Words and Moments

UNBOXING: She Reads Truth Study Bible

2017-05-16T10:28:00.000-07:00

On my 24th birthday, as some of you guys know, my sister gave me a She Reads Truth Study Bible. (I still get t the feels every time I think about having one! eeeeeep!) If you guys still do not have any idea what is it all about, here is a short clip for your overview:

Knowing me and my passion about getting people into reading the Bible and knowing more of the Lord - I am super inspired with all these kinds of projects, which is also the very reason I had in mind why i started creating this blog.

Anyway, here is what mine looks like:

Looks inviting isn't it?

If you want to have your own She Reads Truth Bible, it's CSB btw!

GET ONE HERE

HE IS RISEN

2017-04-16T22:14:00.000-07:00

What a grief it might have caused to be having to face the confusion and darkness of Jesus’ death. I can even imagine myself at the foot of the cross silently wishing for Him to open up His eyes and look at me with love once again.

What did just happen?

Were these all true?

Was it just a dream?

They took His body down and the guards together with all of the heavens pronounced Him as dead. The world fell at His feet dark, silent and shaking.

I forcefully open the box of memories I have with Him that I have treasured upon my heart to be able to remember and have on replay the moments we shared and the words He just said. I need something to hold on to, to get me through all these. I need to remember Him.

“A little while longer and the world will see Me no more…
John 14:19a

Absence is haunting once felt. When a person is there saying goodbye, we tend to take it lightly because of the presence that is still there, but once their absence starts sinking in. It’s one of life’s horrific moments we tend to excuse ourselves out of.

To lose the presence of someone I have anchored my life into; someone I’ve spent my life with for the last years, changing my every perspective, making me see and do wonders; in His absence, how am I supposed to start again?

but you will see Me.
John 14:19b

Thankfully, we have a comforting God who gives us peace in times of our loneliness and confusion. When the world seems to be falling apart, dark and silent in all its ignorance, it is in His words where we can find hope to keep going on, to understand that though sorrow may come for a night, there is always joy in the morning. Joy in God’s perfect timing.

Because I live, you will live also.
John 14:19c

Resurrection Sunday reminds us of a covenant promise-fulfilling God. A God that never leaves us out of darkness, a God that endures death to be able to bear the pain I can’t afford to have upon myself so He can reconcile me back to Him; a God that walks out of His grave three-days after; waving the victorious flag of life.

Because He lives, I shall live also.

I will carry the story of His love and faithfulness all the days of my life.

Santa Monica

2017-04-11T16:37:00.000-07:00

THE KING I HAVE IN JESUS

2017-04-09T00:15:00.000-07:00

Today, Christians all over the world are also observing “Palm Sunday”, the beginning of the Holy Week, the Last Great Week of Lent and some of them are surely having a lot of activities that would commemorate the first jubilant Palm Sunday. Churches back in the Philippines are giving away palm branches to their members for them to display it on their houses to put into remembrance the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ back to the city of Jerusalem. It is that moment where Jesus comes riding on a donkey being welcomed by the people of Jerusalem by placing palm branches on his way, crying out “Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna to the son of David! Hosanna in the highest!” . Those palm branches during their time represents triumph, so the waving and laying down of it is to welcome and extol the royalty and the victorious, those who are worthy of honor and distinction.

So together with our brethren all over this country today, let us put into remembrance the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 21 verses 10-16.

And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?”
11 So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”
12 Then Jesus went into the temple of God[f] and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 13 And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’[g] but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’”[h]
14 Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant 16 and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?”
And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read,
‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have perfected praise’?”[i]

This story appears in the four gospels of our Bible. Each writer pays the tribute of telling us of this significant occasion. So what is happening in here?

This very entrance of Jesus Christ moved the whole city of Jerusalem once again. Remember how His birth moved King Herod and all of his kingdom? Wise men from the east went to the King saying “Where is He who has been born King of The Jews?” this incident got King Herod asking, If it's not me then who is it? Now, in the same manner, Here is Jesus once again moving the city of Jerusalem, making all the crowd ask... “Who is this coming?”.

