Reflections & Inspirational Writings

Blessings and Miracles

2012-02-07T13:54:00.000+08:00

By Andrew Wommack

Which would you rather have, a blessing or a miracle? What is the difference between the two? The answers to these questions are much more important than most people realize.

Blessings and miracles are like two different delivery systems from the Lord. It is possible to be so expectant of a miracle that you miss the blessing!

Many of you have heard the story of the woman who was trapped on the roof of her house during a flood. She was in a desperate situation, with the waters rising. Without the Lord's help, she looked doomed; but she was a believer and prayed in faith that the Lord would rescue her. Just as she finished praying, a big log floated by. She thought of jumping on it and riding it to safety, but no, she was believing God for a miracle. Someone then came by in a boat and offered to rescue her, but she steadfastly refused, saying God was going to miraculously save her.

Just before the waters swept her away, a rescue helicopter came and lowered a ladder to her. She still refused, knowing that the Lord would supernaturally save her. Shortly thereafter, she was drowned as the waters prevailed. In heaven, she was perplexed and asked the Lord why He didn't answer her prayer. He said, "I sent you a log, a boat, and a helicopter, but you wouldn't receive My help."

The woman in this story missed God's provision because she was committed to receiving help from the Lord in only one way. She didn't realize that these other, natural things, albeit less spectacular, were God's provision too. Likewise, many Christians only know how to receive from God through a miracle, and are unaware of the power and superiority of a blessing.

First, here are some definitions. The dictionary defines a miracle as, "an event that appears unexplainable by the laws of nature and so is held to be supernatural in origin or an act of God." In contrast, a blessing is also supernatural in origin but utilizes natural means. In other words, a miracle supersedes or suspends natural laws, while a blessing is God's divine power working through natural laws.

Since miracles are much more spectacular than blessings and relatively much easier to come by, many Christians are only looking for their needs to be supplied through a miracle; but here are some reasons why having God meet your needs through a blessing is much better. First, before you can receive a miracle you have to be in a crisis. For God to suspend or supersede His natural laws, there has to be a very good reason. Physical laws aren't bad. God created them and said that everything He created was good. He's not going to stop the rain that thousands of farmers have been praying for, just so you can have a picnic. No! You have to be in a crisis situation before the Lord will grant you a miracle.

Therefore, those who live from miracle to miracle, live from crisis to crisis. In contrast, the blessings of God will prevent crisis in your life. Which would you rather have -- a desperate situation where you received the miracle of a new car; or would you rather be so blessed that if you wanted a new car, you could just go buy one with the cash you have. I think most of us would choose the blessing of just being able to buy a new car at any time.

Secondly, a miracle differs from a blessing in that a blessing is always more abundant. Take the example of manna. The Lord fed the children of Israel for 40 years in the wilderness by raining down what the Bible calls "angels' food" (Ps. 78:25), round about their camp six days a week. This was a miracle. If any of the manna was kept into the heat of the day it would breed worms and stink (Ex. 16:20). On the sixth day, they could gather a two-day supply of the manna to keep until the seventh day without it rotting. This wasn't normal. It was a miracle.

Miraculous as it was, the children of Israel loathed the manna. They ate manna three times a day for 40 years. There were only so many ways one could prepare manna. They longed for something more. Miracles may beat starvation, but they are never God's best. Once the children of Israel entered into the promised land, they had the blessing of eating the abundance of the land that flowed with milk and honey. Both the manna and the fruit of the land of Canaan were God's provision, but which would you rather have?

This leads us to a third difference between blessings and miracles: Miracles are always temporary, while blessings are eternal. The miraculous supply of manna is the longest, recorded miracle in the Bible. Most miracles are momentary, but the manna lasted 40 years. However, there was an end to the manna.

In Joshua 5:10-12, the scripture says, And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho. And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day. And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more: but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.

The manna ceased because miracles are always temporary. I can just see some of those Israelites going out the next morning to gather manna. After all, they knew nothing else. This was the generation that had been raised on manna for 40 years. I suspect some of them refused to dig in the dirt to get their food. They would receive it directly from God through a miracle, but the time for the miracle was over. Some of them could have gone hungry waiting for the miracle of the manna, when the blessings of the promised land were abundant all around them.

Likewise, many Christians are looking for a miraculous provision when God has provided something better for them through His blessing.

Jamie and I learned some of this the hard way. When we first started in ministry, I somehow got the idea that it would be sin for me to work a secular job. I was called to the ministry, and praise God, that would be the only way I would get my needs met. This went against the laws of the kingdom of God that say if you don't work, you don't eat (2 Th. 3:10). Until I worked in ministry full time, I shouldn't have expected it to support me full time. My heart was right, but my head was wrong. Because of this, Jamie and I had some severe financial problems.

We were sincerely believing God the best we knew how, and because of God's mercy and love for us, He did provide for us miraculously. We had miracles nearly every day to keep us and our children from starving. We went from one crisis to another with the miracles being only temporary and never a full abundance. When my lightning-fast mind finally began to cooperate with the spiritual and natural laws of God, the blessings started to come, and I can personally testify that the blessings are better.

Not too long ago, I was remembering those old days of lack and miraculous supply. Every day, we had to have a miracle, or we wouldn't have eaten. All our furniture was just given to us. We drove our old car after it ran out of gas and with impossible mechanical problems. I was beginning to feel a little condemned because I hadn't seen any of those miraculous provisions lately.

The Lord then spoke to me and said, "Would you really like to go back to those days of lack and miraculous supply, or would you rather be so blessed that none of those things are issues? If you want to eat, go get something to eat. If your car needs repairs, just fix it or go buy another one. Which would you rather have?" Well, I quickly repented for longing for the old days and told the Lord I was very grateful that the blessings had overtaken me in my life.

There are times when all of us make unwise choices, or we just don't know how God's kingdom works, and we get in a crisis situation. If that's the case, then a miracle might be the best and only way out at the moment; but make no mistake-the blessing of God is the superior way to receive from God. We need to reach a place where we are praying for miracles for others, but walking in the blessings ourselves. Wouldn't it be wonderful if you were so blessed that you never needed another miracle from God!

Another concept that needs to be corrected about blessings is that "things" aren't blessings. When the scripture says that Abraham's blessing is mine (Gal. 3:14), I don't want his 4,000- year-old rotten tents or the bleached bones of his animals. No! The blessing is God's spoken favor that causes tangible "things." The physical things that Abraham had were the result of the blessing, not the blessing itself.

If you can understand that, then you can begin to appropriate the blessing of the Lord regardless of the amount of "things" you possess. If your stash of "things" fluctuates, which it inevitably will do, then your faith doesn't falter because God's blessing isn't things-it's His favor that has been spoken over you. That will never change.

Once the blessing is given, it cannot be reversed. Hallelujah! God spoke this through Balaam. In Numbers 23:19-20, Balaam said, God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.

The blessing of God isn't conditional on our holiness either. In the next verse Balaam said, He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel. This certainly wasn't because there wasn't any perverseness or iniquity in Israel. This is saying that the blessing of God isn't conditional on our performance. Praise the Lord! That is good news!

和平与你同在

2012-01-23T16:19:00.001+08:00

The universal law of reciprocity is also philosophically encapsulated in the golden rule. In some sense, its principle says that life is like a surrounding of mirrors. What we project will be multiplied and will be reflected back to us (as what the picture above is illustrating).

Therefore, let the light of the Lord's peace be shown so that it may multiply and light up the whole world and drive away many darkness.

This Chinese new year, here is wishing everyone, 和平与你同在 (Ping Pa Ho) -- Peace Be With You.

What are you carrying?

2012-01-17T06:19:00.000+08:00

What burden are you carrying? Put it down and take upon you the Lord's yoke instead.

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29)

Wishing Everyone Renewed Hope for the New Year

2012-01-01T14:13:00.000+08:00

Another year, another resolution -- some are new, but most are old. Most of people's new year resolutions are made only just to be broken as the days of the year go by. But even so, if there is one thing good about this habit or tradition of making new year resolutions, it may be what as Arthur H. Sulzberger once said: "For eleven months and maybe about twenty days each year, we concentrate upon the shortcomings of others, but for a few days at the turn of new year we look at our own. It is a good habit."

Despite how bad the year 2011 may have ended for some of us, nevertheless let our faith always be steadfast in the Lord so that we will remain to be hopeful for His continual blessings and for good things to come in this new year 2012. In welcoming the new year, our attitude should be like going fishing with our friends. We cast our line into the water because we have the highest hope of catching something. This genuine hope is contagious and this is what gives all of us the excitement and enthusiasm to expect for positive things despite known and unknown odds.

So, here's wishing everyone a renewed hope for this new year 2012. May the grace of the Almighty remain to bless each and everyone of us always as we move ahead throughout the year and also through the many years that are yet to come.

The Nails On The Fence

2011-12-27T10:26:00.000+08:00

Source: Daily Life's Inspiration

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily, gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said “you have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one.” You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won’t matter how many times you say I’m sorry, the wound is still there. Make sure you control your temper the next time you are tempted to say something you will regret later.

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Kung paputok ang pag-uusapan, ang bibig ng tao ay ang pinakamalakas na paputok. Malalim na malalim ang sugat na maidulot ng matatalas na mga sinasalita nito. Matagal na panahon ang kailangan upang maghilom ang mga sugat na dulot nito, at kung sakaling maghilom man, nagiiwan ito ng matinding peklat sa puso ng mga tao.

In leading a people into nation building, one's words should be truly uniting instead of being divisive. One can uphold justice and fairness without sacrificing and trampling mercy and kindness. As the Lord is, so should his people ought to be. The Lord is tough against sin, yet he is merciful towards sinners. A merciful heart bleeds as it carries out justice against its brother or sister.

All authority comes from the Lord. No one sits in power unless the Lord allows it to happen. The Lord allows, and the Lord disallows. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. No one should think that he/she owes his authority to any man, for it is the Lord who gives him/her the power and authority. Therefore, anyone who is given power or authority should conduct himself/herself in the fear of the Lord. No one sees the secrets of the heart but the Lord alone. The Lord hates secret schemes, and thus those whom He has given power and authority also are supposed to hate secret schemings.

Use nails not to create destructive holes on the fence. Use nails to build and strengthen not just the fence but the nation -- and only the nails of unity can achieve this through a leader that is uniting instead of a divisive one.

God so loved the world...

2011-12-24T21:04:00.000+08:00

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. (Luke 2:12)

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11)

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men of goodwill!” (Luke 2:14)

Keeping Christ in Christmas

2011-12-18T20:52:00.000+08:00

The number one way to keep Jesus Christ in your Christmas celebrations is to have him present in your daily life. Keeping Christ in Christmas is more about the way you live your life than the things you say—such as "Merry Christmas" versus "Happy Holidays."

Keeping Christ in Christmas means daily revealing the character, love and spirit of Christ that dwells in you, by allowing these traits to shine through your actions. Here are simple ways to keep Christ the central focus of your life this Christmas season.

1) Give God one very special gift just from you to him:

Let this gift be something personal that no one else needs to know about, and let it be a sacrifice. David said in 2 Samuel 24 that he would not offer a sacrifice to God that cost him nothing.

Maybe your gift to God will be to forgive someone you've needed to forgive for a long time. You may discover that you've given a gift back to yourself.

Corrie Ten Boom, a Christian who survived extreme brutality in a German concentration camp after rescuing many Jews from certain death during the Nazi Holocaust, was later able to say, "Forgiveness is to set a prisoner free, and to realize the prisoner was you."

Perhaps your gift will be to commit to spending time with God daily. Or maybe there is something God has asked you to give up. Make this your most important gift of the season.

2) Set aside a special time to read the Christmas story in Luke 1:5-56 through 2:1-20:

Consider reading this account with your family and discussing it together.

• The Christmas Story
• More Christmas Bible Verses

3) Set up a Nativity scene in your home:

If you don't have a Nativity, here are ideas to help you make your own Nativity scene:

• Nativity Related Crafts

4) Plan a project of good will this Christmas:

A few years ago we "adopted" a single mom. My friend was barely making ends meet and didn't have money to buy gifts for her small child. Together with my husband's family we bought gifts for both of them and replaced her broken down washing machine the week of Christmas. Do you have an elderly neighbor in need of home repairs or yard work? Find someone with a genuine need, involve your whole family and see how happy you can make someone this Christmas.

• Top Christmas Charity Projects

5) Take a group Christmas caroling in a nursing home or a children's hospital:

One year the staff at the office where I worked decided to incorporate Christmas caroling at a nearby nursing home into our yearly staff Christmas party plans. We all met first at the nursing home and toured the facility while singing Christmas carols. Afterwards, we headed back to our party with our hearts full of tenderness. It was the best staff Christmas party we'd ever had.

6) Give a surprise gift of service to each member of your family:

Jesus taught us to serve by washing the disciples feet. He also taught us that it is "more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35 (NIV) The idea of giving an unexpected gift of service to members of your family is to demonstrate Christ-like love and service. You might consider giving a back rub to your spouse, running an errand for your brother, or cleaning out a closet for your mother. Make it personal and meaningful and watch the blessings multiply.

7) Set aside a time of family devotions on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning:

Before opening the gifts, take a few minutes to gather together as a family in prayer and devotions. Read a few Bible verses and discuss as a family the true meaning of Christmas.

• Christmas Bible Verses
• Christmas Prayers and Poems
• The Christmas Story
• Christmas Devotionals

8) Attend a Christmas church service together with your family:

If you are alone this Christmas or don't have family living near you, invite a friend or a neighbor to join you.

9) Send Christmas cards that convey a spiritual message:

This is an easy way to share your faith at Christmastime. If you've already bought the reindeer cards—no problem! Just write a Bible verse and include a personal message with each card.

• Select Christmas Bible Verses

10) Write a Christmas letter to a missionary:

This idea is dear to my heart because I spent four years on the mission field. Receiving a letter always felt like opening a priceless gift on Christmas morning, no matter what day it was. Many missionaries are unable to travel home for the holidays, so it can be a very lonely time for them. Write a special Christmas letter to a missionary of your choice, thanking them for giving their life in service to the Lord. Trust me—it will mean more than you can imagine!

Fight Your Battles On Your Knees

2011-12-12T01:50:00.001+08:00

Winning Your Battles Through Prayer
By Charles F. Stanley

What would you do if someone began to push against you, attempting to throw you off a position that is rightfully yours? How would you respond? Most people would lean into the weight and push back. That’s a posture of resistance. And as believers, we must know when it’s time to lean with all our might against evil. But how?

Prayer is the believer's great privilege and powerful weapon against Satan and his plans. The apostle Peter wrote, “Resist him, steadfast in the faith” (1 Pet. 5:9). James echoed this teaching:

“Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (vv. 4:7-8).

Both of these godly men admonished believers to oppose evil. And we do that by persevering in prayer. On the surface, this form of resistance may appear to be passive. But in practice, it is always active, intentional, and powerful.

Resistance begins with a decision to join the struggle against evil through prayer, rather than retreat. Such godly opposition takes strength and courage. It also requires patience and perseverance.

Peter and James point to two key words at the heart of our ability to resist the devil through our prayers: faith in God and submission to His will.

Submission

Submission to God means acknowledging that we can’t but He can. In our prayers, we might tell the Lord, “I can’t defeat the Enemy on my own. But with You, I can.” By taking this position, we join the apostle Paul in saying, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13 NKJV).

James taught that submission occurs when we seek a closer relationship with God. As we spend time in His Word and His presence, we get to know the Lord better. We also discover how He wants us to overcome evil and experience blessing in our lives. By setting aside time solely to listen and wait upon the Lord for direction and guidance, we grow closer to Him. Periodically hiding ourselves away from all other influences and distractions is vital if we want to grow in knowledge of our God. The better we know Him, the more we see His power, experience His love, and grow in faith and wisdom.

Faith

Faith can be summed up in the statement “God, I believe You will.” In our efforts to overcome the Evil One, we might pray this way: “I believe You will defeat the Enemy and cause him to flee from me as I resist him and put my trust in You.” Again and again, David made this declaration of faith to the Lord: “O my God, I trust in You” (See Ps. 25:2; also 31:6; 55:23; 56:3; 143:8).

We grow in faith by exercising it—trusting God in every circumstance and relationship. Over time, we develop a personal history with God as He demonstrates His faithfulness and loving care for us. The result is an ever-deepening relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Ultimately, it’s impossible to resist the Devil for long if you don’t believe that Jesus Christ can and will thwart Satan’s attempts to harm you. Remaining strong in faith requires total submission to God in all areas of your life—no exceptions. When you decide that you don’t need God’s help in one area, that’s precisely where the Enemy will strike.

The good news is that God has given each of us a measure of faith to nurture within our hearts. And by His grace, we are capable of submitting to His will. In whatever you do, remember the words of James: “Resist the devil and he will flee from you."

Growing Good Corn

2011-12-10T00:58:00.000+08:00

Source: Daily Life's Inspiration

There once was a farmer who grew award-winning corn. Each year he entered his corn in the state fair where it won a blue ribbon.

One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting about how he grew it. The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbors.

“How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbors when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year?” the reporter asked.

“Why sir,” said the farmer, “didn’t you know? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn.”

He is very much aware of the connectedness of life. His corn cannot improve unless his neighbor’s corn also improves.

So it is with our lives. Those who choose to live in peace must help their neighbors to live in peace. Those who choose to live well must help others to live well, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches. And those who choose to be happy must help others to find happiness, for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all.

The lesson for each of us is this: if we are to grow good corn, we must help our neighbors grow good corn.

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When you come into your neighbor's standing corn, then you may pluck the ears with your hand; but you shall not move a sickle to your neighbor's standing corn. (Deuteronomy 23:25)

Wisdom For Life's Trials

2011-12-05T07:46:00.001+08:00

Discerning the Source of Our Trials

By Charles Stanley

Key verse: James 1:2-8, 12

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

What was the last painful or stressful trial you experienced? Was it a struggle for you physically, emotionally, and spiritually? No one has ever lived a life completely free from pain, uncertainty, stress, and trials. The Bible makes this point abundantly clear. Jesus, Moses, Job, Peter, Paul, and all of the heroes of Scripture are portrayed as men and women who, at one time or another, underwent trying times of hardship and heartache. Now, thousands of years later, God's servants are still undergoing hard times. Therefore, it is important that you learn how to cope with these harsh patches in life.

James 1:2 is a rather short verse, but it contains tremendous insight into the issue of life's trials. The phrase "when you encounter various trials" includes three key words that demonstrate the universality of man's hardships. First, it is significant that James uses the word "when." This defines the issue; undergoing trials is not a matter of if but rather when. Second, when he says that you will "encounter" misfortune, he is stating that difficulties will arise unexpectedly; there may be no time to prepare for these dilemmas. Third, he uses the adjective "various" to denote the ever-changing, often-surprising forms in which trials appear.

