"In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord", he answered. The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying." (Acts 9:10-11).
Jesus died for our salvation and sealed the deal of life everlasting with Him. But a lot of us have doubts if one person is indeed saved and has been changed by Jesus especially if we know them and their past. This is what happened to Paul. Reading his story, Paul is dubbed to be a murderer of Christ's believers. His name resonates in all of Jerusalem as he already killed so many of them until one day, the Lord Jesus spoke to him under a bright light having all of his fellas with him witnessing that momentous, jaw-dropping and dumbfounding event. But the Lord really has a plan for him and He said on verse 15:
"But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel."
But that did not end there. Paul did not just gain his sight back but has received Christ as his Lord and Savior. From that point on, he has been very bold in proclaiming the new life that was given to him. The once before persecutor of Christ and His people is now the one boldy teaching His word and His goodness to a lot of people. Remember, God does not call the equipped; He equips the called. He is the only one who can say who is chosen and Paul is one of them. In his boldness, Paul wrote epistles to the Romans, the Corinthians, the Galatians, the Philippians and the Philemon. Christ has become his boldness! Since he has been saved and has experienced miracle from Him, he did not have second thoughts of proclaiming God's goodness overall. But let me remind you, he was once a sinner but God named him as His chosen one who will speak before the Gentiles and their kings.
Did we ever ask ourselves if we have been bold enough to proclaim God's goodness in our lives? Or do we still feel defeated knowing that we are sinners and those that we have committed in the past still has a hold on us? God did not send His only Son to put up a show. He has sent His only Son to save us from the pit. Death has no more sting on us anymore and its sting is sin so if Christ is living in us, there is no doubt that we can live a life of victory and His grace is sufficient for us. Don't keep yourself locked in your room so that no one can see you reading your Bible or you're ashamed to be called Christians. Take Paul as an example of someone who has found boldness in Christ. It's not too late to accept Him in your lives. Take heart, go, proclaim His goodness to the ends of the earth.
Monday, April 16, 2012
[Blog] A Resurrected Life
"But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised." (1 Corinthians 15:12-13).
I have been to a number of funerals in the past already and I assume a lot of you have as well. Did it ever cross in your mind what if that dead person awakens and rise from his coffin? Will you run away? If you ask me, of course I would! Who wouldn't be afraid of a dead person came to life right before our eyes? But I am very sure that no matter how scary this picture may be, to his family, it will be a celebrtion eventually for they would be able to celebrate life with him once more.
Do you see the picture? No, not the running and the screaming part but the joy that has been brought to the family's life when that dead man came to life again. That joy that even the greatest painter cannot put that kind of gladness and happiness - such a celebration - on a canvass. That's the perfect picture of the good news of His resurrection. We should be filled with joy, happiness, gladness, celebration for the One who was foretold to be our Savior will rise from the dead who will turn our sins as red as crimson to us being as white as snow.
In verse 17:
"And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins."
and in verse 22
"For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."
Do you see the picture? We all have been born with sin because of the very first couple - Adam and Eve - and this has been a stronghold as a curse from generation to generation. We need something stronger to break this curse then came Christ. By His resurrection, we are made alive again - living in no shame with all our sins washed away by His blood. We are new creations - the old has gone, the new has come. By His resurrection, we are no more in our sins.
So celebrate our new life with Him. Christ did not remain dead -- He defeated death then came to life again and lives eternally with the Father in heaven -- that's the truth. Let us be thankful that we have a God who assures us of life everlasting through Christ's resurrection. Rejoice!
I have been to a number of funerals in the past already and I assume a lot of you have as well. Did it ever cross in your mind what if that dead person awakens and rise from his coffin? Will you run away? If you ask me, of course I would! Who wouldn't be afraid of a dead person came to life right before our eyes? But I am very sure that no matter how scary this picture may be, to his family, it will be a celebrtion eventually for they would be able to celebrate life with him once more.
Do you see the picture? No, not the running and the screaming part but the joy that has been brought to the family's life when that dead man came to life again. That joy that even the greatest painter cannot put that kind of gladness and happiness - such a celebration - on a canvass. That's the perfect picture of the good news of His resurrection. We should be filled with joy, happiness, gladness, celebration for the One who was foretold to be our Savior will rise from the dead who will turn our sins as red as crimson to us being as white as snow.
In verse 17:
"And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins."
and in verse 22
"For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."
