A Date with God

I thought it would be a good idea to go on a 5 day retreat in a Tagaytay retreat house or hotel. Just me and God. I would only bring a pocket Bible, clothes, and toiletries. No cellphone, internet, radio, TV, books, or even Study Bibles. Just God and me. God found something much better: Touch of Glory Prayer Mountain, just 2 nights though, in the mountains of Antipolo, and much cheaper. Nicer still, the place was designed for prayer (prayer cells, prayer tents in a forest, nature walks, fish ponds with loads of carp, fresh air, sounds of running water, views, and silence). The rooms and bathrooms were also very clean. God always knows best.

It was not that God rang the place and made the reservation, of course! It was just that all my attempts to find a place in Tagaytay failed. The hotels were too expensive. There was a convent who would not let me in as the Mother Superior preferred I visit with a group. I was uneasy about how commercialized Tagaytay has become, with a casino, luxury hotels, and fine dining. My pastor mentioned to me that there was a prayer mountain in Antipolo but could not tell me where it was. So I used Google to find their website, made a booking, and 2 weeks later I was in another world.

You will not find a place like this anywhere. As you drive up you will see signs counting down the kilometers to the place, and the view on the way up is breathtaking. There are no maps in the facility itself, so you can discover the place on your own and be surprised. There are no mealtimes published, so you just ask when meals are or you just wander in to the cafeteria and check if there is food there. There are some souvenirs without labels and price tags, so just ask what it is and how much. They sell Banana Vinegar! Filipinos can adjust to this ambiguity but people brought up in Western culture may be somewhat disoriented. If you feel disoriented, pray for guidance from God.

Nature was very friendly. A dog was on retreat too (with no collar and leash), and it just sniffed its way around the clearing where I was meditating on the Word (John 15:1) and we pretended to ignore each other. The ants were more forthcoming. One large one was particularly friendly as it climbed rapidly up my sleeve! It may be God’s way of saying: “time for a walk”. It is also best to remember that the ants were probably there first. The mosquitoes seem to be not in the mood to bite. The birds and trees sing. Butterflies land on your leg, rest a while, and move on.  Dragonflies are more cautious.

The prayer cells were 3 feet x 5 feet x 8 feet (I am just guessing, as I did not bring a ruler) with a cushion for your knees, wooden floor, small side table, tiny electric fan, small wall lamp, and something like a small lectern that I assumed is where you put your hands. Once the door is closed it is so peaceful and it is like you are in a place removed from everything else, and only praying is allowed. No eating , sleeping, or socializing is allowed in the prayer cell.

It was my first time in a prayer cell. I noticed that God was very quiet at first. Just waiting. I thought of the temple and how the priests had to purify themselves before approaching God. So I began with confession of sin, and that broke the ice. Believers in the Gospel of Jesus the Christ have access to God who is their Father through adoption, made possible because Jesus, who is God,  died on the cross and rose from the dead, thereby satisfying God’s justice, and allowing reconciliation between God and the believer, who receives the Holy Spirit that teaches and guides the believer about Truth and Holiness. It is written:

1Peter 2:7-10  “Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”

We are a royal priesthood. A priest is someone who has direct access to God, our Father. It is because we were chosen – called out of darkness – that we have the privilege to bring our cares and concerns to God, our Heavenly Father. If only we took full advantage of this great privilege!

God speaks in a way that is hard to explain. Something will occur to you that gives you peace which is consistent with the Bible, and after some experience, you recognize this as the “silent voice of God”. He brought to my attention that prayer is required for a disciple, among other things, and that our entire lives are to be a living sacrifice.  I should be more disciplined in my walk, and organize my time to be able to read, memorize, meditate, and apply the Bible, as well as pray, give, manage my time and resources (stewardship), worship, serve, evangelize, fast, and set aside times of silence and solitude. He led me to a book before my retreat, called Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, by Donald S. Whitney, to help me in this area of spiritual growth.  He also said that I worry too much, and should trust Him more, and stop being so judgmental. He suggested that I start reading the book Respectable Sins, by Jerry Bridges, which I bought recently.

