DAY 6 | Don't Settle

Joshua has been giving their inheritance to the tribes of Israel and was interrupted when the seven other tribes was not doing anything, not giving any reports about the land they’re about to occupy. Joshua rebuked them for settling for just enough. God has already given them the land, all they have to do is take possession of their part of the land but they’re not doing anything. They became quickly satisfied---Complacent. How many times have I been guilty for settling for second best just because I don’t feel like moving ahead, I felt satisfied already. As we say it “Nakakatamad naman” I remember this commercial on powdered detergents which says “Hindi pwede ang pwede na.”

And so Joshua had to give them instructions. People are really different. As I used to hear from my dad when he’s getting his nerves up because of lazy laborers “Kung hindi pupukpukin, hindi babaon.” Joshua had to push them to claim what’s theirs. Another thing that struck me is the casting of lots. I thought casting lots is kinda wayward---but in this context, casting lots is done in the presence of the Lord, believing that whatever the outcome would be, it is the Lord’s will. 

In contrast, Caleb’s outright confidence is so big and is anchored to the right point---God. Three times in the 14^th chapter of the book of Joshua was the word “wholeheartedly” mentioned, and Caleb, warrior as he is, showed no doubts about it. Since he followed/obeyed God ‘wholeheartedly’ he got his share of the land. 

And as the writer of the book of Hebrews wrote: let us not throw away our confidence because it will be richly rewarded. Perseverance is key to doing God’s will, and God, faithful as he is, will give us a reward for doing our part.

Day 6 talks about not to settle for anything less than the best. God has an intention to bless us and to make us prosperous. Consider Caleb’s confidence anchored in the Lord, though he was 85 years, 40 years after the promise has been said, and another 40 years before he was able to claim it. He didn’t lose hope. His faith and confidence was completely fastened to the right anchor. Whenever we got trials to pass, James is asking us to consider it a joy to be tested because perseverance yields the promise.

can't stop thinking about food

imagine mo 'to: maggigisa ka ng bawang sa butter; tapos magsasanggag ka ng rice; tapos lalagyan mo ng taba ng talangka at bagoong at paminta, siling labuyo at strips ng scrambled egg. tapos bibili ka ng sobrang malutong na crispy pata at sobrang mainit na bulalo pati na hot&spicy hipon kasama ang bottomless na napakalamig na nestea iced tea. sarap diba?! and i plan to eat these on Food Trip Feast Day Friday! 

Day 5. 2 more days. Keep holding on! \m/

DAY 4 | Conquering Faith

Read Joshua 6 & 1 Samuel 17 and you’ll realize why this day is entitled “Conquering Faith” which by the way, I think is perfect! As Joshua and the people move forward to claim their Promised Land, Joshua did a strategic move to spy out the area---which every smart military leader would do. And as soon as they made up their mind to move ahead anyway, Jericho became their first subject. And so they marched around the city for 6 days. I can’t imagine how absurd it was. Marching around the walls of the city with trumpets blowing for 6 days. What would the residents inside the walled city think about the armies of Israel? Have they gone mad? What’s their gimmick this time?

My office is located by the main road and we could practically hear the very loud sounds of engines passing, especially the trikes. I could imagine how the people inside the walled city would react whenever they hear the loud trumpets passing. I think they were also extremely annoyed by the loud sounds. And ridiculous as it may seem, Joshua and the Army continued doing it for 6 days. People inside the city maybe making fun of them but it’s alright. Joshua’s purpose was clear. God’s orders were clear. And so they continued marching and on the seventh day, after the 7 circuit and loud shouts, the walls of Jericho collapsed and they seized the city----Conquering Faith. It’s good to point out that no matter how silly or ridiculous a thing maybe, if that order is from the Lord, it’ll be worth the risk. In your mind, you’ll be saying “You will feel guilty for laughing so hard!”

The same conquering spirit had David as he killed Goliath. David was the underdog but he killed Goliath because he realized that “the battle is the Lord’s.” every battle that we face is the Lord’s battle and he will cause us to win every time. One thing we do, we just need to be present in the battle field bringing with us not the weapons of this world but divine power to demolish strongholds [2Cor10:3-5]

No matter how many “Jerichos” may be standing in our way, it’s good to know that God gives wisdom without finding fault. We just need to ask him and be in faith, be present in the battle field and be one with God as these battles are his.

DAY 3 | Who's the Boss?

Joshua’s first challenge as Israel’s new leader is to conquer Jericho and vast as it was, he needed reinforcement. We can assume that Joshua would have been praying so hard for triumph. But to his amazement, the Commander of the Army of the LORD [who is btw, God himself] appeared to his rescue. The Commander told him: “I am in charge! And I am here!” ---what a comfort to hear that. And to have someone in charge who’s gonna fight for you.

