BioJeSSiC

by Francesca Battistelli

 
I’m letting go
Of the life I planned for me
And my dreams
I’m losing control
Of my destiny
Feels like I’m falling and that’s what it’s like to believe
So I’m letting go

When you choose to believe in God and make him the center of your life, you make the decision to let him guide you. You are telling God that you want his dreams, desires, and goals for your life, not your own. It’s like handing over your dearest possessions and trusting that the person you give them to will make something even greater out of them than what they already are. But there is always the nagging worry, “What if he doesn’t do what I wanted with them?” And that is why faith can be terrifying. 

Our culture tells people that faith is useless and that you should run after your dreams, even if it means stomping on others along the way. But God’s plans are better than we can possibly imagine. He promises that he will take our desires and make them into something far more valuable and beautiful than we can ever imagine. You may not always understand where he is leading you, but he promises that he will lovingly take care of you.
  
 Psalm 32:8
 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.I will advise you and watch over you. 

From: Life on the Way Devotional

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“Mighty to save.”
–Isaiah 63:1

By the words “to save” we understand the whole of the great work of salvation, from the first holy desire onward to complete sanctification. The words are multum in parro: indeed, here is all mercy in one word. Christ is not only “mighty to save” those who repent, but He is able to make men repent. He will carry those to heaven who believe; but He is, moreover, mighty to give men new hearts and to work faith in them. He is mighty to make the man who hates holiness love it, and to constrain the despiser of His name to bend the knee before Him. Nay, this is not all the meaning, for the divine power is equally seen in the after-work. The life of a believer is a series of miracles wrought by “the Mighty God.” The bush burns, but is not consumed. He is mighty to keep His people holy after He has made them so, and to preserve them in his fear and love until he consummates their spiritual existence in heaven. Christ’s might doth not lie in making a believer and then leaving him to shift for himself; but He who begins the good work carries it on; He who imparts the first germ of life in the dead soul, prolongs the divine existence, and strengthens it until it bursts asunder every bond of sin, and the soul leaps from earth, perfected in glory. Believer, here is encouragement. Art thou praying for some beloved one? Oh, give not up thy prayers, for Christ is “mighty to save.” You are powerless to reclaim the rebel, but your Lord is Almighty. Lay hold on that mighty arm, and rouse it to put forth its strength. Does your own case trouble you? Fear not, for His strength is sufficient for you. Whether to begin with others, or to carry on the work in you, Jesus is “mighty to save;” the best proof of which lies in the fact that He has saved you. What a thousand mercies that you have not found Him mighty to destroy!

From: C. H. Spurgeon’s Morning & Evening Devotional: 01/14/AM

Tonight, I read a lot of devotionals, articles and excerpts again. I had a great time learning from christian authors and of course, the glory goes to God– the center of it all. I placed here some of the nice thoughts that I read. It may not have a great impact on you but it sure made a lot of sense to me. We all know that God speaks to different people in different ways. We also have different things to deal with everyday. So, I am keeping these to remind myself of what I learned tonight. You may click the links (their names), if you want to read the articles or get to know who they are. I hope I can do this all the time so I won’t forget what God has reminded me about. This is also a great way for me to share His goodness and wisdom. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (James 1:5,KJV)

A season of suffering is a small assignment when compared to the reward. By: Max Lucado This tells me that trials are like seasons. They come and they go. They are temporary. Most of my worries today won’t matter months from now. God does not stop with the trials. He is just in the process of making all things beautiful. The results matter to Him. I matter to Him. Thus, the process is necessary. Difficult times won’t last long but the effects are eternal.  

Coach George Karl was sick to death at the collapse of his team.  When interviewed the following day, he said in essence, “I could not feel sicker.  Yet when I woke up early this morning and saw the sunrise, I knew it was going to be okay, and I was going to get through this.  The sun had still come up.”  From the devotional of Jeff Schreve. Hope. Hope. Hope. I am glad our God is a God of hope.

