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“Or despisest thou the riches of HIS goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of GOD leadeth thee to repentance?” (Romans 2:4).

Just today, yours truly has found out about an old acquaintance from when I was at college (university to be exact) – my old school (alma mater), BJU (Bob Jones University) which in itself is a miracle from the LORD GOD – Tom Pennington, my hall monitor during my freshman year. This was during the years of 1982-1986 (about 38 years ago). Now Tom is greatly used by the LORD GOD as a pastor to a wonderful church at Texas, Countryside Bible Church, and is involved with Dr. John MacArthur’s ministry, Grace To You.

Also, another blessing from the LORD GOD are the lives of two people I knew when we were attending church formerly known as FFBC (First Filipino Baptist Church), now changed to Global Harvest Fellowship.

But why am I sharing these, you might ask? And what has the scripture above anything to do with this post? Well, everything. You see, these acquaintances were from way back. Now things have drastically changed. They were enjoying the tremendous blessings – reaping the goodness of the LORD GOD in their lives – because they were obedient to their callings.

While Johnny come lately here (that’s me) has been the prodigal son – the misfit. You see, the blessed LORD has been so gracious to me back when, but this fool (that’s me again) missed so many opportunities that the LORD GOD has given me – and many of them has come and gone. And as a consequence, I am in the state that I am. And yet, the most gracious thing is, the LORD GOD has still shown me tender mercies – Lamentations 3:22-23. All because of the LORD JESUS, my SAVIOUR’s faithfulness to me.

Isaiah said, “A bruised reed shall HE not break, and the smoking flax shall HE not quench: HE shall bring forth judgment unto truth.” (Isaiah 42:3). You really won’t appreciate what the SAVIOUR has done for you and to you in giving you HIS righteousness until you see your filthiness. “But GOD commendeth HIS love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, CHRIST died for us.” (Romans 5:8).

But I have a special GOD – Isaiah 45:18.

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the MOST HIGH shall abide under the shadow of the ALMIGHTY. I will say of the LORD, HE is my refuge and my fortress: my GOD; in HIM will I trust. Surely HE shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.” (Psalm 91:1-3)

There is a scare going on about this newly found virus that has gotten to a pandemic proportion. There is of course a cause for great alarm, and as you may have surmised from almost all of the news that extreme precaution needs to be taken. This so-called pandemic is not as bad or is not as worst as the ever lingering ATHVID-00 virus (which I call the “Atheist Virus”) that has existed since time began – Genesis 6.

We take measures to keep the Corona Virus in check by imposing “lockdown/quarantine” which limits the spread of this notorious disease producing canker; and hopefully eventually eliminate the threat. The same can be said about the other virus, namely the ATHVID-00, but this disease-producing toxin is far too dangerous and long-lasting. The Bible said that “broad is the way” – to the destructiveness made by this virus; and “many” are claimed by this deadly mindset.

But thank be to the LORD GOD, who made a way to defeat this malevolence – and that is the cross of the LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST — Romans 5:8.

NOTE: Please read this important message — peacewithgod.

“For the SON of MAN is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10).

Not to boast but I have been holding Bible reading/study with my friend Alden (the guy in the first picture above) by the good LORD GOD’s in CHRIST JESUS, and he has his friends come over which gives me the chance to share the gospel to them. But these guys are exactly the perfect kind. I know that not all of us are exactly the same, but they seem to have one thing in common (like all of us), and that is they have their vices (like drinking and talking at the same time). Anyway, I do have my own vice (like watching what I eat – I watch it and I eat it!) But seriously, I tend to eat too much.

The thing is, I watch these guys, even my friend, Alden, and I can not help but notice how they (including myself) to cling to their (me too) self-reliance on handling our lives, thinking that we can take care of ourselves in regards to our vices. Like one of my friend who is also Alden’s friend, Romey, who keeps telling me that he doesn’t drink that much; not like the other guys who can’t handle themselves when they get inebriated. But there is this one guy that I so feel so sorry for. This guy is an older guy, small in stature, and from what I was told, was uneducated. My two friends, Alden and Romey, are all older and are up in years. And so is that guy (who is said to be unread and unwrite). You can tell by the appearance of the guy (just like myself). By the way, he’s the guy at the topmost picture with the baseball cap. And looking back from hindsight, I see the sovereign hand of GOD that have me share the gospel to these guys. I sympathize with their plight because I was in their shoes before. I was a child of the wicked one, doing what he wanted me to do (rebelling against my CREATOR, REDEEMER, and SAVIOUR/MESSIAH, JESUS CHRIST). “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lust of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44). I was lost, and doing what the evil wanted me to do, and will eventually lead to my destruction; and do not even know that I am sinning against GOD. “All we sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on HIM (the LORD JESUS) the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6).

