Thursday, December 23, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Wholly Thine
I would be, dear Savior, wholly Thine;
Teach me how, teach me how;
I would do Thy will, O Lord, not mine;
Help me, help me now.
Teach me how, teach me how;
I would do Thy will, O Lord, not mine;
Help me, help me now.
Refrain
Wholly Thine, wholly Thine,
Wholly Thine, this is my vow;
Wholly Thine, wholly Thine,
Wholly Thine, O Lord, just now.
Wholly Thine, this is my vow;
Wholly Thine, wholly Thine,
Wholly Thine, O Lord, just now.
What is worldly pleasure, wealth or fame,
Without Thee, without Thee?
I will leave them all for Thy dear Name,
This my wealth shall be.
Without Thee, without Thee?
I will leave them all for Thy dear Name,
This my wealth shall be.
Refrain
As I cast earth’s transient joys behind,
Come Thou near, come Thou near;
In Thy presence all in all I find,
’Tis my comfort here.
Come Thou near, come Thou near;
In Thy presence all in all I find,
’Tis my comfort here.
Refrain
words and music by Franklin E. Belden, 1886
listen to a midi of this song and others through here.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Nothing More Invincible
(this was today's morning devotion, and i i love it.)
The Christian life is a life of constant conflict. It is a battle and a march. Every act of obedience, every deed of self-denial, every trial bravely endured, every temptation resisted, every victory gained, is a step forward in the march to eternal triumph.
There is hope for man. Christ says, "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne" (Revelation 3:21). But let us never forget that the efforts we make in our own strength are utterly worthless. Our strength is weakness; our judgment foolishness. Only in the name and strength of our Conqueror can we conquer. When we are pressed with temptation, when un-christlike desires clamor for the mastery, let us offer fervent, importunate prayer to the heavenly Father, in the name of Christ. This will bring divine aid. In the Redeemer's name we may gain the victory.
As, seeing the sinfulness of sin, we fall helpless before the cross, asking forgiveness and strength, our prayer is heard and answered. Those who present their petitions to God in Christ's name will never be turned away. The Lord says, "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37). "He will regard the prayer of the destitute" (Psalm 102:17). Our help comes from Him who holds all things in His hands. The peace that He sends is the assurance of His love to us.
Nothing can be more helpless and yet more invincible than the soul that feel its nothingness, and relies wholly upon the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. God would send every angel in heaven to the aid of the one who places his whole dependence on Christ, rather than allow him to be overcome.
If we accept Christ as our Guide, He will lead us safely along the narrow way. The road may be rough and thorny, and the ascent steep and dangerous; there may be pitfalls on the right hand and on the left. When weary and longing for rest, we may have to toil on; when faint, we may have to fight; but with Christ as our guide, we shall not fail of reaching heaven.--Signs of the Times, Oct. 29, 1902.
Ellen G. White
Ye Shall Receive Power
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:57.
1 Corinthians 15:57.
The Christian life is a life of constant conflict. It is a battle and a march. Every act of obedience, every deed of self-denial, every trial bravely endured, every temptation resisted, every victory gained, is a step forward in the march to eternal triumph.
There is hope for man. Christ says, "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne" (Revelation 3:21). But let us never forget that the efforts we make in our own strength are utterly worthless. Our strength is weakness; our judgment foolishness. Only in the name and strength of our Conqueror can we conquer. When we are pressed with temptation, when un-christlike desires clamor for the mastery, let us offer fervent, importunate prayer to the heavenly Father, in the name of Christ. This will bring divine aid. In the Redeemer's name we may gain the victory.
As, seeing the sinfulness of sin, we fall helpless before the cross, asking forgiveness and strength, our prayer is heard and answered. Those who present their petitions to God in Christ's name will never be turned away. The Lord says, "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37). "He will regard the prayer of the destitute" (Psalm 102:17). Our help comes from Him who holds all things in His hands. The peace that He sends is the assurance of His love to us.
Nothing can be more helpless and yet more invincible than the soul that feel its nothingness, and relies wholly upon the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. God would send every angel in heaven to the aid of the one who places his whole dependence on Christ, rather than allow him to be overcome.
If we accept Christ as our Guide, He will lead us safely along the narrow way. The road may be rough and thorny, and the ascent steep and dangerous; there may be pitfalls on the right hand and on the left. When weary and longing for rest, we may have to toil on; when faint, we may have to fight; but with Christ as our guide, we shall not fail of reaching heaven.--Signs of the Times, Oct. 29, 1902.
