Where Life Flows

Where the River Flows 
 
Can a river stop flowing? Can we prevent its rush? Yet wherever it flows, there is life. Trees grow green, while fishes rejoice in its abundance. We cannot control its nature.  
 

Ezekiel 47:9 CSB 

Every kind of living creature that swarms will live wherever the river flows, and there will be a huge number of fish because this water goes there. Since the water will become fresh, there will be life everywhere the river goes. 

 
God revealed to Ezekiel the life-giving water. Water is a source of necessity. We can never refrain from it because it is our body's daily essential need. 
 
 

Never Thirst Again  

 

John 4:13-14 CSB 

Jesus said, "Everyone who drinks from this water will get thirsty again. But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again. In fact, in the water that I will give him will become a well of water springing up in him for eternal life." 
 

This is the story about the woman in the well who was drawing water. When Jesus saw her, He asked her to give him a drink. The woman was a Samaritan, who had had been a bit questioning because Jews do not associate with her people. Then Jesus told her about the living water, which to whom he will give will never get thirsty again. The woman asked Jesus for it, and then Jesus told her to go to her husband. The woman replied that she had no husband, and Jesus knew her honesty, because she didn't really have a husband, but five husbands; the one he has right that time wasn't even her husband. The Samaritan woman was greatly amazed of His prophecy about her.  

 
Jesus told her about the coming time when people will no longer worship God in the mountain, but in their hearts. The woman believed and told Jesus that she was waiting for the Messiah. Jesus revealed to Him saying, "I the one speaking to you, am he." (v. 26) 
 

Jesus is the Living Water; the life-giving water. The water that heals and restores. When we come to Him, we become satisfied from the thirst of love, peace, joy, and hope. He is the One whose grace flows down in our lives, and so we can receive it with gladness. We would not have been worthy, but He offered it with overflowing kindness to let us choose to live with Him and never thirst again.

Turn Back to Him

I Turn Back to You, Lord

When I'm in distress

I hear You calling me

Coming near to help me up

And take my hand to stand

When I try to run

Far away from You
In the dark You're always there

To be the light along my way

Then my soul swells out

Wanting to come back

Crying out I bow down

And lifted my head up

I turn back to You, Lord

Fix this heart of mine

And bring me to Your Presence

Where I see Your glory shine

Bring me to the deep

Where I only sink beneath

And find Your peace and rest

I turn back to You, Lord.

– JBL 3/21/19

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I had composed this song lyrics just this morning. I had an awful feeling last night because of the consistent failures I've got these past few days. I just kept it to myself with grief and disappointment, and refused to give the burdens to God and ask him to fix my heart. 

My head kept taunting me to sleep again. I felt so restless, but I have to prepare myself to school.

As I ate my breakfast, my heart began to ache without knowing why. I just ignored it but a little while, I already found my eyes soaked with tears. "Why, Lord?" I whispered. Giving grace for the breakfast was not enough. Even the healthy and delicious meal didn't give me the strength to get back up. I must talk to Him and pour out the hurt. From this aching heart came the call to remember that failure deceit but God's truth is peace.

When I remembered His love, I knew that I could never really run away, because nothing can separate me from my first love. "Lord, I'm sorry..." I cried out. 

Then I began to be filled with words of melody...

As Life Blooms

Bloom and Bear Fruit

Flowers can either grow in water or soil. Such as in fruit bearing trees on the soil, flowers are being found. Flowers are distinguished through its tree. When the leaves grow, flowers begin to bud, and sooner comes its bloom with the fruit it produce. Like flowers, we bloom to produce fruit, and it can either be a good or  a bad fruit. 

'Water Blossoms'

Lilies grow in the bodies of water, usually by the ditches, ponds and swamps, where the water is stagnant. Only the lilies have decorated the unadorned place. In spite of the unpleasantness of its atmosphere, the spot itself still have beauty in it because of the lilies that had covered around. Water which is their home has displayed its elegance.

Flowers Fade But the Word Endures

1 Peter 1:24- 25 CSB

For all flesh is like grass, and its glory like the flower of the grass. The grass withers and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord endures forever.

