In the midst of the Fire, there is Peace...

I was on board a jeepney when a child run and screamed “Fire at Cabantan!”. Cabantan is a few steps away from where we live and just a few meters away from where the jeepney was at halt. Shivers dash into my nerves as I looked for a smoke at Cabantan but there was none so I got more alarmed thinking that the fire might be in Baraks where we reside and not in Cabantan. When the jeepney moved an inch, I tried still to look for the blaze, and there it was! The FIRE was in our place! So I jumped out and headed towards our house half running, half flying! It was dark and I bumped into my mother-in-law who was nervously sending text messages to us. I went inside our house and ran upstairs to the bedroom passing by the terrace and saw that the fire was one house away! I rushed inside the room and carried the TV, then the cassette, Cd’s, the law dictionary and my bible! I went up to see what more can I get yet there was no time left because the fire was on the house next door! I stopped on the terrace and breathed deep…Then I prayed out loud “Lord Jesus, I can’t carry these things out for there is no more time…please let your power move and save us from the fire!” Then I started singing praises to God, thanking Him for all of his blessings. I called my husband who was attending a Discipleship Training and told him about the news and he calmly replied “Fire? Ok…let us just pray…” So then, I prayed again. I stood there on the terrace and stared at the fire that was consuming the house right next to ours and prayed.

What was so amazing was the peace I felt inside my heart at the very moment I called on God. There was so much tranquility within me that the thought of worrying or being anxious just disappeared. God just poured out such stillness that even if the fire was right next door I still stood at the terrace and sang praises to Him. The Lord prepared my heart for what is going to happen next. I surrendered everything to Him because I believe that all things work together for good to those who love Him and to those who are called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28).

I did not even dare get my costly law books that were piled on my desk. I did not even bother to take my clothes out especially when I heard the windows cracked and broke in pieces due to the heat. I said to myself, “There’s no more time for that! Lord I’m lifting all this up to You…”

It was really a tragic night for those who haven’t known the power of Christ and if they do know, they do not fully trust on what He can do. Would you believe that the fire did not cross from the house next door to our house? The distance is 2-3 feet away. Would you believe if I tell you that the fire, on its own, started to slow down yet did not stop but just stayed at the next house? If it grows stronger even just a bit, for sure the curtains inside our room would catch it and start burning our house as well. Would you believe that the fire continued burning the adjacent houses but did not include ours? I saw all of those and believed that God has planned to do something wonderful that night “For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb. 13:5b), and God alone can do wondrous things (Psalm 72:18)

The night ended up with the Firemen being the late hero. There were more or less 50 houses that got burned. Our house was spared for God promised both my husband and I that he who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty (Psalms 91:1). And “If you make the Most High your dwelling— even the LORD, who is my refuge, then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. (Psalms 91: 9-10). "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation." (Psalms 91:14-16)
These are just a few of God’s promises to those who love Him and to those who do His will. Many times we underestimate what He can do. We forget that He is sovereign and we depend on our own capabilities. We tend to embrace the mentality that a human being can do all the things that his mind can perceive. Especially now that we are on the highly technical generation where inventions and innovations are booming yet slowly erasing the Creation story, the Salvation story and the Revelations out of our minds. Try asking the teenagers if they know who Adam and Eve are? Would they be able to answer if you ask them why Jesus Christ sacrificed His life and chose to die on the cross? Are we still preparing ourselves for the second coming as revealed by John in the book of Revelations?
Or are we too busy innovating? Researching for new business trends, or maybe, keeping up with what’s in!
During the fire, I was in a realization that all the things on earth will just pass away. The treasures here on earth returns to dust and so does man. All the material things that we possess now are ephemeral. I took good care of my law books and they are very dear to me but no matter how expensive they were, the fire doesn’t care! It all dawned on me that the peace of God is all that matters. And it is a gift that only He can give. “The LORD will give strength to His people and He will bless His people with peace” (Psalm 29:11).
I believe that even if God allowed our house to be burned, I will be able to accept it because as noted earlier, all things work together for good to those who love Him. There is so much that God can do for me and also for you. But we need to put Him on the top priority list before He can reveal it to us.

I never expected that God is bigger than what I’ve known Him to be and even bigger than the biggest there is. No one can fathom who He is. But if we take time to get to know Him and desire to be His, you will be amazed!
Words are not enough to speak of His greatness! God is omnipotent that no one has a right to question His existence. The only best thing left for us to do is to believe that only God can answer all our questions. He is the reason of our existence.
Truly God is wonderful! Amen!

God cares...

On a Saturday night several weeks ago, this pastor was working late, and decided to call his wife before he left for home. It was about 10:00 PM, but his wife didn't answer the phone.

The pastor let the phone ring many times. He thought it was odd that she didn't answer, but decided to wrap up a few things and try again
in a few minutes. When he tried again she answered right away. He asked her why she hadn't answered before, and she said that it hadn't rung at their house.

They brushed it off as a fluke and went on their merry ways.

The following Monday, the pastor received a call at the church office, which was the phone that he'd used that Saturday night. The man that he
spoke with wanted to know why he'd called on Saturday night.

The pastor couldn't figure out what the man was talking about. Then the man said, "It rang and rang, but I didn't answer."