Do you see the picture? We all have been born with sin because of the very first couple - Adam and Eve - and this has been a stronghold as a curse from generation to generation. We need something stronger to break this curse then came Christ. By His resurrection, we are made alive again - living in no shame with all our sins washed away by His blood. We are new creations - the old has gone, the new has come. By His resurrection, we are no more in our sins.
So celebrate our new life with Him. Christ did not remain dead -- He defeated death then came to life again and lives eternally with the Father in heaven -- that's the truth. Let us be thankful that we have a God who assures us of life everlasting through Christ's resurrection. Rejoice!
[Blog] New life, new beginning
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?" (Isaiah 43:18-19a).
Every ending has new beginnings. Every winter is followed by spring. Every night ends with a fresh and new morning. This is what God wants us to look forward to everyday.
It is said in the Scripture that we are new creations in Christ Jesus but how many times did we look back at our past and ending up not moving on from it? Do you feel the weight it puts on your shoulder? It is not bad to look back but dwelling on it that makes us miss on God's plan for us is another thing. God wants us to experience a fresh start. His plans, ways and thoughts are way higher than ours. As said in Jeremiah 29:11
"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."
See? He knows what His plans for us so why not just trust Him? Never will the Lord harm us. We may say that we feel pain here and there, that's because we're still fighting His plans. Leave our baggage behind [our past] that pulls us down and be ready for a fresh start. Remember, He is with us and will be with us and will not let anyone harm us. There is no one who can fulfill that kind of promise to us but God. Believe that God is willing and able and soon enough, we will find ourselves at the path He has promised us to be in, way before we were born. Forget our past and look forward for a fresh start and new beginning. Exciting it is!
Every ending has new beginnings. Every winter is followed by spring. Every night ends with a fresh and new morning. This is what God wants us to look forward to everyday.
It is said in the Scripture that we are new creations in Christ Jesus but how many times did we look back at our past and ending up not moving on from it? Do you feel the weight it puts on your shoulder? It is not bad to look back but dwelling on it that makes us miss on God's plan for us is another thing. God wants us to experience a fresh start. His plans, ways and thoughts are way higher than ours. As said in Jeremiah 29:11
"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."
See? He knows what His plans for us so why not just trust Him? Never will the Lord harm us. We may say that we feel pain here and there, that's because we're still fighting His plans. Leave our baggage behind [our past] that pulls us down and be ready for a fresh start. Remember, He is with us and will be with us and will not let anyone harm us. There is no one who can fulfill that kind of promise to us but God. Believe that God is willing and able and soon enough, we will find ourselves at the path He has promised us to be in, way before we were born. Forget our past and look forward for a fresh start and new beginning. Exciting it is!
Thursday, April 5, 2012
[Poem] In Him, I am new
You were there from the start
Long before the big sea part
The sun You made above so bright
For paths that once not under the light.
First couple, the first parents
Whom You did not give Eden for rent
Nor lease for a year or two
But a lifetime of greatness to them is due.
Til the bite so infamous was heard
Across paradise as he left behind his herd
How quickly they forget the one command
Not to eat from that one tree of the land.
Fallen short of Your glory
Be it today or the first of God's fury
Who will wash our sins away
That started so far from the scene of today?
Obedience in the heart of The Son
That suffered and said "It is done!"
As finished work to once prophesied
Came to earth for us and died.
I am now as white as snow
Washed clean by The Blood that flowed
As His body lashed to bleed and wound
Reconciles The Father and our lives once doomed.
I am free in You
A life of freedom I never knew
His promise came with You Calvary
Eternal life with Him and a life of victory.
Long before the big sea part
The sun You made above so bright
For paths that once not under the light.
First couple, the first parents
Whom You did not give Eden for rent
Nor lease for a year or two
But a lifetime of greatness to them is due.
Til the bite so infamous was heard
Across paradise as he left behind his herd
How quickly they forget the one command
Not to eat from that one tree of the land.
Fallen short of Your glory
Be it today or the first of God's fury
Who will wash our sins away
That started so far from the scene of today?
Obedience in the heart of The Son
That suffered and said "It is done!"
As finished work to once prophesied
Came to earth for us and died.
I am now as white as snow
Washed clean by The Blood that flowed
As His body lashed to bleed and wound
Reconciles The Father and our lives once doomed.
I am free in You
A life of freedom I never knew
His promise came with You Calvary
Eternal life with Him and a life of victory.
