The Joy in the Weirdest Circumstances
by: Jeflivs Livara

Joy is the most difficult thing to search. It seems like it is impossible for us to have consistent joy in our lives. Joy seems temporary in the lives of people. We work not because of money... We work because we want to have what money can benefit us and one of them is joy.

The problem is not JOY itself. The problem is, we are looking for joy in the wrong places on earth. 

Money 
We thought that having much money would make us happier. The happiest man on earth is not the wealthiest man. Money cannot bring joy.

Peers
We also thought that being with friends can bring joy. Yes they can help you and be with you in the good times. But chances are when trials come in your life, give a head count. They might leave you in your most troublesome moments.

Career
We thought that having a job would bring joy... but the people with high paying jobs are not the happiest people on earth. Sometimes they become too much focused on their jobs that they forget their family and worse, forget about God.

Religion
We thought that religion can bring us JOY. Perhaps yes or no. Even the most religious people on earth are not happy. If you go back to the bible, aren't the most religious people, the one's who crucified Jesus? Jesus doesn't endorse religion. Read the Bible. Many sects would claim they are the true religion... Jesus does not speak of a religion but Jesus speaks of your RELATIONSHIP to His father.

True and Everlasting Joy can only be found with Jesus Christ when you start a relationship with HIM. If you find joy in material wealth, it is temporary and it will pass. But when you find joy in Jesus, your life will change and it's eternal.

In Philippians 1-1:11, Paul will give us a very concrete scenario on how he found Joy. If you study the context, Paul was a prisoner when he wrote to the Philippians. He was imprisoned and yet HE has JOY in his heart! He never complained, He never lost faith, He never rebelled against the Lord... In fact he continued to become an effective apostle of Jesus.

How many of us now are imprisoned? Yes, we might not be behind bars but many of us are PRISONERS of Grief, Sufferings, Anger, Pain, Worry, Selfishness, Hatred and Uncertainty... But when you invest in the word of God, you will no longer feel and experience these... because Jesus changes your heart. He puts a renewed spirit within you... and his graces will simply manifest in you.

A man who has Jesus in his heart, smiles a lot and inspires others a lot.

From the time I accepted Jesus in my life, problems and trials did not eventually diminish! But what was renewed, was the way I think and see.
Others see problems as dead end but I see it as opportunity.
Others see trials as hindrances but I see it as preparation.
Others see being "alone" as sufferings but I see it as an opportunity to improve oneself and spread my wings.

When you see yourself at the mirror? What do you see? An unhappy man or a man with JOY over flowing?

Jesus renews you and brings JOY. Joy cannot be found in places... It can be found only in Jesus. It can reside in you. If it does, joy is in you even in weirdest places on earth just as Paul when he found joy even when he was imprisoned  because JOY resides in the Heart where there is God.

Amen.

Reflection:
Philippians 3:8
"3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus."

ReDiscovering Faith.

Faith is not faithfulness to religion. It is faithfulness to God. It is not what the "world" says. It must be what the Lord says. Many claim to know Christ but the message of Christ is not evident in their lives. Our deeds are reflection of our faith.

Even in this present time, Jesus continues to restore us. I see people being restored for the better and not for the bitter. It changed me; It restored me; That is why I am always eager to invite acquaintances and friends to rediscover Jesus and understand more about Him because I want them to experience first hand the LOVE of God to us.

It is not enough that we remain lax about our faith. Being lax is a sign of no faith at all. Talking to a stone or a wood will not change anything; tradition will not save us. Jesus does. Their is no neutral faith; There is no stagnant faith; And their is no middle ground. Faith is dynamic. Even the parable of the mustard seed says that when you have a faith like a mustard seed, it can grow to be the biggest of the herbs! How? It is when it is scattered on the ground! Faith does not grow when you are holding it. It should be scattered to the ground - it must be shared and nourished in order to grow. Your faith grows, then let it grow.

This coming Christmas, I believe the best gift we could give to a friend is Jesus. Some say they are living in hell right now but they still have the chance to change their lives through Jesus. I am thankful for some friends who decided to follow Christ. I believe they are living testimonies of how Jesus pulled them up from the rubles they have been.

I would like to invite you to discover what the Lord has planned for you.

Have a blessed Sunday.

Reflection:

"These people claim to worship me, but their words are meaningless, and their hearts are somewhere else. Their religion is nothing but human rules and traditions, which they have simply memorized. So I will startle them with one unexpected blow after another. Those who are wise will turn out to be fools, and all their cleverness will be useless." - Isaiah 29:13-14

Between your Purpose and Alcoholism
By: Jeflivs Livara

Our purpose in life is not to become wasted. Alcoholism is an addiction that destroys relationships and families. It eats up good times with people closest to your life. It distorts good decision making. It loses your focus to God.

How far have we departed from the Gospel? How big was the impact of alcoholism in your life? Who is in control of your life... Alcohol? What is your source of joy... Alcohol? Where do you find refuge... Alcohol? When do you find relaxation... Alcohol...? Now, who is your God?

