He Will Bring Back What Is Good

Praise God for He will restore our people,

our land, our nation, the Philippines.

Psalm 85

¹ You, LORD, showed favor to your land;
   you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
² You forgave the iniquity of your people
   and covered all their sins.
³ You set aside all your wrath
   and turned from your fierce anger.

 ⁴ Restore us again, God our Savior,
   and put away your displeasure toward us.
⁵ Will you be angry with us forever?
   Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
⁶ Will you not revive us again,
   that your people may rejoice in you?
⁷ Show us your unfailing love, LORD,
   and grant us your salvation.

 ⁸ I will listen to what God the LORD says;
   he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—
   but let them not turn to folly.
⁹ Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,
   that his glory may dwell in our land.

 ¹⁰ Love and faithfulness meet together;
   righteousness and peace kiss each other.
¹¹ Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
   and righteousness looks down from heaven.
¹² The LORD will indeed give what is good,
   and our land will yield its harvest.
¹³ Righteousness goes before him
   and prepares the way for his steps.

It's The Small Things

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To God, small things matter.  God doesn't only care with the grand things, but He cares with small matters of our lives.  God is a personal God.  he knows us by name.  He even knows the number of our hairs on our head.  His thoughts about us outnumber the grains of the sand.  He cares about the minute details of our lives.

What we do matter to God.  Even the everyday things we do matter to Him.  When we eat, when we sleep, when we lie down, when we sit, when we walk, when we think, even when we do nothing -- it matters to Him.

When we feel happy, when we feel sad, when we feel frustrated, when we feel, mad, when we feel hurt, when we feel afraid -- it matters to Him.  When we are healthy, when we are sick, when we achieve something, when we fail, when we decide, when we do not decide -- it all matters to Him.  Everything matters to Him. Everything about you and about me matters to Him.

Even the simplest and insignificant thing that happens to us do not go unnoticed by Him.  Even the smallest and taken for granted things that we do matter to Him. He knows every thing we do.  That is how He cares for us. To Him, small things that happen to our lives matter to Him.  So whenever you have fears, doubts, and cares you must remind yourself that you have a God who cares for you.

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
- 1 Peter 5:7

 Yes, God cares.  And you need not fret, but instead you should cast any cares you have in your life unto Him for HE cares for you.

[Journal entry: October 19, 2011]

God's Tattoo

Photo courtesy by kimbonner.com

Do you know that God has a tattoo of your name?

Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?  Though she may forget, I will not forget you!  See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.

- Isaiah 49:15-16

God would never forget His children. He would never forsake those who belong to Him.  Though we may, at times, feel God has forgotten or forsaken us, the truth is He never once had.

Instead of asking, "God, why have You forsaken me?" Ask yourself, "Have I forsaken and forgotten God?"  And usually, it's the latter that happens.

[Journal entry: September 30, 2011]

Today I Pray...

This is my prayer for today to You, Father God.

Psalm 121

 ¹ I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
   where does my help come from?
² My help comes from the LORD,
   the Maker of heaven and earth.

 ³ He will not let your foot slip—
   he who watches over you will not slumber;
⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel
   will neither slumber nor sleep.

 ⁵ The LORD watches over you—
   the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
⁶ the sun will not harm you by day,
   nor the moon by night.

 ⁷ The LORD will keep you from all harm—
   he will watch over your life;
⁸ the LORD will watch over your coming and going
   both now and forevermore.

[Journal entry: September 30, 2011]

The Arms That Welcome Me Back

Father God,

No matter how many times I run away from You, I always find myself back into Your arms.  When I come running to You, I see Your arms outstretched ready to welcome me back.  Your loving arms... the warmth of Your hands I long... I seek.  No matter how many times I've disappointed You, You never fail to show Your smile and tender kiss when I come back into Your arms.

That love... that Love of Yours I could never find anywhere else.  That love of Yours, Father God, is what keeps me into Your arms.  Father God, how amazing is Your love... how unchanging are Your ways...how limitless is Your mercy... how sufficient is Your grace!

Father God, I come running back into Your arms.  Your love... that kind of love no one could ever give.  You alone, Father God, are the one I long for! I love You, Father God!

[Journal entry: August 26, 2011]

Encouragement for a Downcast Soul

Taste and see that the Lord is good;

blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.

Fear the Lord, you his saints,

for those who fear Him lack nothing.

The lions may grow weak and hungry,

but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

- Psalm 34: 8-10 -

The righteous cry out and the Lord hears them;

He delivers them from all their troubles.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

A righteous man may have many troubles,

but the Lord delivers him from them all;

He protects all his bones,

not one of them will be broken.

-Psalm 34: 17-20-

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him;

do not fret when men succeed in their ways,

when they carry out their wicked schemes.

-Psalm 37: 7-

If the Lord delights in a man's way,

he makes his steps firm;

though he stumbles, he will not fall,

for the Lord upholds him with His hand.

-Psalm 37: 23-24-

God is our refuge and strength,

an ever-present help in trouble.

-Psalm 46:1-

Be still and know that I am God.

-Psalm 46:10-

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you;

He will never let the righteous fall

-Psalm 55:22-

[Journal entry: July 18, 2011]

Today, I Pray For The Children and The Youth

We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done. He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.

- Psalm 78:4-7

Father God,

Today I pray for the children of this generation; for the youth of this generation. Lord, thank You for You love children, and that they have a part in Your Kingdom. Lord, bless the young people of this age.  Open up their young minds and young heart that even at their early age they may know You.  Lord, it is never too early nor too late to know You.  So I pray today, particularly for the children of this nation for them to see a need of a Savior in Christ Jesus.

Lord, bless every child that is growing. Bless every child of the family that they may grow healthy, happy, and beautifully.   Lord, protect each child who is helpless. Shelter every child who is homeless. Feed every child who is hungry. Clothe every child who is naked. Father God, You are the giver of good gifts, and I believe that You are more than willing to give good gifts to these children. Use us, the adult believers, to accomplish these things for Your glory.

Father God, I also pray for dads and moms who are believers of Your Word to give them wisdom, understanding, gentleness, love, and guidance from Your Holy Spirit that they may rear up their children in a godly way.  Father God, bless every family of believers; give them enough strength and courage, loving kindness and patience for their growing children; give them the guidance on how to discipline their children; and most especially, give them the wisdom to teach their children about the knowledge and the love of God.

A Doer More Than a Hearer

For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.

- Romans 2:13

To God, obedience to the law is more important than hearing the law.  God has a different scale in measuring righteousness.  Ours is way too different from His. What credit is it to the man if he hears the law but do not obey it?

Am I a hearer or a doer of the law?  It is futile if I hear the law yet I do not obey it.  By God's grace and by the Holy Spirit's empowerment I am able to hear and obey the Word of God.  I should not just be a hearer, but also a doer of God's Word.

Father God, help me to live out Your Word in my life that I may be a doer more than a hearer.  In Jesus' name. Amen.

[Journal entry: June 13, 2011]

Happy Birthday, Mama!

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Today is the birthday of the most influential person in my life and the closest to my heart -- mama. This is a special day, a remembrance of her, for on this day she was born here on earth. She could've turned 59 today, but she is turning 5 this year on Sept. 28, her spiritual birthday. I am happy she was born here on earth and I am humbled and honored to have her as my mother, an opportunity to experience what a mother is like; I thank God for that wonderful opportunity and priceless experience. And I am thankful to God that she is now in a happier place with her Creator. Happy birthday mama. I miss you but I'm sure we will meet again. :)