As you begin to examine the issue of life's persistent difficulties, a reasonable question to ask is, "Where do these hard times come from?" There are, in fact, some specific sources of trials. The primary cause is simply making wrong decisions ourselves. Our God-given free will allows us the opportunity and responsibility of making our own choices. Unfortunately, though, even the most committed Christian will make mistakes when making decisions, and the result will be a period of hardship.

Another cause of trials is persecution by other people. This is certainly an impediment with which the early church was familiar. Writing to the suffering Christians scattered throughout the ancient world, Peter says, "But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled" (1 Peter 3:14). Whether it is on account of your faith or for some other reason altogether, a sad fact of life is that the world is full of people who have the ability and desire to hurt you. This is certainly a challenge for Christians seeking to respond to their oppressors in a Christ-like manner.

A third source of trials is the fallen world in which we live. Sin has so permeated the earth that God's original concept of paradise seems impossible. Tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, sickness, war, bloodshed, and crime are all the results of sin's impact upon the world. Clearly, there is no way to escape the trials that seem to appear out of nowhere.

Not surprisingly, many trials often come straight from the Devil. After all, Satan is interested in ways in which he can torment us, and each attempt he makes has but one purpose—to draw us further away from God.

A final source of trials is the Lord. Many people resist this idea, believing that God desires only happiness for them. However, the truth is that God is more concerned with our maturity and development than He is our general happiness. That is difficult for some to accept, but our relationships with Him are far more important than our temporary well-being here on earth.

Often, there are lessons that can only be learned through hardship; therefore, God will allow difficulties to enter into our lives for His purposes. Finding God's reasoning for our suffering can be a daunting task, but when we view our hardships from our Father’s eternal perspective, we can begin to understand them more clearly. Therefore, the best starring point for understanding the rationale behind our trials is to prayerfully consider their source. The better we understand where these problems come from, the better we will be able to work through them.

For more info, watch the full video of the sermon: Wisdom For Life's Trials

Bulag, Pipi, at Bingi (Blind, Mute, and Deaf)

2011-12-03T09:49:00.001+08:00

Bulag, Pipi, at Bingi (Blind, Mute, and Deaf)
By Freddie Aguilar

1:
Madilim ang iyong paligid (Dark is your surrounding)
Hatinggabing walang hanggan (Midnight that's never ending)
Anyo at kulay ng mundo sayo'y pinagkaitan (Earth's form and color, to you are missing)
Huwag mabahala kaibigan (Friend, don't you worry)
Isinilang ka mang ganyan (You maybe born that way)
Isang bulag sa kamunduhan (A person blind in this worldliness)
Ligtas ka sa kasalanan (Safe you are from sinfulness)

Chorus:
Hindi nalalayo sa'yo ang tunay na mundo (The real world isn't far from your's)
Marami sa amin nabubuhay ng tulad mo (Many of us live our lives like your's)
Di makita, di madinig, minsa'y nauutal (We see not, nor hear, at times we stutter)
Patungo sa hinahangad na buhay na banal (Onward to the desire of a life that's holier)

2:
Ibigin mo mang umawit (Though you long to sing)
Hindi mo makuhang gawin (You've no way of achieving)
Sigaw ng puso't damdamin (Your heart's cry and feeling)
Wala sa'yong pumapansin (No one seems to be noticing)
Sampung daliri, kaibigan (Ten fingers, dear friend)
Dyan ka nila pakikinggan (It's there they'll hear you then)
Pipi ka man nang isinilang (Born mute you maybe one)
Dakila ka sa sinuman (Noble you are to anyone)

(Repeat Chorus)

3:
Ano sa iyo ang musika? (What is music to you?)
Sayo ba'y mahalaga? (To you is it important?)
Matahimik mong paligid (In your silent world)
Awitan ay di madinig (Singing can never be heard)
Mapalad ka o kaibigan (You're better off, my friend)
Napakaingay ng mundo (So noisy is the world)
Sa isang binging katulad mo (To a deaf person like you)
Walang daing walang gulo (Complaints or confusions, there's none)

(Repeat Chorus)

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“You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind; but you shall fear your God. I am Yahweh." (Leviticus 19:14)

The Lord shall open the eyes of the blind. He shall raise up those who are bowed down. For He loves righteousness. (Reference: Psalms 146:8)

I Got What I Need

2011-11-25T20:47:00.001+08:00

I Got What I Need
By Collin Raye

I knew all the answers
The way my life should go
And when I used to say my prayers
I would tell God so
It seemed He wasn't listening
I thought He didn't care
But lookin' back
It's plain to see
He was always there

'Cause I prayed for strength
And I got pain that made me strong
I prayed for courage
And got fear to overcome
When I prayed for faith
My empty heart brought me to my knees
I don't always get what I want
I get what I need

I'm not sayin' that it's easy
Or that it doesn't hurt
When nothing seems to go my way
Nothing seems to work
These days I'm getting better
At goin' with the flow
Accepting that sometimes the answer
To a prayer is no

'Cause I prayed for strength
And I got pain that made me strong
I prayed for courage
And got fear to overcome
When I prayed for faith
My empty heart brought me to my knees
I don't always get what I want
I get what I need

Every time I've had a door slammed in my face
In time a better one was opened in its place

I prayed for strength
And I got pain that made me strong
I prayed for courage
And got fear to overcome
When I prayed for faith
My empty heart brought me to my knees
I don't always get what I want
I get what I need

Oh I don't always get what I want
I get what I need

In This Life...

2011-11-25T20:13:00.001+08:00

In This Life
By Collin Raye

For all I've been blessed with in this life,
there was an emptiness in me.
I was imprisoned by the power of gold.
With one honest touch, you set me free.

Let the world stop turning,
let the sun stop burning.
Let them tell me love's not worth going through.
If it all falls apart, I will know deep in my heart
the only dream that matters has come true;
in this life, I was loved by you.

For every mountain I have climbed,
every raging river crossed,
you were the treasure that I longed to find.
Without your love I would be lost.

Let the world stop turning,
let the sun stop burning,
let them tell me love's not worth going through.
If it all falls apart, I will know deep in my heart,
the only dream that mattered had come true;
in this life i was loved by you.

In this life, I was loved by you.

On Justice With Mercy

2011-11-17T14:22:00.001+08:00

In the world's system, while one may be presumed innocent until proven guilty, yet condemnation pushes many to prefer the mute mercy of the dead to the clamoring execration of the living.

In upholding the law, it is extremely hard for the head to blind justice with mercy. In exercising kindness, it is very difficult for the heart to mute mercy with justice.

For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (James 2:13)

Therefore you shall not wrest justice: you shall not respect persons; neither shall you take a bribe; for a bribe does blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. (Deuteronomy 16:19)

Something Is Being Worked Inside Of You

2011-10-18T02:36:00.002+08:00

Though it may feel uncomfortable and though it is hard to surrender to what you can't see, just trust in the Lord and humble yourself and submit to Him. Give in to something heavenly that is being worked by the Holy Spirit inside of you, because whatever the Spirit is doing it shall bring you wholeness and peace in due time.

Whatever You're Doing (Something Heavenly)
By Sanctus Real

It's time for healing time to move on
It's time to fix what's been broken too long
Time make right what has been wrong
It's time to find my way to where I belong
There's a wave that's crashing over me
All I can do is surrender

(Chorus)
Whatever you're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos somehow there's peace
It's hard to surrender to what I can't see
But I'm giving in to something heavenly

Time for a milestone
Time to begin again
Reevaluate who I really am
Am I doing everything to follow your will
Or just climbing aimlessly over these hills
So show me what it is you want from me
I give everything I surrender...
To...

(Chorus)

Time to face up
Clean this old house
Time to breathe in and let everything out
That I've wanted to say for so many years
Time to to release all my held back tears

Whatever you're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but I believe
You're up to something bigger than me
Larger than life something heavenly

Whatever you're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but now I can see
This something bigger than me
Larger than life something heavenly
Something heavenly

It's time to face up
Clean this old house
Time breathe in and let everything out

The Difference Between Reputation and Character

2011-10-11T05:25:00.000+08:00

By Tim Nichols

Reputation isn't everything. Character is much more important. A reputation that is gained without character is hypocrisy. A reputation that grows out of a good character is simply giving honor to whom honor is due.

Character is within your power. Reputation is a thing over which you have little control.

Character cannot be taken away from you by any man. Reputation can be stolen from you by liars.

Striving for character is strength. Aiming solely at reputation is weakness. Character endures difficulty.

Reputation seekers are confused when difficulty arises. Character seeks to do what is right.

Reputation seekers seek to do what is acceptable to the most mortals.

Integrity, honesty, clarity, and honor are valued by men and women of Character. Vagueness, indistinct communication, and craftiness are hallmarks of reputation-seekers.

The man with character can stand alone when duty calls upon him to do so. The reputation seeker will not stand alone under any circumstances.

The man with character tries to clearly and honestly speak the truth and openly invites others to examine it. The reputation seeker aims at acceptance and therefore makes vague statements that can be interpreted in ways acceptable to the hearer.

The man of character speaks the truth as clearly and kindly as he is able at all times and under all circumstances. The reputation seeker speaks the truth with boldness only when he is assured that those who are significant to him will applaud.

The man of character is often out in front, regardless of who is following. The reputation seeker cannot lead the way because he cannot move in any direction until he is assured that the army is already headed that way.

The reputation seeker is confused by the man of character. He tends to assume that all men are motivated as he is and he attempts to manipulate others by dangling before them the golden carrot of approval and by goading them on with the spear of disapproval. His arguments are often shallow and when he cannot convince others with reasonable discussion he attempts to intimidate with threats of harming the reputation of the man of character. He is shocked, perturbed, and disgusted when his petty attempts at coercion are ignored by the one who is examining his own heart and his own Bible rather than opinion polls.

The godly man of character has a genuine light that shines for all the world to see. When right-thinking men see it they glorify God (Matthew 5:16). The reputation seeker has no real light, but he works very hard at giving the impression that he does. His artificial light changes color as it radiates in different directions. It is adjusted so that men who see it will glorify him.

Sometimes men of character deservedly own a fine reputation among men. This is desirable above great physical wealth (Proverbs 22:1). But a fine reputation is not to be desired above character. False teachers have always enjoyed fine reputations among some segment of the people (Luke 6:26). They, along with other hypocrites of their stripe, have traded character for reputation and have received the only reward they will ever see (Matthew 6:1-21). Only a man of character can "rejoice and be exceedingly glad" when he is wrongly persecuted and when men say all kinds of evil against him falsely because of his practice of Christianity (Matthew 5:10-12). The reputation seeker will fall apart at such times.

Only the man of character can truly teach and practice the truth without partiality (1 Timothy 5:21, James 3:17). He is not moved by the potential influence of his hearers upon the opinions of others. He does not challenge the sins of those without influence while ignoring those of opinion leaders. All are treated equally by him. The reputation seeker "pets the big dogs" and kicks the helpless ones if doing so will please the "big dogs."

Reputation seekers tend to, sometimes subtly, point at their degrees and awards hanging on the walls and suggest that you ought to respect their opinions because they have been respected by influential men in high places. Men of character point at the Bible and suggest that God's word is alone worthy of your trust and that all opinions ought to be weighed upon God's scales.

Men of character are able to say, "I was mistaken" when they are able to discover errors in themselves. They clearly defend what they have said or done when they are accused of errors that they, themselves, cannot detect. Reputation seekers, on the other hand, are quick to say that they have been "taken out of context" even when their words clearly mean what they appear to mean when placed in their context. Their "clarifications" are often very imprecise and unclear. Since many approved of them for what they did say they cannot retreat from it. Since some disapprove of what they said they cannot directly own it. Their fence-straddling seldom wins for them the approval of both sides and it often backfires and causes them to earn the displeasure of both. Honesty and consistency go out the window when reputation is the goal. They are obvious and apparent when character is the objective.

Work to become a man or woman of character. Begin on the inside. The outside will follow. Those who love truth and right, though they be few, will love you. God will love and reward you. When you look in the mirror you will be able to approve of what you see. The transient applause of men cannot match the authentic approval of heaven or that of your own conscience.

* * * * * * *

Character is the one thing we make in this world and take with us into the next.

The circumstances amid which you live determine your reputation; the truth you believe determines your character.

Reputation is what you are supposed to be; Character is what you are.

Reputation is the photograph; Character is the face.

Reputation comes over one from without; Character grows up from within.

Reputation is what you have when you come to a new community; Character is what you have when you go away.

Reputation is made in a moment; Character is built in a lifetime.

Your reputation is learned in an hour; Your character doesn't come to light for a year.

Reputation grows like a mushroom; Character grows like the oak.

A single newspaper report gives you your reputation; A life of toil gives you your character.

Reputation makes you rich or makes you poor; Character makes you happy or makes you miserable.

Reputation is what men say about you on your tombstone; Character is what angels say about you before the throne of God.

------------

[Mark 8:27-29]

Jesus went out, with his disciples, into the villages of Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that I am?”

They told Him, “John the Baptizer, and others say Elijah, but others: one of the prophets.”

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ.”

Waiting on the Lord: Resting At His Feet

2011-09-28T09:19:00.000+08:00

Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall grow cold (Matthew 24:12). But be strong and be of good courage (Joshua 1:6). This I speak unto you, so that in Me you might have peace: In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33). Don't you be afraid, for I am with you; don't be dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you; yes, I will help you; yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness (Isaiah 41:10).

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

------------
Why do you say, "My way is hid from the Lord, and the justice due to me is passed away from my God?" (Isaiah 40:27) The Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear (Isaiah 59:1). Have you forgotten? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, doesn't faint, neither is weary; His wisdom is unsearchable (Isaiah 40:28).

Therefore wait upon the Lord, and He shall renew your strength; you shall mount up with wings like the eagle; you shall run, and not be weary; you shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your ways to Him. Trust also in Him, and He will do this: He will make your righteousness go forth as the light, and your justice as the noon day sun. Rest in Him, and wait patiently for Him. (Psalms 37:4-7)

Therefore don't be anxious..., for your heavenly Father knows the things you need. But seek first God's Kingdom, and His righteousness; and all the things you need will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:31-33)

Wait for the Lord. Be strong, and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for the Lord. (Psalms 27:14)

To You, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in you. No one who waits on you shall be ashamed. Show me your ways, O Lord and teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation. I will wait for you. (Psalms 25:1-5)

O God, search me, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. (Psalms 139:23-24)

------------

[Proverbs 3:1-12]

"My child, don't forget my words; but let your heart keep them: for length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they add to you.

"Don't let kindness and truth forsake you. Wrap them up around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good understanding in My sight and in men.

"Trust in Me with all your heart, and don't depend on your own understanding. Seek My will in all you do, and I will direct your paths. Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, delight in Me, and turn your back on evil. Then I will give you renewed strength and vitality.

"Honor Me with your substance, and with the best parts of all your increase. Then you shall lack nothing; for I will fill your life with plenty such that you shall overflow.

"My child, don't despise My discipline, neither be weary of My reproof: For whom I love, I reprove; even as a father reproves the child in whom he delights."

[1 Peter 5:6-7] Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time; casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.

[Philippians 1:6] Be confident of this very thing: That the Lord who began a good work in you will complete it in the time He appointed.

God Will Never Give Up On You

2011-09-27T08:45:00.000+08:00

By: Bo Sanchez

One day, there was a small barrio of farmers who were praying for rain to come. Every Sunday at church, they’d gather and pray for rain. But one Sunday, the priest announced, “How can God give you rain if you don’t have faith?”

The farmers asked, “How do you know we have no faith?” The priest said, “Every Sunday, you pray for rain. But how many of you are bringing an umbrella?” No one in that church brought an umbrella. The priest continued, “No one among you is prepared to receive the blessings you’re praying for.”

Next Sunday, people began to bring an umbrella. And soon, the rain came.

Friend, are you prepared for your blessings? Noah built the Ark before the rain came, not during or after. You need to build your Ark today.

Do you really expect the answer to your prayer?

I’ve been praying for 1000 Feasts (our weekly gathering) spread all over the world. In God’s own time, I expect it to happen. But even today, we’re preparing for that blessing. We’re bringing our umbrella. We’re building our ark. How? We’re raising up 1000 Feast Builders through our School of Leadership.

Today, what’s your umbrella? Identify your umbrella and bring it with you. Right now, there are some of you who are ready to give up on the dream God has placed in your heart. Don’t give up. Because God isn’t giving up on you. Oh yes, you may have to give up on your particular version on God’s dream for your life.

I remember Bishop Soc Villegas was telling me that he wanted to be a monk—alone in his hut, tending to a little garden. That was how he wanted to serve God. But God wanted Him to serve as a very busy priest and Bishop.

I love telling the story of how I was fixated on a 500 square meter property for our Community Center. It was a foreclosed property that the bank was selling. I wanted it so much, I’d visit it many times—and when no one was looking—raise my hand towards it and “claim” it to be ours. (If I saw someone walking on the street, I’d pretend I was just checking the fence.) I was tenacious. I told the tiny Light of Jesus community then to fast. I even scheduled a 3-night vigil to pray for the place. We also went into massive fundraising. We went Christmas Caroling in August. But one day, we received the news: Someone else bought the property from the bank. We were devastated. I remember our prayer meeting the week we found out. It was as if I was attending a funeral. Some people were even crying.

But ten years later, God answered our prayer. We finally acquired a property. This taught us that God’s timing isn’t our timing. But it wasn’t 500 square meters. It wasn’t 1000, or 2000, or 5000, or even 10,000 square meters. God gave us 50,000 square meters. (On that land, we built Anawim, our ministry for the abandoned elderly.)

This taught me that God’s measurements aren’t my measurement. I was asking for 500 square meters, and God must have been laughing at me, saying, “You won’t be able to do what I want you to do. Just wait.”

When it comes to your dreams, don’t be attached to your timing. Don’t be attached to your own estimations. And don’t be attached to your version. Trust in God. Open yourself to God’s version. Expect God to answer your prayer.

At the Cross, hear God say these words to you, “I will never give up on you.”

He’ll Finish What He Started In You

I love this Bible verse: And so I am sure that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it on until it is finished on the Day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)

This passage says two very important things…

1. You’re A Work of God.

You’re God’s idea. You’re God’s design. You’re God’s work of art. You’re God’s masterpiece.

For the longest time, I didn’t believe in that. For decades, I was ashamed of myself. I was addicted. I was in bondage. I kept falling into sin. Because I was so weak, so sinful, so dirty. I felt that every time God looked at me, He would look away in disgust. Because of that, I became even more sinful.

One day, someone sent me a cassette tape. (For the very young reading this piece, a cassette tape is the predecessor of the CD.) The note read, “Bo, I just came from China. Listen to these Chinese worship songs. You’ll be surprised.” I put it in the cassette recorder and pressed the play button. The Chinese song was vaguely familiar. And then it hit me—I wrote the song! It was just translated in Chinese. I felt so proud. Because that was my song!

