Robbed

Author: Woodrow Kroll, Tony Beckett
Source: FaithWalk
Scripture Reference: Romans 2 Psalm 51-53

Robbed

Psalms 51–53, Romans 2
Key Verse: Psalm 51:12

We have a constitutionally guaranteed right to the pursuit of happiness. Notice, however, that the right is not to happiness but to the pursuit of it. Many people seem to miss that fine line of distinction. They live as if happiness is a right and nothing should ever stand in the way of their having it.

What God gives us is not temporary happiness, something dependent upon the current situation, experiences, possessions, activities or feelings. He gives us joy, an abiding inner sense of well-being that is not dependent upon anything other than our relationship with Him. The biggest difference between happiness and joy is that happiness is temporary and dependent on other things, while joy is permanent, coming from our relationship with God. The one comes and goes while the other stays—unless we allow ourselves to be robbed of our joy.

David was robbed and wanted his joy restored. The robber was himself—specifically, his sin. Covering up his sin instead of confessing it brought pain into his life, the result of God at work bringing David to the point of repentance.

Psalm 51 is David’s prayer of repentance. Finally, he confessed. Now he would find relief and joy.

Joy is not a right but a blessing. It is not fleeting like happiness, but we can be robbed of it. Joy can be restored, however, when we repent before God, crying out like David, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation” (v. 12).

Do you have joy? If something in your life has robbed you of it, follow the example of David. Read again Psalm 51, praying it as your own prayer before God.

Congrats Faith!

I am so happy for you dear! You are now a Registered Nurse! I pray that you will be able to use the gift and blessing the Lord gave you for His glory. Offer Him everything and let Him use you mightily. I hope you know that He has plans for you and reasons why He willed to pass you. May you also give Him back the praises and credits. Praise God! Love you much dear. I am indeed so proud of you. Let us celebrate when you visit us here ok? Yehey!!! My heart is rejoicing for your success!! Glory to God! When you get your car visit us and we will stroll around Pampanga to baptize your car hehe.. Congrats again!

Tatang (My Father)

I took an afternoon nap a while ago and on my rest, I have dreamed about Tatang (my father). On my dream I was lost and looking for our house but I couldn't find it. I go around the whole place looking for it then I saw our neighbor Tata Gil and asked him where is our house located. Weird because I don't know where we live. Then he said, I have to pass the river before I'll reach it. Then my family were coming because they are staying at Tata Gil's place. When I saw them I embraced my dad with such joy, kissed him and told them that I was lost and I couldn't find our residence. I also embraced my mom and kissed her. They were all happy to see me.

When I woke up, I cried because I really miss Tatang so much. My father died 6 years ago but his memories never died. He is always on my heart and on my mind. Again I remembered what Sis Dhines told me about the last dream I had. Telling me that her counselor once told her that God reveals who we really are on our dreams. Yes, I really wanted to see my dad again. Though I already accepted his death but I don't understand why until now I am still wishing to see him and hug him. Just the other week I've been crying because of him.

One night I was thinking about confession of sins that was discussed on our training months ago. It is needed before Baptism and for Baptism Training. I struggled so much because I am really ashame to confess all my sins. I am praying those days that God will reveal and help me remember all my sins and when I remember my past life it is really shameful. I am full of regrets though our leaders keep telling me that whatever happened to me will be used for His glory. All the while I thought the 3 or 4 particular sins I have committed was the most regretful part of my life but that night, I was reminded of my loving father. You know what I have realized? The most painful and regretful sin I have committed was when the time I lied to my father and the times that I disobeyed him just because of my selfishness, because of my own unrighteous desires, because of loving an undeserving guy.

