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

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.

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

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.

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!