Intro ((from Debi Pryde’s notes)
Defining Anger
Anger: An expression of extreme displeasure, hostility, indignation, or exasperation toward someone or something.
• What about “righteous” anger?
• Anger that imitates God’s anger and does not have a sinful motivation, expression or cause. In humans, extremely rare.
• The Expression of Anger
– Blowing up
– Taking it out on someone else
– Privately sulking, pitying self
– Denying a problem with anger exists
– Avoiding dealing with problems
– Sarcasm, biting humor, excessive teasing
– Inconsiderate actions
– Crying
– Forgetfulness
– Physical manifestations
ANGER LESSON PART II, MAN’S ANGER: A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE (iD&IPBuny)
VALID ANGER
• Mat 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment…
• Check the cause for our anger: righteous or not?
• Eph 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
• Exo 32:19 And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.
ANGER CHARACTERISTICS
• Pro 27:4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
• FULL BLOWN ANGER is terrible to witness and hear, needless and cruel words are said
• childish acts are at times exhibited…
COMMAND AGAINST
• Psa 37:8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
• Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
• Ecc 7:9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry (to trouble; by implication to grieve, rage, be indignant ): for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
• Col 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
• Jas 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift (ready) to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
ANGER DESTROYS OUR TESTIMONY
• Jas 1:20 For the wrath of man worketh (accomplisheth) not the righteousness of God.
EXAMPLES/ CONSEQUENCES
Separates families
• Gen 27:45 Until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?
Murder
• Gen 49:6 O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger (Simeon and Levi) they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall.
• Remember the envy of Joseph’s brothers led to their anger and later plotting
Conflict
• 1Sa 17:28 And Eliab (David’s brother probably envied him, provoked an angry suspicious, malicious attitude towards David) his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.
APPROACH TO ANGRY PEOPLE
• Gen 44:18 Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh. (Humility)
• Pro 15:1 A soft (tender (literally or figuratively); by implication weak: - faint ) answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger (galit na ginagalit pa, ganito mga nagger na asawa).
What The Bible Says (DPryde)
Anger is overcome with its opposite—love and forgiveness
• Proverbs 15:1 – A soft answer turneth away (to return to the starting point) wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
• Colossians 3:8 – But now ye also put off (cast aside) all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth...Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all things put on charity [love] which is the bond of perfectness.
Christians are to act, not react to problems –
• 1 Corinthians 10:13 - There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
• Love and forgiveness are choices we make and determine our reactions. God is as interested in our reaction to the sinful behavior of others as He is to the sin that precedes it.
APPROACH TO ANGRY PEOPLE(IPB CONT.)
• Pro 15:18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth (settle, be at peace) strife.
• Pro 19:11 The discretion of a man deferreth (makes long) his anger; and it is his glory to pass over (cross over) a transgression (kung di naman ikamamatay, palampasin na).
• KINDNESS is the skin of our Christian Testimony. DPruden
• Pro 21:14 A gift in secret pacifieth (tame or subdue) anger (kulang sa pansin, bigyan pansin, paligayahin): and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
DON’T FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE (pour water, not OIL!! :B)
• Luk 15:28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
• Gπαρακαλέω parakaleō par-ak-al-eh'-o
• From G3844 and G2564; to call near, that is, invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation): - beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort (-ation), intreat, pray.
LEAVE THINGS WITH GOD
• Rom 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place (deliver up) unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
THOUGHT TO PONDER: ARE WE CAUSING OTHERS TO GET ANGRY?
• Col 3:21 Fathers, provoke (stimulate) not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
1Co 13:4 ,5 "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil"
Thursday, July 7, 2011
GOD’S ANGER
Ladies Sunday School Class, Gospel Light Baptist Church
5 June 2011
PROVOKED BY DISOBEDIENCE
Num 11:1 And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.
Jos 7:1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel. (WILLFUL DISOBEDIENCE/ PRESUMPTUOUS SINS)
PROVOKED BY IDOLATRY
Deu 7:4 For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.
Deu 32:16 They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger
1Ki 14:9 But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back:
1Ki 16:33 And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.
Psa 78:58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images
PROVOKED BY SIN
1Ki 16:2 Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust, and made thee prince over my people Israel; and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam, and hast made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins;
2Ki 21:15 Because they have done that which was evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came forth out of Egypt, even unto this day.
Isa 1:4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.
Isa 9:17 Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
PROVOKED BY DIVINATIONS
2Ki 17:17 And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
2Ki 21:6 And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
RESULT OF GOD’S ANGER
Jer 3:5 Will he reserve his anger for ever? will he keep it to the end? Behold, thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest.
Num 11:1 And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.
Deu 31:17 Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us?
Jos 23:16 When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you
Jdg 2:14 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.
Job 21:17 How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.
Psa 27:9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
Psa 38:3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. (No Energy/ lethargy/ depression)
Psa 77:9 Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.
Jer 7:20 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, mine anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched.
Nah 1:3 The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
CHARACTERISTICS of His ANGER
Neh 9:17 And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.
Psa 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Psa 78:38 But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
Psa 103:8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
Psa 145:8 The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.
Jer 3:12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding
Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever.
Hos 14:4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.
FINDING OUR WAY BACK
2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2Ch 7:15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
Joe 2:13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
5 June 2011
PROVOKED BY DISOBEDIENCE
Num 11:1 And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.
Jos 7:1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel. (WILLFUL DISOBEDIENCE/ PRESUMPTUOUS SINS)
PROVOKED BY IDOLATRY
Deu 7:4 For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.
Deu 32:16 They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger
1Ki 14:9 But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back:
1Ki 16:33 And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.
Psa 78:58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images
PROVOKED BY SIN
1Ki 16:2 Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust, and made thee prince over my people Israel; and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam, and hast made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins;
2Ki 21:15 Because they have done that which was evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came forth out of Egypt, even unto this day.
Isa 1:4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.
Isa 9:17 Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
PROVOKED BY DIVINATIONS
2Ki 17:17 And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
2Ki 21:6 And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
RESULT OF GOD’S ANGER
Jer 3:5 Will he reserve his anger for ever? will he keep it to the end? Behold, thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest.
Num 11:1 And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.
Deu 31:17 Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us?
Jos 23:16 When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you
Jdg 2:14 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.
Job 21:17 How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.
Psa 27:9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
Psa 38:3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. (No Energy/ lethargy/ depression)
Psa 77:9 Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.
Jer 7:20 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, mine anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched.
Nah 1:3 The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
CHARACTERISTICS of His ANGER
Neh 9:17 And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.
Psa 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Psa 78:38 But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
Psa 103:8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
Psa 145:8 The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.
Jer 3:12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding
Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever.
Hos 14:4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.
FINDING OUR WAY BACK
2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2Ch 7:15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
Joe 2:13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
GOD IS MY STRENGTH AND SONG
Reading LBCowman’s Devotional always revives my soul. Her June 27 devotion on the different faces of God’s strength was a wonderful reminder that “GOD IS MY STRENGTH AND SONG AND IS BECOME MY SALVATION!”
“YOUR STRENGTH WILL EQUAL YOUR DAYS” (Deut. 33.25) God’s strength is enough to last me a LIFETIME… MY LIFETIME! Therefore I should not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will care for itself. Don’t take me wrong, we do need to be doing our part! “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.“ (Matt.6:33)
“THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH” (Ex.15:2) TO GO ON…
I can do all things through Christ, yes even the daily routine that may be dull and thankless, because He is with me “withersoever I goest.”
“THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH” TO GO UP…Even at excruciatingly busy times when I seem to be out of breath, I can make the difficult climb up every challenge the Lord allows my way because “He will never leave me nor forsake me.”
“THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH” TO GO DOWN…When I have accomplished a great feat and all the encouraging words and presence of others have long been gone, I will not grow weary nor faint because “Thou art with me, Thy rod and Thy staff they will continue to be with me and comfort me. As I wait upon thee, thou wilt renew my strength and will make me soar again, with wings as eagles!”
“THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH” TO SIT STILL…When I am compelled, by impatience and disbelief, to help God by manipulating my situation and others; help me to remember to “Be still and know that YOU ARE GOD.” What a difficult accomplishment this is, indeed! To do nothing except to sit still and wait requires tremendous strength (LBC) and absolute faith in God!
“The strength God gives is continuous, FOR HE IS A SOURCE OF POWER I CANNOT (thankfully) EXHAUST.”
“What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.”
“YOUR STRENGTH WILL EQUAL YOUR DAYS” (Deut. 33.25) God’s strength is enough to last me a LIFETIME… MY LIFETIME! Therefore I should not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will care for itself. Don’t take me wrong, we do need to be doing our part! “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.“ (Matt.6:33)
“THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH” (Ex.15:2) TO GO ON…
I can do all things through Christ, yes even the daily routine that may be dull and thankless, because He is with me “withersoever I goest.”
“THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH” TO GO UP…Even at excruciatingly busy times when I seem to be out of breath, I can make the difficult climb up every challenge the Lord allows my way because “He will never leave me nor forsake me.”
“THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH” TO GO DOWN…When I have accomplished a great feat and all the encouraging words and presence of others have long been gone, I will not grow weary nor faint because “Thou art with me, Thy rod and Thy staff they will continue to be with me and comfort me. As I wait upon thee, thou wilt renew my strength and will make me soar again, with wings as eagles!”
“THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH” TO SIT STILL…When I am compelled, by impatience and disbelief, to help God by manipulating my situation and others; help me to remember to “Be still and know that YOU ARE GOD.” What a difficult accomplishment this is, indeed! To do nothing except to sit still and wait requires tremendous strength (LBC) and absolute faith in God!
“The strength God gives is continuous, FOR HE IS A SOURCE OF POWER I CANNOT (thankfully) EXHAUST.”
“What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.”
Monday, June 6, 2011
The Comforting Presence of our Omnipresent God
Came home physically drained, seemed totally exhausted from various events that’s been transpiring for the past weeks… the Lord gave solace once more in and through His word and empathy in the life of Darlene and Russell Diebler as I continued reading the book “Evidence Not Seen.”--
On New Year’s Day (1938 or 39) Russell awakened feeling completely depleted physically and concerned… needing encouragement for the walk ahead into this unknown wilderness (his desired mission field in PNG), he opened his Bible and came to a portion that seemed illumined on the page:
“Be strong and of good courage, be not afraid, neither be dismayed for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest.” Joshua 1:9
I gladly allowed the message of the verse to sink in my heart … the same God, that gave that promise to Joshua and has refreshed Russell, lives today and promises His same comforting presence to me!!! All of a sudden my trials paled in comparison and my own suffering was dwarfed by the tremendous amount of suffering that this couple and the prisoners of war endured in the hands of the Japanese during WWII.
INA—be strong and of good courage, be not afraid, neither be dismayed
The same God that was with the many prophets of the Bible,
The many pioneers of the faith—
Is with thee… is with me… wherever I go!!
He will never leave me nor forsake me
On New Year’s Day (1938 or 39) Russell awakened feeling completely depleted physically and concerned… needing encouragement for the walk ahead into this unknown wilderness (his desired mission field in PNG), he opened his Bible and came to a portion that seemed illumined on the page:
“Be strong and of good courage, be not afraid, neither be dismayed for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest.” Joshua 1:9
I gladly allowed the message of the verse to sink in my heart … the same God, that gave that promise to Joshua and has refreshed Russell, lives today and promises His same comforting presence to me!!! All of a sudden my trials paled in comparison and my own suffering was dwarfed by the tremendous amount of suffering that this couple and the prisoners of war endured in the hands of the Japanese during WWII.
INA—be strong and of good courage, be not afraid, neither be dismayed
The same God that was with the many prophets of the Bible,
The many pioneers of the faith—
Is with thee… is with me… wherever I go!!
He will never leave me nor forsake me
Friday, April 22, 2011
He Works All Things Together For My Good
Trust Him, Trust Him- it’s all that I can do
For He works all things together, He’s working it together,
He works all things together for my good!
The chorus of the song “He Works All Things Together For My Good” by Mina Oglesby kept ringing in my ear and so I began to sing it as I laid in my hospital bed last week, trusting in the Lord yet scared and in pain from a recurrence of my slipped disc. I forgot a few words so my sister Chi-Chi chimed in…
I may not know the way the road may lead me
I may not always see the things I should
But I can trust the God who knows my life from start to end-
And know He’s working all things for my good.
He did not say the road may be a smooth one
The friends I love and trust may turn away
(in this case, they had to go somewhere without me)
BUT I’VE A GOD WHO’S ALWAYS THERE AND MEETS MY EVERY NEED
He says ‘this too shall surely pass away!’
He did not say the road would be a smooth one
He did not promise sunshine and no rain
But peace and joy He gives to those who look beyond this life
And comfort through their tears of grief and pain.
So if your dreams have turned to dust and ashes
And you can’t do the things you wish you could
(my C.D.O. trip became something else)
Remember God is wiser far than any mortal man
(What if it happened on the plane? Or on the road trip to Bukidnon on Iligan?)
And He’s working things together for my good.
I wrote this account in my journal as I underwent treatment for my lower back problem that sent me reeling down to my knees in pain and fear. I was due to go out of town (to C.D.O. Cagayan De Oro) for a marathon provincial Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease Symposia but wound up being in C.D.O. (Confined Dito Ospital) instead, I wrote that with a wry smile as I regained my sense of humor.
A call from Dr. Bebeth Suarez (a very kind response to my frantic text) and a text from Dr. Ric Agbayani (they both know my PMH -Past Medical History) provided a rough assessment and initial intervention. An anti-inflammatory and a muscle relaxant plus stat physical therapy administered by wonderful rehab staff (Easy and Tavs… subsequently by Kiel assisted by Irish and Louie) provided remarkable pain relief and eventually, improved mobility.
My brother Joey was literally my crutch throughout the day as I could hardly walk without tears. My poor hubby Dan, worried over me and pressing tasks at work, took over as soon as he could. They took turns “driving my wheelchair around.” Total dependence is a humbling thing and yet I am glad and thankful for their strength. Isn’t that wonderfully reminiscent of how God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness? God is so good to give panicky me a level headed spouse!
Thank you Des and Tes for all the leg work and Rose and Lik for manning the home front; and to the numerous texters, you know who you are, the effective prayer of the saints was truly felt!
Thank you for my TEAM members (Bernie, Gerry, Blandie, Net, Denise, Rachel, and Weng) who went on without me for the SYMPOSIA must go on!!! To the FELLOWS and PHC consultant and nursing staff (ang drama!!!) maraming salamat sa dalaw, kalinga at pagtulak ng wheelchair!
Proverbs 16:9 “A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps,” I was yet again reminded by the Lord! I like to rephrase that as follows “MAN DEVISETH HIS WAY BUT GOD HAS THE LAST SAY!”
Matthew 11:28-30 “ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
My schedule the past few months has really been competing with the energizer bunny and so, I believe, God has allowed an enforced bed rest. And so I learn to accept, submit and commit and to rejoice and pray and give thanks!
1Thess. 5:16-18 “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
A week has passed and the pain is greatly reduced and my mobility, largely improved. A testimony of God’s mercy (I do not tolerate pain well) and grace (recovery was faster than we hoped for and thought). Please continue to pray for my recovery and praise God with me, for not allowing me to be utterly cast down (Psalm 37) after my fall.
For He works all things together, He’s working it together,
He works all things together for my good!
The chorus of the song “He Works All Things Together For My Good” by Mina Oglesby kept ringing in my ear and so I began to sing it as I laid in my hospital bed last week, trusting in the Lord yet scared and in pain from a recurrence of my slipped disc. I forgot a few words so my sister Chi-Chi chimed in…
I may not know the way the road may lead me
I may not always see the things I should
But I can trust the God who knows my life from start to end-
And know He’s working all things for my good.
He did not say the road may be a smooth one
The friends I love and trust may turn away
(in this case, they had to go somewhere without me)
BUT I’VE A GOD WHO’S ALWAYS THERE AND MEETS MY EVERY NEED
He says ‘this too shall surely pass away!’
He did not say the road would be a smooth one
He did not promise sunshine and no rain
But peace and joy He gives to those who look beyond this life
And comfort through their tears of grief and pain.
So if your dreams have turned to dust and ashes
And you can’t do the things you wish you could
(my C.D.O. trip became something else)
Remember God is wiser far than any mortal man
(What if it happened on the plane? Or on the road trip to Bukidnon on Iligan?)
And He’s working things together for my good.
I wrote this account in my journal as I underwent treatment for my lower back problem that sent me reeling down to my knees in pain and fear. I was due to go out of town (to C.D.O. Cagayan De Oro) for a marathon provincial Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease Symposia but wound up being in C.D.O. (Confined Dito Ospital) instead, I wrote that with a wry smile as I regained my sense of humor.
A call from Dr. Bebeth Suarez (a very kind response to my frantic text) and a text from Dr. Ric Agbayani (they both know my PMH -Past Medical History) provided a rough assessment and initial intervention. An anti-inflammatory and a muscle relaxant plus stat physical therapy administered by wonderful rehab staff (Easy and Tavs… subsequently by Kiel assisted by Irish and Louie) provided remarkable pain relief and eventually, improved mobility.
My brother Joey was literally my crutch throughout the day as I could hardly walk without tears. My poor hubby Dan, worried over me and pressing tasks at work, took over as soon as he could. They took turns “driving my wheelchair around.” Total dependence is a humbling thing and yet I am glad and thankful for their strength. Isn’t that wonderfully reminiscent of how God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness? God is so good to give panicky me a level headed spouse!
Thank you Des and Tes for all the leg work and Rose and Lik for manning the home front; and to the numerous texters, you know who you are, the effective prayer of the saints was truly felt!
Thank you for my TEAM members (Bernie, Gerry, Blandie, Net, Denise, Rachel, and Weng) who went on without me for the SYMPOSIA must go on!!! To the FELLOWS and PHC consultant and nursing staff (ang drama!!!) maraming salamat sa dalaw, kalinga at pagtulak ng wheelchair!
Proverbs 16:9 “A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps,” I was yet again reminded by the Lord! I like to rephrase that as follows “MAN DEVISETH HIS WAY BUT GOD HAS THE LAST SAY!”
Matthew 11:28-30 “ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
My schedule the past few months has really been competing with the energizer bunny and so, I believe, God has allowed an enforced bed rest. And so I learn to accept, submit and commit and to rejoice and pray and give thanks!
