As the Lord Leadeth

Today, I take a new step forward into my life as a Christian, and a new deacon of our church in Lahug. As the Lord continue to lead and work in my life, every moment is a blessing that no imagination or understanding can fathom. I know that there are responsibilities to take, tasks to fulfill, and commitments to keep but above all we have a living God to rely on who can dwarf all these seemingly Goliaths of our lives.

It is my prayer, that you would also share with me in this prayer, that I will be of use in the Lord's work. I pray that God may abundantly fill me with heavenly wisdom. I pray for spiritual strength that I may be strong in time of testing. And I pray for an abounding faith, that the people around me shall see the abounding grace and mercy of the Lord.

My Commitment as A Christian

I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need pre - eminence., prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed.

I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cost of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus.

I must go until He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problems recognizing me - my banner will be clear!

Written by a young African Pastor

And tacked on the wall of his house

Moving Forward in 2009

This is my first post for this year on this blog. And I feel guilty because I have had a couple of posts on my other blogs already but this one seems to be in the back seat. It was set aside for quite some time. I've had a lot of articles in mind, but I don't know what happened, they just seem to fly away when i'm already in front of the computer. Then I end up just updating the other two.

Mistakes are there for us to learn from them. I sure wouldn't want that to happen again. So i'll take this time to jumpstart my goals for 2009.

By God's grace these are my prayers for this year.

1. Mature more in Christian life
2. Lead someone to Christ
3. Be consistent in reading the bible and family devotion
4. Help support our local church and mission churches
5. Faithfulness in tithing
6. Be a model of God's love to our children and to the people around me
7. To be grateful to God whatever circumstance I or my family may be.

A Different Legacy

When I was still a kid, I always look forward to December when my parents would always try to make sure that I have something new to wear on Christmas day. It was something that i always anticipated. And it has become a legacy which was passed from our family's generation to generation.

On Saturday (December 20) I'll buy my kids their new clothes, not for Christmas though, but for our church thanksgiving. I guess it's my time to lead on with a better legacy on a different but biblical occasion. On that memorable day, my wife and I have also decided to make it more special by making this as the dedication of our two boys, Don and Drey. They will not be baptized as what our previous customs were. But will be dedicated and entrusted to God's hand as what Abraham did when he entrusted the life of Isaac in mount Horeb. As parent's we would like to give back God his entrusted treasures that he may lead, and use Don and Drey as they grow.

The Sculptor

I thank God for another week that has passed and i'm looking forward to another month with more blessings and learning experiences to come. November seem to be just like a day ago and here we are now, on the last month of 2008, then another year would usher in. Time indeed is fleeting so fast and sometimes we are left on wondering what we have done or what we have accomplished for one whole year. I was actually previously planning to include on my post today, the chronology of events before we arrived here in Cebu as a way of remisniscing the past months, just so you can picture out our adventures but I was led to a different idea on what to write.

I want to share one of the anecdotes that our preacher, Pastor Ben, gave out a couple of weeks ago. It was the story of a sculptor who earned his living, chiseling images of saints, Jesus, Mary, and other biblical characters on wood. He's been known for his craft that every time he finishes a sculpture he made sure that he has his personal inscription on the foot of the image. The merchandise did prove to be marketable and of great quality considering his talent for the art. And soon he's been known in the community that every graven image that bears his insignia would easily recognize the maker of it. Then one time, the sculptor's daughter fell ill and was hospitalized. The father being so grieved could not bear seeing her daughter into so much pain. Helpless and hopeless that even the best doctors could not provide any solution, he was in despair. Then as he passed thru the corridor of the hospital he came across a chapel. Wanting refuge and comfort, he entered and followed the people lining towards a huge image clothed and adorned with golden ornaments and fine linen. People were praying round about. He stood at the footstool of the image and raised his face as if pleading for her daughter's life. He held himself from crying out loud but soon he finds himself embracing the image begging to spare her daughter's life. But as he opened his eyes and his sight fell on the graven image's feet, he saw a familiar engraving, his own inscription. With much displease, he realized that he was bowing down to a creation of his own; one that cannot see nor hear his pleas nor save him out of his trouble for it was he who made it.

"They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble."
"Isaiah 46:7

I have started my blog on call center living about two weeks ago, and now i am urged to create my blog outside of the call center environment. Well, there is actually no need for that because Christian living and living like Christ doesn't need to be confined in the physical church we see. Christian living is exemplifying Christlike characteristics no matter where you are, and no matter who you may be with, and no matter what it may cause you. Many people avoid religion and faith as their topic because of fear of being persecuted but that is Christian living is all about, suffering for the cause of Christ name and glory.