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)

Our Boracay Tour

     Kinda late to write about our Boracay tour, but since we just came from the Cebu tour a week ago, I can't stop comparing the two places and what we experienced in the previous one.

     The thought of boarding a plane really excites us, especially for a mom who would give her kids a taste for the first time traveling through the plane. I got 4 kids but only the 2 of them were with me on our Boracay tour. Excited since it is our first, we would be able to see Manila lights from above since our flight is at 5:20am, the seas, the clouds..and how does it feel when the plane is about to take off.
     We have a smooth journey and from Kalibo airport, somebody was waiting for us to take us to Caticlan, which is part of the promo package I had bought from an Ensogo deal. An hour of travel lulled us to sleep later we have to board a ferry boat to take us to the island of Boracay. Another ride was waiting to take us to our accommodation tour package in Patio Pacific Hotel Boracay. I would say if u want a more quiet place to stay, not too far from the beach hub and free from the loud music of bars and restaurants, choose this one. Secured, cozy rooms with wi-fi and cable tv, great dishes as well as friendly staff, and affordable rates.

     With our accommodation, daily breakfast is included on buffet plus...free one lunch and dinner. On our 1st day, we decided to have our lunch outside a hotel in D'Mall rather than take the free lunch. Since it would be harder for us to find a restaurant for dinner, we had availed of our free dinner on our 1st night there and exchanged our free lunch for another dinner on our 2nd night. While eating, the kids and I kept thinking about their eldest and youngest siblings (I am with my 2nd and 3rd kids) who were left behind as suggested by their father. With all the menu being served, we can't stop thinking if they are there too. The food servings and the staff and crew at Patio Pacific Hotel Boracay are worth our dime. Php 8888, 3days 2 nights with round trip transfer from Kalibo to Caticlan, free daily breakfast, one lunch, one dinner for 2 and you can bring along one child below 10 years old for free.

Boracay, November 2011

     What would enchant a visiting tourist in Boracay? What I love in Boracay is the white fine sand, swimming with small fishes even near the shore, the hotel accommodation, the freshwater pearls, different people from different places and cultures, a  no inhibition zone (you can even walk on the beach and the national road on two-piece or bareback without intimidation). Visiting this place is worth your trip.

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 Boracay Views

Wonderful Opportunities

Life is full of opportunities, but they say opportunity knocks once. As I am reading a lesson on Pre-encounter to an Encounter with God, opportunities are in abundance. It changes my outlook on opportunities. As long as we live, we could have these opportunities, the four wonderful opportunities that would change us ...

1) The Encounter Opportunity

This struck me the most..no matter how far we have strayed from God, we can STOP right now and TURN BACK to Him. Remember the story of the prodigal son? The son made the decision to return to his father's house looking for a second chance. (Luke 15:11-20), we can do the same thing by deciding to have an encounter with our Father God. Anyone ...ANYONE .. who desires to have an encounter with God CAN do so. God is always close to us, as close as the air we breathe."We are His offspring"(Acts 17:27-28).

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." - Jeremiah 29:13

2) The Reconciliation Opportunity

We can have true reconciliation with anyone if we recognize our sins, and our faults and ask for forgiveness. The same thing with our God, ACKNOWLEDGING our sins, REPENTANCE and ASKING for His forgiveness, and RENOUNCING all the evil we have committed. When we do this, God stretches forth His merciful hand toward us. 1 John 1:9 assures us: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and purify us from all unrighteousness. Just like the prodigal son, seeing his fallen condition he decided to come back so as not to stay in that condition and take the risk to find a new opportunity. An opportunity to be in his father's place once again.

"I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against You. I am no longer worthy to be called Your son; make me like one of your servant men." - Luke 15:18-19

3) The Restoration Opportunity

As to how an old painting is being restored by its painter, a new set of coloring kits is being dabbed in and a time spent to bring back its natural and original beauty, God does it to His sons. All of our sins deserve punishment, but God allowed His Son Jesus Christ to take our place and pay for our sins. Just like the father in the prodigal son, he decided to restore his lost son's dignity when he came back and ask for his forgiveness. He ordered a fattened calf to be a sacrifice in honor of his son's return. 

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this; while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8

4) The Provision Opportunity

As children of God, we have all the privileges that we could enjoy. God considers us His dear children, making us participants of the same riches and glory as Jesus Christ. Once, we had lost these privileges because of sin. Coming back to Him, He dresses us in the best garments, puts the best shoes on us, and gives us the ring that represents the authority we now enjoy as His children and heirs. God treats us as His beloved children.

"Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God." - John 1:12

In general, when there is an opportunity, there will be an encounter a new task, a new life. Opportunities would open a new door to a new beginning. Specifically, these opportunities are always available to us, life-changing opportunities, to begin with.

