By The Rock Of My Salvation
Joy is not only an emotion to be desired, it is also a command to be obeyed. Joy is -to some degree- A CHOICE.
How can this be? Are you to simply ignore your circumstances and live outside reality? No.
But a Life of Joy can be learned – and suffering is most often the teacher.
The Scriptures clearly point out the path toward a life of joy:
1. Accept your circumstances and be thankful in them – Read 1 Thes 5:16-18
2. Choose not to worry – Read Philippians 4:6
3. Fix your eyes on Jesus rather on your situation – following His example in suffering – Hebrews 12:2
4. Put your hope in future glory – 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Colossians 1:5; Titus 1:2
It is through the joy and peace exhibited in suffering that God is most visible in your life. When you live a life of joy – regardless of your circumstances- others will see Jesus in you.
Free Resource
By The Rock Of My Salvation
“Perseverance Turns Adversity To Advancement”
Paul writes, “Everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News” (Phil 1:12).
Paul didn’t give up – he rose up! How did he do it? He found the benefit that comes from every trial.
One Christian author writes: “Today we’re obsessed with speed, but God is more interested in strength and stability.” We want the quick-fix, the on-the-spot solution. We want a sermon that will instantly remove all problems, remove all temptations and release us from growing pains. But REAL MATURITY is never the result of a single experience, no matter how powerful or moving. Growth is gradual.
The Bible says, “Our lives are gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters…and we become like HIM.” – 2 Cor 3:18
By The Rock Of My Salvation
“If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence…”1 John 3:17-19
A few weeks ago, Ptr. Emerita shared at Sunday service how she envisioned God’s loving comfort by wrapping herself with a blanket. Now, being “wrapped up in His love” in their “spiritual blankets”, the Couples Ministry Group was motivated to share what other needs in these cold times – a warm blanket and the reminder of the love of our Lord Jesus Christ for them
PILLOWS & PRAYERS
Last January 2, the Couples Ministry set out and shared Christ’s warm love by providing blankets to those who are homeless and sleep out in the streets during cold nights.
Couples went out in pairs, searched the streets to provide blankets, pillows and prayers to those whom God had allowed them to find. By doing this, they too were blessed as they witnessed God’s power work that night.
This newly conceived ministry would continue to provide more than blankets to the homeless through your joint support with TROMS. We will be posting updates here, so be excited and get ready to be blessed!
If you want to support this project, please click HERE
By The Rock Of My Salvation
At the end of every year, many people reflect on how the past 12 months of their lives went by – the changes, lessons and experiences (whether good or bad) that molded their character and made them the person they are today.
Ptr. Emerita did the same…
Without the knowledge of most people, 2008 was considered by Ptr. Emerita (and the TROMS family) to be the most painful, difficult and challenging year in the history of the ministry.
What Jesus said in John 16:33 is true… that “In this world you will have trouble….”
But God has promised, that those who love and obey Him will never be harmed…
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge;
His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” – Psalm 91:1,4
During those times Ptr. Emerita felt weak, God was her strength…
In times of weariness God was her REST…
In times of confusion, God was her GUIDE…
Her secret… “Dwelling in the shelter of the Most High” - through prayer, worship and studying of His Word.
And in the process of going through the trials, because of God’s faithfulness, she and the ministry experienced GREAT VICTORY! For God has opened NEW DOORS of opportunity for them to share the love of the Lord Jesus Christ to more people!
2008 – THE YEAR OF NEW BEGINNINGS
By the grace of God, In 2008 – because of the storm Ptr. Emerita & the ministry experienced, she was led by God to host 3 Major Conferences that touched so many lives. Pastors, church workers, parents, young people, men and women alike were all touched by God’s gentle spirit in those meetings. Testimonies of changed lives and revived faith flooded the ministry. To God be the Glory!
Truly, God’s ways are higher than ours. There may be times when we cannot understand Him. Times when we feel like giving up…But as His children we ought to trust HIM for He knows what’s best for us. And just like Ptr. Emerita, who at one point also felt that the storm was too much to bear…but later on saw and realized that GOD has PLANNED everything!…Just like her, as you obey God, you will see that the BIG STORM in your life right now is in fact the OPEN DOOR that God wants you to enter…A door waiting for you to step in and take the new level of calling in your life.
As we start a brand new year, let us all put our TRUST and CONFIDENCE in GOD…For He has a great plan for you and me… To HIM be the PRAISE!
I will say of the LORD,
“He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” - Psalm 91:2
MORE RESOURCES
Hear Ptr.’s personal testimony about her experiences this year. Listen to her message : Purity Purity Gives You The Victory
Please clickHERE to LISTEN
By The Rock Of My Salvation
“But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him.
