FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2.
Totally oblivious to what was happening in the Philippines at that moment, just because it was my birthday last Friday, I was enjoying a peaceful walk in Sausalito. Browsing through the window shops, admiring the beautiful art galleries, and taking pictures of almost everything, I was pretty content within my own pretty world. NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT, right?
Mesmerized by the breath-taking view of the bay, I praise God for such a treat to be able to take in such beauty! NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT, right?
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3.
Typhoons in the Philippines were happening, devastating everything that were in their paths! Destruction, lost lives, fear, hopelessness, a faint strand of survival...all in a matter of seconds!
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4.
Today, during our church services, a video clip showed us the terrible devastations occurring in our country. Tears flowed from my eyes like the floods in the Philippines. I sat there in shame and disgrace of myself. Why? I was oblivious to all the pain that was happening half way around the world. While I was enjoying a peaceful walk by a beautiful city by the bay, cries of help were deaf to my ears. I felt that the money I spent on my birthday could have been used to help those who were suffering. Well, that moment of grief and shame did not last long. What did I do right after church? I went shopping at the outlets and bought myself a fall sweater. =( Conviction suffocates my heart as I am typing this blog.
I do praise God for blessing me with such a wonderful birthday. He has given me a beautiful life. But I cannot just simply accept this gift of beauty without sharing it with others who need it more. What am I going to do with that fall sweater? Return it for I really don't need it. (A very small sacrifice on my part - very small.) I write this blog not to convict you (that's the Holy Spirit's job), but to be content with what you already have in order to better help those in need.
We can begin by praying...I can begin by praying. I cannot get those visions of calamity out of my head! I need to do much soul searching and ask God what He would want me to give up so that I can truly touch those in need. Faith Bible Church of Vallejo is now taking donations to aid our people. If you are unable to help, please PRAY for the victims. They need food, water, shelter, hope, ... CHRIST.
My blessing today was being humbled by God. I needed to see destruction so that I may gain true direction in how I need to live my life.
As I was reading your blog,(happy late bday by the way =(.....i'm sorry)i noticed how you wrote "but to be content with what you already have in order to better help those in need."..i was listening to the christian radio station and this lady called and thanked the radio show host for the message aired on contentment that reminded her that she she was hanging on to something to tightly and that she needed to let go. In response, the radio show host quoted someone (don't remember who) and said "sometimes i have to let go myself, because it hurts to much when God has to pry it from my tight grip."
ReplyDeleteI always thought of contentment as just being happy with what you have and not wanting or needing anything more, but when i thought about what the caller said, i believe contentment is ALSO, being able to let go of something you love if that's what God wants you to do because we already have everthing we will ever need in Christ...everything else is just extra..i love your blog because it testifies to that truth...
"I know what it is to be in need, and I KNOW WHAT IT IS TO HAVE PLENTY. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether WELL FED or hungry, whether LIVING IN PLENTY or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." - Philippians 4:12-13