Pensées Sentimentales

May 3 Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 1-3

2010-05-15T11:08:00.000+08:00

. . This is a delayed highlights of the Bible Reading. I am determined, still, to make a blog regarding the chapters, for I fear that I might lose the interest and forget about my goal.

The book of 2 Samuel is the continuation of the kingdom ex-King Saul left. Normally in our time, when a ruler passed away, his successor is the next in line automatically. Here, however David, didn't immediately took the throne even though he knew that he would be king of the nation. Chapter 2 verse 1 states that David inquired FIRST to Jehovah God before making any drastic move, then in verse 4 he then was anointed as King of Judah. Even after that, David continued to inquire of Jehovah, asking him to help in ruling over His nation. David continued to glorify Jehovah, humbling himself and not seeking revenge in anyone.

Revenged in a way of what Joab did to Abner, Saul's chief of armies. In chapter 2 verses 14 to 23, Abner challenged Joab and his two brothers for combat. The result of this fight was Asahel was killed by Abner, struck into the abdomen and fled. In chapter 3 verses 24 to 27, the scenario prior to these verses was that Abner went to King David to conclude a covenant. When Joab heard of this, he questioned David as to why he had approved of it. He went after Abner and likewise, struck him the abdomen in revenged of his brother. I imagined myself being in that scenario, the two camps - Saul's and David's, getting hyped up as to who is the greatest in number, in lands, in weapons and so on, to the point of counting the number of persons they had killed. And here King David, amidst the situation, is simply clueless of the going ons of his household. It was not in his mind to ever thought of doing that to Saul or to Ishbosheth's camp. He even wept over Abner's death!

Another chapter reminded me of Moses and Naaman's servant. They both were know-it-alls and wanted to receive the glory instead to Jehovah God. In chapter 1 verses 8 to 10, an Amalekite escapee went to David and related the story how King Saul died. He related how HE struck Saul because he can no longer fight as his camp has already been defeated. I remember in the previous chapter, David had the many chances to kill Saul but he did not do so for he know that Saul is an annointed one of Jehovah. But here we see the Amalekite boasting his glory of killing Saul so that David will accept him into his tents. In verse 14, David said, "How was it that you did not fear to thrust your hand out to bring the anointed of Jehovah to ruin?" Lesson: Let us not be presumptious over something, and take the glory for being able to speak boldly in the field or overcoming persecution in our ministry. For we know that we were able to do such because of Jehovah's holy spirit backing us. The rightful thanks should be to Jehovah God and not to ourselves.

Another point for this scripture is the view of euthanasia. Saul committed suicide so as not to suffer further from the hands of the Philistines. The story of the Amalekite stated that he did euthanasia to King Saul, but this further shows that this Biblical event, then, in no way justifies a Christian’s having any part in euthanasia. Jehovah is a God who issued an commandment to not murder anyone. He is a loving God and desires all to live, if that is the case, does He allow such killing to happen? The answer is no.

2 Samuel chapter 1 verses 19 to 26 is a description of Jonathan by David during his wake. We all know that despite Saul not liking David, it was the opposite of Jonathan, Saul's son. They had a remarkable friendship that in those instances Jonathan rescued David from the pangs of death. Though Jonathan was older than David, this holds no barrier for their friendship. When I was young, I only wanted to have friends amongst my age, but as I grew older and widened out in the meetings, I find it appealing to have older and mature friends. They know much more about life plus their spirituality is very much encouraging for me especially in a very special case. As of now, I barely have close friends of the same age but a lot more older and mature than me. As David lastly describes Jonathan in verse 26, "very pleasant you were to me. More wonderful was your love to me than the love from women."

April 26 Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 26-31

2010-04-29T16:57:00.000+08:00

The last few verses of 1 Samuel, talks about how David, still, went on hiding from Saul. There were instances that David could have had the chance of taking Saul, but because of his respect for Jehovah's anointed one, he did not do so. And another verse captured me was when Saul, upon knowing that Jehovah has already turned away from him, sought out spiritism, and consulted as what will happen after the war - will he win? will he lose? & What will become of his ruling lands? My reaction was flabberghasted! Oh my gulay, how stupid of Saul to even anger Jehovah more.

