Obsession...

Your touch I feel 
right now your all that is real.

Your arms are open wide, Here I come, I'm ready to collide.

Become my obsession, my only one, Jesus take me away...

Take all of me, everything, it is yours...

Oh take all of me, everything, I am yours...

I find crazy comfort when I hear this song. It's kinda how I want God to hold me and become my obsession.
I've talked before about surrender. It's not the easiest feat to accomplish. Yet still, Lord...TAKE ALL OF ME. EVERYTHING. IT IS YOURS...I AM YOURS.

God has made me strong through many afflictions and I know that's how our faith is especially increased. I close my eyes and raise my hands up and FIGHT my flesh to let go and let God in...

James 1, is loaded with tons of reminders to me. I've read it many times before, but I guess each time I've read it I've been in different places in my faith. But lets go, I feel the spirit swelling in my heart.

James 1: 2-5
²Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ⁴Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. [NIV]

Wow, okay. CONSIDER it PURE JOY to go through tough times!? How do you consider any kind of affliction pure joy? I don't know, but I'd rather not go through any kind of trials, especially ones that hurt deep. I don't think anyone does. It's crazy but we won't realize it in the midst of it all, but some how it shapes us and matures us. I just wish I could realize it now. Grr...

Perseverance - steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.

So in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement we should take our stand because God has made us MIGHTY. We can't run away from things that discourage us. We battle for the righteousness of God's Kingdom. I am mighty because like I said God has made me so! I love this particular verse that to me sums up what I'm trying to say:

Proverbs 28:1

¹ The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the Godly are as BOLD AS LIONS. (NLV)

BOLD AS LIONS, baby! The warrior in me yells when I read that! I'm as bold as a lion and if I'm as bold as a lion then Satan watch out! So see we don't turn and run away from our troubles. Yet we do sometimes. We need that perseverance to win the battle and ultimately the war! Theses small battles we face day in and day out are just those things that help increase our experience or our faith, in order to equip us for the battles that we may endure in the future. At the same time, I want to mention that we cannot and should not hold on to our losses in previous battles. 

Philippians 4:12-14

 ¹² I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. ¹³ No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it,^[d] but I focus on this one thing: FORGETTING THE  PAST PRESSING FORWARD TO WHAT LIES AHEAD, ¹⁴ I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. (NLT)

ha! This just popped in my head and it's exactly about the pressing on. Thank you Relient K!

Pressing On: [Chorus] 

GO LISTEN!

Somewhere back there I left my worries all behind.
My problems fell out of the back of my mind.
We're going and I'm never knowing (never knowing) where we're going.
To go back to where I was would just be wrong.
I'm pressing on.
Pressing on, all my distress is going, going, gone. (pressing on, pressing on)
And I won't sit back, and take this anymore.
'Cause I'm done with that, I've got one foot out the door.
And to go back where I was would just be wrong
I'm pressing on.

To go back to where I was before would be wrong. Amen. Let me catch my breathe from jumping up and down. :)

And back to perseverance.


James 1:12
¹²Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 

God has promised victory of life for us. That we endure in our struggles and gain life, an eternal life. Amen! I interpret that as "life goes on." Yes we endure hardship for a time, but there is more life to be lived, more joy to be had, more love to share, and beauty to enjoy. Do you hear what I'm cheering!? We can't go back to where we were before, it would be wrong. WHY would would be go back to where we were before!? NO! Make a joyful noise to the LORD if you get me people!

Daniel 4:2

It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.

I have everything to be joyful to the Lord. Who by the way, continually strengthens me in ridiculous ways I could have never thought. I am blessed, truly blessed. 

I know anger is an emotion we deal with trials. It goes together with frustration. You can't be frustrated and not angry or be angry and not frustrated. Anger can be just as detrimental to you missing out on what God is trying to show you. Another distraction to the millions of other things that we're dealing with in life. I read on in James 1 and I find this:

James 1: 19-21

 ¹⁹My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ²⁰for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. ²¹Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.  

