Psalm 46:10

Psalm 46:10King James Version (KJV)

¹⁰ Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

HOPE and WAIT for GREAT THINGS

image source : http://www.bibleexplained.com/other-early/1&2-Kings/Elijah-cloud-cmg.jpg

⁴³ “Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked.
“There is nothing there,” he said. Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”

⁴⁴ The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’”

⁴⁵ Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain started falling and Ahab rode off to Jezreel.

I KINGS 18:43-45 (NIV) 
 ~*~
You know this story? Elijah was praying for rain at that time, he told his servant to look toward the sea but his servant saw nothing. He then told him once again to go and look but then the servant saw nothing again and again and again until the seventh time when he saw a cloud as small as a man's hand. Elijah knew it will rain. 

He prayed and so he hoped and he waited.
Oftentimes, we do pray, we do hope but it is in the waiting that most of us falter. If I was Elijah's servant, I would have probably complained and grumbled many times going back and forth to look up and see nothing at all.

That's me most of the time. I am one impatient person and waiting makes me agitate which is not right. I pray I can have Elijah’s faith-even just a tenth part of it. 

I feel like I have been waiting forever-waiting for the rain. And as of now I still don’t see even a small cloud rising up above the sea. 

But I have to keep my hopes high and wait some more, remembering that Elijah had to asked his servant seven times. And I have to wait patiently like they did, for in my heart I know it will rain, rain of blessings and abundance and answered prayers.


Praying that I will have my small cloud soon.

Top 10 - Winning By Not Quitting

Written by Harold Herring

10. Your destiny is determined by choice…not chance.

 9. God sees greater potential in us than we see in ourselves.

8. Whoever you’re talking to must be important as you’re trading part of your life for that conversation.

7. Winners are simply people who may have lost or failed but didn’t quit.

6. Who you are in Christ always overrides who people say you are.

 5. Purpose in your heart to do something today about your future. If you don’t…nobody else will.

4. Poverty steals more than your money…it robs you of your dreams, your future, your hope and your ability to bless those you love.

3. Obedience always brings rewards.

2. Be on time today…to your job…every appointment. Being late is a sign of disrespect. God is on time and we should be too.

1. If something’s not producing the results you desire. STOP IT…then ask God what you should be doing differently.

Blessed by God, Blessing others?

Galatians 6:9 – In Due Season

But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:20-21 ESV)

We very seldom view accumulating stuff as a barrier to serving others. Common sense would seem to say that if you possess more stuff then you have more with which to serve others. Jesus appeared to see this from a different perspective. In Luke 12 Jesus tells a parable of a rich man whose land is especially productive and has much more than he needs. The rich man comes to a simple conclusion that he will store up the blessings of God (Luke 12:18-19).

Jesus proceeds to tell His disciples (which hopefully includes you and me) that our lives should follow a radically different path rooted in living out His kingdom in the hear and now. Here’s Jesus’ radical conclusion of how that should look:

Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Luke 12:33-34 ESV)

As followers of Jesus, a big part of our mission (our reason for existing on this earth) is to be a glimpse of Jesus’ coming kingdom. Think of our life’s misson as being an appetizer for the amazing banquet that is to come (check out this parable too Luke 14:12-24). Jesus seems to repeatedly say that our desire to hold on to the stuff of this world creates a big barrier to us living out this mission…

Here’s a few thoughts on why:

The more stuff we have, the more we want more stuff. Consumerism is addictive. Our natural tendency is to pursue the bigger, nicer, better, fancier ____________.

The more stuff we have, the more we want to hold on to our stuff. Somehow our stuff easily becomes the source of our security and satisfaction. Our hearts have the capacity to turn almost anything into an idol.

The more stuff we have, the more our stuff becomes the desire of our hearts. We often think that wherever our heart is that our treasure (money & resources) will follow. Jesus says it’s the other way around (Luke 12:34).

