119

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, PHILIPPINES! MABUHAY!
It is our 119th year of being an independent country! What do you think are we doing with this freedom? I was surprised to know that we are already enjoying that 119 years of being a democratic country - but are we really free?
I am PROUD to be a Filipino but sometimes I think we are overdoing the "freedom" that we think we have. Let's face it, we mock God's appointed authorities instead of praying for wisdom and guidance in order to run our country better. Don't get me wrong. This is not a political post. It's just that - I have not given up on this country just yet. I have high hopes for our beloved country and I am still praying for the time to come that we start building relationships than breaking them. Time for more pushing each other upwards than pulling everyone down the slope. A time when we could finally manifest our "bayanihan" attitude without any call for crisis or disaster. A time when no more gossip could break anyone's trust because everyone knew better. Achieving those I mentioned still won't make us a better country - I believe we are still far from being one - but I know it will be a good start for us, Filipinos.

HOPE. PRAY. OBEY.

Photo Source: Askideas.com

This reminded me how Jesus freed us from sin! What are you doing with that freedom? Where have you been spending that love from God? Were you being thankful for our Savior?

17 Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. 18 Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living. 19 Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy. 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. 21 And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. 22 But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:17-23 NLT

Jesus did not save us for nothing. God loves us so much that He wanted us to be like His Son, Jesus, who would put others first before self and obey the Father. Hope and Pray for our country. Prayer is powerful! Pray for others. Pray and obey God's appointed authorities and Obey God's words.

Maybe this country needs a little faith after all!