And then I felt God speak to my heart. I felt God say, “You’re my song. I feel the same way when I look at you. I’m so happy and proud of you!” God shattered my shame by telling me, “You’re my child. You’re my idea. You’re my design. I made you. I don’t make mistakes. And I’m so proud to have a child like you.”

2. You’re A Work In Progress

You’ve got imperfections. You’ve got weaknesses. You’ve got blemishes. You’ve got scars. But that’s okay. Because you’re not yet a finished product. Because God is still working on you.

I love my little house today. But when I was building it many years ago, I didn’t like it at all. Because it was messy. It was dirty. There was scaffolding, and hallow blocks, and cement bags, and sawdust. But I didn’t give up building the house, because I knew it was a work in progress.

Don’t give up on yourself or on the dreams that God has for you, because you too are a work in progress.

Do you remember the story of Aladdin? Aladdin discovered the magical Genie. How? By rubbing the lamp. But why did he rub the lamp in the first place? Because it was dirty. You are that lamp. And you’re dirty. But because you’re dirty, God will rub you, shine you, work on you until magic happens. And until magic happens, God will keep rubbing you, working on you, healing you, tinkering with you, operating on you—until you become like Him.

Say out loud, “God isn’t finished with me yet.”

There is a beautiful rose within you. It’s just covered with thorns. But despite those thorns, God knows better. It’s part of who you are. And with patience, He will water you—until that rose blossoms. And then He will get the rose and cut the thorns—and put it in a vase—for all the world to see your beauty.

Right now, you may feel as though nothing is happening in your life. That none of your dreams are coming true. But don’t give up, because God doesn’t give up on you.

Which One?

2011-09-18T14:49:00.002+08:00

Author Unknown

A worried woman went to her gynecologist and said:

"Doctor, I have a serious problem and desperately need your help! My baby is not even 1 year old and I'm pregnant again. I don't want kids so close together."

So the doctor said: "Ok and what do you want me to do?"
She said: "I want you to end my pregnancy, and I'm counting on your help with this.'"

The doctor thought for a little, and after some silence he said to the lady: "I think I have a better solution for your problem. It's less dangerous for you too."

She smiled, thinking that the doctor was going to accept her request.

Then he continued: "You see, in order for you not to have to take care of two babies at the same time, let's kill the one in your arms. This way, you could rest some before the other one is born. If we're going to kill one of them, it doesn't matter which one it is. There would be no risk for your body if you chose the one in your arms."

The lady was horrified and said: "No doctor! How terrible! It's a crime to kill a child!"

"I agree", the doctor replied. "But you seemed to be OK with it, so I thought maybe that was the best solution."

The doctor smiled, realizing that he had made his point.

He convinced the mom that there is no difference in killing a child that's already been born and one that's still in the womb.

The crime is the same!

----------
"Love says I sacrifice myself for the good of the other person. Abortion says I sacrifice the other person for the good of myself..."

Jesus sacrificed Himself for the good of sinners! That's perfect love!

Running the race and finishing it

2011-09-06T02:44:00.001+08:00

"Let us run with patience the race that is set before us." --Hebrews 12:1

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith “ --2 Timothy 4:7

As We Finish The Race
By Julius M. Tajale

The ending week of March is a week full of the culminating activities of the school year called graduation. Graduation marks the end of a one school year of endeavor in order to gain knowledge. It is during this time when those that performed well during the year are recognized and awarded. It is a time of victory.

Our Christian life runs similar to our schooling. There will come a time when our life here on earth will come to an end, and we will graduate from this earthly life. It is during this time that we face our Creator, our Lord Jesus to present what transpired with our life. It is during this time that we are rewarded of our obedience to our Lord Jesus.

Paul clearly pointed out three aspects of the verse in 2 Timothy 4:7:

a. Fighting the good fight;
b. Finishing the course;
c. Keeping the faith.

Fighting The Good Fight

Fighting the good fight is fighting a worthy opponent with vigor according to the rules. We have to journey through our Christian life within the bounds of God’s moral laws. This means no “illegal” acts even if we are in a situation wherein we are pushed in the corner.

We have to bear in mind that, no matter what happens, we should stay within the bounds of God’s moral law. Our pursuit of success could somehow tempt us to do “illegal” acts, we should be careful with this. Because life here on earth is full of choices and uncertainties, we need the guidance of our Lord Jesus Christ as we run the race.

Finishing The Course

Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, laid out a path for each one of us the moment we believe in Him as our Lord and Savior. This is the course that each one of us has to follow as we journey through our Christian life. Each one of us has a course of our own, laid out by God and is composed of straight paths, curved paths, uphill and downhill paths, and dangerous hillside paths. The different conditions of our course define our training, the role that God is giving us in His big plan, and the victories that we will experience as we journey through our Christian life. We need to follow it diligently without short cuts. Taking short cuts will put you off-track, you can be lost or expose yourself to danger. This means we have to face the good times and bad times with the help of and guidance of our Lord Jesus.

Keeping The Faith

The race or journey that we go through is like a relay race. The baton should be in to the finish line along with the runner in order to win the race. It is similar to life. We started off with our Christian life journey with our faith in Jesus Christ. We should carry this faith within us all through out the journey, and bring it with us when we finally face our great God and Creator.

----------

The video shown above is a trailer of the movie "Thelma" directed by a young talented Christian director. The movie opens in theater on September 7, 2011. A must see movie for the youth of today.

"Thelma" is a story of a simple young girl from the province named Thelma (played by Maja Salvador) whose family is beset with challenges when she discovers her uncanny gift of speed. Her talent then opens doors for her – to elevate her family’s situation and change the course of her own life. But to do that she will have to run- against all obstacles, against personal hindrances, against shadows from her past, and against her own self-doubts.

"Some people run away from their problems. Thelma ran to fix them."

Autonomy, Mastery, & Purpose

2011-08-17T16:18:00.005+08:00

This is a good question – What is it that drives us to work harder, and more importantly work better? What makes us more creative, more productive and more satisfied with the work that we do?

As it turns out it is not money, or promotion, or the bonuses that we get at the end of the month. In fact, four decades of scientific research on human motivation shows that the carrot-and-stick approach is highly ineffective, both in business, and at home, when dealing with your children.

The true secret to high performance and satisfaction—at work, at school, and at home—does not lie in external rewards. It is based on the urge to direct our own lives (autonomy), the desire to get better and better at something that matters (mastery), and the yearning to do what we do in the service of something larger than ourselves (purpose).

----------
[Autonomy] Jesus said, “If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free... Most assuredly I tell you, everyone who lives in sin is the bondservant of sin. A bondservant doesn't live in the house forever. A son remains forever. If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:31~36)

[Mastery] I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

[Purpose] And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23)

The Healing Hand of God

2011-07-29T05:34:00.001+08:00

Kindness: The thing desirable of a person

2011-07-22T13:10:00.005+08:00

Being considerate of others will take your children further in life than any college degree.
--Marian Wright Edelman

What this world needs is a new kind of army - the army of the kind.
--Cleveland Amory

It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.
--Author Unknown

Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you - not because they are nice, but because you are.
--Author Unknown

Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.
--Mark Twain

Don't wait for people to be friendly, show them how.
--Author Unknown

The most important trip you may take in life is meeting people halfway.
--Henry Boye

When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.
--Abraham Joshua Heschel

How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with those who are striving, and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these.
--George Washington Carver

Kindness, like a boomerang, always returns.
--Author Unknown

The best portion of a good man's life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love.
--William Wordsworth

Real generosity is doing something nice for someone who will never find out.
--Frank A. Clark

The kindest gesture in all the world is the unkind act, not done.
--Author Unknown

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.
--Leo Buscaglia

A mistake made by many people with great convictions is that they will let nothing stand in the way of their views, not even kindness.
--Bryant H. McGill

A part of kindness consists in loving people more than they deserve.
--Joseph Joubert

Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.
--Albert Schweitzer

Eradicating a religion of kindness is, I think, a terrible and futile thing for the Chinese to attempt.
--Martin Scorsese

Everyone responds to kindness.
--Richard Gere

Ignorant kindness may have the effect of cruelty; but to be angry with it as if it were direct cruelty would be an ignorant unkindness.
--George Eliot

Illness is the doctor to whom we pay most heed; to kindness, to knowledge, we make promise only; pain we obey.
--Marcel Proust

In human relationships, kindness and lies are worth a thousand truths.
--Graham Greene

That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar.
--Proverbs 19:22

Surrendering Everything to God

2011-06-27T11:32:00.022+08:00

Surrendering Everything to God
By Dr Mark

The standard of practical holy living has been so low among Christians that very often the person who tries to practice spiritual disciplines in everyday life is looked upon with disapproval by a large portion of the church. And for the most part, the followers of Jesus Christ are satisfied with a life so conformed to the world, and so like it in almost every respect, that to a casual observer there is no difference between the Christian and the pagan. (Hannah Whitall Smith, 1875.)

God calls us to surrender everything to Him. Andrew Murray called it "Absolute Surrender". So what does it mean to surrender all to God? There are two sides to the equation. First, we must be willing to do whatever He desires for us - in others words we must be willing to be obedient to whatever He commands. Second, we have to learn to allow God to do whatever He wants to do in and through us. This second part is the one that from an intellectual position seems to give some people problems. The question arises, can we really keep God from doing whatever He wants to do in our lives. The answer is Yes we can.

Let's look at a couple of areas where we see this illustrated in scripture:

MK 6:4 Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor." 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 And he was amazed at their lack of faith.

2 Peter 3: 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

From the two passages that we've just looked at we see that there were times when Jesus wanted to do miracles and He wasn't able to because of the peoples lack of faith. Also, we see in the second passage that God wants everyone to be saved, but it's not going to happen. So from these two scriptures we see that there are certainly times when God wants to do things in people lives, but because of choices each person makes, He may be limited in what He will do.

We need to examine ourselves and be sure that we are not doing, or believing anything that might limit what God can (or will) do in our lives. We can ask questions like: Is there any on-going sin in my life? Is it possible that there are things God wants to do in my life that my lack of faith would hinder Him from doing? If so, what can be done to increase faith? Begin by confessing the lack of faith and asking God to remove it.

MK 9:17 A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not."

MK 9:19 "O unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me."

MK 9:20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

MK 9:21 Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?"

"From childhood," he answered. 22 "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."

MK 9:23 " `If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."

MK 9:24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

When Jesus was talking to His disciples He told them that it was important to count the cost. Listen to what He said:

LK 14:25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple. 27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

LK 14:28 "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29 For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30 saying, `This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'

LK 14:31 "Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

Surrendering our will to God is very difficult for many of us because we want to be sure that we are in control and we think that we know what's best for ourselves, so surrendering our will is often tough. However, God has called us to surrender everything to His care.

As we consider some passages that deal with this process we'll note that in many places we're told things like: put off one thing and put on something else. What I'd like for us to spend the next few minutes doing is going through the book of Romans and examining just a few of the places where Paul dealt with this concept of surrender.

Romans 3: 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

Romans 3: 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

RO 5:6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

RO 6:11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.

Romans 6: 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

RO 6:19 I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness.

RO 7:1 Do you not know, brothers--for I am speaking to men who know the law--that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives? 2 For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. 3 So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man.

RO 7:4 So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. 5 For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. 6 But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.

RO 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

Romans 10: 4 Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

Romans 11: 5 So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6 And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

Romans 13: 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

These passages teach us that we are to die (spiritually) to the world, to sin, to self, to the law and that we are to live for God. We are called to focus on God's grace and His amazing willingness to reach out to us when we were still living in sin and when we were still His enemies. We're to get rid of the flesh and to clothe ourselves with Christ.

Have you surrendered everything to Jesus as both Lord and King? If not, what are you waiting for?

* * * * * * *

The Beauty of Surrender to God
by Sharat Thakur

Faith is giving Divine a chance to act. We all say that God is omniscient and omnipresent, but when it comes to surrendering everything on to Him, we tend to question his existence. In this matter, the atheists are better as they do not believe in God’s presence at all. Whats the point in believing on someone, and yet not having faith on Him. When we say that God is there, why cant we give Him a chance to bestow his love. We create images of God in our own mind, and try to believe that these are mere images, and nothing more.

How will God bestow his Love on to us? A very simple principle that works here is we have to follow the divine principles that God has laid down for us. Belief in God should stimulate us to know His virtues and his manifestations. We need to keep remembering God all the time. Many people complain that inspite of doing Spiritual practice and following the company of saintly people, they have not realized God. This is because of lack of faith and reverence for God, and also because of lack of remembrance of God.

We need to bestow and surrender all that we have onto Him, be it good or bad. A deep trust has to be birthed from the inside of us that recognizes that whatever happens to us, whether it is good or bad, God is in control and He can make something good out of it that would align to His will and purpose. Complete surrender to God’s will is the answer to have his blessing bestowed on to us. We have to realize the ever transcendental nature of God. We have to realize that God is all encompassing. God is all pervading, he knows everybody’s thoughts and action, he is supremely compassionate, supremely loving. God is the Supreme person, the Supreme Reality and the Supreme Spirit.

Surrender everything to God and see how life becomes full of meaning and purpose. All the actions, all the thoughts, all the feelings – bestow on to his Supreme feet. Have faith that whatever he has given or whatever he will give, is all that we require. Open your heart to receive His love. He is always there for us, we have to give him the chance to act, we have to have complete faith in His love.

Surrendering to God does not mean that we should stop doing what is expected of us. Rather it means, that we should keep doing our duty, without getting perturbed by life’s ups and downs. In everything we should be thankful to Him. There should be no need to worry about anything when you have surrendered everything to God.

So rise, awake, act, surrender and give God the chance to act.

The Bible or the Cellphone?

2011-06-25T11:31:00.007+08:00

What if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone?

What if we carried it with us always wherever we go?

What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?

What if we didn't miss checking it for messages everyday?

What if we forwarded and shared its messages to others?

What if we treated it like we couldn’t live without it?

What if we gave it to people as gifts?

What if we used it as we traveled?

What if we used it in case of an emergency?

This is something to make you go… hmmm… where is my Bible?

Oh, and one more thing. Unlike our cell phone, we don’t ever have to worry about our Bible being disconnected due to unpaid bills. Jesus already paid the bill!

And... it has more than a global coverage. It is universal.

You don't have to turn it off or on, it's always on.

It needs no recharging for it never runs out of power.

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And what if we are hooked to the Bible like we are so hooked to the internet?

You Are Blessed by God

2011-06-17T11:51:00.007+08:00

What does it mean to have God’s blessing on your life? This is a question every individual needs to ask. The implications are enormous, once you understand what God’s blessing really involves. The blessing of God is powerful and life-changing, while the loss of God’s blessing is more serious than we have probably imagined. It will be fruitless to attempt to do something – even something great and noble - if the blessing of the Lord does not rest upon it. Yet with the blessing of the Lord, even our small steps of service will be taken far beyond what we could accomplish by our own effort alone. Every individual has gifts that God intends to use. Accompanied by His blessing, these gifts can have a powerful impact.

The blessing of the Lord is transforming, and is centered on Christ. The blessing of the Lord is not for selfish purposes - it is to touch the needy and the hurting, and to bring honor and praise to God. “Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise Him all creatures here below!” is a familiar doxology in many parts of the world. As we understand and experience the power of His blessing, may our lives bring glory to the source - the living God.

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Before God formed you, He blessed and consecrated you.

Your are the beads of pearl nestled in the orient sea.
Like the colors of Eleazar's vestment you were clothed.
Deep blue sky and white clouds are colors in your firmament.
Colors of crimson and of gold your robe is adorned with.
With the sun and the stars, your cloth is woven.
With the Covenant you were sealed; making you His own.

You are greatly blessed; and your season is drawing near.
In and out, near and far, your seeds shall flourish.
Their fruits shall replenish and restore barren lands.
And when nations shall have seen your luster,
Eyes will see and ears will hear the Lord's glory.

Praying: Conversing With God

2011-06-07T05:51:00.002+08:00

By Jay Lowder
Crosswalk.com

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” - Ephesians 6:18

I have spent 20 years in full-time evangelism, traveling the world sharing God’s Word and speaking with people about life and spiritual issues. The hurts and frustrations of individuals run the gamut, but when it comes to our spiritual walk with God, one of the most common points of discussion is prayer.

There is a misconception about prayer that often hinders individuals from fully benefitting from this intimate act in which God desires us to take part. Too often, we view prayer as a reverent, eloquent monologue during which we use “thee’s” and “thou’s,” and we forget the essence of prayer is a simple conversation.

Communication is at the heart of our lives. Without it, our relationships would fail and we would live in isolation and frustration. Yet, every day we have successful conversations with friends, spouses, coworkers and even strangers.

God wants us to have this same type of conversation with Him, and applying some key principles can help strengthen your prayer life and relationship with God.

Avoid a Monologue

It is very easy for us to speak our prayer to God and move on with the next task, waiting for him to provide the answer. But if you really think this through, the concept seems a little odd. You would never call your best friend and speak for 10 straight minutes only to hang up without giving him or her opportunity to reply; so why would you do this to God?

Prayer is a two-way conversation. We need to practice the art of listening.

How do you listen to God? Sit alone, be quiet and wait on God to respond. Look at the example of Isaac in the Old Testament. He was not accustomed to waiting and hearing from God, so when God spoke, he did not even recognize His voice.

When you hear the voice of your best friend, you know they are in a room without even seeing them. If we take time and get alone with God and wait to hear from Him, we will hear Him. And the more you hear from Him, the more you recognize His voice.

God chooses to speak to us all in different ways – through Scripture, music and even other people. But if we aren’t listening for His voice, we may miss the good things he has to tell us.

Get Face-to-Face

We live in a technologically driven world. You can text your best friend, send a Facebook message or call them on the phone, but when you converse with them in person, there is a completely different connection. The same goes for our relationship with God. Intimate relationships require “face-to-face” connections.

Getting to know God and developing an intimate prayer life requires that we meet with Him in a place of intimacy. This will mean something different for every person. Just as a husband and wife may return to a special place on an anniversary, perhaps the intimate place you spend time with God is the place where you first met Him; a quiet place in your backyard; a favorite chair in your home; or a small closet in your bedroom. No matter where that place is for you, the important thing is that it’s yours and God’s – a place where you can have intimate conversations with Him.

Honesty is the Best Policy

What differentiates a relationship between a best friend from that of an acquaintance is honesty. For those closest to us, we are able to freely share our emotions, exposing the other person to a level of intimacy not known by others. We let our guards down and are honest with who we are – good and bad. God wants this same level of relationship.