Alcoholism is an addiction most alcoholics do not admit. The world has taught us false ideas of righteousness.May be it's about time we check the bible and understand what it says. It is not enough that we pray, read the word and get drunk after. We must be a living manifestation of the Word. When people see you, do they see the glory of God shining on you and not the bitterness of life.

Ironic how we complain sometimes about life but we never tend to give up what is holding us back. Have a non-intoxicated Sunday everyone! 

The Domestic Truth

The Domestic Truth
By: Jeflivs Livara

Funny how the author used Filipino in a sentence as an example of Racial Harmony. This is the way (we) Filipinos are etching history. It is a sad reality that we fail to accept. It becomes sadder when we continue to deny the truth and do nothing to change it.

It represents the failure of our government and even "us" as part of the government to provide JOBS in our own country, a JOB that can sustain a comfortable life. We are creating thousands of graduates every year but only 1/4 gets to work. From the 1/4, majority of the graduates have no choice but to get a job not related to their course.

Few days ago, I happen to visit a tea shop. I read a book which says, "The government does not generate jobs, an ENTREPRENEUR does" and "Schools train students to become GOOD EMPLOYEES and not Entrepreneurs." I agree with the authors. Most filipino families, encourage their children to study hard to work for a company when they graduate. "Galingan mo anak para makapagtrabaho ka sa Makati, dahil sa makati maganda ang buhay!".  or a call-of-the-flesh, "Galingan mo mag-aral anak para makapangasawa ka ng professional o porenger". These are typical mind conditioning most parents inculcate to their children. Then we ask ourselves, how come majority of wealthy Filipinos in the country are CHINESE? ...because they were not raised that way. We need home grown entrepreneurs. We need more Filipinos generating jobs for fellow Filipinos!

Filipinos have the POTENTIAL. It should not remain as a wishful thinking. It should not remain as potential. We should start etching our mark today for the coming generation. If we hate the example from the text book then let as start to act. Starting from your own kids would the best gesture.
1. Accept the reality
2. Change the history
3. Consistency

If so, then we are looking at the same star.


Photo: from hongwrong.com

The UNEXPECTED GRACE
by: Jeflivs Livara

I thought I already knew a lot about Grace since I use the word almost everyday to describe how wonderful life is. But I found a whole new perspective of what is God's Grace. 

Grace is a manifestation of God's presence in our lives. The joy, happiness, inspiration, love...etc are manifestations that we receive graces from God. You might be living sufficiently, you might be living humbly, you might be striving to make ends meet... The fact that you are given the opportunity to improve your self and to improve the quality of your life is God's Grace.

You might be a sinner! You might have violated every law! You might have done things in the past that makes you undeserving to receive God's grace. My friends, not even me is worthy. We have committed sins and we have hurt people but God's grace is greater than our sins... Who am I or Who are you to receive God's Grace? The answer... You are His masterpiece and creation. You are made in His own image and likeness and You have a place in Heaven reserved, prepared and ready for you.

GRACE IS RECEIVING WHAT WE DO NOT DESERVE. A humble and thankfukl person receives graces. It is more than a stable financial status. It is more than your job. It is more than your position. Besides, it is not your Job that defines who you are but it is the Grace of God that defines you. If your BASIS of Life is your Career then you are unsecured. If your career ends then so is your life but if Jesus is the center of your life. You grow and continuously receive blessings infinitely.

If you are an employee reading this, your WORK is a grace from God. If you are a business owner reading this, your business is a grace from God. If you are a public servant reading this, your position is a GRACE from God. You are in the position because you have a purpose. Do not complain because you are of equal importance to the society. Driver, doctor, maintenance worker, electricians, technicians, carpenter...etc your work is a Grace from God. Do not complain. Instead, do your best and let promotions, provisions and favors among favors come. Be the best you can be because your WORK is a Grace from God.

We are saved not by our good deed but by faith and His grace.

Reflection:
1 Cor 15:9 For I am the least of the Apostles and I am not worthy to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

The Power of Forgiveness

The Power of Forgiveness
by: Jefferson "Jeflivs" Livara

"I am sorry" is the most abused sentence according to some and "I forgive you" is the most difficult sentence to say among others.

Forgive came from the old english word forgiefan, for which means complete and giefan which means give. We can now read it as completely give. If the origin of the word forgiveness is accurate then, we are now guilty of violating the word. "Forgive but never forget..." now becomes irrelevant to the entomology of forgiveness. According to Google, forgiveness is an action or a process . When we forgive, we completely give our understanding, peace, hope, joy, trust and love to the person. For some, it takes time to mend but it is the act that matters for it is a process.

Forgiveness does not only involve two parties. It always involve a third where God is the center. It is you, others and God. Anything you do to others, you are doing it to the Lord; Anything you also do for your self you also do it for the Lord. Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and anything you do to for the Lord, you are doing it for the least of your brothers and sister. There is power in forgiveness and we might not even be aware of it. Jesus teachings always mention about forgiveness and love. Others think that forgiveness is a sign of cowardliness or defeat; Worse, others choose to live a life of guilt and pride each day. When we ask for forgiveness or forgive others, we are:

1. Unloading a heavy burden - We are releasing a burden that is deeply embedded in our heart and mind. We are surrendering it all to God. That is why when there is forgiveness, we become renewed, revitalized and recharged.

