Through The Storm Music Album

God never promised that there will be no storms, but He promised that He will be with us through it.

(GNT with Deuterocanon) Jesus Calms a Storm
(Mark 4.35-41; Luke 8.22-25)

23 Jesus got into a boat, and his disciples went with him. 24 Suddenly a fierce storm hit the lake, and the boat was in danger of sinking. But Jesus was asleep. 25 The disciples went to him and woke him up. “Save us, Lord!” they said. “We are about to die!”

26 “Why are you so frightened?” Jesus answered. “What little faith you have!” Then he got up and ordered the winds and the waves to stop, and there was a great calm.
27 Everyone was amazed. “What kind of man is this?” they said. “Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

Testimony

I’ve seen this kind of miracle some time ago when there was a huge storm going to hit our country.

We were flying back to Manila, and on our plane, we experienced so much turbulence all the way that I began to wonder why. So, I fell asleep since I drank medicine before boarding the plane.

After awhile, I woke up, I began to listen to gospel song, “How Great Is Our God.” I also started singing because I was feeling some discomfort.

When we landed and arrived home, I learned that there was a storm near our country that time we’re flying aboard the plane. So, I realized that explains why there were so much turbulence.

It was like this miracle in the Bible that even there are storms in life, God will calm the storm and be with you through it.

Also, to my surprise, that storm just dissolved when I checked real-time satellite images later on. It just disappeared!

How Great is our God!

Giving With Your Heart

Elijah and the Widow in Zarephath

8 Then the Lord said to Elijah, 9“Now go to the town of Zarephath, near Sidon, and stay there. I have commanded a widow who lives there to feed you.” 10So Elijah went to Zarephath, and as he came to the gate of the town, he saw a widow gathering firewood. “Please bring me a drink of water,” he said to her. 11And as she was going to get it, he called out, “And please bring me some bread, too.”

12 She answered, “By the living Lord your God I swear that I haven’t got any bread. All I have is a handful of flour in a bowl and a drop of olive oil in a jar. I came here to gather some firewood to take back home and prepare what little I have for my son and me. That will be our last meal, and then we will starve to death.”

13 “Don’t worry,” Elijah said to her. “Go ahead and prepare your meal. But first make a small loaf from what you have and bring it to me, and then prepare the rest for you and your son. 14For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The bowl will not run out of flour or the jar run out of oil before the day that I, the Lord, send rain.’ ”

15 The widow went and did as Elijah had told her, and all of them had enough food for many days. 16As the Lord had promised through Elijah, the bowl did not run out of flour nor did the jar run out of oil.

American Bible Society, The Holy Bible: The Good News Translation, 2nd ed. (New York: American Bible Society, 1992), 1 Ki 17:8–16.

Another time, a man came from Baal Shalishah, bringing Elisha twenty loaves of bread made from the first barley harvested that year, and some freshly-cut ears of corn. Elisha told his servant to feed the group of prophets with this, 43but he answered, “Do you think this is enough for a hundred men?”

Elisha replied, “Give it to them to eat, because the Lord says that they will eat and still have some left over.” 44So the servant set the food before them, and, as the Lord had said, they all ate and there was still some left over.

American Bible Society, The Holy Bible: The Good News Translation, 2nd ed. (New York: American Bible Society, 1992), 2 Ki 4:42–44.

Jesus Feeds Five Thousand

(Mark 6:30–44; Luke 9:10–17; John 6:1–14)

13 When Jesus heard the news about John, he left there in a boat and went to a lonely place by himself. The people heard about it, and so they left their towns and followed him by land. 14 Jesus got out of the boat, and when he saw the large crowd, his heart was filled with pity for them, and he healed their sick.

15 That evening his disciples came to him and said, “It is already very late, and this is a lonely place. Send the people away and let them go to the villages to buy food for themselves.”

16 “They don’t have to leave,” answered Jesus. “You yourselves give them something to eat!”

17 “All we have here are five loaves and two fish,” they replied.

18 “Then bring them here to me,” Jesus said. 19 He ordered the people to sit down on the grass; then he took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, and gave thanks to God. He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 Everyone ate and had enough. Then the disciples took up twelve baskets full of what was left over. 21 The number of men who ate was about five thousand, not counting the women and children.

