Daily devotional, March 11, 2024 Life-giving

"But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers,these things ought not to be so." James 3:8-10

One of the most important lessons my father has ever taught me is the power of words. He has always impressed on me since I was a young girl, that words are very powerful and that it can hurt people so much. That I should always think before I say anything, because once I have said something, and those words offended someone, I could never take the words and the pain back.

Life-giving words are written throughout the Bible. As followers of Jesus, we are being encouraged to continue to meditate on God’s word, and at the same time live lives that propagate it. In his letter to the Ephesian Church, St. Paul the Apostle said that by saying what’s positive, pure, and true, we can live lives that honor God, and build up others.

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29

But as we all know and experience, it is not easy to always say life-giving words. When we are angry and we feel that we have been wronged, we can easily say truthful yet scathing words in anger. When we are too exhausted, we lose patience as well as the ability to choose gentler words to get our children, or others to do what we want them to do. We could even go as far as spread gossip and rumors about others. But as the disciple James, the brother of Jesus tells us, it really is difficult to tame the tongue.

"If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things." 
James 3:3-5

We should indeed be careful because in our world today, a lot of people are suffering from mental issues that sometimes discouraging words can do irreparable damage to their lives. We should be careful when we point out other people’s mistakes. At the same time, we have to be cautious about what to say to others when they ask for our advice. As St. Paul the Apostle tells us:

"And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone." 
1 Thessalonians 5:14

Let us take the cue from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who only had to speak powerful words to the Roman Official, and his dying son was healed. In the Gospel of John, when Jesus returned to Cana, there was a Roman Official who begged Him to come to his house so that He could heal His Son. But Jesus did not go over to his place, and instead healed the official’s son just by uttering four powerful words:

"Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. As he was going down, his servantsmet him and told him that his son was recovering. So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hourthe fever left him.” The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household." 
John 4:50-53

We may feel like we can never be consistent in saying life-giving words given our everyday circumstances. But with our consistent fellowship with Jesus through prayer and bible reading, and our heart’s deep longing to follow His teachings, we can get help from the Holy Spirit to speak words that could never hurt, words that give encouragement and life. Let us always remember that with God’s help through the Holy Spirit, we can train ourselves to just say words that are helpful to those who hear.

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you." 
John 14:26

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on John 4:43-54 and James 3:2-11 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: Do you struggle with consistently being gentle and encouraging in words? How can Jesus help you with this every day?

Conversation with the Lord: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you that you have given us the Holy Spirit who could help us be gentle and encouraging to others in both words and deeds. Help me become consistent on this so that I could spread your love to my family and to everyone around me. Amen.

The post Daily devotional: Life-giving appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, March 8, 2024 Solo Flight

"Instead of your shame you will have a double portion, And instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion. Therefore they will possess a double portion in their land, Everlasting joy will be theirs."
 Isaiah 61:7

There are times in our life when we feel like we are on a solo flight. When we suffer a loss of a loved one, when we feel abandoned and neglected, and when we feel like the weight of the world is on our shoulders. As mothers, it is easy to get overwhelmed. Whether we are working out of the home, or a housemom, we may often feel like we are going solo.

It is during these times that our Sovereign God reminds us that we are never alone. That in the times when we cannot physically see anyone helping us, encouraging us, and working with us, He is there to help us.

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Isaiah 41:10

Out of the 12 Tribes of Israel, only the Levites have no inheritance. They did not receive any land allotment when Moses apportioned the land according to the instructions of the Lord.

“The Levitical priests, all the tribe of Levi, shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel. They shall eat the Lord’s food offerings as their  inheritance. They shall have no inheritance among their brothers; the Lord is their inheritance, as he promised them." 
Deuteronomy 18:1-2

Even though the Levites play a great role in their society as they are priests, they do not physically have anything on their name as their property. The Lord provides for all of their needs by moving people to provide for them. As there are priests in every community Levites are distributed throughout the land occupied by all Israelites.

"All the holy contributions that the people of Israel present to the Lord I give to you, and to your sons and daughters with you, as a perpetual due. It is a covenant of salt forever before the Lord for you and for your offspring with you.” And the Lord said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the people of Israel." Numbers 18:19-20

Biblical scholars say that this is God’s way of setting the Levites apart — by allowing them to live lives that are fully dependent on the Lord. That whatever provisions they may have, they know that these are from God, and that these are all passing and should not be grasped upon.

More importantly though, the Lord gives Himself to them who fully depend on Him, as He assures them that He is their inheritance. St. Paul the Apostle’s second letter to the Corinthians captures the life of a follower who serves and stands to inherit Jesus Christ:

"known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything." 2 Corinthians 6:9-10

When we dedicate our lives to the Lord by living lives that honor Him, we may not have what others have. We may feel like we are on our own. But the Lord assures us that we are on for a greater reward in heaven which is an eternity with Him. When we feel like we have been forgotten because we are alone and feel like we lack everything, let us remember that like the Levites we are handpicked to serve Him and do His will. All we have to do is to put our full trust in Him and align to His will. By doing this, we will witness His hand in our lives, helping us endure challenges, and assuring us that we lack nothing.

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Numbers 18:1-24 and 2 Corinthians 6:4-10 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: Do you feel like you are alone and you lack a lot of things? How can knowing that God is your portion in life calm your soul?

Conversation with the Lord: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for assuring me that whenever I feel like I may have no worldly treasure, nor persons to lean on, I can always count on you to be there for me. Remind this truth to me my Lord, as I strive to walk in your ways. Amen. 

The post Daily devotional: Solo flight appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, March 7, 2024 The dark horse

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 
1 John 1:9

I remember being so excited about going to Wright Park each time we are in Baguio City. I have always enjoyed horse-back riding as a child and I remember always choosing the white horses. I never liked dark horses. Looking back now though, I better understood what the apparent idiomatic expression meant.

The Bible seems to feature stories of characters who have emerged as seeming Dark Horses that won the race of salvation. Like the idiom, nobody will expect a prostitute to be saved, but God does the impossible by saving someone like Rahab.

Rahab was a known prostitute in Jericho who put her life on the line and helped out the Israelites as they spied onto the Promised Land. Because of her reputation, her fellowmen did not know that she had been learning a lot about the God of Israelites hence when the spies approached her, she had been willing to assist and hide them. Apart from saving Rahab and her family, God used her mightily as she married someone from the Tribe of Judah and formed part of King David’s, and Jesus’ eventual lineage.

"So the young men who had done the spying went in and brought out Rahab, her father and mother, her brothers and sisters and all who belonged to her. They brought out her entire family and put them in a place outside the camp of Israel." 
Joshua 6:23

Another seeming Dark Horse is the Samaritan woman by the well. Apart from being a Samaritan (Israelites view Samaritans as enemies) she had five husbands, so we can already guess the kind of reputation she has. But our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ did not care about her homeland nor her past. Just like all of us, she was worth saving and so Jesus went out of His way and revealed Himself to her. He also used her mightily as she spread the news about Jesus to her fellow Samaritans:

"Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to Him, they urged Him to stay with them, and He stayed two days." 
John 4:39-40

One of the most popular Dark Horses in the Bible is Zacchaeus the Chief Tax Collector. Who would ever think that this guy, who had the reputation of being corrupt and a traitor to his fellow jews, would be saved by Jesus Himself? We all know the story, he came up a tree just to see Jesus, and our Messiah calls him by name and dines with him in his home. After getting saved, guess how the Lord used him? He was believed to become the first bishop of Caesarea.

"And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” 
Luke 19:8-10

But maybe one of the top three Dark Horses in the Bible (at least for me) is the thief on the cross. Imagine, he was a thief, and he had no chance to mend His ways and live a God-honoring life because like Jesus, he is also at the point of death. But because He believed that Jesus is the Messiah, and he repented from his sins, he was saved.

