Search me, O God, and know my heart!

Relationships take time. And as time passes, we can decide whether we want to go to the next level with a person and eventually open up to them. This doesn’t have to be a boyfriend or girlfriend thing; this can apply to many relationships.

Hopefully, we all have someone we can tell our deepest and darkest secrets to; someone we know can keep our confidence. Friends like these know when there is something wrong with us, even when others don’t. They have been our friends for so long they can sense our mood without even talking to us. With an acquaintance, it’s different. We might tell them a little about our life, but we usually let them know all of the good stuff; we almost wear a mask for them.

Ironically, we sometimes try to wear this mask for Jesus. When we pray, we might ask him to forgive us of our little sins and ask for good things to happen to us, but we never ask him to search us. We don’t tell him to look deep down in our heart and see if there is anything within us that needs changing. We hesitate to open up in this way because it’s uncomfortable. When the Holy Spirit searches us and convicts us of sin, we rationalize it away. Or, we have been living our life with a particular sin for so long, that it just becomes a part of us and we are calloused. We forget that Jesus already knows what is in our hearts (John 2:23).

Jesus is waiting for us to invite him into our hearts and cleanse us of our grievous ways. We can’t hide our sins from Jesus; only keep them from the healing power of His presence. And by holding our sin so tightly, we do nothing but embrace our own death, while pushing away the author of life. We should daily pray as the Psalmist does, and ask God to search our hearts. We should open ourselves up to the real healing that only God can give.

Have you let Jesus look into your heart lately?

source: shortdailydevotions.com

66 Books of the Bible

image source :store.flpublishers.net

Last Saturday at the Leadesrhip training, we were asked to write down all the 66 books in the Bible in chronological order, It was not surprising to know that some may know the books but not in their order  :) A very good reminder that we as teachers, disciplers should know this by heart. My husband struggles in memorizing (sometimes I do also, probably it comes with aging) but praise God, we were able to write it all down.

Tip to easy memorization:  

Memorize it by group like the picture above, and if you still struggle with that you can do acronyms,
example; for the History Books; GELNuD
G- enesis
E-xodus
L-eviticus
Nu-mbers
D -eutoronomy

...and of course by reading your bible regularly you will eventually memorize it.

 ^"Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." - Joshua 1:8 (NIV)

God bless everyone!

This man...I heart so much!

This should have been posted days ago but there was no internet available for days in our office :( sad that this might be too late already but anyway..here it is still

Copying my birthday greetings on his facebook page:

Happy happy birthday mahal!!!! i love you so much can't imagine my life without you. Thank you for everything that you do for me, for putting my needs first before yours.I know you could have bought that guitar for your self but you chose to buy me my very first smart phone instead. No words can ever express how blessed I am because of you. I will always be proud of what you have become- from basurero to musikero ng Lord. love you!

~*~

I had no special gift to him but at I surprised him together with some of our church mate a nice breakfast :) and we had  a nice sushi dinner. If I have the money, I could have bought him the guitar he wants and maybe a ring (not military ring) but one that will always remind him of me :)

I praise God for his life and I am thankful HE has chosen for me a husband that loves the Lord so much.

Fishnets Scholars

Hubby's guitars

This was his very first guitar.

and this is very special to him because it was given to him as a gift. If I am not mistaken this was given to him way back 2005 by a Canadian missionary. We still use this in the church today.

That was his second one.

We bought this last 2009. We actually had a bit of discussion about this recently because last month he mentioned that he is selling this and I did not agree with him, he said he is buying one that is compatible to his gadget and Ipad. Well, my only reason is the sentimental value but apparently he won as this was already sold and we are only waiting for the full payment. That is why I said "was".

I just have to submit (as that is what we are asked to do right?) but of course he has to hear my opinions too :) I'm sure he already Read Full Review of the one he is gonna buy so he won't regret it someday. I saw him trying it one time in the music store and I think he really really like it.

I'll post the picture as soon as he is able to buy it. I hope soon.

JHOW's musicians

Our church is so blessed to have such musicians/singers who take time to kneel down in prayer, who seek the Lord and soak in His presence because really without the filling of the Holy Spirit,there is nothing to give, we cannot lead. We recognize that we are there not to perform but to lead the people in worship.

photos from Saturday soaking

Last Saturday, during our regular soaking, there was a word from the Lord for them, I cannot remember the exact words but I will not forget these : Kingdom instruments and Kingdom songs.They are are making music with their instruments for God's kingdom :)

We read from  the Old Testament how the Levites are consecrated to make music in the temple and how they are spared from duties and taxes but instead were paid for so they can focus,concentrate on their tasks. I hope and pray we can do something like that for our musicians too. Praying that someday soon, our church will be able to give them at least love  gift regularly, not that they are expecting though. These people I know from my heart are serving and will serve wholeheartedly even without that.

Still, It's my personal wish to bless them someday. I'm sure their heart will leap for joy if I tell them they can get one for themselves at this music store :)For the meantime, let us bless them with our prayers.