Mission In Payatas

Inspiring Story From Montalban Mother

This is a true story of a courageous woman from Montalban Rizal, Philippines. Lorena Pacheco, a mother of two (Lord Daniel, 8 years old and Daniela 6) had been through so much adversity. From extreme poverty and life’s struggles due to her husband’s heavy drinking habit, to their family’s bumpy journey when their house was devastated by super typhoon.

When typhoon Ondoy strikes last 2009 which caused heavy flooding in many parts of Metro Manila, Lorena and her family decided to move to San Isidro in Montalban Rizal, ( a remote area quite far from the city) and apply for a housing for the victims of typhoon offered by the government, which was approved two years after from the date of the application.

Their struggles didn’t end after they settled in the new house. Lorna’s husband Danilo, a cement mixer truck driver continued with his alcoholism, which caused them to fight almost every day. Danilo’s behavior became worse to the point where he became violent towards Lorna and their children. According to her, their children received beating from him, especially if he’s drunk and every day was a chaos in their household. But Lorena never loses hope, that someday their situation will change.

READ MORE: https://inspiringstories2016.wordpress.com/2016/01/06/inspiring-story-from-montalban-mother/

And You Shall Know That I Am The Lord

How to Build a Better World

Your task is to build a better world,’ God said. I answered, ‘How?… this world is such a large, vast place, and there’s nothing I can do.’ But God said, in all His wisdom, ‘just build a better you.’ – Author Unknown

Every person I know seems to want a better world. Pretty much everybody you see on TV talk shows says they want a better world. All the politicians you hear and see are talking about how they have a plan to build a better world.

All the plans seem to have one thing in common… Somebody else has to change or somebody else has to do better. It seems so daunting a task that few people actually attempt to make the world better. Pretty much everybody you see or hear talking about a better world forgets the easiest place to start… with themselves. It is just like the poem says, “build a better you.”

Befriend people who aren’t like you. Don’t judge them, just try to understand them. Listen, really, really listen to someone who has a point of view very different than your own. Put yourself in their shoes and look at their point of view as if you were going to help them convince someone with your point of view… that your point of view is wrong.

It’s very difficult to learn new things when we invest our time only with people who think like us, act like us, and do the things we do. Expand your horizons by expanding your sphere of influence, have a conversation with someone you normally wouldn’t at least once a week. Learn a foreign language and while you’re at it learn about the country and people who speak it natively. Don’t criticize someone else’s thinking without first understanding the origin of their thoughts. You may discover that the only reason you don’t like someone is because you don’t know them well enough.

Don’t wait for someone to ask for help, don’t offer to help someone who you think needs it… just help whenever and wherever you see help is needed. Don’t aspire to a position or title that people will follow, instead inspire them to follow the PERSON that YOU are. Never, never, never try to be someone that you’re not. Don’t try to imitate someone else, simply be the best you, the you that you have always been meant to be.

Invest time and energy in building a better you every single say and imagine just how much better the world would be if every other person followed your lead. If you really want to build a better world… then begin by building a better you!

The Most Important Investment in Our Future Might Not Be What You Think

There aren’t too many events that can bring everyone from Malala to Beyoncé to the Muppets together to talk about global development. But that’s exactly what happened last week in New York City when people from around the world met at UN headquarters to discuss the global goals that will drive the world’s ambitions and actions for the next fifteen years.

After an incredible week, I left New York with two takeaways: First, when the world works together to improve the lives of people living in extreme poverty, incredible progress is possible. Second, if we want to build on this progress, we need to put women and children at the center of the global agenda. The end of poverty begins with them.

We know progress is possible because we’ve seen it already — especially for women and children. Since 1990, the number of women dying in pregnancy and childbirth has gone down by 46 percent. The number of children dying before their fifth birthday has been cut by more than half.

What’s more, women and children are not only surviving; they are thriving. Young children are sick less often. Adolescents are in school more often. Women’s economic prospects are improving, thanks in part to investments in things like agriculture, financial services, and sanitation.

And not only are women and children benefitting from progress, they’re helping drive it. Their contributions are one of the key reasons that extreme poverty has been cut in half since 1990.

When you stop to think about all of the people behind these statistics — people who are living healthier, longer, and more fulfilled lives — the scope of these accomplishments is even more impressive.

But the reason the world came together in New York last week is to declare that we aren’t done yet. We pledged that over the next fifteen years, we’ll drive progress even further, even faster. And one of the ways we will do that is by continuing to invest in women and children.

Here’s why.

Every cent invested in women and children delivers benefits across society. For example, when the world invests in vaccines, kids are healthier — and their parents don’t have to stay home from work to take care of them.

When we invest in nutrition, children are able to develop to their full promise both physically and mentally, enabling them to learn better in school and contribute more to the workforce as adults.

When we invest in improving a woman’s access to the healthcare she needs to live a healthy life and the contraceptives she needs to plan and space her pregnancies, she can more fully participate in the economy and has a better chance of lifting her family out of poverty.

In other words, when we invest in women and children, we are investing in a healthier, more prosperous future for everyone. If the world lives up to the promises articulated in these global goals — especially its promises to women and children — I’m optimistic that over the next fifteen years, we will see the end of extreme poverty once and for all.

It’s an exciting moment in human history. For the first time ever, we don’t have to accept that extreme poverty will always be a part of everyday life. We know from the progress we’ve seen already that the world can close the gap between what’s possible and what’s purely aspirational. That means we can finally do more than ask, “What if?”

Instead, we can ask, “Where do we start?”

REFERENCE: https://medium.com/@melindagates/the-most-important-investment-in-our-future-might-not-be-what-you-think-dabfe891663e

You Are Called to Serve Others, Not Yourself

“Each of us will give a personal account to God.” (Romans 14:12 NLT, second edition)

At the end of your life on Earth, you will stand before God, and he is going to evaluate how well you served others with your life. The Bible says, “Each of us will give a personal account to God” (Romans 14:12 NLT, second edition).

Think about the implications of that. One day God will compare how much time and energy we spent on ourselves compared with what we invested in serving others.

At that point, all our excuses for self-centeredness will sound hollow: “I was too busy” or “I had my own goals” or “I was preoccupied with working, having fun, or preparing for retirement.” To all excuses God will respond, “Sorry, wrong answer. I created, saved, and called you and commanded you to live a life of service. What part did you not understand?”

