Gospel of Grace & Truth

 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. - John 1:17

When God's Heart Aches

💓MY TESTIMONY OF GRACE & TRUTH💓

She wanted to watch a TV show while waiting for her time to go to school. I suggested a different alternative of which she rejected with disappointment. She hurried into their room, face the wall with both arms crossed, and as expected, unhappy face. I followed her into the room and offered reconciliation. She was determined not to accept my peace offering after few attempts. I let her be alone to think things through so she can settle her emotion.

Couple of minutes after I exited the room, I heard wailing. She knocked her mouth on the bed's footboard as she attempted to climb. I checked and glad her mouth looked normal, no blood or anything to be alarmed about. I wrapped her in my arms, rocked her softly, whispering words love. She was quite concern of her lip, she asked if she can look at it on the mirror. Not seeing any hint of serious injury, I proposed she can use the standing mirror in the master's bedroom. So she went, while I paced myself to the living room.

I heard sobbing. Then, a cry. I found her on the floor, curled like a ball, one hand on her mouth, whimpering. The sight of her in that position just tore my heart to pieces. As I picked her up and carried her in my arms, questions kept popping in my brain. Why did she not yell for me (if she needed help)? Why did she choose to just lay on the floor and cry, instead of demanding for my attention? My heart ached. I felt like she didn't trust me. I felt like I was not a good enough of a mama.

While battling insecurity and guilt, God spoke to my heart, "The searing pain you feel in your heart, it's what I feel each time you don't ask me for help when you need it." I asked, "What???" I was confused. I didn't understand what He was talking about. Then, He touched my heart. His touch reminded me one very important truth: He is my Father. He is my parent. Of all people, He is the one who completely understands what I am going through. The pain He feels in His heart is more excruciating compared to how I feel when my children don't come to me for help. After all, He is the one who knows me the most. He is the one who fearfully and wonderfully formed me in my mother's womb. He knows my very soul (Ps. 139:14).

What a revelation for me not only as a parent, but most of all, as God's child. I  never saw this before. Never thought of it. I never knew how my Father felt those moments I needed help and I didn't seek Him to take care of me. I didn't know how much His heart aches everytime I take Him out of the picture during my times of need, from biggest to smallest.

I applied ice pack on her swollen upper lip. Thankfully the swelling subsided before she headed to school. All is well that ends well. After all what happened and got my mind cleared up, I realized that my daughter's choice of action didn't mean she didn't trust me at all. It is one of those times when instead of calling for help, she cries out loud to get her Momma's attention. I guess she likes the idea of her Mom running to the rescue because she regard me as her superhero.

On other hand, I need to practice reminding myself to approach my Father first when I need something. It doesn't matter how tiny or gigantic my need is. What matters is, who I go to (first) for help. As a human being, I tend to forget a lot. Along the way, I will cause Him heartache again. But His amazing grace through Jesus Christ will supply strength for my weakness. And no matter what, He will always love me.

Faith and Compassion

 

We either live in fear or live in faith. Be indifferent or be compassionate. We live by what we believe, and who we believe.

Come Home

 

To the weary, restless, wandering, soul. Jesus loves you. So much. What is keeping you from drawing close to Him? What are you afraid of? You do not have to be perfect. You do not have to be free of sin, for no one is. Come as you are. Jesus did not come to condemn. He came to save the lost, to give you life more abundant. Why choose to stay in the dark and torture your soul each day with restlessness, when you can have the Light who will give you peace and rest? Come home to love. Come home to the Father, the one who loved you first (and always). That is where you belong. He doesn't want heaven without you. Just come home.

No Other Name

"Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you." - John 16:23

Day 2 of Creation: Separation of Water From Water

💓MY TESTIMONY OF GRACE & TRUTH💓

Photo Credit: NASA/ESA

It is so amazing how God sparks one's excitement that sprung from a curious heart.

It's one of those times when my Father God gave me a (tiny) glimpse of His awesomeness as Creator of  heaven and earth. While I continued to read the Book of Isaiah, something deep inside prod me to read the very beginning of the Bible: Genesis. I knew it's the Holy Spirit. Thankfully I listened and  followed His lead this time (because sometimes I don't).

My curiosity ignited while watching an episode of Praise from TBN, with their guest Pastor Samuel Rodriguez.  He authored a book titled, "Be Light: Shining..." and shared of how God inspired him to focus and write about the "light" than talk about "darkness." He mentioned the very beginning of Genesis when God spoke, "Light!"

My revelation does not have to do anything with what the guest talked about. It is something else. It was a personal, one-on-one intimate moment with my Creator.

I started reading Genesis 1. While reading verses 6-7, I had to stop and fully digest the description. I wanted to understand what it means. As I re-read the verses few times, I had to draw a picture in my brain the words being described. I was confused. I had to refer to other Bible versions to fully comprehend.

Genesis 1:6-7 says, "Let there be a firmament (vault of heaven; sky) in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; " (NJKV).

 "Firmament in the midst of the waters." There's a vault of heaven in between the waters. Waters above and below. I have read Genesis several times, but it was only this instance where I had to stop to form a picture in my mind of what is described in this very specific verses. How I photographed this part of the Scripture before was, the water which is part of the earth was separated from heaven. I never pictured out a vast amount of water above the sky (too), which apparently I missed several times in my readings.

Yes, I've heard science's discovery of water on planets, but such information doesn't sound like it surprises the human race at all. So I asked God (He likes it so much when we ask questions). "Is there really water above the sky?" With that question, I meant, a colossal amount of water. Not just the ones I heard about water's existence on other planets.

God told me, "Search the internet!" Thankfully, Google is so handy. My search led me to this marvelous find (please read the articles yourself):

• Scientists Discover The Oldest, Largest Body Of Water In Existence—In Space
• NASA's source: Astronomers Find Largest, Most Distant Reservoir of Water

My mind is blown away with this new revelation. Oh those teeny-tiny details in the Scripture which we fail to notice because we think they're not as important. But I learned that it is in the very tiny details that God hides the mighty things. Unless our hunger for truth digs deeper into these small details, the wondrous ways of God remain hidden from us. What many treasures we lost.

The awesomeness of my God! I couldn't contain the swelling in my heart of what I just found out, I badly needed to share it with someone. Gladly, my husband was around :) Sharing to him helped a little to settle my burning emotion, but it was not enough. I had to let it out. I asked my Father, "Can I just cry?" several times, and went straight to the bathroom and burst. Moments like these are what I treasure the most. Times when I'm given this beautiful free gift to intimately commune with my Abba. It's my moment of "Heaven meets earth." How I desire for everyone to experience the same. How I long for you to taste the sweet, sweet love of the Father; to be in the "thin place" with God, not only once, but a thousand times.

I believe that  the discovery mentioned in the article is just a minute part of the undiscovered, the unfathomable things that God purposely hide. He only let us see what our carnal minds can handle. No human intelligence nor sophisticated technology can entirely seize the fullness of His creation. The good news is, one day in our glorified bodies, we will.

I am so grateful for science. It gives us mini peeks of who God is as the Creator. Every discovery science brings adds to the proof of God's existence for the unbelievers, and blessed hope for those who believed.

Light of the World

Jesus said so. We, the believers are the light of the world. Let us not hide our light, but let it shine to the people around us, so they too will see the goodness and the Father God's lovingkindness.