Know God, Know Love

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

- Ephesians 3: 17-19 -

"It is your birthright to know God personally. Use it."

 [shared by a guest speaker at the seminar at His Life]

Know GOD

Know CHRIST

Know LOVE

When you understand God's love for you, it is easy to love others.


Father God, please help me understand the kind of love You have lavished on me. Open the eyes of my heart. In Jesus' name. Amen.


[Journal entry: February 9, 2013]

A Hearty Valentine

Photo credit: 2013-valentinesday.blogspot.com

Many countries celebrate Valentine's Day during the 14th day of February each year. But how many of us know its history?

Here are some information about the history of Valentine's Day (credits to wikipedia.org).

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]

Would You?

Photo courtesy: unefilleelegante.blogspot.com

If you were working for a company for six years, and have been praying to God for a promotion and have been expecting it, but was never granted, would you still love God?

If you had been battling an illness, and have been praying to God for healing, but was never granted, would you still love God?

If your marriage was in trouble and you have been praying to God for a resolution but was not granted, would you still love Him?

If you and your spouse were trying to have a baby for quite a time and have been praying for one, God granted your request but only later you found out your baby had an abnormality, would you still love God?

Today, I Am Grateful

Photo courtesy: abeautifulrippleeffect.com

 

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

Feeling God's Heartbeat

As I was photocopying some documents, a song came into my mind.  As the lyric ran through my mind, tears fell from my eyes.  And as I repeatedly sang and recited the lyric, I couldn't stop crying anymore.  I was so moved by the song that I suddenly cried.  It was as if my first time hearing that song; it became alive to me. The title of the song is, "So You Would Come."

"Broken hearts, broken lives

He will take them all

The power of the Word

The power of His blood

Everything was done

So you would come."

The chorus made my cry so much.  I felt the Holy Spirit's touch in my heart right then and there as I sang it.  I felt God's revelation, a fresh one, with this song. It was just an intimate moment for me.  It was a special moment -- really special.

God's Tattoo

Photo courtesy by kimbonner.com

Do you know that God has a tattoo of your name?

Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?  Though she may forget, I will not forget you!  See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.

- Isaiah 49:15-16

God would never forget His children. He would never forsake those who belong to Him.  Though we may, at times, feel God has forgotten or forsaken us, the truth is He never once had.

Instead of asking, "God, why have You forsaken me?" Ask yourself, "Have I forsaken and forgotten God?"  And usually, it's the latter that happens.

[Journal entry: September 30, 2011]

The Arms That Welcome Me Back

Father God,

No matter how many times I run away from You, I always find myself back into Your arms.  When I come running to You, I see Your arms outstretched ready to welcome me back.  Your loving arms... the warmth of Your hands I long... I seek.  No matter how many times I've disappointed You, You never fail to show Your smile and tender kiss when I come back into Your arms.

That love... that Love of Yours I could never find anywhere else.  That love of Yours, Father God, is what keeps me into Your arms.  Father God, how amazing is Your love... how unchanging are Your ways...how limitless is Your mercy... how sufficient is Your grace!

Father God, I come running back into Your arms.  Your love... that kind of love no one could ever give.  You alone, Father God, are the one I long for! I love You, Father God!

[Journal entry: August 26, 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]

A Letter to Daddy

Daddy,

     The other day was unexpected. I didn’t see it coming. It was sudden. I was a bit surprised that out of a simple question about tractor you erupted and said things off topic.  It was better it happened at least I got a glimpse of what’s inside your heart since we seldom talk. Don’t get me wrong. I sure don’t like having arguments with you. But if it’s the only way for us to communicate the deep, hidden things from our hearts, then it’s healthy. 

     About last Sunday, I’m sorry for the things I said that hurt you and displeased you. Please always remember that I don’t intend to harm you, I intend to protect you. But I don’t think I can protect you all the time, only God can. Though I can’t protect you as much as God can, my intentions for you are of pure love and care. 

     Although I may act indifferently, I do love you and respect you daddy. I am not your enemy. I am your ally, your back support, your family, and your only daughter. 

The Faithful Husband

I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion.  I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord.

- Hosea 2:19-20

I will plant her for myself in the land; I will show my love to the one I called 'Not my loved one.' I will say to those who called 'Not my people,' 'You are my people.'; and they will say, 'You are my God.'

- Hosea 2:23

The book of Hosea tells a love story of a man with a wayward wife.  God told Hosea to marry an adulterous wife.  He married Gomer in obedience to God.  This depicts God's love for His people that though what He called His own pursued other loves. God in His infinite mercy, faithfulness, and love offered hope and reconciliation to His people.

I have had these moments in my life I became an adulteress. I left my First Love, my "husband" and pursued other loves (selfish desires, selfish ambitions, entertainment).  I am guilty of it.  I was a spiritual adulteress.

But God is faithful to His commitment though I have been unfaithful to Him. When I repented and turned back to Him, He welcomed me back and loved me still.  He is the One who pursued me. He gave me a new heart that I would love Him and show faithfulness to Him.  His love is great and His faithfulness is unfailing!


