“IF YOU HAD AN INN WOULD YOU LET THEM IN?”

Joseph & Mary were looking for a place to stay.

But Bethlehem must have been packed with people at that time.

There was a requirement for everyone to return to their ancestral towns & be listed in the census. Joseph & Mary were part of the crowd who went to Bethlehem to be listed.

Then it had to happen right there.

Luke 2:6 says that while Joseph & Mary “were there, the time came for her to be delivered.”

There were too many people in the town at that time that they found “no place for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7)

IF YOU HAD AN INN WOULD YOU LET THEM IN?

Maybe you would quickly say “Yes! Come in.”

But what if Joseph & Mary tells you, “Thanks for the hospitality. But looks like we can’t stay here. Maybe you didn’t notice it but your inn is FULL.”

My friend, DO YOU HAVE ROOM IN YOUR LIFE FOR JESUS.

Maybe you just didn’t notice but your LIFE is already FULL. You don’t have space for Jesus.

1. FULL of WORRIES. You worry too much. You worry all the time. Worry fills up your day that you don’t even have time to pray.
2. FULL of HURT. You experienced brokenness in the past. You always asked, “where was God when people were hurting me?”
3. FULL of RESOURCES. You trust your money, job, business & properties so most of your time is spent accumulating more of them.
4. FULL of DOUBT. You need hard evidence to believe in Jesus. You will only believe scientific data & not a book that has survived 2,000 years.
5. FULL of YOURSELF. You think you’re superior to anyone. You don’t feel the need for anyone else. You don’t even have the need for God.

Do a self check as we end #advent2020 this week.

Your life may be FULL & you don’t know it.  Jesus wants to ENTER your LIFE but it’s FULL.

There’s still time for your unwanted “guests” to CHECK OUT so that Jesus may COME IN.

Do it now before it’s too late. May God bless you this week! - alvinfabella@yahoo.com

#shareaboutJesus #GBYW

"DO YOU SMILE EVEN IF YOU'RE WEARING A MASK?"

I DO.

Especially during the picture taking :)

Since wearing masks became a way of life our world appears to be less friendly.

I don't know what the other person's intention are because most of the face is covered.

Is this person friendly, happy, sad or afraid? Does this person have good or bad intentions?

Is it worth it to smile when you meet someone even with your mask on ?

My personal suggestion. Yes!

Smile even with your mask on.

Because your eyes & eyebrows still reveals some information about you.

The wrinkles on the side of your eyes also shows your positive energy.

Smiling with your face mask on is like JOY.  Your JOY is not seen but surely it’s felt by others.

There is no need for you to use "#blessed" or "feeling happy" in your posts.

Because your mere presences exudes JOY.

JOY starts from your inner disposition & then revealed in other ways.

JOY is an inside job. JOY as an internal element that is not dependent on your external circumstances

Because JOY is rooted on God’s unconditional love.

St. Paul is my hero when it comes JOY.

He didn’t have an easy life but he had a JOYful one.

He experienced lashing from the Jews, got beaten up with rods & was also stoned too.

He was shipwrecked three times, imprisoned, robbed, experienced hunger & other forms of persecution. Read 2 Corinthians 11:24-28 for more details.

Yet, despite all these hardships, he preaches "Rejoice always" (1 Thessalonians 5:16)

Paul experienced sorrow but he knew that JOY walks with him.

His JOY was unshakeable despite his unfavorable circumstances.

He himself said that he was "sorrowful yet always rejoicing" (2 Cor. 6:10).

Why?

BECAUSE HIS JOY WAS IN THE LORD, NOT IN HIS CIRCUMSTANCES.

If you’re experiencing a “storm”, Paul is reminding you to, “REJOICE in the Lord always. I shall say it again: REJOICE!" (Philippians 4:4)

JOY is what we reflect on this 3rd week of Advent.

May we be JOYFUL not because Christmas is near but because JESUS is always NEAR.

Friends, I pray that JOY may fill up your life in Jesus name! - alvinfabella@yahoo.com

#shareaboutJesus  #advent2020

"WHAT IS LOVE?"

