Nothing new under the sun

In Ecclesiastes 1:9 we find these words: What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun (NIV).

If you really thing about it this is so true. Sometimes our children will try to pull a fast one on us, not realizing that we also tried to pull the same thing with our parents. There are things that our children are doing now, that we may not have done, but when their children come of age, they will more than likely try those same things.

 One thing that I also realize is not new is journaling. Nowadays we are advised to write our thoughts down, to keep a journal, (we called it diary in my days). This is something I know Oprah pushed a lot when she was doing her talk show.

As I think about it, nobody can beat the Psalmist David with Journaling. As I read the psalms I can actually feel David's heart. Every emotion that he felt he wrote it down, anger, disappointment, tiredness, joy, adoration he just expressed himself. As I read especially the psalms written by David, I take much comfort, realizing that David was just an ordinary person, with faults, but also a lover of Jesus.

As I read the psalms I find comfort in many of them, I feel encouraged and hopeful to know that even when I mess up and do not do things as God wants it, He still forgives and loves me. I also learn that I should always repent of my sins and call things out as they are, and not sweep them under a rug.

Two of these Psalms 42 and 51 are two great examples that you should try to read when you get the chance. In Psalm 42 for example, David expresses his longing and thirsting for God, he talks about him not worshipping as he used to and how disgruntled he was, then he just stopped himself as if he had a reality check and told himself to put his trust in God, instead of complaining. In Psalm 51, he just poured his heart out to the Lord in a confession of his sin and asking God for forgiveness and to purge him until he was clean.

There is nothing new under the sun. So, whatever you may be struggling with, someone else has been there, and done that. If they came through, so will you. Open your heart and tell God what you are feeling. Ii is ok to show your emotions. If you mess up admit it to God, tell Him you are sorry, He won't hold it against you.

In His Service,

Vilma

History in the Making

Today America poises on the brink of making history in the world.

By the end of the day we will have chosen either a business man or a woman to be the next president of the United States. For some there is a sense of excitement, for some anxiety, some indecision and yet for others confusion about today. However there is still for some of us a sense of relief that this fighting and name-calling, and bitterness is coming to the end- or is it?

I love my country and I do participate in the electoral process, but I do not rely on any political party or person to be the savior of America. I totally rely on God, who can never be outvoted, cast out or however one tries cannot be pushed to the side.

As I vote- my prayer will be "God have your way" My prayer is that God will choose the person he can best use to make a difference in this country. I thank God that unlike men who look at the outward appearance that He looks at the heart. I am grateful that God is never swayed by words but by the heart. I am so grateful that God knows the future and also knows who is best suited to be the "Joshua" for the next phase of our Journey.

Please make sure that you go out and vote as every vote counts and in a very small way you are making a difference and whatever the outcome- I know God will get the Glory.

In His Service,

Vilma

The Cubs did it, so will you!

This has been such an exciting world series- The Cleveland Indians and the Chicago cubs. Finally after 108 years the Cubs were able to break loose from their period of drought. So many fans went to their graves during this season of drought not ever seeing their team going to much less winning a world series. Congratulations Chicago!!

As I reflect on this world- series, I am reminded of the fact that God never forgets about us. It may seem as if it is taking Him a very long time to make His move, but we can be certain that in His own time He will come through. I think about the children of Israel who were in captivity in Egypt they cried out to the Lord for deliverance daily, but it took God 400 years before He sent them a deliverer.

What do you do when it seem as if your prayers are not been heard? Well like the Children of Israel, you keep praying, you keep working and keep trusting. Like the Chicago cubs you keep playing, recruiting, trading and playing some more. The children of Israel, could settle in Egypt, all the original inhabitants had all died, and those who were there at the time only knew a life of slavery and hence could have been comfortable in just settling. I also know that they were taught about what God promised to Abraham and believed and kept praying knowing that God would one day take them to the promise land. The Chicago cubs could have given up, they could have dissolved the team, but they kept going, knowing that they would eventually be victorious.

Here is my advice to you, do not give up on God, whatever He has promised to you and your family it will come to pass. While you wait keep trusting, and keep doing your part and remember that God does things in His own time.

In His Service,

Vilma

Resisting Gossip

Gossip can be juicy and mouthwatering especially when you are not the one being gossiped about. Refusing to listen to gossip is very difficult as it is refusing your favorite meal. If we take one bite of either we find ourselves craving more.

 Proverbs 18:8 says this- Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one's heart (NLT).

 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly (KJV).

 Most time when someone brings you news it is usually misrepresented, colored and packaged in such a way as to break-up relationships and stir up trouble. As a child growing up, I was always told that any dog that takes you a bone- will take one from you. In translation what my parents were saying - when people bring you news beware they will go back with anything you have contributed to the conversation. As the verse says the words of a talebearer wounds deeply the person being talked about, their reputation, and their integrity.

 As a person who is serious about their diet is able to resist food that is fattening or unhealthy, so we should resist rumors. If you do not nibble on the first bite you can’t take the second and the third bite.

 

In His Service,

Vilma

Stay in the Game

I have grown to love sports.  As a matter of fact I did not have much choice as my husband is and my son was a sports fanatic and when they held that remote it was programmed to only go to the sports stations (LOL).  In the long run I got sucked into just watching and enjoying sports.  One of the things that I always marvel at is regardless of how a player appeared to have been hurt they wanted to stay in the game.  If they had to be taken out before you know it they wanted to return, because they were not satisfied to stay on the sidelines.  They were passionate about their game.

