writonautics

I'm a team player. But I have limits. There are a lot of occasions that these limits are tested, even on Christmas parties. These scenarios could really dampen the joy of the season, but someone has got to say no. Someone has got to voice out the truth. I choose the joy of the Lord. As it was, for being part of a company management, and being known as a Christian, I was tasked to do an opening prayer and prayer for the food. And pray I did. Then the games began. In a company of mostly women, the guys are always picked. In fact, we were so few that we had to recruit the men from the caterers. But just before this program, my wife sent me a text message. It was very timely. And so there I was, standing in front with my game partner and other players, when my jaw dropped in unbelief as they demonstrate how to execute the game with the balloons. My game partner is a fellow Christian though from another church. Immediately I told her, “I’m opting out...

My phone was snatched the other night. It took me this long to experience such. It would have taken longer, or not at all, if only I have wised up. I got careless. But then, I realized that the way I carry my stuff was carelessly acceptable in the streets of Ayala, but not in Pedro Gil. But then again, in this day and age, carelessness is no longer acceptable, wherever you are. It was simple. I have this multi-pocketed bag, and I kept my phone in one zipper compartment, and my coin purse in one button pocket – both in front for easy access. And so I thought. It was easily accessible to pickpockets as well.  But my Father was and is faithful. I already had a faint discussion in my head which LRT station to get off. I reasoned that the safe station would require more walking, plus the fact that more students are waiting in that station – making my getting off difficult. Besides, I shouldn't be afraid. I argued that fear is debilitating. “What am I afraid of? God...

Harvest Size is Dependent on Seed Value Remember this: The farmer who plants a few seeds will have a very small harvest. But the farmer who plants because he has received God's blessings will receive a harvest of God's blessings in return. (2 Cor 9:6 GW) (Image courtesy of Lightstock )   In the natural realm, we understand that if a farmer does not plant today, he will not reap tomorrow. Moreover, when a planter uses inferior and low-quality seeds, the harvest will be affected. It’s either the entire yield is poor in quality, or the cream of the crop is small. Defining a Valuable Seed Heaven’s economy is different from our world system. The Lord of the Harvest, in all His justness and fairness, does not see the value of a seed like we do. We easily measure in amounts, and we easily contrast the buying power of a 100 bill to a 1 coin. But this is not the eternal basis of value. The Most Generous Giver of All Our Lord Jesus was and is nosey about offerings. He observed t...

Better than Behavioral Science. (John 2:24-25) But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person. (NIV ) But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew human nature. No one needed to tell him what mankind is really like. (NLT)   Jesus, however, was wary of these believers. He understood people and didn't need anyone to tell him about human nature. He knew what people were really like. (GW)

(Acts 4:13) When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. (NIV) Background: A 40 year old man who was crippled all his life was able to walk by God's grace through Peter and John. The spiritual leaders of their time were amazed because the 2 didn't come from their school. In those days, only a few of the people were able to go to school. Although the apostles didn't hold any credentials, it didn't stop them from ministering God's power. They were noted for being 1) courageous 2) unschooled 3) ordinary 4) been with Jesus As such, then I have a shot in the ministry. -=w=- I do not advocate illiteracy. If the called of God can go to a Bible school, then by all means. This just proves that what really matters is the Presence of God, to learn at the feet of the Master.

There is a force at work in our lives that governs our prosperity. It is a mechanism set in place by God that goes on and on even when we are not aware of it. Image courtesy of Lightstock The Lord has said, “ As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest...will never cease .” (Gen 8:28) Seedtime and harvest is a paired action and reaction. Sowing and reaping always go together. The laws of seed and harvest are so embedded and ingrained in our system, both physical and spiritual, that the Bible says, “ God can not be mocked. A mans reaps what he sows. ” (Gal 6:7)   So now we have a responsibility to embrace these biblical principles and have them be deep-rooted into our consciousness. The seed must be planted I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. (John 12:24 NIV)     A seed for planting will remain to be just that, a seed - single, unproductive a...

Sowers are special to God Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving]. (2 Corinthians 9:7 AMP) There are only a dozen verses and categories where the Bible explicitly showed what or who God loves, and one of them is a cheerful giver. The Lord already loves us just as we are – His children, His treasured possession. There is nothing in this world that could lessen that, and there is nothing we could ever do to make God love us more than His other children. God’s love is absolute. But there’s a special action on our part that thrills His heart: Cheerful giving. He is thrilled because with our cheerful giving, He gets to give to us more. Joyful seed-planters give in faith. They have come to grips that they are not le...

Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:36-38 NIV) Dear Father, If those in old age still receive their baby promise, then how much more us! People labeled us as a couple who’s unable to conceive. We wait on You to change all that. Please break this heartbreaking trend. We believe that Your Word never fails. It will surely not fail with us! Oh Lord, we are Your servants. May Your Words be fulfilled in our lives. May this promise take effect in our bodies.   “…Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!” And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed…” (Luke 1:45-4...

Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old. (Luke 1:6, 7 NIV)   Dear Father, We are Your children. My wife and I were redeemed by the Blood of Jesus. By virtue of relationship with You, we are righteous. But our own righteousness can't suffice this need. Our own holiness can't demand this miracle of conception. So please remove this irony and paradox. When his time of service was completed, he returned home. After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. (Luke 1:23-24 NIV)   And I will keep on serving You. With baby or not, we are always at Your service. This is the reason why I live: to worship You. And now that I have a family – a spouse, we worship You together. Oh Lord, may You be delighted to add more to my family, may more of us worship You. Add a member to thi...

The Bible is our reference for Christian Economics and financial progress. The Word of God is full of revelations concerning prosperity waiting to be uncovered by every generous child of the Father. And it all starts with a seed. Image courtesy of www.shutterstock.com Spiritual Seeds   God’s Word is a seed. The farmer sows the word. (Mark 4:14 GWT) When we share the Gospel, the Holy Spirit uses the Bible verses that we have planted into people’s hearts to convict them of their need of a Savior. Sometimes, we reap a harvest of souls in just hours (or less). Other times, it takes days, weeks, months and years before these people surrender to the love of God. And there are also times when we will reap a harvest from other seed-planters. They heard the word of God somewhere, grew in their hearts, and now, with your ministry – they are ready to become disciples of Christ. Faith is a seed. “…Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mou...

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. (Hebrews 6:4-6 NIV)   I don't get it. How can a pastor become atheistic ? On the day I read this in my email, a lot of Scriptures came rushing into my heart. (I’ll try to sort most of them below.) I was bothered, and it seems that the only way to get peace about this is to confront it head on.   And so I prayed: I put on the helmet of salvation to protect my mind, to protect how I think. I put on the breastplate of righteousness to protect my heart, to protect how I feel. I put on the buckle of Truth to keep it all together... (Ephesians 6:14-17) I can't help but think that in the course of studyi...

The Husband and Wife Tag team :  As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15) My wife holds a measure and standard of practicality and wisdom in my obedience to God's call. She is not the final voice of God, but she, in her integrity and righteousness, is a vital part in the confirmation process. My wife is like Zipporah, the spouse who saved Moses from being killed as he went down the mountain on his way to follow the Lord, because Moses failed to follow through the details that God has already established in his life. (Exodus 4:24-25) Yes, God called me to follow Him, but He didn't intend that I violate the other rules and norms and standards that God has already set in place. In keeping all these pillars, the Lord called me to fulfill a task where these pillars are a fixed set of values. Prayer: Dear Lord, I pray that you move among my family, between my wife and me. I pray that your plan will influence us both, a family calling. I pray that we will...

Is Received, Not Assumed. Hebrews 8:6 But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises. Even our Lord Jesus received it from the Father. The Ministry is given, not taken. I will wait for my turn.

Isaiah 57:1-2 The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death. (NIV) Image courtesy of jjchandler.com/tombstone/  

I only live once, and die once.  And then, my life is evaluated. Hebrews 9:27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment (NIV) Contrary to traditional religious beliefs, we don't reincarnate. We only live once, and die once. And there will be a day of reckoning. All that will happen in the afterlife is decided while we are still alive. We immediately face the consequences of our earthly decisions when we die. If one is living for God, then that life will continue to be with God. If one is living away from God, then that's where that person will be in the afterlife - an eternity away from God. No amount of prayers from family, friends and opportunists can alter that consequence. The dead loved one has sealed his or her fate. Heaven is a "no wang-wang zone". True justice is only with God. If one can buy their way in to heaven, then righteousness is useless. Share your burbles here. ...

I do not grieve like those who have no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18   I believe that: 1) Jesus died and rose again 2) God will bring with Jesus those who have died in Him 3) Jesus will come back 4) the dead in Christ will rise first 5) then those living for the Lord will experience Rapture And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with t...

are never satisfied, and neither are human eyes.  (Proverbs 27:20 NIV ) People will never stop dying and being destroyed, and they will never stop wanting more than they have. (NCV) Share your burbles here. Image courtesy of Victor Habbick at FreeDigitalPhotos.net