We all struggle in answering the question, "What is LOVE?" Because there are different kinds of LOVE & we don't know what kind is best for us. God's LOVE is the best type of LOVE for you. That's the truth.

Our mistake is we try to replace God's LOVE with other things that fail our expectations. Self-centered love will never replace LOVE that is God-centered.

Let's understand God's LOVE by using a popular verse John 3:16.

"For God so loved the world that he gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life."

• "For God so loved the world" - God loves you. God pursues you to LOVE you. The story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-31 shows this kind of LOVE. The son was still a long way off but when his father saw him he "was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him & kissed him" (Luke 15:20). The Father does not wait for you to be 100% good. God sees you from a distance & runs to meet you! There is nothing required for God to LOVE you. He simply LOVEs to LOVE you.
• "he gave His only Son" - It's the most expensive kind of LOVE because God laid down His life for you. Jesus says that the greatest LOVE is , "to lay down one’s life for one’s friends" (John 15:13). That's what Jesus did on the cross. That's how God loves you.
• "everyone who believes" - It's the LOVE that's freely given to undeserving creatures, that's you, that's us. Romans 5:8 says, "But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us." The love of God is the greatest because while we don't deserve it, HE loves us.
• "have eternal life" - It's the LOVE that will give us the ever lasting joy. Human love can be like food products that have "BEST BEFORE" limits. God's LOVE is perfect because it is for eternity. What is eternity? John 17:3 give us the answer when it says, "Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, & the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ." So KNOW God & LOVE Him.

How should you respond to God's LOVE?

You need to treasure God above all things. Make God your top priority always.

This 2nd week of #advent2020, I pray that the light of the 2nd candle will be a reminder of God's unending LOVE for you.

Love like Jesus. That's the best kind of LOVE that you can give.

May God bless your week! - alvinfabella@yahoo.com

"HUWAG KA NAMAN PAASA"

Pero pwede kang umasa.

Saan? Umasa ka sa Diyos.

Always remind yourself to HOPE IN GOD!

Yan ang mensahe sa unang linggo ng Adbiyento - "PAG-ASA", "HOPE".

May nakikita ka pa ba na PAG-ASA sa buhay mo? How much HOPE do you still have with what 2020 gave us?

Or is HOPELESSNESS ruling your life now?

The future may look bleak but you are called to HOPE IN GOD.

Ano ba iyang PAG-ASA na pinag-uusapan natin?

What is this thing called HOPE?

HOPE is not only the desire for something good to happen.

HOPE is not saying, "I hope to find a new job soon. I am not sure but I want it to happen."

HOPE means you expect it to happen.

It is the confident expectation & desire that something good will come in the future.

The phrase, “HOPE IN GOD” doesn't mean, “Cross your fingers" or "Wish ko lang".

Instead it means, “Expect awesome things to come from God!”

To HOPE in GOD means to draw HOPE from God Himself.

• When people put you down. Lalo na iyong mga taong mahal mo pa naman. Draw HOPE from God so that He may give you the strength to extend love to them instead of seeking revenge.
• When there are challenges in your livelihood. Draw HOPE from God that He give you strength to keep moving forward. To never give up. Marami pa dyan pwedeng bentahan.
• When a you're sick. Draw HOPE from God that He will give you strength to recover. Rest, relax & re-hydrate your body. Less stress is always the best way to rest.
• When you're faced with temptation. Draw HOPE from God that He give you strength that you may keep yourself holy & pure. Tukso, layuan mo ako!

Having HOPE in God is pursuing the path to holiness!

That is what God wants for you.

So fill up your HOPE tank by spending extra time with God this #advent2020.

Check out Pathways of HOPE to get you daily dose of HOPE.

Romans 15:13 says "May the God of hope fill you with all joy & peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope"

As you start #advent2020 this week, wait with confidence for the the good things that God will bring in your life.

Always Hope in God! May God bless your week! - alvinfabella@yahoo.com

THY NOT MY

Prayer is about God's will not ours.

It's about THY will be done not MY will be done.

It's not about changing God's mind to grant what we want.

Prayer is about allowing His will in our lives.

