Preaching to Myself...

Iloilo City: Home is where the heart is | Death: Number your days to D-Day

2009-03-10T20:22:00.001+08:00

After a long while of being away from Iloilo City, having made the decision to leave, back in 2007, just exactly when I made the note to self that I actually like it here now, I'm home again.

After a week and counting of being here, what have I learned?

My parents are nicer. Yay! \o/

The skyway isn't so bad as I had thought it would be. It actually looks nice. Too bad I won't be using it anyway (this girl is resisting learning how to ride a car). :p

I like my city!!! I like my city!!! I loik my city!!!

I think I got a better deal in pants here than I had ever seen in Manila. Hahahahahahaa! Oh joy. Roll.

I'm missing my friends in Manila, though I am learning to take my own advice to a woman I love dearly: Live in the moment. Love the people immediately around you.

There is no use pining for my friends in Manila when I have quite a number of friends here who are waiting for me to infect them with my bubbleheaded laughter, my irreverent view of my foibles in my walk with Jesus and my unique understanding of who He is. Most of us think that He is a guy with a ruler waiting to measure us or spank us or what. I NOW think that He is a loving Father who is only courting our hearts because without Him, we are DEAD.

YES. God is a FUN God, despite the way He needs to get when He disciplines us.

And oh, be happy when God calls your name when you are running away. It is an undoubtedly concrete evidence of how He still loves you when you are being disciplined.

Do I pine for my Ate's in Victory Pioneer?

I guess there is a way of things working out for the good of those who love God... The last 3 months I had in Manila were spent mainly with those immediately close to me in my small group. Thus, my ties to the people around me were already being eased out... So I had not seen Ate Sam's dimpled face, Ate Catz's radiant glow, Ate Jem's motherly countenance, nor Ate Grace's (Gracia P.) quiet strength, and more so Ate Rayche's quiet wisdom, in these past few months. No time, no room to pine for and miss people. No need to, and more so no right to.

I used to be a creature of comfort. I liked the soft fuzzy warm things in life. I liked the idea of "safe." And in my current reading of One Month to Live by Kerry and Chris Shook, I re-realized that I have one big fear currently: living a life too safe, that I'd miss out on obeying God.

I realized then, in my reading, that life was meant to be lived on the edge. I realized that life was meant to be lived taking risks and living, loving, learning to the hilt of who you are and what you can give.

So yes, as my new SG Leader Ann and I had agreed, we shall be soaking first in understanding what One Month to Live has to offer. We want to reach other young women effectively. I personally have a vision that our group, not to be clique-ish or anything, shall be the most bubbly, the most fun, the most joyous, the most grace-ious, the most LOVING, around. Not because I want our group to be known for fame's sake. Because I just want to be part of the biggest ripple around here to infect others. I want to be the most infectiously light-shining, life-giving, joy-diffusing (thank you, Tristan!) of the Victory Iloilo creatures around. Not for anything, but I just want to be like that, for God's glory.

Enough of CHURCH being equated to RELIGION. I's tired of THAT! Let's make CHURCH, VICTORY ILOILO, the best place to be in, every Sunday! Let's make Christianity the most enviable thing on earth to be a part of!

Enough of the concern on who is the greatest in the kingdom. Ministry?! What's THAT?! Seriously. If there's any one thing I take away from the greatest writer/prophet to impact my heart, Pastor Rick Joyner, it would be this: God's heart is touched only to the level of how faithful you were (in terms of being responsible of, allowing to grow) to what He has given you.

Another is the understandting that the greater the obstacle you had to jump through, and the more cavalier the attitude you took with which to survive it, the higher your reward, in the Lord's kingdom.

Those two snippets were my understanding of what Pastor Rick Joyner had written in his book The Vision (Final Quest part, I believe, the story of Angelo the beggar).

That is how I want to live my life: faithful to every little thing that is in my hands, one thing at a time.

So yes, I make a commitment to throwing all caution to the wind. I shall:

Live fully: Passionately and without a care what other people may think and how they can harm me. To my possible enemies: I shall follow the strict quid pro quo rule: I won't hurt you with full deliberate evil machinations, and I expect God to keep me safe from your intentions as well. :p If you cross the line and burn even a single one of my split ends without due reason, Psalm 105:15 ("Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.") shall be your yardstick. :p
Love with abandon: No matter how many times I get hurt by you, I shall love you, and you and you. :p
Learn in full humility: Not to draw attention to myself, but I just want to share share share what God has done for me and what He could do for you, too.

I am going to be here for only 22,818 days more. So I have to make the most out of those 22,818 days, give or take a few days.

So I, Lorie Therese Locara, shall give it all I've got!!!

According to the Death Clock, I'm supposed to die on Monday, September 14, 2071. A full 87 years, 4 months, and a day!!! I subtracted my current age from that value (24 years, 9 months, and 28 days), in order to get my remaining days on this earth. The equation is 31,876 (days of my full life) - 9058 (days I had already spent). Phew.

I think the Death Clock states that I'll live well into my 80s because I'm the optimistic type. Heheh.

Enough of the mathematical nitty-gritties. Either way, these are the days I have left into my life, and I make a commitment to LIVE THESE DAYS FULLY.

Truth be told, I had said "goodbye" to my teens before I left Manila. I tried to get my two best Graviton buds to understand the significance of my leaving, but I was unsuccessful. I knew that I would be living my days faster. No longer would I stick to safe and comfortable in the coming days. My game plan for the 2-3 years that I will be here in Iloilo would be to:

Love as many new people as I can.
Meet as many new friends as I can.
Help out whomever needs my help, in their ministry, just for the heck of it. (I'm looking at Ate Jenny Galopo, and my buddies in Victory.)
Reach as many people who are jaded about the Jesus they were taught, as possible.
Have as many people through Victory Weekend and see as many women flying in their relationship with God, as possible.
Have as many cups of coffee on the perch God showed me I could use as the substitute for my Cityland rooftop sunrise-gazing post, here at home.
Have as many cups of coffee I can brew.
Squeeze the most out of my Me-and-God/Theo Afternoons, as I still could.
Understand how I could make a go of all these in my 24-hour days, as possible, even as I juggle work and these targets. And sleep too. Heheh.

I don't know if I could regain the level of intensity that my high school friends and I had before, but I know that my days would get faster. My sked would be so squeezed and bled for the maximum, that I know that my metaphor for my life (Rocket), would become true...

These are exciting days. These are amazing days. This is no time to remain sleeping. This is no time to live on the SOMEDAY. The day to live is NOW!!!

Awaaaaaaake!!! You only have ONE LIFE TO LIVE!!!

And oh, somewhere in between all that, I might as well clean my room. Like right now. Heheh. :p

Iloilo City: Home is where the heart is | Death: Number your days to D-Day

2009-03-10T20:22:00.000+08:00

After a long while of being away from Iloilo City, having made the decision to leave, back in 2007, just exactly when I made the note to self that I actually like it here now, I'm home again.

After a week and counting of being here, what have I learned?

My parents are nicer. Yay! \o/

The skyway isn't so bad as I had thought it would be. It actually looks nice. Too bad I won't be using it anyway (this girl is resisting learning how to ride a car). :p

I like my city!!! I like my city!!! I loik my city!!!

I think I got a better deal in pants here than I had ever seen in Manila. Hahahahahahaa! Oh joy. Roll.

I'm missing my friends in Manila, though I am learning to take my own advice to a woman I love dearly: Live in the moment. Love the people immediately around you.

There is no use pining for my friends in Manila when I have quite a number of friends here who are waiting for me to infect them with my bubbleheaded laughter, my irreverent view of my foibles in my walk with Jesus and my unique understanding of who He is. Most of us think that He is a guy with a ruler waiting to measure us or spank us or what. I NOW think that He is a loving Father who is only courting our hearts because without Him, we are DEAD.

YES. God is a FUN God, despite the way He needs to get when He disciplines us.

And oh, be happy when God calls your name when you are running away. It is an undoubtedly concrete evidence of how He still loves you when you are being disciplined.

Do I pine for my Ate's in Victory Pioneer?

I guess there is a way of things working out for the good of those who love God... The last 3 months I had in Manila were spent mainly with those immediately close to me in my small group. Thus, my ties to the people around me were already being eased out... So I had not seen Ate Sam's dimpled face, Ate Catz's radiant glow, Ate Jem's motherly countenance, nor Ate Grace's (Gracia P.) quiet strength, and more so Ate Rayche's quiet wisdom, in these past few months. No time, no room to pine for and miss people. No need to, and more so no right to.

I used to be a creature of comfort. I liked the soft fuzzy warm things in life. I liked the idea of "safe." And in my current reading of One Month to Live by Kerry and Chris Shook, I re-realized that I have one big fear currently: living a life too safe, that I'd miss out on obeying God.

I realized then, in my reading, that life was meant to be lived on the edge. I realized that life was meant to be lived taking risks and living, loving, learning to the hilt of who you are and what you can give.

So yes, as my new SG Leader Ann and I had agreed, we shall be soaking first in understanding what One Month to Live has to offer. We want to reach other young women effectively. I personally have a vision that our group, not to be clique-ish or anything, shall be the most bubbly, the most fun, the most joyous, the most grace-ious, the most LOVING, around. Not because I want our group to be known for fame's sake. Because I just want to be part of the biggest ripple around here to infect others. I want to be the most infectiously light-shining, life-giving, joy-diffusing (thank you, Tristan!) of the creatures around.

Enough of CHURCH being equated to RELIGION. I's tired of THAT! Let's make CHURCH, VICTORY ILOILO, the best place to be in, every Sunday! Let's make Christianity the most enviable thing on earth to be a part of!

Enough of the concern on who is the greatest in the kingdom. Ministry?! What's THAT?! Seriously. If there's any one thing I take away from the greatest writer/prophet to impact my heart, Pastor Rick Joyner, it would be this: God's heart is touched only to the level of how faithful you were (in terms of being responsible of, allowing to grow) to what He has given you.

Another is the understandting that the greater the obstacle you had to jump through, and the more cavalier the attitude you took with which to survive it, the higher your reward, in the Lord's kingdom.

Those two snippets were my understanding of what Pastor Rick Joyner had written in his book The Vision (Final Quest part, I believe, the story of Angelo the beggar).

That is how I want to live my life: faithful to every little thing that is in my hands, one thing at a time.

So yes, I make a commitment to throwing all caution to the wind. I shall:

Live fully: Passionately and without a care what other people may think and how they can harm me. To my possible enemies: I shall follow the strict quid pro quo rule: I won't hurt you with full deliberate evil machinations, and I expect God to keep me safe from your intentions as well. :p If you cross the line and burn even a single one of my split ends without due reason, Psalm 105:15 ("Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.") shall be your yardstick. :p
Love with abandon: No matter how many times I get hurt by you, I shall love you, and you and you. :p
Learn in full humility: Not to draw attention to myself, but I just want to share share share what God has done for me and what He could do for you, too.

Love as many new people as I can.
Meet as many new friends as I can.
Help out whomever needs my help, in their ministry, just for the heck of it. (I'm looking at Ate Jenny Galopo, and my buddies in Victory.)
Reach as many people who are jaded about the Jesus they were taught, as possible.
Have as many people through Victory Weekend and see as many women flying in their relationship with God, as possible.
Have as many cups of coffee on the perch God showed me I could use as the substitute for my Cityland rooftop sunrise-gazing post, here at home.
Have as many cups of coffee I can brew.
Squeeze the most out of my Me-and-God/Theo Afternoons, as I still could.
Understand how I could make a go of all these in my 24-hour days, as possible, even as I juggle work and these targets. And sleep too. Heheh.

Scandalous Life: Of Todd Bentley, Deaths and Remarriage

2009-03-10T19:56:00.000+08:00

I've been noticing something lately. There is an abnormally high number of young deaths. As well as a good amount of remarriages after divorce. Do you think God is saying something here?

Perhaps, He is saying, that He is taking us out of our unholy marriage to "Egypt": love of money, things, things of the world, marriage to compromise: a mixture of the holy and unholy motives in our hearts and giving the Bride of Christ, the Church, a new marriage: one that will have the Bride faithful through to the end?

Or maybe He is saying, "Even though I have divorced you, I shall marry you again, this time, with a fresh covenant, a brand new start."

Waa. I'm seriously just supposing. I'm just wondering about the world events of late. Heheh.

Super Disclaimer: This is, in no way, an exercise of my prophetic giftings. All Blabber before Rick Joyner's article is just that: Lorie's personal blabber, supposition, and wonderings. You have been firmly forewarned.

Below is a serious article with the deep and sincere apologies of the prophet in charge of the prophet in the process of restoration... And his new wife. Heheh.

And yeah. I repent. For criticizing you. I'm no better than you, actually. If I'm the woman with the alabaster jar crying my heart out at the feet of Jesus, fully forgiven, fully healed, I should only extend the same level of grace and mercy that I was given.

