Daily Manna from Heaven

“Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.”  Psalm 71:17-18

In the book Medical Ethics cardiologist Dr. Jay Hollman writes, “Currently there are two predominating world views in the Western World. ‘The secular world view refers to the view that leaves human beings as the final judge of all things and Biblical revelation as largely irrelevant. A serious Biblical view of ethics regards the Bible as a revelation from God and an important component of every ethical decision.” As a cardiologist Dr. Hollman constantly faces the issue of “How far should we go in sustaining life?” If life is sacred, then our goal should be to preserve it, but if life is not sacred, then why should individuals who are genetically deformed, those born with brain injuries and who can never live outside an institution, receive care and support?

Frankly, that’s what Adolph Hitler had in mind. He sought to terminate the lives of those who were less than normal, thus producing the master race. But Hitler was not alone in moving in that direction. In the United States by the year 1930, twenty-four states had laws requiring the sterilization of “feeble minded” individuals. Yes, those laws have been repealed, but the issue confronts us. When should life be sustained? And how far should we go in keeping individuals alive?

David, some 3000 years ago, contended that life was not a matter of random chance or happenstance. He was convinced that even before someone was born, God had a plan for his life that included his birth, the duration of his life, and even his death. These thoughts were embodied in Psalm 139, which is well worth your time to study. In verse 13 he wrote, “your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Paul, living a thousand years later, agreed. He wrote the Philippians and said that he wanted to “lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus laid hold” of him (See Philippians 3:12, NKJV).

Luke, the physician who wrote more of the New Testament than even Paul, also agreed. He spoke of David, saying, “For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep” (Acts 13:36).

OK, here’s the question. Does God’s purpose end for you when you have to retire, or when your health begins to decline, or when the cartilage in your knees wears out, or your heart gets tired and weary? If life is not sacred, then euthanasia becomes a plausible, if not acceptable, solution to the problem of sustaining the elderly. This, of course, would make a hero out of the suicide doctor, Jack Kevorkian, and a fool out of every doctor and every nurse who sweats bullets saving and sustaining the lives of our elderly.

Science today has enabled us to sustain the lives of people almost indefinitely, and my plea is not to sustain the suffering of people who have heard God’s call to come home and they can’t because we have them on a ventilator, or a lung machine that keeps them alive—at least, clinically. There is a time to be born and a time to die, says the book of Ecclesiastes, and wise is the family who lets go when God calls.

That’s not the issue. Then what is? Today, we are facing a secularization which denies that you were made in the image of God, that sees life as void of spiritual ramifications and denies that there is moral accountability to God or anyone else, and when that happens the whole structure of society breaks down. We are seeing that collapse right now all around us, and a moral laryngitis seems to stifle the courage of those who are afraid to say, “Enough is enough!” and to stand where the courageous have stood for centuries.

*Permission to reprint the above article is hereby granted by Guidelines, Inc.*

by Dr. Harold Sala

“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” -2 Corinthians 9:7

“I’ve always had a heart for missions and the needy,” writes a Guidelines’ friend, “and our church does not support Christian missions. Sometimes I don’t approve the decisions of the church and how the money is used. A bit extravagant at times…. What is right in God’s eyes?”

Like a barber who doesn’t quite like the haircut and keeps snipping away until the customer wishes he could glue some hair back on, this issue of giving never quite goes away. Yes, we agree that what we have belongs to the Lord, and we want to demonstrate that we are committed to that truth by giving at least a tenth, as much as Old Testament saints. But to whom do we give it?

If you haven’t noticed, friend, there are more outstretched hands than at any time in history. You can’t support everybody, so who should get your money?

The first question that has to be settled is simply, “To whom does my tithe belong?” And Leviticus 27:30 settled that clearly. It says that a tithe–or a tenth of my income–”belongs to the Lord.” O.K., who is God’s representative to collect it for Him? My local church? Missionaries? Groups such as Guidelines, Campus Crusade, or Navigators, a Christian radio station, or the lady ringing the bell for the Salvation Army?

Second question: “Are these various groups also an integral part of the church, ones specializing in outreach to different segments of a hurting, broken world?” If so, do they also deserve my support, and if so, how much?

The New Testament clearly says that the local church is to be supported. I Corinthians 15 is clear in this regard. But there are other areas of ministry today–vitally part of the church too–which can and also must be supported.

Some say, “Once you have given your money to the Lord, you are no longer responsible for what happens to it.” Don’t believe that for a moment. The parable of the talents in Matthew 25, stresses your individual, personal responsibility in seeing that what you give is used wisely and for the purpose for which it was given. When money that you give is squandered, or the lifestyle of the pastor or a Christian leader is extravagant, I’d invest God’s money where humility and commitment are evident. God expects that. It is His money that you bear responsibility for, and in that sense you need to invest wisely!

The account of Abraham who paid a tithe or a tenth to Melchizedek suggests that we ought to give where we are blessed. True, you don’t go to your favorite local restaurant for a meal and then send your money to your cousin who runs a hamburger joint in another town. Right? If a ministry meets a need in your life, and you are blessed by that ministry, and you believe that those in charge are good stewards of God’s money, then that ministry is worthy of your support.

