How's Your Foundation?

Text: Luke 6:46-49

Introduction: During our school years, our school celebrated for what we called Foundation Day. It tells about when and how our school started. And you know what the amazing thing is? Our school is still standing! Just like our school, our spiritual life should also be built in foundations. But how is your foundation?

Background:  In the area of Palestine, the re were valleys and gullies that had been exposed by water from rain and storms. During heavy rain fall, it washes away everything on its path.

Exhortation:

In our life, we could have founded it in anything that brings us happiness or whatever satisfies us. The thing is, we often satisfy our earthly desires when we could have founded ourselves with: FAITH, WORD OF GOD and JESUS. According to our parable, there are two kinds of Christians.

1. FOOLISH - They are the ones who chose to destroy their life. v.49

Foolish people are the ones who may listen to sermon, attend activities, go to church, might have read the Bible but never live accordingly to it. In life, it is easier to go with the crowd. It takes less to maintain something with God and it's easier to show off. But a person that does not build his life on Jesus' words and not do it will never have a strong foundation. When storms come and as you reject a life with Jesus, you will fall down into an eternity separated from Him. This world is like sand. When we build our lives in whatever we want, we will sink on it. Being just a Christian isn't enough to stand up against the world, We will end up stressed, worried, driven by lust, angered broken and with a nonsense life, you will crumble.

2. WISE - They are the ones who build their life on strong foundation. v.46

But if you construct your life according to God's word, you'll never be disappointed. God will hold us up. Rely on Him. Being wise is doing and hearing and having faith. With that, we'll be able to withstand anything. Obedience won't ensure an easy life. But it will ensure that God is always our strong tower.

• Word of God. James 1:22
• Faith. Romans 10:17
• Jesus. Proverbs 3:5-6

Conclusion: When life is calm, our foundations doesn't seem to matter but when crises came, our foundations are tested. If we build our live on the basis of God's truth, we will be able to persevere. If our foundation is built on our worldly desires and own wisdom then we will fail when tested. 

Jesus is the only worthy foundation. And with a word to claim and a heart to obey and obeys, we can be assured that whatever happens God will always be there. (Psalm 46:1)

Salvation is by faith alone in Christ but obedience is important in our life to come. Now, how is your house's foundation built?

How To Guard Your Heart This Year.

Prov 4:23 ”Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life”. (NIV)

To guard your heart is to keep Christ’s righteousness, mercy and love inside. It means not to allow evil to seep in. How do we keep evil from seeping in? We must guard our thoughts and make sure they are pleasing to God — not condemnatory or judgmental (Philippians 4:8). When a seed of judgment becomes planted in our heart due to unforgiveness if it is not corrected with meditation on grace and God it will become a root of bitterness. Sin starts as thoughts. When we think sinful thoughts we open our hearts to evil behaviors. If you want to start walking with Christ in terms of mimicking His forgiveness and mercy you must keep His word in your heart and keep the thoughts of the Holy Spirit in your mind. The bible tells us that we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). Since we have the mind of Christ we must put out all thoughts that are negative or detrimental to us or others. Christ’s benign nature will only show in us when we choose to listen to and obey Him.

When we read and meditate on scripture and the works of God we open ourselves to the leading of the Holy Spirit. You can’t keep God’s word in your heart and entertain bitterness at the same time. When we think about God’s works, His miracles, and His nature we condition our minds to think positively. When we think positively we will be compelled to obey Christ in action and in thought.

- Ayo Sage

PASKO NA NAMAN.

Masaya naman ang Pasko ko.

Oo naman. Wala man engrandeng handaan, di man kumpleto ang pamilya, wala man Christmas tree at hindi man ako nageexpect ng regalo kinabukasan, masaya ang naging Pasko ko.

Bakit ?