I still don't know if you are a true sister in Christ. But I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. You have never harmed me, you don't even know I exist, but I have to say that I hated you with a passion I could slice through with a knife.

Maybe, just like Jessa, you went for him too soon. Maybe. I'll never know this side of Heaven. Only Jesus is your righteous judge. This forgiven harlot (meh) does not have any right to toss any size of stone or pebble on your way.

I'm sorry I had rained missiles on you with my words (that you never heard) and my thoughts. Someday, when we meet in Heaven, I'll know the full truth. Today, I am only thankful that I sit here corrected, and reminded of the long list of scarlet sins that I was forgiven.

Maybe someday I can observe you from afar and understand why he and God love you. Maybe someday we would even talk. As for today, I shall be happy ceasing all thoughts and barbs that issue from my mouth.

Til that day we meet in Heaven or even here on earth, I pray you live the rest of your life in peace, effectively having numbered your days: living passionately, loving completely, learning humbly, and finally, that you may leave this earth boldly.

Today, I make peace with myself, making the specific decision to zip my lips regarding you. I'm spitting out that tasty morsel of gossip; asking that God would make it as bitter venom to my tongue.

Whatever you did, wrong or whatever in our sight that was, I know one thing: Jesus has Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba in His bloodline. Such a scandalous bloodline, for a pure and Holy God! I'm in good company. So are you. :)

Either way, I'm just glad you don't know I exist.

Now, zip the drama, Lorie, and allow people to learn about what happened to Todd Bentley. :p

***

Todd Bentley Begins Restoration Process

By Rick Joyner

Todd Bentley was used to spark the Lakeland Outpouring, which raised the faith level of much of the body of Christ. Testimonies of healings and miracles from it are now virtually all over the world. When Todd’s marriage failed, he abruptly stopped all ministry and virtually disappeared for almost nine months. In the meantime, his divorce was finalized and he has recently remarried.

Todd has taken full responsibility for the failure of his marriage. He and Jessa also admit that their relationship was premature and should not have happened the way it did. Both are adamant that it was not the cause for the failure of his first marriage, nor did they begin their relationship until Todd was convinced that his marriage was over. They have both expressed that it was wrong and premature. They do not want to try and cover this up even though they know many will never accept them for it. Even so, they are married now and are resolved to make the most of their marriage, their lives, and to continue to serve the Lord in the best way that they can.

My position all along has been that I will do my best to comply with Galatians 6:1, “If a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted” (NKJV). To obey this Word, I have always felt that it did not matter what one had done, and that it was my responsibility to help them find the grace of God to return to the place from which they had fallen. I confess that with Todd, I am not just doing this as a duty. From the time I first met him nearly ten years ago, I knew that he had an extraordinary purpose and a gift of faith for the miraculous that would be desperately needed in these times. I consider helping any of God’s children an honor, and helping Todd is a privilege.

I also confess to some selfish ambition in wanting to do this. I had a dream two decades ago in which one of my children had fallen into a sewage ditch and could not get up. My child was being scorned and no one would help him. A man came along who helped my child get up and then cleaned up. In that dream, I felt as if I would give everything that I owned to this man who helped my child. Then I heard the voice of the Lord say, “Jim Bakker is My child. Will you help him?” Since that time, I have been devoted to helping any of God’s children that I could who have committed any trespass, because I knew there were few other things that would bring the Father’s favor. I consider this willingness to at least try to help others this way a major reason for the extraordinary favor that our ministry, my family, and I have received. I love Todd and am glad to help him, but I also know by doing this, I will be doing something that means a great deal to our Father.

When we release someone to minister in the body of Christ, we are releasing him or her to minister to God’s own children, and I personally do not do that with anyone who I would not allow to minister to my own family. For all that was done through Todd, and especially at Lakeland, which touched and helped countless thousands, many were also left confused and hurt by the way it ended. I think Todd is even more sensitive to this than I am. Although in some ways he greatly misses being in ministry and praying for people, he wants to be sure that when he comes back that his life and his ministry are on the most solid ground possible so that he does not cause these kinds of problems again.

Jack Deere and Bill Johnson have agreed to be a part of Todd’s restoration process. I asked them to be a part because I know they will probably see things I don’t, but also because both Todd and I trust them and know they would not sign off on something they did not really believe in. However, both of them are going to be involved in this at a distance, and therefore, I will be the main person responsible.

Being a believer in body ministry, I expect our whole leadership team, and to some degree, our whole local church, to be involved in helping Todd and Jessa. Our staff and all from the church that I have discussed this with are very happy about them being here and want to help them in any way that they can.

In future Bulletins, we will go into more detail about what we’re doing and why, as well as what we think was a cause of some of the failures Todd experienced. We will only do this for the sake of helping others avoid the same traps. We know that trust has to be earned and that Todd will have to earn the trust of the body of Christ for future ministry, which will not be easy, nor should it be. Todd, more than most, does not want to jump back into ministry prematurely, even as much as he misses it in some ways.

I for one have been very encouraged by the expressions of grace and genuine concern so many have expressed toward Todd in this situation. It gives me great hope. As we have been constantly reminded, the Lord had great patience with sinners, but He had none for the self-righteous. We’re all here because He had mercy on us, and we know we still need it. However, we also know that true repentance and restoration can only come if we refuse to compromise the clear biblical standards for morality and integrity.

Todd wanted to personally say the following:

It has been a long while since I have spoken publicly and openly. I am sorry for the hurt and confusion that my decisions have caused the body of Christ. It has been a true season of brokenness, hiddenness, and a long process of grieving.
As many of you now know, my previous marriage has endured years of unresolved conflicts. I apologize that it has ended in divorce, and I take full responsibility for my part for the ending of the marriage. I realize that my silence and decisions have caused many of you to feel hurt, confused, and offended. The reason for the silence was for my need of healing, creating a restoration process under a team of qualified leaders, much needed rest after the Lakeland Outpouring, repentance, and the divorce process.

I have now relocated to Fort Mill, South Carolina and have entered into my restoration and healing process under Rick Joyner, Jack Deere, and Bill Johnson. I am confident of this one thing—that God is faithful to His promise and my hope is to be fully restored, strengthened, healed, and to learn from all the mistakes I have made along the way.
Thank you friends and partners for your continued prayers, encouragement, and love. I am committed to the work of the Holy Spirit and confident that the good men around me will help me be restored first as a man, as a husband, and ultimately to fulfill God's call on my life.

Those of you who were touched by the Lakeland Outpouring do not lose your encouragement. What happened there was from God, and Todd is a true servant of God. He has made some mistakes, and he is trying to get his life back in order, and you can be confident that he will. Throughout the Bible, many of the greatest heroes in it also made some of the worst mistakes. King David, possibly the greatest hero in the Bible after Jesus, made one of the most horrible mistakes, not only committing adultery, but murdering the husband of the woman he committed it with. God knew that was going to happen with David when He called him, and He loved David before, during, and afterward.

One of the remarkable events in the Bible is that the Lord then used Bathsheba to bring forth the heir to the throne, Solomon, and she is part of the genealogy of Jesus. It still stretches me, but we need stretching in the grace of God. At the same time, we must balance it with how God hates divorce, and it is one of the scourges of our times that is tragically hurting many, many people. Marriage is under such an assault now because it is so important. However, legalism will not overcome lawlessness. This situation and similar ones that almost every church and family are now being faced with is one that we need answers for. We cannot run from Him, but must run to Him with our need.

Fun Bible Equations

2009-01-28T07:24:00.000+08:00

"Abraham was declared fit before God by trusting God to set him right."
-Romans 4:22, MSG

Cause and Effect:

Faith = Declaration of fitness

Trusting God to set him right = Righteousness

Parallels/Definitions:

Faith = Trusting God to set him right

Righteousness = Declaration of fitness = Right standing with God

Ergo (Just to round out the nerdiness):

Magtiwala at manampalataya lamang sa Diyos, at Siya na ang magpapahayag na ika'y mahal Niya. Siya na rin ang magkakaloob ng kabanalan at katapatan na mismong kailangan mo.

O, ha? Tagalog yan. Translated by yours truly. Pwede na ko sumali sa Ang Dating Doon! Sis Lorie (yuck), ikaw ba itoh?! Nyehehe!

Scripture and Definitions taken from Message (MSG) and Amplified (AMP) Bibles.

More on Unity of the Bretheren

2009-01-26T19:25:00.000+08:00

Discerning the Times, Part 15

by Rick Joyner

We have been addressing the power of unity and how the church must come into this unity to accomplish her purpose in these times. This year we are going to see great bridges of trust and fellowship being built between many churches, denominations, and individual Christians who have been greatly divided before. This will release unprecedented power.

One reason there has been so much division in the church is because we have tried to unify around too much. The nation of Israel was only required to be in unity on two basic matters—worship and warfare. They were to worship Jehovah together in the manner and place He had prescribed, and they were to always be ready to mobilize and defend any of the other tribes that were attacked.

If the church would live by this same wisdom, her power, authority, size, wealth, and impact would multiply quickly. When we discuss being in unity about worship, we need to steer clear of the nuances that the Lord has given us liberty in, such as the style of music. However, we do need to be in unity about Who we worship and how complying with the biblical standards and teachings on morality, integrity, and other basics that should be common to all Christians. The Moravians stated the following: “In the basics there must be unity. In the other matters there must be liberty, and in all things there must be charity.”

As far as warfare is concerned, as Christians we should always be ready to mobilize with other believers to defend any of our brothers or sisters, or other churches, who are attacked. Presently, this is quite rare, but the times that I have seen it happen have resulted in a bonding together of believers in a special, powerful, and lasting way.

I was shown years ago that the ministry gift of “helps” would be one of the most powerful ministries to bring about the unity of the church. I had always thought of this as being the service of those who cut the grass or washed the dishes at the church, but the Lord showed me that this ministry was much more than that; it was a foundation that all of the other ministries were built on. The Holy Spirit is called “the Helper,” and the true ministry of helps is very basic to the nature of the Holy Spirit. When one is drowning and calls out for help, the one who responds to save him has the ministry of helps. The ones who respond to help defend others who are under attack are those with the true ministry of helps.

Years ago, I had a dream in which one of my children was in a sewage ditch, covered in filth, and not only would no one help him, but he seemed to be despised by the whole world because of his condition. Then in my dream, a man came along, helped my child out of the ditch, cleaned him up, and restored him so that my child was free and able to walk again. There is no way that I can describe the appreciation I felt for this person who helped my child. I felt like giving him everything I had, and I would have done anything in the world I could for him. Then I heard the voice of the Lord in this dream say, “Jim Bakker is My child. Will you help him?”

At the time, Jim Bakker was possibly one of the most despised people on the planet, even by Christians. If you read some of the mail he was receiving from Christians while in prison, you would think that Christians especially despised him. God loved him, and God was hurting because of the way one of His kids was hurting. I did not know Jim, had never watched the PTL program except for a few minutes occasionally, and had only casually followed his trial and imprisonment. However, I immediately resolved to help Jim in any way that I could. I don’t think I did much to help him, and I must honestly say that I sincerely think I have benefited much more from our relationship than he has. Even more than that, God’s favor came upon me in a way that I had never experienced before.

It was for this same reason that when the situation with Todd Bentley happened and I was asked to help restore him, I did not hesitate. I was warned by some that helping Jim Bakker would cost me and my ministry very dearly, and it may have with some, but the favor of God is worth much more than the favor of all men. I know Todd has asked what I expect to get out of helping him, wondering why I would want to when it seems the whole church is mad at him, but the dream the Lord gave me over twenty years ago is still as real to me right now as when I first woke up after having it. I’m not here to build a ministry—I’m here to do God’s will, but I also know the church will never be trusted by God or men until we have His heart for restoration. When the world sinned, turned away from Him, and fell into terrible debauchery, the Lord did not condemn it—He came and gave His own life to save it. Those who have His heart will do the same for those in trouble.

True Christians are in basic unity about worship, and when we start to respond to help defend our brothers and sisters who are attacked, our unity will grow very fast. We also need to respond and mobilize to help those who fall into transgression because that is basic Christianity—doing what our Savior did for us.

Bat Shalom: Daughter of Zion - The Testimony of Batya Segal

2009-01-24T23:03:00.000+08:00

They Thought For Themselves, Chapter 9

Bat Shalom: Daughter of Zion
by Batya Segal

At the beginning of this century rumors began to circulate that a Jewish State was about to be reborn in the land of our forefathers. Excitement swelled in the Jewish community in Yemen as they felt the days of the Messiah were soon to come. Many Jewish people started to make their way back to Zion. Leaving everything behind except their most essential belongings, they set out on the long perilous journey across the desert, some carrying their children on their shoulders. They had little food or drink. Many suffered from exhaustion and many died—but they died full of hope and faith, knowing they were returning to the land of their forefathers.

