The most beautiful sunset I have ever seen. Location: Basey, Samar.
Last weekend in Tacloban, I witnessed what I could describe as the most beautiful sunset I had ever seen. Took a quick shot using the digicam and it was indeed a powerful, moving testimony of the beautiful creation and the careful planning of the Master Creator.
I was carrying some questions with me as I flew to Tacloban for a church retreat. And like always, felt inadequate to meet the needs of the pastoral teams who are going through the difficult personal challenges and pastoral circumstances.
Discouragement has been our common friend lately.
I prayed hard while enroute to Tacloban for God’s fresh revelation. For His theopneustos upon me. I needed to be filled so that I may be emptied out.
The retreat went really well. Beyond what anyone of us could ask or imagined. Testimonies of God’s loving and wonderful grace were shared. Affirmations of the people and the encouragement were aplenty. It was a real blessing for everyone. And last sunday, when we had the chance to drive around, what a blessing it was to see the beautiful sceneries painted by God on the skies…. (please see TACLOBAN under the DIGITAL MOMENTS tab)
But there were things I needed to ask God. I just need to express these things to my Father who loves the world so much. I needed to hear his heartbeat. I needed to see and hear his compassion.
1. Lord, please help the two teenage orphans in Bulacan. They had been going without food. They are able to work but do not have the means to process their papers. Lord – please provide for them. I think about them all the time and many times I wish I have the means and the influence to just make their lives better.
2. Lord I pray for the abandoned and surrendered babies scattered throughout the different agencies in the country. We visited one yesterday – and I will never forget the very determined look of the 2 male toddlers who upon seeing me, climb on my legs as if I was a tree. Lawrence would not let me go and the two other boys, equally demanded love and attention. And Lord, as I was carrying them and talking with them… I realized that in many respects, we are like them. Without you, we feel abandoned and neglected. And like them, we just want to run to you and climb on your lap and bury ourselves in your arms where we feel most safe and cared for.
3. Lord I pray for this young mother of two who is in dire need of money to feed her children. Abandoned by a philandering husband, this young mother do not even have the means to go to work because she does not have the fare. Lord, whatever small amount we can give – may you enlarge it Lord. May you open wide the doors of your loving provision for all of us.
4. I pray for the pastors who are going through a lot in their personal lives as well. Yes, discouragement has been aplenty. Lord allow us to see you in the midst of all of them. Allow us to hear your voice. Speak thr0ugh the din and noise created by all these anxieties. Lord, allow us to experience your rest. Ours had become troubled sleeps because of the many things that are stealing our peace and joy. Have mercy on all of us God.
5. I pray for the country Lord. We have a new president now and I could only imagine the weight of the responsibility placed on his shoulders. Lord please heal our land. Please unite us and change our hearts to love our country by doing what is right. Free us from leaders who rule with their own agenda and selfish whims. Free us from our bondage and societal corruption.
You are a God who is mighty with compassion.
You are a God whose sovereignty is not defined by our understanding.
You are a God whose hands extended the curtains of the universe.
You are a God who is full of love and very loving toward all of us.
You are a God who can will it to happen for all of us.
You are a God who can show us mercy and love in the midst of our struggles and difficulties.
You are the God who is our all in all.
Save us.
Rescue us.
Lift us up.
Give us your peace and your rest.
Lord thank you for the reminder of who You are. You are a God who is MIGHTY TO SAVE!
MIGHTY TO SAVE
When everyone needs compassion,
And love that never fails,
Let mercy fall on me
When everyone needs forgiveness,
Kindness of the Saviour
The Hope of the nation
(Chorus:) Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My god is mighty to save,
He is mighty to save Forever author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave Jesus conquered the grave
So take me as you find me
All my fears and failures
Fill my life again I give my life to follow
Everything that i believe in
Now i surrender (and i surrender)
(Chorusx2) (Bridge:)
Shine a light in and let the whole world see
Singing, for the glory of the risen king Jesus,
Shine a light and let the whole world see
Singing for the glory of the risen king