2. Freeing our self from the bondage - We are held hostages of pride when we cease to forgive. We are never free to act. It seems that everything we do is limited. That is the result of guilt and fear. When we forgive or ask for forgiveness, we are freeing ourselves and others from the torture we are creating.

3. Securing our relationship - Sin breaks relationships to others and to God. It also affects the way you look at your self. If we forgive, we are actually restoring broken relationships. We do not only restore but we are guarding it. We are securing it for the days, months and years to come. If we forgive, we do not only secure relationship from the person who has done you wrong but you are securing your relationship to God.

4. Living Life as true witnesses of Jesus - Jesus died on the cross for your sins. Jesus died as the sacrificial lamb. Jesus died as the final blood to be offered. For what? For my sins and for your sins. We forgive because we are FORGIVEN. The death of Jesus is an act of forgiveness. A man with no sin has been crucified to pay the price for us to be forgiven. Shame on the people who says they cannot forgive. Shame on the people who claims to be Christians without following what Jesus taught us. Have we witnessed Jesus lately? Take time to read the bible.

5. Obeying the words of God - Forgiveness comes from God. If we acknowledge we are His people then it is quite right to follow what He says. It might be difficult for our "earthly" mind to understand but God's plan for people who follow and serve Him is greater. A better life is waiting for those who forgive cheerfully. God forgave us without conditions. We are recipients of God's forgiveness too. Every time put pride before us, we are actually raising eyebrows with God and not just to the person who wronged us. We forgive because we acknowledge the KINGSHIP of God in our lives.

Forgiveness is a Power which can transform our lives. It starts the moment we say Sorry with all sincerity. Forgiveness from God is a manifestation of His unconditional love. It is a renewal of the old covenant to a new one. In Christ, we are a new creation. Leave the past behind and embrace the new plan of God in our lives.

Amen.

-Jeflivs

Reflections:

Isiah 3:19
"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord"

2 Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

Between Pride and You must be Humility.

I was very excited last night that I posted about our team's effort in helping the people in our mission area. I even posted it here in FB with pride. This morning I went over my posts and tried to ask my self, am I boasting? As I read my bible reflection for today, it says,

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the Gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

Thank God for reminding me not to boast on deeds!

Faith comes first before good deeds. Good deeds should just be a manifestation of faith in God. Good deeds will not save you; If good deeds are the basis to heaven then how NOISY heaven would be. All will be boasting of their deeds and achievements...

Jesus was truly amazing when he said that it is through FAITH... because faith cannot be measured or be boasted. No matter how small your faith is, God does not measure how immense it is. Again it was stated in the bible,

“If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you." Luke 17:6

It is by Faith and not by deeds. Good deeds are manifestation of your faith.

Compassion guards ourselves from Greed.
Faith guards ourselves from Self Gratification.
Humility guards ourselves from Pride.

Humility is not putting yourself below others. It is putting God above yourself.

The Blessing of Becoming a Blessing

The Blessing of Becoming a Blessing
 by: Jefferson Jeflivs Livara

All of us wanted to be blessed. In our churches, if only our prayers are broadcast then I would be hearing people asking for blessings and miracles in their lives. Sometimes our prayers become "selfie" too. We become focused on our own needs and fail to listen to the needs of others. We sometimes forget the essence of Christianity as what Jesus has taught us- to love God above anything else and to love others as we love our self.

Little do other people know that helping others who are in need is actually rewarding. It is not a total waste of money and time. When you help others you are doing something for your self too! When you help others:

• You guard your self from greed and selfishness. It teaches you to share what you have. It teaches you how to take care and love the people who are deprived of the goodness in life. It is also a preparation for you to receive more blessings! It can also come as a test of loyalty to God. If you are greedy and selfish, do you think God will give you more? 

• You show obedience to God. It is following the word of God! The bible tells us to help the poor and the oppressed. Everytime we help those people who are in need we make God smile on us. You are making a name in heaven. By doing, you are securing your future... in heaven. When you become obedient to God, everything you ask for will be given unto you. It is in the bible.

•  You LIVe life to the fullest. To live for someone else is one of the most noble ways to live life. Some people merely exist and just think of themselves. They just think of their own safety, own security and own comfort. Sometimes, they cause pain to others and they totally forget that life is not just about themselves. When you live life for someone, victory becomes sweeter. Jesus lived life not only for himself but for the whole mankind.

• You affect eternity. In your little ways you affect the lives of people. You make them feel better. You alleviate them from their present condition. You bring hope. You might not be able to witness it in your whole lifetime but the kindness you showed to them will be the same kindness they will be sharing to others. Who knows your grand children or your grand children's children will benefit the kindness you have showed them.

