January 16, 2016 {Saturday. 12:16pm}
Proverbs 1:7
"Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline."
Solomon was a very wise man. He had a vast majority of wealth, he prospered in all that he did, and he build the Lord's temple. In the first verses of Proverbs, he gives the reason why the book was written in the first place. The reason for the book of Proverbs is clearly stated in verse 2, it is for teaching wisdom and discipline, to help with understanding and insights to become wise.
In this scripture, to have a foundation, we must first fear the Lord. Fearing the Lord does not mean to be scared of Him, but to have a deep reverence and respect for God. I've prayed for the fear of God in my life, and what that means to me is that fearing the Lord comes with an appreciation of the things and people of God, his will in my life, and relying on his perfect timing.
Dear Heavenly Father, I am sorry for not having the fear of you many times in my life. Please help me to obey your word, have your desires in my heart, and to have a deep respect for you. Sometimes I feel that I do not because of my experiences in my health and that creates doubts and questions of your goodness. I can have faith in your goodness because for you not to be good goes against your character of being God. And I know that you are a good God. Thank you for wisdom, knowledge and discipline. Help me to be more disciplined and to fear you more.
Fearing the Lord begins by me having discipline and desire to know Him!
Saturday, January 16, 2016
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Greetings, Favored Woman
November 12, 2013 **Thursday. NHCC Library. 8:53 am**
Luke 1:28-31
"Gabriel appeared to her (Mary) and said, 'Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!" Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 'Don't be afraid, Mary," the angel told her, "for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth o a son, and you will name him Jesus."
It's Christmas time again; the opportunity to celebrate the birth of Jesus! Christmas has been changed from a day of celebration, to a materialistic holiday. Many has forgotten the purpose of Christmas and many people is more excited about Black Friday sales more than the real reason for the season. In this passage, Mary is approached from Gabriel with good news of Jesus' birth. She was afraid, confused, and disturbed but did not stop believing the truth of what was about to happen to her and Joseph.
I know this year, I have been thinking more about buying presents than the purpose of the season. I am guilty of being materialistic as I go shopping at the nearest mall. I need and want to remember that Jesus is the reason.
Heavenly Father,
I'm sorry that I have been more focused on presents than the birth of your son. Please forgive me and point out anything that is not of you, and fill me with the goodness of you. I pray that I will remember your son and all that He sacrificed for us. You are an amazing God and created the best plan for us all. I love you.... In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Prayers of God's People
November 11, 2013 **Wednesday. NHCC library. 1:09 pm**
Revelation 8:3-4
"Then another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar. And a great amount of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God's people as an offering on the gold altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of God's holy people, ascended up to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out."
Revelation is also known as the book of the End Times. The full revelation of God is revealed, which talks of plagues, destruction, and hope of the future. In the beginning of chapter 8, the Bible talks about the breaking of the Seventh Seal. After the seal has been open, there was a time of silence within Heaven. It is said that the silence are due to the hearing of the Prayers of God's people. In the Jerusalem temple, the ritual is to be silent as people says their prayers. It is a Jewish tradition.
From the first time I heard these verses, it helps me to understand one aspect of how God deals with our prayers. It amazes me because it increases my hope in God and that hope is a spring board to increased faith. I've always imagined that as God sits on his throne, the aroma of our prayers delights him as our Heavenly Father. He loves us as his children and cares so deeply about each and every one of us. These verses encourages me as I pray my prayers and that God really does hear or smell them.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for loving us in that our prayers brings you sweet aromas to you. I pray that you cleanse me and forgive me for the wrongdoings that happen daily. I pray that each one of your children will find you and embrace the goodness of your love. You are wonderful to me and I offer myself up to you that you will shine through my life to be a living sacrifice for your kingdom. I love and adore you for you are wonderful to me. In Jesus name,
Amen
The Prayers of your people are a sweet aroma to you.
Friday, November 2, 2012
The Hurt in His Eyes
November 2, 2012 **Friday. Starbucks. 9:06am**
Ezekiel 5:8-9
But I will let a few of my people escape destruction, and they will be scattered among the nations of the world. Then when they are exiled among the nations, they will remember me. They will recognize how hurt I am by their unfaithful hearts and lustful eyes that long for their idols. Then at last they will hate themselves for all their detestable sins.
Ezekiel was a Hebrew prophet of God during the times of exile. During the days of Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian empire had exiled the people of Israel. God had a message for the people who turned away from him and Ezekiel was the guy for the job. In this passage God gives the reason for their destruction, the very reason for his wrath. "[H]ow hurt I am by their unfaithful hearts and lustful eyes that long for their idols." At the core, God created people for relationships and from the beginning they have and continue to hurt God by their sins.
