Let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. – 2 Corinthians 9:7
In the city of Colorado Springs, people called Nick Venetucci "The Pumpkin Man." Every autumn for 50 years, he invited thousands of school children to visit his farm along the banks of Monument Creek, pick a free pumpkin, and take it home. Nick loved walking through his fields with the kids, helping them find "just the right one."
The principal of the local elementary school, which was named in Venetucci’s honor, said, "He taught our kids the definition of generosity. He gave, gave, gave, and never expected anything in return." When Nick died at the age of 93, the community saluted him as a hero because of his kind and generous spirit.
Nick Venetucci shared the fruit of his labor because he wanted to. The Bible encourages us all to give in this way: "Let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:7-8).
The grace comes from God; the giving comes from our hearts. The benefit extends to more people than we can imagine. The Pumpkin Man showed us how. – David McCasland
The gifts that we may give,
The deeds that we may do,
Most truly honor Christ
When self is given too. – D. De Haan
READ: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
The highest kind of giving comes from deep down in the heart.
The Bible in one year:
• Jeremiah 22-23
• Titus 1
the travel was not good,. the tire exploded in the expressway.. good thing it happen near the gas station, so just to make the story short, we ate our breakfast at pancake house together with my titas and then my tito and the driver also my cousin went to bulacan and bought 2 tires. actually my tito has his own sentiments regarding his last car, the crosswind. hehehe..so while waiting for them, and my titas are eating there, i have my coffee from starbucks and then stayed with them and just took a picture of myself.
we arrived at around 12 noon,. then i called my cousin living there if she was there so that i can go to their house and catch up with each others life. sad thing is, she was on her grandmothers house, far from where i am. so no choice but to stay there. oh, i did not see my father at the location,. some people say taht he might be gambling at that time. sigh.. no improvement..tsk tsk.. oh, btw,. did i ever tell you taht i am not in good terms with my father? i mean, less talk, less stories. and i think he doesnt want to know anything at all. but i dont have bad feelings. its just that it happened that he is my father. okay, go back to the story. while staying at the house of my tita, we went to backyard and cut some trees, it has a permission. my uncle told us to do so. hehehe.. then after that, we took the bike and take a stroll on the barangay, (me and my cousin)..so how i miss my childhood days. well, theres a lot of improvement on the place. but to the people out there? im not sure. well. i left the place 5 years ago.
its around 2:30 pm when we decided to go to the cemetery. then while in the car my tita asked me if i bought candle for my mom, well i told her nope. ill just buy near the area. then first stop is my grandmother who took care of me when i was a kid until im taking my college. well, she is the one whom i can called my mother..she support me all the way i do, unlike my father (waahahha)...ttsk tsk.. then i went to my mothers tomb, my cousin came with me and we walked towards the place. and then of course what else will welcome us? but thrash and tall grasses..tsk tsk. on our way, i bought two candles to light on. then 2 kids approached us and asked if we want the place to be clean, then we asked how much?... its so cute to think or i mean i was amazed that this kid do this kind of work,. they are on their 10 or 11. i wonder where their parents are. and what they are doing. so i just tell them to clean the place and give the money to my cousin. then i helped also in removing all those green grass and the moss on the tomb. we just paid the kids hundred bucks. and my cousin kept joking thats its expensive. well, for me it wasnt,. for that kid to have food to eat, doing a job that the elders must do? its, i salute the kid for that. well, that hundred bucks was just like a give away,. i dont care after we left if they continue cleaning the place or not. on myself, i know i helped in my own little way.
we left bataan around 4:40 pm and arrived here in manila around 7 pm. that was very tiring even i just slept on the travel going back here in manila.
Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while. – Mark 6:31
According to tradition, when the Apostle John was overseer in Ephesus, his hobby was raising pigeons. It is said that on one occasion another elder passed his house as he returned from hunting and saw John playing with one of his birds. The man gently chided him for spending his time so frivolously.
John looked at the hunter’s bow and remarked that the string was loose. "Yes," said the elder, "I always loosen the string of my bow when it’s not in use. If it stayed tight, it would lose its resilience and fail me in the hunt."
John responded, "And I am now relaxing the bow of my mind so that I may be better able to shoot the arrows of divine truth."
We cannot do our best work with nerves taut or frayed from constant pressure. When Jesus’ disciples returned from a strenuous preaching mission, their Master recognized their need for rest and invited them to come with Him to a quiet place where they could be refreshed (Mark 6:31).
Hobbies, vacations, and wholesome recreation are vital to a well-balanced, godly life. We lose our effectiveness by keeping our lives so tightly strung that we are always tense. If it seems we can’t relax, Jesus may be inviting us to take a break – to "come aside… and rest a while."
– Dennis De Haan
If our body, soul, and spirit
Are to function at their best,
Time is needed for renewal,
Time for leisure, time for rest. – D. De Haan
READ: Luke 9:1-10
If Christians do not come apart and rest a while, they may just plain come apart!
i need a rest. wahahha..
to the committee congrats....my blow out on monday...whahaha..:D
You shall not covet. – Romans 7:7
Elisa Morgan, president of MOPS International (Mothers Of Pre-Schoolers), shared this insight into a child’s view of the world:
Toddler’s Creed
If I want it, it’s mine,
If I give it to you and change my
mind later; it’s mine.
