Prayer: What it Is Not

It is interesting to note that even as Jesus' disciples saw Him preach the greatest sermon, heal the sick and even raise up the dead, when they were given a chance to make a request to Jesus, they did not request for preaching skills, or the power to heal the sick or raise the dead. In Luke 11, Jesus' disciples asked Him to teach them to pray.


But, what is prayer, really? From what I have seen in the religious culture in our country the Philippines, among believers and what I see in the Word of God, let me share what prayer is not.


Prayer is not a magic wand. Many people who profess to believe in God use prayer superstitiously. It is used like a lucky charm when they are in need of something from God.

Prayer is not a fire extinguisher - for emergency use only. Of course, prayer is the best option and should be the first - not the last option. It surely is necessary during dire situations but prayer should not just be used during emergencies.

Prayer is not a tug-of-war with God. We do not have to beg, bribe or plead with God to answer our prayers. All we need to do is ask.

Prayer is more than just a religious duty. It is more than repeated, vain words, strictly scheduled times with God. If you pray and treat prayer like any or all of these four things then we may be missing the whole point of prayer. It is an act of cooperating with God, saying our requests to God, dedicating ourselves to God and most of all, communicating with God - like a child communicates with his father or a friend communicating with another friend.

Why don't you try this? During a time within the day when you are at your best, relax and focus on the presence of God. Then start talking to Him. You can even write a journal or a private blog of your communication with God. I assure you that it will revolutionize your prayer life. Go ahead, try it!

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Tips on Handling Your Finances

Are you having shortage on cash? Have your expenses for this payday exceeded your budget? Here are some tips to get you right back on track.

1) Make a list. Write down what you own, what you earn and what you owe. Keep good records, keep receipts. This will help you evaluate your spending.

2) Tell your money where to go. Make a budget and try to stick to it. Instead of being controlled by your money, take control of it instead.

During an emergency you can make a cash advance or a payday loan. You can try TrustSource.org. Their payment options are flexible and services discreet so that you get the cash you need immediately. Applying and qualifying at TrustSource.org for payday loans is quick and easy. Just make sure you include paying what you owe off in your budget on your next payday.

3) Give back to God. Tithing is important. It is an act of worship where we say that God is first even in our finances. It all came from Him anyway so it is also an act of gratitude when we give our tithe.

4) Save for the future. You can try the 10/10/80 principle. You can tithe the 10%, save another 10% and live off 80% of your income. Many people who have grown wealthy followed this pattern.

5) Share your blessings. That will keep the blessing on you flowing. Instead of being stagnant we must be flowing rivers of blessings.

Try these and see what happens.

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Mount Peniel Campsite, Capas, Tarlac

Today, I woke up at 4:48AM and started to prepare for our trip to Mount Peniel Campsite at Capas, Tarlac. This trip was a business trip. Our objective was to negotiate and settle final arrangements for our upcoming summer youth camp this third and fourth week of April. This was not our first time at this camp site. We held our youth camp last year at this same site. At 6:15AM my pastor friend and I were on our way to Quezon City to pick up our other companions. By 9AM we were already at Mount Peniel.

This camp site houses 600 heads in its rooms and dormitories comfortably. But at last year's camp we were able to fit in about 1,100 participants by maximizing every room and using their five other session halls excluding the covered basketball court which we used as our venue for our general assemblies. The rooms, dormitories and session halls in this camp site are all named after Bible characters, that is because the owners are Christians. They also have prayer cells within their camp site, so they're not only a camp site but a prayer venue as well. Before we conducted our meeting, the owners showed us a small scale model of their planned expansion - a new building which will add additional dorms, rooms and prayer cells to their existing facilities. They plan to finish this project next year.

The name of their camp site was taken from Genesis 32:30, "So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, 'It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.'" This is because the owner of Mount Peniel encountered God personally and she began a personal relationship with God that turned her life around and changed her for the better. She and her husband built and currently manage the campsite as a ministry to churches and Christian organizations by providing for them an affordable prayer venue and a camp site.

Our meeting with the owners were really swift and they were really easy to deal with - I believe it is because we share the same life objectives even in our different endeavors and that is to share to people how they can have a life changing personal relationship with God. We hope to settle our deal and make necessary reservation arrangements in the next two to three weeks.

Posted below are pictures of the campsite from our youth summer camp last year:

(Clockwise from upper left: Campers playing in Mount Peniel's playing field; Campers from our church (SBC Makati) hanging out just outside the mess hall; Our camp theme last year; Mount Peniel's covered court which we used for our general assemblies.)

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