God Instilled This In My Heart

Be Not Anxious

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Sat, 16 Aug 2014 22:07:00 +0000

Christians are to rejoice. To do that, you need only to think of the great things God has done for you. Then we are told not to be anxious, but in our prayers to make our requests known to God. In your biggest problems you have One to whom you can go; and before Him you can pour out your heart with the assurance that He will not leave you without an answer to that great problem. Then we are to fill our minds with those things that are good. They are mentioned in the Scriptures as being things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, of good report, and of virtue. It is upon these things that we are to think. Live positively, not negatively. Once you learn that secret, God will have given you the victory.

Daily Prayer

You know what troubles me today, Lord Jesus. In faith, I give it all over to You and now praise You, knowing Your love will not fail.

Day By Day by Billy Graham

Hunger for Righteousness

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 22:56:00 +0000

God says that only those who hunger after righteousness will receive it. God thrusts this heavenly manna on no one. You must desire it, above everything else. Your yearning for God must supersede all other desires. It must be like a gnawing hunger and a burning thirst.

Daily Prayer

Almighty God, my soul is parched and I’m so hungry without the spiritual food You so desire to give me. Take away anything in my life that would cause me not to give You pre-eminence.

Day by Day by Billy Graham

The Beginning of Wisdom

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 23:44:00 +0000

I believe we ought to get all the education we can, but we dare not make it our god. John Dewey once defined education as the systematic, purposeful reconstruction of experience; but so much of modern education leaves out God. What we are actually doing is reconstructing our sins. We expand our sins, enlarge them, multiply them. We need education, but not just for the mind and the body; we also need education for the spirit. Man has a spirit, and in our educational system today we need a spiritual emphasis. If we bring up a generation that lacks the wisdom that God can give, they can turn into educated savages and fools. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” and education. Let’s make sure our rock is God.

Daily Prayer

Almighty God, I am grateful to You that Your Word educates my spirit and makes me whole.

Day By Day by Billy Graham

Poverty of Soul

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 06:09:00 +0000

No man is more pathetic than he who is in great need and is not aware of it. Remember Samson? Standing there in the valley of Sorek, surrounded by the lords of the Philistines, “ . . . he wist not that the Lord was departed from him.” It has been truly said, “No man is so ignorant as he who knows nothing and knows not that he knows nothing. No man is so sick as he who has a fatal disease and is not aware of it. No man is so poor as he who is destitute, and yet thinks he is rich.” The pitiable thing about the Pharisees was not so much their hypocrisy as it was their utter lack of knowledge of how poor they actually were in the sight of God. There is always something pathetic about a man who thinks he is rich when he is actually poor, who thinks he is good when he is actually vile, who thinks he is educated when he is actually illiterate.

Daily Prayer

Might I always remember the poverty of my soul before Your love invaded my life, Lord Jesus, and I knew You as Savior.

Day By Day By Billy Graham from YOUVERSION

God's Unmerited Favor

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Sun, 06 Jul 2014 23:32:00 +0000

“Grace,” according to the dictionary, is the unmerited favor of God toward mankind. The word “grace” is used over 170 times in the New Testament alone. Grace is not bought. It is a free gift of almighty God to needy mankind. When I picture Jesus Christ dying on the cross, I see the free gift of God’s grace in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. I sing with the songwriter, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.” Your human mind, with its philosophy of an equal return for favors done, can hardly comprehend the full meaning of this grace of God. But when you catch, by the inspiration of God, its full meaning, you will leave the limits of human reasoning and revel in the spiritual riches of divine truth and privilege.

Yes, the grace of God is a reality. Thousands have tried, tested, and proved that it is more than a cold creed, a docile doctrine, or a tedious theory. The grace of God has been tested in the crucible of human experience, and has been found to be more than an equal for the problems and sins of humanity.

Daily Prayer

Lord, this day help me to come to a more full and abundant awareness of Your bountiful grace. Stimulate me to serve You.

Day By Day by Billy Graham

No Strings Attached

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Thu, 15 May 2014 05:38:00 +0000

A gift is not a gift unless it is accepted. God has given you His Son, but ownership is conditional on acceptance. God does not force His gift on us, but He asks us to receive by faith the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. A person who deliberately refuses God’s offer of love, mercy, and forgiveness is lost. Most people gratefully receive a gift when given in love. The greatest sin that a person can commit is to refuse God’s love.

