Seven Things for My Future LOVE

Last month of the year.

And I got few things on my mind right now.

And it's not about "backing off." (chuckles)

I don’t know why I feel like writing this but one thing’s for sure, it must be blotted out.

And it’s “Seven things I demand for my future LOVE.”

Hilarious. Funny. Mirthful.

Oh, thoughts!

Well, I’m not in haste. I’m in a wait.

Okay. I’m not gonna make it flowery. I’m gonna keep it short and straight.

The guy who...

1. Really loves GOD (A man who loves God more than anything else, more than anybody else—even loves GOD more than he loves me)
2. Loves singing (and singing loves him too. Choosy it may seem, but guys gain extra point for this)
3. Has an artistic outlet (whether its singing, writing, photography, music, painting, dancing or whatsoever thing that he can pour out or express his emotion to)
4. Has a sense of humor (I’ll definitely love the one who can put a smile on me especially on those rocky situations)
5. Loves children (it can be his brother or little sister, niece, nephew, neighborhood, any cute babies)
6. Knows how to cook (well deliciously)
7. A wide reader or a book lover (This is a bonus! A nerd who loves reading.)

And that’s it—the seven things I demand for my future LOVE. ^_^

I want the one who GETS me and won't be ashamed of me...he, who won’t just complete me but will make me a greater person and so was I to him. We’ll not just complement each other but will make each other great through God’s grace.

Yet above these things, I just want the “Adam” God has planned for me. 

Whether he met this qualities or not, well he must met Christ. HE must be his best friend first.

I am not into love right now. But I’m excited about it. I’m excited about him. I'm excited about HIM—His great plans for me. For now I just have to trust HIM and let HIM first complete me and prepare me.

Song of Songs 8:4.

I'm now in love with the thought of being in love.

Oh, thoughts!

Well, I’m not in haste. I’m definitely in a wait.

Hopefully in a wait of being worth the wait.

Welcome 2014.

Priority and Love

This was one of my wall post days ago. I’ve read this in a FB page entitled “Solely Devoted”. I was truly blessed with this excerpt.

How many times did we ask God in this area? How many times did we ask God to fill us with His love—a love that will overflow to the others who thirst for it? How many times did we consult God in the choices we make? “A sheer delight rather than a sense of duty...” What a phrase! Admit it or not, often we do things unconsciously. It’s either we’re used into those routines or we’re just doing things out of duty. Well, being responsible is not bad. But without love, nothing makes sense.

As Mother Theresa said, “...we can do small things with great love.” A small thing with great love is indeed a great thing. But how can we accomplish this “just-loving” thing? Start with God. In parallel to what the image above says, try and persevere to make your relationship with God your top priority. God is a loving God, merciful, kind and gracious. He will never ever forsake those who come to Him humbly and heartily. I don’t know if article makes sense to you who read it. But there’s no harm in trying. Swear.

Seems like confused? A friend shared to me a while ago thru a facebook chat, that she’s afraid she might fall...that she some friends’ help in this area. She’s afraid because she’s not sure. She’s been in a fantasy of falling brightly in love and a nightmare of falling with no one to catch her. But then there’s JESUS. The one who’s always waiting for her, to fill her with satisfying love, to cradle her in her arms, to hold her without ever letting her go...FOREVER.

I was glad to share these things to her. I even message her verse Song of Songs 8:4a. Probably, you already knew that. Do not awaken love until its ready. When will be the it-word be ready? Only God knows. So better get close to Him so that when He says IT is ready, we can hear so clearly. Discern God’s voice.

As I write about this thing, numerous thoughts flood my mind. Am I talking to myself too? Am I reminding myself too? Or does my girl friend who asked me a while ago of what to do in her falling-in-love thing warns me then? Talking about the heart, I remembered Proverbs 4:23 and Jeremiah 17:9. Guard your heart. Above all things, it is the most deceitful.

