God's Kingdom!

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I was cleaning the house one day when suddenly a word came into my mind.  "Seek first God's kingdom"
"Oh, what in the world was that"?  Then I continued with what I was doing. And then I heard it  again.
 " Seek first Gods kindom". Then I asked: Was it you Lord? Are you talking to me?
Well, I know that words comes from the bible.
So I thought maybe God wanted to tell me something about it. Then I looked for my bible in the living room  and start turning the pages. I know I can find that verse in the new testament. And I was right.

Yes! It's in Mattew 6:33. I continue to read until verse 34: Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Well, maybe this verse applies more for me).

Then I began reasoning with God. I asked: "Why are you telling me this? I already found you and your kingdom. What more do you want me to do"? Then I heard a voice inside me saying: Did you really find my kingdom?  I answered: " I believe so Lord".  Do you know everything about my kingdom? Do you really know me? But now, I could not say yes to God. Then God reminded me the time when I was about to travel to Norway.

Actually, I didn't know anything about Norway until my sister married a norwegian. She needed an aupair and that time I desparately needed a job. So the offer was heaven sent for me. But before I can go to Norway, I had to apply for a working visa. Then I had to  prepare a lot of necessary papers that the embassy needed from me in order to get a working permit.
Norway was a strange country for me back then. We did not have the internet and it was not easy to search an information about Norway. And most of the Filipino citizens  had only focused their eyes in America and not in Europe.

Then I asked again God what He meant about my travel to Norway. And he said that before I travel to Norway, I asked a lot of questions like:

How do  I get there?

What I must prepare?

 What kind of country is Norway?

What is the the language?

What kind of people are living there?

What kind of climate they have?
Do they welcome foriegners?

And then he told me that  when I arrived in Norway, I had to learn the language, the people, the culture, the climate, the laws and how to be integrated.

 And although  I  have been living in Norway for quite sometime  now, still there are a lot of things I did not know about Norway and I'm  still learning the language. the culture, laws, the people and still have not seen the whole country.
And he said that it is like seeking God's kingdom. I have to:
* Learn and understand more of Gods words. ( bible)
* Learn His way of doing things
* Learn His will
* Learn His laws and his kingdom
* Know how He function in my life and the lives of other people
*To be aware of His  creation
*To learn to know Him as my Father, saviour, friend, provider, healer and so on.

And He said that is why He wants me  to seek more of His kingdom because His kingdom is huge. And there is a lot more to learn about this vast Kingdom of His and I'm a part of it.  And the more I know Him and the more I  know how He operates, the more I  will understand Him. And if I do that, one day I will come to the stage where I will have peace in my heart no matter what is happening with my life, my family and  the world. Then I will not have to worry for what tomorrow will bring, coz He will be there. Then I can see others how He sees them and  can be merciful and forgiving like He is.

Then I thought that this God really loves me. He cares for me and my well being. He wants me to seek His kingdom and it's righteousness for my own good, not His. And this is His wish for everybody! For God's  love covers all:)

The wedding

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Yesterday I was very lucky to be invited to a friend's wedding.  I'm very happy for the couple. Actually this couple got marriend eight years ago, but they wanted to renew their vows to God and to each other. And for me, it was a gesture of love!

The beautiful bride Claudia, She is from Mexico.

The happy couple on the way to the altar!

David, Geir Yngve's son played a very nice tune from his guitar  for the couple.

The pastor, sang a song for the lovely couple!

And we are all touched by the song!

Geir Yngve shared to the couple and to us the secret of how to remain happy in marriage.

It affected the hearts of us who heard the message.

Well, I have a happy marriage  and it was a verification that I'm on the right way. But just like Claudia and her husband my marriage have to be renewed everyday to stay happily marriage.

As a believer too, I need to renew my relationship with God everyday if I want to be happy in my walk with God. He said " Man shall not live by bread alone, but for every word that comes from the word of God". So, I need to listen to God everyday. Beacause

Just  like in marriage, we need to listen to each other, spend time with each other and be united if we want the relationship to grow.

I heard one said: "Treat your husband like a king and he will treat you like  a queen". Well, maybe it's one of the secret :)

I think that being married is a proceess of getting to know each other:

To know her/ his thoughts, dreams, wants and what makes this person happy or sad. To know that this person is gonna be there when the going gets tough.

This too applies in our relationship with God. He  too knows everything about us. But how can we know everything about God if we don't spend time with Him and His words?  How can we show that we love God who has given us His precious Son to die for our sins and  created this universe for us if we don't put him first in our lives ?  One thing I do know is that " when the going gets tough and there will be no one there for me, I'm pretty sure that God would be there for me".