The crowd crying out "Hosanna! Hosanna!" identified Him as a prophet but then Jesus seems to be taking a heavier claim. Because prophets prophesy about something that is about to come, but Jesus is fulfilling those prophecies. Prophets points out into someone greater and here is Jesus, pointing all the arrows into Himself. You see, in a manner of how He entered into their city. He chose to do it first by a donkey and second a donkey that is tied down somewhere in the village. How would He know there was a donkey down there? Did He come ahead of these disciples, talked to the owner to make up an act? and by the way, why ride on a donkey? If Jesus is indeed King, He can come on a white horse or through a chopper with a red carpet and bands to welcome Him just like how we are welcoming our president. Why be born in a manger when you can be inside West Hills Medical Center or Valley Presbyterian Hospital or any other elite hospital in the world that is made for royalties. All these are taking place for us to able to identify Him as the King who comes in the name of the Lord. Each prophecy is like a heavenly arrow that points out to Him, saying… “This is the coming Messiah, here He is coming just like how the prophets would tell us He would come”.

Matthew 21: 4-5

All[b] this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:
5 “Tell the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your King is coming to you,
Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,

This is heaven's way of telling us that "Hey, guys, the day of salvation has come, Your King is here. This is finally happening", but of course, we are not aware of it. (NOT ANYMORE)

Now, the question I want us to answer together is, What Kind of King Do We Have in Jesus?

After the reign of King David and Solomon, when the Kingdom of Israel was divided into Israel and Judah, the people of Israel went through a series of rebellious kings. Most of them led their people into worshiping idols placing them into the very wrath of God ending up on captivity and amidst the oppression and slavery, prophets speaks of Him who is about to come, who will set them free.

What Kind of King is My King Jesus? What difference does He make among all the other kings of Israel?

Jesus is the King Who Cleanses.

Verses 12 – 13:
Then Jesus went into the temple of God[f] and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’[g] but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’”[h]

us, being citizens, not kings, not presidents, not anything, just simple people living our simple lives. When we get into our homes or houses that we know are made for our comfort; for us to have rest when we get home from work or from school or whatever, when we enter into our so called “house” and see thieves using that very house for their selfish intentions giving ZERO consideration about you being the owner of the house, what do you think would be our reaction? 5 words. “GET OUT OF MY HOUSE”, right? This is my house, I’m supposed to rest in here, and have conversation with my family and talk about our family issues and settle things in this house, to bond and build memories but here you are using my space up to your benefit, you thieves! Right? That’s the very reason why we, ourselves can’t blame Jesus that He is turning tables when He entered the temple. Because when that temple was made, it was supposed to be called a house of prayer and just like that temple when you were made, when God placed you into your mother’s womb, you are supposed to be made for His purpose. A Holy Nation, a Royal Priesthood. But just like how these thieves came into that temple, so are the enemies trying to get a stronghold inside of you, stealing you from God’s plan, so that from being the temple of the Holy Ghost you turn to be a den of thieves. A heart made for the Lord is now being a den of legion.

Now, when Jesus enters into that heart and starts walking in, He will have this Holy Anger that would burn into His heart, saying this is not how things are supposed to be. He will start turning tables. He will start cleaning that temple, because He is the King of it. He will start pulling out the roots and breaking every stronghold of every thief that has made your heart their home. Breaking every wrong thinking that are so far away from the perspective of the Lord. Pulling every piece of your life in line into His will until you become that temple He has created you to be.

Jesus is the King Who Heals and Restores

Verse 14:
Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.

Once that temple is free from all these thieves and unnecessary trashes. Then and only then it can serve its very purpose; then and only then can the power of God be manifested mightily. For most of the incidents where Christ has to heal someone, He gave no regard if whether that place is clean or not. Be it with the homeless, leper, centurion or the grave. but right now, it’s different. Matthew emphasizes that after the cleansing of the temple, THEN the blind and the lame came to Him.

