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Monday, April 20, 2015

Blessed Sleep!


"As soon as I lie down, I fall peacefully asleep, for You alone, O Lord, bring security to my dwelling." Psalm 4:8
A good sleep is such a blessing. Sometimes I take coffee too late in the day because I have a meeting at night, and then I toss and turn and can't sleep. Or I can't sleep because I am thinking of the long list of things I have to do and take care of. Such a trial! People try all sorts of ways to sleep. Some take supplements of taurine, magnesium or vitamin B6. Some need a sleep mask and/or ear plugs to block out noise and light. I've heard of people praying the Rosary to sleep, or inhaling through the left nostril. Some even need to see a doctor, take sleeping pills or go to sleep clinics for insomnia! When I can't sleep, I count my blessings, and one of them is that I get a really good sleep almost every night. That is actually amazing, that we can sleep, in spite of the many challenges on our plate, the things we HAVE to remember to do, the things we need to do and want to do....

 Truly, we should know that we can leave all that with God, in His hands, and He will take care of the things we forget, or those things beyond our power to do. "More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of!" And while we sleep, we can be sure that He who keeps us will not slumber or rest. (Psalm 121:3-4)

 "Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power..." Acts 6:8
Saint Stephen was the first martyr of the Catholic faith. His story is short but very dramatic. When the Church was growing, there were some complaints that some widows were not getting their share of food. It was decided that the disciples would preach the Word, and seven men would be chosen to take care of food distribution. One of these men was Stephen. In Acts 6:8, Stephen is said to have performed "amazing miracles and signs". You would think more would have been written about this, but it is just one line, as if this was quite ordinary among the disciples of Jesus.

 Apparently Stephen did not merely distribute bread to the members of the Church, or he would not have gotten himself into a whole lot of trouble. Jews from all over would debate with him, and he would be able to defend the faith with wisdom. Some men lied about what he said, and he was brought before the Sanhedrin. In John chapter 6, Jesus told the crowds to "NOT work for perishable food but for food that will last unto eternal life." Stephen made sure to follow what Jesus said. Even before the Sanhedrin, he spoke with conviction, filled with the Holy Spirit, about God's plan through the ages. This infuriated the Jewish leaders and they dragged Stephen out of the city and stoned him. This does not happen today. But are we brave enough to stand up for truth, even if we will get stoned with criticism or censure? Are we willing to spread God's Word in a skeptical world, in the middle of a group of friends who would ridicule us, perhaps?


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Friday, April 17, 2015

Paint Party Friday: Surrounded by Blessing!

“Better for us to obey God than men!” Acts 5:29
Obedience brings blessing. There are many absurd stories of men in the Bible who obeyed strange things that God told them to do. I can imagine how difficult that was! How Noah had to suspend his rational thinking when he obeyed God and built an ark. How Abraham had to leave all that was familiar for the unfamiliar. And how about Moses?!!!
When I was young, I went on a month long trip to Europe with my mom. I enjoyed it so much I vowed I would go back as soon as I saved enough money. Ten years after, on January 1, during my prayer time, when I had the money, I asked God permission to go back. I felt God say, "Go to Jerusalem." I was supremely disappointed. For a young girl, Jerusalem meant serious praying, not fun. I countered, "You have to confirm that, God!" The next day, I was back at prayer and asked God again. I opened the Bible, and out jumped at me the words, "Go to Jerusalem. That is where you will see my face." Sighing, I set out to obey. But every trip to Jerusalem I joined, did not push through. Even when I gave money, the tour operator would refund the money. I got very frustrated!

Then I was invited to the Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon (The Joy of the Lord) Covenant Community. The first time I attended a gathering as a member, the leader said, "In our district, we have a yearly theme. Our theme this year is "Holiness: Following Jesus to Jerusalem. To be led where we would rather not go. (John 21:18)"

 I thought the theme was very strange! Who makes a theme like that? But I had a feeling that Ligaya was my Jerusalem. When we were singing our hearts out to God, the head knowledge that Ligaya was my Jerusalem travelled down to my heart. It was like something concrete going down from my head to my heart and I could follow its path. When it reached my heart, God spoke and said, "Yes, this is your Jerusalem."
Yes, obedience brings blessing. In my community, I see the face of God through my wonderful brothers and sisters. I see the generosity of God, His goodness, forgiveness, His compassion. I met my husband in community. Yesterday, when I wrote this, it was our 21st wedding anniversary! We had a double wedding with my sister who also met her husband in community. How wonderful to be surrounded by God's love and blessing!


