It's my birthday and I'll cry if I want to! Cry for joy, that is!
For 33 years now, the Lord has been faithful to my life and forever He will be:
-healthwise (was sick but He restored me and made me physically fit to take care of His creations-my loved ones),
-family (gave me a wonderful and loving family-my husband Lavey, kids EthanLizLiv, parents, siblings, in-laws, relatives),
-socially (gave me a ministry in my home church-GCFP-where I can fully serve Him with all my strength, talents, skills and time),
-friends (loving me wholly and rebuking me lovingly),
-financially (provisions are never too late, just on-time),
-spiritually & emotionally (He gave me His Word-the Bible-to keep me sane and in tune to Him, and indeed a very reliable and encouraging "text" messages),
and whatever I missed, the Lord knows how wonderfully and forever grateful I am with the life He gave me!
33 years and counting! My prayer - Lord guide me as I spend this lifetime all for Your glory as I live in worshiping, sharing Your Word, edifying my fellow believers, using my talents and skills for You and taking care of the blessings You has bestowed on me!
I love to receive greetings and prayers and yes, to make it easy for you, here's a list for tangible ways of showing your love for me Ü
Pen (yes, a pen! Ü - i love pens)
Book (any book-audio books, e-books, bookstore, bookends, jejeje!) basta book!
Red Bible (mam weng, red ha!)
Chocolates! Ü (in cake, ice cream, bars, or syrup, etc)
Hershey's Caramel syrup
and
Chocolates! Ü
but wait there's more...
Chocolates! Ü
Thank you Lord for my birthday!
Ü ♥☺♥ Ü
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
"Turning Lights Green"
1 Thessalonians 5:24 (New International Version)
"The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it."
I was speeding along the Interstate; I mean legally speeding of course. Anyway, this van passed me. And he pulled into the right lane and then he seemed to be maintaining a pretty consistent speed. For many miles, I ended up traveling behind him. I noticed there was something unusual about this van - it had a plastic bubble that was mounted just above the roof. I had some ideas of why it might be there, especially in light of the words printed on the side of the van. It gave the name of a large express mail delivery service, followed by these words, "Critical Care Van." Later, a law enforcement friend of mine confirmed my theory of what that vehicle was actually carrying - parts. Body parts needed for transplants that can save lives. And the bubble on top? My friend said that's a strobe light that actually turns traffic lights green as the van approaches them! I'd like to get me one of those.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Turning Lights Green."
The driver of that Critical Care Van is, of course, on an important mission and he needs green lights all the way. So do we, if we're carrying out a mission that's been given to us by our Lord. He's got assignments for all of us who belong to Him. He's got assignments for you. Maybe you're living out His assignment right now, or maybe you're holding back on saying "yes" to an assignment He's trying to give you. In either case, there's something decisive that you need to know. When you're on a mission for Jesus, He's the One who turns the lights green as you go. He promised.
1 Thessalonians 5:24 , our word for today from the Word of God, is one of the places where He made that promise. It simply says, "The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it." That's it! When Jesus prompts you to do something for Him, He isn't about to leave you stranded somewhere in the middle of His mission and in the middle of His will. You can't see how it's going to get done, how it's ever going to come together. He says, "I got you into this, I'll see that it gets done!"
Where's the money going to come from? His problem. If it's God's will, it's God's bill. Where are the people you need going to come from? He's already getting them ready for you and you ready for them. How are you going to get over the huge obstacles that are in the way? The God who parts Red Seas is going to make the way for you. How can you possibly do this thing when you are so flawed, so inadequate, so ordinary? Since when is this about what you can do? With God's assignment always comes God's enabling!
Jesus may be summoning you right now to undertake some work for Him. It may be here; it may be thousands of miles from here. He may be summoning you to touch some lives for Him, maybe a few in your immediate world, maybe more people than you could ever imagine. But many times, all we can see are red lights ahead. So we resist our Master's call and we miss His amazing will. Your Lord has promised to turn those red lights green; not before you move out for Him, but as you're moving out for Him.
Just like that Critical Care Van, you're carrying something that lives depend on - the Good News of Jesus Christ. There are people that He is depending on you to tell, on you to rescue from an eternity without God and without hope. Don't let those red lights keep you sitting in the parking lot. Right now, start driving toward that mission God has given you, and leave the green lights to Him!
"The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it."
I was speeding along the Interstate; I mean legally speeding of course. Anyway, this van passed me. And he pulled into the right lane and then he seemed to be maintaining a pretty consistent speed. For many miles, I ended up traveling behind him. I noticed there was something unusual about this van - it had a plastic bubble that was mounted just above the roof. I had some ideas of why it might be there, especially in light of the words printed on the side of the van. It gave the name of a large express mail delivery service, followed by these words, "Critical Care Van." Later, a law enforcement friend of mine confirmed my theory of what that vehicle was actually carrying - parts. Body parts needed for transplants that can save lives. And the bubble on top? My friend said that's a strobe light that actually turns traffic lights green as the van approaches them! I'd like to get me one of those.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Turning Lights Green."
The driver of that Critical Care Van is, of course, on an important mission and he needs green lights all the way. So do we, if we're carrying out a mission that's been given to us by our Lord. He's got assignments for all of us who belong to Him. He's got assignments for you. Maybe you're living out His assignment right now, or maybe you're holding back on saying "yes" to an assignment He's trying to give you. In either case, there's something decisive that you need to know. When you're on a mission for Jesus, He's the One who turns the lights green as you go. He promised.
1 Thessalonians 5:24 , our word for today from the Word of God, is one of the places where He made that promise. It simply says, "The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it." That's it! When Jesus prompts you to do something for Him, He isn't about to leave you stranded somewhere in the middle of His mission and in the middle of His will. You can't see how it's going to get done, how it's ever going to come together. He says, "I got you into this, I'll see that it gets done!"
Where's the money going to come from? His problem. If it's God's will, it's God's bill. Where are the people you need going to come from? He's already getting them ready for you and you ready for them. How are you going to get over the huge obstacles that are in the way? The God who parts Red Seas is going to make the way for you. How can you possibly do this thing when you are so flawed, so inadequate, so ordinary? Since when is this about what you can do? With God's assignment always comes God's enabling!