American Bible Society, The Good News Translation with Apocrypha (New York: American Bible Society, 1992), Mt 14:13–21.

The Message

If you will notice in these passages, the Lord multiplies the food when someone gives food. Being poor is no excuse because the poor widow gave what is left to Elijah, and food multiplied. Another man gave food and became enough with leftovers! And of course, the Lord Jesus multiplied the five loaves of bread and few fishes that someone gave to feed more than five thousand people. If you read the times in the Bible when there was a famine, these giving and multiplying of food happens.

Remember, Joseph? He was in prison when he interpreted the dream of the pharaoh’s baker (loaves of bread)? Joseph cannot give anything to him because he was in prison, but he gave the baker a revelation of what would happen. After that, there was a severe famine that only Egypt had food because of Joseph.

Who is the Bread of Life? The Lord Jesus Christ is the Bread of Life. Whoever eats His bread shall live!

In these times of lack, as foretold in the Bible, the people of God never suffer any lack. They are flourishing and prospering, overflowing of the Lord’s goodness and grace. Nothing can contain His love for us that it overflows to other people. My cup runneth over.

The Glory That Is Going To Be Revealed To Us

We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose.

American Bible Society, The Good News Translation with Apocrypha (New York: American Bible Society, 1992), Ro 8:28.

…those whom God set apart, he called; and those he called, he put right with himself, and he shared his glory with them.

American Bible Society, The Good News Translation with Apocrypha (New York: American Bible Society, 1992), Ro 8:30.

Who will accuse God’s chosen people? God himself declares them not guilty!

American Bible Society, The Good News Translation with Apocrypha (New York: American Bible Society, 1992), Ro 8:33.

Who, then, can separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble do it, or hardship or persecution or hunger or poverty or danger or death?

American Bible Society, The Good News Translation with Apocrypha (New York: American Bible Society, 1992), Ro 8:35.

For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future, 39 neither the world above nor the world below—there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.

American Bible Society, The Good News Translation with Apocrypha (New York: American Bible Society, 1992), Ro 8:38–39.

So, continue to have faith in the Lord. If nothing can separate us from God’s love, then we can be rest assured that He will provide us of our needs. Praise God!

God’s Promise

The Lord has made a solemn promise,

And by his power he will carry it out:

“Your grain will no longer be food for your enemies,

And foreigners will no longer drink your wine.

9 But you that planted and harvested the grain

Will eat the bread and praise the Lord.

You that tended and gathered the grapes

Will drink the wine in the courts of my Temple.”

(Isaiah 62:8–9, GNT)

The Message to Ephesus – Our Love of God

2 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:

“This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who walks among the seven gold lampstands. 2 I know what you have done; I know how hard you have worked and how patient you have been. I know that you cannot tolerate evil people and that you have tested those who say they are apostles but are not, and have found out that they are liars. 3 You are patient, you have suffered for my sake, and you have not given up. 4 But this is what I have against you: you do not love me now as you did at first. 5 Think how far you have fallen! Turn from your sins and do what you did at first. If you don’t turn from your sins, I will come to you and take your lampstand from its place. 6 But this is what you have in your favor: you hate what the Nicolaitans do, as much as I do.

7 “If you have ears, then, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches!

“To those who win the victory I will give the right to eat the fruit of the tree of life that grows in the Garden of God.

American Bible Society, The Good News Translation with Apocrypha (New York: American Bible Society, 1992), Re 2:1–7.

The Message

Love is not something you just say, it is something you do. You don’t tell to your wife you love her, and then you don’t even work in order to feed her, for that is really shameful. Loving God is the same thing, you serve the Lord by working hard by sharing or preaching the gospel of Christ. The church’s main objective is to spread the gospel that is its main function and to help others. You can’t tell others about Christ, but you don’t even lift a finger to give their needs. It reminds me of the pharisees who put burden to other people’s back, but don’t even do anything to help them. That is lying just like the apostles but are not.

It’s easy to fall into this sin because of today’s economy. People are getting stingier by the minute, and they don’t give anymore. Charity is love says in the King James bible, and our love for God means giving to charity. It doesn’t matter what amount, but remember the old widow who gave everything she has to God even if she has little:

As Jesus sat near the Temple treasury, he watched the people as they dropped in their money. Many rich men dropped in a lot of money; then a poor widow came along and dropped in two little copper coins, worth about a penny. He called his disciples together and said to them, “I tell you that this poor widow put more in the offering box than all the others. For the others put in what they had to spare of their riches; but she, poor as she is, put in all she had—she gave all she had to live on.”

