Pause to Pursue

Psalm 119:25-32 (NLT)

 

I lie in the dust;
    revive me by your word.
I told you my plans, and you answered.
    Now teach me your decrees.
Help me understand the meaning of your commandments, 
    and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds. 
I weep with sorrow; 
    encourage me by your word. 
Keep me from lying to myself; 
    give me the privilege of knowing your instructions. 
I have chosen to be faithful; 
    I have determined to live by your regulations. 
I cling to your laws. 
    Lord, don’t let me be put to shame! 
I will pursue your commands, 

    for you expand my understanding.    

       The imagery of this group of verses in Psalm 119 gives me a feeling of irony. Pausing and pursuing. On the first line, lying in the dust - a pause, a stop. On the penultimate line, pursuing a movement. The psalmist was on a pause but he was in pursuit at the same time. But what was the writer pursuing? What was the purpose of pursuit during that time of pause?

        Days before I encountered this portion of Psalm 119, a phrase came into my mind - "Pause or pursue." It was the Holy Spirit speaking to me during these lockdown days and in this season of waiting for a new assignment from God. Then in one of my daily devotions, I was so amazed that the imagery it impressed on me was the message of pause and pursue. A dichotomy. In my time of pause, pursue God's presence and His Word. God never ceases to leave me in awe and wonder how He reveals His Truth when you diligently seek Him and His Word.

        For me, the lockdown days were vital days when we were given the opportunity to stop and pause. We had a chance to look inward. An unexpected time of halt from the hustle and bustle of the busy world. All of our plans were unexpectedly interrupted. Our timelines for personal goals were disrupted. I imagine a light switch turned off like a rest for the night at the end of the day. It was like lying in the dust described to us by the psalmist. A pause.

       Here are some of my observations as I pondered the stanza:

I. Postures on the Pause

        1. Posture of Humility

        The psalmist humbly asked for personal revival. Revival by God's Word. God's Word has the power to give us new life, new energy and enthusiasm when we feel discouraged and down.

    2. Posture of Honesty

        The psalmist presented his plans to God, honestly telling God what's on his heart. He sought the help of God when he didn't understand. He wept in sorrow seeking God's encouragement.

    3. Posture of Hearing from God

        The psalmist asked God to teach him His decrees, to understand the meaning of His commandments, asking God the privilege of knowing His instructions.

II. Purposes of Pursuit

        1. Knowing God's Word

        As mentioned in the posture of hearing from God, the psalmist asked God to teach him His decrees, to understand the meaning of His commandments, asking God the privilege of knowing His instructions.

        2. Meditating on God's Word

        In verse 27, the psalmist said he will meditate on God's wonderful deeds as he seeks understanding of the meaning of God's commandments.

        3. Living by the Word

        In verse 30, the psalmist chose to be faithful and determined to live by God's regulations.

        With these words from this stanza, the passion of the psalmist for the Word of God vividly created clear images of pause and pursue for me. What a wonderful truth to learn and live my life. My prayer is that I will be more and more passionate in constantly pausing and pursuing God's presence and His Word.

REFLECTION

        If this struck a chord in you, what comes to mind as next steps to pause in and pursue the presence of God? Just like the psalmist, we can ask God to teach us His decrees. The Holy Spirit Himself will teach us and help us understand His Word.

Essentials and Non-Essentials

Matthew 22:36-40 (NLT)

“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

Essentials and Non-Essentials - words we hear and read a lot these days. The type of work that are considered essentials are open to serve the basic needs of people while communities are in lockdown. The non-essential jobs are asked to stay home as a measure to flatten the curve of the spread of the virus. I googled the meaning of essential and Lexico powered by Oxford gave me this meaning: Absolutely necessary; extremely important. When I think about my spiritual journey, what are absolutely necessary? What are extremely important? What are the essentials and non-essentials?