Jesus may be summoning you right now to undertake some work for Him. It may be here; it may be thousands of miles from here. He may be summoning you to touch some lives for Him, maybe a few in your immediate world, maybe more people than you could ever imagine. But many times, all we can see are red lights ahead. So we resist our Master's call and we miss His amazing will. Your Lord has promised to turn those red lights green; not before you move out for Him, but as you're moving out for Him.
Just like that Critical Care Van, you're carrying something that lives depend on - the Good News of Jesus Christ. There are people that He is depending on you to tell, on you to rescue from an eternity without God and without hope. Don't let those red lights keep you sitting in the parking lot. Right now, start driving toward that mission God has given you, and leave the green lights to Him!
Giving Up? - Not Just Yet!
Have you ever felt like giving up? Elijah did. The Lord had just used him to show the nation of Israel that the Lord is God (1 Kings 18). Yet, the threats of Queen Jezebel so alarmed him that he ran to Beersheba, 100 miles south (19:3). Then he walked another 150 miles south to Horeb, the mountain of God.
Twice God asked Elijah what he was doing there (vv.9,13). Both times he answered with identical words—“I alone am left; and they seek to take my life” (vv.10,14). He had become so preoccupied with his own fears that he had forgotten what God had done through him at Mount Carmel. Despite his great victory, Elijah plunged into the depths of discouragement. How easy it is for us to do the same.
God did not accept Elijah’s notice that he was quitting. Instead, He commissioned his tired servant to handle three major tasks (vv.15-17). And by the way, Elijah was wrong when he said he was the only faithful one left. God had 7,000 others who had not bowed to Baal (v.18).
Perhaps, like Elijah, you are despairing at the circumstances in your life. Let God speak to you (v.12). Instead of allowing you to quit, He will show you what you can do through His strength.
Our strength and hope is in the Lord— We rest secure in His sure Word; And though we’re tempted to despair We know we’re kept within His care. —D. De Haan
When you’re working for Jesus, it’s always too soon to quit.
Source: Our Daily Bread
ODB.org
Twice God asked Elijah what he was doing there (vv.9,13). Both times he answered with identical words—“I alone am left; and they seek to take my life” (vv.10,14). He had become so preoccupied with his own fears that he had forgotten what God had done through him at Mount Carmel. Despite his great victory, Elijah plunged into the depths of discouragement. How easy it is for us to do the same.
God did not accept Elijah’s notice that he was quitting. Instead, He commissioned his tired servant to handle three major tasks (vv.15-17). And by the way, Elijah was wrong when he said he was the only faithful one left. God had 7,000 others who had not bowed to Baal (v.18).
Perhaps, like Elijah, you are despairing at the circumstances in your life. Let God speak to you (v.12). Instead of allowing you to quit, He will show you what you can do through His strength.
Our strength and hope is in the Lord— We rest secure in His sure Word; And though we’re tempted to despair We know we’re kept within His care. —D. De Haan
When you’re working for Jesus, it’s always too soon to quit.
Source: Our Daily Bread
ODB.org
Making Adversity Work for You
Making Adversity Work for You
Text: James 1:2-4
Richard Pfeil
This morning I'd like to begin by sharing three stories with you about people who went through incredible adversity. See if you can identify them.
1. This child was born in Port Huron, MI, and was estimated to have an IQ of 81. He had withdrawn from school after three months and was considered backward by school officials. The child enrolled two years late due to scarlet fever and respiratory infections, and he was going deaf. His emotional health was poor. He was stubborn and aloof, showing very little emotion. He liked mechanics, and he liked to play with fire, burning down his father's barn. He showed some manual dexterity but used very poor grammar. However, he did want to be a scientist and a railroad mechanic.
Who was he? Thomas Edison, reputedly the greatest inventor of modern times.
2. By the age of 10, both of his parents had died. He was raised reluctantly by an older brother who resented another mouth to feed. His wife died after 13 years of marriage. Of 20 children from two marriages, ten of them passed away while still infants. One died in his 20's, and one was mentally deranged. Eventually, this outstanding musician went blind and was paralyzed with a stroke. Did this man forsake faith in God?
Who was he? Johann Sebastian Bach, the greatest composer of religious music.
3. He dropped out of grade school and was home schooled. He ran a country store but went broke and it took 19 years to pay off all his bills, but he did pay them off. He had a law firm, but his partner ran off and left him with debts. He was married, but his marriage flopped. His wife came down with mental illness and paranoia. He had a son who was physically weak and died at a young age. He ran for political office four times, twice for the house and twice for the senate, and lost all four times. Ultimately, he held office but was despised by half the country. Satirists and newsmen derided him on an almost daily basis. Most audiences felt his speeches were hum-drum. His classic speech was met with indifference.
Who was he? Abraham Lincoln.
The interesting thing about all these men is the fact that they were all believers, they faced incredible adversity, and they all succeeded in life. Abraham Lincoln is known to be the greatest president up to this time. How is it that these believers faced down adversity and succeeded in life, and actually became the best in their given professions.
As believers, how can we face adversity and succeed? Rather than becoming defeated, the secret is in this wonderful book of James penned during a period of tremendous adversity. Peter Marshall describes the period like this:
"They were thrown into prison and made the cell a pulpit and the dungeon a choir. Stoned, they rose from the dust bleeding and bruised but with a more con-vincing testimony. Wounded with whips, they praised God all the more. Nothing could stop them. The Romans made human torches of believers to light the arenas on their holidays, yet in death these Christian martyrs made converts through their strange preaching. Hunted and persecuted, thrown to the lions, tortured and killed, still the numbers who made the sign of the cross grew and grew."
How did these early Christian believers facing adversity succeed and not become defeated? Hear the powerful words of James, pastor of the Jerusalem church:
TEXT
There are three things we can learn from this text about facing adversity. One is realizing that periods of adversity, trial and suffering are a normal part of life. There are two words to emphasize in that sentence: "normal" meaning it is common, it is to be expected, it's what happens in this life; and "life" meaning adversity does not come from God. Verse 13 is included as a disclaimer, "When tempted, no one should say that God is tempting him." It's not God-it's simply life.
