Victorious

God is so good! As I had written in my last post, I had been going through a lot of things including surviving a car accident. Well, I just wanted to report that I received my tax refund and not only does it cover what I have to pay to the insurance agency but more! I was just watching the news today and they reported that on the road that I had my accident on has an accident every two days with a high mortality rate per year.

God not only provides but he showers me with His blessings and protection constantly, and by blessings, I don't just mean financially. The enemy can attack but he will never be victorious.

"With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies." - Psalm 60:12

I Will Not Fear

It is definately true when they say that when you are a Christian you are like a giant bulls eye for the devil to come and attack!

This week has been an absolutely crazy week! On Tuesday, which was the first day of my new job, the license plates were stolen from my car, the next day, I couldn't find the keys to my car and I had to get my Dad to come back home to lend me his set of keys. A lot of little things happened that were stressful but not really a big deal. Then on Sunday, which was the first day I would be singing with the Praise and Worship Choir at church, I got in a car accident! It was a very scary situation, I didn't have control over the car as it was raining and the road was slippery. I had this imagery (which is in a book, I have to find out the title) of a demon on top of my car trying to push me off the road but my angel wouldn't let him.

I was sitting in the car today listening to a teaching tape and Pastor John (Victory Christian Centre) said something that hit me so much. In fact, I had been thinking about it all week, especially after Sunday's accident.

He said: "If you're a Christian, and after you are saved, you still have problems, a lot of challenges, sometimes more, usually more. Before you were saved no big deal, you're a dead fish going downstream, the devil is not too concerned about you. Who cares what you say? Go ahead! But when you are saved and you start telling people that there's an answer, that Jesus makes a difference, now you're a target. It's like you have a big bull's eye on you."

This doesn't scare me, because I know that God will never leave me nor forsake me, that is His promise! I am still alive and I am still blessed! No one else was involved in the car accident, just me, I am okay, the car still works and when I got to church I praised Him with a passion. If the enemy thinks that he can discourage or scare me, he needs to think again.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?" - Psalm 27:1

"Though an army beseige me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident." - Psalm 27:3

My God is bigger than any situation. Pastor Helen (also from Victory Christian Centre) had preached during that Sunday that when there are problematic situations people tend to magnify the bad things, and a lot of times, this just makes the problem worse. But if we magnify God instead of the problems, it's like inviting Him to do His work because only He is capable enough to handle EVERY situation.

One of my absolute favorite songs right now, particularly because of the chorus is called "Made Me Glad" by Hillsong Australia. The lyrics are as follows:

I will bless the Lord forever
I will trust Him at all times
He has delivered me from all fear
He has set my feet upon a rock
I will not be moved
And I'll say of the Lord

You are my shield, my strength
My portion, deliverer
My shelter, strong tower
My very present help in time of need

Whom have I in heaven but You
There's none I desire beside You
You have made me glad
And I'll say of the Lord

You are my shield, my strength
My portion, deliverer
My shelter, strong tower
My very present help in time of need

Nothing Without You

I was in the car, driving earlier with my sister when this song came on the radio. I love it so much, it is definately a song that speaks to me. The lyrics are so pure and true, and when I hear it and sing along, my heart shouts it out in prayer to Him who gave His life for me and deserves all my praise forever.

Nothing Without You by Bebo Norman:

Take these hands and lift them up
For I have not the strength to praise You near enough
For I have nothing, I have nothing without You

Take my voice and pour it out
Let it sing the songs of mercy I have found
For I have nothing, I have nothing without You

All my soul needs
Is all Your love to cover me
So all the world will see
That I have nothing without You

Take my body and build it up
May it be broken as an offering of love
For I have nothing, I have nothing without You

All my soul needs
Is all Your love to cover me
So all the world will see
But I love You

With all my heart
With all my soul
With all my mind
And all the strength I can find

All my soul needs
Is all Your love to cover me
So all the world will see I have nothing

Take my time here on earth
And let it glorify all that You are worth
For I am nothing, I am nothing,
I am nothing without You

Small Beginnings

Wow, two entries in one day! I met a lady earlier who told me, I was so young and I have so much potential.. etc.. etc.. until she found out my age (22).. because she thought I was much younger, she was very surprised and stopped talking about how much I could achieve in my future. I was a little bit offended, but I knew from the beginning of our conversation that she thought I was younger.

Well, I just felt like I had to write something on this topic because it is something that has always been coming up in my life and I feel like a lot of people do feel the same way sometimes.

Do you ever feel like it's too late for you? Too late to do all the things that you wanted to do, or it seems like you are so far off from what your dreams or aspirations are? This might sound silly, but sometimes I feel like I am too old and I've wasted so much time.. like I should just settle with whatever it is I wind up with and forget all about my ambitions. Otherwise, I am racked with regret, thinking that I should have done things differently, I end up so frustrated!

If you feel this way, this is my verse for you, it is a very popular verse, but honestly, it lifts such a weight from my heart, here goes:

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

He knew your name before you were even born, He lives in the past, present and future and He knows where you are supposed to be and when! He wants great things for us and the hard part for us to conceive is that we can't begin to understand what His plans are and how they all fit together. In our eyes, we don't think it will work, but in the eyes of God, he knows where all the puzzle peices go, because He is already there in the future.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:8-9

What can we do in the meantime? Well, aside from taking comfort in the fact that God knows what He is doing, we have to look at our current situation and and work through it whole-heartedly, in whatever we do, give glory to God, as this is one of our purposes in life. When we can't find importance in what is in the now then we can't focus on giving our efforts to what we have.

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom." - Ecclesiastes 9:10

I know it sounds easier said than done, but that is where prayer comes in. I've learned that praying for what we have right now is like nurturing our potential. After all, God sees our attitudes and observes us, if we show Him that He can trust us with the small things He will entrust us with the big things as well!

I don't know about you, but I am glad that I have a God that is watching over me. I know that where I am at any moment is where he put me, because that's where I am supposed to be and that is where I can serve Him the most. He won't give me anything I can't handle, perhaps I haven't received the things I have wanted because I wasn't ready for them yet or the things that I want will cause me harm or that there is something better that He wants for me. Whatever the reason, I know that He has a plan, and I know that it will exceed my expectations. God is good! Let me just leave you with one last verse:

"Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin" - Zechariah 4:10

Do Not Worry

Well, this is my very first entry! I am a little bit nervous because this is definately something I thought I would never ever do. But I really felt like it is something that I have to, so I can share with other people all the wonderful and awesome things that God has been doing in my life!

He has been doing so many things the past few days, like blessing me with a job, which is a huge answered prayer, considering that I have been unemployed for the past 2 months! I have bills to pay and lots of things I have to save up for including this laptop that I am using right now, next semester's course tuition and a trip to the Philippines for Christmas. God is so awesome because even though I didn't have a job all this time, I never ran out of money, I always had enough and not just for the essentials but for everything! There were so many times when the temptation of feeling bitter and worried and angry came over me, but I I knew that it was all part of His plan and I am just excited for it all to be revealed to me according to His perfect timing. I had been clinging to his promises of provision and finding the comfort that only He can provide.

"God has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your heart with joy." - Acts 14:17

" Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" - Matthew 6:26

"So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." - Matthew 6:31-34