1Thess. 5:16-18 “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
A week has passed and the pain is greatly reduced and my mobility, largely improved. A testimony of God’s mercy (I do not tolerate pain well) and grace (recovery was faster than we hoped for and thought). Please continue to pray for my recovery and praise God with me, for not allowing me to be utterly cast down (Psalm 37) after my fall.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Let the Light Shine Upon Thy Darkness
Are you weathering a storm and it seems that everything is in darkness right now? Then Go SEEK Him who is the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIGHT. “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” Do we know by experience the reassuring comfort that this verse from 1 Corinthians 10:13 promises and brings?
“I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me” as I read this verse in Acts 26:13, I was reminded of how many times when the “tempests of my life seemed like sea billows that rolled” the Lord made it known to me that He was there. God made it plainly seen literally, one day as our boat in one of the missionary trips I joined, was temporarily lost at sea (somewhere in the infamous Tablas Strait). After what seemed then to be an endless amount of time, has passed, we finally saw the faint flicker of light from some of the houses along the shores of Carabao Island in Romblon. These guided our battered yet sturdy intact little boat ashore.
How often also have I found HIM to be there in and during the “dark ages” of my life? Many times I was tempted to lose heart and to “remove the thorn myself,” I wanted to solve my problem – my way! God has taught me through the years that to do things my way will lead only lead to hurt and destruction. However, when I leave these situations in the hands of an ALL knowing and ALL powerful God, and face these trials in His strength, then He will pave the way for me to “escape” the trial or give me grace to “endure” it. Ipb.040111
“Beloved, never try to get out of a dark place except in God’s timing and in His way. A time of trouble and darkness is meant to teach you lessons you desperately need. Premature deliverance may circumvent God’s work of grace in your life. Commit the entire situation to Him, and be willing to abide in darkness, knowing He is present.” LBCowman, Streams in the Desert
“It is better to walk in the dark with God, than to walk alone in the light.” The Still Small Voice
“Come to the Light, ‘tis shining for thee
Sweetly the Light has dawned upon me;
Once I was blind, but now I can see
The Light of the world (MY world) IS JESUS!” PPBliss
Monday, December 20, 2010
THE BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT
As I set off to start another “toxic” DAY, (a doctor’s lingo) for a busy duty in the hospital, I whispered a prayer for an opportunity to MAGNIFY HIM. How can I make God big before others, when commercialism has made the act of celebrating more important than the Celebrant? How can I make Him known before others especially during this season when GIFTS have become more important than the GIVER of gifts?
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 )
God the Father gave the best gift, sending His Son into the world to be born, and later to die, for the sins of the world (that includes me!).
God the Son humbly submitting to His Father’s will, took off His royal garment (set aside His glory) and was “made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
He was born in a lowly manger, raised as a carpenter’s son: “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” (Isaiah 53:3,4
On the cross years later, He fulfilled totally, the criteria for permanent and eternal salvation. “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities." (Isa 53:6 -11)
God so loved YOU and ME, that HE GAVE! I don’t have to go through any self-inflicted punishment nor am I required to do good works to be forgiven and saved. CHRIST did it all on the cross and all that I needed to do is to BELIEVE THAT HE DID IT ALL (for YOU and) for ME! "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom 5:8)
The best GIFT I have ever received in my life came one day, a few months prior to Christmas, when someone shared to me about the non-perishable gift of eternal life. I realized that I was a sinner bound for hell, “For the wages of sin is death…” and yet, someone intervened and died for me “… but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom 6:23)
Since then, I have come upon a peace beyond my understanding. Not a day goes by without me realizing more and more, that “without Him I am nothing” (John 15:5) and yet “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Phil 4:13)
This year, as I join other shoppers in the search for the “perfect gift,” the Lord reminded me that the best gift I can ever give, is the gift of Christ.
“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10 & 11)
"One day when heaven was filled with His praises,
One day when sin was as black as could be,
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin,
Dwelt among men, my Example is He!
One day they led Him up Calvary’s mountain,
One day they nailed Him to die on the tree;
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected:
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He!
One day they left Him alone in the garden,
One day He rested, from suffering free;
Angels came down over His tomb to keep vigil;
Hope of the hopeless, my Savior is He!
One day the grave could conceal Him no longer,
One day the stone rolled away from the door;
Then He arose, over death He had conquered;
Now is ascended, my Lord evermore!
One day the trumpet will sound for His coming,
One day the skies with His glories will shine;
Wonderful day, my beloved One bringing;
Glorious Savior, this Jesus is mine!
Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely forever;
One day He’s coming, O glorious day!" Wilbur Chapman
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 )
God the Father gave the best gift, sending His Son into the world to be born, and later to die, for the sins of the world (that includes me!).
God the Son humbly submitting to His Father’s will, took off His royal garment (set aside His glory) and was “made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
He was born in a lowly manger, raised as a carpenter’s son: “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” (Isaiah 53:3,4
On the cross years later, He fulfilled totally, the criteria for permanent and eternal salvation. “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities." (Isa 53:6 -11)
God so loved YOU and ME, that HE GAVE! I don’t have to go through any self-inflicted punishment nor am I required to do good works to be forgiven and saved. CHRIST did it all on the cross and all that I needed to do is to BELIEVE THAT HE DID IT ALL (for YOU and) for ME! "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom 5:8)
The best GIFT I have ever received in my life came one day, a few months prior to Christmas, when someone shared to me about the non-perishable gift of eternal life. I realized that I was a sinner bound for hell, “For the wages of sin is death…” and yet, someone intervened and died for me “… but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom 6:23)
Since then, I have come upon a peace beyond my understanding. Not a day goes by without me realizing more and more, that “without Him I am nothing” (John 15:5) and yet “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Phil 4:13)
This year, as I join other shoppers in the search for the “perfect gift,” the Lord reminded me that the best gift I can ever give, is the gift of Christ.
“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10 & 11)
"One day when heaven was filled with His praises,
One day when sin was as black as could be,
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin,
Dwelt among men, my Example is He!
One day they led Him up Calvary’s mountain,
One day they nailed Him to die on the tree;
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected:
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He!
One day they left Him alone in the garden,
One day He rested, from suffering free;
Angels came down over His tomb to keep vigil;
Hope of the hopeless, my Savior is He!
One day the grave could conceal Him no longer,
One day the stone rolled away from the door;
Then He arose, over death He had conquered;
Now is ascended, my Lord evermore!
One day the trumpet will sound for His coming,
One day the skies with His glories will shine;
Wonderful day, my beloved One bringing;
Glorious Savior, this Jesus is mine!
Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely forever;
One day He’s coming, O glorious day!" Wilbur Chapman
Monday, November 29, 2010
UNDER THE NARRA TREE
I still remember it well-- it was a glorious June morning. The whole country celebrated Independence Day while my husband Dan and I, after committing the day in prayer, spent our holiday in search of our “promised land.”
After scouting around the whole morning, we were getting ready to go home when our friend beckoned us towards a lot she was selling… and there it stood -- a poor almost lifeless tree, dried up from years of people burning trash beside its trunk. It stood forlorn - not quite, but almost in the middle front part of a vacant lot which the Lord was to give us.
Five months later, as the engineer began to “concretize” what the architect had on paper, the Narra tree seemed a burden and needed to be cut. Also, it was unsightly and very much in the way of the planned driveway. However, it’s a NARRA tree and therefore we had to have a permit to cut it. After days of deliberation (for I loved the way the tree seemed to “hang on for dear life”), I believe the tree won when we decided to modify the house plans and SPARE the Narra tree!!
Three to four months ensued… different batches of workers came and went… there were masons and carpenters then painters and tilers… weeds were pulled out and rocks were taken out as the foundation of the house was laid. It was on a sunny February morning the following year when we noticed that we had an entirely “new” tree before us-- left “alone” and freed from the daily dose of burning trash, our tree quietly developed until it grew taller than the two storey house, it’s branches like arms that reached out towards the sky… full of leaves – lovely, lively, GREEN leaves!
We have since then moved into our Faith House and nary has a day gone by when I don’t bask at the beauty the tree has added to our home. Every time I sit under the Narra tree, I cannot help but thank the Lord for the “singing” creatures it shelters, for the breeze that I feel after having rustled the tree, for the shade during the heat of the day and even for the shelter it affords in heavy rains.
I was once like that Narra tree – DRY and spiritually uncomely: Romans 3:10, 23 say “There is none righteous, no, not one…For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” I was a soul on the way to eternal fire!!
There is no place in heaven for a ghastly sinful creature as I, and on my own merit, I could not be spared. Ephesians 2:8, 9 declares “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.”
But what a blessed relief, although “… the wages of sin is death... the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
Years ago, through a neighborhood Bible Club, I learned of that great gift: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) I called on Him, confessed my sins and claimed his gift of salvation. Romans 10:13 assures “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” God spared my soul and Jesus came into my heart!
“I waited patiently for the Lord;
and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
He brought me up also Out of an horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock,
And established my goings.
And he hath put a new song in my mouth,
Even praise unto our God:
Many shall see it, and fear,
And shall trust in the Lord.”
Psalm 40:1-3
I have since that time like our Narra tree, flourished under God’s tender care… stubborn- I fall BUT yielded- I grow. I am not as “green and fruitful” as I want to be at times, yet the Lord in His loving kindness honors my little efforts (I Samuel 2:30)
“The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me:
Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever:
Forsake not the works of thine own hands.”
