Do Not Be Discouraged When Opportunities Is Against You

 

Matthew 20:1-16
Jesus tells the parable of the workers in the vineyard to further explain what the Kingdom of God is like.

A landowner goes out early in the morning and hires men, agreeing to pay them the daily rate - a silver coin for a day’s work.

He hires them at various times throughout the day - 9 am, 12 pm, 3 pm, and 5 pm and promises all of the workers a fair wage.

When the end of the day came, the landowner said to his manager to pay the workers, starting with those who had been hired last. Those who began working at 5 pm were given the daily rate - one silver coin.

When it came to those who had been hired first (early in the morning) they thought that they were going to receive more. When they too were given the standard daily wage they began to grumble. They were angry because they had done a lot more work than those who had started later in the day.

The landowner did not listen to their complaints and reminded them that they had agreed to the daily rate of pay when they were hired. He said, “Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?”

The landowner then says, “The last will be first and the first will be last.”

                                                          - o -

The first time Pandemic breaks, I was looking for a job online. After several days of attempts, I found one, let's call it Virtual Assistant Company One, and after a while after I have my interview, and got an e-mail that I failed the interview. Then another e-mail came that I am welcome to another Virtual Assistance company and let's call it Virtual Assistant Company Two, then I met several people that became my friends. All of us while waiting for opportunities to be called for final interview, we're just like hanging out with each other over Zoom, but then one by one they were called to work and I'm the one left alone.

For me to be self-sustained I tried to build up businesses like Delivery Service System from Baguio, Metro Manila, and Davao City by simply hiring riders for a commission out of their delivery service but it's not working. Then I tried to partner with a guy in Cebu City with 10 years of experience in the BPO industry and we put up our own Virtual Company but it's not working as well due to lack of customers. Then I tried to reactivate our website as before and even buy a new domain name to introduce other non-essential products and let's just call it Goodie Goods Online Shop but it's not working too.

We got our bills filled-up to the point that we have pressures coming in from our landlord a leasing company. To my disappointment, I would like to go beyond and not to go back but I cannot. Then a small voice from within me told me to go back to my previous where we just hanging out. I'm not a typical person who just goes back, but I'm a typical type of person that if you don't want me I just move forward, but things are not in my favor, and I have to swallow my pride and apply again.
During my initial interview after I apply the position, I got excited since my interviewers were my previous folks that we're just hanging out. I prepared for this meeting with all my efforts including the demo database that I'm going to show them but to my surprise, it's just a casual interview. Then the final interview but when I was going to be interviewed the employer already decided not to interview the rest of the applicants and just take the first candidate.

On my second final interview another came in again ahead of me but still the employer just interviewing me for the sake of the interview, and his questions are like a harsh that I have to reason why I should be hired by him. I got discouraged and asked the LORD if it is actually for me or if He's leading me to another job. But something came in that very moment a thought that leads me to the Parable Story of the Workers in the Vineyard. Each worker agreed to be paid a one denarius for a day's work. There's a workers who came in the morning and there's a worker who came late in the afternoon but the employer welcomed him and allow him to join the work. And at the end of the day, each of them paid a denarius. What a comforting Words that came from our dear LORD, as if "My son I have to save the best work for you though you are the last" and I can relate to the person who receives the denarius as the same with the others for a lesser work. That's what the goodness of our LORD to His children!

It is my prayer that as we go to the journey of life w may be able to see GOD's goodness in our life regardless of what circumstances we are in. Since our living GOD can turn even disadvantages into advantages. He can turn the cross of defeat in the sight of Satan to the cross of victory! Amen.

 

Why Asking Questions Makes You A Great Listener by Pastor Rick Warren

"A person’s thoughts are like water in a deep well, but someone with insight can draw them out.”

Proverbs 20:5 (GNT)

One of the clearest signs of a great listener is when someone knows how to ask open-ended questions.

To really engage someone in conversation, you have to stop asking questions that only require a “yes” or “no” answer. Those questions won’t get you anywhere! Instead, you have to start asking open-ended questions that allow someone to really share beyond a one-word answer.

For example, instead of asking, “Did you enjoy the concert?” you could say, “What was your favorite part about the concert?” It may seem like a subtle change, but it makes all the difference in how someone opens up to you and continues the conversation.

If you really want to go deeper in your relationships and better understand your kids, spouse, and friends, then you need to put some more thought into how you phrase your questions.

Proverbs 20:5 says, “A person’s thoughts are like water in a deep well, but someone with insight can draw them out” (GNT).

There’s one phrase that will make you a master listener—“tell me more.” You’ll need to use it over and over again as you interact with all kinds of people throughout your life.

When people open up to you, don’t let them stop after two or three sentences. When they finish, say, “Tell me more.” Then, after they’ve talked a few more minutes: “Tell me more.” Then, just when they think you’re done listening: “Tell me more.” Every time you ask for more, you’re going deeper and allowing them to express more of themselves.

You may tell people you really care about what they have to say, but the best way to show them is to ask for more. It tells them you’re interested. It proves you’re paying attention. And attention is love! Asking open-ended questions shows people you’re willing to give them your time, your focus, and your love so they can be heard and understood.

Draw deep from the well. Doing so doesn’t just improve your listening skills and conversations. It also transforms your relationships.

Talk It Over

• What ways can you start being a better listener this week?
• Why are people so often hesitant to keep saying “tell me more” in everyday conversations?
• How does giving people your attention show them you love them?

How God Shows His Love

You show other people love by offering the gift of your listening ear and attention. God has shown you the ultimate love by offering you the gift of eternal life. How do you get the assurance of heaven? You believe Jesus Christ died for your sins, and you receive his gift of forgiveness.

