Thank You!

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I just want to take time to say this despite busyness.

Thank You, Lord!

Thank You, Lord!

Thank You, Lord!

Thank You, Lord!

Thank You, Lord!

Thank You, Lord

Thank You for what You have done.

Thank You for what You are doing.

And thank You, Lord,

for what You will be doing.

Thank You, Lord.

I say, THANK YOU. Thank you!

[Journal entry: March 2, 2013]

You're The Last In Line

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They came to Capernaum.  When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?”  But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.  Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.”  He took a little child and had him stand among them.  Taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

- Mark 9:33-37

Applying Rick Warren’s 40DITW (40 Days in the Word), Probe It with S.P.A.C.E.P.E.T.S. for this study verse is a challenge and a good exercise.

Is there a SIN to confess?

Like the disciples, most of us are focused on attaining personal success, becoming to be always at the top.  Pride keeps us having selfish ambition. Wrong motives arise for wanting to be always the first or the greatest.

Is there a PROMISE to claim?

In this verse, Jesus said that whoever welcomes one of these little children, welcomes Him; and whoever welcomes Him welcomes God.

The Greenhouse of the Heart

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Copied from Experiencing the Heart of Jesus daily devotional book, page 223; an excerpt from "Just Like Jesus."

Think for a moment of your heart as a greenhouse... And your heart, like a greenhouse, has to be managed.  Consider for a moment your thoughts as seeds.  Some thoughts become flowers.  Others become weeds.  Sow seeds of hope and enjoy optimism.  Sow seeds of doubt and expect insecurity.


The proof is everywhere you look.  Ever wonder why some people have the Teflon capacity to resist negativism and remain patient, optimistic, and forgiving?  Could it be that they have diligently sown seeds of goodness and are enjoying the harvest?


Ever wonder why others have such a sour outlook? Such a gloomy attitude?  You would, too, if your heart were a greenhouse of weeds and thorns.

[Journal entry: February 4, 2012]

No Religion

If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.  Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself form being polluted by the world.

- James 1:26-27 -

Photo courtesy: The Writing on the Wall

God desires a relationship with us, not religion.  There are many religions in the world, but there is only one God accepts; that is, to look after orphans and widows and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.  It stresses the importance of relationship.  Religion is man-made, but relationship is from God.  Religion cannot save man; relationship with Jesus can. We can do all religious activities, practices, and traditions faithfully and religiously, and yet we do not keep ourselves in check if we act and speak accordingly.

On Being a Jew

A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.  No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code.  Such as a man's praise is not from men, but from God.

 - Romans 2: 28-29

[NIV Footnotes]
A real Jew is someone who pleases God, not someone who has been circumcised (outwardly) but someone whose heart is right with God and obeys Him.  God desires our heartfelt devotion and obedience.

How often am I living like a real Jew? How often do I live with a circumcised heart?  How often am I right with God? Father God, I confess that at times it seems like I live like a Jew outwardly but my heart is not.  Father, make my heart right with You; cleanse it and make it pure that I may give glory to You. In Jesus' name. Amen

[Journal entry: November 22, 2011].

What Should Be

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with God's people who are in need.  Practice hospitality.  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  Live in harmony with one another.  Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.  Do not be conceited.

- Romans 12: 12-16

Father God, thank You for reminding me today of the hope I have in you.  Thank You for reminding me on how I should be and on how I should be treating others.  Lord, I have hope in You -- I should be joyful for that.  I have affliction -- You have allowed it and I should be patient with it.  I have access to You through prayer; I should be faithful to it.  Thank You, Lord, for showing me Your way; I often forget.

God Loves, God Hates

There are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely.  I hate all this," declares the Lord.

- Zechariah 8: 16-17

 God hates evil. He wants us to love truth and peace just as He loves it.  God sets the things we are to do, and He wants us to obey Him.  If we obey, He has promised to reward us.  If we obey, we are giving Him the glory.  God is faithful in keeping His promise, but we are also to do our part: obey Him.  God loves truth and peace. We are to do the same.

[Journal entry: December 16, 2011]

Throwing Stones

"Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment."

- John 7:24

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."

- John 8:7

Oftentimes, we are quick to pass judgment on others by their appearances and by what they do.  We judge or condemn as if we are sinless and as if we are all the time right.  Jesus emphasized the importance of right judgment, compassion, and forgiveness.

I, if not all the time, am sometimes guilty of it -- passing judgment on others when they sin as if I'm the only righteous one.  But the truth is, I and the others are on the same boat:  someone who also sinned and is only a recipient of God's grace.

Even Jesus did not condemn the adulterous woman.  But instead He declared, "Go now and leave your life of sin." (John 8:11)

So what right do I have to pass judgment on others? None. Not even an inch.  It is only God who can judge others and myself.  Jesus, our model, set an example on how to show compassion and forgiveness to others who sinned.


[PRAYER]
Father God, forgive me for at times I am quick to judge others of their faults.  Forgive me, I sometimes think I'm righteous and sinless.  Thank You, for reminding me that I am also the same with others: a person who sinned and saved by grace.

Lord, teach me to show compassion and to release forgiveness to those who need them just as You have shown compassion and forgiveness to me.  Thank You for Your love and forgiveness. And thank You for teaching me Your ways through Your Son, Jesus.  Amen!


[Journal entry: October 26, 2011]

As God Requires of Us

He has showed you, O man, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with Your God.

- Micah 6:8

Three points to remember:
(1) To ACT JUSTLY
(2) To LOVE MERCY
(3) To WALK HUMBLY

[NIV Footnotes]
In your efforts to please God, examine these areas on a regular basis.

• Are you fair in your dealings with people?
• Do you show mercy to those who wrong you?
• Are you keeping humility?

God has made his wishes clear: He wants His people to be just, merciful, and to walk humbly with Him.

[PRAYER]
Father God, as I examine my heart, reveal to me areas that are not pleasing to You.  By Your grace, Oh Lord, will I be able to do what is right in Your sight.  Father, You love justice, mercy, and humility.  What You love I also want to love.

Increase my love for justice, mercy, and humility, oh God.  Teach me Your ways, Father. I acknowledge that I need polishing in these areas. Thank You for I am a work in progress.  I pray and I ask You, Father, to keep me genuine with my walk with You, and to also be genuine with my treatment with others.  Thank You, Father God, for Your unfailing love and for setting me free from the slavery of sin through Your Son, Jesus. This I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.


[Journal entry: October 27, 2011]

The Winning Attitude

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death -- even death on a cross!

- Philippians 2:5-8

An attitude that Jesus Christ Himself lived out for us to follow -- a servant's attitude.  Jesus Christ humbled Himself despite Him being God.  He gave up His rights in order to obey God and serve people. He did this out of love, and He did this for with God it is possible. Paul wrote this for us to follow what Jesus did: He is a leader by example.

[PRAYER]

Father God, I thanks You for sending Jesus to the world.  I thank You for saving mankind through Your Son, Jesus.  And I thank You that Jesus willingly gave up His rights and power in heaven to come down here in order to serve and to save.  Jesus is the perfect example of how we should live our lives.  He set His standards and established Your Kingdom on earth.

Thank You, Jesus, for showing us the kind of attitude we should have -- a servant's attitude.

Father God, I ask You that by Your grace, I may be able to follow what Jesus did, and that I would live out a humble life willing to serve You and others out of love.  Lord, I cannot do this on my own.  I need Your grace to be able to do this.  And Father God, let it be that I may become more and more like Jesus and that whatever I do would give back all the glory unto You.

This I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

[Journal entry: October 18, 2011]