ABIDING, THE KEY TO JOYOUS LIVING

CHRIST, THE SOURCE OF TRUE JOY

I woke up one morning at 3AM from a fitful sleep triggered by thoughts of a lady I had been dealing with the night before--I will refer to her as Martha. I woke up frustrated because of my inability to help her for she has had the same recurring problem on and off for many years. Having been busy with work the last couple of days didn't help, and I thought I was particularly impatient with her as she once more recounted her bitter tales and woes. I woke up thinking of her, praying that she would have victory over her hurts and bitterness because unless she does, she'll never have the fullness of joy that God promised to her as a believer.

"That your joy might be full" Christ's words rang in my ears as I continued to ponder. When I thought of how her joy had been even less than half full the past twenty years almost—I thought of how sad it is, and I prayed in my heart "Lord, how can I help her find joy?"

TRUE JOY TO THOSE WHO ABIDE

Joy In The Midst Of Trials

Where does a person's joy reside? I remember speaking on the topic of A HEALTHY HAPPY HEART in 2006 to a group of ladies from several churches during which we went through some biblically based principles by which we can go by. A few months after that, the Lord allowed a series of physical, emotional and spiritual trials to happen to me that put my gleanings to test. I survived that tough, unhappy and dark period of my life realizing that in the end, it made me understand and appreciate the principles I taught more fully -- that true joy comes when testing is endured in Christ. Ps. 119:92 says "Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction."

One can speak of the various steps that God gives and encourages us with to have a cheerful healthy heart in the Lord, but never really know what it means until our joy is tried—like mine had been, and this lady now. When my father got seriously ill back then, when trouble came, when I myself got sick and disheartened physically, spiritually… how did I "get my joy back"? The Lord nudged me, at three in the morning, to remind me that the joy has always been there! I realized as well that joy was never made full until I came to terms with it, that the beginning and end of it IS CHRIST. "The joy of the Lord is your strength"… because Christ lives in my heart, I have no excuse for not being joyful!

Why did Martha never have the victory over her self-pity and wounded heart? It's because she's never known and really relied on Christ enough. We cannot love the unloving…we cannot do good to those who have hurt us… we cannot give bread, turn the other cheek, nor go the second mile with someone who has been unkind, unloving, abusive and hurtful to us—on our own strength alone. Rom 5:6 says "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly but (Php 4:13) "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." John 15:5 says "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." If I abide, stay, continue, and remain— IN CHRIST, I will bear fruit. I suppose that includes the fruit of the Spirit.

TRUE JOY IS FOUND IN BEING DEPENDENT UPON CHRIST

John 15:6 says " If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered."

I remember asking a friend of mine to transplant a small palm tree from a corner of our garden to a big clay pot on our porch. I was saddened by what I saw three days later, my beautiful palm tree had shriveled, dried up, and later died. I made a mistake by removing it from its rich fertile home to a less favorable ground. If we are not careful, we will end up like that palm tree and like this lady who was overtaken by hurts and wounded feelings, winding up later with a shriveled and dried up spirit that has slowly pined away in bitterness. No Christian can ever bear fruit--have joy, love the unlovable and those that act unloving, if they do not abide in Him. Through the years, I have observed once cheerful spirited Christians get overwhelmed by bitterness so much that they slowly wither in spirit and their physique, sadly deteriorates with it. Proverbs 23:7 says "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:" As a person dwells on the fact that she is unappreciated and unloved—the more she becomes unappreciative, unloving and difficult to love. ABIDING AND HAVING JOY CANNOT STAND APART FROM THE OTHER. This ought to serve as a warning because we can fall into the same PIT and ROT in the same RUT.

JOY THROUGH PRAYER

John 15:7 says " If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."

This verse is not some magic phrase that you say out loud and poof, you get your wish. It is, however, a step by step process that outlines for believers the key to answered prayer, and that is "ASK ACCORDING TO HIS WILL". No, I did not misread the verse; however, if we read it carefully we begin to understand that the more we abide in Christ and allow His Words to abide in us, the more we find ourselves asking according to what we know (have read in His Word) will be acceptable to Him and thus the greater possibility of an answer to prayer.

