Beyond Repair, by Rev. Arnel Tan

Beyond Repair
By Rev. Arnel Tan

“Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be broken beyond repair. “
-Proverbs 29:1 NLT

These wise words from the book of Proverbs serve also as a timely warning for those who have cheapened the grace of God as a license to commit sin. We need to transcend our biases so we can see the real intention of the Scripture and to wisely apply its principles into our daily grind. When we are the culprit we seek grace and forgiveness, when we are the victims we switch mode from grace to stern application of justice. I think the balance is achieved when we learn to enjoy grace in the fear of the Lord!

Remember, though God in His grace has allowed us many chances to recover from our fallings and failings, He does not erase the damage or consequences of our choices. Grace equips as to move on as we pay the hard and long consequences of our compromise. In other words while we are rebuked by God let us not harden our hearts. Let’s pay immediate attention and deliberately bring all our weakness to God in prayer. As Alan Redpath would say, “drown it in prayer” and we have a greater chance to enjoy God’s best than spend the rest of our lives paying the consequences.

Consider the word “whoever.” What it really means is that the passage covers anybody regardless of rank or race or spiritual records. We are all included in the possibility of being stubborn and hard or numb. If any body can be in the list of the “whoevers”, it also follows that we can suffer the stage by which we are beyond repair. Honestly, I don’t know the details of being beyond repair. But deep within I can sense an abyss of hopelessness and see the horror of having an unbroken heart. Beyond repair may mean God leaving you to your self, just waiting for the time for you to self destruct, with no sense of conviction and no desire for repentance.

Words are not enough to describe the misery of a life left alone to the custody of self. Here we find no chance at all to change. It’s a different kind of death, something sacred died and it is only a matter of time before the body is buried. All hope for recovery is snuffed out. We can only bow low before God and ask for mercy that God won’t allow us to reach this invisible line of provoking God. Aware of my tendency to destroy myself, I can only cry for grace and more grace that I may still sense God’s presence and delight in His discipline. It’s good to know that, when we can still feel the pain of God’s rebuke and can still cry in brokenness, bowing down in repentance, that we have not cross the line yet. Praise God when we can still feel the piercing of His words and still melt in the fire of his Presence. Hallelujah we are not yet beyond repair!

“Lord my eyes can’t see the line You have drawn before I can be beyond repair. Lord don’t allow me to even come close to that line! Have mercy Jesus. Amen”

-----------------------------------------

Rev. Arnel Tan is the Senior Pastor of Davao Chinese Baptist Church and station manager of DXFE-Davao

=====================

Hubby's mission trip

It's confirm hubby is leaving on the 16th of November and will be back on the 25th just in time for a friends wedding.

How I wish I could come and do this short mission trip together like what we did last February in Macau and Hongkong but sad to say I can't. First I'm tied up with loads of office work and second we don't have enough funds. we still don't have enough even now for his trip but we are holding on to God's promise. Fort sure He will provide.

And I do hope this would be the first and last mission trip that he has to go through without me. And you bet this would be my 10m longest day. But I am looking forward to his coming back because the next day we will be going out of town for the wedding and will stay there for 2 nights. We will checked in a not so fancy hotel and definitely not one of those myrtle beach vacation rentals but that would be enough to make up for the 10 long days that he won't be here.

Please pray for him, pray for strength and that God will make him safe there. Thanks everyone!

Thankful Thursday

Today’s thankful Thursday theme is about veterans, and Iris is right, we don’t have that here but still I want to include them to my list today.

So here goes mine :

1. Thank you Lord for the bravery of the soldiers who gave their lives for our country and for the people.

2. I want to thank you Lord for sustaining me, my physical strength-I’ve been working like a dog in the office for the past weeks now and it id draining me. Thank God for just being my strength both physical and spiritual.

3. Thank you for the tests of life, I know Lord I don’t pass it with flying colors but I do hope I passed it. Thank you for loving me even when I am at my worst. Thank you for your patience, the way you understand me and comfort me. Thank you so much.

Prayer Request

Please pray for my dear husband as he is about to join a short term mission trip in Malaysia, he will be with a group of musicians (Musicians on Fire) and they are set to leave on the 15th. Right now he doesn't have plane ticket yet at hand nor he is booked but we are leaving it up to the Lord. If it is His will then everything will be alright.

