Last night, I read the one of the most beautiful testimonies from a friend who is like a younger sister to me. To some extent, I had been sharing with her my experiences with God. She had told me in return that she believed in God, and His miracles. But, I didn't learn the reason until yesterday why.
She had been sickly as a growing child, who frequented hospitals in the Philippines. Her mother had to leave her, when she was six, in order to make a living. So, she was left in her aunts' care, and even nannies, when her aunts were in school. She admitted to not having much financially, therefore, her illness had been extremely burdensome. At one ocassion, she would be diagnosed with a certain kind of malady, only to find in the next rush visit that it was not the right diagnosis at all. And in the next hospital visit, her current diagnosis still proved inaccurate. That went on. Hours and hours of drive to the hospital and back. IV medications. Until it had gotten to the point, where she had to be bedridden. Her mom came home to take care of her. Her mother didn't give up. But because of desperation and superstition, the family sought out the help of witch doctors. Still, to no avail.
With no money, it seemed like hope was truly gone. But it wasn't. One of my friend's uncles had given her mom the money they needed to go to a prestigious hospital in Manila. They, of course, took the opportunity.
She was in the ER, when two doctors passed by. They weren't ER doctors, but they specialized in the illness she was suffering from: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). They had recognized one of the symptoms on her face. They examined her, and little by little, she was physically healed. My friend still has to take some of the medications, that affects her growth spurt.
She shared with me though, that despite her tiresome ordeal, she praised God for providing her such dedicated and supportive family and relatives, who were determined to stand by and fight for her life with her, at a time of such trials. And in spite of what she had to go through, she kept her faith in God.
What an inspiring individual! I was simply blown away because her pain is beyond me. I couldn't imagine what it must have felt for her, and her loved ones. "It was so much suffering, but it brought me closer to God," she confided.
And yes, indeed. Instead of succumbing to her illness, she looked up to God because she knew that He is the Light. She didn't waiver from looking for the hope found in God's light. Through our conversation last night, I realized an important truth: Sufferings are God's blessings. They are not curses at all, but beautiful opportunities to call upon His name, to meet Him, to get to know Him, to start a relationship with Him, if not maintain one. In times of darkness, God gave us the stars of hope, patience, peace, and certainty, in His majestic sky of love and grace.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
Victory!
Tonight, God has blessed us with His presence in my mother's formal sitting room as our Bible study group gathered together to immersed in His Word and spiritual wisdom. He spoke again to us in a beautiful message, given by Tita Jo. And as Raymond Edman, a Christian author, says: Never doubt in the dark what God told you in the light. To me, when I shared my insight on the quote, it means that we should take root in God's word all the time, so that when we are facing any kind of challenges, we won't stumble. We will not take the devil's bait to temptation, wrongdoing, and misconduct.
One of my favorite life metaphors is a succinct and common declaration that life is a battlefield. With that, comes another favorite life metaphor of how life is a choice. We can act impulsively based on the losses we've suffered, the pain we're enduring, or we can keep our faith in Christ and strategize according to God's Word and what we know of who He is, what His purposes are and what His will is for us. Therefore, the decision is up to us. Just be forewarned, however, that free we may be to follow what we want, we are not free of its consequences.
The discussion mainly revolves around the trials and tribulations we encounter as Job had, and how best to tackle the obstacles we are currently dealt with. Job was an extremely wealthy man who had ten children, and whom God greatly favored because of his righteousness and blamelessness. He had everything until he lost his livestock and servants, his ten children were killed, and he also developed a disease that prevented his friends from recognizing him. However, in spite of his sufferings, he still found reasons to praise God by affirming His greatness and sovereignty over everything in the world.
He was able to describe who God is to his friends because he maintained an intimate relationship with God. Not only did Job know who God is, but he also understands God's characterization. Because of that understanding, he accepted the things that God willed for to happen in his life. Now isn't that beautiful?
