Cose A Caso

“Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid. Do I act for God? Don’t you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you right now—life for many people.” Genesis 50:19-20 MSG

Background: Brothers of Joseph were afraid that upon Jacob’s death he will plot a revenge against them. Forgiveness was in Joseph’s heart that it was very clear to him all that happened in the past is part of God’s plan.

we may not always get the answer to our “Why God?” but we can learn from how Joseph trusted God’s divine plan, he submitted to the process and eventually received vindication.

Just like how the song goes “you take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it for good.” Para kanino? FOR OUR GOOD!

God loves us so much that when we suffer, He also suffers. And He allows it to happen, to bring about His good purpose. To lead us to OUR PURPOSE.

He is always in control. See it through the eyes of faith.

As we face trials, temptations, struggles and difficulties He promised in Rom.8:28 “all things work for the good of THOSE WHO LOVE HIM and WHO HAVE BEEN CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.

Malinaw kay Joseph that he was sent by God ahead of them to save the life of his family (decendants of Abraham).  May puspose bakit ka anjan at bakit mo kailangan pag daanan ang pinagdadaanan mo.

Come to think of it, what if Joseph didn’t release forgiveness to his brothers? Di nya mafufulfill ang purpose nya. Forgiveness and submission to His divine process is very important for our destiny.

We are where we are right now (job, family, community. school, etc.) for God’s greater purpose. We just have to TRUST the process. Surrender to God’s plan and learn to FORGIVE.

Shots from my iPhone. 

Random Photos from Sydney and Melbourne.

Its been a while since I blogged and while we are in ECQ might as well spread love and encouragement through this platform. Just wanna share one of my devotions this holy week.

Scripture:

“He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! So he is the King of Israel, is he? Let him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in him! Matt. 27:42

As I read this verse, it got me thinking too. Bakit nga ba di na lang i-save ni Jesus ang sarili nya? That question of the priests was actually a good question. If he just want to prove that he is the son of God, why not just be awesome and amaze them by saving himself.

It brought me back from the lessons I learned from the encounter (as I often share the topic Experiencing the Cross). I realized that JESUS WAS NOT DOING IT TO PROVE A POINT.  He sacrificed himself because HE WAS THINKING OF YOU & ME.

Jesus did not save himself because HE WAS OUT THERE TO SAVE YOU. He puts you first. He puts His purpose above anything else. The goal was to give his life, shed his blood for our sins. It says in Hebrews 9:22 "In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." If Jesus saved himself (which he really can) there will be no shedding of blood. And if He did not shed his blood we will not be cleansed, there will be no payment for our transgressions, we will not be restored in our original position before God.

His Blood was shed for our identity in God to be restored in our minds, for our sickness, for our brokenness, and for our ultimate salvation.

Jesus was crucified just before the Passover. Remember yung story ng Israelites nung binigyan sila ng instruction ni Moses to put blood of a sheep/lamb that is perfect and without blemish on their doors and pag pinatay daw nila yun sheep do not break the bones. The blood of the lamb on the Israelite’s door protect’s them from God's judgment. It was the Passover sacrifice. Same with us, the blood of Jesus (perfect and without blemish of sin) was shed so that we will be protected on Judgment Day. Di ba hindi ren binreak un bones ni Jesus nung namatay na siya.

So, its NOT because Jesus can't save himself, HE CAN BUT CHOSE NOT TO FOR US. Because he loves us and honors his purpose… TO SAVE US.

FIGHT FOR PURITY

To love and be love is such a beautiful thing. But just like all things there are limitations and boundaries.

Ladies, I hope you will always remember that we stay pure, we fight to remain pure because WE LOVE GOD. I pray that you will not get tired staying pure and fighting for your purity, because you are also fighting for your relationship with God.

He loves you, He will always love you. There is nothing you can do to impress Him, He loves you no matter what. Do not just do it because our church asks for it, because its some rule or standard, OBEY HIM BECAUSE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT HIS LOVE ALREADY CHANGED YOU and YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN WORSHIP HIM GENUINELY BY STAYING PURE.

I know its such a crazy world out there, we are influnced left and right that purity is overated or so outdated. But you know in your Heart that you are called to be pure and right before God. The battle is not out there... its in your heart. Its in your mind. Win it!