Previously God told him that as he was with Moses, he will be with Joshua. This is the point where God fulfilled his promise and he’s gonna fight for them. it’s safe to say at this point that in this life, it is never about us---it is about God who provides everything. Day 3---and God is telling who he is in our lives. The Boss. He calls the shots.

I admire Moses’ nerve to say to God’s face that he’s not gonna move a single step if God would not go with them. When I read that, I was like, “Oh man, how dare you say that to God.” But that’s the very essence why God wants to have a relationship with us. He wants us to include him in our daily lives. To tell him to his face whatever we feel. We are created for him. 

In this third day of prayer and fasting, let us live this life with God as our director who leads us to the right direction. Let us not be afraid because as God was with Moses, he will be with us. Day 3---Be sensitive to get our orders from the Boss.

DAY 2 | Distinctly God's

Be Special---One thing pops out of my mind whenever I hear the word special---“Siopao” Buko Pies are also special. Chicharon is also special. Whenever I read a text message that say something about “special-ness” I always ask myself: “siopao ba ako?” But think about it, special things have special purposes. A special food is served to special people. You don’t just give mediocre things to the people you love. You make sure that it has to be special. So more than the gift, it has to be special for the person whom you’re gonna give it to.

Day 2: Distinctly God’s. Especially for God. We are called to “consecrate” ourselves for tomorrow God will do amazing things [Joshua 3:5]. The Israelites were called to set apart themselves for God’s use. God is about to do fantabulous things to them so they need to be ready, they need to set themselves apart for God’s purposes. In the same way, we are setting ourselves apart for God’s purposes this season of prayer and fasting. We’re believing that this year is gonna be a bigger and better year for all of us. And we are preparing ourselves to receive the promise that God has in store for us.

So how do we do this? The Apostle Paul has this:  ¹ Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. [Romans 12:1,2]

DAY 1 | Strength and Courage

Strength---synonymous to physical power, an intrinsic property that is very necessary if you’re gonna engage in a fight. If you don’t have the strength, you’ve got everything to lose. In the gym, there’s a section allotted for core training, equipments for cardio exercises and a section for strengthening. Known also as resistance training, these routines uses weights and other specialized equipments to put muscles to strain and resistance for them to build up. Muscles are necessary to support the skeletal built of the body which enables us to stand, sit, run and walk. Strength is necessary in living every day. When we don’t feel well, chances are, we don’t have enough strength to do our daily routine. We tend to lie down, sleep, and take a rest which actually leads to a very unproductive day, only because we lack the strength. 

Three times in just the first chapter of the Book of Joshua did God say, “Be Strong and Courageous!” After Moses passed the baton to Joshua as their leader, it was as if Moses was being unfair since a very large responsibility was being passed on to Joshua. Before they were about to enter the Promised Land, there were a lot of challenges in store for them: the cities they were about to go to were armed, the Jordan River was another issue and the pack of the Israelites who grew up going places were uncontrollable. But hey, leaders need to be replaced by new ones. New leaders are the lifeblood of any organization. They’ve got newer and fresher alternatives in dealing with circumstances and they’ve got better energy levels to perform. Yes, Joshua had some earth-sized troubles on his shoulders.

And it was at this moment when God reiterated the words “Be Strong and Courageous!” to Joshua making the latter feel assured that everything’s gonna be ok, he just  needed to do his part. It’s comforting to know that God is on their side. Yes, challenges were present but God oversees them all. Isn’t it amazing to realize that God is actually for us? And he is mighty to save and victory is on his hands. All we got to do is just to do our part “Be Strong and Courageous!” We all need courage to battle every day’s turn of events and it is really amazing to know that God is backing us up. With God, we can never go wrong.

⁵ No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. ⁶ Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

 ⁷ “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. ⁸ Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. ⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” 

 ~ Joshua 1:5-9

I think the reason why God emphasized the statement “Be Strong and Courageous” is because as humans, we tend to go with the easy way, and it is easier to back down [get discouraged] than to move forward to claim our Promised Land. God is reminding us in this season of prayer and fasting not to back down on anything. If it is God’s will for us to conquer our Promised Land, we gotta do our part, and that is to “Be Strong and Courageous!” because challenges will be very present. The enemy will be trying so hard to steal the victory from us. But hey, God said: “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” ---you know what to do.

If Joshua had the privilege of hearing God’s orders audibly, which am rather envious, we also have the privilege of discerning God’s orders through his word. There’s actually a bonus: success is inevitable if we keep God’s word. “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth….meditate on it day and night… so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” 

Amazing. It’s actually like taking a final exam where the questions were given months before the day of the exam.

