Puzzling Pieces

Romans 8: 28. We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.

I enjoy working on puzzles and even have a technique to get started. 

I look for all the corners first and all the pieces with straight edges which I know will form the border. But it is the middle part that becomes tricky and this is where frustration starts creeping in. So I check the pieces I've put together against the picture on the box and see if they match up. 

Many times I get bogged down with my own little pieces in my life that don't seem to fit. But in real life, I don't have a picture to match these pieces against. What I do have, which God has provided, are His promises. I know that He has a plan for me (Jeremiah 29:11-13) and that they are good. I know too that His purpose will always prevail (Proverbs 19:21).  

Lord, I am so grateful that You hold all the pieces of my life, and that You know exactly how it should look like. Help me to remember Your promises when some pieces don't seem to fall into place as I expect. 

Photo credit: gaiadreamcreations.com

When words fail_Romans 8:26

"The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans."

"Auggh!" aptly expresses my frustration. Many times, as I sit before my Father in prayer, I can only cry out, "auggh!" And I know He completely understands what that one word means, and all the emotions it carries, as it is His Holy Spirit that intercedes for me.

What a comfort it is that my every tear, my every groan, is enough when my words fail.

Loving Father,.....auggh! I pray this in the Mighty Name of Your Son, Jesus, my Savior. Amen

Photo credit: shadesofgrace.org

How kind are our thoughts? _ 2 Samuel 9:7

“Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan."

Trending posts on social media feature what are called "random acts of kindness". There are stories of someone giving a $100 tip to an exhausted and down-on-her-luck waitress; brave strangers coming together to save a frightened dog stranded in raging floodwaters; a delivery person returning to the home of a lonely woman to give her a hug and lighten her spirits; and many more. 

Despite having been pursued by Saul, and having experienced so much turmoil because of the many attempts to kill him, David sought out someone from "Saul's house", to whom he could show kindness because of his love for Jonathan. This was truly a true example of an act of kindness that was not random.

There is, however, another area where we, as Christians, are called to act on, our thoughts. How kind are our thoughts?

While we are showing kindness to someone, are our thoughts as kind? Do we naturally think positively of a person or are we prone to be suspicious or skeptical of that person's motives? When something good happens to someone, do we congratulate them but in our minds think, "Why her? I don't think she really deserves all that" or "Why not me? Nothing ever good happens to me!"

We are called to, not only act kindly but also to THINK KINDLY of others. Philippians 4:8 reminds us, "...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—THINK about such things."

Lord heavenly Father, forgive me please for my negative, unkind thoughts about others. When I do this, I know I'm being judgmental and this displeases You. I'm sorry. Holy Spirit, help me to renew my mind so that my heart and mind will reflect Christ's compassion for all.

Photo credit: medium.com

When God is silent_ Psalm 22:1

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

After a seminar I recently conducted, one of the participants approached me and asked for prayer.  Her family was in a very difficult financial situation, and she was desperate. According to her, she has been praying but, despite all her prayers, God has remained “silent for over a year." 

It can be frustrating when you talk to someone and that person doesn’t respond, or he doesn’t seem to be listening. But this is one truth I believe in with all my heart. God hears, and God moves. We may not see it…yet…but His answer will come at His own perfect time. Or maybe, He has already answered but we just don’t hear or we just refuse to recognise that it’s His answer to our prayer.

“Blessings" is a beautiful song by Laura Story who wrote it when her athlete husband was in critical condition because of a brain tumour. The first time I heard it, it moved me to tears because, while what we faced was not a life-threatening medical issue, I felt burdened and desperate at that time. What a comfort it is to know that God’s love is the answer we need. His love will give us what we need, not necessarily the answer packaged in the way we want. We need to trust God for His Mercies in disguise.

We pray for blessings

We pray for peace

Comfort for family, protection while we sleep

We pray for healing, for prosperity

We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while, You hear each spoken need

Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near

What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom

Your voice to hear

We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near

We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love

As if every promise from Your Word is not enough

All the while, You hear each desperate plea

And long that we'd have faith to believe

When friends betray us

When darkness seems to win

We know that pain reminds this heart

That this is not our home

What if my greatest disappointments

Or the aching of this life

Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy

What if trials of this life

The rain, the storms, the hardest nights

Are your mercies in disguise

Lord Heavenly Father, You never withhold any good thing from me, your daughter. Many times, though, like a petulant child, I shake Your arm and cry out, “Abba! Listen to me! This is what I want.” And You lovingly look at me and keep silent because You have already moved the universe to give me what I need. Thank you so much for all your mercies in disguise.

Songwriter: Laura Story

Blessings lyrics © Capitol Christian Music Group

Image credit: Marc Cardaronella

Hands up!_Daniel 4:35

Prayer is not expecting God to do what we ask for. He’s Almighty God! Prayer is surrendering our will to His Holy will. This is why when Jesus taught the apostles how to pray, He said, before asking for daily bread, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. At Gethsemane, He prayed “Not my will but Yours”.

In the worldview, surrender means defeat. In God's view, surrender means victory in Christ.🙏🏻

Lord, I lift my hands in surrender to Your mighty and merciful will. I lift up my mind in surrender to the wisdom and truth of Your Holy Spirit. I lift up my heart in surrender to Your love in testimony to the life of Jesus my Savior. Amen!

What about joy?_Proverbs 17:22

“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” (ESV)

What does it mean for you to be filled with the joy of the Lord? This question was posed in my daily devotional this morning, and it made me pause.  What is true joy? And the image of the face of Tayong came into mind.

