The Steps God Makes When He Calls Us

Joshua 1:1-9
¹ After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: ² "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. ³ I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. ⁴ Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea on the west. ⁵ No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

⁶ "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. ⁷ Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. ⁸ Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. ⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

1. He makes us face the facts (verse 2a)

2. He tells us what to do (verse 2b)

3. He gives us His promise. (verse 3-4)

4. He reassures us that He will be there with us (verses 6-7)

The times we actually doubt Him is when we come face to face with our challenges.

But when we actually look at these steps, that he used on Joshua, we can really relate with them. He makes us face the facts, then He tells us what to do, then He gives us His promise, then He reassures us. So when there is a new challenge for us, it is only the first step, when we see the next steps we dont have to feel worried anymore.

God Is For You

"God is the strength of my heart." Psalm 73:26

God is for you. Turn to the sidelines; that’s God cheering your run. Look past the finish line; that’s God applauding your steps. Listen for Him in the bleachers, shouting your name. Too tired to continue? He’ll carry you. Too discouraged to fight? He’s picking you up. God is for you.

Push Forward

Philippians 3

¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³ Brothers, 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.

Paul, the apostle of Christ who has accomplished so many things for Jesus said this, "not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect." (v12) He could have boasted about how many churches he has built and the thousands of lives he saved by preaching the gospel but even with so many achievements, he humbles himself to nothing. So what should you do if you're not perfect, and you still make a lot of mistakes?

What was Paul's secret to keep himself going?

His secret is in verse 13, "Brothers, 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." Paul says that he will forget what is behind him. Not only the bad things that happened to him but even the good things.

We like to forget about the mistakes that we made and only want to remember the victories we have obtained. But Paul says both, good and bad will be forgotten and he will strain toward what is ahead.

"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." This last part is really important. We as Christians were called to serve our God, whether in school, in jobs, careers, we were given gifts and talents to worship our Lord. And its important that in our calling, we do our very best. Notice verse 14 did not say "I press on toward the goal to be close to winning the prize, or to try my best to win the prize," but it said, to win the prize, because this isn't just an ordinary calling, its a calling given by God. And its our responsibility to put our heart, body, and soul into what he has given us to do.

What is your calling? Are you pursuing it to win the prize? There were will be tough times and good days but let's take the advice Paul gives us, forget what's behind us and always push forward.

Listening to God

Psalm 81:8-14 (New International Version)

⁸ "Hear, O my people, and I will warn you—
if you would but listen to me, O Israel!

⁹ You shall have no foreign god among you;
you shall not bow down to an alien god.

¹⁰ I am the LORD your God,
who brought you up out of Egypt.
Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

¹¹ "But my people would not listen to me;
Israel would not submit to me.

¹² So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
to follow their own devices.

¹³ "If my people would but listen to me,
if Israel would follow my ways,

¹⁴ how quickly would I subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes!

In this Psalm we could really feel the heart beat of God, asking us that we should listen to Him. Most of the time when we are busy, the things that goes out first are, prayer and our personal time with Him. When that happens it is difficult to move with our own strength. and when the Psalm said (vv 13-14) "How quickly would I subdue their enemies." If we just listen to Him everything will be fine. When we are really busy the more important it is to listen to Him.

Living As Aliens

1 Peter 2:11-12
11Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

1 Peter 2:18-25
18Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. 20But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
22"He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth."[a] 23When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

We should remember these things:
1. I will be watched by an unbelieving world

As it said in vv 11-12 we are aliens and strangers in this world, being a christian we were called to be different(Mat 5:3, 2Cor 5:17) than the rest of the world and to be different means that the world will watch our every move.

2. I will encounter unreasonable people

Throughout the Bible we have seen different people who kept their faith and they were successful in the sight of the world and in the sight of God. we see Joseph in Egypt, Nehemiah in Persia, Daniel in Babylon. So the question is, with all these people who kept their faith and at the same time served people who are both nice and harsh - what is our excuse for not having less than excellent lives in the world and also keeping the faith?

3. I will endure unjust treatment

Again we see in Hebrews 11, the people who lived in the past that trusted God with their lives, they were successful even with the people treating them unfairly. We always say that life is unfair then the next question is: So what? What should we do then? Should we just say that over and over again, that life is unfair? Continuing in Hebrews 12 (since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses) as the people in the Bible who went through so much, again the question is what is our excuse?

4. I will need unusual patience

With all this things that we face, yes it is difficult, yes so many challenges, yes we have people that are difficult to work with. One of the things we need to have is patience, and we the only one to able to give that kind of patience is Him

5. I will have unfailing protection.

One of the most important things we should ask is unfailing protection. as 2 Cor 4:8-9 says 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We have so many things against us. So the thing we should always ask for is protection.

