SCRIPTURE:
“But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.” (Philippians 2:17-18, NIV)

Observations:
I asked myself what stuck out to me in these verses?
What stuck out to me immediately is “being poured out like a drink offering”.

Interpretation:
I asked myself what could 'being poured out like a drink offering’ mean?
What came to my mind is maybe Paul was referring to his blood being spilled if it comes to that. Even if that happens he is glad and rejoices with all of them because of the sacrifice and service coming from their faith.

That is so amazing when we know that he is shackled in chains and yet is focused on other people to exhort them and encourage them to live out their faith for Christ. As they do that, for him it is worth it even if he dies in the process. Wow, what love for the Lord being exhibited in other people’s lives!

A lot of people were sad that Paul was a prisoner and could not continue his preaching directly and Paul knows that. Even in this situation he wants them to be glad and rejoice with him if they are living out their faith.

This is evidenced by v.16 where Paul asks them to shine out like stars in the universe as they hold the word of life. This is based extensively on yesterday's devotional called B.E.H.A.V.I.O.R

In the process, Paul can boast that his labor and toil for the Gospel was not in vain because he has seen changed lives. Now since lives are changed, he wants them to rejoice in that fact rather than be sorrowful that Paul could not be with them at that time.

I see Paul being so joyful amidst his circumstances and living out his faith where he is at and wanting the Philippians to do the same.

IMPLICATIONS:
I saw important implications for my own life here.
1.      I should live out my faith.
2.      I should be focused more on others than myself alone.
3.      I should be joyful and thankful for the good things that are happening even when surrounded by adversity.

HOW GOSPEL GIVES ME TESTIMONY REGARDING F.A.I.T.H:
Since Sunday, I have been down on and off because of a letter I opened. The contents of the letter are not at all what I expected. Reading about Paul and his joy made me see that I should actively live out my faith and be focused more on others than myself. Instead of being sad for what is not, I should be joyful and thankful for the good things around me.  Yet, I cannot do none of them without Jesus' help. I need to depend on Jesus for faith amidst what I am facing and going through. In life, we can never always get what we want even if we want something so badly. It is times like that I need to live out my faith more. It is easy to live out the faith when things are going my way and I am all happy but the challenge is living out my faith for others when things are not looking good especially in one area for me.

Yet, I cannot just think about myself but be focused on JESUS first, OTHERS second, and YOURSELF (me) last. For me that is the path of true J.O.Y. I prayed and wished for something so badly and when it did not happen my heart slumped but who am I to question the mind and heart of God, who can ever be His counselor. He is the one that sees the bigger picture than I. I am so focused on things that will not last forever but Jesus wants me to focus on Eternal things.

I need Jesus' help to be happy and live out my faith for His honor and glory. I really appreciate Edwin and Marie taking time to always address an issue in my life that is not going away. Recently, on Sunday it occurred to me that I cannot be happy in a particular area because I have made that an I/O: Idol/Obsession. I don't want it to be that way but it seems to have such a hold on me that every quality is measured through that in a particular area. It is sad and scary for me because I am not happy. I hope to talk to Pastor Hugo this week whose been addressing this issue in my life whenever he sees it affecting me.

Regardless of who I talk to and who counsels me, the Lord Jesus reminds me that I can only be happy, if I take my mind of myself and what makes me happy and focus that mind on others, not really thinking about myself.  For that too, I need faith as Paul had. I need Jesus' help and am so thankful to Jesus that when I ask of Him, He will give that faith to me.

Sometimes what we want so badly we do not get and even when we get it, we are not happy anymore. I don't want to desire anything that is not in the will of God. Help me Jesus!

I am really touched by Paul's example because my situation does not even compare close to what Paul is going through and yet he is so Jesus focused first, others focused second, and yourself (himself) last which gives him joy.

As I fix my eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith, I know He will help me. While I was restless this morning, Jesus gave me the Bible verse: "Peace I leave with you, the peace I give is not like the peace the world gives, so don't be troubled or afraid!" (John 14:27)

I know what the right thing to do is but from my own perception, it is not something that will make me happy at all but the right thing is more important than having my own way. I should be thankful to Jesus for so many areas instead of being fixated on this one area and being down. This is where living out my faith can be put into practice as I depend on the One who has given me faith. Thank you so much Jesus! Instead of just focusing on what did not go right, I decided to thank Jesus for all the good things, He has sent my way. Thank you Jesus.

