Daily Digest #106

You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble. —Psalm 59:16

All of us experience tremendous fear, pain or sorrow, at least at one point in our lives. It can be unbearable at first, but God always comes to the rescue, and carries our heavy loads. The mere thought humbles us and teaches us to trust God, that He always has reasons for letting things happen the way they do. And after they do, we are made to realize that sometimes, to feel fear, pain or sorrow is an important part of our growth. Without it, we wouldn't learn and become better than we were before. It means we are shaken to the core. That's when life-changing lessons are realized. And these are the moments when God is closest in our lives.

For this, let us pray. May we learn to call on God and cling to Him at all times. May we remember that we are never alone, and that we are always loved. May we embrace Him completely, and welcome Him in our lives as our defense and refuge. Pray always.

Daily Digest #105

In quietness and confidence shall be your strength. —Isaiah 30:15

For me, confidence is a God-given character trait that is aided by faith, courage, strength and wisdom. Nothing gives more pleasure than to be able to stand up on one's own feet and take whatever challenge there is. But sometimes, when we think we have gained power over something, we tend to become overconfident, which opposes the intension of being faithful, courageous, strong and wise at heart. Our hearts are replaced by a selfish one, and we tend to yearn for more control. We start having things our own way that we neglect God's power over us. But God gives us time to learn, until we realize how boastful we've been. Most times we cross the line, and we are put to shame. But Moses' story teaches us something very important. He learned to repent and submit to God, in spite of what he had done. He allowed God to use Him to show God's power over him. He has learned his lesson on meekness that he had become one of the greatest rulers ever lived.

For this, may we always remember that with God, we are always on the right path. If we put God away from our decisions, we will surely go astray. May we all learn to draw strength from Him, and recognize and acknowledge such blessing, not claim it as our own. May we develop a humble servant's heart. Pray always.

Daily Digest #104

Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. —2 Corinthians 4:16

I would like to share an entry from The Purpose Driven Life online (please read below). Let us hope and pray to be inspired to look deeper within us, and find Jesus Christ in our lives. Pray always.


A God-Fashioned Life

Take on an entirely new way of life – a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you. Ephesians 4:22-24 (MSG)

*** *** *** ***

Many religions and New Age philosophies promote the old lie that we are divine or can become gods. Let me be absolutely clear: you will never become God, or even a god.

That prideful lie is Satan's oldest temptation. Satan promised Adam and Eve that if they followed his advice, "you shall be as gods" (Genesis 3:5 KJV).

This desire to be a god shows up every time we try to control our circumstances, our future, and people around us. But as creatures, we will never be the Creator. God doesn't want you to become a god; he wants you to become godly, taking on his values, attitudes, and character. We are meant to "take on an entirely new way of life – a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you" (Ephesians 4:22-24 MSG).

God's ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development. He wants you to grow up spiritually and become like Christ. Becoming like Christ does not mean losing your personality or becoming a mindless clone.

God created your uniqueness, so he certainly doesn't want to destroy it. Christlikeness is all about transforming your character, not your personality.

God wants you to develop the kind of character described in the Beatitudes of Jesus, the fruit of the Spirit, Paul's great chapter on love, and Peter's list of the characteristics of an effective and productive life (Matthew 5:1-12; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Corinthians 13; 2 Peter 1:5-8).

Every time you forget that character is one of God's purposes for your life, you will become frustrated by your circumstances. You'll wonder, "Why is this happening to me? Why am I having such a difficult time?" One answer is that life is supposed to be difficult! It's what enables us to grow. Remember, earth is not heaven!

Many Christians misinterpret Jesus' promise of the "abundant life" (John 10:10) to mean perfect health, a comfortable lifestyle, constant happiness, full realization of your dreams, and instant relief from problems through faith and prayer.

In a word, they expect the Christian life to be easy. They expect heaven on earth.

This self-absorbed perspective treats God as a genie who simply exists to serve you in your selfish pursuit of personal fulfillment. But God is not your servant, and if you fall for the idea that life is supposed to be easy, either you will become severely disillusioned or you will live in denial of reality.