Let me clear this stuff. This isn’t about gals only but also for guys out there. You too have hearts, right? I don’t know how guys guard their hearts nor how they regard God’s love. But if it’s Jesus working and reigning in their lives—focusing on His faithfulness, contemplating on His beauty and holding on His promise—it’s not hard for them to live in this tempting world. Talking about love and relationship, why not be pure emotionally too? I’ve read this book written by Heather Arnel Paulsen which inspires so much. It talks about well, the title itself—Emotional Purity. It’s about preserving all of your being for God and for the one He has prepared for you. Well beside Jesus, I fell in love with the man on this post, guess other girls would, too:

(actually, it must be “says”)

Thank God for who HE is! Thank Jesus who gave His life for me, for you, for us. He loves me so much that He doesn’t want me to get hurt. Because when I am hurting, He’s hurting too. That’s how much He loves me. And so the same thing goes with you. Why not be content with that for now? I believe that God is the one who will make my heart; our hearts feel like there’s something missing though we want more of Him. When that happens, then that is the time.

More over these things, there are so many things out there. More than our longings and dreams of being with the one, there are those people who need to be reached out. They also need love and with the love that God had in us, we can love too, unconditionally. We can pray too heartily. Selfless. We have to be selfless and think of others too. To those who are losing their hope, their faith, maybe God is commanding us to first bring love into these persons. He wants us to be molded first in a selfless love. And with Christ, we can do all things. Live. Love. Laugh.

A sheer delight rather than a sense of duty... With a mix of love, things become new... With a paint of love, things become great.

Love of God. Love is overflowing. Love of others. Loving is never tiring.

“God made the world for the delight of human beings-- if we could see His goodness everywhere, His concern for us, His awareness of our needs: the phone call we've waited for, the ride we are offered, the letter in the mail, just the little things He does for us throughout the day. As we remember and notice His love for us, we just begin to fall in love with Him because He is so busy with us -- you just can't resist Him. I believe there's no such thing as luck in life, it's God's love, it's His.” ― Mother Teresa

Back Off

She realized that she’s being back in the cycle. And she need, not tomorrow but now, to BACK OFF.

It’s a cycle. It’s a cycle that she left behind, a circle that she should have left behind, a loop that she MUST now left behind. BACK OFF.

What do she mean being back? Well as she weighs her recent everydays, it’s a lie not to admit that she’s not happy—happiness either from some words and smiley on a phone screen or an inevitably charming jest coming from him. It may be too a happiness from some of his words of upliftment or the knowledge of being similar to each other in many aspect. Temporary happiness she must say.

Probably, it’s her fault. Instead of walking away from the cycle behind her, she unconsciously, found herself in it wherein the same and same stuffs happen. She doesn’t like to play around and she doesn’t like being played around. She doesn’t want to invest anything to anyone. Well not because she doesn’t get anything in return. She just doesn’t want to cause pain to anyone. Different kind of thoughts and emotions flooded her of what and where and when and why and how. Gibberish.

Back off. Back off. Back off. It keeps echoing in her head. And probably she must start her step away before falling completely into the emptiness or the gap between them…before some bond breaks…before the other self will never be the same again.

Too deep. Too shallow. Too wide. Too narrow. Nonsense.

To begin this plans in hear mind, she must initiate herself not to enjoy being in the cycle. In this cycle she felt loved yet a wrecker. In this cycle she felt judged, well judged mostly by herself. She felt as if like she’s causing some unintentional pain to persons who are really a family to her. She felt criticized by the people around her, though she’s not certain. All of these were in her midst.

Today, she wanted to re-align herself—change her focus, change her perspective. She’ll make it up to her true blood, by fixing some broken things or strengthening the bond. She’ll focus on her other family—children, youth and some girlfriends. She gotta establish her plans for her career too. Starting from this day, she’ll gonna take pleasure in the love bestowed on her from above which is never ending, never failing, always caring. Then wait for the moment the love-abounding Heaven give her heart some deficiency that only a creation ordained by Heaven can fill.

Today, she started to back off...

Please, back off.