Today, no legitimate ministry can do less than commit to full and complete disclosure. “…Provide things honest in the sight of all men,” wrote Paul in Romans 12:17, (King James version). Whether it is a church or an organization, accountability and full disclosure are reasonable responses; for they, too, are stewards of God’s money.

A closing thought to this entire series: Your motive in giving is so important. Remember what Paul wrote to the Corinthians? “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:7-8). How improve on that?

**Permission to reprint the above article is hereby granted by Guidelines, Inc.**

Want Extra Income? [click here]

How To Use Your Words To Create Your Reality

By Bo Sanchez

 

        Do you want to know your future?

 

So many people are awed by Nostradamus, Edgar Cayce, Jean Dixon, and even Madame Auring (yes, her!) because they claim to predict the future.

 

Friend, I have a big announcement to make: You can predict the future.

 

You don’t have to look for a prophet, a seer, or a fortune-teller to know your future. You don’t have to consult the horoscope, the crystal ball, your palm, tea leaves, or fortune cookies to know your future.

 

You can predict your future.

 

How? All you have to do is listen to your words.

 

By examining the words that come out of your mouth, you’ll know your future. Guaranteed.

 

Let me share with you three people…

 

Where Do You Want To Go?

 

       Nineteen years ago, I had a friend who was always miserable.

 

Constantly, I heard “Glenda” say, “Life sucks,” and “Life is terrible,” and “I’m doomed,” and “I’m a looser.” I heard her always sigh with heaviness, “Hay buhay, parang life…”

 

We lost touch for 11 years.

 

But I met Glenda recently

 

Guess what. Her life is still miserable.

 

Her words created her reality.

 

       My other friend, “Marcel”, liked talking negatively about his health. Ever since I can remember, he kept saying, “I’ll die when I reach fifty.”

 

       I would tell him, “Fifty? My gosh. Don’t say that!”

 

       He’d say, “My father died in his fifties. My grandfather died in his fifties too. So I’m sure I’ll die when I reach fifty.”

 

       True enough, at the exact age of fifty years old, Marcel was walking in the sidewalk. All of a sudden, he fell like a log. Wham. He died of a heart attack.

 

       His words created his reality.

 

The Bible says that your tongue is like a rudder of a big ship. Like a rudder, your tongue directs your life.

 

       So let me ask you: What kind of future do you want to have?

 

Don’t use your words to describe your reality. Use your words to create your desired reality.

 

Another way of putting it: Don’t just talk about where you are. Talk about where you want to go.

 

Use Your Words To Direct Your Future

 

My third example is my 84-year old mother.

 

Last Sunday, Mom was limping.

 

By Monday, she couldn’t get out of bed. She said her leg was so painful, she couldn’t move it. She couldn’t even walk to the bathroom by herself.

 

By Tuesday, she was so depressed because we had to put her on a wheelchair. She hated the idea. “I don’t want to be paralyzed!” she said. The entire time, she was moaning and groaning, complaining about the pain and her condition.

 

That day, I visited her and spoke words of faith. I said, “Mom, this is temporary. You’ll get better.” I prayed for her and taught her a simple healing exercise.  I also told her, “Mom, you’ve got to change your words. I know you’re discouraged, but you’ve got to say, “I’m getting better and better everyday.”

 

She laughed. She asked, “How could I say those words when she had so much pain and could barely move her leg?”

 

“You’ve got to try!” I said.

 

But I called her Wednesday and she was better.

 

I called her Thursday and she began walking.

 

I called her Friday and she went down the stairs already.

 

And Sunday? She was at the Feast, walking around like nothing happened.

 

Perhaps you’re sick like my mother today.

 

Say, “I feel better and better everyday.”

 

Echo Joel 3:10, where it says, “Let the weak say I am strong…” So even if you feel weak, believe that God will heal you.

 

       Let me tell you how this works…

 

Why Faith Words Work

 

I can explain it in many ways:

 

·        Faith Words affect your emotions in a positive way.

 

·        Faith Words—repeated again and again—create new neural pathways in your brain.

 

·        Faith Words also train your Reticular Activating System (RAS) to be attentive to see the blessings you desire.

 

All that is true.

 

But here’s my favorite explanation: Faith Words aren’t just mere positive affirmations; They open your life up to the supernatural power of God.

 

In Biblical thinking, words aren’t just sounds or noise.

 

Words are imbued with God’s creative power.

 

In Genesis, God created the world by His words. He didn’t create light by mixing up stuff with His hands. He simply said, “Let there be light” and there was light.

 

       The Bible also says that death and life are in the power of our tongue. Pretty awesome, right?

 

God Will Provide

 

       In 2009, my friend Rey Ortega felt God was calling him to rescue babies from abortion. He discussed this with me and passed this dream to my heart. I told him, “Let’s start a ministry.”

 

       Rey then told me, “But I have a problem. How can we raise money for this new work? I’ve exhausted all my friends already for our other work. They all now donate to our Tahanan orphanage and Pagasa scholarship for poor children.”

 

       That’s when I told Rey my Faith Words. Just three words. I said, “God will provide.”

 

He said, “Wow, I’m impressed by your faith!”

 

       Actually, I was hiding my fear. I was actually scared! In my mind, I said, “Oh no, here I go again, getting myself into another ministry…”

 

When I said, “God will provide,” we had nothing. Zero. But soon, blessings began to flow like a waterfall.

