Devotional Time with God

The one thing I struggle most is figuring out when to speak up.  All sorts of things go into my mind when I hear something I don’t like.  Unfortunately, most of them are anger.  Anger about the unfairness.  Anger about the injustice.  Anger about the lies.

I have to figure out why I’m feeling angry.  Is it for selfish reason?  Is it my ego or pride being hurt?

Or is it because injustice is happening to other people?  Other people’s rights are being trampled?  Others are hurt, secluded, discriminated, or extorted?

There’s the difference: It’s not about me.  If I think it’s going to benefit many people that I speak up, then I must do that.  But I must do so in truth, kindness, and gentleness.  I must not succumb to fear and anger, because it’s not what God wants me to do (2 Timothy 1:7).

I speak up to represent God’s light – to lead the world to Christ.

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

James 1:19-20

But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Colossians 3:8-10

It’s so easy to stray from the Lord.  This world facilitates the way to hell.  People tend to sin, and most of the time, they want to take me with them!

In dark times like this is when I really need to guard my heart.  Only Jesus can give me that peace of mind (Philippians 4:7).  Only God can protect me from the dangers that my dark heart desires.  I need the Lord to cleanse my heart and let Him be the ruler of my life (1 Peter 3:15).

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Philippians 4:8

Lord, I give thanks to you.   I lift my praise to you.  In my time of trouble, in my time of darkness, in my time of sin – I want  you to get me out of there!  Help me, God.  I can’t do this on my own.  Cleanse me.  Fill me with your spirit.  Make me be right again in your eyes.  Give me the strength to go on.  Amen.

When I had an arguement with my wife last week, I was desperately trying to find an understanding that didn’t exist between us. I was so lost. She didn’t help by throwing away her faith because the hurt and anger clouded her. I felt hopeless.

At times like this is when I hold onto God’s promise to give me clarity (Proverbs 3:5-6) and hope. The only way is to continue to God will give us both the understanding that we both needed. I constantly prayed God to strengthen my faith eventhough it seemed hopeless. I also didn’t forget His kindness and thanked Him during this time of trouble.

We are now past our troubles. God is good!

Being a parent is full of life’s trials.  I just don’t know what to expect from my child. As a toddler, she’s adventurous, curious, and brave.  She’ll try to explore everything and do anything, on her own!  When she discovered she could run, she ran – a lot!  As a 40-year old, it’s tough for me to keep up!  One thing I observed she likes to do is to let go of my hand when crossing the street, or walking on the parking lot.  Both my wife and I have this huge fear of her being struck by a car.  It was a common occurrence, we heard so many stories about accidents with children and cars.  I’m so worried, I’ll raise my voice, and sometimes spank my child, so that she’ll listen and hold on to my hand while crossing the street.

Then I realized, God is doing the same to me!  He would tell me with a “loud voice” and “spanking” to get my attention that danger is ahead.  He’ll tell me through grief and pain.  They’re the loudest signal God can ever send to me.  He wants to hold on to my hands while I cross that busy street, or unpredictable parking lot.  He knows what’s ahead because He’s bigger, and I’m not.

Once He gets a hold of me, I don’t have to worry any more!  I have to let God hold me.

He’s in control.  Always will be!

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Phillipians 1:4-6

The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ”

“You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Genesis 3:2-5

All my life, I want to be in control.  I want to control what can happen to me.  I want to control what people say about me.  I want to control what people can do to me.  I want everyone and everything to behave the way I like.  I want to be the god of my life.

Now that I’m married with a kid, it’s them that I’m in control now.  Not 100%, mind you, but I definitely want all control.

At work, I want to make sure my projects gets down the way I want it: less unknowns, on-schedule, and keeping it simple.

If there’s something that I do every day, like driving, riding a bike, etc., I want to be very good at it so I’m in full control.

When people see me as a weak person (because of my boyish look and figure), I tend to lash out, quick to judge, give the stink-eye, and in some cases, I would curse under my breath.  My face scowls to give an impression I’m tough.  I walk upright and shoulder scrunched up to show strength. I walk with loud thumps using a pair of heavy soled shoes/boots, to tell others that I’m coming.

I’ve denied having problems with anger, being wrong more than usual, looking at dirty pictures, give up too easily, and having a short attention span.  I don’t admit to be the poster child of what’s wrong with being a man – or a human being, for that matter.

I have my fair share of fear, frustration, fatigue, and failures.

However, I am glad that God cares for me.  He takes away my bad habits, painful hurts, and bothersome hang ups.  Not just one time, but all the time!  I just tell Him, “I’m sorry.” and He will give me another chance in life.