The Bible warns unbelievers, “He will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves,” but for Christians it will mean a loss of eternal rewards (Romans 2:8a).

We are only fully alive when we’re helping others. Jesus said, “If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live” (Mark 8:35 TLB; see also Matthew 10:39, 16:25; Luke 9:24, 17:33).

This truth is so important that it is repeated five times in the gospels. If you are not serving, you are just existing, because life is meant for ministry. God wants you to learn to love and serve others unselfishly.

PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>

Talk It Over

• What has been the effect on you when you serve others?
• Why does God want us to learn to love and serve others? What does that say about him?
• What service has God called you to that you didn’t think you had enough time or energy to do?

REFERENCE: http://rickwarren.org/devotional/english/you-are-called-to-serve-others-not-yourself

Love, Mercy

10 Ways to Pray for Busy People

God always answers our prayers with “Yes,” “No,” or “Wait.” And we can be sure that God answers our prayers that are according to His will. The Bible in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 encourages us to: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” While we cannot manipulate God to answer us in all that we ask for, it is still certain that prayer does great wonders. The power of prayer is not on the “prayee” (person praying) but on the One who hears it.

When we are in a situation where we cannot do anything, God can surely do something about it when we pray (Matthew 19:26). When there seems to be nothing we can do for, or give to a person, praying is the best way we can help.

Though His answers may not be in the form of exactly what we pray for – because His ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9) – we can trust that His ways are always far better than ours. It’s always a win-win deed to pray. Prayer helps advance God’s purposes on earth, and prayer is our way of lifting our daily concerns to God.

While going away in a quiet place to pray is a great and sacred thing to do, we can still pray as we go through our daily routines because God is everywhere. So for busy people, here are other ways to pray, on how and when we can pray every day…

• While still being cautious of your surroundings, you can pray in your head when commuting, especially if you are not driving.
• Allot specific day and time for groups of people you would like to pray for. (Ex. Sunday 10pm – Family, Monday 10pm – Pastors and Church Staff)
• Stop and pray when someone texts you, especially if the text is a prayer concern
• Pray for people when you read about their Facebook wall post
• Look at your family or friend’s photo (hard copy or even in your cell phone) as you pray for them
• Pray for the person you’re waiting for in an appointment or a meet-up
• Pray for someone when you hear a song that reminds you of that person
• Pray before you read a book, even if it’s a non-religious, so that you can apply the truths there in your life, and for you to impart some knowledge there with other people
• You can say “breath or arrow prayers” while waiting in long queues at the grocery counter or at the bank and the likes
•  Pray for people after you do your daily quiet time or devotional with God 

And one more bonus tip, you can also spare a prayer for online bloggers (like me!) so that we may always write what is right. Have a good and godly day! ;-)

Three Steps in Praying for the Sick

Over the years, evangelism models have been popular and used with great success, including “The Four Spiritual Laws” and “Evangelism Explosion.” Today, the “Alpha” model of attracting new converts to the faith is extremely successful in many denominations. When we approach the subject of healing, however, a groan can almost be heard in some Christian circles if the topic of a healing model is mentioned.

Someone may ask, "How can we have a model for healing? Isn't it God Who heals?" The answer to the second question is an unequivocal "yes." The purpose of a healing model is not to dogmatize the ministry of praying for the sick and demonized. Neither does it assume that following all the steps in the model guarantees healing for the person prayed for (the prayee). Rather, it is to provide a guide for those involved in such a ministry, and as such, it can be strictly adhered to, providing some order for the pray-er, or it can be deviated from if the prayer ministry situation warrants.

Jesus ministered to the sick and demonized in a great variety of ways: He spat on the ground and made mud, then rubbed it on blind eyes; He rebuked a fever; He commanded deaf and dumb spirits to leave; He even asked the prayee questions before and during ministry. In short, Jesus rarely ministered healing in the same way all the time. John 5:19 tells us Jesus only did what He saw the Father doing, so we can assume Jesus was "in tune" with the Father and proceeded to heal as led. Likewise, since each person we pray for is unique, we need to approach each prayer ministry opportunity with both a general "plan of action" (a model) as well as a hearing spirit as to what God may want to do at that time and place—perhaps through us.

Some may say, "Well, Jesus didn't give us a prayer model!" Good point. However, He never gave us an evangelism model either; He simply said to "preach the gospel to every creature,"1 and "make disciples of all nations."2 As I mentioned at the onset, we know that in the 2,000 years since then, the church has created some models of reaching unbelievers. Jesus did not give us a denominational model either, but we have done an extraordinary job of creating some ourselves. In fact, we have created models for most of the things we do as Christians and Christian institutions, many times without even realizing we have.

Since a study of the gospels reveals that ministry to the sick and demonized accompanied Jesus’ preaching of the kingdom of God, I believe it makes sense to create some guidelines to know how to be as effective in that as we are in evangelism and denomination building.

What I am providing in this article is a simplified three-step model that anyone can engage in when praying for the sick. Before each step, ask the Holy Spirit to come and counsel you on what to do. He knows you and He knows the prayee. He also knows the Father’s will in each case. The three steps follow:

1. Pray for the obvious

If someone is suffering from depression, for example, an obvious and simple prayer might consist of one or more of the following:
“Lord, please heal and/or deliver <name> from depression, in Jesus’ name.”
“In Jesus’ name, I take authority over depression and all underlying causative conditions in <name’s> life and body.”
“I command depression to leave <name> in the name of Jesus.”
“In Jesus’ name I bless <name> with peace and joy and hope.”
Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you even when praying for the obvious. The words we use, the commands we give, and the authoritarian actions we take are infused with much greater power if the Holy Spirit directs them.

2. Pray for more insight

If prayer for the obvious works (the prayee is healed), this step may not be needed. However, you can still engage in this step to ask the Holy Spirit if there is any follow-up you (the pray-er) or the prayee needs to do. Of course, if the prayee is not healed or if the person’s condition is merely improved, this step may prove helpful in determining the cause(s) and possible prayer ministry strategies.

In this step, we seek specific insight from the Holy Spirit on what and how to pray. We may sense the need to pray for the obvious more persistently. Perhaps there are ‘hidden’ causes to the person’s condition, and without the Holy Spirit’s insight, those ‘hidden’ causes may never be addressed. Be aware – this step takes time, persistence, and spiritual receptivity cultivated through intimacy with God.