American Bible Society, The Good News Translation with Apocrypha (New York: American Bible Society, 1992), Mk 12:41–44.

Personally Forgiving Others

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked him, “Lord, how often do I have to forgive a believer who wrongs me? Seven times?”

22 Jesus answered him, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy times seven.

23 “That is why the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to do this, a servant who owed him millions of dollars was brought to him. 25 Because he could not pay off the debt, the master ordered him, his wife, his children, and all that he had to be sold to pay off the account. 26 Then the servant fell at his master’s feet and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay everything!’

27 “The master felt sorry for his servant, freed him, and canceled his debt. 28 But when that servant went away, he found a servant who owed him hundreds of dollars. He grabbed the servant he found and began to choke him. ‘Pay what you owe!’ he said.

29 “Then that other servant fell at his feet and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay you.’ 30 But he refused. Instead, he turned away and had that servant put into prison until he would repay what he owed.

31 “The other servants who worked with him saw what had happened and felt very sad. They told their master the whole story.

32 “Then his master sent for him and said to him, ‘You evil servant! I canceled your entire debt, because you begged me. 33 Shouldn’t you have treated the other servant as mercifully as I treated you?’

34 “His master was so angry that he handed him over to the torturers until he would repay everything that he owed. 35 That is what my Father in heaven will do to you if each of you does not sincerely forgive other believers.”

Matthew 18:21-35 (GW) 

The Message

“If there is grace in this world, then no one will have any debt.”

Debt is killing people’s lives and even countries. No matter what we do, it is not enough to pay off our debt. It’s really a heavy burden that all of us must carry until we die. It is a sad way to live!

Thanks be to God for His grace that knows no limit! If we received God’s grace of forgiveness, we should also give this abundant grace with others. How? By forgiving others of their sins with you.

This teaching is very important because it tells about how God’s grace works. If God is gracious with you, then you must follow Him and be also gracious with others. You see? Grace comes from God first, in order for you to share it with others.

My friends, we must not live by our own standards, for we must live according to God’s standard. How? By God’s grace, we will be able to live God’s standard. Remember, it is a gift from God, and not by our own effort. Salvation is not based on our own self effort like following the Ten Commandments, it is by receiving this free gift from God, and that is called grace. 

We are not living in the Old Covenant friends, but we are living in the New Covenant of grace, so that we can never boast of anything we have done! It is all coming from God. 

Praise be to God!

Testimony

I, personally is just living on God’s grace literally! I don’t own a house, but I have a place to live; I don’t have even any savings, but God provides for me everyday for my meal; my laptop is just a gift; most of the clothes I wear were just given to me as a gift during my birthdays, and Christmases; even my transportation is completely free! My talent in music making is also a gift from God!

My whole life is a testimony of God’s abundant grace! And that is the Good News I am sharing with you!

All the glory to God! Amen. 

Workers and Universal Basic Income

Without any oxen to pull the plow your barn will be empty, but with them it will be full of grain.
Proverbs 14:4 (GNT with Deuterocanon)

The Message

I could see the bloodbath in the news where workers are laid-off left and right. They say that human workers are replaced by AI because of its advancement, and exceeding what humans can do.

Personally, I am not against AI. The only problem I see is that many people will never earn money, and so affect the overall economy. One solution I see is the Universal Basic Income, which will give money to the poor in order to help them meet their basic needs. Of course, this program is not only for the poor, but for everyone.

We cannot fight against the tide, and we cannot fight industrial change. What we can do is to learn to adapt to this new technological revolution, and find a new way to live.

When the first computer was born, type writers became obsolete, we did not fight against it, but we learned to adapt and even thrive. As a Christian, I believe that this is God’s will. I could see a world, a different world where man and machine can co-exist in order to face the challenges of the age to come.

The type writer died in order for us to live.

Definition

Universal Basic Income (UBI) is a concept that has gained significant attention globally, especially in recent years, with discussions and pilot programs exploring its potential to address poverty, inequality, and the future of work amidst automation.

