come close listen to the story about a love more faithful than the morning.. when blood and water hit the ground, walls we couldn't move came crashing down.. we were free and made alive the day that TRUE LOVE died ♥
Friday, October 14, 2011
when TRUE LOVE died
losing sight of You will in turn lose myself
“I will go forward alone with my God leaving all else behind. I will not
lose sight of my goal or of my Savior. Because if I lose sight of my
Savior, I will, in turn, lose myself.” -Shannon Kubiak Primicerio
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
"You are not the one who chooses where you go to church. God does!"
"You are not the one who chooses where you go to church. God does!"-- true that.. ;p
I read this in one of Nat2x's notes and thought I should share my thoughts on this as well. Hopefully it would be an encouragement for all of us.
Have you ever stopped and pondered on that thought? That sometimes, it's really not a matter of personal choice where you go to church. Rather, it's where He places you to learn more about Him and to grow in relationship with Him. Yes, the church has a role. A very significant one for that matter, which is to serve as a guide to knowing our Father even more. But you see, the church can only do so much for you.
The church will be there, but without God planting and watering the seed of relationship in the individual's heart, then it would fail to live out its ultimate purpose. It is good for those people who were able to develop that same intimate relationship with Him in the church that they were born into. For some however, it doesn't happen that way.
What I am trying to get at, is that people should start praying for that church where they could continue to grow in relationship with Him, a church wherein they look forward to knowing more of Him. Where people hunger and desire to build a deeper relationship with Him.
The answer though, doesn't come instantly.
I remember how I was one of those people. My friends back in college would invite me to attend the services in the church I go to now, but there were so many reasons that hindered me to go (busy with school requirements, Campus Amba meetings, tours, family dinners, wala ng masasakyan pauwi, late na masyado, etc.)
Looking back, I find it amazing how God was already working in me back then (unknown to me that time of course, although I did pray for a deeper and more intimate relationship with Him). Guess He knew that it wasn't the right time for me yet. That if I forced myself to come so as not to disappoint a friend, the seed wouldn't have been planted, rooted, and nurtured. Hence, I would have failed to have a great relationship with Him as I do now.
Trust that God will never stop seeking you or the people we care for, regardless of the number of His failed attempts to reach out to us.
5 years later, He won me back. Only to realize that the same church that He revealed His self to me in Cebu, 2009 was the same church that I got invited to and ignored so many years ago. Every day, He is completely winning me. God is good. Always HAVE and always WILL be. ;p
I read this in one of Nat2x's notes and thought I should share my thoughts on this as well. Hopefully it would be an encouragement for all of us.
Have you ever stopped and pondered on that thought? That sometimes, it's really not a matter of personal choice where you go to church. Rather, it's where He places you to learn more about Him and to grow in relationship with Him. Yes, the church has a role. A very significant one for that matter, which is to serve as a guide to knowing our Father even more. But you see, the church can only do so much for you.
The church will be there, but without God planting and watering the seed of relationship in the individual's heart, then it would fail to live out its ultimate purpose. It is good for those people who were able to develop that same intimate relationship with Him in the church that they were born into. For some however, it doesn't happen that way.
What I am trying to get at, is that people should start praying for that church where they could continue to grow in relationship with Him, a church wherein they look forward to knowing more of Him. Where people hunger and desire to build a deeper relationship with Him.
The answer though, doesn't come instantly.
I remember how I was one of those people. My friends back in college would invite me to attend the services in the church I go to now, but there were so many reasons that hindered me to go (busy with school requirements, Campus Amba meetings, tours, family dinners, wala ng masasakyan pauwi, late na masyado, etc.)
Looking back, I find it amazing how God was already working in me back then (unknown to me that time of course, although I did pray for a deeper and more intimate relationship with Him). Guess He knew that it wasn't the right time for me yet. That if I forced myself to come so as not to disappoint a friend, the seed wouldn't have been planted, rooted, and nurtured. Hence, I would have failed to have a great relationship with Him as I do now.
Trust that God will never stop seeking you or the people we care for, regardless of the number of His failed attempts to reach out to us.
5 years later, He won me back. Only to realize that the same church that He revealed His self to me in Cebu, 2009 was the same church that I got invited to and ignored so many years ago. Every day, He is completely winning me. God is good. Always HAVE and always WILL be. ;p
LAW OF THE GARBAGE TRUCK
One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport.
We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches!
The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us.
My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly. So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!'
This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'
He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of
frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.
The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day.
Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so........
Love the people who treat you right.
Pray for the ones who don't.
Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!
Have a blessed, garbage-free day!.....