Never forget that life is not about you! You exist for God's purposes, not vice versa. Why would God provide heaven on earth when he's planned the real thing for you in eternity? God gives us our time on earth to build and strengthen our character for heaven.

Daily Digest #103

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. —Colossians 3:17

May we pray that we learn to love God with all our hearts, and love others as we love ourselves. May we be given wisdom to understand and apply what real love means. Pray always.

Daily Digest #102

So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. —Romans 12:5

It's good to have pointed out 2 big issues from today's reflection -- environmental pollution and moral pollution. The first has become so obvious that we experience so many changes in the weather/climate. Some days, the heat is unbearable, as if being suffocated with a bag over our heads. We've reached weather extremes, either too hot/dry or too cold/wet. Let us ask ourselves: am I doing my part to help save the environment (or at least what's left of it)? It's sad that so much is lost. I passed by Central World (used to be World Trade Center here in Bangkok) during the weekend, and I saw the exhibit they put up outside the mall called "Earth From Above". They displayed hundreds of beautiful billboard-sized environmental pictures, with facts on the side, how the world's resources and nature are rapidly depleting. It's very moving, and informative. You can visit these sites: Earth From Above and Yann Arthus Bertrand.

The latter issue is also as palpable. Oftentimes, we forget how our words and actions affect those who hear or see us. Yesterday, I had a sudden temper outburst, and it led me to ignore people who I found irritating. Thanks to those who bore witness and imparted words of wisdom, I eventually got it out of my system. I realize how little patience I still have. I have subconsciously set expectations on others, and it became very frustrating when they were unmet. No matter how good our intension may be, I learned yet again how much better it is to be kind than to be right.

For this, let us pray... May we develop a loving, faithful and generous heart. May we learn to love others as we love ourselves. May we learn to discuss our issues in a loving and peaceful way. May God be the center of each of our relationships. May we pray always.

Daily Digest #101

When [Jesus] had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. —Matthew 14:23

I can only testify how powerful prayer has been in my life. There were moments when I thought I couldn't bear the anticipation and/or pain of a certain thing, but somehow I was able to endure and carry on. There were many times when I prayed for the impossible, like an outcome I have no control of, and some were answered yes, or no, or turned out better than what I prayed for. I believe prayer is the most intimate form of communication between God and humans. It is a time when we can pour out everything inside our hearts and heads, raise questions and get answers in ways only God can provide. In the silence of our hearts, we can learn to hear His voice and embrace Him, as if He's sitting/standing/lying right next to us.

How Jesus prayed to His Father clearly demonstrates the way we should pray. He looked forward to the silent moments with His Father, as He continued with His life's purpose on earth. For this, may we pray like Jesus -- praising, worshiping and thanking Him, offering our whole selves to the Father. May we build a closer relationship with God though His Son, Jesus Christ. Pray always.

Daily Digest #100

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them. —Romans 12:6

I have always admired people who are involved in missions and other voluntary works. For me, they serve as good examples of humility, responsibility and selflessness. We're all used to spending our time on comfort and enjoyment that we forget that there's still so much to be done around us. Help and love are always needed, even when and where we least expect it. And we can also be God's instruments wherever we are or whatever we do, if we allow Him to work within us.

For this, let us pray. May our lives be a reflection of God's love. May we use our gifts -- talents, skills and resources -- for His glory. May we build a closer relationship with God through His son, Jesus Christ. Pray always.

Daily Digest #99

I will praise Your name, for You have done wonderful things. —Isaiah 25:1

God does give more than enough reasons for us to praise Him. I remember, in the book of Job, when he started complaining to God, the reply he got was not what he expected at all, which he thought was an explanation to everything that was happening to him. He was ashamed and humbled by his doubts and questions when He realized that there was so much more to thank for than complain about. He remembered how great God was and that He was always at work in Job's life. Upon learning his lessons, he trusted God more and praised Him for all his blessing for the rest of his life.

For this, let us pray. May we learn to thank and praise Him, in spite of all the problems and misfortunes in our lives. May we count them us blessings in disguise, and gain wisdom from the experience. May we learn to keep wonderful memories and cherish them, especially when we feel weak or alone. May we remember that God is here, ALWAYS. May we pray always.

