Our NEXT EVENT is today! If you are in the NYC and the tri-state area of New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, this event is for you! If you are in Pennsylvania or anywhere further and you would like to come, you are most welcome, too! Join us for an evening of worship, teaching from…
When Jesus came two thousand years ago He came as an innocent baby who grew up to be the humble Servant Son of God who takes away the sin of the world. Indeed, God sent Jesus not to judge the world but to save it. Because of Jesus we have this gift of grace from…
In this passage, Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, identifies Himself as the “good shepherd” who lays down His life for His sheep. The majestic Son of God, through whom all things were made (“… apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.” John 1:3), identifies Himself as a humble…
The “world” here means the whole world, all creation, but most importantly, humanity; Jesus came to redeem not just the people but the whole world. When He comes again, our present world will be destroyed and the new redeemed world will roll in. There will be a new heaven and a new earth. (Revelation 1:1)…
A word of encouragement for this week right after Resurrection Sunday, in these very uncertain times. The opposition leader of America has been indicted and arraigned while real treasonous crimes of ruling leaders remain un-investigated, the US dollar is being sidelined, Pres. Biden’s sanctions on Russia is not working while he continues to funnel billions…
The resurrection of Jesus is what sets Him apart from other teachers, gurus, religious leaders, miracle workers, gods, etc. Jesus is the God because He has power over death and subsequently, sin, illness, guilt, condemnation, etc. Jesus is THE God. Christians all over the world just celebrated Resurrection Sunday, Easter to many. A belated happy…
If the scourging of Jesus at Calvary brings healing to the believer then why is it that not all believers get healed when they pray for healing from Jesus? It’s a mystery that nobody really seem to have unraveled. But we can start with this main clue given in the Bible: James 5:14 Is anyone…
It’s a good thing to be able to spar with a friend. I think a good friend is one who not only accepts me for who I am but one who can also challenge my thinking and inspire me with their example. ______________________________ Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible, Bible App by…
What right thing do I know and have the opportunity to do but still not doing it? I can easily come up with a decent list. Needless to say, God has such a high standard. But hey, that’s why I know I need Jesus as my Savior from sin. He gives me hope that I…
This verse comes from the famous “love chapter” 1 Corinthians 13 of the Bible. It is better understood if we look at the whole passage from which it was taken: 4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it…
The Book of Proverbs is like a textbook on how to live life so that we attain success, prosperity and a balanced and stable life, resulting in good health, a long earthly life and eternal life. It is based on the premise that the fear of God is the way to live life wisely. That…
The verse says “anyone” can call on the name of the LORD because the passage explains that this salvation by faith in Jesus Christ is not only for the Jews, just because He was a Jew, but for foreigners as well, e.g. Greeks. Everyone, Jew or Gentile (non-Jew), can call on the name of the…
This is the conclusion of a passage on humility which is from verse 5 to 10. It’s written by the apostle Peter but there is a similar passage on the same topic written by James in James 5:4-10. Here Peter exhorts the believers to be humble towards one another and especially to God, seeking Him…
The God of Israel carried her on “eagle’s wings” (Exodus 19:4) from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land. He performed signs and wonders to get them out of there and provided them manna (bread) from heaven and water from a rock for forty years in the desert, where He taught them lessons…
What is God’s perspective of my situation? What is He saying to me about it? If I do this, how will that look like in eternity? If I do that, how will that be remembered 10,000++ years from now? Choices, choices, choices. The things above and the things below… LORD, I pray give me a…
The whole sentence reads: Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor, 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. Footnote: *saints…
This reminds me of a quote from a recent teaching by our ministry leader. I will quote it here loosely: “A repeated action becomes a habit, habits make our character and our character determines our destiny.” So true! Thus, do not despise the small things. Be faithful in the little things and you will also…
There was a beauty contest in search for a queen. No, not just a beauty queen but to be queen of an empire. Esther was chosen. Meanwhile, a tyrant nobleman rose among the ranks of the empire and underhandedly influenced the emperor king to pass a law that would annihilate an ethnic group which does…
This verse is the climax of the passage in Proverbs 31 that talks of the excellencies of a woman who fears God. “Fear” here is often misunderstood as fear for “an angry and judgmental God.” That is a lie. “Fear” here means a healthy feeling of reverence and awe towards the holy God. The word…