Just like what the old hymnist, William Newell wrote: Years I spent in vanity and pride caring not my LORD was crucified. Knowing not it was for me HE died, at Calvary. Mercy there was great and grace was free. Pardon there was multiplied to me. There my burdened soul found liberty, at Calvary.

I am witnessing regularly their slow but certain demise, and they have little or no idea that they are heading for destruction (even the lake of fire), and don’t even realize it — deceived and don’t know it. “For all have sinned have sinned, and come short of the glory of GOD.” (Romans 3:23). And the sad thing is, we are never promised tomorrow! Today is all you have.

“And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.” (Nehemiah 1:3)

I attend two church services. And one of them holds an afternoon service. Although there are only a few faithful members (attenders) come to worship the LORD GOD, the LORD blesses the church. I was led to attend it after having been out of fellowship for several years. We have a blessed fellowship/worship every Sunday (almost, except for that one Sunday where the cold weather prevented the pastor from coming).

But there is one thing that I was disheartened to notice about the church (building); and that was the broken, disheveled, and semi-demolished wall in the front of the church.

I thought to myself after having seen it’s scraggy pitiful appearance that this is the LORD’s temple (physical), where HIS people come to worship HIM. It shouldn’t be in this sorry condition.

Nehemiah wept when he heard of the condition of the wall of Jerusalem from one of his brethren after the city has been destroyed by the Babylonians and deported the people, “The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month of Chisleu, in the twentieh year, as I was in Shushan the palace, that Hanani, one of my brethren, came, and he and certain men of Judah; and I asked concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction (Hebrew gadol gaw-dole = great [in any sense]; Brown/Driver/Briggs = great [adjective], large [in magnitude and extent, in in tensity]) and reproach (Hebrew cherpah kher-paw = insult, disgrace, contumely; rebuke, reproach, shame): the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept…” (Nehemiah 1:1-4a).

I post say all these to ask you to please pray for this church (FACRC — Filipino American Christian Reformed Church, 575 Summit Avenue, Jersey City, New Jersey). And if you can help financially, that will be better. Contact Pastor John Sideco at (908) 499-9727.

Thank you very much for your kind attention. My email address is poompoomseria@hotmail.com.

“But when the fulness of time was come, GOD sent forth HIS SON, made of a woman, made under the law,” (Galatians 4:4)

The good LORD GOD has given me more of HIS infinite grace in CHRIST JESUS to continue to read HIS WORD (the New Covenant) which is what I was intending to do as regards to the entire Bible. I just finished reading the Old Testament (I am a slow reader), and am ploddingly starting on the New Testament (the divine record of my blessed SAVIOUR, KING, and CREATOR).

From the beginning, even before time, GOD the FATHER has HIS SON ignominious venture (a rescue mission that involve the most horrifying ordeal anyone can face). And this was what was keeping me from reading through the New Testament haphazardly. So, I googled site that will help me read through the gospels in their harmony. And I found three very helpful ones: the Blue Letter Bible, the Life Of CHRIST, and the Enduring Word.

And as I went along trudging through the harmony of the gospels, I got to that place where I had to look at the gospels in a different set of lenses. It’s almost like I was reading the gospel for the first time!

All that doesn’t mean a single thing. The only thing that matters is my SAVIOUR, the LORD JESUS. The great love of GOD the FATHER for us in giving us HIS only begotten SON!

“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” (Micah 5:2).

Hello again. And it is that time of the year when we are confronted with the truth of our SAVIOUR’s birth. “In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with GOD, and the WORD was GOD. The same was in the beginning with GOD. All things were made by HIM; and without HIM was not any thing made that was made. In HIM was life; and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:1-4). I heard someone say something to this effect, that we are more excited over gifts, parties, and that other imaginary person dressed in a red suit, than we are at the ONE most important of all, and that is the SAVIOUR, SON of GOD – JESUS who is called the CHRIST.

I have been going over the second phase of my Bible reading of the Old and New Testaments. And I have been slowly and painstakingly going over the passages of the divine records of the MESSIAH (JESUS) from the four authors (biographers) who were divinely inspired by the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD. I didn’t want to just read through the gospels without any semblance of some kind of organization, so I looked over references of harmonies of the divine biography of our SAVIOUR and LORD. And I found three that were very helpful – 1. A.T. Robertson, 2. Life of CHRIST, and 3. Blue Letter Bible.