Martha, whom I have counseled with, claims she's prayed, she's tried, and done all she can to do what is right and to be loving. She however admits reaching her limit when it comes to turning the other cheek. She finds it harder and harder to continue to do good to her "unappreciative" family, to go the second mile (suffering inwardly), and giving bread (many times her own food literally to them), and yet has not had success or victory. THAT IS THE PROBLEM—WE CANNOT DO IT ON OUR OWN—it is not natural for the flesh to do good or what is right or loving. Romans 7:18 says "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not." Then again, I CAN DO ALL: keep on being patient, loving and forgiving, THROUGH CHRIST'S STRENGTH ALONE! WHEN WE FAIL IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT BEEN VIGILANT IN FOLLOWING THE FORMULA—that of relying on God and not on self. John 15:7 says" If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." There is no quick way to a JOYFUL LIFE, to a forgiving heart, to victory over bitterness. We do not wake up one day and say "I'm bitter free"… "I've a joyful heart." There is no sure way to have victory but God's way.

JOY, THE FRUIT OF LOVING

I came home that night angry at myself, feeling helpless with Martha, and exhausted from hearing the same complaint and heartache, over and over and over again. I woke up that morning from a punctured sleep thinking "when will it be over?" and feeling at a loss on how to help her. I sat an hour later being thankful because the Lord reminded me of the way by which I can "handle" this Martha and how she can "handle" her problems. How? The answer is "I cannot and she cannot—on our own."

John 15:4 says "Abide in me, and I in you (stay, remain, continue in Him) as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me." Why do we go around the world, go about our work, heavy laden from carrying the weight of our hurts and sorrows when God has said in Mat 11:28, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." We come, but we do not take His word and do what it says. We LEAN, but we do not LEARN that it is only in losing our lives that we find it, in giving up of our pride that we find joy that will remain. TRUE REST is elusive to anyone who goes about doing things on their own strength, to one who refuses to come to Christ and live his life in His (Christ's) terms and not theirs. Though they claim to be doing things through Christ, they DENY Him in their very actions, in their lack of forgiveness and love. "FOR WITHOUT ME YE CAN DO NOTHING," Without Christ, if I am not abiding in Him and allowing His Words to abide in me day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute (if needed), actively going back to scripture, meditating therein day and night, finding verses to help one's heart attitude to rebuke one's unruly spirit, again and again—then Martha, nor I or anybody else will ever find healing for their wounded hearts and consequently never experience true joy that has been promised to one who remains in Christ.

Hebrews 4:16 says "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." He who DOES NOT ABIDE in CHRIST CANNOT LOVE, forgive, go the second mile with anyone effectively. If Martha does not abide in Christ, allow His words to abide in her, then she will not bear the fruit of a loving heart. I know by experience that it is no easy formula for it runs contrary to the flesh, yet it is tested, sure, and the outcome guaranteed.

Abiding, the Key to Loving

Abiding enables us to continue in love. John 15:7, 9 says "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love." Continue, not in our finite, "self-ish" love, but in His. CONTINUE is the same word as abide. Abide, endure, and remain in Him, in His love. This is where we fail--we fail to CONTINUE IN LOVE.

What is TRUE LOVE? 1 Corinthians 13 aptly describes it as follows:

Suffereth long

Is kind

Envieth not

Vaunteth not itself

Is not puffed up

Doth not behave itself unseemly

Seeketh not her own

Is not easily provoked

Thinketh no evil

Rejoiceth not in iniquity (of other's or one's own)

Rejoiceth in the truth

Beareth all things

Believeth all things

Endureth all things

Never faileth

Continuing In His Love that our JOY may be FULL

John 15:10 says "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love." It will be difficult to abide in His love if we're not keeping His commandments. And we cannot do it on our own but only through Christ which strengtheneth us. Some literally HIDE His Words in their hearts though and keep it so well HIDDEN that it's never translated in actions.

