Pray and Worship first!

Normally if we're sick, our first thought would be "go to the doctor and have yourself checked"  that was actually what came to mind yesterday as I felt very sick, I was panicking inside because I could not stand up nor sit due to dizziness.  Thankful that I am reminded of what should come first.

PRAY and WORSHIP! Because when we worship and linger in the presence of God, healing and deliverance take place, As my husband is helping me I asked him to pray and he played a worship song (Paul Ang album) and joined him in praying in the spirit.

I was ready to go to Emergency Room but I waited a bit and prayed more. 

Ending- I am back to work now, no trip to ER but will schedule a doctor’s visit soon just to check where that came from.

Whatever you are going through right now, I urge you to pray and worship, it might be an emotional sickness, financial problem or whatever it is-know that our GOD is the God of Impossible. HE CAN DO ALL THINGS and HE hears our prayers.

Praise HIM from whom all blessings flow!

photo credit : http://answersafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Bible-Verses-About-Healing-1.png

WORSHIP SYMPOSIUM

This is happening on Sunday. My husband is speaking about "Worship as a ministry" . Please do say a prayer for him. I get anxious when he is invited to speak because  I'd rather see him lead the worship. But this is another opportunity to share and to minister so we said yes all for God's glory!!

Psalm 33

Psalm 33New King James Version (NKJV)

The Sovereignty of the Lord in Creation and History

Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous!
For praise from the upright is beautiful.
² Praise the Lord with the harp;
Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.
³ Sing to Him a new song;
Play skillfully with a shout of joy.

⁴ For the word of the Lord is right,
And all His work is done in truth.
⁵ He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

⁶ By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.
⁷ He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap;^[a]
He lays up the deep in storehouses.

⁸ Let all the earth fear the Lord;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
⁹ For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast.

¹⁰ The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.

 
¹¹ The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
The plans of His heart to all generations.
¹² Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.

¹³ The Lord looks from heaven;
He sees all the sons of men.
¹⁴ From the place of His dwelling He looks
On all the inhabitants of the earth;
¹⁵ He fashions their hearts individually;
He considers all their works.

¹⁶ No king is saved by the multitude of an army;
A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.
¹⁷ A horse is a vain hope for safety;
Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.

¹⁸ Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope in His mercy,
¹⁹ To deliver their soul from death,
And to keep them alive in famine.

²⁰ Our soul waits for the Lord;
He is our help and our shield.

 
²¹ For our heart shall rejoice in Him,
Because we have trusted in His holy name.
²² Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us,
Just as we hope in You.

King Uzziah :as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper

2 Chronicles 26:5: “[King Uzziah] sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God; and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.”

January 7th, 2014 by Pastor Ed in devotional

 

Here’s a great truth in King Uzziah’s life, which every believer on the planet should follow as a model for their life: “.” This is a promise of God that will be true for any person who applies it. In this chapter we find a list of what God did for King Uzziah, including giving him military victories, a growing national agricultural industry, and a strengthened national defense.

That God desires to abundantly bless our lives is scripturally true. But it is also true that God hates a prideful heart. He doesn’t ask us to think of ourselves as nothing, but to think of ourselves in proper relationship to Him. The principle says that as long as we seek God in our lives, our lives will prosper. They will be eternally significant, which is of course the definition of true significance. When our life is spiritually dependent on God, we get out of this old world everything we are supposed to. God did bless Uzziah greatly but the sin of pride in Uzziah brought his life to a tragic end. It is a classic example of what happens to a man who gets too big in his own eyes. As long as Uzziah walked with God, God fought his battles; but when he saw himself as important enough to do whatever he wanted, that blessing was removed.

In the Battle of the Wilderness, during the Civil War, Union general John Sedgwick was inspecting his troops. At one point he came to a parapet and gazed out in the direction of the enemy. His officers suggested that this was unwise and perhaps he ought to duck while passing the parapet. “Nonsense,” snapped the general. “They couldn’t hit an elephant at this dist—.” A moment later Sedgwick fell to the ground, fatally wounded.

“LORD, we remind ourselves of where You have brought us and where You want to take us. We recognize that we are nothing apart from You. Please keep us humble and seeking You this day.”

More than the birds

image source : http://www.jeffrandleman.com/

Intimate date with the Lord

Come everyone and let us soak in the mighty presence of God because In His presence, there is PEACE, there is JOY, there is LOVE, there is FREEDOM 

2015 Youth Mission Camp

A blessed Christmas everyone!

For the elderly :)

Tomorrow will be our Christmas party for the elderly at the Home for the Aged. We are so blessed that many  responded  for this project. Here are few of the items (personal hygiene)  that we will be giving them.

I am particularly happy how our scholars/youth worked very hard for this. This is their very first "pay it forward" project and they chose the abandoned elderly as recipients. I pray that they will learn to  love to do this and that compassion will flow from their heart even when they aren't with us anymore.

Pray for the Philippines

As we are challenged once again by this typhoon with International Name Hagupit and locally named here Ruby. Heading towards Visayas region but is so wide it could affect some areas in Mindanao and Luzon areas. It has strong winds too, initially it was "super typhoon" but just this afternoon it was downgraded to typhoon but just the same a typhoon is a typhoon. So we should all prepare for it and be ready just in case.

