The Super Villains of Ourselves

Imagine yourself as Superman, unstoppable, a son of Jor-el. Your dad, the brightest scientist in Krypton encased you in an alien ship and in part 1 you grew up to be powerful.

Then in part 2, 3 Kryptonians broke free from their prison and come to planet earth. They decide that their goal is to find the most painful ways to torture you and give you a hard time.

For many of us this is a real story except that in real life, the 3 super villains are invisible.

Superman Man of Steel

Enter the Game of Life
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?” Isaiah 58:6

I thought this passage was really for slave owners and cruel bosses. It still is but after 200 years of human rights and labor laws, there are very few slaves, count with them child abuse, battered women and abused helpers in the middle east. The abuses today are minute compared to the slaves eaten by lions and burn alive in the old days.

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The Deluge of Kindness

The Deluge of God’s Kindness

I saw myself with a small pail, the one we typically use in bath here in the Philippines. This morning as I listen to worship, I see so many failings in my life. As I approached the Thrown with my pail, I only desired “a little water, Lord”. As a calmed and waited, the sky ripped open. Floods or rains washed over my world. I never saw so much water in my life.

So I threw my pail as the formerly dry ground around my valley soaked up the rain. As the ground became so wet, spontaneous shouts of joy and celebration fill in with people from all over earth. They were dacing and partying like crazy. Some playing in the presence of the Father. I saw some blacks and caucasians running around. It felt like an infinitely huge swimming pool.

The water speaks of the love of God – mercy goodness and kindness flowing from the heart of God. Head knowledge of God’s goodness never did me good. I never knew that deep in my heart I still believed good is just nice. He can’t be this loving awesome.

Soon the whole wide region flooded with God’s goodness. As I looked farther away, some patches of dry ground remain. And there was this huge dam that stops the flow to many areas. This dam is legalism and religion. It deprives the land and community of God’s love. Jesus said that “The Kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:21. Jesus opened the doorway to that dimension. Jesus is our key.

Then as I saw this huge dam, it got filled in and started to overflow. The love of God got through and those who felt far away were touched and transformed by the Love of God.

Who is This Man who Controls the Storm?

When I was 12 years old, I had this rival in my territory (basically a 446 sq.m. house and lot). I could rule my mom and dad’s land except. . .

except. . .

Rooster attacks a little kid

. . . at the far end of the garden (of dirt, banana and ipil ipil trees) lived “The Great Rooster”. Many times my nannies thanked him because he strikes fear so ‘I do not go out and play at my friend’s house. The Rooster would flex its chest over my own territory. When I reclaim my place, he would power-peck and flying-scratch everyone who challenges him, especially me. This rooster also had some “chicks” and would lay very large eggs – double and sometimes triple yolk. Those would be our breakfast. I would hold aluminum “swords” – scraps from broken windows to challenge his authority.

Release from the Giants in your Life

Powerful God of the Angel Armies

“I am the Lord, there is no other. I say to the mountains be thrown to the sea. I calm the storms and cause lightning to flash the skies. I am your Creator, the Ancient of Days. I created you in your mother’s womb.

How to Hurt Less after a Loss (of Love)

How to Hurt Less after a Loss (of Love) or
Why my first loss didn’t hurt as it should

She came back and saw me. Small talk. Then she dropped the nuclear. It came with fire. It explodes! I squinted through the smoke.

After a few seconds, I check for damage. I was unhurt. But how?

It’s not me like me. I remember once during 2008 recession when my company let me go. That was a rejection bomb. By the way, the stronghold spirits operating in my life is the Spirit of Rejection and Spirit of Fear. They have full control. So when my boss spoke the word, it felt like the whole sky turned black and dark all of a sudden. A heaviness fell over my heart and a dagger plunged deep into my soul. Ouch!! As much as I want to look casual and fine, I can’t. I looked broken and hurt. That is the power of a stronghold.

The Bomb of Rejection

But this was a major bomb. It was a nuclear. And it was my first hopeful relationship. But why was I unscathed? I may be wrong, but this is why I didn’t hurt as much as I should from this loss.

Disclaimer: This is not reality as I may still be in denial. But this is as honest as I could on what my perspective looks like.

Love hurting from loss

180413 Revelation: My Own Gundam Suit

I was worshiping here in Bacolod and just allow God to speak.

God poured out His heart for me and assured me of His presence in my life. He was saying “this ride looks crazy as it is Ian. And you haven’t even started yet. I have to show you many things. I have a lot in store for you.” I just felt so blessed, to be chosen of God. The word in Psalms 23 kept running back in my mind: “surely goodness and mercy will keep running after you all the days of your life and I will thrive and never leave the presence of God every day of my life.” I can feel that it isn’t the place that will prosper me. Even Dubai, the US or Australia which are prosperous nations are nothing to compare with how I bless you. Imagine it, God will bless you just because you step onto their place – it is you who command the blessing to them. In Jesus, the blessings of Abraham are in YOU!

Angelic Demons Spiritual Form (Sorry I can’t find something more closer to how they look)

While I was a teen, I read a Satanist-turned-Christian write about her experience how she was set free by Jesus. She describe these spirits physically as she saw them, including the big man himself! While she was sincere about how she experienced demonic oppression, it was not helpful for me because one of my weakness is the spirit of fear.  She describe demons as angelic beings who were handsome, 12 foot human like creatures who have thick dark black scales as armor and wings. They were skilled in their chosen field of expertise like the demon of Lust, demon of Alcohol, demon of Drugs, demon of Cancer, etc. I was pretty much paranoid as I imagined demons in everything that goes wrong in my life. The spirit of fear, drowned the oftentimes soft voice of God in my life.

The “Being” of Experiencing God

This morning, now my 6th day in my room, as I was looking for my Oil Pastel set (still looking for it) I found these.

the Gift of nice shoes

Looks like a nice new pair of shoes. But nothing unusual you would say. But in fact what’s unusual is it’s been there beside my bed since December when I received it. Sorry Tita Leny. Sounds like my experience with God.

I have been too familiar with my life, but He’s always ‘game’ for a puzzle of hide n’ seek all the time. There are promises waiting for us in the background screaming in my face, yet all I could see is my sin, my job, my stuff, my business, my ministry. Have you taken time to smell the flowers lately?