Just a Glimpse

Today, I just experienced the grace of God. Well, I probably always experience it but never acknowledge it. And now, right at this moment I’m typing this, I just wanna shout! It feels something like an explosion, revolution—anything similar—is within me: ALL FOR GOD’S GLORY!

It’s still dark. I’m in a small room, door closed. I woke up. It’s nearly four thirty in the morning as I checked my phone. Very normal, very usual—I thank God for having breath, I just utter praises to my Heavenly Father. But what’s unexpected is a glimpse of Him. Deep in my heart, I want to see a glimpse of Him, a glimpse of His glory. I don’t know! Maybe it’s the book I’m reading for the past days that influences me in this longing or maybe—well I hope—it’s God, dealing with me.

Like Isaiah, the prophet of God in the Old Testament times, I feel unworthy before God. I had a thought of something close to this:

“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”

(Isaiah6:5 NIV)

And yet I sense God’s embrace. It’s still His grace. It doesn't have to do with my approach to Him, or my works for Him. It’s Him, His unending love, His incomparable faithfulness.

As I read words on Psalm 115:1, thinking it over and over and over. His spirit enabled me to realize things. This single verse penetrated into my being and the past me. It says in the The Message version:

             Not for our sake, God, no, not for our sake,

 but for Your name’s sake, show Your glory.

Do it on account of Your merciful love,

    do it on account of Your faithful ways. 

Then I asked myself…evaluate myself. To whom am I depending? To whom, really, am I giving the glory? Whose face is reflected my existence? Where do I find my worth? Where do I look for fulfillment? Then I remembered what Matt Redman says in his book entitled Facedown: God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. Whoa!  It’s like whoosh of air bumped me. I saw me, outwardly worshiping God but inwardly worshiping myself—receiving the glory that was to be, that must be for God. And He is a just God. Thank Him! He is faithful and gracious too. ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

A glimpse of God and everything will be changed. Just His still small voice in the stillness of my worldly world will be enough. It is. Indeed.

Right at this moment, I pray in my mind that would just help me in this journey of knowing Him more—of having more of Him. Reminded of what Moses has asked, leading the ever-grumbling, discontented Israelites, he didn’t pray that God would punish neither them nor asked God for them to be just obedient. He just prayed for only one thing. And may this be our prayer too.

Then Moses said, “Now, please show me Your glory.”

(Exodus 33:18 NCV; emphasis mine)

And may this article bless everyone who patiently read it.

May it add to  God's glory.

Forever Amen. ^_^

Home

The desire rose again. The desire to let my emotion out through ink is within me again. Well, it’s better this way as pushing myself to write—without passion, without love.

I’ve been talking to myself the past few days or weeks rather, not with a mirror, but with a blank sheet of paper on my lap. I wanna use some ink to articulate what is it within me, but then, no words came. I’m having again these weird moments of my existence.

Honestly, what I’ve felt is not an emptiness but loneliness. (I know I’m not the only one who’s has felt this way.) I feel like the world is not with me though it is not against me. Seems puzzling right? I guess it’s better this way: I feel like I’m outside this world—out of place in this world. It’s like I’m an alien beside the people around me. They’re not talking about me, I know. They just, somehow, exclude me in their circle. They must be thinking that I can’t ride on to what they’re into nor acquiesce what their planning if ever they have one. Maybe, they are correct with those thoughts and maybe, not.

All the thoughts and alike and sentiments of being out of place washed over me. Then, I woke up. I woke from this bad dream that almost swallowed me. If this dream could have a title, I would entitle it “SELFISHNESS”. As you see and probably realized since the beginning of this nonsense piece, all I was thinking was myself and nothing more but myself. I think of my personal gain from others—happiness, identity, approval —my worth. I was only thinking of me, myself and I. Nothing more, nothing less. It was the other me, the pessimistic me, who fed me up with notion of being alone, thus isolating myself from the people around.

As I open my eyes, I saw me with them. As I open the eyes of my heart, I saw me with them with an embrace, a laugh and a love. I saw real people being themselves painting on my face a smile—real friends. And as I laugh out loud, I notice the sky—high, wide and long. I realized that I am not forgotten, I was not alone. I won’t be alone. Though I feel like there was no one else beside me, I was definitely in His hands. He covers me with His hands. The unfathomable sky was His hands. His palm was His love, a place of love where eternal joy can come from. His love was my home, my true home. His love is where I belong.