He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
– Jeremiah 17:7-8
Start the year right and hear God’s SPECIAL WORD for you!
We invite you to join Ptr. Emerita Barqueros on Jan. 17, 2009 for “The NOW WORD Empowerment Class”
As First Fruit offering to the Lord, TROMS offers the REGISTRATION for this Class for FREE! Click HERE to REGISTER
FREE RESOURCES:
Do you want to find change in your life this year?
Our WEBCAST this week : “New Year New Man”
Click HERE to watch.
By The Rock Of My Salvation
Christmas is not just a time of giving material gifts to people, it’s a time to celebrate the birth of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST and commemorate the amazing love of God through His birth. Giving gifts is just the outward action of the overflowing love of JESUS inside our hearts, which is the greatest gift He had given us.
This Christmas season, TROMS & Saving Grace Project-through the help of friends and partners of the ministry, shared the gift of love to our brothers and sisters in Christ at the Correctional Institute and Bilibid Prison. Last December 12, 2008, TROMS went to CIW to celebrate Christmas with the group of women whose lives had changed when they met JESUS inside the institution.
WARM WELCOME
The joy and excitement filled the air as TROMS entered the gate. Smiling hearts are reflected through the smile on the face of each inmate. A warm welcome was given.
On the door of the hall where the service was conducted, three women played the lyre to welcome Pastor Emerita as she walked down to the venue.
The service started with a prayer, led by Sis Gem. Then followed by praise and worship to invite and welcome the presence of God.
Voices were lifted, hands were raised, hearts have cried out praises to the Risen King! Life surrendered, and the Holy Spirit was given full authority and control to lead the service.
The message delivered by Pastor Emerita was the revelation of GOD on His Word in Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
After the enlightening and encouraging message, selected students of the Values Education class performed by forming a choir and offered songs of gratefulness to the Lord.
A short message and a token of appreciation was given to Pastor Emerita, Sis Gem and Janice.
GIFT-GIVING
The desire to extend the gift giving to the families of the inmates was granted by God, big boxes with clothes, gift items, toiletries and groceries were also brought in for them.
All gifts wrapped in love and labor by TROMS, Oil of Joy Women’s Club, and Partners were brought in by hands by each servant of God present in the event.
Right after the gift-giving, snacks were distributed to everybody. During snacks, fellowship amongst every present individual began.
And before the event ended, a group picture-taking took place in remembrance of the goodness of God that day.
And as we said goodbye to everybody, it deeply touched our hearts to hear most of the inmates saying, “Wag kayo makakalimot at magsasawa ha..” It was like JESUS telling us, ” Always remember me. Hold on and don’t let go. Do not give up in doing good. For in due time, you will harvest what you have sown in the hearts and lives of the people.”
BILIBID PRISON
A week after that (December 18, 2008) , the Men’s Ministry of TROMS, headed by Pastor Dan, went to Bilibid Prison for the distribution of gifts to our brothers who were set free when they received JESUS in their hearts.
Though we were not allowed to bring cameras inside to capture the event, we were able to give the gifts we have brought for them.
Originally, TROMS planned to give away phone cards which they can use for communicating to their loved ones outside particularly this Christmas season. But the inmates requested to have food and clothes which they can use in their everyday life inside. So gift- packs with clothes and grocery items were given. Snacks were also distributed during the event. A Special Message was delivered by Pastor Dan to each inmate who joined the event.
Though the initial plan did not happen, God, who is our Great Engineer, had turned it around for the best and counted it all joy to everyone! Phone cards, food and clothes will not last, but we strongly believe that the love and the Word of God shared to them and received by them will last up until eternity.
The joy is overflowing and the smile on each face is shining. For the inmates, it was JESUS who visited them. For us, it was JESUS whom we visited. And in all this, we would like to give all the glory and big thanks to God alone who gave us the strength, wisdom, resources, and people to make this project possible and doable.
THANK YOU FRIENDS AND PARTNERS!
We would like to give our gratitude to all the people who were touched by God to support us. We may not be able to remember all of you and mention each of your name, but the support you extended – be it through money, clothes, food, canned goods, or in a form of prayer- each and every gift went a long way this holiday season. We know so well that your obedience to God for this project are all recorded in heaven. Our words of thanks are limited but we assure you that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Thank YOU so much. May our good Lord bless you and your loved ones.
Merry Christmas and Have a Blessed New Year!
Please CLICK HERE to view MORE PICTURES
