God’s faithfulness and his will for my life - Answered prayers for people to disciple

Thursday, 4:53pm – Mandaluyong City, Philippines
God answered my prayers of people to disciple and if he wanted me to do it. In my heart is to share God’s word to everyone around me. I get to practice with a friend from the States and now a brother here in the Philippines. I thank the Lord for the blessing of both for me to begin this and also for these brothers to receive his Word. I pray that I don’t add or take anything away, and that I just take the steps on providing the Word but that the Holy Spirit is always there guiding us on what we should go over. I am waiting and praying for when my roommate will be open for me to share the Bible with him on a consistent basis. Please pray that he attends this Sunday’s Victory service for “1 Life to Live”.

I know we will grow understanding more about God and how to apply his commands to our life. I pray God gives us the strength, boldness and discernment on what to apply and when so that we may gain wisdom and impart that wisdom with others.

Thank you Jesus for you life, thank you Holy Spirit for being our Counselor and thank you God for your love in everything.

What’s in a name? The meanings of a few and how it can define your life

Ever since I was young, in grade school from what I can remember, I always thought the name of a person was very important. As if someone’s name really represented who they are and what they were destined to be. Being of Filipino descent, growing up in Burbank, California I would experience slight prejudice on occasions. Some people thought I was Chinese, many thought I was of Mexican heritage. But since my name was “Ryan”, an Irish name, it made all the things more confusing. I wanted a different name, a cooler name. I thought “Ryan” was so plain and ordinary. I wanted a name to stand out from the crowd.

Later I came to understand from a book on names that one meaning of “Ryan” was Little King. I used to think, “this is cool” but then again, I was short amongst the other kids and even until now I am still short but when I was growing up, my height was a slight insecurity. I remember wishing I could become taller to see how it would be and how people would treat me. It wouldn’t be until I was 26 years old and started racing motorcycles did I find my height and smaller frame as a competitive advantage. Thank you God for my size.

I just read this morning in the book of Luke that the name John means “The Lord is gracious” and that the name Jesus means “The Lord saves”, both from Hebrew. Reading this I have realized there is a lot in a name. So much that an Angel named Gabriel came to earth to tell a prophet named Zechariah (his name means “God Remembers”) that him and his wife will have a son and they shall name him John. He was given this name. It was and is important. It represents what he was set apart to do for God and the people of this world, to pave the way for the coming of the Messiah, or the “Anointed”, or Jesus. God is gracious and God saves.

We are all given the blessing of life and our particular skills, talents and abilities. We are also given a name from our parents but I expect divinely by God.

I pray we all come to understand what we are set out to do on this earth, so that God can be glorified and all on this earth benefit from the lives we live. Thank you Jesus, in your name I pray. Amen.

Sign from God – he keeps showing me my race number, 48

Sunday, 6:48pm – Mandaluyong City, Philippines (<- it just so happens the time I started this as well) God continues to show me my race number, the #48. Different variations of it, specifically of different combinations I had for racing: 148, 248, 648 and just 48. I am not sure what to do with this yet. I am not trying to look for it but it’s noticeable since of course it was significant. From seeing how God has given me signs before, he definitely wants me to contemplate and look into it further. The only thing I associate this number with is motorcycle racing. Last week a mentor/pastor recently questioned if I thought about going back to racing, stating that it can possibly be a platform to glorify Jesus name.
1:48 - Truck in-dash clock : January 15, 2009

I began racing in 2005 and quickly became passionate and addicted to motorcycle racing and riding. I put all my effort to practice, train, and study to keep on improving and to be superior in competition. From 2006 to 2008 I would win championships and make it to the professional level. Coming to search for God and start a relationship with Jesus changed the course of my life since April of 2008.


148 - Visiting Moina's Grandma in the hospital: January 2, 2009

Today I am in the Philippines, building the foundations of the Christian faith and serving in the poor communities, squatter areas, where economy, social structure, basic necessities and love for God is needed to combat against the sin and evil in this world in individuals and structures in society. Taking a 2-weekend class with Professor Mel Luna of Extra Mile Foundation gave knowledge and insight of the causes of the issues that plague the Barangay Arboretum community that friends and I from Victory Church have been participating and volunteering our time since September of 2008.


1.48 - Eating at a Mediterranean restaurant with Moina: January 2, 2009

Committing my life to Jesus Christ on June 8, 2008 has been a rapid journey of living by the Holy Spirit, being guided by the teaching and word of God in the Bible, and just having faith in the convictions in my heart to connect with various individuals both in California and in the Philippines. The more I read, pray and am obedient, the more I learn and am filled with the joy of following God and having an intimate relationship with him.


648 - playing Solitaire on my Ipod video: December 23, 2008

I have learned to turn away from the old patterns of desires that would never satisfy me. I have found the peace and joy in building and nurturing the relationships I have with friends, family and church family. My eyes have opened to what it means to put others before myself, to serve and love God and to live by faith. I have now come to know that Moina will be my wife and I am still constantly finding God in all that I see and do, everyday and every moment in my life and I praise God and continue to be amazed and wonder how I can show my love back. God will show me. He’s brought me this far, and I’m just waiting to know where to go to next.


48 - Bose advertisment at SM North, The Block: December 5, 2008

I love you God. Thank you, please show me how I can become even closer to you, and share and teach others about you, so they can start or grow their relationship with you as well. In Jesus mighty name I pray, Amen.


048 - Tricycle license plate in Mandaluyong City where I live: November 23, 2008