We too are like flowers. We flourish, showing off our beauty and radiance. But just like flowers, we pass away. As a jasmine's fragrance goes out, so we are. Just like the roses, we only have a small span of time to cherish every moment in our lives. But unlike the flowers, the beauty of the Lord never fades. It is always fresh and in abundance. We cannot truly rely on the beauty that is fleeting, but on the foundation of beauty in all creation.

Let Life Bloom

Hosea 14:5-7 ESV

I will be like the dew to Israel;

He shall blossom like the lily;

He shall take roots like the trees of Lebanon;

His shoots shall spread out;

his beauty shall be like the olive,

and his fragrance like Lebanon.

They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow;

they shall flourish like the grain;

they shall blossom like the vine;

their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

When we return to our Creator, He makes our life bloom like the lilies in the midst of this filthy world. We are to bloom in the love of Christ for it is always fresh and bountiful, same as the beauty of the lilies. His love is timeless. When we live in Him, we will have the blossom that will never fade away.

Sing in Love

A Love Song of Praise

(Verse 1)

The Lord is my shepherd

I shall not be in want

Be leads me beside quiet waters

Restoring my soul

(Pre-Chorus 1)

So I sing in His Presence

Where His Spirit overflows

Here I stand amazed by His Grace

(Chorus)

My heart is singing a love song

For the glory of the Lord

My lips can't stop praising His Name

For all His goodness and wonders

In His Presence I remain

My heart is singing a love song of praise

(Verse 2)

Even in the darkest valley

His Spirit is within me

I will fear no evil

For in His love I'm secured

(Pre-Chorus)

So I sing in His Presence

Where His Spirit overflows

Forever I'm amazed by His Grace

– JBL 2018

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This is a love song that I dedicated to the Lord. Just like what David said in Psalm 23, the Lord is our Shephered, whom we will not lack anything. He is the giver of life, love, peace, rest, joy, protection, and prosperity. Everything that He has done is more than enough to make us feel loved and be in love with Him more and more. He is the song that I sing, the rhythm that makes my heart beat, and the melody that makes my life flow in harmony. I rejoice in Him forever, for he is the reason I have found LOVE.

Heaven and Earth Proclaim

Can You?

Can you count the stars?

Can you measure the skies?

Can you see the sun,

And gaze at it for long?

Can you swim to the deepest seas,

Down the dark where life exists?

Creatures that are yet unknown

Remain covered down below.

Can you make the river stop flowing?

Or prevent the trees from growing?

Can you stop the flowers from budding

And keep the wind from blowing?

Can you fly above the heavens

And see everything under the sun?

Can your feet walk through the waters

Can your hand touch the stars?

Can you reach the highest mountain

And live where there is no rain?

Can you live a life without troubles

And endure without pain?

Who can comprehend everything?

All creation is entirely amazing

But lies in the mystery of time and measure

There is more than what to be called a hidden treasure.

No one can carry all the glory

For it belongs to the One who is worthy

More than enough is to behold the Creator

Who is the life giver, who restores, and reigns forever.

- JBL 2019

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No Voice But Speaks

The vastness of space is too much to comprehend. We can be intelligent people, but we are not perfect enough to know everything. The whole universe bear witness of a beautiful creation. There is so much more to marvel than the 'Big Bang' and the other theories that were made. 

Psalm 19:1-4 NLT

¹ The heavens proclaim the glory of God.

The skies display his craftsmanship.

² Day after day they continue to speak;

night after night they make him known.

³ They speak without sound or word;

their voice is never heard.

⁴ Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,

and their words to all the world.

If people do not give praise to God, how about the things that are mute and don't even have life? "The heavens proclaim of the glory of God." Creation itself speaks of a perfect and unique design which nothing and no one could understand, apart from those whom it had been revealed. They speak through its beauty and wonder and declare of a Wise Creator.