2 Samuel 26:8-13:: This is the account when Abishai, the one who went with him to the camping grounds of Saul. They saw Saul, sound asleep with his spear near in his head and surrounded with a water jug. David, who was in hiding for his life, this could have been his chance to grab hold of Saul, who attempted to hit him with a spear thrice! David had it in his power to end his being hounded by Saul. Instead, David chose to be long-suffering. David WAITED on Jehovah. Aside from this point, I find it interesting that David still respected and acknowledged Saul, as the one anointed by Jehovah to be King. He could've done the worst of Saul, but he knew that it was not his business to intervene. David's example teaches us to have a waiting attitude on how Jehovah deals with things. Likewise in the congregation, the elders may impose or certain arrangements were made that we do not exactly know why it was made. As imperfect humans, our tendency, out of good motives, is to voice out certain opinions - this, however is not something bad, but remembering David's example, we, too, should likewise refrain from doing so. David respected and viewed Saul as the anointed King by Jehovah God, he does not show remorse because of his position but because of who and what Saul has become. So, we, too should do the same, honor the elders as they are the ones appointed by Jehovah God to shepherd the congregation.

1 Samuel 28:8-13:: Saul's example of consorting to a spirit medium after Jehovah's spirit departed from him. It was sheer stupidity, consulting for divination, and letting himself believe that he was speaking the dead "Samuel." Instead of finding ways to appease Jehovah's anger, Saul just made Jehovah angry! And this account, is very true in our days. People consorting, or actually saying that their dead loved ones often visit or talk to them. What people don't know is that Satan is the person behind this and not Jehovah God. It is completely opposite with what the Bible is teaching regarding about the condition of the dead. It then would be wise to stay away from any spiritisitic tactics which are ploys of Satan the Devil.

Things Don't Change Immediately

2010-02-12T01:42:00.000+08:00

there’s no phrase that can attest
how one could change amidst a mess,
how one word can turn things right,
and hope everything to be bright

such an irony this phrase brings
how kanye west & taylor swift sings

amidst the crying and swelling of tears,
not even the comfort of someone dear
that will bring change in saying,
‘i forgive and everything will be all right’

it’s truly an irony,
no matter how much heart u pour

things don’t change immediately,
routine ways? - honestly!
there’s no better feeling how one must feel,
the faith you bring it just kills away..

[11.Feb.2010]

Who You Are To Me?

2010-02-12T01:19:00.000+08:00

who You are to me?
i recall those words amidst
these crisis i want to dismiss :(
my very thoughts conceal from them
yet in my heart You see through me.

who You are to me?
i try to hide such pain, tears and agony
place a fascade to everybody,
cover my eyes, shunning my face away
thy secrets - low and behold
alas, the transparency in me You see

over and over, i ask this question
over and over, i eat it in digestion
who You, Jehovah, are to me?
how come my errors can't be covered before You?

i try to look for comfort in You,
i try to throw my burdens to You,
i want You to be my confidant, my Friend,
dumbfounded my heart keeps asking,
'who You really are to me?'

[12.Feb2010]

Jehovah's Loving Kindness!

2010-01-06T21:32:00.000+08:00

JEHOVAH'S LOVING KINDNESS!

by: Daniel Sydlik

I tell you now we are going to talk about something ....
You know very little about if you will ever........ understand it.. We are going to talk about Jehovah's loving kindness!

He said: There is a new king in Israel and it's king David.. Now usually whenever there is a new king, it's a joyful time for the new king and a horrible time for the old king because all the boys in the family of the old king would be wiped out for fear they would come back for revenge or reprisal. But it's a new king in Israel. And David did something that was shocking. No other king had done this before. It's unprecedented.

Turn to second Samuel chapter 9. Look at verse 1. This is what David said and he is picturing Jehovah God. "and David proceeded to say is there anyone left over from the house of Saul that I may exercise loving kindness to him for the sake of Jonathan?"

He is looking for someone of that household to show loving kindness to.

Next verse: "Now the house of Saul had a servant whose name was Ziba. So they called him to David, and the king then said to him: 'Are you Ziba?' to which he said: 'I am your servant.'
Now what Ziba is telling him is: I am your man. I have served in a house of royalty. I know what goes on in the house of a king.. I know how to run the house of a king. I know who belongs here..
Vs. 3 'Is there nobody of the house of Saul anymore, that I may exercise toward him the loving-kindness of God?' (You see it's Jehovah's loving kindness)

At this Ziba said to the king: 'There is yet a son of Jonathan, lame in the feet.'

Vs 4 Then the king said to him: 'Where is he?' So Ziba said to the king: 'Look! He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel at Lo-debar.' ...

Brother Sidlik said: Lodebar! that was the ghetto... No one but cripples and undesirables live there. No one else wanted to live there. Zi'ba is saying: Now hold on king! Don't go too far! I know what belongs in the house of royalty. The only one who's left of the house of Jonathan is his son. He's a cripple, he doesn't belong here. In fact he lives in Lodebar.

