A Story for HIS Glory

As a “church kid”, I’ve heard my share of testimonies and stories.  I’ve heard how God delivered people from the lowest of the low, breaking the chains of drug addiction, disease, everything imaginable.  And for a while, those stories made me feel inferior.  Silly as it is, I felt like my testimony wasn’t good enough. 

My testimony begins really at the beginning of my life.  My parents brought me to church and told me about Jesus.   I knew that we were sinners in need of a Savior, and even though I was a little kid, I knew that I needed to accept the gift of salvation.  Some people would say I was too young to know what I was doing, but I know without a doubt that God saved me.  Of course, being a little kid, there wasn’t a whole lot of transformation in my life…not yet.

Then when I was 12, I realized what it meant to live like Christ.  I noticed that even though I wasn’t a bad kid doing bad things, there wasn’t much about me to set me apart as a follower of Jesus.  At that point, I rededicated my life to Christ.  I began really pursuing a daily relationship with God, reading my Bible, and spending time in prayer.  Since then, I have begun to understand how truly amazing God is.  He has shown me many things and answered a lot of prayers.  I know now that every testimony matters, not just extreme ones.

But sometimes I forget.  Even as I write this, part of me wonders what good can come of a story so simple, so seemingly easy.  Then I remember something I heard a preacher say once.  He was sharing his testimony, one a lot like mine, and admitted that at one point he thought he needed a “great” testimony.  The thing he realized is that every testimony is great.  Nothing we do makes it that way; it’s great because by His power God has saved us. 

That’s why I was so excited when Aly asked me to write a post for Revelations of a Daughter.  I want the world to know how great my God is.  My testimony isn’t about me at all—if it was, it wouldn’t be a testimony.  God has given me this story for his glory.

Much Love in Christ!!

 Alexa

Blog: Forever and Today 

 

Is loving worth the risk? Heart vs Brain

For so many years 'I've heard that, your heart can decieve you!' 'Don't follow your emotions!'
'Your heart can get broken so BE CAREFUL!' I mean these are all things that l've heard in the process of growing up. But I wonder what would happen if we stop letting our brain do ALL the work and start to actually listen to our hearts? Hmmmm....

As I'm writing this, even prior to writing this I notice that in previous situations in my life when things get too deep, or in other words "dangerously deep" I tend to let my brain takeover and start to do all the talkin' and Actin' I don't know exactly why, but what i do know is that its a defensive mechinism that I have. Maybe its because I'm afraid of the emotional breakthrough, or the emotional attachment, or maybe even the emotional hurt that I'm gonna feel. So immediately my brain, as the analyzer and protector of my body, including all major organs, does its job! It sends out a signal that builds a wall so that the most important organ, muscle, whatever its called, lol,in my body doesn't get scared or wounded. So then, with many years of this process going on, I start to become a person that thinks more than she feels. And for someone who, first of all loves Christ, and second is a woman, thinking just tends to get in the way. Not all the time, but sometimes.

Now I'm not saying that thinking is bad, or is the devil. After all in Romans 12:2 it says to let your mind get renewed,so that you will be transformed (just paraphrasing). There are certain, if not many situations that we encounter that our brain aka mind comes in handy. But what I am saying is that sometimes letting our hearts take the lead may ultimately be the right thing to do. Wouldn't that lead us to be more Christ like?

They say that the eyes are the windows to the soul! What if our hearts are a window to heaven?
Wouldn't our hearts have more to say about compassion? Or what about just plain love? Doesn't our heart love harder then our brain? I think so!
 
I think maybe we have to stop worrying about our hearts being hurt in the process of loving and just love. Lets stop thinking about loving and just love. Doesn't the Bible also say 'if God for us who can be against us?' No one! Maybe ourselves?

So my recommendation to myself is to first, let myself become more full of the spirit. And second, let myself love more and love harder,  'cause if God is for me then I don't want to be against myself!

Hey, freely loving someone is one of the highest sacrifices, your heart is in danger, therefore so is your mind and even body. But isn't the sacrifice worthy of the glory of God? I'd rather God be glorified through my suffering, then myself be glorified through my knowledge ( or lack there of)!

Romans 12: 1-2 ' I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable to God, whichis your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.'

Romans 8:31-39 ' what then shall we say to these things? If God is for who can be against us? ..... who shall seperate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or nakedness,or peril, or sword? As it is written: for your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life. Nor angels nor principalities,nor powers, nor things present nor things to come. Nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord!'