When You Are Hopeless..

image credits to thegoodbook.com/blog/ministry-blogs

I've chanced upon to watch this video...what I could say is.."Oh my God!"..these are people who seem hopeless but managed to survive despite their disabilities. I thought of my 5-year-old daughter who wouldn't be able to walk, because of a congenital defect. I am hoping for her...Hoping to see the day she could walk or excel in everything she does despite her disabilities, despite what she went through and what she will encounter as she grows up..and for all the people out there, watch this video, with courage and determination and God's help, nothing is impossible...

Hoping is believing...Believe even when others don't. Believe even against the darkness all around. Believe even when it is impossible. Believing is having faith...And we have a BIG GOD to have a BIG FAITH..(",)

#faith #hope #hopeless #believe #nothingisimpossible

The New Year And New Hope

 

Image credits to commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:
Gate_into_Forest_Reserve._Rancho_Naturalista_-_Flickr_-_gailhampshire.jpg

"The Gate of the Year"

GOD KNOWS

- Minnie Louise Haskins (1908)

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night.
And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.

So heart bestill: 

What needs our little life  

Our human life to know,  

If God hath comprehension? 

In all the dizzy strife  

Of things both high and low,  

God hideth His intention.

God knows. 

His will Is best. 

The stretch of years  

Which wind ahead, so dim  

To our imperfect vision,  

Are clear to God. 

Our fears  

Are premature; 

In Him, All time hath full provision.

Then rest: until God moves to lift the veil  

From our impatient eyes,  

When, as the sweeter features  

Of Life’s stern face we hail,  

Fair beyond all surmise  

God’s thoughts around His creatures  

Our minds shall fill. 
---------

This poem became popular and caught the attention of many people when Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother) handed a copy of it to her husband, King George VI, and used it as one inspirational quote in his Christmas Broadcast in 1939. God Knows is the original title given by the author but it is popularly known as Gate of the Year.

It has also caught my attention as it was a part of our family devotion before the turns of the year.  (Using some of my devotional pieces from my subscription in  crosswalk is really a blessing, authored by different remarkable Christians who stood by their faith.) This poem is a think tank on what lights can do to move in the darkness, to see what is known, to see what lies ahead this new year..and yet the most that we can do is to sink our hands deeply to God so He would light and lead us into the path of the unknown. 
"He who trusts in the Lord will be exalted," (Proverbs 29:25) Nothing is better if we could light our path by following His words yet there is more than reading it...if we could hold on to Him knowing He wouldn't lead us astray... so whatever the struggles that we have left behind, a new hope for this new year is to keep holding on to His promises, trusting God, and let Him lead us.

And as we make the turn to a new year, a face that needs and sink our hand more deeply into God's hand. Pray for one another that as we embark upon a new year, God will grant us and our family His favor. 

Unto us a Son is given, Unto us a Child was born

Who has heard the real Christmas story? It isn't the fat man in a red suit that we always know giving kids gifts on Christmas eve, it isn't some guys who are singing carol songs and handling you a small, white envelope, it isn't the shopping spree that we do during the 'ber' months making us tired and cash strapped after it...Christmas story is about a young virgin who was engaged to a carpenter and yet even though she conceived a child by the power of the Holy Spirit, the carpenter took her as his wife. It is about a couple who were told by God to go even if the woman is heavy on her pregnancy, asking for a room to stay in and to give birth. Christmas story was about a baby named Jesus, born in a manger, visited and praised by shepherds and wise men from the East. Christmas is Jesus Christ who saves His people from sin. The only begotten Son who was given to us for us to have eternal life

We don't know the exact date of His birth, but one thing is sure... once in this world a Father has given His Son to save us, a child was born in a lowly stable though he is great to give us hope in the face of uncertainty...

#Christmas #Son #God #JesusChrist

The Day It Started Once Again..Does It End Once Again?

The capture of the moment once again repeats itself..after a year and a half. She cherished the moment that they had been together, praying what has been started would be preserved if God wills for it. She did not know what he was thinking about it then.
A year and a half had passed, and a prominent restaurant had been a witness to two people wanting to take another chance..they were eating when the Big sister had passed by, they looked at each other and smiled.. reading between the lines... He accompanied her that time when she was looking for a finer pair of shoes. Soon, the dark sky needs to go... there was this rehearsal for a musical night to celebrate His coming...they went...

..on their way on a hub cab drive he holds her hand seizing the moment to behold her beauty, capturing the time to promise a better stance this time. It started from then on..to cherish once again the time they have shared, to patronize the gift that He has given ..to start once again for a more nurtured stance..asking to fill in all the shortcomings, promising to have given it more importance..it started that day..that day was "today"(click here)...does he remember?

She did not see it coming nor he knew what it is... the turmoil.. they see it ends the moment..does He approve it? or will He cease that moment for a better one and just let this turmoil passes by?..or is it really meant for them to unhold and let go of each other?..nobody knows..only He knows what His plans are for them...