A Promise is a Promise

Dear Father God,

I am counting on Your promises.

Love,

Your expectant child

Now I am about to go the way of all the earth.  You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed.  Every promise has been fulfilled: not one has failed.

- Joshua 23:14

[PRAYER]

Father God, Thank You that I can depend on You -- on Your promises.  Thank You Lord for Your Word is the Truth.  Even when things may seem senseless, I can rely on You for You are in control, and that what You have promised will be fulfilled.  Thank You that I am Your child and You are my Father -- trustworthy and dependable. This I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

[Journal entry: May 5, 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]

It's Definite

Whenever I hear heartbreaking news and there's nothing I could do about it, I plead, "Come now, Jesus. Maranatha!"

The days are evil.  It has become more evil and it worsens everyday.  Things unimaginable are happening.  These heartbreaking news...rape, incest, war, kidnapping, torture, mass murders, burning people to death, people dying from hunger, sex trafficking, drugs, blood brothers killing each other, etc.  It pains me... It breaks my heart...I mourn.

Sometimes, I could hear me asking, "Where is justice in this world?  Why do You allow these things to happen, Lord?"  In my distress I reach to a point of questioning God about it.

If my heart aches for what's happening today in this world, how much more with God?  Definitely justice will prevail in the end.  God will not let evildoers go unpunished.  Never!  I am confident of that. I know God is the God of justice!

At these times, it is evident that I am living in the last days.  You can tell by the events happening around the world.  Definitely, Jesus would come back again! Maranatha! Maranatha! Maranatha, Lord Jesus!  You bring justice into this world as well as You give mercy unto us. Even if it seems unfair and unjust, I will not lose heart for in due time justice will be served.  Come, Lord Jesus! Maranatha!

The Holy Spirit led me to read the book of Habakkuk and Micah.  I found myself with the same thinking as Habakkuk's.

Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me, there is strife and conflicts abounds. (Habakkuk 1:3)

Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong.  Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? (Habakkuk 1:13)

The Lord's answer:

For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false.  Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. (Habakkuk 2:3)

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. (Habakkuk 2:14)

 But the Lord is in his holy temple;  let all the earth be silent before him. (Habakkuk 2:20)

And in Malachi, the Holy Spirit led me to these verses:

But who can endure the day of his coming?  Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap.  He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver (Malachi 3:2-3)

 "So I will come near to you for judgment.  I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers, and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice; but do not fear me," says the Lord Almighty. (Malachi 3:5)

[Journal entry: October 25, 2011]