Tayong was a longtime friend, and perennial neighbour, and she was the teacher of Josh and Sarah in pre-school. Last year, when I heard  that her husband had suddenly passed away, I went to the wake to express my condolences to her and her 3 children. Half-expecting to see her as the bereft widow, I was surprised when she came out to greet me and our other friends with a joyful smile. She had tears alright but they were tears of joy as she began to tell us how Derek’s passing, sudden as it was, showed God’s mercy and grace.  She was even so grateful that Derek had his haircut just a few days before so, as we looked at her husband, she whispered, “See? He’s so gwapo! (handsome)” What made her joy so utterly, well, a joy to witness is that we all knew she was battling latter stage cancer at that time.  She had always thought she would go ahead of Derek but, she was anticipating that they would see each other soon. True enough, she joined her husband in heaven just 8 months later.  

At her wake, there were a lot of tears shed….but they were tears shed with joy. Tayong showed us how the passing of one who has surrendered to Jesus in faith is a time for gratitude and celebration. For me, she showed me what it is to be truly filled with the joy of the Lord.

Psalm 16: 11 tells us, “You will show me the path of life: in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand there are pleasures for ever more.”

Lord Father, true joy is in You and in You alone. Let me walk this life filled with the joy that comes from You, so that others too may know Your grace and goodness. Yet even as I journey through difficult times, I am filled with grateful anticipation of being in Your presence forever.

Heart Check_Deuteronomy 8:3a

"...to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."

Just like the drought brought on by the El Niño this summer, I've been having my own dry spell, unable to draw the right words and phrases to help me write a blog that's humorous or insightful (or so I'd like to believe). This morning, as I was about to start my daily devotional, this thought suddenly crossed my mind: "Words run dry when you're not tapped into the Word." And sure enough, when I turned to the reading for the day, the Bible verse was Deuteronomy 8:3!

Lately, I've been trying to write based on my own assumed writing abilities -- "talent" if you will -- rather than dwelling on His Word and waiting for His Holy Spirit to show me what to write. Why weren't the words flowing out of me like before? I realized the answer was based on the answers to these questions -- What is my reason for writing my reflections in the first place? Are they simply heartfelt expressions of insights I received while spending time with Jesus or have they become possible "posts" on social media? I need to check my heart and guard it just as Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."

Lord Jesus, I'm sorry for making my writing about me, and not about you. I'm sorry for not guarding my heart and allowing it stray from you. I tap into You, my only source of all truth, of all wisdom, of all love. "May the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to your sight, O Lord, my Rock and Redeemer." Psalm 19:14.

Standing in the Light _ Matthew 5:14-16

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

“Just step on the cross, po, and the spotlight will be on you,” was the direction given by the stage manager to the awardees as we nervously waited to be called onstage.

Much later I viewed the pictures taken by Sarah from where they sat in the gallery of auditorium of my alma mater. This one picture stood out, and it's implied message struck  me.

People who know me know that I'm not shy, but in that moment I became shy all of a sudden. At that event, I felt undeserving to receive such a prestigious recognition for the work our family was doing. I noticed I didn't even fully step into the spotlight. But then through the picture I learned a powerful lesson. 

In John 8:12, Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) True enough, Jesus is the true Light. Whatever light I have comes from Him. Because He is my Spotlight, I need to do just one thing -- step in faith on the Cross, and let His Light shine through me.  

Heavenly Father, You have given me the greatest, most awesome gift -- Your Son, Jesus, the Light of the world! Who I am right now all comes from Him, whatever I have done and am able to do is because of Him.  I am humbled by this thought!  Use me and may I always be keenly aware that the source of my light comes from Your Light.

Puzzling Pieces_Romans 8: 28.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."

I enjoy working on puzzles, and I even have a technique to get started. I look for all the corners first and all the pieces with straight edges which I know will form the border. But it is the middle part that becomes tricky and this is where frustration starts creeping in. So I check the pieces I've put together against the picture on the box and see if they match up. 

Many times though I get bogged down with my own little pieces in my life that don't seem to fit. But in real life, I don't have a picture to match these pieces against. What I do have, which God has provided, are His promises. I know that He has a plan for me (Jeremiah 29:11-13) and that they are good. I know too that His purpose will always prevail (Proverbs 19:21).  

Lord, I am so grateful that You hold all the pieces of my life, and that You know exactly how it should look like. Help me to remember Your promises when some pieces don't seem to fall into place as I expect.  

Oct. 30, 2015

Image credit: shutterstock

Blinded by the dark_2 Corinthians 4:18

"We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen."

I am afraid of the dark. Even when I sleep, I have to leave on the light on my dresser, so when I open my eyes I can still see what surrounds me. When I’m in a hotel, I keep the door of the bathroom slightly ajar with the light on, “just in case”. This is why I couldn’t bring myself to watch the Netflix movie “Bird Box”. Just thinking about having to move around in a blindfold to evade monsters that can kill me if I see them is terrifying me!

But God’s word tells me that NOT seeing is better!  “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1) 

I am told to “walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Our human nature, however, insists on looking for proof or evidence that something is indeed there. Even one of his apostles, who walked intimately with Jesus, heard everything Jesus said, and witnessed all the miracles of Jesus had done, had a hard time believing that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead.   Thomas only believed when He appeared before him to show him his wounds.

“Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

 But if something cannot be seen, does it mean it’s not there or it’s not happening?

This is what faith in Jesus is all about -- believing that His hand is moving, even when you do not see it…yet.  Though I do not see Him, I believe He sees me. How comforting to know that I don't need to SEE to BELIEVE!

Lord God, I really prefer being able to see what’s happening. But at this time, I know that, in your great wisdom, You are teaching me to trust that Your hand is moving, and to know that You are watching over me, to walk by faith and not by sight. Help me to fix my eyes on You, even though I cannot see. Let me find strength in the words in Psalm 121:7, 8, “The Lord will keep you from all harm — he watches over your life;  the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."

