I just read this article which stirred me profoundly. These words simply jumped right at me: “ministry to God”.
It appears to be one of the three categories of ministry. In my heart of hearts, it is the one which my heart truly longs for.
I just read this article which stirred me profoundly. These words simply jumped right at me: “ministry to God”.
It appears to be one of the three categories of ministry. In my heart of hearts, it is the one which my heart truly longs for.
The Philippine Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) officials are going after 50,000 allegedly illegal and unauthorized Uber and Grab cars. This is expected to cause a shortage of public transportation beginning 26 July 2017. For more details, go to http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/07/19/1720936/ltfrb-orders-deactivation-50000-uber-grab-cars
Can the LTFRB actually do this? And if they could, should they?
To determine whether the LTFRB can do that, there has to be a determination of whether regulation of ride sharing schemes, such as Uber and Grab is within the ambit of its jurisdiction. To do so, we need to defer to the definition of common carriers under Philippine law.
Art. 1732 of the New Civil Code defines a common carrier as that which is :
1. Engaged in business of carrying or transporting goods or passengers whether as principal or ancillary business and whether on regular/scheduled or occasional basis.
2. Offers its services to the public whether to the general population or narrow segment of general population
3. For compensation or fixed price or rate
4. Control of operation or cargo
The Civil Code definition of common carrier is quite broad. Whether services are offered to a general or narrow segment of the general population, the service providers will still be deemed as common carriers under the Civil Code. Further the Civil Code also does not distinguish between transportation services on a regular or scheduled basis of occasional or unscheduled basis. In this view, I believe that making making Uber and Grab membership-based or arguing that it is not for a broad segment of the general public will not take it out of the LTFRB’s jurisdiction.
The LTFRB, though in its discretion needs to go beyond the strict letter of transportation laws, and consider the spirit behind it, in approaching this matter.
Essentially, the rationale behind transportation laws and the need for regulation of the transportation industry is that: the transportation industry is imbued with public interest. Accordingly, regulators of the industry are to, first and foremost, uphold the needs of the general public.
In the case of the commuting public in Metropolitan Manila, there is a need for the availability of Uber and Grab services, considering the rest of public transportation alternatives. No wonder there is public clamor for Uber and Grab, which can be evidently seen. Hence, the availability of Uber and Grab services is in line with public interest, an interest that is to be upheld by tranportation laws and regulations, as well as the relevant regulators themselves. Public interest, in accordance with the spirit behind transportation laws, simply demands that Uber and Grab operations be sustained.
As an avid and frequent Grab and Uber customer, I am one of those who will be adversely affected by the LTFRB’s actions should they disallow continued Grab and Uber services. No wonder I have been stirred enough to write about this matter in my blog and even express my opinions in several opinion polls. My realization though is while a lot of us may write and share a lot of opinions, expert or otherwise, on the situation, the sad fact is: we are not the regulators. Neither is writing or sharing our opinions guaranteed as effective in swaying the regulators’ perspectives. But there is one thing that is guaranteed effective: PRAYER.
In the interest of the commuting public in our country (this includes me), I pray for the LTFRB’s move to be struck down and for Uber and Grab operations be sustained in consideration of the immense convenience that both companies have brought into the daily lives of the Filipino commuting public.
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A few hours later, lo and behold, I stumbled upon the following posts on Facebook. God is so good! Hallelujah!
Thank You, Lord, for the answered prayer!
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. – Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV
As each of you has received a gift (a particular spiritual talent, a gracious divine endowment), employ it for one another as [befits] good trustees of God’s many-sided grace [faithful stewards of the extremely diverse powers and gifts granted to Christians by unmerited favor]. – 1 Peter 4:10 AMPC
[The purpose is] that through the church the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the heavenly sphere. – Ephesians 3:10 AMPC
For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace. – Galatians 5:4 NLT
Lord, what must I do to enter the Kingdom of God? Jesus enumerated things re: the law. The rich young ruler followed the law to the letter.
But when you are brought into the full freedom of the Spirit of Grace, you will no longer be living under the dominion of the law, but soaring above it! And what are the cravigs of the self-life: I’m referring to…hatred of those who get in your way, senseless arguments, chasing after things instead of God, temper tantrums, being in love with your own opinions, being envious… – Galatians 5:18-19 The Passion Translation
The Fruit
Pursue the fruit, desire the gifts.
The fruit is not something that God will put in you later on. You already have these. Pastor is just speaking it out so we can operate out of it. The fruit is just physical evidence of am inward reality.
Maybe we have experienced the power of God, but it is really the fruit of the Spirit that attracts us to Jesus. It is not just the power.
As we display that fruit, we are also inviting people.
When we squeeze the fruit, when pressure and stress squeezes you, what comes out? What comes out when someone takes a bite at you?
You are the salt of the earth, you release God things.
The seed is the person of Jesus Christ. Inside the fruit of the Spirit is the seed, Jesus Christ.