[PRAYER]
Father God, though there were moments I have lusted on other loves, You showed tenderness and love to bring me back to Your arms.  Forgive me for the things that broke Your heart, and I unceasingly thank You for the unconditional love You have lavished on me.  Your love I cannot exhaust. It is infinite! I love You, God! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


[Journal entry: October 20, 2011]

The Best Lover I Have

I have the best Lover of all.  My lover cannot be matched by any other lovers. He is incomparable!


He delights in me. He claims me as His own. He bought me for a price. He never fails me. He never leaves me nor forsakes me.  He washed away my sins. He rejoices over me. He is with me all the time. He cares for me. He gives me rest. He sets me free. He seals His ownership over me.


Nothing could ever separate me from His love. He rescues me. He saves me. He comforts me. He strengthens me in my distress. He gave up His life for me. He encourages me. He upholds me. He sustains me. He helps me in times of trouble. He guards me. he covers me under His mighty arms.  He never tires nor sleeps. He stands beside me. He stands before me. He stands behind me. He encamps His angel around me. He directs my steps. He hold my hand.


He surrounds me with a shield of His love. He is for me so nothing and nobody can ever be against me. He lavishes His attention on me. He thinks of me and His thoughts of me outnumber the grains of sand. He know me too well more than I know myself. He takes care of me.


And there's nothing I can do that will make Him love me less nor make Him love me more.  He loves me with His everlasting love. His unfailing love will never disappoint me. His love endures forever.


He loves me for being me.  His love will never change for eternity.  He gives His best. He has chosen to love me even when I was at my worst.  He has handpicked me for Him to love.  He satisfies me with His undying love.


I may never fully understand how high, how deep, how wide, or how long His love really is for me, but one thing I'm certain of: that He loves me unconditionally and His love is perfect.


This is the kind of Lover I have. His sweet words ring in my ears, "You are Mine."


I will not trade my Lover for any other love. I love Him with all my heart, with all my mind, and with all my soul. He has captivated me. And my heart belongs to no one else but Him.


My Lover's name is Jesus.

He is More Than Enough

Yesterday was a very good and intimate day for me with Tita Annie and Tita Ging. We had a lunch date and with it we talked a lot of things about our experiences, about others’ experiences, about the things that God has done in our lives, and so much more.


Tita Ging, my small group leader, asked me, “In what way you could say that God loves you?” I pondered for a while and answered, “The thought itself that God sent His Son to die for me. Of all people He chose me. He chose to die for me simply because He loves me.”


And another way I could say that God really loves me is because of mama. God gave me a wonderful mama. She was my back support, my emotional support, my mediator (between daddy and me), my encourager, my intercessor, my listener (to both of my meaningful and senseless ideas), and a lot more.

 

Photo courtesy: Orange Parents

I continued my reasoning and told Tita Ging that God took mama away because He wants me to know that He is enough. He is more than enough.  My dependency must not be on my mama, but on Him.  I remembered a month before mama passed away on September 2007, I prayed intensely to God declaring that he is more than enough in my life.  Yes. Those were the exact words I uttered – “He is more than enough! You are more than enough, Lord.”


I saw a piece of paper inserted in my Bible, which I wrote on Aug. 18, 2007:

"When everything in my life is stripped away and God is the only one left in me, I have more than enough!"

Call that a bold statement. I call it an impulsive (almost foolish) statement at that time.  Never in my thoughts came that more than a month after, God took my only ally away.  It was sudden. And yes, my bold declaration was put into test which I imagined it differently than what was happening.  God’s thoughts are indeed higher than my thoughts.  His ways are higher than my ways. When He took mama away, I didn’t question Him why He took her or why it had to happen.  My only question was, “Why so soon?”


This morning as I was brushing my hair, the question of Tita Ging ran through my mind again. “In what way you could say that God really loves you?”


My answer would still be the same: He gave me a wonderful mom for 23 years of my life.  Then I pondered, “Now that mama is gone does that mean God doesn’t love me anymore?”


I stand for the unwavering truth that God loves me.  Yes, He loves me and He is indeed more than enough.  He loves me and that’s final.  He loves me too much that He took mama away. And yes, I got that early morning answer from Him:

“I love you for you are My child.  I love you too much not to take your mother away.  If I hadn’t taken your mom that soon, would you hunger and thirst for more of Me?  If I hadn’t taken your mama away that soon, would  you grow? You would grow but not exponentially.  If I hadn’t taken your mama away that soon, would You experience the comfort I have for you during your deepest sorrow?  Would you know how sufficient My grace is for you?  Would you long for Me that much if I hadn’t taken your mama away?  Would you have known your real condition, your real heart, and your wall you have built against your daddy?  If I hadn’t taken your mama away that soon would you know what ‘I am more than enough’ really means?

You desire that I take captive of your heart. This is the way I choose to captivate you.  Remember, I know the plans I have for you; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  I love you that much!”

I could not forget what Os Hillman, author of The Upside of Adversity, wrote, “We must get beyond the immature notion that God is only interested in making us healthy, wealthy, and happy.  God wants so much for us than that.  He wants us to be wise, mature, obedient, bold, and committed.”


I praise the Lord for what He has done and for what He has revealed to me.  I praise God for His love is so wide, so long, so high, and so deep for me to really comprehend.  Yes Lord, You are more than enough! Glory to You alone!





[Jounal entry April 24, 2011]