We need vans, coasters, or any modes of transportation for volunteers for our relief efforts today. If you have vehicles we can use, kindly text or call Ro Manalo at 0917-5491978 or call Victory 631-1212. Kindly repost. Thanks!

PIZZA ON MY DESK~!!! WOOHOO

IMPORTANT NOTICE FROM VICTORY ORTIGAS: Due to the need for our ministry workers and volunteers to have sufficient rest for tomorrow's rescue operations and continued relief efforts, we have deemed it necessary to not go 24 hours today. Our office will close at 10PM. We will resume operation tomorrow at 9AM 4th Level, Victory Center Kids Church. Thank You!

Victory Repost: Instead of rice and canned goods, kindly donate bread, meat or sardines in foil packs or food that need not be cooked or opened with a can opener. Evacuees receiving them may not have tools to cook them. 500 ml water bottles, medicines, baby milk, towels, blankets and clothes are also urgently needed.

september 24

the tale of the rich young man

Mark 10:17-22 tells us about a rich young man who asked Jesus how to have eternal life. He may have desired to experience this, yet he could not give up the worldly inheritance that was before him. He may have went thru all the motions of what could be considered "good" and "moral," yet he could not give up his possessions for the sake of following Jesus. Perhaps the thought was unbearable to him, given that he had invested on these things his whole life up to that point. He may have even worked for a lot of these things for a portion of his existence.

Unfortunately for him, and for all of us, all these things, like all things temporary, can only last for so long. Yet Jesus is the one guaranteed investment that we have. Jesus promised this man that he would have "treasure in heaven,"  yet that promise had a condition of selling everything he had and giving it all to the poor. For Mr. RYM, his earthly life was far too precious and valuable than the eternal life that was awaiting him, should he have decided to follow Jesus.

Following Jesus entails a process of self-denial, cross-carrying, and complete surrender. The necessary pre-requisite for doing these things would be counting the cost. Following Jesus brings joy, yes, and peace, and righteousness, but at the same time it involves a lot of risks. It entails rejection, persecution, hardship, and even death. After all, we were never promised a storm-free life, but a storm-proof one. In spite of these, though, God's love is unfailing and we are guaranteed that we will never be separated from his love (Romans 8: 38-39). Following Jesus is costly, yes, but the return of investment is priceless. It will the greatest treasure we will ever have, one that will not be ruined by moths and dust and wear & tear. Jesus alone is our very great reward.

september 23rd

Mark 9:35 NKJV – If anyone deserves to be first, he should be last and servant of all.

If we want to lead–if we want to be promoted–we first need to humble ourselves. Our promotion is not dependent on our own greatness or goodness, on our talents and abilities, on being a “mover and shaker.” It is entirely dependent on God. As we humble ourselves to him, as we allow him to shape us and mold us to be the human beings he wants us to be, He will be the one to exalt us in due time.

Success is doing what God wants me to do. It is not measured by recognition, fame, wealth, and power. Our pursuit of success should not, in fact, be entirely dependent on these external factors. Jesus said to seek first his kingdom and his righteousness–and the surefire promise after that was all things would be given to us. The concept of “all” leaves nothing out. things we perceive that will give us satisfaction are only temporal. They are nothing compared to the person of God himself.

some thoughts on pain and suffering

it is a beautiful feeling, knowing that God is in the midst of our pain. it may be hard to see him at the onset, but he’s there . . . waiting for you to come to him. words aren’t enough to describe it.

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the greatest comfort that exists is knowing that God is in our pain. we may resort to what is familiar or usual as a means to escape from what will cause us discomfort, but these escape hatches merely provide temporal relief. if we want to experience the comfort that is true, real, and eternal, we need to hold on to God and never let go. only then will we be able to face pain head-on and say, “my God is greater than you.”

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“Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” ~ 2 Corinthians 4: 16b-18 NIV