MikeLigalig.com

March 29, 2010 - THE WAITING IS THE HARDEST PART


The Waiting Is the Hardest Part

"Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children . . . so she said to Abram, 'The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her.' Abram agreed to what Sarai said" (Genesis 16:1–2).

And so Sarai took it upon herself to solve God's problem. After all, God told Sarai's husband, Abram, that he'd have a huge family, more descendants than there are stars in the sky (Genesis 15).

Sarai waited and waited for God to provide their first descendant, to answer her prayers, to make good on his promise--but the baby didn't come. Every day, the tension and the frustration mounted. As that great theologian and musician, Tom Petty, sings: "The waiting is the hardest part."

Like me--perhaps like you--Sarai began to wonder if God would ever answer her prayers or if he had forgotten about her. Perhaps--like you, like me--Sarai questioned whether God really knew what he was doing.

It appears Sarai's thoughts walked as far as her faith would carry her until she stood looking at the mountains of her fear. Did God understand how important this was to her? How could God deny her the greatest desire of her heart? Was God even on her side?

Even as Sarai acknowledged God's ability to fulfill the promise--"The LORD has kept me from having any children . . . "--she denied God's sovereignty to decide when the promise would be fulfilled.

If we could ask Sarai, "Can God?" she most likely would answer "Yes." If we then asked Sarai, "Will God?" her honest answer may have been "No."

When faced with a delayed answer, do you break with God? What does manipulating an answer to our prayers say about our belief in God's character?


Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=24546.0

April 14, 2010 - TRUE HAPPINESS

Love never ends. (I Corinthians 13 : 8 ) 

In a PEANUTS cartoon, Lucy is berating Charlie Brown for losing the baseball game for their team. She says, "You blockhead! You struck out, and we lost the last game of the season!" Then she adds accusingly, "You were standing there thinking about your new girlfriend, weren't you?"

As Charlie Brown walks away, he mumbles, "I thought being in love was supposed to make you happy."

Well, love is an important part of happiness. Studies have proven that people in love are much happier. The same is true for people who get involved. They are much happier than people who complain, but never do anything to change the situation. What is your situation?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Dear Jesus, may I find true happiness in you. Amen.

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=24546.0

hahahha! nangagang pako bugs..og nasangit sa mga agokoy! nyaayayyy 

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=24546.0

hahhaha maojud! milaylo sahko dria bugs kay arang ka hot man sa politika dko ka atak! ahehehe labaw pas agokoy ni cla mangkitkit og debate..haroy!  maglaroy-laroy lngsah kog ako...

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=24546.0

I love this one. Thanks, buddy.

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=24546.0

April 19, 2010 - GIVING SELF


Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's. (Matthew 22:21)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We get caught up in all kinds of activities, but we need to continually ask ourselves "what is most important in my life? What do I really care about?" When we answer those two questions, hopefully it will say we are committed to God.

Jesus outwitted the Pharisees at their own game. Notice that after he told them, "Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's," the Pharisees were speechless. They had no more questions for him. Matthew reports that "they were amazed; and they left him and went away." Many people never really discover the giving themselves totally to God. Like the Pharisees they hear the truth but go away without another word.

I receive much joy from serving God through the church. When someone moves into our community--there is a place here for them to worship. When someone walks into the church office during the week feeling the burdens of life--there is someone to talk too. When someone has many questions and is searching for meaning to their lives--the church is here to help them find answers and meaning. It is a joy to give ourselves fully to God.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


God of all, in my time of need, remind me that true joy and healing comes from giving myself to you. Amen.



Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=24546.0

April 20, 2010 - LOVE


And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. (I Corinthians 13:13)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Someone once reminded me, "The average pencil is seven inches long, and the eraser is only a quarter of an inch long - just in case you thought optimism was dead."

When we look at the troubles of our world and society, it may dampen our optimism, but today there is a great need for all of us to listen and follow God's call of love and peace.

