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.

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?

I Need Your Grace and Mercy

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Psalm 6

¹ Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
    or discipline me in your wrath.
² Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint;
    heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.
³ My soul is in deep anguish.
    How long, Lord, how long?

⁴ Turn, Lord, and deliver me;
    save me because of your unfailing love.

Today, I Am Grateful

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Today, I am grateful for every favor I have received which I do not deserve, and for every punishment I deserve, which was withheld. ~Grace ~Mercy

Today, I am grateful for every trespass, for every mistake, and for every wrongdoing which was blotted out and was remembered no more. ~Forgiveness

Today, I am grateful for every expression of confidence towards me despite my shortcomings. ~Faithfulness

Today, I am grateful for every danger, every harm, and every accident against me which was hindered and cancelled out, and for every shield, every covering, and every defense which was provided for me against evil. ~Protection

Living Dead

How many people are there in the world who are living aimlessly?  How many are there who are living without a purpose? How many are there out of billion people who are living in this world just to exist, but are not actually "living life?" I ask myself on this; I keep asking God on this lately.

Just how many people in this world are living meaninglessly?  I wonder, do they, at one point in their lives, ask themselves, "What am I here for? Why am I alive?" How many exactly? How many are there exactly who do not have an idea of being "alive?" How many are there who even do not realize that they need to ask themselves this question? How many? Just how many?

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]

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]

Just Plainly

After he said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going to wake him up." His disciples  replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better." Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.  So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe.  But let us go to him."

- John 11:11-14

As I read these lines, I can't help but to giggle.  In my thoughts, "The disciples are funny.  Sometimes, they are just plain stupid.  They could not read between the lines." But the Lord is so patient in dealing with them.  Jesus handpicked these twelve apostles; for three years, they followed Jesus.  They were with Him wherever He went.  They were firsthand witnesses of Jesus' powers and miracles.  They were recipients, immediate, that is, of Jesus' teachings.  The secrets of God's kingdom were revealed to them.

But in spite of these, they struggled with doubt, unbelief, fear, and not to forget, "dull moments."  They just could not understand Jesus' figure of speech, and most of the time, He would tell them what He meant on simple terms.  I could just imagine that Jesus would again and again reconstruct His statements so that His "elementary students" could understand (hehehe).

I commend Jesus for His patience in putting up with His disciples.  After all, they were a work in progress. Just like me.  I can totally relate to these disciples.  Dumb and stubborn as I am, most of the time, Jesus has been patient with me.  Lotsa moments, Jesus would have told me what He meant plainly.  Good thing, Jesus is so patient with me and with us all.  Good thing, too, no matter how dumb sometimes I could be, He still chooses to reveal the things of God to me.

[PRAYER]

Father God, I depend on You for Your Holy Spirit to give me wisdom and understanding of Your Word and of the things that You reveal to me.  Thank You, God, for despite Your people's "sheepness" You still chose to reveal Yourself and of the marvelous things about You and about Your Son, Jesus.  Thank You, Jesus, for giving us a Counselor to guide us, to instruct, to enlighten, and to empower us.  Thank You for the gift of wisdom, understanding, and discernment.  Every good gift comes from You, Lord.  This I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

[Journal entry: October 28, 2011]