Ellen G. White
Ye Shall Receive Power
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
do not write about your pains
if it isn't about overcoming, do not write it. it will only immortalize the agony. write about the good stuff, think positive, think happy. happiness attracts happiness. the pain will pass, but only if you let it. so let it. do not dwell on it, do not think of it unless you can top the thought with a resolution to be happy.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8
write about the good stuff. tell stories of victory, of becoming a better and happier person, of learning, of the grace of God that is able to heal all brokenness (Psalm 147:3), of His strength that is able to succor (Philippians 4:13), of His love that covers even the darkest sins.
Talk of God. Talk of love. Overcome.
a god that you can fully comprehend doesn't deserve the awe
"But God is to be acknowledged more from what He does not reveal of Himself than from that which is open to our limited comprehension. Both in divine revelation and in nature, God has given to men mysteries to command their faith. This must be so. We may be ever searching, ever inquiring, ever learning, and yet there is an infinity beyond." 8T 261
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Press Together
"Press together; press together," are the words of our divine Instructor. Unity is strength; disunion is weakness and defeat. {CH 517.3}
Wednesday, November 03, 2010
love found
what i learned best from the recently-concluded camp meeting is that we do not love a person because he or she is lovable, but because the love of God is as a spring of water welling in our hearts, allowing us to love truly and deeply God and others and ourselves.
yes, we ought to love ourselves. the Bible does say, "love thy neighbor as thyself." Pastor Patrick Herbert of the Gilead Institute of America once said in a public meeting, "Do not allow yourself to be hurt unnecessarily." Jesus Christ has bought us with a price, even His own blood, so it's only right for us to take really good care of ourselves, and exert the same care for others. "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." (Philippians 2:4)
so as I am enabled to receive the love of God in my heart, i am learning to love myself and i am learning to share this very self with others so they too can share in the love that springs in God and flows through me.
and i am learning, too, to know and understand that this same love flows through him and her and them and you, that i must give and receive and give again.
in the end, it's true: God is love, love makes us one, love makes the world go round.
open your heart and let the love flow.
yes, we ought to love ourselves. the Bible does say, "love thy neighbor as thyself." Pastor Patrick Herbert of the Gilead Institute of America once said in a public meeting, "Do not allow yourself to be hurt unnecessarily." Jesus Christ has bought us with a price, even His own blood, so it's only right for us to take really good care of ourselves, and exert the same care for others. "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." (Philippians 2:4)
so as I am enabled to receive the love of God in my heart, i am learning to love myself and i am learning to share this very self with others so they too can share in the love that springs in God and flows through me.
and i am learning, too, to know and understand that this same love flows through him and her and them and you, that i must give and receive and give again.
in the end, it's true: God is love, love makes us one, love makes the world go round.
open your heart and let the love flow.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
The Immovable Object
you do have that in your life too, don't you? that something (or somethings) which you cannot push aside, pull out of the way, or lift, or break, or change, however hard you try.
the immovable object.
it sits there, most of the time right in the middle, horribly, stubbornly.
and it frustrates you.
one of my friends told me, "there are things you cannot change, what you do is work around them."
another says, "acceptance does it. you sit back and take what life gives you. maybe it's meant that way."
still another would say, "appreciate it for what it's worth."
but i think i found a better answer.
"A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light, and God appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might.
So, this the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down; his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all of his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.
Since the man was showing discouragement, the Adversary (Satan) decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the weary mind: "you have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn't moved." Thus, giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man.
Satan said, "Why kill yourself over this?" "Just put in your time, giving just the minimum effort; and that will be good enough." That's what he planned to do, but decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to the Lord.
"Lord," he said, "I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?"
The Lord responded compassionately, "My friend, when I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to Me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have.Yet you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. This you have done. Now I, my friend, will move the rock."
At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is just a simple obedience and faith in Him. By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who moves mountains.
Let God move it for you.
:D
---
story found in http://www.moytura.com/reflections/push.htm
the immovable object.
it sits there, most of the time right in the middle, horribly, stubbornly.
and it frustrates you.
one of my friends told me, "there are things you cannot change, what you do is work around them."
another says, "acceptance does it. you sit back and take what life gives you. maybe it's meant that way."
still another would say, "appreciate it for what it's worth."
but i think i found a better answer.
"A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light, and God appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might.
So, this the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down; his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all of his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.
Since the man was showing discouragement, the Adversary (Satan) decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the weary mind: "you have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn't moved." Thus, giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man.
Satan said, "Why kill yourself over this?" "Just put in your time, giving just the minimum effort; and that will be good enough." That's what he planned to do, but decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to the Lord.