"One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him,saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” 
Luke 23:40-43

So what do these stories mean to us? Well, it means that it is never too late to accept Jesus as our Savior. It means that as long as we have accepted our brokenness, surrender our lives to Him and abide by Him, we are giving Him an opportunity to transform our lives. Let us not allow our sins to hinder us from coming to Jesus. He is God’s manifestation of love for us, and so with contrite hearts let us come to Him, seek His mercy, and start living lives that honor Him.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God," 
Ephesians 2:8

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on John 4:1-30 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: Do you feel like you are unlikely to be saved given your past transgressions and the life that you are living? How can the truth that God offers the gift of salvation transform your life?

Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, thank you for overlooking my sinfulness and offering to save me. Give me the confidence to fully surrender my life to you, and abide by you for always. Amen. 

The post Daily devotional: The dark horse appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, March 4, 2024 Time to go

"Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." 
Isaiah 46:4

When I was much younger, I strangely liked reading obituaries. I was fascinated about reading the ages of the people that died, their families that survived them, as well as other details and circumstances of their death and funeral arrangements.

The other day, we were discussing at home the different ways some biblical characters died. My eldest for one was fascinated about Prophet Elijah being picked up by Chariots of Fire towards heaven.

"And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more." 
2 Kings 2:11-12

Then I remembered Enoch, another Old Testament character just being taken away by God. Like Elijah, his body was never seen again.

"Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away." 
Genesis 5:24

For me though, Moses’ death seems to be the best way to go. At the age of 125 years old, his body and eyesight were strong enough to follow God’s command to climb up a mountain, and view the Promised Land. Moses died in that place too, and guess what? God personally buried him. And if Jewish tradition were to be believed, God was with three other angels when they buried Moses, and God took away his soul when he died.

"And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. He buried himin Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is." 
Deuteronomy 34:5-6

The next time that we heard about both Elijah and Moses was in the New Testament, during Jesus Christ’s transfiguration:

"There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus."
Matthew 17:2-3

Other famous biblical characters had less dramatic death, but still peaceful. Abraham and Isaac both died and were buried by their respective sons and the rest of their clans.

Then there are of course, horrific ways to die as recorded in the Bible. Like Lot’s wife who turned into a Pillar of Salt (Genesis 19:26), or that of the Korahites who were swallowed by the Earth after revolting from Moses (Numbers 16:31-33), or that of the sons of Aaron who were consumed by fire because of a wrong offering (Leviticus 10).

For us modern day followers of Jesus, the best way to die is when our hearts are at peace and we are confident that we will go to heaven. That we know in our hearts that our Lord and Savior has prepared a room for us in his Heavenly Kingdom. And that our confidence comes not from our righteousness, but because of the righteousness of Jesus Christ whom we surrendered our life to as our Personal Lord and Savior:

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." 
Ephesians 2:8-9 

So for us to have that peaceful death, we ought to work out our salvation while we are here on Earth. We should not be content with just being Christians, we should be genuine followers of Christ who has a REAL relationship with Him.

"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling," Philippians 2:12

Genuine relationship with the Lord comes with consistently spending time with Him, during daily prayers and bible reading. It also means intentionally growing our faith through weekly worship, and attending faith enrichment classes and fellowship with other believers. It also means helping others to be saved by spreading the gospel.

It is never too late to help ourselves have a peaceful death by getting our names in the Book of Life. And why not level it up further by aspiring to hear from our Lord that we did well in life as His good and faithful servant?

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Deuteronomy 34:1-8 and 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: Have you ever thought of how you would go? Are you confident of eternal life?

Conversation with the Lord: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for giving us a chance to work out our salvation. Give us the confidence to stay by your feet and build a personal relationship with you. Amen.

The post Daily devotional: Time to go appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, March 02, 2024
The pressure

"Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy." Proverbs 31:8-9

Peer pressure is a real concern when raising teenagers. As teenagers, friends and classmates are one of the foremost influences of older kids given that they are with them for the most part of the day. If they are with good friends, then their behavior would not change negatively, and their grades would not slide. However, when they are with less than good influences, the results will definitely show in the area of class output, general views in life, as well as overall conduct at school and at home.

If this is an area you struggle with as a mom, then it is best to learn about Reuben. Reuben is a bible character who stood for what is right despite the pressures of his brothers. Reuben is the eldest of the 12 sons of Jacob. During the time that all the brothers are trying to kill their youngest brother, Joseph, Reuben tries to come up with ways to save him.

"Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits.Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.”But when Reuben heard it, he rescued him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.” And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hand to restore him to his father." 
Genesis 37:20-22

But while Reuben was successful in foiling his brothers’ attempt to kill Joseph, he was unsuccessful in preventing his other brothers from selling him as a slave.

“When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he tore his clothes and returned to his brothers and said, “The boy is gone, and I, where shall I go?” Genesis 37:29-30

If we think about it there have been a lot of times that we have been in the same situation as Reuben. We have been pressured by others to engage in wrong behavior like rumor mongering, gossipping, judging, and even bullying others. We may have also been pressured to lie to our parents and teachers, overspend money, engage in substance abuse, and other worldly and unwholesome activities. 

This may have happened to us in school, the neighborhood, and even at the workplace. And our response to the pressure we felt before from our peers, should be our motivation on how we could protect our children from bad influences, and at the same time encourage them to stand up for what is right.

We can take the cue from St. Paul the Apostle who cautioned against fellowshipping with people with questionable morality:

"Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’ Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame." 1 Corinthians 15:33-34

If we were like Reuben, then it is good that we have resisted peer pressure. If however we succumbed to it, then now is the time to straighten our ways by educating our children to not respond the way we did. After all, our previous wrong decisions should not hinder us from trying our best to lead better lives, and raise children in Christ-likeness 

"And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Reuben is a bible character with flaws (Genesis 49:3-4), but one good thing he was known for is not being envious of his father’s love for Joseph and having sincere concern for his brother. We may not have a flawless past too, but it does not mean we can’t move on towards God’s best plans for us and our respective families.

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Genesis 37:3-11, and 18-36to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: Have you been in Reuben’s situation? How did you react to the peer pressure? Is there anything you want to change in how you react?

Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, protect me and my children from bad influences surrounding us. I pray that you give us the resolve to shun them, and stand up for what is right. We want to live a life that honors you. Amen.

The post Daily devotional: The pressure appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, March 1, 2024 The fountain

"'The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace."' Psalm 29:11

I have always been amazed with fountains. As a kid, I remember asking my dad how come the water flow does not seem to end, but at the same time it does not flow out of the fountain area?

Decades later, I came to realize that like the fountain, our God’s power and love is endless. His might is limitless, and He is everlasting. As followers of Jesus, we should take comfort in these truths and hold on to them especially during times we are helpless and hopeless.

"Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength." Isaiah 40:28-29

As mothers, we can find ourselves overwhelmed most days. We are swamped with chores, our schedules are jampacked, and if we work outside the home — our career also has separate demands that we have to juggle alongside our family life. Once met with unexpected incidents or occurrences, we tend to get rattled all the more.

Soon we could overflow — overflow with physical tiredness and get burnt out; overflow with resentments for people we want to count on but did not measure up to our expectations; overflow with guilt for not being a good enough mother; and overflow with stress and even misplaced anger.

When we hit this wall, we should remind ourselves that there is a fountain of power and love that could carry us through these overwhelming times:

"'And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.'" 2 Corinthians 12:9

To tap onto this source of strength, we have to empty ourselves in front of Him. We should take our own overflowing cup of self-sufficiency, pride and resentments, and empty its contents before His holy presence.

We can do this by asking for His forgiveness for our sins, and for chasing things that do not really matter in the end. By recognizing our own sinfulness and spiritual poverty, we are giving the Lord the opportunity to fill us up with His goodness, mercy, and love.