Joy in Hard Places_Habakkuk 3:18

"Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour."

Have you already Konmari-ed your house? Have you cleared out things that “don’t spark joy”? Many people who take Marie Kondo’s method literally feel they’d be left with nothing in their homes if they threw out everything that didn’t “spark joy”. A meme even showed a woman throwing out her husband! Boy! I laughed out loud with that! But I think they’re missing a vital point here on how we must view what we have around us, and what brings us true “joy”, not simply satisfaction, or pride in possession.

Spark joy is a loose translation of the ‘tokimeku” literally “to flutter” among other things. Cathy Hiran who translated the book of Marie Kondo to English considered several possibilities like “bring pleasure” and “brighter you world”. My favourite? “Speaks to your heart”.

The prophet at that time was anticipating the impending invasion of the Babylonians, yet he expressed a kind of joy that goes beyond the terrifying circumstances surrounding him. Early in the first chapter he cries out “How long, Lord, must I call for help but you do not listen?” But by chapter 3 verses 17 & 18, he resolutely proclaims —

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines; though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food; though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, YET I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be IN GOD, my Saviour."

Lord Father in Heaven, how many times have I cried in despair over things that caused me to worry and fear, forgetting all the times You have overwhelmed me with Your unfailing love? I know I shouldn't look at the circumstances around me but only look to You. It is IN YOU, my Saviour, I find true JOY.  Speak to my heart, O God!

Image credit: Gerri Gibbons

Fear and Discouragement_Deuteronomy 31: 8

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

In water, I am highly skilled in what I call “drownability”.  Once my head goes underwater, I panic.  My children, who all swim like fish, reprimand me, “Mom, just calmly move your arms and legs to stay afloat."  I try to do this and, slowly but surely, sink.

Fear does this to us.  When we are faced with a looming problem to which we have no solution, or when we are faced with the unknown, we panic and sink. In the story, Joshua was tasked by Moses to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land and divide the land according to their inheritance. But first he needed to defeat those who were occupying the land, and then face the formidable task of dividing it among the Israelites who have proven themselves to be rebellious and contentious. Not an easy task for sure!  I can already imagine Joshua slowly sinking.

It’s easy to tell someone “do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” But Moses prefaced his encouragement with these powerful words: 

 “The Lord Himself [in all His power and majesty] 

goes before you [He is preparing the way!] 

and will be with you [He will guide you and protect you!] 

But wait! There’s more! He adds — 

“He will never leave you nor forsake you.” [He’s got your back and even when you fail, He will be there for you.]

Lord, I feel like I’m sinking as panic sets in. Please forgive me for forgetting, not only how great and mighty You are, but also forgetting how much You love me. Today, I claim the promise that Moses gave to Joshua — that You, Mighty Father in heaven, go before me and are with me; You will always have my back and never leave me alone. Because of Your great love for me, I don’t have to be afraid or discouraged.

Image credits: brandonsteiner.com

ASAP _ Proverbs 16:9

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.”

Just the other day, I sent a message to my friend to request for the  vital information I needed to complete an article I was writing.  The item had been on my To-Do List for about a week already and I was impatient to tick it off my list. She told me she’d follow it up with another person, who in turn needed to follow up with another.  Waiting is hard, right? Especially if you’re someone whose favourite acronym is ASAP.

It’s difficult at times to “be still and wait upon the Lord” when urgent needs are knocking at your door.  Our human nature — our fears, our doubts, our anxiety, our expectations — compels us to act, usually impulsively, because we want to see results ASAP. Many times though the Lord, through His word, has convicted my worrying heart. He pushes the ‘pause’ button and gently pulls me back. "Trust me," He gently whispers, “I know what I’m doing because I created you and love you. I gave my Son to die for you remember?”

In the book by Jon Bloom, “Not by Sight”, he wrote, “He does not always answer with the speed we desire, nor is His answer always the deliverance we hope for.  But He will always send the help that is needed.  His grace will always be sufficient for those who trust Him. The hope we taste in the promises we trust will often be the sweetest thing we experience in this age. And the reward of God’s fulfilment of these promises will be glorious beyond our imagination.” 

Lord, forgive me for carrying the banner of ASAP instead of patiently waiting for You.  Let me cling in faith, that even though I do not see Your hand, I know it is moving! Let me walk the steps You've determined for me BY FAITH, and not by sight. 

Image credit: Aquila Style

Blocking out the Noise_1 Kings 19:12

"After the fire came a gentle whisper."

There's a construction behind our house that's been going on for more than a year. Every morning, as early as 7, the workers start hammering and grinding away, making a racket. I get annoyed and think, "Now how can I have my quiet time with God with all this noise!" So instead of being at peace, I'm upset!

I know that I need to exercise patience with the laborers in the next lot but noise pollution is a widespread problem for sure. But "noise" can also come from other sources that can distract me from having this quiet time, like the ping of a new message on my phone, a notification flashing on my laptop screen and wayward thoughts when I think of my Things-to-do List. All these draw my focus from simply being still to hear God's gentle whisper.

He wants me to be still; he longs for me to sit long enough for Him to tell me of His love. This is why the Good Shepherd "makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me to quiet waters; he restores my soul." What an overwhelming thought to know that Jesus, my Savior and King wants to spend time with me!

While I cannot block the noise from outside my window, I can exert all my efforts to remove the things that will distract my heart and my mind from coming into His loving presence.

Lord, forgive me for all the times when I allow the noise to pollute my holy time with You. I want to lean into You, and press my ear to Your heart and listen. May I always be present to hear when You whisper.

Worry_2 Corinthians 4:16-18

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

I woke up at 3:30 am and couldn't go back to sleep.  Worry took a seat in my mind and refused to leave.  To try to feel drowsy again, I decided to read "40 Unstoppable Women" by one of my favorite authors, Harold Sala, and began reading his account on Gracia Burnham.