Daily Prayer

I reached out for Your gift of Jesus and received forgiveness and eternal life. Thank You, my heavenly Father.

Day by Day by Billy Graham

Practice Good Stewardship

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 04:10:00 +0000

We are stewards of our time. God has given each one of us a little “chunk of eternity” called time. These golden moments of opportunity are doled out to us for our benefit and for God’s glory. If we use them wisely, they are woven by God’s omnipotent hand into the fabric of eternity. Henry Thoreau cautioned, “You cannot kill time without injuring eternity.”

“He who has no vision of eternity,” said Carlyle, “has no hold on time.”
“Only one life, ’twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last” is the sentiment of every man who desires to be a good steward of his time. We are entrusted with a small portion of the capital of time. If we invest it wisely, it will pay dividends throughout eternity.

Daily Prayer

Take away my procrastinating nature—how easy it is for me to waste time. I want to be able to leave a legacy of time spent for You, Lord, because that is eternal.

Day By Day by Billy Graham

Living In His Power

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 04:27:00 +0000

Jesus had a humble heart. If He abides in us, pride will never dominate our lives. Jesus had a loving heart. If He dwells within us, hatred and bitterness will never rule us. Jesus had a forgiving and understanding heart. If He lives within us, mercy will temper our relationships with our fellowmen. Jesus had an unselfish heart. If He lives in us, selfishness will not predominate, but service to God and others will come before our selfish interests. You say, “That’s a big order!” I admit that. It would be impossible if you had to measure up to Him in your own strength and with your natural heart. Paul recognized that he could never attain this heart purity by his own striving.

Daily Prayer
So live in me today that I will be able to radiate Your love and grace, Jesus.

Day By Day by Billy Graham

Patience and Persistence

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Sun, 09 Feb 2014 21:48:00 +0000

(Someone else might need to read this too)

Nothing great is ever accomplished without persistence and patience because, in order to be successful, your dreams must translate into work.

The people who succeed in life are the people who are willing to do what they don't feel like doing. They are not mastered by their moods, they are mastered by the Master, and they establish their goals and plans according to God's will.

Eliezer was a great example of patience and persistence. We see his patience in choosing the right woman by making a detailed plan. He didn't make a snap judgment. He wasn't impulsive. The Bible says in Genesis 24:21 (NIV)

Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the LORD had made his journey successful.

If you are going to really reach your goals in life, sometimes you have to delay gratification. You have to do the tough thing instead of the fun thing, the right thing instead of the pleasurable thing.

Any goal that's worth achieving is going to have obstacles in the way. You need to have a long-term view so, when difficulties come, you can persevere knowing that you are going to get past it.

God's timing is perfect and ours is not. When you find yourself in God's waiting room, just be patient and persistent. A God-given vision will always be fulfilled

Rick Warren's Daily Devotional: http://www.saddlebackresources.com/ from YOUVersion Bible

(All materials used in the digiscap are from the cottagearts.net)

The Secret of Happiness

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 23:23:00 +0000

King George V wrote on the flyleaf of the Bible of a friend, “The secret of happiness is not to do what you like to do, but to learn to like what you have to do.” Too many think of happiness as some sort of will-o’-the-wisp thing that is discovered by constant and relentless searching. It is not found by seeking. It is not an end in itself. Pots of gold are never found at the end of the rainbow, as we used to think when we were children; gold is mined from the ground or panned laboriously from a mountain stream.

Jesus once told His disciples, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” The “things” He spoke of were the things that make us feel happy and secure—food, drink, clothes, shelter. He told us not to make these the chief goal of our lives but to “seek the kingdom” and these needs would be automatically supplied. There, if we will take it, is the secret of happiness.

Daily Prayer
Forgive me, Father, for the times when I am anxious. You have promised to take care of all my needs.

Day by Day by Billy Graham

Save Today, Secure Tomorrow

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 19:01:00 +0000

(Someone Else Might Need to Read this too)

Going bankrupt was a wake-up call for me. I had enjoyed a lot of nice stuff, but I lost it all because of my lack of discipline. So when I was forced to start over from scratch, I decided to do things differently the second time around.