If we can love another person because he /she loves us in return, how much more  can we love God who loves us no matter how we are and no matter what we had done?

But sad to say, many people are blind. They look for love in wrong places and get dissapointed.  They seek happines in Gods creation than the creator. But God said:

                                                     

I supposed, I just say to the couple " May you live happily ever after"  And I know everbody agree with me:)

The blind man!

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John 9:1-3 And as he passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. And his diciples asked him, saying, Rabbi, who sinned, this man , or his parents, that he should be born blind? Jesus answered, "Neither did this man sin. nor his parents: but the work of God should be manifest in him".

The disciples wondered who had sinned, because the man was born blind. They wanted an answer from Jesus. Just like we do, We often wondered who was the guilty one, but no one wants to get the blame. The criminals do such horrible deeds, but they blame others why they do such a thing.

When I read this verse, my mind went backwards. I remember my childhood. Why? Because my father was blind too, like the man in the bible. I remember that we were his eyes. If he was going anywhere, one of us must go with him.

 Although my father was a blind man, he was not weak. He was a man full of wisdom. I learned a lot from him. I  loved being with him when I was a child coz he told me a lot of fairytales. It gave me the inspiration to read books. It made me forget the difficulties we had although for just a moment. In his stories, it always ends good for those who experience hardships. Then I thought that my future will be brighter too. I dreamed that I was a princess too!

He was also a good listener and  often he had an  answer for my many whys, where and when!  One day I asked my father who God was and where did he came from. He told me that God was the beginning and he created the heaven and the earth.

Well, I am was born curious, so it was natural for me to seek this God that my father talked about. When I learned how to read, I began reading the new testament. But the more I read, the more I did not understand and more questions puffed up in my mind. That is why the bible is a book that have to be read again and again. But although I had more questions about Gods words, I got many answers from it too.

But as I grow up and had to face many storms in my life and felt many times alone, I asked God where he was. Was he blind too? Does he care for someone like me?

Did God answer me? Yes, he did. Not the time I wanted him to be, but in his perfect time. In fact I learned that being in want teached makes me too work harder, to be patient and to put my trust in GOd.

To acquire more knowledge and wisdom because its the only thing in the world that others cannot steal from me.

Today I will call myself a lucky woman. Now I can buy the things I want or need, travel to many different places, meet different kinds of people and feel loved by my family and  people around me and God.

I am not saying that I don't experience difficulties now, but the difference is now I really know that God is not blind. He sees me and promised to be with me to matter what. As I looked back in my life, I can now say that  the trials that I had, made me a better person  and I can now really see Gods helping hands during the darkest moments of my life.

"I was blind, but now I see".  I found the source of light:)

Pain!

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What causes pain? As an individual, we experience pain whether we want it or not. In my life I had experienced:
Pain because of sickness
Pain of losing someone to another and death
Pain of separation
Pain  of too much work
Pain in giving birth
Pain in shattered dreams
Pain of being mistreated, abused or cheated
Pain  if my loved ones have difficulties coz I feel their pain too.

I think most of us had gone through those kinds of pains and dealt with them differently.
 But how can we manage to get over it?
How can we go on living when our hearts and body is aching?

In the past few days I have muscles and joint pain and have to strive to do my job. Strive to take care of my home and other extra activities that should be done. And sometimes I feel sorry for myself. But when I think of other people especially in my family circle  that have more problems than me, I feel ashamed feeling sorry for myself. I have a lot of things to be thankful and I'm still lucky.

Lucky to have a job
Lucky to have a family and a home
Lucky to have food on the table
Lucky to have clothes to wear
Lucky to have a very kind husband
Lucky to have children and grandchildren
Lucky to have eyes to see, ears to hear and to move and have my being.

How do I dealt with my past pains and how do I deal with my present pain?

I think I survived coz I thought that one day it will get better. Life is like  a circle and sometimes we are up and sometimes we are down. And as long as I do my best and  forgive those that hurt me and let God do the rest, then I will be ok.

Jesus suffered so much pain for us.


 As a believer, we are connected to him and whatever we are going through, he too is going through it with us. Coz He is the head and we are the body. We can't do it alone without Him. He has been the source of strength for me and had given  me hope when everything was hopeless. He assured me that although my loved ones are far away from me and I could not easily help them when they needed me, but He will be there for me.

And He said: "Cast all your cares unto me and I will give you rest "
Pain is a part of life and as long as we are on this earth, we are going to experience pain. Thanks God that one day it would end and He will dry the tears in our eyes. !

So for me, I just have to focus on God and keep on living and making the best of this life that He has given me. Pain or no pain

Busy life!

