DON'T BE AFRAID, JUST BELIEVE!

MARK.5.21-43.

 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.   At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”    “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”   But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”    While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”   Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”    He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.”  But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!” ). Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

God is in control of everything. He works things out in His own ways and time. Meditating  chapter 5 of Mark about the story of Jesus healing the bleeding woman and raising back to life a young girl. There's this one question i got after reading the story; did Jesus got delayed on his way to heal the young girl and that caused her death because someone blocked his way? Im talking about the woman who's been bleeding for twelve years who also needed Jesus help. Jairus, the father of the young girl, desperately got on his way to Jesus to ask for her daughter to get healed. As Jesus started to go on his way to where the dying young girl was, someone uexpectedly took hold of Jesus and kinda stole the attention of Jesus; the bleeding woman. everywhere Jesus went he is crowded with so many people with diffirent intentions and concerns. This bleeding woman is just one of those crowd pressing her way  because she heared and believed that she'll be healed once she got near with Jesus. In desperation she push herself hard towards Jesus with just a desire of taking hold the fringe of Jesus robe, not demanding for full attention from him. She believed  that one touch is enough to heal her, and she might be thinking that Jesus has another priority on that moment. The woman successfully got a hold of Jesus' robe and miraculously received healing. Her act of faith got Jesus attention. Jesus felt a power released from him and it ceased him from walking to find out who's faith that is so powerful that moved his power. What about the dying girl who  badly needs his help? Jesus needs to keep going for him to save the girl but Jesus has his own way of doing things. He stopped and took time to find who would that be and later on that bleeding woman got more than what she asked for, more than just touching Jesus robe. As soon as Jesus knew that it was the  bleeding woman, he took time to talk to the woman, affirming and confirming her total healing. After this amazing scene there came a bad news, the girl whom Jesus needed to heal already died. Did Jesus missed it? If he just go straight,undisturb by the bleeding woman he possibly prevented the young girl to die.It came to him first before that bleeding woman, and why Jesus didnt prioritize it? This question got me. If i were on that moment i would probably think why did Jesus delayed his way to heal the girl. I feel regret and pity for the father and the girl. The worst outcome would be blaming Jesus and the bleeding woman. 

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There are times in my life that i thought Jesus is slow in keeping his promises; things are not happening that way it should be and Jesus is more concern about others more than me. I thought that everything is too late, just like the girl who died because Jesus got interrupted to someone's need. This leads me to thinking that I am His least priority and others on the other side deserves an immediate attention. These were the lies i believed in and it caused me to doubt Jesus. I felt punished from all of my failures to him , from all of my sin and i keep on asking God what did i do to deserve  it. My confidence in him slowly to weaken and everything  that consumes my heart and mind is distrust and pain. It feels like you're getting there, almost there, and your pushing hard more because you can see it coming on your way and suddenly the button pause is pressed; it cuts all the excitement and the extreme joy you have. I thought this is one of the most terrible feeling someone will encounter.
Why does God allow pause or break moments in my life? When everything seems good, why there has to be a detour that would somehow add more time that made the journey long and tough. There are a lot of things i learned and realized from this experience and one of those is the state of my heart during those pause moment. Practically i was hurt and in pain, having a hard time to understand and accept the situtation. My heart was totally blinded from seeing what God is doing and is able to do with the situation, all i know is that everything is in chaos. I have all these regrets and thoughts that if God just did this and that, this would not have happened. Yet after all the drama, i came to my senses that He is God and I am not; my discenment of things cannot be compared on how God does it. This truth brought me to a place of remorse and nothingness; indeed I am no good apart from him and who am i to question him and tell God what to do. This breakthrough usher me to total surrender in his will trusting him that he is in control. This is an everyday choice for me to do, and it's a process.

DON'T BE AFRAID JUST BELIEVE

The story of the young girl did not end in death because Jesus was not able to arrived before time she died. As the bad news reached them, the father told Jesus not to come anymore because it's too late. But Jesus speak a powerful word that brought hope and life, Mark 5:36 Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” . It's not the end yet, is what Jesus meant. This is the promise and the assurance that he has for you and me whose encountering pause or break moment. Jesus already decided in his heart that he would heal that girl, and even death cannot stop it, because he heals and raise dead back to life. According to Jesus,Mark 5:39 “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” God is just putting to sleep some things in our lives and in the right time he will awaken that. Nothing is impossible to God, we all know that. We just have to believe it with all our heart, and the best way to activate it is to put it to the test.. its hard for us to see the impossible turning out to be possible when not put to the test.  2corinthians 12.9.But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. It is in our broken moments where God's power is highlighted. Give the spotlight to Jesus it's not for your drama moments. :)