Psalm 138:8
He is the Vine, I -- a mere branch, but as long as I abide in Him, I can through His strength bring forth fruit “for without Him, I can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
My dear FRIEND, I care for you deeply and God loves us more than any Narra tree! Christ addresses us today in Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
If you accept Christ into your heart today, you will be much better than our Narra tree. I know, for one day long ago - I DID! Won’t you accept His gift of salvation today?
“And he shall be like a tree
planted by the rivers of water,
That bringeth forth his fruit in his season;
His leaf also shall not wither;
And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
Psalm 1:3
Ipb083006
To have a personal relationship with Christ, I simply followed His word…I recognized that I was a sinner and confessed it to Him. I thanked God for sending His Son to die on the cross for my sins and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ into my heart to be my Lord and Savior.
Since I got saved, the Lord has impressed upon me the importance of fellowshipping with other believers. Hebrews 10:23-25 instructs “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised; And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together…but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
I would like to invite you to come and worship with me sometime at
GOSPEL LIGHT BAPTIST CHURCH
23 Matahimik St.
Cor. V. Luna Extension near Kalayaan Ave.
Barangay Malaya, Diliman Quezon City
Church Services
Sunday School: 9AM
Sunday Morning Service: 10 AM
Evening Service: 6 PM
Wednesday Prayer Meeting: 7 PM
After scouting around the whole morning, we were getting ready to go home when our friend beckoned us towards a lot she was selling… and there it stood -- a poor almost lifeless tree, dried up from years of people burning trash beside its trunk. It stood forlorn - not quite, but almost in the middle front part of a vacant lot which the Lord was to give us.
Five months later, as the engineer began to “concretize” what the architect had on paper, the Narra tree seemed a burden and needed to be cut. Also, it was unsightly and very much in the way of the planned driveway. However, it’s a NARRA tree and therefore we had to have a permit to cut it. After days of deliberation (for I loved the way the tree seemed to “hang on for dear life”), I believe the tree won when we decided to modify the house plans and SPARE the Narra tree!!
Three to four months ensued… different batches of workers came and went… there were masons and carpenters then painters and tilers… weeds were pulled out and rocks were taken out as the foundation of the house was laid. It was on a sunny February morning the following year when we noticed that we had an entirely “new” tree before us-- left “alone” and freed from the daily dose of burning trash, our tree quietly developed until it grew taller than the two storey house, it’s branches like arms that reached out towards the sky… full of leaves – lovely, lively, GREEN leaves!
We have since then moved into our Faith House and nary has a day gone by when I don’t bask at the beauty the tree has added to our home. Every time I sit under the Narra tree, I cannot help but thank the Lord for the “singing” creatures it shelters, for the breeze that I feel after having rustled the tree, for the shade during the heat of the day and even for the shelter it affords in heavy rains.
I was once like that Narra tree – DRY and spiritually uncomely: Romans 3:10, 23 say “There is none righteous, no, not one…For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” I was a soul on the way to eternal fire!!
There is no place in heaven for a ghastly sinful creature as I, and on my own merit, I could not be spared. Ephesians 2:8, 9 declares “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.”
But what a blessed relief, although “… the wages of sin is death... the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
Years ago, through a neighborhood Bible Club, I learned of that great gift: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) I called on Him, confessed my sins and claimed his gift of salvation. Romans 10:13 assures “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” God spared my soul and Jesus came into my heart!
“I waited patiently for the Lord;
and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
He brought me up also Out of an horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock,
And established my goings.
And he hath put a new song in my mouth,
Even praise unto our God:
Many shall see it, and fear,
And shall trust in the Lord.”
Psalm 40:1-3
I have since that time like our Narra tree, flourished under God’s tender care… stubborn- I fall BUT yielded- I grow. I am not as “green and fruitful” as I want to be at times, yet the Lord in His loving kindness honors my little efforts (I Samuel 2:30)
“The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me:
Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever:
Forsake not the works of thine own hands.”
Psalm 138:8
He is the Vine, I -- a mere branch, but as long as I abide in Him, I can through His strength bring forth fruit “for without Him, I can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
My dear FRIEND, I care for you deeply and God loves us more than any Narra tree! Christ addresses us today in Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
If you accept Christ into your heart today, you will be much better than our Narra tree. I know, for one day long ago - I DID! Won’t you accept His gift of salvation today?
“And he shall be like a tree
planted by the rivers of water,
That bringeth forth his fruit in his season;
His leaf also shall not wither;
And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
Psalm 1:3
Ipb083006
To have a personal relationship with Christ, I simply followed His word…I recognized that I was a sinner and confessed it to Him. I thanked God for sending His Son to die on the cross for my sins and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ into my heart to be my Lord and Savior.
Since I got saved, the Lord has impressed upon me the importance of fellowshipping with other believers. Hebrews 10:23-25 instructs “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised; And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together…but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
I would like to invite you to come and worship with me sometime at
GOSPEL LIGHT BAPTIST CHURCH
23 Matahimik St.
Cor. V. Luna Extension near Kalayaan Ave.
Barangay Malaya, Diliman Quezon City
Church Services
Sunday School: 9AM
Sunday Morning Service: 10 AM
Evening Service: 6 PM
Wednesday Prayer Meeting: 7 PM
SA ILALIM NG PUNO NG NARRA
Natatandaan ko noon…isang maluwalhating umaga ng Hunyo ang bansa’y nagdiriwang ng araw ng kasarinlan. Matapos naming ilaan sa panalangin ang buong maghapon, nagsimula na kami ni Dan na hanapin ang aming “lupang pangako”.
Pauwi na sana kami matapos maglibot ng umagang iyon nang maisipan ng aming kaibigang ahente na ituro sa amin ang isa pang loteng kanyang iniaalok…
At hayun siya, isang puno na halos walang buhay, tuyot at sinalanta ng maraming taon ng pagiging tapunan at sunugan ng basura. Isang ulilang punong nakatindig sa harap ng bakanteng lote na siya palang aming magiging “lupang pangako”.
Ngunit nang sisimulan na ng inhinyero na isakatuparan ang magandang plano ng arkitekto, napag-alaman nilang ang punong narra bukod sa hindi kalugud-lugod pagmasdan nang mga panahong yaon ay nagiging sagabal pa sa nakaplanong driveway. Gayunman, ipinagbabawal ang pagputol ng mga punong kahoy lalo pa kung narra at walang pahintulot sa kinauukulan.
Hindi naging matahimik ang mga gabing nagdaan para sa amin ni Dan, naroon ang aming matinding kasabikan na simulan na ang aming bahay upang hindi abutan ng tag-ulan ang mga nakahandang materyales. Naroon ding nakatindig sa aming isip ang larawan ng kawawang punong yaon na para bang nagpipilit mangunyapit sa kakarampot na puwang ng lupa at nagsusumamong igalang ang kanyang karapatang mabuhay.
Sa wakas, nakuha niyang baguhin ang buong plano ng aming bahay upang mabigyang katuparan ang marahil ay mas malawak na hangarin ng Lumikha.
Ilang buwan matapos ang umaatikabong gawaan, ang bahay namin ay naitayo, napintahan at nalinis ang buong bakuran. At isang araw ng Pebrero ng sumunod na taon napansin namin ang kakaibang anyo ng punong narra sa gilid ng aming driveway. Mabulas na lumagpas pa ang taas sa aming bubungan. Makulay na ngayon ang mga dahon sa mga malalabay na sangang parang nagpipilit abutin ang pisngi ng langit.
Nakalipat na kami ni Dan sa aming bagong tahanan at bihirang araw ang hindi ko ipinagpapasalamat sa Maykapal dahil sa aming tahanan, na nagmula sa kaniya, at sa puno ng narra; lalo na sa mahinhing lagaslas ng kanyang mga dahon na iniuugoy ng hangin; sa mga awit baga o huni kaya ng mga nagkakatuwaang kulisap na sa kanya’y naninirahan; o sa malamig na lilim na inilulukob niya sa amin o inihahandog niya sa sinumang nakikisilong dahil sa init ng araw o sa malamig na patak ng ulan.
Minsan ako’y isang punong narra rin na uhaw sa kaluwalhatiang espiritwal: Mga Taga Roma 3:10, 23 “Walang matuwid, wala,,,wala kahit isa. Sapagka’t walang pagkakaiba: sapagka’t ang lahat ay nangagkasala, at hindi nangakaabot sa kaluwalhatian ng Diyos.” Ako’y isang kaluluwang natuyo sa walang katapusang apoy.