• You leave a Legacy. You leave a legacy in the minds of the people whom you have helped. With this, your generation will be blessed abundantly because you have become a blessing to the needy. Legacy is not the unfinished business of a dead man given to the living. Legacy is the inspiration, the deeds, the idea, the hope, the love and the honor you will be giving to the people whom you have touched their lives. Yes, you can create a legacy while you are still living. A living legend? Perhaps... but more preferred, a Living Legacy.

I have witnessed how filipinos can join together and help  fellow filipinos who are in need. May be we are already fed up listening about corruption and Napoles... May be we are already tired of watching calamity stricken places in the Philippines... May be we are already fed up of watching children being abused... All because of "HIRAP NG BUHAY".  Yes, life is difficult when you are alone but we are never alone.

I am still proud  to be a Filipino because once in my life I was able to witness how Filipinos worldwide respond to a cry of the young boy from Acao. I appreciate their efforts. I know that  the people who extended their help are also helping  family members or relatives to finish school... they are also helping their families who were left behind in the Philippines fulfill their dreams, a house may be or a farm. The people who love to help others are the PEOPLE who experienced the difficulties in life because they know how it is not to eat  meals; They know how it is to walk for hours just to attend school; They know how it is to sleep in the cold of the night; They know how it is to be deprived of the freedom, right and beauty of life which should have been theirs.

This Blog is dedicated to the Filipinos working abroad who are helping other Filipinos have a better life. Filipinos abroad(SG, HK, US, Middle East, JP, Au, Eu, Cn), and also to those who are here in the Philippines supporting fellow Filipinos.

Thank you for becoming a blessing to others. If everyone will have a heart like this then, we are looking forward to a better and brighter Philippines.

Reflections:

1 Corinthians 12:25-26 "that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it."

Matthew 25:35-40 - Words of Jesus Christ
"For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.' "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You drink? 'And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 'And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me."

Why Give Up If God Has Not Given Up On You?

Why give up if God hasn't given up on you
by Jeflivs

When I was still living in the dormitory, Chess was one of the favorite games of ours. There were times we spent sleepless nights solving chess puzzles from grand master dorm mates. It was a terrible mind exercise that will let you thinking for days for the solution. There was one friend of mine that I can never beat in Chess. I lose over and over again every time he plays with me. One day I asked him, “ What is your secret? Your technique seems very effective!” then he replied,”SIMPLIFY”.

SIMPLIFICATION was a technique I adopted in playing chess and also in answering the most difficult mathematical expressions in our class. SIMPLIFICATION in chess is simply feeding some chess pieces to your opponent in order for you to concentrate more on the attack of the few pieces left. In doing so, you save time and your movements become more powerful. The same is with Math equations, you cannot solve complex expressions directly, you need to simplify the equation! Simplifying makes you work with fewer expressions. SIMPLICITY is POWER.

Today, the problems we meet are products of complex and complicated things made. Even Facebook acknowledges a “COMPLICATED” status. Hahaha! Why? Because we tend to choose to be complicated. Complexity is only a reflection of what the mind sees. It is a way of thinking. Even though how complicated your life is but when you choose to simplify it, you are giving your mind time to relax and concentrate to better things in life. Simplification starts when you choose to let go of the things that’s keeping you complicated and miserable.
let go of the Anger, 
let go of the vices, 
let go of the loneliness, 
let go of the pain,
and let go of the hatred in your heart.
You deserve to be Free! You deserve to be loved! You deserve to live in prosperity and success! All because God wants you to BE…

Have you ever experienced a trial in your life, that you almost laid down everything you have… you have exhausted all your efforts… you almost lost hope, faith and love to others BUT have you noticed that when you exhausted every human effort you have your FAITH in GOD remains. It was your faith that carried you through your darkest moment and it served as a guiding light for you to move on. If you haven’t experience it, you haven’t lived at all. Why give up if God has not given up on you!? It is simplicity in action. We are scrapped off from things which complicate us and we are left alone with God. Yes, it is about you and God. That is simplicity. It is the most basic of all. It is to remind us to become HUMBLE and acknowledge God in every victory and defeat we face in life. God will fight for you. God will provide. God will rescue you. Just call His mighty name. We are all entitled to His attention. If you are simple and If God is with you then who could possibly be against you. God loves us and everyday we live by his graces. Never give up on life.

Being simple and humble is not a mark of defeat. Sometimes the most powerful and successful men we knew are the simplest and humblest. They boast not of their material possessions but of the God they believe. For they acknowledge the supremacy of God in their lives. This is what keeps them to be SIMPLE.

Man is clouded by the things he places before God. These things often mislead him to the TRUTH. Christmas is in the air but let us try to see beyond the eyes can see. Are we celebrating it the way God wants us to commemorate the birth of Jesus? Dig deep in your heart and choose to be simple in this way, you will truly experience God’s presence.

Have a simple Monday Morning! Never Give Up.

