When You Sin, Where/Who Do You Turn To?

1Samuel 12:20-25 "Do not be afraid," Samuel replied. "You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. For the sake of His great Name the Lord will not reject His people because the Lord was pleased to make you His own. As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. But be sure to fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you. Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be swept away."

Who ever said that the Christian Walk was going to be easy? I mean, we were even promised that it was going to be difficult. One of the things that's so evident in our life that makes our Walk so difficult is the struggle with sin. It is the very thing that placed the Son of God on the Cross to take our place in death just to set us free. You see, the more we take in to understand the reality of the danger of sin, the more we really struggle against it, and all the more we should allow what Jesus did on the Cross to take effect on us. This brings me to the verses God’s led me to.

(verse 20)
One of the things I remember most when I was real fresh in my Walk, and I am still very young in Christ, is that I can really tend to overestimate my capabilities as a believer, and underestimate the grace of God. When the Israelites realized the danger their sins could cause them, they practically panicked. However, Samuel encouraged them all the more not to turn from the Lord. I can honestly tell you that the devastation I felt when I stumbled actually caused me to worsen my relationship with Him the more I focused on it. Living with and for Jesus is not based on our emotions, I can tell you that. We serve Christ regardless, because He loves us regardless.

One of the real beautiful things about living with Christ in us is that even though we still sin, so long as we keep coming back to Jesus, we no longer live for sin; we're no longer dead in it, but we’re dead to it, and alive in Christ.

(verse 21)
One of the things that's so evident when it comes to us human beings is that we're really drawn and made to worship something. Things that are other than God come in the form of money, a job, a person, a figure, nature, a gadget, a celebrity, artists, musicians, makeup, computer games, pornography, computer fads, drugs, liquor, self, relationships, etc. But I tell you that anything we turn to which isn't God (even if we think that it is God) is an idol. All idols are worthless and incomparable to the Creator of all you know and see.

(verse 22)
It is really amazing how God is still faithful whichever point we've reached in our life. If you read 2Timothy2:11-13, it says in the first two parts that if we die and endure with Him, He will reward us greatly; if we disown Him, He will also disown us; but the thing in this verse that really captures me most is the fact that He will remain faithful even in our faithlessness. But that's just who God is. He's the Author and Finisher of our faith. He won't stop pursuing us just because we've stop our pursuit of Him. He's the God who won't give up! As unfathomable as it may be, He chose to create us for His purpose, and continues to love us unendingly, immeasurably, and unchangingly.

Before any of us came to know Christ, He wanted us to start a relationship with Him. Once the starting's done, He wants us to keep going, despite the fact that we keep on stumbling. Wherever we are in our relationship with Him, He still wants to meet us right where we're at and to keep pushing forward.

(verse 23)
This one goes out to those who have accountability to someone you're discipling, or even to the friends you have around you. You won't always be in good weather when it comes to leading and guiding people in their life as believers. Even the friends we have who talk to us about their concerns. It could come as a challenge to lead them in the way that is good and right. It shouldn't be our own perspective of what is good and right that we teach, but God's. If you read the whole Psalm119, you can really see how powerful God's Precepts are. His Word declares His sovereignty over all which is created, so there's no one else we should really point anyone to except God.

(verse 24)
God's grace, faithfulness and mercy should cause us to respond to Him with fear and service. Now, fear and service really go hand in hand. There is no service when that righteous fear and recognition of One Who's in authority is absent. If the fear is absent, it's most likely that God's not the One the service is rendered to. Furthermore, fear of the Most High can't really be called "fear" if it does not cause you to serve. If you read Hebrews12:3, it tells us of Jesus' zeal for the glory of God by bringing man back to Himself even if it meant opposition from the ones He came to save.

(verse 25)
Samuel here cautioned the Israelites of God's wrath against sin. Here in the old testament, disobedience to God meant quick deaths to many. But all the time, when God spoke of His wrath and anger against His people, Israel, He's always extending mercy to them, and opening up a door for them to repent. God also extends mercy to us at this very moment. Sadly, a lot of people take God's grace as a licence to sin. They tell themselves it's okay to sin because God's already forgiven, and that nothing really "bad" has happened to them, and God hasn't punished them yet, so it's still okay. It is never for our own selfish pleasure that God had to free us from sin. In fact, sin is so filthy that it took the merciless slaughter of the Son of God just to take it away from us so that we will be cleansed of it, and be made pure to enter His presence.