Immeasurable

Science has discovered that there are stars that are greater than the Sun, higher in temperature and bigger in size. Imagine yourself being the smallest body among the bodies beyond. The Earth is bigger than the moon; the Sun is bigger than the earth; other stars are bigger than the Sun, and are double, triple or quadruple in size! We are just a tiny thing for them, but we as humans has been made precious to the living God, our Creator. What He created is beyond measure. Numbers are infinite, just as we cannot count all of God's goodness in our lives since the world began. We can only enjoy and endure – and ensure that our Creator has a beautiful plan set before us. We can only look forward to it as we put our hopes in Him. Just as how numerous are the stars in the night sky, so is His love for us that will always shine.

The Weak: "I Am Strong"; The Poor: " I Am Rich"

"Give Thanks" by Don Moen

Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the holy one
Give thanks because He's given
Jesus Christ His Son

And now, let the weak say, "I am strong!"
Let the poor say, "I am rich!"
Because of what the Lord has done for us
Give thanks...


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Our Strength and Riches

We have heard of this song sung in churches. I have learned of it when I was eight years old. But it is so amazing to realize that this song meant a lot to everybody. Who can imagine in a situation while you are weak, you are strong? The same as when you are poor, you are rich? Many of us may see it only with appearance. When we see the sick or frail, we might judge them as weak people. When we see the beggar by the roadside, it could be obvious to call him poor. But Jesus came to this world not because of the strong or the rich in spirit.

He came for us to be our Lord and Savior. He came for our healing and restoration, just as a doctor comes to heal the sick and not the well. In Christ, we can say "I am strong!" because He is our strength, the One who lifts our head up, and the One who give us victory in the battle. In Christ, we can say, "I am rich!" because He is our treasure; He is our prosperity. He has all the riches of the heaveb and earth, and He is more than enough! So why not accept your real destiny? We are not meant to live in poverty and weakness forever. We are meant to live in abundance in the Lord, who will provide for us. He is our strength, and He is our prosperity.

Run the Race

Victorious Gain

Isaiah 40:30-31 ESV

Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall and be exhausted;

but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings like eagles;

they shall run and not be weary;

they shall walk and not faint.

Truly, the righteous gain victory in the Lord. Young people have been great in winning. We have always heard that "the youth is the key to success," because we have the power to voice out for our community, and make a 'change'. Most have the full strength to fight in the battle. But of course, there are times when we get exhausted through our labors. Some might give up and keep their loss, while some are still eager to keep fighting to achieve their goal. And yet, the Scripture says that those "who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength," and they are the ones who gain true victory. 

Race of Faith

Philippians 3:13-14 NLT

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Paul tells us about pressing towards goal that it doesn't mean he already achieved perfection, but that he is pursuing it for it is what God wants us to be. We are CALLED to be perfect. We can only achieve it if we forget the past and move ahead. We won't be able to run straight forward if we keep looking back as it will only make us stumble. God wants us to walk in a straight line that leads only to His kingdom.

Reaching for the Prize

What can we do with the awards in this world? When we are gone, we can soon be forgotten. All our hardships are only for an earthly lifetime but we cannot take hold of it forever. There is the race where we can run without losing. It is the race of faith. This is the race where we fight in TRUST for the Lord. This is not just to the get to the finish line, but for the eternal line, the line that is forever in the love of Christ. We are "more than conquerors in Christ" because He Himself is the Lord of the Battle. He will fight for us as we put our trust in Him. He wants us to "lay aside every weight," and let Him carry our burdens. Together with this is to break the bondage of sin, and let our focus be on running with endurance towards the heavenly goal. 

Hebrews 12:1

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings to us closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,..."

My First Love

"First Love Never Dies"

They say, "First love never dies." For earthly lovers, they usually say that when they experience affection towards each other for the first time, and later on become joined as one after years of courtship. But some say the opposite because of their heartbreak on the first person whom they gave their time and effort with. There usually comes the "Love is blind," giving the meaning of love as something that is experienced without discerning right and wrong about the relationship. But why the bottom line is TRUE? Who really is our FIRST LOVE?


The One Who Loved Us First

1 John 4:10
This is love: not that we love God, but that He first loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Who is the FIRST One who gave LOVE? He is God. He Himself is Love. It is His character, and He is the ultimate giver of life and LOVE. He is our First Love. Even though we are so hard-headed, committing intolerable sins, He still loves us because it is who He is. Instead of us being punished, He sent His Son, Jesus as a sacrifice on the cross because of His love.


