You realize you're getting old when everyone around you is either engaged or getting married. =P
photos by Jason Magbanua
Waiting
Here is an excerpt of a sermon I read somewhere on the essential factors in waiting on the Lord.
* * * * * *
We don’t like to wait, especially in our “I want it now!” society. Ours is a society that has grown accustomed to immediate gratification. Due to modern technology and all our conveniences—telephones, refrigerators, freezers, microwaves, fast foods, airplanes, etc.—we have many things immediately at our fingertips.
Even in our modern age of conveniences, waiting is still a big part of life. The simple fact is, in spite of our modern age and our dislike for waiting, life is full of waiting. And one of the most challenging message of Scripture is “Wait.” But waiting, despite our impatience and our dislike for it, is a vital element in life.
When we think of waiting on the Lord, there are a number of important questions that need to be answered and understood in light of the principles and promises of Scripture. Why? Because without these answers, we become like a long-tailed cat scurrying around in a room full of rocking chairs. We become fidgety, fearful, frustrated, anxious, and even angry. However, because the Lord tells us to wait, and since it has some wonderful benefits, we need to know what it means to wait and how that is to be done.
Waiting Necessitates the Passage of Time
The coming of the dawn was certain, but not without the passage of time. In our “I want it now generation” we must understanding and accept the fact that waiting on the Lord always involves the passage of time just as it does when we are waiting for the news. Waiting on the Lord inevitably means enduring the passage of time, but it does not end there.
Waiting Means Confident Expectation
Waiting involves an expectation of something special. Waiting means anticipation, expectation, confident hope in something that will take place. Ultimately, waiting on the Lord is like waiting on the sun to rise—waiting expectantly for the Lord’s answers to human needs as the sun brings the warmth of the day.
Waiting Involves an Expectation Based on Knowledge and Trust
Without knowledge and trust, we simply won’t wait—at least not without a great deal of anxiety—and usually not without taking matters into our own hands.
We know that throughout our lives we have seen the sun rise every single day. It has never failed even once. We know or believe, therefore, we can count on it based on its past performance, so we wait for the light and the warmth. But above all, we are expecting God’s laws of creation to continue to work.
Waiting Involves Negatives and Positives
Waiting involves a passivity and an activity—negatives and positives—things we should do and things we should not do. These negatives and positives in relation to waiting are closely wound together like the strands in a rope. When wound together properly, they give great strength, courage, patience, and endurance.
Waiting Involves Seeking the Lord
On the positive side, waiting always means seeking the Lord. When we enter God’s waiting room we are not to just sit as one might in the doctor’s chair. Rather, we need to spend time seeking Him. This means time in the Word and in prayer.
Waiting Involves Taking Action at the Right Time
There is a time to plow, a time to sow, and a time to reap, but they are never done all together or at the same time. Waiting on the Lord is like that. God is in the business of growing a spiritual harvest in our lives, but this takes time and our cooperation in doing the right things at the right time.
Waiting Involves Resting in God’s Timing
Waiting means resting in God’s timing and activity while taking care of our responsibilities—the things we can do and should do as set forth in the Word of God. On the one hand we are to rest and be still. This stands opposed to running ahead of the Lord and taking matters into our own hands and turning to our own human strategies.
Waiting Means Trusting in God and His Goodness
The essence of waiting is trust or faith in the nature and character of God. No one can wait on the Lord if he or she does not truly trust in God as the rock of their strength and refuge in all of life. Waiting means claiming God’s promises by faith and resting in what God is doing in our lives so we can faithfully follow God’s principles and keep His values, priorities, and pursuits.
Waiting Involves Taking the Right Action
Waiting on the Lord also means doing the things we can and should without panic or running ahead of Him. For example, if we need a job or think we need a change of employment, we should pray and ask God for wisdom, for information, and for His sovereign leading, but we may also need to prepare for a job with education and training. Then we need to pursue looking for a job by putting together a resume, checking the classifieds, submitting applications, talking to friends, and going to employment agencies. We don’t expect an employer to come knocking at the door while we sit in front of the TV.