That's Jesus...

“He poured out His soul unto death.” Isaiah 53:12 NKJV

The scene is very simple; you’ll recognize it quickly. A grove of twisted olive trees. Ground cluttered with large rocks. A low stone fence. A dark, dark night . . .

See that solitary figure? . . . Flat on the ground. Face stained with dirt and tears. Fists pounding the hard earth . . .

That’s Jesus . . . God was never more human than at this hour. God was never nearer to us than when he hurt.

On Behalf Of Jesus

“This man has done nothing wrong.” Luke 23:41

Finally someone is defending Jesus. Peter fled. The disciples hid. The Jews accused. Pilate washed his hands. Many could have spoken on behalf of Jesus, but none did. Until now.

Kind words from the lips of a thief. He makes his request. “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42).

The Savior turns his heavy head toward the prodigal child and promises, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).

Worship

Matthew 4:10 (New International Version)
10Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"

Everybody worships. Whether it is a hero, possessions, success, pleasure… The way we live and behave makes evident the things that we love and give ourselves to. It is in our very nature to worship, and that inner drive is God-given, the disaster is when we worship something or someone other than God himself. We have seen this many times whenever the Israelites would worship other gods instead of the true God. “To be converted to faith in Jesus Christ is to return the worship of the true God, and to dethrone all rivals to his authority.” – Graham Kendrick
The origin in English o the word “worship” is ‘worth- ship’, which expresses the value placed on someone or something. “The true quality and depth of our love for God will to a very great degree be evidenced by the quality and depth of our worship.” – Graham Kendrick
Talk is cheap but it is true that actions do speak louder than words. The very heart of worship is the giving, not of our talents and goods, but of our very selves, worshipping him in school, in training and in the very little things showing it in our everyday lives.

Garbage In, Garbage Out

Philippians 4:8-9

8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

- if we think about it. how come Paul said that to think such things? how come he didnt just say DO IT?
It is because that in everything we do we first have to think about it. our actions are caused by our thoughts and our thoughts come from the things we expose ourselves to. Also we could do one thing and mean the other, in other words we can have a "hidden agenda." If we do "right" things just because we think its going to please people, or impress them, then it is no better than doing nothing at all. So what Paul is trying to say is that, in everything we do in our life our actions are caused by our thoughts and our thoughts are caused by the things we expose to. Our thoughts will play a major role in the decisions we will do.

Works Matter

“If people say they have faith, but do nothing, their faith is worth nothing. Can faith like that save them?” James 2:14


James’ message is bare-knuckled; his style is bare-boned. Talk is cheap, he argues. Service is invaluable.

It’s not that works save the Christian, but that works mark the Christian. In James’ book of logic, it only makes sense that we who have been given much should give much. Not just with words. But with our lives.

Romans 6

Romans 6
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with,a that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

The chapter starts us off by saying being very straight and asks us, "what shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?" And Paul gives us a very fast and strong respond by saying "By no means!" And he gives the reasons, because "we died to sin." When Jesus was hung on that cross he paved the way for us so we can be free from sin once and for all. He died for our sins so that we can "live a new life." (V.4)
Verse 10-11 says The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Notice it said "in the same way." We no longer consider ourselves slaves to sin but children of God. Let's always remember what happened 2000 years ago when Jesus rescued us. Soon its Easter, the day Jesus destroyed the chains of sin and overcame death, not for himself but for us.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,f that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Heart of David

When we are faced with challenges and difficulties, we should have a heart like that of David's.
We all face our own Goliaths, how do we face them?

In 1 Samuel 17:24
24 When the Israelites saw the man, they all ran from him (Goliath) in great fear.
In verse 26
26 David asked the men standing near him, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?"

How come the soldiers that were trained to be in that place for that moment were the ones who were scared? How come David is the one that was confident when asking about Goliath?

There are 3 reasons why:

1. He remembered what God had done through him (vv 34-37)

34 But David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."
Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you."

When we are faced with different challenges and difficulties, let us remember how God had been with us through our challenges in our past. He was with us then and He will be with us today and the future.

2. He accepted who God made him to be (vv 38-40)

38 Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. 39 David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.
"I cannot go in these," he said to Saul, "because I am not used to them." So he took them off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

Sometimes we always tell ourselves "I wish I was like that person" or "I wish I have the same skills as that guy" but as we can see here< David was not a soldier. Saul tried to make him into a soldier, but he was a shepherd. Once we accept who we are, things will be easier because we are accepting who God made us to be.