Jesus said that in this world you will have trouble. Did Jesus experience trials and adversity in his life? Did the apostles experience adversity in their lives? Yes, all of them were martyred. Isn't that the experience of humanity throughout history? Of all the people that you know, is there anyone who has not experienced adversity in their life? It is a common experience, and it is part of living in a fallen, imperfect world with imperfect people and our imperfect selves. It is normal, and it is life.
Pastor James says that "Whenever you face trials....." The fact is that you are going to face trials. James was an intensely strong believer. His faith was not shaken at all by the reality of trials. They did not cause him to deny God at all. James knows it's not God's fault. Yet so often God is the first person we blame when adversity comes. None of the disciples, in experiencing adversity far greater than we have ever experienced ourselves, none of them lost hope and faith in God.
It is silly to blame God. Think of Jesus on the cross. If God was really to blame for adversity, then God had cause to be mad at himself. What we hear from Jesus on the cross is a cry of anguish, a feeling of being alone, but he still had faith because he said, "Into your hands I commit my spirit."
A father took his daughter to the doctor's to get an injection knowing the experience would be painful as shots always are. The daughter knew her father loved her, but he was the one who brought her to her tormentors. Yet, with love in the father's heart, holding his daughter, she clung to him, receiving the painful shot. She cried, "Daddy, Daddy, no." Yet clinging to him nonetheless. This is a good posture for us to remember in adversity. We should always cling to the Father because he loves us and knows what's best for us.
One thing that trips us up when we experience hard times is that deep down, we don't expect them to happen. The first statement we made is, "I can't believe this is happening to me." So often we are caught off guard by financial down-turns and yet common sense tells us that in the history of our economy, there is a seven-year cycle of ups and downs. Throughout humanity, industries have come and gone, times change, and people need to prepare for this.
People are crushed by the loss of loved ones. It is okay to experience grief which is an expression of love, but it is not okay to be destroyed. History tells us that everyone dies. Billions of people have lived on this earth and died, and it is something that we need to prepare for.
Some people are confused by illness and the process of aging and the frailty that accompanies it. Yet, we all age. None of us ever grow younger.
What we need is a realistic expectation of life. We need to understand the accept the Biblical view that the world is fallen and we will experience adversity. May God give us the grace to accept it and to prepare ourselves to see adversity simply as hurdles in this life that we must jump over.
Another thing that trips people up about adversity is that we draw this parallel between life and God. Whatever happens in life is because of God. We ask, "Why, God, did you let this happen to me? God, where are you? Don't you care? Aren't you in control?" We misunderstand God's sovereignty as him being a puppet king. He is not this at all. He has divine oversight and sees all, but he does not control all. He knows everything. Life is real and dynamic. It is not determined. God's purposes are determined, but not every moment.
If you are going to get angry and point fingers, point at the right object, and that's life. Get angry at life, shake it up. This isn't God's best, this isn't his intention. Pray as the church prayed historically, "Come, Lord Jesus." Ask God, "Lord, what can I learn from these experiences? Give me your strength to endure. Help me to pray your will." It is important to pray God's will-pray for healing, pray for restoration, pray for redemption, but also pray for strength.
James says, "Consider it pure joy...." Now, that's an odd phrase. Literally, this means "Fix it in your mind that when you face adversity, you will respond with joy." Loosely translated, this means be happy, laugh, sing, dance. The image is of a person determined to stay positive, to be determined that adversity will not defeat them, and to believe the best. Decide in your heart that you will not be defeated, disillusioned, crushed or perplexed. Decide in your heart that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. You do not need to fear the future because you know who holds the future in his hands. You need to know that God's purpose is to make you the head and not the tail. You know that he holds the keys to hell, death and the grave. You know that he is with you and that he loves you. As a result, consider it pure joy.
Joe Patino is the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats, one of the best college coaches of all time. He learned the lesson about staying positive in the midst of adversity:
"In 1987 my son Daniel had been born six months early with congenital heart problems. He was hospitalized for months during which time my wife Joanne spent 14-hour days with him at the hospital seven days a week. Finally, Daniel's condition improved and we took him home. One day in March, I talked Joanne into taking a break and coming to New York with me for the Big East tournament. On the bus ride, a state trooper pulled us over and told me to make an urgent call to the hospital. The doctor told me that Daniel was dead.
Over the next few months, there was not much to our marriage or our family life. We had religious faith, but how would we ever be able to deal with something so traumatic? How could God do this to us? Well, I learned that God didn't do it to us-life did. There are simply parts of life that we can't understand. We knew we had to accept this and return to our lives. Joanne and I changed our attitude from pointless negativity to appreciation for the good we had. We turned our attention to our three sons and tried to do positive things in Daniel's name. We must force ourselves to appreciate the good still around us. Otherwise, the bad will ruin our lives."
Why joy? Because in the wisdom of God, beyond the fact that we have a God to call upon who is watching over us, it is the only emotion that will help us get through the adversity. Think of all the emotions that you could experience-anger, anxiety, depression, being stressed out, doubt, bearing all of life's burdens on your shoulders. None of them help you. They only deplete your energy and pull you farther down than you were before. Only joy will help you walk through adversity and make you successful in spite of it.
The text talks about learning patience from adversity. Another way to translate this would be endurance or staying power. Patience is what the trucker needed when he decided to drive around the barrier to save a few minutes. Because he lacked patience, he lost his life. Paul says that adversity brings character, and James concludes by saying adversity, if you allow it, will complete you and make you mature, strong, and iron-like. How? Because adversity is the gym of our interior selves. It is the only way we develop as a person.
We know how to develop physically. My wife and I have been talking about getting in shape again, and we have been looking at the Total Gym or the Bowflex. One thing is true about any type of exercise equipment-the only way you can get strong and fit is through resistance. Just as resistance is health to our body, adversity is the gym that develops the person's character itself. It is not popular to say this because in our culture we have learned that adversity is something to avoid. Even as Christians we often try to pray away adversity in our lives.
