You Complete Me

Last friday, February 29, 2008 was the start of the "Love at First Sight" series in VCF Malate. The first part of this three-part series was entitled "You Complete Me". The speaker for that night was Pastor Nickson.

Do you believe in love at first sight? Most of us may no longer believe in something like that, but according to Pastor Nickson, "love at first sight" is for real.

From the very first moment God thought about us and saw us, He already loved us so much that He carefully and beautifully created each of us in our mother's womb. In fact, God loved us so much that from very first moment God looked at us, He already saw (envisioned) our love story. Now that is a new perspective on what "love at first sight" really means!

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

- Psalm 139:13-16 -

Have you ever dreamed of a perfect love story of your own? A story of love between two people who seem to be just so right for each other. Two hearts that meet due to twist of circumstances and somehow they were destined to be with each other forever. I think we all want that kind of love story. A love story that is so beautiful, so ideal... We all have that longing to spend our lives with that special someone who would be our future husband or future wife, a lifelong partner, a soul-mate...

But somehow, as we grow up, we start to question if beautiful love stories only exist in fairy tales, movies or telenovelas. Sometimes, the ideal love story they present may even cause us believe in a fake reality of what true love really is. We end up thinking that there is no beautiful or ideal love story in the real world. No such thing could ever exist. People end up compromising their faith, their ideals, their principles hoping that they would soon meet Mr. Right or Ms. Right. It all becomes a trial-and-error cycle as a person gets in and out of one relationship to another. As a result, a beautiful love story becomes just a faraway dream, a fading reality for many people. But is it really just a dream?

Back in the time of beginnings, when there was no sin yet as was written in Genesis 2:18-24, there are three important things that are often taken for granted nowadays:

1. It is funny how God already saw from the very start that man desperately needs help.
2. God created woman as man's helper because of all the available creatures in the garden, no animal was found to be qualified or suitable for the task. The main qualification of man's helper is someone who is at par with him. Meaning, that helper is not inferior to man. Therefore, woman is not inferior to man.
3. This passage paints a picture of what a love story should be as God designed and intended it to be.

The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man." For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

- Genesis 2:18-24 -

This passage shows what a God-written love story looks like, a love story that is so beautiful and right because it was God who initiated it from the very start between man and woman.

Aside from that, man at that time was just busy doing the task God intended for him that is to tend the garden of Eden. Man was fulfilling God's purpose for his life. Eventually, while God was observing man, God saw that man needs someone, a lifelong partner, a helper who is at par with him.

It is amazing to take note here that it was DURING the time man was DOING what God wants him to do that God decided to give man that special someone, the woman. Man was not busy looking for someone to complete him rather he was busy fulfilling his purpose.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

- Matthew 6:33 -

So many people are looking for MR. or MS. Right. But they rarely evaluate themselves if they are the Right persons for that someone who will become their future partner in life.

Question: Are you looking for someone to complete you or looking to God to make the way for your completion?

God is not oblivious of our need for a companion. He knows our deepest desires and longings to have that special someone. BUT we can only be complete because of God. Regardless if it is before we meet that partner or when we meet that partner, we can ONLY be complete IF it is God who is involved in either situations making a way for us to be complete.

In the midst of you doing what God wants you to do, God would just bring someone to you. It is only when we "do" the purpose God has intended for us, that we will be ready for a relationship.

In fact, many people who go into a pre-mature relationship end up frustrated, disappointed, and dissatisfied because they did not wait on God to initiate the relationship. Most women find themselves becoming yaya's to the guys because they are taking care of a "boy" not a "man". Even the right thing at the wrong time is still the wrong thing.

ALARM: A relationship that man initiates.

REMINDER: Wait on God to initiate in His perfect time.

...Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.

- Song of Songs 2:7 -

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven... He (God) has made everything beautiful in its time.

- Ecclesiastes 3:1, 11 -

Who are we to say we can do better than God, after all He is God? There is no one better than Him with whom we can trust our love story with.

