Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Proverbs 31 Woman

photos from google
I just want to share a chapter in Proverbs that we had talked about during a bridal shower I'd attended last December, 2012. 

It was not my first time hearing it. I actually read it many times already, but not really meditated on its meaning. 

A Proverbs 31 Woman is the standard of God. It is what our Heavenly Father wants us to be. It was way different from the standard that our world have. 


To be a Woman of Noble Character will be very difficult for us but  not impossible to achieve especially if we ask God to mould us to be like it.

The message was from one of our 'ate' in our church. Her name is Faith Tamayo. I see in her how it is possible to be a Proverbs 31 wife and mother.

Happy reading! 

Proverbs 31:10-31 ~ This chapter in the bible shows GOD's ideal wife and a mother.. and being able to share this on AM's bridal shower was a great opportunity and honor for me to be GOD's servant..

At first I was thinking to share 1 Corinthians 13, since this chapter is very much special for our soon to be bride (those who are close, and knows the story of Tom's proposal to her, will understand why.. lols!!), and then I prayed for GOD's guidance and wisdom, after 3 days before the bridal shower itself.. I had Proverbs 31 as my devotion, and as I read each verse, I felt GOD speaking to me, and molding me, and reminding me the importance of my role as a wife and as a mother, and then I realized why not share this one, and so I finally have a topic.. besides, who knows better of what will satisfy us, but GOD alone, the creator of everything.. and Proverbs 31 is the best role model of becoming the Ideal woman GOD wants every wife and mother to be.. ",)

Now what is an Ideal woman for you?? would that be a woman with a Pretty face?? Smart?? Talented?? with vital statistics of 36-24-36 or Coca-Cola body as they say??

As I read Proverbs 31:10-12 ~ 10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. 11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value 12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

This shows that a GOD's ideal wife is "Valuable" - This shows that to be submissive and supportive is very important.. and its not just on your first 2 yrs of marriage, GOD says "all the days of your life" ( I just added this now) what an example to follow.. and so wo
rking together with our husband to reach the goal and not against him, is very important..
>> Having twin boys is not easy as it looks.. (I know they look cute, my husband said, that's because they both look like him..lols!!) especially for a 1st time mom like me.. and when the time come, that my ML is soon to end.. my husband and I need to discuss things.. and that means me submitting to my husband, and giving up my career (I was a hotelier during that time), and for a woman like me who is used to be independent, I could have said all the excuses I could think of, and justifications like "Oh, I don't want to be a burden to you" "oh what will others say" "oh this is my dream, I just can't let it go like that" "I don't want to live a boring life, I want to be productive" and I thank the LORD for giving me wisdom and the right words to answer my husband, and that is simply saying "Okay.. I understand.. I am with you"

truly praying before you talk really helps.. its like having JESUS as your center.. and from that day, until today, I have no regret of choosing to be an intentional, hands on wife and a mom to my kids.. for I never felt so productive, and joyful, as I am today.. plus my life verse "Matthew 6:33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." that GOD keeps on reminding and guiding me, in every decision I make.. (let me add also, that is very important than when you marry someone, you know that you can submit to him, and that you are definitely ready to give up yourself and with GOD's help, yes we can be a Proverbs 31 wife)

and then I continue reading verse 15 to 27.. This shows that GOD's ideal wife is "Hard working"
>> each verse shows that she works hard at home.. and then I remember reading this, however the one who wrote it was not mentioned:

"Do you know what the most demanding job in the world is?? being a mother and a wife.. Think about it, a mother has to be a nurse, teacher, psychologist, dietician, housekeeper and chef.. etc" - Anonymous

which I agree.. for truly it takes hard work to build and maintain a family.. (so ladies.. don't get lazy when it comes to you own husband and kids.. for serving them, is serving yourself) ",)


as I continue reading verse 28-31- as a woman this part is what we like most, the feeling of being appreciated.. and GOD's ideal wife is "praised"..

Proverbs 31:28 -31 ~ 28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. 31 Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

>> if you are good and faithful wife and a mother, you don't have to say it to your kids and husband.. your husband and kids will be the one saying it to you, and will even be proud of saying it to others.. "My wife has a good heart, she takes good care of me" "Oh I can't wait to be home and see my wife" "My mom is a good mom" "I just want to be like my mom"

oh what a joy to hear it right?? besides, who knows you better, but your husband and kids.. and of course when others are inspired by your life, praises will follow you, as it said by GOD himself.. ",)



Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
10 [b]A wife of noble character who can find?
    She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
    and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
    all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
    and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
    bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
    she provides food for her family
    and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
    her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
    and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
    and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
    and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
    for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
    she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
    where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
    and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
    she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
    and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
    but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.







