Good News of Old

1 This letter is from Paul, Jesus Christ’s slave, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News. 2 This Good News was promised long ago by God through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. 3 It is the Good News about his Son, Jesus, who came as a man, born into King David’s royal family line. 4 And Jesus Christ our Lord was shown to be the Son of God when God powerfully raised him from the dead by means of the Holy Spirit.* 5 Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.

6 You are among those who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ, 7 dear friends in Rome. God loves you dearly, and he has called you to be his very own people.

May grace and peace be yours from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 1: 1-6, NLT

If ever there is one thing you can count on God it is the promised assurance of salvation. What can be better than that. What can be better than the gift of salvation. And God promised it a long time ago. through his prophets. Through his words.

God never fails. God never misses a beat. What he promised, He fulfills. He puts everything in order. What I like about God is that he never fails to deliver. He will deliver the goods. He brings the package. What mom, dad or our bosses failed to fulfill, he comes crashing in to deliver what he said he would.

God is rock solid. I stand on solid ground. There is no need to fear. His words are true. His promises are

pure. He is what he is. Since he promised the Good News long time ago, I can be sure that my God is in no other business than the saving business. And I will forever be true. Let me hold on to his precious promise of deliverance. The Good News is all about Jesus. He was promised to me a long time ago even before I was born. The Father has given the Son to me. Jesus is mine. the Father wants him to be my life.

PRAYER: Thank you so much for the gift of life. Thank you so much for giving me eternal life Lord. I am forever grateful. Forgive me Lord if i have been indifferent to the many blessings you have given me. Honestly Lord thank you so much for your many surprises. Thank you so much for the promise. I give thanks in Jesus name. Amen.

Pickpockets Love Texters: How I Experienced Grace

I was on my way to our company party. Upon reaching Manila city, I took my wallet from my pants and "secured" it inside my bag. Instinctively I knew pickpockets are busy as well during the Christmas holidays. As I walked towards the metro train I decided to update my phone's email and checked on my short text messages. A few meters from the counter I took my backpack... immediately i felt a numbing heat all over my body. The zipper got unzipped and my wallet tucked 1 foot deep to the bag's bottom was gone.

Good thing I only had 400 pesos in that wallet but I need those cards- ID's, driver's license, security cards, credit card, and my ATM card. Good thing I still had my cellphone with me. I was about to call my bank when I remembered there was a branch close by. In ten minutes time, I requested the customer service to put my bank cards on hold. Pickpockets these days are high tech so I never gave them the chance to use my cards. The bank teller told me that if they had used my credit card before I canceled the services, I will still have to pay it.

Since I only had 15 pesos in my pocket, I was thinking how would I get home? How would I spend my Christmas holidays without an ATM card? Will my bank allow me to withdraw my savings without valid ID's to present? The most logical thing was to get to my bank (my company's branch) which was 30 minutes away by train so I can withdraw my salary. But how to get there....

The Bible says ASK (ask, seek, knock) and it will be given to you. I could call a friend in Manila to pick me up or ask my senior supervisors to come and give me money. It was not the best option at that time. It was at that time that I literally "asked" and "begged" for help.

"Nakakahiya man po, pero pwede po ba akong mamasko sa inyo?" (I don't even know you Ma'am, but can I ask for a Christmas gift?" With a smile on her face she handed me a 20 peso bill. At that moment, that was the most important paper money bill I ever held. I was not expecting her to hand me a thousand pesos. But what she gave me was "grace". "Enough grace" to get to my bank. I was not her friend but she extended it to someone in need of grace.

As I pastor I will never get to know or experience everything about God in this dying planet. In fact, even my two-inch thick Bible just recorded "enough" revelation to show me how to make it to heaven. And Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross was "enough" to get me to God's rich depository of his riches and grace - to be in His presence now and beyond. All I ever need today is enough grace to get me to another day and enjoy His mercy. And He wants me to ask for enough grace daily till the day comes when I will live in God's bank - in heaven throughout eternity.... and beyond.

