Tuesday, May 27, 2014

He Cares

The greatest thing in the whole wide world, is knowing that "Jesus Cares" for you, for me, and also for each and every person in this world.

In my office, there are open cabinets in the upper deck of our tables.
As I take a look at them, I see things like papers documents, used cables, plastic bags, recyclable bags, mugs, spoon and fork, and everything you can find in a normal working environment.
What caught my attention most is this, a Bible Stand (not the one for holding the Bible!) with "Jesus Cares" written at one side of the cover. It think inside it are some daily inspirational quotes and verses cards.
Everyday, when I come to office, I take a look at the words "Jesus Cares"... I feel loved, knowing that someone out there cares for me whole-heartedly, even if I forget Him sometimes. He loves us unrequitedly, he wants nothing in return in exchange for His love for us.
This is as how our parents love us, they love us asking nothing in return, they love us unconditionally..

Reflection:
Lord, help us to always keep in mind that in whatever situation we are in, You care and You are always right beside us. Help us to learn to cherish our moments with You and also with our parents. :)



There's a song that goes like this: (Does Jesus Care by Frank E. Graeff)

Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near?
    • Refrain:
      Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares,
      His heart is touched with my grief;
      When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
      I know my Savior cares.

More lyrics at  http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Does_Jesus_Care/midi/

Friday, March 14, 2014

Timed

         When I went to school this morning, I saw a lot of people going out the lobby area, while some other people going in. They are the graduating students practicing for their Baccalaureate Service. As I look at them, I realized, people come and go. The graduating high school students are about to step out into another world, another place. And a new batch of students, which are the kindergarten students are about to come in. And after a couple of years, they will also graduate and go out to pursue their dream courses.

         Today, I received news that, the person who I once worked with before passed away. I was a bit sad, because I remembered clearly, he was just walking around the other day, and then now the Lord has took him. I still remembered it was just a few years ago, when I was working with him. I was shredding papers, and he was doing his things. There were times I ask for his help, and he helps me. But I always said my "thank you" in a minimal voice. I don't know if he did hear it, but I do hope he did! :) (I will feel remorseful if I didn't thank him)




Reflection:

Lord, help us to not do things that will make us feel remorseful. Help us to always find joy in the things we will do, and in the persons we will meet.

Saturday, February 15, 2014

Think Positively, Okay?

Yesterday was Valentine's Day, and I'd just like to ask if how was your February 14, 2014?? I hope it was fun!! Well for me, it was quite a good day, but for my friends, they were not even happy. All of them have problems, a variety of both big and small problems. Hearing their problems, I felt sad too, but I came up with a thought, "Why not look at the positive side of the problem?" Well, whenever I have problems, I always look at the positive side of it, because for me, that's the only way I can be comforted and see how God is working in my life. As a student, I encounter problems in my academic. In academics, I have problems like passing grades and not high grades. Sometimes, it just really makes me down if I really worked for it, yet I got average grades! But, I just comforted myself saying, "At least I didn't get a failing score. I should be thankful!" I see God working in this kind of situation because I know that there are many other students who cannot afford to go to school because of monetary problems, and I know that I am blessed with these simple blessings. Or another example, whenever I get scolded by my parents, of course, I'm thinking, "Why did they scold me? I didn't do anything wrong!", but, on the other hand, I also thought to myself, "They scold me for my own good, I have to understand why they scold me." In this situation, I see God working--I have my parents to scold me because they love me, they care for me, but, how about the street children who have no parents, who is there to care for them, to teach them? This is a reminder to us, to always look at our bountiful blessings and be contented. We have so many gifts from Him, but just this simple problem! Why not look on the positive side of the problem and thank God for everything? Do you remember this? "HUNDREDS OF PROBLEMS; MILLIONS, BILLIONS, TRILLIONS OF BLESSINGS!" God has His way of teaching us and molding us, we just have to understand why He gives us trials in order to enjoy life, and see the super duper many blessings He had already given us.


 Reflection: Be a positive thinker and enjoy life, okay? What are you waiting for? Start now!

Friday, February 7, 2014

The Perfect Timing

"Trust in His timing," I said to myself. So many times, I worry about how I manage my time. I always came to this intersection thinking, "If I do the homework, how will I study for the test? If I study for the test, what will happen to my homework?" 
For example, the other day, I already planned my things-to-do for the next few days so that I can really get good grades for my exams and at the same time, finish my assignment.

Day 1: Study for the exam on Day 2. Do a little of the assignment for Day 4.

Day 2: Study for two exams for Day 3. Continue the assignment for Day 4.
Day 3: Study for the exam on Day 4--which I'm very weak at. Finish the assignment for Day 4.

But, things began to change in Day 1 afternoon. The recruiting staff of Company ABC, which I am applying for an internship position, emailed me, telling me to go to their company the next day for an exam. That time, I wasn't prepared to take the exam, because it just came too suddenly. So, instead of starting the assignment, I end up studying for the internship exam. Day 2 came, I have not yet finished studying for the internship exam, and it took me almost the whole morning to study for it. As I was studying, I was also thinking of a strategy, "What should I do? This internship exam will take me the whole afternoon, so only evening is left. What should I do to study for both the two exams and at the same time, start with the assignment?" Well, God gave me an answer. That morning, at 10am, my professor texted and said that the two exams for Day 3 will be moved, so no classes on Day 4. I was like, "Is this for real? Yes! Problem solved!" I felt so happy the moment I saw the text message. I couldn't help but admit God's timing is really, absolutely PERFECT! He knows my problems and gives me a solution to it, and it came just right on time! 


