Perfect Preparation

Text: 1 Chronicles 2-4

Rhema Verse: 1 Chronicles 4:9-10
Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” 10 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.

Message: Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives, is the perfect preparation for a future Only He can see. Jabez' mother experienced birth pains more than any other pain from her child delivery kaya ganun ang pinangalan niya kay Jabez. And because of her mother's declaration for her son, he experienced many pains also. God knows why Jabez needed to feel that,,, because it would lead Jabez to call on the LORD ALMIGHTY and a perfect preparation for a great future ahead.

There were many painful experiences I have gone through in my life, in my family and in the business area. But when i looked back sa mga kapalpakan at masakit, costly experiences one thing is true: those experiences really taught us alot, and God carried us through. My dad always says, there's NO mistakes, only lessons.

Promise: God's ways are not man's ways. I can rely my whole life with God, ONLY HE can give me the best future there is.

God's Command: Just believe! Walk through the "experiences" I am with you, I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Warning: Do not lose sight of what God can do!

Application:Today we are not feeling well, my husband has a fever and one thing he said strikes me, instead of murmuring he praise God and said, thank you Lord for the update! Although nahihirapan siya, he knew we needed to go through the colds to boost our immune system. Thank you Lord for my wonderful family, thank You Lord for we know there is a great future ahead. Teach me not to lose sight of Your grace and love for me in times of trouble Lord.

With Humility Comes Wisdom

Text: 2 Samuel 23-1 Kings 1

Rhema Verse: 1 Kings 3:7-9“Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.  Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

Message: Solomon did everything his father King David had requested of him, within three years he established his kingdom. But after finishing David's to-do-lists he had no idea what come's next. He was not a warrior like his father, not too handsome and famous like his brother Absalom. But what King Solomon had was a realization that he needed wisdom and discernment to govern the whole nation that belonged to You LORD. To take Israel to new heights, to do God's purpose and design, needs a visionary, a man of wisdom and discernment. 

Because of this humility, knowing that He needed YOU, YOU gave him more than what He asked for. And this is also my desire and prayer Lord, to give me discernment and wisdom to be able to fulfill the vision you have entrusted to me. Lord, I need to learn the Art of winning souls, I need to feel the joy that  the Lord Jesus felt ushering. ONLY YOU can do that LORD.

Promise: Ask and I will receive, Seek and I will find, Knock and the door will be opened for me.

Command: Seek the giver and not the gifts.

Warning: without wisdom and discernment people perish.

Application: There were many times In my past I have tried to do things my own way, and I ended up in tears. I thank you Lord for I came into realization that I needed Your wisdom and discernment. Thank you Lord for you are the giver of every perfect and good things in my life. Thank you Holy Spirit for you are my wisdom and my guide.

On The Mountain Of The Lord It Will Be Provided

Text: 2 Samuel 23-1 Kings 1

Rhema Verse: 2 Samuel 24:16 "When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord relented concerning the disaster and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand.” The angel of the Lord was then at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite."

Message: "On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided", this is the mountain where the plaque stopped and 70,000 has already died. Also the mountain where Abraham sacrificed Isaac, and the Lord told him to withdraw his hand for He was just testing Abraham. this is God's memorial place, where a certain man was so faithful and believed everything God has promised, and the reason he made a nation for himself - Israel. It is the mountain where the display of real worship and total reliance was seen by God from man. 

In my life, i know that the service of my parents and what we are doing as  a family is not forgotten. like the mountain, You heap up every good thing and obedience of Your people and look on them with favor in return. You are a great and faithful God, loving a thousand generations for the faithfulness of one (Deut 5:10)

Promise: My faith, my service is not in vain.

Command: Always go up to the mountain of God, (that is His presence).   

Warning:

Application: There was a time that I was wayward -totally out of control, because of my 1st and only boyfriend before my husband (only by phone), he was a foreigner. And at that time, I have been the most disobedient child in my eyes because of him. I knew I brought a lot of pain for my parents but I still insisted. Times passed and people who used to look-up to me were cursing me because of my disobedience, I started to walked away from everybody. Then, problems came, telephone bills in my Mom's name, and another pastor in our office came, and it was hundreds of thousands!!!!!!!???!! I was so shocked and was shaking from my feet up, I knew I did not have any face to look up to God, I was so ashamed of myself.. But then I prayed, Lord remember the service of my parents, forgive me and make me a way out of this mess. And the Lord is really faithful, praise God I got out of the problem and learned BIG time!!!!!! Thank You Lord!

Perfectly Flawless

Text: 2 Samuel 20-22

Rhema Verse: 2 Samuel 22:31 “As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord ’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.

Message: I believe at this point of time, David was old and he experienced a lot of things; from being a rugged shepherd boy slaying a giant, to a teenager being threatened by King Saul, a valiant warrior adored by many people, to a King loved by many people, he had everything! The turn of events came when he sinned and experienced forgiveness but has to face the consequences: death of his children, his own life pursued by his own family, his kingdom restored and now facing another battle. This man experienced a lot Lord, but one thing he gained and learned from all those experiences, hardships, success and pain: the LORD's way is perfect. YOU are a just God! You shield those who takes refuge in You! YOU are So beautiful, so magnanimous. I am so thankful I have a God like You!

