Everybody has the chance to stop believing in what they believe in, leave uncomfortable circumstances, be lazy, and not perform to the best of their abilities. Pero naniniwala ako na if you want to reach your full potential in life, you must remain dedicated. 

You need to be sure that you want to do this for a long time. Do not have a ‘ningas kugon’ mentality. Yong maganda lang sa simula pero walang intensyon to finish. Sa horse racing, there are horses which aim is just to participate but not committed to stay running the race to reach the finish line and win.

You may be experiencing difficulties and you have a good reason to leave. But do not choose the easy way out. Mahirap talaga ang may asawa at magpalaki ng mga anak. But your marriage and raising your kids need your full attention. Do not give up on your family and friends. They might make mistakes. But be kind to them. Be a friend who gets along with everyone. Stay true to your promises through good times and bad. Don’t give up on your dreams. Do not give up on the promises God made to you. Maaring nagtatagal ang Lord sa tingin mo but He is working behind the scenes you don’t know. God always keeps His word. He has already set the time for it to happen. Keep going to church every week. Do your best at your job. Make sure that they can count on you every day.

Maraming mga tahanan ang nawasak dahil sa bangayan at bad attitudes. In the Bible while the Hebrews were rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem at natatakot na dumating ang mga kalaban. While they work on construction, they hold hammers on the left hand and a sword on the right hand, Nehemiah said to his men: “fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!” Ang isang matatag na pamilya talagang dapat ipaglaban. Sa panahon ngayon maraming mga tukso at dahilan para masira ang magandang relationship natin sa ating asawa at mga anak and if we will not take a stand to fight for our family, all of us will be victims of despair. Lahat tayo ay talo. 

Upang maging matibay ang ating pamilya, kailangan na tayong mga magulang ay committed sa Panginoon. Christ should be the centre of our marriage. Maganda pareho kayo nagsisimba, nababasa ng Bible, holding hands together to pray. And then, we as parents must be committed to one another. Kelangan may respeto tayo sa ating asawa. My mom always tells me: “a happy wife is a happy life.” My dad reminds me: “always love your wife just like I love your mom.

I always tell single people to find a lifetime partner who loves Jesus because the Jesus who is in them will teach them to love you.

The best way for me to show you love your children is by loving your spouse. Hug each other whenever you are happy/sad. Hold each other’s hands when walking together. Say “I love you.” The more you show affection to your spouse in front of your kids, the more secure they will feel and will get a healthier environment to grow up in.

We must be committed to our relationship through the good times and the bad times. Madaling maghiwalay because no two people are compatible. Hindi lahat ng hindi naghihiwalay ay walang dahilan para hindi magkahiwalay – but they made the decision that they will stay together for better and for worse. Both of you must be committed to your children and to your family. The Bible says that the wife is the reflection of her husband. Stay committed to ensure that your partner is strong, confident, healthy and happy.

God honors those people who are dependable, committed, and faithful. However, many people failed to understand this principle. Their mentality is as long as they’re getting support and appreciations, they’ll follow their dreams. Their dedication depends on everything going their way. However, when something is challenging or takes longer than anticipated, people become disheartened and begin to lose commitment at bumibitaw sila.

Those who are committed survive the challenges. Although they are free to end the relationship, committed individuals stay in it. Those that are committed go above and beyond what is required of them. Is there anything that you’ve been tempted to give up on, neglect, or simply stop trying your hardest at? God is saying, “Stay committed. Stay faithful. Stay loyal” Those who are committed fulfil their destiny.

We all understand that there are times that you have to put an end to a relationship and you have to move on but that should not be a pattern in all aspects of life.

Maranatha began with only 5 members. Every Wednesday nights, ipapasundo ng mom and aking mga tiyahin. Maraming mga pagsubok ang dumating sa amin noon. Monthly, kami ay nagpupunta sa bawat bayan para magkaroon ng mga “crusades” to massively preach the Word of God. Naranasan nina Mom and Dad ang pagtawanan at alipustatain, minsan halos nakarinig pa kami ng mga armalite gunshots para lang takutin kami. But mom and dad kept on preaching to 5 people as if they are preaching to 1,000 people. They never missed a Bible Study and Sunday Service. Nanatili silang tapat sa kanilang pagkatawag . Maranatha JIC has become an international church with strong brethren in Europe, Middle East, and America. 

Ang mga pangarap ng Lord na ibinigay Niya sa iyo may take time because you do not see anything happening right now. But do not lose hope. Stay committed. Do what is right. When God sees your faithfulness. Like Mom and Dad, you will experience your season of favor and will see that your dreams will start to unfold. 