She and her husband, Martin, were missionaries.  One day they, along with a Filipina nurse, Ediborah Yap, were kidnapped by the Abu Sayaff and held captive for more than a year in the extreme conditions of the jungles in Mindanao. At the end, just as they were being rescued by the military, her husband and the nurse were killed.

In her book "In the Presence of My Enemies", Gracia wrote that in the middle of this horrifying ordeal, she told her husband that she had not given up her faith, but she just has chosen "not to believe the part about God loving me.  Because God's not coming through."

I feel this way nowadays. I cry out to the Lord, pray through His promises in the Bible, yet He hasn't come through.  This is why I am awake in the middle of the night conversing with Worry.

Then Gracia writes, "I knew I had a choice.  I could give in to my resentment and allow it to dig me into a deeper and deeper hole both psychologically and emotionally or I could CHOOSE TO BELIEVE what God says to be true whether I felt it was or not."

Lord, forgive me for allowing Worry keep me company. Take away the chair I've allowed Worry to rest on, and instead sit with me. Please give me the strength of faith to choose to believe Your Truth over my feelings of fear, doubt and insecurities.
Image Credit: www.tqhcl.com

At His table_Luke 24:30

"When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks and broke the bread and began to give it to them."

My siblings and I with our parents seated around the table to share a meal, and afterwards listening to our Papa tell us stories of how it was during WW2 while eating lanzones.  This is an indelible memory for me.  I'm so happy that our children have the same memories of our own family meals.  Lingering after the meal is called "sobremesa" in Spanish.  It shows our love for each other, and how we want to stay in each other's company longer.

I can imagine the sobremesa with Jesus as He sat with his disciples.  How wonderful it must've been to sit in His presence and listen to Him speak.  I can imagine how gently He'd answer their questions with so much love and acceptance.

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your loving presence in my life.  Even though there is no physical table at which I can sit with You, I know I can have fellowship with You wherever I am.
Image credit: preachitsister.wordpress.com

Rest in the Lord_Psalm 37:7

My beloved pet, Nala, was a bundle of energy. When she was still "in training" and I'd tell her to "stay", she'd obediently sit down but her whole body would be twitching, just waiting for the slightest signal from me that she could run. When I read Psalm 37:7 today, Nala immediately came to mind and how I can be so much like her even as the Lord tells me gently, "Lollette, stay!"

In Matthew 11:28, Jesus tells His disciples,  and us, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest." Looking through the different versions, I noticed that "rest" and "be still" are used interchangeably.   If we were on a workout regimen, we'd be told to have rest days to allow our muscles, nerves, etc. time to rebuild.  We cannot keep a harried pace as we have the tendency to do. We need to rest for restoration. As it is said that even God rested on the 7th day!

So how should I rest? Jesus says in verse 29, "Take my yoke (His authority) upon you and LEARN FROM ME (His guidance) for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find REST for your souls."

Lord, let me trust You in all things, even in resting under Your authority and grace. As I stay still, let me, in complete obedience and trust, remain still.
Image cre

dit: medicalnewstoday.com

The investment of Kindness_Acts 9:36

The story in Acts 9:32-42 is about a devoted disciple named Tabitha (or Dorcas in Greek) who showed kindness to the poor widows, and when she died, the believers urged Peter to come to Joppa.  God then, through Peter, brought her back to life. A great miracle which led to many people to believe in Jesus. Her small acts of kindness, making robes and clothing for the widows, became the seeds from which many more came to know Jesus and be saved.

Small acts of kindness.

Last February 8, 2019, I played a very small part (doing the voice-over) in a huge global event called "Night to Shine" sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation.  In Cebu, it was organized by Quest Fellowship for 90+ teens, and not-so teens, with special needs.  They, with their parents or guardians, were treated like celebrities -- make-up booth, walk down the red carpet with their "buddies" (volunteer dates), sumptuous buffet dinner, karaoke, dancing -- and crowned "kings and queens of the prom". Their happy smiles said it all...and I was reduced to tears. Kindness to these lovely souls made them so happy, yes, but it also made the volunteers so happy.  Kindness given always finds its way back.

Lord, heavenly Father, may opportunities to show small acts of kindness present themselves to me, and may I be always ready to do what You want me to do, even if it's outside my comfort zone.

Looking somewhere else_Psalm 39:1-7

Life is an endless seeking, and many times what we find is not what we wanted all along. When we have achieved what we worked hard for, and the euphoria has died down, what are we left with?

In Ecclesiastes, the writer (attributed to Solomon) repeatedly says the word, 'meaningless" to describe all we toil or labor for. In other versions, the word used is "vanity".  In Hebrew, however, the word used is HEVEL which means 'vapor, smoke', referring to something that is fleeting or temporary. When I found out about this word, it turned my mind around.

God, in His grace, doesn't want us to live meaningless lives! On the contrary, His desire is for us to live full lives.  John 10:10 says, "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."

In living my every day life, it doesn't have to be without meaning because all my hope, all my seeking rests on my looking to Jesus, my Saviour and King. Psalm 39:7, "But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is ion You."

Lord God, You alone give meaning to what I do. Guide me, and my family, as we live out in obedience the purpose You have given us.

Image credit: weheartit.com

A True Valentines Story.

Written on Feb. 13, 2014

I fell in love with him when I was still in high school and I was giddy over his his attention. But my love wasn't strong enough. When my friends made fun of how strong my feelings were, I caved and kept my love for him hidden. Yet he kept on patiently loving me. 