W I P E O U T 

Joyce Meyer

"And how bold and free we then become in his presence, freely asking according to his will, sure that he’s listening. And if we’re confident that he’s listening, we know that what we’ve asked for is as good as ours.” 1 John 5:14-15 MSG

Many times we lose hope or begin to depend in our own strength and capabilities to make things happen. We pray but expect less sometimes, and when God suddenly answers it reminds us that He will always listen and care but will answer on His perfect time. You may not see any progress or change in your circumstance or in ur prayer request, God wants you to know that he is already "working things out for you." Pray as if you already received the answer, worship God even before you receive His promise and praise God even before you experience the miracle you've been waiting for. You'll be amaze how and when God answers!! 😍

Just when I thought we live in a time and age where people are open minded, you will realize that we are only open minded on the things that we agree with. We still  haven’t learn to listen when someone is saying something even if we don’t like it or agree with it. We want to voice out our own opinion but forget to respect opinion of others, even if it hurts or contradicts our own. 

And for those who scream LOVE WINS, how will love win if there is so much hate? How will love win if you answer hate with anger and greater loathing. We still haven’t understood what LOVE WINS really mean if that’s the case. Love Love wins when someone hates us and we loves them still (Its hard I know, I am in progress with this one also). Because this world gives us so many reason to hate, there are so many wrong things that can make us angry. I also believe that Love also wins if we become more forgiving. If someone asks for forgiveness we should be quick to respond with love and mercy (yeah! I know this one too! we are all a work in progress in this area I know! haha). We correct people not because we are better than them or we are more righteous or holy but because we love them. Love is the reason. 

So, how will we make LOVE WIN again? If we LOVE people even if its difficult. We forgive even if we do’t feel like it. And we respond with love (always!) when there is so much hate. Love genuinely wins when we start to argue who “LOVES MORE” than who is “RIGHT.”

Everything God said came to pass, and you are created in God’s image, and your words also have power. Your words can call things into being, so use them wisely! Speak in agreement with and believe in God’s plan for your life, and you will see it come to pass. -Joyce Meyer

#powerofdeclaration

“But now take another look. I’m going to give this city a thorough renovation, working a true healing inside and out. I’m going to show them life whole, life brimming with blessings. I’ll restore everything that was lost to Judah and Jerusalem. I’ll build everything back as good as new. I’ll scrub them clean from the dirt they’ve done against me. I’ll forgive everything they’ve done wrong, forgive all their rebellions. And Jerusalem will be a center of joy and praise and glory for all the countries on earth. They’ll get reports on all the good I’m doing for her. They’ll be in awe of the blessings I am pouring on her." Jeremiah 33:6-9 (MSG)

Too powerful not to share. God wants you too know whatever is ruined, whatever is hopeless, whatever needs fixing or replaced it will never remain unseen by God. He will REBUILD, RESTORE, REPLACE and RENEW it because he is good, merciful, and faithful (just to name a few of what kind of god he is). HE said we will be in awe of the blessings he is going to pour out in us! woaaaaahhhh! I can't wait!

I am no film critic nor a patriot or the most nationalistic filipino ever existed so please bear with me as I share my insights upon watching this movie.

As a kid I find history/sibika subject very interesting (oo bata pa lang mahilig na ako sa kwento) but please don’t ask me history questions now, I can’t answer you, I left most of what I learned in my test papers and in school haha . Hence, I can say I pretty much enjoy watching movies related to history or famous people’s biography (minsan-minsan gnyan tayo aside from chick-flick).

Last night, I was able to catch Heneral Luna with my family. And I must say it was beautifully made and worth saving (#saveheneralluna). I was a bit afraid I will not be able to see it in movie house because of the pull-out issue in the past few days. Social media did a good job I guess (that is how we should all use FB, Twitter, IG, etc) because it was full house and well-supported! Congrats to the people behind this film, you guys truly are geniuses and gifted! Beautiful film!

I really hope more Filipino, here and abroad will get to watch it, most especially the young people. This movie is for us all! I hate to say this, but as the old saying goes the truth shall set you free, so I will say, HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF. What happened then, is still happening now, where principles can’t find its place in politics, government and business. Where those who fight for what is right and for the greater good are called names and pulled down by those who are after their own benefit. Where the radical will never get the approval of those who are in power. Where the people who are suppose to promote freedom are only after power and fame. It actually saddens me to realize that after all those years, what we’ve been through as a country the only battle we can never win is a battle between ourselves. Over and over again me we kill our chance of winning because we are just too stubborn. This movie truly mirrors our society and government today.

