The Gift of Giving

       I have come across a story that seems like a fairy tale but truly happened in the early 90s during the Bosnian war. It would remind you of an old fairy tale about a golden fish caught by a poor fisherman who begged to free him since he was actually a prince. When the wife of the poor fisherman was told of his experience, she asked her husband to return and make a wish to the golden fish for them to be free from poverty. Though a disaster happened later in the fairy tale, the true story I have read is in a way different since the blessings given to the family are intact.

      This true story began in the northwestern village of Jezero, before the outbreak of the Bosnian War. A father named Smajo Malkoc returned from a trip in Austria bringing with him a gift of an aquarium with two goldfish for his two teenage sons. Two years later, women and children fled but the men stayed back to resist the attack of Bosnian Serb forces. Smajo Malkoc was killed and his wife, Fehima, sneaked into the destroyed village, secretly buried his husband, and took whatever remains she could get off their belongings. Fehima took pity on the fish in the aquarium and she let them out in the nearby lake saying to herself, "This way, they might be more fortunate than us."

      Later in 1995, Fehima returned with his two sons to their home. Looking toward the lake, she glimpsed something strange on the lake and walked over to the shore to find out. She found out that the whole lake was full of shining golden fish. From then on, they started caring for and selling the goldfish, and 3 years after, the Malkoc house is one of the biggest in their village. The Malkoc family said they have enough money to quit worrying about the future. According to one of the sons, it was a special kind of gift from their father. 

       The father took the initiative of giving the gift of goldfish to his two sons, then the mother follows by giving the gift of freedom and life to the two goldfish by letting them to the lake during the war, thus, life underwater flourished and the gift of hope and new life had come to the Malkoc family after the war. Homes, stores, and coffee shops all over the region had their aquariums with goldfish from Jezero. This story is a good example of giving and receiving that the gift of love or an act of kindness, no matter how small or insignificant it may be, God blesses and uses it to accomplish and fulfill great things. "Give, and it will be given unto you" (Luke 6:38). We should not doubt that God can take whatever we offer Him and turn it into something magnificent. Amid chaos and trouble, God's grace is relentless, and his kingdom is flourishing even though life on the surface is full of trouble and strife. 

How Big is GOD?

The prophet Isaiah certainly was captivated by the greatness of God...and I am too...as He is far bigger than the limited mind can conceive...

Do you not know?
   Have you not heard?
Has it not been told to you from the beginning?
   Have you not understood since the earth was founded?
He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth,
   and its people are like grasshoppers.
He stretches out the heavens like a canopy,
   and spreads them out like a tent to live in.

"To whom will you compare me?
   or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.
Lift your eyes and look to the heavens;
   who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one,
   and calls them each by name.
Because of His great power and mighty strength,
   not one of them is missing.

Do you not know?
   Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
   the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
   and His understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
   and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
   and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
   will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
   they will run and not grow weary,
   they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:21,22,25,26,28-31 

As I was reading these passages, I am really awed by His Greatness..amazed by all His Creations, from detailed landscapes and shaped mountains to deep oceans to large continents to the vast formation of galaxies...yes, the Creator of a big wide world,  is greater than its creation, and yet sometimes I fail to remember that He is also Bigger than life, Bigger than my sadness, Bigger than my problems.. so I have to keep on reading it again and again... try it yourself if you feel your strength is leaving you to carry and move on because HE is Bigger that He can cover me, you, the universe.. entirely!..that is.. my God.

The Three Great Men of Israel: What We Could Learn From Them

     During my attendance at a post-encounter study of the Bible, we had a short discussion about temptations. It came to my mind the irony of how these three of the many great people of God faced decisions or choices they had made. What they did and how they managed with their trials.   Joseph, the so-called the dreamer for he had dreamt of his future and interpreted the dreams of other people including that of a Pharaoh. Samson was a man of strength that had killed a lion and three thousand men. King David, who was at a young age killed a giant with his sling and through faith in God. All these men have shown great faith in God and undergone trials that could teach each one of us a lesson.

     Joseph, son of Jacob by Rachel, his favorite among his 12 children, was sold as a slave by his own brothers. He was brought to Egypt and became a trusted servant of the Minister of defense. The wife of the minister seduced him but he knew that it was wrong in the eyes of the  Lord and he ran away from her. But then he was still instigated for the crime he did not commit. He was imprisoned, interpreted dreams, and became one of the ministers of Pharaoh. When the time came for Joseph to meet his brothers again who had sold him, he forgave them and realized that it should happen to save the people of Israel from a great famine.

