Thursday, November 20, 2014
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Knock knock! Who's there?
Would you still knock even if the door is already closed? But thinking about it, you would not knock on the door that is not closed. I was reading this common passage in the Bible one day and somewhat it spoke to me in a different tone.
This was during the time Jesus was teaching about prayer (remember The Lord's Prayer?). Then He continued and told about a story of a man who goes to a friend at midnight...
So I asked God if I got this one right after reading this passage again... That there are times that He will answer and give to us what we've been praying for not because we just know Him (v. 8a- " I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend...), but because we are bold AND persistent in asking Him (v. 8b- "...yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.").
That even though the door is already closed and others have already turned us down (v. 7- "and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’), He will still answer us because we are bold AND persistent in asking Him. Because we are always asking, seeking and knocking... and so He will move and give to us as much as we need (v. 8- "I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.").
There are times when God teaches us two things in praying- let go or hold on. "Let go" because maybe He will give something better to you, more than what you are asking from Him. Or simply because it is not just part of His will... His good, pleasing and perfect will. And "Hold on", maybe because He is just teaching you to be patient or to be bold and persistent.
So, not all "closed doors" are also lost opportunities. Sometimes, with God's leading, we just have to knock on that door!
Bottom line is, our God is the Good Father. He gives good things to His children who ask Him! :)
This was during the time Jesus was teaching about prayer (remember The Lord's Prayer?). Then He continued and told about a story of a man who goes to a friend at midnight...
"5 And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? 8 I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs." -Luke 11:5-8 (NKJV)
So I asked God if I got this one right after reading this passage again... That there are times that He will answer and give to us what we've been praying for not because we just know Him (v. 8a- " I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend...), but because we are bold AND persistent in asking Him (v. 8b- "...yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.").
That even though the door is already closed and others have already turned us down (v. 7- "and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’), He will still answer us because we are bold AND persistent in asking Him. Because we are always asking, seeking and knocking... and so He will move and give to us as much as we need (v. 8- "I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.").
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| Image from intimateweddings.com |
There are times when God teaches us two things in praying- let go or hold on. "Let go" because maybe He will give something better to you, more than what you are asking from Him. Or simply because it is not just part of His will... His good, pleasing and perfect will. And "Hold on", maybe because He is just teaching you to be patient or to be bold and persistent.
"7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." -Matthew 11:7-8 (NKJV)
So, not all "closed doors" are also lost opportunities. Sometimes, with God's leading, we just have to knock on that door!
"9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" -Matthew 11:9-11 (NKJV)
Bottom line is, our God is the Good Father. He gives good things to His children who ask Him! :)
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Coffees, Teas and Cakes
Wow! I was so happy when I got to read an email today from Coffee Bean Philippines! :) It's not really a big thing but I was just happy to also share to other Coffee Bean lovers our story as the "Overfellowshippers"! :) My post was featured in their Brew Your Best Year site just yesterday under the "Your Coffee Bean Story". :)
Click the picture to read the whole post that I'm talking about! ;)
Click the picture to read the whole post that I'm talking about! ;)
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| Overfellowshippers at CBTL! :) |
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
About Trees, Tierra and Trust
Last Saturday, we had our bonding time with some of our kids church volunteers. We did tree planting and then had our lunch and some games after. :) It was my first time to experience tree planting somewhere in the mountain haha!
We have people from the government who went with us (they are from the DENR- Department of Environment and Natural Resuorces) and they are the ones who guided us all throughout. I had a short conversation with one of them and I think he's been working in the DENR for a very long time and told us some stuff about trees. :)
He told us that you can't just plant trees every where since there are different types of trees. Well I know that there are trees that can only grow in a tropical country, and there are trees that can flourish in countries that have four seasons. He didn't told us that but what he said is more of like a "tree's behavior" and its different functions.
Say there are trees that suck up more water than the usual, then there are trees that gives out water. There are trees that are fit to be planted in the mountains for their roots are perfect in supporting or holding the soil together. There are trees that are good to be planted in urban areas but there are trees that are dangerous to be planted in there. Example is the Acacia tree. It is kind of dangerous because on the outside it may look sturdy, but on the inside it can be hallow. Sooo... there's a big chance that it can be uprooted or be cut down by itself. He also mentioned that if the place is endemic with birds, then Mahogany trees are not the best trees to be planted there. He told us that the Mahogany trees tastes bitter to the birds so they don't opt to live there (Ooooooohhh.. (: )
Then I got this "God moment" while I was planting the tree seedlings that I have. God puts us (or plants us) in a place where He knows we will bloom. He created us, and so it is just right that He perfectly knows us... Our behavior, weaknesses and strengths. Or He can put us in a place where He knows our hidden skills or talents can surface. Sure there can be times when we doubt God's ways, we think in ourselves if this place where He is leading us is a place where we can bloom. But then He is God, and He knows waaaaay more than what we know. If we surrender our lives to Him and trust on His leading, then wherever He plants us, that will be a place where we can bloom. :)
We have people from the government who went with us (they are from the DENR- Department of Environment and Natural Resuorces) and they are the ones who guided us all throughout. I had a short conversation with one of them and I think he's been working in the DENR for a very long time and told us some stuff about trees. :)
He told us that you can't just plant trees every where since there are different types of trees. Well I know that there are trees that can only grow in a tropical country, and there are trees that can flourish in countries that have four seasons. He didn't told us that but what he said is more of like a "tree's behavior" and its different functions.
 |
| Image from www.typesofeverything.com |
Say there are trees that suck up more water than the usual, then there are trees that gives out water. There are trees that are fit to be planted in the mountains for their roots are perfect in supporting or holding the soil together. There are trees that are good to be planted in urban areas but there are trees that are dangerous to be planted in there. Example is the Acacia tree. It is kind of dangerous because on the outside it may look sturdy, but on the inside it can be hallow. Sooo... there's a big chance that it can be uprooted or be cut down by itself. He also mentioned that if the place is endemic with birds, then Mahogany trees are not the best trees to be planted there. He told us that the Mahogany trees tastes bitter to the birds so they don't opt to live there (Ooooooohhh.. (: )
Then I got this "God moment" while I was planting the tree seedlings that I have. God puts us (or plants us) in a place where He knows we will bloom. He created us, and so it is just right that He perfectly knows us... Our behavior, weaknesses and strengths. Or He can put us in a place where He knows our hidden skills or talents can surface. Sure there can be times when we doubt God's ways, we think in ourselves if this place where He is leading us is a place where we can bloom. But then He is God, and He knows waaaaay more than what we know. If we surrender our lives to Him and trust on His leading, then wherever He plants us, that will be a place where we can bloom. :)
"Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper." -Psalm 1:1-3
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