In the late 1930s, my father left Yemen for Israel (then called Palestine), traveling by boat from Yemen to Egypt and from there by train. Most of the family had died either in Yemen or on the way to Israel. Upon arrival in Israel my father joined his one surviving brother. About this same time, my mother and her family settled in Jerusalem.

During the 1948 War of Independence, my father joined the Jewish forces fighting for the survival of the newly born Jewish State of Israel. He served in Ramat Rachel, a kibbutz just south of Jerusalem.

After the rebirth of Israel, the new government committed itself to bringing back the Jewish people from all over the world. In 1950, an airlift called Operation Magic Carpet brought home to Israel a large part of the Yemenite Jewish community within a short period of time. Most of them had never even seen an airplane before. The rabbi explained from Isaiah 40:31 that God would lead them “on wings like eagles,” which dispersed any fears they may have had of flying, for they knew prophetically they were being taken home to be prepared for the days of redemption.

He Hears Your Prayers
The Israeli Yemenite Jewish community in which I was raised was Orthodox. My parents kept a kosher home and were strict observers of Torah (the five books of Moses). They kept the Shabbat (Sabbath) and all the feasts of Israel.

As I grew up, I went to an Orthodox girls’ school in our neighborhood. Every morning we prayed as our forefathers had for two thousand years. At school we learned about the Messiah, who would come and redeem the Jewish people. He would reveal to the world that the God of Israel is the true God and would bring peace to all nations. He would sit on His throne in Jerusalem and rule the world with an iron rod. Though we learned this, the emphasis in our school was on the “Dinim,” the laws and commandments we had to follow as observant Jews. It was not a subject that excited us very much. I could not understand how it would bring me to a closer and deeper understanding of God, but I knew from studying the Jewish prophet, Isaiah, that God’s thoughts were higher than my thoughts, so I didn’t argue.

The atmosphere at home was warm, loving, and full of music. When we came together with family and friends on Shabbat, holidays, and special occasions, we sang and prayed according to the Yemenite traditions.

My father read his Bible every day when he returned from work. He instilled in me a love for and firm belief in God and His Word. He taught me, “Never forget that God exists. Whenever you need Him, for whatever reason, then He is always there to help you. Turn to God because He hears your prayers and He knows your needs.”

Every evening before I went to sleep my father and I quoted together a passage of Scripture I knew by heart:

Sh’ma Yisrael, Adonai Elohenu, Adonai Echad. Ve-Ahavta Et Adonai Eloheicha Be-chol Levavcha Uv’chol Nafshecha Uv’chol me-odech .... [“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might ...” (Deuteronomy 6:49, NKJV).]

I followed this with a personal talk with God. I used to bring before Him all the things of the day about which I was concerned, and I had the assurance that He heard my prayers and was meeting my needs. I knew God was my Father in heaven and I loved Him, but there were aspects of His character—His righteousness, holiness, and judgment—I did not understand, and so I feared Him as well.

As a child I loved art and got good grades in painting and drawing. I also was very interested in theatre and had the opportunity to act in some productions. I began to attend a children’s group at the main radio station of Israel where we read stories and sketches on the radio. I loved it. This opened a whole new world for me. The director said I had an excellent voice for radio and he could help me to make this my profession when I graduated.

My father would tell me, “Don’t spread yourself so thin. Concentrate on one thing and do it well.” I knew this was very good advice, but I loved all I did, and it was difficult for me to give up anything.

I had the support and love of both my parents; my father, in particular, always encouraged and complimented me. Of course, the youngest child generally gets the most attention, so at times I was spoiled.

Miracle War
As I was preparing to finish elementary school and begin the summer holidays in June 1967, Israel suddenly found herself embroiled in what became known as the Six Day War. Israelis remember it as the “Miracle War.” I was surprised to see that both of my brothers and my father were called to serve in the reserves. For seven days our family sat in the neighbor’s basement, anxiously waiting to hear the news. Our only contact with the outside world was the radio. Every hour, when we heard the beep, we ran to listen to the latest bulletins.

On the second day of the war, all the adults in the room began jumping with joy, hugging each other, and shouting. When I asked why, I was told that Jerusalem had been reunited, and our Israeli flag had been lifted on the Temple Mount. Even as a child I realized this was a miracle only God could have performed. After two thousand years of foreign domination, Israel had expanded her borders to the heartland of her ancient territory! I began to understand God’s prophetic word for the Jewish people.

I Need Freedom
When I was 12 years old and in a secondary school, I started to question my way of life. I began to break away from the teachings of my youth and go my own way. Since I greatly respected my parents and did not want to hurt them, I waited for the appropriate time and then explained my feelings to them. “I can’t live this way anymore,” I said. “I respect your lifestyle, but I need to explore a different one for me. I believe very strongly in God, but the mitzvot (laws) that I have been taught seem old-fashioned and not suitable for life today. I find I am unable to keep them with my whole heart, and I do not feel they bring me closer to God.” I asked for their permission to go to a public high school.

My father has always been an open-minded man, so he said: “It is all right. You can do that as long as you are happy. But do not forget Who your God is and where you come from.”

And so I transferred to public school. This proved to be a great challenge. I was confronted with a totally different culture. And much to my surprise, some teachers, including the head teacher, did not believe in the Bible as the Word of God. Instead, they viewed the Bible as a collection of mythical tales, not really inspired by God.

An even greater shock was finding that one of my teachers was an avowed atheist and particularly sharp toward any student who believed in God. He singled out one boy in our class, who wore a kippah, as the object of sarcastic remarks and ridicule.

My frustrations at this new school challenged me to study the Bible for myself. It was an eye-opening experience to study the books of Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and the other prophets. The prophecies concerning the return of the Jews to our homeland amazed me.

Because of my disenchantment over the way the Bible and other subjects were taught, I began to question the wisdom of attending public school. After two and one-half years, I left and enrolled in a school at which I could study mostly at home and go to classes just two days each week.

This was a period of deep soul-searching for me, a time of seeking for truth. Since I was studying at home I had a lot of time to think and read. I knew I had not found satisfaction in a religious Orthodox lifestyle, even though I appreciated and identified with the traditions. But I had to ask myself, If keeping the commandments does not bring me peace and a closer relationship with God, then what does? I was searching for the answers to other questions as well: What is the purpose of my life here on earth? Who is God, really? What will happen to me after I die?

I tried to find answers in philosophical books, but they left me confused, raising more questions than answers. I gained no satisfaction from studying them.

Yom Kippur War
My quest for truth was suddenly interrupted by the Yom Kippur War in 1973. This was the hardest war Israel has ever faced. All our Arab neighbors attacked us, declaring a Holy War for Allah, on the holiest day of the Jewish year. Their sole intent was to destroy Israel and annihilate the Jewish population. We were totally unprepared, and consequently this war was a terrible tragedy for us. In Israel, in time of war, all reserve units are called up to strengthen the army. My two brothers and my father were again fighting in a war they had not wanted. Unlike 1967, this became a very personal war to me, as many of my friends and neighbors were either wounded or killed. I was devastated and in deep mourning. I cried to God for answers.

In January 1974, I began my military service, which every Israeli teenager enters at age 18. I served in the navy. It was just after the Yom Kippur War, and I saw some of my friends and acquaintances coming home wounded, some very severely, from the war. This increased my longing to know God and to know what the hereafter had in store for me. I asked all sorts of questions, but never received any clear answers.

Premature Marriage
I had served in the navy for one year when I married and obtained a release from service. A release was generally granted to girls getting married and starting a home. My husband, Avi, was an old friend I had known before I went into the navy. He was six years older than I and a confirmed atheist.

I still do not know what induced me to marry. As I reflect on it now, I realize I was far too young and made an impulsive decision. However, there was a lot of confusion in those days and emotions were blown out of proportion. I had lost friends in the war and felt I was in danger of losing another. Even though the marriage was a mistake, I know God was watching over my life.

Our relationship fell apart after only one year. After giving up all hope that our marriage would ever amount to anything, we agreed to separate. But the day we decided to get a divorce, Avi had to go to the Galilee on a press assignment (he was a press photographer). On the way back he was involved in a serious traffic accident in which his friend, the driver of the car, was killed, and Avi was seriously injured. It was a miracle he came out of the wreckage alive. He suffered a severe concussion, which the doctors told him would require a long period of rest. Ironically, just a few days after the accident, I discovered I was pregnant. Because of Avi’s injuries and my pregnancy, we decided to stay together. When he left the hospital, however, Avi went to his mother’s home for several months to recuperate.

Transcendental Meditation
Meanwhile, I was under tremendous pressure. I was 20 years old, pregnant with my first baby and in a marriage hanging together by a thread. I was trying to earn a living and at the same time visit my husband in the hospital every day. I had to travel from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv, and then spend hours in the intensive care unit. Since I could not really communicate with Avi, I would sit and watch the injured soldiers entering the hospital. One had been explaining to his friends how to dismantle a hand grenade when it exploded in his face. His brain had died but his heart kept beating. I saw others die or remain comatose.

Again I was caught in a web of circumstances that forced me to think about issues of life and death. I knew there had to be answers to my questions—answers that would change my life. I also knew I would have no peace until I found them.

I got a part-time job working for the Ministry of the Treasury. While there, I made friends with a lady deeply involved in transcendental meditation (TM). She knew I was going through a hard time and encouraged me to come to their meetings, believing they held the answer for me. In my desperation, I finally yielded to her persuasions and let her enroll me in a course. I had been very concerned this might be a religion, despite her assurance it wasn’t. However, toward the end of the course, my friend said, “I forgot to tell you, there is a closing ceremony, but you can ignore what takes place.” This aroused my curiosity.

We were told to bring an apple and a new white handkerchief as an offering for the maharishi (though I did not realize at first what was taking place). One by one we were taken into a small room with a TM instructor who stood in the back whispering incantations while the incense smoke arose by the picture of the guru. I laid down my apple as an offering to the maharishi. Then the instructor gave me my own special mantra to repeat while meditating.

The ceremony made me very uncomfortable, and I went home in despair. This was in stark contrast to TM’s promises of personal fulfillment, joy, peace, and contentment. I tried to ignore the religious part of the course and continued doing the exercises and the early morning meditations as I believed it would help me in my pregnancy.

I knew something was wrong, but I could not put my finger on it. Then suddenly it hit me: “By doing TM, I’m worshiping other gods!” Once I understood the implications, I was almost physically sick. I confronted my TM friend: “You said this wasn’t a religious course, but now I realize I was ensnared in idolatry!”

A New Profession
As time went by, Avi improved physically. He started working a few hours a day in his lab, but was frustrated with his physical limitations and inability to provide properly for his family. He became self-absorbed and lost his temper easily. It was difficult to communicate with him. After the dreadful experience of TM and with my married life deteriorating, I turned more and more to God with my questions, crying out to Him for comfort, appealing to Him for help in my distress, and begging Him to reveal Himself to me.

When trouble comes, it does not seem to stop. Avi broke the metal plate in his hip and had to be rushed to the hospital. He had an emergency operation and once again was confined to the hospital for several months. This time he had a plaster body cast. He was admitted to a private hospital close to home, so I didn’t have to travel as far to visit him.

Through Avi’s long-term illness, I had taken on the responsibility of supporting the family, but I was only working part-time at the Ministry of Treasury, so I began to look for a second job.

It was at that time that God began to answer my prayers. A friend of ours knew of a printing business looking for a computer typist to operate a typesetting machine. One day he called us to see how we were doing. He asked if I knew of anyone looking for a part-time job. “Yes, I know someone—me,” I said. “But I have no training in typesetting.”

He quickly replied, “That doesn’t matter. If you take the job, they will train you!”

“Then I’ll take it,” I announced. “I would love to learn a new profession.” Little did I know what God had in mind.

From my first day at the printing firm, I knew I was part of something very special. There was a wonderful atmosphere, and the few people I saw were very kind to me. Even the interview with the manager was pleasant.

Although I started out with no knowledge of computers, after a while I became quite proficient. I worked in a tiny room where I operated one computer and Ibrahim, a young Beduin Arab, operated the other. He was about my age, 23, married, and already had four children.

A Different New Testament
One morning my employer handed me an envelope with a manuscript for me to typeset. When I pulled it out, I discovered it was the New Testament in Hebrew.

My first reaction was, “Oh no, this can’t be real! What sort of place is this? Why do they want to print the New Testament in Hebrew here? Are they missionaries?”

For a while I sat there struggling with my conscience: What chutzpah (nerve) they have! Shall I do it? What am I supposed to do? My mind whirled. I needed the job, but how could I work on such a thing?