Waiting Involves Learning to be Content with God’s Provision and Timing
To wait on the Lord means to be content and patient because we are clinging to God and resting in His love and wisdom.
When we think of waiting on the Lord, there are a number of important questions that need to be answered and understood in light of the principles and promises of Scripture. Why? Because without these answers, we become like a long-tailed cat scurrying around in a room full of rocking chairs. We become fidgety, fearful, frustrated, anxious, and even angry. However, because the Lord tells us to wait, and since it has some wonderful benefits, we need to know what it means to wait and how that is to be done.
Waiting Necessitates the Passage of Time
The coming of the dawn was certain, but not without the passage of time. In our “I want it now generation” we must understanding and accept the fact that waiting on the Lord always involves the passage of time just as it does when we are waiting for the news. Waiting on the Lord inevitably means enduring the passage of time, but it does not end there.
Waiting Means Confident Expectation
Waiting involves an expectation of something special. Waiting means anticipation, expectation, confident hope in something that will take place. Ultimately, waiting on the Lord is like waiting on the sun to rise—waiting expectantly for the Lord’s answers to human needs as the sun brings the warmth of the day.
Waiting Involves an Expectation Based on Knowledge and Trust
Without knowledge and trust, we simply won’t wait—at least not without a great deal of anxiety—and usually not without taking matters into our own hands.
We know that throughout our lives we have seen the sun rise every single day. It has never failed even once. We know or believe, therefore, we can count on it based on its past performance, so we wait for the light and the warmth. But above all, we are expecting God’s laws of creation to continue to work.
Waiting Involves Negatives and Positives
Waiting involves a passivity and an activity—negatives and positives—things we should do and things we should not do. These negatives and positives in relation to waiting are closely wound together like the strands in a rope. When wound together properly, they give great strength, courage, patience, and endurance.
Waiting Involves Seeking the Lord
On the positive side, waiting always means seeking the Lord. When we enter God’s waiting room we are not to just sit as one might in the doctor’s chair. Rather, we need to spend time seeking Him. This means time in the Word and in prayer.
Waiting Involves Taking Action at the Right Time
There is a time to plow, a time to sow, and a time to reap, but they are never done all together or at the same time. Waiting on the Lord is like that. God is in the business of growing a spiritual harvest in our lives, but this takes time and our cooperation in doing the right things at the right time.
Waiting Involves Resting in God’s Timing
Waiting means resting in God’s timing and activity while taking care of our responsibilities—the things we can do and should do as set forth in the Word of God. On the one hand we are to rest and be still. This stands opposed to running ahead of the Lord and taking matters into our own hands and turning to our own human strategies.
Waiting Means Trusting in God and His Goodness
The essence of waiting is trust or faith in the nature and character of God. No one can wait on the Lord if he or she does not truly trust in God as the rock of their strength and refuge in all of life. Waiting means claiming God’s promises by faith and resting in what God is doing in our lives so we can faithfully follow God’s principles and keep His values, priorities, and pursuits.
Waiting Involves Taking the Right Action
Waiting on the Lord also means doing the things we can and should without panic or running ahead of Him. For example, if we need a job or think we need a change of employment, we should pray and ask God for wisdom, for information, and for His sovereign leading, but we may also need to prepare for a job with education and training. Then we need to pursue looking for a job by putting together a resume, checking the classifieds, submitting applications, talking to friends, and going to employment agencies. We don’t expect an employer to come knocking at the door while we sit in front of the TV.
Waiting Involves Learning to be Content with God’s Provision and Timing
To wait on the Lord means to be content and patient because we are clinging to God and resting in His love and wisdom.
* * * * *
God is always on time.
He is never late,
and He is seldom early.
stardust
You know when I said I knew little about love?
That wasn't true.
I know a lot about love.
I've seen it, centuries and centuries of it,
and it was the only thing that made watching your world bearable.
All those wars.
Pain, lies, hate...
It made me want to turn away and never look down again.
But when I see the way that mankind loves...