     Samson, a Nazirite set apart from God since birth, was put under a special consecration governed by the Nazirite (meaning separated or dedicated) vow. No razor would ever be used in his head and great strength was upon him. God had apparently planned to provide Samson with unbelievable superhuman strength to be used against the Philistines. As Samson had grown, he seemed to lack the concern about Philistines' oppressive domination of Israel. Samson even tried to blend into their lustful and perverted society and married a Philistine much to the dismay of his disapproving parents. Sex is the bane of many a man and Samson didn’t resist its pull. He frequented harlots and seemed bent on following the destructive pulls of his flesh. One mistake after another-one loose woman to the next-that was the path Samson took during his twenty-year judgeship in Israel. He had been largely faithful to his Nazirite vow and at times made an effort to serve God, but his desire for Philistine women was his undoing. Unlike Joseph, he dabbles in the things around him, that later slipped him away from God's favor. He had revealed the secret of his strength to a woman he loved due to her frequent prodding. It was too late for Samson to realize his mistakes. The Philistines had gouged out his eyes, bind him in chains, fastened him to a grinding wheel in a dark prison, and made him grind grain like an ox, stepping in his own manure and continuous abuse from his captors.

      King David, had great faith in God. Fighting the giant of Philistine with a mere slingshot he killed it. He knew that God would help him to fight. David's faith in God caused him to look at the giant from a different perspective. Goliath was merely a mortal man defying an all-powerful God. David looked at the battle from God's point of view. But what made him fall?..he coveted the wife of one of his armies. He had caused the death of this man, Urriah the Hittite by putting him on the frontline to be killed. At his death, King David had his wife brought to his house and became his wife. The Lord was displeased with what he had done, so God sent Nathan to tell King David that he dishonored God in what he had done and that God would bring trouble into his household as a consequence of what he did. King David later asked for forgiveness for the things he did. Realizing what he had done David repented of his sin and asked God to restore him.

     What we could learn from these three great men?.. Run away from temptation, and make a stand against doing it as Joseph did. His life became a blessing for following God. The Egyptian Pharaoh had him as the second-in-command. He was able to save Israel and Egypt from the great famine of seven years. And one more thing, he forgave his brothers for what they had done. Joseph had thought that his brothers who sold him as slaves to Egypt were a purpose of God for a great job he would partake in saving His people.

     What we could learn from these three great men?.. Do not conform to the ways of the world. Seek the Lord's will, do the purpose you have been created for as Samson had not done. Always remember that sex or lust of the flesh is one of the primary sins that could take us down. Giving in to the desire of our flesh more than the desire to do the right thing might bring us to our own destruction, our miserable life, or a sad end.

      What we could learn from these three great men?.. Realize your mistakes as early as possible. It is better to be convicted by our own conscience rather than be convicted by other people. Heed what your brothers in Christ or elders are saying. To realize is not well enough if you haven't confessed and asked for God's grace and mercy to forgive you. As King David had done, he realized his mistakes right away as God sent a prophet to rebuke him, he asked for God's forgiveness, and he restored his faith and joy of his salvation unto God. Though David's wrongdoing as a consequence led to the chaos of his own household, God's grace and mercy were upon him. He was faithful to God, nonetheless, God had chosen David's line from whom HIS only Son would be born.
     In all of our trials/temptations, we could do as Joseph did, literally run away and do what was right. Though Samson was able to realize his mistakes and have his thoughts toward God before he died, he had lived a miserable life under his enemies. I am sure no one wanted to have a fall. There are consequences for everything that we do. For every temptation that we encounter, the decision is ours to make and it's better to say no. In all stances that we have fallen, God is there to forgive us, His grace and mercy can be counted on. King David, when rebuked by the prophet Nathan for the sin he had committed and as commanded by God, asked numerous forgiveness in the Scripture. Through it all, God had restored him but still, the consequences of what he did might be unbearable for a man without faith in God and King David was a man of faith. So, it's better to run away and keep our focus on the truth and the loving arms of God...

Our Father..How Great is His Love

     

image credits to hallow.com

    Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom comes, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.... a line of praise for our Great Father who founded the family, who gave up His Son for us to be saved.

 "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him." (John 3:16-17, NIV). 

     The heartbreak He had felt when He provided salvation for us. The decision of giving up His only Son to suffer the mocking of the crowd. Every lash and pain, every weight and humiliation of our sin, the agony of being alone and abandoned....the Father's heart was deeply pained. Yet to save us all, He let it be so that whenever we believe in the reason that His only Son had died for us and risen victoriously, we have a right to be His child and call Him Our Father.

     He is there looking at us, seeing how we grow...teaching us...He knows every bit of us...He understands...He is there waiting for us...