Fluffy Madness

I am in love with the clouds. And I don’t know why.

I was so much thankful to God whenever I see clouds especially on a day, very white with the sun that’s very bright. I love them when they cover the sun giving them a glowing feature. I love them when the night's so deep and they join the full smiling moon and the countless stars. I love them when they dance with the horizon—a view of mountain, a lake, and a land. And through the clouds, I stand in awe of the God, the magnificent Creator.

So much with the madness with clouds, I remember Moses’ times. When God allowed Israelites to exit from Egypt, they are guided with clouds during day making clouds a representation of God Almighty. Also the book of Psalms and Proverbs had this word too: clouds. Job also had much to say about clouds and so with the book of Ezekiel, Isaiah and Revelation. The Bible had many words to describe clouds.

Okay. Clouds. What are clouds? Scientifically defined, it is visible mass of water particle in the air above the earth. In a deeper way, clouds have its purpose.

What do clouds do?

1. Protection

Clouds protect us from too much sunlight which can cause skin aging, skin darkening and worse skin cancer. Its shade during sunny days gives us ease.

Very likely, God protects us from danger. In fact, much more than clouds can do. He protects us from the harm rays of the enemies. He even made a way to save us from death by having His son die for us. What more can we ask for?

"For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory."

-Deuteronomy 20:4 NIV

2. Preparation

Clouds make us prepare. Literally speaking, clouds help us predict the weather.

God prepares us—our hearts and minds—whenever there are coming problems. God prepares our ways and plans for the future.

"When times are good, be happy;but when times are bad, consider this:God has made the one as well as the other.Therefore, no one can discoveranything about their future."

-Ecclesiastes 7:14 CEV 

"No one has ever imagines what God has prepared for those who love Him. "

-1 Corinthians 2:9 NCV

3. Provision

Clouds, specifically dark clouds, bring rain.

Dark clouds refer to the big, seemingly impossible-to-solve problems or suffering in this earthly life. But when we cast these burdens to God, He will surely help us. And with the strength of Christ in us, we can do all things. We can make it through these problems. After trials, with God, are victories and blessings indeed.

"But my God shall supply all your need according His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

-Philippians 4:19 KJV

Better read Lamentations 3, a hope for God’s love and mercy.

I certainly love clouds and loving more the Maker of it.

How clouds are formed? That’s for the next talk. ^_^

More photos of clouds? You can add me or you can simply view them here Clouds: the Madness

Whom to trust?

photo captured from www.biblegateway.com; (emphasis added) 

Read the second verse and think what it says…

As long as there is life, we shall acknowledge God. Proverbs 3:5-6 indicates trusting the Lord with ALL thy heart…that in all our ways, when we recognize Him, He shall direct our path—surely for the best.

God is the Maker of all things. He is that powerful for us not to be saved. He is mighty to save. He never changes and will never ever change. All things are under His control. he calms raging seas. He whisper through the air, He sends storms and lightning yet He is the Great Deliverer.

When problems or negative things come our way, we shall ask God first, neither our friends nor our parents. They are all secondary with respect to the highness of God. God is still the Great Helper. He will direct us into His words or will lead us to people whom we can really talk to. He is an Omniscient Father—knows all things under heaven. Men can help but it still God who made them, right? it is only by God’s will and wisdom that He uses people to speak to us. In everything, put your trust to God and he will definitely help you succeed.

Reality Check: For the days that have past, think where did you put your trust. Who do you seek first when happy or worst things come? Who do you ask first for help?

It must be God.

