No Compromise

Leviticus 6:12


The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offering on it.

Before I read the bible, I was told to welcome His presence first so that I'd be able to reach the depth of what the word of God is trying to reveal. Reading the old testament is very difficult to understand. And honestly some parts of Exodus and Leviticus are boring to read. But I found the significance of this verse earlier this morning as I prayed my usual prayer of devotion before reading the scripture. And this is the word, God told me.


In human understanding, this could be senseless. It is only a detailed instruction of God on how He would like the burnt offering to happen. Two days ago, I was really  struggling on my commitment of devotion every 4am. It's because I often sleep around 3am or worst I don't sleep at all.  I got too addicted in net surfing. Too addicted that I really can't stop myself even if what I was doing were nonsense. This is why I felt inner dryness and thirst. When I examined this, I told myself, this should not be happening. I need to do something. 


God revealed to me through this passage His command to keep the fire burning. It reminded me instanly of the inner dryness I have been feeling lately. The spark was about to disappear. He said that the priest must add firewood and arrange the burnt offering. Simply do not let the fire go out. Do something to keep it burning that means the firewood would be the Bible and your praises. 


God showed me his mercy today. After reading His word, I was compromised to sing secular songs to please a friend. Yes, I was compromised. Then Angel, a friend and churchmate, told me that her mom mentioned about me singing out of the country. That was quite an opportunity.  . But on our prayer meeting today, He showed me that He is God. While the Holy Presence of God was working. When I felt it, I can't stop singing at the top ofmy lungs. I was singing freely and I didn't care. And then I cried hard, so hard. Then I felt God's favor, by the time I prayed and asked to letme stop crying and make me laugh instead, I started laughing. I laughed so hard it hurt my cheeks. That was truly an amazing experience. God showered me His mercy and Grace even if I don't deserve it.  Then I thought, God had revealed the anwer to my doubts. He doesn't want me to sing secular music anymore. That gave an instant answer to my question: Would I go sing for my living? And that is a big NO. He wants me to sing only for Him. And I felt special. From now on, I will sing for Him and Him alone. No secular music. I know God has greater plans for me if I will follow his will. So I need not to worry about tomorrow. I should not COMPROMISE.


So this would be my prayer today...


Father God,


You are the King of Kings. My Redeemer, my Healer.


Please forgive me Father God for compromising today. For forgetting the thought of doing everything for Your Glory. I'm sorry for what I have done. Thank you Father God for showing me your Mercy. For letting me feel your presence even if I don't deserve it. Thank you for revealing to me what you wanted me to do in my life. Thank you Father God, for your Glory and understanding. I will live forever doing everything for Your Glory. Please don't let the fire go out. Make me forever thirsty with your presence. I love you God. I will walk with You. 
Hear Your daughter. 

Search Me.

Search me O God.

Search my heart.

I don't wanna be like this.

It's tearing me apart.

I wanted to know you more

I wanted to go deep

I don't wanna leave

Please help my heart I weep

The world is here around me.

And its taking me away.

No I don't wanna live this way.

I wanna walk with you everyday.

Search my heart O Father.

Cleanse it, purify it.

For I feel it. I feel the spirit

of selfishness. I hate it.

I am falling. Papa, take my hand.

Don't let me fall, cause I am Yours.

I wanted to be Yours and only Yours.

Please Papa, hold me tight.

Don't let me go. Don't let me go.

Papa, I beg. Please I beg for Your mercy.

Forgive me everyday. I bow down.

Show me Your glory. Show me Your grace.

Cause in Your hands I am amazed.

I love you Father.

I love you so much.

Hear Your daughter.

She needs your touch.

Living God's Way.

I wanna share the way I was trying to live my life today. This is a topic our Pastor preached one sunday. Credits to him. I feel like sharing it especially to a friend who had been really close to me. We share the same faith, it's just that, since she's a working mom, she was having a hard time managing her time. I hope this one would help a bit. 

Top Five Priorities.

We should know our top five priorities. Learning this will serve as your guide on how to live your life in His way,

1. God.

It'll be through... 

*Prayer. 

Mark 1:35

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place

 ³⁵ Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

It's not really necessary that you'd wake up at dawn to pray. Well, if you can it'll be better. But the point is you should always start your day with a prayer. 

*Word of God

Matthew 4:4

New International Version (NIV)

 ⁴ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’^[a]”

Before you even have your breakfast, read your bible first. It is one way of showing that you love Him more than the food at your table.

*Obedience

Luke 6:46

New International Version (NIV)

The Wise and Foolish Builders

    ⁴⁶ “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? ⁴⁷ As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 

Matthew 7:21

New International Version (NIV)

True and False Disciples

    ²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

By the time we accepted Jesus and acknowledge that He died on the cross for our sins, it's not just it. We have to carry our own cross and follow him. That means we have to obey him no matter whats the cause. Faith without good deed is dead.

*Fellowship

Hebrews 10:25

New International Version (NIV)

²⁵ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Of course going to church every sundays should never be forgotten.