Then this song by Francesca Battistelli came out, title “You’re Here”. And the first part of the lyrics goes something like this:

Hold on now, I got to take a deep breath
 I don't know what to say when I look in your eyes 
You made the world before I was born 
Here I am holding you in my arms tonight 
Noel, noel, JESUS our Emmanuel 

You're here, I am holding YOU so near 
I'm staring into the face of my SAVIOUR, KING and CREATOR 
YOU could've left us on our own, but YOU'RE here 
Don't know how long I'm gonna have YOU for 
But I'll be watching when YOU change the world
 I look at YOUR hand, they're still so small   
Some day YOUR going to stretch the out and save us all 
Noel, noel, GOD with us Emmanuel. 

So, I try to keep my perspective about my SAVIOUR’s great humility in being the great CREATOR taking upon HIMSELF human form.

I was thinking in the lines of the incomparable blessing of knowing my MESSIAH (through HIS HOLY WORD) that leads to nothing short of praise to the LORD GOD, as was the exclamation of Mary when she realized that she was bearing the CHRIST child:

“And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the LORD, and my spirit hath rejoiced in GOD my SAVIOUR.” (Luke 1:46-47).

The KING of glory became man, was born as a helpless little human child, in a seemingly insignificant town, a city of David called Bethlehem. So for me, this season is special because of not Santa Claus (and he doesn’t know or see everything), but of JESUS CHRIST (and HE already came to the city of Bethlehem!)

“And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for this it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a GOVERNOR, that shall rule my people Israel.” (Matthew 1:5-6).

P.S. Click here for further inspiration on the CHRIST-CHILD, SAVIOUR’s incarnation – Born To Die by Dr. John MacArthur.

“And I beheld when HE (the LAMB of GOD, the LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS) had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake (violent shaking); and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair (covering), and the moon became as blood;” (Revelation 6:12).

“And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.” (Revelation 6:13).

“And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.” (Revelation 6:14).

And the book of Revelation continues to reveal the future events (which I believe is very close at hand), “And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of HIM that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the LAMB: for the great day of HIS wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” (Revelation 6:15-17).

Here is John at the isle of Patmos, where he was commanded to write the things which he saw and heard of the future things. A 1st century man who was time-traveled to the 21st century, and witnessed all of the future events; and was to write these things down. John was probably overwhelmed at the sights and sounds of the 21st century locations, vehicles, weapons, and activities that he tried describing them as best he could using 1st century illustrations!

This all started (my interest in the book of Revelation) at the time when I was just finish reading/studying the Old Testament. And as my routine, I watched Hal Lindsey’s videos, Hal Lindsey Report. And it just so happened that Hal Lindsey was doing a book study videos of Revelation. So to make the long story short, I watched and re-watched the videos, and was impressed, encouraged, and am humbly/modestly thankful to the LORD GOD for allowing me to know all these wonderful things, but mostly because these all leads to the one most important PERSON in the world, and that is the SAVIOUR and LORD JESUS, the LAMB of GOD who takes away the sins of the world.

P.S. I recommend you watch the whole series from the Hal Lindsey Report web site. Who knows? You might get to like it.

P.S.S. Spoiler – the LAMB of GOD gets all the glory!

“Great is our LORD, and of great power; HIS understanding is infinite.” (Psalm 147:5).

“For THOU, LORD, art high above all earth: THOU art exalt far above all gods.” (Psalm 97:9)

That picture above is of my friend’s pushing those shutters string tied in that orange carriage. You see, we were supposed to do our Bible reading/study yesterday but my friend wanted to earn some cash, and sell those things. So we went and took a not so brief walk around the square. And that walk took a while. It wasn’t so brief. And yours truly isn’t young anymore. I somehow manage to hold on to the back part of the carriage, while my friend held on to the front part, and we lugged it to the first so-called buyer (which was about 2,000 feet give or take) who is into construction. And that didn’t turn out so we had to go another 2,000 feet to another so-called buy (people that my friend are acquainted with). But that didn’t turn out either. So, we had to go the third one. This time, my friend had me go back. I think he saw how I was lagging behind because I just can’t walk as fast as him.

Now here is where I want to give the LORD GOD the glory, praise, and thanksgiving (in CHRIST JESUS). Talk about “Thanksgiving” for Thanksgiving, here is one for the blessed LORD GOD. Yours truly has a heart condition, called CHF, in other words, Congestive Heart Failure. And I can only walk so far without taking a short break. Besides, I was driving around in the car that the blessed LORD GOD gave me (literally for free – I didn’t spend a penny for the car). Now my car broke down and yours truly had to hoof it to where ever. This however, turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Now I get the much needed exercise.

