Hope For A Nation

A survey was done in the United States, the Bible emerged as the book most read by the citizens of this beautiful nation. There is a good reason for the children of God to be in a state of jubilation. The Word Of God ... Salvation Through Jesus, His Son... Hope Springs ...Hope For A Nation!!!

So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading. And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people "This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law.

Nehemiah 8:8-9

Illumination

Children of the Light...Children of the Living God...Shine in the midst of Darkness...Shine...Illuminate the Horizon with your lovely glow...Lord let me Shine...Shine like the moon...

Jesus said "I am the light of the world whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but have the light of life."

John 8:12

You are the light of the world. A city on the hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16

What Controls You

Dissipation: unrestrained yield to pleasurable temptation.

Spirit Filled: relinquished fully to God's will.

Excerpts from the sermon of Pastor Russel "Butch" Diwa (April 6, 2008)

Do not get drunk with wine which leads to debauchery. Instead be filled with the spirit.

Ephesians 5:18

Beyond The Wild Blue Yonder

I was browsing through some of the text message on my cell phone's inbox and I noticed that I kept the final text messages that my best friend, Omie sent to me while I was about to board the plane that would take me from Manila to Los Angeles after a visit to my hometown of Bacolod in the Philippines last summer. The message content was as follows: "Bro, thanks for spending just a little time with us I pray for your safe trip home. I know I am gonna miss you...I will miss your company. Bye Bro." I was balling when I read it, sometimes it takes a while before a person could accept that someone who means so much to him is no longer around. I miss you Bro there is not a day that I wished you were still with us. I'll see you soon Bud!... beyond the Wild Blue Yonder.

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 18:24

Narcissism

I was watching an entertainment news report about an actor who (after years of being in hiatus) was given an offer to do a movie which could have been his comeback project. After signing a contract with the movie outfit and after recieving a down payment for the said project he changed his mind. The reason behind the change of heart? The movie did not focus enough on the character that he would have played, his manager argued that if this was gonna be his comeback movie then one can infer to the fact that the whole storyline of the movie should have revolved around the actor's character. See now, this is very disturbing for me I guess I just have problems dealing with characters having an ego the size of the great state of Texas. I don't pretend to know the whole story but indeed if you examine the video of his manager's interview, I guess it speaks for itself. In contrast Jesus in the book of Philippians chapter two was the exact opposite, He is the Son of God yet He did not make such a big deal about it. Paul gives a rundown of the kind of humility that you would find in Jesus' character in his letter to the Philippian church.

Narcissism: an abnormal tendency to admire one's perfection (Webster's Dictionary).

Then Jesus said to His desciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, but yet forfiets his soul? Or what can man give in exchange for his soul?"

Matthew 16:24-26

GPS

When I need to find my way around areas unfamiliar to me a GPS can always come in handy. As we traverse the roads of our spiritual lives it helps to seek God through His word to keep us on the right track.

GPS: Gospel, Praise and Service...Can't go wrong if these three factor into your walk with Jesus.

Jesus answered, I am the Way, the Truth and the Life no one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:6

Dollars And Cents

Are we in a recession or are we not in a recession? Should we rely on man's economy? ....Or trust in God's economy?

So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat? What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:31-34