Every time I see this scene from Disney Pixar's Up I always tear up at the thought of parting with your wife. Could a life's worth of memories be enough to ease the pain?
The Mind of the Melancholeric Man: Musings on Life and Ministry by Patrick Tan
Of Tarsiers and Dolphins
I've been thinking lately about tarsiers and dophins.
Tarsiers are said be gentle creatures. They live in the remotest corners of the forest. And it is said that when they are stressed, such as being terribly mishandled by uninformed tourists, they would rather kill themselves by banging their head on a branch.
Dolphins are the same. I heard someone say at church a few weeks ago that a dolphin's smile are nature's greatest deception. Because despite their cheerful and playful appearance. They can be so stressed that they can just choose to hold their breath and drown themselves.
Why am I saying this? Forgive my morbid illustrations.
I've grown to be a gentle, quiet person. A lifestyle I chose for myself. And lately I've been stressed by too much disruption around me. But not to the point of inflicting myself like the tarsier or the dolphin. I drown myself in music and His Word.
Like today I kept on meditating on Philippians 4 about how Paul has learned to be content in any circumstances. We often quote these popular verses. But sometimes it is out of context. We think Paul means we must learn to be content as if contentment can be attained if I thought about it hard enough. He says, "I have learned to be content ... in lack and in abundance ... because I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." Understanding that it is through Christ that gives us strength to endure, to thrive, in whatever circumstance life throws at us, lifts a lot of pressure from us trying to not miss the line.
And we often fall to the idea that we can be good enough. We would try hard enough to merit God's approval. I've tried that recently, only to find myself crashing down by the end of the day like a house of cards. I asked, "God, why am I like that?" I've made a pretty sand castle, and at the end of the day it's I myself who destroy it. Then, I am reminded by the Paul's writing saying,
I have discovered this principle of life--that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God's law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord ... So there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. / Romans 7:21-8:2
Once more I am reminded that I am a sinner in need of a Savior, a saint only because of God's grace. And we sometimes hallucinate like we deserved to be rewarded because of our works.
I was reading Max Lucado's Cast of Characters. I've always loved the story of the sinful woman with the perfume in the alabaster jar, how she honored Jesus at Simon's banquet. Lucado has retold the story beautifully. "She has now water, but she has tears. She has no towel, but she has her hair ..." and by the end Jesus tells Simon about her, "I tell you, her sins--and they are many--have been forgiven, so she has sown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love." (Luke 7, NLT). Far be it for me that I would substitute my works and accomplishments and draw away from the grace of God that alone makes earthly clays into vessels of His glory!
Day in the Life: Parents
Yesterday we decided to visit my home church BFGFC for sunday service. We were blessed by a very practical and timely message by our pastor on How to be joyful always in the Lord. This was also the first time we visited after we were commissioned to missions by the church.
Our primary purpose though in visiting was to see our parents. Because this weekend and the next, we will be staying straight in Makati because my in-laws are abroad on the first week and I will be going to Batangas on the 2nd week. I know that they appreciate us staying home at least once a week. In fact early after marriage we use to stay more in Caloocan. But now that I have a job in ortigas and Nette's got her clinic in Makati. It's more practical to stay in Makati during weekdays. In fact we do miss our house in caloocan because we have the house to our own.
We learn soon that they have an afternoon church meeting. We planned to spend time with them in the mall. Clearly my parents are sad that we can't be togeter for some more time. We too am sad that it was so. I discover the reality of growing up. Once a person marries his attention is now to his wife. I'm glad that my parents have brought me up in a way that I desire to see them still as an adult married person. But I realize our time with our parents is not forever. So while you have time and still single, make the most to love them and serve them.
Our primary purpose though in visiting was to see our parents. Because this weekend and the next, we will be staying straight in Makati because my in-laws are abroad on the first week and I will be going to Batangas on the 2nd week. I know that they appreciate us staying home at least once a week. In fact early after marriage we use to stay more in Caloocan. But now that I have a job in ortigas and Nette's got her clinic in Makati. It's more practical to stay in Makati during weekdays. In fact we do miss our house in caloocan because we have the house to our own.
