A Refuge in the Storm
As I type this, severe tropical storm “Kristine” batters our land. We see pictures of Bicol submerged in floodwaters. We’re given reports that other regions will feel the wrath of the storm soon. There are pleas on behalf of people in need of rescue. Thankfully, the disaster response of various groups, foundations, and LGUs are underway.
We pray for all those affected by the storm. May the Lord comfort the nation and provide for the needs of those affected. May He also give wisdom to those involved in rescue and relief operations. If we can give to emergency groups or volunteer with them in this hour, let us do so.
In the midst of the strong winds and rain, may Jesus’ words be so real in our hearts; the very words He spoke when He, too, was in the middle of a storm with his disciples: “Peace, be still.”
Hide us now, Oh Lord, under Your wings where we can find refuge. Thank you that whenever there is a storm, You’re in the boat with us. You can quiet the chaos around us and in our hearts.
All the Other Storms
God is always moving, whether we sense Him or not. All the other “storms” we’re getting from news reports, the exposés in government, the unmasking among certain leaders of the Church worldwide… some of these may have come as a surprise to us, but they do not shock God who STILL sits on the throne.
And He knows exactly what He is doing, mindful of outcomes and possibilities. We don’t need to be afraid. We don’t need to understand everything. We don’t need to throw stones, too, at those who have fallen, especially if at one point, they were used by God to speak life into our dry bones. But we do need wisdom when it comes to praying for our leaders, assessing what they say, and dealing with the injustice in our land. We cannot simply turn a blind eye to evil.
Edmund Burke is often quoted with the famous line, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”
It is a very good statement that bears repetition. It also makes for a very good challenge to the sleepy! May we have the nobility of heart to do something against injustice!
As we tackle the last few months of the year, each of us can pray personally, “Father, can You open opportunities for me to shine righteousness against the evil in this world? Help me to recognize these opportunities as they come my way.”
It is wisdom to make the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. A shining light–no matter how small–will always be visible in the darkness.
Missions Month
October is usually touted as missions month among churches in the Philippines. I find it also interesting that October is National Indigenous Peoples Month. One Voice Magazine has always championed the tribes, knowing that so much history can be found in our root people and so much nation-building be done.
May the Lord raise up people to reach our kababayan tucked away in the mountains, so in need of encouragement! May He also empower His sons and daughters to go to unreached people groups, whether locally or abroad.
Would you say a little prayer for our IP groups? One Voice Magazine may not be doing any big outreach among the tribes this year, but they are still in our scope of concern and love. Also, any of our actual footwork among the tribes starts with prayer. Who knows what next year would bring?
Another thing to remember this month is that we have come to the one-year anniversary of the attack of Hamas against Israel (exact day: Oct. 7, 2023). One Voice Magazine believes firmly in supporting Israel and praying for Israel. The covenant people of Israel are still a covenant people. Also, just like we honor our root people (the tribes), we also honor the root people of our faith. This is one of the things we must understand about the declaration of Malachi 4:5-6 on God turning the hearts of the sons towards their fathers, and the fathers toward their sons. We go back to the root people of our faith; we turn our hearts toward the fathers of our faith, and we remember the eternal covenant made by God to Abraham. We gentile believers are grafted into Israel and therefore the covenant promises made by God to Israel.
Therefore, would you say a little prayer for Israel? You can even say a prayer for the Palestinians, especially since they, too, are also in need of love and compassion. In war, there are casualties on all sides.
Media Missions
One Voice Magazine is both media and missions in its core, and we are moving our streams forward this month. Due to the season of everyone in One Voice Magazine (yes, we are also getting older and have more responsibilities on our plate), it has been a challenge to do our tasks. However, there is a vision that we know God wants us to move forward. It is a vision to make Jesus known through the stories in our lives and in what He is doing in the different cities. Stories have the vehicle of letters and sound. They also give us a meaningful way to reach out and connect with people in the flesh. Therefore, you can be sure that there are stories that will still come out on our website, in print, online radio, and through our outreach arm (living, breathing stories!).
Gising Na, Pilipinas is still in bookstores and in Shopee and Lazada, so you can get your own print copy of the magazine.
Our website, onevoicemagazine.com, is a repository of really good testimonies. If God has been working in your life, would you consider writing your story and sending it to us?
On October 31, you will get to listen to an interview on our online radio. One Voice Radio will air once a month for now, but you can be sure it will become more frequent soon. Stay tuned for this!
Furthermore, we are tying loose ends for one outreach that we will do this December. The outreach will just be in Luzon. More about this when the time is right!
We also have plans to bring back our prayer for the nation and short discussions online. This will appear on our Facebook page and youtube channel this November.
Now I shall ask for one more prayer from you. Would you take the time to pray for One Voice Magazine and its arms? Join us in making Jesus known through stories of hope, unity, and transformation!
There is always, always much to look forward to when we journey with others and with God who knows what true living is all about—a life with Jesus.
God bless you!
One with you in this journey of life,
Janina Marie Rivera
Editor-in-Chief, One Voice Magazine
Janina Marie Rivera is the author of the book, A Night Bird Sings of Blindness and Fear and has co-authored the devotional, Dawns, published by OMF Literature. She is a contributing poet in the books Joyful Light and Whitmanthology: on Loss and Grief by Various Authors. She is the Editor-in-Chief of One Voice Magazine.