     

The Cross

'Ants are crossing through a stick leading to the water. A child noticed that the ants might get drowned, so he was shouting at them. "Hey, ants, don't go there! You might get drowned, go back!" He keeps shouting at them then came his father and said, "my son, they would not understand you. You are human, they are ants. You should be one of the ants so they would be able to understand you.' 

This short story tells us that God the Son was to be like us for us to be understood and for us to understand Him. So we could be saved just as he wanted us to be saved.

The cross where Jesus was crucified took on a new significance whereas before, the cross had been used as an instrument of torture and death in Babylon and Rome. On the cross, Jesus Christ shed His blood as God wanted to rescue us from the dominion of darkness and for Jesus to bring us into His kingdom. On the cross, we have redemption, the forgiveness of our sins. 

Before, we were enemies of God because of our evil behavior, but now He has reconciled us by Christ's physical body through death to present us holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusations. We have to know, understand and believe what Jesus did for us on the cross. We must humbly come to Him in faith. All our efforts are nothing but Jesus' work is everything, His work on the cross as He declared "it is finished." When it's done we receive full forgiveness of our sins.

The cross of Christ is the bridge between man and God. 

When Jesus breathe His last breath, the curtain of the temple was torn from top to bottom. For many years before Jesus' death, the most sacred place on earth had been the temple, where the presence of God dwelled behind a thick curtain. Only one person a year, the high priest, was allowed to pass by that curtain and enter the presence of God on one day, the Day of Atonement. At the death of Jesus Christ, the temple curtain ripped from top to bottom, signifying that God had opened his presence to the world through the cross of Jesus.

 " Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (NIV John 14:6)

Mercy...Not Sacrifice

     Reading the book of Matthews, I have come across one of Jesus' statements that do have an impact on me as a Christian, "I desire mercy not sacrifice" (Matthews 9:13&12:7). Jesus said these words when He heard what the Pharisees had asked His disciples about why He was eating with the tax collectors and sinners. On another occasion, the Pharisees condemn Jesus for allowing His disciples to pick some grains on the field and eat them during the Sabbath. At first, I thought, Jesus was talking about for people to show or feeling mercy on Him than giving their sacrifices. Upon researching, I thought I was wrong and also found out that somehow I may be correct.
      In the context of what Jesus has stated, he said those words when the Pharisees had asked questions that might be caught Him unaware (as the Pharisees had thought). For that matter, Jesus answered that it is not healthy who need a doctor, it is sick. Jesus told His people to go and find out what it means that He desires mercy and not sacrifice. Jesus also cited what David did when they were hungry, eating the consecrated bread which is unlawful for them to do and yet they are innocent. In a simple explanation, what I understood from the searches I have found, Jesus doesn't need our sacrifices if it isn't done in true devotion and faith and in love. Our sacrifices meant nothing if we don't have love. It was like, we are working all day making sacrifices for our parents, kids,  or siblings and yet we are just doing it because it is our responsibility and obligation to do so but we don't have love, all our sacrifices would be in vain. We will not be happy and contented doing all these things.

    Jesus said "I desire mercy not sacrifice" because he wanted His people to do what He has done, showing mercy for the sinners, for the lost soul, and for the broken spirit. Forgiveness for those who offended us, not being judgmental to other people, being considerate, and being sensitive to the needs of our fellows are what Jesus desires for us to do. Jesus had offered His life so He could save the sinners, find the lost soul, and heal the broken spirit. All these things Jesus had done because He loves us.  Following His example, Jesus desires for us to do His work, to make sacrifices out of love. I may be true to what I had thought first, that Jesus needs to feel that we love Him than giving our sacrifices for Him. For if we do love Him, what we have done to other people, we have done it unto Him. Follow His example and our sacrifices will not be in vain.

Ease Your Loneliness

     Many people if not some are lonely. They build walls instead of bridges. That very same thing has happened to me. Trials of life and discouragement from people whom I have trusted. I stopped talking to people and go out. I have my own world then. But then I realized, I still have some that left of me and I should be happy that I have them..my kids...and truly, they are my treasures. They have kept praying for me until I decided to go back to where I have grown up as a Christian, my Church, my Christian home. 

     Being lonely is not the end of the world but a way to understand other people who are undergoing the same situation, thus, the opportunity to reach out and find encouragement for each other. Through this blog, I hope I can reach out to many people by sharing these thoughts and discover how these three actions can help to ease our loneliness.  Dave Branon of "Our Daily Bread" correlated them with verses in the Bible. 

1) Learn contentment. Read Philippians 4:10-13, then ask God to help you to depend on Him each day and to learn to be content in any situation.

     "I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last, you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength."