 

       That month, out of the blue, My Ninang (godmother) called up my office because she needed a speaker for her little prayer group. Specifically, she wanted a speaker to share about the topic, “The Sanctity of Life”.

 

Obviously, the best speaker on the topic was Rey Ortega. He was the one who had this dream of rescuing babies from abortion in his heart. So I told Rey, “Give the talk. And share our dream to my Ninang. She’s rich!”

 

And that night, he did.

 

       My Ninang heard Rey’s story and invited him for lunch the next day. When they met, my Ninang said, “You can use my building for your ministry. You have 300 square meters for your halfway house.” Not only that, she spent two million pesos of her own money to remodel it for our use.

 

We didn’t even call her. She called us.

 

Was that coincidence?

 

No. That’s synchronicity of grace. That’s the universe conspiring to bless us. We were no longer chasing after blessings. The blessings were chasing after us. Resources were rolling at our feet, begging that we take them.

 

“God will provide,” is a powerful Faith Word.

 

In May 2009, we began Grace To Be Born, a halfway house for pregnant women in crisis and an orphanage for babies. In 6 months, we’ve rescued 15 babies from abortion.

 

Friend, are you praying for God to provide for you?

 

Here’s my belief: Sooner or later, your outside world will match your inside world. What’s does your inside world say?

 

       Remember, your faith is more powerful than your sight.

 

Your sight can only describe your situation, your faith can direct your situation.

 

       Let me tell you the story of Elijah…

 

I Hear The Sound Of Heavy Rain Even When There Is No Rain

 

I love this incredible story.

 

For 3 years, there was a drought in Israel. Absolutely no rain in the whole land. In our language, a very bad El Nino.

 

But one day, the prophet Elijah told King Ahab, “Your problems are over. Go, eat and drink, for I hear the sound of heavy rain.” King Ahab was relieved and followed Elijah’s orders.

 

But was there actually rain?

 

None. Not a drop.

 

In fact, there was not a single cloud in the sky.

 

That was when Elijah prayed very hard. The Bible says he went up to Mount Carmel, bent over, and placed his head between his knees. If you pray in that posture, that means Elijah was desperate. I should know. That was how I prayed when I was courting my wife. (It worked!)

 

Elijah then told his servant, “Look towards the sea and check for clouds.”

 

The servant looked and said, “No clouds.”

 

You can imagine how worried Elijah must have felt.

 

So Elijah prayed one more time and told his servant, “Check again.” The servant looked and shook his head, “Nope, no clouds.”

 

The Bible says this scene was repeated 7 times.

 

By the seventh time, I can imagine what the poor servant was thinking. I bet he wanted to say, “Elijah, I told you 6 times already, the sky is empty.  Nothing. Nada. Zero. Zilcho. When are you going to quit? When are you going to tell King Ahab that you made a big booboo?”

 

But Elijah didn’t quit. He asked him, “Check again.”

 

Big Clouds Come From Little Clouds

 

When the servant looked a seventh time, he said, “I saw a little cloud no bigger than a man’s hand, coming up from the sea.”

 

In other words, he was saying, “Uh, there’s a tiny cloud. But don’t get your hopes up too much. It’s so itsy bitsy tiny, I can cover it with my hand. See? I don’t see it no more.”

 

But that little cloud was enough for Elijah. He said, “Tell King Ahab to hurry home as he might be caught by the downpour.”

 

Wow. That’s faith.

 

And the Bible says the wind began to blow and the heavy rain began to fall.

 

       Friend, it’s your turn to create your miracles.

 

       Do you see an empty sky or a little cloud?

 

       When you focus on emptiness, more emptiness will come. But when you focus on the blessings—no matter how small—more blessings will come.

 

Speak Blessing Into Your Future

 

Here’s my message: There’s a connection between what you say and what will happen.

 

You have a choice: You can say, “There’s not a cloud in the sky” or you can say, “I hear the sound of heavy rain.”

 

Perhaps today, you don’t see the healing happening yet in your body. But you can confess, “I’m being healed by God right now. Health and healing are flowing into my body. I’m getting better and better everyday.”

 

Perhaps today, you don’t see your child changing yet. He’s still making bad choices. He’s still hanging out with bad company. He’s still taking drugs. But you can confess, “My child is coming closer to God. As I speak, God is working in his life.”

 

Perhaps today, you don’t see your financial situation getting better. But you can confess, “I’m getting rich and richer everyday. God is prospering the work of my hands.”

 

Perhaps today, you don’t see yourself free from addictions yet. But you can confess, “I may have had addictions in the past, but God is starting a new chapter in my life. I may feel weak right now but I declare that God is making me strong.”

 

Like Elijah, you need to hear the sound of heavy rain even when there’s not a cloud in the sky. You need to hear the heavy rain of blessings into your life even when you don’t see anything yet.

 

Start speaking words of faith into your future.

 

Because your words create your reality.

 

       Let me tell you my last story.

 

Use Your Words To Direct Your Future

 

Last year, one of my small businesses collapsed.

 

In a snap, it simply sunk.

 

       Circumstances beyond my control pulled the rug beneath it and it came crashing down.

 

       My small business was almost one year old. All of a sudden, in one day, I lost all my customers.

