A couple of months before December, everyone was already excited looking forward for christmas vacation, gifts and parties. Almost everyone around was preoccupied with christmas ideas such as to whom would they spend the holidays, what gift items should they picked for their loved ones and hmmmm… where should they get away for christmas vacation.
I had missed writing about christmas ideas before reaching the month of December. Does it mean that I was not that occupied about anything on christmas. Yuletide season is very precious to me ever since I had learned that the best thing in Christmas is that we have Jesus Christ, the main reason of the season. I used to have my list of people whom I wanted to give gifts in advance so that I would not get into rush and hush. I used to have an early plan where and how should I spend it.
The 2011 Christmas season was a very different occasion to me. I had a very unique trip last christmas. I had wearied myself and I did not have enough sleep. I had a day-off from work but not from my household chore and babysitting. Yes, I had a terribly unique way of spending my christmas last 2011. Sleep on the Christmas Eve..Whisper a prayer to the One who had brought the world this kind of season. Reminisce my christmas parties on the previous years.
What matters most is that I still had remembered my God and the very Reason of Christmas. I still had spent it with Him as I had some moment of reflection on His goodness and faithfulness. Lastly, my faith is still alive. That still makes sense.
How about you? How did you spend your Christmas? Did you really enjoy everything you did on the said holidays? There are still more christmas seasons to come. The time can still make it up with me on the next christmas. I mean, I do not want to exactly experience same thing next time. Of course, I want a better, happier, sweeter, healthier and more gracious christmas next time.
Have you heard about the paradoxes of prayer? The theme had captured my attention during my meditation moment. I read it from a book authored by Elizabeth George. The message goes this way:
“I asked God for strength that I might achieve. I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey…
I asked for health that i might do greater things. I was given infirmity that I might do better things..
I asked for riches that I might be happy. I was given poverty that I might be wise..
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men. I was given weakness that I might feel the need
of God…
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. I was given life that I might enjoy all things..
I got nothing that I asked for - but everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered -
I am among all, most richly blessed! ”
Have you ever tried getting alone with your Creator? Can you figure out what is going to happen to you when you are alone with God? Everything that will happen to you when you are with God alone will be greatly amazing. If you have not yet set yourself being with God alone, I would encourage you to try it and you will surprisingly amazed at what God will pour out upon you.
Being alone with God is the most wonderful moment that will ever happen in your life. It is the time when God speaks to you audibly and show you visions vividly as you sincerely get yourself in His presence alone. When you are alone with God, you will be able to look inwardly without any shame because you will also feel God’s tight embrace then. It is true that God will lead you to deeper searching of your heart and He will lead you to encounter Him in the most intimate way as well.
When you are alone with God, you will be able to dig to your innermost and you might even see that there are some elements that you could hardly recognize like conceit, laziness, envy and other more negative emotions that for you are simply trivial but to God are significant. In the place where you are with God alone, you will have a glimpse of what you are like in His sight and you will realize how great is His loving arms to keep holding you through days. You might feel some agony of seeing yourself keeping some misplaced desires but still at peace to lay them down before God and have your heart filled with new desires that are aligned to His purpose.
When you are alone with God, every matter in all areas of your life will be clear. Just a final note to this topic: God can use you well only after we allow Him to show us the deep areas of our character.
In the book of Psalms chapter 24 verses 3 up to 5, we read, ” Who shall stand in His holy place? He that has clean hands and a pure heart…He shall receive the blessing of the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” Christians who had already accepted our Lord Jesus Christ in their lives are being called to keep growing. They are encouraged to move from being babies who are just taking milk for growth towards the next step which is being in the place of holy. They are called not to stay at the lobby of their Christianity journey because there are still a lot more on the way until they reach the so-called place of holy of holies. Along the way, righteousness is required to be brought at all times.
Righteousness is a must for every christian to get prepared for the future because we know that days are getting more evil as said in the World and that believers of Christ must really stand still when those days come. Having a pure heart is just one way of saying we want for righteousness in our lives. As the King David once cried, “Create in me a clean heart, O God,” we are to cry out for a cleansing in our hearts. People like you and I have a natural heart that is desperately wicked. Good thing that there is a way to make it clean. Let us just cry out to the Lord for cleansing. After having our heart cleansed, we will receive righteousness from the God of our Salvation and we will be able to stand confidently when we get into His holy place.
