Faith Sparks with Bro Roy

Photo by Francesco Ungaro on Unsplash Introduction There are moments in Scripture where the story slows down, not because nothing important is happening, but because God wants us to pay attention. Genesis 23 is one of those chapters. At first glance, it looks like a simple account of death, grief, and a land transaction. But the more I sit with it, the more I realize how much faith is revealed in the details. What strikes me is how Abraham responds in a season of loss. He is grieving, yet he is not passive. He is humble, yet he is firm. He receives generosity, yet he does not rush to accept it without thought. Even in Sarah’s death, this moment becomes a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—one that Abraham does not take lightly. It reminds me that in life, and even in death, God can place moments before us that shape the present and the future, where our decisions, integrity, and faith matter profoundly. As I go verse by verse, I want to slow down and notice what the text is emphasizing. T...

Photo by Alan Rodriguez on Unsplash Introduction Most of the time, my personal devotion follows a familiar pattern. I focus on one verse, relate it to other passages, and reflect using a framework like DUCA. That way of reading Scripture has shaped my walk with God deeply. But there are seasons when I return to another way of reading the Bible that I truly love, verse by verse. Reading Scripture this way slows me down. Every word carries meaning. Every verse matters. Each line connects to the next, yet also speaks on its own. Spiritually, the passage already says so much. It opens more space for reflection and allows God to speak personally, not just devotionally but relationally. This reflection on Genesis 22:1–19 is written in that spirit. My prayer is not only to reflect on Abraham’s faith, but also to encourage others to read their Bible in a way that is patient, personal, and open to what God wants to reveal. Genesis 22:1 “After these things, God tested Abraham, and said to him, ...

Photo by Taeyoon Moon on Unsplash Introduction: When Right Feels Convincing but Is Still Wrong There are moments in Scripture that unsettle us, not because they are unclear, but because they are painfully clear. Lot’s life confronts us with a difficult reality. A person can believe in God, walk near His promises, and still lose clarity about right and wrong. When morality is no longer anchored to God, even choices that feel reasonable or sacrificial can become deeply wrong. Lot’s story is not just about failure. It is about how influence shapes discernment, and how mercy can coexist with moral drift. Lot Believed in God, and God Acknowledged It Lot did not begin his journey far from God. He walked alongside promise. When Abram received God’s call, Lot went with him. “So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him.” Genesis 12:4 Lot witnessed altars being built. He saw faith expressed in obedience. He experienced what it meant to follow a God who speaks and provides. An...

Photo by David Köhler on Unsplash Faithful in God’s Vineyard: Understanding the Call Matthew 20:1-16 speaks directly to those who have been called to labor in God’s vineyard, as well as to those who have already responded . It’s not about when you started, how long you’ve served, or how senior you are in faith. The message is clear: the promise of God is certain for all who respond and accept His calling . Once you say “yes” to God, the covenant is yours. The reward will come in God’s perfect timing, after the work is done, not according to human expectations. The Promise and the Warning Responding to God’s call brings a sure promise . The moment you respond, the covenant is yours. The laborers in the vineyard received the same reward, whether they worked all day or only an hour. This teaches us that God’s grace and promise are not earned by effort or seniority, but by faithfulness and response . At the same time, there is a warning . Don’t fall into envy or comparison. Just bec...

Photo by Andrea Natali on Unsplash “Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” Genesis 18:14 The Weight of Waiting Sarah was Abram’s wife from the very beginning. She walked beside a man whom God Himself declared righteous. Abram is known as the father of faith, not because he was the first to believe, but because God made a covenant with him. Abram walked by faith and not by sight, trusting a promise he could not yet see. And yet, even while living with a man of faith, Sarah grew weary. God promised Abram descendants as numerous as the stars. But Sarah’s womb remained empty. Years passed. Her body aged. The promise felt farther away with every season. Waiting tests faith more deeply than hardship ever does. It is easy to believe when answers come quickly. It is harder when God seems silent and time keeps moving. Impatience Produces Shortcuts, Not Fulfillment Sarah eventually grew tired of wai...

Photo by Junior on Unsplash Over the past days, we have been walking through the Book of Ruth, reflecting on how God works through faithfulness, obedience, and trust, even in the hardest seasons of life. Keypoint #1: Where God Quietly Began the Work Before Ruth ever made a decision, God was already at work. Through famine, loss, and displacement, redemption was quietly being prepared. Ruth entered a broken family and an uncertain future, not knowing she was already being drawn into God’s redemptive plan. Keypoint #2: The Choice That Set Faithfulness in Motion Ruth’s turning point was not her circumstance, but her decision. Faced with every reason to leave, she chose to stay. That single choice did not promise comfort or clarity, but it positioned her life in the direction where God could work through faithfulness. Keypoint #3: Faithfulness Proven in Daily Obedience After saying yes, Ruth lived out her faith through ordinary obedience. She listened, submitted, worked, and waited. Ther...