"Lord," he said, "I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?"
The Lord responded compassionately, "My friend, when I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to Me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have.Yet you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. This you have done. Now I, my friend, will move the rock."
At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is just a simple obedience and faith in Him. By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who moves mountains.
Let God move it for you.
:D
---
story found in http://www.moytura.com/reflections/push.htm
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
How to Grow
It is the privilege of the young, as they grow in Jesus, to grow in spiritual grace and knowledge. We may know more and more of Jesus through an interested searching of the Scriptures, and then following the ways of truth and righteousness therein revealed. Those who are ever growing in grace will be steadfast in the faith, and moving forward. {AG 284.2}
There should be an earnest desire in the heart of every youth who has purposed to be a disciple of Jesus Christ to reach the highest Christian standard, to be a worker with Christ. If he makes it his aim to be of that number who shall be presented faultless before the throne of God, he will be continually advancing. The only way to remain steadfast is to progress daily in divine life. Faith will increase if, when brought in contact with doubts and obstacles, it overcomes them. True sanctification is progressive. If you are growing in grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ, you will improve every privilege and opportunity to gain more knowledge of the life and character of Christ. {AG 284.3}
Faith in Jesus will grow as you become better acquainted with your Redeemer by dwelling upon His spotless life and His infinite love. You cannot dishonor God more than to profess to be His disciple while you keep at a distance from Him, and are not fed and nourished by His Holy Spirit. When you are growing in grace, you will love to attend religious meetings, and you will gladly bear testimony of the love of Christ before the congregation. God, by His grace, can make the young man prudent, and He can give to the children knowledge and experience. They can grow in grace daily. {AG 284.4}
As long as we continue to keep our eyes fixed upon the Author and Finisher of our faith, we shall be safe. But our affections must be placed upon things above, not on things of the earth. By faith we must rise higher and still higher in the attainment of the graces of Christ. By daily contemplating His matchless charms, we must grow more and more into His glorious image. While we thus live in communion with Heaven, Satan will lay his nets for us in vain. {AG 284.5}
Ellen G. White
God's Amazing Grace
There should be an earnest desire in the heart of every youth who has purposed to be a disciple of Jesus Christ to reach the highest Christian standard, to be a worker with Christ. If he makes it his aim to be of that number who shall be presented faultless before the throne of God, he will be continually advancing. The only way to remain steadfast is to progress daily in divine life. Faith will increase if, when brought in contact with doubts and obstacles, it overcomes them. True sanctification is progressive. If you are growing in grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ, you will improve every privilege and opportunity to gain more knowledge of the life and character of Christ. {AG 284.3}
Faith in Jesus will grow as you become better acquainted with your Redeemer by dwelling upon His spotless life and His infinite love. You cannot dishonor God more than to profess to be His disciple while you keep at a distance from Him, and are not fed and nourished by His Holy Spirit. When you are growing in grace, you will love to attend religious meetings, and you will gladly bear testimony of the love of Christ before the congregation. God, by His grace, can make the young man prudent, and He can give to the children knowledge and experience. They can grow in grace daily. {AG 284.4}
As long as we continue to keep our eyes fixed upon the Author and Finisher of our faith, we shall be safe. But our affections must be placed upon things above, not on things of the earth. By faith we must rise higher and still higher in the attainment of the graces of Christ. By daily contemplating His matchless charms, we must grow more and more into His glorious image. While we thus live in communion with Heaven, Satan will lay his nets for us in vain. {AG 284.5}
Ellen G. White
God's Amazing Grace
Friday, October 15, 2010
"i think God is your cushion." -glorie lou pasa
(on the wonder of me being okay despite everything)
very true, glorie. very true.
very true, glorie. very true.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
time for change
To every [thing there is] a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up [that which is] planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace,
and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
Ecclesiastes 3:1-7
This passage has always owned a special place in my heart. It's the answer to the many many questions in my mind in and in my friends' minds.
Yesterday afternoon was that point in time where the old self and the need for a new one met. And the answer to the question "when?"' just sat there in our midst: now.
A time to pluck up that which is planted.
A time to lose. A time to cast away.
And a time to gather myself together, build up, sew.
