Daily Thoughts

SCRIPTURES: Luke 15: 17-24

17. ““When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!

18. I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

19. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’

20. So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22. “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

23. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.

24. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”

REFLECTION 🌿

Isa sa mga pinaka sikat at magdang storya sa bibliya ang The Prodigal Son... maybe because marami sa atin ang nakaka relate dito. It's familiar, it is bitter and it is the truth.

Have you ever regret running away? Tapos nahihiya kang bumalik but you did it anyway? Today's scripture from the book of Luke is telling how the prodigal son returned to his father and how the father accepted the prodigal son....

Dito sa kwentong to, it shows how coming back is worth celebrating. Balik loob ika nga. Most of us, maraming beses na tayong nag back slide. Kilala na natin ang Panginoon, we were serving Him, pero eventually, because sa trap ng kaaway, we often times fall down and nakakalimutan natin ang Diyos. We are the prodigal son in this story. Ang titigas ng ulo natin, sinusunod natin yung gusto natin, ang rami nating gustong gawin na di naman dapat natin ginagawa... we try to control everything... we sought happiness and love in other things when in fact binigay na sa atin, di nga lang natin ma appreciate. Tulad ng prodigal son, ok na naman sana yung buhay niya, pero dahil sa tigas ng ulo, na temp ng kaaway, nadapa at nag dusa siya.

But despite being a foolish and stubborn son, mahal na mahal pa rin siya ng kanyang tatay at kahit na di pa siya nakaabot sa bahay nila, sinalubong siya ng kanyang tatay excitingly and pinag celebrate pa ang kanyang pagbabalik. And that's how God is to us! just like the father, our Father will celebrate our comeback.

Anu-ano nga ba ang dalang lessons ng kwentong ito?

Una, Luke 15:17 – “And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!”. Falling down will help us realize kung gaano kasarap ang manatili sa piling ni Lord. Sometimes, kailangan talaga nating magdusa in order for us to realize that it is better to be with the Father. Matigas ulo natin eh, kaya we learn it the hard way.

2nd, life humbles us down. Mismong buhay yung magpapa kita sa atin na dapat parati tayong magpakumbaba. The son learned it in a hard way. Dahil sa mga naranasan niyang paghihirap, narecognize niya yung mga kasalanan niya and he confessed his sins, Luke 15:18 – “I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee.” And because of this, nahiya siya, nagsisi siya and gusto niya itong pagbayaran through being his father's servant kaya sabi niya sa Luke 15:19 – “And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.”

Lastly, kahit gaano pa tayo kasama, our Father will always accept us sa oras na bumalik tayo sa kanya. Ganyan niya tayo kamahal. He celebrates our return!

MOTIVATION 🌿

Just come back to the Father. Ikaw lang yung hinihintay ni Lord. Your mistakes won't define you. As long as you humble yourself down, confess your trespasses, promise to change and never sin again.

Today, nireremind tayo ni Lord na anytime, we can come back. Kahit saan man tayong lugar mapunta, kahit kailan pa yan, basta.. God is just waiting.

APPLICATION 🌿

▫️now is the perfect time to return to the Lord's arms.

▫️be humble always.

▫️Know that our Father loves us so much.

Today marks the very 1st mother's day I celebrated. I have always imagined my vision of motherhood, I have already expected that that the learnings will be a painful and slow process but I knew it was worth it. May 14, 2023, where every mother feels valued. And now, na experience ko ito first hand. Ang sarap sa feeling.. kahit na single mom ako, ang sarap sa feeling malaman na someone out there is looking out for you and appreciating all your efforts as a mother...

I thought being a single mom would make my difficulties harder (times 2) but I realized that our sacrifices as a mom is immeasurable, be it a single mom or with partner. I just thank God for giving me this opportunity and for giving me Coco na malapit ko ng makita at mahagkan. Finally, a human being who will bring genuine happiness in my life. I still did't forget my promise to the Lord, we had a covenant that if He will give me a child, I promise that this child and I will be united in serving Him and i'm intending to keep that covenant. Whatever happens, sabay naming mag-ina paglilingkuran ang Panginoon.

Happy mothers' day everyone ❤️

1. "Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.