The more stuff we have, the more of our time and energy it requires. Just check out our calendars. A lot of time is spent keeping up our nice stuff rather than sacrificially serving others.

The more stuff we have, the more it insulates us from the needs of others. Everyone (both wealthy and poor) has needs, but all too often pursuing bigger better stuff removes us from intersecting with those in need.

Does God choose to bless some with larger houses, nicer cars, and more resources? Certainly. Does God lead some Jesus-followers to reach out to the wealthy with the good news of Jesus? Of course… BUT here’s the big bottom line: If God blesses us with a lot of stuff , it’s so we can be a blessing to others and become a glimpse of His kingdom in the midst of a messed up world.

How is God leading you to use your resources to bless others in need around you?

source : shortdailydevotions.com

JHOW is 2!

2 years of God's goodness, mercy and faithfulness :) We are having a celebration on June 12..you are all invited!

When things go wrong

I got this on my email yesterday. I hope we can all learn from it too...

5 Things To Do When Life Is Going Wrong

by: LaRae Quy

My first job out of college was in a fancy department store where I was quickly promoted to Buyer—but then my career stalled. For years I languished in the same dead-end job and soon my confidence ebbed away until I could no longer see a way out of my rut.

I had originally thought being a fashion buyer would be glamorous, but it didn’t take long to realize the position was nothing but a dog’s breakfast of whatever junk Headquarters didn’t want on their plate. I was a glorified clerk with a paycheck that ranked alongside those in poverty. I hated my circumstances so much that I contemplated suicide. Even that seemed a loser’s way out—the walls of my life had crumbled and I was left with the ruins.

 

When life gets really tough, my go-to book is the Old Testament text of the Bible.

These folks understood hardship! There I found a compelling story of a Jewish man named Nehemiah who was cup-bearer to the King of Persia almost five hundred years before the birth of Christ.  After learning that the walls of Jerusalem had broken down, Nehemiah asked for permission to return and rebuild them. So the King sent Nehemiah back as governor to complete this mission. As I read these verses, I realized and Nehemiah was an expert on rebuilding. He was also an expert in mental toughness.

 

Here are 5 things I learned from Nehemiah about what to do when things go wrong: 

1. GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO SHED A FEW TEARS

The first thing Nehemiah did when the desolation of Jerusalem came to his attention was to grieve. He “weeps and prays for days” showing his intense concern.

Do you have a problem worthy of your attention and energy? Pay close attention to where your heart is broken so you can start doing something positive and constructive to change it.

You will never rebuild the walls of your life until you give yourself permission to properly grieve for what you have lost.  

Remember that there are two kinds of pain: pain that hurts and pain that changes you. 

When you roll with life, instead of resisting it, both kinds help you grow.

2. TAKE A LONG, HARD LOOK AT THE MESS YOU’RE STANDING IN

Nehemiah took a long, hard look at the rubble that surrounded him. You will never build the walls of your life until you have first truly noticed the ruins. Have you ever taken a good look at what has gone wrong in your own situation? 

If you are mentally tough, you can look at the ruins and see where to pick up the pieces and move on. Once you do, you will see not only the devastation but the possibilities as well. 

This could mean spending time in solitude, but solitude makes great things possible because it gives you the space you need to focus on your potential. 

If things are good right now, enjoy it; it won’t last forever.  If things are bad, don’t worry; it won’t last forever either. 

3. THAT FIRST STEP CAN BE A KILLER

When Nehemiah comes back to Jerusalem he doesn’t rush out and get everyone excited about the new project. Instead, he rose at night when no one else was around and surveyed the ruins. 

He made an accurate assessment of the situation and then began to make plans for a comeback. He spent time preparing both his head and heart. You need to do the same:

• Be cautious and start slow
• Take an honest survey of the situation
• Take note on what needs to be done.
• Develop a strategy before you start.

