My Dear Cross-eyed Child, You Keep Missing the Mark

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Have you ever tried playing darts? You know, those small missiles you throw at a circular target called dartboard.  The aim is to hit the red circle at the center of the board.  The nearer you  hit from the center, the higher your score.

I have tried playing darts with some friends when I was in grade school. It was a lot of fun. At first, I did not know how to aim, throw and hit the target.  Many times, I threw darts way over the dartboard.  I could not seem to hit the target.  And sometimes my exerted force was not enough to even reach the board.  I was really bad at it like I was some cross-eyed kid who could not see the target clearly.  When I got lucky, I hit the target bulls eye.  But when I ran out of luck, darts were nowhere near the read dot.  I just keep missing the mark.

To Call, Dial 1T-4312

 

We often wonder and wander for God's will in our lives.  We often pray and ask God, "What is Your will for my life, Lord?" You think maybe this or that is His will for me.  Sometimes we are unsure of where we are called and of what we are called to do. Then, we ask Him. Then we discern. "Is it God's will for me to marry this person? Is it God's will for me to migrate? Is it His will for me to pursue this career?" And the list goes on.  So many things we ask about 'His will' which, often times, are self-centered and we don't even realize that, do we?

But the Bible tells us about God's will for us.  He did not give us clues to tell us, "Go figure out what My will for your life is."  Rather, He has spread out His perfect and pleasing will and spoke about it loud and clear in the Bible.

Storms Today. So, Sleep.

Remember the story in the Bible when Jesus calmed the storm?

(Reference: Matthew 8:23-27)

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Jesus got into the boat with His disciples and when suddenly a violent storm came up on the lake. Imagine the big waves swept over the boat. Imagine the splashes of water which got into the boat. Imagine the boat rocked so hard it had a big possibility to capsize. Imagine the anxiety the disciples felt during that frightening condition. Imagine the storm and the boat with YOU in it. How would you feel? Now, imagine that. :-)

Jesus' Words

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⁴⁹ The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
⁵⁰ “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.”
The man took Jesus at his word and departed. ⁵¹ While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. ⁵² When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.”
⁵³ Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed.

John 4: 49-53, NIV

Faith in Jesus' words is important. When He says He will, He will.
BELIEVE.

Everything Jesus says is true.
BELIEVE.


[Journal entry: February 20, 2012]

A Record in Eternity

¹⁸ He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. ¹⁹ I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. ²⁰ However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Luke 10:18-20 (NIV)

Being saved more than anything else is worthy of celebration.

Rejoice!

I remind myself today that my name is written in heaven.  In the Book of Life. For eternity! 

I can't sink in myself to what God calls eternity.  But I only have to believe that eternity is real.  That eternity with God is worth more than anything.  I was once a sinner and Jesus saved me.  He has given me life in eternity.

Thank You, Jesus!


[Journal entry: September 10, 2013]

My Life, His Story

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My life is a testimony to the world. My life is not my story, but it's God's story.

Yes. It's His story, not mine.

Everything in my life that has happened, that is happening, and that will happen is not centered on me. It's God's story intended for His glory.

The Lord God blesses us with good things not because we deserve them. The Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins not because we deserve it. Because we never deserved it in the first place. But because of His great love and mercy for us. That out of our own wretchedness, He took us and saved us and loved us!

You see, when God blesses us, it is not because of our own goodness and faithfulness. God blesses us out of His goodness and faithfulness into our lives. When He prospers us, it's not about us and for us. It is about HIM and for Him to display His glory over our lives that other people would see how good and faithful He is. When God provides for us, it is not about us that we deserve it. It is about how faithful God is in providing for His children. It is how God takes care of His children. It is how God provides so that others may see His divine providence working out in our lives.

When God grants healing upon us, it is not only because we have faith in Him that He can heal us. He grants healing upon us to show to all peoples of the world that He is the Great Healer. You see, everything that is happening to us is not only about us. It's not only about our lives. We have a story to tell to the world how great, faithful, powerful, mighty, awesome, loving, and merciful our GOD is.

Our life stories are a testimony to the world of who GOD is. Our lives are His story.

It's not about me. It's not about us. It's about Him. All for His glory and honor so that the world may know that HE IS THE ONE TRUE LIVING GOD.

[Journal entry: April 7, 2014]

On Mathematicians and Multiplication...

21 Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus *said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

- Matthew 18:21-22

The pharisees taught the people that when someone sins against you, forgive them up to three times. Peter, being graceful, thought of seven times on forgiving. But Jesus said and taught them (and us) to forgive people who sin against us 70x7 (seventy-seven times, other version). It's a lot of number.  And yes, Jesus didn't make a mistake on multiplication.  And He even intentionally used the mathematical method of multiplication.  Not addition. Not subtraction. Not division. But multiplication.

From Today Onwards

Today, I make a conscious decision to desire nothing and no one else other than God. Today, I decide to desire and fix my eyes on Jesus. From today onwards, I consciously decide to be madly, crazily in love with JESUS!

I will take off my eyes on things here on earth, and I will set my eyes on what is above.  I will desire for things which are eternal.  And I will make a difference in my generation and to make an impact in God's kingdom.

