PEPI Thought to Ponder: Awareness of GOD's Provision

Genesis 21:19 KJV
And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.

When Hagar and her son Ishmael dismissed by Abraham, Hagar and Ishmael travel in the dessert to the point that they exhausted their food and water. Hagar in her desperation set her son just few meters away for she don't want to see the boy dying out of dehydration.

God heard the cry of the boy and God speaks to Hagar and open her eyes to see the water just besides them in order for them to survived and travel to where they are going.

In 2 Kings 17:20 Elisha's servant was terrified for they were surrounded by their enemies but Elisha prayed to open his servant's eyes and so God opened his eyes and the servant see that behind their enemies were more than them, to protect them.

2 Kings 6:15-17 KJV
And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?  And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

Same thing happened to the servant of Elisha when they were surrounded by their enemies. Elisha prayed that God may open his eyes to see God's mighty armies.

God's protection and provision are always with us. We just need to be aware to see His provision.

It is my prayer that God may open our spiritual eyes to see His provision in our daily life or much more in this pandemic situation. To see His working hands, His provision, To help us out of these situation. And in the end we bring Him glory, praise, and honor. Amen. 

 

PEPI Toughts to Ponder: Rise and Live

 

John 11:38-44
Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said.

“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”

40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

Nothing is impossible with GOD as He raise up Lazarus from the dead. When I'm on my way out from our condo these thoughts came into my mind as GOD wants to impressed with my mind with the circumstances that we are in during Covid19. As I also think of other people who are looking forward to hope, and I hope that as I share these thoughts with you, you may also be enlightened and live differently once you catch these thoughts.

The story of Lazarus was already past but we can learn from it. Though Lazarus is already dead, something in him that he heard and choose to respond as GOD commanded him to rise. It is the same with our situation. We might be considered not dead as Lazarus but maybe our employment, our finances, our relationship with our family, or spouse. We have a choice to respond as GOD commanded us to rise and live.

Rise your name from financial difficulty, or bankruptcy. Rise your name from unemployment. Rise your name from your spouse separation. Rise your name from separation from your children, your dad, your mom. Rise your name from fear and worry. Rise your name from deseases.

As we put our faith to GOD we can move mountains of impossibilities in our lives, but only believe. It is my prayer that as we live each day, may we dwell on GOD's promises through His Word. May we also strive to live a holy life so that we may be able to experience breakthrough in our lives. Amen.

 

GOD's Blessings Now and Forevermore - Tagalog Version

 

Ang ating Panginoong JESUS ​​KRISTO, ipinakita ang Kanyang pag-ibig, Nagsimula ang kanyang mirakulo mula sa kasalan, pinagaling niya tayo mula sa kasalukuyan ng ating kalagayan, nagbibigay ng ating pang-araw-araw na pangangailangan kabilang ang ating makakain, nagpapala sa ating propesyon at maging sa mga pangangailangan sa ating negosyo, maging ang pagbabayad ng buwis, para iligtas tayo sa kamatayan at pagbabayad nito bilang kapalit ng Kanyang buhay, at seguridad ng buhay na walang hangan na kapiling Niya.

Dapat tayong magalak na lahat ng ito ay Kanyang ipinagkaloob sa atin sa ating pangkasalukuyang buhay at maging sa buhay na walang hanggan. Isa isahin natin ang mga nangyari nung nandito pa Siya.

Selebrasyon
Ang kanyang unang himala ay nangyari sa Cana nang hiniling ng Kanyang ina na gawing alak ang tubig. (Juan 2: 1-11)

Pagpapagaling
Ang pagpapagaling ng palsy o stroke sa ating pangkasalukuyang panahon (Marcos 2:1-12); Bulag nakakita (Juan 9:1-39); Isang babaeng may karamdaman ng pagdurugo ng 12 taon sa isang pagkakataon na siya ay gumaling (Mateo 9:20-22); Ang mga may ketong ay gumaling (Lucas 17: 11-19); Batang babae na namatay at nabuhay (Marcos 5:21-43); Maging ang biyenan ni Pedro na kanyang alagad ay gumaling mula sa matinding lagnat at maging ang iba pa ay pinagaling ng ating Panginoon (Lucas 4:38-40); Maging ang mga may sakit na possession ng masamang espiritu o demonyo o sa ating pang kasalukuyan na psychological sickness ay gumaling (Lucas 8:2); Maging ang pag-aari ng mga demonyo ay gumaling sa isang lalaki (Marcos 5:1-20); at lahat ng uri ng sakit, karamdaman ay pinagaling Niya silang lahat.

Probisyon ng Ating Pagkain
Nagbigay siya sa maraming tao na 5000 pamilya at 4000 pamilya hindi pa kasama sa bilang ang mga bata at kababaihan mula sa mga piraso ng tinapay at isda, pinarami Niya ito para lahat ay makakain. (Mateo 14:13-21, Mateo 15:29-39).

