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When Our Plans Don't Work

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How many times did you say, "I wish I knew God's will for me?" People outside and inside the church are facing a common dilemma. The dillema is the question of making sure that God is guiding us in our everyday decision making. Many of us wish that God will give us a clear life plan for us. We want to know in advance what God has in store for us in the future. Very few people in the Bible that we know received their life plans from God. The eleventh chapter of the book of Hebrews in the New Testament says, these people of faith died without receiving all that God had promised. All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance (v.13). Abraham, when told by God to pack up his family and possessions obeyed God and started walking. He was not given the details of his journey, his destination, how much it will cost him or the reward he would get later, whether he will recei
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Genuine Friendship

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True friends are hard to find. Friends are people we choose to have in our lives.We all are seeking for a great friendship, if there ever is. I realized that through the many years, I have literally allowed people to come into my life; people I call "friends". Friend is a big word. A friend can either be loyal to you, or betray you and tear you apart! I believe that there is such thing as "divine frindship"; a relationship that is driven by love, honesty, purity and sincerity. This friendship is not an accident but rather a purpose. But how can we discern a true friend? I must warn that the people we build relationships with defines what kind of a person we are. People we choose to be our friends is serious business! We want friends who genuinely cares for us. The Bible tells us about the great friendship of David and Jonathan; their great friendship was all about mutuality of soul.Their souls were bound together. They have mutuality of belief and conviction believi
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When God Closes A Door

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When doors are slammed on us it is easy to respond in a negative way. I believe that our struggle is the fact that we don't know the reasons why God allowed the doors to close. It is this strange and mystifying "silence" that makes us wonder if God really cares about our circumstances. Sometimes closed doors come just so suddenly and abruptly followed by silence we often misinterpret--the "sound" of God's silence. I came to understand even as we are experiencing doors slammed on us, that God doesn't tells us why a door is closed. He rarely explains to people His reasons for closing doors. There are things we really believe will work. It can be an idea, a business, career, relationship,opportunities, or even a ministry we have been working on for years, doing our very best to make them work, then "suddenly" everything falls and collapses; torn down! As doors close in life, we learn that God is sovereign. People are regarded as nothing, and God d
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Setting Boundaries

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Are you a victim of controlling people? I've had my share of knowing people with "controlling spirits". Some people are toxic and dangerous. All that I can say is avoid such people and have nothing to do with them ( but please do not hate them). They can steal your joy! I came to know people who at first appear to be sincere and honest. They creep into my life and slowly they tried to dominate me with their controlling attitudes. The more you become too open to people, even your friends, the more they will pursue you.Controlling you is their primary goal. They start by making you feel their importance in your relationship with them and make sure that it is communicated to you when they are around. They demand from you "immediate attention" when they need you and when with them; they are angered when they don't get the attention they want from you. I call this friendship with strings attached ( you have to please them at all times). They don't respect you
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My Heavenly Father

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It's been 18 years since I lost my father and I miss him so much. All that he wanted was to give me the best. Papa was always away from us (we were in Manila). He was the administrator of my cousin's large sugarcane plantation in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. For years my father worked so hard to provide for us, making sure we had food on the table,descent clothes to wear and that I get enrolled in a good school. My father had a very strong character. He was extremely straightforward, frank and honest. He was always misunderstood by others but that did not bother him at all. He will always stand for what he believes is right and will never allow anybody to step on his principles in life. He was strict, but firm. I admired him so much and looked up to him as a role model when it comes to taking a stand for what is right even if it would mean losing friends. He never wanted to be a "people-pleaser". Although there were things that I hate in him particu
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The Grace For Waiting

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Everyone who knows me will tell you that if there is anybody in the face of the earth with a patience problem, it's me:) I want things done fast. However, I later realized that "time" is its own master. It has its own process and pace. Waiting can be so difficult and the ability to wait is grace from God. When it seems that nothing is happening and changing on our favor, we can only rely and trust God to grant us a greater measure of faith. Believing that He is in deed working in our problems, our career, work, families and relationships. Do you know that "time" have relatives? They are called "seasons". Seasons are periods working in our lives that are not the same. God uses them in different ways and meanings. Most of our heartaches are caused by unmet expectations, and it is of extreme importance that we understand how time does its work in every situation we are going through. Having the right attitude while waiting is the best definition for patie
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A Family That Sings Together

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Last night in my Music Room at Sizzler Restaurant I was blessed to meet people who came to have fun with friends and family. There was this wonderful family (names I cannot mention)that joined the Karaoke Party and it was such an awesome experience! Rarely to we find a family that sings together. In a society we live in today where many parents errantly find children "interruptive" to their busy..busy..busy..busy life, one will find it so heartwarming to see a family that sings together (mother and son, father and son, mother and daughter ...). God is the inventor of family. He instituted it and is delighted when families cling together. Our first ministry is our family and not our jobs, our careers, our sports. Do you spend some quality time with your family? "Family" in this world we live in is spelled T-I-M-E. Ask your children and they will tell you what I mean. "There is no amount of success that compensate failure in the home"--Ouch! Your perfect job
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