Steadfast means unwavering, unfaltering, persistent, committed. Who can really fathom how big is God’s love? John 15:13 speaks of it when it quoted “No one has greater love than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” A very few is willing to die for a family member, and certainly nobody is so willing to die just for a friend. Who would like to donate his own life, and die for a friend when he can enjoy the greatness and fullness of life? This is the exact fact that the love of the Lord chose to defy. When the Lord called you a friend, He chose to die on the cross for you simply because He loves you with a steadfast love that can never be relieved. His mercy can never withstand seeing you suffering from the wages of your sin, and He is willing to die every time you try to waste your life to meaningless things, just to extend himself and show you His love. More than that, His love is so abounding that it shall never come to an end, and is refreshed each morning of your days. That is how big God’s heart is for you. That is how faithful He is to the love He has for You.

Where and when God did show this great love? He showed it when he chose to be beaten up, punished, humiliated, defiled, carry the cross and die on the cross in replacement of you. He who is blameless chose to drink from the cup of sorrow and sin to pay for your debts. Even if His body shivers out of pain and bleeding wound, His head is aching of the crown of thorns, His hands, feet and body are excruciatingly numb on the cross, He never chose to waive but remembered you and His love for you. He chose to finish the cross even if He has a choice to give up, heal himself and ease the pain.

Remember to personalize His love message, because it is made especially for you. For God so loved you that He gave Jesus for you, that if only you would believe in Jesus, you don’t have to perish, but you will have an eternal life in God.

So never falter in your lowly times. In moments of solitudes, whenever you feel nobody love you and nobody seems to care at all, give your shoulder a tap and softly whisper “God loves you, more than everyone else does”.

In my distress I called onto God and I cried to my God; He heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry came before Him, into His ears (Psalm 18:6).

There’s nothing wrong to being firm. Being firm builds the character of strength in one’s heart. It will make increase your threshold on pain so that you won’t be easily affected by petty circumstances. But for most of the succumbing and frustrating situation, you cannot keep everything in your self and you have to blurt it out to someone who can really understand and listen to you. David is a big man, not by built but by achievement. He is more than a conqueror, fought Goliath, does exploits for Israel, expanded the kingdom and ruled over it. But it’s never easy for David. He has been facing so many struggles that made him tore his kingly robe, fall face down, and not just cry, but moan and wailed  to the one who can hear him and understand him all the way – GOD!

God can actually hear you and see your situation even before you call to Him. However, the fact that you are saying “I can do this, I’m the man” or “I’m a big girl now, I don’t cry” and eventually made God say “Ok, then do it your way, I’ll help when you can’t do it anymore.” Keeping your self from crying before God made God feel He is not needed. And at the end of the day, you grew tired because things are just too big for you to handle.

In the day when I cried You answered me and made me bold with strength in my soul (Psalm 138:3).

Crying before God is a desperate measure. But destructive circumstances need desperate measure. God answers the calls of His children as a Father answers the sobbing of his child. He will make you courageous, bold with strength in soul, will and determination. Big ones do cry. Because big ones know when to say I can and I can’t. Big ones know how to be true in front of a God that can hear and understand.  Go on and cry out before God. He can hear you; He is always there to listen. He will answer you and He will make you strong as a big man and women is. Big ones do cry!

- Psalms 33:21

One significant problem concerning our faith is reliance upon personal experience. Although the Lord’s answers are cause for celebration, you must be careful not to base your confidence on individual cases.

You were created to glorify the Lord, but not all of your requests are designed to honor Him. God alone knows how to answer you so that His provision magnifies His name above all else. That is why He meets your needs often in unusual or unexpected ways. In such instances you know the Lord has worked sovereignty, and your praise is amplified. God always responds to your faith so that you are conformed to the image of Christ.

Though marred by sin, you are being molded into Christ-likeness.  Thus, God’s focus is greater on transforming you into Christ’s image than on your requests. So, how does faith works in you? With faith, it makes you understand the plans of God. It is impossible to hold on to God’s promises without faith. You can’t stand upon His word without faith.

Another thing that faith does is assurance. If you have faith in your heart, there is nothing that God will not do. Your faith shall make you see what God wants you to see. If you remain in His word, your faith will be more than enough to delete all your doubts and anxieties.

With faith, transformation is attainable. There’s just nothing that you cannot do when you have faith. It becomes a positive machinery of your life in performing transformation. By and by you will improve and will seek excellence in your life. Transformation gets friendly when your faith tells you that you are doing a good job.

Faith, empowers you, motivates you, and it fuels you. Things that surround you might pull you down but if you have faith in the Lord His hands will be upon you. Though things might not happen the way you wanted it to be, with faith you can be sure that all things work together for good. The Lord becomes more visible when your faith is powerful over your doubts. Therefore, never let your faith get dull. How will you then empower your faith?

