It's been a long time since my birthday, and since my last post...not that I've been lacking of milestones in my life, but I've somehow gone back to writing on my journal :)
...somehow, because it still isn't regular and is only reserved for a few of my devotional readings, but this morning, I felt that I should express it here in the hope of sharing it with people other than those in my cell group.
As I opened my Bible, the Lord led me to Isaiah 40, fittingly entitled
Comfort for God's People. I am almost done reading the entire Bible, picking up where I left off last year as this was one of my 2012 resolves that I only partially achieved; and now I'm in the Book of Revelation. But having read this book before, I'm taking my time knowing that much wisdom is required in understanding God's Word about the last days through John. And at the rate I'm going, I'm still far from the most comforting parts.
Comfort...yes, I have been seeking for comfort, because even though we, in Metro Manila, have not been directly hit by typhoon Yolanda and even though none of our relatives have been affected by the super typhoon, I cannot help, as a Filipino, but feel for our countrymen. The current state of relief operations is not at all comforting, and every now and then, I get a message or see a post asking for help and prayers for relatives of friends, missionaries, and other people who have not yet been found, have died, or have been saved but are in dire need of support to help them start all over again.
Isaiah 40 starts with
1
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God- speaking to the people of Jerusalem, and now speaking to us
The verses that followed may not seem comforting at first look, as it described how great God is, and how people and nations are
regarded by him as worthless, and less than nothing(v.17, NIV).
Then it takes a turn beginning v. 27, speaking to all the Israelites who complained that their cause is disregarded by God, comforting them with these words:
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
And it is true, while there is nothing that we can do, or offer to God that he needs from us; in His great and unfathomable wisdom, he still reaches out to us, assuring that we can hope in Him who knows and sees everything, and He shall renew our strength like that of an eagle, running but not growing weary, or faint.
The daily news on the television allows us to see different faces of loss, and I for one, know how it feels to lose a loved one, though not with all your properties at the same time. But what moves me to rummage through my clothes and set aside part of my income to send help to them, are the people who in the face of anguish, still hold on to the hope that the Lord who saved their earthly lives, would help them renew it as well. It is also my prayer that those who would receive our help would not just be supported physically, but would be blessed where it matters most, as they come to know of the living water that never runs out, that overflowing source of hope saying that each day is a new day, and that wonderful things are yet to come from Him whose love and compassion never fails.
I was personally blessed just yesterday, as I desired to give more (in my workplace and in the church) and provide help through different agencies as they catered to different needs of different people. I already got my 13th month pay and cash gift yesterday (my first time as Nurse I, yey!) and for me, it was God speaking to me and expressing that he is pleased with what I want to do, so he enabled me to do it.
Thank you Lord for this privilege of letting others know of your love through me and my family. Open my eyes that I may see more of the ways you would want to use me, and grant me a willing and pure heart that wholeheartedly obeys your commands.
Thank you for providing for us, and for allowing us to be of help and not be the recipients of help. To you be all the glory, honor and thanksgiving!
I urge everyone to continue to pray for our government as well as the private agencies who are in the field, doing their best to deliver and reach all those who are in need. Complaining won't help, as it even takes some of our officials' time to answer to these complaints, which they could have used to direct people in organizing the efforts, and to coordinate with all the groups wanting to help our country. The help we have been receiving, even from the international community, is overwhelming, but let us pray that it will reach our people in time.
P.S.
On a side note, we're going to look at houses today (hopefully our soon to be house!). God has been blessing our family immensely (we finally have a family vehicle!) and I just know that greater things are yet to come from my Lord whose love and faithfulness endures forever. Happy weekend!