The answer to my inability in helping Martha, and Martha's own helplessness is not simple but can be found and made easier through full surrender to Him who has spoken these words: John 15:12 says "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you." It requires full obedience to His terms and not our own; in this case, loving with God's love and not with our finite, conditional love.

I need to continue to be patient and loving towards Martha, pointing her to Christ instead of pointing out her sin. Luke 6:41,42 says "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye."

Like all of us, Martha needs to abide more and more (remain continually) in Christ each day and (Joshua 1:8) not allow the "law to depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein" Then and only then will I and anybody else, have success "for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." This includes continuing in love and forgiveness, though (2Co 12:15) "the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved."

ABIDING JOY

Abiding, the Key to Restoring Your Joy

Are you an "Under-Joyed" Saint? John 15:11 says "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." Many a modern day saint goes about their life not having even half the joy that God has promised to them because their hearts are not even half full with His Words; often it is too full of one's hang-ups, leaving not much room for His Word. John 16:22 says "And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." Martha is literally in sorrow, not because she lost Christ, but because she has not kept guard and has therefore allowed Satan, through these people, to "take her joy away from her."

We all, like her, need to live each day as Hebrews 12 says "LOOKING UNTO JESUS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH." Jesus who, "for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God… Wherefore (because many are observing our lives) … let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."

Abiding In His Love, the Key to Abiding Joy

… In Him Abiding

Hebrews 12 vs.3 says to "consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." Are you fainting from your trials and temptations, sorrows and discouragements? It ought not to be so. Vs. 4 says "Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin… despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him… for whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth"

In vs. 11 we find, "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward (if YE YIELD to CHRIST, ABIDE in HIM) it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." If we yield unto His trials, enduring the difficulties in His strength, then we will eventually have success and bear the fruit of AGAPE love that enables us to forbear and to overcome bitterness.

… In Him Life Lasting Joy

Vs. 12 says " Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees." Am I, Martha, or are you allowing someone to take your joy from you? We will see Him again, and we shall rejoice, and no man will take our joy. We see Him now through His word. Are we abiding in Him? Are His words abiding in us ("Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee")? Are these words being translated into actions, righteous acts towards others?

Has someone or something taken your joy from you? Come to Christ that your joy may be made full! Psalm 16:11 says "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."

/ipb062709

MISSIONS CONFERENCE 2009

It seemed that the day started wrong--rain was falling hard and there was a threat of storm according to the morning news. “God is in control,” my husband Dan and I kept rehearsing the words, and true enough as we got close to church the rain started abating. By lunch time God allowed the sun to peek through the dark clouds.

It was a blessing to get reacquainted with our existing missionaries and to get to know the new ones, be personally updated with their ministry, hear of their triumphs in Christ and learn of their needs. Since the church is now supporting about 40 missionaries, we are only able to have them for the Missions Conference once every five years.

From the “mouth of babes” our children’s choir, we heard different verses and missionary quotes that warmed and convicted our hearts. Regarding the importance of missions, the Singles’ Group dramatized the life of Pastor Eric Garcia as a missionary in Kalinga and the risks he went through to present the word of God to the mountain tribes. The choir reinforced the challenges from the pulpit through the songs they sang: Bring Them In, Give Me a Heart, and Christ for the World We Sing. We were blest by Sister Murillo’s testimony and were exhorted by God’s word during the preaching services by Pastor Castillo who preached on “The Vastness and Abundance of Harvest” expounding on Matthew 9:35-38 and Pastor Espinol’s “A Heart for Ministry” focusing on Romans 10. Later through the week, the blessings kept pouring in as Pastor Balila spoke on “Whatsoever Ye Do” (1 Cor.10:31); Pastor Arana on “I Am not Ashamed” (Rom.1:16); Pastor Cayat “An Effective Voluntary Ministry” (1 Cor. 9:15-27); Pastor Fabro “Paul’s Triumphant Testimony” (2 Tim. 4:4-6); tonight we will hear Pastor Elupre speak on “Volunteers must be people of priority” (Matthew 28:16-20) and Pastor Dinampo “The People had the mind to work” (Nehemiah 4:6).