I ASK YOU NOW:
I ask you now dear friends, when do you live out your faith in life?
Dear friends, it is so easy to live out our faith when things are going so well in our lives and we are getting all we wished for and dreamed for. But, that's not how life is. Brian shared at Sunday School during Oakland International Fellowship that human beings are filled with emotions and those emotions dictate a lot of things but through it all, Jesus is always there to help even when those emotions are emotions of sorrow, despair, hopelessness, etc. At times, you may feel that way especially when things don't go your way but it is especially at this time, that our faith has a chance to grow and bud. It starts with us focusing on Jesus to help us through the trials, sorrows, and disappointments.

Jesus allows difficult situations in our lives not because He likes us to suffer. Oh no, on the contrary, Jesus weeps when we weep and is sad when we suffer. Yet, in a fallen world, we do face things that bring us sadness and it varies among people. What makes one person sad may not even affect another person but the bottom line is living out our faith should not be based on how good things are going for us. I wish things were different for me but I know Jesus is in control and if it is this way Jesus wants things to be that's how they will be and He will give me the strength and willingness to bear it.

Friend, Jesus will help you too to bear things you are going through just as Jesus gave Paul the strength to face and Jesus is helping me. To live out our faith, what we need to avoid the most is the greatest sin of pride.

My mom says this area is so difficult to me because of pride!

In a way it is true. It is having pride of what other people may think, what other people will say, etc but also testing my own values and what I put my emphasis on that is troubling me so much. Right now, things are so jumbled and if I am living out my faith it is only because Jesus has not abandoned me and is helping me through His Word such as today's devotional, through my mommy, through Pastor Hugo, Edwin, and Marie currently.

I want to live out my faith in Jesus, especially in times of difficulty, knowing deep inside my true joy can only come from Him and not what I focus on. The Apostle Paul understood that.

Yet, friend all the talk about you or I living out our faith cannot be possible if we do not have faith in what Jesus Christ did for us on the Cross of Calvary and what He will continue to do for us. Jesus loves us so much that no matter what we are going through or facing, He can give us the strength and endurance to bear it and the joy that comes from knowing Him and His ways for our lives.

To live out our faith, we need to acknowledge our own sinfulness before an all awesome Holy God and confess them before Him, taking the Blood of Jesus to cleanse us from all unrighteousness for that is what Jesus did on the cross for your sake and mine. We are bought by His blood for His purposes. When we rest in Him, He will give us His joy! Praise the Lord!

To live out our faith, we need the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God to instruct us, comfort us, and exhort us to walk in His ways for His honor and glory. This will happen as Jesus provides the right community in our lives to supplement our own prayer and Quiet Times with Him for answers in the Heaven!

If our faith is lived out only among our Christian friends and that is the service of our faith, it is not anything great. I am reminded of Jesus telling the crowds that loving people who love us back is not anything great for even the heathen do that but loving those who do not love us back is commendable. It is easier to live out our faith among our brothers and sisters in the Lord more than among our non-Christian friends because our brothers and sisters in the Lord may have the same biblical attitude instead of compromising on issues. That's not always the case though because sometimes it is harder to live out our faith among brothers or sisters because we expect more from them. I know cause I have been there.

Living out our faith among our non-Christian friends is more commendable because many may not see things eye to eye with us and this could cause conflict. When that happens if we continue to ignore our own conscience and go along with what they want rather than holding on to the principles of living out our faith just so we don’t lose our friends, we have hurt the Lord in the process.

 If they are true friends, they will stick with you even if you don't do what they want to do and you will be setting a powerful example that living out your faith for Jesus is more important than on the values the world places. It is important to remember you could lose friends if you decide to follow the Holy Spirit but sometimes that happens. I know of families where sons and daughters are thrown out of the house because they decided to believe in Jesus. It is painful for them but exercising their faith in Jesus became important.

