33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6)
Every now and then I must remind myself how important it is to seek God and His kingdom first. I get so caught up in this life and I become so entrapped in the worries of the day that my perspective gets blurry. My vision becomes restricted to my cares and wants alone, and I forget the important, eternal matters entirely. Life is not just about this moment or tomorrow's; life transcends into something that will last forever.
I need to stop worrying. I can't worry about petty, trivial things anymore because it is not worth it. And when I do fall into a pattern of daily anxiety, I must realize that such a lifestyle is a salient warning that my priorities are not right. If I am truly seeking God first, then those worries will be abated, my trust will be restored in Him, and I can live life eternally-minded.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Monday, November 12, 2007
foundation.
4 "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?
Tell me, if you understand. (Job 38)
In those moments that we feel as if God just doesn't understand our predicament. In those times that we feel as if God is not there for us. In our doubts, in our apprehensions, in our fears, and nightmares we must remind ourselves that there is one thing we ought to know for sure: we do not know everything but God does. Take comfort in the fact that the worries we hold are only partial pieces of the picture. There is more to the story from the very beginning to the end that we are not exposed to.
We just have to wait, have patience, and believe that God knows what He's doing. He laid the earth's foundation and we weren't there, and yet we live day and day out trusting that those foundations are sound. Likewise, in the little things and the hard things and the things that we want to let go and the things that we have a hard time holding onto, we need to trust that those are also sound in His hands.
Tell me, if you understand. (Job 38)
In those moments that we feel as if God just doesn't understand our predicament. In those times that we feel as if God is not there for us. In our doubts, in our apprehensions, in our fears, and nightmares we must remind ourselves that there is one thing we ought to know for sure: we do not know everything but God does. Take comfort in the fact that the worries we hold are only partial pieces of the picture. There is more to the story from the very beginning to the end that we are not exposed to.
We just have to wait, have patience, and believe that God knows what He's doing. He laid the earth's foundation and we weren't there, and yet we live day and day out trusting that those foundations are sound. Likewise, in the little things and the hard things and the things that we want to let go and the things that we have a hard time holding onto, we need to trust that those are also sound in His hands.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
attitude adjustment.
Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. 3But the man who loves God is known by God. (1 Corinthians 8)
I've been in a mess lately about school. I think this verse really speaks to me because it sheds light on my attitude, and urges me to change my disposition. School should not be the focal point of my life; it should not dictate my behavior and actions and it should never justify my cruelty, annoyance, and bad nature. In short, I cannot be cranky in lieu of school.
I need to have an attitude adjustment, and just hoping to be nicer will not work. I need to love unconditionally just like God loves me. No matter what people do or say, I need to really keep in mind that I am a follower of Christ. I want them to know His love, and the only way I can do that is by sharing His love with them.
But before all of that, I need to love God and be known by Him. Otherwise, all my efforts to be cordial are phony. I want to be genuine and not fake.
I've been in a mess lately about school. I think this verse really speaks to me because it sheds light on my attitude, and urges me to change my disposition. School should not be the focal point of my life; it should not dictate my behavior and actions and it should never justify my cruelty, annoyance, and bad nature. In short, I cannot be cranky in lieu of school.
I need to have an attitude adjustment, and just hoping to be nicer will not work. I need to love unconditionally just like God loves me. No matter what people do or say, I need to really keep in mind that I am a follower of Christ. I want them to know His love, and the only way I can do that is by sharing His love with them.
But before all of that, I need to love God and be known by Him. Otherwise, all my efforts to be cordial are phony. I want to be genuine and not fake.
Friday, November 2, 2007
a penny for thought.
only a fraction of a penny (Mark 12)
That's what the widow offered. That's how much I think my life is worth sometimes; it's not even worth a penny. Maybe that's how much your life is worth, you think. But whatever opinion we have of ourselves, God sees our sacrifice in a different LIGHT. Entirely.
Don't degrade yourself, and make excuses, whimpy ones at that, that God doesn't care whether or not you offer yourself because your life amounts to nothing. On the contrary, the fraction of a penny that you think you're worth is more in value then you could ever dream when it is offered with utter sincerity.
In God's economy, the exchange rate is excellent. :)
That's what the widow offered. That's how much I think my life is worth sometimes; it's not even worth a penny. Maybe that's how much your life is worth, you think. But whatever opinion we have of ourselves, God sees our sacrifice in a different LIGHT. Entirely.
Don't degrade yourself, and make excuses, whimpy ones at that, that God doesn't care whether or not you offer yourself because your life amounts to nothing. On the contrary, the fraction of a penny that you think you're worth is more in value then you could ever dream when it is offered with utter sincerity.