• Kasi atleast may handa kami. Hindi man carbonara, wala man palitaw, fried chicken at hindi man naluto ang hamon, ang mahalaga may pinagsaluhan kami. Ang mahalaga nabusog kami. I feel sad for those na walang handa ngayong Pasko especially nyung mga tinamaan ng bagyo. I uttered a prayer for them We uttered a prayer for them. It's one of the best things we can do. Talagang sila ang nagturo sa akin MAGING KUNTENTO. 
• Kasi tumawag si Mama at si Papa. Dito rin nagpasko ang pinsan ko from Bacolod. Wala man sila dito, nararamdaman naman namin ang presensya nila. Na kahit malayo sila, nagawa pa rin naman maparamdaman ang Pasko sa kanila. Simpleng bati nga lang daw okay na. Nahohome sick din. At isa yung halimbawa na ipakita mo yun love sa kanila. Family will be always family. MAHALIN MO SILA HANGGA'T MAY CHANCE KA PA. 
• Kasi atleast may bahay kami. Ilang beses na din muntik masunugan itong barangay namin. And Thank You Lord talaga. Di kami napaano and everything. Pinanghawakan ko yung verse na sabi ni Lord, "Your tent will not be in harm". And hindi nga. THE LORD REALLY PROTECTS AND WATCHES OVER HIS CHILDREN.
• Kasi atleast ako may mabibigay. Nasanay kasi ako ng ako lagi ang binibigyan. Nasanay ako na ako lagi ang meron. Hindi nga naman masama ang maghangad para sa sarili. Pero lahat ng sobra masama. Kadamutan na iyon. So I learn to save and give to others. Kahit na maliit lang ang budget, sinisgurado ko na galing yun sa puso no ! And a prayer, minsan yun lang kasi ang kaya kong ibigay. :))) Silver and gold I have none sabi sa bible pero ang tanging mabibigay niya any prayers. And that means a lot. Natuto ako magbigay hindi lang sa ibang tao but more especially sa pamilya ko. Ika nga, IT IS BETTER TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE.

This month is the Season of LOVE AND GIVING. Sama mo na din ang FORGIVING, PEACE, UNDERSTANDING, UNITY etc. Eto lang yung ilan sa mga lessons na natutunan ko today. And to us, nawa hindi lang ito December. Sabi nga, Let everyday be Christmas day. HIndi sa handaan or dekorasyon nasusukat yun, masyadong literal eh. But it is within the spirit and within the heart.

Ang haba na. HAHAHA.

Merry Christmas & Godbless. ;)

"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." ~ 1 Corinthians 1:3

Action Figures

In my daily bible readings, I just reached Nehemiah.

Right at the start, Nehemiah finds out that the Jews who left Babylon and were tasked with fixing up Jerusalem hadn’t done much of anything. Years have gone by, and Jerusalem is still a mess.

Nehemiah cries. Then he prays. Then, he gets to work.

Nehemiah asks the kings permission to head to Jerusalem to help in the rebuilding effort. When Nehemiah gets there, he puts together an action plan and sets the people of Jerusalem to work. 

They are repeatedly attacked by the nearby people who do not want Jerusalem to be a strong city again. So the bible says that the men who rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem had a trowel in one hand and a sword in the other. When it was time to build, they built. When it was time to defend, they defended. And they didn’t stop until the work was complete.

James 1:22 tells us that we should not just listen to God’s word, but that we should do what it says.

God seems to like people of action.

Abraham packed up and left his homeland when God called him.

Joseph took charge when given the opportunity and mobilized a nation to prepare for a famine.

Do I even need to mention David, the warrior-poet?

Solomon, was probably the most ‘thinker’ type person in the Bible, yet he was the hands-on ruler of the kingdom of Israel. He didn’t just sit around idle all day, but he built up wealth for himself and the whole kingdom, wrote extensively, networked with other kingdoms, etc.

One of the most prolific writers in the Bible, Paul, was like an ancient Indiana Jones. He travelled the world, getting himself into huge trouble, but never giving up. (see 2 Cor 11:23-28)

God wants us to be people of action. Action figures, so to speak.