Propesyon ng Mga Mangigisda na Makakuha ng Maraming Huli
Nagbigay siya ng isang malaking huli kay Pedro at ang kanyang mga kasosyo sa pangingisda, nung wala na silang mahuli sa buong gabi. (Lucas 5:1-11)

Siya rin ang nagbayad ng Buwis sa Gobyerno
Hiniling niya kay Pedro na manghuli ng isang isda sa isang lawa at mula sa bibig ng isang isda, isang pera upang mabayaran ang kanilang obligasyong buwis kay Cesar. (Mateo 17:27)

Isyu ng Kamatayan
Binuhay niya ang isang batang babae mula sa kamatayan, kasama si Lazaro na namatay sa loob ng 4 na araw sa libingan (Juan 11: 38-44) at binayaran Niya sa krus ang ating utang at parusa para sa ating mga kasalanan. Siya ay katulad ng isang hain na tupa ng isang beses at sa lahat ng mga henerasyon, mula sa nakaraan, ngayon, at sa hinaharap na mga kasalanan.

Paggaling ng Ating Sakit
Sa pamamagitan ng Kanyang mga sugat, tayo ay gumaling (Isaias 53:5),

Ang Ating Pagyaman
Siya ay naging mahirap kaya tayo ay naging mayaman (2 Mga Taga-Corinto 8:9);

Pagbabayad sa Ating Mga Kasalanan
Dahil walang kasalanan sa Kanya, Sinakop niya ang kamatayan, at sinigurado tayo na mamuhay na kapiling niya sa buhay na walang hanggan. (1 Mga Taga-Corinto 15: 55-57).

Binigyan Tayo ng Diyos ng Ministeryo
Binigyan niya tayo ng pamumuhay ng isang malakas na buhay habang nabubuhay ang mga alagad sa pagpapahayag ng Ebanghelyo, pag-papagaling sa may mga sakit, at pag buhay ng mga patay.

Lahat ay ibinigay ng ating PANGINOON, DIYOS at sa maliit na bahagi na hinihiling sa atin, na maniwala, at tumanggap sa Kanya, bilang isang PANGINOON, Tagapagligtas, at HARI sa ating buhay. Tayo ay higit pa sa mga mananakop at makamit ang tagumpay sa Kanyang Pangalan! Panalangin ko na habang ginagawa natin ang ating bahagi, maaari rin tayong mamuhay ng isang matagumpay na buhay, sa kasalukuyang buhay, at sa buhay na darating, upang makasama Siya kahit sa walang-hanggan! Amen.

 

GOD's Blessings and Provision in this Present Life and For Eternity

Our LORD JESUS CHRIST, demonstrate His love, He provides even from our wedding, to heal us from our present condition, to provide for our daily needs including our food to eat, for our profession and even for our business needs, for securing our tax, raising us from our death and debt, and most of all securing us for eternity.

His first miracle happened in Cana when His mother requested to turn the water into wine. (John 2:1-11)

Healing of palsy or stroke in our present times (Mark 2-1-12); The blind can see (John 9:1-39); A woman bleeding for 12 years at an instance she was healed (Matthew 9:20-22); Those who have leprosy were healed (Luke 17:11-19); Raise girl from death (Mark 5:21-43); Even mother-in-law of Peter his disciple was healed from extreme fever and the rest of others (Luke 4:38-40); Even psychologically sick were healed (Luke 8:2); Even possessed by demons were healed (Mark 5:1-20); and all kinds of sickness and diseases, He healed them all.

He provides to numerous people 5000 families and 4000 families to be exact not to include children and women out of pieces of bread and fishes, He multiplied (Matthew 14:13-21, Matthew 15:29-39).

He provide a catch to Peter and his partners in fishing, fishes when they have no catch for the entire night, they have no catch. (Luke 5:1-11)

He asked Peter to catch for a fish in a pond and from the mouth of a fish, a money to pay their tax obligation to Caesar. (Matthew 17:27)

He raises a young girl from death, including Lazarus who was dead for 4 days in the grave (John 11:38-44) and pay through the cross our debt and penalty for our sins. He is like unto a lamb sacrifice once and for all generations, from past, present, and future sin and sins.

By His stripes, we are healed (Isaiah 53:5), He became poor so that we became rich (2 Corinthians 8:9); He conquered death for He found no sin in Him and secured us a place for eternity, to be with Him (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).

He grant us to live a powerful life as the disciples live. Proclaiming the Gospel, healing sick people, and raising the dead.

All are provided by our LORD, GOD and the tiny part that is required of us is to believe and receive Him, as LORD, Savior, and KING of our lives. We are more than conquerors and victors in His Name! It is my prayer that as we do our part, we too can live a victorious life, in this present life, and life to come, to be with Him even for eternity! Amen.

Renewal of Mind

   "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God". Romans 12:2

This pandemic Covid19 incident bring almost all of us to the ground zero. When you're in rock bottom you have no choice of getting to the bottom for you are already there. Most of us are depressed and find no hope in our present situation. But there's a choice when we meditate upon the Word of God. It gives us comfort amidst the crisis that we are in. Most of our natural reaction is to be depressed and hopeless, these are what these people of this world conformed for since most of us lose our jobs, businesses, opportunities, and we're just confined to lockdowns and quarantines. But the Bible encourages us to renew our minds, what is good, acceptable, and perfect will of GOD.