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I wonder if I can still find someone who is not busy with everything that's need to be done in their lives!

I wish the day has more than 24 hours, so that I can spend time with all the things I supposed  to do with the 24 hours that God has giving me everyday.

But how do I do that?
When my alarm clock rings and the morning, I wish I still have more time to sleep .



Still have more time to have a quiet time with God before I begin my day.

Then when I get up, I wish I have more time to enjoy my breakfast.

 

 Have more time in front of the mirror so that I won't look so tired when I arrived at work.

At work, I wish I can spend more time with the elderly so that they will feel not feel neglected. I wish to do a lot of things together with them, but I don't have enough time.

At home I wish I will have more time  to do all the household chores.

More time to spend with my with my loved ones, but the circumstances and distance holds us apart. I'm happy though for internet coz through facebook I can communicate with them and see their pictures.

 

I wish I have  more time to spend with my hobbies like:  handcrafts, facebooking, writing blog, reading christian articles, hobby books, blogs and connecting with others to name a few.

I wish I have more time to spend with my friends. To be a part of their lives too. I have many of them that I seldom see!

 I wish I will have more time to study Gods word and to share Gods love to others.

I wish I will have more time to exercise. So that I will be stronger.

 More time to just watch God's creation and meditate on His goodness.

But I have only 24 hours a day and I get so frustrated when the days go by and I'm getting older with still so much things I wanted to accomplish. Then God reminded me in:
Ecclesiastes 3: There is time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.

THEN I  JUST HAVE TO MAKE THE BEST OUT OF IT AND LEARN TO ENJOY EVERY MINUTE OF THE 24 HOURS A DAY THAT GOD IS GIVING ME EVERYDAY!.

Anyway I will be in heaven one day ( I hope so) then I will have all the time I need.

Is there someone out there who knows how to use the 24 hours a day wisely?

The "rainbow"

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 I went to town last week by boat and  when the  boat was about to dock, I saw a rainbow in the sky. It was still raining, but  the clouds gave way to the sun to spread its rays to the atmoshere. And the rainbow appeared.  Coz when  light and water meet in the sky, a rainbow appear.

Then I remember Noah and the ark. God said in Genesis 9: 13 " I have set the rainbow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds , I will remember my covenant between me and you and all the living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become flood to destroy all life".

Then I asked God, why rainbow? What is so special with a rainbow?  Well it is of course colorful with seven colors in all and easy to be seen: (red, orange,yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet).
Well, I need an answer. I searched the internet to know what these colors means for people and what did it do to us.

I googled it and these is what I found:

Blue = SPIRITUALITY blue energy stones	Blue is the color of distance - oceans, skies, the heavens. The energy of blue helps us to look beyond the immediate environment, expanding our perceptions towards the unknown.  Blue is the color of Divinity. It brings: Peace and understanding Enhances the easy flow of communication with yourself or others Calms and relaxes My thought! This is Gods message to us through the blue color. No wonder the blue sky calms us down and gives us peace. it helps us to meditate and communicate. It's like communicating with God when we looked at the sky! I remember when I was a child, we lived in a country side and once in a while when I need to just go away from all the troubles I had, I would  lie on the grass under the shadow of a tree and just look at the sky. And I felt that God was near me and His peace was reaching my soul and assuring me that everything is gonna be alright!
Yellow = WISDOM yellow energy stones	Yellow is naturally associated with the sun itself, and so with its life giving and sustaining energy. Yellow enriches, lightens and activates many of the systems of the body. It's bright sunny energy brings about: clarity of thought orderliness memory improvement better decision making skills alleviates confusion My thought! No wonder everybody is smiling when the sun is shining, especially for us who lives in winterland :)  And when the sun is out, we can look to God who is the source of light. He can enlighten and enrich us when we are in the midst of darkness and storm. He gives wisdom to those who ask too!
Red = VITALITY red energy stones	Red is the color with the longest wavelength, being the nearest visible light to infrared in theelectromagnetic spectrum. We feel in red - ACTIVITY. The red ray furnishes sustenance for the physical body. It brings about: energy enthusiasm interest and passion security My thought! Red color reminds me of God's heart and Jesus blood that he poured out for us. We are God's passion! We are God's love! And if we feel unloved and unlovable, then look at the red color. It's a symbol of God's love for us!
When blue is in harmony with yellow and red, there is peace and balance in body and mind. From this trinity of primary colors emanate the secondary colors...
Orange = CREATIVE ENERGY orange energy stones	Orange combines red and yellow. It contains the fiery energy of red with the wisdom and control of yellow. Orange is a dynamic energy like red but more thoughtful and controlled. Orange brings about: creativity playfulness exploration on a practical level relief from boredom equilibrium My thought! Orange color is made by God to inspire us. To make us creative and not get bored. To bring us to higher level and to explore things that He has prepared for us.   But the word equilibrium which means " states of balance" tells me that when we are achieving our goal, we need to balance our time with God, family and friends. We must also learn how to play in the midst of busyness.
Green = LIFE, BALANCE, NATURE green energy stones	Green is the merging of yellow (mind) and blue (spirit). It is located exactly at the point of color balance - midway between red and violet on the color spectrum.  The human eye is able to recognize more variation in the color green than in any other color. Its energy contains: harmony sympathy health abundance balance growth and expansion My thought! So this color makes us harmonious, sympathetic, healthy, in abundance, balanced and helps us to grow and expand. Isn't it marvelous! The more I learned how this colors affect us, the more I marveled at Gods way of putting us in remembrance.
Indigo = INFINITY indigo energy stones	Indigo amplifies the energy of blue in a profound way. At a physical level, while blue is calming, indigo is sedating. It deepens and turns blue energy inward. The indigo ray symbolizes the bridge between the finite and the infinite and opens the door to the mystical borderland. While blue energy is fast, Indigo energy is more often lightening fast. opens the subconscious spiritual attainment self-mastery wisdom sudden awareness intuition psychic abilities My thought! Indigo makes us search beyond what we can see. There is more between heaven and earth. To be more spiritual and to connect more with our Spiritual God who made heaven and earth. To meditate Gods words, goodness and creations. And to understand His thoughts thats is higher than ours. And to understand ourselves. Indigo color reminds us to be  quiet and to meditate and just be still!
Violet = HIGHEST ELEMENT OF SPIRITUAL MASTERY violet energy stones	Violet is the ray of spiritual mastery. It is the highest and most subtle specialization of light, being at the opposite end of the color spectrum to red. It should be viewed as both a completion as well as a beginning of the energy vibration beyond the visible color spectrum.  Violet is a combination of both red and blue and this is key to understanding this color. It brings a stabilizing energy to the franticness of red. It lends practicality to the undirected spaciousness of blue. darker tones are associated with sorrow deep purple signifies high spiritual attainment pale lilac brings love for humanity bluish purple brings idealism sparks the imagination and inspiration integrates other energies for healing purposes My thought: In life, sorrow will always  accompany us, but this color that symbolizes sorrow can also bring forth love for humanity. When we experience sorrow, then we will have more understanding for others who are also grieving. It also lead us to have an ideal, but an idealism that is in line with Gods idea of perfectionism. Violet color also inspires us and make our imagination work and lead us to combine other energies for our healing. After reading the different qualities of the seven colors of the rainbow and how these colors affect us, I can't help it but to really admired God for choosing the rainbow as a sign of a covenant between God and man. And although we can't see a raibow all the time, we are surrounded by these colors around us that remind us of Gods provision whenever we are. So friends, look at the different colors around and experience Gods goodness through these colors and be reminded why God created a rainbow.

Brother's love!

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This story that I read from internet really touched me. Hope others will be touched too!

A Brother's Love

Like any good mother, when Karen found out that another baby was on the way, she did what she could to help her 3-year-old son, Michael, prepare for a new sibling. They find out that the new baby is going to be a girl, and day after day, night after night, Michael sings to his sister in Mommy's tummy.

 The pregnancy progresses normally for Karen, an active member of the Panther Creek United Methodist Church in Morristown, Tennessee. Then the labor pains come. Every five minutes. Every minute. But complications arise during delivery. Hours of labor. Would a C-section be required? Finally, Michael's little sister is born. But she is in serious condition. With siren howling in the night, the ambulance rushes the infant to the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Mary's Hospital, Knoxville, Tennessee.The days inch by. The little girl gets worse. The pediatric specialist tells the parents, "There is very little hope. Be prepared for the worst". Karen and her husband contact a local cemetery about a burial plot. They have fixed up a special room in their home for the new baby, now they plan a funeral.

 Michael, keeps begging his parents to let him see his sister, "I want to sing to her," he says. Week two in intensive care. It looks as if a funeral will come before the week is over. Michael keeps nagging about singing to his sister, but kids are never allowed in Intensive Care. But Karen makes up her mind. She will take Michael whether they like it or not. If he doesn't see his sister now, he may never see her alive.

 She dresses him in an oversized scrub suit and marches him into ICU. He looks like a walking laundry basket, but the head nurse recognizes him as a child and bellows, "Get that kid out of here now! No children are allowed in ICU."