But, isn't that difficult?

True.  Personally, I find in extra difficult to pray for God's will when I'm afraid, troubled or hopeless.

Let's look at how Jesus prayed when He was afraid, troubled or hopeless.

In Matthew 26, Jesus felt so down & desperate because of His impending torture & death.

He expressed this to His disciples Peter, James & John.

“My soul is sorrowful even to death.” (Matthew 26:38)

How does Jesus pray in the face of danger?

He "fell prostrate in prayer, saying, 'My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will'.” (Matthew 26:39)

"Not my will but Yours." That was His prayer.

Jesus shows us that no matter how troubled we are we should still pray for God's will to happen.

Praying for God's will is all about TRUST & OPENNESS.

It means that you TRUST that God knows what's best for you.

It means that you TRUST that God will take care of you.

It means that you TRUST that God will never leave you.

It means that you're OPEN to accept God's wisdom.

It means that you're OPEN to God's plans.

It means that you're OPEN to God's surprise!

You need to TRUST God & be OPEN to Him.

Because no matter how bad your situation is, God will always bring out something good from it.

Read Romans 8:28 to confirm that truth.

Always remember to pray for God's will because your Father knows best.

Pray & then experience God's miracle in your life! - alvinfabella@yahoo.com

#shareaboutJesus #PrayerSeries

PRAY BECAUSE GOD C-A-R-E-S

I wrote a post titled "WHY WE DON’T PRAY?" last Oct 15 as part of the #PrayerSeries. Today, I want to level up by discussing MAKING PRAYER A HABIT.

Prayer is hard work. It can be daunting.

It's like climbing a high mountain.

Making prayer a habit is like climbing a high mountain every day!
But no relationship will flourish if you don't invest time regularly.

Allow me to offer these 5 points on how you can make PRAYER a HABIT. Remember to make PRAYER A HABIT coz God C-A-R-E-S.

* C-HOOSE TO DO IT. Forming any habit requires both DECISION & ACTION. Making a DECISION to PRAY. Then ACT on it by finding a good location & time that works for you. God is ready to listen to us 24/7. It takes 21 days to make an action a habit so put it in your calendar. You fill your calendar with work meetings, your child's school events, reunions & other important stuff. Why should God not be in your calendar? Choose to pray to make it a habit.

* A-PPOINT A PRAYER PARTNER. Accountability makes us more responsible. If you want to make prayer a habit then ask a trusted friend to check on you regularly. Allow your friend to ask you, “How was your prayer time this week? How can it further improve next week?” It would be good if you can make it mutual where you can also make your friend accountable too. Check on each other because Christianity is designed for team play not individual effort.

* R-EAD THE BIBLE. We can hear God when we read our Bible each day. This almighty, holy, perfect God speaks to un-worthy, sinful creatures like us. Isn't that a blessing? Reading the bible makes our prayers more focused & clear. Reading the bible allows us to follow Him. As Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27)

* E-STABLISH A PATTERN. Choosing a pattern for prayer helps you pray more consistently. If you can play a musical instrument why not always start with a worship song? Then follow it up with bible reading & personal reflection. You can also use daily devotionals like Didache or follow Pathways of Hope to help you reflect on the daily Gospel. Establish a pattern to make prayer a habit.

* S-EEK GOD'S HELP. Praying regularly may look impossible but Jesus says in Matthew 19:26 that, “...for God all things are possible." So ask for God's help to make your prayer time regular. We need to change our hearts so we can appreciate why we need to pray regularly. We need God's help to redirect our fickle, selfish & distracted hearts to God's will. Ask for God's help today. He delights to help you in your prayer time.

Prayer is a gift & with God's grace it can become a habit for you. Do yourself a favor by getting into the prayer habit.

You need it. I need it. We all need it.

Praying that you have a super blessed weekend! - alvinfabella@yahoo.com

#shareaboutJesus #PrayerSeries 

DO U WANT TO BE FREE?

We have been crying out to God for the past few months for the healing of Covid-19 patients.

We have been praying hard for a vaccine.

Yet, our pleas seemed to fall on deaf ears.