We often think that in order to have this type of relationship with Christ, we must get our “lives together” before God would even want to talk to us. This is a lie from the enemy. In Isaiah 64:6 it says that the best we have to bring to God are like dirty rags to Him. Even on your very best day, you still aren’t good enough, but that’s okay because that is where God wants us. In grace and mercy He sees us blameless before Him because of His son, Jesus.

God is our creator. He knows about our fears, excitements, joys and concerns, but He wants us to tell Him about these things personally. We have to learn to be honest and tell God what is going on in our lives because He already knows and accepts us where we are.

Consistency is Key

For the most part, those who are near and dear to our heart are in our lives on a consistent basis. It’s rare that I go even a day without talking to my wife, even when I’m traveling, because I want to know how her day was. I’m eager to connect with her. In this same way, God is eager to connect with us and wants us to be consistent in our conversations with Him.

Forming a habit – good or bad – takes time, but once it is formed, it’s hard to quit. When you first begin praying consistently, it may be hard and out of the norm. You may not know what to speak to God about or how to listen to Him. But as time goes by, it becomes a staple to your day and you will begin to be able to converse with God with ease because you have formed a relationship. You will be eager to speak with Him.

So what is stopping you today from having an intimate prayer life? Don’t let anything hold you back from having a deep, personal conversation with Christ. He created us as a people who love community, and He wants to have that same intimate relationship with us.

Evangelist Jay Lowder is the founder of Jay Lowder Harvest Ministries, an organization dedicated to reaching diverse groups of people with the message of Jesus Christ. Through his ministry, Lowder travels the globe to football stadiums, schools, churches and even under shade trees in Africa to provide a message of hope to the hurting. He resides in Wichita Falls, Texas, with his wife, Melissa and their three children Lane, Kayley Faith and Graham.

A Picture of Love: Nanay's Blood-stain Masterpiece

2011-04-19T14:16:00.015+08:00

I was just browsing through my collection of pictures in my PC and I came across this photo, and I remembered Nanay Laida... Yet though I miss her dearly, her light remains in me for all time.

Nanay had the blood of a great artist. I remember this great masterpiece that she created during the last moment of her life as she laid on her deathbed in the I.C.U. of a hospital. At that last hour, even when her body was already rendered totally motionless by physical death, yet mysteriously she was still able to leave behind a great masterpiece. With the bed sheet as her canvass, and her blood as the paint, and the tiny spills of her own blood as her brush strokes, with such unspeakable creativity she was able to paint a picture of Love, a portrayal of the greatest act of Love mankind has ever known.

On that sacred moment of Nanay's life, as we stood by her in her entry into the other side of life saying prayers so fervently as our mournful spirits could say, one after the other we took turns at her bedside and whispered our final words of love to her while crying so hard but as quietly as our very sorrowful hearts could hold. All of a sudden and with no apparent reason, my eyes' focus was turned towards the right side of Nanay's bed as if being gently guided by some unseen hands. To my spirit-uplifting surprise and heart-consoling amazement, I noticed that a somewhat abstract image had somehow gradually formed on Nanay's bed sheet as some of her blood dripped from her operation wound in her right arm and had dropped on that piece of "canvass" and had slowly soaked-in and artistically blotted as if brush strokes by some invisible hands forming what I considered as her greatest work of art which I called "Nanay's Blood-stain Masterpiece".

Like a drop of ink blotting and slowly crawling on the surface of a huge piece of rough paper, my mind is so overwhelmed by the message that Nanay left us with her final work of art. Each time I look at her work and ponder on it, it leads me to glorify God for His Love. Nanay's painting keeps in remembrance how the Lord Jesus Christ, with His precious blood on the Cross, had reconciled prodigal mankind back to God. Nanay also seemed to say in this great "painting" of hers that she is at last finding eternal rest in the Lord's embrace and the sufferings she had endured while she was still on earth were her living sacrifices offered to the Lord. As the scripture had said, "Present your body as a living sacrifice to the Lord."

The scripture also said that "The Life is in the blood", and every person who abides in the Lord, the Lord will become part of their lives. Indeed! The Lord has greatly become part of Nanay's life so much so that her blood painted the Lord on the Cross.

A Reflection: Sum of all Fears

2011-04-17T15:32:00.002+08:00

The sum of all fears is that you live your life and it will wind up meaning nothing.

"Spam" has several meanings. One is the canned mystery meat that we all ate as kids. The other is the junk email that will take over your inbox if you allow it. But there's one more meaning for Spam that you may not know about.

Solomon tried to live a SPAM lifestyle apart from God. What he found is that the sum of all fears is to live your life to the end and to discover that it was all meaningless. Solomon found that God has a purpose for your life. Dr. Merritt will help you discover how to reject a SPAM life and how to make your life really count.

‎10 Things God Won't Ask You

1. God won't ask what kind of car you drove. He will ask how many people did you drove who didn't have transportation.

2. God won't ask the square footage of your house. He will ask how many people did you invite into your home.

3. God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet. He will ask how many did you help clothe.

4. God won't ask what your highest salary was. He will ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.

5. God won't ask what your job title was. He will ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability.

6. God won't ask how many friends you had. He will ask how many people to whom you were a friend.

7. God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived. He will ask you how you treated your neighbors.

8. God won't ask about the color of your skin. He will ask about the content of your character.

9. God won't ask about the things you didn't understand. He will ask about how well you acted upon that which you did know.

10. God won't ask when you trusted Jesus Christ so He can let you in to heaven. He will ask you how many people did you try to bring with you.

Sailing: A Reflection on Life

2011-04-11T00:35:00.007+08:00

One ship sails east and another sails west
With the self-same winds that blow.
Tis the set of the sail and not the gale
Which determines the way they go.
As the winds of the sea are the ways of fate
As we voyage along through life,
Tis the act of the soul that determines the goal,
And not the calm or the strife.

--Ella Wheeler Wilcox

"A sailor is an artist whose medium is the wind." --Webb Chiles

"Thought is the wind, knowledge the sail, and mankind the vessel." --August Hare

"The wind and the waves are always on the side of the ablest navigator." --Edmund Gibbon

"I can't change the direction of the wind but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination." --Jimmy Dean

"The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails." --William Arthur Ward

“It is how the sails are set and adjusted, not the direction of the wind that determines which way the boat goes.” --Jim Rohn

"I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving: To reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it - but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor." --Oliver Wendel Holmes

"If something can't be repaired when it gets broken, then maybe it shouldn't be worth carrying on board." --Lin and Larry Pardey

"The sail, the play of its pulse is so like our own lives: so thin and yet so full of life, so noiseless when it labors hardest, so noisy and impatient when least effective." --Henry David Thoreau

"It's out there at sea that you are really yourself." --Vito Dumas

"Storms are dreadful. But if all there is is calmness, the easiness could undermine the spirit." --Anonymous

“Here is a hard reality: Should you find yourself in a chronically leaking boat, energy devoted to changing vessels is likely to be more productive than energy devoted to patching leaks.” --Warren Buffett

“Only the guy who isn't rowing has time to rock the boat.” --Jean-Paul Sartre

“Without goals, and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination.” --Fitzhugh Dodson

“I'm not afraid of storms, for I'm learning how to sail my ship.” --Louisa May Alcott

"To reach a port, we must sail - sail, not tie at anchor - sail, not drift." --Franklin D. Roosevelt

"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." --William Shedd

"If one does not know to which port he is sailing, no wind is favorable." --Seneca

Why we do what we do, and how we can do it better

2011-04-08T08:26:00.004+08:00

"You always succeed in producing a result. There's always a way - if you're committed. There's no abiding success without commitment. Whatever happens, take responsibility."

"You see, in life, lots of people know what to do, but few people actually do what they know. Knowing is not enough! You must take action."

"You see, it's never the environment; it's never the events of our lives, but the meaning we attach to the events - how we interpret them - that shapes who we are today and who we will become tomorrow."

--Tony Robbins

"Surmounting difficulty is the crucible that forms character. There is no such thing as failure. There are only results. When it seems impossible, when it seems like nothing is going to work, you are usually just a few millimeters away from making it happen." --Tony Robbins

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Don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God. Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought to think; but think reasonably, as according to the measure of faith that God has apportioned to you. [Romans 12:2-3]

For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he... [Proverbs 23:7]

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men. (Colossians 3:23)

When the Lord disturbs

2011-02-22T11:38:00.007+08:00

Disturb us, Lord
by Sir Francis Drake

Disturb us, Lord, when
We are too pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when
with the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wilder seas
Where storms will show Your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.

We ask you to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push back the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.

"Security is mostly a myth. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing." --Helen Keller

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"Moab has been at ease from his youth, and he has settled on his lees, and has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither has he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remains in him, and his scent is not changed. Therefore, behold, the days come, says the Lord, that I will send to him those who pour off, and they shall pour him off; and they shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles in pieces." (Jeremiah 48:11-12)

Chastisement: The Correcting Hand of God

2011-02-18T17:50:00.002+08:00

Who can hide from the seeking eyes of the Lord?
Can anyone deny in his heart before the Lord?
Who can avoid the chastisement of the Lord?
Can anyone rebuke the ways of the Lord?

It's futile resisting the chastisement of the Lord.
For no one He loves escapes His rod of correction.

Part 1 of 3

Part 2 of 3

Part 3 of 3

[Hebrews 12:5-13]

Forget not the exhortation which reasons with you as with children, “My child, don't take lightly the chastening of the Lord, Nor faint when you are reproved by Him; for whom the Lord loves, He chastens, and scourges every child whom He receives.”

It is for discipline that you endure. God deals with you as with children, for what child is there whom his father doesn't discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have been made partakers, then you are illegitimate, and not children.

Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live? For they indeed, for a few days, punished us as seemed good to them; but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.

All chastening seems for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been exercised thereby. Therefore, lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that which is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

[Proverbs 3:11-12] My child, don't despise the Lord's discipline, neither resent His reproof: for whom the Lord loves, He reproves; even as a father reproves the child in whom he delights.

Get Rid of Your Garbage

2011-02-11T12:05:00.002+08:00

Ephesians 4:17-32

Walk no longer as the rest of the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their hearts; who having become callous gave themselves up to lust, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

But you did not learn Christ that way; if indeed you heard Him, and were taught in Him, even as truth is in Jesus: that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man, that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit; and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.

Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor. For we are members one of another. “Be angry, and don't sin.” Don't let the sun go down on your wrath, neither give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor honestly, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need.

Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for building up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Don't grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.

Be the hand of kindness

2011-01-16T15:12:00.002+08:00

Broken
By Lifehouse

The broken clock is a comfort, it helps me sleep tonight
Maybe it can stop tomorrow from stealing all my time
And I am here still waiting though I still have my doubts
I am damaged at best, like you've already figured out

I'm falling apart, I'm barely breathing
With a broken heart that's still beating
In the pain there is healing
In Your Name I find meaning

The broken locks were a warning you got inside my head
I tried my best to be guarded, now I'm an open book instead
And I still see your reflection inside of my eyes
That are looking for purpose, they're still looking for life

I'm falling apart, I'm barely breathing
With a broken heart that's still beating
In the pain (In the pain) there's the healing
In Your Name (In your name) I find meaning

So I'm holdin' on, (I'm still holdin')
I'm holdin' on, (I'm still holdin')
I'm holdin' on (I'm still holdin')
I'm barely holdin' on to you

I'm hanging on another day
Just to see what you will throw my way
And I'm hanging on to the words you say
You said that I would, would be ok

The broken lights on the freeway left me here alone
I may have lost my way now, haven't forgotten my way home

I'm falling apart, I'm barely breathing
With a broken heart that's still beating
In the pain (In the pain) there is healing
In your name (In your name) I find meaning
So I'm holdin' on, (I'm still holdin)
I'm holdin' on, (I'm still holdin')
I'm holdin' on, (I'm still holdin')
I'm barely holdin' on to you

I'm holdin' on (I'm still holdin')
I'm holdin' on (I'm still holdin')
I'm holdin' on (I'm still holdin')
I'm barely holdin' on to you

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Learn to show kindness each day especially to those who are broken by life's circumstances. You never know the only remaining thread a soul may be hanging on to is your kindness. Let your kindness be an extension of the Lord's hand that a broken soul can hold on for strength in its moment of weakness.

Seek the Lord and you'll find restoration

2011-01-06T10:49:00.007+08:00

This clip speaks for itself -- literally. The Columbus Dispatch discovered a homeless man along Ohio's I-71 claiming to have "the God-given gift of voice," and what began as your everyday viral video has exploded into a life-changing experience for one man. Yesterday morning he was a panhandler; today he's the most in-demand voice personality in the world, thanks to offers from countless radio stations, voice-over gigs and even the Cleveland Cavaliers.

His name is Ted Williams, and he's an ex-radio announcer according to the note he scrawled on a piece of cardboard that he used to solicit change from drivers. And wow, does Williams ever deliver for a dollar. Williams tells the Dispatch about his struggles, but thankfully "alcohol and drugs and a few other things" haven't diminished Williams' velvety vocal cords, and he says he's two years clean now..

"I have a God-given gift of voice. I'm an ex-radio announcer who has fallen on hard times. Please! Any help will be gratefully appreciated. Thank you and God bless. Happy holidays," reads Williams' roadside sign for help. [...]

As evidenced by Williams' new haircut, what a difference a day makes. A mere 24 hours after the video went viral, Williams says he's already been offered a bunch of employment opportunities, including one that's a Ohio citizen's dream job. "The Cleveland Cavaliers just offered me a full-time job and a house," Williams revealed. The Cavs will reportedly have to compete against MTV, the NFL and likely countless more suitors for Williams' services. [...]

Read whole story at this link to Yahoo.com

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In your brokenness you shall seek the Lord your God, and you shall find Him, when you search after Him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in oppression, and all these things are come on you, in the latter days you shall return to the Lord your God, and listen to his voice: for the Lord your God is a merciful God; He will not fail you, neither destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them. (Deuteronomy 4:29-31)

What If You Were Not Born?

2010-12-29T04:48:00.007+08:00

Part 11 of 14: At Christmas eve, George suddenly finds himself in great financial trouble.

Part 01, Part 02, Part 03, Part 04, Part 05, Part 06, Part 07

Part 08, Part 09, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14

It's A Wonderful Life

One man's life can have more impact on things around him than anyone might realize. This was the main lesson in the movie "It's a Wonderful Life". George Bailey (Stewart) has so many problems that he is thinking about ending it all - and on Christmas! Meanwhile in heaven, as the angels discuss George, the film shows his life in flashbacks. As George is about to jump from a bridge, he ends up rescuing his guardian angel, Clarence (Travers). George and Clarence got acquainted and in the course of their conversation George confided his frustrations in life to Clarence and wished that it was better if he were not born. Clarence the guardian angel granted George a brief moment of his wish and showed him what his town would have looked like if he were not born. Only then after that brief strange episode did George realized the value of his own life and he saw the unnoticed positive impact his seemingly less significant life had made on the lives of the people around him.

The movie starts off with everyone in town praying for the safety of a man by the name of George Bailey, who had apparently been acting strange lately. God receives these prayers and sends for Clarence Oddbody, an angel who had not yet earned his wings. Clarence is shown parts of George's past in order for Clarence to understand him better.

In the first flashback some children are sledding down a snowy hill in snow shovels, each trying to get further along the ice patch at the bottom than the one before. George, 9 at the time, rescues his younger brother, Harry, when he falls through the ice. George becomes ill from the freezing water and loses his hearing in one ear a few weeks later.

Four years later,George is now 13 and is working at the pharmacy that is run by Mr. Gower. Mary tells him she loves him, but makes sure to say it in his bad ear, so he can't hear her. George talks of traveling the world, his want in life. Mr. Gower is in back making pills, but has obviously tried to drink his sorrows away. George finds a note that says Mr. Gower's son had died and then stops him from unknowingly giving poison pills to a sick family.

George, now a grown man, is getting ready to leave for college. He had helped work at his father's business for a few years, only long enough to make some money for college. More than anything else, his dream was still to leave this city and travel the world. He is invited

Mr. Potter, the owner of the bank, had bought out most of the town, but had always been defeated when trying to acquire the Baily Loan Company. After 4 years, Harry came back a married man. World War 2 starts, and Harry enlists. George is rejected because of his bad ear, and has to once again manage Bailey bank & loans. The Bailey company barely manages to squeak by the depression. Harry comes home a hero after the war. George marries Mary and they have four kids, two boys and two girls.

The reason for George's crisis occurs when forgetful "Uncle Billy", George's uncle who had been helping him run the company from the start, accidentally gives $8,000 to Mr. Potter as he was bragging that they had made it through the year, and that Mr. Potter had not gotten their company. George, very distressed and now starting to lose it, goes and gets drunk at the local bar. He then plans on jumping off a bridge, but Clarance the angel comes down and jumps before him. As Clarence expected, George jumped in and saved him. Clarence tried to tell George how important he was, but George refused to listen, so finally Clarence showed him what Bedford Falls would be like if George had never been born.

The first thing George noticed was that everyone in town was a good deal more angry, rude, and inhospitable. The "Bedford Falls" sign now read "Pottersville", for Mr. Potter owned the enitire town. Everyone now lived in run-down old houses, for the trusting and friendly Bailey bank & loans had died with his father. The city became ran-down, with a Gamorah-ish twist. Mary became a bitter old maid, and his mother had to start a boarding house just to make ends meet. Harry died when he fell into the ice, and so did the transport vessels he saved in the war. Mr. Gower became a drunkard after he was released from prison for poisoning an entire family who had the flu. George became distraught and asks Clarence to take him back.

George, his mood much lighter, ran home and hugged his children. A banker and a lawyer were their, wanting the $8,000. Mary said she had a surprise for him. Just about the entire town came in and donated money to pay the bank. Well over what was needed was raised, as the townspeople showed their gratitude to their good friend, George Bailey. George looked down and saw "Tom Sawyer", the book Clarence had been reading. Inside was a note reminding him just how precious life is. A bell rang on the Bailey Christmas tree, signifying Clarence's earning of his wings.

This movie was a great example of just how valuable the gift of life is, and how large of an impact even one person can have on the life of so many others.

Source of Narrative: http://www.travelin-tigers.com/zhs/rptwondl.htm

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What if you were never been born? What would your family become or your local community looked like?

What if the Child in the manger was never been born on this earth? What would this world become?

Where's The Line To See Jesus?

2010-12-28T00:47:00.002+08:00

"If Christmas time is His birthday,
Why don't we see Him more?
Where's the line to see Jesus?
He was born for me.
Santa Claus brought me presents,
But Christ gave His life for me."

"You're good... I'm good too!"

2010-12-20T13:18:00.007+08:00

By The Windchime

A friend of mine in Facebook posted in her status a message that caught my attention and caused me to take a brief contemplation about it. Her status message, which I believe is a quote from an author, read as follows:

"Don't compare yourself with anyone else in this world. If you do so, you are insulting yourself."

