I just got Facebook messages from my cousin's wife today. We got to talking about what's been going on with her life and her family. She said that my cousin, her husband works in Saudi and she lives and work in Hong Kong and her only son now grown up is living in the Philippines with her mom. I'm reading about this and thinking, what's the point of having a high paying job, when you can't even enjoy being with your own family. I find this very sad. I'm looking at my situation and I don't make enough really to get by, but God is faithful enough to always provide for me and my kids.
The economy is really bad in the US and I can probably find a better job elsewhere. But I've been to a point in my life where chasing my dream job is not as important anymore as being with my kids. I love my kids. I love being around them. When I was married before, I took these times I had with them for granted. I feel that I didn't spend enough time with them when they were younger and I was too busy working and providing for my family. I lost my wife. Yes, I lost my wife, she didn't leave me, but mentally I left her alone and she just got fed up with it and found someone else now that will support her both physically, financially and emotionally. While I was too busy trying to rule the world, I left my ex-wife to raise our children by herself and even though I was there physically, I never really took the time to nourish the relationship I have with my kids. Now, I don't care about my job. It's become more important for me to be with my kids whenever I have them in custody than climb the corporate ladder.
Jobs come and go. And sometimes spouses. But your kids will always be your flesh & blood. Don't take them for granted. Thank you Lord for my daughter and son. Bless them always!
Friday, June 24, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Struggles in Life
Last week, a friend of mine was in town for his kids' sports camp and we had a couple of lunches together. It seems like we always have a great debate about the Bible. It's great, but it always seems like we are having an argument and he always ends up winning. It's not like that, but it seems like he always seem to get his point across and I have none. We were discussing about why bad things happen to Christians and non-Christians alike. I pointed out that sometimes God protects us in his own ways because God would always know what's best for us and would only gives us adversities that we can handle. This of course only talking about us Christians.
Well, since I feel defeated and I'm not as knowledgeable as he is in the Word, I decided to bring my cousin into this conversation, by telling him what happens during our conversations and the points he made and the points I made. This has been a pretty sermon coming from my cousin. He was a pastor of a huge church, but now just actively speaking in other churches, like an evangelist. I know I needed to blog this because I want to be able to share on what he had to say.
Anyway, my friend brought up the passage in Luke 13:1-5:
1 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
Talking about those people who suffer from tragedies like flood or tornadoes, are they worse people than we who didn't suffer as bad? I pointed out that I feel that God protected my jeep during a recent hail storm and I feel blessed by it. I'm not bragging about it, I just want to say that God was good to me. Anyway, here's my cousin's take on it:
I believe your friend is making a mistake over Luke 13:1-4. This passage refers to unbelievers and not the children of God. Jesus was saying in effect, do you think those guys are more wicked because a worse thing happened to them?
Jesus spoke to those Jews who just arrived to tell about some "Galileans" whom Pilate killed while offering their sacrifices at the altar. It was a horrible way to die.
Jesus reacted because there was something about their story that made those particular Jews feel that they were more righteous than those Galileans.
By the way, these Jews just got there while Jesus was talking about God's gracious care for all His children and warnings about hypocrisy. (Luke 12)
Jesus sensed their self-unrighteousness. So He told them that righteousness or unrighteousness cannot be measured by how much tragedy a person goes through.
They were implying that "Galileans" are worse sinners than other people around because of what happened to them. And Jesus was a "Galilean!" What a way to insult Jesus.
It also sounded like a threat for Jesus to watch out for Pilate too.
So Jesus said that even if they were Jews and consider themselves better or more righteous because of Abraham, that if they do not repent from their wicked ways, they will likewise perish.
Jesus was telling them not to compare themselves with others.
For the wicked, whether bad or worse sinners, destruction is their end.
Here's the Jesus' attitude towards the wicked:
Matthew 15:13-14
13 But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14 Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”
Jesus' attitude is "let them alone"
This is the worse thing that can happen to a person. When God leaves a person alone by himself. In God's mercy, the sun still shines upon that person. He can still work and live as if nothing is happening, and be proud that he is prospering without God's help. But then sudden destruction comes upon him. And God does not help because he is left alone.