Is God listening?

The woman in today's Gospel (Luke 13:10-17) simply stood there quietly. She was suffering, not for months, but for 18 years. But at the presence of The Mighty Healer she didn't say a single word.

Jesus sees her & says, “Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.” (Luke 13:12). He lays his hands on her & instantly she was healed!

God sees & He heals.

How about our situation? Does that mean God doesn't see us?

God sees everything. Psalms 33:13 says that "From heaven the LORD looks down & observes the children of Adam".

You may not hear it but Jesus is also telling us, "you are set free of your infirmity.”

We only see Covid-19 but God sees beyond what we can see.

God is doing something bigger.

* God is freeing us from materialism. Be content with what you have. You can live a good life even with only the essentials.

* God is freeing us from busyness. Live simpler. Live with less clutter in your calendar.

* God is freeing us from fake or toxic relationships. Enjoy your time with your family. Appreciate your Zoom sessions with your true friends.

* God is freeing us from our un-healthy lifestyle. Take time to sleep more. Eat well. Take your vitamins. Exercise.

* God is freeing up our time for Him. Pray more.

God is freeing us from other things that have been crippling us for several years. God is healing us from things that are more deadly than Covid.

What do we need to do to be free? STAY WITH JESUS.

That's what the crippled woman did.

Look beyond the pandemic.

Look at the complete healing that God is doing in your life now.

May God bless your week! - alvinfabella@yahoo.com

#shareaboutJesus

idol, HOW TO BE YOU PO?

NBA players, K-Pop, Hollywood celebrities, famous vloggers, bestselling authors, etc.

Do you have “idols” from the categories that I mentioned?

You adore them. You copy their look, talk or walk.

You spend a lot of time watching them.

You want to be as good as them.

Ang pangarap mo ay magka-selfie kasama si idol.

Then all your friends will say, “You two look a like!” That would be awesome, right?

But there's one idol that we all should look up. That’s Jesus!

AIM to LOOK LIKE JESUS.

Make that your ultimate life goal.

Ang hirap yata noon? Tama ka.

But everything starts with a single step.

If you want to look like Jesus then you have to start now, as in NOW NA!

Why the rush?

First, because you are meant to be like Jesus. You were made in his image (Genesis 1:27). This is your destiny so pursue it now!

Secondly, it takes a loooooooong process to be like Him. So start early. Start now before it’s too late.

Lastly, some people don’t go to Church & don’t have a bible. But they have a friend & that’s you!

Their only chance to “see” Jesus is when they look at your life. You need to be Jesus like to that friend.

That’s why you have to start now. Take the first step now!

The first step to look like Jesus is to SIT & STAY with the Saviour.

That's what Mary did. She "sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak” (Luke 10:39).

She just sat there. No words spoken. Completely focused on Jesus. Parang silang dalawa ni Lord andun.

That’s what PRAYER is all about. You allot a SHORT time to SPEAK but LOTS of time to LISTEN.

FB Friend, be like Mary every time you PRAY.

Sit beside Jesus & listen. Fix your gaze on Him.

That’s how transformation happens.

You also need to invest time in PRAYER.

To LOOK LIKE JESUS, you NEED TO LOOK AT JESUS all the time.

PRAY all the time.

The more time you spend time with Him, the more you become like Him.

Learn from Him & find ways to be with Him in PRAYER.

So that one day, by God’s grace, you can take that selfie with Him in heaven.

FB Friend, make a decision to be like JESUS starting today.

I will be PRAYING for transformation future saint.

May God bless your weekend! - alvinfabella@yahoo.com

#shareaboutJesus #PrayerSeries #AimtobeaSaint

WHY WE DON’T PRAY?

Prayer is the foundation of our relationship with God. But we don’t pray as much as we need to. The average Christian spends less than ten minutes each day in prayer. There are lots of reasons why we don’t spend more time in prayer or why don't pray at all.

Personally, I think we don’t pray because we are "B-A-D".

"B"-USY. Are you too busy?

