The past weeks have been news about family members and close friends stricken with life threatening illnesses. My good friend Mara, who is fighting cancer, from breast cancer to now a cancerous lymph node found in her neck, and has been hurting physically, pain all over her body and hardly any strength to move. My nephew Manuel who was diagnosed with only one kidney and it causes so many negative effects in his physiological parts, not to mention the many effects of the many medications he takes. My friend Nelson, who had lung cancer, but is having a hard time dealing with the after effects of the massive chemo/radiation treatment he underwent. Last night, the shocking news about Nikki Bharwani, with a cancerous tumor in her uterus, resulting to taking out her right ovary adn fallopian tube. That at a young age, she had to go through this. Though no conclusive result yet as to the stage of cancer.......waiting. My brother who needs a colonoscopy but has no money to pay for it. My youngest brother who is worried about where he will stay after this year, and so much more...
I want to say how grateful I am that despite all medical appointments i had, yearly checkup, uterine biopsy and mamomgram, as bragging as it may sound, is the truth that I am still thankful because I am in good health, I have insurance that covers my medical needs. But it's not about me...it's about those who are in true and dire need.
It led me to read the book of Habakkuk. Today also, while listening to KFAX, one of the pastor preacher said something about our God being not the God that says, "opppssss"! In chapter 3, verses 18-19, it gave me comfort that I can have all the questions I have for my family members and friends' state and conditions, yet it teaches me to wait patiently. I need to rest in God's sufficiency. I may never know God's specific plans for each of them, and though I do not see any outward indications that the Lord is working in their lives, I am assured that HE has not neglected them, that HE continually watches over them. For that, "I will be joyful in God my Saviour."
Though I have been going to the same people to ask for monetary help, and as disheartening that only the same people respond, I will continue to ask for help so we can help and bless others who are truly in need.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Thursday, July 1, 2010
This was a devitonal shared by Ria to me today and somehow, my last enry kind of tied up with this. Enjoy the read and hope it helps in your daily walk with god and in your own personal spiritual growth...
Years ago, in an article in the Denver Seminary magazine Focal Point, Paul Borden gave some helpful suggestions for worriers:
Start a worry list. Write down what you’re worried about. The bills. Your job. Your children or grandchildren. Your health. The future.
Turn your worry list into a prayer list. Ask the Lord to work in those situations you’re concerned about. Pray specifically for your needs and depend on Him.
Turn your prayer list into an action list. If you have any insight that there’s something you can do about your cares, do it. As we turn our worries into prayer and action, Borden says, “Paralyzing anxiety can be replaced by concern for the responsibilities of life.”
Why not start your list right now?
Don’t fret about the future
Our Daily Bread Radio is hosted by Les Lamborn
Read: Matthew 6:25-34
Do not worry about tomorrow. —Matthew 6:34
I was worrying about a few things as I sat in my car under a shade tree at lunchtime. Then a robin, with a fat worm dangling from its mouth, landed near my door and looked up at me. The robin was a vivid reminder to me of Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:25-26, “Do not worry about your life . . . . Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Read: Matthew 6:25-34
Do not worry about tomorrow. —Matthew 6:34
I was worrying about a few things as I sat in my car under a shade tree at lunchtime. Then a robin, with a fat worm dangling from its mouth, landed near my door and looked up at me. The robin was a vivid reminder to me of Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:25-26, “Do not worry about your life . . . . Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not of more value than they?”
Years ago, in an article in the Denver Seminary magazine Focal Point, Paul Borden gave some helpful suggestions for worriers:
Start a worry list. Write down what you’re worried about. The bills. Your job. Your children or grandchildren. Your health. The future.
Turn your worry list into a prayer list. Ask the Lord to work in those situations you’re concerned about. Pray specifically for your needs and depend on Him.
Turn your prayer list into an action list. If you have any insight that there’s something you can do about your cares, do it. As we turn our worries into prayer and action, Borden says, “Paralyzing anxiety can be replaced by concern for the responsibilities of life.”
Why not start your list right now?
Don’t fret about the future
Or be consumed by cares;
Instead take all your worries
And turn them into prayers. —Sper
What you have made a matter of prayer should cease to be a matter of care.
What you have made a matter of prayer should cease to be a matter of care.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Help, Lord (Ps12:1a)
...frustration of a husband with daily work & finances and can't offer any help;
...daughter's frustration with the love one's hypocritical lifestyle;
...friends with lung and breast cancer in remission, and are physically feeling very weak;
...a mother and daughter friend struggling with a relationship;
...worry about home loan situation;
...health problems of family members;
...jobless family and friends;
...temptations of sin lurking around our lives;
...moments we want to just fret, whine and scream how unfair life is;
...times when we feel alone, lonely, empty and unnoticed;
...co-workers and bosses who are just impossible;
...and so on and so forth.
Isn't God just amazing! That even in the midst of life's chaos, He reminds us always that it is HE alone that we can go to and depend on. Though, some does not give us answers to our problems, HE gives us comfort instead. Despite our weakest, yet He remains and gives us the ounce of strength we need to go on., the hope to cling on to until the day of His return.
There is the reality of hell and the promise of heaven, and yes, another day to remain hopeful!
...daughter's frustration with the love one's hypocritical lifestyle;
...friends with lung and breast cancer in remission, and are physically feeling very weak;
...a mother and daughter friend struggling with a relationship;
...worry about home loan situation;
...health problems of family members;
...jobless family and friends;
...temptations of sin lurking around our lives;
...moments we want to just fret, whine and scream how unfair life is;
...times when we feel alone, lonely, empty and unnoticed;
...co-workers and bosses who are just impossible;
...and so on and so forth.