Smile :-)
***On a more personal note, the past week has been quite crazy for me. However, I still find the ability to be thankful and feel blessed despite everything. To those who can't help but to shout, curse, question, and raise their eyebrows on the swerve-balls that life throws at you, here's one thing I could say: It's all a matter of disposition. If you can't find the goodness in the smallest things, then time to re-evaluate yourselves. What are your priorities? What negative thoughts or behaviors must you get rid of? What attitudes do you think you should acquire?
I'm thankful for having a God who works everything (even the worst situations) in my favor, great family, supportive friends, amazing spiritual family, and an encouraging, positive work environment. Thank you for all the prayers and great vibes everyone! Let's keep this up ;p AJA ---lovingly yours, Ressa
We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches!
The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us.
My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly. So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!'
This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'
He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of
frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.
The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day.
Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so........
Love the people who treat you right.
Pray for the ones who don't.
Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!
Have a blessed, garbage-free day!.....
Smile :-)
***On a more personal note, the past week has been quite crazy for me. However, I still find the ability to be thankful and feel blessed despite everything. To those who can't help but to shout, curse, question, and raise their eyebrows on the swerve-balls that life throws at you, here's one thing I could say: It's all a matter of disposition. If you can't find the goodness in the smallest things, then time to re-evaluate yourselves. What are your priorities? What negative thoughts or behaviors must you get rid of? What attitudes do you think you should acquire?
I'm thankful for having a God who works everything (even the worst situations) in my favor, great family, supportive friends, amazing spiritual family, and an encouraging, positive work environment. Thank you for all the prayers and great vibes everyone! Let's keep this up ;p AJA ---lovingly yours, Ressa
Let us all be reminded that our salvation has nothing to do with us, but God.
(For his full blog http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=428461474339)
True! That's what is so amazing about God. Even when we don't deserve it, he still blesses us. Now the question is how do we respond to such kindness? Do we feel guilty thus resulting to acts of righteousness? Guilt should not be the reason behind turning our backs on ungodly things, rather it is because of the awareness and deep gratitude of God's grace that we are able to overcome these things.
Nobody ever promised us that once we accept Christ in our lives that we would never sin again. But, this is where many Christians including myself, become complacent. Knowing that we have a forgiving God, many resort to compromising with Him and bending the truth to cater to our very own stubbornness.
In today's Sunday service, Pastor Dawny shared that when grace becomes permission for us to do wrong, than this is not grace at all. I would like to quote him when he said "We are saved by grace so we could understand His justice, greatness, and kindness, to say no to things that are ungodly in our lives."
On a more personal note, let us not sugarcoat our thoughts, words, or acts of disobedience. Let us all be reminded that our salvation has nothing to do with us, but God. The way we live our lives is a form of witnessing God's greatness, grace, and love.
OFF LIMITS
Found this on the blog of H. A. Paulsen, author of "Emotional Purity: An Affair of the Heart." (which by the way is a very2x good read). Very insightful. Helped me bring to light some things in my life and I pray that you be blessed with this blog as well. -ressa (I have put the thing which I agreed with, and my personal thoughts at the end, in BOLD.)
OFF LIMITS (http://emotionalpurity.blogspot.com/2011/03/030411-off-limits.html)
"God, no You can't ask that of me!"
"God, really You want me to change that!"
"God, You can't really want me to say that!
What are your "off limits" to God: singleness, mission field, being barren, moving, finding a new job in this awful economy, a new group of friends, a ministry at your local church, overeating, an anti-depressant, repairing a broken relationship, or down sizing so you can be a stay at home mom?
What are you afraid to let go of?
As soon as something becomes "off limits" to God, it becomes an idol in our life. It's really that simple! We're choosing the flesh over the Spirit. We're choosing our way over God's way. We're thinking we know what's best for our life, our family or our church.
Surrender is a process in the Christian walk, not an easy one, but an essential one to mature in faith!
And remember the things that God is calling you to let go of, maybe totally different than what He's calling someone else to...so no judgement, no being critical, just trust that they are on their path towards surrender! (Preaching that to myself!)
OFF LIMITS (http://emotionalpurity.blogspot.com/2011/03/030411-off-limits.html)
"God, no You can't ask that of me!"
"God, really You want me to change that!"
"God, You can't really want me to say that!
What are your "off limits" to God: singleness, mission field, being barren, moving, finding a new job in this awful economy, a new group of friends, a ministry at your local church, overeating, an anti-depressant, repairing a broken relationship, or down sizing so you can be a stay at home mom?
What are you afraid to let go of?
