The Purpose Driven Life: Day 17

DAY 17
THINKING ABOUT MY PURPOSE

Point to Ponder: I am called to belong, not just believe.

Verse to Remember: ”In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” -Romans 12:5

Question to Consider: Does my level of involvement in my local church demonstrate that I love and am committed to God’s family?

I haven’t been in a church for years now and I can feel how different it is to be living without it.

I left my mom’s hometown, Sta. Cruz, Laguna, where my church was located, way back 2005. That was when I started working. Since then, I had attended church services off and on due to my shifting schedule and different restday schedules.

Now that I am staying in my hometown, which is Cabuyao, Laguna — 2 hours away from Sta. Cruz — I don’t have a church to go to. Though I really want to go to one, I’m quite hesitant because I am not acquainted to any yet. But my goal now is to find a church where I can be involved in, make fellowship with, and worship God publicly.

I can never be fruitful by myself. I don’t want to be severed from Christ’s body. I don’t want to shrivel and die. What I want is to grow with the other members of Christ’s body and live according to God’s will. I want to fulfill my purpose because just like every part of our body, we have our own functions. We may be a big part or a small part of His body, what’s important is, we have been chosen to perform tasks that He has entrusted to us.

“Heavenly Father, I can never achieve anything alone. I don’t want to live without You and I can never live without You. For without You, I will not grow. I will just shrivel and die. But it doesn’t mean it’s just only me and You. It requires the help from the church. The church, which is filled with Your glory, can help me be nourished and fruitful. Thank You Father because I know You will find a church I can also belong to. Praise You God! In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

The Purpose Driven Life: Day 16

DAY 16
THINKING ABOUT MY PURPOSE

Point to Ponder: Life is all about love.

Verse to Remember: “The entire law is summed up in a single command: Love Your Neighbor as yourself.” -Galatians 5:14

Question to Ponder: Honestly, are relationships my first priority? How can I ensure that they are?

I have always valued my relationship with my family and my friends highly. I always think about their feelings and opinions. If I hurt others, I would feel so guilty for hurting them. But I am not perfect, although I love them, there would always be a time when my imperfections upset them.

Despite my busy working schedule, I make sure that I give enough time for my children. Even a short conversation with my mother makes me happy.

My belief in the Golden Rule and in God’s reminder to love our neighbors is what makes me watch my actions towards people. However, there are moments in my life that I get back on those who treat me wrong.

God isn’t like that to me so I will try to do the same.

Father, help me to be nice to others and to make my relationships my first priority. That despite my busy schedule, I hope I can always find time to connect with my sons, my mother, my brother, all the other members of our family, as well as my friends and colleagues. I pray that you help others to do the same. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

The Purpose Driven Life: Day 15

DAY 15
THINKING ABOUT MY PURPOSE

Point to Ponder: I was formed for God’s family.

Verse to Remember: ”His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us to Himself through Jesus Christ.” -Ephesians 1:5

Question to Consider: How can I start treating other believers like members of my own family?

Like what I’ve always said, whatever happens to us, the world may turn its back on us, if there are people on earth who will stick with us, that will be our family.

Just like God, kids would commit mistakes, parents would still embrace them, accept them, and teach them what’s right so kids wouldn’t make another mistake again.

If a member of the family is in need — morally, spiritually, physically, mentally, or financially — the rest of the family will give their best to support him/her.

That’s how I will treat other believers. I’ll give them respect and help them in my own simple way. God loves me and doesn’t stop being patient with me. So why shouldn’t I do the same with my physical/biological family and spiritual family?

I thank the Lord for letting me be a part of His family. I am adopted by God and it’s been planned even before I was conceived in my mother’s womb.

I love You God and I will share Your love to everyone. So help me, Father.

The Purpose Driven Life: DAY 14

DAY 14
THINKING ABOUT MY PURPOSE

Point to Ponder: God is real, no matter how I feel.

Verse to Remember: “For God has said, I will never leave you, I will never abandon you.” -Hebrews 13:5

Question to Consider: How can I stay focused on God’s presence, especially when he feels distant?

Last night’s reading really struck me. A lot of times in my life, I felt God was so distant. It seemed as though He left me behind. The problem was that I got carried away by my emotions and chose to remain in sadness. I became so desperate and prayed to God with so much hopeless tears. I cried and pleaded, but there was no response. I chose to be alone.

All along I was wrong. I used to say, “I believe in You,” and “I trust You.” But, did I?

After a while I realized that trusting God means believing that despite all the ugly things happening to me, I still should be thankful. God has a reason, and whatever that reason is, I should believe that it’s for my own good, that God doesn’t intend to hurt me. He has better plans for me.

I will always remember that there are always reasons to be thankful for. And one of these reasons is my salvation.

If it hadn’t been for the Son of God, we would remain in darkness.

Our Daily Bread

I have just visited the Our Daily Bread site and I felt happy that finally I can have a daily devotion while I am online. I learned about it from a friend/co-worker named Jem and I was thankful that she told me about it. This morning, it dawned on me that I should be carrying an Our Daily Bread booklet, like I used to years back. If I read novels, I should also do Biblical readings since it is the only time I give for God.

I used to be an active member of a church in Sta. Cruz, Laguna called the Mount of Olives Full Gospel Blessed Church, led by Pastor David Caburnay and his wife Pastora Lhisa Caburnay. I was a member of the worship team and I used to do my devotions twice a day–in the morning and in the evening.

However, I hardly had time to go to church when I started to work. I tried and tried to at least pray everyday or do devotion everyday. But I failed. Thanks to Jem, she told me about YouVersion where I can also read daily verses and post notes. But I thought, I needed some more.

Reading the Bible gives us peace. It does give me peace. I felt that no matter how ill I seem to other people, I know that God knows the real Rikaness in me and He accepts it like no one else can.

It may even sound odd that I am talking about God for it doesn’t look like I am a Christian. But, yeah, I am a Christian. I am for Christ. I believe that God is the Absolute Being who has the power over us. I believe that God loves us no matter what and although it may seem that He gives us too many challenges, I know for a fact that He only does that to teach us valuable lessons.

Like our parents, He gives us tough challenges when we don’t listen the easy way.

Read a verse every day, or every night. Pray and talk to God. He’ll free you from all the pain and heaviness. He’ll give you peace.

God bless us all!