For a man's anger does not bring about the RIGHTEOUS life that God DESIRES. I'm not saying that we should never get angry, because we will. What is important is that when we realize we are getting angry or have already become angry we should do our best to rid ourselves of that anger. We need to take our thoughts captive and not dwell on them. We need to control ourselves and our thoughts as best we can.

check it:

2 Corinthians 10:3-5(NIV)

³For though we live in the world, WE DO NOT WAGE WAR AS THE WORLD DOES. ⁴The weapons we fight with ARE NOT the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ⁵We DEMOLISH ARGUMENTS AND EVERY PRETENSION that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and WE TAKE CAPTIVE EVERY THOUGHT to make it obedient to Christ.

Capturing your thoughts goes beyond just anger but of course in anything that can take us down.


James 1:22-25
 ²² But DON'T JUST LISTEN to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. ²³ For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. ²⁴ You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. ²⁵ But if you look carefully into the perfect law that SETS YOU FREE, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then GOD WILL bless you for doing it.

Here close to the end of James 1 it's as plain as day. DON'T just listen to God's word. DO what it says. It illustrates a man looking into a mirror who walks away and then just forgets what he looks like. You let the word speak truth into your life and you can't see that truth. Instead you just become bound by the world when the word is there to set you free. SET YOU FREE.

I can say I really need to heed to what I've read. "...don't forget what you heard..." God loves me and has great things in store for me. It's easy to forget that God purposes us for not just one thing, but many things. Whether we are beaten and drug through the messes of life or we are enjoying the blessings of life and love God purposes us. I want God to become my obsession. I want Him to take me away.

Jeremiah 29:11 
¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5
³Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. ⁵For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.


Proverbs 19:21
²¹ Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.
 
FAITH - firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2) : complete trust

Dear Lord, I am merely a human man with all my faults and short comings. I know I can't do things on my own. I know you are there when I can't feel you. Although I have afflictions that try to destroy my joy, I have many more joys to praise you with! Lord you are my all, my everything and I want you to be my obsession. Take all of me. Christ be my center and may he guide me through life's adventures. I love you God. Thanks!

I'd like to share this link with you all who read my blog. I have a wonderful Godly woman in my life who is talented with her voice. I give her credit to showing/sharing this song with me. Be blessed! :)
Obsession as sang by Candice Dugat

A name

Warrior - noun.

1. One who is engaged in or experienced in battle.
2. One who is engaged aggressively or energetically in an activity, cause, or conflict.

The other day, I was talking to someone special and she told me the story of how she and her close friends had asked God for a name. They prayed one night asking for a name from God. I guess like a Spiritual name of sorts. Just something that would in away define you in His eyes. And so it came to me...I prayed for one and it was WARRIOR. Now I have to make a mention that she did tell me that your name could potentially change as we continue on. Kind of like an evolution of our spiritual gifting or just overall change I suppose.

Now your like, name? I've got a name...it's John Smith or Jane Doe. But that's far from what I mean. Its' a name that God's given you. Kinda like..."they call you Justin here, but I've always called you Warrior." It's hard to wrap around it just plainly thinking about it. And...you probably might be thinking: "Well you made it up to sound cool." I honestly didn't, it really just came to me in a way I can't explain.

It was something cool, how He put that name in my head. As I was praying over a name from God. The name warrior kept echoing in my head. I even attempted to disregard it! But it seemed to just stick. I remember laughing thinking..."God, really...?!..." and it hit me. Warrior...I guess it really must be me haha.

Talking with her about it she said how she can totally see why He gave me that name. :)

So basically...I am a Warrior. I am Warrior and I war prayers and war for God's Kingdom. As in the second definition above: One who is engaged aggressively or energetically in an activity, cause, or conflict. :)

Ephesians 6:10-13 (NIV) says:

 ¹⁰Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. ¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

then in verse 18 it says this in the Amplified Version:

¹⁸Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people).

 

I just wanted to share my blessing with you who read my blog. Be blessed and know that when you are weak God is what can supernaturally strengthen you!!! God is greater, God is stronger, God you are healer, God is my Father!

Surrender...

I surrender all.

Funny how that it so simple to say but really it's the most difficult thing to achieve. I've found myself in a place in my faith where I strive to surrender everything to God. To live in such a way that I can glorify his name in EVERYTHING I do. Unfortunately, I can some times hold on to what I need to let go to God and ultimately it doesn't work.