As soon as something becomes "off limits" to God, it becomes an idol in our life. It's really that simple! We're choosing the flesh over the Spirit. We're choosing our way over God's way. We're thinking we know what's best for our life, our family or our church.
Surrender is a process in the Christian walk, not an easy one, but an essential one to mature in faith!
And remember the things that God is calling you to let go of, maybe totally different than what He's calling someone else to...so no judgement, no being critical, just trust that they are on their path towards surrender! (Preaching that to myself!)
Letter from the man God has prepared for His lovely daughters..:)
I've read this a few years back, and now that times get a little tough, a little lonely; I look back in awe at how He has kept me for this person. Though at times it's so easy to just go for it, it's nice to be reminded to be patient and to wait on Him. Time and time again, I am reminded that God is still working with me and He's still working in "him" and that in His most perfect way, and in His most perfect time, He would bring us together. I shouldn't be distressed, but rather be even more excited for that day, as I live my life purposefully for God.
As Elizabeth George would put it, "There is a time to act, but there is also a time to trust, to be still, to know that in His time and in His way, God makes all things beautiful. Calmly and patiently wait to behold the Lord's work in your life." I pray that this would serve as a great reminder to great women in waiting. :)) ressa
This is a love letter written by Eric Ludy, before he met his wife Leslie Ludy
Eric Ludy "We know Godly men are almost as rare to sight as penguins in the Bahamas, but they do EXIST & God said they are fighting the good fight on your behalf."
My Dear love,
I can hardly believe it is time for Valentines again. It seems with each passing year my love for you increases-- but then so does my patience as I wait for Jesus to bring you into my life. I long to hold you in my arms to caress your tender hands to make you smile and hear you laugh. I long to move forward into the future, Jesus is scripting for us; to partake with you by my side, all the adventures discoveries, pains, joys, victories and triumphs. But I want you to know, sweet love, I am patiently waiting.
This is my time to wait-- A time for Jesus to shape me into the man you need and deserve. As I think about the man I ought to be, I know I am desperately lacking in so many areas. I long to move further down the frontier of Godly masculinity unto "the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians4:13). I want to be a man of such fullness. I recognize Jesus will be stripping , forming, and shaping me into such a man throughout my entire life, but my desire is to be as fas as possible down that path when you arrive in my life.
If I may steal a phrase I read by CJ Studd, I want no "nambypambymilksopsoftie" sort of manhood. I want the genuine thing. I want to be both warrior and poet-- a man of tenderness, love, and a soft heart while still being a man of steel, strength, nobility, and honor. Oh that you may see me as a man-- a man as he ought to be. I pray every ounce of weak and paltry imitation would flee so I may be a true man of God for thee.
My dearest love, I may not yet know the loveliness of you name nor the beauty of your face but it already takes my breath away. As I wait expectantly for God to bring you into my life, in His perfect timing, know that you are continually upheld in prayer. I pray Jesus would be the most important thing in your life-- that not even I would be able to turn your gaze from Him. I pray you allow Him to shape you into a woman of pure Godliness, without a hint of distraction, worldliness, or impurity. I pray He takes you deeper into absolute surrender and complete dependency upon Him, where the only explanation for you life is Jesus.
Oh that He might form and craft you into the most radiant and captivating of set apart women, even now. I know His work in your life will never be over, but my deep prayer and longing before we meet is that you would crave & go after the fullness of Jesus yourself. I know the world is yelling in your face to lower your standards, to throw off your elegance and grace, to allure the men around you, and a host host of other absurdities, but please oh please do not heed their voice. I wish I could stand in front of you to take the blunt of the criticism and attack, but because I am not there, hide yourself even more in Jesus. Cling to Him all the tightier. May each difficult"pressing" of life only press you deeper into Him. And know, my dear love, I am standing in prayer beside you. I am fighting and lifting you up in the spiritual realm on a daily basis.
Please be patient dear one. I know as well how it can be a struggle to wait in seeming endlessness, but the time is not afar off when He will draw us together and enable me to sweep you off your feet. Use this time to fall even more in love with Jesus. Dive deep and drink of His richness. Be consumed and passionately intimate with Him. And know, for however long it takes, I am patiently & prayerfully waiting.
Now & Forever yours,
Your future husband.
As Elizabeth George would put it, "There is a time to act, but there is also a time to trust, to be still, to know that in His time and in His way, God makes all things beautiful. Calmly and patiently wait to behold the Lord's work in your life." I pray that this would serve as a great reminder to great women in waiting. :)) ressa
This is a love letter written by Eric Ludy, before he met his wife Leslie Ludy
Eric Ludy "We know Godly men are almost as rare to sight as penguins in the Bahamas, but they do EXIST & God said they are fighting the good fight on your behalf."