Here are some pictures from our double wedding.

Father Tarsi made a mistake when he said, Luigi and Lito...
instead of "Luigi and Patsy"!!!
Everyone laughed heartily with him
when he explained it was his first double wedding! 

So much fun and laughter...

And here is my family.

How amazing that it has been 21 years!!!!


"Gather up the crusts that are left over so that nothing will go to waste." John 6:12
In chapter 6, John recounts the story of the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Jesus fed 5000 men (women and children were invisible in those days and were simply not counted!!!) with 2 fish and 5 barley loaves.
What is amazing to me is that after everyone was fed and had their fill, Jesus asked the disciples to "Gather up the crusts that are left over so that NOTHING will go to waste." Why? Couldn't He just forget about those crusts? Why did He not let the people bring it home? What did He do with those twelve baskets of left overs?

All that we have, our money, our home, our work is all God's. Our time, our gifts and talents, our energy is all His. So when we give, we are merely returning what is His. Still, it appears God is very careful with what we give Him, that NOTHING will go to waste. When I give Him my time in prayer, or serving in some way, I can be sure that He will multiply what time I have left and I am able to accomplish more than if I did not dedicate some time to Him in the morning. When I give Him my gifts, I have seen how He has made it bloom and grow. With money, when I give tithes, I have tested Him as He said in Malachi 3:10, "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it."
Lord, help me to always give thanks for everything I have. Give me the gift of generosity that nothing You have given me will go to waste!


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Wednesday, April 15, 2015

WOYWW: The Barnabas Spirit!

 I almost forgot it was Wednesday!
I was thinking about what to do next,
 when suddenly a lightbulb went on!
Scramble! Where's my camera!
Ugh! What a disgusting work desk!
Ok let's see... my little paints inside the drawer
on the right? Is that enough to distract attention away
from the huge mess on my table
that has nothing to do with any craft or art?
You decide :^((((

 "There was a certain Levite from Cyprus named Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (meaning 'son of encouragement')." Acts 4:36
What's in a name? This man Joseph must have been a real encourager to merit a change of name from the apostles! Sometimes God changes names in the Bible, but it's because of a future mission, like Simon to Peter (the Rock), or Abram to Abraham (father of many nations), Sarai to Sarah (Mother of many nations), Jacob to Israel (having power with God), etc. The name change had something to do with what God would make of that person. But in the case of Barnabas, the apostles called him Barnabas because of what Barnabas already was. He embodied the spirit of encouragement.

 After Saul was converted to the Christian way, and others were still skeptical about him, and avoided him, it was Barnabas who befriended and defended him. (Luke 9:26-27) He really gave Paul a chance to grow in leadership as he asked Paul to co-pastor with him in Antioch. (Acts 11:25-26) Paul and Barnabas undertook many missionary journeys. Barnabas also sold his land and gave the money to the apostles to distribute to those in need. Barnabas also liked giving people another chance, he didn't give up on them. Although Paul did not want to work with John Mark again as he had deserted them in a missionary journey, Barnabas insisted he would go with John Mark to Cyprus after a sharp disagreement with Paul. This only shows saints aren't perfect! These are real people who get disappointed, who need to work through disagreements, and fail in some way or another. And that's why we need encouragers like Barnabas!
Let's work towards a Barnabas spirit of encouragement! The Church needs more people to build others up, and bring out the best in others!

 "Go out now..and preach..all about this new life." Acts 5:20
After Jesus died, the apostles saw Him several times. He told them that they would receive power, and that they were to proclaim the good news to all the ends of the earth. From timid, scared men who were hiding, they became bold and fervent, and witnessed every where. They preached and performed many miraculous signs. Some people would get healed just from being under Peter's shadow. So you can imagine the crowds and commotion that followed them!

The High Priest and the Sadducees were not happy about this! They were jealous and threw the apostles in jail. But an angel came in the night and set them free. "Go out now ...and preach to the people about this new life!" And so Peter and the apostles went back to the Temple at dawn and started preaching!