2. Self

*Spirit

>word of god

>worship

*Soul

>Mind

>Emotion

>Will

*Body

>Diet

>Exercise 

1 Timothy 4:8

New International Version (NIV)

⁸ For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

>Rest

Mark 6:31

New International Version (NIV)

³¹ Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

3. Family

*for married

Ephesians 5:22-28

New International Version (NIV)

 ²² Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. ²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
 ²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶to make her holy, cleansing^[a] her by the washing with water through the word, ²⁷ and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. ²⁸ In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.


*for children

Ephesians 6:1

New International Version (NIV)

 ¹ Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

*for singles

Ephesians 6:4

New International Version (NIV)

 ⁴ Fathers,^[a] do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

4. Ministry

*Evangelism and Discipleship

Mark 16:15-16

New International Version (NIV)

   ¹⁵ He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. ¹⁶Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Matthew 28:19-20

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”


*Spiritual Gifts

1 Corinthians 7:7

New International Version (NIV)

⁷ I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.

5. Work, Business, Studies.

Titus 3:14

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁴ Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.

Prayer.

Twenty Fourth Year Prayer.

Dear Father God Most High,

I love you so much and thanks for loving me back more than the world could ever imagine.

Thank you for your great mercy and grace.

Thank you for the wasted years cause I learned.

Thank you for not giving up on me.

Thank you for accepting me and my life as a living sacrifice, for taking me back.

Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins.

Thank you for the fire. 

And as I write about how amazing You are in my life, give me wisdom.

Reveal to me what you want to happen in my life as I walk with you everyday.

Let them be blessed by my words.

I love you Lord and you will forever be exalted.

Bringing you back all the glory and honor.

Amen.

Isang Araw Kasama si Chloe.

"Mama, paki-abot po." Sigaw ni Chloe sa katabing lalakeng malapit sa driver. Tila naman walang narinig. "Mama!" ulit niya.

Inis siyang lumipat sa kabilang upuan. "Manong driver, bayad po. Diyan lang po sa kanto."

Pagkababa niya ay dumeretso siya sa isang Mcdonalds na fastfood chain sa tabi. Makalipas ang limang minuto, nakahanap rin siya ng mauupuan ng biglang, "Miss, pwede bang makishare ng table?" Dahil sa sobrang gutom eh, tumango lamang siya at nang iangat niya ang ulo, gumuhit ang inis sa mukha niya. Siya kasi ang lalakeng nakasabay niya sa jeepney kanina na di man lamang pinansin yung pinaabot niyang bayad. Napatitig siya dito at hindi niya alam kung panong biglang naalis din ang inis niya sa pagkakataong yun. Gwapo ang lalake, maputla nga lamang na parang may sakit.

"Miss, may gagawin ka ba ngayon?" tanong sa kanya ng lalake. Ang totoo, meron siyang lakad nung araw na iyon. Pero ewan niya't iba ang lumabas sa bibig niya.

"Wala. Bakit?" 

"Pwede mo ba akong samahan nagyon?" 

"Eh di nga kita kilala eh. Bakit ako sasama sa'yo?"

"Max." 

"Huh?"

"Sabi mo di moko kilala diba? Max ang pangalan ko."

"Okay Max. Pero pangalan mo lang binigay mo. Bakit ako sasama sayo?"

"Hindi mo ba pinagkakatiwalaan ang judgement mo? Pinaupo mo'ko dito at nakipag-usap ka sakin."

"Chloe.Let's say, sasama ako. Saan tayo pupunta?"

"Ikaw? Saan mo ba gusto pumunta?"

Ang weird naman ng lalakeng to. Sa isip niya. Dahil ang totoo'y may lakad naman talaga siya, naisip niyang isama si Max sa lakad niya. May bibisitahin siyang kaibigan sa isang Home for the Aged kung saan siya nagvolunteer noon. 

Naabutan nilang nakatunganga si Lolo Enrico sa harap ng bintana.

"Lolo Enrico, nakatunganga ka na naman!" Sabi ni Chloe sa matanda.

Ngumiti lamang ang matanda at itinuro ang nakaframe na litrato sa mesang katabi ng kama.

"Ayan po Lolo." Habang iniabot niya ang frame kay Lolo Enrico.

"Lolo, si Max po. Kaibigan ko." Umangat ang ulo ng matanda. Ngumiti siya kay Max. 

"Max, may alam ka bang kwento? Kasi gustong gusto ni lolo na kinikwentuhan siya." Baling ni Chloe kay Max.

"Lolo, gusto niyo po ako po muna magkwento ngayon?" Tanong ni Max sa matanda.

Umaliwalas ang mukha ng matanda. Palatandaan ng pagpayag ng matanda.

"...Alam niyo po lolo, meron po akong kakilalang kasing ganda po ng babaeng nasa litrato na hawak mo. Gustong-gusto niyang bumisita sa mga gwapong tulad niyo. Lagi ko po siyang sinasamahan noon. Kapag kasama ko siya nakakalimutan ko lahat ng problema ko. Masayahin kasi siya lolo. Ang ganda ganda ng ngiti niya. Dati pa lolo, nung mga bata pa lang kami, minahal ko na siya. Hindi ko lang masabi sa kanya yung nararamdaman ko. Naging matalik ko siyang kaibigan noon..."

