Perspectives on Fire

Daniel's friends face a challenging event in their lives. Let's see how God intervened and how HIs presence made a difference on the perspectives of the three young Hebrews.

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Answer For All Seasons

As I was going through some old belongings, I found a paper where I had recorded my prayers and requests during my stay in Olongapo. I read it with great curiosity. Many of the requests have been granted, but some have not. Of the people I prayed for, some are now dead. Some names I do not even recognize.
One of the requests that caught my attention was about a sister who wanted to join her family overseas. God answered that prayer 2 years to the day after I started to intercede for her family to be reunited and wrote it in my notebook. I was amazed and thankful for God's way of working.
Sometimes when we pray, we want God to intervene instantly. But sometimes-immediate answers don't come. The difficult circumstances in our lives and the times of waiting for God to act can refine our faith, teach us, and prepare us for future responsibilities God has for us.

May this verse serves us, as an inspiration, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.-Isaiah 55:8 (NIV)

Don't Put God in a Box

As a young pastor, I see God a bit differently than some see Him, and although many would disagree,this is how God has presented Himself to me time and time again. He is so much bigger than any of our notions about Him allow us to perceive. What we see, comprehend and experience is only a tiny fraction of who He is. God is merciful. We say this, but don't always really think about how merciful God is. He is so merciful that He sees into the deepest parts of who we are. He sees the darkest parts of who we are, and He understands why those parts are there. He sees our greatest weaknesses, and remains with us as we try to get the courage to trust Him to give us the strength to overcome.

Whatever we have suffered, whether it be abuse, trauma, ridicule, molestation, loss, pain, God understands. He does not sit on His throne and pass judgment on us when we act out as a result of the deep wounds that we have experienced. He is a patient God. He loves us through our pain. He loves us through our mistakes. He loves us even when we try to push Him far away.God, if He chooses so, could instantly take away our pain, but that isn't usually the case. God comes into our pain and shows us how He can bring light into the darkness.

There have been so many instances in my life where God has actually entered into my darkest places to remind me that He is still there, watching over me. Some may wonder how I know it was God. All I can say is that there was no other explanation.I have ventured into some scary places in my lifetime, places that could have been very dangerous. Even in those situations, God brought people to me to help me when they could have easily hurt me.God has spoken to me through people who most Christians would pay little attention to, due to their lifestyle.God has opened doors when I have been ready to just give up. God has brought people into my life who I have needed at just the right time.

May you widen your ideas about God and who He is. We often try and put Him in a box, wrapped with a narrow vision of who He really is.Just remember that you can never fall too low for God. His arms can reach into the lowest, darkest places and lovingly pull you back up.You can never be too broken for God. He can heal whatever is causing you pain.

Trust and believe in His mercy. It is always there.

Be Still...

One morning while trying to print an important document, I became angry at my computer for freezing up. I shut it down and restarted it, but still the document would not print. I was furious, angrily praying to God for help. Why does this always happen, I thought, when I need to print something important? This document would help others, and I expected the process to go right because I was doing something for God. I became angrier when all efforts to remedy the problem failed.
At lunchtime, I came home and again tried to print the file--but to no avail. Again I became angry. As I was fuming, I realized that the computer and the printer were not the main concern in this situation; the real issue was with my spiritual health. If I were spiritually healthy, I would not have let this situation bother me so much. I began to see what was lacking in my life--prayer, Bible study, and quiet time with God. I decided to renew my daily 10-minute quiet time with God--just sitting down and being still, as Psalm 46:10 says to do. This practice helps me to be calm in the midst of a chaotic world and my fast-paced part in it. Now during a day when everything goes wrong, I know that if I pause to be still, God can and will quiet me.

A-Okay, Love Happens!

A movie about a therapist who asks his patients to openly confront their pain but secretly, he himself is unable to take his own advice. Not until he met a lady who
has sworn off men and decided to focus on her floral business. As each struggles with the hurt of love and loss, they realize that in order to move forward, they need to let go of the past. And if they can, they'll find that, sometimes, love happens when you least expect it.
Another movie I would like to recommend, not one of your chick-flick type of movie, but one which will inspire both as a person or a lover.

Not Your Typical Youth Banquet

I have attended banquets many times. Everyone has the same idea, the formal or informal type of gathering. A typical program offered. You have a devotional, dating games, group activities, dinner, and then awarding. These are basically what makes a banquet so monotonous. Just recently, I've come up with an idea to innovate our traditional way of holding a banquet.
My church will hold on Valentine's eve, a Love fair. Booths will be set up in a spacious lawn and will be decorated to match the affair. We are all excited, because this will be the first time the church would shift it's idea of enjoying the Valentine's season.
Note, this event will create more opportunities of interaction among the attendees , compared to what we usually get in a typical banquet. I'm attaching the procedure, list of booths, and the mechanics of running this "love fair". If you are interested to see the event in person, you might want to attend our launch. Just contact me!

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