a devotion

I have been anxious about things lately a lot. Even though I said "I trust in the Lord with all my heart", I still be anxious about things.

Today, I had a moment for a devotion with a little book, found a good one! I would like to share in here. It is written one of my favorite writers, Philp Yancey. I hope everyone enjoy it!

Why Suffer? by Philip Yancey.

Read: Matthew 5:1-12

Jesus taught that the world seen from God's view point is titled in favor of the oppressed. This teaching emerges in the Sermon on the Mount and other statements of Jesus: the first will be last (Matt. 19:30; Mark 10:31; Luke 13:30), and he who humbles himself will be exalted(Luke 14:11; 18:14). But why would God single out the oppressed for special attention?

1. Suffering helps us realize our urgent need for redemption.

2. Suffering helps us experience our dependence on God and our interdependence with one another.

3. Suffering helps us distinguish between necessities and luxuries.

4. Suffereing helps us respond to the call fo the gospel because we may have become so desperate that we cry out to God.

The poor, the hungry, the mounrers, and those who suffer are blessed because their lack of self-sufficiency is obvious to them every day. They must turn somewhere for strength. Peopel who are rich, successful, and beautiful may go through life relying on their natural gifts. But people who are needy, dependent, and dissatisfied with life are more likely to welcome God's free gift of love.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit."Why? Because "theirs is the kingdom of heaven."(Matt.5:3)

The weaker we feel, the harder we lean on God.

Deceiving of contentment

I have failed to finish a diet program, and try to fast lately. Interestingly, when I am full filled with the Holy Spirit, I do not gain weight. But when I am down in my Spiritual life, I definitaly gain. Since this Spring, I have gain a lot in short period time. I could see how my Spiritual life is by watching my weight. I know..it sounds silly but it is true. I have been stressed and sad in circumstances at my work lately. It is part of reasons but mostly it is from deceiving feeling of contentment in my Spirit. I compromise myself with eating, and making excuses in many ways to get away from the reality.

I ask myself questions this morning, " How much do I hunger and thirst for the Lord?"While listening a sermon at a radio, I agreed in every single word that we need to thirst and hunger to live God's way like we look for air to breath in every moment. We have full of food in our pantries, refridgrators, and counter tops, and waterfountains are found easily to fill our thirst. We live in convience and comfortable enviroment. We do not like to struggle either mentally or physically. We feel that we are content enough. That is trick and deceit. If we do not feel hungry or thirsty, we do not look for the source to satisfy them. I am sure that Satan wants us to be comfortable enough so we do not need to find the source of the true living water, and bread. I could see it so clearly.

Lord, Please give hunger, and thirst for us so we pant for You and seek You desperately.

Lord, we need You!

Rev. Bill

God has blessed me through many people in my life from my families: parent, grandparents, cousins, and so on to friends. Especially, God has sent me wonderful father figure people around me always. God knows how close my dad and I was. After my dad passed away, th emost I miss is his smile which towards me based on unshakable love. I could see the smile through my husband's face when he looks at my girls. On the other hand, God provides someone who I could ask good advices, helps, and prayers without hesitation.

One of them is Rev. Bill. I have only known him for less than three years but he is like my dad. Even though there was not much time to know him, he has been a strong leader, boss, and supporter for me. Whatever I brought up, he has always been supportive and given a good thoughts and prayers. However, he is leaving soon to retire and I have been sad with a sort of separation anxieity: I even keep dreaming of the last day of his service at our church. Even though I know that God will send other good people to me soon, I still could not help not being sad. I know for sure that I will miss his prayer, sermon, hard to understand handwriting, but mostly his smile. It is a true blessing to have people in my life like Rev. Bill.

addiction

Last Sunday, I and my girls made a rule for making Sunday more Holy and focused by not using any technologies such as computer, TV, I-Pod, or DS for a day, Sunday.

When I had a moment of a daily devoition on last Sunday morning, the thought just occured to me, and I shared with the girls.

I have found that my girls stay with either computer or I-Pod for long period of time at home lately as well as my husband, and myself. Bad parts of spending time with the machines is losing time to connect to someone else. The machines occupy people's mind and time.

Last Sunday was not easy for me especially to survive without those machines especially. The girls went to their friends house for sleep over, and my husband went to his church retreat. I was by myself for whole day and night. Interesting thing was I spent more hours of reading, napping, and cleaning than usual. Of course, my mind was clearer than anytime.

I think we become addicted to these technologies without conscious. If we stick to them, it means we can't stick to the others. After spending a day without them, I have tried to moniter my daily life how much I spend with the machines. I know, I am using it right now too.

Let's focus and connected to the Lord more! and try hard to listen to His voice! Let's make effort! It is worthy really to at least try it.