If I can take it away from you,
it’s mine.
If I had it a little while ago,
it’s mine.
If it’s mine, it will never belong to
anyone else, no matter what.
If we are building something together;
all the pieces are mine.
If it looks just like mine, it is mine.
Anyone who has ever known a toddler knows the truth of that creed. We expect to see this trait in toddlers, but we despise it when it’s seen in adults. It’s called covetousness.
The apostle Paul, who had led an outwardly religious life before he became a follower of Jesus, wrestled with that sin (Romans 7:7). After carefully studying the law of Moses, he recognized covetousness for what it is. But God in His grace change Paul. Instead of remaining a coveting, grasping man, he became a truly generous person (Acts 20:33-35). And generosity may be the acid test of whether or not we are still spiritual toddlers.
Are you allowing the Lord Jesus Christ to create in you a new, giving heart? Or are you still following the "Toddler’s Creed"? – Haddon Robinson
READ: Acts 20:32-38
Gratefulness overcomes selfishness.
The Bible in one year:
• Jeremiah 12-14
• 2 Timothy 1
How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! – Psalm 119:103
The woman must have had a major chocolate craving! She stopped at a Woolworth’s store in London and asked for every Mars bar in stock. She paid cash for 10,656 candy bars. Nobody bothered to ask why she wanted so many, but one person jokingly said, "Perhaps she has a sweet tooth."
The psalmist had a "sweet tooth" too – for something far more healthy than chocolate. He loved the Word of God and found it "sweeter than honey" to his taste (Psalm 119:103).
How can we develop our spiritual tastebuds so that we have a strong craving for the sweetness of God’s Word?
Read the Word. It may seem obvious, but you have to read the Word if you’re going to learn to love it as the psalmist did. Set aside a few minutes each day and read a passage. Think about the words, their meaning and context.
Reflect on the Word. Jot down a verse and carry it with you. Look at it often during the day. Follow the psalmist’s example and make it your "meditation all the day" (v. 97).
Apply the Word. Ask God what He wants you to understand and how to apply it to your life that day.
God’s Word will give you a "sweet tooth" and always satisfy it. – Anne Cetas
Upon Thy Word I rest, so strong, so sure;
So full of comfort blest, so sweet, so pure,
Thy Word that changest not, that faileth never!
My King, I rest upon Thy Word forever. – Havergal
READ: Psalm 119:97-104
A well-read Bible is a sign of a well-fed soul.
The Bible in one year:
• Jeremiah 9-11
• 1 Timothy 6
Happy Halloween..
… to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge. – Ephesians 3:19
Several hundred miles off the coast of Guam is the Mariana Trench, the deepest place in the ocean. On January 23, 1960, Jacques Piccard and Donald Walsh climbed into a submersible vessel and were lowered into the cold, lonely darkness. Their descent into the deep, which set the world record, has never been repeated.
The depth of the ocean is mind-boggling. The Mariana Trench is nearly 7 miles down. The water pressure at the bottom of the trench is 15,931 pounds per square inch. Yet there is life. Walsh saw flat fish on the ocean floor, surviving despite the pressure and the darkness.
For most of us, it’s hard to fathom just how deep the Mariana Trench is. But much more difficult to comprehend is the love of God. Paul was hard-pressed to describe it, but he prayed that his readers would be able somehow to grasp "the width and length and depth and height – to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge" (Ephesians 3:18).
The reason we can never reach the depths of God’s love is that it is infinite – beyond measure. If you ever feel alone and unloved, that you’ve sunk to the depths of dark despair, think about Ephesians 3:18. God’s love for you is deeper than the Mariana Trench! – Dennis Fisher
I have a Friend whose faithful love
Is more than all the world to me;
It’s higher than the heights above,
And deeper than the boundless sea. – Anon
READ: Ephesians 3:14-21
You’re never beyond the reach of God’s love.
waiting for the email of my projects, answer to my queries and approval of outputs, i took some of my time to do this, i took a picture of my cube using my phone ( sorry but its only a VGA camera) and after i transferred it to my pc and edit some of it using fireworks, the result is below.
Make mention that [God’s] name is exalted. – Isaiah 12:4
God has a to-do list, which, according to Max Lucado in his book It’s Not About Me, consists of one item: "Reveal My glory."
The Lord reveals Himself and His glory through creation. But He also does it in various ways through His people. In the book of 1 Peter, we see that God has made us "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people." As we tell others that He has called us "out of darkness into His marvelous light" and shown us mercy (2:9-10), He receives the glory that is due to Him alone.
Through our trials, Jesus receives praise, honor, and glory as our faith is "tested by fire" (1:6-7). People are watching us, and when they see us resisting temptation some will "glorify God" (2:12).
We also point others to Him when we obey laws and authority "for the Lord’s sake" (2:13). And through using the gifts and abilities God has given us to serve others, He is "glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever" (4:11).
The Lord says, "My glory I will not give to another" (Isaiah 42:8). If God’s number-one priority is to reveal His glory, our privilege and responsibility as His people is to reflect that glory. – Anne Cetas
Help us not to cloud God’s glory
Nor with self His light do dim;
May each thought to Christ be captive,
Emptied to be filled with Him. – Anon.
