Lessons #ReviveAsia part 1

Lessons #ReviveAsia:
Days before the conference I was praying, "Lord, You are Jehovah Jireh." I have no budget for this impromptu trip. My savings isn't for this.
Since His instruction isn't clear if I'll bring money or not, I brought only 1000THB. Thinking I'll just buy more THB in Thailand. While packing He said, just bring your clothes, nothing more." and so I did.

And he said to them, "When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?" They said, "Nothing."(Luke 22:35)

In the conference, God said to me, very clear. "Give all you have. zero THB". I was like... "Lord, can I cry now!? this trip, everything that's happening to me/us is already and totally out of my comfort zone. it isn't me anymore. out on a foreign land with nothing" but the sheep hear the Shepherd's voice. I hear my Father's voice so  I trust and obey. each day we trust God to provide. PRAY AND MOVE FORWARD. one of the lessons. God indeed is great and awesome. He provided, more than what we need. Every time I hold my wallet, with ZERO MONEY, He is telling me, "This is how you will move and walk. walk by faith. This is how you will be provided. My way."
#ReviveAsia The Lord disciplines those He love.
God bless those people who He used to help me/us.

Sorry Dory

Dear Dory, 

Sorry, for your death was in vain. Wished to give you justice but the garlic won.  

Craving for steamed fish i went to the grocery and bought cream dory. Clueless with what to do next and since i don’t want to settle for salt and butter; i bought Thai garlic, sesame oil and sriracha chili sauce. Mixed all those together and i just created a boom for my tummy. Yes, i died! 

  

Lesson learned: Research research research and don’t play with the food. There’s no wrong in experimenting but if it will make a boom that kills innocent worm in your tummy; might as well not do it.  

What’s with the shirt?

As a volunteer and part of a community; there are times that i need to wear christian shirts. There are times that i feel like hypocrite wearing a huge sign “I am Christian, i must act nicer”. When in line to the cashier or waiting for the food in a restaurant, i sometimes witness my fruits falling. My patience is sometimes tested. It was like there are three me talking in my head. 

After showing my mad face or reacting violently. 

1st Me: Oooops! I did it again.

2nd Me: You are wearing Christian shirt! Act nicer!

3rd Me: Even if you are not wearing that shirt you should be nice. 

This is not a guilty confession of a guilty conscience due to self condemnation. Rather, this is a written reminder of a clear conscience due to conviction. Grateful to the blood of Christ guarantying the forgiveness of my sins and gives me clear conscience. 

Humility, gentleness, kindness, etc. should be a given fruit and a natural christian character.  

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. -Philippians 4:5

the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, self-control. -Galatians 5:22-23

Wearing christian shirts should not the only times we have to guard our attitudes or even the times we have to be extra nice, gentle, humble and kind. Even without the christian shirts, stickers, bags, notebooks, pens, etc., we are God’s ambassador therefore our fruit should be guarded. Grateful for Paul’s reminder; always put on the armor!  

I realized that the grace of God is not in the shirts, rather, His grace is in the person wearing it. Christian character is not being evident by the cliche written on a shirt; it is proven true by the character of the person in it.

Wearing shirts with bible verses or cliche doesn't make us Christians. A christian shirt is called a “christian shirt” because of the person wearing it. 

First and foremost, we should also check our hearts. Is Jesus still our reason to love others and the purpose we drop our selfish nature. 

Wearing christian shirts should not be our primary reason or our motivation to behave right. As the savior who was crucified is more important than the cross. Our motivation to love and behave right should be Jesus and not the rags we are wearing.  

God does care of what we wear, not by shirts, but by righteousness. 

I put on righteousness as my clothing... -Job 29:14

Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. -Romans 13:14

Teaching GenX...

(Matthew 19:13/Mark 10:13 inspired.) If we will not teach the children about JESUS; what the world will teach them instead? As the song said; the children is our future, teach them well and let them lead the way, show them the beauty they possessed inside... If we will not teach them now about JESUS, about discipline, kindness, gentleness, humility, generosity, perseverance, value, etc... what kind of future they will have? what kind of future will this nation have? What kind of person they will be? Looking at the faces of those innocent children in kids church, I can’t help but to think; here is our future President, Doctors, Pastors, Parents, Managers, future... There goes our future. It is not enough that we send them to school. There, they'll read books and learn about mathematics, science, history, sports, etc... but how about Salvation? how about afterlife? how about faith, hope and love? how about purity and righteousness? Who will teach them to be strong and be very courageous when troubles come their way? who will tell them that JESUS came that we may have life, and have it to the full? It is not enough that we teach them how to count 1,2,3 and it is not enough for us to teach them how to spell their names. The virtue that we will plant in their hearts will be the virtue they'll believed in and be the person they will become. Parents, disciples; "Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death." -Proverbs 19:18. "He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him." -Proverbs 13:27 Teach the little children to come to Jesus. Teach them to pray. Teach them to read the bible. Teach them to love God with all their hearts, mind and soul. Teach them to love their neighbors as they love thierselves. Teach them the way how Jesus wants them to grow and live. Teach them to have faith like Abraham. Teach them to be strong and very courageous like Joshua. Teach them to love and trust God like David. Teach them and let them grow with wisdom like Solomon. Past generation and today's generation may have lot of differences. But these truth remains; Children are born innocent. Jesus love them. And it is our privilege to teach them. The Little Children and JESUS. People were bringing little children to JESUS to have HIM touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When JESUS saw this, HE was indignant. HE said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of GOD belongs to such as these.  I tell you the truth; anyone who will not receive the kingdom of GOD like a little child will never enter it.” And HE took the children in HIS arms, put HIS hands on them and blessed them.  - Mark 10:13-16 Give a little love to child, and you get a great deal back.