One thing I decided to do was to learn the habits of wealthy people. I figured that if I wanted to be wealthy, it only made sense to learn (and do) what wealthy people do.

Over the past couple of decades, I've spent time with millionaires and billionaires. I've picked their brains and tried to understand how they built and maintained wealth. What I've found is that the principle behind Proverbs 21:20 really does work in real life. Wise people do have enough when they need it because they plan for emergencies. But fools really do spend all they have - and more - as soon as they get it.

For example, I've found that many wealthy people don't live like wealthy people. Instead of flaunting their money, they adopt upper-middle-class lifestyles. Some even live lower-middle-class lifestyles - and they don't suffer from it a bit! They just keep doing what got them there in the first place.

One of the most basic things they do is save. Instead of chasing a lot of extravagant toys, they continue putting money aside. They keep using the power of compound interest to build wealth. They always think about creating security for the future.

In contrast, many people are like I was before I went bankrupt in my 20s. They don't have the discipline to do even the simple things like saving money. Instead of becoming wealthy by doing what wealthy people do, they stay broke by doing what broke people do!
On the budget forms my company provides, the first line item is "Giving" because we want you to honor God first. But the second line item is "Saving" because we want you to pay yourself before you pay anyone else.

Wise people save money. It's a basic, crystal-clear biblical principle. And if you spend every dime that passes through your fingers, then guess what? You're a fool! Don't blame me - God said it!

From Dave Ramsey's Financial Wisdom from Proverbs thru YouVersion Bible

Healing Choices: Authentic Friendships

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 21:06:00 +0000

(Someone Else Might Need to Read this too)
In Biblical fellowship, we should experience authenticity.

Authentic friendships are more than superficial, surface-level chit-chat. They involve genuine, heart-to-heart, sometimes gut-level, sharing.

These friendships develop when we get honest about who we are and what is happening in our lives. They develop when we share our hurts, reveal our feelings, confess our failures, disclose our doubts, admit our fears, acknowledge our weaknesses, and ask for help and prayer.

Unfortunately, this level of authenticity and intimacy is the exact opposite of what we find in many churches. Instead of an atmosphere of honesty and humility, we often become involved in pretending, role-playing, politicking, superficial politeness, and shallow conversation. We begin to wear masks, keep our guard up, and act as if everything is rosy in our lives. These attitudes are the death of real friendship.

It's only as we become open about our lives that we experience authentic fellowship. The world thinks intimacy occurs in the dark, but God says it happens in the light. We tend to use darkness to hide our hurts, faults, fears, failures, and flaws. But in God's light, we can bring them all out into the open and admit who we really are.

This is the way we grow spiritually and be emotionally healthy. The Bible says, "Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed." (James 5:16)

Rick Warren's Daily Devotional http://www.saddlebackresources.com/ from YOUVersion Bible

Sometimes God Says "Not Yet"

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 15:57:00 +0000

(Someone else might need to read this too)

If you're discouraged because of God's delay in answering your prayers, understand the delay is NOT a denial. Just because the answer hasn't come - YET - that doesn't mean God isn't going to answer or that he's forgotten you or that he doesn't care about you.

It simply means "not yet!"

Part of becoming spiritually mature is learning the difference between "no" and "not yet," between a denial and a delay. The Bible tells us, "He who is coming will come and will not delay." Hebrews 10:37 NIV

God's delay may be a test of your patience. Anybody can be patient once. And, most people can be patient twice. And, a lot of us can be patient three times. So God tests our patience over and over and over.

Why? So he can see how patient you are? No!

He does it so you can see how patient you are. So you'll know what's inside you, and you'll be able to know your level of commitment. God tests you so that you can know he is faithful, even if the answers you seek are delayed.

If you're discouraged, turn it around by remembering God teaches you patience during delay. Ask him to transform your discouragement into patience.