 

I wish I could tell you that because I’m a preacher, I smiled and sang, “Give thanks with a grateful heart…”

 

That’s not true. At least, not right away.

 

Believe me, I was so discouraged. I was so frustrated, I wanted to say, “This business is dead,” and “I’m a failure,” and “Why did I let this happen? I’m so foolish.”

 

       But I didn’t say those words.

 

       Because I knew words have power.

 

       Instead of using my words to describe my reality, I decided to use my words to create my desired reality.

 

       Every time I wanted to say those negative words, I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and proclaimed with faith, “My business will rise up stronger than ever. This failure is temporary. This failure will make my business even better.”

 

       For three months, I tried to resurrect my business. And I couldn’t do it. I felt like I was hitting my head on a brick wall. But no matter how discouraged I felt, I kept saying these faith statements, “My business will rise up stronger than ever.” And I didn’t stop trying to fix it.

 

       And soon, I discovered the blessing within the problem. Because I had to start from scratch, I was able to change my business model.

 

Today, that small business is doing so much better. Today, I have more customers, more sales, and more profits!

 

You know what? Today, I thank God my business collapsed. Because it gave me the chance to transform it and make it better.

 

What happened?

 

My words—my Faith Words—created my desired reality.

 

Proclaim Those Faith Words

 

Look, I’m not saying that speaking Faith Words is all that you need to do to succeed in life. This isn’t magic.

 

To succeed in life, you need love, wisdom, mentors, action…

 

But speaking words of faith is incredibly important too!

 

May I suggest something?

 

I want you to take five minutes everyday declaring Faith Words.   I guarantee that it can change your life. Five minutes in the morning, declare God’s word, including your positive beliefs about your life.

 

Here’s why. In Mark 11:23, Jesus said something incredible. He said, I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.

 

Friend, what is your mountain?

 

It may be sickness. It may be a troublesome relationship. It may be a lack of money.

 

Don’t just pray about the mountain. Don’t just talk about the mountain. Instead, speak to the mountain.

 

That’s what I did to my failed business. I told it to resurrect.

 

       My message again: Don’t use your words to describe your reality. Use your words to create your reality.

 

Below, you’ll find God’s Word combined with my own positive words. I wrote these Faith Words so that you can speak them everyday. In fact, depending on your particular “mountain”, I want you to say these Faith Words not just once, but many times during the day.

 

Talk to the mountain of sickness:

 

“With long life, He satisfies me and shows me His salvation. I’m getting better and better everyday. I am getting stronger and stronger everyday. The power of healing is flowing through my body, mind, and spirit. New health, new joy, new peace, new hope is increasing within me.”

 

Talk to the mountain of a loved one going astray:

 

“My child (husband, brother, etc.) is growing closer to God. Deep inside his heart, the Holy Spirit is busy working, changing, and transforming him. He is set free from all his addictions. He will fulfill God’s purpose for his life. I declare that as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

 

Talk to the mountain of addictions:

 

“I may have had addictions in the past, but God is starting a new chapter in my life. I may feel weak now but I declare that God is making me strong. God is setting me free.”

 

Talk to the mountain of relationship conflicts:

 

“God is blessing my relationships. Love is increasing. Service for one another is growing. Forgiveness, humility, and understanding flow like a river in my relationships. Old wounds are being healed. Bonds between us are getting stronger and deeper.”

 

Talk to the mountain of confusion in decision-making:

 

“The steps of the good person are ordered by the Lord. God directs my steps. God helps me to distinguish what is right from wrong. God shows me the paths to abundance.”

 

Talk to the mountain of financial difficulty:

 

“I’m rich and getting richer. I’m generous and getting more generous. God’s abundance is supplying my every need. Everything I touch prospers and succeeds. New doors will open before me. The right people will walk into my life. God will prosper the work of my hands. As I use my core gifts to serve others, I will be richly rewarded.”

 

Friend, there’s a miracle in your mouth waiting to be released.

 

Release it today.

 

       May your dreams come true,

       Bo Sanchez

Source

*How To Go To Heaven [click here]*

Use Your Words To Bless Others

by Bo Sanchez

 

        One day, I was preaching about expressing our love more.

 

After the talk, two grey-haired gentlemen walked up to me.

 

The first man said, “Brother Bo, in all the years that I’ve been married, not once have I have ever told my wife that I loved her. I was never trained to be expressive.”

 

The other man added, “Bo, I don’t feel a need to say ‘I love you’ to my wife. What other proof does she need? I’m still here married to her, am I not? I guess I want my actions to speak more than my words.”

 

I studied the men in front of me. And I understood them.

 

Because I realized what epoch they came from. Let me give you an idea of how old they were: I was wondering if they were classmates of Jose Rizal or Emilio Aguinaldo.

 

       Just kidding.

 

They were as old as my father.

 

       And that’s why I understood them.

 

       Because I understood my father.

 

Dad’s Favorite Word

 

I loved my father.

 

And I know that he loved me so much.

 

Everyday, he would spend time with me. He filled my heart with love.

 

But he wasn’t perfect.

 

Like those two older men, I remember how Dad didn’t speak much.

 

His favorite word was a grunt.

 

He had this special grunt language that I learned to decipher through the years.

 

Here’s a typical conversation I had with him as a boy…

 

Little Bo: “Hi Dad!”

 

Dad: “Mmm.” (Blank stare.)