First, I want to reflect on the essentials.  The same question that was asked by an expert of the law, a Pharisee, to the Lord Jesus in Matthew 22:36-40 is what I personally ask myself as we go through this season of newness from the normal routine and lifetyle we had before the pandemic. What is essential? Which is the most important thing in this life? When I lay down to sleep at night at the end of the day, what part of the day did I think, say and do what's important, the essential? In this time of pause, of being locked inside, I take the opportunity to look inside my heart. As I ponder on the verse Matthew 22:36-40, I ask myself - Why am I doing what I do? For what? Is it really essential? Is it out of my love for God - to love Him with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength? Is it out of love for people, my neighbors, far or near? I read a post on facebook that eloquently said that this pandemic exposed our hearts, how we love or not love. I absolutely agree and as I watch my reaction to situations and people around me, I see all the flaws and sins in my own heart, the things that are not right in the sight of God, those unloving thoughts, words, and deeds. But God, in His mercy and unfailing love forgives and cleanses us from all unrighteousness when we come to Him and confess our sins (1John 1:9). It is His love in us that will empower us to love - loving God and loving people. It is what we absolutely need - absolutely essential.

On the other hand, what are the non-essentials? In 1 John 2:15-17 (ESV) it says: "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life - is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever." When I look back at the past two decades, I feel like life has suddenly turned so fast. I feel the immense acceleration of lifestyle like watching a Nascar race. Life is so hurried. I saw the evolution of cellphones, the rise of technology, making people so connected by just swiping and touching screens. There's always something to chase for, to buy, to achieve, to reach, leaving little space or no space at all to pause and praise and pray to the Giver of this life we breathe. When I reflect on the life of the Lord Jesus Christ when He was on earth, His life was spent not hurriedly but always intentionally resting and pausing and praying and showing love and compassion to those around Him. One of my lockdown reflections is the realization that the things and pride of this world are non-essentials. This is not to say we don't need things but it is when things, the provisions instead of the Provider become the center of my life.

The turn of this new decade was unexpected, unprecedented. Life was suddenly sent back to the basics, the daily essentials we need - food, shelter, simple clothes to wear, the value of time together at home with loved ones. The pause from the perceived normal pursuit provided space to identify the essentials or non-essentials in life. Having to slow down during a lockdown gave an opportunity to look inside our hearts. At the end of the day, I want to daily ask myself - "Did I spend the day to love my  God and my neighbors - the truly essentials in this life? It's a choice we make each day. 

REFLECTION:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NIV)

We are loved and He is waiting for us to respond to His love.

Reflecting on the Scripture below, what practical ways can you show love...

1 Corinthians 13:4-13 (NIV)

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part,  but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

After Resurrection

John 20:19-20

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

It's been three years since I last posted on this blog.  It's amazing my last entry was the day after the Resurrection day.  Today is the day after the Resurrection Day! I was prompted by a facebook post of a friend that said: "What part of your life needs to be resurrected?"  Even before that facebook post, my brother encouraged me to blog again. More than anybody else's words, the Lord has been nudging me to write again. I have been procrastinating on writing. I am so amazed that exactly around this time three years ago, I wrote about the wonder that God let us experience as a family that Resurrection Sunday when we were on our way to our family tradition of watching the sun rise by the lake.

This year, as we all exprienced, was a different Resurrection Day celebration. Locked indoors in our homes on these uncertain times due to the corona virus pandemic the world is facing, we didn't have our traditional trip to the lake to watch the sunrise and have a family devotional there. Rather, we watched our church service partly broadcasted on a local television channel in our bedroom and the rest we watched online in our kitchen.

I want to share the verse that our pastor shared in the service.  In John 20:19, the disciples, like us, were locked indoors because of fear. With the pandemic this world is facing right now, people wrestle with fear, anxiety, paranoia. But the the next verse was a light in their present darkness.  The Lord Jesus appeared with His powerful words that we desperately need right now: "Peace be with you."  Wherelse can we find peace but from the Prince of Peace Himself. What a place of refuge and strength as we go through this path of uncertainty.

This year is definitely an unforeseen way of remembering the Resurrection Day. But we have the same God Who was raised from the dead Who gives us His assurance of peace in His presence. As we stay indoors on these uncertain times, may we be filled with God's promise of peace.

Amazing Resurrection Day!

