Dung gate

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such great clouds of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance that race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning it’s shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such position from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrew 12:1-3

This life is a race - a marathon, and the Gospel should be passed on. But how will we run fast and aim for the goal if we have so much baggage with us? We run with a backpack full of baggage. We do not lay at His feet the sins that so easily entangled. We refuse to be truly open, first to Him, then to our brothers. If many of us run like this, then it is no wonder the race is not finished yet. We are so slow in running that it leads to slow spreading of the Gospel. May we all throw off everything that hinders, and remember that all sins were paid on The Cross. We are all standing behind the Cross! The enemy wants us to see our “SIN” but God wants us to see His “SON”. Throw the dung! Run, pass on the Gospel and Finish Well!

-Rhoda , Batangas

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—

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

“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

Grace

ORIGINAL Language

Dako nga grasya na di ko mawari

Gihatag sa akoa upang maging anak ng hari

Gilimpyo sa Ginoo ang akong kinabuhi

Palaging Niyang nais sa piling ng Iyahang luwalhati

Ginoo, kay dako sa Imong gugma!

Sa lalim ng aking kasalanan

Sa taas ng Iyong katuwiran

Pinili mong mapagitna

Kaylanma’y hindi masusukat ang Iyong pagmamahal

Ito’y mas nauunawaan ko bawat araw

Mas lumilinaw bawat araw

Mas lumalalim bawat araw

Lumalaki habang tumatagal

TRANSLATION

Grace I can’t comprehend

Given as a gift to be a daughter of the King

My life He cleansed and desires that I be

Living with Him in His Glory

LORD, how great is your love!

In the depth of my sin

In the height of Your righteousness

You chose to stand between

Pulling me out of that deep pit

No one can fully grasp Your love or measure it

But I understand it more each day

Better each day

Deeper each day

Prayer Requests:

• ·    That the love of the Lord will draw me closer to Him so that I may be able to extend love to others
•      Wisdom and understanding to learn the language                               

   -Rhoda,24-Batangas  

(Rhoda is from Batangas and is learning to speak Bisaya)