We’re Blessed to Bless Again

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This year, my daughter joined the mother church’s Christmas presentation by the children’s choir. We had been playing the songs for the show every time we ride the car so we all have memorized the lyrics, including the speaking lines.

One of the songs was entitled, “We’re Blessed to Bless Again.” We sang it always because it had a nice catchy tune.

But then now as the year is coming to a close, I realized that it seems so many needs had been brought to our attention lately. Our family income has increased a little bit that we were able to buy gifts for family and some close friends, but I noticed that we also were able to extend help to some people who really badly needed financial assistance.

Then I came to think about how the needs around us seemed to have increased just as we had also experienced some monetary increase.

It was then that this song came to mind once again.

Indeed, we are blessed so that we can be a blessing to other people. God has chosen us to become channels of His blessing because there are people who are going to need us at this time. He chose to specifically bless us financially so that these people who are close to us can become recipients of His grace and mercy.

We are just glad to take part in God’s ministry of helps. And we are looking forward for more blessings this year so that we can also become a blessing to more people.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

HAPPY 2012!

When the Money Runs Out

It has been several months or maybe close to a year that my husband and I had been struggling with our finances.

We are not lazy, in fact, we are always swamped with work and therefore always tired. So that means we are also earning. But the problem is, our money seems to be always going somewhere. It seems to find its way out through various avenues, like sickness, repairs and the like. And mind you, we are regularly tithing and giving our offerings as well as helping out wherever we can.

Then yesterday, I got a text message from a good friend of mine who is also experiencing some financial difficulties. She wanted to share about their money problems, telling me that she feels more comfortable confiding in me. She also said that somehow, she is having difficulty talking to others because they could not relate to her problems because they have not experienced poverty.

Then my husband told me that it was already the answer to my concern. We are going through this phase because somebody else is also experiencing the same and it would be difficult to provide comfort if you cannot relate to the situation.

Of course, my husband was right. Indeed everything happens for a reason and everything will just work out for the good of those who love God. Even our financial difficulties are not without a reason.

Some people may indeed think that being poor or being in lack is a curse, but it can actually be God’s instrument so that we can minister to others. As long as we actively seek and live in God’s will, His purposes will prevail in our lives even if it means sacrificing much.

My Temper Tantrums

“The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:19-23 (NIV)

I really have a bad temper that many times I think that I am a monster in a human body. Well there are times that I can control myself. That is when I get to talk to myself and “MY” self will actually listen.

But I do not always get to talk to myself and MY self does not always listen. And the saddest thing is, most of the time, my anger gets lashed out at my poor daughter. A lot of times she has nothing to do with my anger or maybe she just did a minor thing that irritated me. But the fact is, she did not really deserve to be treated that way. It just so happened that I was angry and she was the only one with me. Poor baby.

When I opened my bible this morning, I was led to the book of Galatians 5:22. It is a passage that talks about the fruit of the Spirit. But I did not just zero in on this verse but instead read the passages before that. The words just struck me–it talks about the sinful nature of man and one of the things highlighted in the verse was “fits of rage.” Bulls’ eye.

I could very well describe my angry self as having “fits of rage”. True. I could be like that, just like the Incredible Hulk. He has no control over his rage and I can sometimes be like that.

Thankfully, I am aware and I know that even if I could not possibly control myself. But Someone can and is willing to help me.

My daughter is already getting nervous. She knows it when I am angry and she then becomes jittery. That is why I hate what I am doing to her.

So this is my prayer that I continue to pray, because I always fail.

“God, I totally surrender myself to you. I acknowledge that I am helpless with my temper tantrums. I dislike it, I abhor it, and I do not approve of it because I consider it as sin. Yet I continue to do it. Lord I don’t know how to pray about this, if You will take this away from me or that You will give me strength to control this. I can only pray for healing upon the damages of my temper upon my daughter as well as divine protection on her whenever I will once again lose my temper.”