Galatians 5:25 ' if we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.'

So friends let us LOVE WITH ALL OUR HEARTS! knowing that not even a broken heart will ever separate us from the Love of our creator! As a matter of fact it will bring us closer to Him.

Psalm 34:18 NKJV
The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

With as much Love as I can give,

Ruthie

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD

Okay, so first thing’s first: I’m a guy. “Wait, what?” Yep, you read that right – I’m a dude. No, this isn’t a misplaced post. No, I’m not lying. No, this ain’t a joke either.

My name is Eric. I’m an 18-year-old Filipino living in Bangkok, Thailand. Yes, I’m a guy (I believe I can’t stress that enough), so you may be wondering what in the world am I doing posting on a blog that’s entitled “Revelations of a Daughter”? Well, I was honored and privileged to have been asked to make a post for this awesome blog, so here I am.

I was asked to write a testimonial post and well, if you’re looking for a guy that was in a ditch at one point of his life with drugs and alcohol helping him to get there, let me tell you right now: that’s not my testimony. But that doesn’t mean God hasn't worked wonderfully and powerfully in my life.

I was blessed to have been born into a Christian family and raised with strong Christian values. I grew up a Sunday School kid and going to bible camps every summer, and looking back I really thank God for that because that was what solidified my faith. It was what really set my foundation in Christ. However, my family was just your typical Sunday Christian. Basically, we went to church on Sunday then left for a family day. Sure, we prayed and read the Bible, but that was as far as we went. We didn’t know that there was so much more to be had in life with God.

When I was around six or seven years old, my dad came home with the news that the factory he was working in would be shut down and that many people were getting laid off. We were very thankful to God because we found out that my dad wasn’t one of them. Instead he would be transferred to another country. There were four choices: Japan, China, US, and Thailand. My parents aimed to go the US because… well, it’s the US! Ironically, the last on their list was Thailand, but it was for obvious reasons: Thailand wasn’t a Christian nation and my parents were afraid we’d go spiritually dry and it was basically just “across the street” from the Philippines with very little differences in culture and people and all that.

But God had a different plan. A few months later, my family and I moved to Thailand.

My parents had a hard time adjusting. We lived in a house back in the Philippines. Now we lived in a studio type apartment. We only had a handful of friends. The company also didn’t pay for our rent or my school fees, unlike other employees, meaning we had to shoulder it all on our own. When we went around looking at schools, we found that international schools basically had the same fee as students in the Philippines taking a doctorate degree in a course. On top of that, we weren’t sure where we’d find a church.

For a few months, my mom seriously contemplated going back home to the Philippines. However, we soon found a church that took us in as family. Little did we know that it was in that church and in this country that God would raise me and my family in the ministry.

Little by little, we found that there’s more to Christian life than just attending church every Sunday. My parents got involved in ministries. Soon they were leading their own Bible Study. As for me, it was here that I truly began my relationship with the Lord, and soon I also joined my own ministries: I joined the usher team then went on to the worship team and eventually was groomed to be a worship leader.

In the area of finance, my parents learned to tithe faithfully and trust God with their money. Soon, I also joined them in tithing. Even until today, my dad’s company doesn’t pay for our rent or my school tuition. However, my family is financially blessed. My parents were able to pay for my schooling from elementary to high school. Now, I’m enrolled in the top university in Thailand by God’s amazing grace and favor (that’s another testimony I gotta share!). As for that studio-type room, we only actually lived there for a year then we moved to a condominium. Now, however, God has blessed us and we’re living in an actual house with three floors (and I basically have the second floor all to myself). I dunno about you, but three floors is definitely an improvement from a studio-type room!

As for those who got transferred to different countries, we found that God really did have the best plan for us and secured us. Those who were transferred back to the US were sent back to the Philippines because it didn’t work out. Those transferred in China requested transfers because they didn’t like it there. Those who were sent to Japan said the work was too hectic and wanted to transfer to – guess where? – Thailand. It turned out that Thailand was actually the best and stable choice!

Me and my family have been here in Thailand for eleven years. Over the course of that time, another member was added to our group, so now I have a six year old brother (another testimony since I’ve been praying for a sibling for almost thirteen years). Over the course of that time also God has grown my family individually and together, and I am so blessed to have a family that is serving God altogether. My mom is the head of the intercessory group in our church. My dad is one of the church elders or main leaders. I am a worship leader and the youth leader in the church. All of us are in the church leadership team too.