Reflections:

Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation. (Psalm 91:14-16)

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. (Deut. 31:6)

When Prayers are Answered

When Prayers are Answered
by Jeflivs Livara

Once upon a time there was a couple who prayed for their finances to improve. Everyday and every night they pray that God will help them from their finances. The man working in the fields spent most of his time tilting the land. The woman earns her living by selling fruits and vegetables picked from their small plantation. One day a rich old man came and asked them to sell his inherited land. Three mountains and a river flowing in between makes this land costs millions and of course with a commission enough to buy them a new house and sustain them for the next 25 years.

The couple did not know what to do and disregarded the offer of the old man. The man continued to work in the fields and the woman continued to work selling fruits and vegetable. At the end of the day, the couple prayed again for God to help them with their finances everyday and every night. End of the Story.

I believe that when we pray for something God answers us in three ways: Yes, No or Wait. What if our prayers are already answered but sometimes we fail to notice the answer. In the story, the poor couple prayed for their finances to improve and after praying religiously an old man came offering them commission to sell his property. An opportunity which could have answered their prayers but the problem was, the couple did not know what they were ask for or did not appreciate the way their prayers were answered. Then, they let go of the opportunity.

Isn't it intriguing that such can, may or has happened to us. The reasons why we fail to discover God's answers because we are simply not paying attention. We let go of the moment. We let go of the chance and pray for another chance. It seems, we only know God when we ask for something like the genie in a bottle or we only acknowledge God when good things happen in the way we want it to be.What if God answers in the way God likes it to be? Are we ready to accept and embrace the answer? I hope you do! Many of us think that God does not answer our prayers (but in fact He did) because

1. We want the answers the way we like it to happen.It is not how we want it to be answered but it is how God wants it to be. He is God. He knows what is best for us. Many times we kept praying but the things we are praying for have long been answered. We cannot just accept it because it does not conform what we have in mind.

2. We fail to reflect.
The best way to understand your life is to take a moment of silence and reflect from the things that transpired. By doing so, we can point out what areas in our lives we fall short. We can pinpoint areas in our attitude where we went wrong. Reflection is a form of evaluating ourselves... evaluating our life. It improves the way we think. It improves the way we see life and enables us to be ready for the future. If you try to reflect in  life,  you would agree that God gives us hundreds of chances... hundreds of opportunities... and hundreds of understanding. Reflect on a verse in the bible and discover how God works in your life.

3. We become insensitive to the things around us.We sometimes fail to see answered prayers because we are focused on other things. We become insensitive to the world around us. We become insensitive to the inner voice speaking to us. We become insensitive to our own selves. In this world of technological advancement, we should still learn to become attentive to God and things happening around us. They might not be exact answers but may lead us to answered prayers. Pride can cloud our heart. It can leave us callous of other's feelings.

4. We look for worldly reasons. We fail to accept answered prayers because we sometimes give explanations to things which are given from God. We do not acknowledge God anymore. We let science give and find the answers. We become too much dependent on  Human Philosophies and Scientific Reasoning we get to explain why things happen. We become so much dependent in our own might that we fail to acknowledge graces from God.

5. We are not ready to accept the answered prayer.We ask many things but when answered we do not know how to react. We do not know how to accept the answer God has provided us. This makes us ignorant to our own prayers and longings. God loves us. Sometimes I get a feeling we are already "spoiled". Didn't you know that God loved us more than his son? Read John 3:16 and tell me.

We have a good God. The God you believe is a reflection of who you are. The prayers you ask is the reflection of your spiritual needs.

When prayers are answered, are you ready to respond and acknowledge God who gave you all these?We have a God who fulfills His promises.

Reflection:
1 John 5:14-15
"And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him."

The Wolf's Prophecies

The Wolf's Prophecies
by: Jeflivs

The Philippines is the only Christian Nation in Asia and I am damn proud. In a christian nation, I enjoy the privilege to talk about my faith and practice my faith through service. I also enjoy the freedom to worship the God I believe without fear and prejudice. I am grateful to be born in a country of  "lambs" where love, faith and hope overflows abundantly.

 Few days ago, the "only christian" nation came to a panic when heard about the report of a television network of the disease spreading in Pangasinan. According to people I talked to, it is the fulfillment what that "Indian Prophet" has mentioned during a visit in the Philippines. I myself watched the video of his "prophecies" and found nothing supernatural or "prophetic". Floods, earthquakes, typhoon, volcanic eruptions and so on are natural in the Philippines for the reasons that we are in the Pacific Ring of Fire and incidentally, we are also located along the typhoon path of the pacific. Nothing is extraordinary. I have been living my life with these calamities. I have experienced floods of NCR and NL; I have experienced the strongest earthquake in 16, July 1990; I have experienced the effects of Mt. Pinatubo; What more? The Philippines almost have it all. They all came! The most extraordinary of all is that Filipinos manage to smile through it all.