Righteousness is one factor we have to consider to be prepared at the last days. We have to redeem our moral purity so that God will definitely be pleased with the life He has entrusted to us and that He will embrace us and approve us when we face Him personally. Keep living righteously by the grace of God even when trouble comes our way. At the end, we will still be an overcomer if we keep on crying out for righteousness to the Lord. To everyone asking Him, an answer will come on time and help will always be extended amazingly.
This is like the profession I am holding now: An unknown profession to some. A not so important job to a lot of people. Why? It is because I just used to remain silent for I see things beyond the capacity of my naked eyes and I do things that most people do not do and do not recognize.
I have to learn living by faith and not by sight; getting grace from the gracious Lord at many times and entrusting my whole life unto the One Who has been designing it.
I also have been trying to enjoy every day no matter what a day may bring me. I have no choice but to enjoy everything and everyone because I do not have any control to what is coming my way. As long as I am yielding all areas of my life to the Lord Jesus, I have no fear of the future.
When our Lord Jesus Christ went to His Father in heaven, He had said that we will do even greater works. You might get surprise to learn that the greater work is prayer. We know that it is hard to maintain a consistent time of prayer. I was surprised to learn in my devotion this morning by reading the book of Oswald Chambers that prayer is not actually the way to see the greater work but it is prayer itself that can be considered as the greater work.It is a new knowledge for me to embrace and that will really inspire me to keep defending my prayer time and place.
It has been my habit to say a prayer upon waking up and before bed time. When my life changed because of my new status now from working woman to hands-on Mom, it became difficult for me to maintain my usual prayer time. However, I am determined to redeem my time for prayer consistently and constantly because this is the only work I can do that only God can watch. This is the simplest habit that I know I can please God yet filled with various struggle. I always wish to do more and do greater but I always end up working for nothing. Now that I have learned this truth, then I am glad that I can do a greater work everyday by simply Praying.
How do you pray? This is a question that is always being thrown to many believing christians today. You would hear a variety of answer. Some says “kneeling”. Others would say “sincerely silently”. “I pray during praise and worship portion in the service”, others would unashamedly say. You would seldom get an answer like “I pray only in my bedroom when there is no one seeing and hearing me”.
The Word of God in the book of Matthew 6:6 says “When you pray, go into your room, and when you shut up your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place and the Father who sees you in secret will reward you openly”. This is an eye-opener to all christians who profess to be so godly and righteous. We do not need to be in the public to say a lot of words and showing people that we are really prayerful. God sees the heart of the one calling Him in prayer. It is the motivation and intention that matter to Him. The motivation must not be people but God Himself. It is intended to knowing God in a deeper and more personal way.
Furthermore, the Bible say in Matthew 7:8″ Everyone who asks receives. If you seek you will find and when you knock the door will be opened…”(I paraphrased). Just be careful also in asking for we have to ask things of God so that we will definitely get answer. Much better to ask God Himself than things He gives. When you to God in secret, you will get into His courts as you are without any hesitation, reservation or pretension. God knows the content of your heart so it is just fine to cry to God and tell Him everything in and of you. Finally, always remember that when you enter into your secret place in prayer, you are getting fellowship with your Father God in heaven.
I do not have any treasure in this life but a knowledge and privilege to worship my Creator, my God and Savior. In my secret place, If find Him there and He fills me with joy, love and peace which no one and nothing can ever ever give. I use to sing this to my Lord in humility and heartfelt worship only Him can feel. In singing song like this I am bringing a delight to the One who created me and who knows everything in and of me. More songs with lyrics and video can be searched throughout the internet. Keep surfing and use this system to please the God who provided the most amazing intelligence to human beings like the one who discovers the internet system.
Listen to this song entitled Heart Of Worship by Hillsong United Online..
HEART OF WORSHIP
When the music fades
all is stripped away
and i simply come
longing just to bring
something that’s of worth
that will bless your heart.
I’ll bring you more than a song
for a song in itself
is not what you have required
you search much deeper within
through the way things appear
you’re looking into my heart.
Chorus:
I’m coming back to the heart of worship
and it’s all about you
It’s all about you, Jesus
I’m sorry Lord for the things i’ve made it
when it’s all about you
it’s all about you, Jesus.
King of endless worth
no one could express
how much you deserve
though i’m weak and poor
all i have is yours
every single breath.
Another great spiritual song is hereby ready to be downloaded. This song is quite great to be sung during quite time with the Lord. Sing it with your whole heart and let your spirit be carried on the wings of the Holy Spirit as you bow down at the Throne of our Most High God. More songs are available through the internet. Feel free to download one. Music has been a great deal in the cyber space.
