Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Something Funny I Discovered


T
wo days ago, I check on somebody's comment in our blog - actually, the second time. This time, it was very encouraging specially that we are doing the effort for the Lord.

The first time was when we started this blog in Volume 1, and here was another (Volume 2). I kept saying before, "Perhaps no one is reading our blog". But, you did! Mike and I are happy about it. We are because God has heard our prayers.

I discovered, too, that in selecting the "comment" section of the setting, I clicked the one that hinders any person to make a comment except people we choose - really not a good choice. In reality, WE WANT YOU ALL TO MAKE COMMENTS, good or not-so-good. Well, I must admit it. It was the first-timer's job of trial-and-error without knowing it until a month later.

Now, friends, we know better though everyday is a good learning experience. Just then, our prayer has always been that you all will learn something from our efforts.

Happy reading!

(c) August 2009, Luisa Mercado with Mike Carey's participation

Monday, August 17, 2009

Jesus, The Wonderful Messiah

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

D
uring yesterday's Adult Sunday School, my heart leaped with awesome wonder at listening to every word the pastor said about the prophecies of the Messiah fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Listening intently, I had more to be joyful about being saved by this great God and wonderful Saviour, Jesus Christ. I have the more reasons to share Him now to others without being ashamed of it because He is alive, real, and is there to save you, me and many others who have placed their trust in Him. He is there so that many of us could go to heaven, if only we truthfully repent and ask Him to save us. Don't you realize that great favor He alone could provide?

Sad to say, many do not listen. They do not believe. Probably, they do not know Him at all because their beliefs are different. At least God could understand them that is why He finds a way to reach out to them. They have chances when they only care to listen. But, others who know Him choose not to believe Him. They do not care. Don't you know that it is the worst choice ever because it means hell?

Maybe we will talk about the Bible's prophecies in the Old Testament about the coming Messiah (even the Jews believe this) and their fulfillment through Jesus Christ in the New Testament. The Old Testament verse being the prophesy and the New Testament being the fulfillment. I am really praying that many of you will find the truth setting you free.

a) SEED OF A WOMAN
Genesis 3:15
- And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Galatians 4:4 - But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

b) SEED OF ABRAHAM
Genesis 12:3
- And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Matthew 1:1
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The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

c) SEED OF ISAAC

Genesis 17:19 - And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, [and] with his seed after him.
Luke 3:34 - Which was [the son] of Jacob, which was [the son] of Isaac, which was [the son] of Abraham, which was [the son] of Thara, which was [the son] of Nachor,

d) SEED OF JACOB

Numbers 24:17 - I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
Matthew 1:2
- Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;

e) FROM THE TRIBE OF JUDAH

Genesis 49:10
- The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him [shall] the gathering of the people [be].
Luke 3:33 - Which was [the son] of Aminadab, which was [the son] of Aram, which was [the son] of Esrom, which was [the son] of Phares, which was [the son] of Juda,

f) HEIR TO THE THRONE OF DAVID

Isaiah 9:7
- Of the increase of [his] government and peace [there shall be] no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Luke 1:32,33
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32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

g) BORN IN BETHLEHEM

Micah 5:2
- But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, [though] thou be little among the thousands of Judah, [yet] out of thee shall he come forth unto me [that is] to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth [have been] from of old, from everlasting.
Luke 2:4,5,7
- 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

h) BORN OF A VIRGIN

Isaiah 7:14 - Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Luke 1:26,27,30,31 - 26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name [was] Mary. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

i) DECLARED THE SON OF GOD
Psalm 2:7 - I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou [art] my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Matthew 3:17
- And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

j) CRUCIFIED WITH MALEFACTORS
Isaiah 53:12
- Therefore will I divide him [a portion] with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Matthew 15:27,28 - 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great [is] thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

k) TO BE RESURRECTED

Psalms 16:10; 49:15
- 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 49:15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
Mark 16:6,7 - 6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. 7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

l) HIS ASCENSION TO GOD'S RIGHT HAND
Psalm 68:18 - Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, [for] the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell [among them].
Mark 16:19
- So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
1 Corinthians 15:4
- And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Ephesians 4:8 - Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

... and many more that this page cannot contain them.
Are you not happy that you, true Christians, believed and surrendered your life to Him? Well, others not belonging to that category should do much thinking. Everlasting life has glorious heaven and very bitter hell. You can choose now while there is still time.