Unlike Heneral Luna, we all lacked that patriotism, that passion, that sincerity in valuing our freedom and the beauty of our country. Nakakaiyak pero sa totoo lang noon pa man may TRAPO na! There is so many symbolism in this film. Just like the way our flag (spoiler!!!) was placed while Buencamino and Aguinaldo was telling their side of the story, it was dirty, stained with blood, damaged in different parts, ripped here and there and burned. That is us, damaged, ripped and burned under the watch of the people whom we trust to take care of us.

Heneral Luna stirs something in the heart of its viewers. It made me pray, it made me ask God to give us a better leader, it made me pray to make us better citizens, better country. I really hope I can do more.

I really, really hope that the younger generation will get to see this movie, after all “SILA ANG PAG-ASA NG BAYAN” but how? If their passion is misplaced? They’d rather fight which love team is more legit between the yaya and the candy girl. You know what I mean. I just hope they know our Filipino heroes as good as they know their fave celebrities. Don’t get me wrong, I love celebrities (I am so into showbiz kaya! Hahah) its just that sometimes we become so much into it we forget to promote things that really matters.

Saw this note (in my stack of notes to myself) and I remember seeing this in twitter and write it by hand on my notepad. Maybe it was a couple of years ago... this is my NOTE FOR NO ONE (written by Anonymous, just got it from twitter remember?!!) it felt like it took the words out of my mind. Here it goes...

“ I want to be your everything, the way you are mine,

Your smile lights up my day and I can’t stop smiling.

I want you to know how I feel but I can’t bring myself to tell you

that I think everything you do is perfect.

That you are amazing and I can think about you forever 

and never get tired with it.

You’re the reason I continue moving when my life sucks.

The worst part is that you will never know how I feel

because for now I must be silent, 

We all have purpose. It may be different from one another, but I know for sure one purpose is given to us all, to honor And love God.

And we can only honor God, by fulfilling our purpose, we should live not by the law of man, but by the law of God. Law of man can be amended, changed or revised from time to time to make things seem right. But you know deep inside its not. We live in a time and day where wrong can easily be dressed up by nice words and number of approval and supporters to APPEAR right. But the law of God, law of love knows right and wrong. It cannot be swayed by emotions, it does not need man’s approval, there is no grey area, it only appeals to those who are truly open-minded and open-hearted. Law of God is not even about morality or being religious, its only about what is right and pleasing before God. Again, you know in the heart of your heart, man cannot make a wrong thing right just by sealing a stamp on a document.

I don’t understand how can you call it winning, when its seems like we lost a lot. This is more than a morality issue, this about going against the will of God.

You have a purpose. A great purpose. I love you, God love’s you, and he’d love to hear you say “Lord I love you too! I want to honor you with my life!”

We are not here to judge or belittle others, but to bring light and encouragement. Not to get ourselves into argument whoever is right, but to state the truth, the word of God. You can’t win an argument with man, but you can win an argument with your heart.

I understand you, I truly do, but it doesn’t mean I accept that as a truth or it makes it right either. You see you seek understanding and acceptance, but do you understand where we are coming from? Do you accept us not accepting your pride? Maybe its because right will never meet eye to eye with wrong.

We are not supposed to be against each other. I hope you know we still love you and you will always have that special place in the heart of Jesus. 

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.  

WHAT DRIVES YOU? What drives you in doing what you do? I know there are 101 reason why you do what you do but really, what drives you?! i know two kind, there are those money-driven kind and passion-driven kind.

I am no expert, but this I know for sure, if ur driven by money you will spend your time and effort chasing money and that is very tiring and endless chase. Whereas, if you are driven by passion and purpose money and blessings will chase you, yes you will still get tired at times but you will remain driven and fulfilled. It will give you more than sense of achievement and riches but it will give you sense of purpose.

We are here for a purpose. We are not here to get rich neither to remain poor, but God promised us that as we live this life fulfilling our purpose and destiny, we dont have to worry about money.

To young people and yp's remain passionate, remain driven not by money but by your purpose, continue developing your skills. Market place and academe is a ministry as well. Do well in your job and school, by doing that you are one step closer in fulfilling your destiny and be able to worship God! Let's not box God inside our church, you can also worship Him monday to saturday by doing your job well and/or studies.