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. :-)

Last Two Minutes

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Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.

- Matthew 24: 4-8

REMINDER TO SELF:

Happening now...

• False prophets
• Wars and rumors of wars
• Nation versus nation
• Kingdom versus kingdom
• Famines, earthquakes, pestilences

ONLY the BEGINNING of BIRTH PAINS

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.

Worship

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WORSHIP according to New International Version (NIV) Life Application Bible Study is "to express praise and devotion."

NIV's concordance:

1 Chronicles 16:29

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    bring an offering and come before him.
Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.

Psalm 95:6

Come, let us bow down in worship,
    let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;

Psalm 100:2  

Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.

Seven and a Few

Photo courtesy: buildthetemple.com

[SCRIPTURE]

32 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”

33 His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?”

34 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.

“Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”

35 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. 36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. 37 They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 38 The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children. 39 After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan.

- Matthew 15:32-39

[OBSERVATION]

Compassion: That was what Jesus uttered to His disciples to what He felt for the crowd.  He had compassion on them. Three days. The crowd stuck with Jesus for three whole days and with nothing to eat. It was quite a long sermon and medical mission, I guess. So then Jesus aired His concern to the disciples: feed the four thousand (exclusive of women and children from the count, by the way).

Going Solo (Part 1 of 2)

Monday… Work… It’s the start of the work week to welcome another bulk of transactions, and another day to entertain this one “kulit” (stubborn) client.  Weeks before, this client of mine kept on proposing to introduce to me her nephew. In our dialect, we call it, “pakilala.” She kept on asking me if I have a boyfriend every time she transacts at my counter.  And she said, there is this nephew of hers she would like me to get introduced to.  I know her motives, “basi pa lang may potensyal nga maging close kag magkadevelopan” (maybe there is a potential between us to get close and be more than friends).  And so, I was being polite to her but I wasn’t serious in taking her proposal.

I'm Ending the Day by Claiming Promises

The Bible has hundreds of written promises.  God has promised His children and not one of them has ever failed.  God is faithful in keeping His promises.  So tonight, I will start and I will end this day in claiming His promises for my life.

I claim these promises in Jesus' name:

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Acts 16:31

"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved - you and your household."

Psalm 32:8

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.

Psalm 37:4

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Isaiah 40:29-31

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.

1 Corinthians 2:9

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him."

Philippians 4:19

And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Jude 1:24

To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy.

Habakkuk 3:19

The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights.

Revelation 3:11

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.

Philippians 1:6

Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Matthew 5:8

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

John 14:2

In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.

Psalm 46:1

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Psalm 28:8

The Lord is the strength of His people, a fortress of salvation for His anointed one.

Jeremiah 30:17

But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declared the Lord, because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.

Proverbs 8:17

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.

1 John 2:25

And this is what He promised us - even eternal life.

[Journal entry: October 6, 2011]