Whether or not steps one or two help the sick or demonized person, the third step is a necessary one for the ministry itself.

3. Pray to be available

Ask God for assistance in improving your time management and your reordering of life's priorities so you can be available for ministry opportunities. Scripture is clear that we are the body of Christ, and each of us has different functions and varying gifts. However, when one is sick, we all suffer (1 Corinthians 12:26, “And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it.”3) This should encourage us to be prepared if God desires to use us in ministering healing or improvement to someone. If the sick person is an unbeliever, healing can provide us with an evangelistic entry point into their lives -- it did for Jesus and the early church.

God just wants us to be available – He will do the works!

REFERENCE:

10 Reasons Why it is More Blessed to Give than to Receive

The most unbelieved beatitude in the Bible is: “It is more blessed to give than receive” (Acts 20:35). The giver happier than the getter? Surely some mistake? That goes against all our intuitions and instincts. So let me help you to believe it and act upon it by giving you ten reasons why it is more blessed to give than to receive.

1. Giving Obeys God’s Command
The Old Testament has way more commands about financial giving – who, when, and how much – than the New Testament. Maybe the New Testament writers just assumed that as God had given far more to us in the New Testament – giving Himself to death – that our giving should follow fairly logically and easily. But, just in case we might miss the link, there are clear New Testament commands also (e.g. 1 Corinthians 1:2). As all of God’s commands are given to enhance our lives, obeying this command will increase our happiness.

2. Giving Submits to God’s Lordship
Every act of obedience recognizes that there is a higher authority in our lives, that there is a Lord over us who is entitled to honor and respect. Due to our temperament, personality, or circumstances, we may find some commands relatively easy to obey. Our submission is really tested in the areas where our own nature and situation make obedience more difficult. For most of us, money is one of those areas. Our wallet is often the last citadel to fall to God’s rule, and even when it does fall, it gets rebuilt and re-secured again all too quickly. If only we could remember that Divine Lordship is not a threat; rather it’s the place of greatest safety.

3. Giving Exhibits God’s Heart
God is THE giver of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17). As His image-bearers we are called to copy His giving, to be mini-pictures of His infinitely large heart. The larger our hearts (and the wider our hands), the larger the picture we paint of God’s character. What do people think of God when they think of the way you use your money?

4. Giving Illustrates God’s Salvation
At the heart of the Gospel is sacrificial self-giving (John 3:16). That’s why when the Apostle Paul wanted to encourage the Corinthians to give more, he pointed them to the person and work of Christ. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 2:9). Yes, you abound in faith, love, etc., but “see that you abound in this grace also.” When we give sacrificially, painfully, for the benefit of others, we are faintly and on a small-scale preaching the Gospel message.

5. Giving Trusts God’s Provision
The biggest deterrent to giving is fear, the fear that if I give away too much I won’t have enough for this or that. When we give sacrificially, above and beyond what is comfortable and easy, we are expressing our faith and trust in God to provide for us and our family. This is not an argument for folly, but for faith. Many Christians have discovered the joy of casting their crumbs of bread upon the waters and multiple loaves returning after many days (Ecclesiastes 11:1). It’s such a joy to see God fulfill His promise of provision when we obey Him.

REFERENCE: http://www.christianity.com/church/tithing-and-giving/10-reasons-why-it-is-more-blessed-to-give-than-to-receive.html

Bible Verses on Giving

Greed and selfishness are sins that we must work toward abolishing. Although this might be difficult to do, as Christians, we should try our very best to live a holy life. Think not of what you can do for yourself - but think of what you can do for others. After all, God gave his only begotten Son to save us from our sins!

No one is perfect, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to avoid greed throughout our life. We should spend our days giving to others and not keeping score. This is so hard to do. We should try to reflect on all of the times in our lives that we were completely selfless. It's hard to think of times, isn't it? That's why we need to be better Christians every day of our lives!

It's important to be willing to give, both to the Lord and His Church and to other people in need. If you want to know what the Bible says about giving, then be sure to read the Bible verses on giving below.

Deuteronomy 15:10 You shall surely give him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him: because that for this thing the LORD your God shall bless you in all your works, and in all that you put your hand to.

Deuteronomy 16:17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which he has given you.

1 Chronicles 29:9 Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.
Proverbs 3:27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.

Proverbs 21:26 He covets greedily all the day long: but the righteous gives and spares not.

Proverbs 28:27 He that gives to the poor shall not lack: but he that hides his eyes shall have many a curse.
Malachi 3:7 Even from the days of your fathers you are gone away from my ordinances, and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, said the LORD of hosts. But you said, Wherein shall we return?

Malachi 3:10 Bring you all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me now herewith, said the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Matthew 6:1 Take heed that you do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise you have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

Luke 3:11 He answers and said to them, He that has two coats, let him impart to him that has none; and he that has meat, let him do likewise.

Luke 6:30 Give to every man that asks of you; and of him that takes away your goods ask them not again.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Acts 20:35 I have showed you all things, how that so laboring you ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

2 Corinthians 9:10 Now he that ministers seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness.

REFERENCE: http://www.godvine.com/bible/category/giving

11 Reasons to Read Your Bible

We're all told that we're supposed to read our Bible, but why should we? What makes the Bible so important? Can it really do anything for us? Here are several reasons why we should read our Bibles, and it's far more than, "because I told you so!"

1.  It Makes You Much Wiser
The Bible isn't just there to read. It's a book full of all kinds of advice. From relationships to money to how to get along with your parents, it's all in there. When we become wiser, we make much better decisions, and with good decisions comes many other good things.

2.  It Helps Us Overcome Sin and Temptations
We all face temptations to sin every day, often several times a day. It's part of the world we live in. When we read our bible, we get advice on how to approach situations and overcome the temptations we face. We understand what we're supposed to do rather than just guessing and hoping we get it right.

3.  Reading Your Bible Gives You Peace
We all lives such busy lives. Sometimes it feels chaotic and noisy. Reading the Bible can help us sort through all the craziness to see what's really important. It can bring about peace in our lives rather than allowing us to wallow in our confusion.

4.  The Bible Gives You Direction
Sometimes our lives can feel a little like we're just wandering uselessly. Even teens can sometimes feel that they lack direction. When we read our Bible's we can clearly see that God has a purpose for us at every state of our lives. His words can give us direction, even if we only need that direction and purpose in the short term.