Deuteronomy 32:35
35 Vengeance is Mine, and recompense;
Their foot shall slip in due time;
For the day of their calamity is at hand,
And the things to come hasten upon them.’
The previous verse said, "their foot shall slip in due time."
They may be proud of their wickedness today, and prospering as if everything they do is doing great. But since they do not give God the glory, destruction will come suddenly.
This is what Jesus was telling the people before the Jews told Him about the Galileans in Luke 12:13-21. Also, Jesus spoke about wicked servants. Those wicked servants think that everything is going well but then all of a sudden, God judges them.
So, we see that it is a fearful thing to fall in God's angry hands.
Anyway, your friend seemed to quote a scripture that referred to wicked people and not to God's covenant people.
"And he asked, why are you unique and special?" My cousin is pointing this out because I told him that my friend asked if I was special? Well, come to think of it I do.
It seemed that he was asking from a vantage point of disbelief rather than belief in God's goodness.
Well, I believe you ought to rejoice that God protected your jeep and He has his gracious hands on you.
Of course we are special to God! We are His children. John 1:12. in verse 16 of the same chapter, it says, out of His fullness (of grace), we receive one blessing after another. God's grace and love is lavished on us on top of another grace and love. What a good God He is!
David asked the same question but from an attitude of wonder and awe of God's goodness:
Psalm 8:3-6 especially verse 4
"4 what are human beings, that you think of them;
mere mortals, that you care for them?"
David was so overcome by the care and love of God that He exclaimed his wonder and awe. It was out of belief in God and not distrust in God's gracious care.
I believe that God holds us in His hands and no one touches without His permission. Even though bad things may happen to one of His precious children, it will be well with them because God never leaves nor forsakes His children.
All things work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
"What about the other Christians who had damages done to their homes, their vehicles and even to their lives? He pointed out that bad things happen to Christians and non-Christians alike. I agree, but some God protects for their own good."
Well, you should not feel guilty when things are going well for you and thing does not appear to go well with other Christians.
God loves all His children in His own special way. When bad things happen to Christians, it does not mean that He's judging them. God has a purpose. One thing is sure, all things will work out good because He is a good God.
God is a righteous God. to be righteous means to do the right thing.
So, even when bad things happen to His covenant people, God will always do the right thing. It is always for their good.
But for the wicked, He leaves them alone by themselves. I don't want this to happen to me.
God never leaves us nor forsakes us.
If we are not special to God, then why did He tell us that we are special to Him:
Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Ephesians 1:3-4 says:
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
Look at that verse! God already made us special even before he created the world. We were already in His thoughts even before the world began!
If that does not make you special, what would?
And again, we don't compare ourselves with other people.
My friend asked:
"What about the other Christians who had damages done to their homes, their vehicles and even to their lives? He pointed out that bad things happen to Christians and non-Christians alike."
In a way, he is right. Solomon says, everything happens to all people just the same whether good or bad.
But remember, Solomon was describing a person who lives under the sun, meaning, a person who lives without acknowledging God in his life. For that person, "everything is meaningless!"
Solomon in the same book, tells his readers that it will go well with the righteous.
Our mistake many times is to compare ourselves with other people. David also made the same mistake until he saw God and focused his heart to God.
Then he exclaimed, Oh, God is so good to me!
Kindly meditate on Psalm 37, the whole chapter!
But let me just share these verses to encourage you.
Psalm 37
18 Day by day the Lord takes care of the innocent,
and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever.
19 They will not be disgraced in hard times;
even in famine they will have more than enough.
23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives.
24 Though they stumble, they will never fall,
for the Lord holds them by the hand.
25 Once I was young, and now I am old.
Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned
or their children begging for bread.
26 The godly always give generous loans to others,
and their children are a blessing.
35 I have seen wicked and ruthless people
flourishing like a tree in its native soil.
36 But when I looked again, they were gone!
Though I searched for them, I could not find them!
37 Look at those who are honest and good,
for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.
38 But the rebellious will be destroyed;
they have no future.
39 The Lord rescues the godly;
he is their fortress in times of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them,
rescuing them from the wicked.
He saves them,
and they find shelter in him.
God is a good God!