The act of comparing ourselves with others is as natural as our instincts. No matter how we intend not to do it, yet our subconscious mind seems to do it on its own. Take for instance in a formal community gathering, people of different social class will tend not to mix together but rather they tend more to instinctively group according to their social status in the community.

Taken with a negative mindset, comparing one's self with others could of course result into something bad. If one thinks of himself/herself as inferior to others, then subconsciously he/she will feel insecure of himself/herself and as a result he/she will tend to avoid others. Or, if one believes he/she is better than anyone else, then he/she will project an attitude of superiority towards others and as a result he/she will tend to look down on others.

If the process of comparing stops at only finding who is better or who is worse, then comparison becomes a bad thing. To the person with an arrogance complex, it can become a tool for false self-confidence. To the person with an inferiority complex, it is a self-destructive defense mechanism for mediocrity.

But in comparing one's self to others, not everything there is can be negative. Comparison can also be a good tool for self-improvement. To be able to use it for good requires, first and foremost, that one recognizes and understands that in the eyes of God all human beings are created equal -- stripped of all the adornments of materialism, we all are dust and unto dust we all shall return. Secondly, one must realize that no matter what level or status you may be at in life, always there are people who are higher than you as well as people who are lower than you.

In a healthy comparison of yourself with others, you do not only look for what's better and what's not better in the qualities between you and the person you compare yourself with, but also you assess both of your qualities based on God's standard. Bear in mind that the rewards in the life hereafter are not based on who you are in this temporal life or on what have you achieved for yourself. The greatest human equalizer is in knowing "whose we are", and the greatest achievement there can be is in serving God and our fellowmen according to the divine standards.

Therefore, let's not be afraid to compare ourselves, but comparing using God's standard that we may improve ourselves and we may "outdo" one another in the giving of genuine godly love as the Lord Jesus did.

Have a blessed and joyful Christmas one and all.

Did you know that the Son will deliver you?

2010-12-18T01:36:00.008+08:00

Mary, Did You Know?

Mary, did you know
that your baby boy will one day walk on water?

Mary, did you know
that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?

Did you know,
that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered,
will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know
that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?

Mary, did you know
that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?

Did you know,
that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby,
you've kissed the face of God.

The blind will see
The deaf will hear
The dead will live again.
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of The Lamb.

Mary, did you know
that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?

Mary, did you know
that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?

Did you know,
that your baby boy is heaven's perfect lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding, is the great I AM.

Detachment: The Key To Joy

2010-12-04T21:13:00.006+08:00

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:3)

This verse is neither a romanticizing of economic poverty nor a demonization of wealth, but rather a formula for detachment.

Here I suggest a somewhat variant rendition of the verse: "How blessed are you if you are not attached to material things -- if you have not placed the goods that wealth can buy at the center of your concern."

When the kingdom of God is your ultimate concern, not only will you not be addicted to material things, you will in fact be able to use them with great effectiveness for God's purposes.

-- Fr. Barron

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This short clip is a preview from episode two called "Happy Are We: The Teachings of Jesus". Fr. Barron talks about the key to joy by putting the beatitudes into terms we can understand clearly today.

The filming of Episode Two took Fr. Barron from the Mt. of Beatitudes in the Holy Land to Poland, New York, Madrid, and - in this particular preview - to the Cove Alliance orphanage near Kampala, Uganda.

For more info visit: WordOnFire

The Cookies

2010-12-03T01:48:00.004+08:00

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Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise; redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore don't be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:15-17)

It's not yet too late, you still have the opportunity to do the right thing. Therefore waste it not before it is gone. Be not afraid to do the right thing even if it will mean you have to endure some hardship. The Lord is a just God and He knows everything, even the most deeply hidden secrets that brought about injustice. If you are willing to entrust your life in His hands, He will use your situation (in a way no one would think is possible) to right that which is wrong so that what is right in His eyes might remain right throughout time.

If you will humble yourself and be honest before the Lord, He shall set before you an armor -- but you need to put it on. Trust in His justice and mercy and you shall not be without recourse; for your battle is not against people, but against the spirit that is holding your own soul in spiritual captivity.

Life Is Like A Cup Of Coffee

2010-12-01T03:17:00.000+08:00

"Laki Sa Layaw": The Mike Hanopol Story

2010-11-27T12:34:00.002+08:00

"His music and fame led him down an inevitable path of sex, drugs, gambling and, eventually, paranoia. Who can save Mike Hanopol from his struggle? Watch the moving story of how a rock-and-roll legend found the path to genuine peace." -- The 700 Club Asia

Five Loaves and Two Fishes

2010-11-09T15:59:00.004+08:00

Surrender What You Have To The Lord
By Edward F. Markquart

To the little boy, the key was his willingness to surrender his meager gifts to Christ, and at the heart of the story is the implied invitation for all of us to surrender our little gifts, the gift of our little lives to Christ, and then see what mighty miracles God can do in and through us. That’s what God wants from you and me, to surrender, to give the gifts of our little lives to Him.

Jesus can work miracles with five loaves and two fish. In the story, the little boy brought his meager gifts to Jesus, his five loaves and two fish, and and the Lord worked a mighty miracle with them. And God wants to do the same with us; that we bring our meager gifts to God, our five loaves and two fish, our meager and ordinary talents and gifts, we bring the simplicity of who we are to God, and see what mighty miracles God can do with our little lives.

God can use our inadequacies and work mighty miracles through them.

Implied in the story is this question: Have you surrendered your five loaves and two fish to Christ? Have you surrendered the meagerness of who you are to Christ? You would be amazed at what mighty miracles God can do with your meager self when you have surrendered who you are to Christ. The question is persistent when the memory of this story lingers on: “Have you surrendered? Have I?” Like the little boy did.

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What do you hold dear in your hands? If one of these days the Lord would ask, "My child, what is it in your hands?", will you be willing to let Him have what you may be holding dear? Whatever seemingly little thing you willingly surrender to the Lord, He uses it for greater blessing that will bless you more as well as many other people.

We All Are Pilgrims

2010-11-07T21:53:00.004+08:00

At times our path is rough and steep, our way is hard to see; we ask God, "Why is life unfair?" He answers, "Follow Me." --D. De Haan

When a person begins to ask "Why is life unfair?", it is only because he has started to shift focus unto himself. But when a person sets his focus upon the Lord, he begins to recognize that his neighbors are fellow pilgrims traveling the same rough and steep path he is traveling -- each one carrying not his own load but the load of a fellow pilgrim.

If we think that what we are carrying is heavy, let us remember that it is our fellow pilgrim's load that we are carrying and that our very own load, which may even be much heavier than what we are carrying, is being carried by other fellow pilgrim along with us.

We are in the world but we are not of this world. We are pilgrims in this world carrying each other's load just as the Lord Jesus Christ carried all of humanity's load thru Calvary unto the cross that He might lead mankind back to the Shrine, the Father.

Burning Together Close To Each Other

2010-11-04T16:21:00.004+08:00

These were the only unshielded candles I noticed in the cemetery that burned completely without being ever rekindled. Their fires never went out despite frequent blowing of the wind. Had those candles been placed separate from each other, their fires would have been long gone out.

Like these burning candles, people need to stay close together in their souls and spirits so that each one's "fire" may join with the "fires" of the others. The combined fire has more heat and brighter light than a lone fire, and it can withstand wind blows. When one's fire goes out, the other fires close by are able to rekindle it back.

Life may be compared to these burning candles, ready or not, someday it will all come to an end. When that time comes, the only thing that matters is how you matter to God and your fellowmen.

It is always never too late to live a life that truly matters to God and fellowmen.

Walk By Faith

2010-10-29T06:56:00.003+08:00

Walk By Faith
by Jeremy Camp

Would I believe you when you would say
Your hand will guide my every way
Will I receive the words You say
Every moment of every day

[chorus]
Well I will walk by faith
Even when I cannot see
Well because this broken road
Prepares Your will for me

Help me to win my endless fears
You've been so faithful for all my years
With one breath You make me new
Your grace covers all I do

yeah, yeah , yeah, yeah, yeah, ya

[chorus]

Well I'm broken- but I still see Your face
Well You've spoken- pouring Your words of grace

[chorus x2]

Well hallelujah, hallelu
(I will walk by faith)
Well hallelujah, hallelu
(I will walk by faith)

I will walk, I will walk, I will walk by faith
I will, I will, I will walk by faith

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If in your heart the Lord would say, "Fear not my child, My hand will guide your every way", would you believe? Will you receive His words every moment of every day? If so, then walk by faith child of God even when you cannot clearly see. The road you're on may seem to be broken, but the Lord shall guide your way.

There will always be temptations to give up our faith and our values. There will always be views on contentment and real success based on worldly standards. In the face of adversity or temptation we must be on our guard lest our faith fails and we begin seeking undue signs and proofs and then we fall into making bargains with God.

Finding The Center

2010-10-22T06:42:00.002+08:00

Lord, Give Us Clean Hands

2010-10-16T03:05:00.005+08:00

Give Us Clean Hands
By Kutless

We bow our hearts we bend our knees
Oh Spirit come make us humble
We turn our eyes from evil things
Oh Lord we cast down our idols

So give us clean hands
Give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another

Give us clean hands
Give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another

We bow our hearts we bend our knees
Oh Spirit come make us humble
We turn our eyes from evil things
Oh Lord we cast down our idols

So give us clean hands
Give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another

Give us clean hands
Give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another

And God let us be a generation that seeks,
Seeks your face, oh God of Jacob (x2)

[Instrumental]

God let us be a generation that seeks,
Seeks your face, oh God of Jacob

And God let us be a generation that seeks,
Seeks your face, oh God of Jacob (x3)

Jesus you are

You're my God (x2)

You're my God (x2)

You're my God

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Did you know that the 15th of October is global handwashing day? Handwashing could symbolize many things, but the message conveyed by this song has a simple yet profound meaning. Before the eyes of the Lord, how clean are our hands?

Give, And It Shall Be Given Unto You

2010-10-10T04:52:00.008+08:00

By The WindChime

Giving is universally recognized as a heroic trait. The measure of a genuine giving spirit is its willingness and ability to give even beyond what it is willing to give freely without any thought of receiving a reward.

Someone with great wisdom once said, "Give and give until it hurts; for if your giving costs you no pain, what makes it different from the rest?" The author was talking about sacrificial giving which is a trademark of a genuine giving spirit.

Only genuine godly love can empower a person to have the wisdom and strength to give beyond what he/she is willing to freely give without any expectation of reward. Genuine godly love is solely the motivation behind every act of genuine kindness. When it sees an opportunity for showing love, it gives willingly and freely without counting the cost and without expecting any reward.

The cosmos operates under divine principles and one of which is the principle of reciprocity. In science this particular principle is stated as follows: "For every action there is a reaction." In the common philosophical language it is popularly acclaimed as follows: "What you sow, is what you reap."

In the area of giving, the principle of reciprocity works just as perfectly fine. Because genuine godly love is authored by heaven itself, those who live by it cannot escape its overwhelming reciprocating effect. In heaven's economy, LOVE is the only currency and GIVING is its sole medium of exchange and TRUE PROSPERITY is but merely a side effect. True Prosperity may be defined as the state of being in grace where nothing is lacking and all needs met and provided for, contrasted with being in the state of materialism and over-indulgence.

The principle of reciprocity operates as a two-way street -- one way goes from one party to another party, and another way goes in the reverse direction. In the economy of genuine godly giving, there is a giver and there is a receiver. At any one time, a person with godly genuine love is the giver, and at other times he/she is the receiver. Like any other normal transaction, it functions in the give-and-take way. In times when a person is at the giving end, it gives him/her the opportunity to master genuine godly kindness. At other times when a person is at the receiving end, it gives him/her the opportunity to master genuine godly humility. In all of the times, every party who is taking part in the interaction is merely exercising his/her genuine godly love.

Therefore, to a genuine godly giving spirit operating within the heavenly economy, it is not only BETTER to give, but more so, it is both BEST to give as well as to receive because it teaches both kindness and humility -- godly kindness when you give, and godly humility when you receive.

“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be given to you. For with the same measure you measure it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38)

That is the Divine Principle of Reciprocity.

Here is one thinker's thought embodying also an essence of that principle: "No one can shout at a mountain range in one direction without hearing an echo from all directions."

The truth of the verse in Luke 6:38 holds true for the good or positive things we do to others. For instance: Show kindness to one person one way, and there will be ten or more people who will show you kindness in various unexpected ways.

But perhaps what most of us fail to realize is that the truth in Luke's verse also holds perfectly true for every bad or negative things we do to others. For instance: Hurt or be unkind to one person one way, and there will be ten or more people who will hurt or be unkind to you in various unexpected ways.

Action, Progress, & Goal

2010-10-06T22:08:00.015+08:00

.
"Do not confuse motion with progress. A rocking horse keeps moving but does not make any progress." ~ Alfred A. Montapert

Just because things are moving is not always a guarantee that there is progress being headed. That's true. But try putting the idea a bit deeper in context, and you will discover a deeper meaning.

Consider MOTION (action) in relation to goal: "For a goal to be achieved, it is necessary that right action be taken."

Likewise, consider PROGRESS in relation to goal: "Progress is a measure of how far a goal is from being achieved."

Context 1: If the goal is to transport a child to some place, how foolish it would be to use a rocking horse! Surely the rocking action will get the child nowhere and the goal is not achieved.

Context 2: If the goal is to make a child enjoy playing, it won't be wrong to use a rocking horse afterall. Surely the rocking motion will make the child enjoy the play a lot.

Here is a rejoinder: "It's not so much an issue of MOTION (action) and PROGRESS. It is about GOAL coupled with right action which is of prime importance."

We may look at someone riding on a rocking horse and quickly dismiss the person's action as foolish... but for all we know, all the person's objective may just be to enjoy a rocking horse ride. Or consider a man on a treadmill. Just because he is not "progressing" an inch from where he is jogging in place that we can simplistically say there is no progress taking place?

So I say, "Do not confuse progress with goal. A treadmill can't advance an athlete an inch from the gym, but surely it helps a lot in progressing him towards his goal."

Approaching A Door

2010-10-01T14:11:00.005+08:00

When a door presents as an answer to a prayer, approach it with the right mindset and attitude otherwise you will end up in a futile struggle against the door -- foolishly trying as hard as you can to force your way through... in a wrong way.

Instead of a presumptuous forceful pulling, sometimes all it takes to open a door is a humble gentle push.

Note To God

2010-09-22T23:34:00.012+08:00

.
Note To God
By Charice Pempengco

If I wrote a note to God
I would speak what's in my soul
I'd ask for all the hate to be swept away,
For love to overflow
If I wrote a note to God
I'd pour my heart out on each page
I'd ask for war to end
And for peace to mend this world
I'd say, I'd say, I'd say

Give us the strength to make it through
Help us find love cause love is overdue
And it seems like so much is goin' wrong
On this road we're on

If I wrote a note to God
I would say please help us find a way
End all the bitterness, put some tenderness in our hearts
I'd say, I'd say, I'd say

Give us the strength to make it through
Help us find love cause love is overdue
And it looks like we haven't got a clue
Need some help from you
Grant us the faith to carry on
Give us hope when it seems all hope is gone
Cause it seems like so much is goin' wrong
On this road we're on

No, no, no
We can't do it on our own
So, so...

Give us the strength to make it through
Help us find love cause love is overdue
And it looks like we haven't got a clue
Need some help from you
Grant us the faith to carry on
Give us hope when it seems all hope is gone
Cause it seems like so much is goin' wrong
On this road we're on

No, no, no
We can't do it on our own
So, so...

If I wrote a note to God

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Our nation is undergoing a tremendous period of trials already while it is yet within the early 100 days of President Noynoy's fresh administration. Starting with the hostage crisis and then overlapped by this very serious jueteng expose'.

The lyrics of Charice's song is but fitting for these trying days. Let us pray for our nation, especially for our new set of leaders that they (and we the people also) may have the strength and wisdom to make it through.

"...but the greatest is love."

2010-09-16T10:50:00.003+08:00

1 Corinthians 13:1-7

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

* * * * * * *
We may have given up on love. Perhaps we've waited for love to find us, only to be disappointed. Maybe our loved ones have hurt us so badly that we needed to numb ourselves from the pain. Our addictions helped to keep us numb. Now that we're in recovery we have to find a way to deal with the issue of love once again.

It's God's will that we love; without love nothing else matters (see 1 Corinthians 13:1-3). Love is more than a feeling. It's a choice of behavior that grows in our lives; it's a fruit of the Holy Spirit, produced in our lives as we yield to God. The Bible defines it this way: "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. . . . Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance" (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

No one loves perfectly, but we must not give up on loving. We can accept the responsibility to love others and stop playing the victim by waiting for them to love us. We can be patient with ourselves while love grows. When we choose to act lovingly, the emotions will follow. We'll also find that love comes back to us.

The better we know God, the more we'll find ourselves showing love.

--Stephen Arterburn

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When a person is in the realm of the love of God, no matter how imperfect the world may be, he begins to see it as rich and beautiful, full of all the opportunities for sharing God's love.

Look Beyond The Dark Night

2010-09-11T12:07:00.005+08:00

In his dark trying night, Zac Smith found a different kind of strength when at the dawn of suffering he discovered the wisdom behind his dark night. As Zac realized it he said, "God cannot give me a bad gift...". Indeed, nothing bad could ever come from God, but when bad things happen, God is able to turn blessings out of them.

Just a thought for this Cancer Awareness Month of September: Sometimes the bigger spiritual gifts of blessings are delivered during the darkest of nights and they often come packaged in the pains of sufferings.

By the Lord's pains and sufferings, salvation became possible.

The Room

2010-08-22T20:06:00.002+08:00

By Brian Moore

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features except for the one wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endless in either direction, had very different headings.

As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read "Girls I have liked." I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one. And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was.

This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn't match. A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching.

A file named "Friends" was next to one marked "Friends I have betrayed." The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird. "Books I Have Read," "Lies I Have Told," "Comfort I have Given," "Jokes I Have Laughed at." Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: "Things I've yelled at my brothers." Others I couldn't laugh at: "Things I Have Done in My Anger" "Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents." I never ceased to be surprised by the contents. Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my years to each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.

When I pulled out the file marked "TV Shows I have watched ," I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of shows but more by the vast time I knew that file represented.

When I came to a file marked "Lustful Thoughts," I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content. I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded. An almost animal rage broke on me.

One thought dominated my mind: No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!" In insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn't matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it. Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot.

Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh. And then I saw it. The title bore "People I Have Shared the Gospel With."

The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.

And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt. They started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key. But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him. No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards.

I couldn't bear to watch His response. And in the moments, couldn't bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one? Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn't say a word. He just cried with me.

Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card. "No!" I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was "No, no," as I pulled the card from Him.

His name shouldn't be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood. He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side.