Si Eliseo ay isang bata na naging alalay ni Elijah. Alam ni Eliseo na malapit ng kuhanin ng Diyos si Elijah papunta sa langit. In 2 Kings 2, Elijah told him: “Eliseo, dito ka muna dahil pupunta ako sa Bethel.” Pero sumagot si Eliseo, “I will stay with you…” Then Elijah said: “Eliseo, dito ka muna dahil pupunta ako sa Jericho…” Pero sumagot si Eliseo, “I will stay with you…” After noon, kinausap na naman ni Elijah si Eliseo: “Eliseo pupunta ako sa Jordan, dito ka na muna. Huwag ka ng sumama sa akin.” Pero sumagot si Eliseo, “I will stay with you…” Tatlong beses na pinigilan ni Elijah si Eliseo iwanan na siya tutal malapit na syang mawala. But Elijah stood his ground: “Hindi kita pwedeng iwanan. I will stay with you wherever you go…aalagaan kita.”

Then when Elijah was about to be taken to the heaven, tinanong ni Elijah si Eliseo: “Ano ba ang gusto mo?” Sumagot si Eliseo, “I want a double portion of your anointing.” Eliseo enjoyed the double power of Elijah’s anointing. Maraming mga himala at kababalaghan ang nagawa ni Eliseo. Naniniwala ako na ang mga iyon ay bunga ng kanyang commitment to stay with Elijah. He was blessed by God because he stayed devoted. Nanatiling tapat si Eliseo na alagaan si Elijah hanggang sa huling sandali. 

When Alfredo Yao was 12, his father died. To support him and his brothers, his mother worked as a street vendor. With the help of a family friend, Yao was able to go to college at the Mapa Institute of Technology, but he did not finish but Yao stayed committed to his dream. He did a lot of different odd jobs, one of which was working at a printer. During his time there, he learned how to print paper for candy and cookies. This gave him the idea to start his own printing business.

Even though his printing business was doing well, it was when he learned about the Doy Packaging method from Europe that his career really took off. Companies that make juice were not interested in the method when he tried to sell it to them. Yao chose to start his own juice business and started by making up recipes in his kitchen. 

Parents liked these juices because they tasted good and were easy to pack in their kids’ lunchboxes because the packing was light and brightly coloured. Putting the juice in the box also helped it stay cold longer.

Now, Zest-O has 80% of the juice market in the Philippines. It has also grown into markets in Australia, China, New Zealand, Korea, Singapore, the US, and other European countries. The Philippines’ juice industry has come back to life thanks to Yao’s business success, which has also helped dalandan orange farmers’ businesses. Small business owners reuse the Doy packs to make handbags that they sell in other countries.

Yao has moved his business interests into the flight industry by buying Asian Spirit Airlines and changing its name to Zest Air.

Jesus was so upset in the Garden of Gethsemane that he sweated big drops of blood. So badly hurt on the way to Calvary that he fell over from the weight of the cross. He could have said to His Father: “God, it’s too much, even though I did the right thing, these people were mean to me. They made fun of me and put me on the cross. Enough is enough, I’m done.”

But Jesus stayed committed. He did what was right even though it wasn’t fair. He stayed committed with His purpose even though he should have given up. He was in it until the end, but no one would have blamed him if he had quit. He wouldn’t give up until he accomplished his goal. But He said: “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me and to finish His work….”

My brother Lowell got sick and lost his kidney. He lost his kidney and he was in dialysis. The doctor said that he will be on dialysis for many years if not for life. I said to him I was ready to give him my kidney. But my brother Lex said: “no kuya, I will be ready for Lowell. I am on standby for him if he needs my kidney.” Lex committed himself to our brother Lowell. Lex became a kidney donor for Lowell and the transplant became a success. Now Lowell and his family are serving the Lord. He is our pastor in Abu Dhabi.

In the Bible, Ruth’s husband died and Naomi’s husband, Ruth’s father in law died. Naomi said, “Ruth umuwi ka na sa inyo sa Moab dahil matanda na ako. You still have the good days ahead of you. You deserve a better life.”But Ruth said: “I will stay with you, your God will be my God.” Ruth came from the cursed nation of Moab but I believe that she became the wedded wife of Boaz and Ruth became the matriarch of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What would happened if Ruth left Naomi? Ruth was blessed because she stayed committed.

Don’t be happy with average; God made you to be great. You will stand out because you have something that no one else does or has. You have a seed in you that will help you leave your mark. Don’t let other people put you off. Just like Eliseo and Ruth, stay committed. Do not give up when you run into delays or detours. Have that spirit of commitment to stay and you will see the goodness and the favor of God.