5.  It Builds Your Relationship with God
There are a few really important things in our lives, and our relationship with God is one of them. Reading our Bibles gives us insight into God. We can pray on scripture verses. We can talk to God about things we're reading. We grow in an understanding of God as we read and grasp more of His Word.

6.  Read a Bestseller
If you're an avid reader, this is one bestseller you shouldn't miss. The Bible is an epic story of love, life, death, war, family, and more. It has it's ups and downs, and it's pretty riveting. If you're not a reader, this may be the one book worth saying you read. If you're going to read anything, you can say you read the biggest bestseller of all time.

7.  Learn a Little Bit of History
There is plenty of archaeological proof of biblical stories. The Bible is full of real history, and it can give you insight into other areas of history. When we read about our forefathers leaving England for freedom of religion, we understand them better. So the Bible helps us understand human history and how often we repeat the same mistakes.

8.  We Can Understand Jesus a Little More
When we read through the New Testament, we get to read about Jesus' life. We can understand better his choices and the true sacrifice of his death on the cross. He becomes far more real to us when we get into his story in the Bible.

9.  It Can Change Your Life
The Bible is a life-changing book. So many people go to the self-help section of the bookstore to look for a magic solution to their problems. However, most of those answers sit in the chapters of the Bible. It can give us insight, help us grow, explain our depression, explain our behaviors. The Bible can make a huge difference in our lives.

10.  It Brings You Back to Faith, Rather than Religion
We can get very caught up in our religion. We can go through all the motions that religion dictates, but it means nothing without faith. When we read our Bible, we open ourselves up to remembering our faith. We read stories of others who have demonstrated real faith, and sometimes we also are reminded of what happens when we lose our faith. Yet the Word of God reminds us that He is our focus.

11.  Reading the Bible Brings a New Perspective
When things just don't seem right or things are getting a bit stale, the Bible can bring a new perspective into the mix. Sometimes we think things should be one way or another, but the Bible may remind us that there are other ways to think on the happenings in our lives. It provides us, at times, with a fresh, new perspective.

REFERENCE: http://christianteens.about.com/od/understandingyourbible/tp/11-Reasons-To-Read-Your-Bible.htm

10 Ways To Help Others That Will Lead You To Success

Helping others should be a natural extension of every business leader’s responsibilities. Unfortunately, it doesn’t come as easy as you would think. As leaders, we often get too caught up in operations or our own problems to give people the help they need. However, in the last year, I’ve realized that most of my best clients, partners and relationships have come from me helping someone. Here are 10 thoughts that can remind you to help others.

1. Sharing knowledge
One of the easiest ways to help others is to simply share your knowledge. You don’t have to be in front of a classroom to teach. Every day there is an opportunity to educate someone about your area of expertise. The key is to keep educating yourself so you can stay ahead of the curve.

2. Finding out what’s valuable to them
The number one rule of helping people should be to find out what’s actually valuable to someone. You may spend time and effort helping someone with something that they didn’t even want help with. Make an effort to ask them where they need help, and keep that in mind when you see an opportunity.

3. Sharing your resources
Think about the resources you’ve invested in and be mindful of whether they can help someone else. Maybe a developer on your team has some extra time and one of your contacts needed some help on a quick job. Or, maybe you have Cardinals season tickets and there’s a game that you won’t be able to attend. Keep those under- or unused resources in the back of your mind and try to connect them to people who can use them.

4. Making them aware of an opportunity
It’s important to keep an eye out for opportunities. It could be good press, a potential partner, or a general business opportunity. Once you see an opportunity, think about who could benefit from knowing about it. One of the ways I like to help my employees is to help their friends, relatives or significant others if they’re looking for a job. A lot of times I can use my business connections to find a potential good fit.

5. Giving them transparent feedback
Transparent feedback can be tough because some people don’t take constructive criticism well.  There is a difference between telling someone that they suck and giving them good examples of how they can improve.  Some people won’t take it well but, in the long run, you will help the people that you want to work with and improve the efficiency and success of your company as well.

6. Being a brand advocate
I was at a conference the other day and an American Airlines employee was going on and on about how she loved her Modify watch. She truly wanted to help the company because she loved the product and wanted to see them succeed. Think about the products and services that you love, and don’t be shy about letting people know about them.

7. Giving introductions
There’s a lot of big talk out there. Someone knows somebody who is a great contact or client, but they never actually make the introduction. Rather than making and breaking promises, make an effort to actually send out several intros each week. However, don’t let your credibility take a hit: make sure the people you’re advocating are legit.

8. Volunteering your time
Time is valuable and most people understand that.  When you take time out of your day to help a friend, they remember it. I try and do a guest webinar every couple of weeks for contacts so they know I’m willing to take time out of my day to share my experience with the community. Even if it’s not something as public as a webinar or podcast, set aside some time to help a contact. It could be as simple as helping them move to a new home.

9. Recognizing them
There are a variety of ways to give someone recognition. You can include them in an article that you’ve written or mention them in a speech or presentation. An easy way to recognize someone is to nominate them for an award. There are countless awards out there that could really help out your network. It will mean a lot to the nominee that you thought of them and wanted to recognize them. On a smaller scale, you can have internal recognition within your company. We have an award called “the belt” that looks like a WWF belt. Each week the current winner chooses the next winner. It’s an easy way to make an employee feel good about the solid work they’ve done for your company.

10. Giving gifts
Gifts can be tricky because you don’t want to “buy” peoples’ favor. You want to get them a gift that makes sense and will help them.  When Hurricane Sandy hit, we sent care packages with items that survivors could use as they recovered from the devastation. People tend to remember who helped them when they were in need, so it’s important to make an extra effort during these times.