Through Job's pain, he endured and soldiered on. And we should do exactly just that. Everyday, we are constantly fighting our own battles--physically, mentally, financially, and emotionally--that are unfortunately draining us of our rations of hope, peace, and patience. The more we lose on those fronts, the more our personal spiritual warfares become hectic. However, as humans in today's society, we often fail to recognize the red flag in targeting our focus on dangers that only affect us on earth, while we are temporarily assigned and camped in it. Job's tactic was different, on the other hand. And definitely much wiser too.
Job didn't focus on the carnage around him. It was there, as he knew well, portrayed by his complaints. But Job understood that though what he was enduring was painful, it was ultimately up to God. He accepted God's control over his life. Job also surrendered his life to God's plan and purposes because he knew that God's sovereign reigns. Job understood who God is, and has accepted God's role in his life, he was able to remain in his faith in Him. And because of Job's beautiful example of faith, he lived through the ordeal.
I learned of Job's story through one of my closest and oldest friends' blog a couple of years ago. I had been running across the battlefield in anger and impatience at the time. I was headstrong, determined to fight for my life, but I didn't have the right fighting necessities such as the patience, trust, and wisdom--all through faith in Christ. And truly, from my own personal experience, that made the war on all fronts worse.
Don't make the same mistake I did. Seek out Christ's character first instead. And sincerely, once you have, use who He is as your protection. Use His eternal promises to fight with. Rest assured, not only will you be delivered, but you will claim your victory through Him, who has suffered the worst yet endured... through Him who lives.
One of my favorite life metaphors is a succinct and common declaration that life is a battlefield. With that, comes another favorite life metaphor of how life is a choice. We can act impulsively based on the losses we've suffered, the pain we're enduring, or we can keep our faith in Christ and strategize according to God's Word and what we know of who He is, what His purposes are and what His will is for us. Therefore, the decision is up to us. Just be forewarned, however, that free we may be to follow what we want, we are not free of its consequences.
The discussion mainly revolves around the trials and tribulations we encounter as Job had, and how best to tackle the obstacles we are currently dealt with. Job was an extremely wealthy man who had ten children, and whom God greatly favored because of his righteousness and blamelessness. He had everything until he lost his livestock and servants, his ten children were killed, and he also developed a disease that prevented his friends from recognizing him. However, in spite of his sufferings, he still found reasons to praise God by affirming His greatness and sovereignty over everything in the world.
He was able to describe who God is to his friends because he maintained an intimate relationship with God. Not only did Job know who God is, but he also understands God's characterization. Because of that understanding, he accepted the things that God willed for to happen in his life. Now isn't that beautiful?
Through Job's pain, he endured and soldiered on. And we should do exactly just that. Everyday, we are constantly fighting our own battles--physically, mentally, financially, and emotionally--that are unfortunately draining us of our rations of hope, peace, and patience. The more we lose on those fronts, the more our personal spiritual warfares become hectic. However, as humans in today's society, we often fail to recognize the red flag in targeting our focus on dangers that only affect us on earth, while we are temporarily assigned and camped in it. Job's tactic was different, on the other hand. And definitely much wiser too.
Job didn't focus on the carnage around him. It was there, as he knew well, portrayed by his complaints. But Job understood that though what he was enduring was painful, it was ultimately up to God. He accepted God's control over his life. Job also surrendered his life to God's plan and purposes because he knew that God's sovereign reigns. Job understood who God is, and has accepted God's role in his life, he was able to remain in his faith in Him. And because of Job's beautiful example of faith, he lived through the ordeal.
I learned of Job's story through one of my closest and oldest friends' blog a couple of years ago. I had been running across the battlefield in anger and impatience at the time. I was headstrong, determined to fight for my life, but I didn't have the right fighting necessities such as the patience, trust, and wisdom--all through faith in Christ. And truly, from my own personal experience, that made the war on all fronts worse.
