Hunger for ministry!

On December 20th up until the 26th was a week of joy and rest for a Pastor in the Palauan-Saipan Church in Saipan, where a group of students from Pacific Islands University and a couple of University of Guam students helped out each other ministering to the church and the community. Every night beginning from the second night we got there, we had services where we invited people to come and see what God had brought to Saipan. On daylight we help clean the church, organize and decorating for the next service that we're having, preparing and practicing for the next service, and even going house to house evangelizing, talking with people, singing songs and praying for them. All of the things God wanted us to do were there. The Holy Spirit guided us and helped us in our struggles. In practice session, we would get frustrated, upset, disappointed with each other, but the joy of the LORD was there. We helped each other by praying, encouraging, admitting that we need help. God was with us for the whole week.
One of my prayer request for now is to seek God's guidance and plan for Him to open a door for me to go back and help the Pastor with the church. It has been in my heart ever since I got back from Saipan. I am praying that God will lead me. God has open many doors for me and I don't know if this is one of those doors. I am praying for God to lead me and choose the right way for me. As you are reading this, I ask that may you please pray with me for God's guidance. Pray with me that God will open a door for me to go back to Saipan and help the Pastor serve the church and pray for the God to bring soul's to be saved. I hope that God will work through you or listen to us with our prayer. Thank you! God bless.

"A Time for Everything" (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

"A Time for Everything:

1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace."

A couple of weeks ago, struggles came in and frustration drifted down the river of life and came on my path to check on me. Its one of those moments for about a week where I don't even know what to do and want to give up. But really! Give up? I don't think so. In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon saw something that out of his mouth came out words of wisdom. "A time for everything!" He summarizes about how life is when he looks at it. There's a time for things and the opposite of it. What else is there that doesn't sound so "wisdomized?" There is a time for struggle and a time for peace. A time for hardship and a time for "softship???" You put the words that best describe the opposite of hardship. Yesterday, while I was at Church I had this passage on my heart, thinking of what God is doing in my life. I thought of how things are happening and where am I standing. I thought to myself, "are there really different times for everything? If there are, then when will I wait? Is it going to take long to wait?"
How should we react to these things when they come to us out of no where? I believe God is just amazing as He works throughout every believers life. Think about it. When I was young, I would always laugh so hard that my mom would scold me and tell me, "watch it, because now you're laughing so hard, and pretty soon, you'll be crying!" My mom was too wise. I was laughing and enjoying my time with my brothers and soon we got into arguments and fights and someone would be crying. Guess who was that! But I took what my mom told me. I remembered how she was saying things and I believe her. Eventually, it became my phrase. I realize that things work that way. There will be time when we have so many goods and wants, and there will be times where we will need some things that are valuable. There will be times that we will be prosperous and there will be time where we will need things. SO WHAT? Does that mean LIFE will be the same as it is?
I had struggles in my past weeks and I'm expecting them everyday. We all have struggles everyday, small things to big things. However, we have hope! Proverbs 3:5-6 says "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight." 1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." That is amazing. The Bible has so many wise words that are so "wise" that can tell you so many things and even comfort you! God is amazing.

Glorieta

Two days have passed in New Mexico! Glorieta has been a wonderful ministry to me and the people who are here. I've enjoyed so many things that have happened. Worship, community group, seminars and so many more. God placed me in a place that I had no idea that it will have an effect on my life. So many things to do here. The last two days I was I've met great people of God who loves God so much and they have been here for so many years because they want to help those who are in need and lost. Not many people who are here are saved but God is working in these people's lives.

I've been touched with the songs and the message of a preacher who incredibly deliver a great sermon. I've seen so many things that have happened here and that God is just at work. Last night we had a great service, people were going to the altar to recommit their lives to Christ, and even some people gave their lives to Christ for the first time. It is so amazing and God is just powerful. These past two days have been exciting for me and I am glad that I am here.