I just don’t see anywhere in the scriptures to indicate that people of faith are defined by sitting around for a couple hours a week at a church.

William Carrey, a man widely regarded as ‘the father of modern missions’, and one of the early missionaries to work in India said it like this: “Attempt great things for God, expect great things from God.”

I couldn’t agree more. You’re not here to fit it. You’re here to make a difference. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2)

God has cast you as a main character in his story. And you know what? It’s an action movie. There’s gonna be some crazy stunts. You could get hurt. People who do their own stunts frequently do.

But you know what you’ll never say later in life? “I wish I had been more boring. I wish I had taken fewer risks and tried fewer new things.”

Take a look around you. It may upset you. You may weep. You may pray. But then, get up and start doing something about it. Find a charity working in an area that really moves your heart: orphans, drug addicts, homeless, whatever. And get involved.

Roll up your sleeves and become the Action Figure God has called you to be! 

Pain.

One day, I asked myself.. “where is God when it hurts?”. I kept on calling, i kept on knocking, I kept on seeking, but nothing happens. I did what I could do. But, nothing happens. Nothing good happens. I was at the end of my rope. Something held me back. It was an undeniably strong force that was attracting my heart to hold on. It was the love of God.

I asked him, “where we’re you? i felt like you left me..“ But no, he was there all along. Whenever we feel pain, Jesus was just right beside us, telling us to hold on. And, never trusting and believing that God could do a beautiful even out of it.

If you are feeling pain right now, remember to look up. Look up, and see the smiling face of God reminding you to “Keep on. Never give up. Keep the good fight of faith. I am always here, in control of everything. I will never leave you because that’s how much I love you.”

Just try to reflect on what God wants you to hear from hear today.

God bless you! :) 

Waiting;

For you, because I know you’re worth it. I know you may not think it, but to me, you really are. I don’t care what others say that you may be this or that, because to me, none of it is true. They don’t know you like I do. They haven’t been through all those things like you and I did. You know, I’m amazed, because through all the things we’ve been through, you stayed by my side. You were always there for me. Through all the bullshit that occurred in both of our lives, you always cared about me. You still loved me even if I gave you a hard time. You always did your best to keep me happy. I understand everything that happened between us that caused both good and bad times must’ve happened for a reason. I want to take this time to get stronger. I always stuck to the promises, I know I’ve never broken any of them before. Remember the night when you cried to me and said that you were afraid that one day I’d just go off and leave you or find someone else. Remember when I promised you that I’d never leave your side and that you’ll always be the one I truly love. Well, it’s been about 4 months now, look where we are now, I still kept the promise, because you’re still the only one in my heart. But you know, it’s sad. Because you’re no longer by my side anymore and yeah .. it hurts. It hurts me deeply inside. You were someone who always kept me happy, always kept this dorky smile upon my face. Seeing you walk off just hurts. But I understand why you had to, even if going away hurts the both of us .. There were so many memories that meant so much to me. But you see, I want to create new memories with you. I made up my mind. Even if I’m dying inside, even if the pain overwhelms me at times, I’ve decided to wait for you. I don’t want anyone else to take your place, so I’ll just keep you right there in a special place in my heart. And one more thing, let me just say, I miss you. I love you.

6. Stress.

Stress is one of the most destructive thing in life. It is a major health factor. If not handled properly, it would cost a lot of damage to you and to the ones around you. Stress is controllable and uncontrollable. It could start when you are “over-committed” to something. People should learn how to say “No”.

Stress will either help you or hurt you. It has the power to make you give up, or keep you going. It could work for us, or against us. It could help us to become better or bitter.

But we have to understand that, too much stress is not from God. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus said, “Come to me all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” This is an assurance that God’s loads for us are light and easy to carry.

Right now, If Jesus would ask you, “Are you willing to surrender those to me?”. Would you like to give him those unnecessary burden and stress that you carry? Would you? He is more than willing to take your loads. He loves you that much.