Natigilan si Max na nakitang nakapikit na pala ang matanda.

"Ang boring siguro ng kwento ko kaya nakatulog siya." Sabi ni Max kay Chloe.

"Ganyan talaga si Lolo. Ang bilis niyang makatulog. Tena. Pagpahingahin na muna natin siya." Nakangiting sagot ni Chloe sa kanya.

Sa rooftop ng gusali sila pumunta pagkatapos non. Naging routine na ni Chloe yun, pagkatapos niyang bisitahin si Lolo Enrico ay dadaan siya sa rooftop. Mag-iisip ng konteh. Pagkatapos ay ilalabas niya ang diary niya at dun siya magsusulat. Sa pagkakataong yun...

"Ano nangyari sa kanya?" Tanong ni Chloe kay Max.

"...naging mgakaibigan kami ng matagal. Gusto kong aminin sa kanya yung nararamdaman ko kaso natatakot ako na baka mawala siya sakin. Naging takbuhan niya ako, iyakin kasi siya. Minsan gustong-gusto kong basagin yung mga mukha ng mga lalakeng nanakit sa kanya. Sinasabi ko sa kanya yun, kaso pinipigilan niya ako. Dumating sa point na hindi ko na matiis. Nagdesisyon akong sabihin sa kanya yung nararamdaman ko. Ngunit di ko alam, huli na pala ang lahat."

Nakatitig lamang si Chloe sa kanya. Hindi niya mawari kung bakit may kirot siyang nararamdaman habang nagkikwento si Max.

"Nung araw na iyon, tumawag sakin ang Mama niya. Binalita niya saking naaksidente ang anak niya at nasa hospital, walang malay. Kelangan niyang masalinan ng dugo. Gusto kong tumulong, kaya pinacheck ko dugo ko upang malaman kung pwede ako magdonate. Nalaman kong hindi kami compatible. Buti nalang eh dumating ang Papa niya at isang kapatid at nasalinan siya. Kasabay ng balitang gising na siya ay binalita rin sakin ng doctor na may leukemia ako at stage 3 na. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin. Siya ang una kong pinuntahan. Ngunit hindi niya ako maalala. Parang dinurog ang puso ko nung malaman kong nagkaamnesia siya at hindi niya ako kilala "

Natigilan si Chloe. Naalala niya ang kalagayan niya. 

"Nung nalaman ko iyon, inisip kong buti na rin na di niya ako maalala. Dahil alam kong hindi narin ako magtatagal. Alam kong kung sa panahong nalaman niya ang sakit ko at hindi siya naaksidente ay alam kong mahihirapan siyang tanggapin na mawawala na ako. Kaya pinili kong burahin ang alaala ko sa buhay niya. Kinausap ko ang mga magulang niya at di naman nila tinutulan ang desisyon ko. Hindi na ako nagpakita ulit sa kanya."

...nalaman kong lumalala na ang sakit ko. Sabi ng doctor ko kanina, hindi na ako magtatagal. Kaya tumakas ako. Gusto ko siyang makita. Pinuntahan ko siya kanina sa kanila. Sinundan ko siya. Balak ko lang na panuorin kung paano tumakbo ang isang araw niya. Hindi ko inakalang kakausapin niya ako. Nung pinaabot niya sakin yung bayad niya sa jeep, hindi ko siya pinansin dahil nagdadalawang isip pa ako kung handa na ba akong kausapin siya. Pero di ko din natiis, nilapitan ko siya. Pinagdasal ko na sana kahit isang araw lang, makasama ko ang babaeng pinakamamahal ko."

Tumutulo ang luha ni Chloe. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang sasabihin. Sumakit ang ulo niya. May mga bumalik na alaala sa kanya. Ngnit malabo. Ngayong hindi niya alam ang gagawin. Tumakbo siya papalayo kay Max. Ganun ang ginawa niya sa sumunod na mga oras hanggang sa napagod siya't umuwi sa kanila. Dalawang linggo siyang nagkulong sa kwarto. Pilit niyang inalala ang mga nangyayari. Pilit niya inalala si Max. Matapos ang isang buwan, nagdesisyon siyang harapin si Max. Ngunit isang sulat na lamang ang sumalubong sa kanya.

...Chloe,

Mahal na mahal kita. Salamat sa isang araw na nilaan mo. Mahal nga talaga ako ng Diyos at pingbigyan niya ako.

Pagkabasa mo ng sulat nato, kasama ko na Siya. Hihilingin ko na sana, kapag wala na ako ay ibalik Niya ang alaala mo at nang maalala mo ako at kung pano tayo lumaki at kung gano tayo kasaya noon. Mahal na mahal kita at sorry kung hindi ko to inamin noon. Pero may taong nakalaan para sayo. Alam ko iyon. Sana maging maligaya ka.

Max.

Humahagulgol si Chloe pagkatapos niyang basahin ang liham na iyon.

"Naaalala ko na ang lahat Max. Naaalala ko na." Bulong niya sa puntod ni Max.

-end-

Sorry lang naman po.

Eto lang ang kaya ko. 

Project ng kapatid ko.

Salamat sa pagbasa.