(c) August 2009, Luisa Mercado

Reference: King James Version Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishers

Saturday, August 15, 2009

The Joy of Children

" I have no greater joy then to hear that my children walk in truth." 3 John 4

Quite the Bible verse, eh people? I wonder how many of us truly are looking at the spiritual growth of our children when they are young and now, many are grown? Are they walking in the Lord's will or stagnant in their growth? Maybe they are not even saved and are born-again Christians, and on their way to hell. Oh, parents, watch out for your children when they are young. Dads, moms, grandmas, and grandpas; the grandchildren you have now may not be around much longer if you don't and won't guide them. Lead and direct them in the Word of God properly.

So, do you have joy that your children walk in truth? In God's truth? In the truth that you know you can trust them when they go out into this wicked world on their own? In walking with the Lord, they will actually require much guidance from Godly people. Most of all, they will be putting their entire trust and faith in our Lord for all things.

To have joy knowing your children are walking in truth is to know they are biblically saved from the clutches of the devil, and are heaven bound. They are living the life that is pleasing to our Lord Jesus Christ. Even when they backslide, they will still enter heaven although they will lose their rewards. Parents and grandparents, pray they will be led and taught by the Holy Spirit to live according to the Lord's will, and they store up treasures in heaven.

Joy in knowing your children walk in truth? Yes, by reading their Bibles more; praying more; seeking the Lord's face more; leaning towards the Lord's will for their life more; being in His will more; and doing their best to go to church as much as they can without wavering in their faith! They can do all these and so much more, so that their parents may see that in them. These children will bring much joy to their parents' hearts and souls. They give them more happiness knowing they are living for the Lord and not for men.

(c) Aug. 2009, Mike Carey

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

I Surrender

All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give:
I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live.
I surrender all.

Do we really say "I Surrender All" to Christ each day? Or is it a passing faze to us?

How I love this most convicting song as it reminds me l must surrender to our great God who has created us for His glory. I wonder how many of you, me included, adhere to the Word of God in His Bible and allow us to be subject to His will for our lives, and to Him period? No 'if's', 'ands', or 'buts'.

Our Saviour Jesus Christ died on Calvary's cross for our sins and shed His blood in our place. Do you think maybe we should not take this for granted and allow Christ our Lord to lead us to a more personal intimate relationship with Him and allow Him to be the center of our lives?

Ok, now, how do we surrender fully to our Lord God in heaven?

These are my thoughts, though others may have many more to add to. Here they are:

(1) Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. Prov.3:5, 6 (trust)

(2) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and He shall lift you up. James 4:10 (humility)

(3) The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore I will hope in him. Lamentations 3:24 (hope)

(4) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7 (submission)

(5) The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, o Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created. Rev.4:10, 11 (worship)

(6) For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous. 1 John 5:3 (obedience)

(7) We love Him, because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19 (love for God)

(8) Because it is written, be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 Peter 1:16 (personal holiness)


Just a few little things l saw which are Biblical and I wrote them down. Amen.

(c) Aug . 2009, Michael Carey

Friday, August 7, 2009

Sunset Beams

This poem is for our grandpas and grandmas:



Sunrise yesterday...
Sunset today...
Tomorrow will be night.

Sunrise gleams...
Sunset beams...
Night can be cold or warm.

Happy sunrise...
Serene sunset...
What a silent night.

But, life is like that...

Yesterday we're young
Today we're old
Tomorrow, everything's in God's hand.

And today, sunset still beams.