We learn soon that they have an afternoon church meeting. We planned to spend time with them in the mall. Clearly my parents are sad that we can't be togeter for some more time. We too am sad that it was so. I discover the reality of growing up. Once a person marries his attention is now to his wife. I'm glad that my parents have brought me up in a way that I desire to see them still as an adult married person. But I realize our time with our parents is not forever. So while you have time and still single, make the most to love them and serve them.
Wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world
I've been reading Experiencing God by Blackaby as a devotional these past few days and I've it is a good read having not read it ever before. The book is able to express and reveal my feelings and understanding about God and life. Another quote:
Have you ever heard someone say something like this: 'I'm afraid to surrender totally to the Lord, because He might send me to Africa as a missionary'? Such a statement indicates a lack of trust and understanding of the love of God. He would not call you to Africa unless He know that such a call would be best for you. Many missionaries in Africa would not want to be anywhere else in the world. They love Africa and they know God gave them His very best when He called them there ... Never allow your heart to question the love of God ... He has been pursuing you in that love relationship. Every dealing He has with you is an expression of His love for you. God would cease to be God if He expressed Himself in any way other than perfect love!
Reading this I feel very blessed that where we are now--student missions and ministry--is an expression of His love for us. And indeed we "would not want to be anywhere else in the world."
Here in My Life
A recent favorite.
I have never walked on water
Felt the waves beneath my feet but
At your Word Lord, I’ll receive Your
Faith to walk on oceans deep
And I remember how You found me:
In that very same place
All my failing surely would've drowned me
But You made a way
You are my freedom
Jesus you’re the reason
I’m kneeling again at Your throne
Where would I be without You
Here in my life, here in my life?
You have said that all the heavens
Sing for joy at one who finds
The way to freedom, truth of Jesus
Bought from death into His life
And I remember how You saw me:
Through the eyes of Your grace
And though the cost was Your beloved for me
Still you made a way!
I have never walked on water
Felt the waves beneath my feet but
At your Word Lord, I’ll receive Your
Faith to walk on oceans deep
And I remember how You found me:
In that very same place
All my failing surely would've drowned me
But You made a way
You are my freedom
Jesus you’re the reason
I’m kneeling again at Your throne
Where would I be without You
Here in my life, here in my life?
You have said that all the heavens
Sing for joy at one who finds
The way to freedom, truth of Jesus
Bought from death into His life
And I remember how You saw me:
Through the eyes of Your grace
And though the cost was Your beloved for me
Still you made a way!
God knows where I am
The running thought for today's devotion is 'Be still and know that I am God'. He knows our need before we tell Him. Before we reason out to Him He has already made the way. I pick this up out of Experiencing God: '... As long as God knew where I was, He could cause anybody in the worrld to know where I was. As long as He knew my need, He could place that need on the heart of anybody He chose ... We begin that first step of faith by believing that the God who knows where we are is the God who can touch anybody, anywhere, and cause him or her to know where we are' (p6-7). May you be affirmed that our God sees our need as He provides for them at the right time.
"Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God ... Let your words be few ... Stand in awe of God." Ec 5
"Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God ... Let your words be few ... Stand in awe of God." Ec 5
A Blessed Man Am I
Proverbs 5:15-23, NLT
Drink water from your own well--share your love only with your wife ...
You should reserve it for yourselves. Never share it with strangers.
Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
She is a loving deer, a graceful doe ... May you always be captivated by her love.
For the Lord sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes.
An evil man is held captive by his own sins; they are ropes that catch and hold him.
He will die for lack of self-control; he will be lost because of his great foolishness.
Drink water from your own well--share your love only with your wife ...
You should reserve it for yourselves. Never share it with strangers.
Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
She is a loving deer, a graceful doe ... May you always be captivated by her love.
For the Lord sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes.
An evil man is held captive by his own sins; they are ropes that catch and hold him.
He will die for lack of self-control; he will be lost because of his great foolishness.
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