You could search to the furthest reaches of the universe
and never find anything more beautiful.
So yes, I know that love is unconditional.
But I also know that it can be unpredictable,
unexpected,
uncontrollable,
unbearable
and strangely easy to mistake for loathing,
and...
What I'm trying to say, Tristan is... I think I love you.
Is this love, Tristan?
I never imagined I'd know it for myself.
My heart... It feels like my chest can barely contain it.
Like it's trying to escape because it doesn't belong to me any more.
It belongs to you.
And if you wanted it,
I'd wish for nothing in exchange - no fits.
No goods. No demonstrations of devotion.
Nothing but knowing you loved me too.
Just your heart,
in exchange for mine.
- Yvaine (Stardust)
Baby Boom
Welcome to the newest babies of our barkada...
Kayla Marguerite Timpug Orejudos
Born: August 11, 2007
Gabriella Regina de Guzman Tesoro
Born: October 11, 2007
Mischa Eleanor de Guzman Delgado
Reese Zoe Achaiah Miguel
Born: July 15, 2007
** We have one more! Dac's baby boy born on Oct. 3, 2007 =)
take the wheel
"The moment you start blaming yourself for the death of the people around you, you're never coming back."
When do we become too attached? How would you know if you've already made yourself too involved into something?
I was watching Scrubs this morning and found myself relating to what Dr. Cox and JD were going through. Several patients died that day under their care. They started to blame themselves for the death of these people that they failed to focus on the still living people around them. They allowed themselves to be too affected by the situation that they failed to function as to what are expected from them. They even came to a point of quitting.
This happened to me last week . Although I'm not a doctor and I am not dealing with life and death situations, but still my work and what I was going through affected me so much. It has consumed me physically, mentally, emotionally and even spiritually. Yes I know I'm over reacting. I myself cannot even explain why I've allowed myself to be affected by the situation.
I do love the challenge. I enjoy the adrenaline rush everytime I'm dealing with critical issues like this. It sort of reaffirms what I am as an analyst or as a person can do. It kinda gives you power and control thinking that this is something very difficult or no one can resolve but I was able to do it.
And then it hit me.
It made me think why it became so important for me to prove to myself and to everyone that I... I alone... can do it. It's like I've been using situations like these to make me feel important and needed. It has already become my own measure of self worth. I am again facing the control freak side of me that I've been trying to get rid off. I am again trying to control my life when just a few years ago I surrendered my life to Jesus.
Enjoying life doesn't have to mean you're in control of everything. It is having that unexplainable peace in your heart and mind knowing that someone is taking care of you and has prepared the most perfect plan for you.
Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next.
DekArt
Some of our photos at last night's DekArt event for Royal Elastics.
me and my raspberry iced tea
my favorite board
Thanks Ate Ainee for the invites!
accepted
'Desperate Housewives' apology over Philippines slur
Don't worry Teri. We're not mad at you. It just makes us sad that people still view us that way.
Don't worry Teri. We're not mad at you. It just makes us sad that people still view us that way.
I'm excited!
Best wishes to you My-My! I'm so happy for you and Tatum.
I'm super excited for the wedding! =)
Happy Birthday Rosebud!
To one of the best moms I know, I admire how you've matured and be the super Mommy for Mik.
Wish you all the best! Happy Birthday again Buding! =)
Happy Birthday Mariel!
Happy Birthday Mrs. Tesoro. I'm not sure yet why you're not going to Malta anymore but I'm secretly super happy that you're not. Haha!
You're life and the woman that you've become now inspires me in so many ways. I'm so happy for you and Joseph.
Happy Birthday again. I'm So excited for the baby! 4-5 weeks! Yey!
Happy Birthday Pola!
I was not able to greet you in the office birthday bulletin so babawi ako dito. Hehe!
Thank you sis for being there, always ready to listen. Thank you for being the vessel of His blessings. I couldn't imagine what my accenture life would be without you. Having you as my lead and as my friends makes things so much easier and more fun. Looking forward to more GPQ years. Haha!
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