A time to be born... again.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. John 3:6, 7
Thursday, October 07, 2010
What's In a Name?
a rose, they say, by any other name would smell as sweet. so what's in a name?
when i was younger i thought of words as very limiting. how they don't really say what you want them to say. growing older, i added that words are supposed to be limiting. they limit thought to the object being referred to. they operate by means of exclusion, excluding all other concepts except the concept in thought.
so what's in a name?
have you, like me, experienced the uncomfortable feeling of having someone not close to you call you by your nickname?
people call me lots of different names: Gladys, Glad, Glads, Glayds, Dys, Glai, Glay, Gly, Badat, Datens, Dat, Lalai, Bibi (what my lolo calls me), Bibing (what my aunt calls me), little sister, Bait, June (somehow i cannot yet warm to being called this).
and it always matters who calls me what. i'd be most uncomfortable if my former boss would call me Bibi or if my current co-workers would call me June.
it makes me realize that i am many different things to many people. in the same way that they are many different things to me and to other people.
sometimes, nothing so encapsulates what a person is to you more than his or her name.
in the Bible, for example, many characters lived up to their names.
we have Jacob whose name means supplanter. Jacob did supplant his brother by taking away his birthright. and Jacob was repaid with the same trickery when instead of Rachel, he was given Leah to wife.
there's Noah whose name means rest, comfort, or repose. wasn't the ark of Noah in a literal sense an ark of rest and comfort amidst the storm that raged upon earth as never was and never will be again?
then there's King Saul whose name means "prayed for."
the list goes on.
there are times when i find myself calling out a name again and again in the middle of a surge of sadness, and i realize now that there really is only one Name i ought to call on.
did you know? the name Jesus means "The Lord is our Salvation."
when i was younger i thought of words as very limiting. how they don't really say what you want them to say. growing older, i added that words are supposed to be limiting. they limit thought to the object being referred to. they operate by means of exclusion, excluding all other concepts except the concept in thought.
so what's in a name?
have you, like me, experienced the uncomfortable feeling of having someone not close to you call you by your nickname?
people call me lots of different names: Gladys, Glad, Glads, Glayds, Dys, Glai, Glay, Gly, Badat, Datens, Dat, Lalai, Bibi (what my lolo calls me), Bibing (what my aunt calls me), little sister, Bait, June (somehow i cannot yet warm to being called this).
and it always matters who calls me what. i'd be most uncomfortable if my former boss would call me Bibi or if my current co-workers would call me June.
it makes me realize that i am many different things to many people. in the same way that they are many different things to me and to other people.
sometimes, nothing so encapsulates what a person is to you more than his or her name.
in the Bible, for example, many characters lived up to their names.
we have Jacob whose name means supplanter. Jacob did supplant his brother by taking away his birthright. and Jacob was repaid with the same trickery when instead of Rachel, he was given Leah to wife.
there's Noah whose name means rest, comfort, or repose. wasn't the ark of Noah in a literal sense an ark of rest and comfort amidst the storm that raged upon earth as never was and never will be again?
then there's King Saul whose name means "prayed for."
the list goes on.
there are times when i find myself calling out a name again and again in the middle of a surge of sadness, and i realize now that there really is only one Name i ought to call on.
did you know? the name Jesus means "The Lord is our Salvation."
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Broken Hearts and Hands
Yesterday I got my heart broken… again. I found myself wishing for the old childhood cares - grade school heartbreaks and skinned knees.
That evening, like some divine joke (or wake-up call) I got not my knee but my finger wounded - almost broken actually, after it got caught in the car door. I blacked out for a while, hearing only the seemingly endless echo of the car door closing and my own scream. My only vivid sensation then were of the pain at the end of my left hand, the roughness against my forehead (which was the back of the driver's seat where I rested my head to get some sort of focus), and the smooth skin of Brian's neck against the fingers of my right hand (which had, of its own volition, reached around the driver's seat in the hope of conveying the message my tongue could not anymore: "Open the car door.").
Brian not only got the message and opened the door to release my fingers, when we arrived home he also got me glasses of hot and ice cold water in which to dip my fingers (not to mention helping in the soak by pushing my fingers into the water he insisted was not really that hot).
The pain eased and we were able to laugh at what happened.
Yet somehow, the hot and cold water treatment did not ease the pain in my chest, and I cried myself to sleep.
At devotional this morning, we talked about the need to let people know of their own mistakes, sharply if necessary, but always in love. I said, "the truth always hurts," and in a surge of wit added, "so do fingers caught in a car door." After the laughter died down, I continued to think of the truth that went on hurting me and I looked down at my still-hurting middle finger (the other two fingers had healed overnight).
Almost all of last night, I answered my own "whys" and "hows" and "what ifs" and I asked God for forgiveness and fortitude. The answers were all right, I know, but somehow they weren't enough.
Everything came into clearer perspective when after the devotional I went into the bathroom, thinking of broken hearts and hands, and I remembered this (from more than a year ago):
Then the lyrics to the old song, "And He died of a broken heart. It broke for you and me."