READ: 1 Peter 2:9-17
The goodness of God reveals His glory.
The Bible in one year:
• Jeremiah 1-2
• 1 Timothy 3
You are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. – Galatians 4:7
There is an ancient story about a man named Astyages who determined to do away with a royal infant named Cyrus. He summoned an officer of his court and told him to kill the baby prince. The officer in turn delivered the youngster to a herdsman with instructions that he should take him high up into the mountains where the baby would die from exposure.
The herdman and his wife, however, took the child and raised him as their own. Growing up in the home of those humble peasants, he naturally thought they were his real parents. He was ignorant of his royal birth and his kingly lineage. Because he thought he was a peasant, he lived like one.
Many Christians fail to realize the royal heritage that is theirs in Christ. They live as spiritual peasants when they should be living royally. According to the apostle Paul, believers "are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:26). He also said, "Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’ Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ" (4:6-7).
God has given everything we need to live victorious, fulfilling lives. Let’s not live like peasants. – Richard De Haan
Rejoice – the Lord is King!
Your Lord and King adore!
Rejoice, give thanks, and sing
And triumph evermore. – Wesley
READ: Galatians 3:19-4:7
A child of the King should reflect his Father’s character.
The Bible in one year:
• Isaiah 56-61
• 2 Thessalonians 3
He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. – John 10:3
A few years ago, I was invited to speak on the subject of guidance. In my preparation, I opened my concordance to look up the word guidance, expecting to find a long list of verses promising guidance from God. To my surprise, guidance wasn’t there. Instead, I found the world guide and a number of verses promising that God Himself would be the guide of His people.
This discovery added fresh insight to my Christian pilgrimage. I was reminded that people who are blind need guide dogs, not guidance dogs! Even if dogs were capable of talking, how unsatisfactory it would be if they were mere bystanders, shouting warnings to the blind from a distance: "Careful now! You’re approaching a hole. Watch out for the curb!" No, these mute but faithful creatures escort their sightless companions every step of the way, being their eyes and steering them safely along precarious pathways.
Some people want God to be like a glorified advice bureau. But when our sight is dim and our way is dark, as it often is, we need more than good advice – we need the Good Shepherd to lead us (John 10:3,11).
As we follow Christ each day, we’ll have all the guidance we’ll ever need. – Joanie Yoder
Though guidance is our need each day
We need not search to find our way;
We only need a faithful Guide
And strive to stay close by His side. – D. De Haan
READ: John 10:1-15
Looking for guidance? Follow Christ, your Guide.
The Bible in one year:
• Isaiah 56-58
• 2 Thessalonians 2
"Tangna tigilan m n k2txt s akn nk2rndi k n a para kng bliw"
maybe, that will be the last text that i will be sending to her. at least. i know i made a mistake. i commit it again.
one good thing that i realize is that, i didnt act like that. i mean, i am no saint, but to say things like that to other people, its a no-no for me. you can say better than that.
thanks to those person who guided and took care of me. because of them, i know how to react to some circumstances and without affecting other people. i am not judging her. maybe it was really my fault and i admit that.
to that person.. im sorry for causing trouble.. god bless..
note..
if you are on my list/group, you will receive a good morning message and a gud night message everyday, making your inbox filled by my name, hehehe..and also i send Bible verses everyday.. :) .. and because of that sorry for causing your phone beeping..
We do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up. – Daniel 3:18
Through the centuries, some of God’s servants have faced the possibility of an agonizing death unless they renounced their faith. They knew that God could deliver them, but they also knew that in keeping with His own purposes He might not answer their pleas for supernatural help.
In the book of Daniel, three young Hebrew captives faced a life-and-death choice; Worship the king’s gold image or be thrown into the fiery furnace. Their response was unhesitating: "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace." They added, "But if not, . . . we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up" (Daniel 3:17-18).
But if not! Those words challenge our allegiance. Suppose we face crippling disease. Suppose we are facing shameful disgrace. Suppose we are facing painful loss. We plead for God’s intervention, yet in every threatening circumstance our plea should carry the proviso, "But if not!"
Is our attitude that of Jesus in Gethsemane? "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will" (Matthew 26:39).
Are we willing to endure whatever will glorify God and work out His holy purposes? – Vernon Grounds
They climbed the steep ascent of heaven
Through peril, toil, and pain;
O God, to us may grace be given
To follow in their train. – Heber
READ: Daniel 3:8-18
When conviction runs deep, courage rises to sustain it.
The Bible in one year:
• Isaiah 53-55
• 2 Thessalonians 1
the EMEA team had their team building last October 7 and 8 in Iba, Zambales., im just a guest, hahaha, on that event but i participated enough and played my part. naks! so it all started on the eve of October 6, Friday.
October 6. Friday..
October 7..Saturday
5:30 am, when we finally reached our destination. i just had a 5 minutes nap all throughout the way from Manila to Iba Zambales and after designating the room for everyone, im the first one to took a bath and prepare myself to sleep.