Have you asked for God's grace today?

Come, Follow Me!

“Walking along the beach of Lake Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers: Simon (later called Peter) and Andrew. They were fishing, throwing their nets into the lake. It was their regular work. Jesus said to them, "Come with me. I'll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I'll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass." They didn't ask questions, but simply dropped their nets and followed. Matthew 4:18-20 (The Message)

Jesus’ call to discipleship doesn’t come first before the wondrous cross-saving experience. Before we can become disciples, we need to hear first the invitation to become citizens of the Kingdom of Grace.

Jesus doesn’t force us to become new born-again Christians. The new-birth experience is the work of the Holy Spirit. God doesn’t say, “Follow me.” Instead he tenderly calls us, “Come, follow me.” He invites us first. He bids us first to come before we can follow. Come first to Jesus and He will teach you how to follow. It is so difficult to follow if you have not yet come to Him. Only He can make you follow.

Notice too that when He bade his disciples to come and follow, there were no long arguments of persuasion and rationalism. Jesus simply offered them, “Come, follow me.” The simplicity of this call distinguishes Jesus from highly emotional preachers. When God calls, the Spirit is at work.

Often when we offer the invitation to accept God to others we become discouraged when they respond negatively. Whether an individual responds or not, the Christian instrument is just a mouthpiece of God. He speaks for God but the Spirit calls and moves the heart.

We will always hear God inviting us. When he says, “Come,” let’s leave our fishing nets behind and follow him all the way.

Even unto the cross.

How To Get What You Want

by: Charla Candy
from Nashville, Tennessee
Guest Devotional Writer

“Delight thyself also in the Lord, and he shall give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

When I was in junior high, I used to pray at night for God to bring me a boyfriend. When I would decide to like a certain boy and it looked like he might not like me back, I would pray really hard for God to make that boy like me!

I was boy crazy, or what some may call, a teenage girl. I remember thinking that if I had a boyfriend, my life would be perfect.

Well years went by and my prayers weren’t being answered. I would spend long hours in front of the mirror, making myself look my best. I would try to act fun at school and talk to all the right/popular people so my crush would notice me.

After all my efforts, I still wasn’t having any luck. “What’s wrong with me?” I would cry to God.

“Why don’t I have a boyfriend.” I wondered why I had prayed so hard and hadn’t got my boyfriend.

Finally in my later years of highschool things started to look up and I had a few boyfriends and then I began to pray to God for a “cool” boyfriend and a “hot” boyfriend.

Then later on I found that “cool” boyfriends weren’t always nice and “hot” boyfriends weren’t always smart. It seemed like the search would never end. Why couldn’t God give me the right boyfriend.

Then I began reading my Bible. Hoping maybe that would help me get the right boyfriend, I came across a verse that changed my whole outlook. Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight in the ways of the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

I realized that I was focusing all my efforts on the wrong thing. Instead of begging God for a boyfriend, I needed to delight myself in the ways of the Lord. I needed to focus more on God and helping others.

I began studying the ways of the Lord and as I am getting to know Him, my desires have changed from getting a boyfriend to living a life sharing love and kindness with friends, family, and even strangers.

This sinful world makes us believe that petty things are so important. Like the cars you drive, the people you date, where you live, who you know, and how much money you make. But even acquiring all these things will never-ever bring true happiness and will always leave you wanting more.

God promises to give you the desires of your heart, you just have to delight in his ways.

Heart Worship - It's All About Him!

We are created to worship God. That is the essence of life and our ultimate purpose.
As author Steve Pruitt puts it: “I personally believe that worship should be the first priority of every church. Worship is meant for God and our most important ministry is to minister to him. Therefore, it is my opinion that most of our money, energy and time should be spent on the worship ministry.