Charge your mobile phone batteries, get candles or torch in case electricity is cut off and of course stock on food. I myself experienced that "no food during typhoon" and it's quite hard.   Don't forget to secure your pets too, check EntirelyPets blog and find some tips there and cute videos too :)

Most of all, please do not forget t pray. Prayer is the most powerful weapon we can have.

Be safe everyone!

Be strong and courageous!

Going through my facebook feeds this morning, I saw a lot are in need of prayers and encouragement, there is this lady who just got married this year and is pregnant, lost her husband to cancer two weeks ago and yesterday she found out there is a problem with her baby and that she has to undergo operation once she's out and that she may not wait for full term and might have an emergency CS.

I think it's too much for a newlywed, new wife and new mom. But who are we to question's God' plan. I know that GOD is good and will always be good even if our situations are bad.

image source : http://wildeyessigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Joshua-1-9-be-strong-and-courageous-allura-garrmond.jpg

I posted this verse on her wall, praying that she will be encouraged somehow, praying she'll be more stronger  to face another bout of trial.

I am praying also that whoever is reading and needs prayer and encouragement  will also be  encourage by this verse. Please know that God is not leaving your side. All through your trials and testing..He is right there beside you and I  know He will help you go through it. Blessings everyone!

Sharing the love with the elderly

This year, beside the usual Christmas party for kids, we will have another one for the abandoned elderly at the Home for the Aged. 

Our scholars from Fishnets Ministry are heading this event. I asked them to learn to "pay it forward" as they are all recipients of somebody's good deed and they decided to share and make our Lolo and Lola at the home for the aged facility extra happy this Christmas.

I'm excited. We all are actually. This would be their first time, my second. There will be games and they will also have some presentations. I'm sure it's gonna be fun.

Truth be told, we really do not have budget for this, we don't want to ask from Fishnets as the support is just enough for the scholars lately, we couldn't ask from the church also because the need as of now is also huge. 

But that will not hinder us of course. If God has put this in our hearts, He will surely provide for everything that we will be needing for this party. We started soliciting from friends and from individuals and some have responded positively. 

We wanted to give them (the oldies) hygiene kits, as I have seen for my self how they are deprived of these basic necessities, so we are asking friends for bath soaps, toothbrush, toothpaste and the like. I found a kent folding comb also which would be a nice gift for them but that is not priority this time.

We will also serve lunch and I am praying a nice decent lunch is what we can give them. We were informed that there are 89 women and 60 man on that facility. I am not a bit worried of that big number. I know God will send help :)

If you live here in Manila and you want to help, volunteer and go with us, just message me here. You are most welcome.

You shall rise up before the grayheaded and honor the aged, and you shall revere your God; I am the LORD. - Leviticus 19:32

Christmas Party for the elderly

Fear Not

2 weeks ago, I was depressed, disappointed and sad. I was crying incessantly in the office. I wanted to leave everything and be somewhere else where no one can reach me. There were incidents in the office that for the longest time I have trained my self to ignore and just let it be but worst came when I was absent two consecutive days, first day was because am not feeling well, the second I attended the launching of The Fellowship International. 

That day, my boss called our HR personnel and he checked on all my absences and my tardiness which resulted to cancellation of my flexi time. In fairness to our HR department, they said I am seldom absent and the only problem is my coming late but also compensated because I extend time also whenever I came late. 

That gave me the feeling that I am a bad employee. Made me think of all the services I rendered to my boss, sometimes I go way beyond the call of my duties and responsibilities (even beyond office or sleeping hours) sometimes I do work for him that is too personal and I do all that without complaining-and people around me can attest to that-11 years as his assistant-that speaks a lot right? on the other hand there is this girl who also works for my boss- as much as I don't want to compare and see that she's more favored  but I did that time. I was thinking it was REALLY UNFAIR. I know that doesn't sound right coming from me and I regret it  but honestly speaking, that was what I felt that time.

The following Sunday-at the church, God spoke to me through the message of our speaker. I was encouraged and comforted. God made me realized that I don't have to mope because Jesus is interceding for me (Romans 8:34)  which made me realized even more that things may seem unfavorably on my part now but I don't have to feel bad because HE is fighting for me.

And then, that verse above popped up also sometime last week. God is really good. He sends help whenever we need it. In His perfect timing. Today, I was beginning to feel that "unfair " thing again because well, the flexi time ends today :) but here am I writing about this and reminding my self over and over again.."take heart Raquel..Jesus himself is interceding for you and that He loves you so very much :)"

  

Whatever life (or my boss) throws me- I know I have someone to defend me and He is mighty!

How to Read the Bible and Enjoy It

By M. Hyatt

 

I remember the first time I tried to read the Bible for myself. I found my grandfather’s copy on a shelf in his living room. I was nine years old.

I sat down on the floor, cross-legged, with the Bible on my lap. I opened it slowly … reverently … and began to read.

• I was fascinated by God’s creation of the heavens, earth, and man in Genesis 1–2.
• I was swept into the drama of man’s temptation and fall in Genesis 3.
• I was saddened by Cain’s murder of Abel in Genesis 4.