Down at Your feet, Oh Lord
Is the most high place
In Your presence, Lord
I seek Your face, I seek your face
Chorus:
There is no higher calling no greater honor
Than to bow and kneel before Your throne
I’m amazed at Your glory, embraced by Your mercy
Oh Lord, I live to worship You
Down at Your feet, Oh Lord
Is the most high place
In Your presence, Lord
We seek Your face, we seek your face
This Alabaster Jar is the title of the song that has been overwhelming many christians now a days. It
is a song that I will never miss singing in my quiet time with God, too. Sing it yourself and feel how The Lord Jesus love us. Through this song, I let God feel my heartbeat about Him and about life. All I have is a life not really worth of God’s lavish love and favor. All I have is this one and only Life. Everything of me is God’s own.
Alabaster Jar
This alabaster jar
Is all i have of worth
I break it at your feet, lord
It’s less than you deserve
You’re far more beautiful
More precious than the oil
The sum of my desires
And the fullness of my joy!
Prechorus:
Like you spilled your blood,
I spill my heart as an offering
To my king
Here i am, take me
As an offering
Here i am, giving every heartbeat
For your glory take me
The time that i have left
Is all i have of worth
I lay it at your feet, lord
It’s less than you deserve
And though i’ve little strength
And though my days are few,
You gave your life for me
So, i will live my life for you
Worthy, worthy
You are worthy
Worthy is the lord
It is about fountain of life at Proverbs 13:13 which goes this way ” Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded”
Matthew Henry’ commentary : Those that prefer the rules of carnal policy before divine precepts, and the allurements of the world and the flesh before God’s promises and comforts, despise His word.He that fears the commandment, that stands in awe of God, has a reverence for His word, is afreaid of displeasing God and incurring the penalties annexed to the commandment, shall be rewarded for his godly fear.
Matthew Henry commentary on Boasting About Tomorrow has been helping me to understand the message of God at Proverbs 27:1 which goes this way “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thu knowest not what a day may bring forth” (KJV). Sometimes, we tend to depend on what we have now to feel secure about what a day may bring ahead. That means most of the time that we tend to neglect trusting and keeping in touch with the Lord when we are sufficient today.
Well, I like the commentary message of Matthew Henry about boasting on tomorrow as related to the verse Proverbs 27:1. Boast not thyself, no, not of tomorrow, much less of many days or years to come. This does not forbid preparing for tomorrow, but presuming upon tomorrow. We must not put off the great work of conversion, that one thing needful, till tomorrow, as if we were sure of it, but today, while it is called today, hear God’s voice. We know what a day may bring forth, what event maybe in the teeming womb of time. God has wisely kept us in the dark concerning future events, that he may train up up in a dependence upon himself and a continued readiness for every event, Acts i.7.
Proverbs 23:4 “Labour not to be rich, cease from thy own wisdom”
23:5 “Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven” (KJV)
Matthew Henry commentary on riches - Proverbs 23:4-5 Some are given to appetite(v.2) others to covetousness. We must endeavour to live comfortably, and provide for our children and families, but we must not seek great things. Be not of those that will be rich, that design it as their highest end,1 Tim.vi.9. What thous hast, or doest, be master of it, and not a slave to it as those that rise up early, sit up late, and eat the bread of carefulness, and all to be rich. The things of this world are a show, a shadow, a sham upon the soul that trusts to them. Wilt thou do a thing so absurd in itself? What thou, a reasonable creature, wilt thou dote upon shadows? Riches are very uncertain things; they make themselves wings and fly away. The wings they fly away upon are of their own making. They have in themselves the principles of corruption. They go irresistibly and irrecoverably, as an eagle towards heaven, that flies strongly, and flies out of sight and out of call (there is no bringing her back); thus do riches leave men in grief and vexation if they set their hearts upon them.
The role of the church is not to be ignored these days. The church composed of group of people believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ has a great responsibility in the whole world today. Looking at what happened to Haiti recently, believers are but expected to be commissioned to do rescue effort.
The church will not stop working out as it sees people dying without Jesus Christ. The role of the church has to be carried out as it is expected to bring hope, salvation, education and relief to desperate people around the globe. It is time for the church to carry on the truth and power of the Lord and save the world.
O God, let me never faint in doing great things that are according to your will. Let me have the necessary strength to face each day. Let me have the courage to face obstacles.
There are times that I am not well enough to go on in this journey called life, let your comfort be upon me. Let clarity of your will be always be within me, that I can walk to your path.
Let me have you as my Strength O Mighty God