When my father died 6 years ago, that was the time I hated God. I really love my dad, he is my mentor, my hero. I wasn't that bad daughter but there were times that I took his kindness for granted. And it is really painful to realize that there was a time that I lied to him. I wanted to be successful and I studied really harder because of my parents. I always want to give them a comfortable life. I am always wishing to have my own car to drive for them specially for my dad because he is very busy helping other people so he have to travel most of the time. He is such a great man. A lot of people admired his generosity, his loving-kindness, and unselfishness. Since I was 4 or 5, I am always praying to God to bless my parents with a long life. Seriously, no failure I am praying that not just every night but every moment that I am seeing them. I've learned to pray and the Word of God through him. I started working in a great company months before he died. I thought that was my chance to repay him for his love. I was single then and he is happy about that. I always wanted to buy him lot of things then. Though he does not go out with us whenever I treat my mom and sis for lunch during my day off. That is why when he died, I rebelled against the Lord. I really hated Him always complaining and asking why He took away someone that I love most. Yes I love my mom of course but I was really close to my dad. My dream of driving for him and buying him a lot of things had shattered. Since then, I always go out with friends drinking, bar-hopping, and done a lot of selfish and unrighteous things. I seldom pray then. I only pray when I need something, when I am depress. I have accepted his death after 2 years of mourning because also of a dream.

When I was in China year 2005, I had a dream. There was such a huge golden boat in a field located at the back of our residence. Yes it was an ark and my whole family were seated in the middle. I am standing in front of the boat rowing and my father is standing beside me guiding me, giving directions where we will go. I asked a friend, Jing to interpret the dream and with her interpretation, I have learned to accept Tatang's death and sorrows about his death were gone.

Just a week or 2, I am telling my niece Faith all these regrets. I told her to love her parents and take good care of them while she have all the chances or she will regret a lot of things. I really miss him, sometimes I am praying and asking for a chance to see my dad because I really want to hug and kiss him like I never did before. But I don't complain and ask God anymore about his death like I do before. I love my parents so much but giving them a hug before and a kiss is really hard for me because I am shy to do that though I always wanted to. I am not that sweet but deep inside me I really love them. My love was more sentimental, more on feelings than on acts. That is why how regretful I am. And I thank God because I can do that to my mom now. I thank Him for all the changes in my life. While writing this, I just thought, realized that this dream I just had is a granted prayer. Wow, praise God at least I am able to give my father a hug and a kiss though it is only in my dream. I am so grateful to the Lord for giving me that chance. I am really so glad about it. My father's face is so clear on my dream. Oh what a comfort and relief. I am really so blessed. God's love is really unconditional and sweet. Even on this really little thing, He provides still. So blessed that He gave me such a wonderful and best parents in the world. Aside from His love and the life of Jesus, my parents and my family were the best gifts I ever had in my life. To God be the glory, all honor, and all praises!

Just cried another litter of tears and thank God for His comfort. My heart is rejoicing and full of life. God is so great.. so good.. all the time!

The Fruit of Forgiveness

Author: Elisabeth Elliot
Source: A Lamp For My Feet
Scripture Reference: Isaiah 27:9

The Fruit of Forgiveness

Every day I am forgiven for many sins of many kinds, and although on the one hand forgiveness seems such an impossible thing (but grace is greater than all my sin), on the other hand I receive it often without wonder and nearly always without offering any "fruit."

When the Lord punished Israel, Isaiah wrote: "Only then can the fruit of his forgiveness be shown: they must smash their stone altars into pounded chalk" (Is 27:9 JBP).

When I acknowledge a specific sin, it is a good thing to do something specific to demonstrate my determination to forsake it. Smash an altar, sacrifice an hour of sleep or a meal (if the sin has been, e.g., failure to do what I want to do "because I haven't time"), write a note of apology to one sinned against, make restitution in some way for a wrong. To arise and obey in such a particular act is an appropriate sign of the genuineness of my repentance--the fruit of forgiveness.

Happy Birthday Prime!

To my ever dearest friend and sister Prime, just want to greet you a blessed birthday! I really miss you so much. I've been cooking for you for 2 years during your birthday so I really miss celebrating your birthday. Sorry if I couldn't visit you and I know that you understand my reasons. I really wish that I could go there and spend time with you as well as with the loving Tibayan sisters. You are all a family to me.