I felt like I had discovered a lost book—the key to the universe! I was captivated.

Then I hit the “begats” in Genesis 5.

Oh boy.

My eyes glazed over.

I closed the Bible, stood up, and slipped it back on the shelf. I didn’t pick it up again for another ten years.

So many people have told me they’ve had similar experiences. They know they should read the Bible; they just don’t know how to begin.

Even if you are not a Christian—or don’t consider yourself a spiritually-inclined person—the Bible is worth reading. Without question, it has had a greater impact on Western civilization than any other book published.

You can’t understand great literature, common metaphors, or cultural allusions without a basic knowledge of these ancient texts. (I use the plural because the Bible is actually a collection of books.)

But how do you start? The Bible is, after all, a big book! I have read it through several times. In fact, my goal is to read it through every year, though it some times takes a little longer.

This has served me well in so many ways. I find myself referring to the stories and sayings again and again. The best part is they have become the foundation and raw material for everything I do.

In this post, I thought I’d share how I read the bible. It’s not the only way to do it, of course. But I thought this might be helpful to you if you want to read it all the way through and partake of its treasures on a regular basis.

1. Read at a set time each day. As I learned a long time ago, what gets scheduled gets done. I read the Bible first thing each morning, so I don’t get side-tracked by something else.
2. Distinguish between reading and study. When I am reading, I don’t try to do word studies, read commentaries, or chase cross-references. While this can be valuable, I consider it Bible study—something I reserve for other times. The goal for my reading is breadth not depth.
3. Use a balanced, Bible reading plan. This is key. I read from four passages each day: Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs. This way, if I hit a dry patch in one section, I can usually get something out of another. Innumerable plans are available. This year I am using the One Year Bible.
4. Read in an easy-to-understand translation. Some may disagree, but a paraphrase is fine for Bible reading (not study). The key is to use a translation that helps you to understand what you are reading. I usually read in a different translation each year, just so the text doesn’t become so familiar I stop paying attention.
5. Highlight or underline as you read. Maybe the thought of marking in a Bible scandalizes you. I hope not. It helps me focus my attention and get back to those passages that I find particularly meaningful. I read on a Kindle, so I also have access to those highlights in the cloud and in Evernote.
6. Identify at least one key take away. Personally, my goal in Bible reading is not merely to increase my knowledge; I want to change my life (see James 1: 22–25). This begins by paying attention to what I am reading and marking those passages that seem particularly relevant to my current circumstances. When I am finished reading, I go back over my highlights and pick one to record in my journal, along with my response to it.
7. Don’t beat yourself up if you miss a day. This is difficult for me. I am a recovering achiever and a perfectionist. But it is essential if you are going to make progress. The truth is you are going to miss some days. It’s okay. It’s not the end of the world. It doesn’t mean you’re a failure. Just pick up the next day and keep moving.

The key, I think, is to keep the process simple. Don’t make it more complicated than it needs to be. Don’t get hung up on what you don’t understand.

Like Mark Twain once said, “It ain’t the parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand.”

The Fellowship International-Philippines

God has given us another opportunity to serve Him through worship leading at the launching of "The Fellowship International-Philippines" last October 24. It was indeed a blessing :) Nearly 500 Pastors and Leaders from all over the Philippines came to the launching. It was nice to be part of this network. Pastor Don Leavell who heads the Fellowship International  was here together with his wife Marva and some more members from America.

Dr. Paul Ang from Malaysia was also one of the speakers. It was a conference focus on Jesus. We as Christians (followers of Christ) should make Jesus the center of our lives,our  ministries and of our church. 

Musician's wife

I am. And I am grateful that my husband keeps on making music for the Lord. Sometimes he gets tired and weary but who doesn't right? What matters most is that he knows his purpose and that he is using his skills and talents for that very purpose. WORSHIP of the ALMIGHTY GOD.

Here's his recent photos from a ministry in Laguna. It was 24 hour praise and worship and intercession and he was there standing, kneeling and leading worship for almost three hours straight.

With his new white guitar

 Sometimes I wonder where he gets that kind of energy because you see we're not that young anymore plus the fact that he also has his day job that is equally stressfull but when it comes to his ministry, he gives his all.
And I am so blessed by how he serve our God and His people. He has indeed that servant heart and I am so grateful I married him :)

The only thing that, well, makes as argue sometimes is that he is always on the look out for new musical gadgets and instruments, he just bought 2 second hand guitars last month and just this morning he was saying again about his favorite music store that is on sale.

He regularly vsist this website http://www.musiciansfriend.com and many more online music store but we have an outstanding agreement. he cannot just buy without informing me and us making a good discussion about it.

This Saturday, they will again participate in Rocktoberpraise. Last night, they played in another church and recorded one song again for the album, he came home at 3 in the morning. On Oct 24, he is leading worship in a big gathering of Pastors and church leaders in Makati.

As the musician's wife, my role is to intercede for him not only when he is in the ministry but on day to day basis. Yes, I am a musician's wife and I love it.

True and Proper Worship

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!