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)

Mary, Mary, Mary OR Martha

During the hustle 'n' bustle of preparing for celebrating JESUS' birthday, i want to practice being a "Mary" rather than being a "Martha." But which Mary?

In my opinion, the most important Mary in all human history is the virgin Mary, the mother of JESUS, the CHRIST. She was the vessel blessed indeed by GOD and chosen by Him to supernaturally bring into the world the Word -- to manifest His only begotten Son into human flesh. And there could only be one such Mary for one such ultimate miracle of bringing the infinite One into the finite body of a tiny vulnerable baby...and young Mary was one that had such great faith that though she couldn't understand the how of it, she believed that with GOD, anything was possible.

This Mary was quite young, a virgin betrothed to Joseph -- she knew what great consequence would befall her when she was found pregnant outside of wedlock, and with a baby not even Joseph's. Yet her answer to the angel's announcement was, "i am the LORD's servant, may it be to me as You have said." (Luke 1:38) Her faith was such that she received the honor of being chosen to be the mother of the long-awaited Messiah with a fully trusting heart --obeying GOD and trusting that GOD will deal with all the consequences.

Can i follow Mary's example of being this trusting...of saying Yes! to anything and everything that GOD wants to accomplish through my life, no matter the havoc it may wreak to my own plans? Can i say, like Mary did, "My soul glorifies the LORD and my spirit rejoices in GOD my SAVIOR" (Luke 1:46-47) when GOD tells me to let go my agenda and instead get in step with His own -- never mind where or when or how He wants me to follow Him...to just go for GOD no matter the cost? Do i have the inner strength, the great faith, and glad obedience that Mary exemplified? Only GOD knows...the time will come when He will clearly show me the direction He wants me to take. And that's when i'll know if my faith is such that i will say Yes! -- no matter what His directive may be.

Another Mary is Mary of Magda, who was a fully devoted follower of JESUS. He healed her by driving out her seven demons. How can she not surrender her life to Him after that? She followed Him...all the way to the agony of the cross at Calvary...she watched Him die. Mary Magdalene had the courage to watch her LORD die -- she didn't run away as almost all the other apostles did. During the worst time of her life (seeing her LORD crucified), she remained resolutely faithful to JESUS...and He honored her unwavering loyalty by allowing her, a woman, to be the first witness to His glorious resurrection.

Can i stand...just stand, in the midst of life's turmoil, waiting patiently on the LORD, steadfast and determined to keep my focus on JESUS and not the circumstance which is trying to cloud Him from my vision? Will my faith cave in, making me run away to escape from the pain of GOD's process? Or will i allow the Holy SPIRIT to fight my battles, trusting that with Him, "i can do all things through CHRIST Who strengthens me"? (Philippians 4:13)

And during this busy time of family get-togethers, shopping for unique gifts at The ShoppE at Rose's, tying loose ends with Bible studies, painting projects -- can i just sit still, like Mary, at the feet of my LORD JESUS? Or will i be like Martha, frustrated with all the busyness of the season's festivities -- being overwhelmed with too many good works for CHRIST that i neglect to make time for one-on-one fellowship with the most important, utterly precious Person of my life?

JESUS knew what was best -- not just the good enough -- for the household of Lazarus, Martha and Mary. Martha did good things for JESUS -- she made Him comfortable and feel welcomed in their house (which i think was probably very clean and organized), served him good meals, and ran around Him in circles -- busily doing good works for Him.

"But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to Him and asked, "LORD, don't You care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" (Luke 10:40) For she saw her sister Mary just sitting at JESUS' feet, listening to Him, in rapt attention. And JESUS said (and i wonder what tone He used when He said her name twice) --

"Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

During the busyness of my everyday life, will i choose to sit at JESUS' feet -- being nourished by His Word, being at one with Him through unceasing prayers and steadfast focus on His Person, being led by Him to do what He desires to have me do rather what i am expected to do as a CHRISTian?

Will i choose to be a Mary or a Martha?

Today, i have chosen to do what JESUS, my LORD, said was the better thing...which is the best for me. i will not allow the hectic busyness of celebrating CHRISTmas time take away my celebrating CHRIST Himself. JESUS is the bottom-line reason for CHRISTmas...

CHRIST JESUS is my bottom-line reason for living every day. He is The ROCK, the sure and only Foundation of my season on earth. \o/