Strange! I got lost somewhere in a scary neighborhood even if I put in the right address in my navigation system but somehow it said I have arrived at my destination but it wasn't the right place...I tried it again, I just ended up getting lost and had to stop twice to ask for directions. And I thought I heard some crackling sound underneath my car and had to stop again to check it but there was nothing. I got so scared when I saw people staring at me. I was praying inside my car while driving the whole time. I'm just so glad I got back home safe and sound.
"Thank You Lord!"
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Do Not Forget The LORD
Deuteronomy 8
1 Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the LORD promised on oath to your ancestors. 2 Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. 3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. 4 Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. 5 Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you.
6 Observe the commands of the LORD your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him. 7 For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; 8 a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; 9 a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.
10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. 11 Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. 12 Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, 13 and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 15 He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. 16 He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you. 17 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” 18 But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.
19 If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. 20 Like the nations the LORD destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the LORD your God.
1 Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the LORD promised on oath to your ancestors. 2 Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. 3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. 4 Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. 5 Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you.
6 Observe the commands of the LORD your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him. 7 For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; 8 a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; 9 a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.
10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. 11 Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. 12 Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, 13 and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 15 He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. 16 He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you. 17 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” 18 But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.
19 If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. 20 Like the nations the LORD destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the LORD your God.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Breathe (cover)
My cover song of "Breathe" by Michael W. Smith using an iPad app called GarageBand. Well, it's not close to the original but I'm just showing how GarageBand is very useful when you don't have any musical instruments or when you're alone with only a guitar available but you wanted to sing that sounds like with a complete band accompaniment.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Good Grief ➡ Upward Call
The father of a good friend of mine just recently passed away. Anybody who experienced losing someone whom he/she truly loved would agree that it is very hard to accept. It is painful. Much more when it happens during Christmas season. I too have recently lost my dad. I left home to go here in the US few years ago, kind of sad because I'll be away from my love ones for a long time, but I also carried with me the hope of a good future and that one day we'll be spending happy times again together. My parents were the ones most sad when I left but they too were looking forward to a better future. We all thought, "Ah, what's few years? We will still see each other again." But we were wrong. The last time I saw my dad alive was when I left my hometown years ago. I never even get the chance to do the things I planned to do for him with my mom when I get back, or when they come here. We didn't even get the chance to say goodbye. His passing was instantaneous. You can only imagine how painful it was for me and my family. No words could describe.
But I thank God He put it in my heart to always say, "I love you Pa," whenever we talked on the phone. Our family isn't used to saying those words but I know we all love each other. I remember how Papa would just smile (by the sound of his voice) every time I say those words but I know he loved all of us his children so much. But few months before he passed away, I have asked him to say those same words back. It felt really good. Always made me cry whenever I heard him say it. Tears of so much joy as well as longing to hug him, wishing US and Philippines were just a minute away.
Losing job, terminal illness, family breaking apart, calamity, tragedy, death of a loved one, being left behind, or any other similar hurtful events one could experience, these are what we call "bad" times, difficult times. They could cause one so much grief that sometimes it continues for a long time, even to the point of crushing us down, giving us no way back up, making us feel alone and helpless. Even worse, question God, "Why?"
Hard times are hard, but they can also be helpful. Remember when Joseph was sold to Egypt by his brothers. Years later, when he became Prime Minister of Egypt, he had saved many people's lives during a long famine. He told his brothers, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good" (Genesis 50:20). God the Son (Jesus Christ) had to suffer and die on the cross. Humanity intended to harm (kill) Him but God intended it for good. He made the way, or most appropriately, He, Jesus Christ, is the way to eternal life (John 14:6).
Many Christians (in Biblical and contemporary times alike) have experienced reversal of seeming adversity to become evident blessing. That's the point of Ecclesiastes 7:1-10. Why did Solomon say, "The day of death [is] better than the day of birth" and that it's "better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting", and why did he declare that "sorrow is better than laughter" (Ecclesiastes 7:1-3)? Adversity isn't always a sign of God's disfavor. More spiritual lessons are learned during hardships, trials and sufferings. Paul said in Romans 5:3-4, "...but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:3-5)
Surely you don't want to wait to experience adversity before coming to know the giver of hope and comfort. If you experience good times, then rejoice in God's blessings. Don't forget to praise and thank Him. If you experience bad times, learn from God's lessons. Afterall, life is a continuous lesson. We are taught to become like Christ. Focus on the things above, "...forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13,14).
But I thank God He put it in my heart to always say, "I love you Pa," whenever we talked on the phone. Our family isn't used to saying those words but I know we all love each other. I remember how Papa would just smile (by the sound of his voice) every time I say those words but I know he loved all of us his children so much. But few months before he passed away, I have asked him to say those same words back. It felt really good. Always made me cry whenever I heard him say it. Tears of so much joy as well as longing to hug him, wishing US and Philippines were just a minute away.
Losing job, terminal illness, family breaking apart, calamity, tragedy, death of a loved one, being left behind, or any other similar hurtful events one could experience, these are what we call "bad" times, difficult times. They could cause one so much grief that sometimes it continues for a long time, even to the point of crushing us down, giving us no way back up, making us feel alone and helpless. Even worse, question God, "Why?"
Hard times are hard, but they can also be helpful. Remember when Joseph was sold to Egypt by his brothers. Years later, when he became Prime Minister of Egypt, he had saved many people's lives during a long famine. He told his brothers, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good" (Genesis 50:20). God the Son (Jesus Christ) had to suffer and die on the cross. Humanity intended to harm (kill) Him but God intended it for good. He made the way, or most appropriately, He, Jesus Christ, is the way to eternal life (John 14:6).
