Mornings with a king

December 27, 2011

Tuesday

I suppose a reader may start questioning with my use of small letter “k” for the word king for the above title. Yes, I try my best to spend time everyday with the King, our God who indeed deserves the capital K, but the king I’m referring to in the title is a different royalty. Particularly, I spend my Monday and Tuesday mornings reading the book of Psalms, which compiles most of his hymns and songs to God- the man after God’s own heart- King David. My journey through the book of Psalms had been like reading and learning from his own journal. Ever wondered why he was called “a man after God’s own heart?

There exist many explanations, most I haven’t still read on, but I would like to impart that which I’ve learned in some of my mornings with this king.

King David was a typical person. He experienced several problems, he had felt pain, sorrow, and helplessness. He experienced betrayal from his own son, he was continually hunted by Saul to be killed and he had even committed adultery and murder.

But what made him entirely different from normal people aside from his crown was his faith. Anybody can speak of faith, anybody can say “I believe” but rarely does it genuinely show in their lives.

I find it very unlikely yet amazing how King David can sing a Worship song when he was there in the cave fleeing from Saul, running for his life. He did not measure God’s goodness and faithfulness in terms of the several problems he faced. If he did, I bet he would rather have known Him as the Great Problem-giver. He did not doubt His steadfast love and mercy when trials were the things that seemed constant and unchangeable. Yes, there were times, he was about to give in, give up, yet the following hymns he wrote showed how he continued in his faith. He believed in the true Character of God (Refuge, Most High, Rock, Shelter, Fortress, and many more) despite problems and regardless of his feelings. And God always proved Himself faithful in his life.

Yes, He is steadfast in His love, grace and mercy. But my mornings with this king, specifically this morning, made me ask myself:

Can I, like King David, say this and truly live it out:

“My heart is steadfast, O God,

My heart is steadfast!

I will sing and make melody!”

            (Psalm 57:7)

I could ask myself again, “Why was King David called the man after God’s own heart?” And an answer in my version is that he had the heart like Jesus’ - the steadfast heart.

It dawned on me that Christ-likeness is especially being faithful to God just as He is faithful to us.

God’s love and faithfulness is a given truth and promise for His people to hold on. But love and faithfulness to God on our part is a decision we make and commit ourselves to like the man after God’s own heart.

Apologies

December 27, 2011

Tuesday

Apologies

My apologies to:

the notebook I left unnoticed, unopened, and useless

my thoughts wasted, unpublished and left raw

my blog site left unvisited, inactive

my heart left recklessly overloaded with feelings I wasn't able to put into writing

to insights/ learning that I wasn't’t able to take account of

to experiences not recorded and memories not preserved in paper

to the heart that ached for its cry to write was not heeded

to the right hand withheld from what its been itching to do

to my mind, body, overdosed with sleeping, watching movies, eating and sloth

to my God for having to deal with my unfaithfulness and forgetfulness of Him

 

But most of all my apologies

To self

For wanting to be perfect, for wanting everything to be right, for being too hard on myself, for struggling to forgive you and for not realizing these things that I gave my apologies about our things we normally commit mistakes and err upon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Terrible Illness: Straying

December 21, 2011

Wednesday (Late Entry as Always :O)

Symptoms of Straying:

-loss of appetite for devouring God’s words

-loss of prayer time

-heartache

-presence of unloving spirit

-attack of bad emotions

-impurity of thoughts

-God chaser turned to pleasure-seeking

-tendencies to relive past memories and past life

 

Effects:

-loss of peace

-inability to feel God’s presence

-disorganized priorities

-mismanagement of time and life

-overwhelming loneliness and feeling of emptiness

-lingering longing

-self-absorption

-lack of passion and excitement in the ministry

-unfocused purpose for living

 

Treatment:

                1. Make the decision to stop straying.

                2. Kneel down in prayer, humble yourself before Him. (Psalm 51)

                3. Acknowledge and confess your sins. (Psalm 51, 1 John 1:9)

                4. Receive God’s mercy, love and forgiveness.  (Psalm 103:10-14, 1 John 1:9, Hose 2:19-23)

                4. Walk in His light again. (Psalm 56:12-13, Hosea 3:5, Mark 8:34)

 

               

Prescription:

(Proven effective to a man who also had the same sickness in the name of David, Type of Straying: Adultery)

                Psalm 51: 10-12

                Create a pure heart in me, O God, and put a new and loyal Spirit in me.

                Do not banish me from your presence; do not take your Holy Spirit away from me.

                Give me again the joy that comes from your salvation, and make my heart willing to obey you.