We must learn to humble ourselves before GOD and recognize that it is His hand that brings two hearts as one. Sin can cause a breakage in us. God wants to make us whole first before He can bring someone to us. God cannot bring two broken people together because they would just pull each other down.

God values that aspect of our lives so much that He wants to be involved in it. He wants to take the very pen from our clumsy hands so that He will be able write it into a beautiful love story of two "whole" people.

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The Guy Thing

Last Friday, February 8, 2008, VCF Malate had its third part of the Passion Trend Series entitled "The Guy Thing".

The program started with a fashion show wherein some of our VCF men ramped as models. Afterwards, one by one these men came out to give roses to the all the women in the church. This was to signify men's role in honoring all women regardless of who they are. It is a man's role to treat women with utmost respect and purity because they are special before God's eyes.

After that, the speaker for the night preached about the topic for that night which is "The Guy Thing". The topic was about becoming Real Men in accordance to how God designed and destined men to be. After the message, there was call for real men to stand up and commit themselves to start living in righteousness before God. Those who made a stand were prayed for by the pastors, and the congregation. I, myself found myself blessed to see so many men willing to start living out for God. In our generation today, it is rare to see men wanting to live pure and holy lives. But I was so blessed to see that there are still men who are willing to make that choice. C'mon! Praise God!

The message was also really amazing that I decided to blog about it so that those who were not able come would at least still be able to grasp the message. I also added my own insights and some verses to compliment the message. Be blessed!

Real Men Say NO to Sin

We all have a desire to fit in regardless of who we are, whether men or women. To give emphasis to this the speaker, showed us the video "The Human Tetris". (see The Human Tetris, YouTube) In our society today, we are often pressured to compromise in order to fit in. We all experience some sort of peer pressure whether in school, in our jobs, or even in our circle of friends, our family and church. The speaker shared his own experience in peer pressure. In a Christmas party he once attended, he was praying to God to win one of the top prizes that was being raffled. However, there was one catch. Their boss, after reading the name of the winner would make the employee drink a lot of wine that it would lead the employee to become drunk. The speaker did not want to compromise his principle to not drink and to not get drunk so he decided beforehand that if his name was called, and he was made to drink he would refuse regardless of the consequences. It was amazing that God answered his prayer to win one of the top prizes but the best part was that everyone was already drunk by the time his name was called that he was no longer offered to drink. It was God's grace that he was also saved from the temptation and pressure.

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18)

Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. (Romans 13:13-14)

We all know Joseph the dreamer in the Bible as a man of God. Joseph was a blessed man. He was handsome, well-off, he had a great job. But that's not all, because of his good looks and appeal, his master's wife, Potiphar was attracted to him. She wanted to sleep with Joseph, but Joseph being a man of God refused her.

...Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, "Come to bed with me!" But he refused. "With me in charge," he told her, "my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. (Genesis 39:6-10)

How many men in our generation today would choose to do what Joseph did? How many men would rather stand up for righteousness than please their sensual pleasures or go with the crowd?

REAL MEN say NO to SIN!

The original fantastic four according to the speaker can be found in the Bible. They are four friends by the name of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. They were also known as Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego respectively.

Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the young men chosen, all from the tribe of Judah. The chief official renamed them with these Babylonian names: Daniel was called Belteshazzar. Hananiah was called Shadrach. Mishael was called Meshach. Azariah was called Abednego. (Daniel 1:6-7)

The trials and temptation that these four friends encountered while they were in Babylon was so great that it tested more than their faith, more than their principles, but also threatened their lives.

In one incident in the story, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego encountered an extremely life threatening temptation. The king made a golden idol for himself and commanded everyone to bow down to this idol.

Idolatry as a Sin against God..

