A look into Giving: The 2009 Slate 60

I was reading The 2009 Slate 60: The Largest American Charitable Contributions of the year and I'm blessed, I mean totally blessed with these great philanthropist of our time! I'm blessed not because they've given so much (i mean literally) but blessed they've chosen to give. A lot of us who are far poorer than these guys can't even give at least a little to those who are in need. How much more when we become as rich as they are. Would it be easy to give by then million dollars?

I remember the passage in the Bible about the woman who gave two coins.

Mark 12:41-45 (New International Version)


The Widow's Offering


41Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins,[a]worth only a fraction of a penny.[b]


43Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."

I'm not sure though if these philanthropist gave just because they have excess. I hope not. But looking at us, we had a bigger chance of giving more! We can be just like this woman who out of her poverty gave everything!

It's not the amount. It's the attitude of our hearts in giving. We may not be part of the Slate 60 or be famous but when we give everything, Jesus sees us and knows we have given more!

Just as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us — see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 2 Corinthians 8:7

Promises: Are they really made to be Broken?

I'm sure you heard a lot of these lately. For Filipinos, I'm sure you've been bombarded with a lot of these. In every commercial break, you find Politicians advertising themselves. In every front page of a newspaper, surely one part talks about a politician and on what he really plans to do. In every Billboard, or footbridge, we see these as well! And yes, even in Facebook invites from your friends asking you to support these "presidentiables" are everywhere.

Hmm...Can we really trust and believe everything they say? Can we really trust their "promises"?

I hear a resounding, "NO WAY!"

That's understandable.

How many times have we been betrayed by these politicians? We trusted Erap to be for the "mahirap" but the records would say he'd been the most extravagant President this country has had. We trusted GMA in Edsa 2. I can no longer count ho many times she betrayed the Filipino people.

This situation is not just true for politicians. Remember the time that your friend didn't show up on your agreed time? Remember the time that your partner didn't do what he promised to do?

I am a victim of broken promises. I'm sure you are too.

But here's the GOOD NEWS:

2 Corinthians 1:20 (The Message)


20-22Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God's Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us. By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge—a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete.

AMAZING!

What does that mean?

It means all promises you can read from the Bible, they can be real in your LIFE!

Just believe and then it will happen!

The politicians, our friends and even our family can fail but Jesus will never fail! Praise the Lord!

You can read this previous post for further reading: Believe in God's Promises

You are a WINNER!

We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed
2 Cor. 4:8-9

Reflection:

Here's one great promise we can hold on today. Whatever happens, the enemy shall never defeat us. When God is on our side, we are indeed more than conquerors.

It's like as if you are in a movie and you're the main star. Usually in the movie, there will be times that the main star struggle, suffer and even beaten but in the end you'd still emerge as the winner. Oh I'm not talking about tragic movies, alright? Our movies (lives) in the Lord are always victorious and happy endings.

So take heart, whatever you're going through right now, just continue to hold on. You'll soon win. As i always say, if you're not winning, the war isn't over yet.

Praise the Lord!

We are a New Creation in Christ

First of all, I would like to apologize for not having been able to post daily as I usually did and should have done as one of my commitments when I started this site. There were just a lot of things going on in my life these past few days. I have been moved to a new schedule, new management and a new team to handle in the office I am working. A lot of things to do to adjust and keep up. But as they say, change is good. Change is for the better.

I can remember what Paul wrote to the Corinthians:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Cor. 5:17

This is the main and basic reason why we are called born again! We are not just restructured and repaired. No! We are starting all over again. God is removing the old one and putting in place a new one! It would seem we are being created again.

With that in mind, CHANGE will always be present in our lives. Change is something we should welcome! This change can vary from simple as change of habits and change of words to as complicated as changing your friends, lifestyle and even work! Yes I know people resigning from work because they already understood they're not glorifying God with it. Change sometimes really takes sacrifice and letting go.

That makes me realize, a Christian must wonder if he's still not seeing "changes" in his life because there MUST be. If we're not experiencing it yet, we need to seek more and open more doors for God to come in and work. Try asking yourself, what has changed in my life? How different are you right now compared to before?

God bless you today!

Take Heart, you're UP for something Great

2 Corinthians 4:17 (King James Version)
"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory"

An arrow can be shot only by pulling it back. So when life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means you will be launched for something great!

so Take Heart!

His Strength is Perfect | He's Enough and Able

2 Corinthians 12:9 (New International Version)

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

Reflection:

You may be going through a tough time right now. Or you maybe going through a very hectic schedule and deadlines are almost piling up. Or you maybe cramming to meet all your priorities and all your responsibilities the soonest.

I too am currently going through what you're going through right now. A lot of pressures and stresses are coming from all over the place. Work problems and changes, for some it maybe family expectations, others would be peer pressure and for some even in the Ministry. Yes, even in the ministry we sometimes feel pressure and stress to the point of giving up. To be honest, there were a lot times that I wanted to just give up and let go of my responsibilities. To just stop and live a "normal" life. Maybe you too. Maybe there was a point when everything is just tumbling down and messed up and you just want to break down. The reason for this is most of the time, we focus on our own ability and capability.

Let me share with you what God had reminded me through his Word in 2 Cor. 12:9: "My Grace is sufficient for You, for My power is made perfect in weaknesses".

What is God telling us?

1. He is ENOUGH
- You don't need anything else to conquer your situation, to solve your problem, and to meet all those needs! You don't need you own strength. You don't need your own ideas and wisdom. God's grace is sufficient and ENOUGH for you. He is all that you need.

2. He is Able
- He's the Lord of all lords and the God of all mankind, there is nothing that would be hard for him. All we need to do is trust in him. He's able to help you go through whatever you're going through right now.

Here's one song from Stephen Curtis Chapman entitled: His Strength is Perfect. As you listen, worship the Lord and lay down all your problems and worries to him, lay down all of YOU to him and allow him to work in your life.

Recommended Readings:

Be Still and Know that He is God

Trust The Lord with all your Heart

Believe in God's Promises

We are Being transformed from glory to glory

2 Corinthians 3:18 (New King James Version)
18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Reflection:

Today is my Birthday! Today marks another year for God's glory to be shown in my life. This is yet another year fully offered to him and for him as he transform me into His image from glory to glory. My only prayer is for my life to be a door where he can come in to reach out to more people! Everything in me shall be used for the expansion of His Kingdom. First to my family, and then to my workmates, friends and everyone around me. May I continually be a Blessing, A light, and a Salt to this world!~

May God bless you who's reading this today and may God answer all your heart's desires.

Recommended Readings:

Welcome to Your Daily Word

Trust the Lord with All your Heart