Rick Warren's Daily Devotional http://www.saddlebackresources.com/ from YOUVersion Bible

(All materials used in the digiscrap above are from cottagearts.net . Photo was taken using Samasung Galaxy S3, (c) wifemomptrp

Living Enthusiastically for God

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 19:48:00 +0000

(Someone else might need to read this too)

Columbus was called mad because he decided to sail the uncharted ocean. . . . Martin Luther was called mad because he presumed to defy the entrenched religious hierarchy of his time. Patrick Henry was considered mad when he cried, “Give me liberty, or give me death!” George Washington was thought to be mad when he decided to continue the war after the winter at Valley Forge, when thousands of his men had died and other thousands had deserted, leaving him only a handful of men. We have become too sophisticated and respectable to be called mad in our generation. Christianity has become so respectable and so conventional that it is now insipid. The salt has lost its flavor. . . . Would to God that the world found us Christians dangerous enough to call us mad, in these days when materialism and secularism are sweeping over the world. Thank God there are those who sacrifice time, talents, social position, and lucrative posts, and who fling aside every advantage in order to serve the Kingdom of God.

Daily Prayer
Instill in me, Lord Jesus, the same savor that the disciples showed as they lived so enthusiastically for You

Day By Day by Billy Graham

Life Changing Power

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 20:06:00 +0000

(Someone else might need to read this too)

One day, by a simple act of faith, I decided to take Jesus Christ at His word. I could not come by way of the intellect alone; no one can. That does not mean that we reject reason. God has given us minds and the ability to reason wherever reason is appropriate, but the final and decisive step is taken by faith. I came by faith. Does it work when a person comes, repenting of his sins, to receive Christ by faith? I can only tell you that it worked in my own life. Something did happen to me. I didn’t become perfect, but the direction of my life was changed. I found a new dimension to life. I found a new capacity to love that I had never known before.

Daily Prayer
The day I received You, Lord, it was a childlike act of faith. My whole life was changed!

Day by Day by Billy Graham

In His Image

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Wed, 27 Nov 2013 21:47:00 +0000

(Someone else might need to read this too)

You were created in the image and likeness of God. You were made for God’s fellowship, and your heart can never be satisfied without His communion. Just as iron is attracted to a magnet, the soul in its state of hunger is drawn to God. Though you, like thousands of others, may feel in the state of sin that the world is more alluring and more to your liking, some day—perhaps even now as you read these words—you will acknowledge that there is something deep down inside you which cannot be satisfied by the alloy of earth. Then with David, the Psalmist who had sampled the delicacies of sin and had found them unsatisfying, you will say, “Oh God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.”

Daily Prayer
How I long for You, God, yet so often my heart is drawn away from Your leading. Like David, I desire a clean heart.

Day by Day by Billy Graham

Let Love Motivate Your Work

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Sat, 31 Aug 2013 08:39:00 +0000

(God instilled this in my heart. Someone else might need to read this too)

The Apostle Paul says, "Do all your work in love." He doesn't say some of your work, but all of your work. He also says no matter "what I do, I'm bankrupt without love." (1 Corinthians 13:3 MSG)

The point is, any job can be turned into worship when it is built on the model of Christ's love; that love is expressed to co-workers, clients and customers. Mother Teresa said, "It's not what you do so much that matters, but how much love you put into it." Think about it like this -- Two-thirds of the word "career' is C-A-R-E.

So, I want you to pray a prayer every day this week. When you get up to go work, whether it's at home or at school, in your backyard or at an office or wherever you work -- I want you to pray, "Father, today I want to worship you through my work. I want to express my gifts. I want to do it as if I'm doing it for You and I want to do it in love."

"So then, my friends, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer." (Romans 12:1 TEV)

From Rick Warren's Daily Devotional: www.saddlebackresources.com

God's Wrath?

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 20:00:00 +0000

Rumination

The Philippines, my beloved country is now having what they call a monsoon rain that caused flood in Metro Manila and other parts of the country. According to PAGASA, this rain will continue til Thursday and if it doesn't stop until that day a weather forecaster predicted that a part of Metro Manila will sink like Marikina City, may God forbid it. In the midst of this calamity, my Facebook news feeds was full of photos of the flooded places and even prayers of hope for the rain to stop. Facebook has also been a way to connect with loved-ones who is unreachable through telephones. There are also some people posting what's on their mind regarding this downpour, comparing it to the flood during Noah's time, saying that this is God's punishment. They also connect this disaster as God's wrath to the Reproductive Health Bill. But then I thought that the Philippines is a tropical country, seven thousand one hundred and eight islands surrounded by water that is why it is also called Philippine Archipelago. It's not unusual for it to have rains, so who's to blame with the flood? Is this God's punishment or a man-made disaster?