I've been reading a short book called The Practice of the Presence of God, where it's these set of letters or conversations written by this guy named Brother Lawrence. This guy is hardcore about his walk with the Lord. Pressing forward in EVERYTHING he does and he just really just gets it. I'm not finished reading it so I can't really explain much of the book. I know from how much I've read already that he's really on fire for God and he lives his days with the hopes of glorifying God in anyway possible.

From the second conversation:

That he had always been governed by love, without selfish views; and that having resolved to make the love of GOD the end of all his actions, he had found reasons to be well satisfied with his method. That he was pleased when he could take up a straw from the ground for the love of GOD, seeking Him only, and nothing else, not even His gifts. (The Practice)

What is it to be like that? The man is picking up straw from the ground for the love of God. It's hardcore. I want to be hardcore.

I've seen a lot of stuff in my life so far. Not as much as some folks maybe or maybe a little more. Life's hard, there isn't any doubt about it. Giving it all to God in FAITH is even TOUGHER. The joy that God brings into my life should be bigger than any storm in my life. There is NO POINT in being stuck in the lows of life when there is SO MUCH MORE beautiful things to enjoy.

God's made stuff for our enjoyment. Isn't that awesome?! His LOVE the GREATEST LOVE...you can't deny it. To surrender and fall into His loving arms. God is great. God loves no matter what.

Lately, I've been greatly blessed with a lot of wonderful things in my life. All those things have come from my surrender. "God, YOU do it...I can't, I won't, not anymore. I've seen what happens when I DO things. You have it. ALL OF IT." I'd say to myself and pray. It's just how I've grown in my faith since a long time ago. It's like I said earlier...it's tough sometimes.

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Lord please bless me in all I do and all I seek. May you have complete control and command in my life. May I be the warrior you want me to be in your great army. Take my gifts you have given me and may I use it in the fullest potential for you glory. Lord I want to be in complete surrender to you. I can't be dragged down by my own wants and my own needs. God, you take everything, I can't, I won't, not anymore. I've seen what happens when I try to do things myself. You have it. ALL OF IT. I pray that you give me strength to press on to the things I may not understand. That in the storms in my life, big or small, that I seek you always and that I have that peace to know your always there by my side and will never leave me, never forsake me, never give me something I can't handle. Lord be my center, be my rock, my firm ground. With you all things are possible and I am a new creation in you Lord. Hear my cry and make me strong. Thank you for your son and giving me a grace that's so overwhelming. Thank you for being my savior, my King, and best of all my FRIEND. Amen.

So at work today...

1 Peter 3:15 says, "Always be prepared  to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the  hope that you have." then Peter continues on with, "But do  this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that  those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."

At work today we had some discussions about denominations of faith, some random "what if's" and of course "what do you believe?" It was a completely random chain of conversations which I felt we're really good to discuss. It was especially cool that my co workers are all diverse. Here is the rough set up to fill you all in: My self, my battle buddy JV, Jessica (Church of Christ) and Steph (Agnostic/Church of Christ). 

Ah! I remember it now how this came about. A mutual acquaintance of ours came by and mentioned how he had been baptized earlier that Sunday morning. Then the question came up:

"Do you believe that baptism is a means to salvation?"

Okay, so...Church of Christ has the 5 Steps to Salvation. Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess and Baptism in order to receive the holy spirit. I grew up in a Baptist church. Apparently it was easier being Baptist because there is only 3 Steps. [lolz] Realize we have fallen short in sin, Realize that we need Jesus Christ to save us, and Receive Him as our personal Lord and savior. There's a lot of good stuff going on here, but in my opinion [don't get hurt now, just my opinion it's my blog] I believe that I am a low down dirty rotten sinner saved by grace and that a man named Jesus Christ, God's son came down, died and rose from the dead to set up a place for me in heaven. When it comes to baptism, I believe that that's not what fulfills our salvation. It's more symbolical of what changes we have enacted in our lives. I don't think God said "believe in me...but before I give you eternal life, baptize yourself...AND then...I'll give you eternal life..."

 Romans 5:8: "But God demonstrates his love for us, in that while we yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Romans 10:9-10: "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth  he confesses, resulting in salvation."