Daily Digest #98

Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. —Galatians 6:9

Blessings overflow, even when we don't realize it. We sometimes wonder what we're here for or why we're not happy, especially when we have explored what we think is "everything" in our lives. Each of us is gifted with unique skills, talents and resources that we ought to spread around. They were not given for our own comfort and enjoyment. We are often caught between making use of what we have for our own good, and for the good of others. But God has clearly shown how life's purpose is fulfilled by serving others... through Jesus Christ. Each of us has a mission here on earth. And if we continue looking up to God, just as His Son did, He will show us the way, and realize what we're actually here for.

For this, let us pray. May we look not on what we can gain, but what we can offer instead. May we submit ourselves to Him, and accept Jesus Christ as our savior and role model in service -- loving others as we love ourselves. Pray always.

Dan In Real Life

Memorable Quotes:

Marty Barasco: Love is not a feeling, Mr. Burns. It's an ability.

***************

Dan Burns: [after the family sees him and Marie kissing] You guys broke up, right?
Mitch Burns: Two hours ago!

***************

Dan Burns: Instead of telling our young people to plan ahead, we should tell them to plan to be surprised.

***************

Dan Burns: I don't want to go out with the pig... face.

***************

Dan Burns: [getting a ticket] Put it on my tab.

***************

Dan Burns: There's rightness in our wrongness.

***************

Marie: [about Mitch] It seems all his best lines were yours... this is unbearable.

***************

Jane Burns: [about driving] If you don't let me, I'll never learn.
Dan Burns: But if I let you, you might not live.

***************

Dan Burns: What don't I understand, Cara? Please, help me out. What is it? Is it frustrating that you can't be with this person? That there's something keeping you apart? That there's something about this person that you can connect with? And whenever you're near this person, you don't know what to say, and you say everything that's in your mind and in your heart, and you know that if you could just be together, that this person would help you become the best possible version of yourself?

***************

Marie: You don't have to smile.
Dan Burns: It's better than the alternative.

***************

Dan Burns: Life... is full of disappointments

***************

Cara Burns: You are a murderer of love!

***************

Cara Burns: You don't have to worry because when it comes to sex, Marty is the one that wants to wait.
Dan Burns: What part of that sentence is supposed to give me comfort?

***************

PLAN TO BE SURPRISED! :D

Let My Love Open The Door

People keep repeating
That you'll never fall in love
When everybody keeps retreating
But you can't seem to get enough

Let My love open the door
Let My love open the door
Let My love open the door
To your heart

When everything feels all over
Everybody seems unkind
I'll give you a four leaf clover
Take all the worry out of your mind

I have the only key to your heart
I can stop you from falling apart
Release yourself from misery
Only one thing's gonna set you free
And it's My love
That's My love....

Let My love open the door
Let My love open the door
Let My love open the door
To your heart

Tragedy befalls you
Don't let it bring you down
Love can cure your problems
You're so lucky I'm around

Let My love open the door
Let My love open the door
Let My love open the door
To your heart....

Music by Sondre Lerche for Dan In Real Life OST

Daily Digest #97

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. —Galatians 3:28

I feel fortunate to have grown in a place where Christian traditions were observed. Although the practices didn't make much sense to me during my younger years, it has instilled a sense of unity among believers of different walks of life. I realize how real faith, hope and love for God can really take away the barriers that divide us, even for a moment. How wonderful would the world be if we made our common love for God our top priority and our differences only secondary!

For this, let us pray. May we love God with all our hearts, souls, bodies and minds. May we learn to love others as we love ourselves. May we keep a closer relationship with God through His son, Jesus Christ. Pray always.

Daily Digest #96

Looking carefully . . . lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled. —Hebrews 12:15

Many things make us tick. I, for instance, have other deeper annoyances, aside from my pet peeves -- insensitivity, tactlessness, arrogance and pretentiousness, to name a few. I realize that sometimes the problem is my lack of kindness and mercy, which leads myself to reciprocate the negative attitude towards these people. I have a profound desire to correct. But sometimes, we deal with people who are set in their ways, and we can't do anything else but accept, understand, pray more and be patient. I guess time away from such people helps some, at least for me. Being a temperamental person, I'd rather cool down for a while than stick around, open my mouth and unleash bitter words. But I learned how important it is to use that time for praying, asking God's help to get rid of the feelings of bitterness and disappointment, and to bless me with a kind heart. Some of us might not realize it yet, but it is all part of a test of our character. The point is not how bad a situation is, but what good we can bring out of it.

