I MUST TELL YOU THIS

I KNOW SOMETHING SO WONDERFUL that I must tell you! It is so vital that it may change your entire future as it did mine. In fact, the decision you make about it will affect you both in life and death.

Let me emphasize that this message is absolutely true, because God said it. When God makes a promise, you can rest upon it, because His promises can never fail. God will not make you believe this message, that is your choice, but He will hold you responsible for having heard it.

It is a very personal message, something you must decide. You must say either, " I WILL " or " I WILL NOT. "

Here is the message. It is an exact quotation from God's word, the Holy Bible.

"FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE." John 3:16

Did you ever hear such wonderful words? Think for a moment what they say. They reveal 3 marvelous facts:

• First, " God so loved the world " - Since you are in the world, He loved you. If that doesn't astonish you, remember, that when God loved you, He loved a sinner! The Bible tells that we all have sinned (Romans 3:23). If you are honest, you will agree. 

          Although God loves you, He still hates your sin. God is holy, He must punish sin. He must make a holy way of saving sinners. Otherwise, the sinner must pay for his sins, and that would mean spending eternity in hell (Revelation 20:15)

• Second, "He gave His only begotten Son" - God loved you so much, that He sent His Son to earth to become a man and die on the cross of calvary, so that you might be saved.

          You see, someone must pay the penalty of sin, either you or a sinless substitute. God gave His Son, Jesus Christ, to be your sinless substitute. He shed His blood so that your sins might be put away, so that you might have eternal life.

• Third, "Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" - Think of it, God gives eternal life to those who believe in Jesus Christ. The Saviour has "finished" the work. He has died. He has risen from the grave, and He has gone back into heaven. Now your part is to believe in Him. 

          This simply means that you must agree that you are a sinner, realize that Christ has paid the "full" penalty for your sins, and then receive Him as your Lord and Saviour.

This is the message which I had to tell you. Now you must make a decision. Will you accept Him or reject Him? Think of it once again : John 3:16.

Freedom From Fear

"He does not fear bad news, nor live in dread of what may happen. For he is settled in his mind that Jehovah will take care of him" (Psalm 112:7).
 
Sarah was a hypochondriac, a bundle of nerves, plagued by all kinds of fears - fears that she would become ill, fears that she would have an accident, fears that something would happen to her husband or children or that they would experience financial reverses. Her every conversation was negative. And of course, her attitude alienated her from others, and the more isolated she found herself, the more fearful she became.
Completely absorbed with her own problems, she was seriously thinking of committing suicide when a Christian couple moved in next door to her. They began to demonstrate the love of God and share the good news of His forgiveness in Jesus Christ. Few people had taken an interest in Sarah, but this godly, Christian couple, especially Mary, the wife, embraced her with understanding compassion and a loving heart.
Together they began to study the Bible and after a brief time, Sarah received Christ and began to grow as a Christian. She began to memorize Scripture and took great delight in hiding large quantities of the Word in her heart. Now her mind and her conversation were saturated with the things of God - His attributes, His holiness, His love - and His promises became a joyful reality to her.
A year had passed when one day she remarked to me with great enthusiasm, "I have been liberated. Christ has set me free. I seldom think of my own problems anymore, but find my mind absorbed with God and His truth, and how I might reach out in love and compassion to others as Mary reached out to me in my deepest need."
Sarah was no longer afraid. The fears that had plagued here were gone, because it was settled in her mind that Jehovah would take care of her and her family. No matter what happened, she knew that she could trust a loving, gracious, holy, righteous God, who had become her very real heavenly Father. Jesus Christ had become more real to her than her own flesh and blood.

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Bible Reading: Psalm 112:1-6

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TODAY'S ACTION POINT: I will seek to know more and more about my Lord by hiding His Word in my heart and meditating upon His many attributes. For I am convinced that He will watch over me, protect and care for me so that nothing can happen to me that He does not allow for my good.

-Dr. Bill Bright

FIERCE

Hmmm, it has been quite a long time since I have blogged.. I've been busy lately with business and outings. Well, most of it was really about business. Even though, I went to other places to have fun and relax, I still do business. But now, I'm back! And it's really nice to be back. I miss this. I miss blogging and reading other peoples' blogs. It's so good to be here right now, facing my laptop. :)

Now, what I'm about to post here is my new photoshoot titled, FIERCE: Ala GUESS. This was photographed by my very own cousin, Jan Michael Lumayag. Here he is....

He has been my photographer since 2009 and I have been happy and very contented with his shots. :D
( Thanks Jan! )

So here are the latest photos that he took. Just open this and enjoy browsing.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=1368875394&aid=147433

PIERCED by the WORD of GOD (John Piper)

A Meditation on Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword,

and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, 

and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

OH, HOW WE NEED TO KNOW OURSELVES, ARE WE SAVED? Are we alive in Christ? There is only one instrument that creates, detects, and confirms eternal life in the soul of man; namely, the Word of God. What Hebrews 4:12 says about this Word is, therefore, all important.

