I went to Touch of Glory Prayer Mountain with my mom, youngest brother, my mom’s best friend and a friend of my mom’s best friend. It was my second time there and it was such a splendid experience. I was able to communicate with God, talk in the language of Heaven, and feel cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Indeed, it was worth missing the fun with my really lovable friends. I do hope that one day, I can take them there so they can also feel how wonderful it is to be in a place where they can feel the loving presence of God.  

Below are some of the pictures I took. :)

CHANGING TIMES NEED CHANGING LIVES

People around the world spend thousands to change their lives. They buy self-help books, attend seminars, go to their shrink… Nevertheless, the change they pay for is only temporary. Real change starts from within. Unless we change according to how God wants us to change, we can never have a better life.

Nowadays, the situation in the world is really irritating. Then again, we have to remember that vision comes from irritation. When we get annoyed at how things are happening now, God will give us a vision on what to do to change the world.

After all, the Word of God is the only effective thing that can promote change.

Foundational Principles that can Change Our Lives

1. Dedication: commit your body to God.

Romans 12:1

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

a. Cleanse your body.

2 Corinthians 7:1

7 Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

b. Care for your body

Ephesians 5:29

²⁹ After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church

c. Control your body.

1 Thessalonians 4:4

⁴ that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable,

1 Corinthians 9:27

²⁷ No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

God's children are the ones who grow more and more beautiful.

2. Evaluation: where are you right now?

Some people don't change because they won't admit their real situation.

You can't get to your destination unless you know where you are at the moment.

Romans 12:3

³ For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

Romans 10:17

¹⁷ Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

3. Cooperation: connect to a group.

It's not good for man to be alone.

Romans 12:4-5

⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

4. Affirmation: Living to Love

There are 4 kinds of love in the Bible, but Agape is the best. Agape is the love of Christ.

Romans 12:9-10

⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves

5. Motivation: serve with enthusiasm

You can't do anything great without enthusiasm.

Romans 12:11-12

¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction,faithful in prayer.

Enthusiasm came from two words:

en-in

Theos-God

Hence, being enthusiastic is being in God.

To be enthusiastic is to experience these three:

a. Joy in hope

b. Patience in affliction

c. Faith in prayer.

 (this entry is an excerpt of the message in our church)

Message by: Ptr. Rudy Fernandez 

Firepower Ministries

Additional contemplation: mine 

Refuse

"Some things we have to refuse"

HEBREWS 11:24-25

²⁴ By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. ²⁵ He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

Moses refused to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. Why? He chose to be man of God.

We have to realize that sin gives little pleasure then provides long suffering. Sin promises happiness but fails to make it true. Only Jesus can promise us eternal happiness and give it.

To obtain genuine happiness, we have to refuse and to say “NO” to the following things:

1. Refuse to let the past shape the future.

Philippians 3:13-14

¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

One thing to do: Forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead.

Some people don't want changes in their lives because they are comfortable with what they already have even when what they have is not good anymore. Nevertheless, to obtain happiness, we need to forget the past, all the bad memories in it, and move forward. We need to live in the present with a vision of what is in the future.

2. Refuse to listen to the devil.

Matthew 4:1-6

¹Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ² After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. ³ The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

⁴ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

⁵ Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ⁶ “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,

    and they will lift you up in their hands,

    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’

Jesus refused the devil.

The devil is trying to make us live a life that is not in accordance with what God wants. He would challenge us, even use Bible verses to lure us. However, we need to remember that the only thing the enemy wants is for us to be damned; therefore, no matter how persuasive he could be, we need to remain true to our faith and refuse him.

3. Refuse to become a dead, dry church.

What is a dead and dry church?

A dead church is a church where people don't move or do anything for their employer-God.

Revelations 3:1-2

¹ “To the angel of the church in Sardis write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. ² Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God.”

We need to make sure that there is life in our churches. Life can be seen in it if the congregation change for the better, if people are impelled to share the Good News to others and save souls for the Almighty Father!

Romans 14:17

¹⁷ For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

The kingdom of God is not outside. It is from inside a person. It is not something we can find in the outside world, it is something we feel in our hearts.  Thus, the kingdom of God should be our priority every day.

We should not settle for ordinary. The Lord our God wants us to be extraordinary, just like Jesus. If we want ourselves to be more like Jesus, we have to remember that God wants it even more.