As I grew older, my love began to grow cold. He pursued me relentlessly but I strayed. I gave my love and attention to others, but even though I was having fun, I was not happy. Then, it happened. After so many years, I found him again...as if he was ever lost! All those years, he was just there, waiting for me to turn around. He loved me before.  He loves me still. He loves me with an everlasting love. He said, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you, Lollette, with unfailing kindness." Jeremiah 31:3c (NIV)

It has been 22 years since I publicly and proudly declared that I love Jesus and I'm His. And He gives me reasons everyday to fall in love with Him even more.

Invisibility_Genesis 16:13

If I could choose one superpower, I guess it would be the cloak of invisibility. I think it would be
great to be able to go anywhere and see what people are doing and saying without being detected -- not in the voyeuristic sense, but in order to gain knowledge, just like a spy. But while being invisible seems like a cool thing to be as a superhero, as a human being, being invisible can be heartbreaking.

As humans we all want to be LOVED, feel IMPORTANT. get APPROVAL, and feel that we BELONG. Sadly, there are many of us walking around who are invisible -- the poor, the downtrodden, the misfits, the misunderstood. This is exactly how Hagar, the maidservant of Sarah, felt when she was rejected by her mistress, and Abraham did not even try to defend her. Through no fault of hers, she was sent away, pregnant, to the desert to die. But God sent an angel to assure her that God had great plans for her and her offspring, and so she cried out, "I have now seen the One who sees me."

Psalm 139:1-6, "O Lord, you have searched me and know me.  You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.  You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.  before a word is on my tongue, you know it completely.  You hem me in -- behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain."

Matthew 10:29-31, "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

Thank you, Almighty God, that as your beloved child, I am LOVED, I am IMPORTANT, I am APPROVED, and I BELONG to You.  I am not invisible.  You are EL ROI, the God who sees me.

Image credit: copyblogger.com

When boasting is acceptable_1 Corinthians 1:31

I'm blessed with a close friendship with visual artists, Fred Galan and and his wife, Gee.  Em and I are privileged to have been able to buy one of Fred's paintings which now hangs prominently in the lounge area of our office. It is a painting showing people going through their daily chores after a huge fire in their neighbourhood. Fred's paintings characteristically depict the daily lives of the "ordinary folk" -- laborers, farmers, fisherfolk, etc. Well-known and well-respected, their works are displayed in many venues, like hotels and homes. Yet, despite their enormous talent, the couple has remained humble and completely grounded in their faith in Jesus.

Because of this faith, they acknowledge that their talents are to be used to share the message of Christ's saving grace.  Fred always embeds a Bible verse within his paintings, whether on a subject's t-shirt, a signage along a street, or on a boat, much like how God embeds His word in Fred's heart.

Ephesians 2: 10 tells us, "For we are God's workmanship (masterpiece), created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

God, my Creator, You have signed Your name on me, and have embedded Your word in my heart. Thank you for creating me, and for the talents you have given me! May I always remember to use them for Your glory, for Your Kingdom, and not for my own selfish ambitions, or for recognition from others. Let me boast only of what You have done!

Turn on that light_Psalm 119:105

For one of our outreach trips to a mountain barangay, I was the one driving our team home.  Dusk was just settling in when fog suddenly rolled in, making it difficult for me to see the winding road. I flipped on the headlights to "high", then remembered that the SUV had a light for foggy conditions. I flipped on the switch and, true enough, the way seemed clearer.

Many times, we try to go through our trials with our own efforts.  We rationalize our situation and try to "fix things" with our own knowledge and skills. But, there are just those times when we just need to flip the right switch to help us see the way better. God has provided us with His word to shed light to whatever situation we are going through.

Whenever I feel anxious or afraid, I know I have His words of comfort, His assurances, His promises, His declarations of everlasting love to hold me together, and to make me see through the fog of my trial.

Lord, thank you for "Your word, a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." How I love the words which I have hidden in my heart, and which You bring forth whenever I am afraid or anxious.  Each time I feel lost, You say to me gently, "Do not be afraid, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

A different kind of peace_Psalm 16

Watching the news is so disturbing! It seems like everywhere in the globe there is conflict, violence, disasters, displacements and persecutions and discrimination.

Today's reading, Psalm 16, gives me comfort.

The Lord has already planned out my life, and so I'm secure.
Verses 5 & 6, "Lord you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance."

I know He guides me and instructs me.
Verse 7, "I will praise the Lord who counsels me , even at night my heart instructs me."

I know He is always with me.
Verse 8, "I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken."

Therefore, I can be filled with the "peace that surpasses all understanding" (Philippians 4:7), knowing that,even as horrible events swirl around me, I am safe in the centre of His grace and mercy.

Lord, my heavenly Father, thank you for keeping your eye on this sparrow. Whenever I feel overwhelmed by anxiety, overwhelm me with Your grace. Whenever I feel burdened by the trials we are going through, lift me up in Your warm embrace. Whenever I am dismayed, distraught and confused, fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me Your peace that surpasses all understanding in Christ Jesus.

Random acts of kindness_Ephesians 2:6-10

Random acts of kindness are not as random as we would like to believe.

I just re-posted a video uploaded by a FedEx employee who delivered a package to the house of a woman. In many deliveries, the trivial niceties are usually exchanged:
How are you this morning? Sign here.
I'm fine.  How about you?
I'm fine. Hope you have a good day!
Yea, thanks! You too!

But this time, the woman replied that she wasn't having a good day because her husband was sick. Awkward! But as the FedEx employee had to rush to complete her deliveries, she bid the woman goodbye.  To cut a long story, she felt burdened so when she complete her route, she felt drawn to return to that woman's house.  When she did, she simply hugged that woman, who broke down and was very grateful.

It didn't cost her a thing but her time, but it made such a huge difference to that woman who needed some comfort, a shoulder to cry on, just knowing someone cared.

