Don’t go “BACK TO NORMAL”. 2013 isn’t just about “NEW YEAR”… There’s a whole lot of things in store for you. Be in faith always. This year should never be about our own selves but everything about God.
Hebrews 11:1, 6 NIV
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
1 I thank God for the challenges I experienced this year.
I kind of had a wrestling match with God. This was the year where I
hit rock bottom and then some. I could even go farther to say that I
was dug in a deep pit. How many of you know that God, most of the
time, uses a circumstance to teach his people difficult life lessons? I
could say I learned the hard way. I thank God for these lessons.
Proverbs 3:11-12 says: My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline,
and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he
loves, as a father the son he delights in.
As difficult as life was for me this year; I smile because I know God
has put me through these situations ultimately because He…
…loves me.
2 I thank God for real friends.
It is easy to get friends in good times. But real friends emerge in
pressing and trying times. I thank God I have friends that constantly
remind me who I am and what I should be. They who rebuke me openly.
Them whom I’ve opened my life to.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says: Two are better than one, because they have a
good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can
help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help
them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how
can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend
themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
To my friends who stood with me in trying times: Kudos to you! May God
bless you as much as He can!!!
3 I thank God that He is true when He said that He will prosper the
work of my hands.
Deuteronomy 30:9 says: Then the Lord your God will make you most
prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your
womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land. The Lord
will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he
delighted in your ancestors
Indeed God prospers the works of my hand. Whether it be my job, my
finances, my craft. You have to experience it first-”hand” to know
what I’m talking about.
4 I thank God for gift of writing
I started this year with a post titled “How to start the year right.”
The first few words in that was a bible verse. Through God’s help, I
was able to keep this blog alive. My hope and prayer is that while I
continue to use this gift, I’d be able to: first, honor God; and
second, inspire people to do the same.
5 I thank God for family/families
Exodus 20:12 tells us to: Honor your father and your mother, so that
you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
You see, even at the early years of humanity, God already placed honor
within the family. I thank God for making my family intact and
complete.
In this light, I also say a prayer to those who have broken families.
God is a God of restoration; whatever was broken, will be made whole
again. I also pray for those who have lost a loved one this year. If
you are one of them, I pray that you will be comforted by God in
whichever area of your life you need it.
To those who have just started a family. I smile at you guys and I say
another prayer for you. May God be the center of your family.
6 I thank God for (my) Spiritual family/families
In Ephesians 4:1-6 Paul wrote this: As a prisoner for the Lord, then,
I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be
completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in
love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the
bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were
called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one
baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all
and in all.
I have been part of a spiritual family that is dynamic, growing and
full of life. I Thank God for you guys! It’s more fun having this walk
with you all. I pray that God blesses you as much as He can!
7 I thank God for the gift of music
2 Chronicles 20:21-22 narrates: After consulting the people,
Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for
the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army,
saying:
“Give thanks to the Lord,
for his love endures forever.”
As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the
men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they
were defeated.
I’m not an arms-personnel. I don’t have guns nor any ammo for them.
What God gave me though is more powerful than any type of weapon. I
never even thought God could ever use a guy like me. In this life, I
will continue to make music for God’s glory. When the time comes that
I’d meet my maker, this is one of the things that I’m able to take
with me. I pray Lord that you enable me even as I age to make music
for You. I know it is not about the notes that I play but only about
You.
I sing again!!!! Your love endures forever!
8 I thank God for His love
His unending, unfailing, relentless, stubborn, enduring, amazing,
breath-taking, awesome, powerful love. I can never comprehend why You
choose to give it to me. I am not worthy to taste this kind of love
nevertheless You lavish me with it! Thank you LORD!
Isaiah 54:10
Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my
unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be
removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
9 I thank God for closure
Philippians 3:7-14
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of
Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the
surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I
have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ
and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes
from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the
righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at
my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus
took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to
have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind
and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win
the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
I’m not perfect. Not yet. I thank God that as I spend the last hours
of 2012, I enjoy the benefits of a clear mind, of a clear conscience,
of a debt free life, of forgiveness, and most of all, of love
10 I thank God for preparation, hope and new beginnings
Isaiah 43:18-19 ESV
Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of
old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do
you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and
rivers in the desert.
Lamentations 3:22-24 ESV
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies
never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is
your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”
Let’s do this simple exercise. Make sure you follow the instructions carefully on your own. Follow the instructions one by one. Make sure you do it AS FAST AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN alright?
Ready?!
Go!
