God’s presence, His greatest present

“Your Words oh God never fail! All praises unto You!”

After reading Our Daily Bread, I feel secured and thankful. “Never Alone" is the title and reading is in Hebrews 13:1-8. 

God's love and His words will always be our refuge.  Its good to know that we can rely on Christ especially during hard times.  Once again, God’s promise rebuilds my strength. “I will never leave you nor forsake you”, he said in Hebrews 13:5. This verse is my fortress at all times. When I find things hard and trials come my way, I always think that God is with me and my family. Then I say, "The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?" - Hebrews 13:6

To share the love of God, here goes ODB for May 3, 2011:

Never Alone

Read: Hebrews 13:1-8

Having played intercollegiate soccer, I’ve never lost my love for “The Beautiful Game.” I especially enjoy watching the English Premier League. One reason is the skill and speed with which the game is played there. Also, I love the way the fans sing in support of their beloved “sides.” For instance, Liverpool has for years had “You’ll Never Walk Alone” as its theme. How moving to hear 50,000 fans rise as one to sing the lyrics of that old standard! It’s an encouragement to players and fans alike that together they will see each other through to the end. Walk alone? Never.

This sentiment has meaning for everyone. Because each of us is made for community, isolation and loneliness are among the most painful of human experiences. During painful times, our faith is vital.

The child of God never needs to fear abandonment. Even if people turn on us, friends forsake us, or circumstances separate us from loved ones, we are never alone. God has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). This is not just a nice tune or clever lyrics offering an empty sentiment. It is the promise of God Himself to those who are the objects of His love. He is there—and He isn’t going away.

With Christ, you will never walk alone.

God’s unseen presence comforts me,

I know He’s always near;

And when life’s storms besiege my soul,

He says, “My child, don’t fear.” —D. De Haan

  

God’s presence with us is one of His greatest presents to us.

Jesus, No Greater Love

How did we observe the Holy Week? Most of us went to the beach. Had a quality time with friends and family. Had fun and enjoyed the heat of the sun as well as the long weekend. Some participated in church activities. There are others who watched "The Passion of Christ" and other movies relevant to the season. There are a lot of things that people have in their list. But the most important part that everyone should have not missed was to reflect how great is our God to send His only begotten son, Jesus on earth and carry the cross of sin to death to save the world. (John 3:16)

Last Friday during our devotion before the praise and worship rehearsal, we've talked about the time when Jesus was handed over Pilate in Mark 15. Pilate (in verse 2) asked Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?". Jesus answered, "So you say." Pilate asked to confirm with Jesus if he's the king of the Jews because this was one of the people's accusations against him. Pilate was amazed that Jesus didn't answer.

Pilate was torn between giving justice for Jesus and pleasing the crowd who were shouting to "Crucify him!". He even asked the people in verse 14 "But what crime has he committed?" Yet the people sentenced Jesus to death. These people were those who have seen and experienced Jesus' miracles. :(

Jesus is Alive!

As we end our devotion, we thanked God for doing such a big favor. If you think about it, we're supposed to be whipped and crucified to death because of our sins. But God loved us so much that he let Jesus die for us. No greater love isn't it?

Hope that every one had a worthwhile time with God. May we not only do this during holy week but every day of our lives. Let's have time to be in reverence with the Lord. Be happy and celebrate for Jesus is alive and we are saved. Just submit to Jesus and believe that He came on earth, live like one of us, died and have risen to save the world. Jesus died with us and our sins. Jesus has risen and so are we.

As the bible says, "To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see." (Hebrews 11:1) Be not like Pilate and everyone else in their time who have seen and personally experienced Jesus yet did not believe. Declare Jesus in your life and believe that he is the King, our salvation. Not only during the Holy Week. Praise be to God!

The Faith of the Centurion

In Luke 7, Jesus encountered a great faith of a Centurion.

¹ When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. ² There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. ³ The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. ⁴ When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, ⁵ because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” ⁶ So Jesus went with them.

   He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. ⁷ That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. ⁸ For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

 ⁹ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” ¹⁰ Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

Like the centurion in Luke 7, people in the storms of life don’t waste time or mince words. They go directly to the people whose faith they’ve tagged as real. We need to be those people. Do our lives mark us as a go-to person in touch with God? 


Find out what God would like you to see and read Becoming a Go-To Person at http://www.odb.org/. 

Volcanic Temper

Ephesians 4-29-32

TEMPER: a sudden outburst of anger.

It erupts and melts everything like a volcano. Its blast can be as powerful as a nuclear explosion. =( Temper can be as intense as a volcano when it is aimed directly at another person in a family. Bad thing is, it leaves an emotional as well as spiritual devastation and bitter feelings behind. People we love are often the target of our hurtful words. And it really hurts, all the more to us. I feel so burdened and find myself regretful of what I've said and done. Yet the Lord is telling me that I have a choice: that is to respond in anger or in kindness. And I will always choose to respond in kindness and tender heart. This can be my own thorn in the flesh and I want to win over losing temper. The Lord said: I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me."-Philippians 4:13. All I need to do is surrender this vulnerable part of my emotions to God's strength. "Instead be kind and tender hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ."-Ephesians 4:32. So really, who am I not to forgive even the littlest things others have done especially those in my family. I ask God to forgive me for uncontrolled temper and may He show me how to moderate my emotions and teach me how to honor others above myself. Seek help to others to deal with your emotions in appropriate ways. Lord, use my friends in Christ in giving me spiritual support and words about losing temper. I pray that the Lord be with us in victory over the world's temptation of anger and bitterness. As we earnestly seek to love others and to please God, we can win the victory over a volcanic temper.

Spirit of God please change my heart and give me a new desire. I want to be a man of peace, not controlled by anger's fire.-K. De Haan

Losing your temper is no way to get rid of it.

God bless all of us with peace and love for one another. May we live our lives with kind and tender heart. Amen.