Check this out: Whom shall I fear by Lincoln Brewster ft. Kari Jobe. Be blessed ^_^

Not Ashamed

photos captured from: www.biblegateway.com

David danced for the Lord with all His might (verse 5). David, though he is already a king, danced for the Lord in front of his people. And he does not do it so that he can be honored but God to be honored. Wearing linen clothes (which made him look like half-naked), he still celebrated for what the Lord has done. He is not ashamed of what he is doing. David was jumping, dancing and shouting with great joy that time. And even if some people regard Him like a crazy person (like Michal), it doesn't matter as long as He is doing it for God.

Sometimes or more often than not, we were ashamed of celebrating for God. We want to let it out—voice, energy, movement—but we’re ashamed of what people may say or think of us. People around us maybe disgusted. They may say weird things about us. They may laugh at us but we shouldn’t feel anything sad about it, for the Lord our God is the One who must be pleased. We must die to ourselves—a proof of Christ living in us. If it is for God, it must be all out, the very best. Do what the Spirit is telling you to do so. Do what pleases God. Do what the Lord wants. Do what will make God smile. Do what will Him proud of you. Show the evidence of how much you love God. You’ll never know which one of your moments of praising God will be your last.

Resembling Water

Well, water. As researches says that one can live a week without food but not with water. Then let’s talk about water and discover how great its importance is.

I remember our last team building activity at RRC. Leaders and workers of our church were given a bunch of task enhancing unity through physical activities. Being one of the facilitators, I had the chance to observe this: each member of a group, old and young, gets exhausted after a certain activity or task yet before proceeding to the next station, almost all will come to stop by a water source to drink then they're on-the-go again! That is water. It refreshes. It renews strength.

Then I came up with these attributes of water:

•  thirst-quenching 

• life-extending

• cleansing

• refreshing

• necessity

• needed in digestion process

• health-related

And God can provide all the water we need. In fact, He is indeed the Living Water for whoever the water Jesus gives, will never be thirsty again. .

¹³ Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, ¹⁴ but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

-John 4:13-14 NIV

 1.  Thirst-quenching

Water removes away thirst and the same goes with God. He alone is the water who can fill the dryness of our hearts. Like a deer that searches for the water, and so was with our soul—longing after Thee.

"Then I lift my hands in prayer,

because my soul is a desert,

    thirsty for water from you."

(Psalm 143:6 CEV)

 2.  Life-extending

As said above, water is given much importance than food. In the same way, we can’t do anything without God. God is the true water who extends our life. Jesus came to gave us a joyful and satisfied life. (see John 10:10 CEV)

3.  Cleansing

As water is literally used for cleansing purposes—taking a bath, washing dishes, cleaning the house—and so as its use in cleansing our hearts. He is the one with mercy who purifies us and remembers our sins no more. His words, His truth were the very thing that more than powerful than any other bleaching solution in the world. He is the living water who washes away even our implicit dirt. Once we truly encountered the Lord, we became white as snow—radiant, glowing, shining (see Isaiah 1:18 NIV).

4.       Refreshing

Only God alone can give us a new heart. Those who are restless, troubled, brokenhearted, extremely lonely, God can and is willing to grant them a new undivided heart which only trusts God. He is more than ready to change our hearts ( see Ezekiel 11:19 NIV).

5.  Necessity

Indeed, it is a must. Water is a necessity to live. Try to imagine if God didn’t gave us water? This implies that without God, everything will be difficult. Without God, nothing could be established ( see also John3:27 CEV).

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

(Matthew 19:26 NIV; emphasis added) 

6.  Needed in digestion process

The Living Water digests what? Through the words and leading of the Holy Spirit, God make us through a time of trials. By His truth alone are we able to grasp How high, wide and deep His love is that in times of failures or challenges, we are sure that God will never ever leave us.

( see Psalm 34:18 NIV)

7.  Health-related

God’s word makes our spiritual life healthy. With His sufficient supple of grace, we can come to Him in confidence—with praising heart, pleasing life and worshipping spirit within us. (see Psalm 119:11 NIV)

The Psalm 19 Pattern

The word of God the BIBLE itself is a must for man to grow and succeed in life. I super love these verses below. Well, rhymes and wonderful words used are really awesome. God is the best. I don't know but it's just awesome of God having these Psalms wrtitten. Here is Psalm 19: 7-11 NIV:

7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,making wise the simple.