We all have a loooooong way to go in this journey, but I am confident that God will cleanse our hearts completely and make us holy in His way and His time. May we all keep a regular prayer time -- assessing ourselves, admitting our weaknesses, repenting for our faults, listening to what God has to say, and asking Him to take over our lives completely. I guess it's only then can we truly master our emotions. And most of all, may we never fail to count our many blessings. Pray always.

Patience with Imperfection

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2 (NIV)

Humorist Dave Barry says, "A perfect parent is a person with excellent child-rearing theories and no actual children."

The same could be said of a perfect world or a perfect family; there's only one way to mess things up: People!

Living with imperfect people requires patience, and you – now I say this as a friend – are one of the imperfect people who requires patience! Unfortunately, I'm an imperfect person too.

Patience means putting up with me when you'd rather lose your temper; it means forgiving me when you'd rather nurture a grudge.

In addition, patience is a muzzle on a mouth full of murmurs that are passed along as prayer requests. Patience puts the long in long-suffering. Patience is love in action because "love is patient" (1 Corinthians 13:4 NIV).

Patience and a critical spirit are mutually exclusive. Even when your complaints are justified, patience pushes and pulls you toward forgiving and forgetting: "A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense" (Proverbs 19:11 NIV).

Being patient may try our patience, but we become stronger when we learn to love imperfect people. Patience frees us to develop godly diversity in our relationships, where we no longer require everyone to act and look and think the same way we do.

Adapted from Purpose Driven Life online dated 8 July 2008

Daily Digest #95

Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. —Philippians 2:4

The reflection reminded me of what I have gone through several weeks ago. As some of you already know, my ex-boyfriend of just a few months got married recently. You can imagine how much of a blow it had been. I always considered our relationship an open book. We parted ways, confident of our love for each other. Or so it seemed. The moment I learned about the news, it felt as if somebody had just died, or a part of me died. And I could not thank my family and friends more for being angels in disguise. If it weren't for their love, time and support, I doubt that I would be able to endure the pain on my own. They have provided me the much-needed spiritual support, which led me to cling to God more, and believe that God mends everything that is broken. Love truly heals faster than time.

For this, let us pray. May we create a church within the bonds of family and friendship. May we offer our time freely to those in need, and remember that the time others give to us is just as special. May we be ambassadors of Christ, loving and praying for one another. May we lead each other to God.

Daily Digest #94

With the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. —2 Peter 3:8

May we live today as if there were no tomorrow. May we cease to worry, and count our blessings instead. May we start growing a loving, trusting, forgiving and faithful heart now. Pray always.

Daily Digest #93

Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh; and the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go. —Exodus 11:10

The verse and reflection today hit me hard so early in the morning hehehe. I was just whining about another person's attitude and decisions to my best friend a few moments ago. I admit that sometimes I wish to take matters into my own hands for the sake of another person I care about, just to keep him/her from making the same mistakes. I know my intension is real and pure, but oftentimes it leads me to disobedience, and frustration. Sometimes I forget to judge myself first, and realize that mine is not the only way for others to learn their lessons. God always makes a way for us to learn -- sometimes easy, sometimes hard -- and in His time. I guess what I forget most of the time is to trust His ways, and continue to pray for that certain person, instead of throwing judgments and "should's" on or off his/her face. I forget to say a prayer for myself as well, that He may bless me with patience, love and understanding when dealing with certain people. When I look back at moments when things turned out the way I actually prayed for or even better, without my aide, I am humbled by the fact that He is always in control. I guess we really need to remind ourselves that everyday.

For this, let us pray. May we develop an obedient heart. May we lift up our concerns to Him, talk to Him and listen to what He has to say. May God tame our tongues and cleanse our hearts. May He guide us in everything we think, say or do. May His will be done at all times. Pray always.

