Matthew 26:42

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Leviticus 26:9-10

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Daniel 12:13

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Proverbs 3:9-10

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Coincidence?

4 staffs resigning all at the same time, sales not picking up in my store (which I don't understand why), a huge loss in my stocks inventory report (need to backtrack a lot of documents), and the list can go on and on. I am sooo overwhelmed.

I have been crying my heart out to God in prayer as if He was deaf. All I want is for this to end. If I can just sleep and wake up the next morning as if nothing happened. Sometimes when unexpected things happen, it's just hard to trust Him and still say He is in control but then I read these:

From Joel Osteen Devotion:

"And will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night?” -Luke 18:7, NIV

From Rick Warren Devotion:

"When I turn on the water, I don't really think the water comes from the faucet. In the same way, the source of my finances is God, not my job. " 

A devotion from a friend:

"When difficulty arises, remember how much God loves you. He proved this by willingly giving His Son to take the penalty for your sin. Even when circumstances are painful, you can be confident that you are held in the capable and caring hands of your heavenly Father, because of His love."

Coincidence? I don't think so.

Father, thank You for loving me. For willingly giving Your Son to take the penalty of my sin. I am sorry if a part of me ever questioned You. Thank You for always reminding me of Your love and Your faithfulness. Thank You for always being there. I surrender all my concerns to you. I know that You are in control. In Jesus name, Amen.

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Romans 12:2

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A Father's Love

Papa, I'd like to thank you for everything that you have done for me. Many times I do not need to ask anymore for what I need. Thank you for understanding me and for loving me unconditionally. Thank you for always thinking of me and Javi. I love you very much.

Father, Thank You for my papa. I am just in awe of Your faithfulness, God. Thank You for loving me. I continue to pray for his good health, complete healing of all of his sickness and salvation. Guide him and protect him always. Shower him with favor and blessings from this day until forever, in Jesus name, Amen.

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Exodus 15:2

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I Passed The Test!

Last week, I received a phone call from an old officemate and he was asking me if I wanted to work again in the call center industry as a Quality Manager. I was hesitant at first since I am still handling my convenience store business. He told me that my former boss was looking for me and said that they needed me badly. I was honestly so flattered knowing I already turned down an offer from him 2 years ago and that he still remembered me.

When I learned about the package they were offering me, I wanted to accept it right away. I mean, I do have my business and all but then knowing that I would have that amount of money guaranteed every month made me think of how I can pay my bills without any worries. Believe me, the amount was so big I felt like I won the lottery!

Even if I didn’t feel like praying and asking for His guidance, I prayed and waited for His answer. It felt like forever waiting for His answer. In my mind I was actually saying, “Lord, do You need any help?” Then the answer came. This was His answer:

“Never say in your heart what you will or will not do but wait until God reveals His way to you. As long as that way is hidden, it is clear that there is no need of action and that He holds Himself accountable for all the results of keeping you exactly where you are.”

After getting that message, I called my former officemate and turned down the offer. After a few days, my former boss sent me a text asking me to submit my resume. I was honestly tempted again. I knew that even if I asked for more salary increase, they would give it to me. But I took a deep breath and turned down the offer once and for all.

This morning I was able to talk to another old officemate who apparently came from the same company. Guess what? He was glad I turned down the job. Why? He told me that employees are given high compensation to attract them to apply because no one stays in the company. The pressure in the company was high that sometimes he would not go home for 3 days. I was so relieved that I turned down the job. God was right after all.

Father, thank You for ALWAYS being faithful to me. Thank You for all the blessings and favor that You have given me. Thank You, Lord for loving me unconditionally. Thank You for reminding me that money isn’t everything. I know that Your grace is sufficient and that You will always provide for my needs. I love You. 

For more Thankful Thursday, visit Lynn over at Spritually Unequal Marriage.

Jeremiah 26:11

A Surprise Gift

For about a month already, I have been struggling with my prayer life and relationship with Him. It came to a point that I felt that nothing was happening to what I was praying for. Yes, i go to church because I know that that's the right thing to do but there's just a part of me that didn't feel like it.

During the past 2 weeks I have been sick with bronchitis and have been on and off with several antibiotics. Some even cost me P300 each. With the little time I had spent praying to Him, I seldom tried to open my Bible or even took the time to listen to what He was trying to tell me. Instead, I would ask Him to provide financial help for my medicines and that was it. At the back of my mind, all what was important to me was for Him to provide for me.

Guess what? He did. And He did even way more enough than what i was asking for. 

Lesson learned? That whatever happens in my life, regardless of whatever I do for Him or not, He will not stop showering me with favor and blessings because His love for me is unconditional and He will always be faithful.

A Life Filled With Love

Most of the time when somebody has hurt me, I often say that I have forgiven the person but in fact when I try to really look inside my heart, my heart is full of anger and disappointment. Usually, pride gets in the way as I really try my very best to prove I am right. I would often have this imaginary "tally board" in my head and literally count the number of times the person who has hurt me apologize and the number of times i lowered my pride just so to say that I made the first move in apologizing. Sometimes, it gives me the "ha! i'm the winner!" feeling but then I came to learn that it does not matter if the other person does not say sorry to me. It does not matter if most people would say that I shouldn't have said sorry first because it was not my fault. It does not matter who apologized first. It does not matter whoever the "winner" in the argument is. What matters is what's inside my heart - UNCONDITIONAL LOVE - to love without expecting anything back in return, SACRIFICIAL SERVICE - considering the needs of others instead of my own and COMPLETE FORGIVENESS - forgiving wholeheartedly.

Number My Days

I was suffering from the "someday" syndrome - always waiting for someday that my finances can improve, that someday when my life improves I can begin to live the life I've always dreamed of, that someday when I get the chance, I can finally do the things that I have been putting off for some other day BUT I learned that SOMEDAY may NEVER arrive. I learned to live with a PURPOSE, to live with PASSION, to live with WISDOM and to live with FAITH.

Is It Difficult To Follow Him?

This was a question that struck me about a week ago. Thinking more and more, I began to realize that the answer for me to the question above was a yes. Many times in my life I have always decided to go for my happiness. The saying “kung san ka masaya, eh di dun ka.” was more likely my motto. Sometimes (or most of the time), what He wants me to do is simple yet I still drag myself to the wrong path and resist going to the right one thinking that I know it makes me happy and that this is where He wants me to be. But I learned that that shouldn't be the case. The "driver" of my life should be Him alone and not me trying to steal the wheel from Him. It’s difficult for me to understand and even more difficult to surrender everything to Him. (I thought I did!) But then He knows that I am still keeping something behind my back that is still hard for me to let go. Many times I also try to deny what He is trying to tell me and make excuses just for me to hold to it longer. I need to learn to let go.

Yes, it’s really hard to follow Him especially when things don’t go my way and when all I can think about are my heart’s desires. BUT completely surrendering to Him, obeying and trusting His will with no strings attached and desiring more of Him than His blessings means having His best in every aspect of my life.