David said: That's the man that I am looking for. You go and get him and you bring him to this house. That's who I'm looking for to show loving kindness to. It's the loving kindness of God. Me·phibo·sheth was crippled because his nurse dropped him accidentally and from then on he was lame in both of his feet. The king is telling Zi'ba 'that's the man, go and get him because that's the man I am looking for.'
Next brother Sydlik picks up a bell and says 'dinner time in David's house..'

At dinner time at David's house who would you expect to see? Who dines at the table of a king? It would be David and all of his children.

Now beauty ran in David's family. His son Absalom was so good looking that they cut his hair only once a year and his hair alone weighed 5lbs. The Bible says that no man was as beautiful as Absalom. And he was sitting at David's table and it's dinner time at the king's table.

He had a sister named Tamar. The Bible says she was so good looking that her own brother raped her and beautiful Tamar was also at David's table.

Who else was at David's table? There was wise Solomon probably reading a book. There were David's 2 nephews Abishi and Joab, mighty warriors, courageous men. The Bible says Joab was cute! And they both take their seat at the table.

Then the next person comes in. It's a cripple! IN WALKS A CRIPPLE! With all of this beauty at the table, in walks a cripple!!!

That's when brother Sydlik lowered the boom on us... no one will ever forget that talk because it demonstrated Jehovah loving kindness.

He told us we are all crippled brothers. Adam and Eve dropped every one of us... we are all crippled.......... We are all messed up.

We have frailties and infirmities we don't want anyone to know. We make it hard on each other to stay at the table because we look at each other and say 'he doesn't belong at this table.' We are hard on each other. We make it hard to sit at the table. We say things like 'I know he's not coming to the table". "She needs to quit ". We look at a brother and say 'he's not gonna make it'. You see we are hard on each other at that table. And we live in Lodebar. No mater how much you pay for your mortgage, we are living in a filthy world. It's beneath Jehovah. It's the ghetto.

Now Mephibosheth, he couldn't understand how the king wanted him to sit at his table.
Isn't that the way we are? We can't appreciate Jehovah's loving kindness. We can't understand it. There are things about us we don't want anyone to know.. We compromised. We capitulated. We went back at times and we don't want anybody to know that. We don't understand Jehovah's loving kindness.
We tell people 'there are things about me you just don't know'. And when we receive commendation we tell people 'if you really knew how I was you wouldn't say that, so now I feel worse.'

Did you know that there are some people who serve God yet pray that they can just die?
We feel we are not worthy to be at Jehovah's table.... We can't understand Jehovah's loving kindness. Mephibosheth, he couldn't understand it and many times he would look around the table and say to David 'let me leave, I can't measure up'.
And David would say 'stay at the table'. Mephibosheth looked at Tamar's beauty and asked to leave the table and David said 'stay at the table'. He looked at wise Solomon and said 'let me leave the table' and David said 'stay at the table'.
He looked at mighty Joab and felt unworthy and asked to leave but David said 'stay at the table'.
Now in Israel, one of the "worst" things was to be a dog. Mephibosheth said at second Samuel chap 9 vs.. 8 'And he said what is your servant that you have turned your face to the dead dog! Such as I am. I am not even a dog. I am a dead dog... why are you showing loving kindness to me?'

Do you ever feel that way? You see, if you only knew the love that Jehovah has for us, if you could only understand the work and effort and appreciation the faithful slave has for you, If you could only appreciate that it's not just a group of men printing literature in a building, they recognize the loving kindness of God.

Sure, you have done wrong and you have been disciplined. You have had hard times. Regardless of what you have done, regardless of how you feel.... just stay at Jehovah table. Jehovah is not limited. He's not like humans....

As humans we remember things and we will never let you live it down.. We say things like, 'I know what he did in 1983 and I knew him back in the day'. Girl... .. Jehovah's not that way. Manasseh did what was bad on a grand scale. He sinned against Jehovah. Jehovah not only restored him, he forgave him and made him king again. That's the God we serve! Jehovah says: 'don't be mindful of what these humans keep against you.' Jehovah says: 'I am not that way....' A struggling person is not a bad person ... We are just struggling. That's all.. You are not bad.. Just remain faithful and stay at Jehovah's table.

40,000 a year become inactive. They leave Jehovah's table. Are we making it hard for them to stay at Jehovah's table? Many try to come back. At the Memorial, are we making it hard for them to stay at God's table? Are we making them feel like a dead dog? You see we are all crippled brothers ... Adam and Eve dropped everyone of us. Let's make it comforting and encouraging to stay at Jehovah's table. Regardless of what you've done, regardless of how you feel never think Jehovah won't forgive you, because Jehovah is actively looking for people like us to show loving kindness to.

