paolopunzalan.com » Spiritual Growth

FIGHTING BACK

Paolo Punzalan — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 12:06:38 +0000

For some divine reason, I just know that God has something in store for our youngest, Joaquin. Found to have 2 big tumors in his brain when he was 4 months old in his mommy’s tummy which miraculously disappeared within 2 months and now to this – suffering from a condition doctors call “Kawasaki”. God really must have something for this kid.

With the ongoing ordeal our youngest is going through, I remembered Pastor Jim Lafoon’s statement years ago that never left me. He said, “When the devil attacks my camp, I go into an all out war against him and I bombard his camp with everything I’ve got!”

Jenn asked me this afternoon at the hospital on my way out if I was going to preach at the 5 and 7 pm services. I said, “Yes. You bet!” Did I have I have a well crafted message prepared? Not really, but I was absolutely ready to fire away!

On my way to church today, I was fired up! I wasn’t going to take things sitting down. When the enemy attacks our camp, I am going to go on all out war against him – I will pray, preach with all my heart, serve God with everything I have till the very last breath.

“Paolo, are you not afraid announcing an all out war against the enemy?” Absolutely not! You can give this blog link to him to read, send him my podcast and tell him personally for all I care but what I know is that greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world.

My favorite kids pastor, Bill Wilson once said, “Hit the devil with whatever stick you have in your hand. Whatever he throws at us, we can use to throw it back to him.”

COTTON CANDY FOCUS

Paolo Punzalan — Sun, 31 May 2009 13:16:47 +0000

I took my 5 year old son, Ryan to a professional basketball game (PBA). He was enjoying the game for the first 2 quarters. However, when half-time hit, there were hawkers that were selling all kinds of stuff – from Pizzas to Pepsi, ice tea to ice cream.

One particular item caught my son’s attention… cotton candy.

He asked me to buy it. Wanting to be a kind and generous father, I got him one so he can enjoy the game while eating it. But as the game progressed, I noticed that he was more consumed about his cotton candy than the game that was actually pretty exciting.

I thought about how sometimes we start off wanting to live our lives for God but along the way, we get distracted. We’re excited, we’re focused and we know why we’re there. But stuff comes along and we lose our focus.

I guess that’s exactly why God, no matter how generous a Father He is, doesn’t give us everything we ask for right at the moment we ask for it. He knows we’ll end up focusing on the blessing more than the Blesser.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith… (Hebrews 12:2)

FOCUSED ON WHAT?

Paolo Punzalan — Sun, 17 May 2009 00:20:16 +0000

“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Cor. 10:31)

God’s first commitment is to His own glory and that this is the basis for ours.

Why is it important to be stunned by the God-centeredness of God? Because many people are willing to be God-centered as long as they feel that God is man-centered. It is a subtle danger. We may think we are centering our lives on God, when we are really making Him a means to self-esteem.

By John Piper, “Brothers, We Are Not Professionals”