Lord, help me to listen to Your Holy Spirit when You whisper, and when You tug at my heartstring to do something for someone else.  Let me always be open to act in kindness when You tell me to, because I know that it wouldn't be random.  It would be a God-purposed act.

Moving_Numbers 9:15-23

The devotional today is about the obedience of the Israelites to the Lord as to when they should pack up and move. and where they should set up camp.

In our 39 years together, Em and I have moved a number of times, more than the average for sure.  We moved our home 13 times, twice to a different part of the country -- another island in fact. In our first 7 years, we moved 8 times!

Moving house is always difficult; it's a logistical nightmare.  What do you do with things you can't bring? Where will you put those that you need to bring? How do you set up the new house? I can totally relate to the Israelites!

I believe that what made the whole process acceptable to the Israelites is that they knew that it was the Lord who was commanding them to move and that He would be where He was leading them to.

Lord, I look back at the journey You made us go through, and I admit it was difficult, but what was most important was that You were with us then...and You are with us now. Will You ask us to move again? I don't know. What I do know is that, if You do, You have already planned everything for us in advance, and I only need to open my heart and obey.

I am sorry_ 1 Peter 4:7-11

If you really want to manifest God's love and grace in your life, you must learn to forgive, and to ask for forgiveness.

It is one of the shortest sentences, yet it's one of the hardest to say -- "I am sorry". Why? I guess it's because of the fear of rejection, the anticipation of the loss of face, of having to take on a submissive stance rather than having the "upperhand" which is encouraged in this day and age.

I recently said, "I am sorry" to someone I offended.  A few months ago, I was adamant that he should say sorry to me, because I was the offended one. But the anticipation of having to come face-to-face with that person in a few weeks was bearing down my heart.  Then, sentences began forming in my mind, like how they should be written in a letter.  I swatted them away like they were pesky flies every time they came buzzing in my mind. As they became more persistent, I knew that God was directing me to write. Finally, I had to surrender to God's insistence.  I began to write with the mindset to also tell that person how he had offended me, but God directed me to simply ask for forgiveness.

When we ask for forgiveness we cannot shoot back at the person and say, "I'm sorry but you were the reason I did it in the first place." When that person reacts in the way you didn't expect, you get even more offended. Humility, complete and utter humility, is what God desires for us. The response of that other person to your "I'm sorry" is inconsequential. What is most important is your obedience.

Lord God, thank you for showing me through Your son, Jesus, how to be humble and obedient.  It's really very hard, because pride always gets in the way.  Please help me weaken my pride and strengthen my meekness.

I'm adopted_Galatians 4:1-7

Verse 5, "God sent him (Jesus) to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could ADOPT us as His very own children."

I was every bit anxious for the time when Maki would ask me about our relationship.  After all, I was sure she'd wonder sooner or later why her Daddy and Mommy were so much older than the parents of her classmates. I prepared the groundwork by telling her the story of how Moses' mother put him in a basket to save him and how the pharoah's sister found him and raised him as her own son. When that time came, my heart skipped a beat but as we talked she expressed how happy she was that we FOUND her and WANTED her to be part of the family. She feels so loved, and so accepted that even though someone else had given birth to her, she sees me as her Mommy and Em as her Daddy. She knows her rightful place in the family is secure.

This is how it is with our adoption into God's family.  We are given full rights as His children and our position is secure because we received Jesus, His son, as our Saviour.

Father God, Maki's story is but a glimpse of Your adoption plan for us.  Thank you for her life that has blessed our family, and thank you for sending Jesus Your son so that I too can call you Abba!

Yet I will praise Him_Psalm 94:2, 16-23

In the Bible, there is a one-syllable word that packs a punch -- the word YET. Its synonyms are nevertheless,
nonetheless,
even so,
despite that,
inspite of,
JUST THE SAME,
be that as it may.

The Bible is [peppered with YETs. According to the blog, soulspartan.com, the word appears approximately 395 times, usually between verses of despair, pleas for help, laments and suddenly, YET pops up followed by declarations of hope, prayers with praise and proclamations of His goodness.

YET is like an orange light, signalling me to slow down and reflect on His faithfulness and love. YET always encourages me.  One of my favorite YET passages is this:
"Though the fig tree does not bud, and there are no grapes on the vine;
though the olive crop fails, and the fields produce no food;
though there are no sheep in the pen, and no cattle in the stalls,
YET
I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God, my Savior." Habakkuk 3:17-19

Heavenly Father, Faithful God, I sing praises to Your Holy name!

Timing is everything _Esther 4:5-14

We humans are obsessed with time. We have our alarms, calendars, planners, annual projections, 5-year goals etc.  when Imwas in college, in the cusp of moving forward to the next phase in my life, I wrote on index cards all the things I wanted to accomplish within certain time frames -- be  news anchorwoman, write a novel, appear in a movie or tv show, get married, have children, own a mansion, etc.  As to be expected of expectations, not all of them happened, or if they did, not at the time set.

Looking back, now at my age of 62, I see God's loving hands gently prodding me this way and that through all those seasons in my life, just like the Good Shepherd in Psalm 23, "He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name sake."

Esther's story is one I particularly relate to in hat, in a slow, sometimes perplexing way, her story unfolded to the time she was at the right time, place and status to be used by God to save her people. Jeremiah 29:11-13 is oft quoted when we go through difficult times. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you hope and a future. then you will call upon me and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek Me with all your heart."

It is comforting to know that He is in control, and that He knows exactly where He is leading us. We know too that what He has planned is always good, because He is good.

Lord, I'm in wonder in how You orchestrate everything in my life to suit Your purposes. Even in those times I am disobedient, You turn it around for good for my own good.