Numbers 13:26---14:9

Two different point of views can be seen in this chapter: the “Grasshopper” mentality and the “Can Do” attitude. The spies were discouraged to know that the cities were actually armed and fortified with the residents described as giants [the Nepihilims]. They were as if “grasshoppers” compared to them. Grasshoppers are weak, light, silent creatures. they use their ability to blend with colors just to hide from their enemies. they don't know how to fight. It’s obvious that these 10 spies already lost the battle in their own minds without having started yet. In their minds, they won’t be able to conquer the Promised Land because of these big men and armed cities [challenges]. Joshua and Caleb on the other hand saw the challenge as an opportunity to trust God, since God said that He will back them up. I love Caleb’s statement in the NKJV: “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” I’d like to highlight his sense of urgency: “Let us go up at once!” Joshua got his marching orders from God and there’s actually no reason to delay. They’ve been strolling around for 40 years, it’s high time to get settled. He has Caleb, they got their fighting armies. Too often we delay our advancement because of fear. Fear is crippling. Fear causes delay and discouragement---which leads to failure [not being able to claim our Promised Land]. In everything, “We Are” the limiting factor. we have the decision to move forward and to back down.

The difference between the spies and the tag team, Joshua and Caleb, is that they weren’t focused on the size of their problem, they were focused on the size of their God. Yes, big problem to even enter the fortified cities but they got God’s promise to be with them wherever they go. Isn’t that amazing to hear those words from God? I envy Joshua because he had the privilege of hearing God’s orders audibly. 

Acts 4:1-31

Not everyone is endowed with boldness to move forward and claim their own Promised Land and to even share God’s word. Many, I included, need boldness to share God’s goodness to everyone. May we all be strong and courageous and may we be granted boldness, by the Holy Spirit, as we share God’s goodness and as we battle our way to our Promised Land.

Preparing for the Fast | Entering into the Promise

“…Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.”

~ Joshua 1:2,3

I remember posting about this year’s annual corporate fast in facebook dubbed as: the 7 Day Ultra Endurance Test---it actually is, not just physically but first and foremost spiritually. I love this fasting season. This is my 6^th---I remember the very first time I stepped into Victory Taft (it’s former name, it’s Victory Malate now) used to be in Pedro Gil, I got there for a very wrong motive and I didn’t realize that it was the first day of the corporate fast. and so i was there, trapped and to cut it short, I got discipled. I remember not eating for a couple of days, starving myself and “feasting” right on the 8^th day. As the years pass, I learned the essence behind fasting. It’s never about “doing things” for God so he can grant your wishes, He’s actually not a genie. It’s seeking the Giver, “waiting on” Him, for his orders, his marching orders; asking for directions, discerning what He wants done. Setting apart oneself for his use.

This year, the passages were from the Book of Joshua. a very practical Book on Courage and Obedience where everyone can actually see themselves in Joshua's life. In the beginning of this book, God is giving his marching orders to Joshua since Moses died already and he’s next in line. Joshua got some courage issues that God himself told him to “be strong and very courageous” three times. Aren’t we all got some courage and boldness issues? And God is reminding us through this season of praying and fasting that he believes we’re capable of the things he wants us to do. He’s actually telling us to also “Be Strong and Very Courageous, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go!”

” Our Promised Land is ready, and the Promise-Giver is before us. May we boldly

march forward as our Lord leads us into a new season of faith and victory.”

~ P&F 2011 Manual p.9

Numbers 23:19

God doesn’t lie and does not even change his mind. When he speaks, he couples it with actions. When he promised something, he fulfills. Imagine if God’s mind would be ever changing like ours, how will the world look like? Or what if his promises are just merely words?---the word “hope” and “faith” would be insignificant.

Isaiah 55:10

God’s word serves its purposes for which it was sent. Whatever God says, it is of utmost importance so let us never neglect any promptings or leadings through God’s word in this season. Let us be quick to listen and prompt to obey.

Deuteronomy 7:6

God blessed the Israelites because he acknowledges and keeps his oath of love with their ancestors. God is a faithful God---“faithful” here means firm in keeping and complying to a certain agreement. In this case, God is faithful in keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.---Note: Love God and Keep his Commands? Think about it: if you love God, you will keep his commands. If you love God, you won’t try to violate any.

Ephesians 1:3

God blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

He chose us to be holy and blameless in his sight.

He adopted us as sons through Christ according to his will.

We are redeemed of our sins through God’s grace

He gave us the privilege to know his will.

With God, you can never go wrong.

This year, I am believing God for:

Personal Faith Goals:

·         To hear a new mandate, marching orders from God.

·         Blessing the source of income. Expansion and strengthening of the enterprise.

·         New business opportunities, new streams of income.

·         To add 2 more missionaries to support.

·         Reinforced strength and endurance for multisports

Family

·         As for me and family, we will serve the Lord.

·         Safety and protection, long life, better health.

Ministry

·         prayer team

·         back end support for a church plant

This year, 2011, God is First and am Expecting God to Answer!