 

Little Bo: “Where’s Mom, Dad?”

 

Dad: “Mmm.” (Slightly jerks his head towards the kitchen.)

 

Little Bo: “Can we go to the toy store this Saturday?”

 

Dad: “Mmm.” (Shrugs his shoulders.)

 

Little Bo: “Will you buy me a Voltes V robot?”

 

Dad: “Mmm.” (Frowns.)

 

Little Bo: “Can you explain the theory of Relativity?”

 

Dad: “Mmm.” (Blank stare.)

 

Little Bo: “Wow Dad, everything makes sense to me now.”

 

Dad: “Mmm.” (Blank stare again.)

 

Did They Teach This in Fatherhood 101?

 

I think Filipino fathers of that generation were trained in this special “grunt” language. When they took up Fatherhood 101, they were taught how to be strong, aloof, and stoic as a grey wall.

 

Don’t get me wrong. I repeat: My Dad loved me. Very much.

 

But he just wasn’t good with his words.

 

In my entire life, I don’t remember my father telling me, “I love you”. Not once did he tell me, “I’m proud of you” or “I’m happy that you’re my son.”

 

Looking back, I wish he said these words to me. My spirit hungered to receive that blessing from him.

 

If you’re a parent, don’t hold back simply because you’ve never done it before.

 

You might be saying, “But Bo, my kids are now adults. I guess it’s too late.”

 

No, it’s not. It’s never too late.

 

You can pick up the phone and tell them how much they mean to you. Honor them and give them the blessing.

 

Remember: You’re the only one who can do it. You’re the only one who can give them this special blessing.

 

As a parent. As a spouse. As a friend.

 

I know this from personal experience…

 

In His Strange Way, He Honored Me

 

I was eighteen and already preaching.

 

But I was receiving so many invitations to preach, I was turning them down.

 

So one day, Dad scolded me. He said, “Bo, you have a gift to preach! I don’t have that gift. I wish I had it. But I don’t. You do. If I were you, I’d say yes to every single invitation. Because you need to use your gift. If you won’t use it, God may take it away from you!”

 

There was anger in his voice. But in the process, words of honor slipped out of his lips. In a tangential way, he was praising me. And my spirit was rejoicing. Though he didn’t say it, I got an inkling of how proud my father was for me. Those words meant so much to me, because I still remember them today—after 20+ years!

 

A Deep Desire In Every Human Heart

 

There I was, getting applause from everyone in the planet.

 

My audience admired me. People were praising me.

 

But all that wasn’t enough. Deep inside, I still wanted my own father to praise me. I wanted my Dad to honor me.

 

I believe that in every human heart is a deep need to be honored by one’s parents. All of us want to hear these words: “I’m proud and happy that you’re my child.”

 

Friend, honor your loved ones today with your words!

 

Don’t say, “Oh Bo, I’m too old to learn.”

 

Don’t be stuck in your old ways. For the sake of the children, you can change. Use your words to bless others.

 

       Remember: When you honor a person with your words, you’re not just making that person feel good. Because words have power. God has imbued our words with immense creative power. Your words can create life. Your words can perform miracles. Your words can heal wounds. Your words can refresh the spirit.

 

But I know some people do the very opposite: They use they’re incredible power to curse.

 

You Have The Power To Bless Or Curse

 

       One day, a woman came up to me and asked for prayers. She said a mangkukulam cursed her. She’s been sick for a year, suffering terrible pains in her body, but doctors couldn’t find anything wrong with her.

 

It was probably true. Because when our prayer team prayed for her, the healing was instant. She never suffered pains again.

 

Mangkukulams are feared by everyone. Because these witches have the power to kill or harm simply by cursing their enemies.

 

Scary, right?

 

I’ve got news for you: You don’t have to be a mangkukulam to have this power. All of us have this power.

 

When Parents say, “Buwiset ka! Wala kang kuwentang anak! Ang tigas tigas ng ulo mo! Ang bobo mo!” (You’re worthless, You’re dumb), they’re cursing their kids. They’re prophesying doom to their children. They’re acting exactly like voodoo witches.

 

       Yesterday, I was reading about J. Paul Getty. He was a billionaire. He owned 200+ companies. He was a total success in business but a total failure in family.

 

He was married five times and divorced five times. He had six sons. But he was so busy building his empire, he never really spent time with his children. He was also very critical.

 

       For example, his son Paul Jr. would write letters to his father. The letters would come back with the spelling and grammatical errors corrected—but there was no reply from the father. Paul later became a heroin addict.

 

       His other son, Gordon, dealt with his father only through the court, fighting over money.

 

His other son Ronald went into filmmaking, and his father ridiculed him.

 

Another son worked with the father in the family business. But he took his life, stabbing himself in the stomach and taking an overdose of pills.

 

In one sense, J. Paul Getty cursed his kids.

 

You too have the power to bless and curse people with the use of your words. The Bible says that life and death are in the power of the tongue.

 

Let me share a very weird story from the Bible.

 

A Very Weird Story

 

Isaac had twin sons—Jacob and Esau.

 

When some Filipinos hear “Esau”, they automatically get hungry. (Focus on the story, please.)