Now the thing about this table is they would usually have these long skirts like table cloths and the skirt would cover everything below the table. It would cover everybody's legs. When Mephibosheth as a cripple sat at the table it would cover his legs and he would be just like everyone else. All his frailties and infirmities were covered as long as he stayed at Jehovah's table!!

That skirt pictures the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ .... Jehovah's telling us that I have you covered at this table. Don't leave, just stay at the table. You have all the covering... You have all you need .... I don't even see your frailties. I have been looking for people like you to show loving kindness to.
2nd Samuel chap 9 vs.. 11: very encouraging, 'So Ziba said to the king: 'In accord with all that my lord the king commands for his servant is the way that your servant will do; but Mephibosheth is eating at my table like one of the sons of the king.' It was Jehovah loving kindess.

VS 13 'And Mephibosheth himself was dwelling in Jerusalem, for it was constantly at the table of the king that he was eating; and he was lame in both of his feet.'

Mephibosheth stayed at that table. He stayed at God's table. Mephibosheth said 'sure: I have had hard times and I am a cripple and I don't even understand this loving kindness, but he said I'll never leave this table.'

And the Bible says he never left the table although he was lame in both of his feet. You see the skirt covered his legs. It covered his problems, covered all of his sins.
Lovers of God, don't leave. We are almost home. Jehovah says 'you are covered at this table. I love you. Don't ever doubt it....' Jehovah says 'why have you ended a sentence with a question mark when I have ended it with a period?' He's telling us that his son died for us and he's been looking for people like us to show loving kindness to.

Always stay at Jehovah's table.

Missing You

2009-12-03T23:51:00.000+08:00

I felt empty when everything when down

It took me a second to realize how much I'm missing you

We really have missed a million days,

our hi and hellos are limited to months or years?

The daily connection is no longer there,

how i miss our adventures everywhere.

Our girly talks - makeup and the like

The many problems, so similar,

we'd cover each others backs.

I remember those days we'd set our goals and dreams

A cafe, a resturant, what more can i say?

Those were good memories of yester years

I reminisced those days, when you are just a call away.

My life suddenly went blank.

And I felt alone for some time.

I yearn for your presence,

on a cup of coffee we'd talk.

My life became a mess

And you were on top of my list.

I wanted to write you

with no address in mind..

I wanted to call you,

it seemed you're busy

That I gave up with a sigh..

Chatting with you online,

Seeing you smile via webcam

I wanted to tell you many things -

.. just so you know, it still feels empty.

[04.Dec.2009]

Review: Belle deJour 2010 Planner

2009-11-10T21:34:00.000+08:00

Finally!! I just received my 2010 BDJ today. And i soo love the new "do". I like the divider per month, and the monthly menstrual tracker and the new additions to the discounted coupons.. soooo way better than the Starbucks 2010 Planner.. hehehe *no offense to the Starbucks-fans*

top: forget-me-not pad, opposite side: plastic case for forget me not pad/bottom: list of coupons

top: divider page for May/bottom: daily's for January

Below are some shots of coupons. :)

You can avail one at this site: http://baligyanako-ellana.blogspot.com/. They give discounts if you avail 3 or more pcs. plus free shipping nationwide. :)

No Excuses!

2009-10-27T13:08:00.001+08:00

If you sometimes feel that your efforts aren't worth
Much, or your ministry isn't reaping much fruitage, that you are
destined to fail and that God can't use you or make anything out of you;
Consider the following:

ABRAHAM was old...
LEAH was ugly...
JOSEPH was abused...
MOSES couldn't talk... GIDEON was afraid...
RAHAB was a prostitute...
SAMSON had a weakness for women...
JEREMIAH and TIMOTHY were too young...
DAVID had an affair and was a murderer...
ELIJAH was suicidal...
ISAIAH preached naked...
JONAH ran from God...
NAOMI was a widow...
JOB went bankrupt...
PETER denied Christ...
The DISCIPLES fell asleep while praying... (more than once)
MARTHA worried about everything...
The SAMARITAN WOMAN was divorced... (M ore than once)...
ZACCHEUS was too small...
TIMOTHY had an ulcer. .. LAZARUS was dead!

SO NO MORE EXCUSES!

When Jehovah helps you to do something, in the
Ministry or otherwise, remember that he knows what you are able to fulfill.
Not necessarily through your own wiles, intelligence
And strengths, but through your weakness and his holy
Spirit. Don't hesitate and make excuses -- just trust him to provide all that you need to succeed and
Move forward! DO IT! And, don't give up.

Oh and, PAUL was BALD!
And of course, JESUS was never married!!