7:30 am. im awake already and preparing myself for the task designated to me. i will cook the breakfast. thanks to ate dana, ate belle, ate russ for helping me to do that one., hehehe..we did a great job! we cooked eggs, hotdogs, bacon and ham. and after taking breakfast around 9:30 am, i continued watching the Bioman series on the kubo. hehehe (addict!)..then what i didnt recognized was that some of our team mates left and went to kuya glens house to prepare our lunch. so i am there with some team mates and then i stopped wathing the DVD and take control of the Karaoke! wohoo! we sang and sang until we got the perfect score! whahaha..i did it! congrats to myself! hehehe...
lunch time..we went to kuya glens house and then had our lunch, they served sinigang, paksiw, fried chicked and some other dishes that i already forgot. what i ate of course is the chicken and the sinigang coz im not eating veggies. sorry for that..then after we finished our lunch, we decided to go to batis...a sapa or river, then when we reached the area the water is clear and of course i took the chance to take a swim., hehehe...we just stayed there for a while but i do enjoyed the place, hahaha...then after that we went to the market and bought some stuff that we used in the activities.
around 5 pm...the game is now ready to begin..the first stop is the over under, and i belong to the pink team, and we are the last to fill the bottle of coke using sponge. tsk tsk..then the race, and sadly we ended up only 2nd place. tsk tsk..
then the tag of war and after that (by the way, we lose also) we took the chance to swim in the beach without the sunlight affecting our bare skin. wahahhaa...and i have an experienced on that sea water. my pajama (yes, i was wearing pajama while swimming, from the batis and in the sea.) tore in the middle. wherein you can take a look at my undies and it was not only a simple tore on my pajama, it was a total wrecked. i cant get out of the water because of that, and i dont have the courage to walk in my pajamas tore and everybody can see my undies in front and from the back..eew! anyways, thanks to ate russ for giving me my towel and i wrapped myself around it. tsk tsk..such an experience..
and then after taht, i am in charged again of "ihaw". im the one who made the tilapia be grilled, and thanks god it is okay...sigh...i had a hard time doing taht. i cant remember the last time i did that and i think it was years! so it was a total hell for me. the heat of the charcoal affecting my hands (my poor hands) and then the feeling that i didnt fixed myself cause i just got up from sea water, and after resting a few minutes and after i grilled all the tilapia, i took the chance to fixed myself and again for the 2nd time i wore a pajama. hehehehe...so after eating dinner, its our chance again to practice our vocal chords! hahahaha...we ended our voice practice around 3 am and left the other mates who are still drinking, and sorry guys i cant help you with that cause i dont drink..hehehe...and then i had a 7 hours sleep on that night...
October 8..Sunday..
we had our takeshi castle style of water gun that morning...and it was tiring..we are all exhausted running and triggering the water gun..we also had a water bomb,..hahaha...and then after that we swam in the sea and i took off my shirt, of course, i dont swin with shirts on cause it will add some weight on ur body when you get wet..so there we all swam in the sea with the ray of the sunlight touching our bare skin...then after enjoying the sea water and thank to the situation, my pajama (yes, still im wearing pajama) tore again...but it was controllable compared a day before to my pajama...so tahts it..a good experience in the water...
2 pm..we are all prepared for our trip going to manila..and when we reached subic, we dropped by at the duty free and i bought hersheys chocolate with almonds, milk chocolate and dark chocolate and a pair of shoe. so thats it..we also had our lunch/dinner at chowking at SBMA.. and go our way to Manila.. i reached home around 9:30 pm and then i went to the parlor near our place to have a haircut and have my nail be polished...
Judge not, that you be not judged. – Matthew 7:1
A young married man began going to a pornography store. When his parents learned of this, they gently and tactfully confronted him, but made no accusations. The son responded with anger and said that he saw no harm in what he was doing. He accused his parents of being judgmental. With broken hearts they had to stand by and watch him as he left his wife and family, lost his job, and eventually ruined his life.
Many people today would say that his parents had no right to imply that he was doing wrong. They may even quote Jesus’ words: "Judge not, that you be not judged" (Matthew 7:1).
But the Bible makes it clear that we are responsible to humbly confront fellow believers when we see them caught in sin (Galatians 6:1-2). These parents were lovingly doing just that.
Jesus wasn’t saying we shouldn’t confront sin. He was saying we must be very careful in making judgments. Paul wrote that love thinks no evil (1 Corinthians 13:5). We must give others the benefit of the doubt, recognizing our own limitations. And we must reject any feeling of spiritual superiority, lest we also fall into sin.
Confronting someone is a serious responsibility. Exercise it carefully, and always beware of judging. – Herb Vander Lugt
Your Word instructs us not to judge;
So, Lord, we humbly pray,
"Restrain our lips when we would speak
The things we should not say." – D. De Haan
READ: Matthew 7:1-5
Judge yourself before you judge another.
Give us this day our daily bread. – Matthew 6:11
A woman who prepared meals for hungry farm workers during the harvest season would watch them consume every bit of food on the table. Then she’d say, "Good. I fixed just the right amount."
Many of us struggle to feel that way about the resources entrusted to us. At the end of a meal or the end of a month, do we really believe that God has given us enough? When we pray, "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11), how much do we expect God to supply? As much as we want? Or as much as we need?