This is exactly what King David did after he realized the gravity of the sins he had committed when he committed adultery with his soldier’s wife, Bathsheba. In Psalm 51, King David surrendered his repentant and sorrowful heart to the Lord, asked for His forgiveness and vowed to rise up again and proclaim God’s words to.

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a rightspirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you." 
Psalm 51:10-13

So once we have come to Jesus and accept Him as our personal Lord and Savior, we should follow through by nurturing that special relationship with Him. We should consciously start our days with Him, prioritizing quiet time with Him and reading His words. We should fill our lives with His voice by consuming media content that honor biblical values, instead of mindlessly scrolling digital garbage that slowly wreck our lives. We should devote time to worship Him, and be doers of His words. 

Once we accept that only through Him will we have real strength and peace, we could overcome the challenges that form part of our Christian journey.

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Isaiah 40:27-31 and Psalm 51to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: Where do you draw strength from especially when faced with difficulties?

Conversation with the Lord: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for being the constant and unlimited source of my strength. Empower me to do your will in my life, so I could worship you and live a life that is pleasing to you. Amen.

The post Daily devotional: The fountain appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, February 28, 2024 The cheerleader

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." 
1 Thessalonians 5:11

One of the highlights of any opening program of a sporting event is the cheerdancing. Be it a professional league like basketball or football associations, or school-based sports competitions, cheerleading squad routines will always be a considered a traditional part of the opening event.

Cheerleaders though are important even beyond the opening program as they provide encouragement for each of their teams. In basketball games, they cheer on every goal and possession, and in defense they inject energy through their chants so that their players can get on to their defensive strategies.

As followers of Jesus and mothers of the children the Lord has entrusted to us, we are also being called to be cheerleaders of our kids. We should be the primary source of encouragement of the children as they go through their everyday lives.

They say that as the children grow older, we transform to being an instructor to coach. As they mature and develop their individual character, they no longer need specific instructions on how to live their lives, but they need us as their parents to provide guidance and tell them the possible options they can take towards their pursuits.

But one role we moms should never grow out of is being their lifetime number one cheerleader. We should boost their morale when they are three, when they are 30, and if God-willing, even when they are 53. Children need a constant source of positive encouragement, and as parents we should take on this role regardless of their age.

The same principle applies to what St. Paul the Apostle said to the early church family, as he urged them to be there for each other and movitabe one another to do good works:

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:24-25

One of the best examples of positive encouragement in the Bible is Moses, towards his successor Joshua. When he was about to pass on his baton of leadership to Joshua, Moses repeatedly motivated him, telling him that he can do it with God leading him.

"Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

A supportive father figure in the bible is Zebedee, the father of disciples John and James. When Jesus called on his sons to follow him, Zebedee did not derail them from being with Jesus, even if he will be left alone doing their fishing business.

"And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him." 
Mark 1:19-20

When we encourage our children to be the best they can be, we do not only help them achieve their best potential, we also prepare them for God’s best plans for their lives. We should take the cue from St. Paul the Apostle who, in his letter to the Corinthian Church, urged early Christians to focus on their work at hand, and align their will to that of the Lord’s.

"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 
1 Corinthians 15:58

At the end of the day, we should remember in our hearts, and make our kids know it too, that the best encouragement comes from the Lord. Our strength, skills, and whatever talents we may have are all His gifts to us. When we love each other enough to encourage them to use these gifts to honor God, we get to answer the Lord’s call for each of us to spur each other into doing good deeds.

"May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." 
Romans 15:5-6

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Psalm 121 and 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: Are you your child’s number one cheerleader?

Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me the opportunity to be present in each of my children’s lives. Allow me please to become their number one cheerleader and  constant source of encouragement, so that they could succeed in things that really matter and are aligned to your will and purpose for their lives. Amen.

The post Daily devotional: The cheerleader appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, February 24, 2024 Speed bumps

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." 
Matthew 6:33-34

Speed bumps or ondulations are meant to remind drivers to slow down. Apart from ensuring the safety of other motorists and pedestrians who are also using the road, the humps are made to help the driver and his passengers stay safe. It reminds all the commuters of road rules, and physically prompts drivers in case they forget to reduce their speed.

As followers of Jesus, there is much benefit for us if we slow down. Aptly described as a rat race, our lives could easily become a never ending cycle of running here and there until we wear out our bodies, hearts, and minds. When we slow down and intentionally unbusy our lives, we become more conscious of the power of God in our lives:

"The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever." 
1 John 2:17

Chasing after power, pleasure, and possessions makes us run endlessly for nothing. Like hamsters treading a hamster wheel, we end up nowhere, but we become too tired and stressed out. But most of us are helpless since we have been influenced by what the world tells us that we need.
In the Book of Wisdom, King Solomon warned about vainly chasing after things that our hands can hold.

"He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes?" 
Ecclesiastes 5:10-11

So as moms how do we slow down? Do we ever have the luxury of unbusying ourselves? Well, if you are a follower of Jesus, you can. First, we should know our priorities. If our priorities are to raise our children in Christlikeness and put Jesus at the center of our family life, then seeking Him should be our number one goal each day.

So with the many things that we NEED to do, how do we make time to pray, read the bible, reflect, join bible study groups, and worship the Lord? Well, we can find time for the things we really want to do. If we know our priorities, and our desires are aligned with it, then we CAN MAKE time to nurture an intimate relationship with the Lord. We can rise earlier, or sleep a little later, we can set a special time.

If we think we do not have the time, we can lessen the instances when we mindlessly scroll social media, and allot that time for prayer and bible reading. If we do not have time because we need to do a side hustle to augment our budget, then maybe we can lessen that hustle time by rethinking our budget. It is not easy, but if you sit down to check your expenses, and where each of it goes, then you will realise that some go towards unworthy endeavors including unhealthy consumption habits.

We spend so much money on unhealthy food, we spend so much time and money on things that are not good for our minds, and as they say “we do and buy things we do not even need to impress people we do not even like.” Lowering our lifestyle expenses could mean we no longer need to do a side job, and be super busy.

When we slow down as moms, we get to have the time to spend with God, and that will certainly help us build a better character. It will make us happier to answer to our calling to parent and disciple the children God has entrusted to us. All we have to do is to follow Jesus’ example of solely depending on the Heavenly Father for guidance, spiritual comfort, and everyday needs.

"And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed." 
Mark 1:35

When we slow down, we feel God’s love all the more. As moms, we will get to relish His abiding presence in our lives, and thank Him for His gift of a front row seat in the lives of our children.

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Matthew 19:21-34 and Ecclesiastes 5:10-20 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: Is there a need for you to slow down so that you can enjoy God’s blessing to you and your family?

Conversation with the Lord: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for setting an example for us to slow down and fill ourselves up with your love, grace, mercy and power. I acknowledge that apart from you I cannot do anything. Amen.

The post Daily devotional: Speed bumps appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, Feb 22, 2024 Blind Massage

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3

My good friend Jasmin introduced me to blind massage many years ago. One afternoon, we went to this massage center where all the masseuses are either fully or partially blind. We booked an appointment. I was surprised that even though they cannot see my shoulders and back, they seem to know where the tired muscles are, and were experts at relieving aches and pains.

I then remembered what St. Paul the Apostle said. In his letter to the Philippians, he encouraged early Christians to focus on their goals in Christ, and not let challenges hinder them from attaining their prize.

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12-14

And as I looked back to that afternoon with my friend, I realised that the masseuses there did not allow their handicap to keep them from decently earning a living. Instead, they used it to be more sensitive towards meeting the needs of their customers. No matter the challenges they have, they were successful in allowing their clients to relax and destress.