Tuesday, January 8, 2013

♥ Best Boyfriend ♥

I just wanna share something I wrote last  May 21, 2011, Saturday, at 5:34am... 


Hello my Prince. 

I hope you are well.

I am really excited to meet you. I always wonder what you will look like. Alam mo ba na kahit hindi pa kita nakikilala, I am already in love with you. 

4 years and I am happily waiting for you. I always have a conversation with Jesus about sayo.  Since waiting is hard, I use my time knowing and serving Jesus. I want na bago kita makilala, I already have a deep relationship with Him. I want to love Jesus more. Para pag dumating ka na sa life ko, yung love na nilagay ni Jesus sa heart ko, yung magrereflect sayo. I can love you because I love Jesus. Jesus would always be my first and true love and that I would continue to love and serve Him even na we’re together. I also dream na second love mo ako kasi like me, si Jesus din yung first love mo.

Lord God knows what is best for me, kaya pag nagkakilala na tayo, ikaw yung best boyfriend kasi God given ka. 



In my years of waiting, I seek and love God. God is my priority. Indeed God is faithful. He brought me to my future husband last December 09, 2012. I am so blessed and happy that I prayed and waited for my future husband. But more happy that I used my time loving God first.


Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.
~Psalms 37:4~


Saturday, November 3, 2012

Do Not Worry




Let us define first what is the meaning of the word WORRY.

According to Merriam Webster:
a. mental distress or agitation resulting from concern usually for something impending or anticipated
b. an instance or occurrence of such distress or agitation

Cause of worry : 

1. trouble
2. difficulty
3. struggle
4. problem

Based on the meaning given above, we could conclude that worrying can bring negative feeling, and stress. We could also say that it can affect our health and our well being. 

All of us worries, since all of us are thinking about our future and experiencing difficulties.

Last Oct. 24 to 31, worrying really attack me big time. My daddy was rush in the hospital because of dizziness and low blood pressure. Then he needed to be confined in the ICU. And our bill in the hospital was increasing. 

Those instances makes me really worried. Especially when I think about the amount we should settle when daddy would be discharge in the hospital.

But what God had done during those days was to remind me this verses in the Bible. It was like He is telling me not to worry about the hospital bills and my dad's sickness because through this event he will show me His power and love for me. All I need is to trust Him completely. 

You see, the more we worry, the more we are not trusting our Heavenly Father. That is why I think this verses was spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ because He knows that in our lifetime, we would experience worrying about the things that are happening in our lives. And this verses are to guide and remind us the importance of trusting Him with our all. 

Isn't it amazing how Jesus knows the things that we need? 


Matthew 6:25-34
New International Version (NIV)
Do Not Worry
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.



Friday, September 28, 2012

Matthew 6:33

My friend and I chatted last night, and as we talked about life and stuff, the Holy Spirit reminded me this verse.


Last youth summer camp, our camp speaker, told us that we people only see the promises in the Bible but haven't completely understand that before we have that promise, we need to seek God first with all of our heart, soul and mind. We need to love Him above anything else in this world. 

We were given a challenge to offer our lives, and dreams to Jesus. And aim to follow His example when He walked here on earth. 

It will be hard, and we will fail everyday, but the grace of God is always there to help us in our walk with Him. And the reward of following Jesus is far more greater than the sacrifices that we make.

Have a blessed day!



Thursday, September 6, 2012

Jesus Calms the Storm


23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”


Questions we should ask ourselves:

  • what kind of faith do we have on Jesus?
  • how far can we trust Him?
  • can we trust His way in the midst of the storm?

Let us follow Jesus example, He sleeps well  through  the storm not because He doesn't care, but because He trusted His Father of His life.

Recently, God puts me to a test. At first I do things my way even though I am asking God to teach me how I will handle the situation. God shows me the answer but I still insist on what my heart dictates me to do. I am really struggling whether I will follow my will or God's will. It is very hard because following God means I have to give up something that I think I want to hold. I have fears that if I let go of that thing there wouldn't be any chance for me to have it.

One night, as I have my quiet time, God shows me that even though I said i am trusting Him with my all, I am not doing it. Because of the fears that reside in my heart, it hinders me to trust Him completely and by not trusting Him completely I am bound to disobey Him. God also shows me the content of my heart. In my heart, my wants still prevail making me do selfish deeds. It breaks my heart to know this because I am breaking my Father's heart. Breaking His heart because I am not trusting Him completely and doubting about His power and His love for me.