 Most of us are involved in our own game- “life.”  As we make our plays we sometimes get hurt.  Sometimes it’s just a bruise or a sprain, sometimes we get fractured and other times we even get critically injured.  We have the choice to sit on the sidelines and watch the game go on without us or we can get our wounds taken care of and get back into the game.

In the bible, we see examples of many athletes who became injured as they ran their race, but instead of stopping and sitting on the sidelines they stayed in the race to the end.  Joseph was sold into slavery, Ruth lost her husband, Naomi lost her husband and her sons, Job lost all his children and his wealth, Paul was placed in prison, Jesus Christ was tried and eventually crucified but they all stayed in the race and because of their determination they made a difference in the world.  You can read their stories in the bible. 

I was one of those athletes who got severely injured as I ran my race; I stopped to get treated and I really wanted to just stay out of game and sit on the sidelines.  I didn’t want to take the chance of another injury.  However I realized if I stayed on the sidelines I would not finish and win my race so I went back into the race.

I understand that staying in the race is not easy, but because of my passion I keep going.  I realize that other people are depending on me to hear the good news of salvation.  I realize that there are people around me who are still in captivity and need to be loosed, who are still prisoners and need to be set free, who are still blind need their sight, and there are still those who are mourning and need comfort.  I am charged with the task to let them know that there is hope, because Jesus Christ has already done for them the very things they are looking for.  I keep going because no one else can run my race and complete my task.

Today I want to encourage you to stay in your race.  Do not sit any longer on the side line.  You have a job to do.  You may have been hurt because of betrayal, disappointments, an illness, the death of a loved one, a miscarriage, the loss of your home or job.  I do understand that the pain of your injury is real, but please allow God to treat you and “get right back in the race.”  The longer you stay out, the more out of shape you become, and the more difficult will be your journey.  Somebody is depending on you.  It may be your children, spouse, neighbor, a friend, or a relative.  You have the key to their prison door and if you sit on the sideline you won’t get to them.  Don’t leave them stranded, which you will, if you are content to stay on the sideline rather than get back in the race.

 

In His service,

Vilma

The face of Evil

Over the last couple of years I have seen evil raise its ugly head more and more both nationally as well as internationally. In the last month alone evil seems to be mocking us with a “catch me if you can attitude”

 The face of evil was seen in Orlando, Florida; in St Paul, Minnesota; in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; in Dallas Texas and as of yesterday in Nice, France. This list is by no means exhaustive, as there are daily display of evil in many of our cities and states that do not get national attention. The effects are devastating as it impacts so many lives directly and indirectly.

The bible tells us that in the last days “perilous times” will come - 2Timothy 3:1. However, I don’t want us to stop there, instead I want us to read about something else that will happen in the last days. In Joel 2:28-29 and in Acts 2:17 we see that God will “pour out His Spirit on all Flesh”, our young men will see visions and our old men will dream dreams.

We can counteract evil with good, let’s pray diligently for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all flesh. Let’s pray for a revival in our hearts, in our homes, our communities, our churches, and at our work places. Let’s genuinely invite God back in our affairs. Do not stop praying when it seems everything has quieted in the news. Do not let down your guard, Satan doesn’t. We must be persistent. If all God’s light and salt in the earth decide to savor and give light- darkness (evil) cannot stand, it cannot comprehend what it sees.  I beseech you to set some time aside daily to pray and keep calling out to God for a change in our land.

In His Service,

Vilma

Making the choice to forgive

This post is not new it was originally posted April 20, 2013 on my face book page, but I am lead to repost. Not a bad thing because most times we forget what we saw 3 days ago, how much more 3 years ago. In addition I have new friends, why rob them? Lol!

Most of us are able to recite the model prayer found in Mathew 6: 9-13, but how many of us really internalize and meditate on the meaning of those words. Sometimes we get so familiar with something or someone that we take it or them for granted. We fail to pay much attention to details and can really miss some important facts.

I would like to point out 2 very important verses, one being verse 12 "And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors" What am I really saying when I horridly mumble these words? I am interpreting this as asking God to forgive us of our debts/trespasses/transgressions/sins as we forgive those who have transgressed or wronged us. Forgive us in a similar fashion as how we forgive- oops, really?

However, in practicality what we may be saying is- Lord I refuse to forgive Sally who talked about me 2 years ago, I refuse to forgive, my ex-husband for leaving me, my child for breaking that priceless piece of china, or my boss for passing me over for that promotion, and so Lord I expect the same treatment from you.

 Another practical interpretation could be- Lord it was so hard to forgive all these people who over the years have wronged me, but it was not worth holding on to un-forgiveness so with your help forgive them and I know you will do the same for me as well for my many mistakes and wrong doing. 

The second important fact that I want to draw to our attention is not even within the verses of the model prayer, but the verse that comes after (14): For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Being reminded of this I make a conscious choice on a daily basis to ask the Holy Spirit for strength to forgive everyone and every wrong even when it hurts a lot.  I realize that in my flesh I would prefer to choose who and what to forgive and when I forgive them, and so I look to God for the strength to make the right choice and forgive. 

So the next time you say the model – prayer please pay attention to the details.

In His Service,

Vilma