Day 16

Psalm 39:1-3 "I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence."

Mark 3:28-30 "28I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. 29But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin. 30He said this because they were saying, "He has an evil spirit."



Being sensitive to others may at times require control of our tongues. How hard it is when we have been hurt to keep our feelings from taking over and saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. Let us strive to control our tongues so that they are an instrument of healing and not a deadly weapon.

Inspired by discussions about sins committed by people which "prove" they are not Christians.

Day 15

Luke 10: 38-41 38 "As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42but only one thing is needed.[f] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

Sometimes we go through life extremely busy. Our daily routine requires that we go here, there and everywhere and we end up forgetting what life is about. Forget the troubles of yesterday and the worries of tomorrow and live the moment. Enjoy every minute to the fullest.

Day 14

Philippians 2:3
....... "in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves".....

When you think your pain and sorrows are so big that you can't take it anymore, think of someone else's, and yours will disappear."

Day 13

I John 1:9 " If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Transparency: the inner joy and peace of spirit which comes from having made all personal wrongs right with those we have offended.

Transparency: the inner joy and peace of spirit which comes from being open and honest with all at all times, realizing we are all humans who go through ups and downs in our lives. We are all important. We are worthy to Him, and that is enough. Take off the mask and be yourself.

Day 12

Hebrews 13:2 " Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unaware."

When the opportunity to help a friend or a stranger comes, don't delay. Listen to the inner voice that says: "Go." Do it now, for tomorrow may be too late.

Day 11

Job

Tragedies and sorrows are part of God's will for us. Does He just use them for good or does He pre-ordain such things?
How do "man's choice" and God's will interact?
Somehow they are both true: choice and predestination must be "flipsides of the same coin" Did God pre-ordain Juda's betrayal?.... Pharaoh's abuse of the Israelites?.... Joseph being thrown in the pit by his brothers?......Johncito's death?
If Job could not be touched without the Lord's consent that must be also true of any "calamity" that comes our way.

Day 10

Romans 9: 10-24
".....but Rebekah's children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. 11Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God's purpose in election might stand: 12not by works but by him who calls—she was told, "The older will serve the younger."[d] 13Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."[e]

14What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15For he says to Moses,
"I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."[f] 16It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. 17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."[g] 18Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.

19One of you will say to me: "Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?" 20But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?' "[h] 21Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?

22What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? 23What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— 24even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?"



Time and chance do not exist for the Christian who believes God is working His perfect will in us and through us. God is not unjust. God is always right and righteous. Let us not try to understand but rather believe and submit lovingly to the One Who Is and always Will Be.

Day 9

Romans 8:28-3928And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[j] who[k] have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."[l] 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[m] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Death is a part of everyone's life. We must learn somehow to accept it as part of God's sovereign will for us. Grief is also part fo life. through it God teaches us dependance on Him only. This is not our home, Heaven is. We must strive to look "up" during our troubles, look Him in the face and say "thanks" in ALL things. His purpose is being worked in us.

Day 8

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. "

An approving smile and an encouraging word can "steer" a person in the right direction much more than disapproval and criticism any day. Praise given at the right time will bring out the best in most people. We should concentrate on the "whatevers": ....whatever is just, lovely, of good report, of virtue, and worth praising!

Day 7

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee." Isaiah 26:3a

Doubts, fears and insecurities will all vanish when we look into the Lord's wonderful face. Take your eyes off of yourself and your problems and look into the Master's soothing , loving eyes. Do something good for someone else and focus on Him instead.

Day 6

Psalm 118


Regulations, generalizations, and accusations can tear us up inside. We may feel insulted and diminished. We may feel insignificant or not good enough if we do not follow a particular regulation or if we fall into a category about which a particular category or accusation has been made. We must remember at all times that no believer is insignificant in God's eyes. If God made the regulations, pay attention; but if man.... then take it from whom it comes. May the Holy Spirit always be our guide and give us His peace and joy in the midst of any accusation

Day 5

I Thessalonians 5:18 "In all things give thanks for this is the will of God Christ Jesus for you."


Somedays seem more serene than others. Accept those with joy and gladness, recognizing that the only reason that we are truly able to enjoy those calm and uneventful days is because of the stormy and frustrating ones.

Day 4

Romans 2:1-11
"You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? 4...but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11For God does not show favoritism."


When someone wrongs us we must remember that God is the final judge of all actions. All things will be revealed to us in his perfect timing. Let us not worry about the outcome of any situation. Our job is not to judge but to forgive and to love.
We can stop asking why and how, and be comforted with the hope and knowledge that His justice will always be served.


*Inspired by continuing questions and doubts surrounding Johncito's death

Day 3

"A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold."
Proverbs 22:1-3

The Scriptures say that a good name is better than gold. .... we must do good just because it is right and not because we are preoccupied with our good name. We must live realizing that not all look at life the same way we do and so " the name" is not the same before everybody's eyes. In the end what matters is how we have lived our life, whether in peace, in joy, and in keeping with the teachings of our Master. Work not then for the good name, but to glorify Him, and enjoy Him; the end result remains with Him. He is our Rock and our Protector.

Inspired by rumors surrounding my brother's death.

Day 2

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" Proverbs 1:7

What makes a person aware of his neighbor's needs? How can one realize what another's soul craves? Why do some go through life concentrating only on themselves while others reach out and touch the very soul of others in deep meaningful ways?

Can it be taught? Can a person learn to look past his own needs, his own selfish desires and concentrate on the good of another? A hermit is incapable of doing this because he does not want contact with others, An egocentric person does want contact with another but only to build his own self esteem. A philanthropist..... does he do good for others to build his ego or out of a selfless desire to do good? And if he really desires to do good, how did he learn to be aware of the needs of others?

All have different gifts, Some are teachers, some are prophets, some are encouragers, some are doers, some are listeners. So as we find our gift, and practice it with all our might- - we serve. That's how we serve. Expand yourself but realize your limitations and do not be ashamed of them.

Inspired by a a young work companion who tried to ease my pain by spearheading a " gift giving campaign".

Day 1

Day 1: "The human soul needs love and friendship to subsist and thrive. Without these, it tends to loneliness, despair and sadness. Blessed are those who know the love of Christ and the warmth of a friend's embrace for truly, they are medicine to the soul."