The Adventures of the Sacred Agents

True Christmas: Take Christ

2008-12-27T02:59:00.000-08:00

It’s the long holiday time of the year again. I still get the inkling expression from my friends when they wonder why at church; Christmas is not celebrated during the, uhm, well, Christmas season. ( I believe I have posted a year or two ago the technical reasons why I find the Christmas Season as a perfect ‘Commercialism Season’, and thus, if you can be patient enough you can look for it among the post list.)
But I can share a few thoughts in here.
Christmas: time for gifts, food and various jollity.
For me, Christmas is a daily celebration for those who individually appreciate the birth of Christ in a deeper level - a personal level. Jesus is a gift from God. It is a gift for all that no one in this world can supersede, which I truly believe by faith. But God’s gift doesn’t merely end in Jesus’ birth. As a matter of fact, it was just the beginning. Thinking it over, Jesus’ lifestyle on His stay here on earth has a long list of gifts just waiting to be opened. It is jam-packed with knowledge and wisdom which was utterly shared for our own good. It’s like you are opening a new gift each time you read the Bible and mumble a prayer of thanks, and usually, follows a long list of ‘wanted gifts’ as well. His death was the climax of His precious gift with a grand conclusion of resurrection.
I think it doesn't matter whether other people celebrate it the way they know it, as long as Christians celebrate it the way they know it. Putting Jesus Christ above all things. Above all those presents, parties and gatherings.
If angels, shepherds and wise men took the effort to celebrate Christ's birth, why can't we?
When the angels knew that Jesus Christ had been born - They celebrated.
When the shepherd found Jesus on the manger - They celebrated.
When the wise men found Jesus on a house (after two years) - They celebrated.
But wait. They haven't seen him physically yet when they started celebrating. The thought and the belief that Jesus Christ had been born started the celebration in their hearts.
And it doesn't matter what time frame they were there to celebrate it. That's the fascinating part about it. Celebrating Christ's birth is not constricted in a specific time frame. Any true believer can celebrate it anytime, even everyday. Jesus' birth is a gift of all ages; not bounded with time.
I have read once in a book that God had opened his heart when He gave Jesus, isn't it time to open yours?

On one Christmas season, while Ynny was eating her breakfast, she greeted Jesus,
"Happy Birthday Lord, whenever it is...truly"
On the next morning, she did the same,
"Thank you for coming to Earth to save me."
And on the following days, and every time she remembers,
"Thank you for coming."
But one day, she asked,
"Why are there not any specific records of Your birth? Some historical records survived. Why haven't you allowed Yours to be known?"
It took days, but somehow, she got an answer,
"It is better that way. Each man accepts Me in their hearts in their own special time, and that is when I am truly born in their life to save them. That is when they can truly celebrate My birthday, the True Christmas. For my coming to earth is beyond the physical birth as you can see. When they Take Me as their Christ, then the essence of True Christmas will take place"

- JeniMansay

Checking In Today

2008-09-29T03:58:00.000-07:00

A minister passing through his church
in the middle of the day,

Decided to pause by the altar
and see who had come to pray.

Just then the back door opened,
a man came down the aisle,

The minister frowned as he saw
the man hadn't shaved in a while.

His shirt was kind a shabby
and his coat was worn and frayed,

the man knelt, he bowed his head,
Then rose and walked away.

In the days that followed,
eac h noon time came this chap,

each time he knelt just for a moment,
A lunch pail in his lap.

Well, the minister's suspicions grew,
with robbery a main fear,

He decided to stop the man and ask him,
"What are you doing here?"

The old man said, he worked down the road.
Lunch was half an hour.

Lunchtime was his prayer time,
For finding strength and power.

"I stay only moments, see,
because the factory is so far away;

as I kneel here talking to the Lord,
This is kind a what I say:

"I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD,

HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN,

SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER'S FRIENDSHIP

AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN.

DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY,

BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY.

SO, JESUS, THIS IS JIM

CHECKING IN TODAY."

The minister feeling foolish,
told Jim, that was fine.

He told the man he was welcome
To come and pray just anytime.

Time to go, Jim smiled, said "Thanks."
He hurried to the door.

The minister knelt at the altar,
he'd never done it before.

His cold heart melted, warmed with love,
and met with Jesus there.

As the tears flowed, in his heart,
he repeated old Jim's prayer:

"I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD,

HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN,

SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER'S FRIENDSHIP

AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN.

I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT

I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY.

SO, JESUS, THIS IS ME CHECKING IN TODAY"

Past noon one day, the minister noticed
that old Jim hadn't come.

As more days passed without Jim,
he began to worry some.

