Pastor Joe Ascalon

13/09/2025

🙌

22/08/2025

You know, I enjoy spending time in the garden. And one thing I’ve learned—when you see weeds, you can’t just trim them at the top. If you do, they’ll just grow back. The only way to really deal with them is to pull them out from the root.

That’s the same with the problems we see in our world. Too often, people just treat the symptoms, but the root is still there. And the Bible says the root is the heart.

Education, money, psychology, even technology—they’re all good, but none of them can actually change a person’s heart. Only God can do that. He’s the one who takes hate and turns it into love, selfishness into generosity, fear into faith.

So let me ask you, how’s your heart? Before we can help others, we’ve got to let God do His work in us. Because real change always starts in the heart, and only Jesus can transform it.

23/07/2025

There’s no growth without a little pain.

It’s easy to grow when life feels bright and sunny. But I’ve learned and many of you have shared with me—that it's in the dark, difficult seasons where our roots grow deeper in God.

I’ve talked with people who’ve walked through separation, illness, job loss, or heartbreak. And you know what they often say? “That’s where I grew the most.” Not because it was easy—but because God met them in the middle of it. He used the pain to shape their faith.

The Bible puts it this way:
“When your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow...” (James 1:3-4 NLT)

Let it grow. When we invite God into our pain instead of pushing Him away, He grows something in us—endurance, character, strength. Things we can’t get any other way.

I know it’s tempting to want a quick fix. We want the easy way out, the shortcut to healing or maturity. But real growth doesn’t come from shortcuts, it comes from surrender.

Friend, I don’t know what you’re going through today. But I do know this: the very thing that feels like it’s breaking you might be the very thing God is using to build you.

Stay close to Him.

Have a great week ahead!

- Pastor Joe

20/07/2025

You don’t have to win the fight. Just trust the ONE who already did.☝

17/07/2025

PRAYER ALERT: TROPICAL DEPRESSION "CRISING"

Lord, we ask for Your covering over Bacolod City and the entire Province of Negros Occidental. Protect every family, strengthen those responding to emergencies, and calm every storm within and around us. AMEN.

12/07/2025

Even if the world turns to dust and the skies grow dim, the Word of God will still shine - steadfast, eternal, and true. Nothing can silence what He has spoken.

Have a great weekend!

- Pastor Joe

10/07/2025

09/07/2025

I want to speak something over you today that I believe will fill your heart with hope.

Because let’s be honest—it’s easy to feel overwhelmed right now. When we look at everything happening in the world, there’s unrest, uncertainty, and at times, it can feel like life itself is a storm. The winds are howling, the waves are crashing—and peace feels far away.

But hear this:
Jesus comes to His people in the middle of their storms.

In Mark 6, we read how Jesus sent His disciples ahead of Him, across the lake, while He went up the mountain to pray. From there, Scripture says, “He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them” (Mark 6:48 NIV).

Then Jesus did something miraculous—He walked out on the water to meet them.

The disciples were terrified at first—understandably so. But Jesus immediately spoke to them and said,

“Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

And then He climbed into the boat with them—and the wind died down.

Friend, maybe that’s where you are today. Maybe you’ve been rowing hard, trying to hold it together in a season that feels relentless.

And if that’s not you, I’m sure you know someone who’s right there in that place.

Can I remind you of something?

Jesus sees you.
He’s not distant.
He comes close.
He climbs into the boat with you.

So take heart today. You’re not alone in the storm.

— Pastor Joe

30/06/2025

🙌

Ever wonder where true joy is found? It's in God's presence, on the path of life He reveals.

How can you intentionally step into His presence today and embrace that fullness of joy?

20/06/2025

You know that quiet kind of trust, a child leaning in, no need to strive or stress?

That’s the kind of rest God invites us into.

14/06/2025

To the dads who show up, pray hard, and love deeply, your quiet strength speaks volumes.

You may not always hear it, but you’re making a difference every single day. Happy Father’s Day! You are truly appreciated.

13/06/2025

Because He is the same God through every season. You don't have to fear the next one.