3. He is always in a battle mode (vv 45-47)

45 David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands."

On that last part when David said "for the battle is the LORD's and he will give all of you into our hands" we should always remember that in all our battles God is with us. Even if we lose in some of our battles, once we have in our minds that He is in control of everything we know that it happened for a reason.

-So with all that in Davids heart what were the results?
48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.

David was able to run toward his Goliath. Once we have that in our hearts we will also be able to run towards our Goliaths.

A Good Friend

"The greatest love a person can show is to die for his friends." -John 15:13


Most of us have many acquaintances but very few friends, and even some of our friends may prove unfriendly or even unfaithful. Remember Judas? But even a devoted friend may fail us when we need him most. Peter, James, and John went to sleep in the Garden when they should have been praying; and Peter even denied the Lord three times. Our friendship towards one another is not perfect, but His friendship to us is perfect.

One gets the impression that to John, Jesus was above all a loyal companion. Messiah? Yes. Son of God? Indeed. Miracle worker? That, too. But more than anything . . . Jesus was a friend.

Do You Want To Be Like Dad?

Ephesians 5
1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. 4Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.[a] 6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7Therefore do not be partners with them.
8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10and find out what pleases the Lord.


Our goal is to become like Christ, yes? So Ephesians 5 starts off by telling us to be like Christ. And its very nice to see that Paul isn't forcing us to be like Him but rather gives a good reason, because "we're His dearly loved children." Its very common to see a little boy wanting to grow up to be like his dad, and in this similar way we too must become imitators of our heavenly Father. Verses 3-7 are the things we should avoid if we are to become imitators. Things such as sexual immorality, greed, even foolish talking. We are to live as children of light and my favorite part of this passage is verse 10, "and find out what pleases the Lord."
If you were in a relationship with your parents, friends, family, whoever, wouldn't you want to find out what makes them happy? And want to do those things to make them happy? We as children have a special relationship with God, because our relationship is so close we even call Him, "abba, Father."
I pray that as we live our lives, we are seeking ways to find out what makes God smile. Not because we have to but because we want to.

Remember: Guard Your Mind, Body and Spirit

Galatians 5:16-25
16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

As we persevere to move the work which the Lord has entrusted to us in Planet Infinity (MTM), Legacy Zone and Anglahi; no doubt that the journey will get tougher and tougher.
Ever since Anglahi has opened in the Philippines, the church has been hit hard; the very first was by typhoon Ondoy two days after the opening of Anglahi. Now that we are pushing the work of Anglahi there has been several hits, physically and emotionally. It is very important that at such a time as this we MUST continue to live by the spirit. Be alert at all times at the danger that may come your way and ask the Lord for his guidance and protection upon his people. Guard your heart at all times that it may be wholly devoted to God. Take each step of the Christian life in dependence on the Spirit to have victory over the flesh and its works. Each and every day may we continue to put on the full armor of God first and foremost through prayer not through the babbling of words but through the real prayer, the fellowship with God.

When we ask

When we have something to ask in prayer, how should we think or act? if we have something in prayer do we believe that He can really hear it?
today let us look at someone who is in desperate need, and let us see how Jesus answered them.
Luke 8:40-56 (New International Version)

A Dead Girl and a Sick Woman

 40Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. 41Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus' feet, pleading with him to come to his house 42because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.
   As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years,[a] but no one could heal her. 44She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

 45"Who touched me?" Jesus asked.
      When they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you."

 46But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me."

 47Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."

 49While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," he said. "Don't bother the teacher any more."

 50Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed."

 51When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child's father and mother. 52Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. "Stop wailing," Jesus said. "She is not dead but asleep."

 53They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54But he took her by the hand and said, "My child, get up!" 55Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.



if we can imagine Jesus as a celebrity or a rock star that people want to meet, people want to see. we see in this passage that there are so many people that wanted to see Him, either it could be people who wants to see miracles or people who has needs or healing also. what Peter said was true "Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you." there are alot of people crowding and pressing against Jesus, but then how come it was only the bleeding woman who was healed? we can safely assume that there are much more people who is in more need than the bleeding woman. but how come it is only her that was healed?



the answer is on v48. her faith has healed her. in our prayers do we actually believe that He can help us, or do we only pray because everyone says He can help us and just trying it out? in our prayers we should have so much faith that in every word we say we know that He can hear our words.

Your Greatest Battle

Genesis 32:22-28
22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak."
But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."
27 The man asked him, "What is your name?"
"Jacob," he answered.
28 Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, [e] because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."


Remember, your greatest battle is not your physical battle. You may be sick today, you may need to have an operation some time this week, and you feel that’s your most difficult battle. BUT IT’S NOT!
You may say, it’s your financial battle.
Some of you may say, no it’s my relational battle! It’s my relationship that’s going astray with my family - or dealing with the past.
But that’s not your biggest battle!
Your biggest struggle in life is with God!
When you think about it, you’re struggling always with the issue of “My Will or His Will!” the last thing you’d like to give in as we struggle with God is our willpower!

