r L n -- really LOVE now! : September 2011

Monday, September 5, 2011

PSALM 103 -- Bless The LORD, O My Soul!

Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.

Bless the LORD, O my soul! for this post on Facebook: "i'm so grateful to know GOD answering my prayers is not because of what i say, how i say it or how "spiritual" i feel or even how mature i am in Him. His answering prayer is all about His Holy SPIRIT taking my poor, pitiful prayers and using them to bring Honor and Glory to our Father in Heaven. If answered prayer was dependent on my being mature enough, saying the right words, or pleading correctly... my prayers would never be answered! It's all about Him... amen?" (Pray Without Ceasing) -- an answer to prayer and reassuring confirmation that GOD hears my poor, pitiful prayers.

Bless the LORD, O my soul! for this banner from The ShoppE at Rose's which reminds me daily in my new home in Naselesele Village that indeed to everything there is a season, a time for every purpose.

Bless the LORD, O my soul! for this miracle-of-a-baby (born at one pound, nine ounces), now a grown woman who is my lovely daughter and sister in CHRIST. Bless the LORD for redeeming this life from destruction!

Bless the LORD, O my soul! for this young sister-in-law who is indeed a Proverbs 31 lady, for she has a husband, four children, a grandmother, a brother (and me) to cook for -- usually with firewood. Ana is an expert at line and net fishing; she helps to weave large floor mats, including the harvesting, trimming, cooking, drying and smoothing out the voi-voi leaves used; she does the laundry for her entire family; cooks and even brings the children's lunches to the village school; she husks coconuts, guts the fish she has caught, makes her own coconut oil and wields her machete like a man (almost). She gets up while dawn is barely breaking to put on the tea kettle... and she is a godly, Bible-reading Ephesians 5:22 wife -- a loving Herculean help-meet for her husband. GOD is teaching me through her example!

Bless the LORD for his lovingkindness and tender mercies...

Bless the LORD, O my soul! for the hospitable and compassionate folks at Bibi's Hideaway -- whom GOD, in His Providence, allowed in my life as i weathered through storms and traversed deep valleys for a time of testing in Taveuni. Our faithful Good Shepherd provided this fruit-filled haven as this near-sighted sheep stumbled and fell along the way.

Bless the LORD for He is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

Bless the LORD, O my soul! for providing me with shade and food from visiting missionaries as i painted this mural at Ocean View's cafeteria wall during the hot summer months of 2009. GOD bless the SPIRIT for helping me paint this project...literally.

Bless the LORD, O my soul! for gifting me with friends who sharpen as iron sharpens iron, who flavor my life with their differing personalities, who fervently pray for those in need...like me.

Bless the LORD, O my soul! for gifting me with this new family who believes in GOD as the Father, Son and Spirit; who prays before each meal and chides me laughingly when i forget; who lets the kidz watch only Bible Songs (sing-along), worship music with the Gaithers or Tom & Jerry videos; who allows me to choose and comment on Bible verses before our nightly masu (prayers); who forgives my personal imperfections and overlooks my idiosyncracies and kavalagi (foreign) ways.

Bless the LORD, O my soul! for this simple house that is loud with much laughter and children crying-- which GOD is using as the current environment to prune and burn up selfish baggage that still clings. He affirms through daily life lessons that i am not a Filipino-American immersed in Fijian culture, but a child of GOD whose true citizenship is in Heaven. My true identity is in CHRIST.

Bless the LORD, O my soul! for this house which provides shelter when i'm in this part of the world. Thank you, Father, for the lady of the house -- the mother you've given me, who is generous and kind, who allows me to live here freely as i come and go between two countries.

Bless the LORD, O my soul! for these watery pets -- which give Mom much pleasure as they decorate her backyard. Thank you, Father, for creating such colorful fish!

Bless the LORD, O my soul! for the fish that you allow to be caught into Seru's and Ana's nets, so that we may feast on them fried or in bele soup vakalolo. Thank you, Father, for giving us more than enough so that we may also sell some to provide for our necessities.

Bless the LORD, O my soul! for Pastor Pauliasi who shepherds the Assembly of GOD Church in Matei, Taveuni -- the barefoot preacher who is passionate about CHRIST and whose messages magnify and glorify the Person of JESUS as GOD the Son.

Bless the LORD, O my soul! for Pastor Boschen -- whose passion for CHRIST is undeniably evident; whose countenance reflects brightly the Light of the Son and whose many good works mark him as righteous in the sight of GOD. Thank you, Father, for using this true shepherd to guide the many whom you've placed in his path.

Bless the LORD, O my soul! for these San Diego-bought mangoes -- a welcome sight and a reminder of Taveuni that is fast becoming home. Thank you, Father, for providing this tasty blessing -- indeed, you know me to the very core... even to the minutest of details.

Bless the LORD for He satisfies with good things so that our youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Bless the LORD, O my soul! for this mango tree, just beside our house in the village. Indeed You provide every good thing -- in CHRIST, i lack nothing!

Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

(Psalm 103:1-5)

my Prayer For You

When i think of the wisdom and scope of GOD's plan, i fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. i pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will give you mighty inner strength through His Holy SPIRIT. i pray that CHRIST will be more and more at home in your heart as you trust in Him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of GOD's marvelous love.

And may you have the power to understand, as all GOD's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love really is. May you experience the love of CHRIST, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from GOD.

Now to Him Who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by CHRIST JESUS to all generations, forever and ever. AMEN!

(Ephesians 3:14-21)

The Great I AM

I AM the Bread of life. He who comes to Me will never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
(John 6:35)

I AM the Light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the Light of life.
(John 8:12)

I AM the Door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I AM the Door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
(John 10:7, 9)

I AM the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep. I AM the Good Shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
(John 10:11, 14)

I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. I AM the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
(John 15:1, 5)

I AM the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
(John 11:25)

I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
(John 14:6)

Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" JESUS answered, You say rightly that I AM a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the Truth hears My voice.
(John 18:37)

LOVE is...

Though i speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, i have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

And though i have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though i have all faith, so that i could remove mountains, but have not love, i am nothing.

And though i bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though i give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

When i was a child, i spoke as a child, i understood as a child, i thought as a child; but when i became a man, i put away childish things.

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now i know in part, but then i shall know just as i also am known.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

(I Corinthians 13)

Rejoice!

Rejoice in the LORD always. i will say it again: Rejoice!

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The LORD is near.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to GOD. And the peace of GOD, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in CHRIST JESUS.

Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.

(Philippians 4:4-8)

How Great Thou Art!

O LORD, my GOD! When i in awesome wonder consider all the works thy hands have made.
i see the stars, i hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

And when i think that GOD, His Son not sparing, sent Him to die, i scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

When CHRIST shall come with shout of acclamation and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then i shall bow in humble adoration and there proclaim, my GOD, how great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

Amazing Grace

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! i once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now i see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear the hour i first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares, i have already come; 'tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

The LORD has promised good to me, His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, and mortal life shall cease, i shall possess, within the veil, a life of joy and peace.

The world shall soon dissolve like snow, the sun refuse to shine; but GOD, who called me here below, shall be forever mine.

When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun; we've no less days to sing GOD's praise than when we'd first begun.

The Holy BIBLE -- The Word of GOD

The BIBLE contains the mind of GOD, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.

It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the CHRISTian's charter. Here is Paradise restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.

CHRIST is its grand subject, our good the design, and the glory of GOD its end.

It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.

(Foreword from The Gideons International)