 

Isaac and his wife Rebecca played favorites. With disastrous results. Daddy Isaac favored Esau while Mommy Rebecca favored Jacob. (Parents, don’t play favorites. The Esau-Jacob conflict continues to this day in the Middle East, about 3000+ years later!)

 

When Isaac was old and blind, he called his son Esau and said, “I’m going to die soon. I want to give you my blessing. Go and hunt a wild animal for me, cook it the way I want it and serve it to me. Then I’ll give you my blessing.”

 

But Rebecca was outside the tent, eavesdropping.

 

Quickly, she cooked a goat from their flocks. She then told Jacob to bring the meal to his father and pretend that he was Esau, so he could get the blessing.

 

Isaac, being blind, was fooled. He thought Jacob was Esau and gave him his blessing. He said, “May you have abundance, may the nations serve you, may all those who bless you be blessed, and may all those who curse you be cursed.”

 

When Jacob left, his brother Esau came in. Isaac was so surprised. And he said, “Sorry Esau, I gave the blessing to Jacob. I can’t take it back anymore.”

 

What Were These Guys Fighting For?

 

What’s weird? The brothers weren’t fighting for their father’s gold, or their father’s cattle, or their father’s land.

 

They were fighting for their father’s words.

 

They were fighting for an old man’s blessing.

 

Why?

 

Because in Bible thinking, words aren’t just meaningless sounds. Words aren’t just noise. Words have creative power. Words define our reality.

 

When I tell my son, “I’m so happy that you’re my son. I know you’ll be very successful in all areas of life and everything you touch will prosper,” I’m not only honoring my son, I’m also giving him a supernatural blessing.

 

When I tell my wife, “I love you. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me,” I’m not only honoring her, I’m also giving her a supernatural blessing.

 

Part of this supernatural blessing is a prophecy…

 

People Will Rise To The Level Of  What You Prophesy

 

You’re a prophet.

 

You can shape the destiny of your children, of your friends, of your loved ones by your words.

 

Here’s what I learned: People will rise to the level of what you prophesy. People will adjust to your prophecy.

 

Remember, if you don’t tell your kids who they are and what their destiny is, someone else will. The television will tell them. The internet will tell them. Bullies in school will tell them.

 

Don’t let that happen. Honor your kids!

 

This is the story of my life.

 

Once upon a time, I was 13 years old who was a poor student in school. I didn’t know what to do with my life.

 

But one day, this woman came up to me, prophesied to me and said, “Bo, you’ll receive the gift of wisdom. I believe in you. You’ll preach God’s Word to many people.” She then asked me to give a talk to our prayer group. She did it again and again.

 

From a nobody, I rose up to her prophecy.

 

“But Bo, My Parents Didn’t Honor Me!”

 

Perhaps your parents failed to give you the blessing.

 

Then here’s what you do.

 

Go to God and receive that blessing directly from Him.

 

When the Father introduced Jesus to the world, He said, “This is my son with whom I am well pleased.” What was the Father doing? He was honoring and blessing the Son.

 

       I believe God says these same words to you. “This is my child whom I am well pleased!”

 

       You may have a difficult time swallowing that. “No Bo, I’m a big sinner. I’ve failed God. I’m sure He won’t say that about me.”

 

       But that’s Grace. When God looks at you, He doesn’t see your mistakes. He sees the goodness He created in you.

 

       Last Thursday, I listened  to Fr. Cantalamesa preach.

 

Who is he? Fr. Cantalamesa is the Retreat Master of the Pope. Whenever the Pope goes on retreat, he’s the guy who gives it. For 30 years, he’s been the Preacher to the Papal Household.

 

       Fr. Cantalamesa said something that blew me away. He said he likes saying to God, “Father, look at me… and rejoice!”

 

Wow.

 

Friend, God delights in you.

 

He doesn’t only love you, He rejoices over you. When God sees you, I believe He’s so happy, He sings, jumps, and dances for joy.

 

What Do You See In The People Around You?

 

Once upon a time, I was a “negative” spiritual leader.

 

My most predominant question was, “What is wrong with my flock?” I focused on their faults. I looked at their weaknesses. I’d say, “They lack commitment,” and “They’re so hard headed…”

 

So I preached fear, hoping that people will get scared enough to change their lives. I looked down at my listeners.  I told them to shape up or else…

 

But one day, my leadership changed.

 

Because I changed.

 

I believe I changed when I became a father.

 

       Because I learned that focusing on my children’s weaknesses only multiplied them. I learned to focus on their strengths, and by doing so, their strengths increased. The good news? Their strengths spontaneously pushed out their weaknesses!

 

So I became a “positive” spiritual leader.

 

Now, when I look at my flock, I ask, “What’s wonderful about them?” Today, I’m amazed at how committed, generous, and loving they are. I can’t ask for a better spiritual family!

 

Today, I preach love. I can’t help it. God has filled my heart with so much love, it overflows.

 

       Let me tell you my last story …

 

You Are My Sunshine

 

       I love this story so much.

 

One day, 3-year old Michael wished for a baby sister.

 

       So when his mother got pregnant with a baby girl, the little tyke was delighted. Everyday, he’d rub his mother’s tummy and sing to his baby sister, You are my sunshine, You are my sunshine, You make me happy, when stars are grey…

 

       But when the baby was born, there were complications. The baby was in critical condition.

 

       Little Michael waited at home, wondering why his mother and his baby sister weren’t coming home yet.

