Different gifts to bless each other

I am no artist when in comes to painting my nails. Whenever I try to do it, I end up grabbing a nail polish remover/acetone to remove them and just settle to plain clean nails. If ever I succeed, you'll see me all smiles and happy as if I won the Oscars. So, I usually applaud those people who got talent on doing nail art. For special events like weddings, I sought the skills of my "suking-manikurista" to have that perfect polished-nails.

It is just a simple example that God had given different gifts/skills to each one of us to benefit one another. No person has it all or can do it all. And I believe that there's no gift that is greater than the other. Even if such gift is being used as a job and being paid more than the other, for me, they are all equal, just how God created us. We are all equal in His sight. All sinners and all needed His grace and mercy.

I hope we don't judge others' skills or gifts just because we are being paid more than they (professionally). Let us always understand that God is always fair to us (Yes, it's kinda hard to grasp His logic but He is fair) and supplied us with gifts that He knew we needed to fulfill His divine plan for our lives. 

In my opinion, no matter how high your salary is because of your skills or talents, if it is not being used to fulfill God's plan or if it doesn't bless other people, it is worthless.

Again, let's appreciate each other's gifts and continue to hone ours for God's glory!

Ruth Challenge: Love over Law

I planned to start the Ruth Challenge Devotional Plan, which is a 4-day Devotional Plan from YouVersion Bible app (https://www.bible.com/)  3 days ago, but it was just today (which is actually Day 4 already) that I actually started reading on the plan itself as I also started some devotional plans for Lent.

Day # 4 (which is the last day of the plan actually) focused on the time when Boaz requested the presence of the elders and the next kin in line (“Guardian Redeemer”) who could redeem Elimelek’s land (Ruth 4:1-22). I noticed that at first when he discussed the matter to the guardian redeemer, the guardian redeemer gave a statement that he would buy the land (v. 4) but when Boaz said that he should also acquire Ruth along with the land, the guardian redeemer backed-out (v.6). Then in front of the elders/witnesses, Boaz came into an agreement and bought Elimelek’s land and took Ruth as his wife.

The devotion, narrates how the witnesses and the guardian redeemer represents the law and how Boaz’ love for Ruth represents God’s love for us. It only shows that the law or even ourselves can’t really save us. That we needed a Redeemer who no matter what the laws say, will redeem us because he loves us so much.

The devotion also highlighted this as well by quoting Galatians 3:24...”So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.”

I am glad, Jesus didn’t look at us under the Law (well, He is above the Law). Otherwise, we will all fall short into His Grace. Looking at the things I messed around, thoughts I harboured in my mind and the words that judged and hurt other people which came out through my mouth...well I don’t think the Law (following all the commandments) can blot them out of God’s sight. But Jesus did!

Laws are there to guide us but it cannot save us, even if we follow all of them flawlessly. We can’t even save ourselves. We don’t have the power or authority to do that. I myself is not even worthy to stand to God’s throne if I were to base it on my actions and thoughts. My obedience to the law still makes me fall short to His righteousness. Only God do have the power to save us from our sins and that is through His Son Jesus Christ. Wonderful isn’t it?!?

Looking at that perspective and having faith that Jesus had forgiven my sins and loves me no matter what I’ve done, removes my burden to compete for His love (what a relief!). That following His law is just an act of showing how much I appreciate and love Him back for saving me and to show others the joy of having Him [Jesus] in my life.

These are my thoughts...what’s yours?

  

Not in a Hurry to Call it Quits for the Day

"First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started. She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day." - Proverbs 31:16-17 (MSG)


I've read the 31st Chapter of Proverbs many times already but every time I came across to it, God reveals a new and fresh message to me. The text in the Bible doesn't change but the revelation does. It is so wonderful how God speaks to us through his message (A great privilege).

Reading the passage on verse 16-17 really made me cry..."Why?"--because I've been dreading about my work for the past months. I've been working on a tough project that stretched my physical limits. On top of that my family went through a difficult challenge. So balancing things is really hard. The stresses of the pressures manifested in my body. I've been suffering for constant physical pains especially in my arms & shoulders.

Yesterday, at work, I was counting the hours that I need to stay in the office. My shift was 5pm to 3am. After dinner (around 8:30pm), I said to myself "6 hours pa...gusto ko na umuwi!" (6 hours more...I wanna go home!). And before my shift ends, my arms were aching again thus when I went home, I put some medicated patches before going to sleep (Not an ideal day right?).

Today, reflecting on the passage, I imagine that the Proverbs 31 woman has that joy in her heart to get up early in the morning for her duties as a wife, a mother and as woman in her community. She seems to have that zeal- whatever tasks she have for the day. It is kinda the opposite on what I am feeling recently (ouch!). "How I wish I could be like her" (that's what I was thinking while reading the passage).

But you know what?....

