Gate 4 : Valley Gate                               listen to: Though YOU slay me

Pagsubok, paglago at pagpapakumbaba. Masasabi ko na sa mga panahong ito, ito ang pinakamabigat na pag-aaral na aming ginawa ngayon. Ang pagdurusa sa pagsunod sa Kanya na kailangan mong maging masaya kahit hindi mo makita ang bunga. Gayon din ang nangyari kay John the Baptist. Kahit na ipinagkaloob niya ang kanyang buhay para ihanda ang daan ng Panginoon, hindi nya nakita ang paghahari ng Diyos kahit na siya ang binansagan na pinakadakila sa lahat.

Naalala ko pa yung isang activity kung saan aming pinag-aralan ang kantang “Though you slay me”. Nakasulat doon na patuloy ko pa ring sasambahin ang Panginoon kahit ako ay binabasag Niya. Napakahirap, pero sa kabila nito ay may bunga maaaring hindi ngayon pero sa darating na panahon. Sabi nga, ang paglilingkod sa Panginoon ay hindi nagdudulot ng kasiyahan, kundi kabanalan.

Trials, growth and humility. I can say that at this time, this must be the heaviest topic we have studied.  This happened to John the Baptist. He devoted his life to prepare the way for the Lord, yet he was not able to see the kingdom of God even though he was said to be the greatest of all.

I remember one of our activities where we listened to and pondered on the song entitled “Though you slay me”. It was written there that “I will continue to praise the Lord though He slays me. It is so hard but it’s doing something. I may not be seeing it now but later I will. As it says, “serving the Lord does not result to happiness but holiness”. 

Blesie Grace - Batangas—

Gate 4      

In times of testing and trying

I will find myself doubting

And my soul, it is mourning

Where is the beauty in suffering?

Why should I complain

Or think of my gain?

Master do what you please,

Your will Father, yes it is.

Oh truly I am reminded

The story has glorious end.

And it’s not ‘bout the selfish me

It should all be for Your Glory.

Pauline - Bicol

The Beauty In Suffering

This week, there is this line from a clip that challenged my life in the Lord. ‘’Do I live in such a way that honors Jesus?’’ 

Being saved with by much grace, yes, He is worthy of every life being lived to honor Him, and yet I admit that I have not always lived life like that. This fallen world brings so much trouble. I’ll be facing suffering (this is certain, the Bible tells so) but as I walk through the valley, I pray that I may remember the Word of the Lord to me. I am or will be in my darkest valley, though He is silent, He is still with me. The beauty in the suffering for me is not the circumstance itself, not the outcome, but the very presence of my God who is with me. Romans 8:35-37 says nothing can separate me from the love of God, my Lord and my Savior.

Rhoda - Batangas

Do you TRUST me enough to OBEY me?

Honestly speaking, trusting God is easy to say and do when we have an abundance. But when testing of faith comes and struggles, trials, problems, and hardships strike us, our faith and trust in the Lord are shaken and sometimes become questionable. Week 4 brings a lot of memories about struggles and trials which made me question God and why He let me experience those things. I complained and questioned Him a lot. But He is not a deaf God. He answered me through His Word in James 1:2-4 – “Consider it pure joy my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produce perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you maybe mature and complete not lacking anything.” This led me to question myself, if I really do trust God no matter what the outcome may be. It’s hard to say yes when I’m not in a hard situation, but I know God is not done with me yet. I am still a work in progress. Every day God is working in me.

Jhing--  Samar-Leyte

Original Language:

Sometimes I ask myself kung pano ko ba malaman ang boses ni God kasi minsan di ko alam kung pano ko maramdaman na nakikipagusap Siya sa akin. Katulad ni David, noong hindi pa sya ang hari Israel, malaki talaga ang tiwala niya sa Panginoon. Kahit anong ginawa ni Saul sa kanya, hindi parin siya naging marahas sa kanya at  yong pananampalataya niya at higit na paglapit sa Panginoon ang nagbigay lakas sa kanya para matiis ang mga paghihirap nya. Ang pagiging close niya sa Panginoon ang nagtulak din sa akin na patuloy akong maging close sa Panginoon.

At doon ko nalaman ang kung paanong maririnig ang Panginoon at lalo ko pang pinagdasal na sa bawat araw ay bigyan ko nang oras ang Panginoon  para lalo ko pang makilala Sya sa pamamagitan ng pagbasa ng biblia at pagdadarasal sa kanya.

James wearing yellow

Translation:

Sometimes, I ask myself “How can I know that God is speaking to me?” because there are times that I cannot sense it. Like the story of king David, before the time that he was enthroned as a King, Saul did many degrading things to humiliate him thus, this became his stepping stone to be a Great Ruler of Israel.  His faithfulness and his good relationship to God gave him strength to endure those hardships. Because of this it encourages me to continue walking in my Christian faith with Him. Finally, I now understand how can I hear from Him and I’m praying even more that each day I may give quality time to the Lord so I would know Him more through reading His word and praying to Him.