Health experts say that a key to good nutrition is eating until we feel satisfied, not until we are stuffed full. In every area of life, there is a difference between genuine hunger and having a greedy appetite. So often, we want just a little more.
In Jesus’ teaching on prayer, He said: "Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’" (Matthew 6:8,31).
As the Lord supplies our needs, perhaps we should see His provision from a new perspective and determine to express our thanks by saying, "Father, You gave me just the right amount." – David McCasland
Thanks, O God, for boundless mercy
From Thy gracious throne above;
Thanks for every need provided
From the fullness of Thy love! – Storm
READ: Matthew 6:5-15
When it’s time to breathe a prayer of thanks, don’t hold your breath.
The Bible in one year:
• Isaiah 47-49
• 1 Thessalonians 4
date: friday the 13th... month of October year 2006..
they corrupted our young minds..hehehe...nah. i admit that im not new in that place, i used to be in that place before, more than once. and i can say that for a moment i enjoyed and come to a analysis that for me to enjoy that kind of thing, i need to pay a price..hehehe.. but its okay... this time it was different. im with my officemates.. and the bonding will be different..
some of my officemates was "cultured shock" because of the profanity of the words and being so bulgar for some other people that it should be "private". well, after watching entertainers, pooh, trishia, anton diva and ethel booba among others.. for me i enjoyed the night and by the way i did not eat anything on that bar because i might puke, before we went there we ate at jollibee and i ordered jolly hotdog and lumpiang shanghai, so im already full before entering that place.
after the last host, i think, ethel booba doing some malicious act to her male audience, we decided to call it a night. and we headed coming back here at the office. yes.. i am in the office right now at 4:41 am in my computers clock. but we have a plan of going home at around 6 am so maybe im not going to sleep and ill just wait for that time to come.
so my feeling right now? i smell bad because of cigarette smoke and im sleepy..i want to sleep! hehehe.. so till next post.. im just going to surf the net till 6 am... have a nice weekend guys! im just going to sleep at day when i got home later..hehehe.. i wish im going to have one..hehehe.
god bless....
mode: sleepy...eyes dropping off..
we ate at dampa in macapagal boulevard last tuesday evening, the plan of going there of only 6 or 7 people became 16 people all in all. well, it all goes okay and good. we left the office at around 6 pm and we took a van near in our office going to the place and were like sardines inside. actually im not included cause i sat in front beside the drivers seat together with ate weng. when we got there, we first look for the place where we are going to eat that night and then went to the market and bought the foods that we ate. we bought squid, liempo, tahong, and shrimp. did i forgot something? dont know, heheehe.. then we have buttered shrimp, inihaw na liempo, sinigang na baboy, baked tahong, alimasag or alimango(?), and ensaladang mangga,.! so much food in our table and we didnt ate all of that. there are still left over for some people. i love eating green mango with bagoong, and also the alimasag or alimngo dip in vinegar. yummy...i actually had 2 servings of rice. and i had also left over in my plate, tsk tsk, not a good habit i know. after eating and being full, here goes the bill, hhuuhuhu..but its okay, for thaht kind of food that we ate, its cheap. hehehe.
we walked from macapagal blvd till edsa extension where we rode a jeep going to MRT station, oh by the way, we separated ways in dampa with other officemates going the other way, and then we took the MRT and as usual, a lot of people inside, and i got home around 10 pm i think.
some of the pictures...
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. – 1 Samuel 15:22
While cutting our grass, I spoted rounded mounds of sandy loam on what had recently been a smooth lawn. A family of moles had emigrated from nearby woods to take up residence beneath our yard. The little creatures were wreaking havoc with our lawn by burrowing into the soil and disrupting the beautiful turf.
In some ways the activity of moles illustrates the dark side of the human heart. On the surface, we may appear polished and polite. But greed, lust, bigotry, and addictions can work inner destruction. Sooner or later, those sins will become apparent.
King Saul had a fatal flaw that festered beneath the surface – rebellion against God. He had been commanded not to take any of the spoils of war from the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:3). But after a decisive victory, he let the Israelites keep the best of the livestock for themselves (v. 9).
When the prophet Samuel confronted the king, Saul rationalized that he had kept the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to God. But this was a mere cover for his sinful pride, which had erupted in defiance of the God he claimed to serve.
God’s remedy for rebellion is confession and repentance. Like Saul, you may be rationalizing your sin. Confess and forsake it before it’s too late. – Dennis Fisher
God wants complete obedience –
Excuses will not do;
His Word and Spirit point the way
As we His will pursue. – Sper
READ: 1 Samuel 15:13-23
One sin becomes two when it is defended.
The Bible in one year:
• Isaiah 41-42
• 1 Thessalonians 1
"Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. – Romans 12:19
The world was horrified when Chechen rebels massacred hundreds of people held hostage in a school in Beslan, Russia. Many of the victims were children, including six belonging to the two Totiev brothers, who are active in Christian ministry.
One of the brothers reacted in a way that most of us would have a hard time choosing. He said, "Yes, we have an irreplaceable loss, but we cannot take revenge." He believes what the Lord says, as recorded in Romans 12:19, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay."