Keep On The Watch 2009-2010 Review

2009-10-26T17:03:00.000+08:00

The past weekend was our district convention. Until now, I am having a hang.over of what went through. I really benefited from the whole program. Mentally, the assembly gave out encouraging points as to how to maintain spiritually awake, and to keep our senses as the system of things comes to an end. Of course, this isn't easy.

Satan's world is full of glamour and it is so sparkly and shiny. I honestly find it very enticing thus I am sometimes longing to be a part of it. Imperfect as everyone is, being one of Jehovah's Witness is really a challenge. And I must say that the convention is a timely theme for our time. Satan is doing all that he can. Back then, we were always warned about our peers, work, entertainment and alike - the Devil will try to keep us 'entertained' and 'busy' so as to stop us from our service, however, times have changed. Satan is now targeting the family arrangement and he is evermore succeeding with it.

Amongst the 3-day assembly, I specifically benefited from the Saturday session. It mentions as to how we can help people in our ministry to be spiritually awake and that we have the obligation to wake them up from spiritual sleep. My anonymous readers may have been knocked on by Jehovah's Witnesses, nagging as we may be because of frequently knocking and visiting - talking about the Bible, God's name, as well as God's Kingdom - is just an obedient act to fulfill the commission Jesus left us (Matthew 24:14).

In line with our ministry, the speakers included talks as to how we can accomplish our ministry as thorough and as skillful as we can be. Another loving talk was to not to forget to preach to our relatives. Our simple ways such as our kindness and other godly qualities may or may not move our unbelieving relatives to consider studying with us.

To fully help others to wake from spiritual sleep, a new provision has been provided for us. A new brochure, "The Bible - What Is Its Message?" was released. It help us personally as well as others who own a Bible but does not read it, to be briefly explained about the contents of the Bible and as how it is centered to God's Kingdom.

The 3-day convention is truly a timely convention, a reminder for us all to stay spiritually awake as ever and to be prepare ourselves ALWAYS as Satan is really trying his very might to lull us to spiritual sleep.

Isaiah 41:10

2009-10-01T03:36:00.000+08:00

Subject: Isaiah 41:10

Some years ago on a hot summer day in south Florida a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes,
socks, and shirt as he went.

He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore. His mother in the house was looking out the window saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, she ran toward the water,
yelling to her son as loudly as she could. Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his mother.

It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him.

From the dock, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by,
heard her screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator.

Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And on his arms, were deep scratches where his mother's fingernails dug into
his flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she loved.

The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, 'But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Mom
wouldn't let go.

You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend, are because Jehovah has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you. He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way. But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations, not knowing what lies ahead. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril - and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. That's when the tug-of-war begins - and if you
have the scars of His love on your arms be very, very grateful. He did not and will not ever let you go.

"Be Obedient & Push"

2009-10-01T03:34:00.001+08:00

Be Obedient and Push

Jehovah told a certain man that he had work for him to do. This certain man had a large rock in front of his house and Jehovah explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. The man did this, day after day. For many years he toiled from sun rise to sun set, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all his might. Each night the man returned home sore, worn out and feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.

Seeing that the man was showing signs of discouragement, Satan decided to enter the picture and place a few thoughts into the man's weary mind: "You have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn't budged. Why kill yourself over this? You are never going to move it." This gave the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure.

These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. "Why kill myself over this?" he thought. "I'll just put in my time, give the minimum effort and that will be good enough." And that is what he planned to do until he decided to make it a matter of prayer and
take his troubled thoughts to Jehovah.

"Jehovah, I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do what you have asked of me.. Yet, after all this time I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?"

Then Jehovah responded compassionately, "When I asked you to serve and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to me, with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back is sinewed and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yes, you haven't moved the rock but then all I ever asked was that you be obedient and push. It was through your works that you exercised faith in me. This you have done, and now I will move the rock for you."

At times, when we may tend to think little of ourselves and our service to Jehovah and we become disheartened and discouraged, we need to remember what Jehovah asks of us and that is just simple obedience and faith in him.

By all means, exercise faith that moves mountains but know that it is still Jehovah who does the moving. When everything seems to go wrong, just PUSH.. When your job gets you down, just PUSH. When people don't react the way you think they should, just PUSH. When people don't treat you kindly, just PUSH. When people reject you in the ministry just PUSH.

PUSH = Pray Until Something Happens!!!

In this time of the end with trials amounting we need all the encouragement we can get and support from our fellow Brothers and Sisters. To "incite love and fine works" and help hold each other up so we can walk victoriously into the new system. pass this on to those you love.