Ministry Trip

This weekend, I am in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada to assist in JIL Alberta Re-Encounter Retreat as part of the JIL 12 Vision and Program for the upcoming Cell Leaders from the different JIL Churches here. Pastor Monette joined me in this trip to share with her given topic. Barry Burgos is also part of the Music Team this time. Altogether, there are 78 delegates to be commissioned and released as Cell Leaders. They are composed of Singles, Couples, Youth and even one Senior delegates. Today is the first day and the Lord has favored us with His presence so far in every sessions done.

What strikes me the most during this kind of event is the many opportunities that the Lord is providing in His Church especially in the Jesus Is Lord Church (JIL). It is a amazing to see men and women decided to become God's servant and workers in His Church. Though it is not an easy task yet there is an excitement that wells up in one's soul for the possibilities of serving as a Cell Leader with people under your care.

The JIL 12 has allowed people from all walks of life to experience the joy of being a leader of a group to fulfill the vision of evangelism and discipleship in them. A Pastor's joy is to see those God placed under their care to fulfill their purpose and destiny. Seeing a one year old Christian go through the program and become a Cell Leader is very encouraging. But continuing to take care of one is always expected. It never ends in being a leader but the journey as one have just began. Guiding and mentoring is an important fact of the journey for both concern.

Applying what one have learned is the most exciting and satisfying yet frustration and discouragement must never be removed from the equation. Both are contributory for the growth and development of the spiritual life as a whole.

Well, this is all I could share from this trip and hope to share some more in the coming days. Thanks for reading and sharing your time with me.

Let's talk again!

Priorities

Somebody said that the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing! David put it like this: "Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom" (Ps 90:12 NLT).

Arthur Gordon, the author of “TOUCH OF WONDER” shared a story of himself, “When I was about 13 and my brother 10, our father promised to take us to the circus. But then at lunchtime there was a phone call--some urgent business that required his attention downtown--and we braced ourselves for disappointment. But then we heard him say, "No, I won't be able to come down. It's going to have to wait." He came back to the table and mother smiled, "The circus keeps coming back, you know.""I know," he said, "but childhood doesn't."

We need to put everything to halt so that we could take the time of evaluating what will be the priority for each day. No wonder people are filled with anxieties due to the many pressing demands of life. How should anyone for that matter begin to sort out the many intricate aspects of life? Where do you begin? I firmly believe it depends on where you are focusing the most of your effort and attention. It is very interesting to note that we make excuses for those that we do not want to do but do everything we can to make sure that we will not miss what we want to do. That is why, the saying, “If there’s a will, there’s a way” is a norm.

Time is an equal-opportunity employer. We all get 24 hours, 1,440 minutes, 86,400 seconds daily, and we must account for how we use them. Furthermore, we have been given 365 days in a year divided in 52 weeks. Time flies but actually time is constant and consistently ticking ever since it was given to us. It is people that do not know how to make the most of it. For example, if the 24 hour period is divided into three 8 hour cycle, it usually looks like this: 8 hours working on the job, 8 hours sleeping and left with 8 hours to spare. The question is this: how do we spend the spare 8 hours? Think about it carefully and honestly.

We have the quantity but how do we pursue quality is a very important consideration. It is not that we do not have time for everything we want to do but the application of time allotted to us is the culprit. When we finally appreciate that we were given ample time to use, then we will live excellently including me as well. No excuses!

Jesus Christ lived only for 33 ½ years yet the impact of what he did lasted for more than 2000 years and counting. He fulfilled what he was born to do and died completing his purpose and God’s plan, i.e. as the Saviour of humanity. He died on the cross for our sin. His focus and priority was to accomplish his assignment from heaven. The results are those who became faithful believers then, today and tomorrow.

In view of this, one would see that life is not about the length of time you will live but the fulfillment of life’s purpose and destiny while living. Thus, life without priority and direction is a useless life and must not live for the sake of existence only.

Matthew 6:33 provided an excellent perspective of what should be done first, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (NIV) When we follow this scripture verse, prepare to see new things happening in your life. Breakthroughs will occur in all aspects of your life. Putting God, his kingdom and his righteousness first as a priority each day will provide you with the strength, inspiration and joy in living life to the fullest. What happened in the past is past. No one could rewind life nor fast forward it. Just continue to live as each new day comes with God before everything else and all things will be a breeze for the day. Try it and you’ll love it.

