Tag: christianity

Daily Ponder: What it means to have have family as priority.

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2024 brought the incredible joy of our first child, but also a series of health and home challenges. This year has been transformative and has solidified one powerful truth. Family will always be my first priority. Here’s how I put it into practice.

Family will always come first. It means that my wife and my child are my utmost priority, while all others come second. I have learned to protect precious time for my family. When a family member was ill, I had to drop whatever I was doing. The same happened during an urgent house situation. I had to move my family to a safer place. I then delegated tasks if possible. This allowed me to go home. I can be with my family or take care of the house situation.

Protect my family time. Never feel guilty with putting off events, meetings and gatherings that crosses with your valuable time with family. This means I have to say no to activities. These activities take my quality time with family, especially in the evening. If there is anything that needs consideration, we have to schedule it ahead. I need to talk to my wife about it.

My family is my first ministry. As a minister, I have been taught repeatedly not to sacrifice my family for success or ministry. The strength of my ministry life, starts at home. I have the divine privilege to have family and lead this family.

I am grateful and blessed. I have a wonderful community and fellow workers. They have extended so much grace and help in this season. They have been our extended family in a country not our own. They made this season easier for us. When my wife gave birth, our friends organized a food train. Our friends and community sent us food for 3 weeks. We were so touched by the love we received. Other friends came and helped take care of the baby. They also helped my wife when she was sick and I was sleepless. A workmate help me with my workload so that I can take care more of my family.

Putting my family first hasn’t diminished other areas of my life; it’s strengthened them. By prioritizing my family, I’ve found greater clarity, focus, and purpose in everything I do.

Strive to be better

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I need to better
Because I know my heart is deceitful
My perceive truth needs to be validated
My version of the truth is influenced by my emotions
Although they are valid as I felt, I need to be better, by pursuing all sides
Before I can truly call it the truth.

I need to be better
Because I am humanly inclined to embrace my biases and stay in my comfort zone

I need to be better
Because I am called to be Christ-like
Because the merits of Christ on the cross counts me as righteous and good, left to my own my goodnedd is like a filthy rag

I need to be better because I am reminded of Psalms 25:

Show me your ways Lord, and teach me your path
guide me in your truth and teach me your ways
For you are my God, my Savior
My hope is in you all day long,

The Lord is good and upright
Therefore he instructs sinners in his ways
He guides the humble in what is right
And teaches his ways
All the ways of the Lord are good and loving..

I need to be better, knowing that all the ways of the Lord are good and upright,
I need to be better because I know I need His instructions, I need to know what is right in His eyes, and I need to know His ways.
For my hope is in Him all day long.

Thoughts running through my head today, based on my reflections from continually reciting some lines from Psalms 25.

The language of authentic love

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“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.”

Nelson Madela

From living in the Philippines to moving in Central America is a huge cross cultural jump, while I find latinos very near to Philippine culture it would be safe for me to not assume completely that the culture here is same as mine.

language connect us to people, as a messenger of the gospel and eternal hope, learning the language is my priority to be able to connect and comunicate the message of Jesus.

I invested in expensive intensive spanish classes, which paid off really well and fast track my capacity to understand and speak the langauge.

So I thought, that was enough. Months later a couple of friends had arrive as well, we are here to know and meet the students of Panama and share the love of Jesus. Help them grow in their relationship with Jesus.

As my friend Toffer, full of joy, life, and energy, right away jump off meeting with students, while he wasn’t speaking the language at that time yet, I learned from him that more than being able to communicate in their langauge, nothing beats the language of authentic love and care, enormous curiosity which made him very fruitful in gaining friends and winning locals for Christ.

His life reminded me, that more than words I can speak, it is the act of loving, offering authentic friendships, and humility towards people we seek to preach the gospel is the way to go.

Despite the little capacity to speak spanish, he spoke and act a universal language we all can speak and act, the aunthentic language of genuine love and intentionality for the people. I was caught up of aquiring the language, I was missing out this as aspect. Thank God for Toffer demonstrating this act.