None of us ever though that it would be here in Thailand where God would grow us, that it would be here where He would raise us to be leaders and that He would use us and maximize us. My family and I are still serving here and I look forward for what God has in store for us. I’ve seen his hand move in my family countless times, and I cannot wait to see Him do more amazing things in the coming years.

-Eric

 Editor's Note: Eric has his own blog (http://therealerice.tumblr.com) and you can also follow him on Twitter @TheRealEricE! Check it out!

GRACE

            I don’t have a crazy testimony. I didn’t break any drug or alcohol addiction when I first came to know God. Matter of fact, I was raised in a Christian home. I’ve gone to church all my life with the exception of a few years during my parents rocky marriage, but I knew about God  and had a sense of reverence for Him. But I didn’t know Him. 7 years after my first genuine encounter with Christ, I can say there is definitely a difference between knowing about God and knowing God.

           

 It was my sophomore year of high school that my mom signed me up for a retreat. Because let’s face it, every sassy, major ‘tude, “I do what I want!” teenage girl needs some Jesus in her life! ;) I was ditching classes on the regular and lacked motivation in my classes. It’s not that I was living my life deliberately against God; it’s just that I wasn’t living my life for Him. He was placed in a “Sunday only” box in my mind and stayed there. The week before I went to the retreat, I got busted once again for ditching school and my mom was done. She tells me now that she prayed that I would come down the mountain a changed person, little did she know her prayer was soon to be answered.

           

 The retreat was almost like a vacation for me. I spent time catching up with old friends, kinda sorta maaaaybe even sang a few worship songs, and came back down wishing my church friends a great summer and I would see them next retreat.

(God speaks to you when you least expect it)

            I got home that Sunday and unpacked my things. I talked a bit with my mom about how it was fun, and how nice the cabins were. That was it. That was the extent of the impact of the retreat. While unpacking, something told me to read my Bible. During my life, I’d always have those days when I would read the Bible and promise myself I would keep reading daily. A day later I would be over it and simply tell myself back to the “Sunday only” ritual. But this time was different.

I desired to not just know about the God on Sunday, but to know the God who also existed Monday through Saturday.

May 21^st, 2005 I made the promise that would change my life forever. I rededicated my life to Christ and knew that there was no turning back. This was it, I told myself, I would never leave Him again and this time it was for real. Someone should have busted a Moonstruck Cher slap on me! Making the decision to follow Christ is the easy part. Living a life dedicated to the Lord is a whooooole ‘notha story!

You see, the thing is that once you know the truth, there is no way to unlearn it. It seeps into your heart and no matter what you do, say, or who you hang with…it’s always there in the back of your mind.

            Between then and now, it’s been a rocky path. I’m not going to say I’ve been a great Christian, because the reality is, I’ve failed countless times. I’ve made choices that have had major consequences, tried to find comfort in relationships and friendships, said things that I wish I can take back, and have not represented Christ as I should. What I have discovered in the last year is the power of His Grace.

Oh, God’s sweet sweet grace.

            His grace is what makes me love Him. His love for me, even though I don’t deserve it, brings me back to Him broken and humbled. His favor in my life is what makes me praise Him more because I know all good things come from above. His constant guidance in my life makes me trust Him more because His will is always better than my own. For the longest time, I played the religion card. If I go to church every Sunday, get involved in ministry, teach children, read every day for 30 minutes, pray for all the starving kids around the world, I will be saved and have the golden ticket to Heaven! Duh! (Moonstruck slap…HERE!)

“For by GRACE you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” Ephesians 2:8

            As Christians, we often get stuck with the ideology that being a “good Christian” means not cussing, not drinking, and going to church every Sunday. If you believe this….I’M ABOUT TO BUST YOUR BUBBLE! Don’t get me wrong, these are good, but they are not the foundation of what living like Christ means. This is a safe idea of what being a Christian is. This is the barely getting by, by the skin of my teeth Christianity. I don’t want to do this anymore. I don’t want you to do this anymore. I want us to live outside the bubble, outside our comfort zones.

I want to see you (yes, you!) become the person God has called you to be.

            So dear friends, from my 23 years of experience (Yes, I count ALL my years of life, cause you know I was so wise when I was 2) this is my life. It’s messy; it’s full of disappointments, low times, anger and regrets. I’m not gonna act like my life is perfect, because it’s far from it. I struggle daily, and have to tell myself every morning, “Today I will live this day for the Lord”. But it’s those bad times that have been the foundation of my faith. It is my inability to grow spiritually by myself that has allowed me to trust in Him so much more.  And at the end of the day, all I know is that life is better with Him, always.  