Suddenly, the heart and the hand didn't hurt that much anymore.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Lessons
We have many lessons to learn, and many, many to unlearn. God and heaven alone are infallible. Those who think that they will never have to give up a cherished view, never have occasion to change an opinion, will be disappointed. As long as we hold to our own ideas and opinions with determined persistency, we cannot have the unity for which Christ prayed. {CW 37.1}
pasalubong
i have no idea what the english term for pasalubong is. :)
yesterday, brian gave me a much-unexpected gift he brought home from his recent trip to valencia. it made me so happy. and giving it to me lifted away his [very] bad mood. so hurray to happiness!
moral of the story: the next time you feel bad about something, give someone a gift. :D
yesterday, brian gave me a much-unexpected gift he brought home from his recent trip to valencia. it made me so happy. and giving it to me lifted away his [very] bad mood. so hurray to happiness!
moral of the story: the next time you feel bad about something, give someone a gift. :D
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
my fifth grade garden
when i was in fifth grade, i did something i really thought would get me killed with a garden bolo.
our teacher had divided the class into groups and assigned each group a garden plot. we were instructed to plant whatever vegetable the group decides on, and on exam day he'll come to check the plants and grade us.
i don't remember what vegetable my group decided on, just that it was a leafy vine and it covered all of the three by ten feet of ground. of the group, one guy named Reli and i worked particularly hard on the garden. armed with bolos, we went to it each afternoon after classes, watered the vegetables, and pulled out weeds. soon, our vegetable and those of the nearby plots grew pretty healthy and nice-looking.
a few days before the teacher was set to come and inspect the garden, i was working alone on our plot and noticed how wonderfully fat the plants on the plot next to ours were. i talked with the classmate who tended them and she shared how easy it had been to grow the plants. i don't remember what kind of plants they were, not even what got into my head that gray afternoon. but i remember very clearly that i had pulled out our precious precious vine and planted in their place vegetables from that neighboring plot. and i remember going home much pleased.
imagine Reli's surprise and utter anger when he saw the garden the next day and saw, among the wonderful garden plots that belonged to classmates, our bald plot. all the years of my life before and after that incident, i have never seen anyone so mad at me. i can actually still see him bent over the plot, striking it again and again with his bolo. bits of soil flew in my direction along with a seemingly endless stream of "what were you thinking? the garden will be inspected in two days. what will we have to show, how clean our plot is? you are so stupid!"
call me silly. i actually had not thought about that till then. there was no way i could have grown the neighbor's wonderful plant on my own plot in just two days.
i don't remember how we got out of that one and how i managed to stay alive under Reli's glare. and i didn't recall this incident until a few days ago when i talked to the teens at church about building a character - the way you can't say "I'll change just before Jesus comes, and I'll choose Him when they persecute me, but for now let me be. I'm not exactly bad, y'know."
things like that need time, like planting a garden and growing a vegetable. you can choose to never leave your garden for two whole days, or even seven, watering constantly, pulling out weeds the exact moment they shoot up the ground, pleading with the plants to grow faster, but they won't. it just doesn't happen that way.
you've got to plant the seeds now, and come back to tend the garden day after day after day ever so patiently. growing plants and a good character takes time and effort. you can't plant your wonderful character just two days before Jesus comes. besides, the character you're choosing now will make you unfit to make that choice later.
occupy your soil today. choose Jesus now and every single day after.
our teacher had divided the class into groups and assigned each group a garden plot. we were instructed to plant whatever vegetable the group decides on, and on exam day he'll come to check the plants and grade us.
i don't remember what vegetable my group decided on, just that it was a leafy vine and it covered all of the three by ten feet of ground. of the group, one guy named Reli and i worked particularly hard on the garden. armed with bolos, we went to it each afternoon after classes, watered the vegetables, and pulled out weeds. soon, our vegetable and those of the nearby plots grew pretty healthy and nice-looking.
a few days before the teacher was set to come and inspect the garden, i was working alone on our plot and noticed how wonderfully fat the plants on the plot next to ours were. i talked with the classmate who tended them and she shared how easy it had been to grow the plants. i don't remember what kind of plants they were, not even what got into my head that gray afternoon. but i remember very clearly that i had pulled out our precious precious vine and planted in their place vegetables from that neighboring plot. and i remember going home much pleased.
