April 2012 – From Worry To Glory

Faith in God’s Providence Will Lead You

Posted on April 29, 2012November 22, 2012 by Jonan Castillon

When I read the message of this photo from Our Daily Bread I nodded with approval. Indeed, our Lord God in His omniscient power knows what is best for us.

Surprisingly, when I re-shared the photo on my Facebook wall, there were 30 friends who clicked “Like” and three people who re-shared it. Now, this statistics is just on one Facebook wall.

The original photo as posted in “Our Daily Bread” Facebook page generated 1,606 “Like” and 956 shares.

There are two possible reasons the “GOD NEVER SHUTS ONE DOOR WITHOUT OPENING ANOTHER” quotation etched on a key head would generate such interest.

First, lots of people who believe in the Divine Providence testify that it is true.

Second, many who believe in the All-Knowing, All-Loving God pray that they will find God’s open door and experience His Providence.

The experience of Paul and Silas as narrated in Acts 16 proves that the Lord God has a way of closing and opening better opportunities to His faithful people. The passages in Acts 16:6-10 narrates that God never shuts one door without opening another.

Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

When it seems that our lives aren’t going the way we expected, let the life of Job encourage us to continue to believe and wait for God’s direction.

Remember how Job’s friend encouraged him to despise God after all his riches and family were destroyed. Job refused and instead argued,

“You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (Job 2:10)

Read the rest of Job’s story and you will know how God restored and rewarded him for his faith.

I smiled when I read this quote of Alexander Graham Bell,

“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.”

Well, let us acknowledge the fact there may be doors that will be shut but the Lord God Almighty opens other doors. Your faith in God’s Providence will lead you there.

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The Dandelion – A Weed’s Story

Posted on April 21, 2012September 3, 2012 by Jonan Castillon

Photos and captions by Jose Telesforo Limbaga

About Jose Telesforo Limbaga

Jose is an Ilonggo, now residing in New York, New York. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Iloilo. He is married to the former Estela Velasco, BSN, also an Ilongga from Jaro, Iloilo City. They have two children who are now gainfully employed in New York.

Rekindling his passion for photography in 2011, Jose reflects about his recent photo shots:

“When it comes to this rekindled passion (photography), it is a sharing of what I see – nature and God’s hand in it – and to make it worthy of the viewer’s precious time. If the photos I share on FB bring positive feelings and thoughts to the viewer/FB friends then I feel my efforts were worth it. Too often in the course of the daily grind we do miss – either by force of circumstance if not be intent – the little things around us. It is “our job” as photographers to capture scenes, big or small, give it life as a picture and share it with our friends on FB or other social sites – friends who may not have the time for reasons previously stated.”

Inspirational

Kindly Check – This Girl Might Have Attended Your Church

Posted on April 15, 2012April 15, 2012 by Jonan Castillon

A high school girl wrote the following letter to a friend:

I attended your church yesterday. Although you had invited me, you were not there.

I looked for you, hoping to sit with you. I sat alone. A stranger, I wanted to sit near the back of the church but those rows were all packed with regular attenders. An usher took me to the front. I felt as though I was on parade.

During the singing of the hymns I was surprised to note that some of the church people weren’t singing. Between their sighs and yawns, they just stared into space.

Three of the kids that I had respected on campus were whispering to one another throughout the service. Another girl was giggling. I really didn’t expect that in your church.

The pastor’s sermon was very interesting, although some members of the choir didn’t seem to think so. They looked bored and restless. One kept smiling at someone in the congregation. There were several people who left and then came back during the sermon. I thought, “How rude!” I could hear the constant shuffling of feet and doors opening and closing.

The pastor spoke about the reality of faith. The message got to me and I made up my mind to speak to someone about it after the service. But utter chaos reigned after the benediction.

I said good morning to one couple, but their response was less than cordial. I looked for some teens with whom I could discuss the sermon, but they were all huddled in a corner talking about the newest music group.

My parents don’t go to church. I came alone yesterday hoping to find a place to truly worship and feel some love. I’m sorry, but I didn’t find it in your church. I won’t be back.

If reverence for God is to return to our nation it will have to start with God’s people!

Source: Sermon Central