4. Refuse to be around negative people.

Numbers 13:27-32

²⁷ They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey!Here is its fruit. ²⁸ But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. ²⁹ The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.”

³⁰ Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”

³¹ But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” ³² And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size.

These people saw the good things in the land where Moses sent them; however, they put more emphasis on the things that disturbed them.

Negative people are those who live negative lives. If a person is negative, he sees himself as a very small creature, incapable of doing anything. If we stay with them, we will also learn to be negative; hence, it would be wise for us to refuse to be around them or be affected with what they say.

5. Refuse to quit.

There are a lot of reasons to quit but we should not.

Matthew 10:22

²² You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

All men will hate you, but if you remain firm until the end, you will be saved.

Only a real Christian can continue until the end in spite of troubles, problems and persecution. This may be hard, but its reward is eternal. Indeed, its reward is eternal life and happiness in the arms of Jesus.

(this entry is an excerpt of the message in our church)

Message by: Ptr. Rudy Fernandez 

Firepower Ministries

Additional contemplation: mine 

IMBA REPLIES

Some conversations I've been having lately.

F: I didn’t know you were good at drawing.

N: I didn’t know it either.

--------------------------------- 

J: Why is your voice so soft?

N: Sorry, I don’t have a microphone installed in my throat.

--------------------------------- 

K: I thought you two had a “thing”.

N: Yeah, we had “NO”thing.

---------------------------------

N: Do you have any questions?

M: Why are you so beautiful?

---------------------------------

Er... Sorry for another insensible post. :) 

God bless!! <3

The Measure of a Man

(Man refers to all Humanity)

Measurement is a basic part of this planet; the truth is physical measurement is really important in our lives. This is proven by the fact that we do physical measurements every day. If physical measurement is really important in the efficiency of our lives, how much more important the measurement of our spirituality is.

Spiritual measurement can be determined by how far we are willing to go for God. God wants 100% ownership; not just 99.99%; if not 100% of one’s life is given to God, the devil will find a way to use the little percentage one has not surrendered to God against that person.

Therefore, it is really crucial that we give our all to God once we decide to live our lives for him. Indeed, if only a handful of men, women and children would live up to the measurement of God, our nation can be truly blessed.

How is a man measured?

1. A man is measured by what he flees from.

If you are a man of God, you will run away from sin.

a. Flee from adultery (1 Cor 6:18)

b. Flee from covetousness and love of money (1 Tim 6:10-11)

2. A man is measured by what he follows after (1 Tim 6:11b ...and follow after righteousness...)

Things to follow after:

a. Righteousness:

- being  in the right standing with God.

- a lifelong quest.

*Being a Christian is a lifetime marathon/journey. A person cannot do this alone; he/she has to do it with Christ.

To know what you are following after, you can ask yourself the following questions:

-What are you pursuing in your life?

-Who owns you?

*If Jesus owns you, then you should be valuable. Remember how He died for you and paid a huge price to save you.

b. Godliness- being like God.

- It is a sad fact that 64% of Filipinos curse. Some of the 36% left do not feel offended when people curse. Being like God is being offended when people curse.

c. Faith- staying with God

d. Love- loving God and other people (even the unlovable ones)

e. Patience- enduring negative things

f. Gentleness(meekness)- being meek is not being weak; gentleness allows you to have control over your power (your power or ability to be angry, proud, etc.)

3. A man is measured by what he fights for (1 Tim 1:18) (1Tim 6:12)

Fighting the good fight of faith is the only fight worth fighting for.

*If you are a part-time Christian, you cannot fight full-time devils. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but we fight a spiritual warfare.

*Being a full time Christian is measuring up to God's expectations. It is putting God above all. Now, are you ready to die for God?

THREE THINGS TO DO TO NOT WAVER IN FAITH

1. Remember the past

(Exo 13:3) Remember what God did for you and sing to the Lord, praise his holy name.  (Psalms 30:4)

2. Fight for the future

*We need to understand that we have something to look forward to amidst all the noises, stress, pressures and sufferings.

Keep Jeremiah 29:11 in mind.

*For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

3. Remember that others have made it.

(this entry is an excerpt of the message in our church)

Message by: Ptr. Rudy Fernandez 

Firepower Ministries

Additional contemplation: mine