BURDENED A POEM BY J.E.H

 

Burdened

 Burdened

A heavyweight

A carrier can't wait

How can I pull

For I am a fool

Many mistakes

Life is at stake

Solutions in the air

I'm in despair

Looking from above

An unconditional love

With a message

From the passage

How can I comprehend

If this is the end

I lost hope

I need to cope

Help me carry

I am in a hurry

Help me out

Before I pass out

I lift up to you

This burden with you

Keep this light

For my flight

In the dark path

There is no wrath

I saw the light

From your might

I am free

From this spree

Burden no more

My God Forevermore

Be on guard!

Have you been deceived before?  What's the feeling of being a victim of deception?

Source: https://www.hamptonroadschurch.com/acts/2018/11/12/acts-2018-38-be-on-your-guard

People are frail and easily believed what they hear, see, and feel, without investigating if it's true or not.  Living in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (FIRe), everything seems too fast and it's hard to handle. News can reach any part of the world in seconds. You can communicate with your loved ones anywhere in the world through your phone. Cars, cell phones, computers, clothes, and food can be made instantly. 

However, in this fast-changing technology-driven world that we live in today, fast is not always good. News can spread like wildfire but it's not always true, but people believe it right away and even share it on their social media accounts without even verifying if it's fake news. Gadgets and food are manufactured easily and we don't know if these are quality products. Every day we are blinded and deceived by all things around us, but how can we prevent ourselves from all sorts of deception?

Do not be deceived. Be on Guard! How can we act against deception from worldly things? Just remember these three things (Pastor Peter Tan-Chi, CCF Sermon, February 26, 2023):

1. Check it out.
2. Consult God.
3. Commit to God's way.

First, you need to listen and read carefully between the lines and ask yourself if this is the truth. Investigate further if necessary. "Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood." (Acts 20:28). The scripture's message is clear that we need to find ways to watch ourselves and all the congregation. All of us need to guard ourselves against the deception of our enemies.

Second, when you are faced with a dilemma of whether to believe something or not, you need to always consult God and read the bible. We are surrounded by lies from Satan and without even knowing it we are already trapped and it's hard for us to get out of it. We need to counter these lies with the word of God from the scripture. The following are lies of satan and the biblical response of God from the scriptures.  

Lastly, we need to commit to God's way. In order to live righteously in God's ways, we need to have a firm foundation of our beliefs. The most important keystone is to have a clear understanding of the theology of who God is. We should put to our minds, hearts, and soul the following truths about God because this will strengthen our faith as Christians.

GOD IS SOVEREIGN        (Psalm 135:6)

GOD IS HOLY                    (1 Peter 1:16, Isaiah 57:15)

GOD IS GOOD                   (Psalm 34:8; 119:8)

          GOD IS OMNISCIENT      (Psalm 139:4)

GOD IS LOVE                    (1 John 4:8)

Be reminded of these things in order to counter the deception of the devil. Evil is devouring us every day and waiting to prey on us. We need to guard ourselves against all the lies of the enemy.  All we need is to equip ourselves with the word of God from the bible. Read the scripture, meditate and reflect on it, pray, and apply the teachings of God in our lives. 

Source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50452798-be-on-guard-stand-firm-in-the-faith-2-be-courageous-be-strong-2020-w

Defend yourself from the lies of the enemy. Do not be deceived. Be on Guard!

Jesus Daily

Source:https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/jesus/images/22021004/title/jesusdaily-images-photo

In 2017, I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior and was a Born Again Christian. I was dead to sin and came back alive again in Jesus Christ. As I journey in my Christian life, I discovered the power of His messages from the scripture. My belief and mindset were changed and I don't quickly get emotional if things do not go my way, instead, I focus on the message that God is telling me in every situation. 

I was attending church at Victory Davao and I met Ate Edna who ministered the One-to-One discipleship journey with me. Praise God for her for sharing her time to share the gospel and I was able to start my journey with Christ. She has shared with me her testimonies about her own struggles and family problems, and how God transformed their lives as a family.  I was inspired and want to continue this journey because I also want to set an example for my kids and lead them closer to God.  Since I want my children to be closer to God, I regularly attend Sunday church services and became a Kids Ministry volunteer as a teacher. I also let them attend summer activity workshops so they will enjoy and make friends with kids their age. 

However, during the pandemic in 2020, I was not able to continue volunteering we were just attending church online and we were slowly disconnecting from our daily Sunday routine of going to church every Sunday. My kids also were not able to go to church and watching kids church online was not able to connect them to God. In 2022, I traveled to South Korea to study for my Ph.D. degree and that also stopped them from going to church, since their father is not regularly attending church. I really wanted them to be closer to God as they grow as teenagers but I am the only one who always brings them to church. I always pray that my husband, who was an active Christian during his youth, will able to bring back his fire in praising and worshiping God and transcend it to his kids.

Even if I am away from the physical church back home, I have still the opportunity to attend church online. Every Sunday, I watch Facebook and Youtube live for church services. I can still praise, worship and hear God's word while Im far away. I regularly do my morning devotionals starting this year, so I will consistently read and meditate on God's message. I want to connect my kids again to God by sharing the online Kids' church videos. When I get back home during my vacations, I want to go to church with them. 

As a believer of Jesus Christ and as a parent, my mission is to share the gospel with my family and minister to them so that they will also heed the call of honoring God and make disciples. As Christians, we should put Jesus in our daily lives. Keep honoring God, keep making disciples, and lead them to our Lord Jesus Christ Daily!

Difficult Times

Source: https://stjustinmartyr.org/167094/how-do-you-pray-during-these-difficult-times-20th-sunday-b-2018/

As an adult, I have experienced a lot of struggles in living on my own and providing for my family. I have had many failures and few successes but I was resilient and coped with anxieties every time I faced them. Living in South Korea today and for the next three years is a long agony of loneliness because I am away from my family. Aside from that, I have to battle my problems alone and struggle by myself.  One thing that keeps me going is my faith in God. In moments of difficulty, I only seek God's wisdom through prayers. A prayer is a powerful tool in difficult times. 

In Psalm 61:1-8, Kind David prayed to the Lord intently and faithfully he cried out to Him. 

1 Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.

2 From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

3 For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.

4 I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.

5 For you, God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

6 Increase the days of the king’s life, his years for many generations.

7 May he be enthroned in God’s presence forever; appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him.

8 Then I will ever sing in praise of your name and fulfill my vows day after day.

In times of despair, do not seek other means to cope with anxiety like sex, alcohol, or drugs. For you to have wisdom and strengthen your emotional and psychological state, you should dwell in the house of our Almighty God.  He has the provident answers to your problems, He will give you peace and gives you comfort in difficult times. The only tool to communicate with Him is through prayers. Prayer is for free you just need to devote your time, energy, and faith to Him. Be like King David, pray and meditate every day and submit to the Lord all your worries and cares because He will truly answer your call.