Sis, I pray that you will always be happy, more strength, more wisdom, may you really be the woman God wants you to be. So stay closer to Yahweh and always look to Him no matter what. I know that you've been through tough times and I am so glad that you are fine now. The enemy meant if for evil but God can use it for good. I am so happy that you were able to overcome the struggles you had, praise God and I thank Him for His love, grace, and faithfulness to you. You are such a precious woman. I am always praying for you and I will always be here for you though we are miles apart. I just want you to know that, no matter what other people say, said about you, you will always be the Prime that I knew before and I know that you are a better Prime now. I am so blessed that I met you. Who cares about what they've said and done? Sore wa kankenai! God knows your heart and I believe in you.

Prime dear, stay stronger, always seek and obey His will. I know that you've learned a lot from your past experiences and these experiences will be used for sure on your ministry.. on reaching out other people. God can make something good from all our bad experiences. I know that you will be a great comforter to all the broken hearts and souls.. and all the things happened to you will be used for His glory so always offer everything to Him. Remember our covenant? We decided to go back in the Philippines to serve the Lord full-time, like what I have said before, never let go ok? We may not have the same church but we have the same desire and as we promised, we will walk together with the Lord. We are walking the same direction and someday our paths will meet again. We used to be partners in the ministry, and we can still be partners in prayers, and in glorifying God.

It's been an honor working with you. Thanks for everything. Thanks for always supporting me, for all the prayers, for the comforts, and love you have given. I am sorry that I am not able to see you when you needed a friend but God knows how much I wanted to see you and hug you, comfort you but for some reasons I didn't get to visit you but I never ceased praying for you. You are always in my heart dear. No matter what don't let go, keep walking forward. We are in this together and our dear Yahweh will always be with us. Press on toward the goal. Let us always fight the good fight of faith. Love you much sis always remember that. I really care for your welfare. You will always be special to me, to us. But of course God loves you more than anyone else. He always wants the best for His children. Your fight is His fight and mine too. Most of the time when God prunes us it is really agonizing but it is for our own good. A gold will never be pure unless it will be purified through fire. I have learned a lot from you. You've been such a wonderful friend to me. Though our thoughts don't jive sometimes but our friendship is one of my treasures. I hope to see you soon and hoping we can dance together again.. mime, tambourine, folk dance, hiphop, anything that will magnify His name. Dakara gambarimasu! Honto ni aitai! Tanjoubi omedetou! Mwah...

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away. Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."
♥ James 1:2-12 ♥

One Gloomy Afternoon..

Last week, I was so depressed and I've been crying for almost an hour and thinking a lot of things and the pain becomes more painful and tormenting. I am presenting my case to the Lord in prayers while crying. Then I remembered Sis Dhines' message on our training. She said whatever others will say don't mind them. You are not pleasing anyone but God so focus on Him, look to Him alone. Then suddenly my heart changed and started telling these things to the Lord. "Lord, You know my heart, you know my reasons and my intentions why I did what I did. I don't wanna defend myself to anyone (I used to defend myself and fight for my rights). If there is something wrong with what I have done, please forgive me. I am entrusting You everything. I know that this is really torturing but I know that You are in control and You only wants the best for me." Then suddenly, I fell to sleep and dreamed this..

I am with my family in a park, a place with lot of flowers and plants such a beautiful view, a place I've never been to.. then I took Meek with me and go up in a stair.. then I saw Walt (a college friend) there and talked to him. Then when I turned around Meek was gone, my family was gone, everything changed, I was in a different place and I was so scared. I ran to find my family but I couldn't find anyone and found myself alone in the place. Then I've reached a cliff, I heard a familiar voice telling me to jump. In my dream, I know the voice.. it was God's voice. Upon hearing the voice, so I jumped into a very high cliff. I was surprised to know that there's water below so I fell into the water. I am trying to swim to go up but then I saw a hand, it grabbed my hand. I was so afraid because when I looked at him, he is a stranger. I really don't know him so I tried to pull my hand but then again I heard the same voice telling me, "it's ok go with him and he will save you", so I followed. Then I woke up.

