Random Thoughts

Hang in there, everyone! We can do this!

Such an inspiration and a relief. God will deliver us from all our fears. ♥♥♥

GOD IS MY REFUGE
MY TRUST AND MY DELIVERER
A HELP CLOSE AT HAND
IN TIMES OF DISTRESS.

SO, I WILL LIFT MY EYES
UNTO THE MOUNTAIN
FROM WHENCE
COMES MY HELP?

FROM THE LORD, ENTHRONE ON HIGH
HE IS MY ROCK
AND MY SALVATION
I’LL STAND FIRM.
(REPEAT WHOLE SONG)

In Ephesians 5, there were several warnings on a deceiving person. Watch out, please!

Image Source.

Ephesians 5
5 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.[a] 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

How comforting to know that GOD is taking good care of us! No matter how sinful we are, He always finds a way to get us back. He will even give us a heart to know HIM, to make HIM our LORD. He is an awesome God, indeed!

I'm starting to get scared of what's happening now. Inspite of knowing God's promises and how faithful He is, I can't help but feel that nervousness of what will happen next.

I came across this verse that definitely made my day.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear."

Isn't it amazing that God is there ALL the time? Comforting us and proving to us that HE is there? And all we have to do is BELIEVE?

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Jesus the Way to the Father

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know[b] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Amazing, isn't it?

This is very comforting amidst the news of the virus and the community quarantine. But, with Isaiah 43, I truly believe that God will not abandon us!

Israel’s Only Savior
43 But now, this is what the Lord says—
he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
Cush[a] and Seba in your stead.
4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you,
I will give people in exchange for you,
nations in exchange for your life.
5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
I will bring your children from the east
and gather you from the west.
6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from afar
and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
7 everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”

8 Lead out those who have eyes but are blind,
who have ears but are deaf.
9 All the nations gather together
and the peoples assemble.
Which of their gods foretold this
and proclaimed to us the former things?
Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right,
so that others may hear and say, “It is true.”
10 “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,
“and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
nor will there be one after me.
11 I, even I, am the Lord,
and apart from me there is no savior.
12 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—
I, and not some foreign god among you.
You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God.
13 Yes, and from ancient days I am he.
No one can deliver out of my hand.
When I act, who can reverse it?”

Whom shall I fear then?

Instead of panic, let us focus on God's promises and His embraces through His words...


Psalm 91
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 “Because he[b] loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

With all the COVID-19 scare that's ongoing, I've decided to make it positive here and share some insights that will assure that God is in control.

I know there are days that you feel tired, overwhelmed and useless.

Just hang in there. Because of GOD's promise...

All throughout my life I've always relied on my own strength. I don't like relying to other people. I don't like asking for help even from friends. I made sure I am in control.

But eventually, I couldn't take it anymore.

I got tired. I burnt out. I didn't know what to do next.

And because of that God came to the rescue! So from now on I will heavily rely on HIM for everything. Why?

Because....

The scripture that struck me the most last night from our Bible Study...

There will come a time that you feel weak, abandoned, alone. This is the perfect time to call on God. Paul felt the same way, in, 2 Corinthians 12:7-8

"I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me."

Even the strongest, the most faithful of all felt inadequate and insecure. But the good news is, God assured him and told him that...

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

Matthew 6-19:21. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

This is by far my most favorite passage. When I feel like not giving, when I feel like not donating to those in need, God would somehow lead me to this particular passage...

With all the events that happened during the first month of the year, you would think...

DO I HAVE AN ANCHOR WHERE I CAN LEAN ON?

With fears developing, insecurities of our lives and fear of "what will happen next?", we get to think, I have to have something or SOMEONE whom I can lean on, right?

That's the reason why yesterday's sermon, "FAITH TRULY HEALS." rang a bell to me. These are the times that I am glad that I have GOD by my side. Because having faith in HIM will move mountains, will bring security and love and yes, it would even HEAL.

Call on to God, today, folks.

GOD will lead to where you are supposed to be. And that feeling of security, warmth from HIS love and the assurance that you'll be alright? That is just a bonus. (*wink*)

Have you ever felt restless? Bored? Uneasy? Jealous?

I did.

I've always felt inadequate. Incomplete. No matter how much I accumulated stuff that I've always dreamt of having, I still felt empty. Useless. And then I would chase another "next best thing".

And then, I encountered this quote by St. Augustine - and I realized, I've been chasing the wrong things.