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God has already appointed everything for us. If In his timeline you are scheduled to go through this specific season then so be it because He holds in his heart the purpose of why he sent it. Questioning God will not bring you good, it will only make the tough situation worse. DON'T BE AFRAID, JUST BELIEVE. I know it's not easy to do it, but we can do it through Him and make it an everyday decision, one step at a time. Though you have decided once to be forever with Jesus you have to strengten that decision everyday. As you wake up in the morning thank the Lord for another day, spend time in worshiping , praying and being filled by His Word. This will not prevent hard times to come,but it will prevent you from falling away.Do the things God called you to do. Be selfless in times of hardship; LOVE MORE.

These are just few powerful Word of God, reminding and encouraging us to keep moving in the midst of hard times.
*philippians1:6 Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

*Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

*2 corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

*2 corinthians 1:20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.

*Romans 8:32-39He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Let us continue to be strenghtened through God's word. keep calm, keep loving God,keep doing your calling because God is in control. The delays and detours that are taking place are the best ways to prepare us for the greater things that will come. Dont be afraid and just believe.:)

Believing in FAITH

Genesis.15.6.niv Abram believed the Lord , and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Matthew.9.2.niv Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”

Matthew.9.20-29.niv Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”   Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.   As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”   When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”  “Yes, Lord,” they replied.   Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”;


These were just few stories of great faith which were greatly rewarded by God. Each character faced different circumstances; the impossible made possible by their faith. When prompted with great challenge the immediate respond would be worry and fear. Its easy to magnify the situation and make it worse than to be at peace and seek for a solution. Fear and Doubt are two of the greatest enemy of believing of what God can really do to the circumstance we are in. It paralyzed our ability to see beyond the natural eyes can see, the belief and conviction our hearts can feel, and the mind to go beyond not just knowledge and understanding. Fear and doubt mislead us to believe the limitations and not the greatness of God's power. It boxed our faith, and it only allow us to see of what we can't do.

Every stories of great faith that we can read in the Bible is a testimony that our God honors our faith and our faith honors Him. Having faith in Him is acknowledging His power that He is able to do everything no matter what the circumstance is. And God doesnt have a required measurememt of faith, faith itself is powerful enough to activate God's power.

Matthew.21.21-22.niv Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.  If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

The only thing we need to do is BELIEVE IN FAITH AND YOU WILL RECIEVE. Is there a difference between believing in faith and just believing alone. When we believe in faith, it gives us the will and the hope of waiting strong. Believing is a great first step, yet faith is what will sustain us to reach the fulfilment of every promise. There are instances that God gives immediate answers to all our prayers, on the other hand there is what we called PROCESS where God makes and fulfill everything in His perfect time and will.

The stories   qouted where different from each other but all of them tells about believing in faith. The paralyzed man, the 2 blind men and the bleeding woman recieved immediate healing the moment they asked from Jesus. I am just amazed how Jesus honors their faith, it is what that moved him. He didnt asked them so many questions, like the reason, what happened, how long and well they know Jesus, or verse in the bible they can qoute, Jesus only saw in them the need of a savior and healer, compassion and mercy that will put an end to their unpleeasant situation. These people only hear hearsays about Jesus who can heal the sick, set free people who is demon possesed, and raise the dead. Their eagerness and desire to get healed drives them to believe in faith to recieve healing ,no calculating, no researching at all. Whatever they have heard is already enough for them that Jesus is able to do the same thing to them.

And there was Araham, also a great example of faith. His story shows how faith must be accompanied with obedience. The moment God called him to go to a place which he doesnt know, choosing the mountains rather than the plains, saving Lot from being captive, believing of having a child though he and sarah was old, and the greatest test was to offer his son Isaac; All of these were done by faith through obedience.

Whatever situation and however hard it may be, believe in faith that God is able to get us through out of the situation. We just have to be in the place of obedience, trusting God with all our heart that He is in control. Perhaps God has been waiting that step of faith from us to fully open the door that will lead us to greater things. FAITH, is like a sweet aroma unto Him that really pleases Him.

Certified and Competent

Indeed, those who truly trust in the Lord 

will never be put to shame. 

