TOLERANCE

Tolerance can either communicate grace or liscenciousness. It is a tension between truth and falsehood, between extremes. To enjoy the gift of tolerance it requires deep foundation, discernment and setting of clear bounderies. Conviction and compromise play a check and balance kind of existence.

Learning and living a tolerant life must come from a close walk with the Lord, the One who models the real stuff! In the gospel of John it is called grace and truth. A perfect mixture can only be found in its purity in the life of Jesus Christ. The righteous One and the One who is the friend of sinner. Admittedly it is a stuggle to live in grace and truth. It does not come naturally from us. The flesh loves to be unique from others, adores legalism and rules that exalts self.

It takes a Divine touch to overcome prejudice and self righteousness. Just when you think you dont have it in your system it shows its ugly head. O God of grace be merciful to us! Let others be attracted to the gospel that is holy and yet light hearted. It's a tight walk and yet when you consciously live it you can experience the grace the sets us free! Grace sets free and invites the attack dogs of legalism.

A Prayer filled week

in retrospect i would like to review what transpired last week. As i look back one thing stand very obvious it was a prayer filled week! the concept of being prayerfull most often aligned with emergency or hopelessness. Yes it is our desperation that drives us to prayer. lately im beginning to see and slowly understand there is a difference between desperation for God's blessing or desperation for God Himself?

From the davao to manila i took PAL, the entire flight including waiting periods in the airport were all spent in a meaningful conversation with the Lord in prayer, of course interrupted by naps in between iguess i had more naps than prayers hehehehe. The night before my flight our associate pastor in church invited me to handle the last prayer meeting of the graduating class of a seminary, tired yet determinede to lead it believing that God will manifest Himself in answer to fervent prayers of His children. it was an awesome time in prayer! Words that cannot be uttered where translated to tears, tears that could only mean joy and repentance on how we have neglected prayers.

Our station managers meetings were interuppted by the intense need for prayer. My colleagues bowingdown on our knees asking God to cleanse or close our company. Deep inside my heart i know God took those prayer seriously. The coming weeks will be a scene to watch and wonder seeing God to the things He alone can do. Im beginning to see the desire to be broken among our leaders. By that time this week was done, it was still the subject of prayer that prevailed on the board meetings! slowly i am beginnng to realize that in the area of prayer and crying out to the Lord we are just barely scratching the surface of grace! Lord bring us deeper in prayer! Cleanse or close this is my earnest plea! A prayerfilled week can really make one's spirit strong but leaving the body tired and weak. I have to catch up with some sleep now. ZZZZZZZZ

Passion

Here is something we are designed to have-Passion! Yet many have contained it somewhere in the chamber of the heart. like the hidded talent it remains hidden and untapped for fear of misusing it and going to the extreme. Somehow i find my self in this predicament. Designed by the Almighty to pursue godly passion yet have chosen to be safe in the self made fool of safe environment.

As i ponder i think I'm missing a lot in life. What keeps me contained in my little pool and not jump out to the sea and explore? Hard to tell? I think its painful to admit that the fear of failure has paralyzed me. Learning freedom in God's grace and pursuing the Giver of it makes a me a little bit more daring to express it and learn to love the passion God gave me, and truly put my whole heart into it. A few step in this new found path brings color into my predictable life.

Thanks for prodding me to seek and exercise my passion- hmmmp im running out of words. ah i think its okay to end without being certain of something? well this could be a beginning of something worth a dip, out of my safe pool into the sea. Scary indeed yet im stepping into it and actually enjoying it! Enjoying and delighting in my duty to enjoy God!

Pressure's off

Living under the domain of darkness for a long time has indeed created a seemingly indelible imprint of influence in our hearts! thank God through Jesus Christ those who trusted in Him and cried out were recued from darkness! Living in the light is another issue. As we are all grateful for the deliverance we must admit that we are in a great big deal of adujustment living in the light!

Having been in darkness for a long time then to be in the light? Expect irritations and discomfort. As the new way brings new life, the influence of the old dark way is still a foe to contend with. Especially in areas where in it is no supsected as evil the not scandalous evil in our hearts- in one word Legalism!

Legalism is the demon in the darkness that seem to fetter us in the light. Pressures to perform to do evangelical duties to get blessings. Heresesy! In this wonderful life in the light it is freedom and grace! seeking the the Giver more than the gifts, praying is now asking to be drawn closer to the Jesus! And Jesus alone! The adulterous love affair with God's blessing versus God must now come to an end! The new life is costly, few finds it, Nontheless it is the real journey in the light! whether in plenty or in want, doesnt matter. It is no longer the good life as our goal and gospel but getting to know th good God! Im really in a gloruious mess here, just kindergarten in the light! The journey is great! Hope in!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALEX MY GRACIOUS BROTHER