The Blessings of Trials

The enemy wants us to doubt God's love. When we go through difficult times, trials, and hardships, we are tempted to question God's love in our lives. 

"Why did He take away my loved one from me? Why did He allow me to suffer from this sickness? Why doesn't He bring me out from my endless debts? I just got through from one problem and now there's another?  Why do bad things happen to me? Doesn't He know I am a good person? Does God still love me?"  

God's love is not measured by the "blessings" we receive such as good health, wealth, stable jobs, successful businesses and careers, opportunities, people, etc. We often think, rather we want to believe, that these are what we call blessings. Yes. These are good gifts from God. These of course are blessings. But these are not the ONLY blessings in life. If good things happen to us, we think we deserve those blessings. If bad things happen to us, we question, "I am a good person, but why did this happen to me?"  Then we are quick to accuse God of being not a good God. If it's good, we think we deserve or we earn it. We think God owes us a blessing if we remain to be good or do good works.

Good Gifts From The Father

9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

- Luke 11:9-13

Photo courtesy: sanderssays.typepad.com

Heavenly Father,

I praise You for You have allowed Yourself to be a Father to me. I thank You for adopting me as Your daughter.  I thank You for being the Giver of good gifts.  Father, there is nothing You hold back from those who ask from You.  Father, thank You that I can boldly ask You for Your provision, and that You are more than willing and able to fill me with the Holy Spirit when I ask.  This I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

[Journal entry: April 24, 2012]

A New Day to Give Thanks

I will fill my day with thanksgiving to the One who gives me new beginnings every morning.  Thank You, God for a beautiful, cold morning.  Thank You, God for a good night sleep last night.  Thank You, God for preserving my life for another day.  Thank You, God for I am able to breathe today.  Thank You, God for I am able to give thanks to You.

Today is another day to worship and praise You for who You are.  Today is another day to listen to You through Your Word.  Today is the day that I anticipate mighty things that You will be doing.  Today is a new day to meditate on Your Word. Today is a new day to receive Your love, Your faithfulness, and Your mercy.  Today is another day to be filled with Your Holy Spirit.

This is a new day to do the work You have assigned me to do...all for Your glory O Lord...all for You alone!  In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

[Journal entry: November 16, 2011]

Rain

Two days of heavy rain here in Negros while there's a typhoon in Luzon.  While I was having my lunch break, I looked out the window of my room. I said, "It's raining. Again."

A thought passed by...

"Rain.  It reminds me of countless blessings."

 Who could ever count every drop of rain? Imagine how many raindrops are there every time it rains. Countless.  Just like the blessings of God in our lives, His blessings are indeed countless. He is generous when He gives; so generous that we could not count them all.


[Journal entry: September 27, 2011]

No Reason to Complain

According to Global Issues, at least 80% of humanity lives on less than $10 a day. Some 1.1 billion people in developing countries have inadequate access to water, and 2.6 billion lack basic sanitation. Number in poverty: 1 billion (every second child). For the 1.9 billion children from the developing world, there are 640 million without adequate shelter, and 270 million with no access to health services. 121 million children are out of education worldwide. 2.2 million children die each year because they are not immunized. 15 million children orphaned due to HIV/AIDS. In 2005, one out of three urban dwellers (approx. 1 billion people) was living in slum conditions. 706 million people in South Asia live without electricity.

For every figure listed, I am not counted in. So what right do I have to complain about my life? Nothing! I have every reason to be thankful for. :)

100 Things I'm Thankful to God

100 Things I'm Thankful to God for (in no particular order):

[1] I'm thankful for His gift of salvation.
[2] I'm thankful that God's grace and mercy are new every morning.
[3] I'm thankful that I am His child and that nothing could separate me from His love.
[4] I'm thankful that in my 23 years, He gave me a loving, God-fearing, and faithful mother.
[5] I'm thankful for my father who is always providing for my needs.
[6] I'm thankful for my friends, from acquaintances to closest friends. I don't have the quantity but I do have the quality friends.
[7] I'm thankful for Manang Nisa, our every loyal helper in the house. Bless her, Lord.
[8] I'm thankful for His Life Ministries, the congregation where I belong.
[9] I'm thankful for my small group leader and small group fellow members.
[10] I'm thankful that I have gone to college. Not everyone have the privilege to education.
[11] I'm thankful for the house I go home to.
[12] I'm thankful for the car I drive.
[13] I'm thankful for the ever-increasing fuel price. That means, I have a car that I drive.
[14] I'm thankful for the expensive Ceneco bill. That means we have electricity at home.
[15] I'm thankful that I've lived 6 1/2 years in Cebu. Those years contributed much in my maturity.
[16] I'm thankful for the privilege of traveling to foreign countries.
[17] I'm thankful for backpacks. I could stuff inside my things when traveling.
[18] I'm thankful for the clouds in the sky. Looking up to it is also my therapy.
[19] I'm thankful for my thick hair. That means I have hair to comb every morning.
[20] I'm thankful for my extra fats. That means God provides me food to eat and more than enough to eat.
[21] I'm thankful for our small farm. That means we have something to plant and to harvest.
[22] I'm thankful for our laborers in the farm. Their hardwork are so much appreciated.
[23] I'm thankful for my job. That means I have the ability to work.
[24] I'm thankful that there are busy times at work. That means I'm employed.
[25] I'm thankful that currently I'm employed. That means I have an expected salary every month.
[26] I'm thankful for my good health. There was not a time I was ever admitted to the hospital.
[27] I'm thankful for my laptop. That means I have access to the internet.
[28] I'm thankful for the internet. I could connect with my friends fast and learn various things through it.
[29] I'm thankful to God for difficult people for He is able to give me an opportunity to pray for them.
[30] I'm thankful for 450/600 vision. I don't have a perfect eyesight, but I am not blind either.
[31] I'm thankful for my dogs, Yuki and Mochi. Their greetings and hugs when they see me come home are my therapy.