This emphasizes the value of the temple for Jesus. This temple is where His presence is supposed to dwell, to meet with His people, to listen and provide for their needs. But throughout time, these people whom He has called thieves has lose sight of the importance of this very purpose. They see it as something that they could get benefit from for their personal needs and profit. But not on Jesus' watch. Now that the King is here, He restores the value of that Temple. He restores is back to the very purpose He has it built and uses it for the good of His people. To welcome them who needs Him.

Us, being the Temple of the Holy Ghost can also view our lives inside this story. In 2 Timothy 2 verses 19-21 Paul reminds Timothy about the importance of being God’s vessels:

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.

Gold, silver, clay and wood represents everyone of us. We are all vessels of God; but the Gold and silver vessels are used for honor. Pieces you can show to everyone anytime. Pieces you can be proud of. Pieces you can count on. Then, those clay and wood vessels represents the ones that God uses for dishonor, like how He uses Pharaoh in the story of Moses, Delilah in Samson’s story, Shimei who cursed David and everyone who is not for God but through their rebellion and disobedience and poor choices God has manifested His greatness upon us.

Be the gold and silver vessel of God. A Vessel for honor, sanctified and prepared for God’s work. Be like that temple that is cleansed before the Lord, so that through you, the blind and the lame can come near Jesus Christ. Through you, God can advance the kingdom of heaven here on earth.

Jesus is the King Who Enjoys our Praises.

Verse 15 – 16:
But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant 16 and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?”
And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read,
‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have perfected praise’?”

There are two kinds of reaction you can have when God moves in your life. You can be like the chief priest and scribes annoyed about Jesus receiving praise or you can be like those children crying out in the temple. "Hosanna!"

You know when our family watches TV and there is a scene that is just too good for us to be holding our emotions back, we can’t help but utter praises because we enjoy that thing. We enjoy that scene, we appreciate the beauty of a certain person then our hearts are filled with joy that it overflows from our hearts to our mouths and we can’t contain it.

In the book “Reflections on the Psalms” by author C.S Lewis, also quoted by Pastor John Piper, He said:

“I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation.”

That’s the thing about praise. It completes your joy. You are enjoying God so much that You can’t help but Praise Him. You are enjoying Him as the King who liberates and not oppresses. The King who cleanses and heal and restores. You enjoy His lordship over your life. When He does something good, when He reveals Himself so great, when He sufficiently provides, when His very presence is enough, you end up praising Him and He enjoys it. He enjoys that in this relationship you have with Him, you are glad.

among many other characteristics of Jesus, this is the kind of King we have in Him.

The King who cleanses,

The King who heals and restores;

The King who enjoys our praise.

may you remember all these as you remember His triumphal entry upon your life.

God bless us all.

REMEMBERING MY LEADERS

2017-03-30T17:56:00.000-07:00

To win, to train and to send – that was the mission of the church I used to attend to back in Riyadh. If the church by God’s grace victoriously win souls for God, to nurture and train them comes the next priority. Our leaders’ week usually revolves around work, preparing Bible study lessons and praying for their members. Researching answers for possible questions for the upcoming Bible study comes in handy too.

Having these kinds of people leading me in both action and words, I can’t help but embrace the beauty of the local church’s vision. I am blessed enough to have found my very own apostle Pauls.

“Imitate me, just as I also Imitate Christ” – 1 Corinthians 11:1

Leaders play a vital role upon our lives. From our parents, to our teachers, to our Pastors, small group leaders and the people we look up to. People whose influence we choose to embrace to make a difference upon our lives, people whose visions can either make or break us.

The importance of this truth can also be found in the lives of the Israelites. For people who don’t have a direct and personal relationship with God, a leader who stands in the gap – listening to His precepts and teaching it to His people – is essential.

But really, what does a Godly leader do?

1. They carry a God-given vision.

Being the person God has chosen to spill His beans to. They are the ones who know the requirements and procedures of the mission given unto them. They make it their goal and the very purpose of their existence. For Noah, it’s the making of the Ark. For Moses, it’s taking the Israelites out of Egypt. For Joshua, it’s leading the Israelites across the borders towards the promise land. For David, it’s to always lead and keep His kingdom towards the precepts of his Lord. For Jesus, it’s the death on the cross. For Paul and the other disciples, it’s advancing the Kingdom of God.