That night, I made my decision. It was very hard but I know I am doing the right thing and that I am doing the will of my Heavenly Father. After I made the decision, I felt that a heavy load was lifted from my heart. I thought I am going to be sad but instead I am happy. Really, following God would not be easy, there would be a lot of sacrifices to make but the rewards are far greater than what we expect.

God also made me realized that I do not have to fear or be afraid. I just have to trust Him more. For He already have plans for my life.



Feel free to share how Jesus calms the storm in your life on the comment box below. Let's encourage one another by our experiences and by how God is working in our lives. :D

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Psalms 116


I love the Lordfor he heard my voice;
    he heard my cry for mercy. 
Because he turned his ear to me,
    I will call on him as long as I live.
The cords of death entangled me,
    the anguish of the grave came over me;
    I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
Then I called on the name of the Lord:
    Lord, save me! 
The Lord is gracious and righteous; 
    our God is full of compassion. 
The Lord protects the unwary;
    when I was brought low, he saved me.
Return to your rest, my soul,
    for the Lord has been good to you.
For you, Lord, have delivered me from death,
    my eyes from tears,
    my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before the Lord 
    in the land of the living.


A love letter from my love. Jesus really knows what I need. He reminds me that He is always with me. That I would always have Him when everything’s gone. He is my rock and my pillow.


Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Song of Solomon


When I first read this book, the first question that entered my mind is anong message ng book. For me ang weird ng mga words. Hindi ko na-grasp yung meaning ng text.
On one of our CGs, naging topic namin yung book of Song of Songs. Yung mga CG member ko hindi din nila gets yung context. For them, ang weird din nito. I told my CGs that I will study it so I could explain to them why God had included this book in the Bible.
As I studied and meditated the Song of Solomon, God revealed to me the following:
(Song of Solomon is a conversation between a bridegroom and bride. God is the bridegroom and we are the bride.)
1. How unworthy we are to be called His bride.
“Dark am I, yet lovely,
    daughters of Jerusalem,
dark like the tents of Kedar,
    like the tent curtains of Solomon.[c]Do not stare at me because I am dark,”
With the original sin that we had from our first parents plus our personal sins, we are like filthy rags. We are covered with darkness and are depraved.
“I slept but my heart was awake.
    Listen! My beloved is knocking:
“Open to me, my sister, my darling,
    my dove, my flawless one.
My head is drenched with dew,
    my hair with the dampness of the night.”
 I have taken off my robe—
    must I put it on again?
I have washed my feet—
    must I soil them again?”
God is already calling our names, already pursuing us, pero tayo pa yung ayaw sumagot sa tawag niya. He is knocking in our hearts but we won’t open it. Si God na yung gumagawa ng ways ayaw pa natin. Another thing why we are so unworthy of Him.
2. How God loves us.
“How beautiful you are, my darling!
    Oh, how beautiful!
    Your eyes are doves.”
Despite how we disobeyed our heavenly Father, He still loves us. Kahit gaanong katigas ang mukha natin, He still wants us to be with Him in His kingdom. He sent His son here on earth to be crucified and died for our sin just to save the people who are filthy and undeserving.
In this book, God also revealed His sweet side and how affectionate His words. And He longs to tell us those sweet lovely words.
“Like a lily among thorns
    is my darling among the young women.”
These are the words our hearts long for. A sweet, loving words from our Heavenly Prince. Imagine, Jesus is telling us that we are His precious darling, the one He loves. It is the most sweetest thing that we could hear.  Pero hindi natin nakikita or naririnig dahil we are occupied sa pagmamahal natin sa sarili natin.
3. How should we love God
"All night long on my bed
I looked for the one my heart loves;
I looked for him but did not find him.
I will get up now and go about the city,
through its streets and squares;
I will search for the one my heart loves.
So I looked for him but did not find him.
The watchmen found me
as they made their rounds in the city.
“Have you seen the one my heart loves?”
Scarcely had I passed them
when I found the one my heart loves.
I held him and would not let him go
till I had brought him to my mother’s
house,
to the room of the one who conceived me."
The woman search the one her hearts loves. Just like the woman in the book of Song of Solomon, we need to continue to seek God until our whole being loves Him. Meaning, lahat ng ginagawa natin is ang focus na is si God at hindi yung sarili natin.
"My beloved is radiant and ruddy,
outstanding among ten thousand."
The woman in the book, describes her love with a very sweet words. And she's so proud of her Lover. We should be like her, proud that we have Jesus in our hearts. Proclaiming our love for Him in our actions and words. Sharing what He had done on the cross.