I felt I had no choice so I began. It was difficult to open the manuscript and start typing, thinking I was contributing to the work of missionaries, helping them convert Jewish people and steal Jewish souls. I vividly recalled a story I had read as a child about a widow named Hannah who had seven children. She lived during the time of the Inquisition. When faced with the choice of death or bowing to the cross, she heroically refused to yield, choosing death rather than conversion.

As I began to type and read the New Testament, it was different than I had expected. To my amazement, on the first page was the genealogy of Yeshua, which showed Him to be a descendant of Abraham of the line of David. My first discovery was: Yeshua was a Jew! And the disciples were Jews! The longer I worked on the manuscript, the clearer it became to me the New Testament was a Jewish book! Then the questions began: What’s wrong with it?, I thought. Why are the rabbis so against it? Why do they reject this book? All these questions went through my mind while typing.

I had been brought up to believe that Jesus was the God of the Christians and that the New Testament was a Christian book, yet I knew I was typesetting a book that was completely Jewish. How could this be? And if Christians followed a Jewish book, how could they have persecuted the Jewish people for so many centuries?

And so the struggle for my salvation began. My heart was no longer at peace. In my head it made sense to me that Yeshua was the Jewish Messiah, but my upbringing kept my heart from accepting that idea.

As I read the words of Yeshua in HaBrit HaHadashah (the New Testament), truth began to shine into my life. Yeshua said all actions stem from a person’s heart, and God is concerned with our thoughts and motives—not just our actions. That really struck home.

Then came the amazing revelation of eternal life. I thought, This is the answer I have been seeking for a long, long time. All I have known up until now has been very obscure concerning eternal life, but Yeshua’s words are very clear and certain and I can understand them. The words of Yeshua pierced to the very depths of my heart, and although I was still fighting, God was winning the battle.

Is This Truth?
Two major questions remained: Is this really the truth or am I deceiving myself? and, Why does the name of Yeshua generate so much anger among the Orthodox Jews?

I began to look up the references in the Tanakh (the Old Testament) to check them against quotes in the Gospels. I wanted to know if the prophecies and promises of Yeshua’s coming were really written in the Tanakh. I delved deeply into the subject.

After many months of searching, I felt I could go no further without help. So I began to ask all my friends: “Who is the Messiah really?” “Why hasn’t the Messiah come yet?” “Why couldn’t Yeshua be the Messiah?” I bombarded everyone I met with my questions, even people I hardly knew. I was not ashamed, but was very open about it.

Still I had doubts about whether Yeshua was Messiah. Sometimes I felt as if I had found a great treasure, but a little later, I would dismiss it again. My turmoil lasted for months.

During this time, Avi was discharged from the hospital and came back to live with me again as we had decided to give our marriage another chance. While he had almost recovered from his initial concussion, his legs were still in casts.

After I had finished typing the New Testament, I was given various Christian books to typeset in Hebrew. These included The Hiding Place, a book about Corrie ten Boom, a Christian who had hidden Jews during the Holocaust; Run Baby Run, the story of Nicky Cruz, a New York gang leader whose life was changed by faith in Yeshua; and Joni, the story of Joni Erikson, whose faith had sustained her when she became a quadriplegic as the result of a swimming accident. Those books made a great impression on me. While I was working on the computer, tears would sometimes run down my cheeks. I saw how God’s love had touched people and radically changed their lives.

I See an Angel
About nine months after I had started typesetting the New Testament and the other books into Hebrew, I was troubled more than ever with my many questions. But no one I asked was able to give me satisfactory answers.

One night in desperation I went to my bedroom and cried out to God: “God, please show me the way I should go. Is Yeshua the true Messiah of Israel or is He a false Messiah? If He is the true Messiah, I want to follow Him and serve Him. But if He is not, please let me forget about Him.”

Right after I prayed, I saw a vision of a man clothed in a long white robe. His bearded face was shining and full of glory. The countenance of the man was majestic. I did not understand the meaning of this vision, yet I felt God was trying to give me a sign.

The next day I left work at 3:00 p.m. and was standing at the bus stop watching for the next bus. Suddenly, I saw a man coming toward me from the other side of the street. I realized I had seen him before. He had the same face, the same long hair, the same beard, and the same clothes as the man I had seen in the vision the night before. A shock ran through my body, and the experience gave me goose bumps. I looked around to see if anyone else at the bus stop saw him, but no one indicated noticing him. As I looked back toward him, I saw that he had disappeared.

I realized this was God’s sign. The tall, bearded man was the man in my vision. It couldn’t be a coincidence, my meeting the same man from the vision in the street. I knew it was an angel and I rejoiced!

At last I was convinced Yeshua was the Messiah. I had total peace and an overwhelming joy in my heart. The struggles between my head and my heart were over. I was thrilled to know I was finally on the right path. This was my turning point.

When I got home, I was so excited about what I had seen, I blurted out to my husband, “Do you know what has just happened? I had a vision and after that I saw an angel, and he was from God. Yeshua is the Messiah. I’m certain of it!” The revelation was so real to me, I did not consider anyone might doubt it. But Avi, a confirmed atheist, looked at me mockingly as if I had gone crazy. He made fun of me in front of my friends. When he had an attentive audience, he would say sarcastically, “Have you heard? Batya saw an angel and now she believes in Yeshu!” (This is a derogatory name for Yeshua.) On those occasions I wished the ground would swallow me.

When we were alone I would say to him, “You just don’t do that sort of thing! This is something personal, something intimate. You can’t ridicule prayer and the things that I experienced with God. This is something between me and God.”

I Lose My Daughter
Our relationship continued to deteriorate. I was very vulnerable as a new believer in Yeshua. I had no idea what direction my life would take nor much inner certainty about the future. I needed brothers and sisters in the body of Messiah to support me. But Avi forbade me to meet with other believers or to read the Bible. “If you continue doing this,” he told me, “I shall fight you in the highest courts and take our daughter away from you.”

True to his word, Avi moved ahead with his vendetta. I was ordered to appear before the Rabbinical Court. When Avi arrived, I noticed he was carrying a briefcase. I had no idea what was in it. My lawyer, a religious man, could not guess either. When he came before the judge, Avi opened the case and produced all the books I had typed, plus my New Testament.

“These are her books,” he shouted, pointing at me. “She is a missionary! And I won’t have her bringing up my daughter!” There was a great commotion in the courtroom. The rabbis seemed gravely concerned. After consultation, they forbade Avi to allow me into the house and said that I could no longer raise my daughter. They gave him full custody. My lawyer requested a recess, but they refused. I shouted at the rabbis before I left the courtroom, “God is the only Judge. He will make the decision about where my daughter will be. If God wishes for her to be with me, He will make it possible.” My courage to speak amazed me. I almost felt as though the Lord had spoken those words through me.

With a heavy heart and tears streaming down my face, I hugged and kissed my daughter good-bye and closed the door of my house behind me. I had been banished. Defeated. I couldn’t understand why God had allowed it to happen.

Yeshua, Please Help!
“Lord,” I cried, “this is too much for me. Please help me! I cannot bear this!” With my mouth I said that I was sacrificing my Isaac as Abraham had, but my heart was not in it. She was my daughter! I was leaving my daughter! It felt as though a sword were piercing my soul. I cried, “Oh, Yeshua, please help me!”

Amazingly, the separation from my daughter lasted only three days. A finding by the civil court annulled the verdict of the religious court because of a technical error. But I knew it was a miracle from God.

My daughter was with me again! I could take her in my arms and hold her. By the grace of God, I have been able to bring her up, and she is still living with me to this very day. She is now 18 years old and about to enter the Israeli Army. I am proud of her and love her very, very much. The battle in the courts for custody of Tali lasted eight years, including about four years in the Supreme Court of Israel. Year after year it dragged on until Avi decided to marry another woman and pressed me to agree to a divorce.

It is amazing how God can use the evil things in the world to bring about good. This fight, which was really persecution for my belief in Yeshua, stimulated my spiritual growth. I had to learn to fight to survive, even though still a baby spiritually. The fight strengthened me and the problems refined me. The Lord gave me many insights and my relationship with Him became very deep and secure.

A few years later I became involved with a group of believers who were musicians; we would meet to sing and pray. One evening, we were praying together in a circle and when I opened my eyes, I saw a young man who had come in late. There was something very familiar about him though I had never met him before. After that, I kept running into him in Jerusalem. I learned that his name was Barry, and I found that I enjoyed his sense of humor.

Barry’s whole life before he came to the Lord had revolved around music. He once had been a professional rhythm and blues musician, a style of music totally alien to me. I had heard such music one time as a child, but did not like it at all. When Barry found Yeshua he gave up his guitar (although later God was to use this talent in ministry for Himself). Barry was one of the best guitarists I had ever heard, and, as I also played guitar, we really got on well together.

As the years went by, Barry and I got to know each other well. He was a constant prayer companion for me in my court battles over Tali. We began to work together and finally came to realize that God had brought us together to be man and wife. We had two wedding celebrations, a traditional Yemenite Jewish wedding and a Messianic celebration. It was a wonderful time for both of us. It was not easy for our parents to accept our faith, but the wedding helped give them some insight, and praise God, they never cut us out of their lives. Barry’s father, a traditional, Conservative Jew, does not agree with the ultra-Orthodox position that Messianic Jews are no longer Jews.

My parents know I am a believer in Yeshua and they accept it. They love Barry, and I am still my father’s little girl. They love our children: our daughter Tali, our lovely six-year-old son, Ariel (“Lion of God” and one of the names of Jerusalem), and our beautiful daughter, Liran, who is almost two. My parents get great joy from their grandchildren. We have spent many a Shabbat at their table—a mixture of Yemenite Orthodoxy and Messianic Judaism. As Jewish Orthodox people who have great respect for God and His Word, they express their joy at seeing how God has blessed me with a new family.

Call to Fast for Israel

2009-01-19T20:40:00.000+08:00

January 08, 2009

Dear Watchman,

Greetings from Jerusalem, Happy New Year! We believe this year 2009 will be a year of continued shakings and salvation in Jerusalem, Israel, the Arab Middle East and all nations. Thanks for your prayers over the last weeks since the Gaza War began.

We are calling for a Forty-Day Daniel Fast and Prayer beginning 6pm on the 6th of January 2009 and ending at 6:00pm on the 15th of February 2009, for the following purposes:

For terrorism weapons which threaten Israel from Hamas in Gaza and other sources in Iran and Middle East to be eliminated as much as possible.
God¹s Biblical solution for Israel, Judea and Samaria and Gaza to become clear to the Church, politicians, Israel and the nations.
For God¹s breakthrough in reconciliation, anointed worship and prayer during our 23rd Israel and Middle East Convocation, the 13th-16th of January 2009 in Istanbul, Turkey. We expect 120 Joshua Generation leaders from twelve Middle East nations.
For God’s best government to come into place for the future through the planned election in Israel on February 10, 2009, and also the best government for Palestinians and Arab nations.
For the Christians and nations worldwide to stand with Israel and God’s Covenant with Israel.
For the Jews in the West, especially the USA to come to understand God’s Kairos time in the financial shakings and prepare to come home to Israel. Hosea 11:10-11 ”When the Lion roars His people will come trembling from the West.”
For God’s salvation, reconciliation and worship to be manifest among Arabs and Jews to see Isa. 19:23-25 fulfilled as much as possible.

Psa 122:6 – Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure.”

As Air Forces of Prayer in all nations, we ask you to join the Ground Forces of Prayer in Jerusalem and Israel as a prayer and fasting shield during these forty days.

Zec 12:8 – “On that day the Lord will shield those who live in Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the Angel of the Lord going before them.”

There are now four 24-hour watches in Jerusalem and one each in the North of Israel, Tel Aviv-Coastal Region, and the South of Israel, made up of dozens of congregations.

Shalom in Messiah’s Love,

Tom Hess, Jerusalem
Avner Boskey, Beersheva
David Davis, Haifa
Naim Khoury, Bethlehem
David Lazarus, Tel Aviv
Daniel Yahav, Tiberias

Reference Link

On Christian Unity by Rick Joyner

2009-01-19T20:24:00.000+08:00

Discerning the Times, Part 14

The year 2009 will bring extraordinary growth in faith and peace for those who serve the Lord. One major reason for this is because it will also be a year of extraordinary unity. There will be a coming together in the body of Christ this year in ways that we have probably not seen in our lifetime. The result is going to be a release of even more power and light, which will result in ever-increasing faith and peace with His people.

We have been covering ways that the church is beginning to rise up to fulfill its last-day purpose of preparing the way for the Lord. Two primary ways that this is accomplished is by preaching the gospel of the kingdom throughout the world and building a highway for the kingdom as we see in Isaiah 40.