Paul, had God's goodness and love in mind when mentions that even though bad things happen to godly people, we can never be separated from God's constant love (Romans 8:31-36)
Romans 8:37-39
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus, amen!
He then went on to say:
As I was saying, God loves us all, individually, in His own special way.
Comparing ourselves with others is not a good way to measure our righteousness or God's expression of love or favor.
All we need is to trust Him and love Him like a little child:)
As we do so, we shall live in His presence and experience his joy and pleasure:)
Psalm 16:11
11 You will show me the way of life,
granting me the joy of your presence
and the pleasures of living with you forever.
The Lord bless you richly, amen:)
PR: Thank you for these words of encouragement. I pray that someday, I can be as knowledgeable as you are though with him to much is given, much more is required.
Well, since I feel defeated and I'm not as knowledgeable as he is in the Word, I decided to bring my cousin into this conversation, by telling him what happens during our conversations and the points he made and the points I made. This has been a pretty sermon coming from my cousin. He was a pastor of a huge church, but now just actively speaking in other churches, like an evangelist. I know I needed to blog this because I want to be able to share on what he had to say.
Anyway, my friend brought up the passage in Luke 13:1-5:
1 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
Talking about those people who suffer from tragedies like flood or tornadoes, are they worse people than we who didn't suffer as bad? I pointed out that I feel that God protected my jeep during a recent hail storm and I feel blessed by it. I'm not bragging about it, I just want to say that God was good to me. Anyway, here's my cousin's take on it:
I believe your friend is making a mistake over Luke 13:1-4. This passage refers to unbelievers and not the children of God. Jesus was saying in effect, do you think those guys are more wicked because a worse thing happened to them?
Jesus spoke to those Jews who just arrived to tell about some "Galileans" whom Pilate killed while offering their sacrifices at the altar. It was a horrible way to die.
Jesus reacted because there was something about their story that made those particular Jews feel that they were more righteous than those Galileans.
By the way, these Jews just got there while Jesus was talking about God's gracious care for all His children and warnings about hypocrisy. (Luke 12)
Jesus sensed their self-unrighteousness. So He told them that righteousness or unrighteousness cannot be measured by how much tragedy a person goes through.
They were implying that "Galileans" are worse sinners than other people around because of what happened to them. And Jesus was a "Galilean!" What a way to insult Jesus.
It also sounded like a threat for Jesus to watch out for Pilate too.
So Jesus said that even if they were Jews and consider themselves better or more righteous because of Abraham, that if they do not repent from their wicked ways, they will likewise perish.
Jesus was telling them not to compare themselves with others.
For the wicked, whether bad or worse sinners, destruction is their end.
Here's the Jesus' attitude towards the wicked:
Matthew 15:13-14
13 But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14 Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”
Jesus' attitude is "let them alone"
This is the worse thing that can happen to a person. When God leaves a person alone by himself. In God's mercy, the sun still shines upon that person. He can still work and live as if nothing is happening, and be proud that he is prospering without God's help. But then sudden destruction comes upon him. And God does not help because he is left alone.
Deuteronomy 32:35
35 Vengeance is Mine, and recompense;
Their foot shall slip in due time;
For the day of their calamity is at hand,
And the things to come hasten upon them.’
The previous verse said, "their foot shall slip in due time."
They may be proud of their wickedness today, and prospering as if everything they do is doing great. But since they do not give God the glory, destruction will come suddenly.
This is what Jesus was telling the people before the Jews told Him about the Galileans in Luke 12:13-21. Also, Jesus spoke about wicked servants. Those wicked servants think that everything is going well but then all of a sudden, God judges them.
So, we see that it is a fearful thing to fall in God's angry hands.
Anyway, your friend seemed to quote a scripture that referred to wicked people and not to God's covenant people.
"And he asked, why are you unique and special?" My cousin is pointing this out because I told him that my friend asked if I was special? Well, come to think of it I do.
It seemed that he was asking from a vantage point of disbelief rather than belief in God's goodness.
Well, I believe you ought to rejoice that God protected your jeep and He has his gracious hands on you.
Of course we are special to God! We are His children. John 1:12. in verse 16 of the same chapter, it says, out of His fullness (of grace), we receive one blessing after another. God's grace and love is lavished on us on top of another grace and love. What a good God He is!