 

       A few days later, the doctor told the mother that the baby may not last long. The mother decided to bring Michael to the ICU and see his baby sister before she died.

 

       She knew it was against the ICU rules, but she knew she had to do it. She brought in little Michael and let him stand beside his very sick baby sister.

 

       That was when the Head Nurse saw Michael and shouted, “Children are not allowed here!”

 

       But before they could pull him out of the room, little Michael sang to his baby sister, You are my sunshine, You are my sunshine. You make me happy, when stars are grey, You never know dear, how much I love you, please don’t take my sunshine away…

 

       Immediately, the baby grew calm. Her heart rate, which was abnormally fast, slowed down.

 

       The Head Nurse noticed what was happening and said, “Little boy, whatever you’re doing, keep doing it. Something is happening to the baby!”

 

       Michael kept singing to his sister. And everyday, she got better. Until she got totally well.

 

       Because little Michael used words of honor to bless his sister.

 

       Friend, you too can heal others.

 

       You have the power of God in your tongue.

 

       Use your words to bless others.

 

       May your dreams come true,

 

Want to Sell Something? ->> http://bit.ly/ECA777

 

Want Extra Income? ->> http://www.SFIBahrain.com

 

Want Spiritual Energy? ->> http://www.GoodNewsBlog.org

by Dr. David Jeremiah – Turning Point Ministries

 

“Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle toward heaven.” -Proverbs 23:5

 

The worldwide economic meltdown that began in 2008 resulted in the greatest evaporation of wealth in history. By February 2009, tens of trillions of dollars in value had disappeared from markets around the world.

 

A month later, a prominent Wall Street money manager pled guilty to stealing upwards of $50 billion from investors.

 

It seems almost inconceivable that trillions of dollars can vanish without a trace–but they can. There is nothing wrong with saving and investing for the future, but money can never be the ultimate source of our security.

 

Our security must be in something eternal, not something temporal. Money is temporary; God is forever: “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27a).

 

Money is a foundation that can be washed away, but nothing can remove the “everlasting arms” of God from underneath our lives. He is an immovable foundation.

 

Save money? Yes. Trust in money? No. Put your faith in the only object worthy of your trust: God Himself.

 

“The real measure of our wealth is how much we’d be worth if we lost all our money.” -John Henry Jowett

 

 

Want Extra Income?

http://www.SFIBahrain.com

FOUR SPIRITUAL LAWS

By Bill Bright

 

Just as there are physical laws that govern the physical universe, so are there spiritual laws that govern you relationship with God.

 

LAW 1

God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life.

 

God’s love

“God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” –John 3:16

 

God’s Plan

“I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.” –John 10:10

 

Why is it that most people are not experiencing the abundant life?

 

Because…

 

LAW 2

Man is sinful and separated from God. Therefore, he cannot know and experience God’s love and plan for his life.

 

Man is Sinful

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” –Romans 3:23

 

Man was created to have fellowship with God; but, because of his own stubborn self-will, he chose to go his own independent way and fellowship with God was broken. This self-will, characterized by an attitude of active rebellion or passive indifference, is an evidence of what the Bible calls sin.

 

Man is Separated

“The wages of sin is death.” –Romans 6:23

 

The third law explains the only way to bridge this gulf…

 

 

 

LAW 3

Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for man’s sin. Through Him you can know and experience God’s love and plan for your life.

 

He Died In Our Place

“God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” –Romans 5:8

 

He Rose from the Dead

“Christ died for our sins… He was buried… He was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures… He appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred…” -1 Corinthians 15:3-6

 

He Is the Only WAY to God

Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” –John 14:6

 

It is not enough to know this three laws…

 

LAW 4

We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God’s love and plan for our lives.

 

We Must Receive Christ

“As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.” –John 1:12

 

We Receive Christ Through Faith

“By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works that no one should boast.” –Ephesians 2:8,9

 

When We Receive Christ, We Experience a New Birth

(Read John 3:1-8)

 

We Receive Christ Through Personal Invitation

Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him.” –Revelation 3:20

 

Receiving Christ involves turning to God from self (repentance) and turning Christ to come into our lives to forgive our sins and to make us what He wants us to be. Just to agree intellectually that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for our sins is not enough. Nor is it enough to have an emotional experience. We receive Jesus Christ by faith, as an act of will.

 

Two Kinds of Lives:

 

1. Self-Directed life

          * Self is on the throne

          * Christ is outside the life.

          * Interests are directed by self, often resulting in discord and frustration

 

2. Christ-Directed Life

          * Christ is in the life and on the throne

          * Self is yielding to Christ

          * Interests are directed by Christ, resulting in harmony with God’s plan

 

Which of the above best represents your life?

Which of the above would you like to have represent your life?

 

The following explains how you can receive Christ:

 

You Can Receive Christ Right Now by Faith Through Prayer

(Prayer is talking with God)

 

God knows your heart and is not concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. The following is a suggested prayer:

 

“Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be. Amen.”  

 

Does this prayer express the desire of your heart?

 

If it does, I invite you to pray this prayer right now, and Christ will come into your life, as He promised.

 

How to Know That Christ Is in Your Life?