REFERENCE: http://www.forbes.com/sites/johnhall/2013/05/26/10-ways-to-help-others-that-will-lead-you-to-success/

10 Ways Christians Can Transform Modern Culture

10 Ways Christians Can Transform The Modern Culture

Work on yourself first. The only thing we fully control are our own personal decisions. So, if we want to have any influence over culture or see any positive changes happen, we need to work on our own lives first. The best way to change your life for the better is to abandon yourself to God’s grace.
Evangelize, evangelize, evangelize. When we get to heaven, I believe the first question we will be asked is “who did you bring with you?” Jesus’ mission statement is “go and make disciples”. If we call ourselves His followers, we can’t avoid evangelizing – it is a core part of our identity in Christ. What can we offer our world that is better than the Good News of Jesus?
Pray. Then pray some more. Any true transformation will take place in the hearts of others because of God’s grace being operative in their lives and them choosing it themselves. So, pray for them. Pray for yourself. There is no spiritual power without prayer. Your relationship with Christ is found in prayer.
Support those groups which are doing good work already. If you know of groups which already exist and are doing great work in transforming culture, then invest in them. Invest your time. Invest your money. Don’t let another opportunity pass you by to put your money where your beliefs are. Also, don’t be fooled into thinking we can change culture through mere politics. Rather, politics is a reflection of where our culture already has gone. Finally, we must also affirm what is still good about our modern culture and try to support those things as well.
Focus on young adults. Young adults are not the future of the Church – they are already part of it, so we need to make sure they not only stay in the Church but help the Church grow and thrive. We can assure this happens by evangelizing them, building relationships with them, forming them to be disciples, and loving them. They will also be the primary evangelists (either for Jesus or the culture) of the next generation.
Learn from how others have transformed culture in the past. The changes in our culture didn’t happen overnight and neither will the future changes. We need to focus our efforts in media, education, fine arts, entertainment, etc to offer positive alternatives in these areas. While relationships are key, we can’t ignore these other areas.
Dream big. Too many Catholics are fine with the status quo. This is not how God feels. His plans are always on a grand scale. Whether that is for our own lives or the world. So, dream big! The entire world needs to be transformed. Where do we start? By taking the next step. I might add that we need to support our leaders when they do the right thing.
Use all available tools. The internet, new media, tech, etc. These are at our fingertips now. Use them. Remember how the Industrial Revolution was driven by new technologies. The changes can be either negative or positive. The Church must always answer the “should we”and “how should we if we do” questions when it comes to progress.
Stick to the basics. Most modern people are basically un-churched or de-churched, even if they go to church sometimes. This means they know little (if any) about a personal relationship with Jesus. So, stick to the basics. The best place to start is the Gospel message. Can you communicate it clearly and effectively? Also, NEVER start by trying to change another person’s behavior/belief. Start by loving them enough wherever they are. Change in lifestyle and belief comes AFTER someone chooses to follow Jesus.
Invest your time, energy, and talents in helping others. The best way to transform culture is to make sure you are helping those you have influence with. Family, children, spouses, friends, co-workers, etc. These are the people you stand the best chance of helping make positive changes. Those small changes can lead to cultural trends. So, don’t underestimate them.
The world needs Jesus, because He has the answer for all in the truth and grace He offers to all.

Jesus gave us a Church and through it He gives us a moral anchor, an answer to broken families, addiction, sin, war, violence, abuse, and all the other issues in our culture. More than ever the world needs the Church, if our society is to last.

REFERENCE: http://iamproudtobecatholic.com/2015/08/10/10-ways-christians-can-transform-modern-culture/

Why Should We Pray

Why Should We Pray – To whom do we pray?
Before we can answer, “why should we pray,” we must know to whom we pray. There is only one supreme Creator and sovereign God. There is only one way to Him and that is through His only- Son, Jesus Christ. God, our Heavenly Father, is the only one we can be assured of who hears and answers our prayers. He is the God of amazing love, mercy, and forgiveness.

By Him, all things are possible. Jesus says in Mark 10:27, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God."
Daniel 9:18 tells us: “We do not ask because we deserve help, but because you are so merciful.” (Mercy means showing favor, compassion, and kindness.)
God’s ultimate demonstration of love is forgiveness of the sins each of us have committed. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it” (John 3:16-17).

He is the only God who has done this, and is the only God able to do so. But His enemy, Satan, has sent many false gods to deceive mankind. Do not be deceived nor allow anything or anyone to take priority over the only true and living God.
Why Should We Pray – For what do we pray?
Prayer is the key to the heart of God. Prayer is the only way to a real and personal relationship with God.

Pray acknowledging He is God, and that you accept His gracious gift, Jesus Christ, as your Lord and Savior (Genesis 17:1, Romans 6:16-18).
Pray confessing our sins and accepting His forgiveness (Romans 3:23-26).
Pray that His will be done in our lives, that His Holy Spirit guide us, and that we be filled with the fullness of all God has for us.
Pray for (spiritual) understanding and wisdom (Proverbs 2:6-8, Proverbs 3:5).
Pray with thanksgiving for all the ways He blesses us (Philippians 4:6). Pray when we are ill, lonely, going through trials or interceding for others (James 5:14-16, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
Pray to worship Him (Psalm 95:6-7).
There is nothing we can’t pray about. There are abundant references to prayer in the Bible. The Bible tells us to “pray without ceasing” and “in everything give thanks to the Lord.” When we choose to have a positive attitude, we realize we have received many blessings for which to give God praise.

We find intimacy with God through communicating with Him in prayer. We go to Him in faith, knowing that He hears and answers all our prayers (1 John 5:14). Be confident that God knows and wants what is best for us; so ask that His will be done in all we seek from Him. Then, thank Him for it, even though it hasn’t happened yet.
Why Should We Pray – How do we pray?
Jesus gave his disciples, what we call, “The Lord’s Prayer” (Matthew 6) as a model.

In addition, Hebrews 4:14-16 tells us we can pray boldly -- “That is why we have a great High Priest who has gone to heaven, Jesus the Son of God. Let us cling to him and never stop trusting him. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it.”

Above all, pray with sincerity, honor, and humbleness before the Almighty God. “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results” (James 5:16).

Learn More About Prayer!

WHAT DO YOU THINK? - We have all sinned and deserve God's judgment. God, the Father, sent His only Son to satisfy that judgment for those who believe in Him. Jesus, the creator and eternal Son of God, who lived a sinless life, loves us so much that He died for our sins, taking the punishment that we deserve, was buried, and rose from the dead according to the Bible. If you truly believe and trust this in your heart, receiving Jesus alone as your Savior, declaring, "Jesus is Lord," you will be saved from judgment and spend eternity with God in heaven.

