Tag: plan

Make a Ditch

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 “Thus says the Lord: ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’ For thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.’ And this is a simple matter in the sight of the Lord.” – 2 Kings 3:16-18

Have you been praying for something and you feel like nothing is happening? When I read those verses in 2 Kings, I can’t help but be ashamed of how demanding I can get with God. Especially this verse- “And this is a simple matter in the sight of the Lord”. 

As I was reflecting on those verses, I was so reminded of how naive I could get on how God works. Especially when the season of waiting is getting longer. We start to question if God really hears us or if He even is really doing something.

To give you a background of those verses… During the old times of Israel, the king of Israel, Judah and Edom were going to a battle against the Moabites. On their journey, they ran out of water for their army and for their animals and so the king of Judah looked for a prophet to inquire the Lord. And so Elisha spoke to them those very words from the Lord.

There was only one thing that God asked them to do. To fill the valley where they  were at with ditches. How hard could that be right? But then, the follow up was that they will never see rain or wind to fill those ditches with water. Do you think that makes sense? If there’s no rain, then how could they have water?

There are times in our life that God would ask us to step out in faith even if it doesn’t really make sense for us. And most of the time, we would always question God’s ways. If there is no rain coming, will you ever dig a hole?

But that’s how God works. Most of the time, He works behind the scene. We don’t see how He orchestrates things. We will not see how He will fill the ditch with water. We will just see the water, that’s all. That’s why He asked us to live by faith and not by sight.

And indeed, God fulfilled His promise. Everyone got provided with water. If they did not make a ditch, they will never have water. Is there anything in your life right now that God is asking you to take a leap of faith?

The most assuring thing in those verses did not just end with His promise. He ended it with the words most of us would always forget. IT IS A SIMPLE MATTER! We forget that we serve and worship a powerful God. The One who created the whole universe. We forget that we seek a sovereign God. And in Him, nothing is impossible.

I hope those verses will encourage you to take a leap of faith in Jesus and  to trust and wait on God’s behind the scene plan and timing based not on your own confidence or faith, but based on God’s character and of who He is in your life.

Go make that ditch! God bless you!

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Quality Time

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As I try to think why I enjoy trips and travels, I realized that since when I was young and my family still lived in Cebu, my parents would take us to different trips. We would go to Bacolod and visit our relatives through bus and ferry. We would go to Cebu City with our neighbors for tours.

When we moved to Bacolod and all of us started going to school, we barely had trips unless our relatives from the US would come home. It was something we haven’t done together as a family until my siblings and I started working. We had our own trips but not as a family

Every time I go to some nice place, I always wish that my family is with me and that I could share such memory with them. That’s why every time I go home to Bacolod, I always make sure that we go out of town and just enjoy family time. Sometimes, it’s not really the place anymore. It’s really being with them.

Early this year, my sister and I planned for a CDO trip. We booked the whole family for a flight to Cagayan de Oro last August without telling Papa and Mama first.  We wanted to give them a treat at the same time be able to visit relatives of Papa’s side. And I must say, it was really worth all the expenses! 🙂 One of the best trips I had.

We all don’t know when we can really have the time with our families unless we want to be intentional about it. Because I live far from my family, I really make sure time with them is time well-spent. I’m looking forward for next year’s trip, maybe, when my brother comes home. Maybe visit Cebu and relatives of Mama’s side.

I’m thankful that God allows us to enjoy life to its fullest with people that we love the most. 🙂

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True Design

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This week, I’ve been reading the first 2 chapters of the Book of Genesis as I prepare for a material of an upcoming event about life’s purpose. I just want to once again be refreshed and reminded of God’s design for man and there’s not better way to do that than to start on the creation of man.

As I was reflecting on the 2 chapters this week, (I’m really having a hard time describing what I felt, words can’t define) I was actually speechless, I got teary-eyed and just so amazed of who God is. I’ve read Genesis so many times but this week, God just really made my heart grew more for Him.

A human mind can never grasp the depth of God’s love even if He created us to be above all His other creations. God’s love can never be fathomed. His pleasure in us can never be defined. His longing for us can never be explained. The relationship of the Creator to His creation is very important to Him that we never even bother to understand or even realize.

“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Gen 1:27)

“Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” (Gen 2:7)

 “Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food.” (Gen 2:8-9)

These verses reminded me not of who I am in the eyes of God but of who God is and that even in the passing of time, the way God sees us has never changed. Who God is never changed and will never will.

Our life was never about us since the beginning. It has always been about God that’s why He created us. But God made sure we will be His very important masterpiece. He designed us in His own image. He breathed to us the breath of life. He planted a garden for us. He made trees that were pleasing and good for food. And importantly, we are a creation that God allowed to make choices. Can an apple tree choose to bear an orange fruit? Can a dog choose to fly than run? But God never forced us unto Him. He gave us a choice. (You tell me an inventor who gave his invention the freedom to its own will?) Because that’s what a relationship is.  Because that’s what God wants from us. For us to choose Him over anything else.

In all our busyness in this life,  it’s always a good start of our day to day to ask our selves – WHAT AM I LIVING FOR? Why should I love my family more even if they cause me pain sometimes? Why should I love my enemies too? Why should I give my best at work even if I don’t feel like doing it? Why should I choose to stay quiet even if I’m so angry?

When we truly realize and understand that this life is never about us, then, we will feel the true sense of freedom from putting pressure on ourselves that we have to become this somebody, when actually all God wants is for us to be His child.

flower“If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?” (Matt 6:30-33 The Message)

To my Creator and Father- Thank YOU. Unto You God be the glory forever!