Daily ponder: In times of trials

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The past two year has been the most difficult of the most, maybe you have experienced a salary cut, a job loss, a business, loss someone. Maybe the bills are piling up and the debts is just growing and provisions seems no-where in sight.

These are moments of trials, I have been reading through revelations and it was prophesied there that God’s people will go through extreme persecutions and hardship. What should we do when we do when we are in times of trial and even worse.

This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.

Revelation 14:12

We are called to remain faithful to Jesus to the end.

Nobody in the right mind would actually like to pursue a life of suffering and pain. We are actually inclined to live a life in pursuit of convenience and happiness. But life is not like that. It is an illusion, the Bible is clear that there will be trials and tribulations, many faithful men and women to the Lord died a tragic death continually professing faith to Christ. We are called to be faithful to the end to Jesus because we know that this time on earth is only temporary and eternity is set before us. Dead has not sting on those who believe and put their faith on Christ.

We are called to patient endurance.

In the middle of suffering and pain, we normally express “How long oh Lord I must suffer” the very same lines as King David expressed in the book of Psalms. It is okay to express to the Lord our grievances, but no matter what it our clear picture of who He is and His promises that will keep us on the journey of patient enduring. We can be patient knowing we have a promised keeper with us. We have a faithful God that is beyond what this physical life and the is the hope we have in Him. I am no seeker of a reward, but it is who promises it and desires to give it to those who remain faithful to the end.

Friend, If you are reading this. Thank you! It is my prayer that this thought of the day, spoke well to your soul. There is no such thing as an accident, everything happens weather we accept this or not. As you come across this blog of mine, this might be for you or a person you know. God bless your heart and your whole being!

Daily Ponder: A purpose and a mission

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It’s been seven months away from home, here I am in a foreign land, my temporary home maybe for the next five to 10 years. I choose a life which for the many is never easy, what is a normal to me might just be a trauma and too stressful, on the uncertainties it may bring.

Here I am starting life all over again. Too often I am ask what I missed the most? Or Do I miss my home country?

To be honest, I don’t miss my country what I miss are the people who showed so much love and care. I miss them and I remember them well. Thank God for technology, I sincerely feel they are so near though far away.

I have a purpose and a mission to fulfill, two things that keeps me grounded to why I am doing what I am doing. A purpose and a mission enough to make me leave my comfort zone and dearest friends.

It is easy to quit with things are going tough! when uncertainties are piling up and you may feel there no-where to go nor run. I remind myself of my purpose and my mission, For God’s glory and honor, In obedience I will go.

Where do you lean on?

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Daily Ponder: #022

I don’t understand, I have given my best, I have tried to do all that is possible on my end but things don’t seem to be moving in the expected direction. I felt trap and frustrated.

As I battle through these emotions earlier, I got reminded of proverbs 3:5-6. Lean not one your own understanding, I was trying to grasp the events but I couldn’t. But I got reminded to trust in the lord and bring into submission that weighs my heart.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

Things may not make sense at the moment, nor in the coming days but I can trust the Lord that this too is His will. This is an opportunity to lean on him all the more, to trust in Him. This is a growing opportunity, to grow in trusting Him and His words.

His ways are perfect, It’s tried and tested. I have experienced that and there will always be moments in my life I need to go back to that. In trusting Him, I submit in His Lordship and His leadership, He knows best for me.

Submission may not be easy for you. Trusting may have been the hardest, But He isn’t human. He is beyond compared. He knows and He listens. He will always have the better plans, nor directions.

Feeling vs. Facts

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Daily Ponder: #021

Life can be filled and met with frustrations and struggles. I don’t know what challenges you are experiencing, the depth nor darkness you might feel you are in. It is my prayer that this thought today would be of help.