The chapter where this passage is found talks about church unity again. It explains that all believers are members of one Body, the Body of Christ. Not everyone is the same – they come from different backgrounds, have different interests, personalities, gifts and talents, strengths, weaknesses, etc. This chapter specifically mentions the different kinds of…
This verse is usually used when the believers gather together to pray, emphasizing the fact that even if only two or three believers gather together to pray God is still there in their midst, very much honored that they took the effort to gather together to pray. Indeed, two or three praying together becomes more…
If God is on the side of the believer, who can fight against him? The Devil? The Devil is no match to God. The passage says that God did not even spare His own Son just so the believer can be united with Him. He will never condemn the believer and in fact NOTHING can…
The Christian life consists of three stages – salvation, sanctification (growth and maturing), glorification (graduation! when the believer enters Heaven or when Jesus comes again to bring them to Heaven). When the believer comes to Christ and receives Him in his heart as his Lord, Savior – that is the salvation step. It happens very…
The Christian life consists of three stages – salvation, sanctification (growth and maturing), glorification (graduation! when the believer enters Heaven or when Jesus comes to earth again to claim them). When the believer comes to Christ and receives Him in his heart as his Lord, Savior, Brother and Friend – that is the salvation step.…
The psalm from which this passage comes from is THE go to Bible chapter for the believer in times of fear, danger, trouble, etc. God Himself is a shield, a shelter, a stronghold, a bastion of protection for the believer. When the believer puts his trust in Him the shadow of God Himself will go…
The believer is forgiven and saved/redeemed by the grace of God. So, what is grace? “Grace” is a concept that can only be found in the Bible. If ever it is found in other stories, a work of art, a cultural belief or practice, another book, all those are actually influenced by the Bible or…
We can’t really be friends with everyone because that would most likely mean we bend to the wishes of everyone. I believe that’s why this proverb says having too many friends would bring us to ruin. I think there’s a limit to the number of people you can invest your quality time and attention on,…
This totally goes against the grain of our human nature, doesn’t it? What does this verse actually look like for real? The previous verse describes it: Romans 12:20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his…
This verse doesn’t make much sense unless you read the whole passage. The passage concerned is very significant to me. When I was a new believer I struggled with certain temptations that would lead me back to my old life before I knew Christ. So, I looked for a passage in the Bible that would…
This verse is better understood if we read the whole passage: Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.//…
The immediate context of this verse was the unbelief of the Jews. They knew from their Scriptures that the Messiah (Christ) was coming but they doubted if it was Jesus (John 7:40-42). So, Jesus said that once they “lift him up” (crucify Him) then they would know that He is the Messiah, because the crucifixion…
There was a swarm of locusts that engulfed the land, leaving almost nothing for the people to eat or even for an offering to God. The locust swarm totally devastated the land, and so efficiently, that the Old Testament prophet Joel pictured it as how the armies of God, on the day of Judgment, would…
Once saved, always saved? Here King David asks God not to take the Holy Spirit from him because he committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband killed. This is part of his repentance prayer. He is asking God for forgiveness. Once God takes away the Holy Spirit from the believer he does not have…
An invitation for those residing in NYC and the tri-state area of New York, Connecticut and New Jersey. Pennsylvanians welcome, too! Come join us for an evening of worship, teaching from the Bible, and prayer. If you need prayers for physical and emotional healing, guidance and direction, or special favor from God, this is the…
Yeah, when you’re a believer you’re supposed to keep yourself innocent (flee from evil!) as a dove but also shrewd like a serpent! Whoa. Until now I am still learning how this works. It’s not always wise to engage. Sometimes, it’s wiser to just walk away. This is the “do not throw your pearls to…
The context of the verse is on financial lack. The apostle Paul was saying he’s content whether in need or in abundance. He is able to carry on his work as an apostle in whatever circumstance, in want or in abundance. The secret is being content in Christ. LORD, give me more faith! Hallelujah! ______________________________…
When in deep need and trouble I feel this, too. Just like the psalmist who wrote this, I feel the next verse as well. (v.2) My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God? In those days they really did “appear” before God or present themselves before…
The next two verses explain that it is because the flesh always goes against the (Holy) Spirit, they are always in opposition to each other. But further down the same chapter it says that “those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit,…
All we need is Bread and Water so we do not become weary and burned out but stay refreshed and replenished. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.“ He also said, “It is the Spirit who gives…