You see, my GOD is taking good care of me (aside from the fact that HE so generously provides for me every single day, “…for HE (GOD ALMIGHTY, FATHER in heaven) maketh HIS sun (GOD the CREATOR who created and owns everything) to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:45b). And all HIS blessings include the life that HE gives me, the strength, and breath, and every other thing else (all because of the LORD JESUS).

Just as David exclaimed when he saw, when he realized, how marvelously the LORD GOD, FATHER in heaven takes great, yay, perfect care of him, “I will praise THEE; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are THY works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” (Psalm 139:14).

P.S. Well, my car got fixed. The LORD GOD fixed it for me (which is another miracle of the LORD GOD story). But my poor friend wasn’t that blessed. He needs to “see” and “cherish” the LORD GOD’s awful care for him. He didn’t get to sell the shutters. But then again, LORD willing, there is tomorrow (which is today).

P.S.S. To the LORD GOD be all the glory, honour, praise, and specially THANKSGIVING. By the way, Happy Thanksgiving to all.

“JESUS heard that they cast him out; and when HE had found him, HE said unto him, Dost thou believe on the SON of GOD? He answered and said, Who is HE, LORD, that I might believe on HIM? JESUS said unto him, Thou hast both seen HIM, and it is HE that talketh with thee. And he said, LORD, I believe. And he worshipped HIM.” (John 9:35-38).

Well, I thank the LORD GOD for giving me another day of HIS infinite grace in CHRIST JESUS.

And by HIS (GOD) grace, yours truly has finished reading the Old Testament, and am about to embark reading the New Testament (of the promised MESSIAH from of old, even the LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS).

But before I even try to engage in the endeavour, I tried to get as much information about the missing gap (which is called, “Silent Years”) between the Old Testament era, and the New.

Even though it is considered “silent years” (where not a single prophet spoke), it is buzzing with activities. The LORD GOD is working through human history to bring about “the fullness of time”.

Here is where things (the intertestamental period) get exciting. It was in this period that GOD was most active, sovereignly orchestrating the affairs of human history to bring it to it’s fullness. GOD was fulfilling HIS promise that HE told through HIS prophets, Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah, etc… Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome.

All these or the preparation of the coming of the MESSIAH (the LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS). And with this expectation, I eagerly look forward to the reading of the inspired record of the MESSIAH who came, as HE promised Adam, as HE promised Abraham, and his descendants.

So I feel like that blind man who was cast out. He cannot but help testify of the divine works of the SAVIOUR/MESSIAH in full excitement from experiencing the MESSIAH’s healing power in his life. Then after he was expelled from the synagogue, when the LORD JESUS asked him if he believe on the SON of GOD (the promised MESSIAH); the once blind man answered (in a sense, Yes LORD, where is HE because HE is the ONE who healed me), “Who is HE, LORD, that I might believe on HIM?” (John 9:36).

With a similar sense of expectation, and wonder, I come to the New Testament, to read of the MESSIAH! I may be labeled as over excited (cast out), but I want to know and worship the SAVIOUR who saved me!

“And he said, LORD, I believe. And he worshipped HIM.” (John 9:38).

It was said that the years in between the Old Testament and the New Testament were silent years. Maybe so, but they were busy – buzzing with activity – silent years.

You see, I have just finished reading the Old Testament books, particularly, Malachi. I told myself that I will read the entire Bible, so that if anyone would ask me, I can honestly say that I have read the entire Bible. I am not the type who sits down and settle down to read a book. I am more like a chew a little here, chew a little there. Then put it down, and come back to it some other time. Then read a little again, etc…

But I get my inspiration from people who do read books in its entirety in just one or two sitting. I heard Mr. Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade For CHRIST read the Bible ten times over. I won’t be able to do that, not for a long while, but that inspires me to try and accomplish similar feat.

So, now here I am, having finished reading Malachi, and am about to head over to the New Testament. And in the mean time, I am indulging in finding out about the in between years, about the “silent” years, when the LORD GOD has not spoken.

And to be honest, I am very expectantly eager; looking forward to reading the New Testament (about GOD who became like us; who left the magnificent, glorious, and unspeakably wonderful place called heaven) which is what was prophesied about in the Old Testament. For me, it’s like this resplendent event that the Old Testament prophets were talking about, that is to happen. Kind of like a special event that had been broadcasted/publicized, and has finally come! Sort of like the landing of the Apollo 11 to the surface of the moon, on July 20, 1969. (See picture above). Immense excitement. And kind of fresh perspective. The coming of the MESSIAH!

P.S. I found these helpful resources to be very informative (about the many and marvelous things that the LORD GOD had sovereignly oversaw; directly and indirectly wrought in human history before entering in it HIMSELF) – Stand Strong In The WORD, and World Video Bible School.