8 The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 

9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.

10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. 

11 By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

(via www.biblestudytools.com)

1. It is perfect.

Because of its perfection, it refreshes the soul. It is without flaws making a broken person have bliss and energy. It is perfect in terms of time. It helps increase our faith with the multitude of promises it contains. It is reviving, life-diving and restoring targeting the soul.

2.  It is trustworthy.

No one can doubt God’s words. As the earth may pass away, but His words will stand forever  (see matthew 24:35). He is the same yesterday, today and forever and so are His words. In view of this, we can give our purest trust to Him simply because He never fails. He plans the best for us, He knows the exact number of our hairs, and He gave his only son just to free us. He loves us so much that He can’t leave us nor forsake us. What else are we searching for? Why not rely on Him? He is for everyone—simple, imperfect and inexperienced.

3.  It is right.

It is appropriate and just. It can never be wrong. And true happiness can be attained by living according to His words, His commands, His will that if we delight ourselves unto Him He’ll give us our desire making us have satisfaction. He alone can fill the emptiness we have in our hearts leaving us true bliss. His words uplift, heal and calm.

    4.  It is radiant.

“..radiant giving light to the eyes..” It is indeed a light which guides our way. It is the lamp that leads us to true life. It helps us see circumstances positively by faith. It leads us in roads unknown, points us from paths unsure. As we apply His words, our lives will be surely enlightened  and definitely as we humble seek Him, He’ll let His light shine from us thus pointing others to Christ, the true Light.

    
    5.       It is sure.

No one can change the mind of God. As He sets the stars in their place and so was our life. He knows for sure how we are going to be in the form of His likeness. Never doubt God. Keep the faith for faith simply pleases God. Trials and challenges are permitted in order to refine us not to harm us. Be solid in His words and you’ll be in last.

    6.       It is pure.

Unlike nowaday’s products, His words are not 99% pure but 100%. What is written here in verse 9 is about the fear of the Lord—not the worldly fear those children know but the holy fear. This fear is about a love together with reverence. A love knowing that He is our Father and Bestfriend and reverence acknowledging Him as our King, Master and Lord. This fear must result to the purity of our hearts and minds as we continue to walk with Him.

    7.       It is precious.

“If you don’t have a Bible, go and sell your house and buy a Bible… ” a dialog I can recall from a teaching long ago. It is precious! The message version says that diamonds are no better than God’s words. As we grow to know God more by His words, we learn to do things that result in heavenly rewards which do not tarnish for the things of this world are just temporary.

    8.       It is incomparable.

Riches of this world offer happiness and pleasure that will not last. But the joy of knowing God can’t be compared to those riches. Talking about sweetness, I was reminded of the book of Isaiah, particularly the 43^rd chapter. It was undeniably sweet divulging more of the immeasurable span of His love for Israel, for His people, for us.

    9.       It is warning.

As His words guides, we can experience rebukes and warning when we are doing something against His will. His words, through the Holy Spirit, remind us everything we need in the battle of life. As we keep our gaze on Christ, sin is prevented, enemy is destroyed and the victory is ours.

    10.   It is a reward.

By meditating His words, we grow in Christ leading us to the true treasures we must have—an unfailing love, a full life, a beautiful hope in Christ and eternal friends. Living according to His words, enduring stumbles and failures that come our way, dealing with God, doing all things for Christ’s sake…who knows how proud God will be? How many crowns we’ll receive when the time comes?

Note: I also love the "The Message" version too. You can read try it!

Featured song "Running After You" by Planetshakers: 

Out of LOVE

It is what His commands are all about: LOVE.

Love? As far as the word of God is concerned, many verses can be referred to. One of the famous is in the letter of Paul to Corinthians which typically describes what love is. Yet this morning, chapter 13 verse 8 and 9 of the book of Romans inspired me. It made me remember the basic.

