I try to solve people's problems everyday, and to do so, I resolve to
make them my own. I endeavor to keep sane. Scripture, music, scenic
poetry, and uplifting company make me sane... Ruth Mostrales
Feed Your Soul, Too
(By: Sis Ruth)
I think I asked every single person I met along the way to pray for
me. Ma'am Debbie did and so did Pastor Buddy. Feeling quite scared, I
left the chapel in the middle of the message of the Guest Speaker to
pray. I don't know, I just felt so inadequate. Was my speech too
long? Too verbose? Too profound? I looked at it again and prayed.
And then I crossed out pedagogy and substituted "instruction" in one,
and "teaching" in another. The pro … Read More
via court of reverie et al.
The book of Obadiah is the tale of two brothers — Jacob and Esau.
During the time of writing, the prophet noted the injustices done by the
Edomites (descendants of Esau) against the Israelites (descendants of
Jacob). God was moved when he saw his people suffering because of the
indifference of the Edomites to the sorry plight of their brothers.
Suffice it to say that God did not like that to the Edomites, family
relations was not enough to help Israel.
History reveals the source of this conflict, yet as to why God chose
Jacob over Esau, we will never know. God’s election is never out of
merit, it is purely by grace.
God chooses whom He chooses, for though Jacob cheated and outsmarted
his brother Esau, God remained with the former, while Esau’s line was
cut off. God promised to restore the house of Jacob, and fulfilled His
covenant with Him ultimately through Jesus Christ.
The poesy of Job 28 problematizes on the theme of wisdom — its source
and in what it consists. In his fallen state, man will never attain to
wisdom. Man’s efforts will prove futile, for though he can subdue baser
pursuits, wisdom remains out of reach.
Job proceeds from human efforts, hence the despair. Job mistakes the
endeavour as a pursuit of a place, or a time, or perhaps a situation of
enlightenment. In the end, after much contemplation, God guides him into
the truth, that is, into a proper relationship between the Creator and
the created one. Job finds the key that will unlock wisdom — the fear of
the Lord. We find the sensus plenoir in Christ. The salvific aspect of
wisdom becomes accessible to us through the work of Jesus Christ — the
wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24). Christ is the fullness of the ever-wise,
omniscient God. As for Job, he came to the realization that the fear of
the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and to depart from evil is
understanding. Therefore, it is not so much a question of where or how,
but in whom. Wisdom is found nowhere else but in God, for the wisdom of
God is in Christ, and is Christ.
The promised heirs are the heirs of promise. They dwell in the land of the covenant new.
Where Jesus lives in the hearts of His people, and His Word in their hearts holds true.
The vintage Wine overflows from their cups, and good Bread is broken everyday.
Jesus eats and sups with them as they follow Him on the way.
The promised heirs are the heirs of promise be they Gentile or pure-blooded Jew —
and by faith, dear friend, through Jesus Christ, partake of the blessings, too.
RVM, july 21, 2010
In celebrated high-profile cases among the rich, famous, and powerful
segments of the population, the witnesses become well-known themselves.
They, too, inevitably share the spotlight. There’s always an advantage
in popularity/notoriety.
But in witnessing for Christ, Jesus shines, not the witness. In fact,
the witness "ceases”, while Jesus "increases”. The Holy Spirit subdues
the witness completely that the latter is moved to ask for nothing else
but to bear his cross in shame for the glory of his Master.
Let the eyes of men be drawn to God, not to the human
instrumentality. May our light so shine that people see Jesus shine and
glorify Him. Nothing we do as followers of God will ever matter, save
that which we do for Him, which primarily is to make His work on the
cross, and His triumph on the third day, shine in everything that we do.
rvm
20 july 2010
In times like these
I know God remembers
In times like these
I know He is Love
He is my Hope and my Refuge
And I’m never alone
In times like this
He sits on His throne.
When the moments of sorrow
And moments of rain
And the looming tomorrow
Are scaring me again
When the moments of darkness
Assemble all fear
There’s doubt in the air
In times like these.
But in times like these
He is my Tower
In times like these
My Solace and Shield
He is greater than any burden
He is better than fear
He is my God
Also in times like these.
When the strength of my youth
Is challenged by decay
And the best of my years
Fade swiftly away
The uncertainties and dangers
Of every day
Bring me to my knees
In times like these.
When the Word became flesh
He knew times like these
And in His frail body
He felt times like these
Oh my Savior, Redeemer
Help me bear this cross
This heavy cross
In times like these.
ruth v. mostrales
june 14, 2010
to all who are reading this poem, please pray for my
niece who might face a delicate operation this early point in her life.
thanks and God bless you all. – rvm
Father, I cry out to You.
Enlighten me with the knowledge of Your Word though it is blurred by these tears while I read it.
Teach me the faith that made the martyrs bold.
Show me thy beauty that, when the feeble saw it, made them strong.
Guide me as I look at the Way before me, help me to see your footsteps as I go.
And, as I move forward, let me not look back except to behold Your Son
upon the cross, and Your Son resurrected on the third day.
I am nothing without Him, LORD, I am nothing on my own.
May You teach me to continue to trust in You when it is easier to doubt.
May I choose to remain in the narrow path and forsake the way that leads to destruction.
Help me to wait on You, and do this with joyful expectation because Your promises are true and You can be counted on.
Teach me how to love the way Your Son loved, and to hate every deed that You abhor.