REFERENCE: http://www.allaboutprayer.org/why-should-we-pray.htm

Satanist Bows to Jesus, Gets Filled With the Holy Spirit and Preaches the Gospel

"He can make your back feel better," his mother said. And she was right. The "doctor" healed 9-year-old Pedro Ochoa's back—the excruciating pain was gone!

But this was no ordinary Honduran doctor. The man was a self-described "new age white magic" doctor—a Satan worshipper. Little did the young boy know that from that moment on, Satan had plans for Pedro's life.

Pedro's father was a businessman who traveled extensively. He divorced Pedro's mother after she had an affair. Pedro, now 14, and his two younger sisters chose to stay with her. Two months later, Pedro's mom walked out on the children, leaving Pedro in charge of his sisters and an infant cousin she had been caring for.

"I felt so vulnerable," Pedro recalls. "So incredibly hurt."

Feeling powerless to change his situation and that he needed protection from the world crashing in around him, Pedro remembered the doctor who healed him through white magic.

"When I told him about my situation, the doctor said he could help me," Pedro recalls. "He told me that he could give me power and a god who is going to care about me and make me rich. He said that I would be able to grow a lot in this religion and become so powerful that I would be invincible if I would study the materials and consecrate myself to this god."

For a young boy desperate for control in his life, the promises of the white magic doctor were just what he longed for. Pedro agreed to become a student. He went through the ritual of consecrating himself, including donning an amulet that connected him to his idol/god (the spirit world), and declaring his love for his god.

"At this time in my life, I knew Christians, but I didn't know anything about the Bible," Pedro says. "To me, Christians just worshipped a different idol or god; I didn't know that there was only one true God."

The doctor's promises, however, weren't empty. Powers soon became evident in Pedro's life. "I started training, and I began to grow in this power—I started with moving small objects with my mind—and my powers continued to grow."

But the power came at a price. "I started hearing this voice," Pedro says. "And I knew it was the devil. He would tell me that my destiny was to go to hell with him—it was the reason I was born—and to fight in this huge battle against Christ/God, who is a selfish god that wanted all the glory and praise for Himself. Satan wanted me to fight to help take back what God had stolen from him."

Pedro sank deeper and deeper into Satanism. He soon was placed in charge of a group of other teens who also desired to grow "their powers." Pedro says he was given visions about the teens, insight into their lives, making it easy to convince them to follow his lead. They held séances and spoke to the dead, they used an Ouija board regularly with great success, and they spent an inordinate amount of time in cemeteries where things went on that he prefers not to discuss.

As he reflects upon his life, Pedro says there were things he came to realize. The more into Satanism he sank, the less human he was. "I didn't cry, I didn't laugh ... I had zero feelings," he says. "Also, I would later learn that these powers I thought were mine, were actually demons working through me. I had opened doors to them and they worked to not only deceive others, but me too! But at the time, I just believed that I was superior to everyone around me."

"Everyone," that is, except for these "weird" people.

"Nothing scared me anymore," Pedro says. "My friends and I were totally in the darkness. But every now and then a weird person would walk by. I knew nothing about God, but these people made me scared. I didn't want to be close to them. I wanted to run away from them—there was something shining on them ... it was just too shiny for me, to the point that I couldn't even look at them!"

Pedro says that he would later learn that these people weren't just Christians by name, but people who had the fire of the living God within them—and he feared them for reasons he did not understand.

And although Pedro didn't know it at the time, his battle with Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit was going to take place much sooner than he imagined.

Now a freshman in college, Pedro found himself in a U.S. English class with an older teacher who was one of those "on fire" Christians. Pedro wanted to turn in a paper late, but the teacher denied him, saying he would fail—but if Pedro would attend his Saturday meeting he held in the class each week, he could turn in his paper after that.

The meeting? A Bible study!

"That Saturday, the moment I crossed the gate into the college, something hit my spirit—it was scary, like I was about to die," Pedro says. "My body started shaking and I wasn't even close to the room yet, and the closer I got, the worse I felt ... it was like this crazy scared thing moving inside of me, from my head to my feet ... it's hard to put into words how scared I was. I was sweating and felt like I was going crazy. It wasn't a human scared, it was all the demonic power and devils living in me who were scared to come into the presence of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, ... but I didn't know that then, all I knew was I wanted to run fast and far away from that place."

Pedro attempted to turn his paper in and leave, but the teacher refused the paper, saying he would need to sit through the meeting.

"They started to talk about God, the Bible, the Son of the Living God, the ABCs of salvation, the Cross," Pedro says. "I was listening, but fighting with stuff inside of me. But the words started to hit me. God loved me; died on the cross for me; He was not against—he wanted to rescue me!"

As the meeting concluded, the group stood to sing a song and the teacher began to pray for each person. As he prayed, people began to fall to the floor under the power of the Holy Spirit. Pedro knew he was in the presence of some kind of supernatural power as people were falling to the cement floor, but not getting hurt.

Then the teacher came to Pedro.

"We were eye-to-eye when he began to pray and boom! It was like an explosion," Pedro says. "I fell to the ground, but it felt like falling on a bed. My body began to shake like crazy. I felt this power like electricity going through my head, feet, legs, hands. I knew this was my last day on earth. I remember thinking I can't receive this kind of power—it was too much, my body is going to explode! It was so strong, I couldn't resist, like millions of volts in my body."

Pedro began to yell loudly as he felt the moment of his death approaching—whatever "it" was, was killing him.

But he didn't die.

"I suddenly realized I could breathe," Pedro says. "Then this voice came into my mind and kept repeating, 'God is real! God is alive! Jesus is real! God is touching you now!' I started to cry like a baby. I opened my eyes and in that moment I realized that the power that was in me was nothing compared to the power of God, which was now touching my soul. I realized I was on the wrong side of the line—I didn't want to fight against God, I didn't want to be an enemy of God."

Pedro stayed on the floor as the powers of darkness drained from him and the Holy Spirit worked in him. After some time, the teacher returned, helped him sit up, then prophesied over him that for the next three days, he wouldn't be able to sleep as the Lord wanted to speak with him.

It was as the teacher prophesied. For three days, Pedro did not sleep. "Those three days shaped my life," Pedro says. "God revealed Himself to me, explaining things to me, helping me to understand His power, and how I was now coming to the light, the side of God."

Pedro moved to Miami not long after his salvation experience. He says he could no longer hang around with his old friends, because when he was in the same room, their efforts to contact "the dead" no longer worked. About six years ago, Pedro, who worked in television, moved to Peoria, Illinois, to assist a church in developing television programming.