Roman 10:13: "For whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." 

So. I don't think I can go any further than that...but honestly it all boils down to that we are on the same team here! It's not my way is better than yours or mine is more justified. There's always some random debate on this subject of who's christian denomination is better. C'mon you guys...

 22 Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name?  23And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands] - Matthew 7:22-23 AMP

Worship and Live in truth. I pray that I am living what God has commissioned in my life. I hope, I try as best as I can to surrender and give it all to him. It's not easy by any means. I'm not perfect, far from it. I look to Him and thank Him for the air I breathe and the blessings He gives to me...

I am so blessed, so glad that I live in such free place to where I can go to a church that's nice with air-con and nice chairs, a coffee shop, and gift shop, I can worship, read my bible, pray aloud, jump for joy in the name of Jesus. Whether it be on the street corner, in my front yard, at work, in the car, in any public place. HOW BLESSED am I?! Really how can you not be glad to be a solider of Christ in a place so free like the United States. It's easy and that's also unfortunately the sad part. It's too easy. Are you hearing what I'm cheering?! Its sad, it's lame, it's a bunch of bull crap...that we can take it for-granted where in other places around the world people get persecuted, beaten, jailed and even murdered because they want to know or preach the gospel. What I'm trying to say is take a step back folks. Look at it. Realize some stuff here. NO EXCUSES to glorify Jesus Christ.

After several smaller conversations and people interrupting us in the drive thru, we stumbled upon Agnostic/Atheist folks. Let me say that it is possibly the most difficult kind of conversation to have depending on the person. I've had first hand encounters with someone so bent on trying to get a rise out of me instead of really wanting to at least hear my opinion. The other part of the verse in 1 Peter 3:15 I shared, "But do  this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that  those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."    Being RESPECTFUL is what I try to achieve. I know I want respect in my opinions so I respect those who have other opinions. I believe that if the spirit of Christ that is in me will find a way to bust open hearts with out me physically doing so. (it would be far to messy anyway) Cause certainly ITS NOT ME that will save someone it's the CHRIST WHO IS IN ME that will. 

Back on track...

"An agnostic believes that the nature of God and/or supernatural are unknown and unknowable by human beings, if they exist at all. An agnostic thinks it is impossible (at least now, with our current understanding of the nature of the world) to conclusively know the truth about the existence of God and the afterlife which Christianity and other religions are concerned with."(source)

and...

"An agnostic is different from an atheist, who believes, with certainty, that God does not exist. Agnostic means, literally, "does not know" (from Greek: the prefix a- means "not/without" + gnosis means "knowledge"' (source)

My approach is this: I can tell you a ton of things. It all boils down to what you think in the end. I'm not trying to be selfish or say that I don't care. Plain and simple really, take it or leave it. In the end, either I'm right and your wrong or vice versa. I'm not going to force God down someone's throat.

Faith - firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2) : complete trust 

It goes against all that is human nature. Exactly what Jesus did...Lived, died and rose again. Amen. 

How can I explain it? God's love. I can't. It's to overwhelming. It's by faith...To live by faith and not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7.  

This blog is unfinished...

Battle Buddies...

In the military, a friend told me that you always have a second person with you at all times while out in combat. For obvious reasons...to watch each others' backs for the enemy trying to sneak up on you or to help you in a fight. That person is your battle buddy. In Ecclesiastics 4:12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

I want to open with what's been a great tool and asset in my walk in faith. Accountability partners or what I call "Battle Buddy". We often hear the phrase at church camps and Sunday schools. In all honesty I never had one until earlier this year. I mean hardcore, real deal battle buddies. I actually have two battle buddies, Chris and JV, two great spiritual warriors. In which we pour out to each other our struggles in our faith, our victories, our failures and challenging each other.

Before I get any further let's define who is and where you can find an battle buddy.

Who is your Battle Buddy:
A battle buddy is someone who is there to CHALLENGE  you, HELP you overcome your struggles, PRAY for you, TRUST, and most importantly UNDERSTANDS spiritual warfare. We as Christian's have signed up for the most difficult lifestyle. It's going to be a bumpy road full of obstacles in our way.Your gonna need some help.