(emphasis added; photo captured from www.biblegateway.com )

As Paul had written, love is the fulfillment of the law that when one loves his/her neighbor, He has obeyed all the commandments. Think of old testament’s Ten Commandments which was given to Moses. There are these orders that say the words “dont”. Thinking deeper, all do points out to love. How come? When you love the people around you, you won’t do anything that will displease them or will cause them bad things right?

Loving the people around us is easy if they are good to us. Agree? But when things aren’t going well or when people changed their ways (especially not in our terms), do we still have the same love for them? And this is what the bible says in 14:7, that whether we live or die, it must be for God not for ourselves (click here for reference). We LIVE for GOD not for ourselves. We must do things as though He is the one who will benefit, as though He is the one we are dealing with.

(emphasis added; photo captured from www.biblegateway.com)

No one can say he loves God when he does not love the people around Him, for God is invisible and man is visible. The tongues we have talking to God must not be the same tongue who carelessly curses others. This means that loving other people unconditionally represents our love for God. When we learn how to care, give, respect and please others, both Christians and people of different faith, then we really have God in our hearts. Because if He lives in us, he is the one who will give us the capacity to love. When we are filled with his love, an overflow will eventually happen, making us pour love on others.

So I say, cling unto God and be satisfied with His unending love. Acknowledge His love as a gift that is meant to be shared. It is a gift from heaven that is limited not only for ourselves, for our families and friends but for everyone who lives around us. Reread Romans 12:9-21. The verses teach us how to live in harmony and peace with each other. And it all will start with a desire—desire to be filled with God’s love, desire to manifest His love, desire to exemplify His love by loving any kind of man here on earth. Let us always do thing with love and we will never be in regrets.

Here is Tenth Avenue North in their song entitled "Love is Here."

Stillness

I am always amazed by God. Everyone else has, has been and must be amazed by Him. There are so many things for God to care about, but sometimes do you ask yourself why He chose to love you? in fact, there’s no reasons behind. It’s just He is love himself. Yet there are times when we feel that God isn’t on our side. Yes, there are lots of ups and downs, so much struggles and never-ending troubles but one thing is for sure—because of His great love, we are not abandoned nor forsaken says in Deuteronomy 31:6.

^"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you." (emphasis added)

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As I read the story of Elijah in 1Kings 19, verses 11-12 really marked my mind and my heart. the It says here in CEV :

Note: For the story itself, read the previous verses from this link 1Kings 19:1-18.

(emphasis added; photo captured from: www.biblegateway.com)

During this time, Elijah ran away from Ahab and Jezebel who has torn down God’s altars and has punished almost all prophets except Elijah. If you've read  verses 1-10, we can see that God is a God who provides for His people. Reading from the photo above, I have wished that I am Elijah or I was with Elijah during those times. I wanna see God too.

God is omnipresent. Yes, He really is. But he didn’t promise that we’ll feel Him all the time, for faith is not by feeling. And His presence has many other forms. He uses different things or people for us to know He is right beside us. From the latter verses, we can see that God, before allowing Himself to be seen by Elijah, sends storms, wind and fire but none of those represented Him. He chose to be seen and felt in silence, in stillness, in gentleness…in a whisper.

What does this point out? First, I can view the humility that God. He could have a thousand of angels with their trumpets to welcome Him along the way, or He could have been in fire or strong winds to magnify His greatness, yet He comes in a gentle whisper. Second is the testing of faith—neither by feeling nor by sight. Elijah, after his near-death experiences, seeks God. He is not moved by the earthquake, by the wind nor by the fire. He is not moved by his problems and sufferings for God’s cause. He sets His heart only to God, thus enabling Him to encounter God who came in silence.

In our lives, we may have mountainous problems, storms of suffering and fiery enemies but once fix our eyes on Jesus, we’ll have the victory. We’ll just need to focus on God, obey him and earnestly seek Him. We just need to trust in His omnipresent power then acknowledge His presence. He can be everywhere yet  in stillness, one can hear God’s gentle voice.

Choose to listen and believe to the His voice. Check out this song and enjoy the lyrics: Voice of Truth by Casting Crowns.