It's been a while since I've done my devotions in the morning because I've been going through a rough patch of time. I stopped doing them daily because I had started to think and doubt that the reading of the bible daily, had become somewhat of a ritual and just something I did just because it's the "Christian thing to do". In this time, I've gone back to certain bad habits and was in a "funk" and I know now it was because I started starving myself spiritually. Neglecting the intimacy of any relationship creates a wedge and does damage to it. Daily devotions are the intimacy in this bond between a person and God. It's the daily hug or touch that slowly disappears and causes one another to feel like strangers. Danny, a friend of mine said this about daily devotions, "sometimes there are days when I feel good and don't feel the need to do my devotion that day; but I realized that although I feel full, I do them to feed someone else. You never know when someone needs to hear what God said that day." He went on to tell me a story about the devotion he did that day when he thought this and the next moment after he was done, a friend had called him and that devotion had been for her. In application to this verse is very significant for me. I've been seeking God in purity for myself, and as I failed this past few months, this verse shows me the hurt I've caused God. Like a husband jealous for his wife, God has that same passion for us. I am his, and when I stray and fall again and again, his wrath for me is great because of the hurt he has in his eyes.
Lord, I'm sorry I fail. This is something that I continue to do, like the season of falling leaves; I fall when I walk away from you. Help me though this and give me the strength to persevere. You are the reason I am here.
The hurt in your eyes are to great for me to bear, forgive me so eventually that hurt will evolve into love in your eyes again.
< 3
Ezekiel 5:8-9
But I will let a few of my people escape destruction, and they will be scattered among the nations of the world. Then when they are exiled among the nations, they will remember me. They will recognize how hurt I am by their unfaithful hearts and lustful eyes that long for their idols. Then at last they will hate themselves for all their detestable sins.
Ezekiel was a Hebrew prophet of God during the times of exile. During the days of Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian empire had exiled the people of Israel. God had a message for the people who turned away from him and Ezekiel was the guy for the job. In this passage God gives the reason for their destruction, the very reason for his wrath. "[H]ow hurt I am by their unfaithful hearts and lustful eyes that long for their idols." At the core, God created people for relationships and from the beginning they have and continue to hurt God by their sins.
It's been a while since I've done my devotions in the morning because I've been going through a rough patch of time. I stopped doing them daily because I had started to think and doubt that the reading of the bible daily, had become somewhat of a ritual and just something I did just because it's the "Christian thing to do". In this time, I've gone back to certain bad habits and was in a "funk" and I know now it was because I started starving myself spiritually. Neglecting the intimacy of any relationship creates a wedge and does damage to it. Daily devotions are the intimacy in this bond between a person and God. It's the daily hug or touch that slowly disappears and causes one another to feel like strangers. Danny, a friend of mine said this about daily devotions, "sometimes there are days when I feel good and don't feel the need to do my devotion that day; but I realized that although I feel full, I do them to feed someone else. You never know when someone needs to hear what God said that day." He went on to tell me a story about the devotion he did that day when he thought this and the next moment after he was done, a friend had called him and that devotion had been for her. In application to this verse is very significant for me. I've been seeking God in purity for myself, and as I failed this past few months, this verse shows me the hurt I've caused God. Like a husband jealous for his wife, God has that same passion for us. I am his, and when I stray and fall again and again, his wrath for me is great because of the hurt he has in his eyes.
Lord, I'm sorry I fail. This is something that I continue to do, like the season of falling leaves; I fall when I walk away from you. Help me though this and give me the strength to persevere. You are the reason I am here.
The hurt in your eyes are to great for me to bear, forgive me so eventually that hurt will evolve into love in your eyes again.
< 3
Friday, September 28, 2012
The Heritage of the Lord's Servant
September 28, 2012 **Friday. NHCC Library. 9:40am**
Isaiah 54:1-3
"Sing, O childless woman, you who have never given birth! Break into loud and joyful song, O Jerusalem, you who have never been in labor. For the desolate woman now has more children than the woman who lives with her husband," says the Lord. "Enlarge your house; build an addition. Spread out your home, and spare no expense! For you will soon be bursting at the seams. Your descendants will occupy other nations and resettle the ruined cities."