2. I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me.

3. He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me— God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.

4. I am in the midst of lions; I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts— men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.

5. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.

6. They spread a net for my feet— I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path— but they have fallen into it themselves.

7. My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul!

8. Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.

9. I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.

10. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

11. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.”

‭‭

RHEMA

▫️There is only one way, one source, one path, one bridge, and one solution when the trials come, only to God - our sovereign God who offers real refuge, safetyness and comfortability.

▫️ Our eyes should be fixed only in focusing and trusting God's ways.

▫️Ang secured at tunay na kristiyano ay mag susurvive. When all is bleak and uncertain, one’s heart will not surrender to the circumstances. He will ride over the storm-tossed waves and arrive safely where and when God wants him.

REFLECTION

David's song relays a strong message on how we should act on our faith. Madali kasing sabihin na faithful tayo pag maganda or magaan yung buhay natin, but when difficulties come, jan natetest yung faith natin. Today's scriptures tells us that David's test became his TESTimony.

Gustong patayin ni King Saul si David, but because David extremely showed his profound trust in the Lord, naligtas siya. Kung titingnan mo, talagang malala yung kalagayan ni David kasi he asked the Lord for mercy 2 times, verse 1 "Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me". Wala siyang ibang mapupuntahan, at sinabi niyang "for in you I take refuge", he did not say this to earn God's mercy but because si God lang yung only hope ni David. His soul trusted in God and nothing else; there was nothing else to trust in. Si David, kahit hinahabol na nang kalaban, his heart was fixed to God, alam niyng undercontrol pa rin ni Lord yung situation.

MOTIVATION

Talagang tumatak sakin yung verse 7, "My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul!" kasi it reminded us na dapat ganun yung mgaing character natin, dapat steadfast tayo - yung may determination or will to move forward kahit may uncertainty or kahit di ka siguro sa kung anong tatahakin mo.

Personally, ilang weeks na rin akong nag iisip kung ano nga ba ang plano ni Lord samin dito, am I going to go back sa Philippines or stay here. Uncertain talaga yung mangyayari samin ni Coco, but today, I am reminded that God is still good and He will work it out go His glory. Napaka rami kong "what ifs" but today sinagot yun ni Lord through the testimony of David that me and my kid will be safe, that wherever will go, Pinas man, UAE or kahit saan, we will be safe.

Napaka buti mo Lord! Amen! Thank you for reminding me to trust in you. Thank you for your security na yung promises mo will guide us through the unknow tomorrows.

APPLICATION

▫️live "above" the circumstances of life as you look to God for help and guidance.

▫️manalig lang tayo sa leadership ng ating Panginoon at yun mismo yung magpapatatag satin in times of doubt and uncertainty.

▫️tulad ng ginawa niya many times in one's past, just trust the Lord that He will work it all out sa buhay mo.

“Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."

RHEMA:

▫️John ‭20‬:‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬ "Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

▫️ Stop doubting and start believing that God is with you and for you.

REFLECTION:

Sa scriptures natin today, mababasa natin ang kwento ni Thomas. One of Jesus Christ' 12 disciples. Nung ibinalita ng ibang disipolo ky Thomas na nabuhay ulit ang Panginoon, Thomas refused to believe. Sinabi pa nga niya sa verse 25, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Tulad ni Thomas, marami sa atin ang nahihirapan maniwala kay Kristo. Karamihan kasi satin, we need to see it or feel it before we believe it. Today's scriptures teaches us about our own doubts. Yung pag dududa or pag doudoubt, it is something na parang naging normal na sa bawat tao. Lahat ng bagay, pinagdududahan natin. Hindi naman kasi ito surprising kasi yung evil, palagi nya tayong binibigyan ng kasinungalingan para mag doubt.

Even tayo, with other people, di tayo always certain if someone is being tru to you or not. Di lang yan, may iba ring hindi naniniwala kay Kristo, dba mga atheist or kahit Christians, yung ibang nag keclaim na they follow the Lord pero most of the time, nag doudoubt sa salita niya.