Don't make the same mistake I did. Seek out Christ's character first instead. And sincerely, once you have, use who He is as your protection. Use His eternal promises to fight with. Rest assured, not only will you be delivered, but you will claim your victory through Him, who has suffered the worst yet endured... through Him who lives.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Gratitude
Over again, God continually reveals to me how patient He is with me all the time. I had learned a while ago that if I don't immerse myself in learning more about God, or developing a personal spiritual relationship with Christ, I grow distant. Not just from my faith in Christ, but also in the people and things around me. So lately, I have dedicated myself to reading daily devotionals again. I'm also rereading Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life. This time, I'm set on actually finishing it. On top of that, I'm determined to also study the Bible. I actually started reading it last night, following one of the Bible reading guides that my family's Bible Study group leader handed us in the beginning of the year. But before I share what I learned from them, here's an epiphany I had before starting this particular post:
I was restlessly going back and forth from the bed to the desk and back again, when my Bible, the Bible that my dad had given to me, was speaking to me. I looked at the cover, nothing extraordinary. I flipped through the pages, there was nothing in it either. And I just sat on my bed, wondering what it was telling me. Until I got it.
I don't remember the exact date when my dad gave me the Bible. But it was around the time when I wouldn't go to church at all. It was around the time when I made excuses to not go either to church or to any other Bible study. I remember treating the Bible like any other book, which is a mistake to me now since it is clearly unlike any other book--at all. This particular Bible--because I actually have three--is an archaeological NIV study Bible. I'm not so interested with its archaeological aspect yet, about the ancient histories and cultures mentioned in the Bible, because I really want to focus on God's Word itself, although I know that learning about it archaeologically is also important. What I love most about this Bible though, is its introductory pages before the books themselves. It gives you a background information on who wrote it, where, when, for whom they wrote it, what to expect in the following chapters, the themes found in the books. I find it extremely helpful!
When I finally realized what God revealed to me through my Bible, I couldn't help but smile. His patience truly is abundant. He knows and understands me because He, alone, created me. For Him, and His purposes. There have been many occasions when I've cried in frustration, believing that my parents do not get me at all. But God knew. He knew that I would get here. It was just a matter of opening my senses, my mind, my heart to the idea that He is there for me through thick and thin, carrying me when I'm unable to push forward, pulling me up when I'm down, hiding me in His protection, delivering me when I'm tempted, and loving me when I hate myself. Because of what God has constantly shown and provided for me, I know that Jesus Christ is my everything.
Thank you O God, for every single little thing! =')
I was restlessly going back and forth from the bed to the desk and back again, when my Bible, the Bible that my dad had given to me, was speaking to me. I looked at the cover, nothing extraordinary. I flipped through the pages, there was nothing in it either. And I just sat on my bed, wondering what it was telling me. Until I got it.
I don't remember the exact date when my dad gave me the Bible. But it was around the time when I wouldn't go to church at all. It was around the time when I made excuses to not go either to church or to any other Bible study. I remember treating the Bible like any other book, which is a mistake to me now since it is clearly unlike any other book--at all. This particular Bible--because I actually have three--is an archaeological NIV study Bible. I'm not so interested with its archaeological aspect yet, about the ancient histories and cultures mentioned in the Bible, because I really want to focus on God's Word itself, although I know that learning about it archaeologically is also important. What I love most about this Bible though, is its introductory pages before the books themselves. It gives you a background information on who wrote it, where, when, for whom they wrote it, what to expect in the following chapters, the themes found in the books. I find it extremely helpful!
When I finally realized what God revealed to me through my Bible, I couldn't help but smile. His patience truly is abundant. He knows and understands me because He, alone, created me. For Him, and His purposes. There have been many occasions when I've cried in frustration, believing that my parents do not get me at all. But God knew. He knew that I would get here. It was just a matter of opening my senses, my mind, my heart to the idea that He is there for me through thick and thin, carrying me when I'm unable to push forward, pulling me up when I'm down, hiding me in His protection, delivering me when I'm tempted, and loving me when I hate myself. Because of what God has constantly shown and provided for me, I know that Jesus Christ is my everything.
Thank you O God, for every single little thing! =')
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