 The mother rises up strong in Karen, and the usually mild-mannered lady glares steel-eyed into the head nurse's face, her lips a firm line. "He is not leaving until he sings to his sister!" Karen tows Michael to his sister's bedside. He gazes at the tiny infant losing the battle to live. And he begins to sing. In the pure hearted voice of a 3-year-old, Michael sings:

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray " Instantly the baby girl responds. The pulse rate becomes calm and steady. Keep on singing, Michael. "You never know, dear, how much I love you, Please don't take my sunshine away---"

The ragged, strained breathing becomes as smooth as a kitten's purr. Keep on singing, Michael. "The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held you in my arms..." Michael's little sister relaxes as rest, healing rest, seems to sweep over her. Tears conquer the face of the bossy head nurse. Karen glows.

 "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. Please don't take my sunshine away. God heard the little boys song and his plead.

Three weeks later they heard these words "The baby girl is well enough to go home!"

 Woman's Day magazine called it "The miracle of a brother's song." The medical staff just called it a miracle. Karen called it a miracle of God's love.

 For with God nothing shall be impossible - Luke 1:37

--- Author Unknown --- sent to Joy by : Jacquelinemae A. Rudd
Shared By : Joy Lyons

My thought!
This little boy's love for his sister won't just give up. He kept tugging his mom so that he can sing for his little sister. Maybe he thought that when he sang for her when she was in mothers tummy, she was alive and to keep the baby alive, he must continue singing for her. And God answered his prayer. So we too must not give up in praying to God, coz God always answer prayers in His perfect time.


God too keeps knocking at our hearts door,
 coz His voice makes as alive. Apart from Him and his words we are lost and will wither. But sometimes we are so stubborn and won't hear from Him.

In psalm 36:9 It said that with God is the fountain of life and through Him we can see light

.

 And who would not want to find the fountain of life? Everybody does! So let us focus our eyes to God coz He is "the fountain of life!

Father, thank you for the life that you had given to us and for providing a way so that we can have an everlasting life with you. Let us be life bearers and let everything we put our hands into flourish and multiply, for your glory. Let us see others and everything  with your eyes, hear with your ears and feel with your heart.

My memorable day!

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I woke up at six am today. A little bit early coz I'm going to town. My youngest daughter told me that I looked so tired. And she was right. I wish I could sleep a little bit more.


 I took the one hour boat to  town. The weather was not so nice, but I trusted the pilot of the boat that he can bring  the passengers to their destination.
Then it came to my mind that if I just can have that confidence to God that He can bring me through this life no matter what the circumstances are. Then I will have peace and can enjoy the ride of life. I should be trusting God more than man. And that was an awakening thought for me.

Well, I have one hour to just sit, or pray or just look outside through the window. But I did not plan to do that. I brought with me a crochet and yarn to make a pot holder. Amazing how we can make a lot of things with our hands. I like making pot  holders to keep me from getting burn when I'm holding hot pots.  God has given us hands to create and to protect. Hand are not created to steal, to hurt people and to destroy. Hope people will think of that when they get tempted to use their hands to do bad things.  Well, I'm very thankful to God with my hands that are still functioning.

I came early to the hospital where I was  going to take a mammography test. It is a test to check the breast for cancer or tumor. Anyway I had to take off my clothes so that the nurses can take an x-ray. I hope they won't find anything. Likewise if I 'm going to open my heart to God, I hope He wont find any wickedness there.

 In psalm 119: 11 I read that if I have hidden the word of God in my heart, then I will not sin against Him. So it's the secret to make my heart pure. Well, good to be reminded:)

When I was finished taking the test at the hospital, I decided to go window shopping. It was still early to take the boat home. At the mall, one can be tempted to buy a lot of things coz the shops has everything money can buy. Luckily, my budget was limited. Well, I thought that there are a lot  temptation that comes in my life too. I hope that I will be wise enough to choose the right thing.  

While I was looking at the sale,  I was surprised to see  my cousin Celeste and her friend Jojo who were also shopping. They were very happy to see me too!

It was near lunchtime, so we decided to go to a Chinese restaurant and eat lunch. Both of them were customers there coz it was cheap and the chef makes delicious chinese food. I was very happy to meet them and talk to them. It was a memorable lunch for me.

After eating lunch, we decided to look around to see if we can still buy something on sale. Then we parted and I took the bus to the boat station. I meet one lady that I know and together we took the boat home. We talked a lot and the trip home was not boring at all.

When I came home I just prepare myself to go to Zumba training. Perspired and happy after the training. Now, after taking a shower, it was good to just sit on the couch and be thankful to God for a memorable day!