In a basic way, the church is called to be this highway. It is called to be a representative of the coming King and a reflection of His kingdom upon which people enter and travel toward their ultimate destiny. One of the aspects of the kingdom that we see in biblical prophecy is that after the kingdom comes, the earth will again come into harmony to the degree that even the lions will lie down with lambs, children will be able to play with cobras, and no one will hurt anyone else. Therefore, one of the basic ways that we can expect the church to begin reflecting the kingdom will be by her unity and harmony.

As we also see in biblical prophecy, the world will fall into increasing confusion and conflict at the end of this age, so the church will be moving in the exact opposite direction of the world in many basic ways. As fear increases in the world, the church will be growing in faith and peace. One reason for this will be the increase of unity. Faith gets multiplied with unity. That is why the Lord said in Matthew 18:19, "...if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.”

The word that is translated “agree” here means much more than just intellectually assenting to something; rather, it implies a deep heart unity. We can derive from His teachings several reasons why He requires faith to be unified with another in order to move in extraordinary ways. One is that the unity of His people is one of the primary issues on the Lord’s heart, which we see in His prayer in John 17. Another is that God gives His grace to the humble, and it takes all of the qualities of humility to come into unity with someone else.

Some teach that Matthew 18:19 is really saying that if we come into unity with the Lord and ask anything, then it will be done for us. Of course, that would be true, but this verse does say to “agree on earth,” which makes it quite clear that He is saying this agreement must be with another person.

In Genesis 11:6, the Lord describes the power of unity when speaking of what is happening with those who are seeking to build the tower of Babel: “And the Lord said, 'Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them.'"

Unity does have that kind of power. As we discussed earlier, even a small degree of unity with a small group of people can have extraordinary impact. Karl Marx taught that just a tiny fraction of passionate people would control the rest who were indifferent. Lenin then proved this by taking over Russia, a nation of millions, with just 20,000 Bolsheviks. Likewise, if just a few thousand Christians came into unity and began to live with the resolve and willingness to sacrifice for their cause like the Bolsheviks did for theirs, the impact for light and truth would be so great that many nations would be transformed. Remember what the officials of one of the most powerful empires of the world said when Paul and Silas limped into their city—“Those who have turned the world upside down have now come to us!” (see Acts 16) That was just two people!

This year we are going to begin to see extraordinary results from Christians who begin to grow in unity. Resolve that you will be a part of it. Over the next few weeks we are going to address some of the practical ways that we will see this happen. To prepare for this in your own heart, begin to pray for your fellow Christians, especially for any who have disappointed you or wounded you in the past. Pray for them to be filled with the Spirit of God, to know His peace, and to grow in His faith. If there is anything that you can do to bring reconciliation to any degree, do it.

I love God. :D He makes fascinating universal laws, and has the ultimate power to veto these laws AS NEEDED.

I'm so glad to be a daughter of the Most High King. :)

Ikaw, are you "One of Us?" Join na!

(parang commercial ah.)

Kingdom Government Disclaimer: Christianity is not an exclusive religion or system of belief. Christianity is based on one thing: Forgiveness. God has forgiven you of your sin, when Jesus died on the cross for you. Love Jesus, get to know how fascinating He is, and He'll give you... More than you can ask for or imagine.

I love You Lord...

2009-01-19T18:05:00.000+08:00

Psalm 37:3 Trust the LORD, and do good things. Live in the land, and practice being faithful. 4 Be happy with the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Entrust your ways to the LORD. Trust him, and he will act [on your behalf]. 6 He will make your righteousness shine like a light, your just cause like the noonday sun.

Thank you, Lord, for acting on my behalf and being my champion in my "just causes."

Nyehehe!

Luke 14:26

You cannot be my disciple, unless you love me more than you love your father and mother, your wife and children, and your brothers and sisters. You cannot come with me unless you love me more than you love your own life.

Uhuu. Uhuu. *coughing* Nabulunan ako.

Goodbye, Havaianas, goodbye Pizza. Goodbye stuff that I don't need but keep bugging God for. Hello dying to self, and trusting that He will make me rich, in His time. Trusting too, that I will get all the computers I've always wanted, when I'm ready, and when I'm no longer greedy for them, and when I actually do need these na.

Praise for a loving Father-God!

Praise for a God who loves giving Lorie more than friends, supernatural cash-less provision, but also cash provision, and blessings to spill over to more friends and... YES, my forthcoming MACBOOK PRO (which I won't need to agonize over, btw)!!!

Againagainagain:

Psalm 37:3 Trust the LORD, and do good things. Live in the land, and practice being faithful. 4 Be happy with the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Entrust your ways to the LORD. Trust him, and he will act [on your behalf]. 6 He will make your righteousness shine like a light, your just cause like the noonday sun.

Yehey!

A Macbook Pro is a just cause for a person who works online, don't you think? Nyehehe!

And Nay, Tay, you won't be the ones to pay for this, this time. God will make His ways, you'll see. Thank you for buying me Sayuri, and providing me with computers since I was 8.

I love you both!!!

Do not worry about...

2009-01-13T06:44:00.000+08:00

Victory Christian Fellowship preaches the same thing, for this year-opening season. So you could understand that this is God's global call to believers and anyone human, right?

Discerning the Times, Part 13

As we are told in Hebrews 12 and other verses, everything that can be shaken will be shaken. However, we have been given a kingdom that cannot be shaken. A primary way that we build our lives on the kingdom that cannot be shaken is to use the key of the kingdom for every major decision in our lives. The key of the kingdom is described in Matthew 6:31-33:

“Do not be anxious then, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘With what shall we clothe ourselves?’
“For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.”

The first thing the Lord tells us to do is to refuse anxiety. Anxiety is a lack of faith in God. This is an especial affront to God because when we are anxious, we are implying that the problems are bigger than God. Whenever we begin to feel anxious, we must learn to look at God and resolve that we are going to use our trials to increase our faith in Him. He is much bigger than all of the world’s problems combined.

God is the ultimate answer to every human problem, and He wants to demonstrate this, starting with ours. We must trust Him, and anxiety is evidence that we do not trust Him. Reject anxiety. It is the sin of unbelief. We repent of sin by confessing it and then turning away from it. Determine that your response to a problem will not be to feel anxious, but to see it as a wonderful opportunity to grow in our faith in Him. We read in I Peter 1:6-9:

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

To be tempted is not sin. We can all be tempted to doubt and to be anxious, but the quicker we recognize it and turn away from it, turning our attention instead to God, the more we will learn to walk in the peace of God. Walking in the peace of God is basic to a victorious life, as we are told in Romans 16:20: “And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” Notice that he did not say that the “Lord of hosts,” which means the “Lord of armies” would crush Satan, but the God of peace would. It is the peace of God that is an impregnable fortress. The peace of God is the linchpin fruit of the Spirit, which if we lose it, all of the other fruits of the Spirit will also be lost. Think about it: If you lose your peace, you will quickly lose your patience and faith—then it is hard to love…. We must guard our peace.

We can count on this being tested this year by many events in the world. Let us resolve now that instead of worrying about the things happening in the world, that we are going to grow in our trust in the Lord because He has already overcome the world. He is bigger than the world.

The best way to put our trust in the Lord is the next thing the Lord said to do after telling us not to be anxious—seek first His kingdom in everything we do. If we are anxious, it can be a sign that we have not been building our lives on the kingdom God, but rather the things of this world. Regardless of how far off the path we have gone, we can get back on the path by determining now to seek first the kingdom in everything we do, making it the most basic issue in every major decision that we make. When we know we are seeking the Lord first and His kingdom, the peace of God will come upon us. Having the peace of God rule in our lives will be critical in the times to come.

"Everybody want Messiach"

2009-01-08T13:28:00.000+08:00

I may not understand a whit of Hebrew, but all I know is that I agree with these kids."Everybody want Messiach NOW!" (Messiach = Messiah = Savior)

New Christian Music Finds! Oooo! Whee!

2008-12-26T23:00:00.000+08:00

I'm currently working on a personal project then gearing to create my 20-year paradigm in order to, well, order my life.

While I was looking for an old song that had touched my heart back in my dark days, Jars of Clay's Much Afraid, I bumped into this amazing complement to iMeem: jango.com

Jars of Clay - Much Afraid

Jars of Clay - Even Angels Cry

Matthew West - All The Broken Pieces

Jaci Velasquez - Speak for Me

Superchic[k ]- Hold

Casting Crowns - While You Were Sleeping

MAN. I love the Innernets. If you loved this new site, please say a prayer for me, if you want to thank me in kind.

Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you what to pray for, and I'll be grateful you prayed for me. :)

Inform me via comment or private message that you prayed for me, and I'll say a Spirit-led prayer for you too.

I sure pray you had a great Christmas, and I pray that 2009 would be doubly fruitful for you and your fam, that, 2008's fruits would just be a shadow of what 2009's harvest brings!*

*Paraphrased from my good friend Pau

I Just Knew I Wouldn't Be Able To Stop

2008-12-26T21:23:00.000+08:00

Casting Crowns - Let Me Love You

Misty Edwards - Finally I Surrender

Heather Clark Band - Deeper

Heather Clark Band - I Present Myself As A Living Sacrifice

Brian and Jenn Johnson - A Little Longer

I knew I'd find it hard to stop sharing with you, just as soon as I had posted the blog. Here were my iMeem picks over the past few days. I love how God has allowed the Internet to be the answer to the prayers of millions of Filipino Christians who had been longing for decent Christian radio here in this country.

I know that Jam 88.3 plays Christian music as well, but I don't have FM of late. Also, it just rocks that the music I find have not even been released yet, at times.

Here are my old-time faves, before I forget:

Amber N. Brooks - Like You Promised
Nina Landis - Captivated (Just look for it on her playlist)
Meredith Mauldin - Release the Angels (Same as Nina Landis, please just look for the song on her playlist)

And of course, the unbeatable women that got me started on my next level of loving Christian music:

Rebecca St. James - Lion

Misty Edwards - You Won't Relent

And prior to my discovery of Rebecca St. James or Misty Edwards, here are the rainshowers that have kept my heart alive through my dark adolescent years:

Caedmon's Call - Shifting Sand
Caedmon's Call - Love Alone
Caedmon's Call - Piece of Glass

Jars of Clay - Worlds Apart
Jars of Clay - Hymn
Jars of Clay - Flood
Jars of Clay - Liquid

Man, it feels like only yesterday when I've had those Caedmon's Call and Jars of Clay songs as anthems. I can't believe the difference of the angsty-ness of these anthems, as opposed to the lovesick-for-Jesus songs that I listen to today...

I guess it's really the way the Christian travels: from darkness and despair, and into light. :)

I'm so glad that I'm singing for the Lord to be my fire now, as opposed to "Take me out of the dark, my Lord.."

It was not a happy place to be in constant despair, you know. (Mighty redundant for a bit there, but anyway..)

I still have my moments, mind you. But these are more manageable now, thanks to how God takes care of me so well.

I'm just happy to be His daughter. :)

And here I am, sharing with you the songs that had earmarked my journey. :)

It was only yesterday that I had been swimming in the gunk of constant angst and pain, and today, I can finally use the word... "Happy."

I used to swear that word off. I used to despise the people who could use yellows and pinks for their profiles. Today, I am one of those who can use pink and yellow on my profile.

Uh-mazing.

God is. Not meh. Coz as I had realized one time, how I got here was not a function of actually agonizing about things. I had gotten to this happy place, one prayer at a time, one issue surrendered at a time. And oh, one command obeyed at a time.

I can't believe it, 2009 is dawning, and I have never felt better in my life. I had never felt this much hope and this much balance, as well as love in my life before.

And I owe it all to Jesus, for whom all these songs were sung. :)

I love You Lord!!!

(And yes, if you liked the songs on my post, nevermind my self-absorbed blabbering, please say a prayer for me, and let me know so that I can say a prayer for you too!

Hugs and Love!)

Welcome 2009 With Hope - Encouragement from Rick Joyner

2008-12-22T22:35:00.000+08:00

There are three major fronts on which the church will be mobilizing to fight and to be the light of the world, combating the great darkness of our times. These are a basic part of our mandate as the church and there have been many victories in the past, but in recent times, much ground has been lost with each. We will not retreat any further! We will rise up to take the land—the inheritance that we have been given.

The first front we covered was to mobilize for education. To be the light of the world is a call to illumination or education. When the church is in unity, it has resources available for this which are greater than any other entity, including the secular media. There is movement toward this unity, and if we come together as the church, the illumination of the truth will be magnified many times over, and it will have the impact of turning many nations to the Lord. However, as we think of education, we must think far beyond schools and consider all of the ways that people are influenced in their worldview.

The second major front is to strengthen our own foundations, becoming the great society that is built on love, and the excellence of a discipline that is motivated by love, not law. This must especially be done in relation to families so the church can become the family that it is called to be. Family is one of the primary targets of the devil’s assaults in these times because he knows very well the power of them to be a light in this world. Godly families and churches that become the families they are called to be will stand out more and more in these times as a very bright light, leading many to salvation and victory over evil.