The prophet Isaiah foretold of the issues and visions concerning Judah and Jerusalem. It was during the times of Uzziah {9th king of Judah}, Jotham {11th king of Judah}, Ahaz {son of Jotham}, and Hezekiah {son of Ahaz and 13th king of Judah}. These kings ruled the land and served the people who repeatedly persisted in idolatry. They often heeded to the words of Isaiah and some of the kings became very prosperous but as pride took over their hearts, they fell away from the words of the Lord. As Isaiah continued to seek after God, chapter 54 continues the saga of the servant's absolute triumph after his cruel death. This is the foretelling of the coming Messiah, Jesus. In these verses, Isaiah speaks of the redemption opportunity to be fulfilled. The "desolate woman [will now have] more children than the woman [with a] husband". This is the redemption theme that the bible tells and tells again. A chance to be redeemed! The prophets cry out but the people of Israel turn their backs away from a loving God.
As an application to these verses, I believe that this is what I am called to do. My heart's desire is to occupy and purchase my father's house and use it for God's glory to be able to transform it into "Jovie's Home for Girls". A safe haven for those little girls who are broken-hearted, abandoned, and alone. "Your descendants will occupy other nations and resettle the ruined cities." It's my missions heart, where God has placed me into, and this is what I seek after: to give God the glory minus my prideful and selfish heart.
Lord, it is ultimately you, who I seek after. You who should get the glory. Humble my heart, scrub my heart, clean out my heart that it is filled with you. Decrease me that they see you in a version that looks like me. Open up these doors and remove the cobwebs, cockroaches, and filth that needs to leave for you to reside in my life. I allow you and give you permission to do what you need to do through and in me for your glory to shine, even though I say it with a scared but open hands. My feet are ready to go.
If this the the heritage of your servant, Lord, send me.
< 3
Isaiah 54:1-3
"Sing, O childless woman, you who have never given birth! Break into loud and joyful song, O Jerusalem, you who have never been in labor. For the desolate woman now has more children than the woman who lives with her husband," says the Lord. "Enlarge your house; build an addition. Spread out your home, and spare no expense! For you will soon be bursting at the seams. Your descendants will occupy other nations and resettle the ruined cities."
The prophet Isaiah foretold of the issues and visions concerning Judah and Jerusalem. It was during the times of Uzziah {9th king of Judah}, Jotham {11th king of Judah}, Ahaz {son of Jotham}, and Hezekiah {son of Ahaz and 13th king of Judah}. These kings ruled the land and served the people who repeatedly persisted in idolatry. They often heeded to the words of Isaiah and some of the kings became very prosperous but as pride took over their hearts, they fell away from the words of the Lord. As Isaiah continued to seek after God, chapter 54 continues the saga of the servant's absolute triumph after his cruel death. This is the foretelling of the coming Messiah, Jesus. In these verses, Isaiah speaks of the redemption opportunity to be fulfilled. The "desolate woman [will now have] more children than the woman [with a] husband". This is the redemption theme that the bible tells and tells again. A chance to be redeemed! The prophets cry out but the people of Israel turn their backs away from a loving God.
As an application to these verses, I believe that this is what I am called to do. My heart's desire is to occupy and purchase my father's house and use it for God's glory to be able to transform it into "Jovie's Home for Girls". A safe haven for those little girls who are broken-hearted, abandoned, and alone. "Your descendants will occupy other nations and resettle the ruined cities." It's my missions heart, where God has placed me into, and this is what I seek after: to give God the glory minus my prideful and selfish heart.
Lord, it is ultimately you, who I seek after. You who should get the glory. Humble my heart, scrub my heart, clean out my heart that it is filled with you. Decrease me that they see you in a version that looks like me. Open up these doors and remove the cobwebs, cockroaches, and filth that needs to leave for you to reside in my life. I allow you and give you permission to do what you need to do through and in me for your glory to shine, even though I say it with a scared but open hands. My feet are ready to go.
If this the the heritage of your servant, Lord, send me.
< 3
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Words of the Wise
September 4, 2012 **Tuesday. Starbucks. 10:08am**
Proverbs 22:17-19
Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my instruction. For it is good to keep these saying in your heart and always ready on your lips. I am teaching you today -- yes, you -- so you will trust the Lord.
Solomon was a very wise man. The fact that he asked for wisdom over anything else was very wise. The book of Proverbs has a bunch of wise words. This book is for the wise, many useful advice that we should follow, some are common sense but others are very convicting. God was about loving him and loving others. Proverbs is a book filled with words of advice on how to do these very things, especially how to love others, to be kind, and treat others with respect. Pastor Wayne talks about how many of the people in the bible are "Divine Mentors". These people were written about to teach us ways of life, to teach us about how they lived, and what to do and what not to do. This weekend at Camp Agape, Gabe did a spoken word and I love how said that the people of the bible were homeless men and women who teaches us the ways of the world. His spoken word was very powerful--straight from the heart.