Some of us have difficulty getting rid of bitterness about small sights, to say nothing of major offenses like this family faced. Totiev’s attitude lets go of bitterness and doesn’t seek revenge. It abhors what is evil (v. 9), but doesn’t repay evil for evil (v. 17). What a difference there would be in marriages, families, churches, and in all our relationships if by the Holy Spirit’s enablement we were filled with a Christlike attitude that puts in God’s hands the injustices done to us.
Why not pause right now and search your heart. If there is any bitterness toward another or a desire for revenge, ask the Holy Spirit to help you not to be "overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (v. 21). – Vernon Grounds
Search me, O God, and know my heart today!
Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts I pray.
See if there be some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from every sin, and set me free. – Orr
READ: Romans 12:9-21
Someday the scales of justice will be perfectly balanced.
The Bible in one year:
• Isaiah 39-40
• Colossians 4
Evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. – 2 Timothy 3:13
When people see a photograph or video today, they often ask, "Is it real?" A home computer can manipulate images to create a picture of an event that never happened. Images can be inserted into or removed from photographs. A video can be doctored to make it appear that a person was caught committing a crime or performing an act of heroism. The camera may not lie, but the computer can.
Centuries before such modern technology, the apostle Paul warned Timothy about counterfeit reality in the church. He said that in the last days people would be self-absorbed, "having a form of godliness but denying its power" (2 Timothy 3:5). He repeatedly emphasized the need to live a godly life, warning that "evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived" (v. 13).
Paul charged Timothy to "continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of" (v. 14). True godliness honors and obeys God while its counterfeit seeks pleasure and personal gain. One pleases the Lord; the other gratifies natural desire. Both are identified by their actions.
When people hear us say we are Christians, they may wonder if our faith is real. Our lives will answer the question by reflecting the reality of Christ. – David McCasland
Help me, I pray, to honor You with all that I do today. By Your Holy Spirit’s power, may my words and actions cause others to glorify Your Name. Amen.
READ: 2 Timothy 3:1-5, 12-17
A good tree cannot bear bad fruit,
nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. – Matthew 7:18
The Bible in one year:
• Isaiah 37-38
• Colossians 3
i attended the info sharing today, and it took the whole day, the explanation and the discussion is not that long but the exams. tsk tsk.. and tomorrow i have my 7 habits seminar, to run till friday. and that only means that i have a limited access to my pc and on the net,. why? the training will be held outside our office. so maybe i need to get here early morning. 7:30 am i think, the training will start at exactly 8 am., so that will be the things will keep me busy the whole week. and tomorrow, our team will be going to dampa in macapagal to have a dinner and bonding session (*excited*)...
till here...david edward :D
. . . that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance. – Ephesians 1:18
Do you want to be rich? Do you think your faith will bring you riches? What kind of riches are you looking for?
There’s good news and bad news if wealth is what you want. The good news is that God’s Word does promise riches to the believer. The "bad" news is that it doesn’t have anything to do with money.
Here are some examples of the riches that can be ours as believers in Jesus Christ:
• An understanding of God the Father and the Son, "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:2-3).
• Christ, "the hope of glory," living in us (Colossians 1:27).
• Mighty strength in our inner being, "through His Spirit" (Ephesians 3:16).
• Having all our needs met by God (Philippians 4:19).
• The "wisdom and knowledge of God" (Romans 11:33).
• "Redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins," which comes from God’s grace (Ephesians 1:7).
Yes, God’s Word promises us great riches – treasures that we cannot even attempt to purchase with any amount of money. It is these riches that we must seek, enjoy, and use to glorify their source – our heavenly Father. – Dave Branon
The treasures of earth are not mine,
I hold not its silver and gold;
But a treasure far greater is mine;
I have riches of value untold. – Hartzer
READ: Ephesians 1
God’s Word promises riches that money cannot buy.
till next post!
david edward needs to rest..:(
Most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. – 2 Corinthians 12:9
If there is anything that we love to hate more than the arrogance of others, it would have to be an awareness of our own weakness. We detest it so much that we invent ways to cover our personal inadequacy.
Even the apostle Paul needed to be reminded of his own frailty. He was jabbed time and again by a "thorn in the flesh" (2 Corinthians 12:7). He didn’t tell us what the thorn was, but author J. Oswald Sanders reminds us that "it hurt, humiliated, and restricted Paul." Three times he pleaded with the Lord to take it away, but his request was not granted. Instead, he used his thorn to tap into God’s all-sufficient grace. The Lord promised, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness" (v. 9).
Courageously, Paul began to "own" his weakness and put the Lord’s grace to the test, a pathway that Sanders calls "a gradual educative process" in the apostle’s life. Sanders notes that eventually Paul no longer regarded his thorn as a "limiting handicap" but as a "heavenly advantage." And his advantage was this: When he was weak in himself, he was strong in the Lord.
As we accept our weaknesses, in Christ we can be strong weak people. – Joannie Yoder
May the Word of God dwell richly
In my heart from hour to hour;
So that all may see I triumph
Only through His power. – Wilkinson
READ: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10
God’s strength is seen best in our weakness.
The Bible in one year:
• Isaiah 32-33
• Colossians 1
Modern, Cool Nerd
69 % Nerd, 56% Geek, 39% Dork For The Record:
A Nerd is someone who is passionate about learning/being smart/academia.