As I watch the news through GMA Pinoy TV, this is what the experts said: First was the amount of rainfall. Most of the dams have reached it's critical level and inevitably the waters overflowed to the rivers and surrounding communities. Another reason is that there are areas in the Philippines that are below sea level especially in Metro Manila. Flood control systems are weak because of solid, non-biodegradable wastes clogged the drainage systems, improper waste disposal causes this because of human negligence and lastly the absorptive capacity of the Philippine mountains ranges has weakened over time because of consistent illegal logging and mining. And in addition to these, I also stumble upon Richard Gutierrez Fan Page and read his status and he quoted:

I couldn't agree more, these could also be a part of the global climate change which we can blame to human greed. This disaster should not be considered as God's wrath or punishment. It's only reaping what we sow. God would never allow such thing to us as it is written:

Genesis 9:13-15-Behold, I establish My covenant or pledge with you and with your descendants after you. And with every living creature that is with you--whether the birds, the livestock, or the wild beasts of the earth along with you, as many as came out of the ark--every animal of the earth. I will establish My covenant or pledge with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood; neither shall there ever again be a flood to destroy the earth and make it corrupt. And God said, This is the token of the covenant (solemn pledge) which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I set My bow [rainbow] in the cloud, and it shall be a token or sign of a covenant or solemn pledge between Me and the earth.

It says in in verse 12, "this is a token of the covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations", so this covenant covers not only Noah but also us. What a wonderful promise! God has given us instructions in the bible that we can use in our everyday life but we keep on doing what we only think is good for us, we humans are the ones who cause our destruction. God has made this world sufficient but we humans corrupt it. Part of loving our God is taking care of our mother-Earth. And it's not only the Government who should do this, we can start by ourselves by disposing our waste properly. Let us all unite in making our country a better place to live in by managing earth's resources well. This is for the future generation which is our children. Discipline is the key, let's help our government and not just whine and complain. Never consider this kind of disaster as God's wrath because our God is a good and loving God. We can always seek Him in this time of trouble and He will be our refuge.

Psalm 46:1-3-God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling.Selah

Random acts of kindness. Strangers caring for others. There is hope. Feel it. God is among us-Tweet by Ivan Mayrina

Photos credits are not mine

On Praising God

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Praise & Worship

Psalm 9:1-I will praise You O Lord with my whole heart; I will show forth (recount and tell aloud) all your marvelous works and and wonderful deeds.-(AMP Bible)

Psalms Chapter 9 is a praise for victory over the enemies of King David. He started it with "I Will Praise You, O Lord, with all my heart", it means David praises God wholeheartedly, which is the only way to praise and worship God, in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24). As a Worship Leader, this is one of the things I learned from David, he praised God in all sincerity. And this should be the core characteristics of a worshipper of God, not only in times of victory but at all times in all sincerity with our whole heart because He will never forsake all those who seek Him. In this chapter we can see two attributes of God; Protector and Vindicator

Psalm 9:10 And they who know Your name [who have experience and acquaintance with Your mercy] will lean on and confidently put their trust in You, for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek (inquire of and for) You [on the authority of God’s Word and the right of their necessity].-(AMP Bible)

The last time, I shared about me having spirit of heaviness because of a slander and gossip against my other-half. It was a hurting experience that I could only flee to God as my strength, knowing Him as the God of comfort, I can only rest upon that promise. As He is my vindicator, the one who clears us from injustices and false accusations from others, I need not hate nor don self-pity. There's always a reason for me to praise Him in this kind of situations, for He sees and remember all the good we do and with that I am comforted and at peace.

Psalm 9:3-4 When my enemies turned back, they stumbled and perished before You.4 For You have maintained my right and my cause; You sat on the throne judging righteously.-(AMP Bible)

QUOTE: Those who know him to be a God of truth and faithfulness, will rejoice in his word of promise, and rest upon that. Those who know him to be an everlasting Father, will trust him with their souls as their main care, and trust in him at all times, even to the end; and by constant care seek to approve themselves to him in the whole course of their lives. Who is there that would not seek him, who never hath forsaken those that seek Him?-Matthew Henry

Psalm 9: 2 I will rejoice in You and be in high spirits; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High!

