PRAYERS

In the early morning hour as the sun wakes from its slumber I lift my heart to You my Creator! That you deigned to mold me carefully and lovingly never ceases to amaze me. Even more that you Almighty Creator chose me to be your child overwhelms me. I praise you and give you back the glory and honour! 

May my every breath be a prayer

May my words ring true,

As You hear the longing of my heart,

may I please you. 

Prayer is not a time-bound activity, just like worship is not a Sunday event. Living our lives as Christians is just that -- living. This means every waking moment is with an awareness of His life in us and through us. 

When we help others without thought of return, when we show compassion to those who are desperate, when we go that extra mile for our fellow human, we leave God's fingerprints on their hearts. 

Image credit: learningreligions.com

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. 

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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

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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.

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

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.
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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.

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.

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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.