The sooner we learn that and accept that, we begin to realize that the crisis is when we struggle with God because we want to be God!

Remember: What are the two most important lessons you need to learn fast in life?
1. There is a God
2. He is not you

Jacob prayed from protection from Esau. But he needed protection from God. He thought Esau was his problem. But GOD was his problem! AND God was his solution!

1 Corinthians 9

1 Corinthians 9
24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

This is the verse that was picked for the Olympian group. It reminded me of what we should do as an athlete and as a Christian. When we compete any competition, there is only one first place winner; so Paul here tells us to "Run in such a way as to get the prize." (v24) If you want to be first place in win a marathon, you have to train everyday. You have to wake up early, eat healthy, run regularly, work out, and etc. If you want to be number in one in school, then you must study in such a way to be number one! Organize your work, do extra research, read more than you're required, pay close attention in class, ask the right questions, review your notes. You have to go beyond yourself to reach full potential.
Different people have different motives to win, they may want to excel beyond others because of pride, bragging rights, to showoff, to be loved by fans. Those are all things that will disappear in a matter of time, but we, as children of God, "do it to get a crown that will last forever." (v25)
Therefore, discipline yourself to go beyond what is required. Everyday have a set goal to reach, (I do not run like a man running aimlessly) have a sense of direction of where you want to go. And make every effort count, (I do not fight like a man beating the air.) Make sure you're not wasting your energy but its actually effective. (v26)
Lastly, you learn to say "No." When you get tempted to stop, learn to say "no." Control your desires, emotions, and even actions. If you're a serious athlete, you know what to eat and know how to reject junk food. A top student knows how much to study and won't stop until the subject is fully mastered.
Eventually, you will be a testimony to others. People will see how you were able to over come difficult trials and be inspired to achieve the same, if not greater. Paul said, "I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." He wanted to fight fair, just like everyone else. He did not put himself in a special seat because he was a Christian, but rather he competed with the same rules and ran harder and faster. We too should do the same.

"I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is over self." - Aristotle

Not On Our Strength

2 Corinthians 4

Treasures in Jars of Clay

¹Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. ²Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. ³And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. ⁴The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. ⁵For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. ⁶For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"^a]">[a]made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

⁷But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. ⁸We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

As the chapter starts with "since through God's mercy we have this ministry" -- we all notice that we have so much on our plate, projects left and right, different challenges that we face, different struggles that we go through... but as we look at the at the beginning, "we do not lose heart!!!" Why? Because "through God's mercy we have this ministry" because of Him we have this ministry and that saying: "If God is with you who can be against you?" God gave this ministry to us and He will be faithful till the end.

As we can see from vv 7-9 "we have this treasure in jars of clay to show this all-surpassing power IS FROM GOD AND NOT FROM US" the power that we get is from Him. As it said in the continuing verses, we have it hard but He is still with us.

"when you feel like giving up, remember why you held on for so long in the first place."

He Calls It Worship

Genesis 22:5

5 He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you."

Abraham was about to sacrifice his only son - and what word does he use to describe the act? "Worship."

He's headed up the mountain to place the biggest part of his life on an altar and he calls it "Worship." When we think of worship, we typically think of offering a song, or a prayer, or a gift. But when Abraham worshiped, he offered his son. He offered the biggest part of his life to God.

When God sends a trial to us, our first response is usually, "Why, Lord?" and then, "Why me?" Right away, we want God to give us explanations. Of course, we know that God has reasons for sending tests. The fact that we ask our Father for explanations suggests that we may not know ourselves as we should or God as we should.

Abraham heard God's word and immediately obeyed it by faith. He called it worship! He knew that God's will never contradicts God's promise, so he held on to the promise "it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." (Gen. 21:12) He called it worship!

Remaining In Him

This is special message come from Jesus to his disciples. He was giving this to his chosen followers as his time to be on the cross was drawing near. So you can treat this like the final reminder or speech for his beloved disciples.

Verse 2 is like the story of the talents. The master gives talents to his servants each according to his ability. And the master was pleased with the servants that actually risked and forwarded the work. But the one that didn't do anything he called him "wicked and lazy." (Matthew 25:14-30) So Jesus is saying that those who doesn't bear fruit he will get rid of and those who do move the work forward he makes him/her even better.

And Jesus gives us the most important reminder of all in verse 4. "Remain in me, and I will remain in you."

When we are doing any work, it is very essential that Jesus is in the center. Because Jesus continues by saying, "No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."