Your greatest asset, which is your faith, can be consolidated through your daily dose of God’s word. The word of God shall make you scrutinize the faith that you have. When you are filled with the promises of God, you are maximizing your asset- faith. The Word of God shall fuel you and it will empower you. It gives your faith a sort of its daily vitamins that will nourish and increase it. It will also guard your heart from fears and doubts.

Being aware of the power of the foundation of your faith opens up your eyes to the truth of what your faith can really do for you. When you place your confidence in God, your faith depends on His criteria, not yours.

– Psalms 1:3

When looking for a builder to construct your home, your most important question is: “Are his homes well built?” The Scriptures refer to the importance of a well- crafted life that can withstand the pressures of living.

Therefore, how can one achieve a well- built life?

The well- built life follows God’s design. A person should seek to do the Father’s will, not His own. Do you walk in the paths God has ordained, or do you continually insert selfish changes of direction? Doing what the Lord wants for your life might be an enduring task at first but eventually, it will take you to the more enjoyable significant things. God’s provisions and guidance will be upon you if you learn to follow Him. You should learn to value what is valuable to Him. You should learn to submit on His commands, on His authority.

The well- built life has a solid foundation. That foundation is a love for and obedience to the Word of God. The love of God is immeasurable. Nothing that you do can make Him stop from loving you because God is love. In fact, He can do anything for you because He loves you the most. Jesus Christ is the best expression of His love. The best life is achieved if you have Jesus Christ in your heart. The only one who died and rose again for you. Another thing is obedience. God is well pleased in your obedience than any sacrifices. To obey is to submit, to follow, and to agree. Obeying God means that you are being one with Him. That is what God wants, that you and Him will be unified with love.

The well- built life is faithful in little things. The attention to detail distinguishes a good builder. A loyal disciple of Christ is steadfast and careful in small as well as large things: the tone of your voice, your reactions to frustration, and what you watch on the television. Sometimes, we tend to be neglectful about the little areas or things that we do but those little things becomes the starting point of evil’s attacks. So, you have to be watchful on every little thing that you do because it is part of the whole.

God looks at the whole you, not just a part or not just a portion of yourself but the whole you. Every little detail about you matters to Him because you are precious in His sight. You are significant that is why He is very particular in every aspect of your life. Why? It is simply because he loves you the most.  He loves you and that is why He wants the best for you. His design for you is to have an excellent life and have it to the fullest.

Matthew 11:28 – 30

The word gentle appears as meek.  Jesus is so meek and humble in spirit.  He came not to be served by people, but He himself served humanity.  He says, “Whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave, just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve.  He gave His life as a ransom for many.  He exemplified the best model of lowliness of mind and meekness.  He never practiced self-depreciation.

His deep love for humanity enables Him to reach out and to touch the lives of many people.  His greatest desire is to love and to serve mankind. It is so pleasing to hear His words saying, “You are loved.  You are forgiven.  You are important.  You are healed.  You are accepted in the Beloved.”  These words are soul-inspiring that even the blind can see, the lame can walk, the dead can rise from the grave and live again.

People who are hurting and sorrowing are encouraged when they sense and feel that Somebody cares deeply for them.  He says, “Casting all your cares upon me, for I care for you.”  He cares for everybody and is always willing to help us in times of our needs.

A medical practitioner showed his great love and concern to his patients by silently praying for them, requesting the Great Physician to extend His miraculous hands to them before he gives any medical prescriptions for their medical aids; he showed such tenderness and compassion to them. As a result of his great care for them they are comforted, strengthened, and recuperated from their pains and sicknesses.  He unselfishly lends his ample time and shares his talents to serve them patiently and diligently.

Jesus communicated His utmost care for the different kinds of people with diverse cultural backgrounds and varied personalities.  He wept even for the salvation and redemption of the worst of sinners.  He also loves even the unlovable and forgives our sins granting our clemency and pardon.

Do we really care for others?  We can show our love and concern to the widows.  Even to the aged who are suffering from their sicknesses and loneliness. .  We can send letters, cards, or flowers to the bereaved.  We can also share our words of comfort and encouragement to those who are depressed to allow them to find strength in the midst of trials.  We can visit those who are hurting in prison and those who are in their hospital beds.  We can show our concern to   the fatherless, the abandoned street-children, the blind beggars, the emotionally and physically abused, the battered wives, etc. May we always open the gates of our ears to listen to the cries of others.  May he always guide our mouth in expressing gentle words to them. We can act being

His servants doing our supportive roles to this world in despair.