Ang maksalanang katulad ko’y walang puwang sa langit at hindi ako maliligtas kung sa sariling kakayahan ko lang. Mga taga Epeso 2:8, 9 “Sapagka’t sa biyaya kayo’y nangaligtas sa pamamagitan ng pananampalataya; at ito’y hindi sa inyong sarili, ito’y kaloob ng Dios; Hindi sa pamamagitan ng mga gawa, upang ang sinoman ay huwag magmapuri”
Ngunit gayunma’y napakabanal na biyaya “…sapagkat ang kabayaran ng kasalanan ay kamatayan; datapuwa’t ang kaloob na walang bayad ng Dios ay buhay na walang hanggan kay Cristo Jesus na Panginoon natin.” (Taga Roma 6:23)
Mga ilang taon na sa pamamagitan ng isang Bible Club ay napag-alaman ko ang gayong dakilang handog: “Sapagkat gayon na lamang ang pag-ibig ng Diyos sa sanlibutan na ibinigay niya ang kanyang tanging Anak, upang ang sinumang sa kanya’y sumampalataya ay huwag mapahamak kundi magkaroon ng buhay na walang hanggan.” (Juan 3:16)Tinawagan ko Siya, ikinumpisal ko ang aking mga pagkakasala at inangkin ko ang aking kaligtasan…”Sapagkat ang lahat ng nagsitawag sa pangalan ng Panginoon ay mangaliligtas.” (Taga Roma 10:13) Iniligtas ng Dios ang aking kaluluwa at nasok si Hesus sa aking puso!
“Aking hinintay na may pagtitiis ang Panginoon; At siya’y kumiling sa akin, at dininig ang aking daing.
Isinampa naman niya ako mula sa isang kakilakilabot na balon, mula sa balahong malagkit; at itinuntong niya ang aking mga paa sa isang malaking bato, at itinatag ang aking mga paglakad.
At siya’y naglagay ng bagong awit sa aking bibig, samakatuwid bagay pagpuri sa aming Dios:
Marami ang mangakakakita at mangatatakot, at magsisitiwala sa Panginoon”
Mga Awit 40:1- 3
Mula noon, nanagana ako tulad ng aming punong narra, sa pangangalaga ng Panginoon…Hindi ako naging masagana sa lahat ng pagkakataon ngunit pinahahalagahan ng Dios ang maliliit kong ipinamalas (I Samuel 2:30)
“Pasasakdalin ng Panginoon ang tungkol sa akin; Ang iyong kagandahang-loob, Oh Panginoon, ay magpakailan man; Huwag mong pababayaan ang ang mga gawa ng iyong sariling kamay.”
Mga Awit 138:8
Siya ang puno ng ubas ako ay sanga lamang ngunit hanggang ako’y nananatili sa kanya, sa pamamagitan ng kaniyang lakas, ako’y nagbubunga ng marami “pagkat kung ako’y hiwalay sa Kanya, wala akong magagawa.” (John 15:5)
Mga mahal kong Kaibigan, mataos akong nagmamalasakit sa inyo at mahal tayo ng Dios nang higit sa isang punong narra. Nagpapahayag ang Dios ngayon sa atin sa Apocalipsis 3:20 “Narito ako’y nakatayo sa pintuan at tumutuktok: kung ang sinoman ay duminig ng aking tinig at magbukas ng pinto, ako’y papasok sa kaniya, at hahapong kasalo niya, ay siya’y kasalo ko.”
Kung tinatanggap mo si Kristo sa iyong puso ngayon, magiging mabuti ka pa kay sa aming punong narra, malaon ko nang natuklasan yon at ginawa. Tatanggapin mo ba kaya ang alok ng kaligtasan ngayon?
“At siya’y magiging parang punong kahoy na itinanim sa siping ng mga agos ng tubig. Na nagbubunga sa kaniyang kapanahunan, Ang kaniyang dahon nama’y hindi malalanta; At anomang kaniyang gawin ay giginhawa,”
Mga Awit 1:3
Upang magkaroon ng personal na relasyon kay Kristo, sinunod ko lamang ang kaniyang sinabi…Kinilala ko ang ikinumpisal ko sa kanya na ako ay isang makasalanan. Pinasalamatan ko ang Dios sa ibinigay niyang anak na namatay sa krus dahil sa aking mga kasalanan at tinanggap ko Siya sa aking puso bilang aking Panginoon at tagapagligtas.
Simula ng ako’y maligtas, ikinital sa akin ng Panginoon ang kahalagahan ng pakikisalamuha sa aking mga kapwa sumasampalataya.
Ang Hebreo 10:23 ay naguudyok sa atin na:
“Na ating ingatang matibay ang pagkakilala ng ating pagasa upang huwag mag-aalinlangan: sapagka’t tapat ang nangako: At tayo’y mangagtinginan upang tayo’y manga-udyok sa pag-iibigan at mabubuting gawa: Na huwag nating pababayaan ang ating pagkakatipon, na gaya ng ugali ng iba, kundi mangngangaralan sa isa’t isa; at lalo na kung inyong namamalas na nalalapit na ang araw.”
Nais kitang anyayahan na minsa’y dumalo at makisamba sa
GOSPEL LIGHT BAPTIST CHURCH
23 Matahimik St.
Cor. V. Luna Extension near Kalayaan Ave.
Barangay Malaya, Diliman Quezon City
Church Services
Sunday Morning Service: 10 AM
Evening Service: 6 PM
Wednesday Prayer Meeting: 7PM
Pauwi na sana kami matapos maglibot ng umagang iyon nang maisipan ng aming kaibigang ahente na ituro sa amin ang isa pang loteng kanyang iniaalok…
At hayun siya, isang puno na halos walang buhay, tuyot at sinalanta ng maraming taon ng pagiging tapunan at sunugan ng basura. Isang ulilang punong nakatindig sa harap ng bakanteng lote na siya palang aming magiging “lupang pangako”.
Ngunit nang sisimulan na ng inhinyero na isakatuparan ang magandang plano ng arkitekto, napag-alaman nilang ang punong narra bukod sa hindi kalugud-lugod pagmasdan nang mga panahong yaon ay nagiging sagabal pa sa nakaplanong driveway. Gayunman, ipinagbabawal ang pagputol ng mga punong kahoy lalo pa kung narra at walang pahintulot sa kinauukulan.
Hindi naging matahimik ang mga gabing nagdaan para sa amin ni Dan, naroon ang aming matinding kasabikan na simulan na ang aming bahay upang hindi abutan ng tag-ulan ang mga nakahandang materyales. Naroon ding nakatindig sa aming isip ang larawan ng kawawang punong yaon na para bang nagpipilit mangunyapit sa kakarampot na puwang ng lupa at nagsusumamong igalang ang kanyang karapatang mabuhay.
Sa wakas, nakuha niyang baguhin ang buong plano ng aming bahay upang mabigyang katuparan ang marahil ay mas malawak na hangarin ng Lumikha.
Ilang buwan matapos ang umaatikabong gawaan, ang bahay namin ay naitayo, napintahan at nalinis ang buong bakuran. At isang araw ng Pebrero ng sumunod na taon napansin namin ang kakaibang anyo ng punong narra sa gilid ng aming driveway. Mabulas na lumagpas pa ang taas sa aming bubungan. Makulay na ngayon ang mga dahon sa mga malalabay na sangang parang nagpipilit abutin ang pisngi ng langit.
Nakalipat na kami ni Dan sa aming bagong tahanan at bihirang araw ang hindi ko ipinagpapasalamat sa Maykapal dahil sa aming tahanan, na nagmula sa kaniya, at sa puno ng narra; lalo na sa mahinhing lagaslas ng kanyang mga dahon na iniuugoy ng hangin; sa mga awit baga o huni kaya ng mga nagkakatuwaang kulisap na sa kanya’y naninirahan; o sa malamig na lilim na inilulukob niya sa amin o inihahandog niya sa sinumang nakikisilong dahil sa init ng araw o sa malamig na patak ng ulan.
Minsan ako’y isang punong narra rin na uhaw sa kaluwalhatiang espiritwal: Mga Taga Roma 3:10, 23 “Walang matuwid, wala,,,wala kahit isa. Sapagka’t walang pagkakaiba: sapagka’t ang lahat ay nangagkasala, at hindi nangakaabot sa kaluwalhatian ng Diyos.” Ako’y isang kaluluwang natuyo sa walang katapusang apoy.
Ang maksalanang katulad ko’y walang puwang sa langit at hindi ako maliligtas kung sa sariling kakayahan ko lang. Mga taga Epeso 2:8, 9 “Sapagka’t sa biyaya kayo’y nangaligtas sa pamamagitan ng pananampalataya; at ito’y hindi sa inyong sarili, ito’y kaloob ng Dios; Hindi sa pamamagitan ng mga gawa, upang ang sinoman ay huwag magmapuri”
Ngunit gayunma’y napakabanal na biyaya “…sapagkat ang kabayaran ng kasalanan ay kamatayan; datapuwa’t ang kaloob na walang bayad ng Dios ay buhay na walang hanggan kay Cristo Jesus na Panginoon natin.” (Taga Roma 6:23)
Mga ilang taon na sa pamamagitan ng isang Bible Club ay napag-alaman ko ang gayong dakilang handog: “Sapagkat gayon na lamang ang pag-ibig ng Diyos sa sanlibutan na ibinigay niya ang kanyang tanging Anak, upang ang sinumang sa kanya’y sumampalataya ay huwag mapahamak kundi magkaroon ng buhay na walang hanggan.” (Juan 3:16)Tinawagan ko Siya, ikinumpisal ko ang aking mga pagkakasala at inangkin ko ang aking kaligtasan…”Sapagkat ang lahat ng nagsitawag sa pangalan ng Panginoon ay mangaliligtas.” (Taga Roma 10:13) Iniligtas ng Dios ang aking kaluluwa at nasok si Hesus sa aking puso!
