It’s a Ponderful Life!
(NINANG PONDERINGS 4)

1. Our hardwork is not meant to justify our demands of others but to inspire others to demand of themselves.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)

“Choose Gentleness..
Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle.
If I raise my voice may it be only in praise.
If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer.
If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.”
(From Max Lucado’s “When God Whispers your Name “)

2. Relationships is the key to life and living to the full. Form and build up good ones.

“And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” (Galatians 4:6-7)

“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” (Ephesians 4:15-16)

3. Hierarchical rule has no worse impact than to justify you making it hard for others as well. The benefits simply do not outweigh the lack of grace.

“And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.” (Isaiah 30:20-21)

4. May we Believe enough to SEEk. ✨

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” – Our Almighty God in Jeremiah 29:13

5. Do what you enjoy and/or excel in doing and help along the way. 🙂

“Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God.” (Ecclesiastes 5:19)

“Do you see a man skillful in his work?
He will stand before kings;
he will not stand before obscure men.” (Proverbs 22:29)

6. To be seen at our worst and still to be loved..
To be seen at our worst and not to be loved..
To love always– the one purpose.

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:7)

7. Our Joy is not ‘the end’ of but ‘the means’ to Life.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13)

8. We are broken not to be crushed but to touch God’s mending hand..again.

“And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” – The Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 11:28-30

9. May our lives reflect not how others treated us but how our mighty God loved (and continue to love) us. May we “give love” and not “get back.”

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

10. Seizing the day does not refer to an outcome but a process of making any moment count regardless of the outcome.

“Nothing worth having comes easy.” – Theodore Roosevelt

“For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” (Romans 8:24-25)

11. Moments pass you by if you pass up the moment. Play the moment. 🙂

“Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalms 90:12)

“Moments of love (moments of love)
Bringing us closer together (bringing us closer together)
Sweet memories (sweet memories)
I know we’ll remember forever (i know we’ll remember together)
Moments of love (moments of love)..”
(From the song “Moments of love”)

12. Empowering men does not mean disempowering women; but empowering women to do so.

“Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” (Genesis 2:18)

13. No one needs to tell us we are precious. God our maker already did.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

May the joy of the Lord fill us amidst challenges we are facing. God is good.

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

14. Beauty is in the heart of the beholder. ❤

“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupery

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18)

15. We only need an audience of One. 🙏

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23-24)

16. Arrogance is plain ignorance.

“But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish. They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed–an accursed brood!… These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.” (2 Peter 2:12-14, 17)

17. As long as we think we’re above others, no sensible person will look up to us.

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children…submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Read Ephesians 5:1, 21)

#equalsdifferentroles

18. Let the Spirit do the “walking”🙂.. maybe the talking too. 😋

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh… the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control… Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” (Galatians 5:16-26)

19. Most of the time, the problem is not that we don’t hear, but we do not want to listen.. though we pretend to. 😁

“Can’t we try just a little bit harder
Can’t we give just a little bit more
Can’t we try to understand
That it’s love we’re fighting for
Can’t we try just a little more passion
Can’t we try just a little less pride..”
(Can’t we try by Dan Hill)
..Don’t let our loVe fade away..

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19-20)

20. Trust is continuing to believe there’s more than what is said and done, or not said and not done. Trust is knowing One holds all.

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)

21. We should always approach our “certainties” in this life with caution. We can only hope and pray our desire is God’s will as well. We can only claim what God’s will is– that which is good, pleasing, and Perfect for His children.

“The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul,
‘therefore I will hope in him.” (Lamentations 3:24)

22. The ultimate test is within. Personal medium than social media. 🙂

“For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.” (Galatians 6:3-5)

23. Joy is a gift you give to yourself.

“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)

24. “Whatever it takes” is either not necessary or will never be enough. To give one’s best is necessary and enough. The Lord’s hand is in everything.

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. What is desired in a man is steadfast love…” (Proverbs 19:21-22)

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men..” (Colossians 3:23)

25. Sometimes stress and pressure just have to stay between you and God. Smile. He can.

#braveandcalmisthewaytogo

“Remember not the former things,
nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I am doing a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.
The wild beasts will honor me,
the jackals and the ostriches,
for I give water in the wilderness,
rivers in the desert,
to give drink to my chosen people,
the people whom I formed for myself
that they might declare my praise.”- The Lord God in Isaiah 43:18-21

26. Time management is not finding time for everything as much as foregoing some things knowing that everything has its time.

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, … understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17)

27. Our Imperfections help us see perfectly.

“..For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” – The Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:18

“It is only with the heart once can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” – Antoine de Saint- Exupery in The Little Prince

28. Who can possibly define you as a person are not those who love you but those you love despite challenges.

“And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40)

Love anyway any day!🙂

29. Our only boast is if we don’t. 😁

“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…

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Our Lord and Savior Jesus, in Matthew 6:1, 6)

30. Our relationship with God is not a corporate one. Best decisions are not to be discussed and voted upon. Successes we cannot own. A Perfect Father who provides for and protects His child is our God. We have to recognize His authority, listen to Him, and follow where He leads. We cannot add to Him or His work; we cannot boast before Him. But we can take delight in Him, be pleasing to Him, and humbly ask for anything. 🙏🏻

“Delight yourself in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalms 37:4)

31. Obedience, though with many benefits, is as well its own reward. So we do not only obey with our eye on a prize. But prize that we eye to obey.

“..for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” (Galatians 5:25-26)

32. Decisions will be less stressful if we will focus on (and be happy about) what others will gain instead of the time, effort, and/or money we can potentially lose.

“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” (Hebrews 6:10)

– Ninang “I ponder” thoughts