What kind of vision your leader is carrying? Is it God-given?

2. They work hard to keep everyone on track.

God-given visions are never easy for mere human abilities. These kinds of vision can only happen through the power of God in the lives of willing believers, so expect a not-so pleasant journey. Noah looked pathetic and insane in the eyes of the people surrounding him. Moses received a lot of complaints from his people: “why are we here? we are hungry, we are thirsty, are there no graveyards for us that you’re letting us die in the wilderness? It’s way better in Egypt!”. Joshua received a lot of negativeness when He took God in His Word. God’s favor for David made him live a life on the run. Jesus cried tears and blood asking the Father to take the cup of His mission away from Him. Paul and the disciples received threats and died in gruesome ways as they advance the kingdom of God. But all these things never stopped them from doing what God has called them to do. Moses for instance, cried so many times to God regarding the people He has given under his care. “What shall I do with these people?”, They just said yes to God but here they are, worshiping the Golden Calf. They just received the promise of God but because of the giants, they doubt what He just said. Can you imagine the weight upon our leaders’ shoulders? They carry a vision so great and all they want for us is to get involved in it, but there are times that we are just so confused and overwhelmed with whatever is going on, so we fail to understand but our confusion and weakness doesn’t stop them from keeping us into the right track. They remind, rebuke, rejoice when we get back and grieve when we don’t.

What are the efforts your leader does to keep you on the right track?

3. Their lives always point out to God.

God-given leaders never claim glory unto themselves. They are well aware that the vision and the ability to do the things needed to be done comes from the Lord. They always look forward to whatever God has prepared in front of them. If there is a reason for them to be the looking back upon their lives, it’s to count the times God has been faithful into His words to remind them that if God had made them throughout the previous circumstances, He will be faithful enough to carry them through the upcoming difficulties.

Is your leader God-glorifying or Self-glorifying?

As you answer these questions, hopefully you get to evaluate your leaders. Do they carry God-given visions? Are they doing everything to keep you on track? Are they living a God-glorifying life? If they are, appreciate them once in a while, pray for them, submit to them and let them know that you are grateful to God having them upon your life. If you are a leader yourself, it’s a good thing to have your heart checked once in a while. Are you still carrying the vision God has given you when you started working on this ministry? What happens to the journey God has assigned you to? Are you praying for your people? Are you grieving for them when they go astray? Are you rejoicing when they excel? How about the way you live your life? Are you a living arrow that points out to God?

KNOWING THE MEASURE OF MY DAYS

2017-03-28T21:52:00.001-07:00

Dr. Stephen Strange: I'm not ready.
The Ancient One: No one ever is. We don't get to choose our time. [takes his hand]
The Ancient One: Death is what gives life meaning. To know your days are numbered. Your time is short. You'd think after all this time, I'd be ready. But look at me. Stretching one moment out into a thousand... just so that I can watch the snow.

Familiar?
Yes. Those are some lines from the movie called "Doctor Strange".
From a scene you don't wish to see happening, but needs to take over for Strange to realize things, to get out from his comfort zone and to think outside of himself.
and yes, i am trying to come up with the safest answer possible without spoiling the movie.
Some of you have seen it anyway.

SPOILER ALERT: For someone who has eternal life, she saw the beauty of death and implies that knowing your life will one day end, will make you live it to the fullest. The piece of wisdom thrown by “The Ancient One”, a role played by Tilda Swinton, was once a prayer of King David in the Bible. In Psalms 39, the Beloved King amidst God’s disciplinary hands prays for Wisdom and this includes guarding his ways by guarding his tongue (his words not his tongue literally), and asking God to make Him know the measure of his days:

“4 Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days;

That I may know how frail I am.

5 Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is nothing before You;

Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor.

6 Surely every man walks about like a shadow, surely they busy themselves up in vain;

He heaps up riches and does not know who will gather them.

7 And now, Lord, what do I wait for?

My hope is in You.”

Knowing a moment will end helps us appreciate it more.