Without the Lord's help we can't do anything. People might acknowledge and applaud us, but only Jesus can give us the final say that we did a good job.

John 15:1-8

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. ⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Contentment

1 Timothy 6:6-10

6But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. ⁹People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

As Blaise Pascal said: "There is a God shaped vacuum in all human hearts, that no man made thing can ever fill" and we can see here that it has said: "the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil" so to have money or material things is not bad, it is when we love those things, it is when those things own us rather than us owning those things. We have seen it over and over before, people never content on the things they have, they always have to have the new things. Dont get me wrong, to have things is not bad, it is when those things control our lives.

As it said on: Matthew 6:24
²⁴"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

We can never serve God the right way if our hearts are filled by money. If our hearts are already taken by another, we can never have God in our hearts.

Let us remind ourselves the words of Yoda in Star Wars Episode 2
"train yourself to let go of the things you are afraid to lose"

Act Like a Butterfly

Romans 7:1-6

Do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to men who know the law—that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives? ² For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. ³ So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man.

⁴ So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. ⁵ For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. ⁶ But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.

Just like what the Scripture says: If God is with us who can be against us? And no one can be against us or separate us from the love of God. But it doesn’t mean that the enemy or the devil wont put lies in our heads or tempt us or put us in a situation where we can sin; so we cant see anymore. No, in fact when we are with God that’s when the enemy works double time!

We all have our little personal demons. Understand that the mission of the devil is to kill, steal and destroy. He doesn’t care about you at all, he just wants to try to abort God’s plan for you. He tries to keep you bound, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. He understands that if you are free - you will realize the potential God has placed in you, that you will realize that because you are free and through Jesus Christ that you can turn this world upside down and he does not want that. We often forget that we are no longer bound to our old life or our past sin. We are a new creation and that’s all because of one great love. That Jesus Christ died for all of us and set us all FREE. Why do we live in shame when we know that God has forgiven us? We are no longer bounded. We are free, a new creation! If before we were caterpillars, now we are butterflies. So act like a butterfly!

Galatians 5:1

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Living Worthy Of The Call

"As a prisoner for the Lord, I urge you, live a life worthy of the calling you have received." Ephesians 4:1

Dr. Librescu, for all of his seventy-six years, exemplified in his life the kind of diligence that reflects the image of God in human beings. Dr. Ishwar Puri, head of Dr. Librescu’s department at Virginia Tech, said of his colleague, “He loved his position as a professor. A prolific researcher and wonderful teacher, he devoted himself to the profession, solely for the love of it.”

When the professor himself was asked, in 2005, why he continued to work so hard, he said, “It is not a question of organizations or calculations. If I had the pleasure to do this, then I will put time aside to do this. It is personal freedom...”

The way Dr. Librescu lived his life – overcoming obstacles for more than seven decades to give his all to what he loved – would be a lesson by itself in diligence. He continued to teach at Virginia Tech well past retirement age because life itself was a challenge for him. He never gave himself permission to stop as long as his students needed him. In fact, it was his diligence that cost Dr. Librescu his life, and served as the ultimate illustration of what it means to live with no reservations.

On April 16, 2007, when a heavily armed, deranged student entered the classroom buildings on the Virginia Tech campus and began randomly killing and wounding students and staff, Dr. Librescu was teaching a class of around twenty students. As soon as it became obvious that the shooter might target his classroom, the 76 year old professor immediately threw himself against the inside of the classroom door while instructing students to flee out the windows to safety. One of the last students to exit the classroom remembers seeing the professor leaning against the door and then falling, fatally wounded by bullets that came through the door. All twenty students, some with broken legs from the two-story fall, survived.

What would make someone sacrifice himself for the sake of others? For Librescu, it was the culmination of a life of overcoming challenges and remaining diligent to the end. After the attack, a student summarized the professor’s actions: “It’s one of those things where every little thing you do can save somebody’s life.”

Dr. Puri, his department head writes: “Dr. Librescu was an extremely tolerant man who mentored scholars from all over our troubled world.” The professor was no stranger to trouble, but he wasn’t intimidated by it. From childhood his commitment to living for others created peace in “our troubled world.” Christians live in the same world. And we are called by God to take up our cross and march into the trouble for the sake of Christ – not knowing but that one little thing we do might save someone’s life in time or for eternity.

Learning to live an exceptional life – a life of sacrifice, diligence, and generous commitment –is a process that never ends.

"Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by him in peace, without spot and blameless." 2 Peter 3:14

Seek the Audience of One

Matthew 6:1-4

6 “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

² “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. ³ But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Jesus was talking and giving us a lesson about giving. When we give Jesus says, "Do not announce it with trumpets." We do it in secret so no one but God will know.