I love reading my Bible, I love singing songs to God, I love praying, but asking God to search my heart? No! That means owning up to my sins, owning up to my unfaithfulness to Him, shortcomings, bad thoughts, wrong emotions and motives, etc. But really, whenever this one unpleasant time with God I would…
I need to stop worrying about the future. I just have to entrust to God the results of whatever work I do right now and my plans for the future will firm up. ______________________________ Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible, Bible App by YouVersion.com ________________________________ Art courtesy of YouVersion Bible app. I…
If I am going to be a men pleaser I cannot be a believer. I can’t serve two masters – God and Mammon, nor God and men. ______________________________ Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible, Bible App by YouVersion.com ________________________________ Art courtesy of YouVersion Bible app. I am using the Bible App by…
Happy Valentine’s Day! ______________________________ Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible, Bible App by YouVersion.com ________________________________ Art courtesy of YouVersion Bible app. I am using the Bible App by YouVersion.com for my daily devotion. Download it now for your mobile device. https://j794q.app.goo.gl/nd4yPrGj7Hbhy9Kk8 _________________________________
From the previous verse “there” refers to “the remotest part of the sea.” The whole psalm talks about the fact that God never loses track of me wherever I am and whatever I do. He is always there with me and for me. He even thinks of me all the time. Whoa! What an awesome…
his passage comes from an epistle written by Jude, a half-brother of Jesus (son of Mary and Joseph). Though Jesus’ siblings did not believe Him when He was still alive and was teaching on the Kingdom of God, the Bible explicitly records that two of them (Jude and James) became believers after He was resurrected…
The power of the words we say should never be underestimated. The believer is supposed to say only words that build up, not words that tear down. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue,…” Prov 18:21 This is serious. The Bible says gossip is slander, a sin of the same category as…
Based on the previous verses (Romans 5:1,2) “this” in “And not only this” refers to “we exult in hope of the glory of God” for having peace with God because the believer is justified (declared innocent) by faith (in Jesus Christ and the atonement for sin He accomplished on the cross) and has been introduced…
Here Jesus contrasts Himself with the false prophets. He is the Good Shepherd who takes good care of the sheep because He loves them. (John 10:1-18) The sheep also know His voice but do not recognize the voice of strangers or fake shepherds. Sheep, by nature, recognize the voice of their shepherd and will follow…
This verse comes from what is considered traditionally as the last epistle the apostle Paul wrote before he died. He was suffering in chains as a prisoner in Rome (1:17,2:9) and some believers were ashamed to associate with him for being in prison for the Gospel (1:8,15-18). We can say this was a kind of…
Therefore. What is it “there for”? We need to look at the verses before this one so we can understand what it is “there for.” The previous paragraph, 1 Cor. 15:50-57, talks about the fact that Jesus has already conquered sin and death at the cross for us. For the believer, resurrection is a sure…
Lol! How I struggled over this verse for a long, long time. First of all, I was told that “joy” in the Bible is not the same as “happiness.” When I was a new believer I was taught that “joy” in the Bible is “the inner peace that comes from knowing you are doing the…
What is the enormity of the riches of God that is available to the believer? “Infinite” would be an understatement. In fact, it is unimaginable. I will only be able to fathom how big and grand that riches is if God opens my spiritual eyes to see it. That’s why the apostle Paul prayed this…
This passage is from a psalm of King David. For me this verse sounds figurative because I am not an infantry soldier in a battlefield of rough terrain filled with pits. On the contrary, David, the slayer of the giant Goliath, was a soldier almost all his life and he fought in hand-to-hand combats. He…
This verse can only make sense if we look at what Jesus meant by “this”. Looking at the two previous verses before the above “this” refers to what Jesus said, that “it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven,” and “it is easier for a camel to go through the…
Fear and anxiety are two very common maladies nowadays. The uncertainty of our times makes it even worse. Fear and anxiety are also sisters with depression. That is why I keep reading and meditating on my Bible, the word of God. “Do not fear” occurs 95 times in the Bible. It is God Himself telling…
No man is an island. We all need encouragement and help from one another. In fact we are to inspire one another to go on loving and doing good for one another. This we cannot do if we isolate ourselves. This is the very reason why I go to church. As the day of Jesus’…
Fight like a believer! I can’t fight without my armor on. God has given me an armor and I have to use it or I will not be effective against the enemy. It consists of the helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, belt of truth, shoes of the preparation of the gospel of peace, shield…