'For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'  (Jeremiah 29:11)


His timing is never early nor late, it's just right on time. We have to have faith in His plans because truly, it is worth the wait. Whenever you are in a middle of a dilemma, just remember to pray and ask for help, and don't forget, trust in His timing, because His timing always comes right on time, PERFECT! 


'Faith in God includes faith in His timing.'  (Habakkuk 2:3)


Reflection: Did you ever encounter a dilemma that involves time? How did you manage to solve it?

Friday, January 31, 2014

Who am I?

I still recall, it was just a few months ago, our teacher gave us an assignment, and she wants us to answer four questions, and one of them was, "Who am I?" I finished answering the other three questions, and I'm stuck with this last question, "Who am I?" I reread it a lot of times, still my mind was blank. I really had no idea what to put in this question. Until the night before submission day, I added some words to make the sentence a bit easier to answer, "Who am I that God would give me so much blessings?" And there, I came up with an answer, "I am a nobody, yet God loves me so much, unconditionally. I have so much sins and do not deserve all these blessings, yet God still gives me the best blessings." That was the first time I encountered a question like that and it was also the first time I evaluated myself.

"Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again.
Who am I, that the Voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me"


Reflection:
Ask yourself this question, "Who am I?"

Friday, January 24, 2014

Keep Calm and Be Still

Are you afraid whenever you are left at home all alone by yourself? Or are you scared when the place is just so quiet, everyone is sleeping, and you are the only person who is still wide awake? Yes, I've experienced that! There were times, when I was rushing my homeworks which was needed the next day, and I stayed up very late, it was like around 1 o'clock in the morning… Everyone was sleeping, no one was talking, no sound of cars or motorcycles passing by, no noisy cats and dogs fighting, absolutely no noise, it was total silence!! Then suddenly, I heard some creepy sounds!!! Yikes, what was that sound? Monsters? Ninjas? Samurais? Nah! You really watch too much cartoons! Or is it Prince Charming coming for his Princess? I think you should stop reading fairy-tale books! Or some kidnapper or robber? You should go see the psychologist, action series affected you too much! What was that then? It was after a while then I figured out, it was the sound of someone running… Oh! It was my "small buddies" roaming around searching for food. That moment when I heard those creepy noise, I was afraid deep deep inside… But, I forgot the most important thing of all, His Promise in Psalms 118:6, "The Lord is on my side, I will not fear. What can man do to me?" Let us always remember that, no matter where we are, no matter what we are doing, no matter who we are, in any situation, the Lord is always with us, just right beside us, waiting for us to call on Him. This is a song, entitled "Still". "Be still, know that I am God."   
Whenever we go through the storms of life, let us not forget Psalms 46:1, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."


Wednesday, January 15, 2014

A Reason To Smile

Did you smile today? Yes? Great, I am happy too!! ^______^ No? Why not? Do you have any problem? :((
Sometimes, my day is so happy, I wanted to smile to everyone! No problems, no exams, no long quizzes, no headaches, none, nothing! And it's so relaxing, and I'm happy! But, there are also other times, when problems come to me, I cannot give anyone a smile. Whenever problems come to me, I thought of these:
1. HUNDREDS OF PROBLEMS, MILLIONS, BILLIONS, TRILLIONS OF BLESSINGS!
God gave us everything. Food, house, clothing, education, family, friends, and many many millions, billions, trillions more to enumerate! What more could I ask for? We must say, "We are 'Blessed by the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits!'" (Psalms 68:19) 
A point to smile! :)
2. TINY PROBLEMS.
Other people have more serious problems than we have, we should be thankful that the problems we are facing are just small. Like the beggars we see on the streets, food and house are their problems! Or the ones in the hospital, maybe cancer is their problem. Tell yourself, "How can my small problem be comparable to their big big big problems?" 
Another point to smile! :)
3. "I AM THE WAY"
And let us always remember God's promise, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." There's a song that goes like this, "God will make a way, when there seems to be no way. He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me."
Yes, it's time to smile! :)


Let us always remember Philippians 4:6-7, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ."




Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Goal-Setter

Everyone of us has our own goals, whether to go and work for this big company, or to get a Master's degree at this age, or to earn this amount of money at this time. Are these goals reachable? Yes, of course! ...that's why it's a goal, right? But, in order to achieve these goals, we have follow the step by step instructions, if not, we won't succeed. For example, if you want to go and work for this big company, you have to distinguish if is your skill is fit for you to apply for a position in the company. Next, you have to prepare your resume, and apply in their company. Then, if you got accepted, you have to make sure to use your skill to bring benefits to the company and not disadvantages, so that your position will be stable or even better, being promoted. Or let's say after graduating a Bachelor's degree in college, you want to pursue for a Master's degree. First of all, you have to study more and more and know about the subject matter really well, and then, apply for a school which offers masteral degrees on that course, and if you are already enrolled, you have to concentrate and focus on studying. You have to take more effort and allot more time, so that you can excel in your studies, and not fall behind.
Stairs
A step by step plan is best for goals!
In order to achieve goals, we have to plan a step by step blueprint on how to achieve it. And if we follow the step by step plan, I assure you, goals will be reached in no time!
Do you still remember the last goal you finished? When was it? What was it? What was your secret in achieving that goal? Can you share? :)))