Let me love my neighbor as I love myself, and let me place You above all.
And should I falter be patient with me…
Restore me and let me delight in Your chastisement.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
I had been through one of the worst weeks last week and if I didn’t
know better, I would have thought God had forgotten about my situation
(and pretty much our situation in the office, as a whole). I spread
several years before me, those moments I stood up for what I believed in
and lived for, only to witness them crumble down before my very eyes.
Tears rolled down my face and my heart thumped in fear at what appeared
as a bleak future looming ahead. I felt weak. I had long outgrown my
wobbly knees, I thought, but for the first time in years, they are back
to match the beating of my embattled heart. I thought I would fall to
the ground and no one would help me up.
I couldn’t recount the minutest detail of what I had gone through
emotionally, psychologically and physically, but I was glad I remembered
Jesus Christ before everything inside me shut down. I started with Why
questions, and then came the Hows. Finally, I asked: "Lord, who will
stay beside me while I go through this trial? Who will be with me — is
there anyone I can still trust knowing that in every person a betrayer
is sleeping and needs only to be awakened? Is there anyone I can trust
who will value friendship over money and not the other way around?”
All of a sudden, the lyrics of an old song surfaced in my mind and I began to recite it silently, solemnly…
Be strong and take courage
Do not fear or be dismayed
For the LORD will go BEFORE you
And His light will show the way…
Right there while on board that jeepney on my way to the office, God
had a firm grip on my being, a tight hold on my heart as He reminded me
of one of His promises neatly tucked inside that old song.
The LORD will go before you.
And then, I searched Biblos, and found an amazing verse: "You will
not leave in a hurry, running for your lives. For the LORD will go ahead
of you; yes, the God of Israel will protect you from behind.” (Isaiah
52:12)
Wow! He was saying, "I will not only stand or walk side by side with
you. No. I, the Lord has spoken that I will not only fight alongside
you. I will go BEFORE you! And as I do, I will also watch your back. And
guess what, I did finish it all on the cross! Tetelestai!”
I am reminded of Jesus’ selfless sacrifice — He went BEFORE me and
died for me so that in His suffering I shall receive victory over death.
Jesus did not merely fight side by side with me, but He led the way,
fought my enemy in my stead, and won the victory for me so that I would
never have to fight it alone and fail.
And as if that weren’t enough, He guards me from behind and assures
me that He takes care of what I cannot face or see as I move forward,
and gives me push in the right direction. He wants me to make it to
heaven. What a wonderful Savior!
I will still have to face the trial up to its conclusion as the Lord
would have it, but I am encouraged that I will not fight it alone — the
LORD will go before me, and His light will show the way.
Amen. ^^
http://bible.cc/isaiah/52-12.htm
i used to write not thinking about what others think, just writing
without thinking how much ink is spent, just writing without thinking
about the space used up, just writing.
i used to dream without knowing the time or hour, just dreaming about
what’s near and far, just dreaming inside my reservoir of dreams and
aspirations.
i used to laugh without thinking how loud it sounds, just laughing
without fear or remorse, just laughing and enjoying the day and of
course, just laughing.
i used to cry over childhood sins, just crying over poems and sad
refrains, just crying without my hanky near and letting them flow
without care as they stare.
i used to be what I thought will do, being the me that did all the
work, but stumbling upon what God did for me and you, I received new
birth.
now i write and write upon parchment old the most beautiful tale ever
told, and if ink is blood let my pen bleed well to retell Jesus’ love
story without compare.
march 31, 2010
I used to equate blessing with ease and comfort. I don’t anymore. I
have come to understand God’s sovereignty in my life. Whether I be poor
or rich, it doesn’t matter, as long as I know God is using my
circumstances for His glory.
Which reminds me of the fact that when I accepted Jesus as my Savior,
I didn’t make reservations (and I’m sure glad I didn’t). Simultaneously
with accepting His loving sacrifice on the cross, I also made Him my
Lord and Master, whether I was aware of it or not. Being His servant
means I have to listen to His voice and follow in his steps. Jesus died
for me in obedience to His Father’s will. Jesus exemplified the life of a
Son, a Servant, a Redeemer. As the Son, He sought His Father’s heart.
As the Servant, He toiled in order to say: "It is finished.” As our
Redeemer, He paid the price. In all these facets of His person, He
humbled Himself and glorified God. In being God’s Servant, He suffered,
but He received His exaltation from the Father. That’s Jesus’ example.
He didn’t seek fame or fortune. He didn’t seek self-preservation.
Instead He denied Himself, took up His cross and obeyed the Father.
Having set the example, there’s no reason why I should change my course
and lose my soul to gain the whole world, no matter how tempting it is
to succumb to the temptation. Living a life of service to God and others
demands that I live a life fully committed to the will of God and His
glory. Everything else is secondary.
When times are tough and I battle against lack and poverty, and I
grow frustrated about corruption in the government and private sectors, I
struggle to keep my feet on the narrow way. By God’s grace, He leads me
to unearth and rediscover Paul’s secret again. Paul secret is and is in
Jesus Christ. He said:
"I have learned to be satisfied with what I have. I know what it is
to be in need and what it is to have more than enough. I have learned
this secret, so that anywhere, at any time, I am content, whether I am
full or hungry, whether I have too much or too little. I have the
strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.” –
Philippians 4:11b-13
God bless everyone.
| 
United Church of God Global Ministries