Faith and Patience

BE PATIENT, GOD ISN'T FINISHED WITH ME YET!

Did you ever build a kite as a kid? You'd take a couple of pieces of balsa wood, some paper, glue and string. Then you'd pray for a breeze. But did you ever think about how much faith it took to run a field, dragging your fragile creation behind you?

Some days the kite took off in a matter of minutes, dipping and darting as the wind pulled it up into the sky. Other times, no matter how fast you ran or how high you tried to jump, the kite continued to drag along behind you, until you finally gave up and went inside. Your success depended on something you couldn't control - something you couldn't even see. But you still believed it was there. You'd seen what the wind could do before. You had faith it would happen again.

The book of Hebrews, chapter 11, talks about the essence of faith. It explains that what is done in faith gives evidence to what cannot be seen. Running through the field trying to launch a kite gives evidence that there's something you're trusting in other than your own strength to get that kite up into the air. How much you trust in the power of the wind depends on three things: what others have told you about it, your experience with it, and how much you're wiling to risk trusting something you cannot see.

Your first step of faith in flying a kite was trusting in what others said the wind could do. You may have read a book, seen a kite on TV, learned about wind power in school, or watched as friends ran through the field with a kites of their own. Once you judged that your sources were reliable, things got a little more personal.

You may have had experience with wind in the past. You felt it blow against your face in a storm. You saw it whip leaves down the street on a fall day. You saw video of a hurricane picking up a trailer home. Certainly, in your experience, wind seems strong enough to carry a little balsa wood and paper through the sky.

You may believe in the wind. But until you trust the wind with your precious kite, you don't have faith in it. Faith involves action. You may believe that spring will come again next year. But planting your tulip bulbs in the fall is more than belief. It's an act of faith. You're acting as though something will happen before it actually has. You're putting your trust in something you cannot see.

Do you believe in God? If so, does what you believe have any effect on you life? We can believe in God and not have faith in Him. We may have heard what others have said about Him. We may have examined our own experience as to whether He really is who He says He is. But until we risk doing something where we have to trust Him, our faith is not real. It's just a theory we ponder, a philosophy we agree with.

Faith only grows through exercise. We may risk only small things - at first. "I'll risk wasting a few moments of time in prayer on the off-chance that God will really answer." But as we experience more of God's power in our lives, our faith - and willingness to risk - will grow. "I know this job doesn't pay as much as the one I have now, but I'm willing to risk it because I believe it's where God wants me to be." Our picture of God is as big as our faith.

But what happened on the day that the wind wasn't there - the day that our kites refused to fly? Some days, it feels as though God's doing the same thing that don't change right away. Faith doesn't give up when God's answer or timing isn't the same as our own. It doesn't put the kite in the closet and forget about it. Faith goes out into the field, trusting that God will show up when it's time for the kite to fly. Faith acts in confidence because it knows who God really is.

Taking time every day to talk with God about your life strengthens your faith as He reveals His true self to you. The stronger your faith, the more you can view problems as opportunities for Him to show you just what He can do. - His way. You'll find yourself bravely buying the biggest ball of kite string you can find to wait patiently for just the right breeze to lift your kite above the fences that seem to stand in the way.

Forwarded by a friend. Thanks, Marlou! :D

Daily Digest #92

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free. —Galatians 5:1

I would like to share another article from the Purpose Driven Life online (please read below). May we be enlightened by God's words today. May we develop a closer relationship with God through His son, Jesus Christ. May our lives be a reflection of God's love every day. Pray always.


Faith the Facts!

When will you ever learn that "believing" is useless without doing what God wants you to? Faith that does not result in good deeds is not real faith. James 2:20 (LB)

**** **** ****

Is faith simply a frame of mind? A passive attribute of a Christian waiting to see what God has in store for you: a promotion, cancer, depression, betrayal, blessing, wealth, and injustice . . . some see it that way. They might say, "I'll just wait to see what God is going to do for me and go with the flow." That's crazy talk.

Faith is active. It's not passive. It's a commitment. Look at your lifestyle and see what kind of actions follow as a result of it. If you've got the real stuff, faith can be demonstrated.