“A VOLUNTEER FOR JESUS” is this year’s Missions Conference theme. I appreciated the way Pastor Gilbert opened the service, he emphasized that there are those who are “called,” and yet God also accepts and cherishes those who VOLUNTEER. Isaiah 6:8 “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” Words that are not so easy to say considering the difficulties involved. I praise the Lord for all missionaries who have heeded the call and have gone where I could not. I thank God that somehow we can become partakers of their fruit when we pray for them and share what little we can give.

As we stood, sometimes served, sang, and occasionally sat to rest— Dan and I couldn’t help but thank the Lord as well, for those in GLBC who volunteered time, talent and treasure for our missionaries. What we could no longer do, someone else in church has volunteered and lovingly done. It was an extra treat to behold all of these. Yes Lord, “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace” and how beautiful also were the hands of thy people I thought, as they served these men and women of beautiful feet!

Let me end with excerpts from Sunday’s choir specials:
“Who’ll go and help this Shepherd kind, Help Him the wandering ones to find:
Who’ll bring the lost ones to the fold? Where they’ll be sheltered from the cold.”
Give me a heart that is tender; Give me a heart that will pray
Give me a heart that will give, will go-- Give me a heart that will humbly obey.
“Christ for the world we sing, the world to Christ we bring”

May the Lord continue to give His word free course and may we freely allow Him to course it through us.

MAX
We called him Max, short for a famous coffee brand Maxwell, because Dan and I loved coffee and Max was as black as a freshly made brew. He was a rottweiller, just a month old when we got him from a friend. As he grew older and bigger, it was evident that although people feared him, he truly was just a ‘puppy at heart’ that got a little older every year. He can be tough and ferocious when he wanted to, his booming bark scaring the wits out of the garbage collector one time when he escaped and causing the bill collector to miss a step or two, when given a Max surprise attack. With us however, a long “Maaaxiii” call will send him scurrying to our feet, hurriedly sitting, lying down and rolling over so he could get a pat and a tummy rub. It wasn’t hard to give.

It was the Easter holiday and no business establishments were open so that when we noticed Max looking kinda sick, I was hoping that he would shake it off like any other illness he got. It was the morning after Easter when I noticed his heavy and fast breathing that was usually a sign of acid building up from a generalized infection. He tried to get up when I patted and called him and when he finally did, it turned out that he used up his last ounce of energy. I tried to give a little bit of first aid, a little oral hydration and medication, but it was too late. He succumbed too fast. I watched him helplessly as he took his last breath. We eventually had to wrap him up, and as we did, I couldn’t help but cry over poor Max. I grieved at how he suffered and I cried over my neglect, but my cries were too late. I should have done what I could while he was still alive. I had lost my chance.

It was then at that moment the thought came: How many of my loved ones, my family and friends, have I known to be aching and needing comfort and care? How many of them are in need of God’s Word yet I haven’t shared it with them enough and as often as I could? The Lord spoke to my heart-- if I could cry like so over my poor dog, how about my loved ones—my family and friends that I care so much more about and love so deeply?

Man is plagued by a spiritual illness to which I have found a cure, a cure that has brought me joys untold but have I done my best to impart it? Have I really tried? How long do I wait before I tell them? I pray I won’t wait ‘til it’s too late.

“How many are the lost that I have lifted
How many are the chained I’ve helped to free
I wonder have I done my best for Jesus
When he has done so much for me.”

Act 4:29 “And now, Lord … grant unto thy servant, that with all boldness (I) may speak thy word”

Phil 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

ABC's of SPIRITUAL RESUSCITATION

These notes came from a message I taught at a ladies seminar a couple of years ago, may it be a blessing to all:

FINDING YOURSELF FEELING LOW?? HAVE A PLAN! NIP & THANK & SING! Nip the unhappy thought in the bud and start counting your blessings… then next thing you know, you'll be SINGING!