The Destroyer of Love

He created the world out of LOVE, saying that "It is good," (Genesis 1) and so we are GOOD in the sight of God as humans who are created in His image. But because of sin, we became separated from Him because it is against LOVE. The cunning devil made his scheme to take away the beloved possession of God through deception. And out of human's disobedience to God (and believing the devil instead), we have been cut off from His sight, the reason why we can't see Him face to face. God is so Holy that He cannot take sight of our sin. We were banished from His presence, and death came to us. Until Jesus came into the world, the devil had always taken the opportunity to be the "thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy" (John 10:10).


Love Has Overcome

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

This verse has been so familiar to people around the nation. We can hear this in churches, hymns and can even be seen on someone's doorpost. But this verse gave a lot of interpretation to many religious sects. Many have memorized it but never knew its perfect meaning, or even experience what it is. Jesus is the One who made a way for our redemption, and to bring us back to a relationship with God. Through Him, death was defeated. Sin may still be in people's lives, but God is GREATER. His love has conquered sin. And yet, we cannot inherit this eternal life unless we humbly come to Him to surrender all our sins, and ACCEPT Jesus as Lord and Savior of our lives.


His Love Endures Forever

Jesus is "the same today, yesterday and forever." People ans the world will change, but His love remains the same. He is the Eternal Life whom we have hope for. Who He is in the beginning, He still is and will still be. Even when we become faithless, He is still faithful. He really does what He has promised. He loves us so much, that all He wants is the best for us, just as He is our Father. We can never be good enough to God, but He who is GOOD is more than enough to supply for all our needs. We don't have to inherit His Kingdom through our works, because His GRACE is sufficient for our salvation. We must look forward to pursuing the heavenly which are eternal, than the things in this world that is just temporal. And as He gave His life for me, I recognize Jesus as my hope, my strength, my Lord and Savior, and my FIRST LOVE.

Run Back into His Love

 Fall But Rise Again

For how many times I do forget that God is faithful? For how many times I tried to run away from Him? When I face trials, I seem to be knocked down. But still, my Lord reminds me that I am "more than a conqueror in Christ". He fought the grave for me, to save me and bring me back into His love.

Proverbs 24:16 ESV

For the righteous falls seven times and rises again,

but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.

God has declared His chosen people to be righteous in His sight through the redemption in Jesus Christ. And therefore, as chosen ones, we might fall on life's road, but we can still stand firm with our faith in God.


Heart Fixer

There were times that I became hateful of myself when I've had extreme failures. Being distressed, I made my heart harden like a rock. I would grit my teeth and distort my face in a way that my brows are fixed in a brusque demeanor. I was like a fool. There shouldn't have been any of these acts but I was putting myself down. Moments later, I would ask myself why I'm having those attitudes. I would try to discern it and understand what should I really act. But unless there is the wisdom and the presence of God, I wouldn't be able to make things right. I felt that the Spirit is in control of me, because even if I turn away from Him, He is around me, and so when I turn back, it is still Him who will approach me. God fixes my heart because He is my Healer. When I hear Him again speak from His Word, I am reminded that I'm loved. He will always welcome me when I run back into His love. Even if I stumble, He will catch me and will never let me fall. I might run anywhere but Jesus will still be there, and better is life with Him than a thousand elsewhere.

Alive in Worship

Go Group Day

It was my "Go Group Day" with the teen students at EPVIA. One week to go 'til the end of their school year, and I don't want to miss the opportunity to lead them in praise and worship, as we hadn't been singing worship songs during the past weeks or months, rather. I came at 11:30 AM, and waited almost an hour to enter the Grade 10-B class because they're not yet done with their activities. 

Class Excused

At 12:30, I was already permitted to come in. I found the students watching movies on a mobile phone, while the others were busy with different stuffs. I tried to get their attention for our Bible study, but they weren't preparing themselves. Just a little while, their teacher poked his head inside the room, and suddenly, one of the students told me, "Ate, tara na, magturo ka na...tagalan mo ah..." I replied, "Dahil diyan, mag-praise and worship tayo ngayon." 