God's Rock Garden_1Peter 2:1-10

Growing up, our 1960's-constructed house featured a huge sunken garden right in the formal living room.  It had a skylight which allowed rain and sunshine in to nourish the plants landscaped into the rock feature.

The prophet Isaiah says in Isaiah 28, "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; he one who trusts will never be dismayed." When I read 1 Peter 2 where Jesus is called "the living Stone", the image of the childhood rock garden came into mind, with Jesus at the center surrounded by other stones of varying shapes and sizes.  We too are described as "living stones which are being built into a spiritual home to be a holy priesthood." Thus, we, as God's chosen people by adoption through Christ, are called into this holy priesthood.  We are not to be like those decorative rocks in the rock garden but rather be living, breathing stones that serve a higher calling in God's kingdom.

Thank you Lord Father for calling me into this holy priesthood, to be a servant, Your living stone in this life, until Jesus comes to call me home.

Not for show_Isaiah 58:6-9

Fasting is one of those things one can do to help one focus on God as "you rely on God for strength, provision and wisdom you need." Many times, however, people fast to show off their spirituality.  This is not the fasting that is acceptable to God.  Jesus said in Matthew 6:16, "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you they have received their reward in full." True fasting pleasing to His eyes is described in Isaiah 58:6-9 -- feed the hungry, shelter the wanderer (homeless), clothe the naked, help your relatives.

Lord, I confess I haven't fasted for quite some time   It is something  I want to do to seek You more and know You more. Please forgive me. But let me always live in the way that pleases You.

Who are you trying to impress?_Matthew 15:19-20

I love the way Jesus countered the accusations of the Pharisees in these verses!

The Pharisees questioned Jesus why his disciples did not wash their hands before eating, as it was Jewish tradition that requires ceremonial washing of the hands.  Of course today we know how important washing our hands before eating is but at that time it was more of a ritual washing rather than an honest-to-goodness-hey-there-are-germs washing.  The Pharisees were obviously more concerned that this band of people who were gaining quite a following were not following "their ways". Jesus countered with "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?" Here Jesus confronted them with how they treated parents, nullifying the 5th commandment of honoring your father and mother. They were more concerned with traditions and rituals, like washing of hands, that make a person "ceremonially clean", but not obeying God's commandments.  Jesus says in v. 17-18 "Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man unclean."

1 Samuel 16:7b "Man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart."

Lord Father, I want to impress only You! Create in me a pure heart, and renew the right spirit within me!

My Father_Romans 8:9-17

"And by Him we cry 'Abba, Father."' The Spirt himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." Romans 8:15-16

For his recent birthday, I captioned my birthday post for Em this way: "Role model to our sons.  Hero to our daughters. Funny Daddylo to our apos.  My forever love." Em is indeed all of these, and more.  He works very hard to provide for our family, and often forgets about his own needs as long as ours are met. His love is a sacrificial love. When I look at this man who is my children's father, I see an inkling, a shadow of who my heavenly Father is, and how great His love is.

If this is how Em loves his family, I cannot wrap my mind around how much more, how much greater -- the depth, the width, the height -- is His unfailing love for me, His child.

Abba, Father, I cry out to you in love and gratitude for how You pour out Your love for me! Each day is a testament of Your grace. Help me live it as You would want me to. I love you, Abba!

Praise from all creation_Psalm 19

This is fascinating! Fiorelli Terenzi, a professor of physics and astronomy at the Florida International University, has studied the "strange, spooky symphony of the cosmos for 3 decades using computer music software.  This was in 1987. Yet, way back in the time Psalm 19 was written -- sometime in 1015 B.C. toward the end of the life of Kind David (1 Chron. 28:21) -- the psalmist already wrote, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands." Even inanimate, non-living objects give Him praise.

There is a whole lot of explanation based on Jewish cultural tradition of memorial stones (used to symbolize permanence of a memory for a loved one; representing the faithful who have died and were buried on the Mt. of Olives) and in 1 Peter 2:4 & 5, "As you come to Him, the living stone --rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to HIm -- you also, like LIVING STONES, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood." BUT, I wouldn't be surprised if one day, modern technology will discover there is not only truth in verse 4 of Luke 19, but also scientific fact when Jesus said, "I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

Heavenly Father, everything You have created show me Your majesty, power and grace!

Help!_Psalm 121

Independence is a value that we strove for while we were growing up.  We wanted to do everything on our own, proving that we have the capacity and the ability.  And even as we aged, we still hold on to our independence -- "I can do it!" we sometimes say impatiently when someone younger wants to help us. But as a child of God we must accede that independence from God does not work, no matter what season of life we are in.  We need God, and we cry out, "Lord, I cannot do this without you."

Lord, I need you; in all things, through all situations, I need you.  Let me always say, "I lift up my eyes to the hills -- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."

God sees everything_Proverbs 5:21

Having integity or moral uprightness is difficult in these times.  While many post and expose their lives on social media, or their lives are splashed on the news, there are a lot of secrets that remain hidden then later revealed.

Many times, we are tempted to do things -- and actually go ahead and do them -- thinking that as long as it is hidden away and no one sees us, then it's okay.  But proverbs 5:21 clearly tells us, "For a man's ways are in full view of the Lord, and He examines his paths." We cannot run away from the Lord, as He sees, and He knows.

Hebrews 4:13, "And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."
Proverbs 15:3, "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and on the good."

C.S.Lewis also put it this way: "Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching."

Lord, Omnipresent and Omniscient God, please watch over me and guide me that I may always do what pleases You, do what is right in your eyes even when no one sees me.

From Pleading to Praise_Psalm 13

How good and loving is our Heavenly Father who receives our every prayer, all our pleadings, even our complaints and whining.