TALITHA KOUM!

Mark 5: 21-43 / Luke 8: 40-56 Taking the child by the hand, He said to her, “Talitha Kum!” (Which translated means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”) (Mark 5:41 NASB) Gripping her (firmly) by the hand, He said to her, Talitha cumi – which translated is, Little girl, I say to you, arise (from the sleep of death)! (Mark 5:41 AMP) Little girl, ARISE! No one is exempted to the trials, sufferings, temptation, challenges and difficult situations in this world. All of us are facing the giants that seem to enjoy crushing us day after day. We all experience pain in life. Disappointments caused by people, self-disappointment, illness, financial issues, fear of the future, fear of rejection, forgiveness issues, abuse, anxiety, self-pity and whatnot; we all face those challenges. In some point in our lives, we felt like there is no hope and we are dying inside. No one is exempted. Even JESUS suffered when He was on earth. How can I arise? I am greatly blessed, overwhelmed, to realized that GOD HIMSELF came, took us by the hand (firmly) and empowered us to rise. HE who promised not to live us nor forsake us came to pull us up, HIMSELF. HE who created us came on earth to renew our lives. HE who has everything in HIS hand took the time, went down on earth, and gave us attention, loved us, saved us, healed us, restored us. GOD HIMSELF came with a great love for us. When pain is just too real and it seems like there is no hope. How can you arise? Remember, JESUS CAME. The power to arise is in JESUS! HE is our LORD our strength. HE is our LORD our defense. HE is our LORD our redeemer. HE is our LORD our King. HE is our LORD our judge. HE is our LORD our provider. HE is our LORD our sanctifier. HE is our LORD our refuge. HE is our LORD our shield. HE is our LORD our deliverer. HE is our LORD our strong tower. HE is our LORD our healer. HE is our LORD our savior. TALITHA KOUM! Little girl, I say to you, arise!

My Wishlist...

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. –Matthew 6:19-21

Out of the five love languages, receiving gifts would be the least for me. I do appreciate the gifts and the thoughts in everything I receive, but I always put all the love and appreciation to the giver. Love the giver; give thanks for the gifts.

Whenever I‘m asked what I want for my birthday or for Christmas, I always answer , “I want car”. I know none of my friends can afford to buy me a car, and I believe no one should. It is my sarcastic answer so they won’t dare to ask me again. My heavenly Father said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.” This is the reason why I really don’t give much value to any material gifts I receive. I believe that whatever my hands can hold will depreciate its value in the future, but whatever my heart holds will last forever. How I wish that people would know that I already received the best gifts from them when they become my friends.

I’ve been counting my blessings lately; I’m overwhelmed and feeling really blessed to count names after names after names. I’m blessed to have people in my life who value what I value; who share with me the same treasure-- JESUS. To know that those people I love also have JESUS in their lives is a great joy no amount of wealth, fame, success, position, power, nor money can equal. How I wish that all those I love open their hearts and welcome JESUS in their lives. How I wish that they will also realize that CHRIST died for us because HE wants a relationship and not religion. How I wish they will know that I can love because God loved me first. I want to see my treasures not here on earth, but I want to see them all in heaven. “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

Joyful is the man who has JESUS in his heart. Courageous is the man who fears no one but God. Blessed is the man who store up treasures in heaven. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” I wish nothing more in life but to see people I love have JESUS in their lives. 

SIN vs SPIRIT

SIN vs SPIRIT
The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the spirit is life and peace. –Romans 8:6

The act of the sinful nature are obvious:

• Sexual Immorality
• Debauchery
• Witchcraft
• Discord
• Fits of rage
• Dissensions
• Envy
• Orgies
• Impurity
• Idolatry
• Hatred
• Jealousy
• Selfish Ambition
• Factions
• Drunkenness
• … and the like

… those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of GOD. –Galatians 5:19-21

Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please GOD. –Romans 8:8

But the fruit of the Spirit is:  (Galatians 5:22)

• Love
• Peace
• Kindness
• Faithfulness
• Self-control
• Joy
• Patience
• Goodness
• Gentleness

 I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  –John 15:5

We cannot live a self-centered and CHRIST-centered life at the same time.
We cannot live in sinful ways and righteous ways at the same time.

No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other… -Luke 16:13

Now, the chance and choice are yours… Sin or Spirit?