Worship with a 'Beat'

I asked them if they have Bluetooth speakers, but they didn't have any. We didn't even have any musical instruments to play for the song. "Lord, ang epic naman nito." I said, because we didn't have any musical instruments for worship. Just then, what I've been thinking earlier happened right away. I began to tap my hands on the desk as if it was a beat box.

"When You walk into the room, everything changes, darkness starts to tremble at the light that you bring..."

"And when You walk into the room, every heart starts burning, and nothing matters more than just to sit here at Your feet and worship You..."

"We love you, and we'll never stop, we can't live without you, JESUS. We love you, and we can't get enough, all this is for You, JESUS..."

Encouraged

I closed my eyes as I sang the lyrics... I prayed that God will just touch the young people's lives in that place, and that they will have a deeper relationship with Him as they seek Him. "Ipikit niyo ang mga mata niyo, at isipin kung ano yung mga gusto niyong ilapit kay Lord..." I encouraged them, letting them ask the Lord about their requests. They were all quiet about five minutes, and later on, as I sang the chorus with my eyes still closed, I heard them joining me, "We love You, and we'll never stop, we can't live without You, Jesus..."

God is so amazing, working in our lives. It didn't have to be fancy to engage them to listen, but God's Word is enough to bring hope to those who are willing to give their hearts to Him...

Storms of Life

I told them that even though there are 'storms' in their life, God will not abandon them. He cares for each and every one of us, whatever it is we're going through. When we've started to doubt in trouble, He would ask us, "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?" (Mark 4:40)

Jesus wants us to rely on Him, for He will keep us safe and secured. We don't have to be anxious and doubtful for He is able to calm the raging storm in our lives. He is our Anchor, and so, we wouldn't be washed away as we hold on to Him.

So Glad

When I walked outside the building, I was so glad that what I've prayed for came to pass. Even though some of them weren't being so serious, I know that God's Word is being planted in their hearts.

To Believe is to See

The Unseen God

BELIEVE IN GOD? Why?? "He is not real," others may say, or "He can't be seen isn't He?" But why do I believe in Him, why do I trust Him? Why is my FAITH in Him?

John 1:18 ESV

No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

But if God is real, why can't we see Him?

Romans 3:23 ESV

...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

We cannot see God because of SIN. It is the ultimate reason why many are being confused and deceived by evil; the reason why there is NO FOREVER here on earth. He cannot tolerate sin, because He is Holy, and it is His character. Sin cannot be connected to holiness. Impurity cannot be joined with purity. In the same way, our sinful nature is contradicted to the Spirit of God. 

Sin separates us from God, the reason why we can't see Him.

To 'see' in the Greek word 'horaō' is properly to stare at (by implication); to discern clearly (physically or mentally); to attend to; to experience; passively to appear.

To see God is to experience Him. We cannot perceive Him in our lives without knowing who He really is, and what is His full purpose.

Beyond Senses

Hebrews 11:1 ESV

Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Believing on something beyond our senses is FAITH. What we want for the future is what we hope for, and yet we cannot see it, and so is faith.

Therefore, when we have faith, we rely on something, though we cannot see (physically) the form or the outcome. One afternoon, while I was selling chocolates on the streets and there weren't any cutomers yet, I've tried to close my eyes and walk 10 steps forward. I continued to exercise walking with my eyes closed as if I was blind. I relied not only my feet, which I couldn't see, but also on hearing my surroundings that would help me to be aware of the direction I'm going. That wouldn't be the best example, but one thing I learned is that we need faith, in order for us to have hope for something. God is Spirit, and so, He can't be seen. He is like the air that we breathe, the wind that blows wherever it goes, but we are not aware of it unless we feel it.

The word FAITH in Hebrew, "êmûn", comes from the primitive root "âman", which means [that which is] established, regarded as truth, assurance, [that which is] verified, and continuance.

