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."