You see when a person is dying, when a relationship is at the verge of breaking, when a school year is near ending, when co-workers start resigning and whatever it is that starts fleeting, it is where we are most sincere and wise; simply because we don’t want any moment wasted. We want to embrace it fully. We want to make it right.

But why wait until the moment starts fading when we could be our most sincere and wise selves everyday of our lives?

Whenever we attend evangelistic fellowships in Al-kharj, Saudi Arabia and the older ones get inspired by the passion and the times committed by the younger ones towards God, we often hear the words…

“I wish I could’ve spent my youth the way you’re spending it with the Lord…”

Just like everyone else, they tried to live their life fully outside the presence and guidance of the Lord, and just like everyone else, they failed. Most of us are blessed enough to be given enough time to repent and come back to Him and on our way He welcomes us wholeheartedly.

The Preacher in the book of Ecclesiastes spent his life discovering the vanity of life and everything under the sun: pleasure, selfish toil, popularity, gain and honor. Things we pursue in this life, thinking through it we will find our purpose and value, but even the preacher who has and accomplished everything, tells us that all this also is vanity.

If that’s the case, what hope do we have in living our lives full and with a purpose?

It's by holding on and trusting the Hands of The One who formed us into our mother's womb, knowing He placed us there for a purpose He already know.

Honor and enjoy your Creator while you’re still young,
Before the years take their toll and your vigor wanes, Before your vision dims and the world blurs, And the winter years keep you close to the fire.In old age, your body no longer serves you so well. Muscles slacken, grip weakens, joints stiffen. The shades are pulled down on the world. You can’t come and go at will. Things grind to a halt. The hum of the household fades away. You are wakened now by bird-song. Hikes to the mountains are a thing of the past. Even a stroll down the road has its terrors. Your hair turns apple-blossom white, Adorning a fragile and impotent matchstick body. Yes, you’re well on your way to eternal rest, While your friends make plans for your funeral. Life, lovely while it lasts, is soon over. Life as we know it, precious and beautiful, ends. The body is put back in the same ground it came from.The spirit returns to God, who first breathed it.

The last and final word is this:

Fear God.
Do what He tells you.

And that’s it.

Eventually God will bring everything that we do out into the open and judge it according to its hidden intent, whether it’s good or evil.

-Ecclesiastes 12:1-7, 13-14

New Port

2017-03-26T12:51:00.001-07:00

Balboa Island, New Port, California

Long Beach

2017-03-23T16:08:00.000-07:00

Lion's Lighthouse at Long Beach, CA

When I Want to Excuse Myself from God's Calling

2017-03-22T18:15:00.003-07:00

"Di 'ko kaya."

When i was a bit younger in faith, this was my favorite excuse to God whenever He tries to call me out for something that would require adjustment or growth. When the responsibility overwhelms me and corrections overflow from left to right and I can't seem to be moving the way I want to move and the circumstances seem to not move in the way He promised would go, It's easier for me to just let go of my paddle and let the waves overtake me. Bat ko pa pahihirapan sarili ko, I won't get there anyways. Then, while I try to divert God's attention into how I cannot do what He asks of me, I will try to keep His focus on it, by my forever favorite supporting statement...

"Iba nalang... Tay, iba nalang..."

and from there, I can even imagine Him giving me that are-you-kidding-me look, from my head to my toe back to my head and be telling me...

"Nak, don't me" lol jk.

"Nak, wag ako..."

Isn't funny, how this excuse is not new to Him anymore?

Moses tried it...

“Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” -Exodus 3:11

“Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” -Exodus 3:13

“Then Moses answered and said, “But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’ ” -Exodus 4:1

“Then Moses said to the LORD, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” -Exodus 4:10

“But he said, “O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send.” -Exodus 4:13

So did Gideon...

He said to Him, “O Lord, how shall I deliver Israel? Behold, my family is the least in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s house.” - Judges 6:15

and look, Jeremiah did too.

"But I protested, ‘Oh no, Lord, GOD! Look, I don't know how to speak since I am only a youth'" (Jeremiah 1:6)

This excuse-making thing is just too mainstream that I can even imagine God, sitting on His throne, rolling His precious eyes upon our insecurities and lacking, sinasabayan ang bawat pagbukas ng bibig natin habang binabanggit natin ang mga salitang.... "Hindi - ko - kaya..."

talaga ba? then He be like...