]]> http://greatisthelord.net/blog/654/being-a-servant/feed/ 0 http://greatisthelord.net/blog/619/what-is-your-sycamore-tree/ http://greatisthelord.net/blog/619/what-is-your-sycamore-tree/#comments Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:28:56 +0000 Bobbie http://greatisthelord.net/blog/?p=619 Zacchaeus was a tax collector. He was a sinner and an outcast, hated by most people in their society. Yet when he heard about this certain man, known to associate with sinners just like him, he couldn’t help but be curious. So when he found out that this Jesus was passing by through their town of course he had to go and see Him.

But there are just so many people. Everyone wants to see this great rabbi and his height is hindering him from taking even a peek. All of a sudden he noticed this tree, a sycamore tree, with a trunk low enough that he could climb it and branches long enough that would enable him to see through the crowd.

Haven’t you ever felt just like Zacchaeus? Everyone has shunned you, they have all given up. But deep down inside you can sense that there is more to you than your sinfulness. You hear about Jesus and how he can see through your heart and still find someone worth loving. And you desperately look for something that would help you to go near him. You search for that thing that would allow you to learn more because you are so curious to know more.

That is when our sycamore trees come into place. These can be people or even events that somehow give you that boost to help you to know Christ better. People who are sycamore trees may lead us to go to Church or show us a reflection of Jesus. They can be mentors who daily give us an example of how it is to be in the light of His salvation. G

Events can also be sycamore trees. These can be turning points in your life which would finally make you say “Enough. I don’t want this life anymore, I want something more meaningful.” These can be times that make you realize that you are more than just an unclean person and that you want that love that Jesus brings.

God sends us these things in line with his plan for our salvation. They seem to be just the perfect people to bring us closer to him, or an event so timely that it is just the thing you were waiting for. When these sycamore trees come, grab hold of them. Climb them up and use their branches as a support so you can have a better look. He will see you and when He does He will call you by name, just like He called Zacchaeus by name.

Whatever your sycamore tree is, whether it is a close friend or a family member or even an event that has completely changed your life, remember that God put these in your path for a reason. He wants you to see Him better and to have a more intimate relationship with Him. Any hindrance that you think you might have, whether physical or otherwise, does not matter because God has specifically chosen to save you.

Do you feel like a tire that is about to burst apart or one that already has? If so, you may be headed for emotional, spiritual, and physical burnout.

The busy life today really has a lot of its own way to lead you in such distress and exhaustion. Yet, the Word of God is still the best resort for all this toilsome conditions.

Matthew 11:28-30 says, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke and upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

We often try to escape the pressure from our families, friends, career, yet they still beget us. What is the right thing to do during these times?

The Word of God is really powerful that it has all the answers to this life’s dilemma. In times of distress and exhaustion there are certain ways that could help you. You can try to get away and reappraise your life. Take some time off, as much as possible, and make a list of everything you perceive to be an obligation. Write down how much time and energy each activity takes. In doing such, you can focus yourself on one activity. Better take things one at a time.

You begin to feel the sense of burn out when you lack focus. Next, look for a pattern. Are you more involved in career or hobbies? Do you balance work and play? What preference do you give to spiritual activity? It is important that you have balance. The Scriptures will tell you how you can run your life in equilibrium.  Then, ask God to give you insight on His priorities. What other people think doesn’t matter; what God wants you to do are of primary importance. When you learn to prioritize things, you become more effective with just the right amount of energy.

The Lord is the only one who can ease your mind and soothe your senses. He alone can replenish your being. Many times, you tend to be preoccupied with lots of things neglecting what is essential. Once Christ is the center of your life, everything becomes easy. It is all because Christ had made it well for you. He never intends to make you suffer. He wants you to enjoy your walk with him. He is ready to reveal Himself to you.

Through His word, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, he will show you what areas need adjustment. Before pressure makes you pop, go to the One who gives true rest to your soul, and he will steer you away from collapse.

In order to meet your demands and your needs, you have to determine the Source. Jesus is the source. Only God can supply our needs. The very reason that we fail to meet our needs is that we just use our resources neglecting the only source. Jesus is the only source of everything.

Jesus is the only answer to our questions. Yet, what hinders us to directly ask our needs to our Only Source?

Most of the time, we tend to be preoccupied. We are preoccupied with ourselves. When you think of your needs, you ask yourself how can you do this and that, when in fact, you ought to ask the Only Source.

You become preoccupied with your own weaknesses. The moment that you fix your eyes on your own self in meeting your needs all you can find is just another liability. That is the most common mistake people normally do. What is it that you can boast before God, the Only Source? So, you sometimes get preoccupied by your resources, not knowing they can all run out, so who else can replenish those resources?

