Page 202 of 365: An Act of Heroism

Pin It

What Franz Dysam did was a showcase of his love to
his girlfriend, and you too can show that to God and
others. Loi Landicho

After his Letran Knights beat the Lyceum Pirates in the NCAA last night, Franz Dysam and his girlfriend

Joanne Sordan drove their way home. But they were ambushed by unidentified men along the intersection of N. Domingo and Araneta Avenues in San Juan City, just a stone throw away from the FilOil Flying V Arena where the game was played. The couple were brought to the hospital, but Sordan was declared dead on arrival, while Dysam was transferred to the UST Hospital to get further medications.

Colegio de San Juan de Letran released its official statement affirming some social media reports that Dysam covered Sordan, who was apparently the target of the ambush, by putting his body on her to take the ammos. Franz put his life on the line just to save his love, and that's a great gentleman approach that will be remembered for years. Love is about taking a heroic stand not just to your spouse but also to your parents, friends, and superiors. That heroic stand doesn't just come in the form of taking bullets. The apostle Paul put up a list of what love is and what heroic stands you can do to show your love to others. You can find that in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

And if you think you can't do them all, just look upon Jesus. He showed His love to us by doing everything Paul would write to Corinth several years after He ascended back to Heaven. Apart from that, the Lord did the biggest act of heroism ever. Jesus Christ took the "bullets" that were meant for us. We're the sinners that should have been punished by death, but the Lord showed His mercy and gave us grace by bailing us out of our faults, absorbing all of our sins, and bringing them to the cross. I remember how Christ did that for us, and I still get teary-eyed. You too can show your love. Be patient to them, be kind to them, be the friend or loved one they expect you to be, and of course be trustful to God, the Creator of love. Showing your love to God and others is a great act of heroism.

PS: Let's continue to pray for the fast recovery of Franz Dysam and that justice will be served to him and Joanne.

Page 184 of 365: Fasting Troubles

Pin It

I'm honestly on the verge of giving up in my midyear fast, but
I know God will strengthen me.

While I'm participating in a short fasting period, I am now at a point where I begin to crave for other things. I am currently in a milk-and-juice fast, but I'm beginning to feel like I need to eat now. Fasting has never been this hard.

However, this is where God works the best. In times that we're losing the battle, He will lift us up and strengthen us to achieve the victory. 1 Corinthians 2:5 (NIV) says that "faith [should] not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." As we continue to pray and fast, remember that it's the Lord's power that will prevail.

 Read Acts 10:44-48, 19:1-12, Ephesians 5:15-20, 1 Corinthians 2:4, 5, and Isaiah 44:1-5.

Page 183 of 365: Prayer is Power

Pin It

Not even a power interruption will stop us from continuously praying to God.

I had to rush to our church's prayer meeting from my class, but the lights were literally out as soon as I came to the church center. But what I saw was something I liked a lot. Despite the power interruption, the prayer meeting was still ongoing, and everyone was do passionate in praying as if there's no blackout. It was a totally different story from the past times I attended prayer meetings. All I saw were people continuously praying despite what I believe is a threat from Satan to disrupt them.

In this time in which we are praying and fasting, we are expecting the sinister plans of Satan, but we know that the Lord has already beaten him. And even a very long power interruption will not stop us from praying.

This is one of the callings of the Lord to us. We will never cease in praying and believing for the breakthroughs to come. As what the apostle Paul said, "He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time... (2 Timothy 1:9 NIV)"

Read 2 Timothy 1:8, 9, Acts 13:1-12, Romans 8:13, 14, and Isaiah 43:6, 7.