“Aking hinintay na may pagtitiis ang Panginoon; At siya’y kumiling sa akin, at dininig ang aking daing.
Isinampa naman niya ako mula sa isang kakilakilabot na balon, mula sa balahong malagkit; at itinuntong niya ang aking mga paa sa isang malaking bato, at itinatag ang aking mga paglakad.
At siya’y naglagay ng bagong awit sa aking bibig, samakatuwid bagay pagpuri sa aming Dios:
Marami ang mangakakakita at mangatatakot, at magsisitiwala sa Panginoon”
Mga Awit 40:1- 3
Mula noon, nanagana ako tulad ng aming punong narra, sa pangangalaga ng Panginoon…Hindi ako naging masagana sa lahat ng pagkakataon ngunit pinahahalagahan ng Dios ang maliliit kong ipinamalas (I Samuel 2:30)
“Pasasakdalin ng Panginoon ang tungkol sa akin; Ang iyong kagandahang-loob, Oh Panginoon, ay magpakailan man; Huwag mong pababayaan ang ang mga gawa ng iyong sariling kamay.”
Mga Awit 138:8
Siya ang puno ng ubas ako ay sanga lamang ngunit hanggang ako’y nananatili sa kanya, sa pamamagitan ng kaniyang lakas, ako’y nagbubunga ng marami “pagkat kung ako’y hiwalay sa Kanya, wala akong magagawa.” (John 15:5)
Mga mahal kong Kaibigan, mataos akong nagmamalasakit sa inyo at mahal tayo ng Dios nang higit sa isang punong narra. Nagpapahayag ang Dios ngayon sa atin sa Apocalipsis 3:20 “Narito ako’y nakatayo sa pintuan at tumutuktok: kung ang sinoman ay duminig ng aking tinig at magbukas ng pinto, ako’y papasok sa kaniya, at hahapong kasalo niya, ay siya’y kasalo ko.”
Kung tinatanggap mo si Kristo sa iyong puso ngayon, magiging mabuti ka pa kay sa aming punong narra, malaon ko nang natuklasan yon at ginawa. Tatanggapin mo ba kaya ang alok ng kaligtasan ngayon?
“At siya’y magiging parang punong kahoy na itinanim sa siping ng mga agos ng tubig. Na nagbubunga sa kaniyang kapanahunan, Ang kaniyang dahon nama’y hindi malalanta; At anomang kaniyang gawin ay giginhawa,”
Mga Awit 1:3
Upang magkaroon ng personal na relasyon kay Kristo, sinunod ko lamang ang kaniyang sinabi…Kinilala ko ang ikinumpisal ko sa kanya na ako ay isang makasalanan. Pinasalamatan ko ang Dios sa ibinigay niyang anak na namatay sa krus dahil sa aking mga kasalanan at tinanggap ko Siya sa aking puso bilang aking Panginoon at tagapagligtas.
Simula ng ako’y maligtas, ikinital sa akin ng Panginoon ang kahalagahan ng pakikisalamuha sa aking mga kapwa sumasampalataya.
Ang Hebreo 10:23 ay naguudyok sa atin na:
“Na ating ingatang matibay ang pagkakilala ng ating pagasa upang huwag mag-aalinlangan: sapagka’t tapat ang nangako: At tayo’y mangagtinginan upang tayo’y manga-udyok sa pag-iibigan at mabubuting gawa: Na huwag nating pababayaan ang ating pagkakatipon, na gaya ng ugali ng iba, kundi mangngangaralan sa isa’t isa; at lalo na kung inyong namamalas na nalalapit na ang araw.”
Nais kitang anyayahan na minsa’y dumalo at makisamba sa
GOSPEL LIGHT BAPTIST CHURCH
23 Matahimik St.
Cor. V. Luna Extension near Kalayaan Ave.
Barangay Malaya, Diliman Quezon City
Church Services
Sunday Morning Service: 10 AM
Evening Service: 6 PM
Wednesday Prayer Meeting: 7PM
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
ABIDING, THE KEY TO JOYOUS LIVING
CHRIST, THE SOURCE OF TRUE JOY
I woke up one morning at 3AM from a fitful sleep triggered by thoughts of a lady I had been dealing with the night before--I will refer to her as Martha. I woke up frustrated because of my inability to help her for she has had the same recurring problem on and off for many years. Having been busy with work the last couple of days didn't help, and I thought I was particularly impatient with her as she once more recounted her bitter tales and woes. I woke up thinking of her, praying that she would have victory over her hurts and bitterness because unless she does, she'll never have the fullness of joy that God promised to her as a believer.
"That your joy might be full" Christ's words rang in my ears as I continued to ponder. When I thought of how her joy had been even less than half full the past twenty years almost—I thought of how sad it is, and I prayed in my heart "Lord, how can I help her find joy?"
TRUE JOY TO THOSE WHO ABIDE
Joy In The Midst Of Trials
Where does a person's joy reside? I remember speaking on the topic of A HEALTHY HAPPY HEART in 2006 to a group of ladies from several churches during which we went through some biblically based principles by which we can go by. A few months after that, the Lord allowed a series of physical, emotional and spiritual trials to happen to me that put my gleanings to test. I survived that tough, unhappy and dark period of my life realizing that in the end, it made me understand and appreciate the principles I taught more fully -- that true joy comes when testing is endured in Christ. Ps. 119:92 says "Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction."
One can speak of the various steps that God gives and encourages us with to have a cheerful healthy heart in the Lord, but never really know what it means until our joy is tried—like mine had been, and this lady now. When my father got seriously ill back then, when trouble came, when I myself got sick and disheartened physically, spiritually… how did I "get my joy back"? The Lord nudged me, at three in the morning, to remind me that the joy has always been there! I realized as well that joy was never made full until I came to terms with it, that the beginning and end of it IS CHRIST. "The joy of the Lord is your strength"… because Christ lives in my heart, I have no excuse for not being joyful!
Why did Martha never have the victory over her self-pity and wounded heart? It's because she's never known and really relied on Christ enough. We cannot love the unloving…we cannot do good to those who have hurt us… we cannot give bread, turn the other cheek, nor go the second mile with someone who has been unkind, unloving, abusive and hurtful to us—on our own strength alone. Rom 5:6 says "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly but (Php 4:13) "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." John 15:5 says "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." If I abide, stay, continue, and remain— IN CHRIST, I will bear fruit. I suppose that includes the fruit of the Spirit.
TRUE JOY IS FOUND IN BEING DEPENDENT UPON CHRIST
John 15:6 says " If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered."
I remember asking a friend of mine to transplant a small palm tree from a corner of our garden to a big clay pot on our porch. I was saddened by what I saw three days later, my beautiful palm tree had shriveled, dried up, and later died. I made a mistake by removing it from its rich fertile home to a less favorable ground. If we are not careful, we will end up like that palm tree and like this lady who was overtaken by hurts and wounded feelings, winding up later with a shriveled and dried up spirit that has slowly pined away in bitterness. No Christian can ever bear fruit--have joy, love the unlovable and those that act unloving, if they do not abide in Him. Through the years, I have observed once cheerful spirited Christians get overwhelmed by bitterness so much that they slowly wither in spirit and their physique, sadly deteriorates with it. Proverbs 23:7 says "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:" As a person dwells on the fact that she is unappreciated and unloved—the more she becomes unappreciative, unloving and difficult to love. ABIDING AND HAVING JOY CANNOT STAND APART FROM THE OTHER. This ought to serve as a warning because we can fall into the same PIT and ROT in the same RUT.
JOY THROUGH PRAYER
John 15:7 says " If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."
This verse is not some magic phrase that you say out loud and poof, you get your wish. It is, however, a step by step process that outlines for believers the key to answered prayer, and that is "ASK ACCORDING TO HIS WILL". No, I did not misread the verse; however, if we read it carefully we begin to understand that the more we abide in Christ and allow His Words to abide in us, the more we find ourselves asking according to what we know (have read in His Word) will be acceptable to Him and thus the greater possibility of an answer to prayer.
Martha, whom I have counseled with, claims she's prayed, she's tried, and done all she can to do what is right and to be loving. She however admits reaching her limit when it comes to turning the other cheek. She finds it harder and harder to continue to do good to her "unappreciative" family, to go the second mile (suffering inwardly), and giving bread (many times her own food literally to them), and yet has not had success or victory. THAT IS THE PROBLEM—WE CANNOT DO IT ON OUR OWN—it is not natural for the flesh to do good or what is right or loving. Romans 7:18 says "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not." Then again, I CAN DO ALL: keep on being patient, loving and forgiving, THROUGH CHRIST'S STRENGTH ALONE! WHEN WE FAIL IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT BEEN VIGILANT IN FOLLOWING THE FORMULA—that of relying on God and not on self. John 15:7 says" If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." There is no quick way to a JOYFUL LIFE, to a forgiving heart, to victory over bitterness. We do not wake up one day and say "I'm bitter free"… "I've a joyful heart." There is no sure way to have victory but God's way.
JOY, THE FRUIT OF LOVING
I came home that night angry at myself, feeling helpless with Martha, and exhausted from hearing the same complaint and heartache, over and over and over again. I woke up that morning from a punctured sleep thinking "when will it be over?" and feeling at a loss on how to help her. I sat an hour later being thankful because the Lord reminded me of the way by which I can "handle" this Martha and how she can "handle" her problems. How? The answer is "I cannot and she cannot—on our own."