I remember driving into Pittsburgh early one morning to go to surgery. I got up a little later than I intended and I'm buzzing down the highway. Why is it that when you are most in need of some speed, there is always someone slow in front of you? There was no way to get around the person in front of me. The longer I drove, the more I wanted to shout at the person in front of me to go faster but it didn't happen. A few miles down the road, you begin to say, "God, you know I have to get to the hospital. You know I have to be there for surgery. Do something! Don't you care?" A few more miles down the road, you fall into despair and you think, "I'm not going to get there in time. I might as well pack my bags. I'm in trouble now." Then after a few more miles, you finally become humble and says things like, "God, please. I'm begging you to remove them. Make them turn at the next exit." But God never did because he wanted me in that situation. At that moment, he wanted to teach me to be patient. Somewhere later in my life, I will need to have patience.
When we pray ourselves out of adversity, we are praying ourselves out of God's gym. God wants to develop some things in our life because he knows that down the road we are going to need these things to survive. Don't so quickly pray yourself out of adversity. It may be God's workshop to build into you something that you will need later on.
Larry King hosted Joni Erickson Tada, who I think more than any of us has experienced adversity in her life. Larry asked her where was God in the events of September 11. Here's her response:
"Where was God? That's a question I can identify with. Like I told my friend Steve at the time of my diving accident when I broke my neck, I felt that God had turned his back on me. I was only 17 years old and I imagined that God had become distracted by the prayers of people with cancer, diabetes or divorce. Where in the world was she? After 35 years living as a quadriplegic, I learned that God permits what he hates in order to accomplish those things that he loves. If evil men perpetuate evil crimes, God admits this under restraint and channels it in such a way as to promote his good and his gospel. Lamentations 3: 21-23 expresses this well:
"This I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
Through the Lord's mercies, we are not consumed
Because his compassions fail not. They are new every
Morning. Great is his faithfulness."
Sometimes the reasons for what he allows are hidden from our sight, but what we do know is that he loves to redeem and reclaim and rescue and save those who turn to him in need. You see, I need him now more than I did the day of my accident, and maybe that's not such a bad thing."
Don't short-cut God when you experience adversity. Ask him, "Lord, what do you want to teach me?" Use it as an opportunity to grow. Do as Charles
Darrow and his wife did who themselves suffered tremendous adversity. They accepted adversity as part of life and refused to allow it to steal their joy. They worked through it, and God helped them. They learned through this situation, and they kept laughing.
Back in 1932 was out of a job and broke, and his wife was expecting a baby. Although he was a heating engineer, there were no jobs available and Darrow and his wife were just barely subsisting on the few odd jobs he could get as a handyman. Things were bleak. Fate didn't reckon with the courage of this man and his wife, however. They laughed at it, literally. In the evenings, to take their minds off their troubles, they made a little game in which they could pretend they were millionaires, recalling pleasant vacations in nearby Atlantic City. They reconstructed the area adjoining the boardwalk. Darrow carved hotels and houses out of small pieces of wood, and they called the game Monopoly. Three years later, in 1935 the game was marketed by Parker Brothers, and Darrow and his wife became millionaires because they allowed adversity to make them instead of break them.
When you face adversity, are you going to allow it to break you or make you? It's your choice.
Let's pray.
Source: http://www.workingmom.com/sermons/adversity.htm
Text: James 1:2-4
Richard Pfeil
This morning I'd like to begin by sharing three stories with you about people who went through incredible adversity. See if you can identify them.
1. This child was born in Port Huron, MI, and was estimated to have an IQ of 81. He had withdrawn from school after three months and was considered backward by school officials. The child enrolled two years late due to scarlet fever and respiratory infections, and he was going deaf. His emotional health was poor. He was stubborn and aloof, showing very little emotion. He liked mechanics, and he liked to play with fire, burning down his father's barn. He showed some manual dexterity but used very poor grammar. However, he did want to be a scientist and a railroad mechanic.
Who was he? Thomas Edison, reputedly the greatest inventor of modern times.
2. By the age of 10, both of his parents had died. He was raised reluctantly by an older brother who resented another mouth to feed. His wife died after 13 years of marriage. Of 20 children from two marriages, ten of them passed away while still infants. One died in his 20's, and one was mentally deranged. Eventually, this outstanding musician went blind and was paralyzed with a stroke. Did this man forsake faith in God?
Who was he? Johann Sebastian Bach, the greatest composer of religious music.
3. He dropped out of grade school and was home schooled. He ran a country store but went broke and it took 19 years to pay off all his bills, but he did pay them off. He had a law firm, but his partner ran off and left him with debts. He was married, but his marriage flopped. His wife came down with mental illness and paranoia. He had a son who was physically weak and died at a young age. He ran for political office four times, twice for the house and twice for the senate, and lost all four times. Ultimately, he held office but was despised by half the country. Satirists and newsmen derided him on an almost daily basis. Most audiences felt his speeches were hum-drum. His classic speech was met with indifference.
Who was he? Abraham Lincoln.
The interesting thing about all these men is the fact that they were all believers, they faced incredible adversity, and they all succeeded in life. Abraham Lincoln is known to be the greatest president up to this time. How is it that these believers faced down adversity and succeeded in life, and actually became the best in their given professions.
As believers, how can we face adversity and succeed? Rather than becoming defeated, the secret is in this wonderful book of James penned during a period of tremendous adversity. Peter Marshall describes the period like this:
"They were thrown into prison and made the cell a pulpit and the dungeon a choir. Stoned, they rose from the dust bleeding and bruised but with a more con-vincing testimony. Wounded with whips, they praised God all the more. Nothing could stop them. The Romans made human torches of believers to light the arenas on their holidays, yet in death these Christian martyrs made converts through their strange preaching. Hunted and persecuted, thrown to the lions, tortured and killed, still the numbers who made the sign of the cross grew and grew."