Upon meditating the dream, I was relieved and comforted. I don't exactly understand the dream but it gives joy and strength in my heart. After our Sunday service, I shared the dream with the sisters (Sis Aby, Sis Erra, Sis Merla, and Sis Dhines). After telling the dream, I told them that I was comforted. Then Sis Dhines said that she was comforted too and said, "Sis, I don't know if you get the message of your dream. My counselor on the training once told me that God is revealing who you really are in a dream. So you must be happy because when you jumped and obeyed the voice that means you really trust God." I was really happy upon hearing that.

When I got home, I pondered the dream again and what Sis Dhines have told me. Then I prayed, "My God, I hope that I am really like what I am in a dream I had. Please help me to trust You more and more everyday. Help me to be a sheep who knows and hear the voice of the Shepherd and follow Him. I really wish that I am like a sheep, obeys without asking any question upon hearing the voice of the Shepherd. I wish that I will be really a sheep that I may recognize Your voice and follow You immediately."

Love of the World

Author: Elisabeth Elliot
Source: A Lamp For My Feet
Scripture Reference:

Love of the World

John tells us in his first letter that anyone who loves the world is a stranger to the Father's love. We are not to set our hearts on the world or anything in it. These words have been interpreted in many strange ways by different varieties of Christians, and I have puzzled much over them. The word used in the original is cosmos, which means the whole created order. Is there nothing here that I am allowed to love? What about the thundering, flashing sea that I see from my window? What about the rose on my desk, or even this house where I live with its warmth and pleasantness, the cup of tea in mid-afternoon, the books on my shelves? They are not going to last forever. If I love them, am I then a stranger to my heavenly Father's love?

It has helped me to think of John's words in this manner: To love the world in the wrong way is to love it without knowing the Father's love. It is when a man knows Him and receives everything from his hand that the world is redeemed for him, no longer a snare and in opposition to the love of God. We must love the world only through and because of the Father, not instead of. Our ultimate concern must be God Himself. He is eternal. His gifts are not always so.

Lord, may no gift of yours ever take your place in my heart. Help me to hold them lightly in an open palm, that the supreme object of my desire may always be You and You alone. Purify my heart--I want to love You purely.

This Love Among You

Author: Elisabeth Elliot

"As I have loved you, so you are to love one another. If there is this love among you, then all will know that you are my disciples" (Jn 13:34,35 NEB).

The love of Jesus for his disciples was unsentimental. As a man, He fully entered into their experience of being men, with all the feelings that entails, yet his love for them was not a feeling. It was decisive, both as attitude and act. He honored their dignity as men by treating them with trust, speaking honestly and straightforwardly, never "tiptoeing" to spare their weaker feelings, never dissimulating. At times He hurt them in order to save them. There was no care for Himself in that kind of love. He had the courage to face their anger and misunderstanding.

"If there is this love among you..." what a difference it will make in the world!

Courage to Love

Author: Elisabeth Elliot
Source: A Lamp For My Feet
Scripture Reference: John 17:19

Courage to Love

God's love holds us to the highest. This was the kind of love Amy Carmichael of India prayed for and taught to the children on Dohnavur--this love, the kind wherewith God loved us. "Hold one another to the highest," she told them. God's purpose was to lift us out of ourselves, out of the miry clay, and set our feet on a rock. We are not saviors, but we can help others toward faith. This means not only loving them while they're still in the mire, but loving them out of it. We must love them as they are and love them enough to draw them higher.

Someone has said that the best thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother. This demonstration far outshines all the homilies he can preach at them. By daily example he holds them to the highest. Jesus said, "For their sakes I sanctify myself" (Jn 17:19 AV). His holy obedience to the Father saved us. Our holy obedience to the Father makes a difference to those we love.

Lord, give me the courage to love as You loved me.

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