With that said, let me say that a worship ministry consists of much more than a song service during corporate gatherings. Worship should penetrate every area of our Christian walk and service. This means that worship should be the ultimate goal of every ministry in the church including teaching, preaching, evangelism etc. For instance, my personal motivation for converting the lost is not to keep them out of hell. It is to see them forsake a lifestyle that glorifies Satan and turn to a lifestyle that glorifies God. As the Apostle Peter wrote, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, his own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light...” (1 Peter 2:9).

Our deepest desire should be to produce disciples who have a passion for Jesus and yearn to worship him in spirit and truth. A lifestyle that glorifies God is a lifestyle of worship. It’s all about him. He is our top priority. Keep that in the forefront of your mind as you work with leadership to develop a worship philosophy for your church.

To Quit or To Worship

What is it about You Lord that I should adore? What is it about You that I should praise? When I fail, do You love me less? When I succeed, do You love me more? As your handiwork why have You created me? For what purpose? For what reason?

Lord, You know my heart. I am not perfect. I am not pure. Your presence alone makes me all that I am - perfect in Christ Jesus. You have given me a status so clean. Help me to live clean.

God You are a holy God. In You holiness I cannot stay unclean. Unholy. A holy God only can make a holy person. Make me holy, Father. Help me to live a holy life. That is what I need. That is what I want.

Lord, honestly at times I doubt my calling. I want to open my heart to you. There have been instances when I wonder why I am in the ministry. I often ask myself why do I have to go through all the pressures in this kind of work. But it is more than work I know. It is a calling. That makes all the difference in the world. That transforms my attitude and outlook in life. But whatever one's profession is, we all have been called. Called for the purpose of living for Your glory.

God you know how at times I wanted to quit ministry. I know too of ministers who have already burned out because of too much demands. Ministry, Lord, can really be exhausting. Pressures come from all sides. Anyway, any people-oriented work is really stressful. So perhaps, Lord, that is not an excuse. Besides, You promised to grant me with power and grace. Grace for every moment. Grace for every trial. Grace for every defeat. Grace for every pressure. Grace for every relationship. Grace for every day.

Lord, I am so sorry for trying to run away from You. Instead of running away, let me face that solemn responsibility of drawing your flock closer to your throne. Near to where you are. Keep me patient and humble. Keep me wise. Keep me forever secured in you love.

Almighty God, I just can't help but to wonder at Your grace. Wonder at Your magnificent love. You love me. How can you love a minuscule creation like me in such a vast universe. That is the wonder of Your love. How wonderful You are! Just when I am not at my best, You remind me of Your love that never change. You remind me there is power in your love.

You created me to worship You! Thank you for the privilege. There is power and life when I come to worship and serve You. You are wonderful! Wonderful to look at. Wonderful to serve. Wonderful to love and worship.

I am His child

Let us, then, feel very sure that we can come before God’s throne where there is grace. Hebrews 4:16

What do you need to fear when you know you can just get into God’s presence anytime? After all he is your great Father and Friend! There is no greater joy than knowing we can come to God anytime. He is just waiting for us. Not because He is far from us. He wants us to know that He is just beside us all the time. All we need to do is recognize He is beside us. So won’t you take the time to talk to Him right now?

What’s great with God is that aside from being our faithful Friend, He is also our majestic King. Imagine this. God in his throne overseeing the affairs of the universe. Perhaps busy holding an intergalactic meeting with other created beings of the universe. But anytime you call Him, He’ll leave his meeting behind just to be with you. And I can see God leaving his sit and walk towards you.

He is the personal God I know. And He is willing to leave everything behind. Even heaven itself. Why? He finds pleasure and joy simply by being with you. Can’t you see how much He loves you?

So the next time you feel abandoned by God remember he is just a door knock away. Open the door and ask Him, “Dad, can we just talk right now?”

“Sure! Let me just put Gabriel in charge of this meeting.”

And there is God beside you. Making no excuses from spending this special moment with you. You are His joy! So go meet our Dad. Our Abba- Father.

Who are you to ask such a thing? You are his child, for heaven’s sake!
- ADBernardo