In the Greek word "pistis", it is a moral conviction, belief or reliance. (Strong's Concordance)

The Greatest Reward

Being Rewarded

Isn't it a great thing to receive rewards? Winning from contests, games or any competition is worth being rewarded for. When I was an elementary student, I had always joined co-curricular activities where I had been one with the placers who won. I was an active participant mostly during Grade 6, where I gained academic awards in both class and in competing with other schools. Having been the First Honorable Mention, my parents were proud of me. In high school, it had been more challenging, but I still got high grades. I'm not much to be called a grade conscious, but I thrived to achieve success.


Pleasing People

I once thought that if I please people with what I do, I would gain reward from them. In my mind was, if only I had become what they want me to be– the thing that was 'in'– then I must have been loved by many. They must see me work hard and be proud of what I have. I wasn't boastful about myself, but I just wanted to see people notice my skills and abilities. But there is one thing that I've realized: material things, or even the praises of people towards us are not the reward we must look forward to. They are just there as the earth exists. They might even be lost before you are gone. Money, fame, and personal pleasure cannot satisfy us for a lifetime. People cannot be contented with what they have, because when there is something 'good' to them, they might seek it for more. But to what extent that reward would be?

Pursuing the Great Reward

There is a reward that is more than what we can perceive. These might be the blessings, yet it is the Blesser Himself who is our reward. God is the GREATEST REWARD that one must boast about. How wonderful it is knowing that the One who has all authority on heaven and on earth is the One we must pursue and look forward to.

Hebrews 11:1 ESV
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction if things not seen."

Hebrews 11:6 ESV
"And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek him."

To receive the reward is to SEEK GOD, and to seek Him is by FAITH. Faith says, "To Believe is to See". We cannot see God physically, but we can perceive His beautiful creation and His masterpiece. We believe that He is THERE, because life is evident. Even the whole universe cannot be measured by humans. It is too great for our little brain. No one could even explain how complex life is. Our knowledge is not superior enough to understand the movement of all things. God is REAL. He is not dead but alive, watching our every step, and waiting for people to seek His love and grace. When we seek God, it He Himself that we experience. Then why He is our GREAT REWARD?

Rewarded in Full

The reward is LOVE.
God is Love. He loves us all, that's why He sent His One and Only Son to die for us. It is not because of our love but HIS. He first loved us before we have loved Him.

The reward is SALVATION.
He became sin to save us from our sins; His death and resurrection made a way for us to receive His forgiveness, and the promise of eternity.

The reward is JOY and HOPE.
He is our Joy, because only He can satisfy us. When we humbly turn to Him, He is the One who makes our faces radiant with gladness. We have the JOY because of HOPE for Him. We become happy to seek our hope, knowing that He is faithful in His promises.

The reward is PROSPERITY.
God is RICH! And if He has all the riches on heaven and on earth, how much is He able to give you? He is our Provider, and He can increase our assets more than what we could have imagined. His blessings overflow, for His grace is abundant. We become rich not just in material things, but also in our relationship with Him. We become more BLESSED when we seek our great PROSPERITY.

The reward is PEACE.
He is our Comfort and Rest. In the midst of the storms of life, He is ready to calm the waves; He takes away all our fears, and we don't have to worry because He carries all the burden for us.

The reward is LIFE.
He is the air we breathe. He is the reason why our hearts beat. He is the blood flowing through our veins, and without Him, we are nothing but dirt. He promised us everlasting life, not by the physical body–which is temporal–but by the spirit. He is the one who makes us WHOLE.

Strong Foundation

Luke 6:46-49 ESV
Build Your House on the Rock

46   “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not

        do what I tell you?

47    Everyone who comes to me and hears my

        words and does them, I will show you

        what he is like: 

48    he is like a man building a house, who dug

        deep and laid the foundation on the rock.
        And when a flood arose, the stream broke

        against that house and could not shake it,

        because it had been well built.

49    But the one who hears and does not do

        them is like a man who built a house on

        the ground without a foundation. When

        the stream broke against it, immediately it

        fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

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Foundational Structure

Before a house is built, it must have a strong foundation so that it would not collapse when any disaster comes. Foundation is the most significant part of a structure, because the entire part relies onto it. The outermost layer or the façade might be quite unique, but it's quality will be lost if the hidden part is not firm. Every effort would only be wasted.