Did you receive Christ into your life? According to His promise in Revelation 3:20, where is Christ right now in relation to you? Christ said He would come into your life. Would He mislead you? On what authority did you know God has answered your prayer? (The trustworthiness of God Himself and His Word.)

 

 

The Bible Promises Eternal Life to All Who Receive Christ

“God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life.” -1 John 5:11-13

 

Thank God often that Christ is in your life and that He will never leave you (Hebrews 13:5). You can know on the basis of His promise that Christ lives in you and that you have eternal life from the very moment you invite Him in. He will not deceive you.

 

Now That You Have Received Christ

The moment you received Christ by faith, as an act of will, many things happened, including the following:

 

·        Christ came into your life (Revelation 3:20; Colossians 1:27)

 

·        Your sins were forgiven (Colossians 1:14)

 

·        You became a child of God (John 1:12)

 

·        You received eternal life (John 5:24)

 

·        You began the greater adventure for which God created you (John 10:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:18)

 

Can you think of anything more than wonderful that could happen to you than receiving Christ?

 

Would you like to thank God in prayer right now for what He has done for you?

 

By thanking God you demonstrate your faith.

 

To enjoy your new life to the fullest…

 

 

 

Suggestions for Christian Growth

Spiritual growth results from trusting Jesus Christ. “The righteous man shall live by faith.” -Galatians 3:11

 

A life of faith will enable you to trust God increasingly with every detail of your life, and to practice the following:

 

G – Go to God in prayer daily (John 15:7)

 

R – Read God’s Word daily (Acts 17:11) begin with the Gospel of John

 

O – Obey God moment by moment (John 14:21)

 

W – Witness for Christ by your life and words (Matthew 4:19; John 15:8)

 

T- Trust God for every detail of your life (1 Peter 5:7)

 

H – Holy Spirit – allow Him to control and empower your daily life and witness (Galatians 5:16,17; Act 1:8)

 

Fellowship in a Good Church

God’s Word instructs us not to forsake “the assembling of ourselves together” (Hebrews 10:25).

 

Several logs burn brightly together, but put one aside on the cold hearth and the fire goes out. So it is your relationship with other Christians.

 

If you do not belong to a church, do not wait to be invited. Take the initiative; call the pastor of a nearby church where Christ is honored and His word is preached. Start this week, and make plans to attend regularly.

 

The Good News Blog

http://www.GoodNewsBlog.org

 

Daily Manna From Heaven

http://MannaFromHeaven.168center.com

 

 

by Dr. Harold Sala

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” -Hebrews 12:2

No emotion is more connected to Christmas than joy—the universal language of an overflowing heart. Notice the gleam in the eyes of children as they open gifts, or stand on their tiptoes to see the display in the store window as they focus on dolls and sleds, on train and toys. But it shouldn’t simply be children whose hearts are filled with joy. To the contrary, joy should be every person’s response to God’s great gift.

For a moment, think about a special gift that you gave someone this season—possibly your sweetheart, or your husband, your mother, or the child who wouldn’t have had a Christmas gift but you heard about the need and saw that gifts were delivered. Made you feel good, right? What you felt was joy. But which was greater? The joy that you felt, or the joy which the person experienced who received the gift?

Though we seldom think about it, there had to be joy in the heart of the Father when He gave heaven’s most precious gift: His Son. Angels sang joyfully, and those who heard the song rejoiced with exceeding great joy–the kind that goes to the depth of your soul.

He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, as Isaiah wrote long before His coming to Bethlehem; nonetheless, while He lived among us joy was the strength of Jesus’ life. Have you forgotten that Paul tells us the “kingdom of God is… joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). The writer of Hebrews says that “for the joy that was set before him Jesus endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2). What joy? The joy which would be His when He again came through the door of heaven.

Now, for a moment let’s go back to the child who opens that very special gift that you gave him or her. The child’s eyes light up in a way that no painter could ever express, and then come the giggles of delight, the laughter of joy, and that touches your heart, too. Right? Of course. That’s the way God made us.

Twice Isaiah says that our response to God’s redemption should be to rejoice and even break forth in joyful singing. Here’s what he said: “Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this; shout aloud, O earth beneath. Burst into song, you mountains, you forests and all your trees, for the LORD has redeemed Jacob, he displays his glory in Israel” (Isaiah 44:23).

One of the sad things about the busyness of the Christmas season is that by the time Christmas day arrives, we are often so weary physically that we find it difficult to have much joy. And I confess that today’s Guidelines may come too late for you to do much about it; but there is one thing you can do. From this moment on you can begin to catch the joy you have been missing in your life.

It begins by receiving the great gift which brought joy to the heart of the Father in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. “But to all who received him, he gave the right to become children of God. All they needed to do was to trust him to save them” says John 1:12 in The Living Bible. G. K. Chesterton at the close of one of his books says that “joy…is the gigantic secret of the Christian.” He isn’t suggesting that Christians hide it, as people put valuables in a safe deposit vault so others will not see or take them. He is saying that those who do not know the Christ who was born at Bethlehem just cannot experience the joy that is within, knowing that He will never leave you or forsake you.

Joy in your heart, in your personal life, is part of the gift of Christmas, the gift which difficulty, or pain, or even loneliness should never take from you. Christmas joy is the abiding presence of a living Christ. May it be yours today.

*Permission to reprint this article is hereby granted by Guidelines, Inc.*