4. STOP COVERING WOUNDS WITH BANDAIDS AND START HEALING INSTEAD

As a child, I loved to show my scars to whomever was interested in learning about my exploits. I was proud of them because the adventure that produced the wound had usually been fun and always fulfilling.

Scars are not injuries; they are wounds that have healed.

Even as a kid I knew that scabs need to be left uncovered so they could get better. Keeping them hidden underneath a bandaid was only a temporary fix.

At some point, we become ashamed of scars and wounds because they represent hurts and failures that overshadow the thrill of pushing our boundaries and taking a risk. Nehemiah was confronted with hostility and assaults as he began rebuilding, but he wore his scars like the tattoo of a warrior who has been inside the ring and lived to tell the tale.

Be proud of your scars because you emerged even stronger than you were before. They indicate you have experienced pain, conquered it, learned a lesson, and moved on when things went wrong.

5. GET VERY CLEAR ON WHAT YOU REALLY WANT

Nehemiah had a clear plan; it only took fifty-two days to rebuild the walls surrounding Jerusalem!

When things go wrong it is merely an opportunity to test your determination on how much you want something. It doesn’t take a lot of mental toughness to pursue the easy stuff that falls your way, but if you really want something, despite failure and rejection, chances are good your heart is in it as well.

This is a fact of life: struggles are not found along life’s path; they are life’s path. The sooner you come to peace with this, the better. Once you find that path, however, there is no better feeling in the world than following the journey of your heart.

Do not be afraid to get back up when things go wrong—keep trying, and eventually you will find a path that leads toward your goals. It may not be the path you originally envisioned, but it will take you where you need to go.

What does it mean to rebuild the walls of your life? What’s something positive you try to keep in mind when everything seems to be going wrong?

Psalm 86 : A prayer of David

¹ Hear me, Lord, and answer me,

    for I am poor and needy.
² Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;
    save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; ³ have mercy on me, Lord,
    for I call to you all day long.
⁴ Bring joy to your servant, Lord,
    for I put my trust in you.

⁵ You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
    abounding in love to all who call to you.
⁶ Hear my prayer, Lord;
    listen to my cry for mercy.
⁷ When I am in distress, I call to you,
    because you answer me.

⁸ Among the gods there is none like you, Lord;
    no deeds can compare with yours.
⁹ All the nations you have made
    will come and worship before you, Lord;
    they will bring glory to your name.
¹⁰ For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
    you alone are God.

¹¹ Teach me your way, Lord,
    that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
    that I may fear your name.
¹² I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
    I will glorify your name forever.
¹³ For great is your love toward me;
    you have delivered me from the depths,
    from the realm of the dead.

¹⁴ Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;
    ruthless people are trying to kill me—
    they have no regard for you.
¹⁵ But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
    slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
¹⁶ Turn to me and have mercy on me;
    show your strength in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
    just as my mother did.
¹⁷ Give me a sign of your goodness,
    that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
    for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

New International Version (NIV) 

Worship HIM!

Image from Instagram

Our newest nephew :)

Hello world :) let us all welcome the newest addition to our family..my very cute nephew :)
He was born May 6, 2014.

Isn't he adorable? Those cute little feet..I so love to kiss them.

Obedience is better than sacrifice

These photos were taken last Sunday :) our friend Andrew took it and posted on his facebook page with this message : "Thank you Ptr. Rudolf Abadiano for the great and powerful message last sunday! Indeed Obedience is better than Sacrifice. Keep it up bro!"

It's very seldom that Rudolf preach in our church because I believe he is not a preacher but a worship leader. But I am so blessed to see him share the word in the pulpit also once in a while. Often times I get anxious and worried about him speaking in front of our congregation but I let go and let God.

Nevertheless, hearing him speak last Sunday makes me one proud wife. Feels like I have beautiful revlon hair hehe! I praise God for my husband's life, for being available for HIM wherever He needs him, for choosing to obey the Lord and be His servant. It's all worth it.

Glory to God!