God amazingly showed this beautiful sight yesterday on Easter morning. I was prompted to share it to the world and share the story just like how Mary Magdalene shared her story on the Resurrection Day to the other disciples!  

It is our Easter family tradition to go out early in the morning to watch the sunrise in the park by the lake, have our family devotion and thank God for His great love to save us. Yesterday was a cloudy and rainy morning. We figured the sun wouldn't show up. But in spite of the weather, we chose to still go out even it was a little late. On our way driving to the park, the sun sneaked out!  I took pictures of it as we were so glad to see it rising. It was a gift!!! God is so good!!!

I scanned all the pictures I took when we got home and was stunned seeing the moon showing up in a couple of them as well! I didn't notice the moon when I was taking pictures. What a majestic sight!

The sun was rising, dawning. The moon was watching,waiting, ready for resting.  Both wanted to joyfully declare the day to celebrate the glorious, victorious Resurrection Day! The Lord Jesus Christ is risen! He is alive and living powerfully today!!! God is an awesome God!!! He shows His love in so many amazing ways!  His creation declares His glory!

The Lord Jesus is so good and so awesome to show us the sun in a cloudy and rainy Easter morning with a bonus of the moon waiting! He knows the desires of our hearts and as a good Father, He let us see the sky's smile as we celebrated His goodness and His grace!

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." 

Luke 19:10 (NIV)

For God so loved the world 

that he gave His one and only Son, 

that whoever believes in Him shall not perish 

but have eternal life. 

John 3:16 (NIV).

This is the message of the Resurrecton Day! 

We are O-sO-lOved!!!

He is reaching out with His great love for us.

for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Romans 10:13

What is your choice today?

What's Up In Our Frontyard?

This is our frontyard.  Christmas lights still hugging the bushes in March.  It still snowed a couple of weeks ago when I took this picture, thus the snow covering the ground.  But what's up with the yard sign:
Love everyone, always.?

We were on a series at Willowcreek Community Church on "Love Everyone Always" and it had such a great impact on people's lives, the phrase resonated so loud, it was unstoppable! The leaders of the church decided to give out yard signs to the congregation to spread the message of love.

Personally, the phrase is like a light permeating my spirit and soul each and every day, guiding me to look at each person God sends my way through the lens of love.  There are times I struggle and wrestle with my own flesh as my own conscious and unconscious biases arise.  When feelings and emotions fight against the heart of love, it seems easier to succumb.  But I thank God that through the help of the Holy Spirit, His love always overcomes.  As long as we go back and intentionally stay in the place of His unconditional love, He empowers us to truly and genuinely love everyone always.  We can't do it on our own.  It is the Holy Spirit who lives inside those who received the wonderful grace of God's love through the Lord Jesus Christ that enables us to give the same powerful love. It is like a raging river, rushing,yet refreshing and reviving, lifting up both the giver and receiver!

For such a time as this, the message of God's love is the answer.  With all the things that are happening in the world, all we need is love (reminds me of Beatles' song).  In conflict, love reconciles. In sickness, love heals. In sorrow, love comforts.  In anger, love calms.  In bitterness, love sweetens.  In jealousy, love rejoices with.  In betrayal, love forgives.  In rejection, love welcomes. In depression, love uplifts.  In desperation, love inspires.  In divisions, love unites.  In darkness, love lights.  In love is life. That is the heart of God.

"For God so loved the world 

that He gave His one and only Son, 

that whosover believes in Him should not perish 

but have everlasting life." 

John 3:16

This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

1 John 3:11

Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

1 John 4:7

Love everyone always!

Standing On Holy Ground

 

The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did as he was told. Joshua 5:15 (NLT)





Joshua was facing a new season of his leadership when he encountered the Commander of the Lord's army.  He was told to take off his sandals as he was standing on holy ground.  It was holy because God was there.  That was the time when God gave Joshua new instructions for the conquest of the Promised Land.

Are you in a new season of your life?

Is there something that God is prompting you to take off as you enter into His presence and lead you to the next level He wants you to do?

7-Day Reflections Before Christmas (Day Seven)

Where is your "Flock"? 

What is Your Calling?