It is very tempting to have people know that you've been doing good things. Of course we want people to praise us and give us a pat on the back for all the good things that we do. But Jesus said that, the hypocrites do it to be honored by men... they have received their reward in full.

All the rewards and compliments have already been given by men, so there's no more room for God to give you a reward. But when you do it in secret, then God who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

So what will you choose. A temporary praise by your friends, parents, or teachers? Or a never ending applause from the audience of One?

Let Us Never Relax

Judges 2

1 The angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said, “I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land that I swore to give to your forefathers. I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you, 2 and you shall not make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall break down their altars.’ Yet you have disobeyed me. Why have you done this? 3 Now therefore I tell you that I will not drive them out before you; they will be thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you.”
4 When the angel of the Lord had spoken these things to all the Israelites, the people wept aloud, 5 and they called that place Bokim.​a​ There they offered sacrifices to the Lord.
Disobedience and Defeat
6 After Joshua had dismissed the Israelites, they went to take possession of the land, each to his own inheritance. 7 The people served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had seen all the great things the Lord had done for Israel.
8 Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of a hundred and ten. 9 And they buried him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath Heres​a​ in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.
10 After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. 11 Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals. 12 They forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They provoked the Lord to anger 13 because they forsook him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. 14 In his anger against Israel the Lord handed them over to raiders who plundered them. He sold them to their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist. 15 Whenever Israel went out to fight, the hand of the Lord was against them to defeat them, just as he had sworn to them. They were in great distress.


When we look at the passing of the baton from Moses to Joshua, it was perfect despite of everything Moses had to go through. But the passing of the baton from Joshua to the next generation was not the way we hoped it to be. So what went wrong with the passing of the baton in Joshua's generation?

When we look at Moses' life we remember the things that he and the leadership had to go through: leaving Egypt, running away from the Egyptians, being attacked by the Philistines, etc. So basically Moses was on the defensive, getting attacked from all sides.

When we look at Joshua's life we remember them as conquering lands after lands, killing giants after giants. Basically they were on the offensive. But we know that the Lord was with Moses and Joshua as they continued moving. But then if we go through all the chapters of Joshua starting from chapter 12 towards the end, we will notice that everyone was claiming lands! "this is my inheritance!!"

As they relaxed, the next generation forgot what God had done to the Israelites. So for us - let us never relax! Even though we get attacked from the outside (on defensive) or we keep moving forward on different projects (on offensive) let us keep moving! Don't let anything stop us.

David Destroys the Amalekites

1 Samuel 30

1 David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, 2 and had taken captive the women and all who were in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way.

3 When David and his men came to Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4 So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. 5 David's two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 6 David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.

Sometimes we think we have people who have our backs. Friends we think who will be there in hard and difficult situations. Finding a real friend is hard. The one who you can really trust and will never talk against you, one who will support you and listen to you.

David is the leader of these soldiers. But because of bitterness - the enemy has taken their children and wives as captives, furthermore they want to kill David.

The beautiful thing about this story is that everyone was against him. But guess what? He only found strength in the Lord. Coz he knows God is all he got.

When everything seems to be unclear and everyone is mad at you, and no one can help you even your group of friends even if you are a very influential person, when everything is against you, go to God and you will find strength in Him! He will never turn His back. He is always on your side. You can always trust in Him. Find strength in Him. Trust Him and surrender to Him everything.

We all need encouragement from time to time. All of us at one point or another face a crisis when everything seems to fall apart. There are times of discouragement, when things go wrong even when we are trying to do right. In these difficult days, learn the secret of encouraging yourself by abiding in the Lord your God. Surrender to God’s will; Depend on God’s strength & Rest on God’s promises by faith! As you do, your discouragement will eventually fade and God will give you wonderful victory!
Just like David experienced when they went back to get their wives and children.

Dissatisfaction

I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward - to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.

Philippians 3:12-13 (The Message)

"I'm not saying that I have this all together..." This is the statement of a great Christian who never permitted himself to be satisfied with his spiritual attainments. Obviously, Paul was satisfied with Jesus Christ (Phil. 3:10), but he was not satisfied with his Christian life. A sanctified dissatisfaction is the first essential to progress in the Christian race.

Harry came out of the manager's office with a look on his face depressing enough to wilt roses on the secretary's desk.

"You didn't get fired?" she asked.

"No, it's not that bad. But he sure did lay into me about my sales record. I can't figure it out; for the past month I've been bringing in plenty of orders. I thought he'd compliment me, but instead he told me to get with it."

