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. 

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