Prophecies are words of God. It should bring HOPE and not fear. It should uplift the weary. It should inspire people. It should manifest LOVE. Why? Because it is the word of God. Jesus is the fulfillment of the words of God. If we read the bible and read the stories of the prophets, they always mention of a Savior. They mention of a messiah. All the words of those prophets were fulfilled with no uncertainty. They were truly inspired by God. They were not wolves clothe in sheep using God's words to prosper their own ministry. Even as a Christian Nation, we sometimes fall short. We are Christians by name but not in deeds. We are fooled easily because we know only a little of God's words. Little knowledge is dangerous. Religion is exalted rather than meaningful relationship to God. Some would mix cultural rituals as religious practices to a christian experience. A confused christian community is what we have. The way the oppressor wants it to be. The easiest way to get into the veins of filipinos is to hit them hard on their cultural rituals and beliefs. Hit them hard on the religious statues they place everywhere and they will always remember your name.  Hit them hard why young filipinas like to consult fortune tellers before discovering their purpose in God. Hit them hard why they go to church but remain cold-hearted to their brothers and sisters. Hit them hard why they ask for God's forgiveness and yet they cannot forgive others - "forgive us for our sins as we forgive those who sin against us...". We become no less than the false prophets for we fail to accept Christ fully in our lives.

In this generation, we often hear "the end of the world", "the rise of 666", "The fulfillment of prophecies". "Wrath of God", "Great Famine", "Great Flood" and "War of the Worlds"; I just smile and leave the worry behind because I believe in a GOD that brings hope, love and prosperity. As the bible says in Jeremiah 29:11

 "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."

The prophecies God wanted you to hear is available for free in the book of life. Read and reflect on it everyday and you will never fear for the future. Be on guard and do not let the Wolf's Prophecies affect the lives of the good lambs.
Amen!

-Jeflivs

Reflections:

Matthew 24:24  “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.”

Jeremiah 29:11 "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."

Covered in Glory

Covered in Glory
by Jeflivs Livara

As I watch the news this morning, an illness that consumes the flesh and decays the skin is spreading in Pangasinan. The victims have been brought to doctors but cannot find for a cure. The mode of transmission is undetermined and it could possibly wipe out the whole population. Medical experts from here don't have exact idea for the disease and still remains under investigation. Our churches become filled and over flowing in times of fear and uncertainty. We only know God when we ask for something. We only know God when we fear of something. We only know God when He is our last choice. God shouldn't be our last choice. Worse, we blame God.

God created everything in this world good and everything which has been made has a purpose. Sickness is not the WILL of God to us. The truth is, it is our attitude towards others which makes us sick. Anger, depression, loneliness, brokenness, fear, envy, pride and selfishness can kill you faster than any other diseases. In some studies conducted, people with a cheerful heart have the longest life. Now, this breaks our old saying," Masamang damo, mahirap mamatay". A thankful heart receives more blessings!

We fear to much of things yet to come. We fear too much of our security. We fear too much of our life. Why? because we are NOT PREPARED. Instead of fear, prepare. We can be blanketed by his glory as protection.

Get to know God - knowing God is not just attending church. It is having a good relationship with HIM. Invest in the gospel. You are a reflection of the God you worship. It is not the rituals you do in church that makes you a better person. It is your relationship with God.

Build strong faith foundation - Build a strong faith foundation, which will guide you. The world shouldn't be the one to influence you but YOU influence the world with your faith in God. It guides us from witnessing the truth.

Serve God - You do not need to become a reverend in order to spread the gospel. God can use you as an instrument for who you are and whatever circumstances you have been. God can use you to inspire others.

Serve Others - Apart from your high paying job, I encourage you to do charity works. Serving others guards our heart from PRIDE. It simply humbles us. There is also a deep excitement and joy every time we serve which no material things can give.

Pray for someone - Praying for someone is not the same as wishing for someone's birthday. It is best to pray for that someone in his presence. We do that. We do it often. Anywhere... anytime... because you just don't know how that simple prayer can brighten up his day or even change his life.

Be thankful - A thankful heart receives the most blessings. Be blessed and be a blessing to others too. Thank the Lord for everything. Thank the Lord for his graces for they were given for free.

These are few but it will be a good start and the GLORY of God will shine on you. You become a refined individual. Fear Proof, anger proof, sad proof and so on... because you are consumed by the Holy Spirit. His fire is burning inside your heart and no sickness or illness can even touch you because you are all COVERED in his GLORY. Right before my eyes, I have seen the blind being healed.

Right before my eyes, I have seen the deaf start to hear.
Right before my eyes, I have seen the handicapped walk again.
Right before my eyes, I have seen sick and helpless being healed in the NAME of Jesus.

Again, why fear if the way to receive His glory is through faith and worship. You did not chose God. God has chosen you first. You did not search for God but God has searched for you first like a sheep lost from the herd. In the eyes of God you are important and you are entitled to live in His glory.

May you have a Glorious Tuesday.
Jeflivs

Reflections:
Proverbs 4:20-22
"My child, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh."

1 Peter 1:2
"Dear friends, God the Father chose you long ago and knew you would become His children."

Body Building and Spiritual Dieting

Body Building and Spiritual Dieting
by: JefLivs Livara.

Everyone of us wants to look great and healthy. Some prefer to have a morning jog or a late afternoon walk to keep their body in perfect shape while some prefer to do it inside the gym.