My Dear love,
I can hardly believe it is time for Valentines again. It seems with each passing year my love for you increases-- but then so does my patience as I wait for Jesus to bring you into my life. I long to hold you in my arms to caress your tender hands to make you smile and hear you laugh. I long to move forward into the future, Jesus is scripting for us; to partake with you by my side, all the adventures discoveries, pains, joys, victories and triumphs. But I want you to know, sweet love, I am patiently waiting.
This is my time to wait-- A time for Jesus to shape me into the man you need and deserve. As I think about the man I ought to be, I know I am desperately lacking in so many areas. I long to move further down the frontier of Godly masculinity unto "the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians4:13). I want to be a man of such fullness. I recognize Jesus will be stripping , forming, and shaping me into such a man throughout my entire life, but my desire is to be as fas as possible down that path when you arrive in my life.
If I may steal a phrase I read by CJ Studd, I want no "nambypambymilksopsoftie" sort of manhood. I want the genuine thing. I want to be both warrior and poet-- a man of tenderness, love, and a soft heart while still being a man of steel, strength, nobility, and honor. Oh that you may see me as a man-- a man as he ought to be. I pray every ounce of weak and paltry imitation would flee so I may be a true man of God for thee.
My dearest love, I may not yet know the loveliness of you name nor the beauty of your face but it already takes my breath away. As I wait expectantly for God to bring you into my life, in His perfect timing, know that you are continually upheld in prayer. I pray Jesus would be the most important thing in your life-- that not even I would be able to turn your gaze from Him. I pray you allow Him to shape you into a woman of pure Godliness, without a hint of distraction, worldliness, or impurity. I pray He takes you deeper into absolute surrender and complete dependency upon Him, where the only explanation for you life is Jesus.
Oh that He might form and craft you into the most radiant and captivating of set apart women, even now. I know His work in your life will never be over, but my deep prayer and longing before we meet is that you would crave & go after the fullness of Jesus yourself. I know the world is yelling in your face to lower your standards, to throw off your elegance and grace, to allure the men around you, and a host host of other absurdities, but please oh please do not heed their voice. I wish I could stand in front of you to take the blunt of the criticism and attack, but because I am not there, hide yourself even more in Jesus. Cling to Him all the tightier. May each difficult"pressing" of life only press you deeper into Him. And know, my dear love, I am standing in prayer beside you. I am fighting and lifting you up in the spiritual realm on a daily basis.
Please be patient dear one. I know as well how it can be a struggle to wait in seeming endlessness, but the time is not afar off when He will draw us together and enable me to sweep you off your feet. Use this time to fall even more in love with Jesus. Dive deep and drink of His richness. Be consumed and passionately intimate with Him. And know, for however long it takes, I am patiently & prayerfully waiting.
Now & Forever yours,
Your future husband.
God's Word and Its Power
Was talking with a friend, only to realize we were going through the same. A season. A season where only He can deal with us. As we were talking, I tried to find the verse that talks about how God brought Jesus and other great men of the bible to the desert to deal with them. This was not what I was supposed to click but there was an urgency for me to open it. As I read it, I got teary eyed. I felt His presence. Tonight I am reminded of the importance of going to people who I know will encourage my walk with Him, and how He would turn a hi-hello conversation to a way of revealing His self. I pray that as you read this, you will be blessed. :)) ressa
https://springsinthedesert.wordpress.com/2011/03/02/gods-word-and-its-power/
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!” Isaiah 52:7
Few days back I had a wonderful experience in my life which I would like to share with you. I was in the middle of something, when suddenly felt the urge to sit down and read the Word of God. The desire was so strong that I could not resist it…Leaving my chores half done, I responded to that sudden strong urge within me…My eyes were directed to the Gospel of John chapter 1…and I remember reading the first verse…and then tears started rolling down my cheeks…it was truly the presence of Holy Spirit…The more I read the word of God, the more I started crying…not tears of despair…but more like tears of joy and tears of thankfulness..
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.(John 1:1-4)
Reading these verses, God started to reveal to me a great truth that the word of God that I’m holding is nothing but God himself. Because, we understand that in the beginning even when nothing was created, this Word was with God and this WORD was none other than God…Through this Word…all things were created. When there were no light, the WORD ‘Let there be Light’ was spoken, and the light was created from void…similarly everything that we see around were created. If this WORD was God..then its the same WORD I’m holding in my hand…and the revelation was so strong for me..that I could not contain the magnitude and the depth of it.
