scared and unsure

those are two of the words in the english vocabulary that you don't want in one sentence.

I want to do more than what I am presently accomplishing...I believe that the Lord blessed me with a creative mind and impressive audio/visual instinct...part of a masterplan that I am still trying to figure out.

My search started way back in 2006 when i surrendered myself for missions. I knew that starting at that point, God is preparing me to go somewhere. Where? I have no idea...all I know is that i need to go! years passed and the desire to go diminsihed...over time, i was starting to be uncertain if God really did call me. i continued with my life and tried to be as good as a christian as i can be...then came Missions Conference week 2010...God rekindled that flame in me! Hearing testimonies after testimonies from missionaries, I was sure that God wants me to do something.

Right now, i will be concentrating with the basics that I once taught...then once i have mastered the basics, I am praying that God would give me an opportunity to have formal training in the area of Biblical Studies. I want to know more about the Lord and His ways...and also, I want to gain the capacity to rightly divide His truths and illuminate it to people who are lost.

God...I pray...that you give me the grace to overcome being scared and unsure!

calling all the "nobodies"

Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don't see many of "the brightest and the best" among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families. Isn't it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these "nobodies" to expose the hollow pretensions of the "somebodies"? That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. That's why we have the saying, "If you're going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God." 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (The Message Bible)

I love this translation...this is probably how it sounded when King James read it way back in 1611...

so...if you have been burdened to do something or go somewhere, don't hesitate and think about your qualification...because if God called the "nobodies" then i'm sure we fit the requirement. All we have to do is pray hard and make sure within ourselves the plan of God.

and hannah prayed...

A faithful woman, loved by her husband, blessed with a closed womb. Mocked by her husband's other wife, she continued to go through life prayerfully and faithfully...everyday, she would pour out her hearts desire and tell God "If you would bless me with a child, I will offer him up to you all the days of his life..." A petition that sounded desperate...but doctrinal in a divine perspective. In an act of grace, God answered the petition and gave her a son that she would name Samuel. By the time the child was old enough not to be nursed by her mother, she brought her son to the temple. With all integrity, she fulfilled her promise to God. A very unusual act from a woman who might not be able to conceive another child. While at the temple, she prayed...not for another child, but in recognition of God's amazing grace and awesome power...

HANNAH PRAYED, and said, My heart exults and triumphs in the Lord; my horn (my strength) is lifted up in the Lord. My mouth is no longer silent, for it is opened wide over my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation. There is none holy like the Lord, there is none besides You; there is no Rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly; let not arrogance go forth from your mouth, for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed.The bows of the mighty are broken, and those who stumbled are girded with strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children languishes and is forlorn. The Lord slays and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and He lifts up. He raises up the poor out of the dust and lifts up the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with nobles and inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and He has set the world upon them. He will guard the feet of His godly ones, but the wicked shall be silenced and perish in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; against them will He thunder in heaven. The Lord will judge [all peoples] to the ends of the earth; and He will give strength to [a]His king (King) and exalt the power of His anointed (Anointed [b]His Christ).(1 Samuel 2:1-10)

i am amazed at the level of maturity this woman had...and because of that level of maturity, God blessed her with 3 more sons and 2 daughters. When you least expected it, God will make sure you get the whole picture! do you think Hannah was blessed becuase of the promise he gave out? I believe that God would still bless Hannah despite of the promise...despite of the offering...it's the fact that HANNAH PRAYED...

...freedom...

freedom is one of God's grace gift that we enjoy. The freedom to choose our lifetime partners up to small everyday choices are part of God's great design called life. He did not conceptualized robots for His glory...but sensitive creatures that are prone to failures, pain, sickness and whatever people or circumstances throws at them. They are born and then they die...they breath in life...they grow...they laugh...they cry...they are unique individuals with a capacity to comprehend...they learn...they love...they are God's handiwork...but even though we came from a Creator, He did not impose His values in us...instead, He allowed us to choose against him...it hurts Him so much for us to be away from Him, but He just patiently waits for our return...He even gave up His only Son as an initial investment...but, only a few of us recognizes that act of love...

so who are we to curtail someone else's freedom? who are we to impose our preferences on other people when we can't even stand firm on our own convictions...who are we to demand our rights when God would not even touch our freedom to choose?

abundant grace

When apostle Paul complained to God the predicament he's been having, God replied that His grace was sufficient...never did I understand what Paul was going through, but it has to be something big for him to bring it up many times. But once God answered, i never did read another word from Paul. Sometimes I wonder how i would react under those circumstances...if I were Paul, would i just shut up after an indefinite answer on how God would solve this "thorn in the flesh"? We have to look at Paul's story!

You see, Paul was shown grace by God from the begining of his Christian Life. Being blinded along the road to Damascus rather than being killed by God for persecuting most of Israel's God fearing men is a big incentive to count. Paul even considered himself chief of all sinners...not a good info to put in your facebook page, yet God used him everywhere! He was the most successful missionary to the gentiles. He expressed grace as openly as God had poured out grace to him...you might consider his letters as strong, but if you would take time to analyze it...you would sense the character of God in every word...he often pleads for his readers to reconsider doing things the right way..."I BESEECH THEE..." Paul said.

If God could extend grace to a murderer of Christians and use him for His glory...then how much more could he extend grace to us? If you think you've done such a sin that you are not worthy of forgiveness, think again...think about Paul...don't belittle our God...don't think too much of yourself. God's integrity is so intact that He can handle any mistake we make...as long as we recognize that we need His forgiveness...I John 1:9 nails it good when it states that if we would just recognize that we have done wrong infront of God and tell it to Him directly and privately, He would always look back at what His Son has done and say "FORGIVEN!" Because that's how God rolls...with abundant grace!