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For those who may have hurt us in any way, past or present… I forgive you.
For those who may have spoken ill of us at any given time… I forgive you.
For those whom we once thought to be friends… I forgive you.
For those who indirectly inflicted pain to us… I forgive you.
For those who hold grudges and cannot let go… I forgive you.
For those who have selfishly placed themselves ahead of others… I forgive you.
For those who are consciously inconsiderate to every concern… I forgive you.
For those who refuse to understand… I forgive you.
For those who take pleasure in other people’s suffering… I forgive you.
For those who just simply refuse to cooperate… I forgive you.
For those who can make a difference but refuse to do so… I forgive you.
For those who won’t take responsibility… I forgive you.
For those who simply point at others… I forgive you.
For those who find it difficult to look in the mirror… I forgive you.
For those who simply won’t do anything… I forgive you.
For those who won’t forgive… I forgive you.
For those whose lives are riddled with compromise… I forgive you.
For those who politicize everything… I forgive you.
For those who always expect something in return… I forgive you.
For those who deceive others… I forgive you.
For those who just don’t care… I forgive you.
In forgiveness there is peace.
In forgiving… I, too, am forgiven by my Lord.
May those whom I have forgiven be able to find inner and spiritual peace as well as they ultimately learn to forgive themselves as well as others.
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Yesterday (Saturday), I left around 8:30AM from the Elim Global Headquarters and headed off to Famy, Quezon with some of my Elim friends. We headed there to do an ocular and at the same time shoot a testimonial by a couple who are regular Elim dwellers that live there.
The trip was fun… being that I enjoyed long trips, the travel to our destination was something I was eagerly looking forward to even the day before our departure. On our way there, it was just me, Jayp, Maricar and Sis. Lory Lina (wife of Joey Lina).
We took the Antipolo route… the roads were paved… the path was winding… and the view was just wonderful. Lots of green fields and open space… mountains and vast plains of grass and trees.
We finished the shoot, exchanged pleasantries with other Elimites and had some really tasting “ginataan” (I had 3 servings!) and chicharon before heading to Siniloan.
Lunch was spent eating at a Jollibee branch in the same province with Elim friends as well. We headed back at around 2PM and arrived in Manila at roughly 4:30PM.
It was a pretty long trip but spent fruitfully as everything we did was for the Lord and for His glory.
And though the travel back and forth was pretty tiring… I wouldn’t have traded it for any of my favorite pastimes.
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Having a personal relationship with God is great… it’s probably the best feeling there is… but you shouldn’t think that your life serving God stops there. Praying to the Lord and cultivating a productive and effective prayer time IS NOT enough… remember, it isn’t ever about YOU… it never should be. It’s all about HIM. What does He desire for all of us? It is for us to strive hard to become disciples… followers… to become instruments of blessing and to be fishers of men.
Our mission here on Earth is not just to know God… not just to understand His word… not just to connect with our Creator… it is to be a part of something far far greater than ourselves… to be able to spread the Good News to every corner of the world. To let Christ be known everywhere. In our own little way, we can minister and share God’s love to others… be it your neighbor, your classmate, your friend, officemates, even your enemy.
Has God touched you in a special way? Has he performed miracles in your life? Perhaps, a blessing or provisions that he has showered upon you? If so, don’t keep it to yourself… share your story, chronicle it and testify as to how the Lord has changed your life… let every event in your life serve as a means to glorify God… every event… everything. Yes, everything… including your struggles.
How you may ask?
By overcoming these difficulties through God’s grace and power, people can see how the Lord works in your life… ultimately, it is the Lord who is lifted up and glorified. Through every achievement, every recognition… praise Him. Praise God for everything that comes your way… fade into the shadows and let Him be the one to take center stage.
Serve Him with all your heart. Put Him ahead of everything else… regardless of how important other matters may be to you… nothing but nothing comes first BUT the Lord. Especially when he calls upon you to serve… or to act upon something. You’ll never know when He’ll seek to use you but when He does… we should all be ready to drop everything and respond faithfully. This is where we are tested. Can you actually do it? Really? What if you’re supposed to work on something that client requires which is supposed to merit you a substantial financial gain in return? Can you forego something like that to heed God’s call?
Worldly thinking would consider this to be stupid. What if I desperately need the cash? What if client gets mad? What if my boss doesn’t understand? What if…? What if…?
Don’t expect them to understand… just simply follow the Lord. Blind faith. Total surrender. Godly surrender. Respond.
As the Good News says, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all else shall be given you besides”. Nothing… nothing else comes first. Do not allow anyone to tell you otherwise. Individuals inclined to worldly thinking would be quick to disagree… naturally. Worldly ideals… matters and crooked morals that have been embedded into our culture and materialistic way of life would be quick to question how one can sustain a life of true discipleship.
But it IS more than possible. It is life’s best reality. And it is only ultimately comprehended once you actually engage in the practice of this kind of surrender.
The first step is always the hardest… but the Lord asks this of us all.
To blindly surrender all worldly norms… and live under the norms of true Godly spirituality.
The norm under which the Lord intended for all of us to live by.
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Ama… a tagalog word meaning “Father” in English. This was the title of the song I wrote just a few days ago for the Lord and which I performed for my community () just this evening.
It was a Valentine’s celebration for the Lord and the theme of the entire show was “Love for God”. So I composed a song just a few days ago which spoke of my awe and devotion to my Heavenly Father.
I prayed that through my song, God would bless each and everyone seated and listening… that they would feel the lyrics and relate to the emotions conveyed by the music.
The musical work talks about surrender… it speaks of overwhelming love… of following God’s will and his divine plan… of trusting the Father at all times.
I praise the Lord for he has blessed me with the gift of song… that he has entrusted to me a voice that can sing out loud to Him… to glorify, praise and worship Him.
My achievements are not for me… they are a testament to how the Lord works through people and individuals in order to bless others. May the Lord be glorified all the more through my music. For I am merely a willing instrument to be used by my Saviour anytime he so chooses.
Praise be to God forever.