How did these early Christian believers facing adversity succeed and not become defeated? Hear the powerful words of James, pastor of the Jerusalem church:
TEXT
There are three things we can learn from this text about facing adversity. One is realizing that periods of adversity, trial and suffering are a normal part of life. There are two words to emphasize in that sentence: "normal" meaning it is common, it is to be expected, it's what happens in this life; and "life" meaning adversity does not come from God. Verse 13 is included as a disclaimer, "When tempted, no one should say that God is tempting him." It's not God-it's simply life.
Jesus said that in this world you will have trouble. Did Jesus experience trials and adversity in his life? Did the apostles experience adversity in their lives? Yes, all of them were martyred. Isn't that the experience of humanity throughout history? Of all the people that you know, is there anyone who has not experienced adversity in their life? It is a common experience, and it is part of living in a fallen, imperfect world with imperfect people and our imperfect selves. It is normal, and it is life.
Pastor James says that "Whenever you face trials....." The fact is that you are going to face trials. James was an intensely strong believer. His faith was not shaken at all by the reality of trials. They did not cause him to deny God at all. James knows it's not God's fault. Yet so often God is the first person we blame when adversity comes. None of the disciples, in experiencing adversity far greater than we have ever experienced ourselves, none of them lost hope and faith in God.
It is silly to blame God. Think of Jesus on the cross. If God was really to blame for adversity, then God had cause to be mad at himself. What we hear from Jesus on the cross is a cry of anguish, a feeling of being alone, but he still had faith because he said, "Into your hands I commit my spirit."
A father took his daughter to the doctor's to get an injection knowing the experience would be painful as shots always are. The daughter knew her father loved her, but he was the one who brought her to her tormentors. Yet, with love in the father's heart, holding his daughter, she clung to him, receiving the painful shot. She cried, "Daddy, Daddy, no." Yet clinging to him nonetheless. This is a good posture for us to remember in adversity. We should always cling to the Father because he loves us and knows what's best for us.
One thing that trips us up when we experience hard times is that deep down, we don't expect them to happen. The first statement we made is, "I can't believe this is happening to me." So often we are caught off guard by financial down-turns and yet common sense tells us that in the history of our economy, there is a seven-year cycle of ups and downs. Throughout humanity, industries have come and gone, times change, and people need to prepare for this.
People are crushed by the loss of loved ones. It is okay to experience grief which is an expression of love, but it is not okay to be destroyed. History tells us that everyone dies. Billions of people have lived on this earth and died, and it is something that we need to prepare for.
Some people are confused by illness and the process of aging and the frailty that accompanies it. Yet, we all age. None of us ever grow younger.
What we need is a realistic expectation of life. We need to understand the accept the Biblical view that the world is fallen and we will experience adversity. May God give us the grace to accept it and to prepare ourselves to see adversity simply as hurdles in this life that we must jump over.
Another thing that trips people up about adversity is that we draw this parallel between life and God. Whatever happens in life is because of God. We ask, "Why, God, did you let this happen to me? God, where are you? Don't you care? Aren't you in control?" We misunderstand God's sovereignty as him being a puppet king. He is not this at all. He has divine oversight and sees all, but he does not control all. He knows everything. Life is real and dynamic. It is not determined. God's purposes are determined, but not every moment.
If you are going to get angry and point fingers, point at the right object, and that's life. Get angry at life, shake it up. This isn't God's best, this isn't his intention. Pray as the church prayed historically, "Come, Lord Jesus." Ask God, "Lord, what can I learn from these experiences? Give me your strength to endure. Help me to pray your will." It is important to pray God's will-pray for healing, pray for restoration, pray for redemption, but also pray for strength.
James says, "Consider it pure joy...." Now, that's an odd phrase. Literally, this means "Fix it in your mind that when you face adversity, you will respond with joy." Loosely translated, this means be happy, laugh, sing, dance. The image is of a person determined to stay positive, to be determined that adversity will not defeat them, and to believe the best. Decide in your heart that you will not be defeated, disillusioned, crushed or perplexed. Decide in your heart that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. You do not need to fear the future because you know who holds the future in his hands. You need to know that God's purpose is to make you the head and not the tail. You know that he holds the keys to hell, death and the grave. You know that he is with you and that he loves you. As a result, consider it pure joy.
Joe Patino is the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats, one of the best college coaches of all time. He learned the lesson about staying positive in the midst of adversity:
"In 1987 my son Daniel had been born six months early with congenital heart problems. He was hospitalized for months during which time my wife Joanne spent 14-hour days with him at the hospital seven days a week. Finally, Daniel's condition improved and we took him home. One day in March, I talked Joanne into taking a break and coming to New York with me for the Big East tournament. On the bus ride, a state trooper pulled us over and told me to make an urgent call to the hospital. The doctor told me that Daniel was dead.
Over the next few months, there was not much to our marriage or our family life. We had religious faith, but how would we ever be able to deal with something so traumatic? How could God do this to us? Well, I learned that God didn't do it to us-life did. There are simply parts of life that we can't understand. We knew we had to accept this and return to our lives. Joanne and I changed our attitude from pointless negativity to appreciation for the good we had. We turned our attention to our three sons and tried to do positive things in Daniel's name. We must force ourselves to appreciate the good still around us. Otherwise, the bad will ruin our lives."
Why joy? Because in the wisdom of God, beyond the fact that we have a God to call upon who is watching over us, it is the only emotion that will help us get through the adversity. Think of all the emotions that you could experience-anger, anxiety, depression, being stressed out, doubt, bearing all of life's burdens on your shoulders. None of them help you. They only deplete your energy and pull you farther down than you were before. Only joy will help you walk through adversity and make you successful in spite of it.
The text talks about learning patience from adversity. Another way to translate this would be endurance or staying power. Patience is what the trucker needed when he decided to drive around the barrier to save a few minutes. Because he lacked patience, he lost his life. Paul says that adversity brings character, and James concludes by saying adversity, if you allow it, will complete you and make you mature, strong, and iron-like. How? Because adversity is the gym of our interior selves. It is the only way we develop as a person.
