God’s Power In My Life

Greetings in the name of the Lord friends! I missed updating my blog.. How are ya’ll?? I just got home from our bible study tonight and God put something in my heart..

"I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart…for Your love and Your faithfulness…When I called, You answered me, You made me bold and stouthearted…Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life…the Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; Your love, O Lord, endures forever…"

There are milestones in a person’s life that birth reflection. It is good to meditate now and then upon those things and events that have shaped who you are. To ponder the veritable depths of your soul and be filled with wonder at the journey that has led you to where you are. Today is such a day.

What great cultural shift causes us to be so shy about something as common to all as birthdays? There was a time when a "hoary head" was seen as a crown of glory. The events of the past many months have shed new light on the gift of being another year older–yea, another decade older–and for this precious and wondrous gift, I thank the Lord. So, with a bold and stout heart, yeah, I will be 27 next month, with joy and gratitude.

As this anniversary approaches next month and my birthday too, I have been reflecting upon the riches of God and how tremendously generous and kind He is to His children…to this child MELODY. The gifts of the Lord come in many forms–some of them are tiny packages, so small or "common" that we often take them for granted. Some of them are mysterious and cause us to wonder. Some of them lift our souls unto heights of joy and delight, and are so huge they take our breath away. Some of them break our hearts. Yes, those are precious gifts too.

I  have been meditating this week on the verse in James that instructs us to "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Perhaps most of us have heard many sermons on what it means to consider it joy when we face trials in our lives. With varying degrees of understanding, we have known the wonder of good things coming from difficult circumstances. Sometimes, though, we think that those difficult times are random and unconnected–each of them standing alone as a lesson or a time of stretching. It may seem as though our lives have meandered this way and that on a crooked path of events without direction or purpose.

What an amazing thing it is for us to look behind us and discover that our journey has been a straight path the whole time.

The past 3 years have been so very special to me. It has been a time of joy and peace and wonder. Every moment has been precious and it has been such a blessing to feel God’s hand in ME, guiding and comforting and encouraging me. He has truly been my ever present help in time of need and in time of plenty.

In my meditation, I have discovered that each and every trial in our lives has been a gift. Those deep, painful times of stretching and pruning have not been pleasant. They try the soul and tears were heavy upon our pillows. But each exercise of my heart and spirit gave me two great blessings–one of seeing myself helpless, and the other of seeing Him faithful.

It has been a wonder and joy during this journey to find myself in a place of peace. To be able to look up at our Father like a small child with wide eyes and trust. To find Him faithful. Since I was a child, Ive been asking myself.. (Bakit may taong mayaman, may mahirap.. May maputi at may maitim.. Bakit di na lang pantay pantay para wala ng nasasaktan.. Bakit pa may mga taong may karamdaman at may mga taong nahihirapan.. )Last May, my mother’s house was hit by a typhoon and God provided us financial needs for her through blessing us friends and using my inlaws to be a blessing.. and most especially for blessing me a wonderful husband that is always there for me and for my family to help them,  God has been using my husband to bless my family… My brother was hit by a car when he was riding at his motor and God protected him.. We thought that he was dead already but God gave him another life.. thanks be to Him… and now, my sister is in the hospital.. she is 43 years old and she is 5 months pregnant and her baby wants to come out and their lives are both in danger because she got a high blood pressure but I still praise the Lord! People might think that I got a perfect life, but the Lord knows my heart… He is my REAL JOY.. He is the reason why i have peace in my heart though I feel lonely sometimes.. But I do trust in Him.. for I know that He has a purpose for everything.. As long as I am able to praise Him and worship Him, I will do the best I can to glorify Him.. Last few weeks ago, I went to the doctor and she said I got a high blood pressure so I have to be very careful.. I thought I was pregnant but tonight when were about to leave in a place where we held the Bible Study I felt something and I am sure I got my period.. I was hoping that I am pregnant and in fact I will have my blood test by next week to see if I am pregnant but I got the result tonight.. that it was not a baby but a heavy flow period.. But as I have it, I cried to the Lord and told Him that I still parise Him because its not the end.. I am sure that God planned everything for me and for the baby that I will or babies that I will have.. God is great! God is good! He is awesome!

What joy and what gratitude fill my heart for each and every trial and heartbreak that prepared me for this journey of life. What a blessing to look back at the straight path and find those trials friends.

Finding more power than I’d ever dreamed would probably be the best description of these past 3 years.  Since I met the Lord and accepted Him with all my heart and giving Him my life, He did not stop blessing me.. The Lord has been so sufficient for all of my needs in trials past–He is always there. What a joy to find Him there, more powerful still, even at such a time as this.

"Consider it pure joy," my dear ones.. Oh, my dear friends! When hard things come our way, we never know what the Lord is exercising our spiritual muscles for. He is preparing us to know Him, to trust Him, to find Him faithful. Then, when a dark day comes to us, we can look up with unbridled trust, wide-eyed, as a little child, into eyes of Love, finding our hand already in His.

May we consider those trials friends, and thank the Lord for them and for His unwavering faithfulness; bearing our infirmities in quiet dignity and confidence in the One who can be trusted.

"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10a

On this anniversary of life and marriage, I am grateful that God is able to calm the waves of the storm–even the storm of problems in my family in the Philippines. I am filled with joy for the trials that have taught me to look up. I am grateful for the peace that passes understanding. 

Birthdays will never be the same again. If I am blessed with the gift of more of them, I will never again be shy of the number or bemoan a hoary head. They will be opportunities to praise the Lord with all of my heart for His love and faithfulness; to be grateful that when we call, He answers us; to be thankful that when we walk in the midst of trouble, He preserves our lives; to be bold and stouthearted; to be humble and thankful that He is sovereign and can be trusted; and to sing of His love which endures forever.

Oppsss, let me share you the song of my heart tonight: (I sang this song to some of my friends and they had it in their voicemail that had trials in their lives.. Friends, hope that you like it though Im not a good singer.. I love the message so much..

Ako’y magtitiwala sa Iyo
Kalakasan ko’y nanggagaling  sa Iyo
Ako’y magtitiwala sa Iyo
Salita Mo ang tanging sandigan ko.

Kahit anumang panahon
Mabigat man ang maging sitwasyon
Ikaw lamang ang Sandigan
Panginoong Hesus

Pag-ibig mo ay sapat
Awa Mo’y para sa lahat
Kahit ako’y magkulang
Salita Mo ang tanging Sandigan Ko.

ASK GOD TO DWELL IN YOUR HEART!

Love In Christ,

~Sis MeLoDy~
"not I, but Christ"

Galatians 2:20