Today was just so clever in displaying Gods goodness and glory. I can't help but recall those hard times i was  facing, where I am so full of doubt,pain and negativity. As much as I wanted to enumerate those hard moments, the goodness of God is more than worth sharing and it surpasses them all. God indeed turned my mourning into dancing.He heard my prayers and cries  in my sleepless night. Though this is not the defining moment for all, yet God can really bring out good and great from something that you think so impossible and hopeless.

Job 1:21 

and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart.  The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”

Perhaps the Lord has taken away something from my hands,but it's not because he doesn't love me, or I don't deserve it, surely because He has a  greater plan more than anything else.

My Testimony

The Lord has granted one of the desires I have, I passed the National Certification III level as an Events Manager, yes! Iam a  CERTIFIED EVENTS MANAGER, finally!! but before grasping that victory, I encountered this what I called FAITH ENHACER AND REFINER, truly my faith and trust was hardly tested. 

Because of so much pressure and stress upon taking the assessment, I had a sleepless night. Too many things running in my mind that it kept me awake the whole night. I'm starting to worry coz I might lose my focus on the assessment. To calm my heart and mind, I repeatedly declare the Word that God gave me. 

Psalm 25:3

No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause.

the Lord reminded me that its a matter of trusting him all nthe way. So I commanded my heart and mind to really pit my whole in Him. 

Despite of all the pressure and thrill, I was able to lead the prayer with the group and also I had the chance to share the word that God gave me. It was all about giving glory to God whatever the result may be. I know it really brought all of us to God's embrace and it does pacify our hearts. Personally, I felt pressured upon sharing and giving some encouragement because of the thought of failing the exam and I myself will not pass the test of faith. I just took a deep breath and gave  it all away to Jesus, trusting him the pre, during ,and the post of the situation. I decided in my heart that whatever will happen, yet I will praise him!!!
 The surge got tougher. As I was carefully making my proposal, suddenly the laptop that I am using hanged and in a snapped shutdown. Wahhh.. Everything that I have started vanished. I felt so cold and clueless of what to do next. I don't have the ample time to start again and finish the proposal. Initially, my reaction was I'm very worried and grrrr.. Yet I tried to composed myself and just breathed a prayer, Trust in God.Trust in God. I asked for wisdom  what to do and I know God's peace didn't left me.I was forced to transfer at the computer lab and faced the monitor blankly. I really don't know how to start again. I can't even start a single letter, because I was overwhelmed with fear of not finishing on time. Again I Prayed to God that he would give me peace and focus so that I can start making my proposal. I decided to play worship songs since I'm alone in the computer lab. I know God intended everything with a purpose,even if I have all the knowlegde and skills, and made the needed preparations for the exam, still God has the last say. As I was looking blankly at the monitor and placed my heart and mind in the peace of God, suddenly words were just flowing and I started to type. I'm a little bit disorder but along the way everything went well. Within a limited time, I managed to finished, though i am not that fully confident with my output but I just rest it to God. Time is up, and the thrill is taken to the next level. Time to print our output and present it to our assessors. I was second to the last to present because I also encountered problems in printing. I was really tested up to the last strand of chance. Still blessed coz God did made a way through people who's generous to help me. :-D Done presenting and the agony of waiting for immediate result is another thrill for all of us. As we were called one by one for the verdict, doubt and fear were playing inside of me. Playing thoughts of failing because I wasn't able to comply all the details needed. Everytime someone enters and go out from the room and receiving yes, no results,  the thrill is getting higher. Still God is holding my heart in peace resounding those powerful words in me.TRUST IN GOD. I was silent and just preparing myself for the outcome. My time has come to face the verdict and its so rewarding and relieving to know that I made it! Hearing from the assessors that I am COMPETENT. I can't stop saying thank you Lord!!! From all the humps and bumps, I was able to passed the test , not with just the assessment but above all the test of faith and trust. I WAS COMPETENT TO PASSED TWO TESTS.

Even a drop of honor for myself is not worthy of claiming. Definitely it was all about God using me and the situation to show his miracle and favor. God did something powerful and amazing. He taught me to depend on Him more than in my own ability. He became the strength in my most down moment, the time that I thought everything in my sorroundings is failing. As pastor ruffy shared on his sermon,
"you can never be fashioned by God according to his design unless you are not broken." Perhaps all this time, its me all along building my own dreams and plans or I'm taking things outside Gods timeline. No matter what, I thank God that He became patient with me and waited for me to go back to His timeline and align myself to His will. Looking back to my deepest prayer a night before the exam: I am recalling and retaliating to God everything I went through fore the past 6 months. All the pain and tears I shed were just too much and I told Him I can't bear another pain and asked Him to give it to me
This time. But I am still in humility acknowledging that His will be done not mine.