We know how to develop physically. My wife and I have been talking about getting in shape again, and we have been looking at the Total Gym or the Bowflex. One thing is true about any type of exercise equipment-the only way you can get strong and fit is through resistance. Just as resistance is health to our body, adversity is the gym that develops the person's character itself. It is not popular to say this because in our culture we have learned that adversity is something to avoid. Even as Christians we often try to pray away adversity in our lives.
I remember driving into Pittsburgh early one morning to go to surgery. I got up a little later than I intended and I'm buzzing down the highway. Why is it that when you are most in need of some speed, there is always someone slow in front of you? There was no way to get around the person in front of me. The longer I drove, the more I wanted to shout at the person in front of me to go faster but it didn't happen. A few miles down the road, you begin to say, "God, you know I have to get to the hospital. You know I have to be there for surgery. Do something! Don't you care?" A few more miles down the road, you fall into despair and you think, "I'm not going to get there in time. I might as well pack my bags. I'm in trouble now." Then after a few more miles, you finally become humble and says things like, "God, please. I'm begging you to remove them. Make them turn at the next exit." But God never did because he wanted me in that situation. At that moment, he wanted to teach me to be patient. Somewhere later in my life, I will need to have patience.
When we pray ourselves out of adversity, we are praying ourselves out of God's gym. God wants to develop some things in our life because he knows that down the road we are going to need these things to survive. Don't so quickly pray yourself out of adversity. It may be God's workshop to build into you something that you will need later on.
Larry King hosted Joni Erickson Tada, who I think more than any of us has experienced adversity in her life. Larry asked her where was God in the events of September 11. Here's her response:
"Where was God? That's a question I can identify with. Like I told my friend Steve at the time of my diving accident when I broke my neck, I felt that God had turned his back on me. I was only 17 years old and I imagined that God had become distracted by the prayers of people with cancer, diabetes or divorce. Where in the world was she? After 35 years living as a quadriplegic, I learned that God permits what he hates in order to accomplish those things that he loves. If evil men perpetuate evil crimes, God admits this under restraint and channels it in such a way as to promote his good and his gospel. Lamentations 3: 21-23 expresses this well:
"This I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
Through the Lord's mercies, we are not consumed
Because his compassions fail not. They are new every
Morning. Great is his faithfulness."
Sometimes the reasons for what he allows are hidden from our sight, but what we do know is that he loves to redeem and reclaim and rescue and save those who turn to him in need. You see, I need him now more than I did the day of my accident, and maybe that's not such a bad thing."
Don't short-cut God when you experience adversity. Ask him, "Lord, what do you want to teach me?" Use it as an opportunity to grow. Do as Charles
Darrow and his wife did who themselves suffered tremendous adversity. They accepted adversity as part of life and refused to allow it to steal their joy. They worked through it, and God helped them. They learned through this situation, and they kept laughing.
Back in 1932 was out of a job and broke, and his wife was expecting a baby. Although he was a heating engineer, there were no jobs available and Darrow and his wife were just barely subsisting on the few odd jobs he could get as a handyman. Things were bleak. Fate didn't reckon with the courage of this man and his wife, however. They laughed at it, literally. In the evenings, to take their minds off their troubles, they made a little game in which they could pretend they were millionaires, recalling pleasant vacations in nearby Atlantic City. They reconstructed the area adjoining the boardwalk. Darrow carved hotels and houses out of small pieces of wood, and they called the game Monopoly. Three years later, in 1935 the game was marketed by Parker Brothers, and Darrow and his wife became millionaires because they allowed adversity to make them instead of break them.
When you face adversity, are you going to allow it to break you or make you? It's your choice.
Let's pray.
Source: http://www.workingmom.com/sermons/adversity.htm
Thought on Love Language
Parenting on Tap by Gina Abuyuan
Having written for and edited three parenting magazines in the past, I’ve heard all kinds of lamentations and justifications from parents who seem unable to “get through” their kids.
“No matter what I do, I can’t get close to him/her” was the common theme.
I never seemed to have that problem being quite close to my daughter. Then, as the years progressed and demands at work became bigger and more frequent, I found myself worrying about the same thing: I was losing touch with my kids, especially my twin sons, who were growing increasingly attached to their yaya.
I wasn’t practicing what I was preaching—that is, filling their love bank. In my personal definition, that is a treasure trove of good and loving memories from which they could withdraw during moments when I wasn’t around. As I was spending more and more time away from them, the special moments were slowly being depleted—and I wasn’t spending enough time nor effort in building it back up, or “depositing” in it.
How do we busy parents do this, beyond the obvious, which is spending “quality time” with each?
Know their love language.
First, discern what kind of love language your child speaks. Developed by Gary Chapman in his book, The Five Love Languages, he says that there are five ways a person best gives and receives love: words of affirmation, touch, acts of service, quality time, and through gifts.
While all my kids love to spend time with me, Simone, for instance shows her love through acts of service. Marco likes to hear words of affirmation and gives a lot of hugs, while Mateo never forgets it when you promise him something.
Doing something in your child’s particular love language increases the value of a deposit in his love bank.
Know the uniqueness of each of your children.
Get to know your kids individually. Maribel Dionisio reiterates spending 20 minutes a day with each child, and a weekly date with each of them (you can alternate kids on different weekends). While spending time with your children, don’t impose on them what you want them to be, or expect them to be, and never, ever compare them with their classmates, cousins, or peers. Let them take the lead in what activity they want to pursue with you. Not only will this build on your deposits, but will open up your child’s world to include you in it. Try to discover your children’s talents and interests, and open up the avenues that will make them experience and excel in those things.
I don’t know how Marco developed his love for plants, for example, but I think it stemmed (no pun intended) from his attraction to flowers. Now, he’s enamored with everything green and garden-oriented. A visit to Manila Seedling Bank is equivalent to a visit to Toys R Us.
Simply explained, deposits can be likened to actions (appropriate, of course) and verbal expressions of love; and withdrawals can be likened to irrational anger, name-calling, unfulfilled promises, and criticisms that is harsh and meant to shame or hurt, not to teach.