I wish I brought a camera or video camera along but I really wanted to focus only on meeting God during this trip. I plan another trip where I will ask permission to take a video and post this on my Youtube channel. If you are in Metro-Manila, Philippines, I highly recommend that you visit this place in the mountains of Antipolo. If you cannot afford a room there are dormitories at a fraction of the cost, and you can also visit the place during the day for a nominal fee. If you want to know their rates you can inquire via text message to the cellphone number published on their website.

I really recommend that you disconnect from the world for a few days and spend time alone with God. There is joy and peace to be found, as well as guidance and wisdom. The perfect date with our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ.

God bless,

George Marcelo

Update on Oct 22, 2011:  I was able to take a video on my cellphone (Nokia 6120) of some of the things I did. I ended up going to this place at least once a year. Enjoy!

The Silent Voice of God

The world is going down the tube. Sin has become politically correct. People flock to religions which offer imaginary false gods, who will tolerate their sin, and deaden their conscience. No-one is immune, even me. There was a time when I would welcome all of this as a good thing, but I now have a problem. My spirit was brought to life by the living and true God, and the world now gives me a feeling of nausea, overlaid by a feeling of concern about inevitable doom of those not spiritually alive. Last rounds, ladies and gentlemen. it’s closing time.

All this time God screams at the world that it is fallen, and offers salvation in the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. The world is  not listening. Now many “acts of God” are needed to wake people up. How many floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, epidemics, famines, and wars must happen to make people see? Or maybe these things are just warnings to be recognized only by the elect of God?

What should I do? I share the Gospel but no-one believes it. Some say they believe it but it is obvious that they do not. Is it possible to be born again and have no desire to read the Bible, worship God, fellowship with the brothers and sisters in Christ?

There are two options to take. Stop caring about the result and just minister to the lost in obedience but without really knowing what will happen. The other is better but harder to find. I need to know what God is doing, and join in His work. I need to join Him in His work, and not improve on mine. I need to listen to the silent voice of God.

I am going on a retreat sometime in December, in Tagaytay, a tranquil place near Metro-Manila, Philippines, next to Taal volcano. I need to discern God’s will. That means being disconnected from the internet, TV, radio, books, entertainment, and even Study Bibles. Just God, the Bible, and me, for 5 days, alone. I really do not know what will happen. I am scared that nothing will happen. I am also scared that something might happen. Since this scary feeling can only come from Satan I am resolved to proceed with this plan. I leave it all to God. I really do not know what to do. I really am unable to commit the stupid mistake of recommending a solution to God. Please pray for me that I hear the silent voice of God, and obey what He says.

I took a walk in the woods with my son and his friend. I talk about my plans for a retreat and other random stuff. Here it is. Enjoy! Be strong in the Lord, who is coming soon! After all, it is written…

Was that the silent voice of God just then? I wish I knew for sure…

God bless,

George

Overcoming fear

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, we are born again, and have a desire to obey God. This can put Christians in fearful situations. For example, you may have to share your faith at work, where you may be ridiculed, looked down on, and even lose your job because of your faith. We are told by God that we should expect persecution. There are many places in the world, especially in countries that are mostly Muslim, where being a Christian means death! It is written:

John 15:19-21 “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for My name’s sake, because they know not Him that sent Me.”

We are to trust and obey God nevertheless. Let us look at Psalm 23:

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”

It sounds pleasant, but the Psalm is really talking about trusting God in fearful situations, and by doing so, we are able to overcome fear.

My niece took a video of my son negotiating the confidence course during our church’s weekend retreat. This was held at the Word of Life Camp, in Laguna, Philippines. I had tried the confidence course earlier, and after some others had tried it, I asked my son, Kenzo, if he would like to try it too, and he said yes. As he was negotiating the course he had a crisis, and it is in times like this that the LORD pours out His blessing on us, His children, and gives us the courage to overcome our fear. Have a look:

I hope you were as inspired as I was! For me, the rope was a metaphor for our faith. If we hang on to our faith in Jesus Christ, and His promise to provide for our needs, we will overcome fear. It is written:

Rom 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”

The most important thing we should have faith in is in what Jesus Christ did for us: He paid for our sins on the cross, so that those that would believe in Him would have eternal life. It is written:

John 3:14-18 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. “

God bless,
George