As we read the Bible, we should pray, worship God, speak to Him about our needs, and listen to His answers. This should be a time of communication between two spirits that sets the order of events for each day. By: Pat Robertson. Before we do anything.. Before we make decisions.. Before we make plans.. Before we begin anything.. We should speak to our Lord first. Again, I am not in charge. I am not my own. This means that I should not act as if I have no Master. There is a Guide and a Maker who longs to tell me, ” I know the way”.

If you think it’s all about you, and I think it’s all about me, we have no hope for a melody. By: Max Lucado This hits the nail on the head. This is the reason why some relationships don’t work. Whether it be a family or a couple, the point is to focus on God and make Him the center.

I am a person in awe of God’s greatness. He works in ways that I cannot explain and He surprises me with blessings that were actually my heart’s desires! God is indeed alive and He neither sleeps nor slumbers. His hand is not short to reach all the areas of my life. I may fail Him but He remains faithful. There may be trials, but I know that it’ll purify me like a fire that does the same thing to a gold. Things are just getting better and better when you know that you have a loving and caring Father, Savior, and Friend. God is truly deserving of all our praises and I just pray that we as children will live to bring a smile on His face. Ephesians 3:20-21: Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

Remember the Karate Kid movie, “Wax on-wax off?” The future karate champion had no idea why he had to wax cars using a certain hand motion. He just knew he was wasting valuable time when he could be in training for the big competition. As viewers, we were also baffled, until the last scene of the movie, when all those hand motions finally made sense.

Have you ever found yourself repeating the same tasks day after day? Did you ever ask God, ‘Why am I wasting time here God? What does this have to do with your destiny for my life?’

I’m sure young David asked these questions. Day after day he sat and watched sheep. This bored teenager found two ways to pass the time—practice with his slingshot and write music.

How could he have known those dull, lonely years of shepherding would be the very thing to prepare him for his destiny?

God used David’s skill with a slingshot to launch him to fame and fortune when he killed Goliath. His reward was to marry the king’s daughter and never again pay taxes. From then on, everyone knew his name– he was elevated to our century’s status as a “rock star.”

God also used music to position David in the King’s court. His music career began in the palace, singing songs before a mentally troubled king Saul. His passion for worship would inspire him to one day bring the Arc back to Jerusalem and set up a Tabernacle of 24/7 worship. Finally those songs and poems would one day fill the book of Psalms, the finest poetic literature ever written, inspiring countless millions of people to worship God and know Him intimately.

God will use your skills, even the menial and tedious ones, to position you one day in your place of destiny. I remember for 10 years, I ran our church’s nursery. I’ve worked in just about every area of church ministry, but this happened to be my least favorite. I never imagined God would use changing diapers and disinfecting toys for anything special.

But one year, God opened a door for my husband and I to go to Israel to work at the Feast of Tabernacles, an international Christian Convention in Jerusalem.

The leaders of the convention needed someone to run the youth program and someone to run the nursery. I had always dreamed of going to Israel, and now God was using my experience in the nursery to fulfill my hearts desire! Since then, we’ve returned to Israel 10 times to help with ministry, but not to work in the nursery.

Oswald Chambers says, “When the Spirit of God comes, He does not give us visions, He tells us to do the most ordinary things conceivable…the ordinary commonplace things…the most natural simple things—the things we would never have imagined God was in, and as we do them we find He is there.”

So, the next time you feel like banging your head against the wall because the daily grind of life has become routine, say a prayer of thanks. God doesn’t waste our time. He is the master Karate teacher, preparing us for battle. He knows what skill we will need to fulfill our role in building His kingdom.

“How can we understand the road we travel? It is the Lord who directs our steps.” (Proverbs 20:24)

To those sitting at a computer all day, mowing lawns, studying in school, washing dishes, or practicing the piano—rejoice. It all matters.

 FROM: www.cbnasia.org

PS: For someone who is jobless like me, this gives me comfort. As in! Hehe. Thanks Lord! You’re the best! I know I am still being used despite the fact that I am just staying at home. Do it your way Lord…

Learning has never been that fun to me. I wasn’t just discovering about the sport but also about life. My coach is 30 years older than me. Those years added to his knowledge things that I can never learn from people of my age. He was one of the first few instructors in Cebu City Sports Center and his expertise is exhibited not just in how he teaches but in how he deals with people. He told me precious truths about the pool and about the road called life. It’s amazing how many things you can learn from one person just by holding on to the side of the pool while listening.

