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Category: marchesa’s devotions

“STILL”

Lately, our hearts are being tested. Perze and myself. I don’t know if it’s psychosomatic, but I haven’t been feeling all too comfortable. I break out into hives at the oddest times. I find myself praying more over requests than thanksgiving. I worry. But tonight, Elle asked me for a bedtime story. Without thinking, the first story that came out of my head was the story of Jesus on the boat with His disciples. In the storm. About perspective. About trust. About Jesus in control.  There was one reality and two perspectives. The reality was the storm. One perspective was the collective fear from the disciples because of their shortsightedness. The other was the perspective Jesus held- when He knew 1) how the disciples felt 2) who was in control 3) and how it was going to end.  He asked them, “why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40) You know Jesus was talking to me.  You know it. I know it. He knows it. I’m still there, since I was 9. “STILL”.  <still>NO FAITH</still> The disciples followed Him- physically, spoke with Him, ate with Him, listened and worked with Him, saw Him perform miracles […]

The Weight of Glory

I fell in love with C.S. Lewis’ book “Weight of Glory” because of a quote used by Eldridge from “Sacred Romance”.  C.S. Lewis dissected what “weight of glory” encapsulated because it is something we tend to gloss over- what that phrase really means.  Tonight, as I was doing my devotion, I reread where that phrase came from.  2 Corinthians 4:16-18 says, “So we do not lose heart.  Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.  For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.  For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” You have to stop, collaborate, and listen…I mean, “weight of glory”….who uses that?  Who says that? What is that glory and how much does it truly weigh? And it’s eternal! Beyond comparison! Even when we think of the best thing in this life, with whatever emotion is driven out of us because of overwhelming beauty, whether through art, music, someone we love, an ideal, a book, an […]

The Old Rugged Cross

Every beginning of the month, I play this song as an instrumental for our church service because it has always been one of my favorite hymns. As I play the notes, the lyrics always come flooding before me, challenging me to look upon the beauty and shame of the cross, and what it took for me to be forgiven. Unknowingly, the notes almost become heavy as the truth makes way amidst the melody. Then there is the last verse, that always humbles me and assures me of His victory, and the glory in store for us, despite us. And the chorus continues to be a ballast of hope, “I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it someday for a crown.” It is not the actual cross, for many have been crucified prior to Jesus, but like everything else, without Jesus, everything is as it is. He alone is what gives meaning to the ordinary. And to the cross, He has brought a sacrifice, a price paid, so that through His wounds we are healed and brought back to the Father . The cross is just an emblem. Jesus is the reason we can someday exchange it for […]

Face to Face

Today, Lola Nitang died. Sadly, I hadn’t had the chance to really know her, but seeing my other relatives grieve her and the pictures of her spirit still in her smile circulate social media and somehow all of today had brought me to this song while playing the guitar: Face to face with Christ, my Savior, Face to face—what will it be, When with rapture I behold Him, Jesus Christ who died for me? Face to face I shall behold Him, Far beyond the starry sky; Face to face in all His glory, I shall see Him by and by! Only faintly now, I see Him, With the darkling veil between, But a blessed day is coming, When His glory shall be seen. What rejoicing in His presence, When are banished grief and pain; When the crooked ways are straightened, And the dark things shall be plain. Face to face! O blissful moment! Face to face—to see and know; Face to face with my Redeemer, Jesus Christ who loves me so. (Breck) If you’re familiar with hymns, the best ones always reserve the last stanza for heavenly imagery- the idea of looking towards eternity and being finally home with the […]

Les Mis: Understanding the Last Song

I want to share something wonderful tonight.  (WARNING: It’s sort of long so I understand if you won’t finish reading).   I finally watched the recent movie Les Miserables. Although I’ve read the novel, watched it on Broadway, saw past adaptations of the story on film, and memorized the musical score, tonight, I finally understood the last song “Epilogue”, or maybe tonight I didn’t take the last song for granted, but actually meditated on it rather than just be familiar with it. It wasn’t a reprise of “One Day More”, instead, the song explained the crux of the matter. Everything we live for, the beautiful, the plain, and the miserable, is one day more until what is truly to come. The lyrics resounded: Do you hear the people sing? Lost in the valley of the night It is the music of a people who are climbing to the light For the wretched of the earth there is a flame that never dies Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise. They will live again in freedom in the garden of the Lord They will walk behind the ploughshed, the will put away the sword. The chain will […]

let there be Light

Into my weakness, into my darkness Your Spirit’s moving upon my heart And You speak the words, “Let there be Light” – Hope of the Broken World In the beginning, amidst all the darkness, God said let there be Light. How fitting that in Genesis, God knew that Light was integral for life.  He could have left everything in darkness and said that it was good.  But it wasn’t.  In our beginning, we were in darkness, and God said let there be Light when He sent His Son Jesus to save us from our sins.  God knew that Jesus, the Light of the world is integral for life. He could have left us in darkness and said that it was good. But it wasn’t, and He didn’t.  He is the Hope of this broken world. 

are you a giver or a receiver?

Yesterday, one of the couple’s from church were given love gift$ because they were going to the Phils, finally after 20 yrs of waiting. It touched my heart that God’s body wanted to bless them. As a young couple, I’m always hoping Perze and I can bless people as well instead of hoarding things in our storehouse.  It’s a great reminder to take steps of faith and bless people today instead of waiting to always be blessed. On the drive home, I was telling Perze about my burdens, questioning why people had it in them to give while other people don’t have the discernment to give back, instead, just take.  To be honest, I know love should be given unconditionally, but it still makes me feel uneasy when people want you to do so much for them without even the thought of wanting to do the same for you.  Why do people long for attention without giving attention to people who need it just the same?   Through the years, I’ve grown to single out and appreciate the most, those who give…and I mean, those who give.  Specific names pop out, unselfish souls who are giants in generousity, the ones […]

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