When you were baptized you made a statement to God and the people around you. You said, "I'm in!" But it doesn't stop at baptism – not by a long shot! What else do you do? You start following the pattern of Jesus. Faith is proven by how we live. Don't misinterpret this. What you do – your walking around, everyday life – doesn't get you into heaven. It doesn't make you saved. It doesn't mean you're a Christian; it shows you are a Christian.

The next steps:

· Celebrate the lavish gift of grace. You were saved because Jesus is crazy about you and wants you to be with him in heaven. Revel in it!

· Show your faith. Wedding rings don't make you married, but they say "Yes" in a visible way. In the same way, baptism isn't the thing that will get you into heaven but it's an act of obedience. (Jesus commanded us to baptize and be baptized.)

· Share your faith with the people around you. If you are excited about what God has done in your life, then why not share it? There are lots of ways to do that. Get plugged into serving God. There are literally millions of possibilities. Point people to Jesus and love them like Jesus did. It'll be something you will relish for eternity.

Daily Digest #91

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. —Philippians 4:6

I just want to share another entry from My Utmost For His Highest (please read below). I guess the reason why we worry is because we forget to include God in our plans. We struggle to take full control of our lives. Then we get lost, and we wonder and complain about many things. But when we realize and admit how weak we really are, then nothing else is left for us to do but turn back to Him.

For this, let us pray. May we keep a close relationship with the Lord. He is always waiting for us to consult Him in every choice that we make. May we learn to humble ourselves before God NOW. Let us remind ourselves that everything we have, and we are, is from Him. May we "let go, and let God". Pray always.


Don't Plan Without God

Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass —Psalm 37:5

Don't plan without God. God seems to have a delightful way of upsetting the plans we have made, when we have not taken Him into account. We get ourselves into circumstances that were not chosen by God, and suddenly we realize that we have been making our plans without Him— that we have not even considered Him to be a vital, living factor in the planning of our lives. And yet the only thing that will keep us from even the possibility of worrying is to bring God in as the greatest factor in all of our planning.

In spiritual issues it is customary for us to put God first, but we tend to think that it is inappropriate and unnecessary to put Him first in the practical, everyday issues of our lives. If we have the idea that we have to put on our "spiritual face" before we can come near to God, then we will never come near to Him. We must come as we are.

Don't plan with a concern for evil in mind. Does God really mean for us to plan without taking the evil around us into account? "Love . . . thinks no evil" ( 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 ). Love is not ignorant of the existence of evil, but it does not take it into account as a factor in planning. When we were apart from God, we did take evil into account, doing all of our planning with it in mind, and we tried to reason out all of our work from its standpoint.

Don't plan with a rainy day in mind. You cannot hoard things for a rainy day if you are truly trusting Christ. Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled . . ." (John 14:1 ). God will not keep your heart from being troubled. It is a command— "Let not. . . ." To do it, continually pick yourself up, even if you fall a hundred and one times a day, until you get into the habit of putting God first and planning with Him in mind.

Daily Digest #90

[God] has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ. —2 Corinthians 5:19-20

I only wish to share to you a couple of readings related to today's passage, about the "need for each other" (see posts below, from Purpose Driven Life online). May we all be enlightened, and grow in spirit. May we develop a heart of humility, understanding, acceptance, faith, hope and love for one another. We may have these struggles with some people at the moment, so let us pray for God's guidance, that He may lead us to righteousness. Pray always.


We Need Each Other: To Witness With

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. -- John13:34 (NIV)

*** *** *** ***.

Each of us has a life message that God wants us to share with the world. Sharing the message is part of our life's mission. When we share that message with other people, it's called witnessing.

There is great power in group witness. Just like a soldier is never sent out by himself, God never meant for us to do our mission alone. He says we should go out together to witness.

In fact, God says that we witness best to people who don't know God when we love others who are already in God's family. In John 13, Jesus tells us that our love for each other proves to the world that we are his disciples. People are impressed when Christians genuinely love each other. It proves to the world that they are in the family of God.

In 2 Timothy 1:7, we're told how we are supposed to witness to people: "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and self-discipline" (NIV).

Have you been timid and fearful in your witness? God's answer to fear is community, having other Christians stand alongside you in witness.

