Bananasarethebest

Pag mabigat na ang lahat, pag magulo ang isipan, pag maraming kailangan gawin, pag nag-papanic na ang puso, at pag gusto mo na mag-give up:

REMEMBER JESUS. Remember how He has sustained you in the past. Remember how His grace is sufficient. Remember your assured victory in Him. Remember what He has done for you in the Cross. Remember how His love is able.

“I, yes I, am the one who comforts you.

    So why are you afraid of mere humans,

    who wither like the grass and disappear?

Yet you have forgotten the Lord, your Creator,

    the one who stretched out the sky like a canopy

    and laid the foundations of the earth.

Will you remain in constant dread of human oppressors?

    Will you continue to fear the anger of your enemies?

Where is their fury and anger now?

    It is gone!

Soon all you captives will be released!

    Imprisonment, starvation, and death will not be your fate!

For I am the Lord your God,

    who stirs up the sea, causing its waves to roar.

    My name is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

And I have put my words in your mouth

    and hidden you safely in my hand.

I stretched out the sky like a canopy

    and laid the foundations of the earth.

I am the one who says to Israel,

    ‘You are my people!’”

Isaiah 51: 12-16 NLT

Thank You, Jesus! Thank you that OUR VICTORY is assured in You. :)

TIWALA. LABAN! 

Relationships with the opposite sex is tricky! We know that we have boundaries, but sometimes, we are just really confused if our actions are still “inside the boundary” or not. We question if our treatment of the opposite sex are still honoring God. 

I like how Heather Paulsen asks herself these three questions whenever she is dealing with the opposite sex:

1. Would I be treating him this way if his wife is here? (for the guys: Would I be treating her this way if her husband is here?)
2. Would I be thinking about him/her if I were married?
3. Would I be saying this if my husband/wife were here?

When I first read that, I was mind-blown. I realized that even if I am single right now, I am promised to just ONE man. Even in my early age, I must think ahead and see that playing around with emotions is not an option for me. First, it’s tiring and hurtful, and secondly, because someone out there is waiting patiently for me! I want to start serving and honoring that person by also patiently and actively waiting for him. 

She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. Proverbs 31:12 

It is so explicit how the woman of noble character is described in that verse! The woman brings her husband good, all the days of her life! She didn’t just start when she knew who her husband was, she started waaaaay before she even met him. 

Anyways, I hope those three questions helped and will help you in dealing with your relationships! :)

If you have any questions, ask it HERE.

I’ve been handling a small group for atleast 2 years now. It’s been quite a journey especially since there were many bumps along the road. I’ve made so many mistakes, but thankfully God was able to redeem every mistake I’ve made.

But today I just wanted to talk about something I’ve most certainly encountered more than once in my walk as a counselor/victory group leader/discipler. It’s about being frustrated when the discipling process doesn’t go our way. 

Have you had times when the people you were discipling were doing stuff that were obviously against the teachings of the bible and/or is doing stuff that are lacking in wisdom? Cause honestly, I’ve handled a lot of cases like that. Inside of my heart, I wanted to instantly correct and rebuke them. I want to quote scriptures just so they would see that what they were doing wasn’t right. I wanted them to.. see how I saw things. 

I’ll be honest, I’ve rebuked the ladies in my small group for their actions in many occasions. I succumbed to the thought that I would be able to change their ideas and perception just by my mere speech and counsel. I reasoned to myself, what I’m doing is for their betterment. I just want them to grow more in their walk with God and on their relationship with others. I just want them to start being more responsible. If only they would listen to me! 

I kept repeating those sentences in my head whenever I am frustrated with the people I’m discipling. The more that i invest my time and love to them, the more that they go on paths that I did not imagine them to be in. It frustrates me so much!!! 

But reading The Lego Principle by Joey Bonifacio made me realize that all the frustrations that I had were a result of a wrong mindset that I have. I treated and acted on discipleship as a “duty” that I had to perform. It was frustrating because I expect that as I do all the necessary things that was expected of me as a leader, the people I am discipling would automatically do their parts as well. Discipling was work, work, work, sacrifice, sacrifice, and sacrifice for me. Yet even though there was dedication and love, the relationship I had with the women I discipling were lacking. I kept treating my small group as a task that I need to perform, instead of a relationship that I want to celebrate and treasure. 

What a beautiful truth set before my eyes~ Discipleship is first and foremost a relationship.. with God and then with man. I can disciple others because God lets me see that people are worth it, that they are a treasure, and valuable to Him.  

I don’t need to change the people I’m discipling. That’s not my job. My job is to keep my relationship with God and with them. My security comes from the fact that it will not be me who will grow them, but it will be God who will. 

I need to say this over and over again: I cannot change people. Only God can change people.

That’s why when I invite people to go to the services, but they reject the invitation, it’s okay. When I ask them to go to the small group, yet they don’t show up, it’s okay. When I tell them the Gospel but they shut it down, it’s okay. I don’t have to push my belief in them because I know that I did my part in sowing the seeds, and God will be the one to make it grow. 

I just need to wait on God, obey, and keep enjoying my relationship with God and others. :)

I leave you with this scripture:

Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who ACTS on behalf of those who WAIT for him. -Isaiah 64:4

Especially when I tell them that I can’t help but smile whenever I hear the name of Jesus.I just have to close my eyes and stop whatever I’m doing. It cannot be helped.

His name, it brings power to my decaying body. His sweet name, it gives me hope that tomorrow will be all right for He is with me. That whatever happens, He will never leave me nor forsake me. With just His name, all my fears are gone. Oh, how powerful is your name, Jesus! 

The same name who gave me peace, is the same name that ransomed me from the punishment of death! Imagine, I was supposed to go to hell FOREVER, but now I am free and I can live with His presence living in me! 

Call me crazy, it’s okay! :) Crazy as seen by many, but within me I know I am changed forever because of Him! I have peace, I have joy, and I have a relationship with Jesus. The best thing about it is that no one could ever take this away from me! Haha!! 

I am forever in awe and reverence of Jesus! :) Ayayayayaya! :)

(via pinakbeth)

It’s easy to get burned out from overwork or just being continually upset and frustrated about problems, especially when you focus on them rather than keeping your eyes on the Lord.

Don’t rely on yourself and your own strength and abilities. God has promised to provide the strength, energy, and power you need to keep going. For he said in His word,

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. -Isaiah 40:29

So learn to relax more and allow the Lord to restore and renew you before you start falling apart. Come apart daily and spend quality time with Jesus.

If you have any prayer concerns, or you need someone to talk to, just message me here. 

English: Do not arouse desires you cannot righteously fulfill. 

Tagalog version: Wag mag-text, magpa-cute, mag-paramdam, magpa-sweet, at magbigay ng signals to the opposite sex kung wala ka namang balak panindigan ang mga ginagawa mo. BOOM! ♥

If anyone here wants to know more about Jesus, please do message me! Let me help you know Jesus more. :) Message me here.