THE MESSAGE......THE INVESTMENT

We as people or as human being, we have many desires in our heart. We have many likes and dislikes. We have many things that we wanted. So we have the desires, likes, needs and wants. And in all humanity, we all know that the basic needs of man are the food, clothes and shelter. Of course, if you have the food and the food you are eating is of little nutrients, still you will become malnourish. If you do not have any home to be called as own, you are homeless. And if you do not have something to wear on your body, even a single shirt, you are shirtless.

Nobody in his right mind wanted to be deprived of these basic needs, that is why, we keep on imagining, dreaming, desiring and planning in our lives. In fact, we have this so-called short and long term planning.

Yes, because of the nature of having this lust of the eyes, and the lust of the flesh, we cannot avoid to continue desiring things. And after we desire, we plan, then we put it into action so that our dream will not end up as in impossible dream.

There is nothing wrong if we desire something or if we make our planning by ourselves. Since we have the education, skills, talent, knowledge, etc. And we are free to make use all these things.

You know, bro. Paul has said in 1Co. 6:12 about our being free of doing something. Let me quote this verse: “I am free to do all things; but not all things are wise. I am free to do all things; but I will not let myself come under the power of any.”

Since from the old testament in Proverbs 21:2, God has said something for us. Let us read this: Every way of a man seems right to himself, but the Lord is the tester of hearts. Let us read the example from the bible:

Luk 12:16 Then Jesus told them this parable: "There was once a rich man who had land which bore good crops.
Luk 12:17 He began to think to himself, 'I don't have a place to keep all my crops. What can I do?
Luk 12:18 This is what I will do,' he told himself; 'I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, where I will store the grain and all my other goods.
Luk 12:19 Then I will say to myself, Lucky man! You have all the good things you need for many years. Take life easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself !'
Luk 12:20 But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night you will have to give up your life; then who will get all these things you have kept for yourself ? ' "

So, what I am trying to point out here from the verses mentioned that God is reminding us that He is in full control of everything.

Now, we are entering a New Year. To others, they have a new year resolution. Some will renew their plans, strategies, etc. Others will continue to desire things that they did not get last year, or something that they failed to accomplish and they want it to happen this year.

Actually, we are forgetting something. We ourselves, make things harder for us. Since we know that even if we make plans for ourselves, still God’s purpose prevail. Let us see the evidence in Proverbs 19:21:

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. “

The best thing we can do to our desire is to obey what God wants us to do. Do you have any idea?

Let us read Psalm 37:4-5 (ESV) English Standard Version

Psa 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psa 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.

In other version as in GNB (Good News Bible) says:

Psa 37:4 Seek your happiness in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desire.
Psa 37:5 Give yourself to the LORD; trust in him, and he will help you;

Now, how are we going to delight in the Lord so that our heart desires will be given to us? Are you interested to know? To be continued…….

THE MESSAGE.....THE GIFT

• There are many occasions in our lives that we desire to receive gifts. For example, during Christening, Dedication, Baptism, Birthday, Wedding, Graduation, Anniversary or even on holidays, like Thanksgiving and the most popular of all is the Christmas Day.
  
  Is there any one out there who does not want to receive gifts? You know, if we want something but then, we do not have any capacity to have that something, we desire that someone can give that something for us. Do you agree with me?
  
  Let us think deeper, most of the time, what we desire really in our lives is something of material value, something that we can see and hold on. But once we received it, up to what extend that material gift benefited us? Of course, once we received a gift, we have gladness in our heart and most of the time, that is for our own sake. And once the gift that is of material value became old or out of fashion, damaged, etc. We loose interest on it and we desire a new one, until we become more and more obsessed of desiring material things.
  
  We cannot deny to ourselves that we can stop desiring things around us. Because we have this so-called Lust of the eyes, Lust of the flesh. And mind you, the world is becoming more and more subjected to material things, taking into consideration the technology wise.
  
  That is why, for you to be able to cope with this changing world, we become selfish, we think only of ourselves, even to the point we pulled down someone in the ladder just to be on top. Gaining material things, power, respect, etc. are the best we could give to ourselves as “GIFT’.
  
  But don’t you know what the bible is telling us? Knowing what the advise of the bible will do good to us, probably, you will seek the heaven’s door. As it is written in Matthew 6:33 saying “But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you as well.”
  
  If you do not know how to seek the Kingdom of God, of course, ASK God. In Matthew 7:7 says, ASK and it will be given to you; SEEK and you will find; KNOCK and the door will be opened for you.
  
  Or let say, are you lacking wisdom on how to seek God? Well, in James 1:5 says, But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ASK God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him.
  
  Speaking of gift, as I have said already, we all wanted to receive gifts. But what kind of gift that we really wanted to have? Are we going to satisfy ourselves to receive gift that is of material value only? That will last only for a short period of time and that only ourselves will only benefit from it.
  
  In 1 Co. 12:31 is conveying a message for us to look into. Let me quote this verse. “But earnestly desire the higher gifts and I will show you a still more excellent way.” In other version, “But let your desires be turned to the more important things given by the Spirit. And now I am pointing out to you on even better way.”
  
  So, there is a so-called, gifts from the Holy Spirit. Are you aware of these gifts or are you ignorant about these gifts?
  