Your feelings are valid! It is real! I remind myself this and recognize my humanity. Never invalidate that. We need to pay attention to what are our emotions is saying to us. It is an invitation to ourselves for a self talk. Permit yourself to feel and experience that moment, don’t be afraid, explore and discover this emotions.

However…. Yes…. However..

We also need to come to terms to a greater reality and a greater truth. We can’t afford to be stock in a pit of emotions. We can’t let is as well over rule us. We need to see beyond the feeling and labels we attach in it. We need to seek a bigger perspective, a way out of ourselves, or of our own world. Seeking a different perspective and a different voice. You don’t need to rush in it nor force yourself.

We need the brutal facts! It can go against our egos, pride and arrogance. Brutal facts are coming to terms that we can be very wrong, that we magnified something so little we made it into a monster. You may not want to hear it, you may not want to recognize it, but you know deep inside you will come to it one day.

I respect space and phase, I remind myself that actually. Moving to facts takes phasing, some takes slowly, some takes it faster. May you enjoy the learning, may you be merciful towards yourself, may you be forgiving and accepting towards your shortcomings. Permit yourself the time you need. What matters is you are moving to the grater truth and greater facts.

There is a hope, a future and a life. There is healing and growth. There is a light in every darkness. You are not hopeless. You are valued. You have a purpose. You are a blessing to humanity.

Daily Ponder: #019

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Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.

Revelation 3:19 NIV

As I went through the Book of Revelations today at chapter 3 verse 9. I was reminded of how love operate in our lives and in our community.

Love does not tolerate what is wrong, rather out of love it addresses issues that does not please the other. In this case, the issues was that the people of faith in laodica was neither cold or hot. this is where the rebuke came from. Hence an invitation to repentance.

Love invites us to change that leads to repentance. Godly love will always bring the best in us that transforms us to Christ-likeness. Biblically we are to transform into the character of Christ.

Repentance is also a fruit of love, because of it’s genuine intention and motivation that springs from a revelation of God.

Daily Ponder : The Love you have lost

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#018

 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

Revelation 2:4-5 NIV

The Love you had first

One of the interpretation is that Ephesus had lost its early love for Christ. Another interpretation is that Ephesian believers had lost its love for one another and needed to revive compassionate works they did at first. Many interpreters think both are in view, since love for christ and love for one another is related.

ESV STUDY BIBLE COMMENTARY

My thoughts:

Our tendency to lost our love for Christ, over theological knowledge and wisdom is one of the many battle a Christian has to weight in and check our hearts carefully. We can be passionately zealous for the mission, for the ministry, for evangelism, public ministry and have a heart so far from Christ is a pity.

On another extreme, we have lost grace towards fellow believers on their failings, shortcomings and probably their convictions aren’t satisfying enough on our eyes. The community becomes dry of love when to much driven on working and no loving relationship exist.

Our love for Christ, over flows in our relationships and community. We will always be in a heart check, knowing our sinful tendency, But praise be to God for His grace in our lives that enables us to repent and go back to our first love. Jesus Christ.

Daily Ponder #018 Alpha & Omega

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 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Revelation 1:8

Jesus is the beginning of all history, The CREATOR and the goal for all whom all things are made. All history moving towards glorifying Him.

More than being a a comforting verse, it is a power for those who believes. Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega. When our lives are fully submitted to him, we are relieved from the cares and worries of this world.

He knows your beginning, he knows your failings, your darknest past, your shame, your brokenness. He knows. Nothing is hidden, everything is bare naked and fully known before him.

He knows the end as well. He knows the journey, you will go through. He know every inch of it.

WHO HE IS MATTERS above all, His character cannot be likened to humanity. Perhaps the question is do we know him? Or do you associate God with the failings of parents, christians friends or on what you see on those who claims to be of faith? Are we living a life in pursuit of of knowing him more?

May we live lives that is centered on Jesus, He is the way, they truth and the life. He is the Alpha and the Omega. May we live lives that desires to give more glory and honor towards him.

May He be your Alpha and Omega.