I have to admit I’m powerless to change myself.  I’m powerless to take control, when it’s not mine in the first place.

Jesus, you’re full of grace. I sin and constantly sin.  But every time, you always forgive me.  You always let me live everything as if they’re a fresh start.  I love you for it.  You’re the God of 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and all of the chances!  Thank you, Lord, for saving me.  I give you control of my life.  Amen.

Emotions are the #1 cause of division in every relationships, and it’s no exception with parents and children.  In particular, anger is not particularly useful in parenting.

Yet, I still find myself raise my voice, feel angry, and scold my child a lot. By nature, I’m hot headed and bad tempered.  I can see it bubble up all the time.  I pray to God that I have the strength to keep my anger in bay.

I have to continue to try my absolute best, to take myself out of emotional situations.  I need to be able to step back, calm myself down, and re-assess the situation.  I need to bring my problems to God and have Him increase the love within me.

I need to set a good example for my family.  I don’t want to end up raising another hot-tempered person.  I don’t want to be an emotional parent.  I just want to be a loving and caring parent.

A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly.

Proverbs 14:29

A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire. — Hot tempers start fights; a calm, cool spirit keeps the peace.

Proverbs 15:1,18

A good person’s mouth is a clear fountain of wisdom; a foul mouth is a stagnant swamp. — The speech of a good person clears the air; the words of the wicked pollute it.

Proverbs 10:31,32

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

Romans 3:23

None of us are perfect.  Especially in parenting.

I have to live up to God’s standards because He’s perfect.  It means I have to raise my child to His standards also.  I make mistakes all the time.  I don’t have all of the answers.  I don’t know it all.  As a man, I must be more sensitive to this fact.  Men seldom apologize for their mistakes.

My child doesn’t always behave properly.  She doesn’t always do what I say, nor what’s expected of her.

Boundaries are needed, both for parents and children.  My child has boundaries she never crosses (age appropriate), such as lying, stealing, drugs, sex, etc.  My boundaries must also be clear and consistent: no anger, no abuse, etc.  I must be predictable.

It’s human nature to please self.  It’s in my nature to defend my child, even if she’s wrong.  Sometimes, I have to stop defending her as a victim.  My child can be wrong.  She must suffer the consequences if she’s wrong.

With our lack of perfection, it’s good to know that God has our backs.  In all of this, prayer is my best defense.  In all of things, bring it to God.  I fall short, but God picks me up, and lets me continue on my way to perfection.

Parenting is a job made from heaven.    I’m her guardian and it’s my job to raise her to be a Godly person.  God gave me my child so I can raise her  up for God’s eternal purpose.

There are dangerous and unacceptable views of this world.  Those thoughts, attitudes, and works are going against God’s principles and laws.  The world’s view is not what I want my child to see.  If she’s to bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit, she’ll need to follow God.

The only thing acceptable in this house is what’s acceptable to God.  He is perfect.  I want His standards in this family.

I must raise my child to have eternity in mind.

Do not love the world, nor the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1 John 2:15

propeth/v (Propetes)

1. to fall forwards, headlong, sloping, precipitously
2. precipitate, rash, reckless

Growing up, peer pressure played an important role in my character development. I’ve been in situations where my so-called friends would tell me to do something that’s not correct.  They would cheer at rash and reckless things, like drinking alcohol too much, destroying private properties, or even stealing.  If I succumbed to every whims of my peers, and hung out with even more dangerous friends, then who knows what other worse acts I could do.

Looking back, I couldn’t believe how stupid I was.  It was the cost of being young. I needed God to be my guiding light, but I rejected him.  I fell flat on my face, several times.  I could have avoided it, if I only listened to God and my Christian friends and family.

It was a lesson for me.  I want and hope the new generation not to repeat these same mistakes.

They will… be reckless…

2 Timothy 3:4

prodo/thv (Prodotes)

• a betrayer, traitor

I put backstabbers in the same league as murderers.  That’s basically what they are: killers of good character and reputation.  They undermine trust.  They’re just dangerous.

Yet this kind of behavior is the favorite way of making Hollywood movies. Anything that stirs up strong emotions like murder, rape, and betrayal are famously rewarded in box office numbers.  Do we, as a society, really need more examples on how bad this world is?  Are we so “comfortable” with the subject that we’re numb to it?  Are we expecting people to be like this?

I hope not.

The good news is, God will expose the wolf in sheep clothing.  God knows what’s inside the heart, as Jesus did by identifying Judas.  Jesus is all about the truth.  Salvation is only through Him, so I must embrace the truth.  I shall not betray anyone, that includes God.

They will betray their friends…

2 Timothy 3:4