  You know, Bro. Paul has said in 1Co.12:1 saying: Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. And for your information in 1Co.12:4, says, Now, there are varieties of gifts, but the same spirit.
  
  Do you know what are these varieties of gifts that we can receive if only we ASK God? To be continued……….cheers
  

CRYING IS GOOD? Part 2 (Last part)

Before coming to America, I had a good paying job, at home, we have 2 household maids, so, I did not bother myself to wash the dishes. I love to take care of babies of my sister, but not to the point, I will clean the poh poh, when this happen, I rather call my sister or one of our housemaids.

I was so grateful that the cousin of my friend accepted us in her condo unit, she is married and with one 2 years old son. Since, were not paying rent at all, we did the household chores voluntarily and that includes, babysitting.

One day, I discovered that I am totally penniless, and yet months have passed, still I cannot find myself to have atleast a part time job, so that I will have money of my own. Am almost felt frustrated, and I cannot even decide to come home for I dont want to consider myself a losser. So, I continued to let the days past with the same routines.

There was one occasion that my friend decided to look for a job, he left his nephew to me to babysit while he will go to New York to find his luck. I babysat his nephew, gave food to eat, prepared milk and let him sleep. But the boy was really very active and played a lot. Then, I noticed, he made poh poh, of my God, I dont know what to do, for this is what I hate most. Since, I have no option, I did what I should do. Afterwards, I made him felt sleep. I also laid to bed beside him.

Then, I started to reminisce. I said to myself, what I am doing here, I had a better job back home, but because of this american dream, am encountering this kind of situation. The things that I am not doing back home, now, am doing them. I started to feel the sadness in my heart, then, I started to cry, yes, to many tears and with groan and I remember the promise of God, saying, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. " And i started to ask God, why did you bring me here in America? To have this kind of suffering? How I can land a job here, I have no legal working permit, I dont have any relatives here, now tell me, is this plan your telling me? And i kept crying...until I heard the phone was ringing, so, I immediately stood up and answered the phone, I did not even finish crying to God when the phone started to ring. Then the lady was on the other line and she was looking for my name, and I asked her, how come you knew my name? And she told me, remember, you met my friend when you were in the house of the lawyer and the lady told me that I was recommended by her friend since I have a good working experience and can learn new things faster. In short, she tried to offer me a job in her restaurant and to start as a kitchen helper. At first, I did not accept her offer, coz, I need to ask permission to my cousin's friend where I stayed. Since, the lady kept calling me, I accepted the offer to be a kitchen helper in her restaurant. Then, even in short period of time, I earned some extra money.

I remember when one of the characters in the bible, asked something to God, she cried a lot and beg to God to give her a son. Until the Lord remembers her prayer, then she was granted a son. Therefore, if we are really sincere in our prayers, humble ourself to God and reason with Him, I believe, because of His mercy endures forever, there is no doubt that in his proper time, He will answer us. God also requires us to reason with Him, in fact, in Isaiah 1:18, he said, "Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

And the Lord continued to bless me and gave me more other extra works and I even tried different kinds of work, be it in the restaurant, insurance office, marketing office, manufacturing firm and the last was with the hospital. With that experienced, I thank God for He is really a loving God, merciful God and full of compasion. May the Lord God Jesus shows favor on you the way He did to me. Amen.....

AFRAID OF TYPHOON? Part 3 (Last part)

I kept silent knowing that there is God who can deliver me from that storm. I prayed and asked for forgiveness for the sins I have done, like, ignored the news, watched bold shows at 42nd street, etc. I did not cover up my sins, I said to God, forgive me Lord, for I am stubborn, have mercy on me if I have little faith on you. Then, suddenly, I felt the mercy of God, I felt that I was clothed with braveness and I said to myself, why should I be afraid of, if really, Jesus was with me and I claimed his promise, if God is with me who can be against me and confessed that I have great faith to our God that He will deliver me from that storm.

So, I posed myself by positioning my umbrella, made it closer to my head, holding firmly for the wind was really very, very windy and taking into consideration the heavy rains too. I walked toward my house direction where its only one small block away from the intersection of the road. While walking, I noticed that the wind was becoming weaker and weaker, the leaves were like dried that someone was sweeping them away toward the direction I was heading and likewise, the rains also became weaker and weaker, until the rains and windy winds subsided and had a full stop. I was amazed that the storm was gone, so, what I did, I walked fast to reach my house. Then, when I was at the door and about to open it, the storm returned, windy winds, heavy rains came back, and I said to God, Lord thank you, am home now. And I remember the story in the bible wherein Jesus calm the storm.

After that unforgetable experience with the Lord, I made a testimony in our group service at home, how faithful our God is. There is a song goes like this......Be it unto me according to your word, according to your promises, I can stand secure, curve upon my heart, the truth that set me free, according to your word O Lord, be it unto me....

Therefore, readers, do not under estimate the God of Abraham, Jacob and Isaac, for He is the God of yesterday, today and tomorrow. Just like David, when he sinned to God, he did not cover up his sins, he acknowledged it and asked forgiveness to God. Always remember that our God is a forgiving God, a merciful God, a soveriegn God, and Almighty God. May the Lord God Jesus, bless you, give you peace and joy. Amen......