What happened didn't just made me a certified and competent events manager, above all God made me a Certified and Competent daughter, believer,
Leader, and a disciple  Who passed the test whatever it takes.

God is not selfish. He doesn't withhold good things to His children. The reason why there are NO answers in our prayers  because it's not His will for you, or maybe not yet time for you to have it. He knows well. 

 Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord , “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

If He sees that the road you are in is not taking you to his plans of prosperity, hope , and good future, He will patiently move you back to His original plan. Though He honors our own will, but never He will hide his perfect will for us. That's why He will always find a way for us to realize that he has  the greatest and perfect will. Still, He is good, loving, and forgiving. Despite of our being stubborn and selfish, He blessed us with this gift of life not just here on earth but also life eternal through his son Jesus.

John 1:16 

Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for making my life as one of your instruments to display your power and glory. Thank you for enabling me to stand against all the challenges and its all because of your grace.. All the glory and honor belongs to you. Your love never fails.. Amen.

Nothing is Wasted

     One of the most valued thing in the world and in people's life is time. From the beginning to the end, time is counted and recorded. There is this popular line " time is gold" which tells us how important and expensive time is. Once it is done you can never go back to it, and when the you're in the moment of it you shouldn't miss it. Time hops so fast. You will just realize after all that a lot of time had passed and there's a lot of things you missed.  

In Ecclesiastes 3, Solomon clearly enumerated phases of life that will pass. Every single one of them, has its time and space in our lives and its very essential to cease those times and find out the purpose which God intended it to be. This also shows how life can be so short; We don't have the luxury of time to waste. 

Ecclesiastes 3:2-8 NIV

a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,   a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,   a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,   a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,   a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,   a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,   a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

     Life brings a lot of surprises , ups and down, happiness, memories (whether good or not), opportunities, kinds of people, special people, and more things that life can offer. Each one of the things that this life enables us to experience, can make a great impact and can leave a mark in our hearts and memories. They make a spot of time and place in our lives that will be forever treasured until our last breath. 

There are these things that we wanted to stay and last in our lives but in an unexpected time,left us and gone so soon. We waited and hoped for it for a long time, and as it stand right in front of us, starting to realize the moment that it is already here, suddenly it's gone. Too soon to leave that you didn't even grasp the moment , too soon to let it go because you are just starting to contemplate the why. 

You cried for the things you wanted yet they're gone too soon, but life surprises you with the things you did not expect. Suddenly you are flashed with these new unanticipated things. Much of your wonder, you slowly grab those surprises and starting to understand its purpose. It teaches you that  Life is not just about the things you have and once you have, but also with what is yet to come. 

God didn't put anything or everything in our lives questionably, and he will just look on us getting lost  searching for the answers. We may wonder and questioned God why can he allow such a thing to happen; Why did he allowed the joy to leave and let the pain to take its place.? Why does the thing or people you treasured the most left and gone too soon? These may not be easily understood but God allowed it for a reason and His reason and purpose is not a selfish one, It is always for the good not just for you but even for everyone. 

   He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

People say hi and bid goodbye,

 opportunities may come and go, 

memories starts but it has to end, 

you just arrived but you have to leave,

 it started yet its about to end,

 you accept but you have to let it go. 

Nothing in this world is forever, everything is fancy and temporary. Yet, God points out only thing that is forever and eternal , He His word and love, and our relationship with Him. 

Every moment in our lives whether its a YES or NO, God is present, He is there. It may be hard to understand the state, but you have to trust God that everything is part of the work for a greater and more beautiful things. The best that we can do is to cease the moment whether its a time of YES, WAIT or NO. 

Love when its time and when you have love to give, 

help when you are able,

 make someone's existence meaningful when you know the purpose,

 give if you have much or little,

 accept when you have the arms to embrace, 

celebrate if its worth it

but when things work the other way(the NO), discover the WHY and learn from it. TRUST GOD. Nothing and no one is an accident. They stepped in to your life bringing the gifts and the lessons for your life today and for the future. Turn it into a purposeful one. Make everything worth it. Whatever the time of your life brought you, you must live the most out of it. Serve your purpose and your part of the season.

You're never late or too early, but you ceased the right time .

Romans 8:28 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.