God is good. He doesn't want me to just dream of becoming the Proverbs 31 woman. He wants me to be like one in my own little way. The NIV version of verse 17 says: "She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks". For me that's a big encouragement for the day (I imagine myself doing my tasks ignoring my body pains--tough chick huh!).

I claim that my arms are strong for my tasks. REALLY, REALLY DO!!!
I pray that God will restore my passion at my work. REALLY, REALLY WANT!
I am determined to remove that negative mindset on always in a hurry to go home from work. REALLY, REALLY WILL PUSH FOR IT!

I know that God has put us in different fields of work. And challenges for each individuals are different from the other. We should be thankful for what we have right now--either good or not so good. If you think that the work you are doing is what God really want you to do then join me in discovering his awesomeness on working through us in our everyday tasks. If you are the one who is not sure if you're in the right place right now...well, the best first step you could do is pray. Don't be afraid to ask God and raise your concerns to Him (believe me He is not snobbish). Second, read His Word. It is jump-packed with wonderful encouragements and promises from Him. Third, if the first 2 steps are not enough, sought guidance from others-- but be careful whom to talk to. Find someone you admire and you think is mature enough to give you advice. Not someone who do you think will just discourage you and will bring you down more. Stay away from negative people---they will not help you at all.

I am no guru nor counselor and  indeed I am a work in progress. I also feel pressured, stressed, discouraged but I am happy that God is always there to pick me up in times when I am down. Hope you see Him that way too! :-)

Have a wonderful day and savor every moment that He gave to you!

God bless!

Change Your Mindset

"I fill this day with hope and face it with joy" - Belle De Jour Power Planner

My family have gone through a tough challenge for the past 2 months. My dad was confined to the hospital twice, our hospital bill rocketed to more than half a million pesos and his home medications costs 6,000Php a day. Possible two things you could think: One, what we've been through is very tough and you may feel sorry for us or two, you may say that it is nothing to compare to what you've going through. 

If you're on the first-thinking, well, thank you for your concern and I hope you'll help me pray for my family for breakthrough. If you're on the second-thinking, my situation might be nothing to be compare to what you've been going through and like me, you may not know how you/your family will get through it. But I hope and pray that like me, you have wonderful people that could help you, support you not only financially but also spiritually. Someone who could encourage you that everything will be alright and pray for you.

From the experience we had, I saw how your relationships with others are very important. I've seen a lot of help came from my relatives, church-mates, friends and even from people I just met because of this experience. Some provided financial help, from some, it was their acts of service where they lend their vehicles to accompany us to the hospital for daddy's check-ups or replace my Dad's IV infusion without asking for something in return or payment and some exerted their efforts in prayer. You see, the relationships we built from the people around us became a channel for them to help us in times of need. I wonder if my family isolated ourselves from other's love...I might be crying and begging for help right now as only few or none will help us if we treated them badly before.

The experience also manifested our love for each other as a family. How important each and everyone is. Personally, it was a time when I really prioritized my family over my work. And I was thankful that my management understood the situation and allowed me to be with my family almost the 3 out of 4 weeks of December and every weekend of January (another thing to be thankful for).

I maybe in struggling financially to settle all the debts we had to payback those who lend us money and for the credit card bills for the medicines, but I know and believe that God is faithful (HE TRULY IS!). The experience had made me realized a lot of things...
-to appreciate people more
-to be thankful on what you have
-that life is not always full of bliss but there are challenges to test our faith & they come on least time you expect them (probably that's why they are called challenges)
-that family is very important
-that trusting God at all times will be your strength in times when you don't know what to do.

As what I recently learned from one of the Podcast of Joel Osteen--"Have an Abundant Mentality", I will remove the "Skinny-Goat-Mindset" and change it to a "Fatted-Calf-Mindset" (www.joelosteen.com). Whatever situation we're in, don't lose that faith in the Lord. It is our weapon to get through this life. Be grateful with what you have but don't settle on it. Aim high and have a positive mindset (a friendly tip, start letting go or close your ears from people with negative mindsets as they will just bring you down).    

Fill each day with hope and face it with a grateful heart. The enemy may throw stones at you (I bet he will) but don't fret. You God is bigger than your problems. As like the lyrics in the song "Already There" by Casting Crowns...

"When I'm lost in the mystery
To You my future is a memory
Cause You're already there
You're already there
Standing at the end of my life
Waiting on the other side
And You're already there
You're already there"

(www.castingcrowns.com/music/lyrics/already-there)

Our God knows the whole picture of our life and it is a waste of time and energy to keep worrying on what will happen next or having a "what-if-worry" mindset (honestly, I am still working on this too). 

There's a sunshine after every rain and I am excited to see that sunshine in my life. Taking one day at a time with a thankful heart :)

By the way, my dad is on his way to recovery and we're very pumped to see him get back on his usual energy. God is indeed wonderful!!! 

Let's meditate on this:

"Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I'm not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd's crook makes me feel secure." -Psalm 23:4 (MSG)