He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, "It is finished."

I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written.

* * * * * * *
The story behind the story "The Room"

17-year-old Brian Moore had only a short time to write something for a class. The subject was what Heaven was like. "I wowed 'em," he later told his father, Bruce. "It's a killer, It's the bomb. It's the best thing I ever wrote."

It also was the last.

Brian's parents had forgotten about the essay when a cousin found it while cleaning out the teenager's locker at Teary Valley High School.

Brian had been dead only hours, but his parents desperately wanted every piece of his life near them-notes from classmates and teachers, his homework. Only two months before, he had handwritten the essay about encountering Jesus in a file room full of cards detailing every moment of the teen's life.

But it was only after Brian's death that Beth and Bruce Moore realized that their son had described his view of heaven. It makes such an impact that people want to share it. You feel like you are there." Mr. Moore said.

Brian Moore died May 27, 1997, the day after Memorial Day. He was driving home from a friend's house when his car went off Bulen-Pierce Road in Pickaway County and struck a utility pole. He emerged from the wreck unharmed but stepped on a downed power line and was electrocuted.

The Moores framed a copy of Brian's essay and hung it among the family portraits in the living room. "I think God used him to make a point. I think we were meant to find it and make something out of it, " Mrs. Moore said of the essay. She and her husband want to share their son's vision of life after death. "I'm happy for Brian. I know he's in heaven. I know I'll see him.

Faith vs. Fear

2010-07-17T02:08:00.003+08:00

"Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way." ~ James 1:2-4

When in the throes of a crisis, we are desperately seeking solutions, answers, guidance and deliverance. And we are impatient; we want to see our way out as fast as possible. And therein lies the fundamental problem: we say that we trust God, but by desiring a specific and rapid resolution, we are denying God an opportunity to work, to implement his plan rather than ours.

And this reveals the basic dilemma in Crisis Management 101—until we completely, fully and totally TRUST God, we will never achieve the peace that comes from knowing that "All is Well."

When we are impatient, fearful, controlling, demanding, insecure and stressed, we reveal that we are not confident that God is on the throne and that he has a better plan for us than we can design ourselves. We deny ourselves his ultimate blessings as we seek to settle for much less than he desires for us. And we spend our days in panic, turmoil, and pain rather than in peace.

Click here to read more.

Family: Our Only True Heritage

2010-07-15T04:14:00.001+08:00

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What kind of fruit are you eating?
Whom did it came from?

What kind of seed are you passing on to the next generation?
Of what fruit is it coming from?

What kind of tree do you belong?
What's the root of that tree like?

Simple Solutions

2010-07-11T05:56:00.006+08:00

Author Unknown

When NASA began the launch of astronauts into space, they found out that the pens wouldn't work at zero gravity (ink won't flow down to the writing surface). In order to solve this problem, it took them one decade and $12 million. They developed a pen that worked at zero gravity, upside down, underwater, in practically any surface including crystal and in a temperature range from below freezing to over 300 degrees C. And what did Russians do?

The Russians used a Pencil!

* * *

One of the most memorable case studies on Japanese management was the case of the empty soap box, which happened in one of Japan's biggest cosmetic companies. The company received a complaint that a consumer had bought a soap box that was empty. Immediately the authorities isolated the problem to the assembly line, which transported all the packaged boxes of soap to the delivery department. For some reason, one soap box went through the assembly line empty. Management asked its engineers to solve the problem.

Post-haste, the engineers worked hard to devise an X-ray machine with high-resolution monitors manned by two people to watch all the soap boxes that passed through the line to make sure they were not empty. No doubt, they worked hard and they worked fast but they spent whoopee amount to do so.

But when a rank-and-file employee in a small company was posed with the same problem, he did not get into complications of X-rays, etc but instead came out with another solution. He bought a strong industrial electric fan and pointed it at the assembly line. He switched the fan on, and as each soap box passed the fan, it simply blew the empty boxes out of the line.

Thankful And Living Life To The Fullest

2010-07-05T04:00:00.000+08:00

Let The Father Lead You

2010-06-28T23:45:00.002+08:00

“Lead Me”
By Sanctus Real

I look around and see my wonderful life
Almost perfect from the outside
In picture frames I see my beautiful wife
Always smiling
But on the inside, I can hear her saying...

“Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
Don't leave me hungry for love
Chasing dreams, what about us?

Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone”

I see their faces, look in their innocent eyes
They're just children from the outside
I'm working hard, I tell myself they'll be fine
They're in independent
But on the inside, I can hear them saying...

“Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
Don't leave me hungry for love
Chasing dreams, but what about us?

Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone”

So Father, give me the strength
To be everything I'm called to be
Oh, Father, show me the way
To lead them
Won't You lead me?

To lead them with strong hands
To stand up when they can't
Don't want to leave them hungry for love,
Chasing things that I could give up

I'll show them I'm willing to fight
And give them the best of my life
So we can call this our home
Lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone

Father, lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone

Knock The Walls Down: Unleash Love's Strength

2010-06-27T19:21:00.003+08:00

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Sometimes love is truly tested when conflicts or misunderstandings cause walls to be put up, not to keep you out, but to see if your love really has enough strength to knock the walls down.

[1 Corinthians 13:1-7]

If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don't have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don't have love, I am nothing. If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don't have love, it profits me nothing.

Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud, doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Bring The Rain

2010-06-23T01:55:00.003+08:00

Bring The Rain
By MercyMe

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray

Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty

Thoughts On Father's Day

2010-06-20T14:37:00.005+08:00

He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it. -Clarence Budington Kelland

I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection. -Sigmund Freud

A father is a man who expects his son to be as good a man as he meant to be. -Frank A. Clark

My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, "You're tearing up the grass." "We're not raising grass," Dad would reply. "We're raising boys." -Harmon Killebrew

Prayers for Fathers

For fathers, who have given us life and love, that we may show them love and affection today and all days, we pray to God, our Father.

For fathers who have lost a child through death, that they may find hope, and solace in your never ending love, we pray to you, O God, our Father.

For fathers who have died, that God may welcome them into that peaceful place that is without ending, we pray to you, O God, our Father.

God our Father, in your wisdom and love you made all things. Bless those fathers who have taken upon themselves, the responsibility of parenting. Bless those who have lost a spouse to death or divorce who are parenting their children alone. Strengthen them by your love that they may be and become the loving, caring persons they are meant to be.

The Sheep Of The Shepherd

2010-05-22T09:22:00.004+08:00

Author Unknown

A gentleman traveling in Syria, relates how he stopped to watch three shepherds who were at a well watering their flocks. The three flocks were all mingled together at the watering place. The traveler could see no difference between them, and he wondered how they would get them separated again without great trouble. But presently one of the shepherds stood forth and called out, "Menah," the Arabic for "Follow me," and sure enough thirty sheep immediately separated themselves from the indiscriminate mass and began to follow the shepherd up the hill. Then, a second shepherd lifted the cry, "Menah," and a second flock separated themselves and started after him, while the rest of the sheep remained as unconcerned as if no one had spoken at all.

The traveler was so astonished that as he saw the third shepherd preparing to depart, laying his hand to his crook and beginning to gather a few dates fallen from a palm beneath which he had been resting, he stepped up to him and asked: "Would your sheep follow me if I called them?" The man shook his head. "Give me your shepherd's cloak and crook and let me try." the traveler said. He even wound the shepherds turban round his head and standing forth began to cry, "Menah, Menah!" but no sheep stirred. They only blinked at him lazily in the sunshine. "Do they never follow any one but you?" asked the traveler. "Only when a sheep is sick; then the silly creature follows any one," the shepherd said.

Whose voice are you following?

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My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27)

And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. (John 10:16)

Losing To Win

2010-05-09T11:50:00.015+08:00

It's How You Play the Game
By Mike Bellah

"It's not whether you win or lose; it's how you play the game," my dad used to tell my brothers and me, usually after we lost some sporting event. But we never believed it. In the first place, all my friends' dads told them the same thing and they didn't believe it either; and, we suspected, neither did the dads or coaches who proffered the advice. Most of us believed more in the philosophy of the legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers. "Winning isn't everything," Vince Lombardi is supposed to have said; "It's the only thing."

So like most American boys I grew up believing that second best is never good enough. How many collegiate crowds do you hear chanting "We're number two?" Even a tie was unacceptable: "like kissing your sister," said my junior high football coach.

I expect that some of this fierce competitiveness is good for young men. It pushes us to our full potential and helps us succeed in a world where only the fittest survive. Yet there is a dark side to the winning-is-everything philosophy. If for me to win others must lose, too much competitiveness can cause me to hurt my fellow human beings. If I'm not equally concerned with how the game is played, I may cheat those stronger than me and take advantage of those who are weaker.

Healthy competition helped build this great nation, but the green-mailers and insider-trading artists of the '80s are good examples of what happens when winning becomes the only thing. At midlife I am especially concerned with the personal toll extracted by this philosophy. My peers speak of themselves as hamsters on a treadmill running as fast as they can but always coming up short.

I suspect that the feeling springs from an overemphasis on competitiveness. That's why I was interested in a 1993 book by Howell Raines, a Pulitzer Prize winner and editorial page editor of The New York Times. In Fly Fishing Through the Midlife Crisis Raines likens life to his favorite sport, an activity where he has ceased to be competitive.

Raines once kept a fishing log where he recorded the numbers and sizes of his catch. Then one day his mentor and friend Dick Blalock challenged him: "I don't believe in keeping count," he said. "If you're going to keep score you might as well be on a golf course." Raines contemplated his friend's advice: "What would happen if upon raising a trout one immediately feigned indifference to its capture? What if one set out not to land the fish, but simply to prevent it from breaking the line?"

Raines discovered what psychologists call the value of process. At midlife "a man may continue to seek excellence," writes Dr. Daniel Levinson in The Seasons of a Man's Life, "but he gains more intrinsic enjoyment from the process and product of his efforts and he is less concerned with recognition and power."

What would happen if you and I stopped keeping score with things like salaries, promotions, influential friends, physical looks and abilities, and material possessions? What if we "feigned indifference" to recognition and reward? What if instead we let ourselves celebrate the process? With the pressure to be number one gone, might we not enjoy life more? Perhaps life would enjoy us more too.

At midlife it's time to stop keeping score in everything we do; it's time to relax and enjoy living as well as achieving. It's time to believe what our dads once told us: It is how we play the game that counts.

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In this great game called life we are all called to win no matter how unwilling participants many of us may be. The only rule is: Choose life and you will live. By participating we win, by declining we lose.

[Deuteronomy 30:19] I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse: therefore choose life, that you may live, you and your seed.

[Proverbs 11:19] He who is truly righteous gets life. He who pursues evil gets death.

[Proverbs 13:14] The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

Thus, losing our old wicked ways of doing things is to win the race of life.

The night is almost over, and the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us now walk honestly, as in the day; not anymore in the ways of darkness.

God Knows What We Really Need

2010-04-20T11:31:00.011+08:00

Be Ready for What You Pray For
By Brian Lawrence

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7)

The word "pray" or "prayer" appears in the NIV version of the Bible 347 times. Prayer first appears in Genesis 20 and last appears in Revelation 8, spanning nearly the entire Bible. Throughout God's Holy Word, we are shown how to pray (Matthew 6:9-13), where to pray (Matthew 6:5-6), when to pray (1Thessalonians 5:17), why to pray (2Chronicles 7:14), and whom to pray for (Matthew 5:44). We are shown model prayers by our patriarchs (Genesis 32:10-12, Deuteronomy 9:26-29, 1Kings 8:22-53), requests for prayer by unbelievers to believers (Exodus 8:28), and the results of prayers answered (Genesis 20:17, Genesis 25:21, 1Samuel 1:19). We can read about prayers of anguish (1Kings 19:4), prayers of repentance (Ezra 9:5-7), prayers of praise (Psalm 66:20), and prayers of intercession (1Kings 13:6). Prayer is one of the cornerstones of the Christian's life.

During my short time as a disciple of Jesus Christ, I've seen many prayers answered and many not answered. Recently, though, God taught me a valuable lesson about being ready to respond when He answers a prayer. And through this lesson God drove home several important points about prayer and the Christian life. First, what we pray for should be for God's glory and not our own. Second, when we pray, we must expect God to answer the prayer. Finally, when God opens the door we've prayed for, we must act.

Even our failures, or should I say especially our failures, God uses for our growth and for others' benefit. From my own failures, God taught me three lessons about prayer.

First, what we pray for should be for God's glory and kingdom. Matthew 6:33 says, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

There is an unfortunate movement among supposedly Christian organizations, especially those on television, called the "name it and claim it" movement. What this movement falsely teaches is that God put us here for our benefit, not for His, and therefore, if we believe we should have it, God will give it to us. If we believe we should be rich, we will be. If we believe we should have power, we'll have it. A spin-off of this movement are those television evangelists who say if we give to them, God will give back twice, three times, maybe even ten times as much. To put it bluntly, this is wrong. This is seeking our glory and not God's.

When we pray, we must examine our motives. Why are we praying for what we're praying for? Is it for God's glory or our own selfish wants? Even when we pray for the healing of others who may be gravely ill, we need to examine why we want that healing. If it's not for God's glory, why should He honor that prayer? If we have a relative dying of cancer and the only reason we want them healed is because of our own grief, is that for God's glory?

Notice what John 14:13 says. "And I will do whatever you ask in my name,..." Jesus had just finished telling his apostles that they would do greater things even than He. And then He tells us, He'll do anything we ask him. But what does that mean? Asking in Jesus' name does not mean simply repeating, "I ask all this in Jesus' name" at the end of our prayer, and then, no matter what the prayer was, Jesus will answer it. The rest of the verse says, "...so that the Son may bring glory to the Father." Therefore, whatever we ask Jesus to do, He'll only do if He can bring glory to God. Even Jesus must bring glory to God in all He does. So too, must we. We need to align our prayer life with God's kingdom, not the other way around.

The second point I learned from my experiences is that after we've prayed, we must be watchful and ready for God to answer that prayer and to use us for His kingdom.

We've overcome the first hurdle and adjusted our prayer life so that our prayers are for the glory of God. Now what? Now, be ready. God will start answering those prayers. When He does, we need to respond. For example, if we ask God to put those in our path whom we should witness to, then we need to watch and pay attention to whom God puts in our path. And when someone is put in our path that is lost, we need to respond and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Even if we don't feel like it at the moment.

To put it in the world's terms, say you ask your boss for a chance to be project lead. At first he says no, but you persist and week after week you ask him to give you a chance. Finally, after months of pleading the boss promotes you to project lead. Only, instead of responding by working harder and validating his trust, you slack off. You just don't feel like leading at the moment, so you don't. You let the project deadline slip. Nothing is done to specification. Quality is down. Do you think your boss will let you do that again? Not for some time, anyway.

It's the same way with God. If we ask Him for something and He delivers, but we don't respond, what makes you think He'll be quick to answer our prayers again anytime soon?

If what we've prayed for is for the glory of God, and if we're watching and ready for God to answer the prayer, when He does, we must be willing to yield to the Spirit and act. Oftentimes, the way God answers a prayer is by opening a door. We still have to step out in faith and go through that door (see Hebrews 11:8). We can't sit back and passively wait for God and expect Him to give us everything we ask for without some kind of effort of our own.

Usually, our failure to act is selfishness. Sometimes, fear works it's way into the equation as well, but even fear is based on selfishness. In some of my own failures, I realized that some of them were a mixture of fear of what to say, and selfishness; I was preoccupied with matters pertaining to my own interest and didn't want to take the time. Both reasons quenched the Spirit. I failed to take up my cross those day and crucify myself so that I could live in the Spirit (see Matthew 10:38 and Romans 6).

Fortunately, our God is a God of second chances, and He uses our mistakes and our failures to help us grow and to teach us. Examine your prayer life and be sure what you're praying for is for the glory of God. After you pray, be watchful and expect God to respond. And when God responds, yield to the Spirit and walk through the door He has opened.

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Sometimes the answer to what we prayed for is surprising to us because it is not according to what we expected. This happens because the Lord knows what we really need. We may ask for material prosperity, but He knows what we really need is genuine peace and joy. Or we may pray for strength and security, but deep within we are really longing for eternity.

And thus, according to His infinite wisdom, and as the Master of all things that He is, the Lord knows how to answer the real and true desires of our hearts -- for after all, it is He himself who placed those noble and genuine desires in our hearts to initiate us and stir us up into accomplishing His divine purpose in each of our individual lives for His glory.

Some people may not get what they are praying for and trying so hard to achieve at the present moment or at some point in their lives, yet it doesn't mean that the God-given noble desires of their hearts are not being answered or will not be answered by the Lord.

We may be praying for some earthly authority over other people, but deep within our being what the Lord really has planted in our hearts is the divine desire to serve Him through our fellowmen.

When prayed for, no God-given desire is left unanswered -- for it is a seed from heaven planted in the God-fertilized soil of our hearts. No rain that falls from heaven shall accomplish nothing. Just as no word of the Lord that proceeds out of His mouth shall return to Him void.

"So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."
(Isaiah 55:11)

People may be desiring and praying for one and the same thing to have when only one of them can have it at a point in time. But the Lord knows how and when to answer every one of them; for He knows what the real desire of their hearts truly is -- for it is the Lord who called them and initiated them to that desire.

In time, some of them will be in one place, others will be in other places. Some will be doing one task, others will be assigned other tasks. But ultimately, no one of them will be doing the task not according to the true desires which the Lord has planted in their hearts. When their individual seasons come in their own times, they will be like the season of bloom.

So that no flesh should boast before God

2010-04-12T00:42:00.004+08:00

WorthyDevotions.com

Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is nonsense in the world to make the wise feel ashamed. God chose what is weak in the world to make the strong feel ashamed. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important; so that no flesh should boast before God. -- (1 Corinthians 1:26-29)

If He was a man of the world, Jesus would have chosen the elite of His day to accomplish His mission — however He used simple fishermen. These men were considered uneducated, lacking “social status”, wealth or worldly distinction of any kind — yet these “simple” men were the ones the Lord selected to continue the work of building the lordship of God on earth.

When the chosen people were slaves in Egypt, God didn’t send an army to deliver them, He sent a single man. But the anointing power of God through one man was shown to be greater than the most powerful kingdom on Earth.

Throughout the Bible, we read of the Lord choosing and using the weak things of the world to confound and shame the wise and powerful. God seems to love revealing His awesome power through humble vessels, so that no flesh can glory in His presence.

Don’t allow the enemy to convince you that God cannot use you because you are “flawed”, weak, or seemingly inconsequential. No, instead, remember that He uses the base, despised, nonentities of this world, ordinary, often broken, people…to do extraordinary things. Our God is not looking at your wealth, your social status or your education — He’s looking at your heart! If your heart is willing and your life is available, then He is more than able to perform miraculous work through you for His Kingdom’s sake. With so much work to be done, don’t allow the enemy to stifle or steal the Lord’s vision for your life –- He has a plan to use you to confound the wise of this world, and to bring to naught the things that are!