So do not turn from the Lord, even when you think yourself too unworthy. Fact is, you were never even worthy to begin with. Do not replace God with anything in your life. Idols are worthless. Keep going back to the Cross, because although God knows everything about us, He is still pleased to make us His own. Let's lead each other back to Christ with prayer and encouragement. Lastly, everything about God should cause us to fear and serve Him.

Christmas Outreach 2009

Here it is again! Livingstones Youth Christmas outreach. It was only my second time this year, and this year, we were doing the skit again! My only dilemma this time was that i was casted off as the character, Angel Gabriel, who sort of narrated the story, and acted along with it. To tell you the truth, i was real scared with my role. I'll leave the reasons for your witty imagination.

So weeks before the day we would reach out, we practiced long and hard for it, and prayed for it as well. Good thing too, because everyone helped each other out. Bloopers here and there always cheer everyone up.

Finally, the day came when we would go over to NOPH to reach out to the sick kids and their families stranded there in the hospital for the holidays. Sad to know that people get stuck in the hospital for Christmas huh? Spreading the joy and the real reason for the season was our mission that day.

So there we were, propped up and ready, just about to visit the wards. However, even though we were there to carry out our mission for God, it's quite unfortunate that the enemy never sleeps. i got attacked the very moment we started. The right part of my chest cringed with the greatest pain i've ever experienced in that area. It was so distracting that i really hesitated during our first visit to the first ward. Struggling to keep with the outreach, i did my best, messed up a few of the lines, but whispered a few prayers every time i didn't appear in a scene. i needed God's help that very moment. Ministering to the families and telling them about Jesus comforted me a bit.

Right after we got out, i had to tell KG that i needed prayer. He reminded me that i shouldn't let this distract me, especially since at that moment, we were all on a mission. He prayed over me, and had our group rest up a bit.

God gave me so much strength after that. The pain never left, but it didn't distract me when our group got to the other wards. "Trust, trust," was what rang in my mind while doing the skit. "It's hard, but keep fighting. Jesus never leaves." He kept me going.

Being a little kid myself and ministering to the patients really blessed me to be used as a blessing along with all my other teammates. God is awesome!!!

By the time we finished, i couldn't believe it was over. Honestly, i was still hoping to do a little more visiting to the patients, but we all had to call it a day.

An awesome start to an awesome Christmas eve! The Lord is the ONLY source of our strength in the real battlefield! Can't believe i had to go through all that to be reminded. Jesus loves you!!! <><

Dear Jesus,

It's Christmas again. i mean, You for One should know it, though. Not that it actually is Your birthday, but just because most of the world celebrates Christmas.

i just decided to write You a letter this Christmas. i thought, maybe You'd like something different from me this year, compared to years of just whispering in Your ear, turning away from You, and well, You know the rest. So let me start.

Happy Birthday! You know what i mean. More and more people are celebrating this year, and You know it. Parties are being thrown everywhere, gifts are being given, decorations are put up the whole season, i mean, it's just grand! But it's also sad for me to know that You're the One who's supposed to be the reason we're all celebrating, and You're the One being shut out of all of it. Nobody knows the reason we're singing anymore. There's less and less talk about You every year. Everything's becoming more and more about the presents, the tree, the parties, the food, the games, the booze, and Santa. Even Your Name in Christmas has been replaced with a big X. i can't imagine how that must be for You. i mean, You came to forgive, and You're the One forgotten. But i guess You're not surprised.

As for me, i choose to remember the real reason for celebrating. Jesus, there's not much i can give to You, but i do want You to take my time and turn it into moments of glorifying You. You know i can't love the way You do, or comfort the way You can, or forgive, or provide, or do anything You can, but that's the reason why i've turned my life to You. It's all i can give.

Jesus, You know my heart and You know how it loves to ask. But this year, i'd like to add others in my wishlist this year. i'm not a child anymore, so You won't see any toys down below. The wants of a teen are much different from what a little young one asks for. So here it goes. Just a few things i want to have.

1 First and foremost, my family (the one at home) really misses me. School really keeps me out of the house, not to mention the things i love doing in church. i'd really like You to bring us closer this time. They would like that.