House on the Sand

Building a house in the sand is just like having our foundation from destructive things. We cannot build ourselves up if we are being corrupted by the sinful pleasures of this world. When we rely on people, they cannot always give time to comfort us or help us through our problems. Even the person we trust might not be able to deal with us. Take this as an illustration: You are in the verge of falling over the cliff; so hopeless, like you just wanna disappear... while there is a 'friend' who came to you saying, "Hey, you want to forget? Come, let's go somewhere and get what you want..." then that person brought you into a nasty place of 'dreams'... would you really have what you need? Fantasy is the opposite of reality. The wonderful feeling that might have crept inside you for a worldly pleasure can be true, but it was only a deception. These are like the addictive drugs that eat up your soul, wanting to destroy your life.


House on the Rock

The house that is built on the rock is our lives that has a strong foundation. Whenever the storms come, we are not defeated; we are more than conquerors, and that is through Jesus Christ. He is our ROCK, our Fortress and strong foundation. When we build our lives on Him, we can stand in spite of the challenges we face. He will make us firm and unmovable. This is our life that depends on the One who is stronger than any disaster on earth. We may stumble because of our weaknesses, but He will not let us fall away. He is our STRENGTH, so that we have the power to overcome the obstacles. His death and resurrection has overcome the grave. Now and then, He is our Mighty Warrior who has won the battle. To build our lives in Him is to have the foundation of TRUST, then we become stronger and stronger in the Mighty Name of Jesus.

Number Your Days

Psalm 39:4-5 NLT
"LORD, remind me how brief my time
    on earth will be.
    Remind me that my days are numbered –           how fleeting my life is.
You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
    My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
    at best, each of us is but a breath."

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Precious is Time

"Time is gold", as the old saying goes. When we consume it, we cannot reedeem it anymore. When we waste it, we might regret what we should have done with it in the past. Time seems to run faster than the traffic flow, and everything else it passes by becomes history. Our life is "but a breath" to the Lord. He can either prolong it or take it away from us. We cannot control our breath, but we have the effort to make use of time. So, while we still have the oxygen to breathe in, what should we make every effort with?


Next Day, New Day

We do have a lot of things to spend within 24 hours a day. We might be busy and a lot busier on many things due to responsibilities, but we always have – even a millisecond – to do something. The moment you wake up, what is the first thing you do? Well, I might actually say, "I'll snooze the alarm and go back to sleep since we don't have classes..." or it might be, "I'll go to the CR to pee and wash up...." But the most important thing to pinpoint is to put God first in our lives. Whatever happened the day before, it is still a miracle when we wake up. As the sun rises again, we still praise and thank God for the strength He gives us each day. We can spend time with God, praying and lifting up our requests to Him, yet keeping in mind to seek the Blesser, who gives the blessing Himself.


"Number our Days"

The psalmist, David, was asking God to remind him how short his time on earth was supposed to be. Also, Moses reminds us this:

Psalm 90:10 NLT
Seventy years are given to us!
   Some even live to eighty.
But even the best yeas are filled with pain
      and trouble;
   soon they disappear, and we fly away.

Yes, life is full of troubles, but LIFE is PRECIOUS. Same as TIME: as long as we have breath, live our lives to the fullest, and remember that it is not through the world's definition. It is through the Lord Jesus Christ, who "gives us life, and life more abundantly."
To number our days is to know what our lives is worth living for. We live not just to endure pain, but to experience grace and peace. Through the love of God, we know what our purpose on earth is: to worship and praise Him. Together with this is to have salvation by grace, through a personal realtionship with Jesus Christ. Don't waste our precious time while we live, but make every effort to do every good thing.


'Submission on Time'

Proverbs 16:3 NLT
Commit your actions to the LORD,
   and your plans will succeed.

As we manage our time, we submit ourselves to the Lord; we commit to Him our actions and surely, He will make our plans successful. He has purpose in our lives and we must hold on to His promises. In whatever we do, He is our strength, and we are to pursue what are the things that will glorify His name. Have much the time with God and He will add to you more of it, same as to offer your time and be used to bear good fruit that will last forever. All in the Name of Jesus.


Philippians 4:13 NLT
For I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.

James 1:2-3 NLT
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.