 

                Straying far, away from the Lord is but the worst nightmare anyone could have.

                But it is also after turning back that one will be able to experience the astounding depth of his steadfast love and mercy. 

To XY Chromosomal Creatures

December 6,2011

It isn’t Valentine’s day nor Hearts day. The supposed to be celebrated season is the fast-approaching Christmas time. But I found myself looking at a pink rose, and a mysterious letter.

The pink rose came from an identified XY Chromosomal Creature (he had his name on it) and the mysterious letter was found void. It was no serious business of an aspiring Romeo, rather, it was but a joke.

 

I did not write to rant about not receiving a blue rose. (In fact, I secretly hoped I just did not because I felt everyone’s eyes on me when I was walking along the streets holding it) And I would not even express my disappointment about the people who were about to make me believe a mysterious person found time writing me a letter.

 

I would like to voice out what many other XX Chromosomal Creatures might be dying to express. Some words I’ve been repressing to blog about these past few days and weeks that had passed.

To XY Chromosomal Creatures,

Unlikely gift. Looking past the outward appearance is a very rare, unlikely gift you can possess. Admiring a lady for her mere beauty, is  but the lowest standard you can have.

Girls are to be admired because of their hearts not because of their FACES.

It is extremely disappointing when we saw each other for the first time and before I knew it you like me.

I have learned this the hard way- texting is NOT the way to a girl’s heart. Neither it is the way for friendship. For superficial interaction it is.

The real gauge of courage is how brave you are to talk to her personally.

INSTANT text messaging or messages through social networks are also the fastest way to prove your cowardice and spoil every bit of sincerity.

You have all the right to court girls when you have the money to treat her and buy her gifts from YOUR OWN salary. Don’t go robbing your parents’ wallets.

There is a great distinction between toys and girls. Just because you no longer play with the former doesn’t give you the license to play with the latter.

You protect us best when you keep your mouth shut about how you feel. Don’t act as if  Shakespeare has reincarnated himself in you.

If you’re lost in thoughts, thinking if you’re in love or what, I tell you, you are NOT, it’s just a sign that you have done nothing lately except for daydreaming.  

High school, college, including grade school boys, NOW is just not the time to pursue and win a girl’s heart – the fragile of most fragile organs.

I might have been so rough on this and I might have even spoke of  entirely my own ideals. If in some ways I have offended you,  please do pardon me.

But I know you also have lessons to give us girls. (Probably some of which I’ve stated above are also meant for us) So you can get even with us with all due righteousness.

                                    Guys, boys, men, XY Chromosomal Creatures, or however you want to be called, now is just NOT THE TIME.

“… that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases.” Song of Songs 2:7

Memory and Industry Deficit (Late entry)

December 5, 2011                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Monday

I was walking under the rain a while ago. Probably, I need to pray regularly for a good rain-free weather.

No, I didn’t forget to bring an umbrella with me. I lost it permanently weeks ago.

First I lost my blue umbrella, and I realized it was gone a day after. I have left it somewhere in the church and I could hardly recall exactly why, when or how.

Then, my mother lent me my sister’s black umbrella, which was given to her by a special person. Why, for the love of forgetfulness! I have lost it too and could never recall where I left it. And for the record, I realized I lost it two days after!

My mother was very disappointed. She told me she would never buy me an umbrella ever AGAIN. And she’ll just buy me a raincoat. How awkward would that be, ME- wearing raincoat among the throng of college students in Manila!

I badly hope she too shall forget -- - - - all that she had said.

And earlier this morning, I was inside the bus, at around 5:15 am, when I realized I forgot two very important things at home:

(1)   My ID

(2)  My NSTP Shirt

I bet I am to receive the Youngest Memory Deficit Award any moment now. These two are but the most important things I needed for school, yet of all things, I forgot about them.

Alas, what happened to my memory?

 

Secondly, there is a great industry crisis that I am experiencing. Ironically, my last entry is about being inspired in studying, and recently Abbie had been feeling every bit of indolence possible. Worse, she gave in to it more than once.

Realizing how much I overly fuss over these things a while ago makes me laugh about it now.

When I tried to consult God about the insights He’d like to give me through these situations, he led me to this verse:

“The steadfast love of God endures all the day.” Psalms 52:1

His message was simple: no laziness, memory deficit of mine can outshine His steadfast love.

I did walk under the rain but it was the fewest of drops: “ambon”, I was still able to enter the school gate without my  ID, and most especially, the two quizzes which I wasn’t able to review for (due to my severe idleness) were moved for the next day.  Luck? No it’s His steadfast love. (He got me smiling right now.)  :)