Unlike the blind therapists, we have a perfect vision that should have supposedly allowed us to move on from our past. But sometimes we get stuck in it. Sometimes we also become frozen because of fear for our future. But God calls us to lay the past behind, leave the future to Him, and take hold of the present time we are in.

We can never seek Him by thinking of the good or the bad things that happened in our lives, nor could we live out His plans for us by obsessing over what could happen in the future. We must live in the present, and fix our gaze on Jesus so that we could tread past the difficulties we could meet in our journey:

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." 
Hebrews 12:1-2

To move forward, our Lord and Savior does not ask us to trust Him blindly as we go through life. All He asks of us is to never forget his faithfulness to us through the past challenges He delivered us from. Yes, even during the times we were disobedient to Him and we did not deserve His love. These instances should encourage us to move forward and embrace the challenges, because we know that even if we fall, we have a God who will never leave us and will carry us through.

"Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps covenant and mercy with them who love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations." 
Deuteronomy 7:9

So what is our goal? As followers of Jesus our main goal is to live like Him and encourage others to do the same. As moms, this means that we should emulate Jesus Christ’s character in shepherding our children, and raise them in Christlikeness. That we do not let our financial, marital, physical difficulties, and past sinfulness hinder us from bringing ourselves and our families to the Lord. That we will continue to press on no matter how hard it is to follow His example. And we will do this because we know that walking with the Lord in this lifetime, and living in eternity with Him is the prize that awaits us.

"And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you." 
1 Peter 5:10

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Philippians 3:10-16 and Hebrews 12:1-3 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: What keeps you from fixing your eyes on Jesus?

Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, thank you for your faithfulness. May you strengthen me enough to not let our challenges hinder me from following you. And that I will remain focused on you so I could live a life that glorifies you. Amen.

The post Daily devotional: Blind Massage appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, Feb 8, 2024 Highway of Blessing

"The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it." Proverbs 10:22

Many years ago as a student driver, I got really clammy whenever my Driving Instructor took me to the big highways. I was intimidated by the wide multi-lane roads that had big intersections, stop signs, and pedestrian lanes. Fast forward as a Christian Mom, I realize that highways can be likened to paths of blessings the Lord makes available for all of us.

If we are only brave enough to get out of the small roads that are easier to negotiate (i.e. our comfort zones), carry our crosses and follow Him, the Lord will be more than willing to bless us. He will give us a blessing of peace that will make us live our lives to the fullest, valuing only what truly matters.

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." 
Psalm 37:4

The blessing however should not end with us. We can be a highway of blessing to others. We can be a blessing for both our fellow believers, and for those who have yet to know Jesus.

We can make for them a diversion road to share the blessings that we receive from the Lord. We do not have to hoard all the material possessions that we have. And as most church leaders say, we have two hands so that we can use one to receive, and the other to give.

"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace." 
1 Peter 4:10

We can likewise be an expressway to the faith of others who have yet to know Jesus. By using the time, talent and treasure initially bestowed upon us by the Lord, we can introduce Jesus Christ to those who have yet to hear about His saving grace and mercy.

Think hard right now and come up with two to three names from your social circle who may not yet know Jesus, but truly, truly need Him in their lives? Make a concrete plan to invite them to a simple snack, or coffee, or lunch and then share the gospel with them. Or better yet BRING them to church. Bring because, bringing is  taking a bold step of faith in introducing Jesus to someone, while inviting leaves a lot of room for hesitation. Be bold, and you might just send your friend to God’s expressway of grace and mercy.

"And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also." 
2 Timothy 2:2

We can also be God’s highway of blessing by bridging the gap between other people. Let us not think twice about being the peacemaker in our family, place of work, church, and social circles. Let us take it upon ourselves to patch up potholes and deep excavations of hurts in other people’s relationships. Be a highway of blessing to them by bridging them together and giving them the gift of peace.  

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." 
Matthew 5:9

Let us also be a highway of God’s blessings by providing an alternate route for those who have succumbed to the pleasures of this world. Let us boldly introduce Jesus to them and show them another way of life. A life that shines Jesus light, love, peace and mercy.

We do not have to pressure the hardened ones by insisting that they listen to our gospel sharing. If it feels like they are not interested then we should not give up and instead show them kindness, and be a shining example of how it is to live a life devoted to Jesus.

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16

As Christians we should never be roadblocks in the faith walk of other people. We should never create enmity and strife through gossiping or talking about the prayer requests of our brothers and sisters in faith. Instead, we should intentionally pave the way for them to continue with their faith walk, and let others who still have yet to develop a relationship with Jesus, be inspired to pursue Him today.

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Philippians 2:1-11to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question:  Are you a highway of God’s blessing to others?

Conversation with the Lord: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for building highways upon highways of blessing just to reach me. Give me the confidence to be bold in proclaiming my faith, so that I too could be a highway of blessing to others. Amen.

The post Daily devotional: Highway of blessings appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, February 7, 2024 Food Boxes

"But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect," 1 Peter 3:15

Part of my daily chore and one of the joys of my day-to-day existence is preparing snack boxes for my three children. Yes, I take pleasure in planning and preparing their recess food even if I am not an excellent bento maker. In any case, one time as I packed my eldest kid’s food boxes for her excursion I got to thinking, what else did I give her that will meet her needs for the rest of the day?

The answer that popped in my mind was Jesus. No, I did not put a bible verse cue card in there (which I sometimes put in their lunch boxes randomly) but the real Lord Jesus in her heart. As Christian moms, we can make opportunities for our children to draw near to God. We can expose them to a loving church community that will teach them more about Jesus. And as parents, we ultimately should take it upon ourselves to plant the seeds of faith in their heart. The Bible was clear in telling us how we should raise our children

"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." Deuteronomy 6: 5-7

There are two significant parenting lessons and truths that I have learned, and now aim to work on as I raise my kids. First is that our main goal as parents is to raise our children in Christlikeness. The second, I heard from Pastor Craig Groeschel who said (not verbatim, but as I remember) that as our children grow, we should transfer their dependence on us towards total dependence on God.

As they grow into adulthood, our children naturally become independent from us. We however do not want them to be independent from God. We want them to live just like us, who are totally dependent on the Lord.

"As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him." 
Psalm 103:13

By raising our kids to be fully dependent on God, we will have the confidence to let them fly out of our nest. We will have that peace in our hearts as parents that our children will remain safe from the consequences of sin because they will try their best to veer away from it.

We will also have the conviction that they can handle the challenges because we have taught them to pray and when they pray our Lord will listen and comfort them. That they may make mistakes but because of the seed of faith we planted on them, they know that they can come back to the Lord, repent, and be redeemed and restart living a good life. That they do not just have us as a family, but they also have their church family to rejoice and weep with at all times.

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it" 
Proverbs 22:6

So how do we raise our kids to be dependent on God? Well, the best way is by being a good example. As they say, children will not do what you tell them, but they will do what they see in you. So if they witness that you are fully dependent on God, and you manifest the values of a Godly parent, then most likely your child will follow in your footsteps.

"Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." 
1 Timothy 4:12

Next way is to expose them to a life of prayer. Being fully dependent on God means God is in the center of your family. When He is in the center of your family, that means you are living a life of prayer, and Sunday church is a default activity. Teach your children to pray, and pray as a family no matter how long it gets for the little ones to say what they want to say to the Lord. Just get everyone into the habit of praying to Jesus.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." 
Proverbs 3:5-6

Another step to take is to expose the children to the lessons of the Bible. Older kids and teenagers may not be as voracious bible readers as adults but that does not mean you cannot share bible stories and lessons to them.

We can easily relate stories to them by making it a habit to share what we have read in our daily bible reading. We can of course word it and explain it to them in a way they would understand. For older kids, we can share our realization and possible life application of the bible story we have read.