Jesus certainly was saddened by the state of people's hearts and the condition of people's relationship with God. However, Jesus was clearly focused on God's ultimate plan of unconditional love. What greater hope and optimism can we have than when we focus on Christ, as the risen Savior, given in love!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Lord Jesus, help me to show your love each day by doing small acts of kindness. In your name I pray, Amen

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=24546.0

April 22, 2010 - STEP OUT


Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him. (I Kings 19:18)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When Elijah cried out that he was the only one left in Israel who cared, God said not true! God showed Elijah 7,000 persons who had not bowed down to Baal. Good people. Concerned people. Dedicated people. All they needed was someone to step out from the crowd and give them some leadership.

My friends, you and I need to recognize that in our own community and world, there are good people, dedicated people who do care about the same problems we care about. They are waiting for someone to step out and provide some leadership.

What is God calling you to do?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Dear God, move me in responding to your call. Amen.



Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=24546.0

April 26, 2010 - CELEBRITY

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In 1849, financier Joshua A. Norton came to San Francisco with $40,000 and big ambitions. For five years he invested his money wisely until he was filthy rich. Then he took a gamble. He invested all of his money in the rice market. The market fell through and he lost every penny. No one saw him again for five years.

Then, in 1859, Joshua Norton walked into the office of the San Francisco BULLETIN and told them to print a proclamation that he was Emperor Norton I, emperor of the United States. As a joke, the editor printed his proclamation.

The people of San Francisco decided to humor Emperor Norton I. They treated him with great respect. Local ships and railroad lines gave him free passes. The city bought him new military uniforms when his old ones wore out. A printer created Emperor Norton currency, which he was allowed to use in any establishment in town. Restaurants put up signs advertising his patronage. He was allowed to speak at all the sessions of the state legislature. He and his two dogs even had free, reserved seats at the theater.

Emperor Norton made many suggestions about improving the city, but most of these suggestions were brushed off as ravings of a madman. Yet after his death, many of his suggestions were acted upon--a bridge over the Golden Gate and the East Bay, wider streets, gaslights put up for safety, and filling in of the swamplands to the east of Montgomery Street. All these things came to pass.

Emperor Norton I died in 1880. His funeral was lavish, and many thousands showed up to mourn him. He is memorialized in San Francisco's Wells Fargo museum, and in local history books. He was a most successful fraud.

Contrast the burial accorded Emperor Norton with that given to Jesus of Nazareth. There was nothing fraudulent about Jesus. Never was a man more authentic. Nobody walked the talk better than he did. He told his disciples to forgive their enemies, and as he hung on the cross, he prayed for forgiveness for those who had put him there. He told his disciples to serve the least and the lowest, and among his last words were words of encouragement to a thief who was dying beside him. He told his disciples that on the third day he would be raised from the dead, and when the women went to the tomb, it was empty. What he preached, he practiced. No one who knew him ever called him a fraud. Even Judas, the friend whose kiss sealed his doom, declared that he had betrayed innocent blood. Yet there were few admirers at Jesus' funeral. He did not die a celebrity as did Emperor Norton of San Francisco. But, this is all right. Not many truly Godly people will die as celebrities. Let's just be thankful for Jesus' willingness to die for each one of us!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Jesus my savior, thank you for dying for my sins. I may not be a celebrity, but I will do my best to be faithful to you. Amen.

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=24546.0

April 30, 2010 -  FAITH


This is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. (1 John 5:4)

What is the test of sincere faith? Do we walk the talk? Do we practice what we preach? Do we expect others to measure up to a standard that we do not keep ourselves? Is our faith centered in success or service? The most important aspect of this test of sincerity is not how others measure up, but how we measure up in our relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Many of you remember the great Oliver Holmes character. Well, once he couldn't find his ticket when he got on a train. As he rummaged through his pockets and bags, Holmes was recognized by the conductor who said, "Don't worry, Justice Holmes, you don't need your ticket right now. Just send it to us later when you find it."

Irritated, Holmes replied, "Sir, the problem is not, 'Where is my ticket?" The problem is, "Where am I going?" A good question for each of us to ask ourselves, "Where am I going?" Are we going to be like the leaders of Jesus' day or are we going to be sincere in our faith and do our best to walk the talk?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


God of all, forgive me when I fail to walk the talk, and help me walk in the steps of Jesus as I witness your love. In Jesus name, Amen.




Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=24546.0

Ang taga Anda miuli na sa ilaha kay namista. Pagda unja ug bring house Inday Sabina.

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=24546.0