John 15:4 says "Abide in me, and I in you (stay, remain, continue in Him) as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me." Why do we go around the world, go about our work, heavy laden from carrying the weight of our hurts and sorrows when God has said in Mat 11:28, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." We come, but we do not take His word and do what it says. We LEAN, but we do not LEARN that it is only in losing our lives that we find it, in giving up of our pride that we find joy that will remain. TRUE REST is elusive to anyone who goes about doing things on their own strength, to one who refuses to come to Christ and live his life in His (Christ's) terms and not theirs. Though they claim to be doing things through Christ, they DENY Him in their very actions, in their lack of forgiveness and love. "FOR WITHOUT ME YE CAN DO NOTHING," Without Christ, if I am not abiding in Him and allowing His Words to abide in me day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute (if needed), actively going back to scripture, meditating therein day and night, finding verses to help one's heart attitude to rebuke one's unruly spirit, again and again—then Martha, nor I or anybody else will ever find healing for their wounded hearts and consequently never experience true joy that has been promised to one who remains in Christ.
Hebrews 4:16 says "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." He who DOES NOT ABIDE in CHRIST CANNOT LOVE, forgive, go the second mile with anyone effectively. If Martha does not abide in Christ, allow His words to abide in her, then she will not bear the fruit of a loving heart. I know by experience that it is no easy formula for it runs contrary to the flesh, yet it is tested, sure, and the outcome guaranteed.
Abiding, the Key to Loving
Abiding enables us to continue in love. John 15:7, 9 says "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love." Continue, not in our finite, "self-ish" love, but in His. CONTINUE is the same word as abide. Abide, endure, and remain in Him, in His love. This is where we fail--we fail to CONTINUE IN LOVE.
What is TRUE LOVE? 1 Corinthians 13 aptly describes it as follows:
Suffereth long
Is kind
Envieth not
Vaunteth not itself
Is not puffed up
Doth not behave itself unseemly
Seeketh not her own
Is not easily provoked
Thinketh no evil
Rejoiceth not in iniquity (of other's or one's own)
Rejoiceth in the truth
Beareth all things
Believeth all things
Endureth all things
Never faileth
Continuing In His Love that our JOY may be FULL
John 15:10 says "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love." It will be difficult to abide in His love if we're not keeping His commandments. And we cannot do it on our own but only through Christ which strengtheneth us. Some literally HIDE His Words in their hearts though and keep it so well HIDDEN that it's never translated in actions.
The answer to my inability in helping Martha, and Martha's own helplessness is not simple but can be found and made easier through full surrender to Him who has spoken these words: John 15:12 says "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you." It requires full obedience to His terms and not our own; in this case, loving with God's love and not with our finite, conditional love.
I need to continue to be patient and loving towards Martha, pointing her to Christ instead of pointing out her sin. Luke 6:41,42 says "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye."
Like all of us, Martha needs to abide more and more (remain continually) in Christ each day and (Joshua 1:8) not allow the "law to depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein" Then and only then will I and anybody else, have success "for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." This includes continuing in love and forgiveness, though (2Co 12:15) "the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved."
ABIDING JOY
Abiding, the Key to Restoring Your Joy
Are you an "Under-Joyed" Saint? John 15:11 says "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." Many a modern day saint goes about their life not having even half the joy that God has promised to them because their hearts are not even half full with His Words; often it is too full of one's hang-ups, leaving not much room for His Word. John 16:22 says "And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." Martha is literally in sorrow, not because she lost Christ, but because she has not kept guard and has therefore allowed Satan, through these people, to "take her joy away from her."
We all, like her, need to live each day as Hebrews 12 says "LOOKING UNTO JESUS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH." Jesus who, "for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God… Wherefore (because many are observing our lives) … let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."
Abiding In His Love, the Key to Abiding Joy
… In Him Abiding
Hebrews 12 vs.3 says to "consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." Are you fainting from your trials and temptations, sorrows and discouragements? It ought not to be so. Vs. 4 says "Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin… despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him… for whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth"
In vs. 11 we find, "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward (if YE YIELD to CHRIST, ABIDE in HIM) it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." If we yield unto His trials, enduring the difficulties in His strength, then we will eventually have success and bear the fruit of AGAPE love that enables us to forbear and to overcome bitterness.
… In Him Life Lasting Joy
Vs. 12 says " Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees." Am I, Martha, or are you allowing someone to take your joy from you? We will see Him again, and we shall rejoice, and no man will take our joy. We see Him now through His word. Are we abiding in Him? Are His words abiding in us ("Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee")? Are these words being translated into actions, righteous acts towards others?
Has someone or something taken your joy from you? Come to Christ that your joy may be made full! Psalm 16:11 says "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."
/ipb062709
Thursday, September 17, 2009
MISSIONS CONFERENCE 2009
It seemed that the day started wrong--rain was falling hard and there was a threat of storm according to the morning news. “God is in control,” my husband Dan and I kept rehearsing the words, and true enough as we got close to church the rain started abating. By lunch time God allowed the sun to peek through the dark clouds.
It was a blessing to get reacquainted with our existing missionaries and to get to know the new ones, be personally updated with their ministry, hear of their triumphs in Christ and learn of their needs. Since the church is now supporting about 40 missionaries, we are only able to have them for the Missions Conference once every five years.
From the “mouth of babes” our children’s choir, we heard different verses and missionary quotes that warmed and convicted our hearts. Regarding the importance of missions, the Singles’ Group dramatized the life of Pastor Eric Garcia as a missionary in Kalinga and the risks he went through to present the word of God to the mountain tribes. The choir reinforced the challenges from the pulpit through the songs they sang: Bring Them In, Give Me a Heart, and Christ for the World We Sing. We were blest by Sister Murillo’s testimony and were exhorted by God’s word during the preaching services by Pastor Castillo who preached on “The Vastness and Abundance of Harvest” expounding on Matthew 9:35-38 and Pastor Espinol’s “A Heart for Ministry” focusing on Romans 10. Later through the week, the blessings kept pouring in as Pastor Balila spoke on “Whatsoever Ye Do” (1 Cor.10:31); Pastor Arana on “I Am not Ashamed” (Rom.1:16); Pastor Cayat “An Effective Voluntary Ministry” (1 Cor. 9:15-27); Pastor Fabro “Paul’s Triumphant Testimony” (2 Tim. 4:4-6); tonight we will hear Pastor Elupre speak on “Volunteers must be people of priority” (Matthew 28:16-20) and Pastor Dinampo “The People had the mind to work” (Nehemiah 4:6).
“A VOLUNTEER FOR JESUS” is this year’s Missions Conference theme. I appreciated the way Pastor Gilbert opened the service, he emphasized that there are those who are “called,” and yet God also accepts and cherishes those who VOLUNTEER. Isaiah 6:8 “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” Words that are not so easy to say considering the difficulties involved. I praise the Lord for all missionaries who have heeded the call and have gone where I could not. I thank God that somehow we can become partakers of their fruit when we pray for them and share what little we can give.
As we stood, sometimes served, sang, and occasionally sat to rest— Dan and I couldn’t help but thank the Lord as well, for those in GLBC who volunteered time, talent and treasure for our missionaries. What we could no longer do, someone else in church has volunteered and lovingly done. It was an extra treat to behold all of these. Yes Lord, “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace” and how beautiful also were the hands of thy people I thought, as they served these men and women of beautiful feet!
Let me end with excerpts from Sunday’s choir specials:
“Who’ll go and help this Shepherd kind, Help Him the wandering ones to find:
Who’ll bring the lost ones to the fold? Where they’ll be sheltered from the cold.”
Give me a heart that is tender; Give me a heart that will pray
Give me a heart that will give, will go-- Give me a heart that will humbly obey.
“Christ for the world we sing, the world to Christ we bring”
May the Lord continue to give His word free course and may we freely allow Him to course it through us.
It was a blessing to get reacquainted with our existing missionaries and to get to know the new ones, be personally updated with their ministry, hear of their triumphs in Christ and learn of their needs. Since the church is now supporting about 40 missionaries, we are only able to have them for the Missions Conference once every five years.
From the “mouth of babes” our children’s choir, we heard different verses and missionary quotes that warmed and convicted our hearts. Regarding the importance of missions, the Singles’ Group dramatized the life of Pastor Eric Garcia as a missionary in Kalinga and the risks he went through to present the word of God to the mountain tribes. The choir reinforced the challenges from the pulpit through the songs they sang: Bring Them In, Give Me a Heart, and Christ for the World We Sing. We were blest by Sister Murillo’s testimony and were exhorted by God’s word during the preaching services by Pastor Castillo who preached on “The Vastness and Abundance of Harvest” expounding on Matthew 9:35-38 and Pastor Espinol’s “A Heart for Ministry” focusing on Romans 10. Later through the week, the blessings kept pouring in as Pastor Balila spoke on “Whatsoever Ye Do” (1 Cor.10:31); Pastor Arana on “I Am not Ashamed” (Rom.1:16); Pastor Cayat “An Effective Voluntary Ministry” (1 Cor. 9:15-27); Pastor Fabro “Paul’s Triumphant Testimony” (2 Tim. 4:4-6); tonight we will hear Pastor Elupre speak on “Volunteers must be people of priority” (Matthew 28:16-20) and Pastor Dinampo “The People had the mind to work” (Nehemiah 4:6).