The pastor remembered the mishap and apologized for disturbing him, explaining that he'd intended to call his wife.

The man said, "That's, OK. Let me tell you my story.

You see, I was planning to commit suicide on Saturday night, but before I did, I prayed, 'God if you're there, and you don't want me to do this, give me a sign now.' At that point my phone started to ring. I looked at the caller ID, and it said, 'Almighty God'.

I was afraid to answer!"

The reason why it showed on the man's caller ID that the call came from "Almighty God" is because the church that the pastor attends is called Almighty God Tabernacle!!

_____________________________

The deepest need that anyone could ever have is God, only Him can satisfy. When you feel alone and deserted, when you feel left out and misunderstood, be silent and be still for God awaits you to call on Him.

"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." (Matt. 11: 28-29)

“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” ( Psalm 55:22)

Salvation in Christ

How many times have I heard people talking about religion giving way to salvation? Ten times…or possibly 20 or more times…But is it really it? Can religion give salvation?

Salvation as defined in wikipedia is being saved from something, such as suffering or the punishment of sin - also called deliverance; Human beings are born sinners. Sinful nature is part of being a human being but “those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God (Romans 8:8)” Sin abides in our heart and we try to do righteous things to cover up that sinful nature. Unfortunately, good works can never save us. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

How then can we be saved? "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”(John 3:16) It is a matter of accepting Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of our lives can we be saved. For Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me." (John 14:6)
Why then do some people depend on religion in order for them to be saved? Was it religion who sacrificed his life to save the sinful world from eternal damnation? Was it religion who carried the cross all the way to the mount of Calvary and be crucified for the redemption of our sins?

Religion as defined in wikipedia is set of beliefs and practices, as well as personal faith. The term "religion" refers to both the personal practices related to communal faith and to group rituals and communication stemming from shared conviction.
Religion is just a roadmap that guides you on your journey here on earth. It can either lead you to the truth or it can bring you elsewhere.

Salvation can only be attained through Jesus Christ. One has to open his heart and admit that he is a sinner and that he needs a redeemer. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23). And "If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and His word is not in us." (1 John 1:10). Be willing to repent and believed that Jesus Christ died for you, was buried and rose from the dead, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Romans 10:9).

Through prayer, invite Jesus into your life to become your personal Saviour. "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:10) "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)

Who Am I?

by: Casting Crowns

Who am I?
That the Lord of all the earth,
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt.
Who am I?
That the bright and morning star,
Would choose to light the way,
For my ever wandering heart.

Bridge:
Not because of who I am,
But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who you are.

Chorus:
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling,
And you've told me who I am.
I am yours.
I am yours.

Who am I?
That the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
And watch me rise again.
Who am I?
That the voice that calmed the sea,
Would call out through the rain,
And calm the storm in me.

Bridge&Chorus 2x

I am yours.

Whom shall I fear?
Whom shall I fear?
'Cause I am yours.
I am yours.

Living Sacrifices

By: Pastor Mel Caparros
Living Word Christian Ministries


One thing that is not often talked about in Christian circles is the subject matter of sacrifice. This is unfortunate since the Christian is supposed to be a living sacrifice as stated in Romans 12:1-2. It is unique in that it is a life that is given, not something that is dead. The basis of Paul’s exhortation is GOD’S MERCY (In Greek, oiktirmon, rendered “compassioin” in 2 Cor. 1:3; Phil. 2:1; Col. 3:12, and “mercy” in Heb.10:28). God’s Compassion has been described in detail in the first 11 chapters of Romans. We find in those chapters, forgiveness of His enemies, salvation, sanctification, eternal security, and the election of Gentiles.

The content of Paul’s urging is to offer our bodies (cf. Rom. 6:13) as living sacrifices. In the KJV “offer” is translated “present” (Rom. 12:1) and “yield” represents the totality of one’s life and activities, of which his body is the vehicle of expression. So we are not to take bodies in too literal a sense. It is definitely much larger than that. It means offering our bodies and its various activities, our minds and its ambitions. We also have to offer our emotions, desires, passions, our will and all its energies. In contrast with Old Testament sacrifices, this is a living sacrifice. In the Old Testament, sacrifices were dead bulls, goats and lambs. In the New Testament, we offer our lives. It is called a sacrifice because it is offering our desires, ambitions, will and energies which at times yearn for something else.

A Christian’s body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Such an offering is holy (set apart for God; choosing God over self) and therefore pleasing to God (cf. “pleasing” in 12:2). Furthermore, the sacrifice we make is spiritual (in Greek, logiken; cf. 1Pet.2:2) worship (in Greek, latreian). Latreian refers to any ministry performed for God, such as that of the priests and the Levites. Christians are believer-priests, identified with the great High Priest, the LORD JESUS CHRIST (cf. Heb. 7:23-28; 1 Pet. 2:5,9; Rev. 1:6). A believer’s offering of his total life as a sacrifice to GOD is therefore sacred worship. In the light of Paul’s exposition of the mercies of GOD (Rom. 1-11), such an offering is obviously a desirable response for believers. Offering our lives to God signifies a complete change in lifestyle. Sacrifice should be a way of life for us.