When it's time to be silent

Oh, that you would be silent, And it would be your wisdom! -Job 13:5

Job was in his deep misery in need of comfort but his friends who seem to think they need to explain why Job was in such misery. They talked too much about things Job already knew himself. In their carelessness with their words they have condemned Job analyzing things in their own perceptions. Instead of being a comfort to Job they were an added misery. The good thing about this is that Job, even in his misery, thinks clearly about God and about others. He has counteracted the miserable words of his supposed "friends" by teaching them that there are moments where their silence would be their wisdom.
Job's friends were trying to help him but they didn't know how to. As much as we all want to help our friends we must also admit the times when we don't know what to do to help them. Maybe these are the times that we just need to be silent and listen (give them our ears)--stop talking.

Remember talking and then you wished you never did? Yeah, I've had those moments and I regret them. Your purpose to help might just end in misery if you keep talking.

Determine the time to be silent. :)

Good intentions that lack influence

"When good intentions turns into a bad mess"

As I was watching a show I saw the add of Clorox showing a person making a very nice project of volcano and considering how it turned out to be successful for him to get a high grade. But when he tested the volcano project it burst out mess all around the house. The add says, "When good intentions turns into a bad mess Clorox can fix it". I have been thinking about this phrase and saw how true it is for our good intentions that turn into bad messes.

You had really good intentions and good actions but it turns out into a MESS. When those big letters happens you get so frustrated trying to recap everything that happened from the beginning. You check your heart and try to recall if you did everything right. Then you find out that there seems to be nothing wrong with what you did and your intentions it just turned out the way you didn't expect it to. You then say to yourself, "Come on! I thought I had it all figured out. I tried to do it in every right way! Why in the world did this happen?" You know you did the right thing and yet suddenly you begin to lose trust and confidence in yourself. You begin to blame yourself for doing the things you did instead of sitting still. Now, you are not only frustrated with what happened but you became frustrated with yourself thinking you are a failure. You burst into tears and just feel like you wanna give up!
Hey wait up! No one knew this would happen. Things won't always turn out the way we presumed it would happen. There is a peril to being too presumptuous. What can you do? It happened already and it must not stop you from doing good things with good intentions. As they always say, "What's done is done". You may not be able to change what has happened but you can always strive to improve for the better. If it is a decision you have made you could be more careful next time; if it is an effort to restore what was lost--friendship or anything then go the extra mile. I believe we can always do better than before. It's always better to be one of those who tried and messed up rather than be one of those who never tried.

And if the condemnation of being at fault still comes to your mind know this, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" -Romans 5:1.



A Red Sky--a promise of a better day to come--Hope.

When good intentions turn into a bad mess ask forgiveness and  have faith that you have been justified (considered as if you never sinned or committed the fault) through Jesus. This of course does not mean you just keep committing fault. You must have a desire to improve and do better this time with Jesus' help alongside you.

When the intentions are right but the actions are wrong...

2 Chronicles 15 and 16 tells a story about King Asa of Judah. He was one of those Kings who was ever loyal to God and seeking Him together with the people of Judah. Can you imagine a whole nation dedicated to seek the Lord with all their hearts and soul? This is during the reign of King Asa. For 35 years he was loyal to the Lord and dedicated to serve Him. Because of this God gave them rest from war on every side.
Then the unexpected happened. Whenever we are caught up in an unexpected situation we try to find a way to escape from it. King Asa faced an unexpected challenge that is Israel coming up against them in Judah. For 35 years without war this is a surprise. Naturally, as a ruler, he doesn't want to put his people into trouble. He needed a way to avoid war breaking into their country. His intentions were definitely right. He just wanted to save Judah from having any attack from Israel. A decision had to be made.

Our mind has a tendency to think of different solutions--own solutions. What can we do we are worried? When your mind is cluttered with all the worries on what might happen you start to forget the good things that has happened in the past. How you have overcome the problems because you depended on God. Very quickly you decide to go with your own created solution or depend on others which sometimes could lead you to doing something wrong.

 In King Asa's case, he bribed the King of Syria to help him get rid of the King of Israel in his plan to attack using the temple of the Lord's treasuries. Hoopsy daisy, a split second crash! What did you just do King Asa? The Lord used a seer to remind King Asa how asking for the Lord's help was the best way and not depending on others or using bribery to get rid of Israel. This time, he did not listen, instead he got angry. Then he got a very bad disease but still refused to consult God that he died in his sickness.