2 Peace within the household. i'm not asking for a perfect Christmas, just one where people aren't all at one another would be enough.

3 If You plan for me to reach out to people in need, please do. Especially to the ones forgotten.

4 You're the great Healer. Thanks for restoring me back from my sickness. For Christmas, i also wish for You to help me mend the friendships i might have messed up. You know how i am in need of coaching when it comes to friends.

5 i know i'm not the most [let's say] charming guy in the world, nor the most easy to be with, nor the one who knows what to do, nor the least annoying. i can never take back the things i have said or done to the people i hurt, so please give me the heart to ask for forgiveness, and for them [and me] to be able to forgive me.

6 For all the people i dearly love, if it is possible that You would give them a better Christmas than me, please do. That would quite honestly make my world.

7 For all the people i care for, mend and build them up in their relationship with You. Count me in this one.

8 For all the people i've met who don't have a relationship with You yet, open doors to let them enter one with You. Show them that now is the perfect time to start.

9 You've blessed me with so much. More than most of the world, in fact! So this one goes out to everyone who might not make it this year. Be with them, provide for them, and let them know the true meaning of Christmas. You know what to do.

10 For me to be able to bless You.

11 Most important, if You could use me to make Your Name shine brighter and brighter to the world, and not only for this Christmas, but for the rest of my life, don't hesitate to show me Your plans.

This is my letter to You, Jesus. Just hope these words from a just turned seventeen-year-old are enough for You.

Your beloved,

Matt

Matt and Raina Adventures

[okay, so this one happened last month, October24, 2009.. after this Raina said that this was her first ever embarrassing moment]

good swimming with kuya Izzy, followed by a really awkward surprise visit to RJ's, then an awesome time sharing before a great breakfast at ChowKing.

okay, so here's what happened.. me and kuya Izzy decided to go swimming today at 6am, and then go out and share Christ to random people right afterwards. our friend, Raina, told us that she also wanted to come along, so since her house was near by the pool, we both decided to pay her a visit. out of her bedroom window came the sleepiest, groggiest face you could get from her. she told us she would just go right after.

so kuya Izzy and i went swimming for a while, and Raina came by with a Bible and a hard boiled egg to eat. since Raina arrived, Izzy and i decided to take our showers to start the day. only problem is, that Izzy forgot his underwear, and decided to go home.

SO, Raina and i decided to pay RJ a visit since his house was really near. it was 7:10am. Raina and i argued a few times over the route to his house, until we finally arrived. we saw our friend, Jobert there, and he told us RJ was still sleeping, and asked if we wanted him to wake RJ up. i told him we would rather have the pleasure of doing so. we went inside the gate, and after a few wet-nosed greetings from their dogs (and having Raina almost jump on my back because of that, if i might add), we came inside the house and found a sleeping RJ resting in their livingroom bed. Raina and i approached the side nearest to him, and then Raina whispered to RJ's ear, "i am your conscience." this got us both laughing for a very short while, but NOTHING could prepare us for what happened next. right after she whispered in RJ's ear, and having him toss and turn after that, one head popped out from right beside RJ, and asked, "huh?"

the sleepy head of RJ's mom looked at both of us straight in the eye from under the covers. Raina and i FROZE in embarrassment, and (after a long pause, so to say,) then explained we came for RJ to have him team up with us for sharing. his mom shook him, and when he woke up, he realized it all wasn't a dream.

Raina and i collapsed, laughing on their sofa, recalling what just happened. after RJ brushed his teeth, we went out and strolled in the park. we were all able to share to a couple of people right before Izzy came back, fresh and ready (if you know what i mean). after sharing to the two people, the four of us split up into two groups, Izzy and RJ composing the first, then me and Raina the second. Raina and i were able to share to four guys from Mabinay, and were just filled to the brim! PTL for this morning! one of them asked us exactly how to receive Jesus, so we led him in prayer.

we then went to ChowKing for breakfast and fellowship and recalled how really great and funny today was.

Raina's perspective:
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=299122380583

When Roads Fork In

Psalm17:6

"I call on You, O God, for You will answer me; give ear to me and answer my prayer."