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trails, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

James 1:2

In Him,

Anneliese 

           

Nod your head if you ever question your direction in life.

God, what am I doing here and where the heck am I going?

Nod your head if you ever question your direction in life.  Nod your head twice if you ever feel like you aren’t where Jesus wants you to be, doing what He wants you to. Keep reading if you’d like to read some good news about your life, where it’s headed and what God’s up to in all of it.

When I was in college I studied Sociology in the hopes to either go abroad or to the inner city to make an impact for Jesus.  I had this idea that I would influence the world by being an advocate for the less fortunate or being a mentor to inner city kids.  I left the college bubble excited and full of my romantic notions but it wasn’t long before the real world slapped me a good one.  No one was hiring in my field of interest.  I had to broaden my search and after months I had to take anything that came my way.

   

So, I became a Realtor’s assistant.  It was far from my dream job but it paid the bills.  I ended up staying in the field for 7 years.  As God led me on a completely different path than I had envisioned for myself I questioned if I was really where I was supposed to be.  My dreams of impacting people young and old for the Kingdom were still in my heart but far out of reach. Or so I thought at the time. 

 

After college I fell in love and got married.  My husband and I attended a church and were asked to get involved.  You name a church ministry and we were asked to help in it, from door greeters to Sunday school teachers to small group leaders.  To be honest we didn’t necessarily want to participate in some of these things.  We wanted to say no but somehow our mouths would always say yes!

These opportunities were huge spiritual growth opportunities.  Although I felt stuck in my “job” in Real Estate, God had us in training in that season and we didn’t even realize it. Our yes to the little things gave way to greater opportunities.  God began to entrust us with more and we were doing exactly what He had planned for that time in our lives.

Fast forward to 2012, my husband is now a worship leader and we are serving as youth pastors.  I see God unraveling my dreams before my eyes but even though we are serving in these different capacities I have learned an important lesson.  My idea of serving Jesus and living out His plans for my life have completely changed.   

Firstly, serving Jesus does not have to be your “career” as in being a missionary, working for a Christian organization or even just serving at Church.  While all of these things are good and awesome, limiting ourselves to grand exploits is a huge deception.  Jesus asks us to serve Him daily with our devotion, our love for Him as well as our love for others.   Mark 12:30-31 says, 

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.  There is no commandment greater than these.” 

 

If we aren’t in love with Jesus, or even trying to get to know Him, the loving others part won’t just come naturally.  Time with Jesus naturally means hearing from Him and catching the sound of His heartbeat.  He begins to put things in our hearts that are beyond ourselves like compassion for others that causes us to step out and actually do something to lift someone else up. 

Now I understand that serving Jesus can be as simple and beautiful as giving a homeless person the last five dollars in my wallet or visiting someone in the hospital.  It can be listening to a co-worker or fellow student as they pour out their life situation and praying with faith that Jesus would turn their situation around.  Serving Jesus can also be saying yes to an opportunity in church, at school, even at home in something where we can bless someone else.  Doing what Jesus asks is as easy as taking assessment of where He’s placed us today and making it count by lifting someone up and pointing them in God’s direction. It’s the little things we do out of obedience that propel us into the greater things God has for us. 

 

Now, about those big dreams and desires God puts in our hearts.  God deposits those things in our hearts for a reason to be lived out during a certain time.  I may not live these dreams or desires out in MY due time.  But I can always trust that He will not leave me hanging since He’s the one that put them there. And the kicker is that His timing for things almost never lines up with my timing.  BUT I’ve learned that His ways are ALWAYS better than my ways. Whenever I hear this verse, hope always rises in me that God’s not finished working out all He’s put in my heart.  Philippians 1:6 says,

 “I’m convinced that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it through to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Your time will come and when it comes you will look back at the little opportunities you said yes to and laugh.  Your creator knows exactly what He’s doing in your life and has you exactly where He wants you, doing what He wants you to do.  Make today count by listening to His heart and doing that little thing He’s asking you to for that person or in that situation.  Know that He cares for you, has not forgotten you and wants nothing more than for you to be close to His heart.  Smile because you are on your way to fulfilling all that God has for you by seizing today’s opportunities.  Laugh at any obstacles you see in your way because your future is going to be AWESOME and full of God’s power as you watch your natural collide with His supernatural ways to make things happen in your life!

Proverbs 3:5-6: “ Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.”

~ Ammie Avolio