imagine Reli's surprise and utter anger when he saw the garden the next day and saw, among the wonderful garden plots that belonged to classmates, our bald plot. all the years of my life before and after that incident, i have never seen anyone so mad at me. i can actually still see him bent over the plot, striking it again and again with his bolo. bits of soil flew in my direction along with a seemingly endless stream of "what were you thinking? the garden will be inspected in two days. what will we have to show, how clean our plot is? you are so stupid!"
call me silly. i actually had not thought about that till then. there was no way i could have grown the neighbor's wonderful plant on my own plot in just two days.
i don't remember how we got out of that one and how i managed to stay alive under Reli's glare. and i didn't recall this incident until a few days ago when i talked to the teens at church about building a character - the way you can't say "I'll change just before Jesus comes, and I'll choose Him when they persecute me, but for now let me be. I'm not exactly bad, y'know."
things like that need time, like planting a garden and growing a vegetable. you can choose to never leave your garden for two whole days, or even seven, watering constantly, pulling out weeds the exact moment they shoot up the ground, pleading with the plants to grow faster, but they won't. it just doesn't happen that way.
you've got to plant the seeds now, and come back to tend the garden day after day after day ever so patiently. growing plants and a good character takes time and effort. you can't plant your wonderful character just two days before Jesus comes. besides, the character you're choosing now will make you unfit to make that choice later.
occupy your soil today. choose Jesus now and every single day after.
Monday, September 06, 2010
lock in, lock out
no, am not promoting an anti-bacterial soap. but the line captures what i've been thinking about the past couple of days.
one of the older women at church has been sharing her experiences with me about how she has come to realize that Satan does find ingenious ways to the mind and heart. those little seemingly harmless thoughts, the tiniest shred of doubt, the questions, the seemingly valid fears, the worries, the countless insinuations he makes in the course of a single hour - all designed to strike where you are weak.
we must never forget. satan is out to get us. really he is. the Bible tells us, "your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8). and he's smart, very smart. we'll have to give him that, which is all the more reason for us to feel our own weakness and take hold of the strength of Jesus. we must overcome as He did.
like Christ in whom the prince of this world hath nothing (John 14:30), we must have our hearts filled with the love of God at all times so Satan cannot have room in us. give him the slightest advantage, and see how easily the devil can steal Jesus' place in our hearts! every inch of ground must be fought for.
daily, we need to put on the armor that God designed for us so we can withstand the devices of the evil one (Ephesians 6:11). we must guard every avenue that Satan can and will use.
yield to Christ, walk in faith, read God's word daily, pray without ceasing. that way, we lock Jesus in, and the devil out.
Friday, September 03, 2010
Study to Be Approved
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth. 2 Timothy 2:24, 25.
Every one engaging in the work needs these words framed and hung in memory's hall: "We are labourers together with God" (1 Corinthians 3:9). Then there will not be so many decided failures in the efforts made to win souls to Jesus Christ. There is need of bringing them to the foundation, and building them into a firm structure, that will abide the fires of the last great day. The people cannot be reached, and their hearts broken, except by God's divine power (see 1 Corinthians 3:9-15). . . .
Let the men who are engaged in the solemn work of bearing the last message to the world, heed the exhortation of Paul, "Preach the Word." Not the science of phrenology, or the productions from human speculations, but listen to the words of inspiration addressed to Timothy: "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (2 Timothy 4:1-4). . . .
The minister of the gospel is never exhorted to strive to be a smart preacher, a popular speaker, but is commanded to "study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness" (chap. 2:15, 16). Will every messenger of God give heed to these words? We are laborers together with God, and if those who accept the responsibility of holding forth the Word of life to others do not daily yoke up with Christ, and lift His burdens, and learn of Jesus day by day; it were better for them to seek some other employment.--Manuscript 29, April 20, 1893, "Laborers to Learn Lessons at the Foot of the Cross."
-Ellen G. White
This Day With God
Every one engaging in the work needs these words framed and hung in memory's hall: "We are labourers together with God" (1 Corinthians 3:9). Then there will not be so many decided failures in the efforts made to win souls to Jesus Christ. There is need of bringing them to the foundation, and building them into a firm structure, that will abide the fires of the last great day. The people cannot be reached, and their hearts broken, except by God's divine power (see 1 Corinthians 3:9-15). . . .
Let the men who are engaged in the solemn work of bearing the last message to the world, heed the exhortation of Paul, "Preach the Word." Not the science of phrenology, or the productions from human speculations, but listen to the words of inspiration addressed to Timothy: "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (2 Timothy 4:1-4). . . .
