God is The Strength of My Heart!

The more I get to know you,

the more I get to know how good your heart is.

It's funny how I regret losing something that I consider sooooo soooo important without realizing that God already replaced it with the best ones.

Sometimes we forgot to look around and be thankful for what we have because we're too focus to something that we think that is worth fighting.

Maybe you had been hurt so many times with the same reason till you get numb.

You suddenly find yourself asking why my tears is not falling apart, is this a good indication or I am getting numb?

Till you realized, that you need to reserve your tears. Crying is good but sometimes we need to learn when to stop.

According to John Eldredge, (author of the best-selling book; Wild at Heart) “We live in the world at war whether we like it or not.”

As you grow in Christ, there will be sufferings and hardships. There are people that will distract you and these are “civilian affairs”. These will speak secular pursuits that are not according to the will of God. But take heart, because through the grace of God (the saving and enabling power) you will overcome every hardships and sufferings! Do not rely on your own strength, but hold on to God’s grace that should be the source of your strength. As a good soldier of God, our goal is to please the commander in chief. “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (Romans 8:17). If you want to please God, don’t do something that displeases Him. You have to be strong! “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 2-7)

There are three characteristics of a good disciple that we have to reflect and live to, in order for us to be strong:

Good soldier. “Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:3). No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. As a good soldier you need to endure every sufferings and hardships. Remember there is a blessing and breakthrough in every sufferings and hardships. Having Christ in life is a wonderful thing but we are also living in a world at war. The devil doesn’t want you to accomplish your mission; he will distract you so you need to be a good soldier to overcome the enemy’s scheme.

Competitive Athlete. “Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. (2 Timothy 2:5). If you want to be a good disciple you must have discipline. Our walk with God is not a petty thing, so you have to take it seriously. Like an athlete, you need to undergo training for you to win the battle. God wants us to be a head not a tail; do not settle for less. Remember that God is a progressive God.

Hardworking Farmer. “The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops“(2 Timothy 2:5). God cannot be mocked! Don’t expect for more if you are not doing anything to get more. You need to do something! “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead” (James 2:26). God will help you! His grace is sufficient but you have to remember that you also need to do your part to finish the race.

Remember: If you want to win the battle you have to be a good soldier, competitive athlete, and hard-working farmer of Christ, who is willing to accomplish his God-given mission. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). Our aim is to finish the race; be strong!

Preached by, Pastor Eugene Bayon-on

Written by, Pearl Hernandez

Edited by, Lea  de los Santos

The battle is real! Do you know that there are spiritual attacks? And most of the time we are not aware that we are already under attack by the enemy. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:10-11). We have a real enemy and you can not win if you don’t know what are the attacks of the enemy or how the enemy attacks). Do not underestimate what the enemy can do. Never rely on your own strength but always wear the full armor of God. Know the tactics of the enemy because he will try his best to steal your happiness and destroy God’s plan for you. God allows circumstances because He wants to build something in us. What the devil meant for evil, God meant for good.

Five Spiritual Attacks

The Truth Attack. “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,with the breastplate of righteousness in place” (Ephesians 6:14). Satan is the father of all lies. You will know that the enemy is attacking you if you start believing in lies. He wants you to think negatively about God. The perfect example of this is when the enemy deceived Adam and Eve. “Really? ….Did God really say you must not eat any of the fruit in the garden?” (Genesis 3:1) Satan wants you to think suspiciously about God. The reason why God makes rules is to protect us. He wants you to think lightly about God. Satan will try his best to put in your mind that God is depriving you of happiness until you find yourself not afraid to make sins. The truth is, the enemy doesn’t want you to experience the best things in life and his main agenda is to destroy you. “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless” (Psalms 84:11).

The Heart Attack. The most deceptive tactic of Satan is to attack your emotions. Wear the breast plate of righteousness. Satan doesn’t like the idea that you will prosper that’s why he will hurt your feelings. He will offend you and offense is a trap. Do you know that offense can lead to betrayal? He will use other people to offend you. Always remember that you can be offended but you can’t stay offended. Learn to look over! People who can’t forgive are the people who forget that God forgave them. “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me?Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times (Matthew 18:21-22).

The Peace and Faith Attack. Satan will steal your peace and faith in God. He will use your problem to shake your faith with God. You will know that you are under attack if you start worrying and start to be fearful instead trusting God. “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace” (Romans 8:6). To be spiritually minded is life and peace. Remember “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you” (Psalm 56:3). The best thing that we can do if we are experiencing hardships in life is to pray and trust God that He will deliver us from our situation.