David asked the same question but from an attitude of wonder and awe of God's goodness:
Psalm 8:3-6 especially verse 4
"4 what are human beings, that you think of them;
mere mortals, that you care for them?"
David was so overcome by the care and love of God that He exclaimed his wonder and awe. It was out of belief in God and not distrust in God's gracious care.
I believe that God holds us in His hands and no one touches without His permission. Even though bad things may happen to one of His precious children, it will be well with them because God never leaves nor forsakes His children.
All things work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
"What about the other Christians who had damages done to their homes, their vehicles and even to their lives? He pointed out that bad things happen to Christians and non-Christians alike. I agree, but some God protects for their own good."
Well, you should not feel guilty when things are going well for you and thing does not appear to go well with other Christians.
God loves all His children in His own special way. When bad things happen to Christians, it does not mean that He's judging them. God has a purpose. One thing is sure, all things will work out good because He is a good God.
God is a righteous God. to be righteous means to do the right thing.
So, even when bad things happen to His covenant people, God will always do the right thing. It is always for their good.
But for the wicked, He leaves them alone by themselves. I don't want this to happen to me.
God never leaves us nor forsakes us.
If we are not special to God, then why did He tell us that we are special to Him:
Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Ephesians 1:3-4 says:
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
Look at that verse! God already made us special even before he created the world. We were already in His thoughts even before the world began!
If that does not make you special, what would?
And again, we don't compare ourselves with other people.
My friend asked:
"What about the other Christians who had damages done to their homes, their vehicles and even to their lives? He pointed out that bad things happen to Christians and non-Christians alike."
In a way, he is right. Solomon says, everything happens to all people just the same whether good or bad.
But remember, Solomon was describing a person who lives under the sun, meaning, a person who lives without acknowledging God in his life. For that person, "everything is meaningless!"
Solomon in the same book, tells his readers that it will go well with the righteous.
Our mistake many times is to compare ourselves with other people. David also made the same mistake until he saw God and focused his heart to God.
Then he exclaimed, Oh, God is so good to me!
Kindly meditate on Psalm 37, the whole chapter!
But let me just share these verses to encourage you.
Psalm 37
18 Day by day the Lord takes care of the innocent,
and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever.
19 They will not be disgraced in hard times;
even in famine they will have more than enough.
23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives.
24 Though they stumble, they will never fall,
for the Lord holds them by the hand.
25 Once I was young, and now I am old.
Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned
or their children begging for bread.
26 The godly always give generous loans to others,
and their children are a blessing.
35 I have seen wicked and ruthless people
flourishing like a tree in its native soil.
36 But when I looked again, they were gone!
Though I searched for them, I could not find them!
37 Look at those who are honest and good,
for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.
38 But the rebellious will be destroyed;
they have no future.
39 The Lord rescues the godly;
he is their fortress in times of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them,
rescuing them from the wicked.
He saves them,
and they find shelter in him.
God is a good God!
Paul, had God's goodness and love in mind when mentions that even though bad things happen to godly people, we can never be separated from God's constant love (Romans 8:31-36)
Romans 8:37-39
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus, amen!
He then went on to say:
As I was saying, God loves us all, individually, in His own special way.
Comparing ourselves with others is not a good way to measure our righteousness or God's expression of love or favor.
All we need is to trust Him and love Him like a little child:)
As we do so, we shall live in His presence and experience his joy and pleasure:)
Psalm 16:11
11 You will show me the way of life,
granting me the joy of your presence
and the pleasures of living with you forever.
The Lord bless you richly, amen:)
PR: Thank you for these words of encouragement. I pray that someday, I can be as knowledgeable as you are though with him to much is given, much more is required.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Wow it's been a long time
It's been a week now since I got back from my mission's trip to Guatemala. My kids are home with me and I have them until July 23rd. It'll be sad to see them go and it will be difficult not to have them around on a daily basis. Life goes on, but I'll miss them dearly.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Abandoned
I think this project is pretty much abandoned. Same story different day. I'm not really sure what to put into this blog anymore...