The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them. Luke 2:20 (NLT)


Just as the shepherds had their own place of assignment two thousand years ago, God has put each one of us in a place where He called us in this generation.  For us followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are given gifts where He wants us to use for His people to help each other. Do you know what gift He has given you through the Holy Spirit? If you don't know yet, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal it to you and go use it as He leads.

Romans 12:4-8

Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge.The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages,while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

Dear friends,

Today is the last day of this time of reflections before Christmas. I pray that those who joined me in this journey will keep on seeking and longing for more of God.  The Savior has been born to us. He loves us and reaches out to us, every single day. You are Oh-sO-lOved! 

Have a Merry and Blessed Christmas! Let's make the Celebrant, the Lord Jesus Christ be the center of our celebration!

With lOve,

Odette

7-Day Reflections Before Christmas ( Day Six)

Have you heard the shepherds' story?

What impact did it do to you?

All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. Luke 2:18-1(NLT)

MATTHEW 13:14-17

This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says,

‘When you hear what I say,

you will not understand.

When you see what I do,

you will not comprehend.

For the hearts of these people are hardened,

and their ears cannot hear,

and they have closed their eyes—

so their eyes cannot see,

and their ears cannot hear,

and their hearts cannot understand,

and they cannot turn to me

and let me heal them.’

“But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.

7-Day Reflections Before Christmas ( Day Five)

WHAT ARE YOU RELENTLESSLY PURSUING?

THE LIGHT HAS COME!

COME AND WORSHIP!

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” 

                                                                                                     Matthew 2:1-2 (NLT)

John 8:12

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

Isaiah 9:2-7

The people who walk in darkness

will see a great light.

For those who live in a land of deep darkness,

a light will shine.

You will enlarge the nation of Israel,

and its people will rejoice.

They will rejoice before you

as people rejoice at the harvest

and like warriors dividing the plunder.

For you will break the yoke of their slavery

and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders.

You will break the oppressor’s rod,

just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian.

The boots of the warrior

and the uniforms bloodstained by war

will all be burned.

They will be fuel for the fire.

For a child is born to us,

a son is given to us.

The government will rest on his shoulders.

And he will be called:

Wonderful Counselor,Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

His government and its peace

will never end.

He will rule with fairness and justice 

from the throne of his ancestor David

for all eternity.

The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies

will make this happen!

7-Day Reflections Before Christmas ( Day Four)

WHAT'S YOUR STORY?
YOUR STORY MATTERS!

After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. Luke 2:17 (NLT)

MATTHEW 28:18-20

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

7-Day Reflections Before Christmas( Day Three)

Quo vadis? Where are you going?

What have you found today?

What have you seen today?

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.      Luke 2:15-16 (ESV)

John 1:1-5 (ESV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:14 (ESV)

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

7-Day Reflections Before Christmas ( Day Two)

FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE

AND 

RECEIVE!

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 

John 1:12-13 (ESV)

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—

praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in highest heaven,

and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

Luke 2:13-14

Psalm 96 (ESV)

Worship in the Splendor of Holiness

1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song;

sing to the Lord, all the earth!

2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name;

tell of his salvation from day to day.

3 Declare his glory among the nations,

his marvelous works among all the peoples!

4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;

he is to be feared above all gods.

5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,

but the Lord made the heavens.

6 Splendor and majesty are before him;

strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

7  Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,

ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!

8  Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;

bring an offering, and come into his courts!

9  Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;

tremble before him, all the earth!

10  Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!

Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;

he will judge the peoples with equity.”

11  Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;

let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

12  let the field exult, and everything in it!

Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy

13 before the Lord, for he comes,

for he comes to judge the earth.

He will judge the world in righteousness,

and the peoples in his faithfulness.

7-Day Reflections Before Christmas ( Day One)

Good news! 

This is the day of salvation!

We are invited to come to the Lord Jesus Christ today...

Seize the day!

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16 (NLT)

And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

The Shepherds and Angels

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in highest heaven,

and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them. ”Luke 2:6-20 (NLT)

reDesigned, reLaunching, reTelling the stOry

This devotional book is available in ebook, paperback and hardcover at amazon.com,barnesandnoble.com, xulonpress.com, christianbook.com

I am always reminded and fascinated about the story of the Samaritan woman whom Jesus met in the well. After her encounter with the Lord, she rushed to the community and told them who she met. I want to be like the Samaritan woman, telling my encounter with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and His faithfulness through the years.