[32] I'm thankful for my fishes. I enjoy looking at them swimming.
[33] I'm thankful for the rain.
[34] I'm thankful for the sun.
[35] I'm thankful for the seasons in the country. Rainy or summer I love them.
[36] I'm thankful for our government. Not the ideal government, but at least we have a governmental system.
[37] I'm thankful that at times I could hear rallies and protests. We are free to shout out our complaints against the government. That means we are living in a democratic country.
[38] I'm thankful for eating chocolates.
[39] I'm thankful for my bed. That means I am able to rest and sleep.
[40] I'm thankful I'm being able to laugh.
[41] I'm thankful I'm being able to cry.
[42] I'm thankful for my shoes. That means I am able to walk.
[43] I'm thankful for drinking coffee every morning.
[44] I'm thankful for good people who is able and willing to help.
[45] I'm thankful for accomplished goals.
[46] I'm thankful for big and small dreams that are yet to happen.
[47] I'm thankful for people who have less. God gives me the opportunity to give to the needy.
[48] I'm thankful for Facebook and Twitter.
[49] I'm thankful for the loud noises. That means I am able to hear.
[50] I'm thankful for strangers.
[51] I'm thankful for smiley people.
[52] I'm thankful for SkyFlakes on hand.
[53] I'm thankful for digital cameras. Best for capturing moments.
[54] I'm thankful for the good times.
[55] I'm thankful for the hard times.
[56] I'm thankful for art. Though I'm not an artist, I could appreciate art.
[57] I'm thankful for going in and out of the bathroom many times. That means I'm well hydrated.
[58] I'm thankful for my closet. I have more than enough.
[59] I'm thankful for heartbreaks and heartaches. That means I am able to love.
[60] I'm thankful for my zits. That means I have a normal face.
[61] I'm thankful for Kpop, Jpop, Kdrama, and Jdrama. These are my favorite entertainment.
[62] I'm thankful for English subjects. I am able to speak, write, and communicate globally.
[63] I'm thankful for Math.
[64] I'm thankful for Science.
[65] I'm thankful for gravity.
[66] I'm thankful for iPods.
[67] I'm thankful for cellphones.
[68] I'm thankful for the little things and big things.
[69] I'm thankful for a good harvest this year.
[70] I'm thankful for unexpected things.
[71] I'm thankful for today.
[72] I'm thankful for being me.
[73] I'm thankful for the volunteers.
[74] I'm thankful for the soldiers.
[75] I'm thankful for charities.
[76] I'm thankful for the ants. It teaches me to prepare for rainy days.
[77] I'm thankful for eagles. Eagles soar high above the storm. When lifestorm hits, I am reminded of eagles.
[78] I'm thankful for the plants. It teaches me about sowing and reaping.
[79] I'm thankful for social workers.

[80] I'm thankful for OFWs.
[81] I'm thankful for sanitation workers.
[82] I'm thankful for missionaries all over the world.
[83] I'm thankful for firefighters.
[84] I'm thankful that I am able to sit down and stand up.
[85] I'm thankful that I am able to walk and run.
[86] I'm thankful that I am able to think.
[87] I'm thankful that I am debt-free.
[88] I'm thankful for having sweet dreams and nightmares.
[89] I'm thankful for airfare promos.
[90] I'm thankful for sunrise and sunset.
[91] I'm thankful for praises and criticisms.
[92] I'm thankful that I am able to say thanks.
[93] I'm thankful for times of joy and hope.
[94] I'm thankful for times of pain and crisis.
[95] I'm thankful for advanced technology and modern conveniences.
[96] I'm thankful for being able to see a rainbow.
[97] I'm thankful for successes and failures.
[98] I'm thankful for today.
[99] I'm thankful for the ordinary and extraordinary.
[100] I'm thankful for this is a borrowed life.


And the list could go on, but all I can say is...
 THANK YOU, GOD.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. - 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. - Psalm 106:1


[November 2010 Thanksgiving]