2) Do good for someone. Read Hebrews 13:1-3, then look for someone in need of help. You will get rid of loneliness for both of you.

     "Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering."

3) Worship with God's people. Read Hebrews 10:21-25 which emphasizes the value of worshiping with other believers, Find someone with whom you can praise God. 

     "...and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. and let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

     These actions will redirect your thinking and remind you that when you know God you are never alone. Lean on Jesus for contentment. 

     If you feel lonely and alone, feel free to talk to me. ('',)





#loneliness #alone #God #christian 

7 Things That We Can Do In Discovering God's Will

  

   
     According to Joanie Yoder, one of the writers in "Our Daily Bread", a daily devotional guide, some people love to serve God, but they don't know what to do. The best way to discover God's specific will for your life is to obey His clearly revealed will. There she enumerates a list of how God wants us to live and what He wants us to do.

1) Love and pray for your enemies.

     "But I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."  - Matthew 5:44 (NIV)

2) Walk by faith and not by sight.

     "We live by faith, not by sight." - 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV)

3) Love God by enduring temptation.

     "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial because when he has  stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him." - James 1:12 (NIV)

4) Serve one another.

     "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love." - Galatians 5:13 (NIV)

5) Lay up treasures in heaven.

     "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." - Matthew 6:19-20 (NIV)

6) Share the gospel with the lost.

     "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." -  Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

7) Exercise your spiritual gifts.

     "We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully." - Romans 12:6-8 (NIV)

The Promise

These are the promises that God has given us and in turn can be our guide to love, to guide, and to say to our spouses. Love them as God loves us unconditionally.

1. He has promised He will never leave you. Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)...say:" Dear, I promised not to leave you just as God will never leave me.."
Can you say this to your spouse, and truly mean it as God means it toward you?

2. He is always thinking only the best about you. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. (Psalm 139:17-18)...say: "Dear, I am always thinking only the best about you!"
Can you say that your mind is always filled with only good thoughts about your spouse?

3. He is gentle toward you when you’re broken. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”  (Psalm 147:3) ..say: "I will be gentle toward you if you're broken.."
Are you gentle toward your spouse even when he/she is angry or unlovable – which is how he/she often responds when he/she is hurt?

4. He promises nothing will ever come between the two of you. (Nothing) will be able to separate us from the love of God... (Romans 8:39) ..say: Dear, I promise nothing will ever come between the two of us.."
Are there any conditions or exceptions in your mind when it comes to loving your spouse?  Is there something in the back of your mind that he/she could do that would end it for the two of you? God holds none of those reservations about you. He has promised nothing – that includes nothing you can do – will ever come between you and God. Can you say the same to your spouse?

5. He delights in you, quiets you with His love, and sings over you. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)...say: "Dear, I delight in you, quiet you with my love, and sing over you.."
Can you delight in your spouse and rejoice over him/her, simply because of who he/she is – one who is loved by his Heavenly Father and by you? Think about the joy and comfort you have, knowing God feels that way about you. Now, what would it add to your spouse’s life if he/she knew you truly delighted in him/her?

As I am typing all these, I am thinking if I could do that, and thinking if he could do that. Easier said than done, but with a determination to save my long ailing marriage and with God beside me, I pray that it's all done. I am holding on to what God said..what He has joined together, let no man separate. It is my decision to love him even before we got married, still, do when things get rough. Maybe he didn't know that even with his imperfections I have love.
God has taught me many things, the hard way. Nobody knows. I may be seen as strong but it is because I have God and He is with me since the time I was born. I never questioned God for everything He has done, it is because God has given us..me..something ..a gift.. to conquer it all, to serve our purpose.
I assure you guys, God will never give us what we cannot bear and it is the other way around, God has given us those trials because He knew we could surpass it through the gift, the skills He has given us. I just do hope to inspire everyone who reads it...(",) May God bless you...

Acknowledgment to http://www.crosswalk.com

Bible Quotes About Our MOther

What does the Bible say about a MOTHER? ..In celebration of mother's day, I'm writing some Bible quotes about our beloved mother. Read and meditate on it. Happy Mother's day to all MOMs...

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my MOTHER's womb." - Psalm 139:13 (NIV)

     Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. (2) “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), (3) “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” - Ephesians 6:1-3 (ESV)

"Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, (9) for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck." - Proverbs 1:8-9 (ESV)

"My son, keep your father’s commandment and forsake not your mother’s teaching. (21) Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck. (22) When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you." - Proverbs 6:20-22 (ESV)

The Proverbs of Solomon. "A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother." - Proverbs 10:1 (ESV)


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#mothersday #mothers #Biblequotes