On Death and Dying

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 19:41:00 +0000

PONDERING

Death or dying is a word that maybe most of us dread the most. But death is also a word that I wasn't able to grasp until I see it happened to my Papa and maybe until it finally happens to me. Dying also could be the most devastating because of the pain, the suffering, the grief and the the denial. And as humans we want comfort and abundance that life has to offer. But death will come like a thief in the night and we will surely can't escape it.

Last Friday, a brother in Christ of ours passed-away, leaving behind his wife and seven children. This news came to me as a jolt since he was part of our prayer items in our Monday intercessory prayers and my personal prayers as well. And whenever I hear sad news such as this, it brings back memories of my Papa who died 6 years ago that even funeral scenes on movies or tele-novelas makes me cry. I would often ask God why do people have to die? Why do we have to bear the pain of losing a loved-one. So many questions in my mind that the only answer is to trust our Creator of the promise of life after death. That death is just a crossing-over and the end of our suffering in this fallen world that we are in.

John 14:1-4- "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know." (NKJV)

This promise of God is what every Christians believe in and hold on to. This blessed assurance should make us not to fear death but rather embrace it as how we embrace life. But then because of human frailty, we still dread it because of the thought of leaving our loved-ones behind and the grief of losing someone you spend your life with. But God said:

Rev. 21:3-4 -And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. [4] And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." (NKJV)

So if life on earth is full of hardships and sufferings, who wouldn't want to go and join our Creator? But it seems that we are addicted to immortality. We are humans who wants to live life on earth forever. But then death is preordained to each of us. And if we are suffering loss of a love-one, this too shall pass. And if we are to face death and or facing death, let's just focus our eyes unto Jesus.

Though I walk through valleys low

I'll fear no evil

By the waters still my soul

My Heart will trust in YOU

I Am Comforted

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 13:20:00 +0000

CONTEMPLATING

This bible verse came to me when I was faced by a gossip and slander against my one-flesh. It was a heart wrenching slander that it choked my innermost being. I know that living as Christians is not easy, the enemy is always around to use other people to accuse you or judge you. The inevitable happens in this fallen and corrupt world where people treat you unfairly forgetting the good deeds you have done because of a single mistake. Tears can be overwhelming but donning self pity will not be helpful and so I prayed and pour out whats in my my heart to God. I opened my bible and God brought me in Luke 23, where Jesus was accused, scoffed at, ridiculed and then finally crucified. And what Jesus did was;

Luke 23:34- Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots.

There was no retaliation on His part. As human, I would not think the same as Jesus did. It would be natural for me to fight back but as Christian that is not what God wants me to do. I told Him that "it's not easy Lord, help me", and only love was His answer. As this verse was translated in the Amplified Bible "love covers a multitude of sin" means forgives, disregards the offenses of others. Dake translated this particular passage that not that our love will cause God to pass up or pardon the sins of others, but that it will enable us to pass up the faults of others and not hold grudges ourselves.  I'm still on the process at this moment but I know in God's perfect time my heart will be healed. I just hold on to this verse. For now, I thank God for I am comforted cause this spirit of heaviness can be exchanged into garments of praise.

Isaiah 61:3-To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

Prayer: “Lord my heart is comforted, and my faith is strengthened by the undeniable certainty of Your promises. Death or deadness cannot prevent Your keeping of Your promises. Any lack of existence cannot keep You from bringing forth what You declare is real. What blessed assurance is available through Your promises- by grace through faith”-Day By Day by Bob Hoekstra

Scripture & a Snapshot: Psalm 139:14

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 20:30:00 +0000

Happiness

Psalm 139:13-16- For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.

Last week, July 03, 2012 at 14:30 hour, our 3rd heritage from the Lord God almighty was born. Of all my pregnancy and delivery, my 3rd was the most rewarding. I don't mean to say that the first two were less rewarding but... I will just tell my story on my next post.

Scripture & a Snapshot : Proverbs 13:12

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Hoping

Hope, when delayed in its realization, sickens the heart, but when it is realized it comforts and invigorates body and soul.