It's been a while since i've had timely fellowship with sibs. i mean, recalling MM days, blowing off the dust from the images in my head of the wonderful moments spent there with my Ates and Kuyas. Maybe it hasn't been that long though, but i still miss that Gethsemane. Anyway, times have changed for the better, and God is still sovereign over all, and He's still at work as He always has been.

The fellowships i'm getting into, and the new friends i'm making are just awesome. They're a real encouragement to me, and i'm so blessed to have been led to them. However, since i started college, i've been missing out a bit on fellowship. i mean, i rarely get to see my friends from church these days because of tight schedules, not to mention days pass by like weeks for me, but i am really glad for Friday nights at the Youth and Wednesday nights at Core.

For a while now, i've been praying about having a brother in Christ to chill, hang out, and Fish with during the free hours. God's definitely been doing some preparation because i didn't know what i was getting myself into one Tuesday morning while waiting for the Registrar's office to open and get my schedule printout to be finally stamped, ENROLLED. i sat down waiting, and there at the other end of the row of seats sat a guy who was doing the same. Well, we were both not going anywhere, so i had to share Christ to him. i was finally able to open up a conversation with him, but quickly found out that he too was a Christian from the same church as i was. His name is Dan, and i was curious about never having to have met him even though he has been attending church longer than i have; when he said he doesn't know when and where youth nights and college nights are held, and can't find anyone to hang out with. It broke me to learn that because he's unable to find Christian friends, and his timidity, he decided to just go about his days as a loner, rather than getting mixed with nonbelievers. That's when God grabbed my heart the most.

The Christian life was never meant to be lonely. I knew at that moment that my prayers were answered. To further confirm it, the free time in our schedules during Tuesdays and Thursdays matched! The same morning, since i was off at 9:30 in my only class, Dan and i went to validate our IDs. i asked him if he was up for some fishing, and was blessed to know he didn't hesitate one bit, even though he didn't have much experience, and still wanted to learn how. We were able to talk to this one guy sitting next to us, and he was very thankful. While waiting, it became clear to me that Dan really felt lonely. He warmed up to me real quickly, and shared to me that he too was praying for a brother to hang out with and talk to about God in an edifying way. God just put us both in awe when we both learned we had the same prayer answered.

We now meet up regularly on Tuesday mornings to listen to sermons, and TTh afternoons to do some witnessing. Dan's been a real blessing to me in just a short while. He reminds me that there really is nothing up for grabs in this world which will ever satisfy the Spirit. i guess my task now is to bring him out of his shell and encourage him to stand boldly for God regardless the circumstance.

God's been real awesome as He always is! <><

One in the Lord

September 18, 2009

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many from one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

-Romans12:12

With God's children, there are no barriers. Everyone called forth to be His is family! i had an awesome experience regarding this just today.

Today, at about past 4pm, i was able to meet this guy named Lau, and after a short conversation, i discovered that he was a Christian. We exchanged encouraging words for a while, then i asked him if he was up for some FISHING. He said he was! =)

We then turned to our left, and saw this one guy who wasn't going anywhere, so we decided to try to talk to him. Only problem was, we were pushing each other as to who would be the one to talk to the guy. i finally opened up the conversation about his views on God and Jesus, then we (Lau and i) preached the Gospel to him. We learned his name was Kyle and it was awesome just looking at him respond to what Jesus had done for him! Overwhelmed, convicted and repentant, Lau and i prayed over him and gave him the opportunity to accept Jesus into his life as his Lord and Savior, and he willingly accepted and had a few follow-up questions. Praise Jesus Lau and i were able to answer. Heaven was rejoicing that day as Lau and i welcomed him into the family.

Kyle was surprised to learn also that Lau and i just met that very day, and Lau sheepishly said, "Like brothers na noh?" It's just awesome how God unites His kids through His Son, Jesus! Lau and i were in such awe that day as to how God used us even though we knew practically nothing about each other. Nonetheless, we're one in the family of the Lord! <><

Renewed Fire

August 31, 2009

After my major breakthrough, things have been smooth. So smooth, that i wasn't used to it. Thank God for what He had in store for me!

Lately, i've been feeling a bit empty. It's really not a pleasant spot to be, but it really made me question, "Lord, what's wrong with me? Why is it that the things i'm doing for You don't seem worth doing than just a few weeks ago?" i knew something was wrong with my relationship with Him, and that kept me thinking.