Many Christians (in Biblical and contemporary times alike) have experienced reversal of seeming adversity to become evident blessing. That's the point of Ecclesiastes 7:1-10. Why did Solomon say, "The day of death [is] better than the day of birth" and that it's "better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting", and why did he declare that "sorrow is better than laughter" (Ecclesiastes 7:1-3)? Adversity isn't always a sign of God's disfavor. More spiritual lessons are learned during hardships, trials and sufferings. Paul said in Romans 5:3-4, "...but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:3-5)
Surely you don't want to wait to experience adversity before coming to know the giver of hope and comfort. If you experience good times, then rejoice in God's blessings. Don't forget to praise and thank Him. If you experience bad times, learn from God's lessons. Afterall, life is a continuous lesson. We are taught to become like Christ. Focus on the things above, "...forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13,14).
What Happens Next?
What do you think your answers will be when someone asked you these questions: What is your ultimate goal in life? Is it a job promotion? A big house with swimming pool? A fancy car? To become a millionaire? To be debt-free? To be able to travel the world? To get married and have kids? What if you achieved all those? What happens next? Would that be all and everything there is about living? Are these the reasons why you're here in the first place? What is really the utmost purpose of your existence?
Think about it...
Think about it...
Thursday, January 05, 2012
Too Busy With Work?
No one ever said on their deathbed: "I wish I would have spent more time at work!"
It's not work that makes a person, but rather, relationships...with people (family, friends even strangers), but most importantly, with Jesus. (‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ ~ Matthew 25:40)
Are you too busy with work or any other things and forgetting what's more important in life? Have you ever tried to ask yourself what to answer when finally, one day, you will have to stand before God and He will ask you, "What have you done with the life I have given you? What did you do with the people I have surrounded you with? What did you do with my Son whom I sent to save you?"
After we answered, surely, we would want to hear Him say, "Well done! Good and faithful servant....come and share your Master's happiness." (Matthew 25:23)
But, will we?
It's not work that makes a person, but rather, relationships...with people (family, friends even strangers), but most importantly, with Jesus. (‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ ~ Matthew 25:40)
Are you too busy with work or any other things and forgetting what's more important in life? Have you ever tried to ask yourself what to answer when finally, one day, you will have to stand before God and He will ask you, "What have you done with the life I have given you? What did you do with the people I have surrounded you with? What did you do with my Son whom I sent to save you?"
After we answered, surely, we would want to hear Him say, "Well done! Good and faithful servant....come and share your Master's happiness." (Matthew 25:23)
But, will we?
Sunday, January 01, 2012
1st Day of 2012
It's 10:45 pm, I still have few minutes left before it's the second day of 2012. I just thought maybe it's the best time to revive my interest in writing and blogging again as I have not been able to write here for a few months now.
There's no better way to start the new year than praising God! Good thing the 1st day of this year fell on a Sunday; be at church, sang for the Lord, praised and thanked Him for the past year. Although 2011 was a year of trials, pains, brokenness, loss, and death of a love one, God has proven Himself faithful once again to fulfill in my life His promises that "He will never leave us nor forsake us" and that "in all things (this includes even the hurtful and injurious ones), God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose." Rom. 8:28
During my times of needs, he provided, in times of sorrow, He became my joy, in weakness, He became my strength, in times of despair, my hope is in Him. God has continued to shower me with blessings of true friends, and our family became closer. But most of all, He has instilled in me the passion, longing and need to search and know Him deeper, along with the joy and eagerness to share the goodness of the Lord unto others.
Last year was also the advent of putting my musical (primarily instrumental) gifts into where they are truly being used for God's greater honor and glory. I know eversince I was little, I love singing, and then later, during the early years of my adult life, I have become so interested to learn to play different kinds of musical instruments that I even strived to teach myself how but I never had the slightest dream of becoming a professional artist. I just like doing it for fun but never actually achieved sense of fulfillment. It didn't make sense. There must be a perfect reason why I have been given such gifts. Later I realized, those talents and gifts were not for myself nor for others, but for God's glory. Only then the singing and playing music gave fulfillment and true joy in my heart.
Happy New Year everyone! As the saying goes...new year, new beginning. Let it be the beginning of things good and pleasing to the Lord.
There's no better way to start the new year than praising God! Good thing the 1st day of this year fell on a Sunday; be at church, sang for the Lord, praised and thanked Him for the past year. Although 2011 was a year of trials, pains, brokenness, loss, and death of a love one, God has proven Himself faithful once again to fulfill in my life His promises that "He will never leave us nor forsake us" and that "in all things (this includes even the hurtful and injurious ones), God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose." Rom. 8:28
During my times of needs, he provided, in times of sorrow, He became my joy, in weakness, He became my strength, in times of despair, my hope is in Him. God has continued to shower me with blessings of true friends, and our family became closer. But most of all, He has instilled in me the passion, longing and need to search and know Him deeper, along with the joy and eagerness to share the goodness of the Lord unto others.
Last year was also the advent of putting my musical (primarily instrumental) gifts into where they are truly being used for God's greater honor and glory. I know eversince I was little, I love singing, and then later, during the early years of my adult life, I have become so interested to learn to play different kinds of musical instruments that I even strived to teach myself how but I never had the slightest dream of becoming a professional artist. I just like doing it for fun but never actually achieved sense of fulfillment. It didn't make sense. There must be a perfect reason why I have been given such gifts. Later I realized, those talents and gifts were not for myself nor for others, but for God's glory. Only then the singing and playing music gave fulfillment and true joy in my heart.
Happy New Year everyone! As the saying goes...new year, new beginning. Let it be the beginning of things good and pleasing to the Lord.
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