Seriously consider this question: Is anybody going to be in heaven because of you? If you work together to witness alongside other Christians, you'll be able to say, "Yes! Somebody's in heaven because of me."

Philippians 1:27 says, "… I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel" (NIV).

Do you witness with other Christians in one spirit – when you're so unified that it's almost like you're one person? This is the kind of relationship God wants us to have with our fellow Christians. We all need each other. God wants to use us to witness for him, but he wants us to do it together!

Other Articles:
We Need Each Other: To Wait and Weep With
We Need Each Other: To Watch Out For
We Need Each Other: To Work With
We Need Each Other: To Walk With

Daily Digest #89

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. —1 Timothy 6:17

I was having a conversation with a co-worker earlier. We were talking about our career choices, and life in general. Married with 2 kids, she reminisced on the days when she wished she was still single in order to travel all around the world. I sensed a bit of regret on her life's choices -- maybe for marrying or having kids too soon, or just not reaching for her dreams when she had the chance. What struck me most was the fact that she hung on to her choices, and remained faithful to the commitment she made to her husband and kids. I saw how she counted her blessings despite of all the doubts. It also led me to think how we usually yearn for the things we do not or cannot have, which sometimes confuses ourselves between fulfilling a dream and just being happy.

I have yet again realized how we ought to count our blessings every day. Sometimes we look so far that we take what we have NOW for granted. As a single, I have learned to enjoy the things I can still enjoy independently. I try to remind myself always that NOW is the time to do what I have to do, and be happy with the things that I have been blessed with, because they might not be here tomorrow. And it overwhelms me how much I actually have... much more than what I really need. I have a family who loves me, friends who support and comfort me, a job, a good health... and the list goes on and on. There is nothing else left for me to do but praise and worship the One who has provided me with all these gifts.

For this, I offer a personal prayer for the following people: for my family, that we may continue to love and support each other, and that we may grow in Christ together and individually; for my friends, near and far, to spread the kindness and lessons we learned from ourselves and each other, and that God may stay between us at all times; for my superiors, co-workers and students, that we may always be united in peace and harmony; for my neighbors, that we may always be safe, respecting one another; for those who have wronged me, or whom i have wronged, that we may have strength and courage to correct in a righteous way and learn to forgive each other, and ourselves; for my household and community, that we may stay focused on God alone, leading every single activity to Him, praying for each other and helping those in need. Thank you all for being blessings to me. May we always pray for each other. God bless!

Daily Digest #88

Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. —Romans 5:9

May I share to you another reading, from Oswald Chamber's "My Utmost For His Highest". I find it somewhat related to the passage above. May you be enlightened as well. Pray always. God bless!


The Overshadowing of God's Personal Deliverance

. . . I am with you to deliver you,' says the Lord —Jeremiah 1:8

God promised Jeremiah that He would deliver him personally— ". . . your life shall be as a prize to you . . ." (Jeremiah 39:18 ). That is all God promises His children. Wherever God sends us, He will guard our lives. Our personal property and possessions are to be a matter of indifference to us, and our hold on these things should be very loose. If this is not the case, we will have panic, heartache, and distress. Having the proper outlook is evidence of the deeply rooted belief in the overshadowing of God's personal deliverance.

The Sermon on the Mount indicates that when we are on a mission for Jesus Christ, there is no time to stand up for ourselves. Jesus says, in effect, "Don't worry about whether or not you are being treated justly." Looking for justice is actually a sign that we have been diverted from our devotion to Him. Never look for justice in this world, but never cease to give it. If we look for justice, we will only begin to complain and to indulge ourselves in the discontent of self-pity, as if to say, "Why should I be treated like this?" If we are devoted to Jesus Christ, we have nothing to do with what we encounter, whether it is just or unjust. In essence, Jesus says, "Continue steadily on with what I have told you to do, and I will guard your life. If you try to guard it yourself, you remove yourself from My deliverance." Even the most devout among us become atheistic in this regard— we do not believe Him. We put our common sense on the throne and then attach God's name to it. We do lean to our own understanding, instead of trusting God with all our hearts (see Proverbs 3:5-6 ).