Filed under: reflections
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. …
Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?”
—Romans 8:28, 32
What amazing verses of reassurance and hope! All things work together for good to those who love God and are seeking his purpose for their life. And the promise is that we will also have everything we need from God, because he already gave us his most precious gift possible: the life of his Son. Why would he withhold anything else, Paul argues. So today, rejoice that God is working everything out for your good. (—Diane Eble, author of Abundant Gifts: A Daybook of Grace-Filled Devotions)
As I ponder today’s Word… I can’t help but be reminded of God’s faithfulness in His promises. Sometimes, when we look back, especially when we are in a difficult situation, we would always ask why things are happening in unexpected ways. But at the end of the day, we realize that everything we have gone through has a purpose.
For one, I had been doing some physical training in preparation for Mt Kinabalu expedition. But out of the blue, I realized that I needed to come to the Philippines to have my old passport renewed. You can’t imagine how much distance I walked, how many stairs I climbed up and down… and how much I stood up just to have my passport renewal processed.
Now, because of the delay of the processing, I wouldn’t be able to climb Mt Kinabalu… and to think that I have done a lot of physical training just for the climb! But then, I needed that kind of training to sustain me while I was doing my passport renewal.
I was actually doing the training for my trip in the Philippines and not the Mt Kinabalu expedition! Ha! Truly, God is true to His word when He said in Isaiah 55:8-9 (New International Version)
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
God never ceases to amaze me.
February 16, 2009
Sense of urgency is important in achieving your goals. I have noticed that I may be laid back at times but when work calls, I always have that sense of urgency. I must do my best at each task and must complete it fast. That’s how I do with my writings. I may end up having grammatical errors, wrong spellings, weird sentence structures… but I make sure I correct all the wrong things that are brought to my attention before I complete and submit for approval. If of course, after completion, I still have mistakes, that’s because of my naivety… or lack of knowledge.
Here hubby comes into the picture. And I always appreciate the effort of correcting me.
Sense of urgency. Sometimes people relate it to being impatient. I don’t. It’s finishing a task by the deadline. Not a last minute thing to do.You don’t wait until the heavy ball falls on your head to decide to finally make a move to avoid it. By the time you move, your head has already been hit!
Sense of urgency. It’s my personality.
Sense of urgency and the lack of it (at least in hubby’s part), has been my struggle for 5 years in my marriage.
I dislike it when people are slow to decide… only to realize that at the end of the day… we come up with the same decision.
The lack of sense of urgency results to a lot of disappointments and frustrations.
When can people learn to have a sense of it? When can people learn that being patient is not equal to a lack of sense of urgency?
February 7, 2009
Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life.
Proverbs 4:23
The heart is, well, the heart of everything else in our lives. We need to guard it in terms of what we let into it and what we let out of it. Both will determine the course of our lives. Being in touch with your own inner truth, whether feelings, thoughts, needs, or desires, is part of it. Living by values built on the Bible is another part. Guarding against destructive images and other negative input is also involved. Above all else, guard your heart! And—it’s one of the most important things we can teach our children.
December 17, 2008
[Wisdom] offers you long life in her right hand,
and riches and honor in her left.
She will guide you down delightful paths;
all her ways are satisfying.
Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
happy are those who hold her tightly.
Proverbs 3:16–18
Encouragement for Today
Wisdom is what people really should seek when pursuing “the good life,” not money. Money is merely a symbol, a medium of exchange. If you don’t have the wisdom to earn and keep wealth, it can ruin your life. Wisdom is what brings life, riches, and honor. Aren’t these the things people really want? Isn’t having these things—life, honor and riches—the very definition of success? We should seek, embrace, and hold on to wisdom, no matter what!
November 25, 2008
“May he give us the desire to do his will in everything and to obey all the commands, decrees, and regulations that he gave our ancestors.”
1 Kings 8:58
June 28, 2008
“In the future, foreigners who do not belong to your people Israel will hear of you. They will come from distant lands because of your name, for they will hear of your great name and your strong hand and your powerful arm. … Then people all over the earth will know that the LORD alone is God and there is no other.”
1 Kings 8:41–43, 60
June 25, 2008
King Hiram of Tyre had always been a loyal friend of David. When Hiram learned that David’s son Solomon was the new king of Israel, he sent ambassadors to congratulate him.
Then Solomon sent this message back to Hiram: “… Please command that cedars from Lebanon be cut for me. Let my men work alongside yours, and I will pay your men whatever wages you ask. As you know, there is no one among us who can cut timber like you Sidonians!”
When Hiram received Solomon’s message, he was very pleased and said, “Praise the LORD today for giving David a wise son to be king of the great nation of Israel.”
1 Kings 5:1–2, 6–7
view in context
Encouragement for Today
Solomon saw opportunities, and he had a good sense of timing. When the king of Tyre showed he was favorably disposed toward Solomon, Solomon recognized it as a good time to ask the king of Tyre to provide wood for the Temple Solomon dreamed of building. He drew on the strengths of the Sidonians—they were good at cutting timber. We see Solomon’s wisdom at work again in this example of persuasion. Solomon appealed to strengths and helped people feel good about being part of a grand undertaking. They were all too happy to comply.
June 2, 2008
When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God: “O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—you spoke long ago by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant, saying,
‘Why were the nations so angry?
Why did they waste their time with futile plans?
The kings of the earth prepared for battle;
the rulers gathered together
against the LORD
and against his Messiah.’
“In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed. But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will. And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
Acts 4:24–30
May 16, 2008
Never abandon a friend—
either yours or your father’s.
When disaster strikes, you won’t have to ask your brother for assistance.
It’s better to go to a neighbor than to a brother who lives far away.
Proverbs 27:10
May 14, 2008
The king summoned Nathan the prophet. “Look,” David said, “I am living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of God is out there in a tent!” …
“O LORD of Heaven’s Armies, God of Israel, I have been bold enough to pray this prayer to you because you have revealed all this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you—a dynasty of kings!’ For you are God, O Sovereign LORD. Your words are truth, and you have promised these good things to your servant.”
2 Samuel 7:2, 27–28
May 7, 2008
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