The Word Attack. The key to success is the Word not just to work, so the Satan’s scheme is to take the word of God out of you. Satan knows that the word of God will direct you and what he will do is to influence you not to read the word of God. You will know that you are under attack once you find yourself not interested to read the word or to hear the word. The word of God is our flashlight to our path. “but whose delight is in the law of the Lord and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers” (Psalm 1:2-3). Always read your bible and memorize verses; that is your weapon against the enemy.

The Prayer Attack. Satan knows the power of prayer so what he will do is to limit your prayer because he knows that your prayer will limit him. We are in spiritual battle, and you can not do spiritual battle by your flesh. You need to pray! “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock” (Matthew 7:24-25). The wise thing to do to defeat your enemy is by praying.

Keep in mind that you are made to outlast attacks. Do not forsake the power of partnership. “Two are better than one,because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down,one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). Two are better than one! Join a Life Group that will help to strengthen your faith with God. The more people who are praying, the more we can defeat the enemy. You are victorious in Christ! “The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name” (Luke 10:17).

Preached by: Rev. Faythe Santiago

Written by: Pearl Hernandez

Malachi 3:10 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”

There are three things that God want us to be in giving;

God wants us to give back to be generous. – According to the verse “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse”. And I think the best way to do it is by giving our tithes and offerings.  But remember brothers and sisters’ tithing is giving back the 10%, so it means you still not giving, you are just returning what is due to God. But offering is something you give aside from your tithes. Merriam-Webster dictionary defined “generous” as “providing more than the amount that is needed or normal, abundant or ample.” It means you give something more than what they ask for. For example your boss is expecting you to work 8 hours a day but you worked for 12 hours without an OT pay. It means you’re not just dedicated but also generous on giving your time for your work, if you can be generous to other things, why not to be generous to God? Do you know that generosity starts when you bring back the amount, and better if you give back more than the amount requires. Where you will bring it? Of course you will bring it into the storehouse, where you worship, and hear the word of God.

God wants us to give faithfully. – Edwin Louis Cole stated that “Your faithfulness makes you trust worthy to God.” If you are faithful in giving your tithes and offerings it simply means that you fully trust God.  You are not afraid to give, because you are confident enough that God can provide all the things that you need, and all the things that you want. I know it takes courage to be a faithful giver but every time that you have a doubt, go back to the verse Malachi 3:10

God want us to give to prosper us. – “Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” In Acts 20:25 “It is more blessed to give than to receive”. If you want to prosper learn to give. Be a cheerful giver. The key to unlock poverty is by giving your best to God. I believe that God want us to be fruitful in every aspects of our life that’s why he commands us to bring all the tithes into the storehouse. While reading Malachi 3:10, I realized that this verse is very evident and reliable. Why? Let me give you an example. If you invest your money in the bank, for sure it will have an interest. Another one, if you franchise in a well-known fast food like Jollibee for sure you will have profit every month. What more if you will invest in the Kingdom of God? Imagine that! For me being prosperous is not just having a lot of money but fruitful in every aspects.

If you want to be fruitful in every aspects of your life, learn to give. Be generous, be a cheerful giver! Indeed, God want us to become generous and faithful for us to prosper.

Written by: Pearl Hernandez

Edited by: Iris Lynn

When God reveals to me the purpose of my pains.

I know nowadays that many people are suffering from pains, rejections and persecutions. And because there are times that I feel alone not only literally, but being alone that seems no one cares for what I really feel. Like you want to shout and say  “Hey!! I also have feelings!!” There are questions that suddenly crossed on my mind;

How can I comfort someone if I am also in pain, if I am also hurt?

How can I tell to someone that he /she is so precious in God’s sight If I myself losing my self worth?

How can I tell to someone that all is well, if there is a part of me that is broken?

I am not a perfect person. I have so many worries and frustrations. I failed so many times, but like a palm tree I am still standing because of God’s grace.  While reading my bible and having my devotion God reveals so many things to me.

God let you to experience pain for you to be still. – Your battle is already in the hands of God. Exodus 14:14 “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Pain give us an opportunity to get closer to God, and pain help us to take heart and move forward no matter how hard it is.

God let you to experience pain to strengthen you. – PsalmS 73:26 “My flesh and my heart fails: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.” God can take away all the pains in your hearts, you just need to believe. And remember that you are a child of King of all Kings. I know it’s not easy to believe that you are worthy enough if you are in the process of losing your self worth, but then again we live by believing and not by seeing. You are what you are believing for.

God let you experience pain to know that God can heal you. – God is the only one who can heal your wounds. Exodus 15:26 “If you listen carefully to the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you.” Even if you are in pain you can tell to the world that soon everything will be fine because God is with you. No matter how broken you are, God can make you whole again.

Your pain will help you to strive harder. Your pain can be your strength to lift up someone else. Your pain proves that.. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalms 34:1)

Written by,