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[...] "It is not by your own strength and abilities that you will be able to fulfill the tasks that will be given to you, but by the strength of the Lord's right hand." [...] Read full text of message.

The Day Is At Hand

2010-04-02T11:49:00.002+08:00

By George H. Warnock

"The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose." We are discovering that as in the old creation, so in the new creation, there are circles, orbits, of Divine truth and revelation. People are always saying, "History is but repeating itself... ." And the Church cries out with every fresh moving of the Spirit, "We had that forty years ago. .. or some such statement as that. What most Christians fail to realize is this: that with every setting of the sun and rising of the same, there is a NEW THING accomplished in the earth. There is a new measure of growth transmitted to the trees and shrubs and plants of the earth. Day after day, and year after year, there is a continual participation in the life of the sun, and a growing unto maturity. Some years ago, we stood before those great Sequoia trees in Sequoia National Park. Here we saw the General Sherman tree, the biggest living thing in the earth, weighing something like 625 tons, and about 102 feet in circumference at the base. There it stood when Abraham left Ur of the Chaldees, perhaps a little sapling, But it witnessed the truth of the passage we have just read, literally thousands and thousands of times. The sun rising, and setting, and rising again. But to this little tree it meant more than that. It meant a growing unto maturity. It meant a struggling against the elements. It witnessed winter and summer, over and over again, But it survived, and grew, and there it stands today in all its grandeur and greatness.

So with the Church of Jesus Christ and with the individual lives of God’s people. There is a continual increase of the Christ within, and of His government and peace in their lives. There is a new unfolding of the Divine purpose. "His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness" (Lam. 3:22,23). Men who lack vision are forever bemoaning the setting of the sun, as if that were the close of the day. But the setting of the sun is not the close of the day, it is the beginning. According to the book of Genesis (and we have discovered that we must continually go back to the Genesis to discover God’s order) "the evening and the morning" constitute God’s full day, and not "the morning and the evening." "The night is far spent, and the day is at hand. .. ." Even now before the full rising of the "Sun of righteousness" into the new day of His glory, there is the shining forth of the first rays of dawn. The daystar is arising in hearts. Even in this world of darkness there is glorious hope and promise, so that we may say with the Psalmist: "Even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee" (Ps. 139:11,12). Faith is bright in the midst of darkness, because of the promise. But faith is budding forth into Hope, which is even brighter, because it is anticipating the dawn. Then do we enter into LOVE—which is the full expression of Faith, and Hope, the very life of God Himself radiating from the lives of His chosen ones.

The New Commandment

When Jesus was here, He was the Light of the world. But the light shone in the darkness, "And the darkness comprehended it not" (Jn. 1:5). Now there is a difference. The darkness is beginning to pass away. True, it will get darker, and darker, as far as the present order of mankind is concerned. But there shall be light in the homes of the people of God. John said, "I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning" (I Jn. 2:7). It was the old commandment of the Word. It had particular application to his day and hour. It is the same Word that we have today; but now it takes on new meaning. Therefore he continues: "Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past (Lit. ‘is passing away’), and the true light now shineth" (I Jn. 2:8). When Jesus was born the darkness did not apprehend the Light. But now it is not so. The darkness "is passing . . . ." The Word which we had from the beginning now takes on new meaning. It is a "new Commandment." The same Word, but it comes forth in the dawning of a new day, and therefore it is NEW. It is the new day of LOVE. Anything less than that is darkness. "He that loveth his brother abideth in the LIGHT.. . ." Surely none is so blind as to claim that the Church has entered into this heritage of LOVE!

Perfection Of Love

The lack of love is only too evident and blaring everywhere we look, in ourselves or in others. The apostle John makes it abundantly clear that walking in the light is WALKING IN LOVE. We would like to convince ourselves that walking in the light consists of adhering to proper creeds and doctrines. But regardless of creed and doctrine, the solemn fact remains: "He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now" (I Jn. 1:9). Such a man does not even know where he is going, "because that darkness hath blinded his eyes." There is no neutral ground here. We may admit on the one hand there is not much love, and on the other claim that we do not hate. Love is Light, and the absence of the light means darkness. If there is no genuine Love, God calls it HATE. We need to read the Love chapter often, I Corinthians 13. We are inclined to think we know what Love is, and therefore its great potential scarcely stirs us. It is nothing less than the very realm of God, abiding in Him, and participating in His own heart of longsuffering, kindness, humility, meekness, unselfishness, and truth. All else that pertains to the realm of spiritual manifestation must give way to the fulness of LOVE, as the first rays of dawn give way to the rising of the sun. "When that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." "Won’t heaven be wonderful?" says one. But God wants this perfection of Love here on earth where it is needed. "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven... ." Pray, tell me, what kind of a heaven are you going to that is going to require the exercise of "longsuffering," "kindness," "meekness," "humility," and "unselfishness." Read I Corinthians 13:4-8 once more, and imagine, if you will, what circumstances in Heaven might arise that would require the exercise of PERFECT LOVE. "Suffereth long. .. ." Will Michael the Archangel impose grievous burdens on you that are just too heavy for you to bear? "And is kind...." Here is a man in heaven that has wandered about on the golden streets, oppressed, weary, and foot-sore... and you pause for a moment to give him a word of cheer, or a helping hand. "Charity envieth not You will have to be careful when the rewards are given out, lest you find yourself envying the Christian that has been given the largest or most beautiful mansion. But then you will have perfect love, so you can resist the temptation. "Vaunteth not itself Another minister is sent forth to do some great work in the Kingdom of Christ, and returns with a glowing report. The angels rejoice, and the saints rejoice with them... he is not "puffed up’ or proud of his achievements; he has arrived at the place of perfect love! Selfish? Why no! If he has more than he needs for his mansion, he’ll distribute his abundance among the saints that have a smaller mansion and cheaper furniture ... he is not seeking his own, he is entirely unselfish. A scandal is raised against Gabriel, but the man who has arrived at Perfect Love has overcome... he "thinketh no evil," and the rumor is squelched. No matter how laborious the task that the Lord gives him to do, he "beareth all things" cheerfully. Won’t it be wonderful when we get to heaven, "when that which is perfect is come"?

But God wants perfect LOVE here in the earth, where it is so desperately needed. Heaven is full of love now but God wants it here. Jesus therefore taught us to pray, "Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven." Now we believe that Jesus taught us to pray that prayer because it is God’s intention to answer that prayer. We have discovered that the prayers that are ordained of the Lord, and that are inspired in the hearts of God’s people by the Spirit, are nothing less than the travail of the Spirit of God within the spirit of man to bring forth unto birth and full manifestation THE EXPRESS WILL OF GOD. It is not a case of you and I getting under some burden of human contrivance, and trying to persuade God to do something that He is reluctant to do. It is a case of so moving in God, knowing His will, functioning out from His very own heart.. . that we share His yoke; and the express will and purpose of God becomes our chief concern. Nor can we rest, or give Him rest, till He establish, and till He make Jerusalem "a praise in the earth." The reason we cannot rest is because He cannot rest. And as we partake of His desire and yearning for the perfection of His Son in His other sons, there is that heaven-born groaning within, to accomplish the PERFECT WILL of God in the earth, even as it is done in heaven. God is not in the least concerned about PERFECT LOVE reigning in Heaven. Nothing less could even exist in that realm of PURE LIGHT. He does want, and He will yet have, PERFECT LOVE reigning in the hearts of His people, and to this end we pray. "If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and HIS LOVE IS PERFECTED IN US" (1 Jn. 4:12).

Everybody Hurts Sometimes

2010-03-27T06:00:00.016+08:00

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Everybody Hurts
Version: The Corrs
Composer: REM

When your day is long
And the night
And the night is yours alone
When you think you've had enough of this life
Well hang on

Don't let yourself go
Cause everybody cries
And everybody hurts sometimes

Sometimes everything is wrong
Now it's time to sing along
When your day is night
Hold on
(Hold on, hold on)
If you feel like letting go
(Hold on, hold on)
If you're sure you've had too much of this life
Hang on

Cause everybody hurts, sometimes
Take comfort in your friends
Everybody hurts

Don't throw your hands
Oh, no
Don't throw your hands
If you feel like you're alone
No, no, no, you're not alone

If you're on your own in this life
And the days and nights are long
If you're sure you've had too much
Of this life to hang on

Everybody hurts sometimes
Everybody cries sometimes
Everybody hurts sometimes

Everybody hurts sometimes
So, hold on, hold on

Hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on

Cause you know you're not alone

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I realized that sometimes there are serious and urgent messages that need to be delivered as soon as they are received and cannot be delayed by the usual way of confirmation.

Two whole days ago, this message unusually preoccupied my entire spirit, yet I waited for a confirmation before I delivered it. I didn't realized that the unusual preoccupation of the message was itself the very urgent confirmation.

To the souls to whom this message should have specifically spoke to, it now seems too late. But yet, it is still timely for others.

Reverent Submission

2010-03-19T14:44:00.005+08:00

My Will Can Get Ugly
By Greg Herrick

I love to get involved in my children’s extra-curricular activities. I hurry off to watch them learn and develop, and to cheer them on—my favorite pastime. I watch them swim, play hockey, ride horses, do martial arts, etc. (I have four children so there are lots of activities to attend.) It’s great fun.

So the other day I went to my son’s martial arts class, and parked myself close to the action, watching attentively as he learned several new blocking techniques, kicks, and patterns. He had requested that I sit up front and take notice on this particular day, for he was going to be learning some new “moves.” The black belt’s demonstration was impressive, but even more impressive (to me) was how well my son was progressing in his abilities to perform these complicated maneuvers. (Spoken like a true, unbiased parent!)

Now, while I was sitting there, in a rather small viewing area, enjoying the bustle of activity on the gym floor, a three or four year old child started to beg his mother for something. Mom said, “No,” and returned her eyes to the gym where her other son was busy, working hard at Tae Kwon Do. But, “no” was apparently the wrong answer. Can you imagine that? Again Mom explained to the little boy that the answer was “no,” but he didn’t seem to care.

Within seconds, the avalanche began. With dogged determination—in ever increasing decibels because as all kids know, parents are simply deaf—the boy pleaded passionately for the desire of his heart, i.e., someone else’s toy. Again, but this time like a flash of lightening, came the shaken, but stern response, “No!” “What’s the matter with you? Don’t you understand English?” She reminded him that the toy did not belong to him; it belonged to another child.

The little boy went into a tail spin, crying, yelling, and barking at the top of his well developed lungs; it’s amazing how much sound those little people can create! He threw himself down on the floor, spun around, and simply refused to take “no” for an answer. Mom was embarrassed, to say the least. Her face instantly filled with all sorts of colors, alternating between various shades of red, somewhat like the leaves on New England trees in the Fall. I wanted to help, but feared my involvement might only make things worse. Several interested parents looked on, helplessly. Some wondered what would happen. Would we witness a killing? Others—the kind and considerate females in the group—wanted to throw a lifeline and initiate rescue operations. I think they, better than anyone else, understood her pain.

The verbal tug-o-war continued for some time, the “back and forth” reminding one of two rather large lumber jacks at either end of a six foot saw working feverishly to fell a Redwood. But alas, there was nothing mom could do. The child was unrelenting, crying himself into a coughing frenzy, and so they had to leave, rescued if only for a moment by the door closing behind them. I wonder what happened to that little boy... I wonder if I’ll ever see him again…

Just after the door closed behind them, a man made his way over and sat next to me. He made a few rather snide comments about the mother’s parenting skills and assured me that had it been his son, things would have been different. When he chanced to notice, however, that I offered no congratulations on his wisdom—I was feeling for the poor lady—he quickly plotted another course for conversation, hoisted the mast, and promptly set sail. Little did I know that I had been conscripted as the first mate, chief listening officer. Voyage it was, vacation it wasn’t. I was not trying to be rude, but I did not want to talk at that moment. I simply wanted to make eye contact with my son and show him that I was watching his every victory.

No sooner had the north wind entered the man’s verbal sails—a strong wind I might add, for in the end it had taken us half way around the intellectual world—that we landed rather sharply on the island of politics. First, he lectured me about the war in Iraq and why it should have been handled differently. It seems he had all sorts of answers for all the U.S.’s foreign policy problems. I wonder if they’re looking for help.

Anyway, he was disappointed with the States and even more disappointed with Canada’s lack of involvement in Iraq. I made a few passing comments which he summarily dismissed as irrelevant and off topic—even though they basically agreed with his position on Canada. From then on I simply proceeded to be cordial, to nod here and there, and truth be known, to feign a listening ear. I was trying to watch my son and he was making the whole thing more unbearable than the little boy a few moments earlier. Actually, if I had to choose between the two…well, you know where I’m going with that….

Second, he began talking about religion, of all things. He was terribly angry with the Catholic church, hurling abuse at the pope, referring to him and his religion as nothing more than a “money hungry machine.” “They’re all out for your pocket book,” he protested, “but what have they ever done for me?” He was quick to add, however, lest anyone conclude the opposite, that he was a true Christian and, in the same breath, that there were three kinds of people going straight to hell: (1) politicians; (2) all professional athletes, and, of course, (3) lawyers. (Those poor lawyers!) He said they all have one thing in common: they steal, deceive, and get rich off other people. When I responded that he had listed off not one, but three sins, he quickly assured me that in reality these sins were all rolled up in one big ball of wax!

No matter what I said to help him understand that I really wanted to watch my son, he was adamant that I render due attention to his disgruntled spirit. It was as if he grabbed me by the throat and demanded that I give ear to his problems, grievances, and opinions. It was a smothering experience, hard to find air, if you know what I mean.

Now I suppose some of you are wondering why I’ve juxtaposed a story about a earsplitting child and an aggravating adult. Well, here’s the point: whether we’re three or thirty, self-centered demandingness is ugly! Pure and simple! And if we do it to people, we do it to God.

Not My Will, But Yours Be Done!

Have you ever stood before God and shamelessly demanded your own way on something? Have you ever grabbed him by the throat, so to speak, and demanded that he make your life work? Now! Have you ever demanded that he come through for you, or else…? Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not talking about persistent, genuine, heartfelt prayer. I’m talking about idolatry. I’m talking about, “I want this no matter what!”

All of us, at one time or another—perhaps right now—have clasped our grubby little fingers too tightly around our kids, possessions, money, hopes, and expectations and then demanded that God uphold our agendas, incessantly “inviting” him to bless our ambitions. All of us are like that little boy and that grown man: our wants come first and pity the person who gets in the way, including God. “It’s our way, or the highway.”

But this is not the pattern of the Christian life that our Lord demonstrated for us and to which he now graciously summons us. He enjoyed unadulterated and uninterrupted peace in his relationship with God for he learned obedience through his sufferings (Heb 5:8). Rather than turning his heart away from God in angry defiance and demandingness, he submitted to the One who loved him. “During his earthly life Christ offered up both requests and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death and he was heard because of his reverent submission” (Heb 5:7).

Is “reverent submission” the pattern in our lives? Based on scripture I can tell you that this is precisely the pattern the Lord is diligently seeking to establish in your life right now, so that heaven may not be a strange place to you later. Hell is filled with human will, heaven is filled with His will. Hell is a place where people are free to continue to exert their defiance, but know for sure, “there’s no peace for the wicked.” Heaven is for those who have gone through Gethsemane with their Lord and have emerged proclaiming, “Not my will, but yours be done, O Lord!” The strange thing about reverent submission is that in the releasing process we become fully human, not less. And when we stubbornly refuse to submit, hoisting our clenched fist defiantly into the air, we become ugly and something less than fully human.

So incredible and earth-shaking was our Lord’s obedience to His Father that the early church expressed it in story, teaching, poetry, visions, and songs. Perhaps one of the best known songs is the Christ-Hymn in Philippians 2:5-11:

[2:5] You should have the same attitude
toward one another that Christ Jesus had,

[2:6] who though he existed in the form of God
did not regard equality with God
as something to be grasped,

[2:7] but emptied himself
by taking on the form of a slave,
by looking like other men,
and by sharing in human nature.

[2:8] He humbled himself,
by becoming obedient to the point of death
—even death on a cross!

[2:9] As a result God exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,

[2:10] so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow
—in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

[2:11] and every tongue confess
to the glory of God the Father
that Jesus Christ is Lord.

This early hymn—which probably circulated in the church before Paul picked it up—is about Christ’s suffering and glory. It begins with the command to let the spirit of the hymn resonate in your bones, to let God’s will coarse freely through your veins, even if it costs you your life (v. 5).

The song can be broken down into two basic parts, vv. 6-8 and vv. 9-11, which together develop the twin themes of suffering and exaltation. In 2:6-8 the hymn’s melody sounds a bitter-sweet note about Christ’s willing submission, suffering, and humiliation. In 2:9-11, the hymn breaks forth with jubilant sounds, filling the room with the sweet music of Christ’s exaltation and subsequent reign. Do you see the pattern? First, willing obedience through suffering and then glorious exaltation through God’s power..

Did you notice the comment “even death on a cross” in v. 8? It seems that this was Paul’s own addition to the hymn and clearly focuses our attention not only on Jesus’ willingness to die, which itself expresses the fathomless depths of his piety and unflinching faithfulness (Heb 12:2), but his willingness to endure the shame and humiliation of a cross. He was put to death as a common criminal. And yet the ignominy of his death draws special attention to the majestic beauty and profundity of his filial obedience in Gethsemane. Golgotha’s battle was won not on that hill, but in a garden the night before: “Not my will, but yours be done!” Indeed, what was lost in a garden (Eden) was won back—and more—in a garden.

I wonder if I will ever see that child again. Perhaps…I go to the Tae Kwon Do dojang often and he’ll probably be there again with his mother. I wonder too if I will ever see that adult again. Most likely. But one thing is for sure. God used them in my life that day. Through them the Lord pointed out how tightly I cling to my toys and how necessary it is that I be heard. Through them the Lord showed me the ugliness of my own sin and defiance. Perhaps he has shown you something as well…

Lord, I thank you for your gentle mercy and untiring love. Jesus I thank you that not only does your death save me, it also gives me the pattern of my life. You have called me to a life of saying “yes” to you and “no” to my own will. So I surrender to you, Lord. Whatever you want, by your grace I will do. I only want to please you. I love you Father and I yield my heart to yours. Thank you for the joy of walking in your presence!

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That things can change for the better is not always by our own ways but by His ways. And, it is only through our reverent submissive will to His will that ALL things will actually work for good and for the good of His will for us.