God bless you! :)

7. Trusting God.

Proverbs 3:5-8 | Trust in the LORD with all your heart  and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyesfear the LORD and This will bring health to your bodyand nourishment to your bones.

Trusting is putting your whole weight on something or somebody. Whenever we are stressed, we tend to find our forever comfortable beds. Right? I had loads of moments in  my life when I open my door and all I want to do is to go directly to my bedroom and lay on my bed. Truth is, it is easier to trust a bed to carry us when we are troubled, stressed and so on than to trust God to carry our burdens.

Trusting God means you have to learn to unload every burden to him. And, we need to realize that everything is subject to change. We don’t own our lives. God owns us. We can’t and never can control everything. That’s God’s job.

Let me end this with a simple quote from Martin Luther.. “I have hold many things in my hands and I have lost them all. But whenever I put in God’s hands still I possess.“ Let’s learn to let go, and just let God handle things for us. We could be perfectly sure that things are happening for us, and not against us.

God bless you! :)

In the deep.

"They saw the works of the Lord, His wonderful deeds in the deep”
(Psalm 107:24, NIV)


The scripture says is Psalm 107:23, “They that go down to the sea and do business in deep waters, they will see the wonders of God.” Friend, you and I were created to do business in deep waters. In other words, we’re not supposed to have little dreams or little plans. We are supposed to have big dreams. We are supposed to go out into the deep things God has for us. But understand, when you’re out there in the deep waters, you can’t touch the ground. You can’t see the shoreline, and at times, it can get a little rocky. You may not always see how things are going to work out. But, the scripture tells us that deep calls to deep. In other words, God is the one who has called you to the deep waters. He is with you, and He knows there are deep things on the inside of you. When you are in those deep waters, you are not alone. God is with you, and He’s causing those deep things inside of you to come forth.

If you feel like you are out in the deep today, if you feel like you are overwhelmed, remember, you are in the right place and God is with you. You will see His wonderful deeds in the deep, and you will fulfill the destiny He has in store for you.

Do not Conform.

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
– 2 Corinthians 6:17

We’re surrounded by a world which is ruled for the most part by Satan. How can we avoid getting caught up in it? How can we stand apart?

You’ll find the answer in John 17:17. There Jesus was speaking to the Father about all those who would believe on Him. “Sanctify them through thy truth,” He said. “Thy word is truth.” Sanctify means “to separate unto.” So Jesus was saying, “Separate them by the Word.” The Word separates!

When you initially believed the Word of God, you were born again. You were separated spiritually from the kingdom of darkness and separated to the kingdom of Light. Now that’s where a lot of people stop. They let the Word of God do its initial separating work and then go right on living like everybody else. Spiritually, they’re still separated from death. But physically and mentally, they’re up to their necks in it. They’re poor. They’re sick. They’re worried. They’re confused. They’re upset. In other words, they’re just like everyone else in the world.

But if you’ll give the Word of God first place in your life, it will continue to separate you from the poverty and the anxiety and the sickness and the hatred and the darkness of your old habitat.

There’s something else that the Word of God will do for you too. It will not only separate you from the things of this world, it will separate you to the things of God.

You can’t simply separate yourself from any old destructive habit without separating yourself to something else. You can’t turn away from the things of the world unless you turn to something stronger. I’m telling you, you can scream and squall and kick the altar bench and everything else trying to get rid of the sin in your life. You can cry, “Dear God, take this sin away from me.” But all the begging in the world won’t separate you from your sin. It’s the Word that does it!

Make a decision to give the Word first place in your life. Make it a quality decision, a decision from which there is no retreat. Lock into the Word and let the Word do its work. Let it separate you from the things of the world and to the things of God.

Enduring Satanic Attacks.

Every believer faces temptation. Take a moment to recall a particularly enticing situation involving something that would displease God. Did you realize you were involved in a satanic battle?

The Devil is real. Scripture reveals that he leads an army of fallen angels and is prideful enough to think he can gain victory over God. By definition, a satanic attack is a deliberate assault upon an individual, which is designed to cause spiritual, physical, material, or emotional harm. Satan desires to thwart the Lord’s purpose in believers’ lives, to rob them of joy and peace, and ultimately to deny God the worship He receives through yielded followers.