"Independent but depending on God"

So far I am in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and I must say it has been a terrific trip for me. Although sitting in one sit in the air for more that 15 hours is killing in the rear. But safely, I am in the destination that I am in and I owe it all to God. He wanted me to come here and He provided safety and protection. Even guidance. On my way here, I met this guy from Maui, named Alan and he seem to be pretty cool. He got the info for where we are going and I am so excited. God has so many things for me here and I can't believe I am in the States again. Two in a row? God has some amazing things in my life. I love it!

Decisions, Decisions, Decision!

We all live by our decisions that we make everyday. As soon as we open our eyes in the morning our minds make the decision that will determine who we are each day. We wake up and we make so many decisions-either good or bad. We choose to do the right thing or we choose not to do the right thing. We make sure we look good for others that watch us, and we make sure they speak good about us. But some decisions can be difficult to pick. Some are dangerous and some are just plain simple.

Everyday I wake up with a decision to try and make a difference. Either I make a decision to contact my friends or family, or just go with what the day has for me. But really? Does the day have something for me or am I just being silly? Should I choose not to do anything and be bored? Am I choosing to be bored or is it just the day that is boring? I've realized that there are many things to do in this world and they would never run out. I just have to make the right decision and stand and do those things. HMMMM!?!?!? So what are you gonna do? Make that decision now!

"Standing in Someone's Shoes"

Yesterday a group of student and I went to Venice Beach in LA. We had a tour on the beach looking at unusual stuff and people that have never been seen in a place where I lived. Well, here is the story: We were walking around and as I look, there were a lot of people who were poor, homeless, and "freaks." Made me think how are they doing in their lives. I mean, I saw how they were just doing weird things. My friends and I were watching weird people who did weird things. We kind of giggle and laughed so much because it seemed to be funny and ridiculous. I had weird feelings just starring at them. However, deep inside my heart and mind, I thought, "How does it feel to be in these people's shoe? What are their feelings? How do they leave everyday like this?" I felt so sad. I saw a man just sitting near his small market, and he had a water bottle and he was just sitting and waiting. Waiting for someone to help or give something. I thought about my life and this man's life. I live in a well and comforted island where I may starve, well just because I may skip a meal, but that doesn't count. This man had not eaten for days or weeks. I was not able to take a picture so you would see what I am talking about, but if you could only imagine how hard it is for some people who are actually leaving in a place like that and just suffering.

I took that very special moment and I saw and I imagined how much the person is suffering. Not only him but there quite a few that I saw. And that's not it. There may be one that you saw somewhere else. And there are a lot everywhere.

Yesterday was a moment of fun for my friends and me yet I keep thinking about how that person who was sitting and waiting could wait any longer. How long will he wait until he has his next meal?

"Frustration makes you frown, Salvation makes you smile!"

This is kind of awkward but I learn in the ministry that I am in, frustration always arises in practices. Struggles, hard decisions are being made, cooperation are kind of optional, and the very reason for the ministry becomes less and less important. We tend to lose focus on the very reason why we do things in ministry. We get irritated and think of negative things. In the Bible (in my own perspectives) the foolish will always make the wrong decisions. They will think that they are the reason for the ministry. They will think that maybe giving up is not an option but a must. I had my own experience of wanting to get off from the team I am with. I try to think of negative ways that will make me more angry and want to kick myself off the team. One thing I forgot was the commitment and responsibilities that I was committed to. All the things that I was thinking of in a good way for the ministry. Especially, how God choose me for the team. Not me choosing the team or the group for the team but God. The same God that you and I worship everyday. I think of the reason why I am here, in LA and for that very same reason I got in Guam is still the same reason I should have in ministry. Why am I being part of the group God had assemble? Why am I here when I can be somewhere else doing something? Because God wants me to do what He wants me to do. He wants me to do the work that He has prepared. He wants to use me. I am glad for my Salvation in Christ. Because it is in Him, it is Him that I live for. Paul speak this in Philippians that it is no longer him that lives in himself but Christ. "For to me is to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). Amazing how Paul speaks of how we can put aside all our anxieties, all our frustrations, all our giving up and giving in, and just look toward Jesus. I experience these things on special occasions and things such as rehearsal for a ministry. Often people will want to give up and stop for many, many reason.

How about you? What have you been challenged today? Which side will you take?

Hint: Always Smile for Jesus!