JISU SA RAUTI AU

JBZ2! Prayer and Fellowship...

The ultimate purpose of it all is to arrive at a deeper intimacy with JESUS. For me, fervent prayer and committed journaling of GOD's goodness and abundant blessings lead the way to strengthened faith, to closer relationship with the One who provides all our needs.

As i became more fully aware of GOD's presence in my life through countless blessings and even miracles (i.e., once upon a time, a palm tree fell on me -- yet not a hair on my head was touched. The tree landed like it was slam-dunked, but GOD tripped me into a hole as i tried to get out of the way so that the trunk of the tree slammed just 1/2" across the back of my thighs, pinning me down, yet leaving me unscathed) -- my faith in His faithfulness and gracious love was strengthened and solidified.

My JBZ2! journals are the physical reminders and proofs of GOD's mercy and love towards me. The pages testify of GOD answering my prayers, according to His methods and perfect timing. The written records remind and encourage me to wait and watch -- and to keep on praying...to persevere until i get an answer.

The JBZ2! 's mission is to glorify GOD and its purpose is to realize the Source of the blessings -- to love the Giver of blessings and not the blessings themselves.

JESUS said, "The truth is, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you saw the miraculous sign." (John 6:26 -- NLT)

So the ultimate purpose of JBZ2! is to get to that spiritual realization that blessings or no blessings -- fed or not fed -- JISU sa rauti au...Fijian for JESUS is enough for me.

JESUS, the miraculous sign from GOD Himself, is the blessing -- He, Himself, is the greatest, highest, ultimate blessing ever given by GOD.

When i act upon this realization, i walk on air...i have joy everlasting in the today -- no matter the daily gunk that try to muddy up this living joy.

When i make real through constant practice that JISU sa rauti au, i am fulfilling my destiny -- GOD's will that i be one with His Son, that there be no other besides JESUS in my heart.

When i am totally surrendered to CHRIST, with no more rights to call my own...

When i am just moving to His tune...

Then i am rln!

Then i really live,

Then i really love,

Then i can really laugh

With abandon...

Then i am truly unbound, truly free --

in the now

Living each ordinary day as extraordinary --

to the fullest

as if with an exclamation point.

JISU on the Road

i heard these two stories, almost like parables... and here they are, re-told as a combined story, illustrated with photos of Germany from a past visit... and made complete with a happy ending!

JISU was all alone on the road, walking along its dusty edge. A driver who was late for his usual afternoon golf game zoomed past in his Hummer, kicking up a cloud of dust -- so did another, in a huge Ford truck, hurrying to catch the Charger game on his giant-screen tv.

A young driver, bored with the long drive home, stopped his sleek vintage Mustang, with a shriek of the brakes, and let Him in. The youth found JISU intriguing; and they talked of deep things, baring their souls as if they've been friends for many years.

After an hour of sharing stories, the young driver noticed that he was almost home. His demeanor became one of barely contained impatience, for he was eager to get back to his friends to tell them all about his eventful road trip.

He said, "Hey, buddy -- sorry, but i have to let you off here. It was good talkin' with ya!"

The young driver stopped the car with another shriek of the brakes, and clicked the unlock button for JISU's side. JISU got out at the town's main street. He gave the driver a piercing look and waved goodbye as the car pulled away with a jerk, burning rubber.

Soon after, a good and kind man picked Him up. He's a middle-aged business man, a long-time member of the big church in the center of town. This very good man kindly invited JISU for dinner. His wife and three kids were used to his good works and weren't surprised at this new "project."

They dined together and had a very good and proper time. After dinner, they all went to do their own thing.

The good and kind man invited JISU to rest awhile, even gave Him the guest room. And the good and kind man retired to bed...then got up in the morning as usual, did his 9 to 5 job, got busy, then busier, then busiest ever! and forgot all about JISU in the guest room.

JISU, not one to impose without wholehearted invitation, quietly left, leaving a note which simply said, "Look up."

As JISU continued His journey, many people passed Him by, quite a few even tried to run Him off the road! Finally, as He neared the far end of town, a beat up van slowed down and a haggard looking fellow gestured for JISU to get in. The driver was obviously sick, very distraught, for he was lost. He opened the door to let JISU in, glad for His company. They had immediate rapport...two travelers on the road, each on a mission.

JISU asked the man if he needed help driving, as he seemed unfocused. He answered, "Oh i'm fine! Just a little tired." The tired man drank another pick-me-up cappuccino from Starbucks... and they drove on another few miles. The man got sicker, his malady he knew not what -- he just knew his aching head felt like a water-logged balloon ready to burst.

JISU said, "You're not looking well at all. May I help you in any way?"

The very tired man, his face now ashen, said, "Well, can you just help me steer for a little while? My right arm seems to be going to sleep."

And they drove the car together for quite aways -- until his left arm began to go numb too. JISU said gently, "I know you are not well. Let Me drive. I will take you home."

At last the man confessed of his reluctance before, "Okay, but this means i'll lose the three-tier 24-karat gold trophy and $1,000,000 prize money for driving in this solo cross-continent race. The judges will disqualify me for letting You drive this car to the finish line."