                                                                     -James,25-Caraga

Original Language:

Ang gisulte sang Ginoo sa akoa pinaagi sa pagtuon nako sa Experiencing God nga "Ang atong relasyon sa gugma tali sa langitnong amahan maoy naghatag kanatog kusog sa atong paglatas sa pait kaayong kahimtang”.Apan dili kinahanglan aduna ka gayoy buhaton aron bation nimo ang katagbawan kay diha sa imong relasyon sa Dios anaa sa imong katagbawan.Mao kini ang hinugdanan nganong mahinungdanon kaayo ang relasyon sa gugma tali sa Dios. Gihigugma ka Niya. Kasayod siya unsay labing maayo lang kanimo. Siya lamang ang magiya kanimo sa paggasto sa imong kinabuhi sa mapuslanong pamaagi- kini nga paggiya moabot samtang ikaw maglakaw kauban niya ug maminaw kaniya. Mao kini ang gipahinumdom sa Ginoo sa akoa ug nakapadasig kaayo kanako tali sa akong paghigugma ug pakigsuod sa akong relasyon sa Ginoo.

Translation:

This week, God spoke to me through our devotional book- Experiencing God- that Our love relationship with the Heavenly Father sustained us through a very difficult time. You do not need to be doing something to feel fulfilled. You are fulfilled completely in a relationship with God. This is why a love relationship with God is so important. He loves you. He knows what is best for you. Only He can guide you to live your life meaningfully as you walk with Him and listen to Him.This reminds and encourages me that His love is the one that sustains my relationship with Him.

-Julito  21- Mt. Carmel

 “Men who go after the Sauls among us often crucify

The Davids among us.”

We were born with these two characters which leaves us with a choice to either be a Saul or a David. These two great kings were both anointed by God  but with the choices they made left two different trails for the new generation to choose from. 
There is Saul, who once submitted to God’s authority but later on was eaten by greed, pride, and jealousy. 
 And there is David who chose to rely on God rather than on himself. He chose not to be blinded by power, fame, pride, greatness, nor pain etc. He chose not be Saul even though many times he was tempted.
 These 2 characters create a big impact in our lives. Obedience requires a choice. Let's not  allow the Sauls among us crucify the Davids among us.
 Don’t let power, fame, success, pride  or hurt overpower you. Always remember that in every CHOICE there comes a consequence. The choice is YOURS, so choose wisely.
 I too have a choice to make. 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your path straight.” –Proverbs 3:5-6

-Jeniffer Kate 23- Samar-Leyte

Original Language:

“Hinumdomi ang inyong mga pangulo kaniadto nga misulti kaninyo sa mensahe sa Dios. Palandonga giunsa nila sa pagkinabuhi hangtod nga namatay sila ug sundoga ang ilang pagtuo”

–Hebreo 13:7

Dako kog pasalamat sa mensahe nga gipadangat sa akoa karon nga mao ang pagpamalandong sa pulong tinuod gayud nga adunay panagsa dili ako magtan-aw sa nga karaan nga mga tinun-an pero sa dihang nila nga makahatag ug inspirasyon. Dili jud sayon ang mag baktas nga layo ug bag-not kayo pero naremind ko sa mensahe nga kini among gibuhat kulang pa sagibuhat sa mga karaang mga tinun-an. Dako usab ang akong kalipay sa diin nagsimbalay kami ug daghan pud ang nag-adto. Dako jud kog pasalamat sa Ginoo nga bisan sakit akong ulo pero siya jud naga tabang ug naga protekta sa amoa.

“Bulahan kadtong naningkamot pagtuman sa kabubut-on sa Dios kay tagbawon nila sila.” J

-Mateo 5:6

Translation:

"Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith" Hebrew 13:7

I praise and thank God for the message of this verse. As I meditate on His words, I learn that I should not look on how the Apostles lived but rather on how they walked in faith with the Lord and indeed, it inspires me.It is not easy to walk a long way from the Training Site going to the community on a trail through a deep forest,  but I was reminded that what I am going through would not even compare to what the Apostles experienced. I am more than glad to see that a lot of people attend House Church. Even though I suffered from a headache, I thanked Him a lot for He still helped and protected us.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,for they will be filled."-Matthew 5:6

-Ireneo Jr.21- Mt. Carmel

Consider it pure joy…

  Being a servant of Christ is not easy. There’s a lot of persecution, frustration, and temptation but the Scripture says “Consider it pure joy my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance” (James 1:2-3NIV). These words give strength to people who face a lot of trials -- this is what the believers in the small village we are reaching out are going through. Sometimes in our Bible studies, they just smile at us and give no answer to the questions we ask about the Bible stories. Their smiles seemed to hide the pain from the trials they are going through. My team continues to encourage them with scriptures and remind them of God’s goodness and faithfulness. Let’s Keep Advancing for the Kingdom!  Glory and Honor belong to our God!