As It Was Spoken, It Shall Be Unto You

2010-02-24T22:49:00.007+08:00

Be It Unto Me
By Don Moen

Chorus:

Be it unto me
According to your Word
According to your promises
I can stand secure
Carve upon my heart
The truth that sets me free
According to your Word O Lord
Be it unto me

(Repeat Chorus)

I:

You promised your blood will deliver
Lord, we believe it's true
You promised us joy like a river
Lord we receive it from you
These things you have spoken
And you're bringing to pass
This world's disappearing
But your word will last... so...

(Repeat Chorus)

II:

You promised to carry our sorrow
Lord, we believe it's true
You've promised unending tomorrow
Lord, we receive them from you
You'd be our provider
In your word it's revealed
And by the stripes that you bore
Lord we have been healed... so...

(Repeat Chorus)

According to your Word O Lord
Be it unto me

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What was spoken not too long ago has now started to unfold. But fear not, for it must come to pass to usher in the next season and then things will fall in place according to their appointed times.

The Spider And The Fly

2010-02-19T15:28:00.009+08:00

by Mary Howitt

"Will you walk into my parlor?" said the spider to the fly;
"'Tis the prettiest little parlor that ever you may spy.
The way into my parlor is up a winding stair,
And I have many curious things to show when you are there."
"Oh no, no," said the little fly; "to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again."

"I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high.
Well you rest upon my little bed?" said the spider to the fly.
"There are pretty curtains drawn around; the sheets fine & thin,
And if you like to rest a while, I'll snugly tuck you in!"
"Oh no, no," said the little fly, "for I've often heard it said,
They never, never wake again who sleep upon your bed!"

Said the cunning spider to the fly: "Dear friend, what can I do
To prove the warm affection I've always felt for you?
I have within my pantry good store of all that's nice;
I'm sure you're very welcome - will you please to take a slice?
"Oh no, no," said the little fly; "kind sir, that cannot be:
I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!"

"Sweet creature!" said the spider, "you're witty and you're wise;
How handsome are your gauzy wings; how brilliant are your eyes!
I have a little looking-glass upon my parlor shelf;
If you'd step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself."
"I thank you, gentle sir," she said, "for what you're pleased to say,
And, bidding you good morning now, I'll call another day."

The spider turned him round about, and went into his den,
For well he knew the silly fly would soon come back again:
So he wove a subtle web in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready to dine upon the fly;
Then came out to his door again and merrily did sing:
"Come hither, hither, pretty fly, with pearl and silver wing;
Your robes are green and purple; there's a crest upon your head;
Your eyes are like diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead!"

Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little fly,
Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by;
With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer grew,
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes and green and purple hue,
Thinking only of her crested head. Poor, foolish thing! at last
Up jumped the cunning spider, and fiercely held her fast;
He dragged her up his winding stair, into the dismal den -
Within his little parlor - but she ne'er came out again!

And now, dear little children, who may this story read,
To idle, silly flattering words I pray you ne'er give heed;
Unto an evil counselor close heart and ear and eye,
And take a lesson from this tale of the spider and the fly.

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Who's the fly? Who's the spider?
Is the one who deceives, a spider?
Is the one who is deceived, a fly?

Yet why are there flies who think they are spiders?
They have quick wings and big eyes, but they wove webs.

And why are there spiders who live like flies?
They've got quick legs and strong silk threads,
yet they love to feed on rot.

Choose To Listen And Believe

2010-01-31T15:57:00.007+08:00

Voice of Truth
By Casting Crowns

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes to climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves

To step out of my comfort zone
Into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out his hand

But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy, you'll never win!"
"You'll never win"

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says "Do not be afraid!"
And the voice of truth tells me a different story
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant
With just a Sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand

But the giant's calling out my name and he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again "boy, you'll never win!"
"You'll never win"

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says "Do not be afraid!"
And the voice of truth says "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves they don't seem so high
From on top of them looking down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
If I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me

And the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says "Do not be afraid!"
And the voice of truth said "This is for my glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me

I will choose to listen and believe...

I will choose to listen and believe... the voice of truth

I... I will listen and believe...
'Cause Jesus you are the voice of truth.

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It's not about you; it's about what you're entrusted with.
Despite the seeming difficulty you are encountering,
Be honest and good steward you were anointed to be,
And you'll still succeed in the task you're entrusted with,
Just choose to listen and believe the Voice of Truth.

It's Not About You

2010-01-28T01:13:00.001+08:00

By Kristin Huffman

My friend Helen doesn't run for office or look for ways to take charge. She would tell you she is not a leader and that she has neither talent nor desire to lead anyone. Helen would say she simply responds to God's call in whatever needs to be done. So it was that she was house manager of her sorority; for 35 years she was a teacher, mentor, and coach; and she is now a beloved deacon, servant, and mentor in her church and neighborhood.

In Craig Barne's book Sacred Thirst, the pastor, author, and professor entitles one chapter "It's Not About You." People who believe it's all about "me" lose perspective, he says. As a leader's focus to be less about self improves, that leader can begin to relax, let go, and experience some of what I observe in Helen's life.

God is forever trying to teach His people the paradox of leadership. One wonderful hero of the Old Testament who had to learn it was Moses: the reluctant leader. When God called him to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt, away from persecution and trouble and into the Promised Land, Moses resisted. In Exodus 3:11, balking at God's instructions to lead, Moses said, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?"

There follows (in Exodus 3-4) a conversation between God and Moses in which Moses attempts to shirk the assignment. Yes, but what if … I don't speak well … someone else could do it much better. God responds, "I will be with you." My plan, God is saying, is to help you at every turn. Moses had to leave looking only at himself—his fear, his reluctance, his inadequacies—and turn to and trust God, and he had to learn to let Aaron share the responsibility and the limelight.

A good leader knows leadership by definition is about others (ultimately about God), not oneself. A good leader sees beyond self to participate fully in the assignment, to use all God-given gifts and talents, and to experience fully the life God provides. Ultimately in business, church, families, neighborhoods, politics … the good leader proves to be a good follower, continually accepting the invitation to participate in something God already is doing.

Sleep Satisfied

2010-01-21T14:17:00.004+08:00

Lord,

Thank You for the infinite love that meets our every need and provides all the beautiful and wonderful things we experience in life.

Release our hearts and minds from fear and worry.

Fill us with Your peace as we learn to fully trust in your providence.

Help us to do all that we are capable of and the rest we entrust unto you.

Amen.

- Cerge Remonde, Philippine Press Secretary

----------

Many plans are in a man's heart,
But the counsel of the Lord will stand.

What is desirable in a man is his kindness,
And it is better to be a poor man than a liar.

The fear of the Lord leads to life,
So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.

~ Proverbs 19:21-23 ~

Goodbye secretary Cerge... You're such a good harvest.

"It really hurts, but he's my brother."

2010-01-11T19:16:00.002+08:00

[Mathew 18:1-6]

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea."

In The Eyes Of A Child

2009-12-24T01:43:00.005+08:00

By David Langerfeld

This is a first-person account from a mother about her family as they ate dinner on Christmas Day in a small restaurant many miles from their home.

Nancy, the mother, relates:

We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly eating and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, "Hi there." He pounded his fat baby hands on the high-chair tray. His eyes were wide with excitement and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin. He wriggled and giggled with merriment.

I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man with a tattered rag of a coat; dirty, greasy and worn. His pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and nose was so varicose it looked like a road map. We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled. His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists.

"Hi there, baby; hi there, big boy. I see ya, buster," the man said to Erik.

My husband and I exchanged looks, "What do we do?" Erik continued to laugh and answer, "Hi, hi there."

Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man. The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby.

Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, "Do ya know patty cake? Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek-a-boo."

Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk. My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skid-row bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute comments.

We finally go through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot.

The old man sat poised between me and the door. "Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik," I prayed. As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to side-step him and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby's pick-me-up, position. Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the man's.

Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their love relationship. Erik in an act of total trust, love and submission laid his tiny head upon the man''s ragged shoulder. The man''s eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain and hard labor - gently, so gently cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his back.

No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time. I stood awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms for a moment, and then his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, "You take care of this baby." Somehow I managed, "I will," from a throat that contained a stone. He pried Erik from his chest unwillingly, longingly, as though he were in pain. I received my baby, and the man said, "God bless you ma''am, you've given me my Christmas gift."

I said nothing more than a muttered thanks. With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, "My God, my God, forgive me." I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes.

I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not, I felt it was God asking -- "Are you willing to share your son for a moment?", when He shared His for all eternity.

The ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded me, "To enter the Kingdom of God, we must become like a little child."

----------
[Matthew 18:3-5] Most assuredly I tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever therefore humbles himself as a little child, the same is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me.

Living A Life That Matters

2009-12-23T19:27:00.005+08:00

What Will Matter
By Michael Josephson

Ready or not, someday it will all come to an end.

There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours, or days.
All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten,
will pass to someone else.
Your wealth, fame, and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance.

It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed.
Your grudges, resentments, frustrations, and jealousies
will finally disappear.
So, too, your hopes, ambitions, plans, and to-do lists will expire.

The wins and losses that once seemed so important
will fade away.
It won't matter where you came from,
or on what side of the tracks you lived, at the end.
It won't matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant,
even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.

So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured?

What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built;
not what you got, but what you gave.
What will matter is not your success, but your significance.
What will matter is not what you learned, but what you taught.

What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion,
courage or sacrifice
That enriched, empowered or encouraged others
to emulate your example.

What will matter is not your competence, but your character.
What will matter is not how many people you knew,
But how many will feel a lasting loss when you're gone.

What will matter is not your memories,
but the memories that live in those who loved you.
What will matter is how long you will be remembered,
by whom and for what.

Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident.
It's not a matter of circumstance but of choice.

Choose to live a life that matters.

* * * * * * *

God's Life Instructions

* * * * * * *

One Solitary Life
Adapted from a sermon by Dr James Allan Francis

He was born in an obscure village
The child of a peasant woman
He grew up in another obscure village
Where he worked in a carpenter shop
Until he was thirty

He never wrote a book
He never held an office
He never went to college
He never visited a big city
He never traveled more than two hundred miles
From the place where he was born
He did none of the things
Usually associated with greatness
He had no credentials but himself
He was only thirty three
His friends ran away
One of them denied him
He was turned over to his enemies
And went through the mockery of a trial
He was nailed to a cross between two thieves
While dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing
The only property he had on earth

When he was dead
He was laid in a borrowed grave
Through the pity of a friend

Nineteen centuries have come and gone
And today he is the central figure of the human race
And the leader of mankind's progress
All the armies that have ever marched
All the navies that have ever sailed
All the parliaments that have ever sat
All the kings that ever reigned put together
Have not affected the life of mankind on earth
As powerfully as that one solitary life of Jesus

"I asked Jesus to send you"

2009-12-22T03:34:00.000+08:00

Author Unknown

Herman and I locked our general store and dragged ourselves home. It was 11:00 p.m., Christmas Eve of 1949. We were dog tired. We had sold almost all of our toys; and all of the layaways, except one package, had been picked up. Usually we kept the store open until everything had been claimed. We wouldn't have been happy on Christmas knowing that some child's gift was still on the layaway shelf. But the person who had put a dollar down on the package never returned.

Early Christmas morning we and our twelve-year-old son, Tom, opened gifts. But I'll tell you, there was something humdrum about this Christmas. Tom was growing up; I missed his childish exuberance of past years. As soon as breakfast was over Tom left to visit his friend next door. Herman mumbled, "I'm going back to sleep. There's nothing left to stay up for." So there I was alone, feeling let down.

And then it began. A strange, persistent urge. It seemed to be telling me to go to the store. I looked at the sleet and icy sidewalk outside. That's crazy, I said to myself. I tried dismissing the urge, but it wouldn't leave me alone. In fact, it was getting stronger. Finally, I couldn't stand it any longer, and I got dressed. Outside, the wind cut right through me and the sleet stung my cheeks. I groped my way to the store, slipping and sliding.

In front stood two boys, one about nine, and the other six. What in the world? "See, I told you she would come!" the older boy said jubilantly. The younger one's face was wet with tears, but when he saw me, his sobbing stopped. "What are you two doing out here?" I scolded, hurrying them into the store. "You should be at home on a day like this!" They were poorly dressed. They had no hats or gloves, and their shoes barely held together. I rubbed their icy hands, and got them up close to the heater.

"We've been waiting for you," replied the older boy. "My little brother Jimmy didn't get any Christmas." He touched Jimmy's shoulder. "We want to buy some skates. That's what he wants. We have these three dollars," he said, pulling the bills from his pocket. I looked at the money. I looked at their expectant faces. And then I looked around the store. "I'm sorry," I said, "but we have no --"

Then my eye caught sight of the lay-away shelf with its lone package. "Wait a minute," I told the boys. I walked over, picked up the package, unwrapped it and, miracle of miracles, there was a pair of skates! Jimmy reached for them. Lord, let them be his size. And miracle added upon miracle, they were his size.

The older boy presented the dollars to me. "No," I told him, "I want you to have these skates, and I want you to use your money to get some gloves." The boys just blinked at first. Then their eyes became like saucers, and their grins stretched wide when they understood I was giving them the skates. What I saw in Jimmy's eyes was a blessing. It was pure joy, and it was beautiful.
My spirits rose.

We walked out together, and as I locked the door, I turned to the older brother and said, "How did you know I would come?" I wasn't prepared for his reply. His gaze was steady, and he answered me softly. "I asked Jesus to send you."

The tingles in my spine weren't from the cold. God had planned this. As we waved good-bye, I turned home for a brighter Christmas.

You Can Have My Room

2009-12-21T03:59:00.000+08:00

By Ron Hutchcraft

It was the biggest night of the year in a little town called Cornwall. It was the night of the annual Christmas pageant. It's an especially big deal for the children in town -- they get to try out for the roles in the Christmas story. Everybody wants a part.

Which leads us to the problem of Harold. Harold really wanted to be in the play, too, but he was - well, he was kind of a slow and simple kid. The directors were ambivalent - I mean, they knew Harold would be crushed if he didn't have a part, but they were afraid he might mess up the town's magic moment. Finally, they decided to cast Harold as the innkeeper - the one who turns Mary and Joseph away the night Jesus is to be born. He had only one line - "I'm sorry, we have no room." Well, no one could imagine what that one line was going to do to everyone's Christmas.

The night of the pageant the church was packed, as usual. The Christmas story unfolded according to plan - angels singing, Joseph's dream, and the trip to Bethlehem. Finally, Joseph and Mary arrived at the door of the Bethlehem inn, looking appropriately tired. Joseph knocked on the inn door, and Harold was there to open the door.

Joseph asked his question on cue - "Do you have a room for the night?" Harold froze. After a long pause, Harold mumbled his line, "I'm sorry - we have no room." And, with a little coaching, he shut the door. The directors heaved a sigh of relief - prematurely. As Mary and Joseph disappeared into the night, the set suddenly started shaking again - and the door opened.

Harold was back! And then, in an unrehearsed moment that folks would not soon forget, Harold went running after the young couple, shouting as loud as he could -- "Wait! Don't go Joseph. Bring Mary back! You can have MY room!"

I think little Harold may have understood the real issue of Christmas better than anyone else there that night. How can you leave Jesus outside? You have to make room for Jesus. And that may be the issue for you this Christmas. What will you do with this Son of God who came to earth to find you?

Jesus is the One who trades a throne room for a stable, and the praise of angels for human mockery. This is the Creator who gives Himself on a cross! The Bible gives us the only appropriate response: "The life I now live I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Gal. 2:20) You look at what Jesus did to pay for your sin on that cross, and you say those life-changing words - "For me."

Jesus is at YOUR door this Christmas. Maybe He's been knocking for a long time. Maybe He won't keep knocking much longer. All your life - even the events of the last few months - have been to prepare you for this crossroads moment with Jesus your Savior. Don't leave Him outside any longer. Open the door this Christmas Day. "Jesus, I cannot keep You out any longer. Come on in. You can have my room... my life."

In The Wrong Direction

2009-12-20T23:37:00.000+08:00

Author Unknown

I guess every athlete would like to do something immortal, something that will be remembered. Roy Riegels did - in a way. He played center in the 1929 Rose Bowl game in Pasadena, California.

The game was almost over - the score was very close. Both teams knew that any score might well decide the game. Then, on one play, Roy Riegels suddenly found himself with a ball in his hands. Now centers only know what to do with the ball when they're snapping it to the quarterback - but Roy Riegels had it whether he liked it or not.

Well, he started running as fast as a center can go - right for the goal line. He glanced back over his shoulder and he saw a strange sight - he was being frantically pursued by his own teammates. His instincts told him to just keep running, and he did - until he was tackled just short of the goal - by one of his own teammates. Roy Riegels was running for the other team's goal. And shortly, the other team went on to score and win the game. And as for athletic immortality? He went down in football history - as Wrong Way Riegels!

* * * * * * *

Does Anybody Hear Her
By Casting Crowns

She is running
A hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction
She is trying
But the canyon's ever widening
In the depths of her cold heart
So she sets out on another misadventure just to find
She's another two years older
And she's three more steps behind

Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?
Or does anybody even know she's going down today
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?

She is yearning
For shelter and affection
That she never found at home
She is searching
For a hero to ride in
To ride in and save the day
And in walks her prince charming
And he knows just what to say
Momentary lapse of reason
And she gives herself away

Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?
Or does anybody even know she's going down today
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?

If judgment looms under every steeple
If lofty glances from lofty people
Can't see past her scarlet letter
And we've never even met her

If judgment looms under every steeple
If lofty glances from lofty people
Can't see past her scarlet letter
And we've never even met her

If Judgement looms under every steeple
If lofty glances from lofty people
Can't see past her scarlet letter
And we've never even met her

Never even met her
(Never Even Met her)

(Ohhh) Does anybody hear her? Does anybody see?
Or does anybody even know she's going down today
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me

Does anybody hear her? (Does anybody hear her?)
Does anybody see? (Does anybody See?)
Does anybody even know she's going down today?
Under the shadow of our steeple (shadow of her steeple)
With all the lost and lonely people (Lost and Lonely people)
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her? Does anybody see?

He is running a hundred miles an hour,
in the wrong direction...

Who Am I?

2009-12-16T23:13:00.002+08:00

By Casting Crowns

Who am I?
That the Lord of all the earth,
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt.
Who am I?
That the bright and morning star,
Would choose to light the way,
For my ever wandering heart.

Bridge:
Not because of who I am,
But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who you are.

Chorus:
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling,
And you've told me who I am.
I am yours.
I am yours.

Who am I?
That the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
And watch me rise again.
Who am I?
That the voice that calmed the sea,
Would call out through the rain,
And calm the storm in me.

Not because of who I am,
But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who you are.

I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling,
And you've told me who I am.
I am yours.

Not because of who I am,
But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who you are.

I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling,
And you've told me who I am.
I am yours.
I am yours.
I am yours.

Whom shall I fear
Whom shall I fear
I am yours..
I am yours..