I hope when you read this post, try to read the book of Song of Songs. And let God speak to your heart. :)



Tuesday, August 14, 2012

above average

To be an above average Christian for God we need: 


~our comrade group topic last Sunday~


Wednesday, August 1, 2012

My Life Verse

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.
                                                                                Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

 Why is this my life verse? Because...

  • This verse helps me to walk according to God's call. Whenever I am encountering struggles or problems and have to decide on what to do, God points me to this verse.
  • This verse let me see who should I seek to worship, and how to worship my Heavenly Father. 
  • This verse show me how God's grace and mercy works into my life.






Friday, July 27, 2012

Psalms 46:10


I just want to share this verse, which God always reminds me whenever I have worries and problems. 






Thursday, July 19, 2012

Hosea’s Unforgettable Experience


Text: Hosea 1; 3

Background:

Hosea is the last prophet before Assyria conquers Northern Israel. He prophesized in the last year of King Jeroboam II. He live in the Northern kingdom from 780 – 725 B.C.

Hosea’s letter is for the Northern Israel. Its purpose is to warn them about God’s wrath and punishment for them. Because during those years, the Israelites or the Northern kingdom, especially their kings, where doing evil things in the eyes of the Lord. Their sin specifically was worshiping idols. From the time the Israel were divided into Northern and Southern kingdom, the first king of the Northern kingdom already did evil things in the eyes of the Lord, then his successor inherited it, so was the people in that kingdom.

Lord God sends Hosea to tell the people in the Northern kingdom about their sins, their punishment and about God’s love.

In the book of Hosea, God uses metaphor of a relationship between a husband and an adulterous wife to communicate His message to His people.


Summary:

  • God said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself an adulterous wife”.
  • He married Gomer and bore him 3 children. He named his first born, Jezreel. Her daughter, Lo-Ruhamah. His youngest, Lo-Ammi.
  • After sometime, Gomer left Hosea to go back to her previous life.
  • God said to Hosea,”Go show your love to your wife again.”
  • Hosea bought Gomer back with 15 shekels of silver and a lethek of barley.
  • Hosea said to Gomer,”You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man and I will live with you.

Points:
  1. Hosea witnessed how magnanimous God’s love is.
-          Hosea portrays the role of the husband in the story who loves his adulterous wife. Hosea experience loving someone who’s not worth loving.
-          Jesus can love a person who is not worth loving. Even if you are the worst kind of person living in the planet, Jesus still loves you.
-          We all experience God’s loves. And with His love He forgives us from all our sins.
-          Jesus also has a way to show us His love.
-          We all witnessed and feel what God’s love is. And by knowing it, what should we do..? We also have to make other people, especially those people who do not know God, feel God’s love. By loving them as our Lord Jesus Christ loves us.

  1. Hosea felt how hurt was God when the Israelites love other gods than Him.
-          When Gomer left Hosea for another man, we could say that Hosea was very hurt.
-          God also was hurt by the acts of the Israelites. The people in the Northern kingdom worship other God. It seems that they forgot about God, and believe on the gods of other nations.
-          By reading the book of Prophet Hosea, we could feel how painful it is for God to see His people turned their backs from Him.
-          In our time, we may not worshiping stone baals, but we may be worshiping other things. Baals just transform into gadgets, friends, careers, money, and so forth.
-          The author of the book “the air I breathe” said we are made to worship. So, let us look in our hearts, who do we really worship? Is it God or the baals of today?

  1. Hosea saw God’s grace and mercy.
-          Grace and mercy has different meaning
-          Grace is getting what we do not deserve.
-          Mercy is not getting what we deserve.
-          When Hosea took back Gomer, or rather bought her back, Hosea experience giving grace and mercy. He could have left Gomer and go on in his life, he doesn’t need Gomer anyway. He could let Gomer suffer the consequences of her action.
-          Our Father God is much more than the act of Hosea. With all our sins, and him being powerful, he could make us disappear in an instance or go straight to the burning fire of hell, but his not doing it. 
-          Because of His grace we’re getting what we do not deserve-to be called His sons and daughter, to be with Him in heaven and most especially dying in the cross for us.
-          Because of his mercy we are not getting what we deserve-to suffer in hell because of all our committed sins.

**After Hosea bought Gomer back, he told her in chapter 3 verse 2, “You shall stay with me for many days. You shall not play the harlot, nor shall you have a man; so I will also be toward you.”
-          All of us already accepted Jesus in our hearts; however let’s visit our heart if Jesus holds the number one place in it.

**Returning to my question: Is Jesus loving someone but doesn’t love Him back? Are you that someone?