Together with the reading of Proverbs, we have also started an all-church daily prayer. We call it the 10-Minute Appointment. The 10-minute prayer is an uninterrupted time with God lasting to about 10 minutes. Each VNLC attendee chooses his or her own time.

We begin our conversation with God by telling Him that we love Him. By that we mean, we are ready to obey His will that we learn from the devotional passage or lesson from the pulpit the last Sunday.

Next, we tell Him our praises and the  issues that we face during the day (or week). 

Then, we make mention of at least two fellow church attendees or believers. We bring their needs to God that we gather from talking with them.

We also ask God to help a person who is struggling to believe in Him. He or she maybe a member of our household or circles of friends.

We spend some time to ask God to bless our congregation: our ministries, leaders, projects, Sunday worship, Prayer and Discipleship (PAD) meetings, and even our relationship.

Please join us in our daily prayers. And let us know by filling out the form on the right hand side of this page. You can also send us questions and comments.

Thank you so much.

Pastor Joven Laroya

​Proverbs 15:33 (NLT2) 
Fear of the LORD teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor.

These two statements complement each other. The fear of the Lord thrives in humility. Honor results from wisdom which can only be gained with humility. The equation looks like this: Humility + Fear = Wisdom = Honor. It may be restated differently. Fear, that is respect and reverence for God (Psalm 111:10) comes through and sustains humility (Proverbs 22:4). This symbiosis of fear and humility results to wisdom, that is, righteous living. Righteous living generally makes one live an honorable life.

The nature of the Lord being all-knowing and almighty, but also “all-loving” God should create awe, a fear of His judgment, and respect and love to Him. The sum of all of these feelings is called the fear of the Lord. Wisdom is when we act on this kind of fear. Humility is the appropriate attitude. Honor comes as a result because God and His ways are followed (Proverbs 20:20-21; 22:4).

Let’s honor God with our humility and He will honor us among people (1 Samuel 2:30, James 4:10, 1 Peter 5:6). This will be rewarded with a life with Him forever.

Happy Thursday everyone.
Sent - 12:32 PM

Sometimes,you will get a short devotional for the day in this section. VNLC has an ongoing devotionals in the book of Proverbs. About three months ago, we have set out to read one verse each day.  We started with Proverbs 11:1. We are now on Proverbs 15:32. 

Please continue reading.

Proverbs 15:32 (NLT2)
​If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.

We can take this passage as an extension of yesterday’s verse.  The word used in the original language for “understanding” may be translated as “heart.” It usually refers to the thinking, feeling, deciding, and willing side of a person. It may then mean that when a person agrees to correction, his inner self grows.  That includes his depth of thinking, width of his understanding, agreeableness of his attitude, and strength of his character.

We seem to think that the older we get, the wiser we become. Yes, if our experimentations and experiences in our younger age have developed the discipline to choose what is right. The Bible puts more weight on learning than aging. Yes, Job says, “Wisdom is found with the elderly” (Job 12:12).  But he immediately explains that wisdom comes from the counsel of God (Job. 12:13).  That entails learning as later emphasized by Christ. He said, “Those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge" (Matthew 13:12). 

When corrected, we know what to do: listen and learn. This applies primarily in our living in the kingdom of God. But then also, it makes us a better person in every way, if we change our ways when corrected.

Happy Wednesday everyone.

Pastor Joven Laroya

P.S. You can make comments. Our goal is to remind each other the teaching of our Lord, and help each other live it. Share your thoughts.

Our Proverbs verse for today: Proverbs 15:31
"A glad heart makes a happy face; a broken heart crushes the spirit."

Most consider this passage to naturally mean that one’s cheerful looks brings happiness to another. In addition, if the person brings a good news, the other person is refreshed or strengthened. A commentator puts it simply. A positive person’s encouragement, whether nonverbal (by a cheerful look, lit., “bright eyes”) or verbal (good news; cf. 25:25), is helpful and uplifting.  

I think that the most literal translation of our verse from the original language would be from the New American Standard Bible: Bright eyes gladden the heart; Good news puts fat on the bones.  Now we can look at the other meaning of the passage. If our very own eyes (vision and understanding) are attuned to positive things, they can make our hearts rejoice. Our seeing and our countenance feed each other, that is, if the heart rejoices, our disposition follows. 

And on the other hand, if our hearing is tuned in to good news based on the Good News of Jesus, it makes our bones “fat.” In Biblical Hebraic language, a bone covered with fats expresses health and prosperity. 

It is a happy thought that we stir others to be positive, joyful and strong through our temper and outlook. But that can only happen if we possess the same disposition. 

​Are we a bright-eyed and fat-boned Christians at home and at work?