The minister of the gospel is never exhorted to strive to be a smart preacher, a popular speaker, but is commanded to "study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness" (chap. 2:15, 16). Will every messenger of God give heed to these words? We are laborers together with God, and if those who accept the responsibility of holding forth the Word of life to others do not daily yoke up with Christ, and lift His burdens, and learn of Jesus day by day; it were better for them to seek some other employment.--Manuscript 29, April 20, 1893, "Laborers to Learn Lessons at the Foot of the Cross."
-Ellen G. White
This Day With God
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
counting blessings
this morning i tried to count my blessings, but only made it up to number five.
i woke up in weakness, and asked God for strength. i have a Name to call on. that's a definite number one.
i went out to the nearby store and looked down beyond my skirt's hemline. i have legs to walk me there. that was number two.
on my way back, i remembered a six-petaled santan blossom i had spotted yesterday in a neighbor's patch. number three was that it was still there. (it's not now, because i picked it and covered it with silica gels in a glass jar.)
i looked across the street, saw a running toddler, and several feet behind him, a smile creeping on his uncle's usually stern face. that's blessing number four.
i turn my face back onto the street and saw that it led straight to a sun still rising, coloring up the clouds, and gently warming the earth with soft yellow light. number five.
this morning i tried to count my blessings, but only made it up to number five... because number five was the sun rising, pushing away the darkness, and showing me that i had more blessings than i can count.
i woke up in weakness, and asked God for strength. i have a Name to call on. that's a definite number one.
i went out to the nearby store and looked down beyond my skirt's hemline. i have legs to walk me there. that was number two.
on my way back, i remembered a six-petaled santan blossom i had spotted yesterday in a neighbor's patch. number three was that it was still there. (it's not now, because i picked it and covered it with silica gels in a glass jar.)
i looked across the street, saw a running toddler, and several feet behind him, a smile creeping on his uncle's usually stern face. that's blessing number four.
i turn my face back onto the street and saw that it led straight to a sun still rising, coloring up the clouds, and gently warming the earth with soft yellow light. number five.
this morning i tried to count my blessings, but only made it up to number five... because number five was the sun rising, pushing away the darkness, and showing me that i had more blessings than i can count.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Run Through the Rain
i'm sharing this here because this is one story that never fails to make tears well in my eyes each time i read it. seriously, i've read this several times and i cry each time. and it doesn't matter if this really happened or not, it's just a wonderful story we all should learn something from.
____________________________
She had been shopping with her Mom in Wal*Mart. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful brown haired, freckle-faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the tops of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the Earth it has no time to flow out the spout.
We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Wal*Mart. We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I get lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child come pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day. Her voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in.
"Mom, let's run through the rain," she said.
"What?" Mom asked.
"Let's run through the rain!" She repeated.
"No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit," Mom replied.
This young child waited about another minute and repeated: "Mom, let's run through the rain."
"We'll get soaked if we do," Mom said.
"No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning," the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm.
"This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?"
"Don't you remember? When you were talking to daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get us through this, He can get us through anything!'"
The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.
"Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If God let's us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing," Mom said. Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes through the puddles.
They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And Yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.
---as posted by Ed on a forum at www.adventisthall.ning.com----
________________
i pray that one day i can be like this mother, able to recognize a significant moment in another person's life and cherish that moment and that person with all her heart. that i can exercise myself in wisdom when it comes to what matters to some other soul. even if it does or doesn't matter to me, so long as it matters to one soul, it matters.
but more than that, i pray that i can be like this little girl who's able to see God in any and every circumstance and able to take sunshine and rain with equal gladness of heart.
let's all, in faith, run through the rain. :D
____________________________
She had been shopping with her Mom in Wal*Mart. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful brown haired, freckle-faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the tops of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the Earth it has no time to flow out the spout.
We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Wal*Mart. We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I get lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child come pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day. Her voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in.
"Mom, let's run through the rain," she said.
"What?" Mom asked.
"Let's run through the rain!" She repeated.
"No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit," Mom replied.
This young child waited about another minute and repeated: "Mom, let's run through the rain."
"We'll get soaked if we do," Mom said.
"No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning," the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm.
"This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?"
"Don't you remember? When you were talking to daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get us through this, He can get us through anything!'"
The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.
"Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If God let's us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing," Mom said. Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes through the puddles.
They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And Yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.
---as posted by Ed on a forum at www.adventisthall.ning.com----
________________
i pray that one day i can be like this mother, able to recognize a significant moment in another person's life and cherish that moment and that person with all her heart. that i can exercise myself in wisdom when it comes to what matters to some other soul. even if it does or doesn't matter to me, so long as it matters to one soul, it matters.
but more than that, i pray that i can be like this little girl who's able to see God in any and every circumstance and able to take sunshine and rain with equal gladness of heart.
let's all, in faith, run through the rain. :D
Monday, August 23, 2010
like Ruth in her devotion
And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.