(c) August 2009, Luisa Mercado

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Upcoming Best For You And Me


Yesterday may seem so dreary,
And today may seem so dry,
The future may seem so bleak,
Gloomy days, full of streak.

I ask the Lord why this is so,
Bad days are here, nothing's aglow.
And through His word, God says to me,
"Be not afraid, My hands hold thee."

He further says He truly cares,
In all the earth, there's nothing dear.
You and I, friend, He's still in charge;
And day by day we are recharged.

Don't worry 'cause we're here to thrive,
The roads seem rough, we still survive;
For God is there, why worry still?
Upcoming best in heaven's real.

(c) August 2009, Luisa Mercado

Good Uniqueness (Wonderfully Sharing Differences)



Looking back at more than 4 years of friendship and love, I have everything wonderful to say about a relationship that has gone stronger and stronger each day despite distances, cultural barriers and physical insufficiencies. I have more reasons to say this because Mike and I have gone through more than difficult situations, yet we have been successful in overcoming them. Why? Because we have God whom we make number 1 in our relationship. We are just second to Him in this love triangle.

It is not easy to love a paralytic like me especially when we are half the world apart and our only means of communication is the internet. We only see each other daily on webcam, if it would function well. The phone is the least option because I cannot talk well and he cannot understand what I am saying except when I say "I love you". Many times, we need to exert more patience to understand each other because we are culturally different. Although I can speak quite good English, language differences is still a problem. He is Canadian (white) while I am Filipino (brown). But as a form of loving endearment, we oftentimes call each other white and brown chocolates. We can even laugh at the individual uniqueness in us. These made us fall in-love in the first place.

This coined sentence seems very right for Mike and I: "It is because of so many differences that we have so much to share". It is also the right words to say to everyone in this whole, big, wide world. We can only wonderfully share our uniqueness and differences when we, too, have big, wide love for Jesus Christ in our hearts.

God bless us friends!

(c) August 2009, Luisa Mercado

Monday, August 3, 2009

If Jesus Would Not Come Back

  • Churches would continue to backslide, bring in Godless worldly music and continue to be liberal-minded.
  • Churches would remain prayerless.
  • Liquor stores, gambling houses, theatres, prostitution rings, pornography dens, and other wicked places would keep on graving and promoting their filth.
  • Cursing, blasphemy, and swearing would drastically increase.
  • There would be more social gatherings and devil’s music in church.
  • Women would put more paints on their faces and wear less clothes.
  • More men and women would smoke more.
  • Parents would consume and add to their collections of dirty magazines, playing cards, and filthy literatures in their homes.
  • There would be more flirting and more sex among young people, and teenagers.
  • Everyone would do less for the Lord, and expect God to do more for them.
  • We would continue to get more stubborn, rebellious, prideful, hard-hearted, and full of more resentment, hate and bitterness.
  • People would become more vocal in expressing their uncalled opinions, and would gossip and slander more.
  • All ministers would continue even more to tear apart what God has called them to do – preach the Word - God’s Bible, the KJB. Instead, they would rip his Word apart and proclaim theological superiority by claiming other “books” as easier to read and understand.
  • More TV sets and computers would be turned on to get satisfaction than to read the word of God.
  • More lenders would chase the borrowers into submission not caring whether they are able to give back to them or not. More debts would incur.
  • More people would stop giving tithes and offerings expecting God to bless them.
  • Those living in adultery would live more in adultery, not batting an eye or giving it no thought of its evil consequences.
  • The fridges of people would be filled more with the devil’s sewer water, wine, beer, hard liquors and all drinks that defile the body.
  • More sodomites would be coming out of their closets instead of staying-in and cleaning themselves.
  • Everyone will do more and more what is right in their own eyes with no thought in doing it.


So, friends, it is just right that Jesus Christ will come back soon so that many people will be aware, afraid and convicted, repent, accept Him as personal Savior and Lord, and change for the better.


What do you think?


(c) July 2009, Michael Carey

What Is A Born-Again Christian?