As in any war, knowing the enemy’s plan helps us prepare for the attack. First, be aware that the battlefield takes place in our minds. To walk in a godly manner with Christ, we must first be sure that our thoughts are in submission to His Spirit. This takes daily surrender and time in God’s Word. Second, Satan tempts us during vulnerable moments. Be cautious when you are hungry, angry, lonely, or tired (This is often known as the H.A.L.T.  warning). Third, he is deceptive; we won’t recognize the trap as an evil scheme. Instead, it will seem good, and we’ll likely wrestle with some sort of doubt.

As Christians, we should walk closely with Jesus. Satan desires to lure us into destructive actions that rob us of God’s plan for a good, full life. Stay connected to the Savior: read the Word, pray, and fellowship with other believers. These are weapons we use against the Devil in spiritual war. 

Discourage the Devil

Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
– Luke 6:22-23

Do you want to know how to depress the devil? Just follow the instructions in that last verse. When persecution comes, when friends or family criticize you because you lay hands on the sick and believe in healing, and when coworkers call you a fanatic because you love Jesus and aren’t afraid to say so, rejoice! Shout hallelujah and leap for joy!

I tell you that will discourage the devil to no end. He’s expecting that persecution to hurt you. He’s expecting it to damage your faith, to wipe you out, and to leave you in dismay.

I’m not saying you should enjoy the persecution itself. But you can learn to overlook the discomfort of those things by focusing your attention on the reward that’s coming and the fact that Jesus said you are blessed.

The Apostle Paul certainly knew how to do that. He was an expert on rejoicing in the midst of persecution. Satan was constantly stirring up trouble for him. But do you know what he said about all that persecution? He said it was not even worth considering compared to the glory that was about to be revealed.

If Paul could rejoice in the midst of beatings, stonings, shipwrecks, imprisonment and almost every other kind of persecution, you can too!

Just do what he did. When he was told by the Holy Ghost that bonds and afflictions awaited him, he said, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).

Don’t get all caught up in what people think and what people say down here on earth. Get caught up in pleasing the Lord. Get caught up in finishing your course with joy. Get caught up in the glorious hope that’s ahead. For that hope is enough to make anyone—under any circumstances—leap for joy!

Hopes up !

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day”
(Proverbs 4:18, ESV)

No matter what is happening in your life today, as a believer in Jesus, you have a reason to be excited about your future! If things seem dark right now, know that the dawn will soon appear. The key is you have to remember that you are not here by accident. You have a purpose and destiny to fulfill, and He isn’t finished with you yet. Your best days are not behind you; your best days are out in front of you.

One thing I know is that God is a God of increase. He has greater things in store for your future than you have experienced in your past. His dream for your future is so much bigger than your own. He wants to take you places that you’ve never dreamed and open up doors that you’ve never imagined. He wants to bring talent out of you that you didn’t even know you had. He wants to increase you and cause you to be a greater blessing to the people around you.

Today, get your hopes up and get excited about your future! Begin to thank Him for what He has in store. Keep standing, keep believing and keep moving forward because God has explosive blessings in store for you!

Shine.

“Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16, AMP)



Do the people around you see your light shining? Do they know you are a believer by your actions? Are you setting the bar in your office? Can people see your good works?

I know people who can quote half the Bible and pray two hours a day, but they have no influence or credibility because they’re sloppy in the workplace. They’re always late or wasting time. They’re not productive. They’re not efficient. No one will even listen to them.

I heard somebody say, “Your performance gives you a platform.” When you excel in what you do, that gets people’s attention. The way to gain respect, the way to gain influence is to develop your character and skills in such a way that people want what you have. They may not agree with what you believe, but when you are the best in your company, they can’t argue with that. You’ve earned their respect, not by your words, but by your spirit of excellence.