Let us normalize talking about Jesus in our home. If you haven’t started doing this yet, I promise that if you keep up the habit, then it will not sound awkward anymore in a couple of weeks.

“But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4

We can also make the children consume Christian content. This world is just so filled with digital content that is opposed to biblical values. To counter these, we parents can encourage our children to listen and watch shows and songs that uphold gospel values.

To make them interested, allow the kids to see you consuming the same content too. If they observe that you enjoy watching Christian content, they might just get curious. Moreso if you watch with them, read with them, and then play (or blast) praise music in your house or car, then it will just be the normal media content that they will get used to. 

"I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." 
Psalm 119:11

As parents we can only do so much in preparing our kids for the real world. We can give them a trust fund, a good education, a property, and even nice things but if we cannot give them Jesus, they will miss out on God’s best plans for their life.

When the kids grow up living separately from the Lord, they will not be able to live life to the fullest. They may fall into sin and waywardness, they may get into the wrong crowd, and when they fail they may easily fall into depression. The worst thing is, what if we are too old to help or have passed on already?

So if we act now (if we haven’t yet) we can have the confidence that God will work in their lives. And of course, we can take heart, that no matter how much love we have for our children, we can never outlove our Heavenly Father in terms of caring, doting, protecting and providing for our little ones.

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Deuteronomy 6:5-9  and Psalm 121 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: Have you planted seeds of faith in your children?

Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, empower me to plant seeds of faith on my children so that they can live life in your presence. Teach me to raise them in Christlikeness, so that they could live lives that are glorifying to you. Amen.

The post Daily devotional: Food boxes appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, February 02, 2024 Behind the Scenes

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose" 
Romans 8:28

One of the usual promotional videos for films that are being launched are snippets of behind-the-scenes footage of the movie. It shows outtakes, rehearsals and coaching, and even bloopers. Whatever the BTS footage may include, its underlying message is how the actors and the crew worked hard during the whole filming process. 

Our life is full of BTS moments too. We may never understand why things happen, and who times everything that occurs in our lives but once we acknowledge that there is a higher power, we can calmly collect ourselves amid triumphs and tragedies.

"For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together." Colossians 1:16-17

In our Christian walk, we should always make sure that our BTS moments are solely and fully directed by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He should be our guide, and He should be the reason behind everything that we do. In his epistle, James the brother of Jesus assured early Christians that God will not think twice about directing the steps of a faithful person seeking for His guidance.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind." 
James 1:5-6

And as we shine His light on others, may we, too, be modest enough to blend in the background. We must make sure that it is His name and power that gets exalted and not ours. For instance, in our personal ministry or our efforts to propagate the Gospel, we have to be conscious to give all the glory to Him. We should not get tempted to uplift ourselves and share His spotlight.

"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven." 
Matthew 6:1

So instead of posting an Instagrammable bible study photo of your bible, your coffee, and your journal, why not go BTS and be a good example of a bible-studying Christian? Join a bible study group and be committed to join each meeting. Invite friends to join the bible study and lead them quietly to the Lord.

Form your own bible study group from your other social circles. If you cannot be the leader yet, invite someone who can teach your group. Make sure to equip yourself too by joining church seminars and reading more, so that in time you can lead the study group yourself too. You can also form a group of children in your neighborhood or social circle and teach them bible stories every weekend.

More importantly, abide in His words. Everything you have learned about Him and His commands, live out in your life. You do not have to post everything in your feed, you can go behind the scenes, and just do everything for Christ.

"But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." 
1 Timothy 6:11-12

When people start to see Jesus’ light in your eyes, you can effectively communicate His message. Such will be more compelling than a heavily shared and liked social media post because with your actions, people can see concrete evidence of how Jesus can transform lives.

Let your life be that message of grace to people who have yet to surrender themselves to Jesus. Allow your loved ones and everyone you meet to experience the forgiveness, redemption, love and peace that only our Savior can give.

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Matthew 6:1-4 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: How do you share Jesus to others?

Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father we praise and thank you for your goodness and love. From working behind the scenes in our lives, and for being a good example for all of us. That as we strive to share knowledge about you to others, we should follow your example of humility and exalt your name, power and glory alone. Amen.

The post Daily devotional: Behind the scenes appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, February 01, 2024 Lessons from the laundry

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" 
2 Corinthians 5:17 

As moms, laundry is a part of our daily lives. Homemaking experts say we should deal with it everyday so that it will not pile up on us and make us overwhelmed. Whether it is dirty laundry, laundry that needs to be unloaded from the washer or dryer, or laundry meant to be folded and put away, this chore is part of our lives and daily existence as moms.

And as I look at the pile before me, I cant help but reflect on how tackling the chore can be similar to our faith journey. Having said that I hope you could allow me to share with you today my realizations, and how it can be related to our lives as followers of Jesus:

1. Separating clothes based from their colors. One of the most important thing to remember when washing clothes is to separate the whites from the light colored, colored, and dark-colored clothes. If we mix them altogether in one load, chances are the colors will bleed, and the whites will no longer be as white as they should be.

It is the same thing with our Christian life. We need to separate ourselves from sin. We should consciously set ourselves apart for the Lord. We need to part ways with habits and people that keep us from fellow-shipping with God. When we become conscious about the fact that we are sinful, and we have company and habits that lead us all the more to waywardness, we can better avoid instances of sin.

"Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” 1 Corinthians 15:33

2. There are two kinds of white clothes. We also have to separate the really white, whites from those that do not have any print or pattern at all. We also have to wash them separately from those that have bold patterns or have been a bit yellowish through time. Washing all kinds of white altogether can affect the color of the really white clothes.

Same thing in life. When we try to move towards God, we will physically interact with those who are already long-time believers. Since we see them as “clean” especially when compared to us, we might feel insecure and shy away. We might even see ourselves unworthy to be part of such a community.

But God tells us that we are part of it, He wants us to be part of His body – the church, and so we can enjoy the community and start living the faith. As St. Paul the Apostle puts it in his letter to the Roman Church, salvation is available to everyone who believes in Christ.

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." 
Romans 1:16

3. We have to treat the soiled clothes separately before including them in the wash. Stained clothes need to be treated with bleach, peroxide, or whatever type of cleaning solution that will remove the mark. If we do not treat the dirt, it can seep into the clothes even more, and worse, it could stain other clothes as well. If we put the bleach or other stain removers to the full load, its stain removing ingredient can damage the other clothes that are not even soiled. Hence, super-soiled clothes need to be treated separately, usually through hand-washing, brushing, and even exposing it under the sun.

The same is true when we are trying to turn away from sin and live a life that is glorifying to the Lord. Our God will humble us by separating us from sinning, and removing our “stains” by eliminating circumstances that keep us from totally depending on Him.

And while it may be a painful process, we can rest in the Lord’s mercy and grace. We are being “hand-washed” by the Lord, and so we are assured that amid the difficulties of turning away from our sinful lives and living its consequences, we will still be lovingly cared for by the Lord.

Once we have endured, and surrendered our lives to Jesus by keeping His word and walking in His ways, God will no longer see our “stain” because Christ’s righteousness will be imputed on us.

"For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” 
Hebrews 4:15-16

Like clothes that smell and look new after a good washing, we too can be renewed by our Savior and Redeemer, our Lord Jesus Christ. All we have to do is to repent from our sins, obey His commands, and nourish a close and loving relationship with Him. When we open our eyes to His goodness, look back to His faithfulness in our otherwise stained lives, we can look forward to a faith-filled existence. Whose hope and joy are anchored in the mighty promises of our one true, God.

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on 1 Peter 1:1-9 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: Do you let your sins pile-up like a dirty laundry? Is your guilt keeping you from drawing near the LORD?