"The word of God"
The term "word of God" may mean a word spoken by God without a human mouthpiece. But in the New Testament it regularly means a word or a message that a human speaks on God's behalf. So, for example, Hebrews 13:7 says, "Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith." So the "word of God" in Hebrews 4:12 probably refers to the truth of God revealed in Scripture that humans speak to each other with reliance in God's help to understand it and apply it.

"Living and active"
The Word of God is not a dead word or an ineffective word. It has life in it. And because it has life in it, it produces effects. There is something about the Truth, as God has revealed it, that connects it to God as a source of all life and power. God loves His Word. He is partial to His Word. He honors His Word with His presence and power. IF we want our teaching or witness to have power and produce effects, let us stay close to the revealed Word of God.

"Sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow"
What does this living and effective Word do? It pierces. For what purpose? To divide. To divide what? Soul and spirit. What does that mean?
              The writer gives an analogy: It's like dividing joints and marrow. Joints are the thick, hard outer part of the bone. Marrow is the soft, tender, living inner part of the bone. That is the analogy of "soul and spirit". The Word of God is like a sword that is sharp enough to cut right through the outer, hard, tough part of a bone to the inner, soft living part of the bone. Some swords, less sharp, may strike a bone and glance off and not penetrate. Some swords may penetrate partway through the tough, thick joint of a bone. But a very sharp, powerful double-edged sword will penetrate a joint all the way to the marrow. "Soul and spirit" are like " bone joint and bone marrow". "Soul" is that invisible dimension of our life that we are by nature. "Spirit" is what we are by supernatural rebirth. Jesus said, " That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (John 3:6). Without the awakening, creative, regenerating work of the Spirit of God in us we are merely "natural" rather than "spiritual" (1Cor. 2:14-15). So the "spirit" is that invisible dimension of our life that we are by the regenerating work of the Spirit.
            What then is the point in saying that the "word of God" pierces to the "division of soul and spirit"? The point is that it's the Word of God that reveals to us our true selves. Are we spiritual or are we natural? Are we born of God and spiritually alive, or are we deceiving ourselves and spiritually dead? Are the "thoughts and intentions of our hearts" spiritual thoughts and intentions or only natural thoughts and intentions? Only the "word of God" can "judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart" as Hebrews 4:12.
            Practically speaking, when we read or  hear "the word of God" we sense ourselves pierced. The effect of this piercing is to reveal whether there is spirit or not. Is there marrow and life in our bones? or are we only a "skeleton" with no living marrow? Is there "spirit", or only "soul"? The Word of God pierces deep enough to show us the truth of our thoughts an dour motives and ourselves.
           Give yourselves to the Word of God, the Bible. Use it to know yourself and confirm your own spiritual life. If there is life, there will be love and joy and a heart to obey the Word. Give yourself to this Word so that your words become the Word of God to others and reveal to them their own spiritual condition. Then in the wound of the Word, pour the balm of the Word.

Irina Lazareanu - Inspired Photoshoot

Irina Lazareanu is one of my favorite models. I first saw her at Canada's Next Top Model in which she was a guest coach and judge. I really like her. I like her for her quirky, vintage-inspired style. I like her look. I find her pretty and awesome. She has this rock 'n roll vibe and this uniqueness in her. I really think she's great. =)

Last August 2010, me and my cousin (Jan) had this conversation. He asked me who's my fave model, so I said Irina Lazareanu. So, out of boredom, we had a photoshoot at my house. I was really stunned and happy that the result was great. Here are some of the pictures that he took.

UNCONDITIONAL GRACE.

ROMANS 11:16 - 23

16 If the dough offered as first fruits is holy, so is the whole lump; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in their place to share the richness of the olive tree, 18 do not boast over the branches. If you do boast, remember it is not you that support the root, but the root that supports you. 19 You will say, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast only through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off. 23 And even the others, if they do not persist in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again.

 God is really not just amazing but He is more than amazing and His grace is persevering and unconditional. I'm really very thankful and grateful that His grace is not conditional, because if it was, then I won't be here right now, I might be in hell crying for help and suffering. But God is really wonderful and great. There's not enough word that could ever describe His greatness and His awesomeness. I really thank Him for even though I don't deserve to be called His daughter, I thank Him for saving me and for choosing me to be one of His people. I know that there's no good in me, I am just like a wild olive shoot - which is a bad, barren, good for nothing, but He still have loved me and saved me from my sins. Thanks to His Son, Jesus Christ, if it weren't for His sacrifice, I know that I won't be saved. God's grace is really greater than our greatest sins because the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is perfect. All the glory, honor and praise is God's. =)

it's YOU.

It's YOU. You mean everything to me... you are the first thought in my head in the morning when I wake up; my last thought before I go to bed. You smile at me in my dreams... when you are sad, I feel sad, and when I see your true smile, I feel incredible, like there is no other thing around and all I can see is you.