In every temptation there is always a way out that God provides. It is my part to seek God for that way out and actually use it. God never leaves me without help. Well, sometimes, the way out is just to stay away from the temptation. Then maybe what I need is strength to run…
I have to be careful with my thoughts about myself, other people, my outlook in life, the things I focus my attention on, and the things I say. The words I say have power. I have to make sure these please God. If they are not acceptable to God it means I am sinning against…
God rules! I praise God today because He rules. No matter what happens in my world today He is still the most powerful, great, glorious, majestic and victorious One, reigning above us all. Some kings, princes and earthly government leaders might be elevating and exalting themselves but they are still nothing compared to God. They…
“Justified.” That’s one of the big words in the Bible that I had to understand before I could understand more of the Bible. “Justified” in the Bible means “to be declared innocent as if you never did the sin/crime.” Whoa! “Justified by faith (in Jesus Christ)” – I am now declared innocent of all my…
I can plan all I want but God can stop, change or fine-tune my course as I go. He is in control It may get painful when He corrects me if I don’t go the way He wills me to go but that also means I am protected from disaster. Thank You, LORD! ________________________________ Scripture…
I can’t resist the devil without submitting to God first. That means I have to confess my own wrong desires (the very reason why I am faced with the temptation), repent, turn around and be in agreement with God in my thinking and in my emotions. Yes, if I submit my mind and emotions to…
My Rock, my fortress, my bastion, my stronghold! This is a picture of how my God protects me and keeps me secure in Him. There are many large rocks (monoliths) like this in Israel as well as in the neighboring areas where the children of Israel trekked. They usually kept their enemies out by building…
Nations go to war for peace. So do I. I went against the tide when I decided to give my life to Jesus and yes, that truly felt like fighting. But no regrets, I took hold of the eternal life God offers me! What better thing can I have in this world? I might have…
How to know whether what I’m praying for is in line with God’s will? Yes, that was a hard one when I started my journey as a believer in Jesus Christ. But I notice that as the years went by it got easier. There is no shortcut to this one. I had to start by…
Reading this verse already makes me feel uncomfortable. Pursuing peace with everyone in my life, past and present, requires my full engagement – body, spirit and soul. Pursuing sanctification so I may see God requires about the same level of engagement, actually more. But pursuing both makes me fulfill the greatest commandment according to Jesus:…
Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice….” (John 10:27) . He usually speaks in the morning. If I stop long enough I hear His voice in my thoughts. He tells me He loves me and all the more I want to hear His voice and tarry in His Presence. He leads and guides me…
We can escape the rut we are in today, right now, if we let Jesus lead the way. ________________________________ Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible, Bible App by YouVersion.com ________________________________ Art courtesy of YouVersion Bible app. I am using the Bible App by YouVersion.com for my daily devotion. Download it now for…
That’s Jesus in Proverbs! In the Bible righteousness is found only in Christ. When you pursue righteousness you are pursuing Jesus. In the New Testament “life” is “an abundant life” and “eternal life”; “loyalty” is “faithfulness”; “honor” is “glory.” You find abundant life and glory in Christ. The Old Testament foreshadows Christ. This proverb or…
Now this is hard. Looking back though, I have proven this is the only way I get a free conscience and get to sleep soundly at night. It doesn’t mean I have to be lovey-dovey with my enemies; it only means I forgive them and pray for God to bless them. ________________________________ Scripture quotation is…
I received eternal life by grace, through faith. Thus, I live by faith! …And have nothing to boast. Jesus paid for it all – the free gift of eternal life! (Yes, I found “free bread.” Ask me about it.) ________________________________ Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible, Bible App by YouVersion.com ________________________________ Art…
I can never thank Jesus enough. _________________ (This is my YouVersion challenge to myself. I will comment on the verse of the day on the daily devotional of YouVersion. I don’t choose the verse, it is randomly chosen by the app.) ________________________________ Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible, Bible App by YouVersion.com…
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and…
Today’s health issue is fear. With everything that’s going on around us these days it is easy to fall into fear and then depression. The other name of fear is anxiety. Now that sounds more familiar. Anxiety and depression are like sisters. They usually come together. When we are continuously anxious depression sets in. So,…
This blogsite very much reflects my passion for happiness, wellness, peace, and spiritual well-being. At the moment what concerns us all is wellness and safety from COVID19. That’s the reality of the year 2020 to the present. It is my hope, together with all of you out there, that this pandemic whittles into thin air…
Have all the Judases, Pharisees, Herods and Pilates cast their stone at President Trump, yet?