Through the grace of God, this book was published in April 2015. I had a soft launch to my circle of influence within my family and friends and featured it on this blog. During the last year, I was led to make some changes and one of them is to partner with my husband to redesign the cover replacing the one made by the publisher. I feel more satisfied and full of joy knowing that this book is a fruit of the combined gifts that the Lord Jesus Christ has entrusted to both myself and my husband.


This devotional book is a testimony, a collection of 40 personal stories of God's love and faithfulness. My prayer is that it will encourage you, if you haven't yet, to spend quiet time each day for 40 days seeking God's presence and listening to His voice. It has always been my passion to pursue God's presence through carving time every morning each day praising, worshipping, reading His Word, the Bible and enjoying His presence. Those precious moments are the times I find true treasures, wisdom and most of all experiencing the power of God's unfailing love. I pray that the invitation to spend the next 40 days as you read the devotional will not end there, but it will just be a beginning of continuous daily lifestyle of spending special moments with God.  Part of the book is called "Fragmentation," a time to reflect on your own story and write down your introspection. For those who already have the time of daily devotion in ink, my prayer is that the message of this book to go deeper into God's vision for your life will be an inspiration to go and take the next steps to fulfilling it as the Holy Spirit leads you.


The purpose of writing the personal stories is to give glory and honor to the Only One and True God who so loved us and gave His One and Only Son for us (For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 NIV). He is into every detail, every fragment of our lives.


To you who decided to read on, if you are seeking to know God and have a longing in your heart to experience His love, my prayer is that my story shared in this book which is a small fragment of God's big story will inspire you and encourage you to draw to Him closer and closer as He reaches out with His love for you. May you open the door of your heart as He knocks to meet with you.


You are a fragment of a big story! You are O-sO-lOved!

Prompting Popping

Isaiah 30:21 "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it."

Crisp colors of leaves,

oranges, maroons, browns, reds fading in. 

Lush of greens gradually fading off, 

soon will be unseen 

except for the evergreens.  

What a lovely scene!

 Fall is in. 

A new season. 

Just like those trees standing still in submission to nature's marvel of change, I am in a new season of my own journey at this time. For six years, I homeschooled my child.  I stayed home full time. It was a season of purging, pruning, molding, of God showing me my self, my inner self. I was confronted by the truth, battled with doubts and fears, living on the edge.  But through it all, God faithfully held me like a mother holding her fragile baby. It was a season of fortifying and witnessing of God's blessings.

Now, my son is in public school. Letting go was difficult. It was a test of trust for me. After six years of being homeschooled, he longed for a company of other kids. I felt like I was on a tug-of-war being pulled in two different directions. Should I continue with homeschooling or let him learn independence and structure in a traditional school setting. Dilemma. My son and I shared treasured moments.  We laughed, we cried, we worked and played hard. We had our fights, arguing who's right. We made memories forever etched in our hearts.  And now we are both in a new season. He loves riding the school bus. He loves meeting new people. New things, widening his horizon. It was a hard decision to let go and let God. But God's loving whisper, leading, guiding, assuring, comforting, showing the way, prompting popping in my ears telling me to be still.

In this season of change, I am in the waiting mode just like how a still tree quietly embracing the beauty happening in the changing colors of its leaves.

My "Seven Cents"

It's my birthday today! Seventh of September.  Seven days before my birthday, I wanted to soak myself in on seven lessons from my daily devotions. Here are the "seven cents" I got:

August 31st:

• "I believed, and so I spoke." (From 2 Corinthians 4:13, ESV)

Really, if you experience the love of God and you believed, you can't not speak about it! You can't keep the story to yourself. When you have an encounter with the Lord Jesus, you want to share the Good News you had just experienced with Him! There is a fire inside that ignites you to speak about the transformation God made in your life.