“A VOLUNTEER FOR JESUS” is this year’s Missions Conference theme. I appreciated the way Pastor Gilbert opened the service, he emphasized that there are those who are “called,” and yet God also accepts and cherishes those who VOLUNTEER. Isaiah 6:8 “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” Words that are not so easy to say considering the difficulties involved. I praise the Lord for all missionaries who have heeded the call and have gone where I could not. I thank God that somehow we can become partakers of their fruit when we pray for them and share what little we can give.
As we stood, sometimes served, sang, and occasionally sat to rest— Dan and I couldn’t help but thank the Lord as well, for those in GLBC who volunteered time, talent and treasure for our missionaries. What we could no longer do, someone else in church has volunteered and lovingly done. It was an extra treat to behold all of these. Yes Lord, “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace” and how beautiful also were the hands of thy people I thought, as they served these men and women of beautiful feet!
Let me end with excerpts from Sunday’s choir specials:
“Who’ll go and help this Shepherd kind, Help Him the wandering ones to find:
Who’ll bring the lost ones to the fold? Where they’ll be sheltered from the cold.”
Give me a heart that is tender; Give me a heart that will pray
Give me a heart that will give, will go-- Give me a heart that will humbly obey.
“Christ for the world we sing, the world to Christ we bring”
May the Lord continue to give His word free course and may we freely allow Him to course it through us.
Monday, April 13, 2009
MAX
We called him Max, short for a famous coffee brand Maxwell, because Dan and I loved coffee and Max was as black as a freshly made brew. He was a rottweiller, just a month old when we got him from a friend. As he grew older and bigger, it was evident that although people feared him, he truly was just a ‘puppy at heart’ that got a little older every year. He can be tough and ferocious when he wanted to, his booming bark scaring the wits out of the garbage collector one time when he escaped and causing the bill collector to miss a step or two, when given a Max surprise attack. With us however, a long “Maaaxiii” call will send him scurrying to our feet, hurriedly sitting, lying down and rolling over so he could get a pat and a tummy rub. It wasn’t hard to give.
We called him Max, short for a famous coffee brand Maxwell, because Dan and I loved coffee and Max was as black as a freshly made brew. He was a rottweiller, just a month old when we got him from a friend. As he grew older and bigger, it was evident that although people feared him, he truly was just a ‘puppy at heart’ that got a little older every year. He can be tough and ferocious when he wanted to, his booming bark scaring the wits out of the garbage collector one time when he escaped and causing the bill collector to miss a step or two, when given a Max surprise attack. With us however, a long “Maaaxiii” call will send him scurrying to our feet, hurriedly sitting, lying down and rolling over so he could get a pat and a tummy rub. It wasn’t hard to give.
It was the Easter holiday and no business establishments were open so that when we noticed Max looking kinda sick, I was hoping that he would shake it off like any other illness he got. It was the morning after Easter when I noticed his heavy and fast breathing that was usually a sign of acid building up from a generalized infection. He tried to get up when I patted and called him and when he finally did, it turned out that he used up his last ounce of energy. I tried to give a little bit of first aid, a little oral hydration and medication, but it was too late. He succumbed too fast. I watched him helplessly as he took his last breath. We eventually had to wrap him up, and as we did, I couldn’t help but cry over poor Max. I grieved at how he suffered and I cried over my neglect, but my cries were too late. I should have done what I could while he was still alive. I had lost my chance.
It was then at that moment the thought came: How many of my loved ones, my family and friends, have I known to be aching and needing comfort and care? How many of them are in need of God’s Word yet I haven’t shared it with them enough and as often as I could? The Lord spoke to my heart-- if I could cry like so over my poor dog, how about my loved ones—my family and friends that I care so much more about and love so deeply?
Man is plagued by a spiritual illness to which I have found a cure, a cure that has brought me joys untold but have I done my best to impart it? Have I really tried? How long do I wait before I tell them? I pray I won’t wait ‘til it’s too late.
“How many are the lost that I have lifted
How many are the chained I’ve helped to free
I wonder have I done my best for Jesus
When he has done so much for me.”
Act 4:29 “And now, Lord … grant unto thy servant, that with all boldness (I) may speak thy word”
Phil 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
These notes came from a message I taught at a ladies seminar a couple of years ago, may it be a blessing to all:
FINDING YOURSELF FEELING LOW?? HAVE A PLAN! NIP & THANK & SING! Nip the unhappy thought in the bud and start counting your blessings… then next thing you know, you'll be SINGING!
Learn to GO BACK TO THE BASICS. If medicine has its ABC's of CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) the Bible has what I call the ABCs of SPIRITUAL RESUSCITATION. May your souls be revived through this plan.
A - ALLOW God to speak to you through READING and MEDITATING on His word.
*To have a HEALTHY HAPPY HEART: EAT & DRINK
(O taste and see, God's word IS GOOD!) & REST RIGHT (on the Lord)!
B - BELIEVING His Word to be true (taking God at his Word!!)
My dearest Godly, level headed husband Dan, once gave me a poster that read
"Worrying is like sitting in a rocking chair. It gives you something to do – but it doesn't get you anywhere!" How true!
*To have a HEALTHY HAPPY HEART: THINK RIGHT! "
C - COMMUNICATING with Him through PRAYER at all times, making sure to CONFESS SINS.
*To have a HEALTHY HAPPY HEART: PRAY RIGHT!
We of course need to also D - DO what His Word says!
*To have a HEALTHY HAPPY HEART: DO RIGHT!
E - EXALT Him (doing all for his Glory!).
F - FELLOWSHIP WITH BELIEVERS and G - GO
The Bible is our Spiritual Life Policy, we will know and get our BENEFITS as we regularly read and study it carefully. (Joshua 1:8)
"Although precariously perched
Atop life's turbulent seas
My heart sits calm and is at rest.
Life's alarms and terrors cease
Not a thing my peace can seize--
I'm safe, within my Father's breast!" ~ipb
"That the trial of your faith… might be found unto the praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ… whom having not seen, ye love… YE REJOICE WITH JOY UNSPEAKABLE and full of glory." (1Peter 1:7 – 8)
MY NEVER AGAIN LIST
It was August 1, 1989 and I was succumbing to unhappy thoughts. I was in the last leg of my Medical Board Exam review and was getting insecure of classmates who seem to be far advanced in their studies and I was also getting anxious at the thought of the exam that loomed ahead; I was also beset by personal problems. The Lord brought great comfort through this list that a dear friend and prayer warrior, Ms. Brenda Garren, gave me months before that day. May it do the same for you.
MY NEVER AGAIN LIST…
1st : Never again will I confess I CAN'T for
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
Philippians 4:13
2nd : Never again will I confess I LACK, for
"My God shall supply all of my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:19
3rd : Never again will I confess FEAR, for
"God hath not given me the spirit of fear, but of love and of a sound mind."
2 Timothy 1:7
4th : Never again will I confess DOUBT and lack of faith, for
"God hath given to every man the measure of faith."
Romans 12:3
5th : Never again will I confess WEAKNESS, for
"the Lord is the strength of my life…"Psalm 27:1… and
"the people that know their God shall be strong and do exploits."
Daniel 11:32
6TH : Never again will I confess DEFEAT, for
"God always causeth me to triumph in Christ Jesus."
2 Corinthians 2:14
7th : Never again will I confess WORRIES and FRUSTRATIONS, for I am
"Casting all my cares upon Him for He careth for me." 1 Peter 5:7
In Christ I am "CARE-FREE"
Thursday, January 8, 2009
If I may borrow some of J. Elliot's words:
"Only ONE LIFE, 'twil soon be past
and it's not WHO I have become BUT
ONLY WHAT'S DONE for CHRIST
that truly satisfies and LASTS!
It's been a blessed Christmas and I hope to find the time to write dear friends a decent letter. Am so thankful for those who have kept in touch throughout the year via updates and forwarded helpful emails. I truly look forward to them and have enjoyed reading it all.
"Only ONE LIFE, 'twil soon be past
and it's not WHO I have become BUT
ONLY WHAT'S DONE for CHRIST
that truly satisfies and LASTS!
It's been a blessed Christmas and I hope to find the time to write dear friends a decent letter. Am so thankful for those who have kept in touch throughout the year via updates and forwarded helpful emails. I truly look forward to them and have enjoyed reading it all.
It's my prayer that Christmas celebration was blest by the love of family and friends as ours was. I sincerely wish all a familiar yet very true, blessings from God this coming year:
"success and prosperity" and "great peace"
These are wishes that I know will come true for those who:
~love God's word and have not allowed God's law to depart from their mouth,
~whose meditated in His word day and night,
~and have been, and are careful, to do all that is written therein!
John 8:29 is one of the special verses that challenged me at the beginning of this year: "For I do always those things that please Him"
May we continue our new walk in Christ, doing all that pleases Him.
"success and prosperity" and "great peace"
These are wishes that I know will come true for those who:
~love God's word and have not allowed God's law to depart from their mouth,
~whose meditated in His word day and night,
~and have been, and are careful, to do all that is written therein!
John 8:29 is one of the special verses that challenged me at the beginning of this year: "For I do always those things that please Him"
May we continue our new walk in Christ, doing all that pleases Him.
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