I don’t know if you were ever faced with a situation as a  friend from years ago was faced with. She was dating and sleeping with her boyfriend for sometime. One day she became a Christian and knew what she was doing was wrong. She also knew that being yoked with an unbeliever would not work out in the long run. Plus, she wanted to marry someone who is also a Christian and start over. Her boyfriend did not want to have anything to do with Christ. My friend with pain and tears broke of her relationship with her boyfriend for the sake of her love for Jesus Christ. She would even tell me that she seemed to be happy when she was with him than now but she has the joy of the Lord inside compared to then. She made a sacrifice to live out her faith and knew it would be worth it in the long run.

Friend, it is never easy to serve the Lord Jesus. Look at Paul, it was not easy for him and yet he stood his ground because He knew Jesus Christ is worth the pain that he was going through. He believed in Jesus to be the Lord and Savior of His life too and that one day every knee shall bow and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. He decided to live for the Lord.

Won’t you friend?
 As you seek to know the Lord more and more, He will permeate your heart with His awesome love and joy. You will experience His presence and fellowship more and more as you yield to Him and let Him be in control of your life without holding anything back!

No matter where you are placed, may you make a sacrifice if it comes to that to live out your faith for the Lord as you put Him first place in your life! May you know how much Jesus will help you from Heaven to point you in the right direction!

May you always remember you can live out your faith because for answers in the Heaven!

"Faith Acknowledges Inspirational Trusting Hope!" (F.A.I.T.H)/"When do you live out your F.A.I.T.H in life?"

PRAYER: 
Jesus, thank you for the impact that you have made in Paul’s life! Jesus, thank you for loving us and dying for our sin! Thank you for coming back to life to save us and being our all and all! You are our Redeemer holding us in your arms of love. You can make an impact in our lives too. We need your help. You know the struggles we face Lord and the peer pressure of this world that makes it difficult to live out our faith for you. We cannot on our own and need your help. It can be hard to sacrifice things to totally serve you. We cannot on our own whether it be in relationships, academics, careers, etc without your indwelling presence and supernatural help. So, Lord please come and help your children that we may serve you faithfully. We desire to live out our faith for you and need your help. Thank you for the joy that comes from knowing you. I pray this joy won’t be counterfeit but real. Thank you for the impact you have made in our own lives when we gave ourselves to you! Thank you Lord you will come and help. Thank you so much Jesus.

You are my all in all. You are my Prince of Peace, Rock, Savior, and Friend. You are my Holy Father guiding me through to live a life of righteousness, holy righteousness. Oh God, I need you more than ever. I need to feel your hands around me holding me tight. I need your love to surround me so that you can glow in my life. Help me please Jesus. I desire in your presence. Thank you for guiding me to live a life of righteousness. Oh God you love me more than ever. You hear my voice when I cry out to you. When I seek your face, you fill me up. You are my all in all. Thank you Jesus so much for your help no matter what I face, your grace is available and you take my case. Thank you for hearing us and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN! (Part of the prayer is from a vineyard song called “All in All”)

You don't have to be locked away anymore for Christ is here to free you and give you peace to LIVE out your actions.

How do you look at GODISNOWHERE?

One of my pastors, Pastor Hugo SHARED this example one Sunday at the RESURRECTION DAY SERVICE in the combined worship service of Pittsburgh Chinese Church-Oakland & Oakland International Fellowship:

If you look at it as GOD IS NO WHERE, you will still be lost in your sin and be in bondage locked away in your sins and problems finding no peace.

But  as my pastor spoke to the congregation and spoke to me, I am here to tell you that GOD IS NOW HERE.

Yes, friend God is aLIVE and wants to bring a transformation in your life through the GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ for He paid the penalty on the cross to rescue you and me and came back to life to save us and LIVE with us.

Yes, friend that is exciting to know that we can experience HIS SAVING GRACE & LIVING GRACE.

When we mess up, we can go to Jesus with our shortcomings and He will forgive us and RESTORE us to Him and we will find peace in Him.

^"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23, NIV)

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:7-9, NIV)

Friend, we need Jesus because we have been separated from God due to our sin. Because of our sin, Jesus had to pay the price to become our bridge so we can reach God now not of our own good works but because of the finished work of Christ, the Lord on the cross.

"For it is by GRACE you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV)

Come to Jesus as you are and pray this prayer to accept Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior. He will transform your life around! Praise the Lord! You don't have to have all the answers! You can come as you are!