The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each [of you] in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.
And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.
And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? [are] there yet [any more] sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? Turn again, my daughters, go [your way]; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, [if] I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;
Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.
And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, [or] to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people [shall be] my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, [if ought] but death part thee and me.
When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her. So they two went until they came to Bethlehem.
----Ruth 1:8-19---
The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each [of you] in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.
And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.
And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? [are] there yet [any more] sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? Turn again, my daughters, go [your way]; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, [if] I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;
Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.
And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, [or] to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people [shall be] my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, [if ought] but death part thee and me.
When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her. So they two went until they came to Bethlehem.
----Ruth 1:8-19---
Friday, April 16, 2010
Peculiar Treasure
Dear Lord, I still do not see
Why, of the millions, you chose me
Set apart, entrusted with light
Picked to stand and fight the good fight
Called to stand high above the world
Pure in thought, in deed, in word
Called to be different, called to be
A peculiar treasure for Thee
And Lord, help me, I pray
Live for You day after day
Always to hold up Your light
As You hold me all through the night
Help me to walk the path that You set
All Your laws to never forget
Help me to hold carefully
Your peculiar treasure in me
Dear Lord, this light that You gave
Strong to make pure, mighty to save
Better than silver, better than gold
Precious truths to ever uphold
Ablaze with Your light in my heart
Make me as fire through the dark
Called to be different, called to do
A peculiar work for You
Why, of the millions, you chose me
Set apart, entrusted with light
Picked to stand and fight the good fight
Called to stand high above the world
Pure in thought, in deed, in word
Called to be different, called to be
A peculiar treasure for Thee
And Lord, help me, I pray
Live for You day after day
Always to hold up Your light
As You hold me all through the night
Help me to walk the path that You set
All Your laws to never forget
Help me to hold carefully
Your peculiar treasure in me
Dear Lord, this light that You gave
Strong to make pure, mighty to save
Better than silver, better than gold
Precious truths to ever uphold
Ablaze with Your light in my heart
Make me as fire through the dark
Called to be different, called to do
A peculiar work for You
Thursday, January 14, 2010
like Esther in her courage
Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.
For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, [then] shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for [such] a time as this?
Then Esther bade [them] return Mordecai [this answer],
Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which [is] not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
--- Esther 4:13-16 ---
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Seekers
Okay, this is a first. And i doubt if there's going to be a second.
It was a choice between delivering the message and rendering the special music for midweek prayer meeting. Let's just say that Brian chose "music" for me.
The song is entitled "Seekers of Your Heart" and is normally a very wonderful and inspiring song. Here, it might have been entitled "Seekers of the Right Pitch."
And without further ado...
(by the way, the voice in the foreground belongs to my mother who was trying to help me.)
Later, Brian would tell me that he was a lot more nervous about my singing than he was about his giving the message. his palms got ice-cold!
But know what the watchword is? talents used are talents multiplied. ;-)
Monday, January 11, 2010
Last Night I Prayed
the alarm went off promptly at 12 midnight. i pushed a button, and the alarm shut up.
a minute (or an eternity) later, i jolted to my knees and sleepily (very, very sleepily) whispered to God the contents of my heart:
...gratitude, foremost, for the beautiful families i have. families, yes, because i have more than one. people who love me, people who care, people who have been bearing with me, people i love, people i care for, people who make bearing with them worth it.
...requests. for blessings to flow more abundantly to and through these families. for wisdom and strength and courage - my favorite things to ask in prayer. for love and happiness (the immediate second favorites) - for myself and those that surround me. for relief - i know my heart and the hearts of those near me, and only God knows how much we need relief.
...pleadings. for God to give me a little more time. for Him to strive still with me and my rebellious heart. for Him to not grow weary with me yet, not yet. for God to work with the little faith i have, with whatever little righteousness remains in me, with whatever little good i still have in my heart.
...distress signals. that i be lifted from this miry place, cleansed, and made whole. emptied, washed, refined.
...embarrassment. that i could not stay awake long enough to speak with Him more.
i didn't have to open my eyes after i said "amen." i only dropped back onto my sleeping mat to await the break of day.
this afternoon, i received a text message from a much-loved friend asking me to pray for him and the choices he makes.
and perhaps more than ever, i am grateful that i have the privilege of prayer and, above all, that i have a God who hears each tiny whisper and is willing and able to answer.