I encourage you today, don’t settle for mediocrity. You are a child of the Most High God. Make the decision today to let your light shine and bring Him glory in everything you do!

Detours.

We all have times when our plans don’t work out. We get delayed, interrupted, and inconvenienced. It’s easy to get frustrated and fight against everything that doesn’t go our way. But I’ve learned that every interruption is not bad. Every closed door doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong. Every delay doesn’t mean you’re not where you’re supposed to be. There is something I call a divine interruption where God, on purpose, will delay us to protect us from an accident. On purpose, He will close a door because it’s not His best. Sometimes, God will allow us to be inconvenienced so we can help someone else in need. We have to be willing to press through difficulty so we can be at the right place at the right time.

The next time you’re interrupted, delayed, or inconvenienced, don’t start thinking, “This is a pain. This is getting me off schedule.” No, get a new perspective. Look for what God wants to do because it could be divine interruption or divine protection. Trust Him today because He is directing your steps.

In the Morning

“In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation”
(Psalm 5:3, NIV).

In the Bible, David was called a man after God’s own heart. He knew God and saw incredible miracles throughout his life. But notice in this verse what David did. He set the tone for His whole day by spending time with the Lord every morning. It didn’t matter what was going on his life, David had his priorities set. Even though he was mistreated by his family, manipulated, made fun of, hunted down by King Saul, and even made some major mistakes on his own, David realized that each morning held the promise of new hope.

Just like David, if you’ll make spending time with God a priority in your life, you will see Him move mightily on your behalf. Make it a habit to seek Him first every single day. No matter what is happening, seek Him in the morning. Let Him set the tone for your day and set you on the course for victory in every area of your life!

As parents.

“As parents feel for their children, God feels for those who fear Him. He knows us inside and out…” (Psalm 103:13–14)


I always find it interesting to see how a parent views their new baby. It doesn’t matter what that baby looks like; it doesn’t matter if their head is still coned, if their nose is still squashed, if they cry or makes a mess, that baby is the apple of its parent’s eyes. They see that child as the most beautiful, perfect creation. They are just as proud and excited as they can be.

Parents see their own children differently than other people do. As believers in Jesus, it’s the same way with our Heavenly Father. You are the apple of His eye. No matter what, He sees you as His most perfect creation. He is proud of you. You are the joy of His heart. Sure, you may make some mistakes; you may fall; you may make a mess, but He is right there ready to pick you up, clean you off and calm your soul. In His eyes, you are an overcomer; you are victorious; you are strong. In His eyes, you are pure and whole. Today, trust in His love, trust in His goodness, and trust that you can find safety and rest in His eyes.

Encouragements II.

Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him”
(1 Corinthians 2:9, NKJV)

This verse is really an encouragement for all of us to raise our level of expectancy! It’s like God is saying to us, “You think you’re blessed? You haven’t seen anything yet!” And I’m sure God has been good to you, but He also has things for your future that, if He told you right now, would boggle your mind. You wouldn’t even believe it.

Today, get ready for increase. Get prepared for promotion. Keep believing, keep obeying His Word and keep your heart and mind open to what He has for you because you haven’t seen anything yet!

To be somebody.

"The LORD gave me this message: “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” “O Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!” The LORD replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the LORD, have spoken!” (Jeremiah 1:4-8)

Life.

 Life is all about sharing, learning and keeping how to value. God wants us to make all the effort to maintain them. Chirst wants his family to be known because of love. If you value people more than any worldly riches, I could say that you are mature enough.

 If you want God to be pleased, start with peacemaking. Jesus said, “blessed are the peacemakers”, not peace-lovers. Everyone loves peace, but not all are patient enough to build it. Peacemakers are rare because peacemaking is a hardwork.

 We have to understand that Jesus was never afraid of conflicts. He graciously grabs every opportunity to reconcile and restore broken relationships, regardless on how deep the damages are. Since we are God’s children, we are called to do the same.

Remember, relationships are always worth restoring.
God bless you! :)