Photo by Rohit Dey on Unsplash Yesterday, we looked at Ruth and Orpah, how they began in the same situation, and how their choices diverged. Ruth chose to stay. Orpah chose to leave. Ruth’s faithfulness set her on a path that would later reveal God’s purpose, while Orpah disappears from the narrative. Today, I want to focus on what Ruth did after she made that choice . This is where many of us struggle. Saying “yes” to God or a calling is only the beginning. The real challenge is walking daily in obedience , living faithfully even when the reward is unseen or delayed. As we celebrate Christmas, let this reflection remind us that accepting Jesus is not a one-time decision—it is a daily journey of surrender and faithfulness. Ruth’s Faithfulness in Action Ruth didn’t choose to stay with Naomi for reward, comfort, or personal gain. She stayed because her heart was committed. And after making that decision, she did not stop there—she took responsibility and accountability . She asked ...

Photo by Kristaps Grundsteins on Unsplash Continuing from Yesterday’s Reflection In yesterday’s reflection, we looked at how Ruth’s story began not with triumph but with loss, pain, and uncertainty. We were reminded that privilege often hides behind hardship, and that many of us fail to see what God is doing because we become focused on our own struggles. Today, I want to reflect on a chapter of this narrative that points not only to God’s unfolding plan but also to the choices that shape how we respond to God’s purposes. In the beginning of the Book of Ruth, we see two women in the same situation. They both married Naomi’s sons, and they both experienced the same loss: their husbands died. Both women faced pain, uncertainty, and a future that seemed unclear. Yet, at the end of that chapter, they made two different decisions. The Bible does not explain why Orpah chose to return home, nor why Ruth chose to stay. What Scripture does tell us is how Ruth’s faithfulness brought her into ...

Photo by Crispin Jones on Unsplash In the next few days, I will be sharing my reflections on the life of Ruth, based on the Book of Ruth in the Bible. Last Sunday, I heard a sermon that mentioned Ruth’s life as an example, and it stayed with me. The more I reflected on her story, the more I felt compelled to open the Bible and sit with it personally. When I began reading the first chapter, I immediately noticed how heavy the story begins. Even before Ruth becomes the focus, we are introduced to loss, uncertainty, and pain, especially through Naomi’s experience. This is not a story that starts with celebration. It starts with famine, relocation, and death. Yet it is within this difficult beginning that God quietly starts working. So today, I want to share my first reflection from Ruth chapter one. Key Point #1: It Began with Naomi’s Family Ruth did not enter the story because she was already part of a promised lineage. Her journey began earlier, through the family of Naomi. Eli...

Photo by Richard Bell on Unsplash December 20th,2025 Simbang Gabi was extra special for me and my wife. As the date is also our 3 years and 11 months as a married couple. My wife, Marielle , was asked to give the exhortation. Something she honestly did not expect. She is someone who worships more through singing than speaking. Even in Bible studies or prayer meetings, she usually stays quiet. Music has always been her expression of faith. Afterward, she shared that she felt she missed some things. There were parts she wished she had explained more clearly. But despite that, the Lord still moved. His Word was spoken. Hearts were stirred. So for those who were there, and for those who were not, here is the exhortation once again, not as a summary, but as it was prepared and shared. PASKO: PANAHON NG PAGBABALIK-LOOB Hindi lang handaan, kundi paghahanda ng puso (Matthew 3:2) When we hear the word Pasko , many things come to mind. Family gatherings. Food. Traditions. Memories from ...

Photo by Emma Ou on Unsplash This reflection is inspired on a Sunday sermon, where we were reminded that it is not about the size of the gift, but the heart behind it. Because more than any material thing we can give, what truly matters is what the heart desires and is willing to offer. We are reminded that God gave His only begotten Son because He loves us, and He still does up until today. That message has already been said and preached many times. But today, I wanted to look at it from a different angle. As I listened, reflected, and meditated on the Word, this is what I received and wanted to share. It is both about the gift, and the heart behind it. Your Gift Matters More Than You Think Your gift is important, and it is appreciated. What you prepared and wrapped for someone is already an expression of love. It shows that you have a heart willing to give, to obey, and to surrender. When you prepare a gift, it is not something you do randomly. It is something that was thought about...