Conversation with the Lord: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for being the merciful God that you are For giving me the chance to draw near you and be a part of your people. I love you and please inspire in me the will to turn away from sins so that I can dwell in your presence for always. Amen.

The post Daily devotional: Lessons from the laundry appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, January 29, 2023 Faith-filled flashbacks

"He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart." 
Psalm 91:4

I am from the generation that relied on betamax and VHS rewinders. The TV I grew up watching did not come with a remote that had a rewind button. If I wanted to see or hear again what the show host had to say, I had no option to rewind it, and there is no way I could ever see it again unless there is a replay telecast of that show.

Today’s generation is more fortunate on the matter. They can afford to not pay attention too much to what the weather guy is saying because if it concerns them and they missed it, they can just rewind it and listen to what has been said.

As Christians, we are being encouraged to use that rewind button in our minds whenever we feel daunted and overwhelmed with the challenges we are facing. We are asked to remember God’s faithfulness in our lives that brought us to where we are now.

Moses called on his people to not succumb to fear when faced with adversaries. And his often advice to them is to look back into the times God has carried them through as a people. The following passage from the Book of Deuteronomy, is one of the instances he encouraged the Israelites to remember God’s faithfulness:

"But do not be afraid of them; remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt. You saw with your own eyes the great trials, the signs and wonders, the mighty hand and outstretched arm, with which the Lord your God brought you out. The Lord your God will do the same to all the peoples you now fear." Deuteronomy 7:18-19

In the New Testament, St. Paul likewise encouraged the Hebrews to take heart because God in Jesus Christ is unchanging. If He is benevolent then, He will continue to be that immutable and benevolent God that He is. That we can trust that He will deliver us today as He has delivered us in the past:

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" 
Hebrews 13:8

When our fears paralyze us, we should always remember that our God is a covenant-keeping God. He does not change His mind. He will go through deep waters with us. The only time He reconsiders his past pronouncements is when we ask for mercy for our sins and we change our ways.

"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

And if there is anything that our Lord forgets, it is our iniquities once have asked Him for forgiveness, and repented from them. He blots it all out, He casts it behind His back, and makes us a brand new person ready for the good plans He has long in store for us:

“I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins." 
Isaiah 43:25

So when we feel like we are so weak, that we succumb to our fears, worries and anxieties, all we need to do is to look back. Watch a flash back of the goodness of God in our lives. Let it strengthen you, let it make you feel confident that you can endure and that He will never leave your side.

Remember the times He has rescued you from the crises you have faced, the emergencies you have been involved in, from the sins you have been chained to. He will never change, and we can always claim this promise for always.

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on  Deuteronomy 7:17-25 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: Are you facing challenges you think you cannot handle? How can remembering the Lord’s goodness to you and your family keep you strong?

Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, thank you for always being faithful to me in spite of my failures, weaknesses, and doubts. Help me remember everything you have done for me before so that I could face my present challenges, in a way that honors you. Amen.

The post Daily devotional: Faith-filled flashbacks appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, January 26, 2024 Serious plan

"Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path." Psalm 119:105

One month has almost passed in this brand new year, and for us moms who have resolved to read the Bible daily, may I ask how things are so far? If you answered yes, and you are on it day after day, then congratulations, and may you continue the habit.
For those who have yet to fully commit to reading The Word everyday, then this devotional entry may be helpful for you. Today, we will deviate from our usual devotional format and take a look at what can help us develop a habit of reading God’s word daily.

Of course the first way for us to get into the habit is to have conviction. We have to know why we want to read the Bible everyday. Once we have pinned down our reasons, which are hopefully to Worship God, get to know Him more, nourish a personal relationship with Him, and be a better Christ follower — then we can get ahead with developing the habit.

"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17

So first, we have to set a place and time on when and where we will do our Bible reading. As moms, we can do it first thing in the morning (before everyone is awake), or at the middle of the morning when the kids are already in school and the baby is napping. We also have the option of reading at nighttime after everyone is in bed. The duration of reading is up to you. There are days that you can read a whole chapter, then there are days you can read more or less.

Regardless of your chosen Bible reading schedule we have to make sure that we set this time apart, and dedicate it solely for Bible reading. Of course it may not be cast in stone for all the days of our lives because there could be emergencies or unforeseen circumstances but, if we know that such time is alloted for Bible reading then most likely we will be accountable to ourselves.

"With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." 
Psalm 119:10-11

Next, we have to set apart a location for our bible reading time. We can either  do it on our home office, our kitchen table, our veranda, or even in our favorite chair in the living room. What is important is we have a nook for reading and we will go to this nook every single day to read God’s word.

We also have to get a permanent Bible that we will use for our daily reading. What does this mean? This is a hardcopy of a version that we fully are comfortable with, and that we fully understand. For instance some people like the King James Version while others find the old english wordings a bit hard to understand. Others like the English Standard Version, while others got used to the NIV or New International Version. Whatever version you like, just stick to it, and make sure, the copy will be available to you each and everyday that you read.

"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope." 
Romans 15:4

You may also want to get a pen, a little journal notebook, a highlighter, and some bookmarks. These extra supplies are not meant to beautify a picture spread that you may want to post on Instagram. Instead, it is meant to help you with your note-taking, and in case you want to go back to some passage next time, or if you want to clarify something.

Next step is to have a Bible Reading Plan. No, this is not something that is rocket science or deeply theological. It only means that you have to have a schedule on what you want to read, and how much you will be reading.

For instance you can use devotional books or apps that share different stories plus reflections, and then suggest passages to read (just like this devotional series). You can also start by choosing a book in the Bible. For instance you want to know more about Jesus then try reading the four gospel books first, like the Books of Matthew, Luke, Mark and John.

If you would like biblical guidance on practical things then start with the Letter of James, and the Letters of Peter. For life lessons, then you may want to begin with the Book of Proverbs or Ecclesiastes. For reflections, then you may want to read the Book of Psalms.

"For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

If you are into chronological reading then, you may want to have a one-year Bible reading plan which can guide you with the passages to read so that you can completely read the Bible in one year. There are downloadable apps for this, or there are flyers usually given for free in churches and Christian bookstores.

Once you have the reading plan, then you can now start reading your bible daily. Start by praying — asking God for guidance so that you can understand His Word, apply it to your everyday life, and glorify Him.

After reading, you can also consult Bible commentaries written by renowned biblical scholars so that you can gain a deeper understanding of the passage you have just read. Make notes, highlight passages that speak to you, and share to your children what you have just read and learned.

Stick to your plan for the next six weeks, unrelenting every single day, and witness yourself get into the habit of reading your Bible. Always remember that your sincere heart to worship, love, and know Jesus Christ will power your mind and body to show up in your reading nook everyday.   

"Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." 
Joshua 1:8

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on  2 Timothy 3:16-17 and 1 Peter 1:13-25 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question:  Have you gotten into your bible-reading habit?

Conversation with the Lord: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for giving us Your Word. It guides us, nourishes us, and blesses us each and everyday. Grant me Lord the strength of mind and heart to stay disciplined and committed to know you more so that I can be a better follower to you. Amen

The post Daily devotional: Serious Plan appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, January 24, 2024 Sins of the mind

"For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander." 
Matthew 15:19

My favorite bible teacher always says that the Christian life is a supernatural life. That without Jesus Christ in our midst, it would really be very hard to follow the Ten Commandments. Then I started thinking, most of the people I know, I think, follow it closely: they do not kill, steal, commit adultery, they worship the Lord with all their hearts and they honor their parents and all. Most of them are very honest too.

Until I heard the second part of his teaching where he discussed the sins of the mind. The sins that we cannot see someone committing. The sins we can commit without no one — except God — will notice.
In the New Testament for instance, Jesus himself mentioned that when we hate another person, we are already disobeying the commandment against murder.

