Showing posts with label coping with problems. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coping with problems. Show all posts

Monday, March 24, 2014

PASS THE MESSAGE


By Cherry Moriones Doromal
Nearly thirty years ago, we used to play a game called “Pass the Message” where the leader would whisper a message ( for instance:“supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”) to two contending team leaders who would each pass the message to the next person in his team, until the message reaches the last member of the team who would shout out the message. Other than the speed, the message to be passed and shouted out has to be correct and precise; otherwise it’s useless.

With my husband Wilson, taken a week ago
Exactly a year after I wrote my blogs entitled “Through the Strong Winds Part 1” and “Through the Strong Winds Part 2 (Learning from an Eagle in Pain)”, I realized that the very words I wrote were meant for me the same month and day a year after. The blogs disclosed the incredible strengths of an eagle, as well as the ironic unimaginable weakness and pain it suffers during the molting process where the supposed robust eagle becomes helpless, necessitating support from stronger eagles.

Recently, the eagle in me got into its molting stage, that one night, I was so anxious that I couldn’t even open my Bible, nor utter a prayer. It was at this fretful time that my husband sat beside me, opened “Our Daily Bread”, read for me God’s message, shared his insights, and led me into a prayer. Incidentally, the text was my life verse Isaiah 40:30-31 saying: "Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Then I remembered the previous blogs I mentioned above and read them once again. Here, I had a different appreciation of my writing. I felt like they were not authored by me and that the Lord was talking to me directly. 

God’s message is always clear. Though it comes in many forms—direct, indirect, Bible, life’s circumstances, through nature, through media, dreams, etc. -- it’s always timely, correct and precise. 

My husband and I regularly attend Sunday Worship with our children Zekie (12 years old) and Strong (8 years old). During the Sermon/ Message part, I noticed that my kids would grab their Iphone units and would concentrate on somewhat texting or gaming gesture. I called on my kids’ attention one time, and I was surprised that contrary to what I thought, they were not texting or playing. They were actually writing their own notes while listening to the Pastor’s message. It’s a moment of discovery that my kids, at their own level, can write well and fast, hahah… and more importantly, understand what’s being preached. Yesterday, I took shots of my 8-year old’s notes (as is, no edits!) which I would like to share with you:
Photo1 (Strong's Notes 3/23/2014)
Photo 2 (Strong's Notes 3/23/2014)
Photo3 (Strong's Notes 3/23/2014)


One significant lesson I learned in this life is that sometimes it takes silence to get to hear clearly what God says, and in all cases... “an open heart!” John 10:14 says, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me”, and verses 2 and 16 mention that the sheep recognize the voice of their shepherd. In the same way, when we listen to the Lord our Shepherd and follow His voice, we will never go wrong.

Like a child, may we listen to the words of our Father, all the days of our lives.

Hebrews 4:12 For the Word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.


Grabbed from Facebook (L-R):   Strong, Wilson, Me, Zekie
 

Click to Listen: A LOVE SONG FOR THE NATION Composed by: Cherry Moriones Doromal 


Previous Posts

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Through the Strong Winds (Part 1)



By:  Cherry Moriones-Doromal

Did it ever occur in your life that you were at your “happily ever after” moment when a sudden nightmare came to attack the scene? And worse, what you thought was a nightmare turned out to be real?

There are various nauseating truths in life which make us anxious; and every human being has his own share of sweet, rancid, bitter realities given in different dosages, stages and levels… by Destiny.

Isaiah 40:30-31 King James Version (KJV) say:
“Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

The above verses are two of my all-time Biblical favorites. And if I may share, in times of distress, I always see myself as an eagle, reminding me of the “Eagle Christian” teaching. 

Throughout the Bible, God compares Himself and His children to an eagle; and He safeguards, feeds and teaches His children as an eagle defends, feeds and teaches the eaglets. 

The word “eagle” is mentioned about 32 times in the Bible. God uses such metaphors and analogies to make us better understand spiritual things.


Are you an Eagle Christian?  

It has been observed that unlike other birds, the eagle is never shaken by the storm. In fact, it has a special ability to sense the impending storm before it comes... and so, the eagle is ready for it.

While ordinary birds run and hide from the storm, the eagle bravely flies right into the storm and utilizes its currents to rise and fly higher. In other words, eagles use the storm to reach higher places. The moment  an eagle finds the direction of the wind, it stops flapping its wings (time to rest!)  and uses the force of the raging storm to mount into the clouds and glide. 

An eagle Christian recognizes his authority though the Word of God, and is certain of his position (seated with Christ Jesus at the right hand of the Father) as a child of God. Hence, when trials come, he faces them boldly in prayer. His life is composed. 

EAGLE VS CHICKEN

What would you rather be? An eagle, or a chicken? 


Complacent Christians are like chickens who accept trials defenselessly, without the power to overcome them. Like chickens, their wings are infantile and they cannot fly. They may have heard of and recognize the Word of God theoretically in their minds, but they do not have an intimate relationship with God; therefore, incapable to apply the Biblical principles.

Investing our time in the Word and in prayer will enable us to know how to effectively fight and win spiritual battles.      

living in the Philippines