“But as long as there is a surplus of love in the account, no serious problem is likely to occur,” says Sidney Craig, author of “Raising Your Child Not by Force”. Think about it: how much have you deposited in your kids’ love bank today?
—————————— Gina Abuyuan is a Manila-based writer and editor. Currently section editor for Manila Bulletin’s Business Agenda, she has also founded and/or headed five magazines — three of them parenting titles. An advocate of progressive parenting, she is mom to 6-year old twins Mateo and Marco, 13-year old Simone, and soon-to-be-stepmom to 19-year old Josh.
Having written for and edited three parenting magazines in the past, I’ve heard all kinds of lamentations and justifications from parents who seem unable to “get through” their kids.
“No matter what I do, I can’t get close to him/her” was the common theme.
I never seemed to have that problem being quite close to my daughter. Then, as the years progressed and demands at work became bigger and more frequent, I found myself worrying about the same thing: I was losing touch with my kids, especially my twin sons, who were growing increasingly attached to their yaya.
I wasn’t practicing what I was preaching—that is, filling their love bank. In my personal definition, that is a treasure trove of good and loving memories from which they could withdraw during moments when I wasn’t around. As I was spending more and more time away from them, the special moments were slowly being depleted—and I wasn’t spending enough time nor effort in building it back up, or “depositing” in it.
How do we busy parents do this, beyond the obvious, which is spending “quality time” with each?
Know their love language.
First, discern what kind of love language your child speaks. Developed by Gary Chapman in his book, The Five Love Languages, he says that there are five ways a person best gives and receives love: words of affirmation, touch, acts of service, quality time, and through gifts.
While all my kids love to spend time with me, Simone, for instance shows her love through acts of service. Marco likes to hear words of affirmation and gives a lot of hugs, while Mateo never forgets it when you promise him something.
Doing something in your child’s particular love language increases the value of a deposit in his love bank.
Know the uniqueness of each of your children.
Get to know your kids individually. Maribel Dionisio reiterates spending 20 minutes a day with each child, and a weekly date with each of them (you can alternate kids on different weekends). While spending time with your children, don’t impose on them what you want them to be, or expect them to be, and never, ever compare them with their classmates, cousins, or peers. Let them take the lead in what activity they want to pursue with you. Not only will this build on your deposits, but will open up your child’s world to include you in it. Try to discover your children’s talents and interests, and open up the avenues that will make them experience and excel in those things.
I don’t know how Marco developed his love for plants, for example, but I think it stemmed (no pun intended) from his attraction to flowers. Now, he’s enamored with everything green and garden-oriented. A visit to Manila Seedling Bank is equivalent to a visit to Toys R Us.
Simply explained, deposits can be likened to actions (appropriate, of course) and verbal expressions of love; and withdrawals can be likened to irrational anger, name-calling, unfulfilled promises, and criticisms that is harsh and meant to shame or hurt, not to teach.
“But as long as there is a surplus of love in the account, no serious problem is likely to occur,” says Sidney Craig, author of “Raising Your Child Not by Force”. Think about it: how much have you deposited in your kids’ love bank today?
—————————— Gina Abuyuan is a Manila-based writer and editor. Currently section editor for Manila Bulletin’s Business Agenda, she has also founded and/or headed five magazines — three of them parenting titles. An advocate of progressive parenting, she is mom to 6-year old twins Mateo and Marco, 13-year old Simone, and soon-to-be-stepmom to 19-year old Josh.
"When the Rain Just Won't Stop"
You may be going through one of those seasons in your life when the "rain" never seems to stop. It's been stress, bad news, struggle, maybe disappointment, grief, confusion. We all take our turn facing those seasons when we keep waking up to another rainy day.The Word of God has been, for 2,000 years, a bright light for dark days.
The well-worn words of Romans 8:28 have helped millions of believers see a bigger picture when it seemed as if it would never stop raining. As familiar as you may be with these words, they may literally have your name on them for this particular season of your life. Listen to them with your heart, "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."
For me, Romans 8:28 is "a soft pillow for a long night and an umbrella on rainy days". I hope you will let it be that for you. Because it gives you God's ironclad assurance that there is meaning in what you're going through; there is a holy purpose for God either sending or allowing those things in your life. His purpose for our dark times is seldom explained, but it's always there. No, it doesn't say everything is good here. It says everything is being worked together for good. For your good, if you're one of those "who love Him."
So you can say, no matter how many days it's been raining, "This is going to be good for us later on." God simply wouldn't let this happen if it wasn't going to be good for you later on. Romans 8:29 tells us that the ultimate good God is going to bring out of this is to make you more like His Son. I believe God shapes and allows the circumstances to come into our life that will best develop some quality of Jesus in us. There's nothing greater God could do for us than to plant in us the way Jesus loves people, the way Jesus treats people, the way Jesus is patient with people, the way Jesus understands what a hurting person is going through, and the kind of bondedness Jesus had with His Father.
And it may take a lot of rainy days for God to make us the man or woman He created us to be and redeemed us to be. He's toughening us, or maybe tenderizing us, purging us of old ways of doing things, squeezing us into new and better priorities, sensitizing us to people that maybe we've hurt or neglected, moving us to burn some old bridges or to treat some old wounds. What gets us through the rainy days is the calm assurance that "God is working all this together for my good to make a better me."
Are you going to enjoy one rainy day after another? Not necessarily. But it sure helps to see them in the big picture perspective. God is using these days to prepare us for better days ahead. So if you got up this morning and found that it was raining again, lean hard on Romans 8:28 and say, with all the confidence of a blood-bought child of God, "This is going to be very good for us later on."
The well-worn words of Romans 8:28 have helped millions of believers see a bigger picture when it seemed as if it would never stop raining. As familiar as you may be with these words, they may literally have your name on them for this particular season of your life. Listen to them with your heart, "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."
For me, Romans 8:28 is "a soft pillow for a long night and an umbrella on rainy days". I hope you will let it be that for you. Because it gives you God's ironclad assurance that there is meaning in what you're going through; there is a holy purpose for God either sending or allowing those things in your life. His purpose for our dark times is seldom explained, but it's always there. No, it doesn't say everything is good here. It says everything is being worked together for good. For your good, if you're one of those "who love Him."