Of course, there is much more that can and needs to be said about these basic fronts, but now we want to highlight front #3—a kingdom economy.

We are called to be “a holy nation.” Before the end of this age, the church will be perceived to be a nation within the nations. Its main unity will be spiritual, but it will also be very practical. It will be so practical that when it is determined that no one on the earth can buy, sell, or trade unless they have the mark of the beast, those who are a part of this holy nation will not care about that because they will be part of another economy which is much greater than the world’s economy.

Of course, the big question is how will this happen? How will the church become a separate economy that can be sustained and prosper? It has been done before on smaller scales, and we need to learn from these examples. The foundation of this is becoming the citizens in heaven that we are called to be—living in the world but not being of it. This is not a matter of becoming cloisters or hidden self-sustained communities out in the wilderness somewhere. It is much bigger and greater than that. It is having access to heaven and all of its resources, just as Jesus came to show us how to access and to become the Door to this transcendent life. The Lord did not do this so that we could escape the world, but to help save it.

As we have addressed previously, Isaiah 40 tells us that we prepare the way for the Lord by building a highway. Spiritually, a highway is a “higher-way.” It is the way to the kingdom. It is the path of life. Right now all three of the fronts we have discussed have been crumbling. The wheels are coming off of public education, and in the West, the basic core structure of the family has been disintegrating. Now the economy is shaking to the point where we are in danger of a collapse. In short, everything that can be shaken is shaking right now, but we are called to be a part of the kingdom that cannot be shaken.

Just as the Lord had to shake Egypt to its foundations in order to set Israel free so that it could build a nation that was called to be a light to the world, the whole world is now going to be shaken to its foundations so that God’s people can be set free to become the light that they are called to be. The statue in Daniel 2 is beginning to collapse, and the little stone that struck at its feet is going to become a mountain and fill the whole earth. The way to be a part of that which is growing instead of collapsing is simple and straightforward, but it requires the faith and courage to be different, and to stand out because of those differences. It will require us to have the light, walk in the light, and be the light. Every day the world will get more desperate for that light.

This coming year will be one of the best ever for those who seek the Lord. The Lord promised us abundant life. That does not mean that it is going to all be good, but that there will be a lot of it. Great changes are coming in the world. We need to see them before they come and make the necessary changes before they come upon the world so that we are standing on solid, unshakable ground. We need to get practical and specific in addressing these. This is not just knowing what is going to happen and what we should be doing—it is about growing in faith and getting closer to the Lord.

“But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (I Timothy 1:5).

As things tend to get increasingly complicated in the world, one of the ways that we can be a light is to keep the simplicity of devotion to Christ. He is the answer to every problem we have. The ultimate witness of the gospel of the kingdom is that the King is coming, and He will fix everything. Don’t ever forget that, and it is just as good a promise for our personal lives as it is for the world. Even if we are in a mess because of our own foolishness, greed, or any other sin, the world is likewise in its mess for the same reasons. He did not come to condemn, but to save.

Get ready for a very exciting, fulfilling New Year that will stretch our faith— something that is far more valuable than gold.

As we come to the close of this most exciting year, many are entering the New Year with a feeling of dread and fear because of the things going on in the world. Others are entering it with great faith and hope. Faith and hope are going to win. The best year yet will be 2009.

Every Christian should be looking to the future with great faith and hope, even if we are looking into the “great tribulation.” It does not matter what comes upon the world, our King has prevailed, His kingdom is going to come, and His will is going to be done, right here on earth as it is in heaven. Bob Mumford once said, “You can read the end of the Book, and we win!” Consider this great promise in II Corinthians 2:14:

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.

As we are told in this verse, the Lord always leads us in “His triumph.” The point is that what may be His triumph may not always be the outcome that we want. His greatest triumph was the cross. Can we embrace that? If we do, we will also experience the greatest victory over evil in our lives. The year 2008 was a breakthrough for many, and many more are going to experience this in 2009. The victory is sure, and if you are one with faith, you can start enjoying it long before it is established. Fearful people are always tormented, even when things are going well. Faithful people are always living in peace and joy, even when things are not going well. We get to choose which of these we will be.

In a recent message at our church, Jack Deere said that we often make the mistake of putting our faith in an outcome rather than in the Lord. This has our hearts set on a thing rather than on Him. If we trust in the Lord, we also need to trust Him that the outcome of a matter will be what best advances His cause, what will be “His triumph,” not just ours. In many cases, the greatest triumph would be the growth of our faith, which we are told in James is more valuable than gold. We only grow in faith when we need faith.

This is not to imply that we should not pray for specific outcomes, such as a specific healing or the overcoming of a specific problem. We should not put our trust in an outcome, but in the Lord. If we would do this, we would probably see outcomes that are even better than we expect.

Many are looking at the passing of this difficult year with great relief. It is good to look at the New Year as a new beginning and to have hope and expectation. We will also look at the passing of this age in the same way. We can be absolutely sure that the age to come will be wonderful beyond what we can even now perceive. Every day that passes we are closer to the return of the Lord and the coming of His kingdom. Even so, in the meantime the world will have to go through some tribulation. The Apostle Paul preached that it is through tribulations that we enter the kingdom, and the same will be true for the world. Even so, it does not matter what the world goes through—it does not have to impact us if we are abiding in the Lord and have built our life on the kingdom that cannot be shaken.

I once had a prophetic experience in which I was suddenly standing in what I knew to be the control room of some kind of warship. I was standing in front of a radar screen, and the Lord Himself was standing right next to me. On the screen, a small blip appeared straight ahead and was moving toward us. To avoid a collision, I ordered the ship to turn 90 degrees. The blip did not move on the screen; instead it kept coming closer. I then ordered the ship to turn in the other direction, with the same result that the blip on the screen kept coming closer. I then grabbed the screen to brace myself for the impact, but nothing happened except the blip disappeared. I asked the Lord what this was, and He said it was “the great tribulation.” He said that it was coming and was unavoidable, but it was just a small blip of the radar screen of all that He is doing, and if I stayed close to Him, I would not even feel it!

Of course, I had the benefit of having this very real experience that implanted something deep in my soul. Even so, whether you trust this vision that I had or not, the point is that you can trust in the Lord, and it is sound biblical truth that when we stay close to Him we are protected, regardless of what happens.

If you are wondering about all of the martyrs who stayed close to Him but were killed, that, too, was His protection! It does not matter whether we live or die, but what matters is that we remain faithful. Our whole lives are “training for reigning,” and laying down our lives for the sake of the gospel is one of the greatest acts of faith. If we believe in the resurrection and not just the doctrine of the resurrection, we should be excited about this, glorying that we have been considered worthy of suffering for His name sake, just as the apostles and most martyrs have been.

The best year yet will be 2009. That does not mean it will not be hard, but it will be the best thing for us because He promised us in Romans 8:28-30:

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren;

and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

One of the ways that we can begin to experience the victories more quickly is to understand that everything God allows to happen to us is for the purpose of conforming us to His Son. We can look at any trial and probably determine quickly which fruit of the Spirit He is trying to work out in us, and the most basic will always be love and faith. What would love have you to do? What would faith have you to do? That will almost always be the answer, and always remember—“Love never fails” (see I Corinthians 13: 8).

The greatest victory we could have in 2009 would be to grow in love, for God first, and then for one another. The second greatest victory would be to grow in faith. Neither of these has to come through trials, and probably would not if we were in faithful pursuit of them without having to have the trials to spur us on. However, trials that come are worth any price. On that judgment day, our success as human beings will be based more than anything on how much we loved God and one another. Be a success—grow in love. Fortify your success by growing in faith, too.

Next week we will continue with the three great fronts on which we can expect the body of Christ to advance this coming year. For now, enjoy the New Year, which is the beginning of the rest of your life. This is going to be the best year of your life!

Movie to Watch: All Things New

2008-12-17T23:30:00.001+08:00

You see them roam the streets. They follow you with sorrowful eyes and outstretched hands. Others are content to lean on the stairs of the MRT stations, sniffing their cares away. And you have the choice: to pour our your mercy and give what you could; or to harden your heart and turn away.

All Things New is a movie for and about these young people whom we meet everyday, and promptly forget, or deliberately ignore. It is a story based on the testimony of Jonjie Barcenal, a young man studying to be a pastor in a Bible school here in Metro Manila, whose former home used to be... In the streets of a city in Mindanao.

This is the story of how Jonjie and his friends got adopted and cared for by Christian missionaries in a shelter that they managed. This is the story of how miracles happened, and how everyone, from Jonjie and his friends, were molded to become the likeness of Christ, in the process of the movie.

This is a movie that would reassure you that miracles happen. This is a movie that would break your heart, as well. While I will not assure you that your movie critic's eye would be satisfied with this movie, I will assure you that this movie will not leave you unchanged.

I came into All Things New expecting another Ploning, with all the subtlety and finesse of Panoramanila Pictures' Dante Nico Garcia and the cinematography of Optima Digital... Nobody warned me, however, that I should understand that this film should be watched with the heart, and not the movie critic's eye.

In light of that, I would like to tell the All Things New movie-goer to shelve the film review skills you've learned in high school. You don't need them here. But I do advice you to bring a box, or two, of Kleenex. I deeply regretted having only my shawl and my hands to wipe my tears with.

Highlights of the movie include the funny customs of Filipinos. And the habits and attitudes that we all have down there, swimming in our DNA. Like reading other people's letters, for example. :p

Mayen Cadd's portrayal of Angelica Oosting was reminiscent of Ploning's gentleness; however, there are stark differences. While Ploning had a gentleness that hid her quiet steel, Angelica Oosting's strength was her gentleness. She is not gentle because she is strong. Rather, Angelica Oosting is strong throughout her being gentle, because her strength is not her own: it is the grace of God, shining through her character.

While it seemed at first that Angelica Oosting is the epitome of the Christian woman: someone I believe I'll never become, there was one scene that I could so relate to. Angelica Oosting was tasked to get only five children for the shelter when they got vacated, but 20 wanted to come with her; and when she got home, she stormed into her house and fought with her husband Ken Oosting, played by Alex Compton.

I could so relate to how she demanded to know why she needed to face the heartbreaking scene of needing to choose only five street kids for the shelter, leaving fifteen others to sleep days, weeks and months more on the street.

I could relate to her helplessness, to how she felt like she should not have needed to face that confusing situation alone, and how she felt like she should have had a shield against the children's onslaught.

I realized that we women need to face a lot of trials on our own, with God as our only shield. Like men, we have our own dragons to slay, and being "women" should not exempt us from these tasks and travails.

Being women does not entitle us to a softer life. Being women, we also have our own fights to rise above as victors, and we will rob ourselves of the exhilaration of the fight and the victory won, if we keep holding on to the mentality that "we should have been protected."

I like the intensity that Mayen Cadd had portrayed that scene with, and I like how she was able to show that sweet and gentle, "perfect Proverbs 31" Christian women get righteously angry too. Heheh.

I like her easy chemistry with Alex Compton, even though I am of the opinion that their sweet moments were a bit too cheesy for my taste. :p In spite of the "cheese factor," think their tandem worked for this film. And I especially liked the look on Alex Compton/Ken Oosting's face, as Angelica Oosting railed on him; I again understood that even a Spirit-filled man gets lost for words in the face of the furious storm of his wife's tantrum. Guys, in preparation for when your wife gets this way, I suggest you start building a bomb shelter months before you marry. :p

Another strength of the film lay in Red's Concepcion's portrayal of Nardo/Jonjie. I could see myself in my rebellious moments as I saw Red defying all that could be defied; and his irreverence, defiance, and intensity fit his role perfectly.

I fondly remember how he had openly challenged Pastor Rico, a former policeman, whom he hated, and mocked Pastor Rico to his face, in the presence of the other foster kids.

While I cringed at his defiance that so reminded me of my own, I had thought that the line "Saan ba mas lumalago ang binhi? Di ba sa tae?" (Does seed not grow better in fecal matter?)

This principle actually makes sense: in agriculture, animal fecal matter IS used as fertilizer. But in the evangelistic sense of the phrase, I did realize that it's amazing that to those who had been through so much, those people whom you could really call "human waste," whose lives are marked by so much of bad decisions, those are whom you'd eventually see becoming most passionate for Jesus. I guess this is what Jesus meant when He said that those who are forgiven much love much (Luke 7:47, paraphrased). Indeed, seed does grow better in fecal matter.

Pastor Rico, as played by Dido de la Paz, also fleshed out a very vivid performance. So did Rio Locsin, and the rest of the main cast. In terms of acting, they were all superb. I have nothing to complain for their acting, and am more inclined to label myself as "breathless" at their acting prowess.

For all its flaws, for all the awkward scenes, this movie is indeed a cup of hot chocolate that warms the hard heart.

