Journey to God in Small Steps

Framework:  Discipleship Class, 2012 Photo Credits:  Truth, http://www.mynewnormals.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/truthU.png Cross, http://www.stockopedia.com/ Victory, http://www.beacontn.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/victory.jpg

The Creator God was and is a God of diversity. Scientists estimate that there are between 3 million to 100 million of species on the planet, of which just 1.2 million species have been registered. There are 7.77 million species of animals, 298,000 species of plants and 611,000 species of fungi, among others. 1   The world population as I've seen recently in the US Census is pegging at around 7.2 billion individuals alive. 2  There are about 196 countries in the world, 3  and there are more than 5,000 ethnicities counted. 4   The Word of God is true when He says  " A nd he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, " (Acts 17:26). He is a God who created diversity .  The first human being was created by the work of His hands: " Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the bre...

This message is a very cost-ly message to write for me. It's not without cost. And it's not the easiest thing in the world to do  –  to let an offender go and bless them, but that's exactly what I have been taught the past few days. I lost an iPad that was given to me by my mother in the summer of this year April 2014 (summer time in the Philippines is different than in the States and other countries). I was going to work riding a shuttle van last Friday and I was the last passenger on board sitting in front. My iPad was placed on top of the van's dashboard and as I got off the van, I did not realize I stood up without it. And then an hour or so later, I finally realized to my horror I left the device in the van. When I came back to look for it, it was already Monday (I had schedule conflicts and I couldn't get there on time to report it and I wasn't sure if they were operating on a weekend.) Believe it or not, I was having faith that the driver of the van ...

Today's mobile devices have what they call "geolocation" functionalities which pinpoint exactly where we are and help us to go from place to place. Do you know that God also has the right place for you? That was our topic in our small group last night. There are several reasons why God's place for us is the best place to be: Reason #1. God's place has God's PEACE. "And the work of righteousness will be peace, and the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever." Isaiah 32:17 (NASB) Reason #2. God's place has God's PROVISION. My pastor once said the place of obedience is the place of our blessing. In the desert, God rained down manna from heaven for the Israelites (Exodus 16:11-30). The first instruction God gave them was to gather the manna only in the morning and not keep it for the next day or else it will rot. And it did. The Israelites had to gather their food by the day. This shows that God was teaching ...

"All Aboard," "Anchors Aweigh" and now part three: The "Expedition"! Just got back from a 3-day Singles Camp by our local church at a resort in Subic.  Our church has a vibrant singles community these days and we thank God for the growth, relationships, and blessings He has allowed to come our way. Our belief is that the Single life was never meant to be boring. It's an adventure with God that you take with Him and other people called to be on the same boat with you. It can be a journey to advance God's kingdom or simply just a journey between people. I always love the fun and camaraderie I get to experience in these events. I simply see and appreciate the differences and uniqueness in personality, passions, pursuits, vocations. In fact a lot of them do know how to have fun, very much in contrast with my more reflective type of personality. But we do see a common link that binds us together  —  it's the belief in loving God an...

I hope everyone is having a great Holy Week so far. I’m amazed at the depth of faith and love our people are showing for one another. Much has been said about the deity of Mary, the mother of Jesus. What is the truth of all of this?  Mary was the mother of Jesus, a virgin when she bore the son of God who would take away the sins of the world. I have respect for Mary for her obedience to God in spite of what the religious people of the time would think towards her. Out of all the disciples, only she, John, Mary Magdalene, and other women remained faithful to Jesus at the time of his death. This is the Mary that I know, respect and honor. However, to me, the deity of Mary as a sinless, present intercessor, raised to the highest honor equal to Jesus, virgin till death as pictured in the rosary where you would repeat her “qualities and authority” is still questionable. The Mary that I honor is a woman who was steadfast in her faith to God, a good mother, and a faithful e...

I want you to know God wants you to succeed in life and in relationships. God has amazing plans specifically for you, plans to prosper you not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. But there is a catch. We have to do it God's way, God's direction and God's timing. Suppose I tell you that the first account of people conducting research in the Bible was in the book of Numbers. The situation: After decades of being in the desert, the Lord commanded the Israelites to survey the land of Canaan. It was the promised land that God had said they would inhabit and inherit. According to the Lord, the land was flowing with milk and honey. The problem was this was no ordinary takeover. There were people already inhabiting the land. These were the Canaanites, an idolatrous and godless people in their time. Moses sent 12 leaders, one for every tribe in Israel. These were his research questions . He said, " Go up through the Negev and on into the hill country....

God is the starter, worker and finisher of our sanctification - the process where we are becoming Christ-like in holiness and righteousness. This world and our bodies will still have their fallen nature but God has promised that he has equipped us with everything good to be able to do his will. " His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. (2 Peter 1:3)" The ultimate test right now is whether we cooperate with God's work in our lives. There are cases where the sanctification is instant like when you confess an area and Jesus sets you free from that bondage.  These can be external habits that can immediately stop once you come to Christ. And there are cases for example in the case of pride - a very internal and delicate issue - that takes God's hand not just inside you but also externally through your circumstances to bring into fruition His work of making one n...