"But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brotherwill be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire." 
Matthew 5:22

Now anger is not always communicated or acted upon. But biblical scholars say, not committing the last step towards murdering a person by just wishing him dead instead, does not mean you did not break the said commandment.

Another sin of the mind which we have to be conscious of is adultery. In the same chapter in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus said that even if a man did not outrightly commit the act of adultery, he is guilty of it even just by looking with malice.

"But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Matthew 5:28

The same goes with covetousness. We actually do not need to physically act on this to commit the sin because it is literally committed in the mind. We commit it once we desire what others have, and focus on that desire. Such a mental state can move us to sin like stealing and even adultery.

The commandment to not bear false witness against a neighbor can also be committed with the mind. Yes, witnessing entails speaking, but even with just thinking, we get to commit such an act.

Bible scholars explain we also commit it when we are inappropriately silent about something. For instance, if someone is slandering or telling a tale about someone else, and we know the truth about it, and we refuse to speak about it for self-preservation purposes, then we commit such a sin too. We refuse to truthfully witness for someone’s good.

Given the above stringent rules, what are we to do so that we will not break these commandments even with our minds? In his letter to the Corinthian Church, St. Paul the Apostle encouraged people who might be tempted to sin to run to the Lord and pray for protection against temptation. He also encourages the believers to keep their eyes open to see another path that will take them away from the possibility of sinning.

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." 
1 Corinthians 10:13

And how about our minds? What are we to think of? How do we control our thoughts? Well, the Bible also has an answer to that. We should focus on the positive aspects of life, instead of other people’s bad traits, as well as negativity, covetousness, and anger.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:8

Moreover, we can avoid sinning by busying ourselves with our own lives. By pursuing a peaceful family life with the Lord Jesus Christ at its front and center. When we are not idle, when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, and we are preoccupied with doing good, we will be able to sin less.

"and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one." 
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on  Deuteronomy 5:17-21 and Matthew 5:21-30 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question:  Have you committed any sins of the mind? How can going to Jesus Christ help you not break such commandments?

Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us rules that keep us from hurting ourselves and other people. Help me to obey them with my mind, my heart, and my body. I cannot do it on my own, and I know that only you can guard my heart. Amen.

The post Daily devotional: Sins of the mind appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, January 23, 2024
Fruit loops

“Bitterness about your parents’ brokenness will kill you. Be the grace-filled end of generational sin in your family.”

John Piper

“Kung ano ang puno, siya rin ang bunga” (whatever the tree is, so is its fruit) is one Filipino proverb that holds almost the same meaning as the English sayings such as “like father, like son” and “the apple does not fall far from the tree.” Such play of words evoke that parents get to pass on traits to their children, hence they will have the same values be it negative or positive.

Another Filipino proverb close to this line of thinking is “ang Mangga hindi kailanman mamumunga ng Bayabas,” (Mango trees could never bear Guava fruit), which to my mind renders an offspring of a wayward person as utterly hopeless. Hopeless because he can never get out of that bad mold, that he is expected to be just as worse as his parents.

In the Bible, there are passages that allude to warnings that wicked ways of parents could cause them to get punished along with their children, grandchildren and further generations. One passage of which is from the Book of Exodus:

"The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.” 
Exodus 34:6-7

The same idea was again impressed in Numbers 14:18. Later on it was again repeated in Deuteronomy as part of Moses’ reiteration of the commandment against idolatry:

"You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me," 
Deuteronomy 5:9

As parents, the above-mentioned verses will make us more conscious about what we do with our lives as it may affect our children. It can also lead us to reflect on how our own parents’ behavior may have affected our life. Are we living a curse set upon our parents who have been disobedient or idolatrous? Are we burdening our children with our sins?

Biblical scholars though say that the punishment towards succeeding generations pertain to the sin of idol worship. Such behavior, they say, is usually passed on to children.

For instance, in our present day, parents who worship money, pleasure, comfort, and fame (as opposed to worshipping and prioritizing God alone) unconsciously pass on the same values to their children. And when the children grow up loving the things of the world instead of growing up in Christlikeness, they too, will get to live a life apart from the Lord.

Like their parents, they will never get the peace and contentment reserved for those who lead a quiet and simple life of loving and proclaiming Jesus. It is a life of a never-ending cycle of sin.

If we are children of parents who have lived wayward lives because of worshipping Gods of money, sex, and power, we should take heart that there is hope for us. In the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel, it was said:

"The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him." 
Ezekiel 18:20

On the other hand, if we, as parents, have been wayward at some point, we should not fret as well because our God is a merciful God.

“But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live." 
Ezekiel 18:21-22

If we sincerely repent and mend our ways, our children will not be punished for our transgressions. When we turn our backs from sin, accept Jesus as our personal Lord and savior, and teach our them to follow Him, our whole family and succeeding obedient and faith-living generations will be blessed with the Lord’s peace:

"Just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.” 
Romans 5:18-19

Let us not wallow into depression because of our sins and failures, instead let us reach into God’s redeeming hand and offer of salvation. Likewise, let us not allow ourselves to become embittered by the failures and mistakes of our parents. We can rise up from the past, and start anew with our Lord Jesus Christ.

“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” 
Romans 6:4

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Ezekiel 18 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question:  Do you feel guilty of passing on negative traits to your children? Do you think you have also inherited negative traits from your parents? How can focusing on the Lord let you get past these sins?

Conversation with the Lord: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for redeeming me and giving me hope for the future. Thank you for assuring me that forgiveness is at hand and that I should not bear the iniquities of my forefathers, and my children will likewise not be punished for mine as long as I repent and raise them in Your likeness. I thank you for being the God of second chances, and for your mercy and love. Amen

The post Daily devotional: Fruit loops appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, January 19, 2024 The Fishbone

"For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too." 
2 Corinthians 1:5

One of the superstitious beliefs I grew up hearing is that a breech-born person can dislodge a fishbone stuck in the throat by massaging it. My dad is breech-born and so guess what? We always go to him whenever we have a “tinik in the lalamunan.” And I don’t know if that was just my imagination, or sheer luck, but I felt like the fishbone is dislodged each time.

Maybe it was the comfort of my Dad’s touch that somehow helped eliminate the discomfort brought about by the fishbone. Anyway, breech-born or not, my dad has always been my go-to person for comfort when I am in pain, when I feel ill. And with his loving gesture and gentle voice that assures me it will all be better soon, I indeed feel so much better no matter the pain.

And so when I lost my dad, I felt so alone and was scared to go through emotional and physical pain. Gone is my comforter. Gone is that one person I run to when I am both scared and scarred. But as my relationship with Jesus grew more intimately, I discovered that there is a comfort that is far beyond the best that I have experienced in my life.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." 
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are living in God’s presence, day by day you are enveloped in an unexplainable comfort that protects your heart from the weariness of both small and big challenges. A comfort that wraps you in peace, and fills all the void in your heart with contentment that brings joy in your life. Problems may still exist, but in your heart, grace abounds.

In his letter to the Philippians, St. Paul the Apostle encourages the believers to not worry and instead trust that the Lord will listen to them:

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." 
Philippians 4:6-7

That unfathomable peace is what true believers get as they entrust their lives to the Greatest Comforter of all. As we grow in faith and obedience, we will get to know God’s promises and treasure them in our hearts. We will remember each personal instance of faithfulness He has shown throughout our lives. We will know that he sees everything, listens to everything, and even holds our tears in his bottle. Treasuring these truths in our hearts will help us get through the inevitable trials we would have to endure in our lifetime.

And this is the exact same promise Jesus Christ said to His apostles to assure them that they are never alone in their faith walk:

"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you." 
John 14:16-17

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question:  Do you feel God’s comfort in your life?

Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, thank you for being our greatest comforter. Knowing that you are always with us allays our worries and fears, and give us hope that all things will work out for our good. Amen.

The post Daily devotional: The fishbone appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, January 18, 2024 Four new habits for a more joyful 2024

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

They say that habits are formed after six weeks, and if a person wants to develop a new one he has to do it consistently in the next one and a half months. Whether it is daily, bi-weekly, or 3x a week, what is important is that the new habit is done as intended week after week.

This 2024, you may want to try any (or all) of the four new habits suggested in our devotional. These habits could go hand-in-hand with your daily quiet time and prayer, and it could even enrich it.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

So without further ado, here are four new habits you may want to start this 2024:

1. Shower of praise. Start your morning right with your favorite praise and worship music. If you still do not have a Jesus playlist yet, then make one and listen to it in the morning. You can listen to it as you go about your morning routine — showering, getting ready, eating breakfast, and even during your morning drive.

I will never tire of telling moms that blasting praise music in the morning is effective even on young kids. It lessens their crankiness, and yours too! By hearing reminders of the awesomeness of our God, we can never go wrong in wanting to start our day right. 

“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.” Psalm 95:1-2

2. Promise reminders. Make cue cards or keep a small notebook that contain the Lord’s promises to you. When you encounter a bible passage that spoke to you during your quiet time / bible reading time, write it down in a special cue card and store it in a tin or even a fish bowl that you can access anytime. Or if you like writing in notebooks then do so. Post-its are cool for this purpose too.

If you are the crafty type then by all means use those happy gel pens and metallic mini markers and nice kraft paper. Use stickers, card stock, craft punchers and whatever decorative thing that will make you smile. As for me, I use some of my kids’ smaller artworks for this purpose.

When you feel down, or you need a happiness boost, just fish out one from your cue cards (or read a bunch of them) to remind you of the loving covenant our dear Creator has forged with us. It is like receiving a warm hug from Jesus.

"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

3. Faith walk or DWWJ. After lunch, we all have that small window time to take a walk or at least be somewhere quiet. Faith walks or Daily Walks With Jesus is another good habit to build that makes us aware of the divine presence of God in our daily life.

The walk does not need to be far, it could mean a short distance within your neighborhood, or maybe a 10-minute round in your roof deck? Just an area where you can see the horizon and enjoy the breeze. Well if you are the sporty type and you really run in the morning or afternoon, then convert that time to Jogging with Jesus.

During your walk or jog, you can talk to our Lord and Savior in your head much like how you would talk to a dear jogging buddy. No judgements, no holds-barred, just your thoughts. Just the happy and sad details of your day. When you get used to pouring out your thoughts to the Lord, you get to nourish an intimate connection with him. A conversation that is not just centered on your requests and complaints and problems, but a loving talk between you and your Heavenly Father.

"And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a desolate place, and there He prayed." Mark 1:35

4. Sheep of gratitude
When I was much younger, my mom told me to count sheep whenever I cannot fall asleep. Sometime ago, I watched this video of an American Neuropsychiatrist who tells his patients that whenever they have trouble sleeping they should try to remember all the things that made them happy that day. According to him, instead of mediating on the bad things that happened to them, or their fears, replaying the big and small things that made them smile that particular day can help them relax their minds.

For us Christians, this could be applied as counting all the blessings we have received for a particular day. From the simplest, like the smell of coffee wafting in the air in the morning, to breakthroughs like getting an answered prayer. When we are grateful, we tend to focus on the goodness of God and not on our own problems. So whether we are having trouble sleeping or not, thanking the Lord at night of everything that has  transpired that day, is a good habit that could help deepen our faith and foster peace in our lives.

"When I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me." 
Psalm 63:6-8

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Psalm 63 and Psalm 121 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question:  What present habits of yours bring you closer to God? Do you need to develop new habits to nourish a deeper relationship with Him?

Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, thank you for allowing us to seek you. We hope that we could continue living in your presence all the days of our lives. Amen.

The post Daily devotional: Four new habits for a more joyful 2024 appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, January 15, 2024 The Junk Drawer

"I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure." 
Psalm 16:8-9

Almost all of us have it in our homes. That drawer which holds odds and ends, receipts that may or may not mean something someday, random keys, loose change, pens, junk mail, and more. Things we think we will go back to sort someday, but usually, it just piles up until we forget about it. Some people take time to declutter it, while others just give up and reassign another junk drawer in the house.

In our Christian walk, we too have junk drawers in our lives. Maybe it is that part of our memory where we store thoughts, sentiments. emotions and reactions that we think are better shoved elsewhere. We choose not to deal with these right away because we think that we do not yet have the time, and the mental and physical energy to deal with them.

But just like the junk drawers in our house, thoughts and emotions in our spiritual junk drawer, should be regularly dealt with. We need to sort these out, discard battles we do not need to fight, dispose negative reactions that are misplaced, and treasure positive memories that merit a legitimate space in our hearts.

In his letter to the Philippian Church, St. Paul the Apostle reminded early Christians to focus on the positive. By training our minds to retain and meditate only what is good, we can have peace and contentment in our hearts.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:8

When we meditate on these things, we get to remind ourselves about what is truly important in our lives. We get to appreciate others more, and we get to encourage ourselves to follow such model. Intentionally reminding oneself of such virtues is the antithesis for anxiety and depression, which in opposite, focuses and continually meditates on sadness, grief, unfortunate events, regrets, worries, anger and fears.

So what are the possible examples of “stuff” in your spiritual junk drawer that you should clean out? Well these are the emotions that you suddenly feel when you remember something that is usually trivial and not-so-high impact in your daily life. It may be a small, random emotion but it could build up and cause you to say and do things subconsciously rooted to that unresolved emotion or feeling. Here are a few examples:

1. Unrequited friendship and love.

2. Over-extended grief over a loss of someone or something.

3. Thoughts of vengeance over a minor altercation or misunderstanding (grave anger is usually not in the spiritual junk drawer, it usually occupies the mind and soul everyday).

4. Covetous desire for a material object or experience (travel goals, shopping goals).

5. Unmet emotional and material needs rooted from childhood.

6. Unforgiveness.

7. Laundry list of one (or more) person’s offenses against you.

8. Disappointments over oneself and others

It is not easy to totally eliminate the emotions listed above. Most if not all of them are valid after all. However, since we do not get down and find time to sort these out, these may all just get bottled up and explode at one time.

For instance, do you remember a time you just blurted out the truth in anger on one person in your life because you have just been trying to be very patient with that person but she has crossed the line this time? That boil over is a classic example of a spiritual junk drawer that you can no longer close as it is way too filled to the brim. Overwhelmingly full spiritual junk drawers translate to overwhelming emotions.

To avoid tense situations that destroy our inner peace, we should keep in mind the Lord’s command to find joy in Him:

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." 
Philippians 4:4-7

When we declutter our spiritual junk drawers, and re-purpose it into a chest that holds the Lord’s words, truth, and promises, we tend to have a more joyful outlook towards life. Renowned British Evangelist Charles Spurgeon underscored that delighting in the Lord helps keep us in peace among ourselves and others:

“People who are very happy, especially those who are very happy in the Lord, are not apt either to give offense or to take offense. Their minds are so sweetly occupied with higher things, that they are not easily distracted by the little troubles which naturally arise among such imperfect creatures as we are. Joy in the Lord is the cure for all discord.”

Charles Spurgeon

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on  Philippians 4:1-9, and Psalm 33:1-12 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: hat is inside your spiritual junk drawer? Is it high time sort it out?

Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity to sort out my emotions and follow your lead. Give me the confidence to just surrender all my hurts, fears, unresolved issues, as well as anxiety to you, so that I could fully lean on your power and enjoy a peaceful life abiding in you. Amen.

The post Daily devotional: The junk drawer appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.