The prophets are saying Revival is the answer. And it is. But what we do and say right now as Christians, coupled with our prayers, is what will usher that Revival. Prophet Jonathan Cahn had said Pres Trump is as “Jehu” in the time of Elisha. In Jehu’s reign he took down Jezebel. Our “Jezebel”…
What motivates you? People you love? Values you stand for?Do you walk away from challenges or obstacles to your dreams and aspirations?Do you walk away defeated, never to dream again?Our Champion didn’t. He fought to the death. We stand on His victory.Our Covenant is in His blood. We have no other Pattern.Whether we live or…
“My fellow Americans, I stand here with all the feelings that I do, disgusted with this lie, that Biden has been chosen… As if we all don’t know the truth.And when one tries to deceive we know that one can’t get away with it. There will be a price to pay. The ones who are…
As of today, a Google search on the latest on the COVID-19 yields this worldwide statistics: New York State has overnight become the epicenter of this outbreak clocking in about 5% of the world’s total infections at 20,875 as of this morning. There are 12,305 cases in the city of New York alone and a total of…
Today is the day to shop for roses if you can still find them. They’ll be half the price of yesterday – a real bargain! That’s just for bargain-seekers like me, who also like roses, any day, anytime. Well, I got expensive roses on a vase sitting in my living room, too! I know they…
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; 28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you;…
I know that God’s thoughts for me are countless because of the following passages: 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you. (Psalm 139)…
I had stopped blogging here for a while because I had other more pressing things to attend to in the past year. I’m supposed to write on “happiness,” “joy” and everything in between but I just could not find enough material, in my heart, on those topics. It had been a sobering year for…
After a respite of 4 months we’re back in business! With IMMEDIATE EFFECT this website once again offers the VGWellness products. We would like to thank our valued customers for their continued interest in our products. They are not only customers but friends. Thank you so much, guys! Here’s wishing everyone more wholeness…
These photos were taken in early June and I wrote captions in the album. I just took so long to put them together into this post. Procrastinating, as always! I had my birthday in the past month (07/2017) and the date itself has so…
Yup, I was away for some time. I only had funny clips added to the “Lighten Up” section of this site in the past month or so. Truth is, I hurt my right hand and it was in a cast for five weeks and now I’m on my 12-week physical therapy phase. I couldn’t use…
Phew! Feeling relieved having survived all that shopping, cooking, sending off presents, partying and eating days of left-overs of rich food? Well, take a deep breath, honey, you will start the cycle all over again tomorrow! How did you spend your Boxing Day? If you’re in England, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, you were…
Alas, Summer is gone! Shorts and tees have been stored in boxes and closets and now we’re donning cardigans, jackets and leggings again. Oh, but I love Autumn colors and the glorious Christmas songs and parties, and happy Hannukah! Even the Indians have their Diwali and then there will be New Year and hmmm, I…
How do I get paid for purchases on my VGWellness nutritionals business? Most of the time people say, “I’ll send you a check.” Yes, personal checks are always good! However, thanks to online banking, now we have other reliable ways of sending small amounts to each other. They are faster and more convenient, too! …