You cannot only have good intentions but also you must have the right means to fulfill your heart's intentions. "If you seek Him, He will be found by you." 2 Chronicles 15. Consult God or a church leader walking with God and ask His help on what you need to do to overcome your problem. He is just a prayer a way; it is the fastest and most effective thing you could do any time and anywhere if you are in a hurry.

IN Giving

“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. 15 We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. 16 LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. 17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. 18 LORD, the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep these desires and thoughts in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you."
Yesterday morning as I was meditating on the passage 1 Chronicles 29 I am more amazed at the character and heart of King David. He has shown a great example as a leader who Gives generously not to boast about it but to give God the Glory for what he can give. David together with the people gave willingly with the acknowledgement that all their wealth came from God and belongs to Him. They were good stewards of the wealth they have acquired. I have seen very little of people who are cheerful like these people.
They have "...given willingly with honest intent." How about you? Whenever you have given something to someone or even for the Church---ministry have you given with an honest intent? or have you given to be lift yourself up?

I hope you have not forgotten that all that you have came from God. He gave you the ability to achieve greater things and earn money. You cannot do it on your own.

May this message touch your heart as it has touched mine.

Why Give?

Children who needs the laughter we had...

It's common...Almost Christmas time--a time of shopping for Christmas gifts. Did you ever think about the children who do not receive gifts?

As we were encouraged in church to prepare a box of gifts for Operation Christmas Child project, I was reminded how blessed I am. I grew up in a family where I do not only receive gifts from family members but we together as a family receive year round blessings from different people God uses. One of the best things I learned from my parents is always looking to give something for the people in need. I have also seen the giving characteristic from many people I know and it gives joy to the heart to know this.

As a kid, I remember the excitement of anticipating what my mom or siblings would give me for Christmas but I did not know there are many kids out there who do not expect to receive anything all year round. They could be just going through the trash of other people to get a toy they could play with or just try to make their own out of scraps. We are blessed to be receiving gifts no matter how small or how large. I know I'm blessed because I had the chance of playing with toys as a kid.

What about those who live in the "Christmasless land" of Cambodia like these kids where Christmas is not celebrated or those who's living cannot afford even two meals a day. Enough thinking of what we would receive from our friends instead think of a way we could give to other kids who have little or no experience of the excitement of having gifts to open for Christmas. Imagine the laughter you would see in their eyes and their smiles. Imagine how important they must have felt because of one act of giving.

Come on! For once, make them feel the joy...The best gift you could receive this Christmas is to see these kids smile with gratitude. You do not have to go to Cambodia or other countries to do these you can look within your area for kids who live in the streets or in the slums.

Reason behind it all

"Things are not what they seem...there's always something more" is what I heard from a very good friend of my parents when he was sharing with the teachers.

One of the ways I understood this message is that there is always a reason behind every action. Based on personal experience, with all honesty, the actions and decisions I made we're based on what I thought about, what I think the result would be, and what I intend to happen as a result. Whether the decisions I made were foolish or wise it all boils down to what my heart intends.

A living example would be among the young people or sometimes even the older ones. We have one way or another made a way in which we could befriend another person possibly a TOTAL STRANGER. This example goes very well with what goes around in the social networking environment. For instance, you add up someone you found in the search engine because she is Beautiful or he is handsome as the pictures relay; or maybe you just wanted someone to talk to; or you want to share your business with the person; or you were persuaded by others to do it; or your pure intent was really to be a friend and have a friend. Whatever it may be, you had a reason on the top of your mind or the deep thoughts of your heart why you added up the person.

This is only an example of how we decide everyday. One way or another we have an INTENTION maybe from the heart or just from the mind.

I don't know about you but for me it is important that someone who wants to be my friend or does something good to me is someone with PURE INTENTIONS. Pure intentions make the friendship last and helps you build more.

Why don't you start considering your Hearts intentions before making a decision to do something. You do want to make less and less foolish decisions. One way that have always worked for me to have the right intentions is my daily dependence on God and His Word. I'm sure it will work for you.

What do you think? What you think matters to me so feel free to comment...
To be continued...