Let’s talk again!

WORDS OF BLESSINGS

Proverbs 25:11, “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” (NIV)

What a remarkable truth when one thinks about it! It shows the importance of words aptly spoken in all circumstances whether favorable or unfavorable. According to Wikipedia, conversations are maintained at around 200 words per minute.

Allow me to share with you a story related to our discussion, “There was a little boy with a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, to hammer a nail in the back fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Then it gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out, it won't matter how many times you say “I'm sorry,” the wound is still there.”

Words of blessing must become a pattern. How does one do it? Could anyone become adept at it? I fully believe so! Let me give you the three-fold instruction from James 1:19, “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” (NIV)

Here are three specific ideas gleaned from this Scripture;

1. Aim to become a good listener. Lend your ears fully in order not to miss anything.
2. Slow to speak. This simply means to always check your heart and remember, the mouth only speaks what is stored inside your heart.
3. Watch carefully what comes from your mouth. If you have nothing good to say, don’t say anything.

Being careless and loose in words spoken will invite potential conflict. Remember that any conversation could turn the other way in a second by a wrong word. Our aim must be to become a blessing and not a source of a potential problem by speaking negative words.

Although there are some situations that calls for the use of strong words appropriate to the circumstances, the same principle listed above must apply no matter how worst it might be. Because a verbal wound is as bad as a physical one. Just let it go and go on your way. Remember the words of Jesus at the cross, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they’re doing.” The same prayer applies when you change it to this: “Father, forgive them for they do no what they’re saying.” When you do, you’ll be the better person.

Let’s talk again!

Indescribable God!!

Be blessed as you see God's wonderful creation while hearing this song. It will definitley lift your spirits up. He is truly indescribable!!!!!

Significance

“A new church was built in the small town. People came from far and wide to see it. Everyone admired its beauty! Up on the roof, a little nail heard the people praising everything about the lovely structure--except the nail. No one even knew he was there, and he became angry and jealous. "If I am that insignificant, nobody will miss me if I quit." So the nail then released its hold, slid down the roof, and fell in the mud. That night, it rained and rained. Soon, the shingle that had no nail blew away, and the roof began to leak. The water streaked the walls and the beautiful murals. The plaster began to fall, the carpet was stained, and the pulpit Bible was ruined by water. All this because a little nail decided to quit.” But what of the nail? While holding the shingle, it was obscure but it was also useful. Buried in the mud it was just as obscure, but now it was useless and would soon be eaten up by rust. The moral of the story--every little part even how insignificant is important.

Every person needs to become significant. Majority of people if not all feels this way. Why? I believe it is because we are social beings created to be with someone. Even God himself noticed this need when he observed Adam, the first man created as recorded in Genesis 2:18-20, The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found.”(NIV) Although Adam was busy doing the task assigned to him but there was something missing that God eventually saw.

In view of this, God took action and the following events occurred as recorded in Genesis 2:21-24, “So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he (God) brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man." For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. (NIV) This was the first recorded wedding ceremony held in the Garden of Eden officiated by God himself! In this regard, Adam became complete by having a helpmeet.

There are many other ways that provides significance to any person. In reality, there is an abundance of things to have like riches, beauty, education and such like except they cannot and will not satisfy the need for significance. They add significance but only on the surface level. The question that really matters is this: What would make your life significant to your existence here and in eternity?

You may, like the nail, feel obscure at times. But just like the nail, your absence is felt by all that depends on your contribution and part. Never underestimate what you are doing now. Never measure yourself with what others around you are doing. Just continue to make sure that you will fulfill your destiny as God has given you to do. If you come to observe how things are moving around, you’ll be surprised to know that if one misses their part, everything else suffers.

Recently, I have watched the movie “Bee Movie.” And one of the main aspects of this movie is when one bee sued the human race over the use and abuse of bees and their honey. In other words, the bee hero won but not without a price. The balance of nature was totally affected and a disaster loomed. Upon seeing the effect, the bees found their significance and the disaster were averted. It was a huge lesson learned about being significant!

Now, are you convinced that you have a major role to play in this generation and the next? Discover it in Jesus because when he did his part, humanity experienced redemption and genuine salvation through the cross. C’mon, stop sulking and begin to seize your destiny and significance today.

Let’s talk again!