I'm 37 weeks pregnant now and I'm hoping to deliver soon. I'm a bit bored of waiting, I want to see my baby :)

Scripture & a Snapshot~ Ecclesiastes 3:11

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Sat, 09 Jun 2012 20:00:00 +0000

"If time could be our servant,

Our days would be sublime;

But if we fail to master it,

We're only serving time"-Hess

CONTEMPLATING

The book of Ecclesiastes chapter 3 started with a verse that says "for everything there is a season"; a perfect timing for everything that we wanted to do, to have, to accomplish and the likes. I was actually lying on my bed when I was reading this chapter of Ecclesiastes. I asked God what exactly these passages mean because at first I was really confused. I think there is something not right with some of the verses. So I close my eyes while listening to the song “No Eye Has Seen” and In His Time. As I continue to contemplate on this verse, I remember my younger days. The time when I do all things my way and deciding on things base on what I feel is right, leaving God in the passenger's seat of my heart. I remember that when I do things my way, it ends with heartaches and failures. I could say that I also experienced pleasures but not the contentment or satisfaction that all of us is longing for. God impressed to me something that is really simple about this chapter. Now I came to realize why I end up crying and miserable with all the decisions I made before without His approval; it’s because of my impatience, hard-headedness and selfishness. As it is stated in Jeremiah 29:11:

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Every bit of my decisions before could have been sweeter and lovelier if I waited patiently and made Jesus the driver of my life.

"In His time, In His time

He makes all things beautiful in His time

Lord, please show me everyday

As you're teaching me your way

And I'll do just what you say

In Your time"

Prayer: Lord God, thank You, for you have opened my eyes from the reality of my impatience and self-centeredness. I’m more than blessed of knowing You; changed my life from lifting me from the miry clay, where I used to be. Now life is more beautiful as I see it before. I am at peace even in the middle of conflicts because You are my comforter. Help me remember always Lord, that as I go through this journey called life, nothing is intended for contentment because everything in this world is but temporary. Thank you for putting in my heart that I am an eternal creation intended only to be satisfied by You. In Jesus mighty name-Amen

Scripture & a Snapshot- 2 Kings 19: 15

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 00:47:00 +0000

Pondering:
I had this down feeling this past few days that it was so hard for me to pray. My first scripture last time was Psalm 118:28, which God's reminder to me that He will enlighten my darkness. Darkness for me these days is being bored, and what lies behind that boredom is anxiety of what's in store for me in a place where women have no equal rights with men. I keep on telling myself that God is in charge but there was also a part of me that is telling me that He is not. I get up and took my journal and pen, poured out all my emotions in it and petitioned God to restore and heal my heart. After writing everything that is in my heart and wrote my specific request to Him, I sang praises and worship which I believe is a better way to pray. I am not saying that petitioning or requesting is wrong but a better way of approaching God's throne of grace is through praising and worshipping Him. This verse had deeply touched me, this was actually Hezekiah's prayer to God. Although he came boldly to God, he did not take God for granted or approach him flippantly instead he acknowledged God's sovereignty and respect Him for who He is and what he can do. Like Hezekiah, I acknowledged that I am nothing without Him and in my difficult times it's only Him that I can lean upon. And I remembered what Jeremiah said:

Jeremiah 32:17
'Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.

And after my intimate time with God, I was comforted. Not because He made me feel that my prayers will be answered but just a feeling of blessedness that I have a God that I can lean on in times of darkness. That I am His Beloved child just as everyone of us. It is what the song "Beloved" is all about,( my featured video). And it is really a comforting song of God to His church;

Zephaniah. 3:17
    The Lord your God in your midst,
    The Mighty One, will save;
    He will rejoice over you with gladness,
    He will quiet you with His love,
    He will rejoice over you with singing."

2 Kings 19:8-19 (Sennacherib’s letter)
Prayer is the never-failing resource of the tempted Christian, whether struggling with outward difficulties or inward foes. At the mercy-seat of his almighty Friend he opens his heart, spreads his case, like Hezekiah, and makes his appeal. When he can discern that the glory of God is engaged on his side, faith gains the victory, and he rejoices that he shall never be moved. The best pleas in prayer are taken from God’s honour. -(Matthew Henry Commentary)