Learn to GO BACK TO THE BASICS. If medicine has its ABC's of CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) the Bible has what I call the ABCs of SPIRITUAL RESUSCITATION. May your souls be revived through this plan.

A - ALLOW God to speak to you through READING and MEDITATING on His word.

*To have a HEALTHY HAPPY HEART: EAT & DRINK

(O taste and see, God's word IS GOOD!) & REST RIGHT (on the Lord)!

B - BELIEVING His Word to be true (taking God at his Word!!)

My dearest Godly, level headed husband Dan, once gave me a poster that read

"Worrying is like sitting in a rocking chair. It gives you something to do – but it doesn't get you anywhere!" How true!

*To have a HEALTHY HAPPY HEART: THINK RIGHT! "

C - COMMUNICATING with Him through PRAYER at all times, making sure to CONFESS SINS.

*To have a HEALTHY HAPPY HEART: PRAY RIGHT!

We of course need to also D - DO what His Word says!

*To have a HEALTHY HAPPY HEART: DO RIGHT!

E - EXALT Him (doing all for his Glory!).

F - FELLOWSHIP WITH BELIEVERS and G - GO

The Bible is our Spiritual Life Policy, we will know and get our BENEFITS as we regularly read and study it carefully. (Joshua 1:8)

"Although precariously perched

Atop life's turbulent seas

My heart sits calm and is at rest.

Life's alarms and terrors cease

Not a thing my peace can seize--

I'm safe, within my Father's breast!" ~ipb

"That the trial of your faith… might be found unto the praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ… whom having not seen, ye love… YE REJOICE WITH JOY UNSPEAKABLE and full of glory." (1Peter 1:7 – 8)

MY NEVER AGAIN LIST

It was August 1, 1989 and I was succumbing to unhappy thoughts. I was in the last leg of my Medical Board Exam review and was getting insecure of classmates who seem to be far advanced in their studies and I was also getting anxious at the thought of the exam that loomed ahead; I was also beset by personal problems. The Lord brought great comfort through this list that a dear friend and prayer warrior, Ms. Brenda Garren, gave me months before that day. May it do the same for you.

MY NEVER AGAIN LIST…

1st : Never again will I confess I CAN'T for

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

Philippians 4:13

2nd : Never again will I confess I LACK, for

"My God shall supply all of my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:19

3rd : Never again will I confess FEAR, for

"God hath not given me the spirit of fear, but of love and of a sound mind."

2 Timothy 1:7

4th : Never again will I confess DOUBT and lack of faith, for

"God hath given to every man the measure of faith."

Romans 12:3

5th : Never again will I confess WEAKNESS, for

"the Lord is the strength of my life…"Psalm 27:1… and

"the people that know their God shall be strong and do exploits."

Daniel 11:32

6TH : Never again will I confess DEFEAT, for

"God always causeth me to triumph in Christ Jesus."

2 Corinthians 2:14

7th : Never again will I confess WORRIES and FRUSTRATIONS, for I am

"Casting all my cares upon Him for He careth for me." 1 Peter 5:7

In Christ I am "CARE-FREE"

If I may borrow some of J. Elliot's words:

"Only ONE LIFE, 'twil soon be past
and it's not WHO I have become BUT
ONLY WHAT'S DONE for CHRIST
that truly satisfies and LASTS!

It's been a blessed Christmas and I hope to find the time to write dear friends a decent letter. Am so thankful for those who have kept in touch throughout the year via updates and forwarded helpful emails. I truly look forward to them and have enjoyed reading it all.

It's my prayer that Christmas celebration was blest by the love of family and friends as ours was. I sincerely wish all a familiar yet very true, blessings from God this coming year:

"success and prosperity" and "great peace"

These are wishes that I know will come true for those who:
~love God's word and have not allowed God's law to depart from their mouth,
~whose meditated in His word day and night,
~and have been, and are careful, to do all that is written therein!

John 8:29 is one of the special verses that challenged me at the beginning of this year: "For I do always those things that please Him"

May we continue our new walk in Christ, doing all that pleases Him.