Where you can find a Battle Buddy:
Your battle buddy can be your closest friend, your brother, your classmate in Sunday school...etc. No it can't be your pet turtle or your dog. Preferably a real living, breathing, human being who is sold out for God. It can really be anyone. At the same time, your accountability partner can't be just anyone. I also want to include that I feel that naturally it should be guy/guy and girl/girl. Generally girls understand girl stuff better than a guy would and vice versa... I encourage you to pray for who can be your battle buddy. Because you need genuine commitment to become someone's battle buddy and definitely both be seeking to grow in their own personal faith. Just like I said, really seek God to provide you with a battle buddy.


Okay, so now...I have a battle buddy, now what?
 Easy...pour out. You've got to be honest with your battle buddy about struggles in your life or how else can they help you or pray for you. Sharing is the best way to over come sometimes. Or sometimes you just need a friendly reminder that "hey, have you read your bible today?" JV and I go back and forth usually sharing scripture we find during our quiet times. Often times I share my victories with my battle buddies, how I've defeated temptation or overcome a struggle in my life. Its not always about sharing our short comings but our victories as well! There are great things to over see as a battle buddy.

I guess I should share a bit about my battle buddies... :)
Chris C. - is a great guy, with a great family and an even greater perspective of what it's like to be worldly and then to what it is to be a Christian man. He's really a great influence in my life aside from being a spiritual battle buddy. He has a great knowledge of just a bunch of stuff and he's basically like an open book. Which by the way if it was really a book. It would be a really big book with lots of crazy awesome stories and down right hilarity written all over it. lol...I could go on, but maybe in another blog because it would be...no it would have to be dedicated solely for just Chris. lol

Then there's JV. Another great guy, we're about the same age give or take a year I think. We've actually been friends for a long long time growing up together. Being Filipino and both living in the same town of course it was only natural that our folks would come meet at other Filipino functions and you guessed it so did the kids. It was completely by random that we became battle buddies and from then on we've been fighting the good fight day in and day out. He has far greater bible knowledge then I do and when it comes to me ranting about scripture he always there to be like..."oh yeah, that one in...says..." lol

Both of the gentlemen are my accountability partners because I believe God purposed them in my life and they both posses different strengths. Chris plugged me in to Crosby Church where a lot of great and wonderful things have happened I must say. JV a long time friend who I've never really talked to in the past is now one of the people I tell some really deep stuff too. It's these kinds of relationships that help us to work through things that we can't do alone. Sometimes just to make sure that we're flying straight we need to talk to someone who knows what our battles are or maybe might be even themselves struggling with the same things.

I know I've said a lot...and probably floated off topic a bit here and there. I really want to challenge you to pray about Accountability partner, a battle buddy, to help you with your faith. We fight the good fight, but we forget that we're not the only ones fighting out there. I believe greater things can be used with this tool.

God be our center.

Take a deep breathe take time to reflect...!

Beneath October skies I looked into your eyes
Lord I ask that you protect us from any lies.
It was with closed eyes mine met yours
there and then letting emotions run it's course.
Two hearts diligently beating in our chests
dear Lord I pray that you should provide the rest. 
Then joy seized my heart and held it so
I hoped that if I could just not ever let go.
I began to wonder how could no one not know such bliss
Hear me my Lord Jesus I ask that you would assist.
Mine next to yours and yours next to mine
the warmth we find neath this October night's sky.
My Lord be the one who will inspire. 
Set a blaze and turn our hearts on fire.
Together to burn not in our own, but in Your desires. 
Amen.


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How to begin? Haha...(thinking about the tune "For Once in My Life" sung by Michael Buble) it's been a wonderful morning to say the least! I gotta say I feel good, really good actually. (Enter "Feeling Good" sang by Michael Buble...lol) It is a new dawn, a new day and I can't complain at all. The way that God proves to me that He exists through the most smallest of things is just awesome, no a miracle of sorts. There are far to many combinations of events to lead up to just one particular one. And then even with in that one event...there are another bazillion possibilities. Man...our God, the man who breathes out stars, who knows our hearts, knows us one by one, is jealous for us, LOVES us...

Grrr...to work I must go.