Do we realize that we too have been set free? It may not be from an actual jail cell, but sin and death can be as real and confining as a jail cell. If we have no addiction to sexual sin, if we have no need of inner healing, if we are free from depression, if we are not bound by a desire for alcohol, that is by the grace of God! We live in a broken society where so many are in need of freedom. If we are free, let us help others who are not free by giving them the message of life like the apostles were driven to do. If we have need of healing, let us go to Jesus and say, "Lord, I want to be free! Pour down Your grace upon me! I need You! Forgive me and heal my brokenness!" Truly God's lavish and extravagant grace, His unmerited favor, is available to all!



Joining the lovely Julia Dunnit for a 
peek at desks and projects!
 
I find a lot of inspiration
visiting my friends here:

Blessings!
Patsy

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Monday, April 13, 2015

Inspire Me Monday: Conquer the World!

 "The place where they gathered shook as they prayed." Acts 4:31
​​
I did not realize that what occurred in Acts 2 was repeated in Acts chapter 4.  Believers who were gathered in one place were filled with the Holy Spirit.  This means that "Pentecost", a feast commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ did not happen just once, but probably several times.  

In Wikipedia, I learned that Pentecost is the old Greek and Latin name for the Jewish harvest festival, or Festival of Weeks which can be found in the Hebrew Bible. It is also called the Day of the First Fruits. As Pentecost is also known as the birthday of the Church, it is really the day of the first fruits of the Church. In 2 Timothy 1 verse 6, Saint Paul urges Timothy to "kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands."  "To stir into flame" is another translation of this verse.  I remember the first time I was laid hands on. Nothing happened.  I was too interested in the noise and activity that was happening around me.  People were speaking in tongues, and falling over chairs, and wailing.  

 I went to several Life in the Spirit seminars after that. It is all right for us to keep wanting to get an infilling of the Spirit. It is all right for us to ask to be laid hands on, prayed over. Just as God breathed on Adam, that "dead" body into life, and the Holy Spirit breathed into the "dead" body of the Church in Acts, so we too can keep asking Jesus to breathe His Spirit into us, that we may not be ineffective in our work as His people.  There is not a single person that God can't use if we have His Spirit in us! 

 "...the power that has conquered the world is this faith of ours." 1 John 5:5
In the 20th chapter of John, there is the famous story of doubting Thomas, the one disciple who refused to believe the others when they said they had seen Jesus. He said, "I'll never believe it without probing the nail-prints in His hands, without putting my finger in the nail-marks and my hand into His side." And so he went a week being skeptical. Perhaps the disciples kept convincing him, and he would question them, and scoff, and say, "Psshaw! What a big fish story!" for fishermen are peerless when it comes to exaggeration!
Then after a week of this, Jesus comes again and shows Himself to Thomas and the other disciples. He invites Thomas to do what he needs to believe. Finally Thomas comes to this realization: "My Lord and my God!" Then Jesus gives this promise which we can can claim: "You, Thomas, became a believer because you saw Me. Blessed are they who have not seen and have believed." (John 20:29)

 That's you and me. Believers who have not seen. There's a special blessing for you and me. We believe even though we have not put our fingers into the marks of the nails. We believe even if we did not follow Jesus around for 3 years, and watch Him make the blind see and witness Lazarus coming back to life. Just as Jesus did what Thomas needed for him to believe, I do believe Jesus will do what is necessary for our faith to grow. He wants us to conquer the world, and we can only do that through faith!

 "...they refused to believe it." Mark 16:11
The writer of the Gospel of Mark is John Mark, who traveled with the apostle Paul. When he settled in Rome, he wrote down Peter's recollections of Jesus' life. The last chapter of his writings are a short summary of what happens after Jesus' death, 
starting from when the women discover the empty tomb. 
The disciples did not believe Mary Magdalene when she delivered the news that Jesus was alive. Neither did they believe Cleopas and his companion when they reported seeing Jesus on the way to Emmaus.

Jesus then appeared to them and rebuked them for their disbelief- 
"their stubborn refusal to believe". Do you think Jesus is frustrated with the disciples here? Disappointed? Is He thinking they are hopeless? He can't depend on them? That they can't be trusted with the mission He wants to give them?



On the contrary, right after rebuking them, He says,
"Go into the whole world and proclaim the good news to everyone, everywhere." I can imagine Jesus being frustrated with a lot of us!
We are being given so much! We are entrusted with so much treasure in His Word. What do we do with it? But then I know, because I see it in my own life, that no matter how much I fail, Jesus never gives up on me.
He still gives and gives and gives! Every day, He opens up His treasure chest. And every day, I just want to shout, "Yes, God is good!"


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