Raise Your Faith

Don’t feel bad if your church lacks air conditioning, has generic musical instruments, is built with simple materials, or has fewer members. Remember, our ancestors worshiped in caves without fancy lighting or advanced sound systems. It’s not about appearances—true worship comes from the heart, not from outward luxuries or comfort.

If Jesus doesn't offend you, you're worshipping the wrong Jesus.

"Kumusta na ka?"

This seemingly harmless greeting can sting like a hornet to some of us. In a millisecond, our brains go haywire, forced to process the question: yeah right, "kumusta na diay tuod ko?"

The real answers: I'm lonely, I'm sick, I'm fighting a battle, I'm an emotional wreck, just lost a loved one, I'm about to lose my family, in a relationship that offers more sorrow than joy, I'm trapped, just got betrayed -- the list is long.

So with a tinge of sadness, we deal with the intrusive question the only way we could: "Ok ra man ko." Oftentimes though, our eyes, our voice betray us.

We are not Ok.

So I offer a prayer, not for the strong and the mighty, but for all of us who are struggling to get back on our feet, who are facing the crisis of our lives, we, who are on the brink of despair.

May our season of sorrow be short, may His grace be sufficient, may we feel His sweet embrace.

Amen.

In the hand of the Lord's anointed, a small stone can take down a giant.

Extra rice, please. 🫰💗

The stark reality is that we cannot alter the prevailing culture. While we might exert some minor influence, the overall trajectory appears to be deteriorating. Observe the so-called "born-again Christians" occupying political positions—what meaningful actions have they taken to address societal corruption? Their efforts have been largely symbolic, akin to making a minor dent on a Kia Pride in the 90s. Some, sorry to say, are a complete embarrassment to the faith!

Ultimately, it's not about changing the culture but about giving our souls a complete overhaul through the redemptive power of the blood of the Lamb.

No one ever invests their time, money, and talents with true fervor unless their heart is passionately devoted to the Lord.🌿

Prosperity, once the devil's temptation to the Lord, has become THE primary message pastors use to fill their churches.

In the meantime, the Bible is filled with warnings against discontentment and an insatiable desire for more.

1 Timothy 6:9-10 (NIV)
"Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."

Proverbs 23:4-5 (NIV)
"Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle."

Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)
"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'"

Proverbs 28:20 (NIV)
"A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished."

The warmth of advice is oftentimes more important than its content. 🌿

When we share our vulnerabilities openly, we create spaces for empathy, understanding, and resilience to flourish. ☘️🏆

“The wound is the place where the light enters you.” ☘️🏆

As the night deepens and shadows embrace the world, may your worries dissolve like the fading twilight. May God's presence be upon us all, guiding and comforting us through the night and into the dawn.

Lunch.

The only time poverty is Ok is when it's a choice. But if not, well, maningkamot ta, we owe it to our children to make our lives better, para sila makahuman ug iskwela, makabaton ug mahayag nga kaugmaon ug arang arang sab nga kinabuhi nga dili sila magutman o ma-insecure sa uban.

Proverbs 20:4 - " The lazy do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing."

Proverbs 21:25-26 (NIV) - "The craving of a lazy person will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work.

Snacks. 🤐🫰❤️

Huge respect to all the incredible Moms doing it solo! Double Honor! 💪🌸

We are spiritual beings craving sustenance. Church is our five-star banquet for the soul. 'sDay 🙏

Crispy Pork Binaggoongan. 🍴🤗❤️

Life is hard, it's just the way it is, an immutable truth that transcends identity or circumstance. Regardless of who or what you are, the journey is inevitably marked by guilt, sadness, and regrets. Such is the narrative of life, we need a healer, a Savior.

"Ring the bells that still can ring. Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack, a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in." - Leonard Cohen

Daghan na nagkaluya? Daghan na ang ni-undang? Daghan na ang nibiya? Ana gyud na ang pagpangalagad. It can be a lonely battle at times. Not everyone will understand or support your convictions. Expect criticism, or even rejection. When the world feels like it's crumbling around us, trust. That God will bestow upon us, weak vessels, a profound and enduring joy that transcends the fleeting pangs of solitude.

Often, what we truly need isn't another inspiring talk. Instead, we need to be pressed and humbled, like an orange squeezed for juice, to fully grasp our helplessness and recognize our need for God.

Ang kahadlok daw anino nga lumalabay; kung madan-agan sa kayahag sa tinood nga kaisog, kini mahanaw. Dili na igkita pa.