If we dwell on His promises we will be comforted by His Word since this world will just be passed away, but for us who's hope is in GOD, our hope is not only to live in this present world, but to be with Him through eternal life. We will be able to surpass this crisis when we put our hope with GOD, only believe, hope, and put our faith in HIM.

It is my prayer that instead of thinking of the worst that may happen to us during crises is to think the opposite, to think about what will be the best opportunity that waiting for us in this present crisis. When we think of worst it is a destructive way of thinking but when we think of good things, that's a creative way of thinking that enables us to move on and to think of solutions that will help us out of the crisis.

Dare to Dream Greatness and Make it a Reality

If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed. Proverbs 29:18

Sing, barren woman, who has never had a baby. Fill the air with song, you who’ve never experienced childbirth! You’re ending up with far more children than all those childbearing women.” God says so! “Clear lots of ground for your tents! Make your tents large. Spread out! Think big! Isaiah 54:1-2

We created in God's image and God created our minds in His image. Yes, we have our physical brain but we have a spiritual mind al of the things that we see are preconceived in our minds. We dream, envision, and conceptualize before it manifests physically. Take for example the invention of the automobile, it was first conceived in the mind of Carl Benz. At first people around him ridicule him for such an invention, like his business partner abandoned him since during those times carriage was attached to horses but it is impossible in the minds of those people to run the carriage on its own. But through vision of an inventor to make it into reality a product was born called Benz after his surname. Her wife Betha was the brave wife, the one who tested the vehicle to run from Mannheim to Pforzheim, Germany, a 105 kilometers, to visit her mother, taking her sons Eugen and Richard.

When I talk about dreams here I am talking about those God-given impressions of greatness. He plants into our heart and mind in many different ways that become your cherished thoughts or aspirations. God's different ways of planting dreams in our life. He let you see great deed or success of people, which causes you to desire to do the same or even greater. He let you see something less ideal and feel that something can be done to better it, pray and not to criticize. He impresses in you a scripture from the bible that He enlarges the manner you look at yourself. He sends people with prophetic utterances concerning your life. He gives you dreams in your sleep. No dream, no motivation. He shows you sight and vision supernaturally. He gives you directly a thought of greatness.

How do we make dreams a reality?

• Nurture them within your heart. Dreams are like a baby in a womb in a mother, there's a conception stage, space, time, period and to treasure it. Replay them in your mind again and again.
• Have a positive confession of faith and believe it will come to pass. And then God answered: “Write this. Write what you see. Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run. This vision-message is a witness pointing to what’s coming. It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait! And it doesn’t lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It’s on its way. It will come right on time. Habakkuk 2:3
• Hang on with people who acknowledge your dream as of God with humility. Don't hang on dream killers.

What Necessary Preparations do we need for effectiveness?

• Planning and strategizing. People fail because they fail to plan. Form your purpose by asking for then carry it out using all the help you can get. Proverbs 20:18
• Establishing connections. A job not done when it is not done. Work eagerly and persistently aiming for fruition with quality performance always. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. Proverbs 31:17-18
• Laziness suffocates dreams. The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute. Proverbs 12:24; He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. Proverbs 18:9; Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger. Proverbs 19:15; In all labor there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury. Proverbs 14:23; "Laziness travels so slowly that poverty soon overtakes it" - Benjamin Franklin
• Diligent and hardworking people is the one who shapes our economy. Anyone can be diligent and hardworking if we strive for it. He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding. Proverbs 12:11

How do we ensure quality performance?

• Work better ahead of others or go into business ahead of other business which aims for success.
• "Doing your best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment" - Oprah Winfrey
• Make it a commitment to excellence.
• "The quality of man's life is in direct proportion to his commitment to excellence, regardless of his chosen field of endeavor." - Vince Lombardi
• Pay attention to details

Dreaming, dare to dream, nurture it, work on it until it becomes a reality. That's what Carl Benz, Benjamin Franklin, Oprah Winfrey, Vince Lombardi, and the rest of the successful people do. 

Opportunities in Disguise vs True Blessings

The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. Proverbs 10:22

Some opportunities are in disguise that you thought it's a blessings but how come when you evaluate it with a careful thought as you lift that in prayer, God gives us wisdom and unveils that opportunity is not from Him. Because God blesses us with His blessings without adding trouble or sorrow with it.

I remember when I was working with my previous boss and promise me a job offer abroad, it has all its benefits, like travel allowance, house and lot, car, you name it, but the nature of work is against our moral as a Christian. Though it is a promising job, if it will ruin my relationship with GOD since it's opposite to His will, I turned it down.

I believe that GOD has something for me better than that, and at the same time, I'm at peace with GOD, and to walk into the path of His righteousness. Yes blessing may come on its way in this present life and even more into life to come.

It is my prayer that the Lord, may grant us wisdom, as we bow down before Him. When opportunity comes we need to take a careful thought and pray about it, and not to be consumed by the pressures of this world as we see an opportunity. But to see a confirmation from Him that it comes from Him.

We can only know that if it comes from God, He added no trouble or sorrow to it, our moral are not compromised as Christians, and all things will worked out together for good, if we trust, in His perfect time He will arrange it for us. Amen.