[Poem] Thank You, Lord
As the early wind breezes through my window
And the sun bids me ahoy and hello
I stare at Your wonders
And thank you Lord.
As the dew damps the grass of the land
And rain waters the thirsty dry sand
I stare at Your wonders
And thank you Lord.
As the majestic eagles fly above the sky
And strong wind propels him up high
I stare at Your wonders
And thank you Lord.
As the breakwater cuts the raging sea
And banks stop a river overflowing
I stare at Your wonders
And thank you Lord.
As the trees grow tall on a wide plain
And flowers color the land as paint
I stare at Your wonders
And thank you Lord.
As the solar ball gives the day heat and light
And the lunar guy cuts the darkness of night
I stare at Your wonders
And thank you Lord.
I can think of many things You did
So many things to write of Your great deeds
There are no words to exactly describe
But all glory to You Lord, ascribe!
And the sun bids me ahoy and hello
I stare at Your wonders
And thank you Lord.
As the dew damps the grass of the land
And rain waters the thirsty dry sand
I stare at Your wonders
And thank you Lord.
As the majestic eagles fly above the sky
And strong wind propels him up high
I stare at Your wonders
And thank you Lord.
As the breakwater cuts the raging sea
And banks stop a river overflowing
I stare at Your wonders
And thank you Lord.
As the trees grow tall on a wide plain
And flowers color the land as paint
I stare at Your wonders
And thank you Lord.
As the solar ball gives the day heat and light
And the lunar guy cuts the darkness of night
I stare at Your wonders
And thank you Lord.
I can think of many things You did
So many things to write of Your great deeds
There are no words to exactly describe
But all glory to You Lord, ascribe!
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
[Poem] PATIBULUM
Pasanin na kay bigat
Nakapatong sa Iyong balikat
Lakad, kaladkad Iyong sandalyas
Sunod sa kadete sa bawat senyas.
Kay layo ng Iyong binagtas
Sapin sa paa halos mapigtas
Sakit, pagod, uhaw Iyong dinanas
Alang-alang sa lahat, sa aming pagkaligtas.
Di lingid sa aming kaalaman
Ika'y Sugo ng aming Kamahalan
Huling araw sa ami'y ipinaalam
Sa takdang oras, kalangita'y lalamlam.
Dinig sa kalayuan Iyong pagpalahaw
Hampas at hataw ay umalingawngaw
Bawat sakit, bawat hapdi
Iyong tiniis na ang utos ay tupdin.
Nang matapos yaring pagpapahirap
Krus itinaas, itinulos nang ganap
Pitong habilin Iyo nang binigkas
Sinambit bago ang Iyong buhay magwakas.
"Naganap na!", dinig huling sinabi
Iyong kapalaran isinulat at hinabi
Kamatayan man ang Iyong kinahantungan
Katumbas naman ay buhay na walang hanggan.
Bugtong na Anak O kay buti Mo
Pagsunod sa Ama, kahit katawan ay magupo
Walang kaparis ang pag-ibig na ito
Na alay lamang ng pusong busilak at totoo.
Nakapatong sa Iyong balikat
Lakad, kaladkad Iyong sandalyas
Sunod sa kadete sa bawat senyas.
Kay layo ng Iyong binagtas
Sapin sa paa halos mapigtas
Sakit, pagod, uhaw Iyong dinanas
Alang-alang sa lahat, sa aming pagkaligtas.
Di lingid sa aming kaalaman
Ika'y Sugo ng aming Kamahalan
Huling araw sa ami'y ipinaalam
Sa takdang oras, kalangita'y lalamlam.
Dinig sa kalayuan Iyong pagpalahaw
Hampas at hataw ay umalingawngaw
Bawat sakit, bawat hapdi
Iyong tiniis na ang utos ay tupdin.
Nang matapos yaring pagpapahirap
Krus itinaas, itinulos nang ganap
Pitong habilin Iyo nang binigkas
Sinambit bago ang Iyong buhay magwakas.
"Naganap na!", dinig huling sinabi
Iyong kapalaran isinulat at hinabi
Kamatayan man ang Iyong kinahantungan
Katumbas naman ay buhay na walang hanggan.
Bugtong na Anak O kay buti Mo
Pagsunod sa Ama, kahit katawan ay magupo
Walang kaparis ang pag-ibig na ito
Na alay lamang ng pusong busilak at totoo.
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