I carry the banner of Jesus!  I am not alone in this battle. My Lord is with me and He will fight for me!

Let's go God! :-)

Captivate my heart, Jesus! I will live with one purpose in mind:  

to glorify Jesus in every way!

I love You, Lord! :-)

[Journal entry: August 22, 2011]

Drawing That Sword

7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.

8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”[a]

10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)

11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

- John 18:7-11

When the soldiers and some officials went to arrest Jesus, He did not deny that He was who they were looking for.  He said it with full authority, "I am He."  Every word Jesus uttered fulfilled what was prophesied about Him (verses 8-9).

How Do You Do It?

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Jesus,

How did You remain calm and composed when people threw accusations and persecutions at You? How did you remain gracious and loving to people when You knew they would try and plan to kill You?  How did You still manage to be with people whom You knew would leave during Your darkest hour?How did You handle those fickle-minded people so graciously?

Another Significant Shaking

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Yesterday, rather last night, at around 8:30pm, an earthquake struck Sulangan, Philippines (near Pacific region) with an intensity of magnitude 7.6 to 7.9.  It was almost felt by the entire Philippines, but the intensified shaking was most felt in the eastern Samar region.

Nothing is Impossible

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."

- Mark 10:27 -

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Dressed and Lit Lamps

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 35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.

- Luke 12:35-36

Today, I am reminded that Jesus is coming soon again. I can't afford to sleep, but instead to stay vigilant of His coming.


[Journal entry: April 25, 2012]

Merry Christmas Everyone!

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

- Isaiah 9:6

Love, Love, Love

"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

- Mark 12:29-31

Top 1: Loving God with ALL your heart, with ALL your soul, and with ALL your mind, and with ALL your strength.

ALL means everything; not partial; as a whole; not conditional.

Heart.

Soul.

Mind.
Strength.

Top 2: Loving your neighbor as yourself. Loving others just as much as how you love yourself.

First, we should love God. Why? For when we love God, our love for others follow.  We cannot love others when we have not learned how to love God. Our relationship with God must be in tune before we can loe others just as we love ourselves.

Second, when we love, we should love all-out. When we love in partiality, we haven't loved at all.  It is not genuine love. God loves us all-out by giving His Son, Jesus, as a ransom for our sins  This is complete love.

Self-check: How have I loved God? Have I loved Him first? Have I loved Him with all my heart, my soul, my mind, and my strength? How have I shown love to my neighbor? Am I loving myself? Who do I consider my neighbor?

[PRAYER]

Father God, forgive me for failing in this area. Forgive me for not obeying what Jesus commanded.  Lord God, my heart faints; rescue my heart. Please give me a burning passion; a heart that loves You more than anything else.  In Jesus' name. Amen

[July 23, 2012]

The Word, The Life, The Light

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him, nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness but the darkness has not understood it.

The true life that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

- John 1: 1-5, 9

‘The Word’ is stressed in this scripture, and since the beginning of time the Word has already existed.  When I read this passage before, it was just as though my eyes passed by these verses without me actually understanding it.  Not until last night that I took time to really understand the scripture word per word.  I slowly read it; I chew on it; I repeatedly read it.  Thanks to the Holy Spirit, He has given me the understanding of this verse, and I now appreciate the weight and the power of this verse.

A Unique Day

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3 Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle. 4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. 5 You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.

6 On that day there will be neither sunlight nor cold, frosty darkness. 7 It will be a unique day—a day known only to the Lord—with no distinction between day and night. When evening comes, there will be light.

- Zechariah 14:3-7

This day of the Lord will not go unnoticed!  As it is said, this will be a unique day, and so, everyone will know that there is only one Lord, Jesus!  His glory will be revealed to all men unto all nations!

This is dramatic.  God loves the drama of it, I think.  When I read this, I looked up the skies and smiled and said, “What a dramatic event You have here.”

[Journal entry: May 20, 2012]

To My Generation

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To my generation,

You will not pass away until you have known the Lord!

To my generation,

I may be small to the world and may mean nothing to the world, but I will be a mighty warrior of the Lord.

To my generation,

I will not leave this earth, not until I have served the Lord and accomplished His assignment for me.

Turning Stones Into Bread

3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’” 5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’” 9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully;11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

- Luke 4:3-13

 

The devil tempted Jesus three times during His forty days fasting; it was when Jesus was physically weak that the devil grabbed the chance.  Jesus, the Son of God, was tempted.  And why was Jesus tempted by the devil? “Temptation is part of the human experience.”  Jesus was fully human and fully God.  Jesus had to experience temptation as well for Him to be able to understand us fully.

Waging War: Me versus I

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I do not understand what I do.  For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

- Romans 7:15

So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.  For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.  What a wretched man I am!  Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!

- Romans 7:21-25

 

Paul, even when he became a Christian, still struggled with sin.  What he did not want to do, he did; what he wanted to do, he didn’t do: a struggle with sin in the flesh.  He wanted to do, and he did desire to do God’s law, but seemed he was a prisoner (still) of sin.  A Christian has still struggles with sin indeed.