This is a promise to all people, no matter your culture, race, location, or past.

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:21 NIV). That is the best gift you are ever going to be offered. Don’t wait another day to claim it!

Make this your prayer: “Dear God, thank you for your goodness to me. Thank you for loving me and caring about every detail of my life. Thank you for sharing my pain. Most of all, thank you for sending Jesus to save me. I believe he died on the cross for me, and I want to receive him as my Savior. Please forgive my sins and accept me into your family. I want to learn to love, trust, and follow you for the rest of my life on Earth. Then I want to join you in heaven forever. Amen.”

PEPI Thought to Ponder: Anger Disqualifies Us To His Promise

 PEPI Thought to Ponder: Anger Disqualifies Us To His Promise

 

Numbers 20:8-12 

 

8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.

9 And Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as he commanded him.

10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?

11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.

12 And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

Anger also hinders us to receive God's blessings. Remember Moses when GOD instructed him to speak to the rock so that water may gush out so that the Israelites might be able to drink including their livestock. But Moses got out of his temper to the point that he was disqualified to enter into the promised land along with those who rebelled against GOD.

I remember that though I have a point against my previous boss, but due to my anger I lost my position, and I lost my job. If we may be able to control our feelings, we a long time ago arrived to our promised land.

The same happened to the rest of the Israelites due to their anger against GOD, GOD's answer consumed them, save Joshua and Caleb who were the ones who enter into the promised land because they believed and put their trust, hope, and faith with GOD. In our journey to life, there are times that it only lacks a few steps as we step into GOD's blessings but because of our temperance issue, we are disqualified from the blessings that GOD hath set for us. Anger is an issue of heart it is my prayer that as we ask GOD for His grace, may we ask also from GOD to grant us patience to the point that we may enter into His rest, His blessings, that He hath allocated for us, in this present world, and in the future life to come, as we dwell in His presence. Amen.

PEPI Thought To Ponder: You Cannot Put GOD On The Sidelines

 You Cannot Put GOD On The Sidelines

 

"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money". (Matthew 6:24)

This day I learned a lesson that to be involved in God's ministry needs your full time and attention only to God. Yes, what the Lord said in His Word you cannot serve God and other material things, or money. In my context, I cannot do my work each day and along with it you just include God. I reasoned to God that I need to finish out my work first before getting my time with Him. Most often my time is consumed with work and failed to prioritize God as He convicted my heart to do something about it. As a result of the day, it's not good, and always fall short as if you failed.

"When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" (Luke 5:8)

When Peter starts to prioritize God's ministry as he allow his boat to be used as a platform so that our Lord Jesus can preach the Gospel, later our Lord Jesus told Simon Peter to where they can catch fish during day time, as Simon Peter obey, They, (Peter and his fishermen partners) caught a large number of fish, for the first time in the entire history, to the point that their nets almost broke, and called other fishermen partners who are not with him to help them haul the large number of fish. Simon Peter saw with his own eyes the blessings of God to the point that he cannot accept the grace that God has given him, for he thinks for himself that he don't deserve it.

I realized that when I prioritized God in the first hour of the day, and as I commit all of my schedules, tasks, and decisions that I needed to do for the day, He blessed the day ahead of me as I experienced that it is only God who can make all things to work out together for good. Like what happened to Simon Peter. I need not prioritize for the work as I need to prioritize God first in my first hour of the day, as He blesses my whole day including all the work that I needed to do for the day. Our daily devotion to God sometimes we take it for granted, and we least prioritize God as we see the urgency of our work, that we need to accomplished for the day, but we don't realize that it is a privilege to be in the presence of God, and God blesses His children when we prioritized Him. As Simon Peter allow his boat to be used for proclaiming God's work, the blessings God in return to Simon Peter overwhelms him, to the point that he committed his whole life to the ministry of God. God don't want us to put Him on the sidelines, He wants your time to be with Him, so we must commit our first hour of the day totally in prayer and devotion to Him. Finally, I leave my work and decided that I need to delegate the work to my staff and trust God that as I follow Him, He will take care of the rest including my business and work to be done.

It is my prayer that our struggle to live each day caught in between God and business or work will be solved, as we intentionally prioritized God in our first hour of the day. That our Lord may grant us wisdom and strength as we come into His presence as we prioritize Him each day in our lives. Also, His blessings to carry each day's work that we need, and to use our business as a platform for God's glory. Amen.

Obedience Versus Devotion

Obedience Versus Devotion

Matthew 21:28-32

28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
29 “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
“The first,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

The parable of the two sons above is an illustration of obedience and disobedience. As a believer, the issue is no longer obedience but our true devotion to our living God.

Complying to God's Word needs everyday discipline that sometimes we feel that we're just complying it by mere physical effort minus the presence of the Holy Spirit within us.

As we take time to commune with God in prayer and by meditating upon His Word, God reveals His Word to us and convicted us by His Word, the reason why there's a true change in some believer's life because they take time to commune with God daily.

The pressures of this world are too great like a current of a wild river that will derail you from walking with God unless we are fully aware of God's truth in our hearts to always seek for Him day in and day out.

Without His Divine intervention and His Divine awareness in our daily life, we may become entrapped again by the concerns of this world, and our joy and happiness in Him are zapped and snatch away from us.

It is my prayer as once upon a time in our lives, we experienced how those joy were snatched away from us, when we failed to make time with the LORD in meditating upon His Word and taking time with Him in prayer, and have gone through the busyness of this world. We don't want to happen again, that's the reason why we want to make time with God each day as God strengthens us through His Word, and by His Spirit Who now lives in us, that empowers us to live a victorious life each day. Amen.

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.