In the Old Testament, Daniel was appointed by King Darius to a very high position. He had tons of responsibilities but he took time to pray 3 times a day. He prayed even if a law prohibiting the worship of God was passed. Sometimes we get too busy that we don’t want God to mess up our schedule. Think about this, isn’t God the busiest among us? He’s been maintaining the whole universe for a thousand of years already. I could not even keep my work area organized for a week! God is very “busy" but He took time to save us because He loves us. Read the first part of John 3:16, “For GOD so LOVED THE WORLD ...”. The term “world” refers to everyone, both the righteous & the wicked. If God took time for us why can’t we find time for Him?

"A"-BUNDANCE. Do you pray only when you need a blessing?

Have you or a friend of yours posted something in socmed using #blessed ? It’s good to be thankful for all our blessings. The downside of too much blessings is when we forget its source. We forget to pray when we live a very comfortable life & we have everything that we need. The abundance of things can also be addicting. Our possessions can possess us if we are not careful. Jesus told the rich young man to sell what he had, give to the poor & follow Him. The young man "went away sad, for he had many possessions” (Matthew 19:22). God “….GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON” (John 3:16) to save us. Jesus was His only Son but God freely gave Him up for all of us. Let us express our gratitude to God by praying more often.

"D"-OUBT. What will it take for you to believe?

We don’t believe so we don’t pray. St. Paul says that "anyone who approaches God must BELIEVE that he exists & that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). We cannot truly appreciate prayer if we don’t fully believe who God is. Who is God for us? Maybe we believe in God but we don’t believe that He will hear & answer our prayers. That He is too distant to care for our petty requests. God is our Father who will provide our daily needs. God answers our simple requests & those that needs a miracle. There is nothing impossible for Him. All you have to do is believe. John 3:16 ends with “..whoever BELIEVES in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” If you truly believe then you will find time to pray.

Prayer should always be a priority. Read John 3:16 whenever you are tempted to skip prayer.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life"

Appreciate every word in that verse.

Don’t be B-A-D. Find time to pray because God is always looking forward to talk to you.

I’ll be praying for you FB friends, have a blessed weekend! - alvinfabella@yahoo.com

#shareaboutJesus

#PrayerSeries

SATISFY YOUR HUNGER

Do you love junk food?

A lot of us do. Isn’t Netflix better with potato chips?

Most junk food looks good. Their manufacturers spend a lot of money to make them look awesome.

They are easily available. You won’t missed them when you enter to any store. Their prices are usually lower compared to healthier options.

They taste great. They contain lots of salt, sugar & artificial flavors which makes them delicious.

We crave for them. We become addicted to them.

However, their effects don't last.

They fill us up but after a short while our hunger is back.

Their ingredients give us that "feel good” mood. But these feelings also don’t last.

Our lives can be like that too.

We feel “hungry" so we try to fill it up.

Sadly, we fill it up with earthly “junk".

We think that earthly junk makes us look great. Think expensive cars, houses, clothing & others.

We think that it’s easily available. Does bank loans or buy-now-pay-later schemes sound familiar?

We think that these will make us "happy & feel good". Maybe for a couple of weeks, at most a few months.

But like junk food, earthly junk also don’t lasts.

What can we do to fill up our hunger? Try PRAYER.

Prayer SATISFIES OUR HUNGER the right way.

We must SATISFY OUR HUNGER with God.

God fills up the emptiness of our lives.

As St. Augustine said, "Our heart is restless until it rests in You.”

We must REST IN GOD.

Pray often. Saint Paul encourages us to “pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

We may be very tired. Maybe we don’t feel like talking to Him.

God is always ready to spend time with us.

Jesus is ready to listen even to our silence.

Let’s not waste our time with earthly junk.

Let’s waste time with Jesus.

Have a great weekend & enjoy eating your potato chips….but have it in moderation

God bless FB friends! - alvinfabella@yahoo.com

#shareaboutJesus

#simplicity

#prayerSeries

DID GOD PROMISE TO GIVE US WHATEVER WE ASK FOR?

Jesus said, "ask for whatever you want & it will be done for you" (John 15:7).

See, there you go. Tapos na ang boksing! The verse gives a clear promise that God will give you whatever you ask.