You scored better than half in Nerd and Geek, earning you the title of: Modern, Cool Nerd.
im not the only one affected of this, actually before the email was sent, sure it came from one of our superiors and definitely he/she know what and who we are. so is it a typo error that we are part of the Requirements Team which is not in true life. sigh..I am not a Requirements Analyst, I am an EDI Software Engr, i applied for that position. i really dont like it, the idea and all., i just hope that this is not true and it was just a way of telling that most of the numbers of attendees for the seminar for next week will not be from Map Dev Team.
I just really hope. is it a sign that i should resign and accept the offer from other company?
Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh." – Genesis 2:23
When Pastor Howard Sugden performed the wedding ceremony for my husband and me, he emphasized that we were participating in a miracle. We believed him, but we didn’t comprehend the size of the miracle needed to hold two people together, much less become one.
After 20 years, I realize that the marriage, not the wedding, was the real miracle. Anyone can have a wedding, but only God can create a marriage.
One definition of wed is "to cause to adhere devotedly or stubbornly." For some couples, "stubborn" is a more accurate description of their relationship than "devoted."
God has in mind something much better for us than a stubborn refusal to divorce. The union of marriage is so strong that we become "one flesh." God wants marriage to be the way it was when He first created Eve from Adam (Genesis 2:21-24). That’s what Jesus was explaining to the Pharisees when they asked Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?" (Matthew 19:3). Jesus replied, "A man shall . . . be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh" (v. 5).
To pledge your life to another is indeed an act of faith that requires belief in miracles. Thankfully, God is in the business of creating marriages.
– Julie Ackerman Link
The marriage bond that joins two hearts
No power on earth can break
If they commit their lives to Christ
And of His love partake. – D. De Haan
READ: Matthew 19:1-8
A happy marriage is a union of two good forgivers.
The Bible in one year:
• Isaiah 26-27
• Philippians 2
On one of his voyages to the New World, Christopher Columbus came across a remarkable tree. It had round fruit that bounced like a ball. Its Indian name was caoutchouc – "the weeping wood."
The tree was given that name because it emitted a sap that looked like the tree’s tears. Eventually, inventors discovered that the sap could be harvested and allowed to harden into an eraser that rubbed out pencil lead – hence the name "rubber."
In the 1830s it was found that rubber could withstand very cold temperature when sulfur was removed from it. This led the way to a huge demand for rubber when the automobile was invented. Later it was discovered that the sap could be used to make latex surgical gloves. The rubber tree had multiple uses that needed only to be discovered.
Likewise, when we consider the spiritual gifts taught in the Bible, we may find that we have more than one. If we try out new avenues of ministry, we may find that we have abilities previously unknown to us.
Lord, please give me the willingness to explore the spiritual gifts You have planted within me.
Give me the desire to use them in ways that would please You and help Your people. Amen.
Discover your spiritual gifts by using the talents God has given.
Theres nothing new here at the office, my other project is in the middle of to continue or not, which means that we will be waiting words from our superiors to continue with that or to go with another project, but actually i havent done anything to that project, the deadline for us (developers) to develop one map is before second week of December and that will be 2 months to go., but unexpectedly this thing happened. i dont know. well, ill just wait and see.
two days ago, someone called me and offered me a job position in their company. well, it is the same position or the same job what im doing right now. AI mapping. i asked some technical information and found myself looking on the net for their company's info. the girl (i think HR personnel) asked me if how much salary will im going to ask from them and of course i did not answer that, why? im not sure if im going to accept the offer. there are some things to be considered on the first place. and im waiting for my 13th month pay this december. whahaha..i do have plan, yes, of resigning in this kind of work, but maybe next year and my next target working place is outside of the country. there are lots of expenses here, sigh. i cant afford to have all the things that i want! wahaha... im such a spender. tsk tsk..
no projects for this past weeks, i mean there is, but only 2 maps for the whole week and you can do that for only an hour or so. and the rest? nothing..surfing the net..sigh, i want to do a new map now..
we're going to have the team building for EMEA A ( actually im part of EMEA B - Loctite ) but since i was invited(?) to join, i join in! count me in! hahaha...this event will happen on Saturday and Sunday in Zambales..well, i like adventure, really is. id like to go to different places as long as my pockets budget permits me to do that. the one thing that excites me is the fishing part using net,. i dont know if that is true, well i like the idea and im buying it. hehehe...and of course this will be a memory to hold on for my job, so that when i resign i do have lots of good memories with my team,. tsk tsk..im happy to be part of this team, but i need to grow, i need to find my self, what career to pursue and many things. heavy sigh..
and then on the 21st and 22nd, were going also to have the Team Building for the whole team! yehey! (requirements, mapping and QA )..so it will be a big budgeted event by the company, thanks VL! hahaha..it will be held at Mango Camp in Zambales. i think i need to be thrifty enough cause there are lot of events that needs my money. hahaha...
im not allowed to have my leave tomorrow, Thursday, well, reason accepted. one team mate is also on leave, the other one is not here at teh office but in the hospital because of UTI, i think. so im here tomorrow, doing nothing? i hope not. hehehe..
till here..i cant think of anything to post. hehehe...