Since we have chosen to walk in the spirit, let’s keep in step with God’s harmony. – Galatians 5:25 (The Voice)
If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.] – Galatians 5:25 AMPC
We couldn’t be more sure of what we saw and heard— God’s glory, God’s voice. The prophetic Word was confirmed to us. You’ll do well to keep focusing on it. It’s the one light you have in a dark time as you wait for daybreak and the rising of the Morning Star in your hearts. The main thing to keep in mind here is that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of private opinion. And why? Because it’s not something concocted in the human heart. Prophecy resulted when the Holy Spirit prompted men and women to speak God’s Word. – 2 Peter 1:19-21 MSG
14 = double perfection
Season of the Spectacular – The Lord will confirm His glory and His voice. It is a season of confirmation.
What to expect:
1. We should expect intimate revelations from the Lord
2. Incredible expansions
Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord ! Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.
Ezekiel 37:4-5 NKJV
http://bible.com/114/ezk.37.4-5.NKJV
3. Infinite provisions
God is going to provide for people who will pursue and advance the prophetic (see v.21)
I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord .” ’ ” So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. – Ezekiel 37:6-7 NKJV
A. Flesh = money, material and concrete things that we need
B. Muscles = warm bodies
C. Breath = the Holy Spirit, the ruach of God
The provisions of God are testaments of the identity, character and track record of God.
The vision may yet be unclear.
But one thing is sure: it will be uncommon.
We won’t get bored with what God has in store when we set forth in obedience and trust.
As the hymn goes, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey”
We can trust in His supernaturally uncommon provision, alignment and favor as we claim His supernatural vision. Come on, take that mountain, in Jesus’ name! There are no limits in His name!
Yes, God will take care of everything we need, His excessive generosity in the glory pouring from Jesus, and our Father God, that pours out into eternity. His Holy Spirit within us testifies to this. It is everlasting lovingkindness, chesed that endures forever. Amen!
Just as the physical heart requires maintenance and regular check-up, so do our mind and heart, where our soul takes up residence. When we become calloused, critical and thoughts of starting to view ourselves as better begin to enter our mind, it is time for a heart-check. Only our Divine Doctor who can do a supernatural xray can truly assess the well-being of our hearts and minds. And so to Him, we pray:
God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. I’m an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back; I’m never out of your sight. You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and you’re there, then up ahead and you’re there, too— your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful— I can’t take it all in! – Psalm 139:1-6 MSG
Our hearts are known to Him; they cannot escapt His eyes. He knows the root of why we act, speak and think the way we do. Before Him, putting on false selves is a futile exercise.
“The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful, a puzzle that no one can figure out. But I, God , search the heart and examine the mind. I get to the heart of the human. I get to the root of things. I treat them as they really are, not as they pretend to be.” – Jeremiah 17:9-10 MSG
Thankfully our God does not only perform diagnostics, but He also supplies the medicine.
Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about; See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong— then guide me on the road to eternal life. – Psalm 139:23-24 MSG
He also gives guidelines for preventive maintenance: to seek Him and inquire of Him as our first and vital necessity.
And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father [have personal knowledge of Him, be acquainted with, and understand Him; appreciate, heed, and cherish Him] and serve Him with a blameless heart and a willing mind. For the Lord searches all hearts and minds and understands all the wanderings of the thoughts. If you seek Him [inquiring for and of Him and requiring Him as your first and vital necessity] you will find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever! – 1 Chronicles 28:9 AMPC
Thankfully, He does not leave us alone to fend for ourselves after having searched our hearts. His Holy Spirit within us reminds us that we can always draw near to the Father’s throne of grace in repentance. We can plead for the blood of Jesus and be washed by His living Word.
And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God’s will. [Ps. 139:1, 2.] – Romans 8:27 AMPC
He assures us of pardon and empowers us by His grace to walk anew in the Spirit.
And such blessed assurance there is, after a heart check and cleanse. There is a different lightness and peace of heart, making it easier to breathe even. Such lightness and peace enables us to flow in rest, with a quiet heart wholly leaning on our Lord once more.
Indeed, we cannot be righteous by ourselves. We cannot even know the state of our hearts by ourselves and neither can we find a way out by ourselves as well. But Jesus has made a way, thank God! Only by and through Jesus are we righteous…only by His grace, so that no one can boast. This salvation is indeed blessed, wonderful…truly awesome, as our God is awesome. Praise Him whose lovingkindness and mercy endure forever!
Last Saturday, when I sought a word about our Australian pivot, this is what the Lord revealed: there is a need to sort things out in my heart for the process to proceed.
As I pondered, it was unraveled: Momentum is not the sole reason behind the delay; God in His mercy wants my heart to be ready for the transition.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10155360715765930&id=54641600929
There has to be a dismantling of man-made things first…He is giving me time to lay down my crowns, stop the search for my throne, and search for His. After all, there is no greater honor than to bow and kneel before His throne.
Then, these words also came as an exhortation for me.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1941434202736509&id=100006098435565
As we surrender and let go of the things in our hands, bow low and seek His throne, God has promises for us to claim…a promise and a warning both.
The Lord lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground. – Psalms 147:6 NKJV
He who is greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself [with haughtiness and empty pride] shall be humbled (brought low), and whoever humbles himself [whoever has a modest opinion of himself and behaves accordingly] shall be raised to honor. – Matthew 23:11-12 AMPC
Humble yourselves [feeling very insignificant] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up and make your lives significant]. – James 4:10 AMPC
Do not be afraid of living and bowing low, for there is a promise of restoration.
And having forsaken your throne for His, get back on track again, hope and get ready for that new beginning.