Promise: i can always depend my whole life and the life of my whole family to God. He will never leave us nor forsake us.

Command: take refuge in God alone.

Warning: without God everything is meaningless.

Application: Lord, i have been recalling all the struggles we have encountered as a family. all the lessons learned that costed a lot of money, all the people who robbed and did bad things to us, all the people we helped along the way, the promises that already happened and those that we are getting ready for.. All I can say God,, You are truly sooooo sooo soooo good to us! You are a just God, and Your beauty is incomparable to any beautiful thing or person in this world. Your ways are perfect Lord. Thank you for loving us, thank you for giving Your life to us.

Rebellion Brings Desolation

Text: 2 Samuel 17-19

Rhema Verse: 2 Samuel 17:23 "When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his house in order and then hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb."

Message: Ahithophel is a counselor highly esteemed by King David. But he started to connive with Absalom to gain honor and stole away the kingdom from David. Ahithopel’s counsel is like those of  a prophet - inquired to God (2 Sam 16:23). But as King David was fleeing for his life and his people he prayed to turn Ahitophel’s counsel into foolishness (2Sam 15:31). And the LORD did what David asked. 

It must have been that Ahitophel thought that his wisdom was his own, he forgot that the giver of wisdom is the Holy Spirit, and the reason he has wisdom is for the purpose of aiding the Lord’s anointed- King David. Tsk! Tsk! Sayang! So when the wisdom left him, he was so humiliated and committed suicide, it reminded me of Judas Iscariot in the time of Jesus. It definitely shows me that without Your presence Lord there is no peace, favor, wisdom and discernment.

Promise: The Holy Spirit came on me with power, wisdom, favor, joy, peace, patience because I am the LORD’s anointed! Thank you Jesus!

Command: Be loyal to my God’s appointed leaders

Warning: Rebellion brings desolation.

Application: I thank you God for being in SOL, I learned a lot especially being under Your cover by also following my leaders. Masyado po akong naging mayabang dati, thank you Lord kasi you are changing me day by day. I still have many flaws and I really thank you that you let me see that, so I can change. Lord, protect me always, I do not want to ever feel that it is by my own strength I was able to do anything, but it is because You are with me.. And I know You will be with me FOREVER!

The Father's Love

Text: 2 Samuel 14-16

Rhema Verse: 2 Samuel 14:33 "So Joab went to the king and told him this. Then the king summoned Absalom, and he came in and bowed down with his face to the ground before the king. And the king kissed Absalom."

Message: Wow! The story of the Prodigal Son was like the story of King David and his spoiled son Absalom. He was so beautiful (2Sam 14:25) and he stole everyone's hearts! But his heart was full of rage for his brother Amnon because he raped his sister Tamar, and resulted to murder then to banishment. But even though King David banished him, he longed for his son day and night. so Joab who portrays Jesus (as my husband shared to me regarding his devo), David as God the Father and the seer woman as Mary; made a way for them to get back together again. 

As soon as Absalom had a realization that he needed to see his father even if it will cost him his life - he went, bowed low and asked for forgiveness. Even before he finished King David embraced him and kissed his son Absalom. What a scene Lord!!! what a perfect example of grace! You do not look at our mistakes but our humility. God, it’s Your stubborn love that never let’s go of me!!!

Promise: God’s loving arms is always waiting and longing for his son and daughter’s return.

Command: Go back to the Father!! 

Warning: 1. Rage, jealousy, revenge will bring disaster!!! 

2. Being away from the presence of God is like eating a pig’s meal. Unbearable!!!

Application: God, thank You for Your love! And that everything happens for a reason, and for our own good. Even though some times we needed to feel longings or to wait upon Your promise. Still, in the end we see Your ways are really perfect, and You are never ever late. You showed me, there’s NO exception in Your love for us, and that Your arms is always longing to embrace me. I love You Lord.

A Way Out

Text: 2 Samuel 10-13 

Rhema Verse: 2 Samuel 11:26-27  "When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. After the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased the Lord."

Message: King David and Bathsheba committed adultery, a sin that deserves death (Deut 22:22) and he added more to the that, he killed Bathsheba's husband and took her as a wife, made him a murderer. What started as laziness led to peeping -curiosity - temptation and then Baaam!!! Deception that will lead to another sin, just like with Adam, Eve and the serpent.

I know that What David did was despicable and it displeased You. But this is what i believe in, You are a gracious God and You give everyone a chance to be forgiven by being rebuked. God sent Prophet Nathan, (pwede namang magdrop-dead na lang si David and Bathsheba) and when David's eyes was released from the deception, he realized what a terrible sin he has committed and he asked for forgiveness to the God of grace. I really admire his prayer in Psalms 51 after Nathan rebuked him and cursed him. David knew God,  a God of grace who can blot-out every sin he did and start a new. After being forgiven and experienced unmerited favor, he loved God even more.

Promise: God gave everyone a way out! Jesus bore all my sins at the cross in calvary

Command: Come to the gracious, loving, heavenly Father! 

Warning: If people shrugs off or disregard God's rebuke, then the curses will come.

Application: God, even though I still wanted to puzzle-out the pieces from his past, so I could hear the answer I wanted to hear. I am thankful that you made a way out for my husband and me. If not, we wouldn't have met, married and have two wonderful kids. I wanted to forget the former things and focus on the new promises.