September 1st:

• "Never give up" (From 2 Corinthians 4:16, NLT)

Just like Paul who wrote the book of Corinthians, I don't want to give up on doing the task assigned to me by God. 

September 2nd

•  My goal in life: to please God (From 2 Corinthians 5:9)

I am a goal oriented person. I write down my yearly, monthly, weekly and daily goals. But what really is the goal of this temporal life? We get inundated with so many things listed in our goals list.  But really, the only goal we have is to please God in all we do.

September 3rd 

• One day I will stand before God for the good or evil I have done. (2 Corinthians 5:10)

What good can I do today?

September 4th

•  Work hard for the responsibility that God assigned to me. (From 2 Corinthians 5:11)

 Don't just do things just for the sake of doing them. Work hard with all my heart, mind and strength! I'm serving the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He deserves the best!

September 5th

• Look at people from God's point of view. (From 2 Corinthians 5:16)

 God looks at the heart. Look at others through God's eyes and heart.

September 6th

• I am an ambassador! (From 2 Corinthians 5:20)

As a believer, I represent Christ and His message to this world. Is my life showing the love of God?

From a Blog to a Book... a Journey

 Blog. I thought it was a word for a sound when something fell off! I first heard about it from my friend Jiggy.  Then my sister Che mentioned about it. They were both in the blogging world. It was a new internet platform.  I'm not much of a web person.  I had too much to do at home I can barely stay online. I got curious though.  So I checked it out, created my profile and began my journey in the blogging world. Fragments was born.

I always loved writing. I love words. I especially love and devour God's Word. It's a deep desire like an  unquenchable wild fire, blazing, burning, spreading in my soul, a passion pushing, crying out loud, insatiable. A holy discontent.  I can't just get enough of it. And so it overflows in what I write. It is what I boast about. My blog.

Blogging is exposing.  It is revealing.  It takes a great amount of courage to lay your heart open. Some will like it. Others will love it. But there will be those who will criticize and reject it. But this is all part of the call. Obedience to God's assignment over other voices is a battle. But in the end I am accountable to the audience of One, my God, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Just like fragments creating a whole, the dream of publishing a book began to permeate inside of me. Another cry. Another fire. Another nudging. So I prayed. God whispered words. He brought me back to my life story, my testimony, fragments of His love story.

Forty. A dream of writing something about the faithfulness of God in the four decades of my life began to sprout. But somewhere along the way, it laid dormant. I felt stuck. I wanted to write and publish a book for my fortieth birthday but it didn't happen. The dream almost died. But a still small voice kept ringing. "Fortyfied," a word posted by my friend Egai who passed away after two years of that post on my facebook timeline on my fortieth birthday kept coming back to me. I began to write again. I carved time early mornings, seeking, sulking in God's presence to give me the words.  Fragments Fortyfied was formed.

The process was harder than I thought. It was a time of digging, of learning, of purging, of molding, of purifying, humbling. I doubted. I hesitated. I cringed. I stepped back. Then stepped up again. It was a battle in my  heart, in my mind. I made mistakes. I worked by myself. But God sent help through people who pushed me up like Aaron and Hur holding up Moses' hands so they would win the battle.And the book was published by God's amazing grace. He is faithful! To the Lord Jesus Christ alone be the honor and glory! 

 

What is the dream God has put in your heart? 

Don't give up. 

Keep going. 

Keep seeking God. 

Keep listening. 

Your story matters. 

 

Fragments Fortyfied available at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and xulonpress.com

On Life and Love

          Had my father been alive today, my parents would have celebrated their 55th Anniversary last month.   I was talking to my mother who's in the Philippines over the phone  and I felt a splash of sadness knowing that she misses my father especially on that very special day.  She candidly told me how she felt and how they could have celebrated the big day. But I admire my mother's inner strength that comes out of her strong faith and love for the Lord Jesus Christ.

          In honoring my parents and in time for Valentine's Day, I want to share some of life and love lessons I've learned from them:

On Life:

We are all capable of social mobility with God's grace.