-David Jude 20- Samar-Leyte

I pray to stay

The Lord has an assignment for me. Yes. I’ve got things to do too like Abraham, Moses, David, Paul, Peter and many others whom we know from the Bible. You, me, and all believers along with our forefathers were given a special task to accomplish. It is thrilling and exciting to imagine how and why a mighty, sovereign and powerful God would choose to use me.

I need to be fit for the role and, therefore, I must enroll in a course called character development. There will be  tests to pass, people to face, trials to overcome, battles to win and hardships to endure. It is sure to be difficult for it will burn me, smash and crush me---me and my pride, my hatred and my impure thoughts to name a few. He knows what to do with me more than I do. He is the Wise Teacher and Skilled Potter. He wants me to be a broken vessel. More than skill, He wants character.

It is His reminder to me every single day. It is and will be uncomfortable but I pray to stay.

-Pauline  26- Bicol

“Yesterday does not define you”

“You’re bringing new life to your family tree now”

These lines from Matthew West’s song “Family Tree” summarized my week. Many times I’ve been fooled by the enemy repeatedly whispering in my head that I was not changed even a bit. But this week, My God showed me a glimpse of how sovereign He is, that in His sovereignty, even a very little piece of me, He is creating a story that will bring Glory to Him. I will fail, I am falling (ako’y nadadapa). At some point, I said "I have rolled in the mud." (Minsan ko na ring nasabing ‘’ako’y gumugulong sa putikan’’), but my God is an expressive God! He shows and expresses His love every day that I may remember, I am not in my past anymore. I am here in the present, and will be living tomorrow (if He grants J) as a new creation. Yes, I know, still I will fail, I will fall (surely many times I will), as a clay pot, I’ll be broken over and over and over. But hey, the chapters of my life have just started. God’s story through me isn’t over yet! He is building me up, my character, for the later part of this story, for His Glory! Why hasten? He is bringing new life to my family tree now!

-Rhoda  24- Batangas

“Big task requires big character”

On January 30, 2017, we started studying the third gate which is the Old Gate (Learning from the Past). The book entitled “The Tale of the Three Kings” by Gene Edwards helped me to understand how God works in the lives of those who totally depend on him.

Moreover, the book was all about the lives of Saul, David, and Absalom. During the time that Samuel anointed David to become a King, he was not enthroned in the position to rule the Kingdom instantly. God wanted David to become a Great King, and for this to be successful, it required a lot of pruning. He started working on David’s character first. He knew that this would not happen in a snap. David needed to depend on God not on his own strength since it would take a long time and would cause him great pain. " God had enrolled David in the school of brokenness" and, in that university, he learned many indispensable things - David was broken over and over. Then He was ready to be king. And even when Absalom arrived on the scene, David just did what he knew to do- he did not let power consume his inner being- he was ready to give up and lose everything, and that made him a Great king.

Thus, this shows that God has the right to interrupt the lives of His followers. God needs to develop our character first so that when he gives us a big task, we will be ready to handle and finish it with such great character.

-Blessie Grace 22- Batangas

Mold Me

Listen and obey. If I fail, it's okay as long as I don’t give up. I will let the Lord make me whole again because "Not all that started wrong will end up that way." The Lord is molding me. I have to go through these circumstances because God wants me to learn. He is developing my character as I obey Him so that He can prepare me for a greater responsibility because I believe that “Big task requires big Character”

                                                                          -Liza, 21- CARAGA

                                                                                       

Be a BLESSING to ALL NATIONS.

I praise and thank God for His sovereignty and grace that enabled me to pass another week of training and ministry. It wasn’t possible without Him. This week we talked about missions and there are six  words that are in my mind all the time --- Be a BLESSING to ALL NATIONS.

 “How can I be a blessing to all nations? ”, I asked myself.  There are many ways that I can be a blessing to someone, but what does this really mean? God brought me to this verse:

 Matthew 24:14 “ And the Gospel of this Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations- and then the end will come”.

I have served in some remote area for some months through Nehemiah Teams.  But what He means is more than what I know or I thought I already know.

Little by little I understood what God is trying to say. He is inviting me to join Him in His work of reaching the unreached and hard to reach. His inviting me to take up my own cross and walk with Him daily. He wants me to be a blessing by sharing the Gospel to the lost (unsaved). I am very thankful that while in training we can share the gospel in the community on weekends. And we praise HIM for the good response from the people we share with.  

Pray that the seed that has been planted in people’s hearts will grow and bear fruit.

Pray  for more opportunity to share His Gospel and be a BLESSING to ALL NATIONS!

God bless and to God be the Glory. 

