“Joy is what God fills us with when we trust in Christ.” — John Piper

Taken from my current trip in La Union

“Have you ever wished that you had nine lives, and that you could live them all differently, but in one lifetime? Or you could follow each thread of your theoretically alternate life in a theoretical multiverse, just to see what it was like, and where it would lead?”

271: How God reached out to me thru Pope Francis

 

I am still reeling from the fact that a little while ago I was two - three steps away from Pope Francis. Who would have thought that I would have this opportunity? 

--- Well apparently, God. 

Last January 11, I dreamed of seeing Pope Francis live. In my dream I got to see him so close, but before I had the chance to know if I will ever have the chance in touching him, I woke up. I was so amused and at the same time thrilled by my dream, I wrote it in my status on facebook.

"hihi dreamt of Pope Francis. Back to sleep."

A few days after while I was on my way to go the office, I was reading a passage in bible and I ended up reading Matthew 1:18-25 ( it was basically about the angel appearing on Joseph's dream). When I got to the part where Joseph woke up from his dream and he did what the angel of the lord commanded him to do, I ended up thinking if it was a sign that I should see the Pope in any way that I can. 

I never really thought hard about it, because I thought that my chance of seeing him in real is rather slim to no chance at all. I mean, how can I see him when there's so many people who's probably more aggressive in actually seeing him than me? I was so indecisive because there were so many things I was worrying about, like I thought about stampede, security, and just being disappointed because I wouldn't see him. I, honestly, want to give up on the idea.

But early morning today, I decided to give it a go and I mumbled a silent prayer that I hope to see our Pope. But I already had conditioned myself that whatever happens I'll just enjoy and experience what it's like to actually wait for him. 

And to my surprise, this happened:

So what does it have to do about God sending his message to me thru our Pope? If you read my entry 'Be Brave' I reached to the point asking if God is still listening to me because He seems to be indifferent on my sufferings, I felt so defeated when I felt that He wasn't listening at all. So I stopped asking for His intervention on my dreams. I ended up just asking for God to strengthen my faith.

And this granted opportunity to see Pope Francis and his message on Meeting of the Families was just the answer.

First, the appearance of Pope on my dream, and the gospel I came across (Matthew 1:18-25) -- This tells me that I need to have faith on my dreams.

Second, the fact that Pope also discussed about the power of dreaming (I didn't know that Pope talked about the power of dreams because I was on my way home when the Pope talked about it during the meeting of families. I got to know about this when someone commented on my Facebook post that 'Pope just talked about the power of dreaming')

If you're familiar with my entries, this means a lot to me because I have many aspirations, and dreams. Last year's setbacks almost had me questioning if God is still there. He answered me thru the Pope's chosen topic: Dreaming! Coincidence? Of course not! Plus, he discussed about it right after I saw him in the flesh! What a right timing!

I almost strayed away from God because of my disappointments, and how He seems to ignore me, but He used the Pope -- His chosen shepherd -- to bring me back to His loving arms.

Thank you, God. Thank you, Pope Francis. ❤

263: Be brave

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. 

He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6 

God, Father, are you listening still? This, I thought while the priest was doing his homily. I found myself not listening to what was the priest was saying but rather, I ended up contemplating my relationship with God.

To be honest, I feel like I slackened when it comes to my relationship with Him compare to how it was back when I was in college. But you have to understand that I was studying in st. Scholastica so my access to God was albeit easy compare to right now. *smacks forehead* okay, that was an excuse. I had too many distractions, too many things to think about that I realized that my relationship with him was no longer the same.

God ...  Please, I need You to give me that strength -- that bravery. The one that You used to give me.  I thought willing God to listen to me.

You may wonder what's the deal with this post, and it's because I've been wanting to do certain things and it has been pushing me back to do them because I was afraid. I could not point out where the irrational fear came from when I wasn't so scared before. It annoys the hell out of me because it limits me from moving around.

I'm not sure if  my fear comes from the fact that I no longer have the same strong relationship that I had with God, or it's because of something else. But I know I just need to have faith--that it will be okay--that God hasn't changed--that He still listens and loves me in spite of everything.

140: Good News: Our Sins Are Not Recorded!

Good News in my Email

Hebrews 8:12

12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness,

and their sins and their lawless deeds

I will remember no more.”

I once read a comic book which showed how a man lusted after a woman, then died of a heart attack and went to heaven. In heaven, he saw a big screen showing everyone present a recording of all the sins which he had committed while on earth, including the last one. How embarrassing!


Don’t worry, that is not going to happen to you in heaven. There is no big screen with front-row and circle seats for everyone to sit and watch your past sins. There is no video recorder in heaven recording your sins right now. Because your lifetime of sins has already been punished in the body of Jesus, God declares to you, “Your sins and lawless deeds, I will by no means ever remember!”


This is true even for the Old Testament heroes of faith such as Abraham, Moses and David. If you read Hebrews 11, which was written after the cross of Jesus, you will notice that there is no record of their sins or failures. Yet, their life stories tell us that they were far from perfect.


Abraham lied twice about his wife Sarah. He told Pharaoh, and later, King Abimelech, that she was his sister to protect his own life. Moses killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew, and hid the body in the sand. David committed adultery with Bathsheba and later arranged for her husband to be killed in battle. Yet, their sins were not recorded in Hebrews 11, only their deeds done in faith!


God is showing you that He does not record your sins or failures today. Instead, He records your faith confessions and deeds done in response to what His Son has done for you. Every time you sin, every time you waver in your faith, God does not record it. But every time you believe Him and respond in faith, He records it! That should not make you want to sin more. It should free you to love God more!


So don’t be conscious of your failures. If God Himself does not remember them, who are you to remember them? Be conscious instead of your righteousness in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21), and you will reign in life! (Romans 5:17)

From Pastor Prince @ New Creation Church

18: In Praying, I found Faith

They say that in silence we find serenity. I never thought about it until I found myself in a quiet place. I felt it as I made my way towards our church at around 12:00 PM. I think that's what it's always like when you live in province. The most sound you'd hear during the midday are the faint sounds of cars from the highway, the songs that the birds chipper, and the gentle whistle of the wind.

When I reached our church, I went to the sanctuary. When I got there, it was empty. I was happy that I finally had the place on my own. I can pray without just saying it to myself but saying it loudly, as no one will mind.

To let you know, I like praying. I like it because I always find it comforting afterward. I felt assured of my future. I felt that way because I know someone extraordinary -- my God -- was out there looking after me. When people ask me how I get an assurance from someone that I never see, I'd shrug and say that it's faith. I don't have to see it, because I believe and know that I am taken care of.

When people ask me how I had faith, I'd say that in praying, I found it. Then I feel at peace with everything. Assured and loved.