CELEBRATING GODS FAITHFULNES AMIDTS THIS TRYING TIMES

(pagsaulog sa kaayo ug pagkamatinud-anon sa Ginoo bisan sa panahon sa

mga pagsulay)

Lamentations 3:22-23
English Standard Version
22 
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;[a]
    his mercies never come to an end;
23 
they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.

Filipos 4:12-13

Good morning brothers and sisters in christ. In behlf my family and to

the Conference the central Negros Associate Conference I would like to
express my heartfelt thanks to Samac UCCP for inviting me as your speaker
on the 74th thanksgiving celebration, Guided with a theme Celebrating God’s
faithfulness in this trying times.(Pagsaulog sa kaayo ug pagkamatinud-anon
sa Ginoo niining panahon sa mga pagsulay.)

The faithfulness of God is true and has been proven many times. In the
Holy Scriptures, we can see that God is faithful and His Word is true. Hebrews
6:18 says God cannot lie, nor can He break an unconditional promise that He
says He will fulfill. Every covenant He made is kept. Every promise or
foretelling has or will come true. Testimony after testimony of God’s
faithfulness is certainly found throughout the Bible and is still given in
testimonies by people today.(ang pagkamatinud-anon sa Ginoo napadayag
ug nasinati sa Iyang katawhan dili lamang sa panahon sa old testament
kondili bisan sa panahon sa bag-ong testament kanato karon ug gani bisan
hangtod sa sunod nga henerasyon. Gani ang samac church exist for ____

Mao nga kitang mga kristohanon maisugon gayud nga maga deklarar
THAT GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME AND ALL THE TIME GOD IS
GOOD…..(read Psalm107: 1, Psalm 86:5, Romans 8:28)

Celebration is greater than commemoration

There is an enormous difference between commemoration and celebration.
Let me explain. I have lived in different parts of the world and had
opportunities to observe religion at work in distinct cultures. I have come to
the conclusion that a major difference between Christianity and every other
belief system is the sense of celebration. Most religions commemorate events
and individuals. For example, every year Shi’ite Muslims observe Ashura, in
memory of the assassination of Hussayn, the grandson of Muhammed at
Karbala in modern Iraq. Buddhists commemorate a tooth of the Buddha, or a
footprint attributed to him. In Jerusalem I once visited Yad Vashem, a powerful
and poignant museum dedicated to the commemoration of millions of Jews
who died during the Holocaust period in Europe in the twentieth century. Civic
religion everywhere commemorates wars and other pivotal events and
personalities in national histories, using monuments, statues, stamps, coins
and other memorabilia. (usa ka
magsusulat iyang nakita ang kalahian sa relihiyong Christianismo sa ubang
religion. Matod pa sa author ang ubang relihiyon kusog kaayo sa mga
commemoration sama sa mga Buddhist nga kanunay naghandum sa mga
tunob ni Buddah, ug gani ang uban maghimo pag estatuwa
paghandum/baliklantaw sa nangaging kasinatian. Apan ang kristianismo,dili
lang nag commemorate, kondili nag celebrate pagsaulog sa kaayo ug
pagkamatinud-anon sa Ginoo bisan sa mga malisod nga kahimtang. Usa ka
balak sa tawo nga malaumon BISAN KON ANG KASINATIAN NATO SA
2020 PAIT PA SA PANYAWAN, APAN KITA MALAUMON NGA ANG TUIG
2021 MAHIMONG TAM-IS PAS DUGOS SA PUTYOKAN..

The problem is, commemoration is linked to the past, to “memory”; it is not

about the present or the future. Buildings and plaques commemorate,
whereas people are designed to celebrate and have hope beyond the
moment. This is a paramount difference. Events in the Bible can be
commemorated as important developments in history, as milestones, but
true Christianity goes beyond commemoration. .(ang kasaysaysan sa
Biblita mahimong mahandum ug dili malimtan sa huna-huna apan ang
Kristohanon dili lamang kutub sa paghandum kondili sa pagsaulog….In
fact all events and situations in life are to be celebrated. Ang tanang
panghitabo angayng saulogon,pagpasalamat ug pagsalig sa kaayo sa
Ginoo.

It is natural to ask “Why?” when things that seem unfair or unbearable

happen to us. David, in the Psalms, frequently responded to difficulties by
questioning God’s faithfulness. “God, are you still there?” Why hast thou
forsaken me… Psalm 22…On reflection, he always ended up revising his
opinion and coming back with stronger faith than ever. Even Jesus asked,
“My God, why have you forsaken me?”, when he was nailed to the cross,
but finished praying, “Into your hands I commit my spirit”. God hadn’t
abandoned him; it just seemed that way for a moment. It is hard to be
objective when we feel overwhelmed by circumstances. That’s where faith
comes in and we learn to trust Him regardless of what we feel or see.
There is no one more trustworthy. He heals the broken-hearted, comforts
the bereaved, binds their wounds and gives them inner strength. Tragedies
do not invalidate His presence, purpose or care. We do not need to change
our theologies to match circumstances. (natural nga reaction sa tawo nga
kon makasinati ug kalisod ug mga kabug-at mangutana gayud sa gahum
ug pagkamatinud-anon sa Ginoo. Sama ni Salmista David diin nangutana
siya naa pa ba ikaw Ginoo ug nganong gibiyaan mo man ako?.. Apan
bisan sa mga pagpangutana, si Salmista David nakahimo gihapon sa usa
ka Pamahayag sa Pagtoo sa pagkamatinud-anon sa Ginoo. There is a leap
of faith, and that instead of asking the why question, what……

God shows his faithfulness by putting us in relationships, such as families;

or providing experienced Christians as leaders and mentors to care for us
spiritually (Hebrews 13 17). Whatever happens, He is described as a father
looking after his family, caring for the vulnerable, a pastor overseeing his
sheep (Psalm 23). Even the deaths of his people are “precious” in his sight
(Psalm 116:15).
 When an intimidated Moses needed assurance about the massive assignment he
was given, He asked for God's credentials. He wanted to know God's name. So
God answered with His covenant name, "Yahweh: I AM WHO I AM" (Ex. 3:14).
Think about the meaning of that name. God took the present tense verb form of "to
be" and used it for His name. It is a name that expresses God's eternality, but it also
announces that in His nature and perfections, in His knowledge, will, purpose and
happiness, He always remains the same. God never changes.

Because He is faithful in character and action,

A. God has the last word on all things/God has always the final say

* relate to the life of Paul ….. nasinati ko…… nakat-onan ko na ….may

kalig-on ako (Filipos 4:12-13)

In times of crisis, filpino families can still smile when taken pictures in times
of calamities.

PADAYON SA PAGSAULOG SA KAAYO UG PAGKAMATINUD-ANON SA GINOO

TUNGOD KAY BISAN KON NAUSAB ANG PANAHON UG KAHIMTANG, ANG DIOS
ATONG GIILA NGA WAY PAGKAUSAB.(a changeless God in a changing times)