So do not corrupt yourselves by making a physical image in any form--whether of a man or a woman, an animal or a bird, a creeping creature or a fish. And when you look up into the sky and see the sun, moon, and stars--all the forces of heaven--don't be seduced by them and worship them. The LORD your God designated these heavenly bodies for all the peoples of the earth. So be careful not to break the covenant the LORD your God has made with you. You will break it if you make idols of any shape or form, for the LORD your God has absolutely forbidden this. The LORD your God is a devouring fire, a jealous God. "In the future, when you have children and grandchildren and have lived in the land a long time, do not corrupt yourselves by making idols of any kind. This is evil in the sight of the LORD your God and will arouse his anger. (Deuteronomy 4:16-19, 23-25)

To whom, then, can we compare God? What image might we find to resemble him?
Can he be compared to an idol formed in a mold, overlaid with gold, and decorated with silver chains? Or is a poor person's wooden idol better? Can God be compared to an idol that must be placed on a stand so it won't fall down? ...It is God who sits above the circle of the earth. The people below must seem to him like grasshoppers! He is the one who spreads out the heavens like a curtain and makes his tent from them..."To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?" asks the Holy One. (Isaiah 40:18-20, 22, 25)

The consequence of refusal to bow down and worship King Nebuchadnezzar's idol is death. Imagine yourself in their situation. Everyone in the world is doing it, but you know it's wrong, it's a sin, would you be able to stand up for your for your faith, for your GOD?! Talk about peer pressure. It's like you against the whole world.

..."People of all races and nations and languages, listen to the king's command! When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other instruments, bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar's gold statue. Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace." So at the sound of the musical instruments, all the people, whatever their race or nation or language, bowed to the ground and worshiped the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. (Daniel 3:4-7)

But do you know what happened? THEY DID NOT COMPROMISE!

REAL MEN say NO to SIN!

Their desire to please God was greater. They were REAL MEN who wanted to obey their one and only God. And because of that, they were thrown by the king to the burning furnace, but instead of being burned to singes, God rescued them. God blessed their conviction to do what is right and pleasing. There was not even a hint of damage that was seen from these men. They did not even smell of smoke. AMAZING! And more than that, the King was so amazed that he ended up praising God.

Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? I will give you one more chance. If you bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments, all will be well. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. What god will be able to rescue you from my power then?" Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn't, Your Majesty can be sure that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up." Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully clothed. And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames leaped out and killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in! So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell down into the roaring flames. But suddenly, as he was watching, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, "Didn't we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?""Yes," they said, "we did indeed, Your Majesty." "Look!" Nebuchadnezzar shouted. "I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire. They aren't even hurt by the flames! And the fourth looks like a divine being!" Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. Then the princes, prefects, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn't even smell of smoke! Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king's command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. (Daniel 3:14-28)

Sometimes we wonder how we can lead our unsaved friends to God. The answer may be in the very lives we are living. When we live lives that is in accordance with God, that is pleasing and blameless before Him, our lives may become the very instrument God will use to lead people to start believing in our great God.

God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12)

Unfortunately, there are times when temptations come in beautiful packages. Most of the time, the enemy presents himself to be very nice, to be very desirable, and pleasurable. This video is a proof of this fact. (see Vios Video, YouTube)

...Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)

God already has planned a wonderful future for us (even before we were born). He wants to give us a great family, a good wife for the men and a good husband for the women. God wants to bless us immensely in our lives. The Bible is full of His promises and beautiful dreams for us. But the enemy would do everything to steal, kill and destroy and even to devour all those beautiful dreams, blessings, plans, so that we will lose everything and turn away from God.

The thief (Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy... (John 10:10)

For these reasons, we have to always be on guard. After all we have to prepared in all circumstances whether man or woman, we are equally tempted and attacked by all sorts of testing of faith, sufferings, and temptations.

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. (1 Peter 5:8-10)

It is also a reminder for us that we are warriors. We are to flee from his traps, and we must always be ready as warriors to be fully equipped and armored to face the battle.

Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:11-12)

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith...

(1 Timothy 6:11-12)

REAL MEN say NO to SIN!

Fleeing from temptations is not easy, but it is not impossible. It is always easier to say YES that NO to temptations that is why ONLY REAL MEN CAN SAY NO TO SIN! ONLY MEN OF GOD!