All things work together for good . . . to those who are the called according to His purpose. – Romans 8:28
When a cowboy applied for an insurance policy, the agent asked, "Have you ever had any accidents?" After a moment’s reflection, the applicant responded, "Nope, but a bronc did kick in two of my ribs last summer, and a couple of years ago a rattlesnake bit me on the ankle."
"Wouldn’t you call those accidents?" replied the puzzled agent. "Naw," the cowboy said, "they did it on purpose!"
That story reminds me of the biblical truth that there are no accidents in the lives of God’s children. In today’s Scripture, we read how Joseph interpreted a difficult experience that had seemed like a great calamity. He had been thrown into a pit and then sold as a slave. This was a great test of his faith, and from the human standpoint it appeared to be a tragic case of injustice, not a providential means of blessing. But Joseph later learned that "God meant it for good" (Genesis 50:20).
Are you passing through the deep waters of trial and disappointment? Does everything seem to be going against you? These apparent misfortunes are not accidents. The Lord allows such things for a blessed purpose. So patiently trust Him. If you know the Lord, someday you will praise Him for it all! – Richard De Haan
What looks like just an accident
When viewed through human eyes,
Is really God at work in us –
His blessing in disguise. – Sper
READ: Genesis 50:15-21
God transforms trials into triumphs.
The Bible in one year:
• Isaiah 20-22
• Ephesians 6
Beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked. – 2 Peter 3:17
Daily life is hazardous to your health. That’s the thesis of Laura Lee’s book 100 Most Dangerous things In Everyday Life And What You Can Do About Them. It’s a tongue-in-cheek look at the unnoticed threats in life, such as shopping carts (which annually cause 27,600 injuries in the US) and dishwashers (which harm more than 7,000 Americans and 1,300 Britons each year). One reason for writing this book, the author says, was "to poke fun at the culture of fear."
In contrast, Jesus Christ calls His followers to a courageous lifestyle of faith in which our goal is not to avoid personal harm but to pursue the mission of God in our world.
The apostle Peter vividly described the day of the Lord, which will bring the end of the earth as we know it (2 Peter 3:10). But instead of fainting with apprehension, Peter said we should be filled with anticipation (v. 14). Then he warned of those who twist the Scriptures, and said, "Beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked" (v. 17).
Proper concern helps protect us, but excessive alarm leaves us paralyzed. We should be most afraid of failing to live with complete confidence in God. – David McCasland
Living for Jesus a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me. – Chisholm
READ: 2 Peter 3:10-18
The power of Christ within you is greater than the power of evil around you.
okay, last friday when i went home, still no sign of electricity, i got out of the office at around 10 pm, since Ayala and Buendia are on a state of heavy traffic, sigh, and thanks God because there is still other way wherein we can go home without passing by EDSA, we agreed to take the buendia, makati ave route going to mandaluyong and it was such a relief on our sides because there is no such heavy traffic like what Ayala and Buendia had. okay when i got home, still no electricity and my niece is crying because it was dark, the night before they slept inside the car (that was thursday evening). and ate told me if i knew a hotel that we can get in. so i tried to text and recall all the hotels that i know, but sad to say all of them are fully booked! why at these times the richest people are out on their home? dont they have a generator on their own? joke! hahaha...so thats it, and thank God at 1 in the morning we got a room around qc, and at that time when dark are everywhere, we were on our way to that condotel. thanks, and really thanks... but actually i missed my bed, but its okay because there is electricity on that room, and we check out the next day. and take note of the breakfast they offer, from Jollibee! wahaha..
we had our electricity back last saturday midnight, and we cleaned our house because ate got mad on what kind of cleaning did the maid did, and it was a mess! really is..geez! they should be out of our lives..ooppss, sorry my horns again. yesterday i went to Megamall and met my friend and stroll at shangrila and megamall and bought some cologne and lotion for myself, hehehe.. so what else? i think thats it for now. hehehe
Remove Your gaze from me, that I may regain strength, before I go away and am no more. – Psalm 39:13
When former law professor Phillip E. Johnson had a stroke, he was so afraid of being mentally and physically impaired that he wished the doctor would give him a painless death. He said, "That was a foolish thought, of course, but not the last foolish thought I was to have."
In my own pastoral ministry, I’ve heard some of God’s children express thoughts worse than Johnson’s – even rebellious words against God.
Psalm 39 offers comfort to people who regret the thoughtless things they’ve said in times of despair. David was gravely ill and desperate when he wrote the psalm. At first he kept silent lest he speak foolishly (vv. 1-3). But when he could contain himself no longer, he prayed a wonderful prayer (vv. 4-9).
But in verses 10 and 11 his tone began to change. According to the British scholar Derek Kidner, David spoke foolishly when he said, "Remove Your gaze from me, . . . before I go away and am no more" (v. 13). David expressed a hopeless attitude toward death, and said to God, in effect, "Leave me alone." Kidner comments that God included this prayer in the Bible to reassure us that when we say things out of desperation He understands. And when we tell Him how sorry we are, He graciously forgives. – Herb Vander Lugt
Sometimes our pain becomes so great
That we despair in deep distress;
We cry to God with foolish words
That later we to Him confess. – D. De Haan
READ: Psalm 39
Our tongue can be our own worst enemy.