At the factory, he asked about him,
learning he was ill.

The hospital staff was worried,
But he'd given them a thrill.

The week that Jim was with them,
Brought changes in the ward.

His smiles, a joy contagious.
Changed people, were his reward.

The head nurse couldn't understand
why Jim was so glad,

when no flowers, calls or car ds came,
Not a visitor he had.

The minister stayed by his bed,
He voiced the nurse's concern:

No friends came to show they cared.
He had nowhere to turn.

Looking surprised, old Jim spoke
up and with a winsome smile;

"the nurse is wrong, she couldn't know,
that in here all the while

everyday at noon He's here,
a dear friend of mine, you see,

He sits right down, takes my hand,
Leans over and says to me:"

I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, JIM,

HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN,

SINCE WE FOUND THIS FRIENDSHIP,

AND I TOOK AWAY YOUR SIN.

ALWAYS LOVE TO HEAR YOU PRAY,
I THINK ABOUT YOU EACH DAY,
AND SO JIM, THIS IS JESUS

CHECKING IN TODAY.

S.A. 0006: The Adventure of Hands!

2008-08-11T02:35:00.000-07:00

Hands!

A basketball in my hands is worth about $19.
A basketball in Michael Jordan's hands is worth about $33 million.
It depends whose hands it's in.

A baseball in my hands is worth about $6.
A baseball in Roger Clemens' hands is worth $475 million.
It depends on whose hands it's in.

A tennis racket is useless in my hands.
A tennis racket in Andre Agassi's hands is worth millions.
It depends whose hands it's in.

A rod in my hands will keep away an angry dog.
A rod in Moses' hands will part the mighty sea.
It depends whose hands it's in.

A slingshot in my hands is a kid's toy.
A slingshot in David's hand is a mighty weapon.
It depends whose hands it's in.

Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches.
Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in Jesus ' hands will feed thousands.
It depends whose hands it's in.

Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse.
Nails in Jesus Christ's hands will
Produce salvation for the entire world.
It depends whose hands it's in.

As you see now, it depends whose hands it's in.
So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your families and your relationships in God's hands because...

It depends whose hands it's in !

S.A. 0005: The Adventure of Praying for Another

2006-08-21T17:56:00.000-07:00

A lesson we could all learn!

A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea
and only two of the men on it were able to swim to a small, desert like island.

The two survivors, not knowing what else to do, agree that they had no other recourse but to pray to God.
However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides of the island.

The first thing they prayed for was food. The next morning, the first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land, and he was able to eat its fruit.

The other man's parcel of land remained barren.

After a week, the first man was lonely and he decided to pray for a wife. The next day, another ship was wrecked, and the only survivor was a woman who swam to his side of the island. On the other side of the island, there was nothing.

Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes, more food. The next day, like magic, all of these were given to him. However, the second man still had nothing. Finally, the first man prayed for a ship, so that he and his wife could leave the island. In the morning, he found a ship docked at his side of the island.

The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man on the island. He considered the other man unworthy to receive God's blessings, since none of his prayers had been answered.
As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from heaven booming, "Why are you leaving your companion on the island?"
"My blessings are mine alone, since I was the one who prayed for them," the first man answered.

"His prayers were all unanswered and so he does not deserve anything."

"You are mistaken!" the voice rebuked him.

"He had only one prayer, which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings."

"Tell me," the first man asked the voice, "what did he pray for that I should owe him anything?"

"He prayed that all your prayers be answered."

For all we know, our blessings are not the fruits of our prayers alone, but those of another praying for us. This is too good not to be shared.
With obedience come blessings. My prayer for you today is that all your prayers be answered. Be blessed.

"What you do for others is more important than what you do for yourself"

This was shared with me by a friend; I hope youwill share with your friends.

S.A. 0004: The Adventure of The Son

2006-08-17T03:24:00.000-07:00

This is great, take a moment to read it, it will make your day!
The ending will surprise you.

Take my Son

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art.
When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.
About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands.

He said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly.

He often talked about you, and your love for art."

The young man held out this package. "I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this."

The father opened the package.

It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man.

He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting.

The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture.

"Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift."

The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.

The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.

On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel "We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?"

There was silence.

Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, "We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one."

But the auctioneer persisted. "Will somebody bid for this painting. Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?"

Another voice angrily. "We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!"

But still the auctioneer continued. "The son! The son! Who'll take the son?"

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son.

"I'll give $10 for the painting." Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.

"We have $10, who will bid $20?"

"Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters."

"$10 is the bid, won't someone bid $20?"

The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son.

They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.

The auctioneer pounded the gavel. "Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!"