What is Universal Basic Income (UBI)?
UBI involves regularly providing all citizens with an unconditional cash payment, regardless of their employment status, income, or existing resources. The goal is to ensure a minimum basic standard of living and provide financial security.
Economic Impact and Studies:

Research on UBI pilot programs and economic models suggests:
Poverty Alleviation and Well-being: UBI generally helps alleviate poverty-related stress, potentially leading to improved mental and physical health, better nutrition, more stable housing, and greater life satisfaction.

Labor Market Participation: While a common concern, many pilot programs have not shown a significant negative impact on employment rates, especially with moderate UBI amounts. Participants may use the financial security to pursue education, training, or better-fitting jobs, rather than stopping work entirely.

Administrative Efficiency: UBI has the potential to simplify welfare systems by reducing bureaucratic costs and complexities associated with means-testing and conditional programs.

Fiscal Demands: Funding a nationwide UBI system would require substantial public resources, likely necessitating significant tax increases or innovative funding sources (e.g., carbon taxes, wealth taxes).

Varied Outcomes: The effects of UBI can vary widely depending on the specific economic, social, and cultural context of implementation, as well as the level of the payment and the tax structure.

The global conversation around UBI continues to evolve, with ongoing experiments providing valuable data and insights into its potential benefits and challenges.

Conclusion

Many people know what I do, and many people are afraid that AI will replace me (haha), which is ridiculous. Not even a clone can replace our uniqueness, and our lives shaped by God’s design. I believe that when there are people, there will be people.

Sometimes, when something new is being introduced, people will fight any change because most people are so accustomed to their old way of living. However, what if there is a better way? What if having this AI in our lives can bring humans into a future of less work and more workers, or more oxen to plow your barn, and there will be more grain?

As the world today is having a shortage of resources, maybe this change will bring more food to the table with less cost. A future of entrepreneurs having their own businesses and startups, to bring humans into a brighter tomorrow!

Fortitude

I will say to the LORD,

“You are my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.”

Psalms 91:2

The Message

When Superman is badly hurt or when he needed help, he goes to his fortress of solitude. This is his secret place, a home when the tough gets going. We Christians also have this fortress. It is not an it, but a who. His name is Jesus Christ.

For many, their houses are the place of safety, but lately, sadly it became a place of all evils. There is no place in this Earth where no one will find you, for everything is visible to spirits and demons. They will seek and hunt you like a lion, looking for someone to devour:

Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion as he looks for someone to devour.
1 Peter 5:8

So, our refuge is not a place, but a person who will look over us and keep us safe wherever we go like a good shepherd.

¹⁰ God, who shows you his kindness and who has called you through Christ Jesus to his eternal glory, will restore you, strengthen you, make you strong, and support you as you suffer for a little while.
1 Peter 5:10

Praise God!

Blessings or Curse

“So then, obey the commands that I have given you today; love the LORD your God and serve him with all your heart. 14 If you do, he will send rain on your land when it is needed, in the autumn and in the spring, so that there will be grain, wine, and olive oil for you, 15 and grass for your livestock. You will have all the food you want. 16 Do not let yourselves be led away from the LORD to worship and serve other gods. 17 If you do, the LORD will become angry with you. He will hold back the rain, and your ground will become too dry for crops to grow. Then you will soon die there, even though it is a good land that he is giving you.

Deuteronomy 11:13-17

The Message

The greatest commandment is to love God will all your heart. How? By putting the Lord first. Not family, not work, not your car, not your fancy phone, or even yourself. We should put our time, money, and dedication to serve the Lord every day.

If we put God first, everything in our lives will be fall into place, and everything you do will prosper.

I experienced this long ago when I fell in love with a girl, and everyday I would sit in front of my piano and make music for her. My world revolved around her, and I suffered for it. Later, I then realized that she wasn’t meant for me, and began to pursue the Lord.

Today, my life isn’t perfect or pain free, but I have this joy in my heart every moment in every day. I sing now for the Lord because He saved and saving me still from trouble. I love the Lord because He first loved me.

We love because God first loved us.

1 John 4:19

Fleeing And Pursuing

This video is about what we must live our lives for, or the reason why we are toiling every day, living in and out. I believe this is what the “good” fight is all about, and we must put God above all. O, man of God!