Last, last Friday, Kuya Ed and Kuya Josh arrived here in Dumaguete to have a short vacation. i went to the airport at 8am, thinking that a bunch of the youth also planned to meet up with them, only to find out that i was the only one who did so. Anyway, when they both finally arrived, i met up with them, and they invited me over to Josh's place, where both of them will be staying for the next ten days, for breakfast (my second, if i might add). They had me update them with what was going on with the youth, and of course, i gave them good news and bad news. Then we all talked about church, how we were, plans, and a few things under the sun.

After Kuya Josh and i visited a friend in the hospital that same morning, while Kuya Ed decided to catch some Z's, Kuya Josh and i had a talk. He really asked me about why i was serving God. Now, i really can't remember what my answer was, but what he said to me really convicted me. He asked me, "In the absence of the people who encourage you, and the people who keep you accountable, is your relationship with the Lord strong enough to withstand the pressures of the world?" Now that really hit me. He then told me that we serve God, not because we have anything to gain in it, whether it be the good feeling we get in serving, or any other reason, but we serve Him because He is worthy of our service! That's why we always go back to the Cross. He did it all for us, so why not do it all for Him? To us who are serving, in the corners of our minds, we might not realize that we had other motives of serving or pursuing the faith.

As for me, i've been in tight situations for my entire walk with the Lord until just recently, and after our talk with Kuya Josh, i realized that when God lifted the weights, it wasn't Him i was completely leaning on to. i was mostly relying on the encouragements i kept getting from my sibs at church, that i have forsaken my First Love! Fact is, He is worthy of my all, and i have lost sight of that! It just proves that EVERYTHING in this dark world is meaningless, and nothing but a mist blown away by the wind. Not that encouragement isn't good, but it shouldn't be the reason why i serve. God should be the reason of service! He is the only thing that will not pass away.

When i got home that day, i just fell to God and asked Him to forgive me for leaning onto something else, and for Him to just take me.

The next day, after sharing to a bunch of friends at McDonald's with Kuya Josh and Kuya Ed, we went to gather a bunch of the youth at the room where a friend of ours was in because Ed and Josh had something to share to us. Basically, it was about what Kuya Josh and i talked about the day before, and that really encouraged me more. Then Kuya Ed got to the part about sharing our faith. He said something which convicted me further about who to share to. He told us that we should not pray about whether or not to share to someone, because God had already commanded us to do so. Rather, pray for the words we need to say to extend Him to those who are in need. We also shouldn't comprimise with other fellow believers. To those who proclaim the Name of the Lord, we should also test them whether or not they know what Christianity means, because we don't want people running around, thinking that they are saved. That really hit me as well. i mean, there's no good excuse why not to share the Gospel! Says in 2Timothy1:7"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline."

After that, i was dead-set ready to share. When i got home that day, i asked God to just empty me of myself, and let Him take control. After that, He's led me to so many people! i mean, i'm sharing to at least one person every day! God drastically changed me! It was AWESOME!!! If you would've asked me to share to that many people, i would probably run straight for the EXIT door. But God took hold. For the past week, probably the only time when my flesh took more control was when i complained about something.

It has been an awesome week. i've been given a better, more genuine fire for the Lord. i pray God will continue to carry this out, and that i would continue to just keep surrendering to Him.

Check your motive of service. So many have fallen because they have lost sight of the reason why there's service. Also, never comprimise your faith. Let the lost be welcomed home.

Remember, we are all sinners(Romans3:10-12), bound to hell(Romans6:23), punishment and death, but because God loves us so much, that He gave us Jesus Christ, to live the life we could not live, a perfect life, so that no sin would be found in Him. Because He was blameless, He offered Himself up as a replacement, taking upon Himself the punishment that was supposed to be for us, not because of anything we've ever done to deserve Him doing it for us, but because we were so in need, that He did that to clean us from our sins so we would be found blameless (Isaiah52:13-Isaiah53:12). The only thing we have to do is to accept Him as our Lord and Savior, and repent. Repentance means trying not to sin, and the best way to do that is to read the Bible (Psalm119). There's no other way (John14:6).

2GBDG!!! (To God Be The Glory)

SOFT L!!! (Sold Out For The Lord) <><