A man sitting on the second row shouted, "Now let's get on with the collection!"

The auctioneer laid down his gavel. "I'm sorry, the auction is over."

"What about the paintings?"

"I am sorry When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings.

The man who took the son gets everything!"

God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like the auctioneer,

His message today is: "The son, the son, who'll take the son?"

Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, WHO SO EVER BELIEVETH, SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE...THAT'S LOVE

God Bless!!!

S.A. 0003: The Adventure of Letting Go

2006-08-12T20:56:00.000-07:00

There are people who can walk away from you.

And hear me when I tell you this!

When people can walk away from you: let them walk.

I don't want you to try to talk another person into staying with you, loving you, calling you, caring about you, coming to see you, staying attached toyou.

I mean hang up the phone.

When people can walk away from you, let them walk.
Your destiny is never tied to anybody that left.

The Bible said that they came out from us that it might be made manifest that they were not for us. For had they been of us, no doubt they would have continued with us. [1 John 2:19]

People leave you because they are not joined to you. And if they are not joined to you, you can't make them stay.Let them go.

And it doesn't mean that they are a bad person; it just means that their part in the story is over.

And you've go tto know when people's part in your story is over so that you don't keep trying to raise the dead. You've got to know when it's dead.

You've got to know when it's over.

Let me tell you something.
I've got the gift of good-bye.
It's the tenth spiritual gift.
I believe in good-bye.

It's not that I'm hateful, it's that
I'm faithful, and I know whatever God means for me to have He'll give it to me.

And if it takes too much sweat I don't need it.

Stop begging people to stay.

Let them go!!

If you are holding on to something that doesn't belong to you and was never intended for your life,then you need to......LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to past hurts and pains ...LET IT GO!!!

If someone can't treat you right, love you back, and see your worth...LET IT GO!!!

If someone has angered you ...LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to some thoughts of evil and revenge...LET IT GO!!!

If you are involved in a wrong relationship or addiction...LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to a job that no longer meets your needs or talents...LET IT GO!!!

If you have a bad attitude...LET IT GO!!!

If you keep judging others to make yourself feel better...LET IT GO!!!

If you're stuck in the past and God is trying to take you to a new level in Him...LET IT GO!!!

If you are struggling with the healing of a broken relationship...LET IT GO!!!

If you keep trying to help someone who won't even try to help himself...LET IT GO!!!

If you're feeling depressed and stressed ...LET IT GO!!!

If there is a particular situation that you are soused to handling yourself and God is saying "takeyour hands off it," then you need to...LET IT GO!!!

Let the past be the past.

Forget the former things.

GOD is doing a new thing NOW !!!LET IT GO!!!

Get Right or Get Left .. think about it, and then...LET IT GO!!!"

The Battle is the Lord's!

All you have to do is the following:

You simply PRAY

Next,

stop and think and appreciate God's power in your life, for doing what you know is pleasing toHim.

Jesus said, If you are ashamed of me, I will beashamed of you before My Father"

"Yes, I love my God. He is my fountain of Life and My Savior.

He Keeps me going day and night.

Without Him, I am no one.

But with Him, I can do everything,

Christ is my strength."

God loves you and watches over you everyday.

-^_^-

By T. D. Jakes

S.A. 0002: The Adventure of the Twenty-Six Guards

2006-07-27T05:40:00.000-07:00

This story are one of those inspirational stories that truly gives goosebumps and chills everytime I read it. I once read this when I was in high school, and I am just so glad that I found it on the net again. This is an old story... I hope you'd be inspired by it too. (-art)

26 Guards

Have you ever felt the urge to pray for someone and then just put it on a list and said, "I'll pray for them later ."

Or has anyone ever called you and said, "I need you to pray for me, I have this need?"

A missionary on furlough told this true story while visiting his home church in Michigan.

"While serving at a small field hospital in Africa, every two weeks I traveled by bicycle through the jungle to a nearby city for supplies. This was a journey of two days and required camping overnight at the halfway point. On one of these journeys, I arrived in the city where I planned to collect money from a bank, purchase medicine,and supplies, and then begin my two-day journey back to the field hospital.

Upon arrival in the city, I observed two men fighting, one of whom had been seriously injured. I treated him for his injuries and at the same time talked to him about the Lord. I then traveled two days, camping overnight, and arrived home without incident.

Two weeks later I repeated my journey. Upon arriving in the city, I was approached by the young man I had treated. He told me that he had known I carried money and medicines.