He is now the director of evangelism at Hilltop Campus Church, an Assemblies of God U.S. Missions Chi Alpha Campus Ministries church plant near several colleges and universities in Peoria, Illinois. Ironically Pedro, who is now 34, spends time mentoring young people to grow in their prayer lives and experience the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit.

"Christians need to understand how powerful the name of Jesus is," Pedro says. "When Jesus is 100 percent in our lives, we are so powerful against the enemy. Nothing is comparable to the power of Jesus—remember, the devil and all the darkness is limited because they are creations, not the Creator. Those who serve Satan can yell and say things, but inside they are scared, shaking, and wanting to run!"

Although Pedro says that early on he would battle with Satan's attempts to reclaim his life, the Holy Spirit remained his constant companion. Through prayer, Pedro even rejected the healing the Honduran "white magic" doctor performed on his back, which resulted in several years of pain for Pedro before God stepped in and performed His own healing. "That healing I had as a child was Satan's hold on my life," Pedro explains. "When I renounced it through prayer, my struggles with Satan were lifted."

Pedro says he never intended to share his testimony, as he was deeply ashamed of his past life. But through the encouragement of Hilltop Campus Church interim pastor and AG U.S. missionary Dale Crall, Pedro, now the Holy Spirit-controlled follower of Christ, has begun to open up about his experiences.

"Pedro is one of the most spiritually discerning and truth-living Christlike believers I've ever met," Crall states. "He is highly favored of God and is gifted in everything he does. He brings God's presence in all he does."

"One of my burning desires is that Christian people can know the power of God's Word and live in the reality that God is real and close to us," Pedro says. "That when you walk into a room, people can feel the presence of the Lord with you—it will change your life, and may change their lives too!"

REFERENCE: http://www.charismanews.com/culture/50748-satanist-bows-to-jesus-gets-filled-with-holy-spirit-and-preaches-the-gospel

14 VERSES FOR THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE

Spiritual warfare is a reality of life. If you are a leader of Christ’s church, you have a bullseye on your back. If you’re in a battle today, let these texts give you strength.

1. Genesis 3:14-15  Then the Lord God said to the serpent:  . . . I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.

It was God Himself who put the enmity — the hostility — between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman; thus, He must have a purpose for the battle.

2. Exodus 15:3  The Lord is a warrior; Yahweh is His name.

It’s really quite simple: God is our warrior. And He does not lose. Period.

3. 1 Samuel 17:47  . . . and this whole assembly will know that it is not by sword or by spear that the Lord saves, for the battle is the Lord’s. He will hand you over to us.

David got it right. The battle is God’s, and He delivers according to His own plans.

4. 2 Kings 6:16  Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid, for those who are with us outnumber those who are with them.”

God’s forces may be unseen, but they are not unaware or unavailable. The size of the Enemy's forces need not worry us.

5. 2 Chronicles 20:15  This is what the Lord says: “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast number, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”

Jahaziel spoke truth. If the battle is the Lord’s, we do not need to be afraid or discouraged.

6. Job 1:9  Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Haven’t You placed a hedge around him, his household, and everything he owns?”

Even when God gives the enemy permission to attack us, Satan knows he cannot go beyond God’s protection. The Enemy knows about God’s hedges.

7. Matthew 4:10-11  Then Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him.” Then the Devil left Him.

That’s the way it works: Jesus says, “Get away,” and the devil flees. He has to.

8. Mark 1:23  Just then a man with an unclean spirit was in their synagogue. He cried out, “What do You have to do with us, Jesus—Nazarene? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

The demons know who Jesus is. He’s the Holy One who has come to destroy them.

9. Luke 22:31-32  “Simon, Simon, look out! Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.”

Not only must Satan get permission to sift us, but the same Jesus who gives him permission to attack us is the One who prays us through the conflict. He never leaves us alone.

10. Romans 16:20   The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

The God who gives us peace is also the God who defeats the Enemy in the battle. God will keep His Word of Genesis 3:15 — Satan will not win.

11. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10  Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me . . . . For when I am weak, then I am strong.

The Enemy’s attacks may weaken us, but in God’s plan we defeat him by our weakness – not by our strength. "God, make me weak" is, in God's economy, a prayer for victory.

12. Ephesians 6:10-11  Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. Put on the full armor of God.

The strength we do have is God’s strength. The armor we wear is God’s armor. Victory in warfare is never about us — and that's a good thing.

13. 1 John 4:4  . . . the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

God lives in us. That’s amazing. That’s also our guarantee of victory.

14. Revelation 12:11  They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they did not love their lives in the face of death.

Even if we die in the battle, we still win.

When we get that truth right, the enemy can't hurt us anymore.

REFERENCE: http://chucklawless.com/2015/07/14-verses-for-the-spiritual-battle-3/  

Employee Volunteering Brings In Happiness

Pray With Us

Slay the Dragon of Worry

Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt

In the Old Testament, there are different Hebrew words used for sin. One is chata’.  Chata’ means missing such as missing the mark. We see the word chata’ used for the word sin in the verse Psalm 119:11 “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” We might read it like this, “I have hidden your word in my heart so that I won’t miss it and sin.” This makes me think of the many times I’ve seen a guy say something his wife didn’t like and I’d hear him utter, “Oh, oh. I’ve just blown it.”

When we worry, we chata’ – we miss it. Worry is sin. For many people worry feels like compassion. “I’ve been worried about you!” Your upbringing may have taught you that to worry for someone is like an act of compassion. It’s not true. Its chata’ – it’s missing it. Worrying does nothing but bring momentum to unbelief which is the enemy of God. Unbelief strips faith from our lives. Worry strips faith from our lives. Hebrews 11:6 says that “without faith it is impossible to please God…” When we read that “Jesus was amazed at the people’s unbelief” in Mark 6:6, it is not a compliment. It was actually the unbelief of the people who hindered His power from miracles and healing. Matthew 13:58 says, “And so Jesus did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief.”