It teaches Biblical truths like forgiveness, in a heartbreaking way. It reminds parents and leaders that it's not wrong to ask for forgiveness from your children; it actually helps them heal faster. It shatters misconceptions that Christians are supposed to be walking Jesus-es: perfect and incapable of anger.

While Jesus did get righteously angry too, people expect professing Christians to be perfect and good all the time. On the contrary, like Pastor Rico, a lot of us have guns in our closets still, and we do lose our tempers too. We are human like the next derelict; our only difference is that we have a God who constantly molds us.

Other cliffhanging moments in the film include an action scene that really spoke of God's capacity to protect His children, as well as the line that Alex Compton said, "You work so hard at not working hard," (paraphrased). It hit me because it's exactly what I do: work hard at not working hard. Heheh.

At the end of the movie, the real Nardo, Jonjie Barcenal, spoke to us about his people's plight. He reminded us happy and fat Christians, that there are BILLIONS of street children still out there, needing love, needing an understanding of their value as human beings.

I got to ask Jonjie of his experiences. Yes, he did go up in front of his Bible study class and defiantly mocked Pastor Rico. Yes, he did "all that," and reverted time and again to sleeping in the streets and tried to escape life via alcohol and other substances too, and my curious self did get to understand what a "rugby trip" felt like, thanks to Jonjie's stories.

I finally gained a better understanding of why street children sniff rugby, and it's not just because they didn't want to smell the garbage and themselves. To them who know no better, rugby, is, indeed, escape-from-life-in-a-bag. I got to ask Jonjie what he saw while tripping on rugby, but more importantly, I got to ask him and understand what finally got him to commit to Christ.

Indeed, when Jesus Christ wants to make a miracle out of your life, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard," what God has in store for you.

If God can turn around a young street child's difficult life and turn him into a soon-to-be pastor, He is capable of anything.

Indeed, like Jonjie said, there are still BILLIONS of him running around, needing our love and care. And lest you get overwhelmed at the magnificent task before you, understand that you are only tasked to be faithful to the one God gives you favor with, at the moment given to you; and if he/she needs to move on, know that "one waters. another harvests" in this Kingdom.

Again, I appeal to you to watch this movie with an open heart, as well as a suspended critical eye. When you watch All Things New, you don't come to be entertained; you come to receive a greater understanding of who God is and who you are in His scheme of things.

Indeed, bring Kleenex. Two boxes, please.

May God bless and protect you wherever you go, Jonjie. And for you, dear reader, let's start to help the street kids, one moment at a time.

Blessings!

Movie to Watch: All Things New

2008-12-17T23:30:00.000+08:00

Freedom from Distractions - Lessons Learned in an MRT Station

2008-12-17T22:09:00.000+08:00

In a person's life, one of the biggest dilemmas is how to keep focused in a world filled with distractions. I learned something as I pushed past the people in MRT - Ayala Station:

I got to the area where I needed to go by keeping my eyes focused on the area where I wanted to land in, and not mind the people blocking my way.

So my lesson learned was, to get to where I need to go, I need to keep my eyes focused on God, and on the Vision He has for me; with that, I won't even know it, but I've gotten to where I needed to go, and I won't even feel the things that are distracting me.

Things that derail people include navel-gazing and nitpicking. I need to stop looking "deep into myself," and finding fault with myself, and then picking at the things that shouldn't concern me, and instead, focus on the things that matter: God and His plan for me.

This doesn't mean that I won't deal with the issues that I still have. On the contrary, I need to just surrender them to the Lord...

One thing that I learned one time was, I realized that I finally got the hang of controlling my brain: things are a lot quieter up there now; also, friends and meh have noticed, and are telling me, that I'm a lot less angry and reactive lately...

And you know what hit me?

I never really agonized to get from Point A to Point B. I never lifted a finger to get rid of my anger issues. I never lifted a finger to learn to be more faithful; All I ever did..................

Was say a prayer.

It's truly God's grace that I ever moved a single step from Point A at all. And how I got to Point B... Is nothing but a miracle.

I'm excited to move to Point C. :D

Small Beginnings

2008-12-17T16:52:00.000+08:00

Small Beginnings

"Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin."
- Zechariah 4:10 NLT

Several years ago, I read a true story about the humble beginnings of one of the most famous composers of all time. It told of how this composer rose to greatness, and ended up touching countless lives, by simply preparing music for the Sunday services at his church each week. At the time that I read this amazing story, I was feeling very discouraged and disheartened in my work for the Lord. Reading about this man's devotion and dedication inspired me and encouraged my heart. I had been laboring in the Lord's name for many years, and had received little recognition or reward. I often asked myself questions like, "Where are the blessings? Where are my rewards?" I eventually discovered that the thing that helped me most was to shift my focus from, "What's in it for me?" to "How can I help others?"

The Bible clearly states that God's people will be richly rewarded for loving and serving Him. But it doesn't say WHEN we will be rewarded, or even how. One reason for this is that God doesn't want us focusing on our rewards, but on doing the work He has assigned us to do while we're on this earth. And He expects us to perform our work faithfully. Jesus said, "He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much." (Luke 16:10 NASB) Before the Lord entrusts us with big assignments, He tests us in smaller ones. Some people aren't interested in doing seemingly insignificant tasks for God. What they don't realize is that God may never allow them to do great things for Him, unless they are first willing to do humble tasks, and to prove themselves trustworthy.

In my case, God had called me to be a prayer intercessor. As I proved myself faithful in this capacity, He led me to begin writing devotionals. As I concentrated on preparing my devotional newsletter each week, the Lord opened a door for my work to be published in book form. As it turned out, I was in ministry many years before I received any monetary reward. Even now, most of my work is done on a strictly volunteer basis. And, frankly, I worry about Christians who have very little interest in serving the Lord without pay. Yes, it's true that the Bible is filled with promises of prosperity and reward for those who love and serve God. But most of the time, we will have to do the right thing for a long time, before we get the right results.

Scripture says, "Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin." (Zechariah 4:10 NLT) When God leads us to start out small in our service for Him, we mustn't look down on our humble beginnings. If you look at the people the Lord used most throughout the centuries, you'll see that even the greatest of these started out small. One of these was the apostle Paul himself. He wrote, "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service." (1 Timothy 1:12 NASB) As we prove ourselves faithful in each assignment the Lord gives us, He will reward us with greater opportunities to serve Him. Paul went through some incredibly hard times during his years of ministry, but he fiercely fought against the urge to quit and give up, and he inspired others to do the same. He said, "Since God has so generously let us in on what He is doing, we're not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times." (2 Corinthians 4:1 MSG)

One of the promises from God that has kept me going in the toughest of times is Hebrews 6:10 (NIV): "God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them." The Lord is a just and righteous God, and He is committed to seeing that His people are rewarded and recognized for their work and devotion to Him. As one godly man put it, "The rewards for doing right are sometimes delayed, but they are guaranteed by God Himself." I still get discouraged in my work for the Lord sometimes, but now when I do, I just focus on the little things, helping one person at a time. If you are struggling with "small beginnings" today, I pray that this precious promise from God will be an encouragement to you--"Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be"! (Job 8:7 NIV)

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for looking down on some of the work You've assigned to me in the past. Help me to shift my focus from myself to You and others. Thank You that as I prove myself faithful in little things, You will not only promote me, but You'll make me a world-changer for Your glory!

This Caught My Eye. Makes Sense.

2008-12-17T12:37:00.000+08:00

Q. If I’m engaged and my fiancé is pressuring me to have sex, is it wrong, considering he'll be my husband?

Dec 17, '08 5:11 PM
by daxx for everyone

A. Thanks for the question. Indeed, it would be immoral to have sex outside of marriage, regardless of how close or far the wedding day is. In the eyes of God, fornication is fornication. If anything, sleeping together when you are so close to the great sacrament of marriage is even more of a problem, because two people who love each other enough to marry ought to have more concern for where the other spends eternity.

You see, being married is a lot like being pregnant. You either are, or you are not. So, I am just as married to you as your fiancé is. Until you have made the complete gift of yourselves as husband and wife, you are not to make the complete gift of your bodies to each other. When a husband and wife make love, they're expressing their wedding vows with their bodies: "I give myself totally to you." When a couple sleeps together before marriage, they're expressing a lie with their bodies because they do not totally belong to each other, even if marriage is right around the corner. Besides, 50% of all engagements break up before the big day.

Think about it: how much more special will it be on the wedding night when you've waited! I've spoken with several spouses who slept together prior to their wedding, and they've expressed to me how much they regretted it, years later. They ask themselves, "Why couldn't we wait those few months? It would have made it so much more meaningful to wear the white dress and have the Church bless our union."

Now is not the time to hop in the sack. It's a serious time to prepare for your vocation. Couples who sleep together prior to their wedding night are three times as likely to divorce as couples who save it. The sexual intimacy clouds one's vision from taking a serious look at your potential spouse. Besides, if there is on-going pressure, then this is a sign not only of disrespect, but of a lack of spiritual leadership and care for your soul. These are not minor issues. I have only been married for 14 months myself, but I can tell you that many great sacrifices await you. Marriage is hard work, and if there is not a mutual respect and spiritual harmony between you, it will be all the more difficult.

Do not forget: love is patient, and if a couple can not say no to sex, then what is their yes worth? Take this to prayer, and may God give you all the strength you need to do his will.

from http://www.chastity.com/chastity/index.php?id=7&entryid=272

The True Meaning of Christmas from Dave Ramsey

2008-12-15T18:45:00.000+08:00

The Memorable Christmas Puzzle
While living in Dallas/Ft. Worth, we learned of a family in need during the holidays. My family and I delivered food and toys to a young lady and her 2 small children. The lady told us to put the gifts away because they were all her kids would receive on Christmas Day.

As we put the food away in the kitchen, I noticed a sparsely lit tree in the corner of the living room, with a homemade wooden puzzle of Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus on the floor beneath it. Her kids explained to my kids the Christmas story using that puzzle. As we approached the door to head home, her children gave my kids the homemade wooden puzzle to take home and put under our tree. Wow.

This became part of our routine each Christmas. We place that puzzle below our tree, and we remember how God gave his Son and how that family gave us all they had as we reached out to them. Eighteen years have passed by and my kids are adults. But we will never forget that special moment in our lives.
—Ken in FL

Slow Me Down: Seriously Sabbath Sunday

2008-12-01T00:46:00.000+08:00

Today, I had been filled with sermons telling me to REST. The entire November was filled with such toil and trouble that I was actually already wondering if I was a member of the cast of Macbeth or something.. "Double double, toil and trouble..."

I decided not to go to church and just have my own service in my room, again. No use wasting energy getting on a jeepney and seeing energy-drainin' scenarios and energy-drainin' pplz. Heheh.

Uncannily enough, I chose Pastor Joey Bonifacio's "Curse of Restlessness" for my "Sunday Sermon." The title was just intriguing, and I just thought it would be a fun thing to listen to for my "Seriously Sabbath Sunday."

And you know what it was all about? Entering God's REST.

There is a reason why God had created us on the Sixth day, and Adam woke up to fellowship with Him on the 7th day. Pastor Joey said that this is because God did not want us to see Him working. God's priority is that we be able to walk with Him and enjoy His presence, as well as His creation with Him.

From that sermon, I realized that the constant running around and the mentality of "Busybusybusybusybusy," is not a blessing; rather it is a curse: the same curse that God had put on Cain when he committed the first murder: Restlessness.

After this sermon, I had decided to also listen to renowned prophet, pastor, teacher and writer Rick Joyner's "Entering God's Rest." Same thing. We need to rest. Same thing: God did not create TOIL. In fact, it is a curse. But God DID create LABOR, and LABOR is supposed to be enjoyable. Work is supposed to be enjoyable and holy.

After I listened to those sermons, I went, "WHOA!"

So for all those 8 weeks of grueling torture under toil, where I was actually being an idiot, running around like Alice in Wonderland's White Rabbit, I was, in reality, under a "Curse of Restlessness."

Most people would deem me crazy/idiotic/stupid for letting go of a client that had allowed me to neutralize a big chunk off my current debt. You know what, the day after I let go, and I decided to fully rest, and the depression dissipated, I FELT SO MUCH BETTER.

I let go of that client because things were already emotionally maddening. There was deception and power-playing involved, manipulation, so much strife, and it was no longer a healthy situation. My emotional makeup was absolutely shot: I hated them, I hated all work, even for the clients I've been with for a while, and even those that I had struck a great rapport with.

I had never made a better decision in my life.

After listening to this sermon, and searching for Jewish Superstar Emmy Rossum of Phantom of the Opera's SLOW ME DOWN, I finally got it.

After "my own service" at home, cooking lunch for meh and enjoying it with God in a lazy, quiet, Sunday, I went off to my boarding house's subdivision playground. I had always told God, whenever I passed by that playground, that I'd like to be on the swing at one point in my existence...