Three years ago, I invested in one of the most important investments in my life - my self. I was fat and furious. I cannot even walk 200 meters and climb up the stairs without catching my breath. It was difficult. It was depressing and more every time I check the weighing scale. Why? It simply pointed back to zero. Not because I was weightless but the scale cannot accommodate my weight. With a kidney stone and a stent in my ureter I saw how difficult it was. I did not give up. I made a decision to change my life and change "forever".

The first step I did is to build that body. I bought a bible and started reading and reflecting on the verses. I also attended church more often until such time my Sundays were not enough to worship the Lord. The bible led me to know more about Jesus and God's plan. More than anything, I discovered a new purpose. It has changed the way I think and decide. Hurdles and problems did not totally disappear but they were lessened. They might have been present but my faith became greater than my fears. It has developed me to become a better version of me.

See, body building should not start inside the gym. It should start from accepting Jesus in our lives. When you have HIM in your life, you discover the very essence of body building - It is taking care of your body because your body is the temple of...? The Holy Spirit! sounds familiar? And listen to this, "Guard your heart for everything flows from it..." Amazing indeed. Just two of the many verses that tells you to be physically fit.

The second step, I did is to diet spiritually. With the wisdom gained from the book of life, I fed my spirit with what was good. You might think of "abstinence" and "fasting" but its not. Spiritual Dieting is to choose what you feed your spirit. You have the decision to choose to cut the WRONG DOING, you have the decision to avoid the SIN, you have the decision to choose God! In the new context of food dieting - it is not depriving on self to eat but it is choosing the RIGHT food- a well balanced meal.

We are what we eat. Surround yourself everyday with good company...feed your self everyday with the gospel, pray everyday to God and favor among favors, breakthrough, prosperity and ultimate success will be with you, unlimited.

Now, every time you see your face in the mirror, DO NOT BE AFRAID! Point the person you see in the mirror and say, "You are handsome" or " You are beautiful" it is not a lie. It is not a sin.  God understands! Do you believe in God? Yes! Do you believe that God created man? Yes! Do you believe that you are created in the image and likeness of God as written in the bible? YES! You should! You are fearfully and wonderfully made.


If you want to invest in health and wellness, I would like to point out that you should invest first in a MEANINGFUL relationship with God.

AMEN!


Reflections:
Psalm 139:14- " I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well."

Genesis 1:27 -"God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."

Proverbs 4:23 -"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."

Love in the 21st Century

LOVE in the 21st Century
by Jeflivs Livara

We live in a fast changing world. What is new today might become obsolete in the months to come. Facebook and other social media have revolutionize the way we see relationships or even define relationship. The idea of a family has been translated to an abstract image of sin and betrayal. Nobody wants a dull and miserable relationship. Nobody wants world war III either in our relationships. Single, Married and Widowed were yesterday's civil status. Today, social media has brought even more exiting terms such as Single But Not Looking, Single looking for Domestic Partner, Single looking for Singles, In a Complicated Relationship and so on... are current trends on how the world sees relationship. Is it for real or Is it just a product of exaggerated thinking? Well, may be.

Relationships in this era have gone mainstream. Some would even tweet or post in facebook about their relationship and some would even dig in deeper as to update the whole world that their relationship is miserable as hell. To cut things short, we are slowly conforming to the ways of the world and not to the ways of what God wanted us have a relationship.

The ways of the world or God ways? Sex, violence and lust fall in the category of the ways of the world. In the recent news alone, where a host of a popular show has been ganged down and alleged him for raping a young model. In the part of the woman, virginity is a mark of purity. Virginity is priceless. No bulalo, No pansit, No palamig, No soft drink can take "yours". It is for your husband to be and not for short time "orders" of the flesh. An incident which could have been avoided. An incident which could not have gone better if only they followed the ways of God and not the ways of human flesh. Evil intentions beget evil results. A lesson for the both of them may be or a reminder about following God and leading an example to the youth. It is not enough that you impress the masses of your dance moves, your funny jokes or your irresistible smile. Try to ask the question, Did I even impress God?

Commercialism has gotten into the values of people. They have gotten into relationships and families. Some would give us the notion that spending expensive vacation in Boracay saves a dying relationship, some would give the idea that drinking this alcoholic drink provides first aid from a wounded heart or some would give us the notion that eating their burgers would build relationships... my answer is, "it might" or I am not even sure. Commercialism convinces the weak to fall into their traps. The next day you wake up, you see yourself in a total mess because you followed the ways of the world.

The bible holds the key and the guidance to the most pleasant relationships of all. It holds stories of relationships which can guide us as we journey in life. Even though the stories happened long time ago they are still relevant to our lives today. My father once told me that WOMEN before and WOMEN today are just the same. They never really changed. There were WOMEN before who were "GARAMPINGAT" and still women today who are "GARAMPINGAT" too... so are "SUMAYET" men. Nothing really changed a lot. It is only the technology we use today or the machines that we use today which have changed but the character of people remains to be both good and evil.