He said, 'Some friends and I followed you into the jungle, knowing you would camp overnight. We planned to kill you and take your money and drugs.
But just as we were about to move into your camp, we saw that you were surrounded by 26 armed guards.
At this, I laughed and said that I was certainly all alone in that jungle campsite. The young man pressed the point, however, and said,
'No,sir, I was not the only person to see the guards, my friends also saw them, and we all counted them. It was because of those guards that we were afraid and left you alone.'

At this point in the sermon, one of the men in the congregation jumped to his feet and interrupted the missionary and asked if he could tell him the exact day this happened.

The missionary told the congregation the date, and the man who interrupted told him this story:

"On the night of your incident in Africa, it was morning here and I was preparing to go play golf. I was about to putt when I felt the urge to pray for you. In fact, the urging of the Lord was so strong, I called men in this church to meet with me here in the sanctuary to pray for you. Would all of those men who met with me on that day stand up. The men who had met together to pray that day stood up.

The missionary wasn't concerned with who they were, he was too busy counting how many men he saw.

There were 26.

This story is an incredible example of how the Spirit of the Lord moves in mysterious ways.

If you ever hear such prodding, go along with it.

Nothing is ever hurt by prayer except the gates of hell.

I encourage you to forward this to as many people as you know.
If we all take it to heart, we can turn this world toward God once again.

As the above true story clearly illustrates, "with God all things are possible".

More importantly, how God hears and answers the prayers of the faithful.

After you read this, please pass it on and give God thanks for the beautiful gift of your faith, for the powerful gift of prayer, and for the many miracles He works in your own daily life... and then pass it on.

Who says God does not work in mysterious ways
I asked the Lord to bless you
as I prayed for you today.
To guide you and protect you
as you go along your way.
His love is always with you,
His promises are true,
and when we give Him our cares
you know He will see us through.
So when the road you're traveling on
seems difficult at best, Just remember
I'm here praying,
and God will do the rest

S.A. 0001: The Adventure of the Spectrum of Hope

2006-06-18T19:04:00.000-07:00

Last night, I watched the movie "Frequency". In the movie, the father who lived 30 years ago was able to talk to his son through a communication radio. The frequency that enabled them to communicate ‘magically’ was caused by the appearance of the Northern Lights, popularly known as Auroras or Aurora Borealis.

After watching the movie, I remembered again the thing that I saw a few days ago.

I was on my way home on an MRT ride from Graphics Expo exhibit, I remember I was hungry and tired for that day was a busy one. I was staring at the blue & white sky (which I always do), for looking at the sky and forming scenes from the abstract billows of the clouds is a relaxing hobby of mine.

There I was, staring at the clouds and imagining every possible form that the clouds unravel before me. I saw a face of a baby, a woman protruding upward that seems like looking up for the higher sky and a baby angel floating behind her. (Whoa! I may have such a wild imagination you may think, but I care less.)
Now, while I was busy staring on the clouds, something caught my attention - - - a sudden appearance of a ‘rainbow’. I called it ‘a rainbow with a weird form’, because it doesn’t form a bow. It is like golden sun rays beaming from behind the clouds, only it isn’t golden rays but the colorful spectrums similar to a rainbow. I could swear that the light appeared before my eyes; for I am observant to such things. Besides, the sky has always been my companion, what a blind mouse I would have been if I didn’t notice right away the colorful spectrum that flashed from a blanket of blue & white sky.

I was fueled by the sudden apparition of an unearthly show of celestial lights. It is beyond words to express what I felt that moment, and as if my jaw is about to break off from pure astonishment. I was in such awe that I almost missed the station where I must alight off the train.

As I leave the train station, I was still looking up hoping to see the magnificent lights above, but it’s getting dark and the buildings of the city shielded its beauty away from me.

It was such a wonderful thing that I even sent text messages to some friends about it, but none of them cared. Anyway, it doesn’t matter, maybe they are busy like the people in the MRT who haven’t had the time to look at the sky and see the heavenly display. And then I went home light heartedly, my hunger and my dead-beat mood was swiftly swept away.

The blissful experience the other day struck me again last night as I saw the Northern Lights in the movie Frequency.

Now I have the time to reflect to what I have seen.

I had been down for some quite time; I think God is reminding me that I must not lose hope.

Just like the rainbow during Noah’s time, there’s always a fresh beginning. The breakdowns in life are a chance to start over again, more intellectually ---more righteously.

And even in the darkest situation, a ray of hope will always bring light and will shine even more beautifully just like the Northern Lights.

These little show of lights will always remind us that
God will always give us a bright Spectrum of Hope.

-Sacred Agent Art

The Everyday Adventures of the Sacred Agents

2006-06-18T18:20:00.000-07:00

Here, you'll read real, small stories that you may reflect upon.