Do you realize the potential of the WORD of God that is given to you? Many a times, we do not fully understand the magnitude of its power. If the WORD was used to create things from unseen…then surely it has the power to bring life to all our deadness..it has power to create things from nothing..as though it was already there…it has power to break any hard hearted person…it has power to change any unfavorable circumstances of your life. But in order to fully exercise the power of the WORD, the person who uses it should understand the authority given to him and also should use it in faith.
While reading those verses, I heard Him whisper to me…”When you have the WORD with you…understand that I’m with you always…The more you learn about the word of God, the more you are knowing me. When you receive more revelations from the Bible…remember that you are understanding more of my characteristics….its a privilege to share the WORD of God because you are sharing ME.” I could not stop crying…
Dear child of God…The Bible that is given to us is not just any other ordinary book..It is the WORD of GOD. We may not have the wisdom to understand everything written in it…but if you start loving it…if you start reading it…if you start applying what you read in your life….then you will see changes happening in you…Because you are inviting JESUS into your life….you are knowing more about HIM…you are applying HIS characteristics in your life…in your situations. There will definitely be a difference.
Now to all those who share the Word of God…let me tell you…Every time you share this WORD…you are revealing another characteristic of God…Love of God..Mercy of God..His faithfulness…His forgiveness. None of your efforts will go wasted because the Word that goes out will not return void until it fulfills the purpose with which it was sent. You might have started this blogging..just to pen down your thoughts..but it was not a coincidence…it was in His master plan…You have been chosen and blessed to carry the WORD of God…and remember its a privilege.While there are wise and intellects in this world who are not able to understand the truths of this Bible…the great revelations of heaven which has always remained a mystery has been revealed to people like fishermen, tax collectors and simple men like you and me…What a privilege!
God Bless,
Rani John
https://springsinthedesert.wordpress.com/2011/03/02/gods-word-and-its-power/
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!” Isaiah 52:7
Few days back I had a wonderful experience in my life which I would like to share with you. I was in the middle of something, when suddenly felt the urge to sit down and read the Word of God. The desire was so strong that I could not resist it…Leaving my chores half done, I responded to that sudden strong urge within me…My eyes were directed to the Gospel of John chapter 1…and I remember reading the first verse…and then tears started rolling down my cheeks…it was truly the presence of Holy Spirit…The more I read the word of God, the more I started crying…not tears of despair…but more like tears of joy and tears of thankfulness..
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.(John 1:1-4)
Reading these verses, God started to reveal to me a great truth that the word of God that I’m holding is nothing but God himself. Because, we understand that in the beginning even when nothing was created, this Word was with God and this WORD was none other than God…Through this Word…all things were created. When there were no light, the WORD ‘Let there be Light’ was spoken, and the light was created from void…similarly everything that we see around were created. If this WORD was God..then its the same WORD I’m holding in my hand…and the revelation was so strong for me..that I could not contain the magnitude and the depth of it.
Do you realize the potential of the WORD of God that is given to you? Many a times, we do not fully understand the magnitude of its power. If the WORD was used to create things from unseen…then surely it has the power to bring life to all our deadness..it has power to create things from nothing..as though it was already there…it has power to break any hard hearted person…it has power to change any unfavorable circumstances of your life. But in order to fully exercise the power of the WORD, the person who uses it should understand the authority given to him and also should use it in faith.
While reading those verses, I heard Him whisper to me…”When you have the WORD with you…understand that I’m with you always…The more you learn about the word of God, the more you are knowing me. When you receive more revelations from the Bible…remember that you are understanding more of my characteristics….its a privilege to share the WORD of God because you are sharing ME.” I could not stop crying…
Dear child of God…The Bible that is given to us is not just any other ordinary book..It is the WORD of GOD. We may not have the wisdom to understand everything written in it…but if you start loving it…if you start reading it…if you start applying what you read in your life….then you will see changes happening in you…Because you are inviting JESUS into your life….you are knowing more about HIM…you are applying HIS characteristics in your life…in your situations. There will definitely be a difference.
Now to all those who share the Word of God…let me tell you…Every time you share this WORD…you are revealing another characteristic of God…Love of God..Mercy of God..His faithfulness…His forgiveness. None of your efforts will go wasted because the Word that goes out will not return void until it fulfills the purpose with which it was sent. You might have started this blogging..just to pen down your thoughts..but it was not a coincidence…it was in His master plan…You have been chosen and blessed to carry the WORD of God…and remember its a privilege.While there are wise and intellects in this world who are not able to understand the truths of this Bible…the great revelations of heaven which has always remained a mystery has been revealed to people like fishermen, tax collectors and simple men like you and me…What a privilege!
God Bless,
Rani John
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