REFLECTION 9

 American Christianity here in the Philippines arose a lot of religious group and one of those was the group of Felix Manalo. There group was contradicting to what the Bible says. They denying the trinity. I learned that a lot of those groups arose those times did not exist today. I only knew that Spanish only influenced us about the religious group but I was mistaken because the American Christianity also had a big influenced to us. I also learned that even though they had a lot of flaws here in the Philippines but they still have a good influenced to us.

As I evaluate it to myself what was happened during those times I was thanked to the Lord because of that I do have a lot of foreign teachers. I liked them. But before people do not like some of the Americans because they are h arsed and they even cheated us from the Spanish. Anyway, they've been part of the history of our nation.

I am praying for my foreign teachers and continue to know them more.

REFLECTION 8

Modernism, missions, and the Philippines was the topic of this reflection no.8. I learned that the first religions here in the Philippines was the animistic, the second group that was a large group was the Islam group and the next was the Catholic group. Before, I cannot accept that Baptist came with this group but now I realized that really the Lord used this group to form another group. Though is a quite confusing but I do believe really the Lord was there in the history. He was working on it and until now. Second was, I learned that without those people, who imparted us the Gospel maybe we're still animistic believers. We would know the real God. But thanks to the Lord, He send His people here in the Philippines to inform that we have a Creator, the one who creates everything. We will not just wondering who made everything but we have this personal relationship with Him.

As of now, I evaluate myself how He worked on me inside out. And I am praying I can also be one of the missionary who shared His word to those people really do not know Him. To be honest I am hungry to share His word to those remote places. 

REFLECTION 5

The Reform branch of the reformation and Anabaptist and the Radical reformation taught me

how the Lord used other religions just to preserved and fulfill His big plan. In nowadays i noticed that Anabaptist's teaching are some contradicting to what the Bible says. But in the church history I can see how the Lord used them. I also learned that the Lord chose His people from the very beginning. Why? Because throughout those people who studying the wrong doctrines the Lord pick them one to really see the truth and stand what really the Bible is saying. The Lord has its own perfect timing, perfect person to be used, and perfect place as well.

In my past experienced, I realized those bad things happened to me the Lord already knows it and He planned to used it. There are times that I cannot understand what the Lord is doing to me. I do have a lot of questions that makes me ponder every night. I often remember the bad things happened than the good things. Now, I am trying hard to really ask the Lord for His plan to me, to clear it out to me because I am now confuse but I do believe that the Lord is the King of peace and not confusion.

The steps that I am planning to do is really to read His word, to really abide me everyday. To seek mentors to guide me as well and to correct me. I do believe that the Lord will used other people to help me grow and by spending time with the Lord will really help me to be the woman that He wanted me to be. 

reflection 7

Protestant was one of the group arose during the Reformation. I learned that Protestant group was very active in their ministry and some of their people went here in the Philippines to share the word of God. I also learned from the life of Martin Luther how brave he was.

As I evaluated myself, I cannot imagine if someone will also tell me to recant my faith. I do not know what to answer but I do believe the Lord will help to stand even to the point of death because in my 20^th year of my life the Lord is very faithful to me then how can I deny Him. It is impossible to do that but nothing is impossible to the Lord. No one can fathom His wondrous deeds. As I looked back to the life of our apostolic father some of them really died just to stand what they believe in.

So now, as a minister of Christ, I want also to be firm in my doctrines and faith. Meditating the word of God and hidden His word to my heart is the best way to do. According to the scripture heaven and earth will pass away but the word of the Lord will still remain. 

Reflection 6

In times of Reformation in England and Catholic Counter Reformation in Europe a lot of people died and many religious group arose. The two things that I've learned from those events was first:  why we do have a lot of groups today and that is because of this Reformation and many people against the

Catholic group way of teaching so they better look to someone to be their leader in fighting against the other religious. The second thing that I've learned was, do not base your faith only to the people who surrounds you but you also need to study it. The scripture will help us to stand what we believing for adn not easily go astray and through the Holy Spirit's guidance.

There was one time, I ride in the bicycle then the driver told me if I believe in Jesus as my savior and I said yes. He told that Jesus is not our Savior. My ego arose because I do believe and the Bible says He is my savior. I am eager to debated him but thanks to the Lord my voice was not able to raised too much. Now I realized that those kind of person really need Christ. So, I am praying for their soul even I do not know them well.

REFLECTION 4

During the dark times the Lord is still on our side. He promised not to leave us nor forsake us. I am so amazed how God used the bad leaders to preserved the Church. Now I learned from my class that even how bad the person is still the Lord has a plan for him/her why she/he exist. Like the leaders that we have in the past, they killed the people who are not following what they wanted to do to them. See? How brutal it was. The Lord also allowed the other group of the people to conquered the other group. I can say that it was not good because there was a lot of kids, they did not even know how fight.. But of those kids died without experiencing the goodness of the Lord. Anyway, I do not really know what God planned for them but only God knows. Those dark times, I can really say that the Lord wanted the people to see that He is controlling of everything and He is powerful enough to do what pleases to Him.

In reflecting to my life about those dark times, I can really see the hand of the Lord and His plan for His creature. He is the God that knows about all the detail of His creature. He govern them. And now as I know that what happened to the past was not easy it was so difficult. Now I realize that I need to stand firm to my faith because a lot of people sacrificing on it just to pass what really the truth. Or I mean what really Jesus taught.

Though, a lot of people also laughing at me because of what I am believing but its okay as long us I am patiently showing them who Christ is in life. And how God love them too that He even died for all of us just to save us from our sins. Now, I am so thankful that even though they mock at me the Church history and even His story reminds me not to fight back at them but to pray for them. 

REFLECTION 3

Church and state is not good to be with. Because if ever they will go together there will be the tendency that the Government will going to control what is in the church. The preaching and the tights.

Like what Nero did to the Christians, they burned them, they fed them to the lion, and having fun crucified them. It was a sad history for us Christians but we can also see the hand of the Lord working on it. Because after those events Christians was spreading all over the world. They are not just stagnant. The Lord used them to tell the story how the Lord preserved their lives throughout those persecution. So Christianity was getting bigger that even the state cannot control them. To make the long story short, the Christianity was given a freedom. Though many christian died but we can also assure that they are secure in the hands of our Heavenly Father.

As I evaluating myself and ponder about the history, I am amazed of how God work on it. Because if the Lord did not allowed those persecution maybe they are still in that place not planning to move to other country. But because there was this persecution happening they are scattered every where. And the gospel of the Lord was also spreading. So the Lord has a big purpose why He allowed those events to happened. The tendency of us people we tend to question bad things that God allowed to happen not thinking why God allowed it. Is there something a lesson that God want us to learned?

So now that I know that whether in good and bad times God is working. In the ministry that I am involving right now I will teach the young people about the church history. And how God work in us inside out. Though we are really struggling in pursuing righteousness and came to the point we will become so weary because we felt that the Lord is not working, Believe that He knows what is going on in you. Remember He is familiar of our ways. Thus, believe that He is working.