Psalm 61-:1-4 " Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. "
There is the reality of hell and the promise of heaven, and yes, another day to remain hopeful!
Revelation 22:12-13
"Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me,
and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.
I am the Alpha and the Omega,
the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
"and surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Matthew 28:20b
What a blessed assurance. Thank you, JESUS!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
It's been a long while. Simply because i'm no tech savvy and due to memory lapse, forgot my password and 2010 was just a busy year. I started a new job away from Pediatrics, and went to H-STAR Institute (Human Sciences Technology Advance Research). Well, I have to Praise God because despite the busyness, I still have a job. I serve 5 directors, and believe me, it's not quite fun, adding to it setting up seminars and workshops and all it's additions, I get my crazy days, very tired days, but over all, still good. God's word in 1Thess 5:18 "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" just makes me realize and appreciate whatever is in front of me, day in and day out. I love the area where I am at, it's by the oval, the center of the university. I love working here at Stanford because the environment is so wonderful. When I am too overwhelmed at work, I just step outside and walk around, sit inside the church and it gives me rest and some peace and quietness. Walking along Palm Drive gives me a glimpse of God's greatness, goodness and awesome work because it is just a wonderful sight to behold specially in the early morning when it is still empty and not busy. Being in the center of the campus, it gives me a sense of where God is, that He Himself is in the center and can simply keep an eye on me, no matter where I am. I can't help but be reminded His word in Psalm 5:3,"Listen to my voice in the morning Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to You and wait expectantly." That He is there, right in the center of my life and is hearing me, whenever I call unto Him. It gives me the strength to face the day..."Thank you Lord Jesus, for being the God of the universe, for hearing my tiny voice despite the vastness of your creation. For in You, I am special."
Monday, December 7, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
almost Christmas....
I was in my late 20's when i fully grasped the whole idea of what Christmas truly is. It wasn't the gifts nor the money, but the birth of Jesus Christ, the DAY that "my" Savior was born. It was humbling for me because at that point, the value of material gifts, or money, all of a sudden got ranked down. Those were the years when being "Born again" gave it a very meaningful realization to my life.
Year 2009, seemed a year where all over the world, all fo a sudden, is in shambles. The realty business was awful, i have many friends that lost their home and we ourselves are in a predicament too. Through prayers, am learning how to put my utmost dependence on our Lord Jesus because this is just beyond us...Putting my hope and asking God daily to calm my fears and doubts. That everyday given to me is enough blessing and that I must learn how to be consumed by His presence in my life. It does not feel that way everyday, but the least I can do, is to be thankful that the Holy Spirit makes me conscious that I should and put in a little bit more effort to do so...walk the talk, as they say.
This Christmas time, it may not be all about gifts in my household, but more of the love of family, time we can share, prayers we can lift up and faith that we intend to keep. As the Korean drama characters says, "Fighting!!", but in finality is God's word in Philippians 1:6,
"being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you (that's us) will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." I say "Amen".
Year 2009, seemed a year where all over the world, all fo a sudden, is in shambles. The realty business was awful, i have many friends that lost their home and we ourselves are in a predicament too. Through prayers, am learning how to put my utmost dependence on our Lord Jesus because this is just beyond us...Putting my hope and asking God daily to calm my fears and doubts. That everyday given to me is enough blessing and that I must learn how to be consumed by His presence in my life. It does not feel that way everyday, but the least I can do, is to be thankful that the Holy Spirit makes me conscious that I should and put in a little bit more effort to do so...walk the talk, as they say.
This Christmas time, it may not be all about gifts in my household, but more of the love of family, time we can share, prayers we can lift up and faith that we intend to keep. As the Korean drama characters says, "Fighting!!", but in finality is God's word in Philippians 1:6,
"being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you (that's us) will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." I say "Amen".
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Thanksgiving 2009
We were in Benicia, in Jules and Tim's home and when asked what we were thankful for, Mom managed to bring tears to our eyes in what she shared. She said that she is thankful that she is quite over the physical pain of her recent accident which she thought would never end.
During the hospital/rehab days, i knew she was in pain, in every area of her life, i'm sure. However, hearing her confess it, it must have been really physically painful, the ordeal she had to go through, and still, she declared God's faithfulness to her. Now, that's thanksgiving from the heart. Nowadays, she is more mobile, no more walker, but just a cane, and top it all, now rolling lumpias but on a minimal quantity still. The "Shanghai Queen" is back!!
So family, relatives and church, thank you all for lifting her up in prayers. I knew deep inside me, it's the prayers of the faithful that helped her go through her sufferings, ordeal and pain, and we can truly declare, our GOD is the God that heals, who is forever faithful.
During the hospital/rehab days, i knew she was in pain, in every area of her life, i'm sure. However, hearing her confess it, it must have been really physically painful, the ordeal she had to go through, and still, she declared God's faithfulness to her. Now, that's thanksgiving from the heart. Nowadays, she is more mobile, no more walker, but just a cane, and top it all, now rolling lumpias but on a minimal quantity still. The "Shanghai Queen" is back!!
So family, relatives and church, thank you all for lifting her up in prayers. I knew deep inside me, it's the prayers of the faithful that helped her go through her sufferings, ordeal and pain, and we can truly declare, our GOD is the God that heals, who is forever faithful.
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