They paused at a rest stop...a vista of green pastures and still waters -- the man, exhausted; JISU, calm and expectant. The man, beat to the core, met JISU's eyes, whose only expression was overflowing love and compassion. The man gladly handed over all the keys -- trusting Him at last to do all the driving...man to Man, they shook hands -- and exchanged places.

JISU sa rauti au...JESUS is enough for me. And not only does He hold all the keys to my "car" -- He holds the certificate of ownership.

And so, dear brothers and sisters, i plead with you to give your bodies to GOD. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice--the kind He will accept. When you think of what He has done for you, is this too much to ask? (Roman 12:1)

PERSONAL Testimony - Pruning For My GOOD

I Chronicles 16: 8 -- Oh, GIVE THANKS to The LORD!  Call upon His Name; make known His deeds among the peoples!

THANK YOU, Most Precious FATHER – Awesome Sovereign GOD that You are, LORD of my body, heart and soul!  VINAKA VAKA LEVU, TURAGA.  JISU SA RAUTI au!  MUCHAS GRACIAS, mi DIOS Todo Poderoso – El PASTOR de todos que Refugiarse.  MARAMING SALAMAT na aking DIOS!  Ikaw ang aking talagang Buhay!

  

THANK YOU for causing me to love paradisiacal islands and for providing Taveuni as the tropical garden for my pruning; for gifting me with a loving Fijian family through my farmer-husband, Your providential catalyst for change and growth in me.

THANK YOU for ALL You’ve already done and continue to do in Maia’s Life – for providing her LIFE-SAVING medicine, a job that employs the half-blind, our healed mother-daughter relationship, and best of all -- her SAVING FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS, our INfinitely Precious Savior, our AWEsome LORD!

THANK YOU, O Holy SPIRIT, for not leaving me to continue in my SINs so as to flounder helplessly without direction or purpose.  THANK YOU, FATHER, for Your SON, whom You GAVE to us SO freely and who DIED for us SO awfully so that we may have LIFE SO awesomely!

I Chronicles 16:9 – Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; talk of ALL His wondrous works!

SHOUT i to The LORD a JOYful hymn of PRAISE –

To The HOLY One Whom GOD The SPIRIT did RAISE!

Declaring HIM to be my Strength, my Strong Tower –

In Whom i cling to for SUPERnatural POWER!

So on bended knees i bow to JESUS, my LORD and Friend –

HE is my Faithful Shepherd, so His WORD do i defend.

HE bought me with His BLOOD, SO Precious and SO Dear –

Neither fears nor doubts have i – JESUS, The CHRIST, IS HERE!

I Chronicles 16:10 --  Glory in His HOLY Name!  Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek The LORD!

GOD is HOLY, and i glory and exult in HIS holiness.  i rest secure that He will not allow any INjustice, large or small, to go UNpunished.  Yet paradoxically, HE WILL PARDON REPENTANT SINNERs like me who TURN to CHRIST for FORGIVENESS.  i am SO grateful that because GOD is my FATHER, He will NOT allow any UNungodliness INin me to remain UNunchecked.  He WILL continue to wash me clean with His WORD.  Of this REALITY, i am confident!  HALLELUJAH!              

FatherGOD knows me SO intimately, even of my delight for mangoes. In His Providence, He caused a sweet mango to fall directly in my path at the exact moment He knew i would be there.  He knew how it would lift up my downcast spirit, so heavy was my heart.  How i rejoice at His timely gifts!  How grateful i am for His tender loving kindnesses.

How perfectly GOD’s Providence sustains me – causing me to delight IN Him even more.  He provided Matthew Henry’s Commentary On The Whole Bible the week i returned to San Diego – leading me to search His Word with renewed enthusiasm, as i pored over pages of very small print, praying that SPIRIT will fatten my soul with such nourishing Bread.  YES, i want to get very fat in my soul! 

How grateFUL and amazed i am at His wondrous acts – the miracles wrought withIN that no one can discern with the naked eye.  In the day-to-day busyness of village-life, marital ups and downs, and clashing cultures and personalities – at times i was like a thorny cactus, thirsting for the Living Water – causing discomfiture to those around me, including myself!

Bitter Melon -- Ampalaya

Yet what was gripping my heart – UNforgiveness and BITTERNESS – has vanished.  GOD -- the indwelling Holy SPIRIT -- has somehow vanquished these INternal enemies that have plagued me for SO long!  PRAISES be to GOD – the GREAT Physician – who has healed me of these deadly maladies of the heart and soul.

I Chronicles 16:11 – SEEK The LORD and His strength; SEEK His Face forEVERmore!

Because i NEED GOD’s Grace for EVERY moment He allows me to live, because i NEED His SUPERnatural POWER to continually help me overcome my weaknesses, and simply, because i LOVE Him – i SEEK His Face IN CHRIST, through His WORD, through prayer, through glad obedience to His PERFECT will.

Oh LORD, Your command is that i be CONFORMED to the likeness of Your SON, and You promised to provide ALL that i NEED so that at ALL times i may abound in EVERY good work to the GLORY of Your Name – therefore, Almighty Heavenly FATHER…

Command what You will –

Grant what You command. 

LORD JESUS, the Altogether Lovely ONE – it matters not WHAT You do with my life; it matters only WHO You are!