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

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!

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.

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!

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.

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!

Hate vs Love

Hate is "in". Love is "out". Meanness and vindictiveness are trending. Unknowingly, or knowingly, even Christians have been deceived that it's okay to hate because "it is right". Jesus followers, however, are called to love. Remember ,"Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister." -1 John 4:20-21 This is one sign of the end of the age found in Matthew 24:10-13. "At that time ,many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." Let's not let love grow cold. Let's love even those who are unlovable, that one person who is like sandpaper, that person who is malicious, that person who has crossed the line too many times, that person who has committed a sin even you cannot forgive. Why? Because, hey! That person was created by God and Jesus died for her too. 
Photo credit: www.paulhorton.wordpress.com

Open Doors

1 Corinthians 16:9

"...because a great door for effective work has opened up for me, and there are many who oppose me."

Isn't it sad when someone is doing well at work, or in school, and yet there will be a few people who will find a way to discredit him or make his work harder that it already is? Crab mentality!

Paul encountered the same situation. He saw an opportunity in Ephesus to do great work for the Kingdom, but he acknowledged that many would not, or rather, did not want him to succeed. Despite the opposition, he courageously, in faith, decided to pursue this opportunity, knowing that it was an open door from God.

May we always have open eyes and hearts to know where You are leading us, just like Paul, Lord. May we courageously follow You despite knowing that there will be people who will make things hard for us. And, may we already claim victory in the name of Your Son, Jesus.

(Photo credit: www. birmingham-rep.co.uk)