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)

I asked my sister's housemaid just this morning on what is a born-again Christian. She uttered shyly, "When you had me accept Jesus as my personal Savior and Lord?" "Yes!" I said. "When was it, Mayet?" I asked further. "March, 2009", she said then with assurance and with almost tears in her eyes. She was sure because she knew it was her gate pass to heaven. I knew, too, because I witnessed her cry after we said the prayer of salvation. We, two, were left in the house that day and I thought it as opportune time to share Jesus to her.

To you, friends, who is a born-again Christian? Although many of you know the answer, I have to answer it for the sake of those who do not know.

A born-again Christian is someone who truly and wholeheartedly repents all his sins and accepts Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. He is, therefore, a new creature. He is assured, then, of going to heaven. It is a very simple act of humility before Jesus Christ while lifting Him up on high as Lord and Savior. It is a prayer of submission to God. It does not have to be a spectacular scene in public to boast himself. He can even do it in his bedroom alone and nobody can see.

But, many failed or prideful enough to do this act of humility. "Why should I?" they always say. They know Christ already and pray to Him. There is no need for personal acceptance. Wrong, friend! Knowing Christ is not the same as accepting Him. Satan even recognizes Him well, trembles at His name and flee. There is a big difference between knowing and accepting. It is likened into not accepting the gift given to you and you know fully well that it is for you in contrast with accepting it because you know it is yours.

It is a sad thing to learn that others do not even care to listen to somebody talking about salvation. For them it is waste of time, a trash. They said they have other more special things to do. Which is more important, those other things man just do in this temporary earth that will vanish soon and be replaced or that true relationship as sons and daughters of the Most High God with heaven-bound assurance? You know which of those are very important.

Friends, you do not have to be super-heroic and extra-clean to humble yourself before Christ to let Him come into your life as your personal Savior and Lord. Just be your sinful self accepting that you cannot do anything without Him. Truly repent and ask Him to be your personal Savior and Lord. With His help, you can be a better person. You, with Him, can do it little by little everyday until He will bring you home. He knows you are a man (or a woman) and, therefore, frail. You do not have to struggle. Do it, friend, before it is too late.

Happy reading!


(c) August 2009, Luisa Mercado

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Grace, Faith and Salvation: All In One

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

When I opened my Facebook account in the internet this morning, I was met by someone's question on "wall" asking me, "So, Luisa, what do you believe? Saved unconditionally by grace or on the condition of your faith?" Perhaps he was testing my faith and the belief through which I stood - meaning, doctrine. Honestly, my doctrine is the King James Bible. I know he was a Christian. He may even be a pastor. Maybe it was his own way of telling all people who could read it what salvation means - through question and answer. I could even so much relate him to our church pastor who would ask a professing Christian where he is in faith. Is he a deep-seated Christian? Does he need to understand more? Or, is he just pretending to be one?

Before anything else, let me share to you the meaning of grace, faith and salvation. According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, grace is unmerited heavenly assistance (or gift), while salvation is saving a person from sin. Hebrews 11:1 says about faith as "... the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Going back to Ephesians 2:8-9, we are saved by the grace (unmerited heavenly gift) of God through faith (substance and evidence of hoped-for and unseen things respectively) in Jesus Christ. Salvation, therefore, is not done by ourselves, by our good works, by our powers, by our influences, nor by our bribes. It is a gift from God, otherwise we might boast before Him and men.

In heaven one day, people saved by the grace of Jesus Christ through faith will give Him all the glory, praise, honor, thanksgiving and adoration for the salvation He alone so freely offered to them whom He chooses. Then, let me ask you, friends. Have you accepted the salvation of Jesus Christ wholeheartedly? If not, then please say the prayer of salvation on the left side of this blog with true repentance and acceptance. It is your choice now or tomorrow may be too late.

By the way, good works come naturally to God's saved people. It should be because we are already new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17). We may be not be perfect, but God will always be there to guide us.

Happy reading!

(c) August 2009, Luisa Mercado