-Jinnefer Kate 23- Samar

Jhing doing the heart of God.

“kinahanglan mulakaw ako bisan sa layong dapit ug dal-on nako ang maayong balita sa Dios..”  ( in original language) 

 Sa ikaduha ka simana sa pagtuon namo, usa ka mando sa Ginoo kanako ang akong nahibaw-an -- nga dili lang diay ako magfocus sa usa ka tao nga sultian sa pulong sa Diyos kon dili kinahanglan nga mulakaw gayod ako.Kay kung mabasa nato bersikulo nga makita nato sa Mateo 28:18-20 nag-ingon nga “..panlakaw kamo sa tibuok nasunod ug sultihi ang maayong balita.”  Diha naablihan ang akong huna-huna nga kinahanglan mulakaw ako bisan sa layong dapit ug dal-on nako ang maayong balita sa Dios,  ug ako kining isangyaw uban sa akong pagtuo nga walay lain makaluwas kanato kon dili ang labing gamhanan natong Ginoong Jesus Cristo lamang. 

(Translated)

James sharing the bridge tract

In the second week of our training, I learned about another command of the Lord. That I should not just focus on one person in sharing the Gospel, but I should really go. If we will read Matthew 28:18-20, it said, “ go to all the nations and preach the gospel.”  This opened my mind that I should go even to far places and take with me the gospel and preach it in faith that no one else can save apart from our Almighty  God Jesus Christ alone!                                                                                                                                                                                     

  --Jamescar  24- Caraga                                                                                                                                               

All Nations!

Left to right: Dj, Pau, Liza and Julito

The songs we sang this week for Gate 2: Soul Winning spoke strongly into my heart. Jesus has commanded us to go, but why do others still go the other way or stay in their comfort zones? Why do they not see the people sinking down? Or do they see them but they just don’t care or they have just become numb? Jesus calls to us to reach all nations.  I, myself have no reason to stay in the 4 corners of my house. I have to go because my life is not my own. I have to leave the comforts that I know. I will, I want to, I have to abandon it all for the sake of the call. No other reason.

How about for you? Will you also go?

      

                                                                                                                                               -DJ 20- Samar-Leyte

a journal entry

Left to Right: Julito, Jhing, Pau and Dj

This week, I learned about loving those who hurt us and about going to places where Christ is not yet worshipped. From my quiet time, I learned that I will hear His voice when I have a deep personal relationship and love for Him. “for it is God who works in you to will and act according to his good purpose.” (Philippians 2:13) and “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.”

Julito 21- North Cotabato

The  Way

 Hike going to the community

Crossing the mountains to get to barangay Sagrada for weekend ministry is quite a challenge for me. We had to go through steep and slippery trials or make our own trail. We ended up getting lost on our first trip. The succeeding trips introduced us to more different paths- each offering their own advantage and disadvantages. I find them all amazing as they would, always, lead us to the place we should actually be.

I thank the Lord for protecting us during these hikes, but I thank Him more for the one sure way to heaven He gave us. There will be bumps, slopes and it may be slippery at times, but I can be sure that I would never get lost.  Jesus’ promise is certain. He is the way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Him John 14:6.

-Pau26- Bicol

It’s not enough that I know. 

Liza (in black)

I knew that God loves the nations. I knew these songs but I failed to love. I failed to act. I failed to be a Kingdom- Priest. But in spite of that, God still reminds me about His love for the nations. And the more I spend time with Him, the more I understand His grace - that I am blessed to become a blessing to ALL NATIONS. I can’t not do anything.

-Liza, 21  -- Caraga 

All should go and go to all!  

’If the conditions are right (in total darkness), the light of just one candle can be seen even from 30 Km away.’’ 

According to statistics, there are 7.3 billion people living in the world, though there are varying statistics, it is said that 4.2 Billion of them are still unreached or have not heard the gospel.  Thus, it only means that the percentage of the lost is greater than that of those who have come to faith in Christ. But what is God’s eternal purpose? If we would study the Bible from form the Law of Moses, the book of the Prophets, the Psalms and the New Testament, we will see that there is only one message: All should go and go to all!  From the very beginning it is God’s eternal plan to make the Gospel known to all nations. No plan B or plan C.  And the plan is that salvation and the right to be God’s children is not only for the Jews but that God wants the Gentiles to be a part of the same family – this is the mystery  that He has made known.(Eph. 3:1-11)

However, the sad truth is that the condition of the lost is still very critical. The enemy has held them captive, their hands and feet our bound, ears, eyes and mouth covered making it hard for them to receive the good news. God wants to use the church to testify about this mystery. If only the saved would know the significance of this message, then there will be more than enough people to reach the whole world, recklessly abandoning their selfish ambitions and adjusting their lives to the eternal plan of God.

                                                                

                                                                                                                           -Blesie, 22- Batangas