Kung tutuusin, di naman talaga nagkulang si Kristo eh. Sumubra pa nga. His miracles are enough for us to believe in Him. prinomise ni Lord yan na He will meet the believers every need; remove all sin, save eternity and would never leave or forsake a believer. Kaya nga sabi nya in verse 29 “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

MOTIVATION:

Today's devotion motivated me na kahit di man natin makita si Kristo physically, maari nating tingnan yung mga works ni Lord sa buhay natin. Yung mga blessings, mga pag proprotekta nya satin, pag liligtas satin, yung pag mamahal niya. At, maari rin tayong mkinig sa kanyang gospel.

Ako, personally, there was a time yung moment na down na down ako, and take note Christian na ako nun, i went through really a rough time. Nahihirapan ako mag serve nun na time kasi quenestion ko talaga si Lord why he allowed those things to happen to me. Gabi gabi akong umiiyak sa kanya, asking Him where I went wrong or kung saan ako nag kulang. Pinag dudahan ko yung salita niya. Like me, many of us, stop believing His words kung mahirap na yung pinag dadaanan. Marami satin natatakot ano yung next ma mangyayari, kasi nga we are doubting God's word.

Let today's story of Thomas be reminder to all of us to stop doubting and start believing. Kung may moment man na we begin to doubt the Lord, stop and look at your own life. I assess mo how manu times God provided you whatever you need. Minsn, kailangan lang natin mg pause at mag reflect sa life natin para matauhan tayo.

APPLICATION:

▫️Let us stop worrying kung ano yung nangyayari at mangyayari pa sa life. Dapat umpisahan na nating mag believe sa salita ng Panginoon. Palagi nating iplant yung seed of God's word sa puso natin para mamunga ito at makapagwin pa ng ibang souls.

▫️wag tayong magpapadala sa mga makamundong gawain upang di tayo mag doubt sa katotohanang dala ni Hesus.

▫️daily devotion. Dapat continue lang tayo sa pag babad natin sa salita ng Panginoon upang mas marami pa tayong matutunan tungkol s kanyang gospel.

Scriptures: Zechariah 3:1‭-‬10 NIV

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord , and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord , who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?” Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.” Then I said, “Put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the Lord stood by. The angel of the Lord gave this charge to Joshua: “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘If you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here. “ ‘Listen, High Priest Joshua, you and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch. See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day. “ ‘In that day each of you will invite your neighbor to sit under your vine and fig tree,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

💕 RHEMA

▫️ Zechariah 3:4 NIV The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.”

▫️Tanging si Lord lang yung may kakayahang linisin ang pagkatao natin.

💕 REFLECTION

Todays's reading is reminding us na kahit makasalanan tayo, once nag sisi tayo at humingi ng tawad kay Lord, papatawarin niya tayo. We will be renewed. God will clean us and remove all the stains in our lives. Siya yung ultimate cleaner natin. Kahit na ilang ulit sabihin ni Satanas na wala na tayong pakinabang or we are not worthy same nung sinabi niya kay Joshua, dapat nating alalalahanin na once the Lord has forgiven us, hindi na mag mamatter yung nagawa natin before. Same nung story ng prodigal son, the moment he returned to his father, binihisan agad siya at nilinisan. Ganyan rin si Lord satin pag nag decide tayong bumalik sa kanya, Zechariah 3:7 NIV “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘If you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.

💕 MOTIVATION

I believe that those who forgive first are the ones of lets go the pain. Today's devotion is reminding us for 3 things;

1.) We should forgive ourselves first. Acceptance and forgiveness is the first step for us to fully let go of the pain. Once we forgave ourselves, the enemy can no longer use the situation against us. The past will keep on haunting us if we won't move forward. Let this be a motivation to all of us that we should not be stucked with our past mistakes.

2.) GOD's forgiveness is real. His forgiveness does not remember the past. So once God forgave you, all the mistakes you have done in the past are deleted. We can start with a clean slate. Forgiven. Cleansed. Renewed.

3.) We are showing our love to God through our obedience. As mentioned in verse 7, we are assured and promised that as long as we obey the Lord and walk with Him, we will surely have a place in His kingdom.

💕 APPLICATION

▫️Obey the Lord.

▫️Forgive yourself and know that you can start with a clean slate.

▫️Do not be affected by the enemy's reminders of your past wrong-doings. You are already forgiven.

Abu Dhabi, UAE