Later in the day, the secretary talked to her boss about Harry. The boss chuckled, "Harry is one of our best salesmen and I'd hate to lose him. But he has a tendency to rest on his laurels and be satisfied with his performance. If I didn't get him mad at me once a month, he'd never produce!"

Many Christians are self-satisfied because they compare their "running" with that of other Christians, usually those who are not making much progress. Had Paul compared himself with others, he would have been tempted to be proud and perhaps to let up a bit. After all, there were not too many believers in Paul's day who had experienced all that he had! But Paul did not compare himself with others; he compared himself with himself and with Jesus Christ! The dual use of the word "perfect" in Philippians 3:12 and 15 explains his thinking. He has not arrived yet at perfection, but he is perfect or mature, and one mark of this maturity is the knowledge that he is NOT perfect! The mature Christian honestly evaluates himself and strives to do better!

To Be Like Christ

Philippians 2

⁵Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
⁶Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
⁷but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
⁸And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
⁹Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

One of goal as a Christians is to be like Christ. Paul explains to us by giving clear examples of what Jesus did. Although Jesus was God, he did not consider himself equal to God. From being the all powerful, he became a servant. If you were asked, "who would you die for?" what would you say? Your parents? Best friends? Would you ever die for a person you don't even know? Or how about a thief? or someone who hates you? Could you die for them? Our answer would be most likely be no way! Why would you waste your life on someone who doesn't even care for you?

But you see friends, Jesus did not come to this world to die for righteous people. He came here for the sick, the weak, the broken people. People who were lost and fell into sin. People who did not deserve such amazing love. And truth be told, we were those people who did not deserve. But Jesus died for us anyways, and "became obedient to death." That is why in return he love him back, and give our lives to him to become like him.

Are You Spiritually Exhausted?

Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,

and no one can fathom His understanding.

-Isaiah 40:28

Have you ever been exhausted? I'm sure you have! Exhaustion means that our vital energies are completely worn out and spent... Have you noticed that spiritual exhaustion can never result from sin, but from service? Whether or not you experience exhaustion will depend on where you get your supplies. Jesus said to Peter, "Feed My sheep," but He gave Peter nothing to feed them with! Being remnants mean we must be drained completely - to the very last drop! But be careful to replenish your supply, or you will quickly be utterly exhausted. We owe it to God to be our best for His lambs and sheep, as well as for Him!

Have you delivered yourself over to exhaustion because of the way you have been living? If so, then renew and rekindle your desires and affections. As you become a stronger soldier of Christ for our Faith and our race, continually look back to the foundation of your love and affection and remember where your Source of power lies. You have no right to complain, "O Lord, I am so exhausted." Rather, let's be exhausted for God! Remember that He is your supply.

"... all my springs are in You" -Psalm 87:7

Servanthood

1 Corinthians 3

On Divisions in the Church

¹Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. ²I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. ³You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? ⁴For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men?

⁵What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. ⁶I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. ⁷So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. ⁸The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. ⁹For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.

¹⁰By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. ¹¹For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹²If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. ¹⁴If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. ¹⁵If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames

Only a servant
when Paul has asked "What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task."
that we are all servants who is called for his own task. that we are not doing this for ourselves but for something greater. it doesnt matter that the other person is called to one thing and you are to another. we should all find our own calling. in doing so we dont get jealous of one another because they have "better" skills than you do. but once you have found your calling you will find out why God has given you different abilities compared to the other person.

Give our 100%
as it said on v 12-13 no matter how much we give it will be seen through our work. if we build using gold, the building will show gold. if our heart is only 15% in the work, it will show 15%. so in everything we do let us give our 100%

Above All Else, Guard Your Heart

Mark 12:30 (New International Version)

30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'^[a^]

^{The most problem of the young people these days is their emotion…Their heart. In its says that we need to guard} our heart.

Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

The Heart Is Important Because Life Is Conceived In The Heart.



Think of the heart as being the womb from which all of our actions, attitudes, ambitions and articulations are conceived. When Solomon encourages us to keep our hearts....he is saying "above all things that you keep.....keep your heart because life springs from it !

The word "Keep" is elsewhere translated preserve, observe, watchers, watchmen, and even besieged. What we do is a product of the heart ! What we say is evident of what lies within the heart !

If we Guard our heart right then we will have a good life..

And also in

Jeremiah 17:9 (New International Version)

9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. 
 Who can understand it?

A feeling is an internal sensation or emotion. It is an involuntary response to a mental or physical stimulus. Since feelings are involuntary they are neither right nor wrong. They just are.. so do we need to trust what we feel the answer is NO because in

Proverbs 28:26 "He that trusts in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walks wisely, he shall be delivered."