I do not have the details yet of the place they will be staying in, for sure it's not like some nice new york hotel deals but knowing hubby he will be able to adapt to wherever they will be stationed.

They will be working with our Pastor missionary who is based in Kota Kinabalu. I was hesitant to let him go when he first told me this but God comforted me.

Please pray for the provision for this trip, for the mighty moving of the Holy Spirit as they sing to churches there and pray also for their safety.

Thanks everyone!!

Ask in Prayer

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Mark 11:24

Laughter is still the best

medicine and the best treatment for wrinkles. When you laugh you feel young, according to studies, humor helps patients relieve stress and heal. Filipinos are known for being such a happy people. Remember right after the storm Ondoy that flooded the whole Metro Manila? which did not spared our home, we can still smile and laugh right after and it helps a lot.

According to helpguide.org -

Humor and laughter strengthen your immune system, boost your energy, diminish pain, and protect you from the damaging effects of stress. Best of all, this priceless medicine is fun, free, and easy to use.

Laughter is good for your health

* Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.

* Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.

* Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.

* Laughter protects the heart. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.


So don't hold back, laugh your heart out once in a while and always SMILE!!!

Ministry Needs

It's been 4 days since the Praisin Kid's Town event, (see pictures below) and again from us, thank you very much for the help you extended, those who supported for funds and for those who gave their time, we are very grateful.

Now, we are working for the Christmas party for the same kids. We know very well that these kids would enjoy again the Christmas party we are preparing for them.

Please include us in your prayers again, here are our ministry needs

1. funds - we want to give each kid a grocery bag for the family to enjoy on Christmas eve.

2. toys -for the kids

3. food for the party

We also need a vehicle (van), we need this in picking up the kids in their area, bless our neighbor for lending us his in our last event. On our next mini carnival since we have now the dance pad we will just be needing our own tv not necessarily LCD tvs actually a second hand one will do just so we will not borrow na.

Again, thank you for being with us in this ministry, we will keep you all posted for the upcoming events for the kids!

God bless you all!!

Pictures from Praisin Kids Town event!

Busy kids at the art station

busy place..I love the balloons we made!!

registration area

happy faces!!

what a big smile!!

at the prize station

kids with their loots! (I'll make a separate post for these particular group of kids..watch out for it!)

giving thanks to the LORD!!

The volunteers!!
Thank you Lord for the provisions, Thank you to those who helped us!!
To God be all the GLORY!!!

For more pictures visit this link :
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=155227&id=507437717&l=e03f46f242

Say Continually

TODAY´S SCRIPTURE

"Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; and let them say continually, ´Let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant´"
(Psalm 35:27, NKJ).

TODAY´S WORD from Joel and Victoria

What are you saying continually? Do you go around talking about how bad things are in the economy and how tough your job is, or do you declare, "Let the Lord be magnified Who takes pleasure in my prosperity?"

I believe one reason that we are supposed to say this "continually" is so that we can get it deep down on the inside of us. God knows that when we hear something long enough, eventually, we’ll believe it. When I think about it, I can just hear the people in the Old Testament saying all day long, "God is prospering me. God is taking me to new levels. God has great things in store." They were saying in effect, "New doors are opening. My health is getting better. My marriage is being restored. My children are going to do great things."

Friend, God takes great joy in prospering you. Get that down on the inside of you. This is a new day and you’re entering new levels. Start continually declaring God’s goodness and faithfulness in your life and watch those supernatural doors of opportunity open before you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father God, today I choose to declare Your goodness. I choose to acknowledge Your favor and kindness. Thank You for taking pleasure in prospering me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Mobile homes

I didn't know they were also called static caravans and that mobile homes were derived from trailer houses. Probably it's like the wagons of the old times, where you carry all your stuff and you can just park anywhere if you get tired. Saw that form the movie "Loves comes softly".

In modern times though, it could be the road truck, you know those big cars being used by celebrities. You can actually live in it.

But of course these homes are real homes in the US. I supposed they should be mobile but I read that these types of homes are not being sold for it's mobility but because it is cheaper than the traditional homes.

Would you consider buying one if ever?

Haven't seen anything like that here in our country. Filipinos..what are your thoughts about this?