What are you waiting for? Ask God & it will be done for you. Ask God, now na! 

Ask for anything or everything.

Ask for a spouse or a brand new house. 

Ask for expensive cars or maybe a lot of gold bars.

Ask for a dream vacation or that long delayed promotion.

 

Is John 15:7 the magic key that allows you access to all your wants?

 

Let’s understand the context of what Jesus said. What was He telling his audience at that time? What does this verse mean for us today?

First, let’s read the full verse of John 15:7, "If you remain in me & my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want & it will be done for you.” The verse has a specific requirement. Before you ask God, remain in Jesus & let His words remain in you. You do your part first then God does His.

Secondly, you need to read the full lesson that includes John 15:7. This verse is part of John 15:1-17 which is about The Vine & the Branches which is about the disciple's love relationship with Jesus. It’s about remaining in Jesus. In other versions the phrase “abide in me” is used. To abide means to stay, "to dwell in” or "to continue in a particular condition, attitude or relationship”. This Scripture speaks about living in full obedience to Jesus so that you "will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). It's about discipleship. To remain in Jesus is to follow all His commandments. As John 15:10 says, "If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments & remain in his love”. That means you don’t pick only the commandments that appeal to you. 

 

Do you follow God only because God loves you as what 1 John 4:19 says?

Do you follow God only because God forgives you as 1 John 1:9 assures?

Do you follow God only because God is fair when He judges you like what Psalms 25:8 says?

 

Following God means following EVERYTHING that Jesus says. That includes Matthew 16:24 which says, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, & follow me”

 

If John 15:1-17 is all about remaining in Jesus, then what kind of prayers are guaranteed by John 15:7?

 

The verse John 15:7 assures the outcome of the prayer of a true disciple of Jesus. If you remain in Jesus then your desires & wants will change. The premise of John 15:7 is that your prayers are not about your selfish wants but God's wants. A true disciple’s prayer is in synch with God’s will. Thus, if you're praying for something that God also desires then you can be assured that you can "ask for whatever you want & it will be done for you” (John 15:7).

 

John 15:7 isn’t about always GETTING WHAT YOU WANT. It’s about ALWAYS GETTING WHAT YOU WANT BECAUSE THE ONLY THING YOU WANT IS WHAT GOD WANTS. 

Jesus teaches us how to pray in Matthew 6:9-10.

 

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be YOUR name. YOUR kingdom come, YOUR will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

 

The word “YOUR” is used several times. Prayer is about transforming our desires to follow God’s will. It’s not about changing the mind of God but about changing our mind to follow God’s mind.

 

Thirdly, does that mean you cannot pray for things that you need? 

Of course not. God is our Father & He will provide for our needs. St. Paul preaches in Philippians 4:19, "My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus”. God will not only provide what you need He also "knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:8).

 

So, did God promise to give us whatever we want?

NOPE. God is not a genie who grants you whatever you want. A genie will grant your wishes out of obligation. God freely gives us His only begotten Son to save us OUT OF LOVE. 

Seek God's will always. Align your prayers to His wants. Allow your heart to be like His heart.

God always wants what’s best for you because Our Father knows BEST! - alvinfabella@yahoo.com

#shareaboutJesus

WHO'S YOUR HERO?

He was born José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda. He changed his name to “Jose Rizal” because it took too much time to write. :)

Nah, he changed it to avoid complications while he was studying in Manila. The name "Mercado" was suspicious because it had links to Father Burgos who was executed during the uprisings. Rizal would be "markado" if he used "Mercado" ;)

My first serious encounter with "JR" was through his novel Noli Me Tangere. I had no choice. "Noli" was a requirement in high school. 

I became curious about him. He become my hero. My "lodi" in today's jargon. 

I like his style. He was cool. He exemplified meekness. He took the peaceful route to promote change. It was the pen over the sword for him. That for me was powerful!

I love his patriotism. He dedicated his life for his countrymen without hesitation. He never fought on an actual war but his writings opened the eyes of the Filipinos.