Have you ever had to unclog a clogged drain? What you pull out is disgustingly gross! Worry is just like one of those disgusting things that clogs. It hinders the power of God from operating in our life because of the inherent power of unbelief. Unbelief is really faith. It’s faith in what the devil can do rather than faith in what God can do. Think about it. You’ve probably heard someone speak these words. Oh, I just know they are going to downsize and I’ll lose my job, or Oh, I am so afraid I am going to get the flu this winter, or Well I know I’ll get a stupid cold. I always do!  Worry is the down payment on the very thing you dread coming. It’s the payment of unbelief which is faith in what the devil will bring against you. This is why God instructed us through His Word saying, “Cast all your cares, your worries, and your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

Worrying is chata’ – it’s missing the mark. It’s sin. What is the solution? Get yourself a prescription – the promises of God. The promises of God are the prescriptions to take into your heart that will, over time, strengthen your mind, strengthen your heart, and transform you from a worrier to a prayer and proclaimer of your faith in Him. You will become one who learns to say with confidence, “God will never fail me or forsake me which is why I can say with confidence, the Lord is my Helper, so I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6)

Instead of worrying about those you love, cast those cares on the Lord. Rise up in faith and prayer and say, Father, I will not miss the mark by worrying about my children. I will pray and put my trust in you. For as much as I love them, I know you love them more! They belong to you. I thank you today that you are raising up labors to talk with them and boldly share your love with them. I thank you that the eyes of their understanding is enlightened by your Holy Spirit. I thank you that your angels surround them today and I rebuke every demonic attack that the enemy has set against them. I ask that your assist them as your Holy Spirit leads them to you.

This is putting the promises of God to work which is hitting the mark. This is the exercise of faith that is pleasing to God! Do this and you won’t be guilty of worrying – of hindering God’s power through unbelief and missing the mark. No chata’ for you today. As 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your cares, your worries, and your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” Proclaim His goodness in your life. Sing His praises. Let faith and praise arise!

Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him”

In His Love,

Pastor Tim Burt

REFERENCE: https://todaysfreshmanna.wordpress.com/2014/04/07/slay-the-dragon-of-worry/

The Story of Franklin Llagas

When he can, John Keating of the Servants of the Word joins Charlie and Peggy Lasa of the Ligaya Ng Panginoon North Sector's Jail Ministry on their weekly visits to the QC jail. On a visit, an inmate who was part of the worship team called his attention.  John with his fantastic memory recognized the inmate, Frank Llagas. John met Frank on one of his visits to Payatas with Fr. Paul Uwemedimo.  Fr Paul with his UK and local contacts put up a center and the Puso Ng Ama Foundation to serve the poor in Payatas. He also helped Frank acquire a house and would at times live with them.

Frank told John he was falsely accused of raping a mentally handicapped girl. At the onset, Frank was told the case would not be pursued if he paid a significant sum. He may have looked like a good extortion target as he was doing quite well repairing appliances. He did not concede and was soon sent to jail. Soon after, a group approached him claiming they could work on his release if he advanced money for legal representation. Believing this to be legitimate, Frank sold his house to raise the funds. The group soon disappeared with his money.

Frank and his family faced untold challenges that may not have happened if he were not in jail. Instead of being crushed, he clung more closely to God. Frank was determined to remain joyful and was a front-liner at the jail worship, always with a smile and cheerful spirit.

John felt more had to be done to help Frank. He took an active interest in Frank's case and attended the court hearings when possible. He was deeply disturbed when there were three successive deferments of the hearing.  Witnesses gave distorted testimonies and no one showed up for Frank's defense as his wife had left him for another man. The judge had to declare one last hearing date if Frank could not present a witness. The outlook was very bleak and the possible sentence would have robbed Frank of a good part of his life. Boy Tambule, a freed inmate and whose own jail story is inspiring worked on tracking down a witness who could credibly testify to support the innocence of Frank. This was evidently vital in the court's decision to free Frank early this June.

What if John had not been coming to Payatas, or to the jail? What if Fr. Paul had not reached out to the poor families like Frank's in Payatas? What if Frank turned his back on the Lord and did not want to attend the jail ministry group? What if there was no Boy Tambule to track down witnesses? What if no one wanted to serve in the jail ministry? The Lord's providence was there all along, the power of prayer and His blessing on the work of those who labor in the vineyard cannot be denied. What's important is that Frank knows that it was the Lord who rescued him. Since being freed, Frank and Boy have been joining the jail ministry to share their faith and encourage their ex-fellow inmates.

After losing five years to jail, Frank now needs to rebuild his livelihood. He resumed working on appliance repair and needs our help. He repairs electric fans, washing machines, electric irons, electric stoves, rice cookers, dispensers, oven toasters, hot water pots, slow cookers, blenders etc. If you have have any appliance to donate or are in need of his services please call or text him at 09085546939. Donations of these appliances are particularly welcome since this will help Frank build up some capital and sustain a small appliance repair outlet he put up in the Commonwealth QC area.  Referrals will surely help so pass this on to your relatives and friends who may be in need of his services.

Let Frank cheer and inspire you with his story. If you will allow him, he will gladly sing a song of praise to the Lord in a way that will lift up your spirit, and that at times have left many in tears!  Call Frank!

Feel like giving up? 10 Bible Verses to Help You Persevere

Sometimes things can just get a bit much – whether we're struggling with our faith, or finding everything else in life is getting on top of us, it's hard to know how, or why, to keep pressing on. These verses are a reminder of God's promises, that others have been there before and the value in keeping going.

Psalm 33:20-22

We wait in hope for the Lord;

he is our help and our shield.

In him our hearts rejoice,

for we trust in his holy name.

May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,

even as we put our hope in you.

Isaiah 40:28b-31

The Lord is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,

and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary

and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the Lord

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

Lamentations 3:19-24

I remember my affliction and my wandering,

the bitterness and the gall.

I well remember them,

and my soul is downcast within me.

Yet this I call to mind

and therefore I have hope:

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion;

therefore I will wait for him."

Romans 5:1-5

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Romans 8:31b-34

If God is for us, who can be against us?He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

2 Corinthians 1:8-11

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself.Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favour granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

2 Timothy 2:11-13

Here is a trustworthy saying:

If we died with him,

we will also live with him;

if we endure,

we will also reign with him.

If we disown him,

he will also disown us;

if we are faithless,

he remains faithful,

for he cannot disown himself.

Hebrews 10:19-25

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,and since we have a great priest over the house of God,let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 12:1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

James 1: 2-5

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

REFERENCE: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/feel.like.giving.up.10.bible.verses.to.help.you.persevere/58626.htm