Some people would reason out that they will change when they already become husbands or wives, or when they graduate they will start setting straight their lives. However, we have to realize that what we are doing NOW, will determine what will do and will be in the FUTURE. Your NOW determines your TOMORROW. That is why we must START NOW! Start living pure and holy NOW!

Real Men Fear God

Fear of God is not about being scared rather it means you respect, revere, and even love God. For example, if you love someone or if you highly respect someone, you will not do something bad or hurtful to that person. That is what it means to fear God.

We have such a loving God, in John 3:16, it is written that He loved us so much that He gave His one and only son for us. Put yourself in HIS place. If you have a son, would you be able to do that for someone, a stranger even? I doubt that any good father could do that. But because of HIS LOVE for US, He did that for US.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

God's love for us is more than enough a motivation to turn away from sin. What more can you ask for? He already gave us so much. He loves us so much!

It's never easy to turn away from sin. But we have an encouragement from God, that when we choose Him above all else we are already victorious. For we are conquerors, we are winners! We can refuse sin because of what Christ has done for us.

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57)

As Christians, we already can move beyond those sinful natures because they have been crucified with Christ. Now we should be led by the Spirit that we may not sin against God.

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:24-25)

The time for us to say NO to SIN and YES to GOD is NOW!

REAL MEN say NO to SIN and YES to GOD!

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Personal Prayer List as of the End of January 2008

Today is the last day of January and I have not been able to blog at all this year till now..

Today, I decided to simply just blog about some things I'm really hoping, believing in faith and praying for... some are prayers I'm believing for this year while others are life prayers that I constantly pray for :)

If you find it in your heart to pray for me for the following things, it would be so much appreciated and I'm sure that God will indeed bless you for your intentions :) Thanks in advance! and God bless you too!

1. To finish our thesis really soon and to defend our thesis successfully this coming 1st term or earlier this 2008!!!
2. To graduate this year! I'm believing God that I will graduate this September 2008!
3. To graduate with honors this September 2008!
4. To start serving God in the ministries He will lead me to. As of now I am praying for the music ministry, the kid's ministry and most especially discipleship and campus ministry. I really want to sing for my God and to lead people in glorifying He who deserves all honor and glory and praise! I also love and adore kids :) And of course I really want to lead more women to God :) I really desire that they will not only know God, but also develop a relationship with Him, grow in Him and experience Him personally in their lives.
5. I want to be open to God's calling for whatever gifts He will give, and trials He will set before me. I want to learn from all that He will give me and use them according to His will. Be it unto me according to Your will, according to Your promises, Lord I want to stand secure.
6. To land on a good paying job where I can really hone myself and develop my skills, as well as apply my specialization in instructional development, e-learning, and digital arts. I also hope that the working environment would not be so toxic and that the people I would be working with will also be friendly and helpful co-workers.
7. To continually grow in my walk with God and with my spritual family :)
8. To continually improve my heart, my mind, and my character and set them as God-focused always.
9. To desire to do God's will and purpose in my life as He reveals it to me as a woman, as a daughter, as a sister, as a follower, as a leader, as a friend, as a future wife and mother... etc. :)
10. To walk in faith, in purity, in love, in joy, in wisdom, in discernment and in thanksgiving by God's Spirit and by His grace.
11. To continually aspire to experience God in every aspect of my life, to surrender the control of the big and small things and circumstances in my life to Him, and to desire and to love HIM above all else :)
12. To be excited for God, to think faith, to develop a prayer lifestyle
13. To be disciplined with my time, with my quiet time, and with my academics.
14. For more blessings and provisions for my entire family :) as well as good health, and security :)
15. For my entire family to also grow in their relationship with each other and with God :)

I believe that this year is a year of answered prayers! :) Prayers are already being answered as early as now! I am so excited for what is to come! :) Declare faith, we have a BIG God who can do BIG things that is BIGGER than anyone of us can ever think or imagine! C'mon!!! :)

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