He became a role model for me. I tried to copy everything in him. Well, except his love life. My heart belongs to my wife Christine only.

One of my favorite Rizal quotes goes, "Filipinos don't realize that victory is the child of struggle, that joy blossoms from suffering, & redemption is a product of sacrifice."

That's my man! 

He's still my hero today. But through the years, I added a few more names in my heroes list.

Everyone needs a hero to look up to. Heroes inspires one to #RiseUp & be a carrier of positive change. 

Who's your hero?

Get your hero's good points & copy them. Study them. Aim to do better than them. Then, BE A HERO to SOMEONE!

More importantly, remember that God is your ultimate hero. HE died for you. He always wants the best for you.

Happy National Heroes Day Pinoys!

Have a blessed week! - alvinfabella@yahoo.com

GOD WON'T GIVE YOU MORE THAN YOU CAN HANDLE

Ummm…really?

”Di yan bibigay ng Diyos kung di mo kaya” (God won’t give you that if you can’t handle it). Maybe you said or heard that phrase too. Some even quote 1 Corinthians 10:13, “God is faithful & he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength” to support that phrase.

To understand a bible verse we need to know its context.

St. Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 10:13 to the Christians who were attending the church in Corinth. It was a modern town with people from different places & backgrounds. There were pagans (non-Jews or non-Christians) there who worshipped false gods & goddesses, practiced idolatry, drunkenness & prostitution. The converts (Christians of Corinth) struggled with sexual immorality, gluttony, drunkenness & other sinful acts because Corinth was a place filled with temptation. This is why St. Paul wrote to them. Here is the full verse - “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, & he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” - 1 Corinthians 10:13

What is the verse saying?

Clearly, this verse isn't about God not giving you more burdens that you can handle. St. Paul was telling those attending the Church of Corinth that they were not exempted from experiencing temptation. The Israelites were tempted. Even Jesus was tempted. The verse is about overcoming temptations by God’s power. We can’t use 1 Corinthians 10:13 to say that "GOD WON'T GIVE YOU MORE THAN YOU CAN HANDLE”.

Next, the first part of the phrase says, "GOD WON'T GIVE YOU”. That assumes that God is the source of our trials. Pause & think about your problems. Who or what is the source of them? Aren't problems due to the poor choices you made? Isn’t sin the cause of some our trials? We will always experience troubles while we are living in this broken world. God may ALLOW trials to mold us, to increase our faith & to make us holier. God ALLOWS problems in our lives but God doesn't GIVE them.

The last part of the phrase says, "MORE THAN YOU CAN HANDLE". If God allowed only trials that "YOU CAN HANDLE” that means that you don’t need God to overcome them. Why call on God if you can handle trials by yourself? Psalms 46:2 says, "God is our refuge & our strength, an ever-present help in distress”. Is that a lie? Why would Jesus say, "ask & you will receive" (Luke 11:9) if we can do everything by ourselves? God is our Father who wants us to ask for help. That’s why Jesus tells us to ask God to give our daily bread. He doesn’t tell us to ask for a month’s supply. He tells us to ask as often as possible, to ask daily.

So, did GOD promised that HE won't give you more than you can handle?

NO.

God allows trials that are more than you can handle. But GOD WILL ALWAYS HELP YOU HANDLE ALL THE TRIALS THAT YOU HAVE!

Big or small trials, God will be there for you!

Instead of reading 1 Corinthians 10:13 when you are encountering troubles, believe in 2 Corinthians 12:9 which says “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.”

That's the key! God’s grace is enough. No matter how big your problem is, God's grace is enough. God knows that you're weak but HE allows burdens so you can RELY MORE on HIM. God is teaching you to RELY LESS ON YOURSELF & RELY MORE ON HIM.

Don’t let your problems pull you down. Instead, #riseup & BE STRONG. Read the next verse.

"I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, & constraints, for the sake of Christ, for when I am weak, then I am strong” - 2 Corinthians 12:10

BE STRONG because God will empower you.

"I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me” - Philippians 4:13

Always DEPEND on God because God will always DEFEND you! - Alvin Fabella alvinfabella@yahoo.com

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