So you can say, no matter how many days it's been raining, "This is going to be good for us later on." God simply wouldn't let this happen if it wasn't going to be good for you later on. Romans 8:29 tells us that the ultimate good God is going to bring out of this is to make you more like His Son. I believe God shapes and allows the circumstances to come into our life that will best develop some quality of Jesus in us. There's nothing greater God could do for us than to plant in us the way Jesus loves people, the way Jesus treats people, the way Jesus is patient with people, the way Jesus understands what a hurting person is going through, and the kind of bondedness Jesus had with His Father.
And it may take a lot of rainy days for God to make us the man or woman He created us to be and redeemed us to be. He's toughening us, or maybe tenderizing us, purging us of old ways of doing things, squeezing us into new and better priorities, sensitizing us to people that maybe we've hurt or neglected, moving us to burn some old bridges or to treat some old wounds. What gets us through the rainy days is the calm assurance that "God is working all this together for my good to make a better me."
Are you going to enjoy one rainy day after another? Not necessarily. But it sure helps to see them in the big picture perspective. God is using these days to prepare us for better days ahead. So if you got up this morning and found that it was raining again, lean hard on Romans 8:28 and say, with all the confidence of a blood-bought child of God, "This is going to be very good for us later on."
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Extended Duration for Prepaid Loads
As I was laying out and reforming our monthly finances, I needed to know how much do we really spend for cellphone loads monthly. Aside from myself, my husband and son had their loading needs too. And so, I got to check the duration of each load to access how much do I need to load monthly in a very prudent way. From my previous accounting of expenses, P1500 was spend on mainly prepaid loads alone per month, and that really have to be decreased to delegate some amounts on other needs. And so I came across to all these info and posting it here for reference.
Finally, the National Telecommunication Commission or NTC has issued a memorandum circular that lets prepaid cellular phone subscribers enjoy their load longer. In fact, a prepaid load of more than P300 is now good for four months.
Under Memorandum Circular No. 03-07-2009, mobile phone operators are required to extend the validity period of prepaid load of subscribers and allow subscribers to accumulate prepaid credits.
A P10 load of prepaid credit is now good for 3 days while a load amounting to more than P10 to P50 is valid for 15 days. A load of over P50 to P100 is good for 30 days or a month. A load of more than P100 to P150 should be good for 45 days; over P150 to P250 for 60 days or two months; over P250 to P30 for 75 days; and over P300 for 120 days or four months.
Before this, a P10 load was good only for a day and P300 for two months.
The NTC said that for each new load that is purchased, the amount of the unused loads that are still within the validity period shall be added to and accumulate to the next load of subscribers.
"The new minimum validity or expiry period shall be based on the sum of the new load plus the unused load," it said.
The NTC also made public MC 03-06-2009, containing service performance standards for the cellular mobile telephone service.
This required the telecom companies to maintain a grade of service of 4 percent or a maximum of 4 lost calls for every 100 call attempts.
The NTC also prescribed a drop call rate of 2 percent or a maximum of 2 dropped calls for every 100 calls.
Two other orders are set to be issued by the commission in the coming days, including a circular prohibiting push messages or text spam.
"Subscriptions or requests for contents and/or information shall be initiated by the subscribers," the draft circular read. "Commercial and promotional advertisements, surveys and other broadcast messages shall be allowed only if prior consent from the subscribers is secured."
It also required mobile network operators to keep records of all requests for contents and/or information from the subscribers for the delivery of content for a period of at least two months.
Another circular requires the telecom companies to provide access to contents and/or information providers upon request and based on an access agreement.
"Access to the networks, systems and/or facilities of duly authorized providers by duly registered contents and/or information providers shall be mandatory," it said.
The NTC said this would encourage and facilitate the development of contents and information.
Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. vice president for public affairs Ramon Isberto said they are still in talks with the NTC regarding the draft circulars.
Source: Textmania.com
Finally, the National Telecommunication Commission or NTC has issued a memorandum circular that lets prepaid cellular phone subscribers enjoy their load longer. In fact, a prepaid load of more than P300 is now good for four months.
Under Memorandum Circular No. 03-07-2009, mobile phone operators are required to extend the validity period of prepaid load of subscribers and allow subscribers to accumulate prepaid credits.
A P10 load of prepaid credit is now good for 3 days while a load amounting to more than P10 to P50 is valid for 15 days. A load of over P50 to P100 is good for 30 days or a month. A load of more than P100 to P150 should be good for 45 days; over P150 to P250 for 60 days or two months; over P250 to P30 for 75 days; and over P300 for 120 days or four months.
Before this, a P10 load was good only for a day and P300 for two months.
The NTC said that for each new load that is purchased, the amount of the unused loads that are still within the validity period shall be added to and accumulate to the next load of subscribers.
"The new minimum validity or expiry period shall be based on the sum of the new load plus the unused load," it said.
The NTC also made public MC 03-06-2009, containing service performance standards for the cellular mobile telephone service.
This required the telecom companies to maintain a grade of service of 4 percent or a maximum of 4 lost calls for every 100 call attempts.
The NTC also prescribed a drop call rate of 2 percent or a maximum of 2 dropped calls for every 100 calls.
Two other orders are set to be issued by the commission in the coming days, including a circular prohibiting push messages or text spam.
"Subscriptions or requests for contents and/or information shall be initiated by the subscribers," the draft circular read. "Commercial and promotional advertisements, surveys and other broadcast messages shall be allowed only if prior consent from the subscribers is secured."
It also required mobile network operators to keep records of all requests for contents and/or information from the subscribers for the delivery of content for a period of at least two months.
Another circular requires the telecom companies to provide access to contents and/or information providers upon request and based on an access agreement.
"Access to the networks, systems and/or facilities of duly authorized providers by duly registered contents and/or information providers shall be mandatory," it said.
The NTC said this would encourage and facilitate the development of contents and information.
Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. vice president for public affairs Ramon Isberto said they are still in talks with the NTC regarding the draft circulars.
Source: Textmania.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)