"O son of man... wala na bang iba? Wala na bang iba?..."

From Adam down to our generation, we never ran out of excuses to give. But apparently, He is not just the God who provides us everything we will be needing, and everything He requires for the call, He is also the God who loves growth, so He ain't buying any of it.

Here are some of the answers He gave to some of the Bible's excuse-makers:

And He said, “Certainly I will be with you..."

Exodus 3:12

The Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say.”

Exodus 4:11-12

But the Lord said to him, “Surely I will be with you..."

Judges 6:16

But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you,”

Jeremiah 1:7–10

God may be calling us out for something greater. Something wilder. Something deeper. Something higher. and If you are thinking of excusing yourself once again, come on... tama na.

He knows what He is doing, He knows where He is calling you out to go and why He is calling you out specifically. Yung tipong, out of everyone, yung talagang ikaw pa. Ikaw na ayaw ng ayaw, Ikaw na laging nagtuturo na "Tay, iba nalang."

You have a role in God's story that cannot be played by anyone else. It is made specially for you, so play your part.

When I'm Tempted to Please Everyone

2017-03-22T16:13:00.001-07:00

"You cannot please everybody."

is the undying phrase you will hear from time to time.

It is true. but hey, you're not supposed to.

Proverbs 29:25 tells us that;

The fear of human opinion disables;
trusting in God protects you from that.

The battle of getting everyone's approval is one of the battles not worth fighting for. A game I dare not to play. Not only will it drain you out of energy making you do the things you're not supposed to do for people you're not supposed to gain any favors or attention from, it will also make you feel less of yourself thinking you don't measure up to the society's definition of what is best.

So here's a few basics I tend to look back upon, whenever I am tempted or stressed out to gain someone else's approval:

Huwag mong ikabahala ang sinasabi ng iba,
magtiwala ka kay Yahweh at mapapanatag ka.

1. Learn to live with an Audience of One. The Author of your life must always have the first, the last and the final say. Not only does He know His purpose on creating you, He also know the plans He has for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to bring you hope and a future. The world will always try to call you names and define you by their own different standards, but if it contradicts whatever God has said towards you, then its a lie. You know your calling more than anyone else does so do yourself a favor and save your self and your time from worrying about whatever box they are trying to put you in.

Huwag kayong paloloko.

“Ang masasamang kasama ay

nakakasira ng mabuting pagkatao.”

2. Choose your cirque. Find friends who sees you like how God sees you and respects and acknowledges your calling. People who knows your calling is great and that your role is vital in advancing the kingdom of God. That way, you will have people who not only includes you in their prayers, but also rebukes you in times of rebellion and self pity. Yung tipong magsasabi ng.. "Nukava Bes, awat na."

We all need someone who will tap us up and knock some sense into us sometimes, so make sure that someone will always lead you back to God's truth, and not give you a second hand one.

Sikapin ninyong makasundo ang lahat,

at magpakabanal sapagkat hindi ninyo

makikita ang Panginoon kung hindi

kayo mamumuhay nang ganito.

Pag-ingatan ninyong huwag tumalikod

ang sinuman sa inyo sa pag-ibig ng Diyos.

Huwag kayong magtanim ng sama ng loob

na dahil dito'y napapasamâ ang iba.

Pag-ingatan ninyo na huwag makiapid

ang sinuman sa inyo, o pawalang-halaga

ang mga bagay na espirituwal,

3. Although, Proverbs warned us that human opinion disables, Paul reminds us to pursue peace with everyone. Knowing your purpose, your stand, your calling and having people who value you so much around you does not give you any right to belittle or disregard anyone out of your cirque. It cannot be an excuse to apathy. You are established to establish someone else. You are made whole so you can lead broken people to wholeness. You are made to reach out whatever their opinion of you is.

People will always have different view towards us, some may be pleasing and some are not, it's okay. They have the freedom to express what they think, but when it comes to the foundation of your truth, it is God's definition you will always have to look for and stand upon.