STEP 1 – Close your eyes
STEP 2 – Rest your mind.
STEP 3 – Breathe deep.
STEP 4 – Then think of about the word “BLISS”.
STEP 5 – Open your eyes.
STEP 6 – On a piece of paper, write a paragraph describing what you saw.
Okay. Let’s assess these. If you were able to follow-up to STEP 1, give yourself a score of one (1). If you were able to follow the instructions all the way up to STEP 6, give yourself a pat on the back, five claps and a score of zero (0). Give yourself another slap to the cheeks if you’re still wondering why you got a score of zero. You see if you were able to comprehend and understand the instructions carefully, the first step is to close your eyes. Of course when you close your eyes, you can’t read the next step. Funny thing about our eyes though, is that the moment you close it, your creative imagination starts to work. You see authentic visions.
For the longest time I’ve asked God to give me vision. Vision to, at least, set me up for the future. There was a need for me to see where I am going, insofar as asking God to show His plans about me. I ask Him “What am I supposed to do?” I needed bullet points; I needed guidelines.
Few days ago, I attended a blogging event so I could learn how to make my blog a bit more popular. Well, aside from learning that, I caught a vision. If everything goes as directed, it will enable me to write, as well as meet new people. If God wills it, it may even be a way for me to start a business. I’m quite excited how the events turned out.
If you’re still wondering what the connection between the previous exercise and what I learned about that event; it’s simple. Sometimes what God requires of us, has nothing to do with the prayers we are asking from Him. But if we follow His instructions intently, these visions on how to finally grasp the result of our prayers will surely follow.
~~~
Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)
18 forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
1 Kings 2:3 (NIV)
3and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go
Deuteronomy 29:9 (NIV)
9Carefully follow the terms of this covenant, so that you may prosper in everything you do.
Joshua 1:7-9 (NIV)
7“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
By His wounds we are healed
It’s just one jeepney ride away from one my best friend’s house. As I rode a jeepney on my way to spend the rest of Maundy Thursday with my friends, I saw an old woman inside the said vehicle. She wasn’t like any ordinary woman though. Upon observing her, I saw that she has these deep lesions and protruding scabs. It might be outrageous to claim when you are in the streets of Manila, but from the looks of her wounds it seems like she has leprosy. Clumps and gobs of flesh distorted her face. Oozing wounds replace most of her fingernails. Whatever was left of her nails we’re either deformed or full of dirt from her constant scratching. There were also patches of what looked like skin ulcers. The rest of her skin which didn’t have the wounds were either scaly, slimy or had skin flapping out.
Good morning love, Hello and Hi!
How wonderful it is to see that smile.
Come on now sleepy head rise and shine.
Here, let me swipe your hair to the side.
Are you about to get up now?
Tell me how you plan to spend this hour.
Do you feel like getting up, eat some bread?
Stay here instead. Look! Breakfast in bed.
Get up get up now, Hold my hand
Hahaha! Still sleepy and cannot stand?
Freshen up and take a shower.
Don’t be too long here’s the towel.
So this is the first day of the rest,
of our lives together, in this home, our nest.
I can’t stop smiling. being completely honest
Last night was fun, I look forward to the best.
Just sit back enjoy, watch a movie.
Stay in the couch, turn on the TV.
Great times in store today for me and you.
Wait till I finish cooking lunch for two.
Let’s go outside, sit and talk.
Hmmm. I have a nice idea, let’s just walk.
Enjoy the highlands in afternoon bliss.
Oooh look a sunset! stay close, plant a kiss.
It’s getting gloomy and a little cold.
Let us go back now, take my hand, hold.
We’re finally here back safe at home.
I think it’s going to rain, look out the window.
The shine and shadows define your lovely face.
Here’s the blanket, let’s cozy near the fireplace.
Sitting still amazed, staring at your beauty.
Oh how I thank the Lord for giving you to me.
This one pleasant day’s about to end.
Tomorrow’s going to be a little different.
Looking forward to something new.
How sweet it is to spend my lifetime with you.
~~~
It is always nice to be in a wedding ceremony. I was in the highlands of Rizal (Thunderbird Resort) last night to see two of my friends tie the knot. [Congratulations to Joshua and Ivy Galaraga!]
I spent the rest of the evening with other friends lounging at the Manila Peninsula. I retired yesterday still in awe of how God writes love stories. It wasn’t really surprise when I dreamt about how I could, possibly, spend my days with the woman I love. There was a lot more detail which I wasn’t able to put into words, but here is my attempt to capture that dream and maybe someday turn it to reality.