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Long time no post
Well, it's been a while since I've blogged. I don't really have much to blog. Recently, I've just signed up to go on a mission trip to Guatemala. I mailed all my sponsorship letters Friday morning and I just have to pray and have the faith that I will get the money needed to go to this mission trip. I don't really know what God's plan for me but I'm willing and ready to go whatever the Lord desires.
Lord, if you want me to go on this mission trip, you will make it possible for me to get the necessary funding for me to go. Not only the funds but for me to be ready for this trip. I'm not equipped but I know you will. I thank you for this opportunity and I pray to you in Jesus name. Amen.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Mission trip...
I finished my application for a mission trip to go to Guatemala in June. I'm not sure what will happen. I'm a little excited and thinking what it would be like. If it happens, then I believe that God wants me to start doing this. I had an epiphany today while I was eating dinner getting ready to go to my softball game. It came across me this evening that God wanted me to have the family life and be a responsible person. Which I did. It just came to me that all those time that I regretted not having a life after college. I complained and grumbled inside about how I got stuck being a parent and becoming a responsible citizen. Today I realized that God needed for me to do those things so that I would mature. If my life had turned out like some other people, where they partied hard while in college, had a career, but then having to wait to have a family, then I wouldn't be the person that I am now. I needed this responsibility of being a good husband and a father to my children so that I would mature. I look at these people at the ball game, where they look about my age and have elementary school children or even younger and I think to myself, that I skipped all the fun and party and became a responsible adult so that I can become a better person when I get older.
It also dawned on me about all these guys even the ones I went to high school with, how athletic they were when they were younger and excelled in sports, and now, they can't even run a quarter of mile without passing out. I was never an excellent athlete when I was younger. I was always average. I couldn't even run 2 miles within the allotted time. Now at my age (39) I can run 3.1 miles within 27 minutes.
I feel like God is preparing me for something bigger. I don't know what it is yet, but I want to be equipped and ready to go when God let's me know. I've been a Christian since I was 16 and I've come a long way. My thinking about life has changed drastically. I'm still a little selfish when it comes to doing things and that's probably why God hasn't placed anyone in my life to focus on, other than my kids.
Now here I am thinking about going on a mission field. I've been doing voluntary work for the last 3 years at a local shelter home, helping to feed the homeless. I work between 4 to 5 hours cooking the meals, preparing and then serving them to at least 200 to 400 people. I didn't think that this little project will lead me to something even bigger. I'm EXCITED!
Isaiah 6:8 tells us, "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me."
Monday, April 5, 2010
Child Support Payment Modification
Today was a bitter-sweet victory for me in Chancery court. I went to court today for child support payment modification and of course the judge reduced my payments down by half due to my current financial situation. It was bitter-sweet because even though the courts ruled in my favor the ruling made my ex-wife very angry. To top it off, I got a call from my ex-in laws screaming at me, because I made their daughter feel like she's not trying to find a job. Well, I didn't do all of those things. The judge and the attorneys asked all the questions that made her uncomfortable and made her realize that she's worthless piece. Her mother finally calmed down after I explained to her what had happened in court and that I didn't do all the things she claimed I said.
The judge and the attorney repeatedly asked her why she doesn't have a regular everyday job like everyone else. She uses the excuse that our son has Asperger Syndrome and that he needs special attention. Bottom line, they imputed her with a minimum wage salary. This helps me, because at least I'm not the only one with income. Not only that, but my salary has been cut in half from 2 years ago. So far everything is going well for me.
It's all good for now, until they hire an attorney and file for another petition of modification. Hopefully I still make the same money that I make now six months or even a year from now.
I really have a bad opinion about my ex's husband. One, he doesn't work. He's a full time student. Two, he has custody of both of his children. He had his wife committed to a mental institution for bi-polar condition. Three, I believe he's instrumental in putting things into my ex's head.
It's sad that they both don't work. They have a brand new home, a fairly new Nissan Armada and a tax-free income. They receive food-stamps and because of their income status, my kids can have free lunch in school. Their whole lifestyle is fishy, but I hope God is watching and making sure that things are right. I can't get her nor my ex in-laws to understand their daughter is not as perfect as they think they she is.
Anyway, that's all I'm plugging in for today.
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