Another lapse we have is our broken connection. That is the reason you don’t have direct access to the Only Source. Yet, our broken connection can still be fixed. The crucifixion of Christ becomes the bridge that enables us to have a direct access to the Father, the Only Source. If you want to have this direct access to the Father, you have to believe in your heart and confess that Jesus is your Lord and Savior.

Romans 10:9 tells, “If you confess with your mouth that, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God rose from dead, you will be saved.”

Having the right connection with Jesus will allow you to enjoy a good relationship with Him. You don’t have to struggle with yourself anymore because you now have Jesus.  Jesus said in John 15:5, “Apart from me you can do nothing.” Jesus is all you need to meet all your needs.

Nobody and nothing in this world can even promise you that. Only Jesus can guarantee you of a good life. Jesus is all you need.

Whatever it is maybe that you need now, you have to be reminded that He knows it all. He knows everything about you. The good news is, now that you have Jesus in your heart, there is nothing for you to worry about. Jesus is greater than all your needs. He is more than all of your resources because He alone is the Only Source of everything. Every time you start bothering about your needs, just go to the Only Source- Jesus. Do you want to be connected to Jesus? Surrender your all to Him. He will not only take care of your needs; He will also use you to meet the needs of others.

The sad part is that we are not like that when it comes to giving to God. Have we already given something costly to the Lord? Have we already tried to exert an effort or give extra time in making that piece of offering to our God, the Lord who has given everything that we need? Have we already tried to make him happy with our simple efforts, or we simply forgot just how to make him smile even for a little in a day?

One thing that we need to understand is that the Lord does not care on whatever we can give, but what he appreciates the most would just be our simple efforts that we do to please Him. Why would he be so needy if He has everything in this world? But as a loving father who is very appreciative on everything that we do, it brings simple joy to our God if we at least try to make something significant for him.

What we must realize is that every good thing that we do is accounted in the Lord. The more it will be if what we give is something costly. And what can be considered our costly offerings if the Lord is the owner of everything in this world? These would be the things that own our heart. These are the things that we find hard to offer. These things are our Isaacs as compared to Abraham in the Bible. These are the things that are from the Lord but we claim it as ours and we do not even share with Him. It might be treasures and money for some rich people, it might be time for those busy ones, or it might be dreams for the hopefuls. Sometimes our Isaacs even become the wall that keeps us at a distance with our heavenly Father without us realizing it.

Let us remember how the Lord provided for blessings in our daily lives. Not only that he never fails to provide for our necessities but just the fact that He has offered His most important possession and His beloved Son for us would be enough reason for us to appreciate His goodness and to give what is due to Him.

After all, no matter what we do and no matter how much effort we exert for someone, nobody in this world can compare with the very special kind of love and grace that the Lord can offer us. Let us try to give something costly for Him, just at least once in our lives. It will surely be appreciated. But more than anything else, God wants you. He is waiting for you to draw near to Him and this will surely make Him smile and will even throw a big party in heaven for you.

– 2 Timothy 4:7

You have probably heard someone say, “Please be patient, God isn’t finish with me yet.” That light- hearted saying is absolutely true.

Oftentimes, we wonder over the things that befall us. We charged ourselves with the circumstances which circumvents us. We are hastily searching for the results when in fact all we have to do for a moment is to hold on our faith.

Why do we have to pause for awhile? It is simply because you have to have faith in God. We have to have faith in what He is going to do. His plans and his timing will become clear to you the moment that you trust in the things unseen. When you believe in your heart that Jesus is the one who can save you and that you are under His lordship, there is nothing to worry about because He is not yet done with you. When you have Jesus in your heart, you can be sure that all things work together for your own good. Even though you are in a difficult situation right now, God wants to tell you that it is not yet over. When you trust Jesus as your Savior, you begin a growing process that will last for a lifetime.

In his book Lifetime Guarantee, Bill Gilham explains it this way: “Once a person is born from above, his nature is already Christ like, but it’s infantile in maturity… By faith and obedience, he will look more and more like Jesus.”

The Lord engineers all the circumstances of your life to conform you to Christ’s image. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” God works in everything that he sends and allows in your life. When you have faith in God and in His ways, you can be sure that you are under His care and protection. These things that you are going through right now will help you determine your purpose. Give your life to Christ and expect that all that you are up to now is for your own betterment. That is how great God’s love for us that He prepares you to achieve an excellent life, and that He will be with you as long as you have faith in Him.

Yes, God may discipline you and let you experience some painful consequences of wrong actions, but His plans haven’t change, it is certain. You can always count on His ways. He is ever dependable for He is faithful. You just have to keep the faith and remember that it is not yet over; He is not yet done with you. He won’t let you down. Never will he allow adversities in your life that you can’t withstand. He is just there, waiting for you to call upon Him.

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