In Psalm 13, the psalmist is overwhelmed by his situation and cries out to the Lord, moving from complaining to praising. The ODB devotional today points out the 5 elements in this psalm which is one of the shortest with only 6 verses --

INVOCATION (v. 1a) -- How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
LAMENT (v. 1b-2) -- How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and everyday have sorrow in my heart?
REQUEST (v. 3-4) -- Look on me and answer, O Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death; my enemies will say, "I have overcome him," and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
TRUST (v. 5) -- But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
PRAISE (v. 6) -- I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me.

When we go through difficult times, we can be assured that God hears our pleadings and loves us despite our whining, and we know that He will turn our mourning into joy.

Lord Heavenly Father, forgive me when I sound like a petulant child when I pray to you.  But I feel so loved by You as I know that You are pleased when I come to you.  Let me seek you in good times and in hard times.  Let me praise you in both.

Object of Love_Hosea 11:8-11

In today's ODB devotional, it spoke about how God treasured Israel and how this great love of God now is showered on us, His beloved children through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus.  What struck me most is how God used Hosea, the prophet, to be an OBJECT LESSON to show us how beautiful His love truly is, and how OBEDIENT Hosea was.

"Hosea, a contemporary of prophets Isaiah and Micah, ministered primarily to the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Hosea 1:1). His prophetic ministry was unique because he not only communicated in words what God wanted to tell the Israelites, but he symbolically acted out these revelations (chs. 1, 3). Hosea was commanded to marry Gomer, a promiscuous woman, to show that “like an adulterous wife [Israel] is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord” (1:2). After Gomer’s unfaithfulness, Hosea was commanded to reconcile with her and to “love her as the Lord loves the Israelites” (3:1)."

Lord Father, how great and beautiful is Your LOVE for me, drawing me close to You despite my unfaithfulness, my sin. You reconciled me to Yourself through Your Son, Jesus, my Saviour, and forever I am within Your arms, here in this life and for all eternity.  As it is said in 8:39, "Nothing will be able to separate us (me) from the love of God." Thank you, Father!

A Woman of Strength_Ruth 1:11-18

Ruth is one of my favorite Bible personalities because she is a woman of obvious strength in character and in faith. In today's standards though, when women are expected to be assertive and "break the glass ceiling", she may be deemed as "weak" or meek, and too submissive. Instead of going back home and look for another favorable marriage, she opted to follow her mother-in-law into a land she was not familiar with; and she obeyed her mother-in-law in a plan to "attract" the rich relative.

Her meekness and obedience showed how selfless she was.  She knew that without someone taking care of her old, heartbroken and widowed mother-in-law, she would be left to fend for herself, not a good thing in that culture during that time. She willingly gave up whatever ambitions she had for herself to follow her husband's mother.  How many daughters-in-law would that?

Heavenly Father, Giver of all things, help me to use what You have graciously given me to see others with Christ's love and to give, not only things, but my time, my efforts and my talents. Give me the strength of meekness.

Deep calls unto deep_Psalm 42:7

Psalm 42:7 intrigued me -- "Deep calls unto deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me." So I began to search its meaning within the context of the whole psalm. The psalmist is in despair and feeling alone.  Twice he prays, "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Saviour and my God." And this verse was repeated in Psalm 43.

I came upon an article by Amy Julia Becker on the site Christianity Today, and she expresses how I've been feeling about my faith walk -- my heart desires to go deeper into my relationship with my Savior but this requires more out of me, more heart-wrenching, possibly terrifying revelations about me and more sacrifices. So shallow is more comfortable. She wrote:
"To stay in God’s presence is like swimming in the ocean. Immense. Frightening. Powerful. Beautiful. Where deep calls to deep. Where answers don’t come easily. Where pain is exposed rather than covered over. Where healing requires transformation." *

I know that God my Father lovingly calls me to come to Him in a more intimate way. How deep do I can I go? 

Lord, reveal to me Your truth in these words "deep calls unto deep" especially in the light of what we are going through. Thank you too for the life of my husband who celebrates his 67th year today.

* https://www.christianitytoday.com/amyjuliabecker/2015/april/deep-calls-out-to-deep-but-i-long-to-stay-shallow.html

Faith & Hope_Philippians 4:19

"Faith is the confidence in what we hope for and the assurance about what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1.

And this is the reason we, many times, have a hard time walking in faith. We want to see; we want to know; we want to be sure. This brings me to ponder on a trending movie on Netflix.  "Bird Box" has its characters having to blindfold themselves because there is an unseen ominous presence that will cause them to commit suicide if they see it.

I haven't watched the movie as its premise terrifies me, but in the context of being a CHRIST-FOLLOWER there is a comfort in knowing that, though I do not SEE Him right now, I will see Him and be with Him for all eternity.  But even as I walk through my life, I can put my hope in Him, being confident of His loving and unfailing presence.

Lord, help me see that even though I may not see your Hand, I can put my hope in what You will do for me because I am your beloved.  I believe! Strengthen, by Your loving Holy Spirt, my belief!

Be Kind_1 Thessalonians 5:11-18

There is a swelling wave of self-focus and self-centeredness espoused in books, tv shows movies, and on social media. There are memes or posts saying if a person is "toxic", or is holding you back, or makes you feel bad, then throw that person away (figuratively of course).  The SELF becomes all-important. Having a "me first" attitude is encouraged. The example given is the ODB devotion today was that of the crawfish. In the Philippine setting, we call it the "crab mentality". Once a crab is able to reach the rim of the pail to escape, it is pulled down by the other crabs.

While I agree that you stay away from people who may endanger you, Paul's admonition to the Thessalonians rings loud to remind me about thinking of others first.  He writes: "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 

Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else."

Lord Jesus, please strengthen my kindness meter, that I may always think kind thought, speak kindly to others,  and act out of kindness to others. Help me to look out of my SELF and see others with empathy and grace.