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.