As I go to school and learn from my professors, I want to not only listen to the words but to APPLY these to my heart and life. Pastor Mike Ward says that this is the most important thing of learning about God. To Apply the facts and use it towards giving God glory. To make him famous and let his light shine through us.
Lord, help me to hear your words, listen to the wise, and apply them to my heart and life. I pray that this prayer is not in vain but that I will truly be transformed into the person that you want me to be but at the same time, be the same person -- one who is passionate about your people, one who seeks your ways, the one who will not neglect or be rude to those who I can be irritated at. Teach me to "scrub my heart" daily, teach me to pray, and teach me to love.
The words of the wise is priceless. It's the cost of listening to those wise words that I will value.
< 3 >
Proverbs 22:17-19
Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my instruction. For it is good to keep these saying in your heart and always ready on your lips. I am teaching you today -- yes, you -- so you will trust the Lord.
Solomon was a very wise man. The fact that he asked for wisdom over anything else was very wise. The book of Proverbs has a bunch of wise words. This book is for the wise, many useful advice that we should follow, some are common sense but others are very convicting. God was about loving him and loving others. Proverbs is a book filled with words of advice on how to do these very things, especially how to love others, to be kind, and treat others with respect. Pastor Wayne talks about how many of the people in the bible are "Divine Mentors". These people were written about to teach us ways of life, to teach us about how they lived, and what to do and what not to do. This weekend at Camp Agape, Gabe did a spoken word and I love how said that the people of the bible were homeless men and women who teaches us the ways of the world. His spoken word was very powerful--straight from the heart.
As I go to school and learn from my professors, I want to not only listen to the words but to APPLY these to my heart and life. Pastor Mike Ward says that this is the most important thing of learning about God. To Apply the facts and use it towards giving God glory. To make him famous and let his light shine through us.
Lord, help me to hear your words, listen to the wise, and apply them to my heart and life. I pray that this prayer is not in vain but that I will truly be transformed into the person that you want me to be but at the same time, be the same person -- one who is passionate about your people, one who seeks your ways, the one who will not neglect or be rude to those who I can be irritated at. Teach me to "scrub my heart" daily, teach me to pray, and teach me to love.
The words of the wise is priceless. It's the cost of listening to those wise words that I will value.
< 3 >
Saturday, September 1, 2012
See Forever
August 31, 2012 **Friday. Starbucks-Mililani. 10:18pm**
2 Corinthians 4:17-18
For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
Many people tend to look at their current troubles or issues as long term. Some may not have hope that it will ever pass, so they become doubtful and lose faith. Paul and his co-workers of the faith contiunued and pressed on in their journey to proclaim the faith for the very reason that others will not doubt or lose faith. They knew that God's glory to shine through is the most important, the most vital for the life of those around him. When people become grateful and appreciate what God has done for them, it is at that moment that God really appears. This is what I call the "awe factor".
The "awe factor" is something I personally pray for. It's that moment when I'm in doubt of things and the times I may lose faith; this moment of "awe-ness" that I long for. I was just talking to a classmate as I had a chance to give him a ride to the dorms about this very thing. Times when we go through struggles and rough patches of our lives that we become hesitant, doubtful, and sad. He told me that it comes with a mature character to know that things are going to be okay, to not run away.
Lord, let your glory always and constantly shine so brightly. Remind me that our present problems will not last long but to endure in what we are going through. It is in the preserverance that will produce the character that you want in us and for us. Thank you for your unfailing love. I love you.
Some times I can't see past my problems but with you, Oh Lord, you show me how to see forever.
< 3 >
2 Corinthians 4:17-18
For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
Many people tend to look at their current troubles or issues as long term. Some may not have hope that it will ever pass, so they become doubtful and lose faith. Paul and his co-workers of the faith contiunued and pressed on in their journey to proclaim the faith for the very reason that others will not doubt or lose faith. They knew that God's glory to shine through is the most important, the most vital for the life of those around him. When people become grateful and appreciate what God has done for them, it is at that moment that God really appears. This is what I call the "awe factor".
The "awe factor" is something I personally pray for. It's that moment when I'm in doubt of things and the times I may lose faith; this moment of "awe-ness" that I long for. I was just talking to a classmate as I had a chance to give him a ride to the dorms about this very thing. Times when we go through struggles and rough patches of our lives that we become hesitant, doubtful, and sad. He told me that it comes with a mature character to know that things are going to be okay, to not run away.
Lord, let your glory always and constantly shine so brightly. Remind me that our present problems will not last long but to endure in what we are going through. It is in the preserverance that will produce the character that you want in us and for us. Thank you for your unfailing love. I love you.
Some times I can't see past my problems but with you, Oh Lord, you show me how to see forever.
< 3 >
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