Dear Kids,

Don’t be alarmed; the world isn’t coming to an end. I am simply taking a bath. It will take about 30 minutes and will involve soap and water.

Yes, I know how to swim. Even if I didn’t, forcing myself to drown in a half-inch of lukewarm water is more work than I’ve got energy for. (Which reminds me, I’m all for science projects, but the next time you want to see if Play-Doh floats, use cold water.)

Don’t panic if I’m not out right on time. I’ve heard that people don’t dissolve in water, and I’d like to test the theory.

While I’m in the tub, I’d like you to remember a few things:

The large slab of wood between us is called a door. Do not bang to hear my voice. I promise that even though you can’t see me, I am on the other side. I’m not digging an escape tunnel and running for the border, no matter what I said a while ago. I didn’t mean it. Honest.

There will be plenty of time later to tell me about your day. “Later” means at a time when I am no longer naked, wet and contemplating the bubble gum in the blow dryer. I know you have important things to tell me. (Please let one of them be that you have invented a new way to blow bubbles, not a new way to add gum to your hair…)

Believe it or not, shouting, “TELEPHONE!” through the closed bathroom door will not make the phone stop ringing. Answer it and take a message. Since Amazing Mind-Reading Mom has the day off, you’ll need to write that message down. Use paper and a pencil. Do not use your brother and the laundry marker. We can’t send him to school with telephone-number tattoos.

Water makes me wet, not deaf. I can still tell the difference between the sound of “nothing” and the sound of a child playing the piano with a basketball. I can also hear you tattling at the top of your lungs. I’m choosing not to answer you.

Don’t call your dad at work and tell him I am unconscious in the bathroom.

No matter how much I would like it, water does not make me forgetful. I remember who you are and why you are grounded. No, you can’t go to Shelby’s house to play. No, you can’t go to Shelby’s house to use the bathroom. If someone is in our other bathroom, you will just have to think dry thoughts and wait. Unless you have four feet and a tail, do not think of going outside to “water” the lawn. I know the dog does it. The neighbors don’t feel the need to call me when the dog does it.

Unless the house catches fire, stay inside and keep the doors locked.

Do not go outside and throw rocks at the bathroom window to get my attention. I know it works in the movies, but this is reality, a place where people don’t like to sit in a tub while rocks and broken glass rain down on them.

Do not set the house on fire. Call me if there is an emergency.

Emergencies are:

1. Dad has fallen off the roof.
2. Your brother and/or sister is bleeding.
3. There’s a red fire truck in front of our house.

Emergencies are not:

1. Dad has fallen asleep.
2. Someone on TV is bleeding.
3. There’s a red pickup truck in front of our house.

By the way, all Play-Doh experiments are hereby canceled.

Be good. Entertain yourselves. (Yes, you can do both at the same time.)

Try coloring, playing a game or paying that stack of bills on the coffee table.

I’ll be out soon. Maybe.

Love, Mom

Here’s a wonderful text message that was sent to me by a friend and I hope this will inspire people to trust Him most especially when the sea is raging and the skies are gray.

God delights in impossible situations. They are opportunities to prove His power, His love and His determination to fashion us into overcomers. 

This tells me that there is nothing too difficult for God. Nothing that is beyond His control… and as I write this, I am thinking of many different situations that I might encounter this month or much later this year. Yes, maybe my journey wouldn’t be that smooth sailing and most likely, I will be TESTED.. But bring it on because I BELIEVE I am being taken care of. It’s allbeen done two thousand years ago and I am very much grateful.

For with God nothing shall be impossible. Luke 1:37 

So who are you going to trust in the light of such wonderful promises? 

“True love pulls others through, carries them over, looks beyond.  It knows no boundaries and it never runs out ”

-Unkown

Faith is realizing that I am useful to God not in spite of my scars but because of them.

*Pamela Reeve*