I got what I wanted yesterday. :)

I was swinging high up in the air and just being in general glee like a 5-year-old. I didn't realize that you could actually swing without anyone pushing you. Hey, I was experiencing powerful swings, and major gusts of swinging-induced air that allowed my hair to flap behind me! I was... In bliss. :D

I felt like God was pushing the swing for me, as I listened to rockin' Christian prophetic worship songs. If I knew what flying was like, swinging would most likely be just like flyin'!

So from this point on, I's swearin': Two days off fer meh after grueling seasons of work, and at least once a day of REEEEEST. It says in the Bible that we have SIX days to do our work. I might as well enjoy my Sunday Sabbaths. :D

And you, workaholic human, next Sunday, YOU TAKE A REST TOO!

Burned Out From Work? Here's A Movie to Watch: All Things New

2008-11-29T05:27:00.000+08:00

There is no arguing with the fact that there is a dearth of Godly entertainment in our midst today. We Christians are tired of the filth that imposes their twisted values on us, and we are crying out to reclaim the senses deadened by the widespread media philosophy of appealing to our basest of human desires.

If you are like me, looking for good, wholesome entertainment that allows your heart to be softened, to be all the more in tune with the Lord, then you may be looking for movies like All Things New.

In Summer 2008, The Philippines witnessed the birth of the new era of Philippine Entertainment via Ploning. And today, Christian production outfit Good News Productions International is unveiling a premiere screening of its maiden project, All Things New.

What is great about All Things New is not only the fact that it is a movie that awakens us to the realities of our country; it also awakens us to the fact that MIRACLES HAPPEN on a daily basis ON THIS SIDE OF HEAVEN. All Things New is also a testament to the redemptive power of Christ's cross.

I know for a fact that Christ's cross has changed millions of lives through the 2,000 years since the moment He's risen. This movie, All Things New, seeks to capture exactly the miracle of the radically changed life of the individual.

Over and beyond the changed lives, what is so important about the December 5 and 6, 2008 screenings of All Things New is that it allows YOU to partner in changing a life or two.

Thanks to your purchase of a ticket and watching these VIP screening/s, you will be able to help fund the outreach projects of CBN Asia, World Vision, Compassion Philippines, Christians’ Haven, Every Nation Campus Ministries, Real Life Foundation, CCF Backstreet Kids, and Jesus Revolution, in their quest to help uplift the lives of street children.

Help change the life of a street child or two. Take a break from the maddening pile of paperwork you face every week. Watch All Things New, in Podium Cinema 2.

All Things New VIP Screening Nights

Screening Dates: December 5, Friday, 7pm and 9pm
December 6, Saturday, 7pm and 9pm

Venue: Podium Cinema 2

Donor’s Contribution: Php 500

Revisiting Promises for the Philippines: Promises Being Fulfilled

2008-11-27T01:34:00.000+08:00

I was editing my previous post on my cross-posted blogs when I came across a comment that led me to research a Victory Prophet's name. After I deleted the commenter's comment, chastised him for his fear, didn't bother to delete the other posts on my other sites, I also decided to scour the other Google results, as I had found the Jesus Revolution Geocities site.

I know that the Jesus Rev conference was the venue when Cindy Jacobs had imparted God's promises for the Philippines.. I had found the video below on YouTube before, but reading the transcript allowed me to savor the Word for us once more.

This is amazing to me, because a lot of these promises had been coming true before my very eyes. While most Filipinos give in to media lies that we are poor, actually, never has the Philippines experienced greater prosperity than today. Even though our old people look back to the glory days when they could buy a lot of stuff with only Php 10, never had the Philippines experienced such progress that web and TECH companies are hurrying to get a slice of the Philippines' buying public's attention. Never have the businesses been hurrying to run to our shores until today, until this hour of history.

While India had been Asia's darling for outsourcing in the years past, thanks to the thoroughly advanced technical, programming, and mathematical skills of the Indian people, reality bit America real hard, because though Indian labor rates are around 25% of Philippine rates, Indian CSR's had given American customers trouble via their British/Indian accent. What is worse is that, for my field, writing, Indian providers give copy that would actually pave the way for Western customers to pay 2-3x more than what they originally expected to pay.

That is why the businesses are now going on a full speed transfer from other Asian nations and into our shores.

Never has the Philippines been recognized as a key outsourcing provider until today! We have the perfect balance of RATES, and QUALITY SERVICE.

Also, with the news that had been appearing, especially with the oil opening up in our country, I am seeing the promises of God just rapidly coming true.

Also, schools' spiritual doors are opening wide. University of Makati, UP Diliman, Filamer University in Roxas, UP Los Banos, Central Philippine University... A harvest of souls is happening on a wide scale.

Youth are rising up, falling in love with God, and gearing to run for their destiny in Christ. Indeed, FIREBRANDS are rising up in our midst. FIRE is passion. FIRE is who God is. Our God is an all-consuming fire.

A firebrand, in my imagination, was one of those metal thingies that people used to brand cows with; but as according to New Oxford American Dictionary, a Firebrand is: a piece of burning wood. This means that a firebrand, as it gets consumed by the fire, actually touches other pieces of wood and allows them to be consumed by fire, as well.

BUT, on the figurative definition of FIREBRAND, guess what it means? Firebrand: a person who is passionate about a particular cause, typically inciting change and taking radical action.

MAN. Isn't that amazing?!

Hey, I don't believe that we'll be EDSA Umpteewhatever adherents, okay? I'm a passionate girl, but I HATE street rallies. They're like parties of rabid dogs barking up the wrong trees.

Instead, I envision a company of youths who desire to be so radical for JESUS that bus rides are no longer mere modes of transportation. Instead, for these youths, they would be praying for people they see, for institutions they see and discern needs with. These youths would desire change, not only for themselves, but they would desire change for their families, their school, their country, and ultimately their world.

But they would not bark up the wrong trees. They would speak life into their circumstances. They would pray about anything and everything, including where they get their tuition, where they get their next meals, and where they get their shampoos. They would then graduate to depending on GOD for the bigger stuff: the computers they need, the houses they want to have, the gadgets they need, but all with the understanding that they do not ask these of God because they're spoiled kids; they ask these of God because they know they need it, and they can use these for God's greater glory!

BUT MORE SO, these youth would ask for people's hearts. Indeed, they would be FIREBRANDS, people who infect other people wherever they go: infect others with passion, love and DESIRE for JESUS CHRIST.

These youth would be so lovesick for JESUS, that they would be crying day and night for HIS Glory to be made manifest on earth, they would cry out for HIM to come home and claim HIS inheritance. These youth would set aside thoughts of marriage, as long as God doesn't say "go," because they know that God has a partner for them. Instead, they are consumed by a desire to do His will: pray for people, and pray for more FIREBRANDS.

Regarding the Forerunner anointing, I believe that it is alive and kicking. I am a personal witness to friends and family who have been promoted by GOD to other nations: not for their own economic improvement, but so that they would be able keep the Good News, the Message rolling through the countries. Oh yeah, God is allowing us to trek nations like the islands of the Philippines, baby!

If we are quick to do His will, He will promote us!!!

The exposition had been done, and it will continue. More shaking will come upon our systems and our people, those who do evil and are corrupt; but for the blameless and pure before Jesus, BECAUSE OF HIS BLOOD, He is opening their eyes, their ears, and their lips, so that they can hear directly from HIM, and speak His words of Life!!!

And you know what? God told me this Sunday, as I was tantruming inwardly because there were things that I didn't like about the Catholic priest's sermon... As I had wailed to Him in my thoughts ("What on earth am I doin here?!"), in the course of our conversation, He said that regardless of the "flavor" of a Filipino person's being Christian: Catholic, Protestant, Baptist, Pentecostal, and even Filipino Jews, HE IS REMAINING IN OUR COUNTRY!!! Because we love and honor HIM!!! Isn't that amazing?!

What's more amazing is that Cindy Jacobs' prophecy is also saying the same thing. Hey, it was just a date between God and me, but He's saying the same thing to me, as He announced via Cindy Jacobs.

And you know what, YOU COULD HEAR HIM TOO.

Seek Him, and you shall find Him.

And with that, without further ado, I bring you Cindy Jacobs' Jesus Rev Prophecy, God's promises for the Philippines.

PROPHECY FOR THE PHILIPPINES
--Cindy Jacobs

The Lord would say to the Philippines -I am shaking everything that can be shaken so that no man can glory in what I will do. For I have waited for a generation that I could raise up a purity and a holiness in. And I am raising up firebrands!

There is a forerunner anointing coming upon the youth of the Philippines that will prepare the way of the Lord, even into the Middle East. Look and see what I will do in Mindanao. For I am going to visit in a way that you cannot imagine! I am coming to Mindanao, says the Lord, as God and the Lord of Hosts, and I am going to start appearing. As a sign that I am going to truly change the nation, I am going to show myself to the guerilla leaders. I am going to come, says the Lord, and I am going to begin at the places in the Philippines that have been the bloodiest; the places where the guerillas' insurrection have been the strongest. And I am going to come with signs and wonders and miracles! I am getting ready to pour out a miracle anointing upon the Philippines such as the earth has never seen! For Indonesia, they had a mighty rushing wind. But in the Philippines they will have the fire from heaven that will begin to fall! And this will be a purging fire! And I will say, I will visit even as if in a day, says God. Do not think that I am not able to come in a day and begin to unravel the iniquities of the nation, says the Lord!

I am going to visit the military. I am getting ready to come among the young in the military. And the Lord says, there's going to be a revolution of righteousness that comes within the military.

I'm getting ready to dethrone everything that needs to be dethroned, for even the bowls of heaven are full. Oh, I see the bowls in heaven are just getting ready to be tipped over the Philippines and I am going to spill out my glory!

And the Lord says, I will remove the shame that Satan has tried to put upon this nation! And the Lord says, look and see, for even the blood of the martyrs cries out from Saudi Arabia! The blood of the martyrs cries out from those Islamic nations, and my Filipino people that have laid their lives down. Do not think I haven't seen it! Do not think I am looking away! Do not think I do not see you! Do not think I do not see you, Philippines; for I see you! You are the apple of my eye! You are a treasure unto me!

This is the day and this is the hour when I begin to change everything, says the Lord! I'm going to change the judicial system. I'm going to dethrone corrupt judges. I'm getting ready to deal with the police force. I'm going to expose, expose, expose, expose!

And the Lord says, look and see what I will do! For I will open up my treasure chest from the Philippines! And I am going to release finances for the Philippines that will surprise and shake even Hongkong! For I am getting ready to move a distribution of wealth, says God. And I am getting ready to open the oil! I am getting ready to open that which is in the ocean! I'm getting ready to bring forth a revolution even in the economic systems, in the finance systems!

Look to the university in Manila, says God. For I am going to bring a revival that the-Oh my Lord!--- the Lord says, not hundreds, but thousands and thousands and thousands are going to get saved!! The Lord says, can I touch a whole university? Yes I can touch a whole university! I can come with my glory and I can come with my power in ways that you cannot imagine! For I am coming, says God! I am coming and I will remain, says the Lord!

Insight: On Life And Pimples

2008-11-26T06:23:00.000+08:00

Just so I have a "patent" on this thought:

When God tries to leach issues out of us, it could be likened to trying to press pus out of a pimple...

And the more impacted the pimple, the more painful it is to press pus out of it; but there is greater relief that is experienced the moment pus DOES get popped out.

Heheh. Lorie's Gross Philosophy in its finest.

What Amazes Me (Fritzl Case Follow Up 2)

2008-11-13T00:22:00.000+08:00

'He is the killer of my son.'

That was how Elizabeth Fritzl described her father, who had raped and kept her captive for 24 years. This manner of describing the man who had given her personal torment for two whole decades and then some, is a stark message to me. This woman no longer thought about her own torment; she was more concerned about the fact that this evil man killed her own child... And his.

I also found it remarkable that she apparently loves her children, as the previous article I posted had testified. For a rape victim to love her own children, this is a miracle. For an incest/captivity victim, I am bowled over.

She gave birth to her children all unaided. That she finally decided to just be meek and go through the abuse is beyond me.

I don't know what God was trying to communicate to us via allowing this, but if He could show beauty via the Holocaust, the glory of how He rescues despite allowing, even ordaining this degree of evil, He surely could create a redemptive story out of this... Evil.

I pray that Elizabeth, especially her mother Rosemary, and her children, would heal from all of this. I pray that God would give Fritzl time to understand his sins. And even if God would give him mercy, I pray that he still reaps the extreme consequences of the evil he agreed with.

Lord, please keep Elizabeth, her mom and kids, to grow increasingly in victory and in knowledge of You. Heal them completely, in Jesus' name.