BioJeSSiC

This life that I have is so fragile. Any moment, I might lose this. Any moment, sadness might come running straight to me. When I look around, there is so much imperfections. When I look inside of me, there’s so much sin to confess. Everything is just lacking.

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD. -Psalm 31:24

God never promised security in myself or in the world that I see. God commanded me to be strong and courageous, not because I am self-sufficient or that the world itself is already complete, but because He knows that I have a tendency to be weak. He told me to draw strength and courage from Him. Again, that is PUT YOUR HOPE IN THE LORD. Do not put your hope in other people, in your money, in your career, in your family, in your self!

There must be a reason why this verse is found in the Bible. God knows for sure that as human beings, we tend to give up and give in. We are weak creatures, created with emotions. We feel. We hurt. We are not perfect. We get tempted. We get sad. We cry… and yes, we die! We are just so fragile. That is why there is a God. A God who knows our weaknesses and fills the gap inside of us. Look everywhere and you’ll only find temporary happiness and rarely will you find answers. But look up and realize that there is one who is in control. He is telling us to put our hope in Him. The economy and insurance companies may fail but never God’s love for us. The only sure thing that we can hold on to is God… and I am glad that He is just a prayer away.

Written last October 31, 2008

I am writing this now as I think about the many unpredictable things that are happening around me. I have problems, unfinisheds tasks and unanswered questions. Deep inside of me, I am not losing hope because of only one reason: I have never been and will never be unloved. How do I know? Because His Word tells me so.

Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

What an assurance that we have from a God who is perfect! Despite our sins and weaknesses, our Savior tells us that they’re not enough to take us away from His loving arms. Whatever failures, sin, pain, disagreement or disappointment, remember that we are not alone. The God who loves us will never leave us. Whatever disease, challenge, exam, news or event may come our way, remember that God is in control. The God who loves us will never lose us in His hands.

Our world is full of things that will deceive us into believing that He already abandoned us. But do not be swayed for He who formed you won’t be separated from you. Let us rest in this fact that whatever happens, our Lord did, does and will love us. 

written last November 22, 2008

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.

When you’ve trusted Jesus and walked his way When you’ve felt his hand lead you day by day But your steps now take you another way, start over.

When you’ve made your plans and they’ve gone awry When you’ve tried your best and there’s no more try When you’ve failed yourself and you don’t know why, start over.

When you’ve told your friends what you plan to do When you’ve trusted them and they didn’t come through And now you’re all alone and it’s up to you, start over.

When you’ve failed your kids and they’re grown and gone When you’ve done your best but it’s turned out wrong And now your grandchildren have come along, start over.

When you’ve prayed to God so you’ll kn ow his will When you’ve prayed and prayed and you don’t know still When you want to stop cause you’ve had your fill, start over.

When you think you’re finished and want to quit When you’ve bottomed out in life’s deepest pit When you’ve tried and tried to get out of it, start over..

When the year has been long and successes few When December comes and you’re feeling blue God gives a January just for you, start over.

Starting over means ‘Victories Won’. Starting over means ‘A Race Well Run’ Starting over means ‘The Lords’ Will Done’. We need not just sit there … START OVER.

On The Anvil
by Max Lucado

With a strong forearm, the apron-clad blacksmith puts his tongs into the fire, grasps the heated metal, and places it on the anvil. His keen eye examines the glowing piece. He sees what the tool is now and envisions what he wants it to be—sharper, flatter, wider, longer. With a clear picture in his mind, he begins to pound. His left hand still clutching the hot mass with the tongs, his right hand slams the two-pound sledge upon the moldable metal.
On the solid anvil, the smoldering iron is remolded.
The smith knows the type of instrument he wants. He knows the size. He knows the shape. He knows the strength.
Whang! Whang! The hammer slams. The shop rings with the noise, the air fills with smoke, and the softened metal responds.
But the response doesn’t come easily. It doesn’t come without discomfort. To melt down the old and recast it as new is a disrupting process. Yet the metal remains on the anvil, allowing the toolmaker to remove the scars, repair the cracks, refill the voids, and purge the impurities.
And with time, a change occurs: What was dull becomes sharpened, what was crooked becomes straight, what was weak becomes strong, and what was useless becomes valuable.
Then the blacksmith stops. He ceases his pounding and sets down his hammer. With a strong left arm, he lifts the tongs until the freshly molded metal is at eye level. In the still silence, he examines the smoking tool. The incandescent implement is rotated and examined for any mars or cracks.
There are none.
Now the smith enters the final stage of his task. He plunges the smoldering instrument into a nearby bucket of water. With a hiss and a rush of steam, the metal immediately begins to harden. The heat surrenders to the onslaught of cool water, and the pliable, soft mineral becomes an unbending useful tool.
“For a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
(I Peter 1:6-7)

From On the Anvil:
Stories On Being Shaped Into God’s Image

This is a new edition of Max’s first book.
It contains an updated forward, written by him, as well as thoughtful questions for each chapter.

© (Tyndale House, 1985, 2008) Max Lucado