In God's economy, the exchange rate is excellent. :)
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
A job well done!
He has done everything well...(Mark 7:37)
Isn't that the truth? Everything Jesus did was done well. He healed and made whole, and the result was perfect; the outcome was amazing; it was all so miraculous and unbelievable; there was nothing missing or off par. Yet, in my life, I've been seriously questioning certain parts of my existence. I constantly doubt whether or not everything will fall into place. Can Jesus really heal all the damage in my life? Completely? Fully?
I can't let those apprehensions rock my faith because He does a good job in everything He does; records prove it! Let that stir my heart and make me trust Him with my life, even the tattered and torn pieces that don't seem like they could ever be mended. The blind saw; the deaf could hear; the mute talked; the lame walked; and even I, little old me, can be made whole again.
Isn't that the truth? Everything Jesus did was done well. He healed and made whole, and the result was perfect; the outcome was amazing; it was all so miraculous and unbelievable; there was nothing missing or off par. Yet, in my life, I've been seriously questioning certain parts of my existence. I constantly doubt whether or not everything will fall into place. Can Jesus really heal all the damage in my life? Completely? Fully?
I can't let those apprehensions rock my faith because He does a good job in everything He does; records prove it! Let that stir my heart and make me trust Him with my life, even the tattered and torn pieces that don't seem like they could ever be mended. The blind saw; the deaf could hear; the mute talked; the lame walked; and even I, little old me, can be made whole again.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
suspended.
There are days that I feel like I'm simply suspended; I'm stuck in a state of stagnancy and staleness. Today is one of these days. I have so much to do, but I cannot seem to do it and yesterday's woes still plague me but the pain is so misty, a mere apparition of what was, untouchable, so unreal.
God,
Please help me to feel like Your arms are embracing me even in this state of misery. Even when I feel like nothing happening, as if I will never get to that better day, as if the desires of my heart will never come, as if I will have to settle for this unsettling feeling of unrest, help me to be fully content in Your love even in this moment of suspension...
Thank you for who You are and what You do, even though I don't know how it'll all come together, I know it will and that's all that matters.
God,
Please help me to feel like Your arms are embracing me even in this state of misery. Even when I feel like nothing happening, as if I will never get to that better day, as if the desires of my heart will never come, as if I will have to settle for this unsettling feeling of unrest, help me to be fully content in Your love even in this moment of suspension...
Thank you for who You are and what You do, even though I don't know how it'll all come together, I know it will and that's all that matters.
Friday, October 5, 2007
believing in the cause.
And if I perish, I perish. (Esther 3:16)
She was so self-sacrificing. She knew the dire situation that the Jews were in, and she knew there was no other solution. Esther had to stand up for her people; she had to risk her life to save the others. She had to be bold and courageous, loving and kind, and above all, she had to believe in the cause.
Often times, we lay our lives down for others. We try to be nice and courteous; sometimes giving up our time and pushing what we really want to the side, so that others will benefit from our sacrifices. But if we are not ready to perish, in a sense, for such an act, I honestly think, we should re-think whether or not we should commit to such a cause. I'm not saying we shouldn't be nice, but if that's the only reason for laying down our lives, it'll only lead to agony.
If our whole disposition is to do nice things to others, we will drain ourselves to the point of depression. But if we do nice things because we are trying to preach the gospel, or we're hoping that our actions will reflect God's glory, then our motives are noble and right. There is reason to do what we do.
Esther had to believe in what she was doing; otherwise, it was in vain. She did, and because of her belief, she was able to save the Jews from genocide.
She was so self-sacrificing. She knew the dire situation that the Jews were in, and she knew there was no other solution. Esther had to stand up for her people; she had to risk her life to save the others. She had to be bold and courageous, loving and kind, and above all, she had to believe in the cause.
Often times, we lay our lives down for others. We try to be nice and courteous; sometimes giving up our time and pushing what we really want to the side, so that others will benefit from our sacrifices. But if we are not ready to perish, in a sense, for such an act, I honestly think, we should re-think whether or not we should commit to such a cause. I'm not saying we shouldn't be nice, but if that's the only reason for laying down our lives, it'll only lead to agony.
If our whole disposition is to do nice things to others, we will drain ourselves to the point of depression. But if we do nice things because we are trying to preach the gospel, or we're hoping that our actions will reflect God's glory, then our motives are noble and right. There is reason to do what we do.
Esther had to believe in what she was doing; otherwise, it was in vain. She did, and because of her belief, she was able to save the Jews from genocide.
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