Feelings and emotions have a definite place in our lives, but they should never lead us. So if someone tells you he/she loves you, because he/ she feels it .. hmm remember.. Feelings come and feelings go

^{Valentine’s day is coming! Perfect day to be more inlove with the our God. The Bible says Love the Lord with all your heart mind and soul and even strength. By the way it’s a command. And also the Bible says. If you Love me you will obey my command!}

Readiness

"God called to him... And he said, 'Here I am'" (Exodus 3:4)

When God speaks, many of us are like people in a fog, and we give no answer. Moses' reply to God revealed that he knew where he was and that he was ready. Readiness means having a right relationship with God and having the knowledge of where you are. Sometimes, we get caught up in telling God where we want to go. Yet the person who is ready for God and His work is the one who receives the prize when the summons comes.

We wait with the idea that some great opportunity or something sensational will be assigned to us, and when it does come we are quick to cry out, "Here I am." With the call of being Remnants and the call of AngLahi, we sense that God is rising up and preparing great victory! We find ourselves super excited! But are we also ready for some obscure duties?

Readiness for God means that we are prepared to do the smallest thing or the largest thing - it makes no difference. It means that whatever God's plans may be, we are there and ready to do battle in each field that he has called us into. Whenever any duty presents itself, we hear God's voice as Jesus heard His Father's voice, and we are ready for it with the total readiness of our love for Him. Let's be ready for the sudden surprise visits of God! A ready person never needs to get ready - he is ready!

Blessed Is The Man

Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.


This psalm explains to us the way of a 'blessed' person.
Verses 1 explains to us how a blessed person should live his or her life. They do not negotiate anything with the ways of sin. Anything wrong or unpleasant to God they avoid it. But in verse 2, they "delight in the law of the Lord" meaning to say is that, whatever makes God smile, makes them smile also. And they spend their time meditating on the word of God. And here is the promise of the blessed person, "He is like tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." Everything is guaranteed by God. If you choose to stay in the path of Him, then the Lord will bless your ways. You'll have all the things you need because you're like a tree planted by streams of water. Your work will prosper as a tree bears fruit in season. You will always find strength, because the leaf does not wither. And you'll be blessed.

Although it could be somewhat difficult to be a Christian in the 21century. The promise of the Lord real and incomparable to what he go through today. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:17 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Treasures in Heaven

Matthew 6:19-24 (New International Version)

19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
24"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
You will know what a person treasures the most once crisis strikes. When Ondoy happened in the Philippines, no doubt many people were saddened because they devoted themselves on their earthly treasures, which are temporary things. On the other hand, there were a few who although they literally lost everything, they didn’t feel that they did, but instead they felt they gained so much more. In plain words, they were happy! Imagine, losing everything but still remaining happy and praising the Lord for what he has done. That is something no one can ever replace or even steal away from you because they treasured and prioritized their relationship with the Lord above all else.

Once we devote ourselves on temporary things we will never have that satisfaction that every person in this world is looking for. People will eventually get tired of the things of this world. They will keep looking for it but they will not find it.

In our lives we will come to a point of asking ourselves “What do we cherish and prioritize the most?” And with that we will determine who will strongly finish the race we are called for.

“For where are treasure is there you heart will also be.”

Joshua 1:1-9

¹ After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: ² "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. ³I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. ⁴ Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea ^a]">[a] on the west. ⁵ No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

⁶ "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. ⁷ Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. ⁸ Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. ⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

We are all very familiar with these verses, but if we really dissect it we can see so much in it. first if we put our selves in Joshua's shoes we can see how he feels. this is the first the time he is actually hearing from the Lord directly. at first he listened to the Lord through Moses but now he is hearing God directly.

1. God made Joshua face the facts.

"Moses my servant is dead"

2. God Tells Joshua what he needs to do.

"Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites"

3. God gives Joshua the promise of the land.

"I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. ⁴ Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea ^a]">[a] on the west"

4. God gives Joshua the promise of his victory

"No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life"

5. God gives Joshua the promise of His presence

"As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you"

in these verses we can see the process on how God dealt with Joshua. He deals with us in a similar way. God makes us face the facts, that we as a youth are not getting younger, we are in charge now of the younger youth, Galaxia, and many more ministries of our own. God tells us what to do similarly with Joshua. He said to Joshua that there is no more time to waste to mourn on Moses, what is done is done. there is no more time to waste with our lives lets us keep moving forward for the kingdom of God. He gave us also the promise that if we do what we are called to do He will give us "lands" (reward for good work is more work) He gave us also the promise of victory, as long as we do as we are directed we will be victorious (to obey is better than sacrifice) and lastly He promised us His presence, the purpose of that promise is that we shouldnt be afraid of our giants. we should keep moving forward the kingdom of God with great strength and courage (be strong and courageous)