          I love having conversations with my parents about their own life stories.  When my father was still alive,  I would ask him to tell me the story of his life and it inspired me when he enthusiastically related to me the events of his past that were important to him.  He came from an economically challenged family who lived dependently on fishing and a little farming.  He was the eldest and bore more responsibilities in helping their family.  There were days he couldn't go to school because he had to catch fish first to put food on their table.  He recounted how he went to school barefooted when he was in grade school because they couldn't afford to buy slippers.  But poverty didn't weigh him down.  I admired my father's brilliant mind and strong determination.  He left the little town and went to Manila, the economic center of the country, looked for a job and went to take a vocational course as a mechanic.  He landed a job in a commercial fishing business and gained favor from the owner who became like a father to him.  He eventually became the main man and managed the whole business.

         My mother also came from a family where she had to work hard to have food in their mouth.  She grew up planting vegetables.  Her mother made beautiful crocheted curtains, bedspreads, table covers, pillowcases, clothing and earned some income from them.  In order to help, my mother sold root crops in the neighborhood and even to her classmates.  My mother was and still is very entrepreneurial and people person.  She was my father's support and as the saying goes, behind every man's success is a woman.

         It always inspires me how my parents lived a life characterized with hard work and discipline.  I've never seen them waking up late.  They always rose up early and were never lazy.  This lifestyle reminds me of a verse in Proverbs 6:10-11 "A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber." Moreover, what I remember hearing from both of my parents were their recognition of the power higher than them.  I could still hear the phrases "Sa awa ng Diyos" (By God's Mercy/Grace) or "Awa ng Diyos" (God's Mercy/Grace) echoing in my memory.  It was God's hand of blessing and grace that brought them where God had planned them to be.

On Love.

Humility. Forgiveness. And a morning cup of coffee.

          It was not a perfect marriage.  It was so flawed, actually.  But what I saw was a tough love that endured the test and trials of heartaches and pain and the triumph of humility,  forgiveness, and love.  We all fall short and in our weaknesses we make choices that hurt the people we love. But because love is higher and tougher to conquer the pain, my parents victoriously passed the test and kept their love for each other stronger.  And I will always remember the image of my parents having their cups of coffee every morning, sipping, talking, connecting. Love.

Speak Out!

Psalm 107 

 1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. 

 2 Has the LORD redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.

       

          The New Year has just begun.  The year that passed had once again proven the faithfulness and unfailing love of God.  His mercies are new every morning.  He deserves the highest praise and honor and glory and thanksgiving!  More than the magnificent lights and fireworks that ushered the beginning of a new year, the Light of the world, Jesus Christ Himself, is the center of the existence of this universe.  His faithful love endures forever!  The Redeemer of the world is worthy to be praised!

          I am utterly humbled by His goodness through the years since I accepted Christ to be the Lord and Savior of my life.  I had my ups and downs and twists and turns. I've been on mountaintops and deep valleys.  I've gone through storms and calms.  And through it all Jesus had never left me nor forsaken me.  And I am speaking out and telling others of His marvelous love.  What a wonderful, awesome, uncontainable, indescribable love!  He is offering that love to all, daily knocking at the door of our hearts, waiting for anyone who will open up and receive the gift of life, eternal life.

          New Year, new beginning.  It never stops amazing me how each year reminds us of the life of Jesus.  2014 A.D. Anno Domini, a Medieval Latin word which is translated as "in the year of the Lord" and as "in the year of our Lord."  Each year, right after we celebrate His birth, His coming to earth in flesh and blood, on Christmas day, follows the New Year.  It speaks out how God gives us a new life, a new start as we let Him into our own "mangers," our hearts.  At the time of His birth, no room was available for Him but the manger.  In our generation, there are a lot of hearts that are not available for Him, not opening, not letting Him in because they are filled with other things this world offers.  But He keeps reaching out. Each day, each year.  May this be the year, you, the one reading this, will open up your heart and let His unfailing love enter in.  And when He does, you can't help but speak out of that wonderful love.

If you want to know more of how to start a new relationship with Jesus, please click on the link below:

Need Him

Seven Day Christmas Meditations, Seventh Day - Happy Birthday, Jesus

Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called 

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Thank you for coming to us, Emmanuel, 

God with us.

We celebrate you today and always.

Happy Birthday, Jesus.