Much has been addressed to improve our lives. Scientists, inventors and engineers came up with technological advances in health, wellness, processing and ICT but they haven't come up with an exact science that could improve the attitude and behavior of man. A healthy relationship is a manifestation of a pleasant behavior from both of the man and the woman. If man and woman are both good, then we can witness the best relationship coming ahead.

Read the bible, if you do not have a bible you can download an app or even browse through the internet and know how it is to LOVE in the 21st century as God wants it to be. A relationship based on God is a relationship that can last a lifetime. It is not the ways of the world but it is all about God.

Maraming salamat po sa pagbasa. May you be inspired always.
Nagmamahal, Jeflivs.

*GARAMPINGAT / SUMAYET - Ilocano term for Flirt.

Reflections:
1 Corinthians 6:18
"Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body."

Isaiah 55:9
"For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Battle Ready?

Ready for Battle
by: JefLivs Livara

Years ago I was caught at the middle of two of my good friends  arguing about Life being a constant struggle or not. Although I can no longer remember if it was even resolved but I am very sure that we are going through struggles right now. In fact everyone of us undergo struggles. Being equipped guards us from deception, corruption, selfishness, greed and hate. We want to become successful. We want to become prosperous and we want to maximize our potentials but are we ready for the challenges? Are we geared towards the same plan? Let us do a head count before we start going to battle

Check List / Mission Order:
1. The Enemy
Our enemy is not a person. It is in the inside that we need to terminate. It is the heart that we need to cleanse. It is the eyes that we need to wipe. It is the hands that we need to hold. The enemy is NEGATRON - Bad thoughts, impure intentions, illicit behavior and negative attitude. Funny how we think of another person when we hear the word enemy but in order to win every battle we must overcome first the ENEMY within us. Everyone wants to be successful and prosperous but deep inside them some things are holding them back. We need to overcome first our INNER GIANTS in order for us to win in life.

Who are the INNER GIANTS. The inner giants are representations of our FEAR. They are giants because sometimes when we are faced with good opportunities, there is an inner voice saying "YOU cannot do it and you will fail" and they become bigger and bigger and they succeed in you the moment you turn back from your dream and start dwelling in that FEAR without facing it.

FACE your inner giants, counter that fear. The inner giant can also be PRIDE. It gets taller than you. And when pride gets taller than you, you get over powered. Pride simply consumes you leaving you lifeless. Lifeless? because the only person you know is your self and you forget you have a GOD, a brother or a sister, a friend and a life.

2. The Artillery
They say to win a war, you must have the best artillery. Imagine two warring groups using BAYONETA and Machine Guns. Who do you think will win? Of course the machine guns. But we are non violent people and sometimes we do not need guns to win a war. The best artillery is our FAITH in Christ. Our faith will save us. Not our wealth. Even the best doctors will not save. It is only through Christ.

When the Spaniards came to the Philippines, they try to battle it out and Magellan was killed during the battle. They knew the filipinos were of brave and furious fighters but what did the spaniards do? Instead of raising that sword, they inverted the sword. The inverted sword now represents the cross. And they have penetrated even in the deepest jungles of the Philippines and all the way to our hearts.

To win life's battle, we need Christ in our lives. We need to be with people who have hearts of a winner. If you are with  Jesus you simply cannot fail.

3. The Plan
In order to achieve what we want we must have a plan. We must have direction. A man with direction will not get lost. We will pursue that goal what ever it means as long as you have a director. Know God's plan for you. Having trouble knowing God's plan to you? Just think of this, YOU are in the situation you are in right now because God has chosen you to be there and to inspire the people there around you. Your present job is a blessing. Do your best to spread the Gospel. God has commissioned you and it is an act of ignorance when you do not know. The moment you become and called as Christian ( Either catholic or not) you are mandated to spread the good news and be the light in your dark office and in your dimly lighted homes. Jeremiah 29:11 is God's plan for us. If you are feeling lonely, pained and down. Read the verse and get up.

Our life is like scattered dots that we try to connect and later on when we connected those dots we see the whole picture and the beauty of life. You might be experiencing hardships right now but that is temporary. It might be a lesson or a reminder to seek for the kingdom of God.

4. The Contingency
To maintain a wining status. Be reminded of Jesus everyday. Read and reflect on the Gospel. Let your faith transcends to your hands. Help others on their quest in life. In the Philippines, crab mentality is defined as pulling one another down. BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO REDEFINE IT!   the GOOD CRAB MENTALITY - it is the act of pulling one another upwards and helping another reach their dreams. It is a Christian virtue to help the weak and when the weak becomes strong, the strong will help another weak and this should not stop.

As long as we have Christ in our lives, the peace inside us remains. Life is a continuous Battle. We battle to become better people each day. We battle to GUARD our Heart. We battle to protect our Family. But more than those...

We must also battle to know Christ better each day and live what Christ says. The battle is only within you. Resolve the battle and follow the two commandments of Christ in everything that you do:
1. Love God before anything else.
2. Love thy neighbor.

Everything should be based in God for God is Love.
-jeflivs

Reflection:
Ephisians 6:12 NIV
"12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."