On Mining and Wisdom

With the negative impact of mining on the environment and on the livelihoods of the inhabitants near the mining site, it is not surprising that #NoToMining was trending on Twitter in the Philippines. I wonder how this issue will affect the mining stocks. I wonder what Tim Sykes, a trader, will say about that.


While reading the Bible, I stumbled upon a chapter in Job about mining and wisdom. The timing was perfect since the news and Twitter were abuzz with the issue on mining. I will paste all of it here so that we could all gather insights.

Job 28 (NIV) 

Interlude: Where Wisdom Is Found 

 ¹ There is a mine for silver 

   and a place where gold is refined. 

² Iron is taken from the earth, 

   and copper is smelted from ore. 

³ Mortals put an end to the darkness; 

   they search out the farthest recesses 

   for ore in the blackest darkness. 

⁴ Far from human dwellings they cut a shaft, 

   in places untouched by human feet; 

   far from other people they dangle and sway. 

Moms: Purposefully Make Time For God

I'd like to share this article to Christian moms like me who are too caught up in a busy mommy life that devotions with the Lord come very rarely. It is entitled The spiritual life of a busy mom: Carving out time with God when there's no time to be had.

http://www.ctk-nola.org/Biblehomepage.html

Here are some practical solutions that I could do in between cooking for my family and spending time with my little ones:

•One mother recently started spending devotional time with God during the first 20-30 minutes of her twin daughters’ nap time. She views this time as a spiritual act of worship in which she can literally trust God to help her accomplish everything she still needs to do that day. “I find that time alone with God is especially crucial to re-set my priorities and refresh my heart on the days when it feels like I don't have time to be alone with God today. Those are the days when devotional time with God is most life-giving for me, my husband and my children.”


•Another mom said, “I love to listen to the local Christian station or to Christian CDs in the car. Right now, my favourite is the CD my church's choir put together last year. It's full of the praise music we sing every Sunday, so I feel like I'm sitting in my regular worship service every time I listen to it.”

•“I try to make time for Christian books occasionally. And, whenever possible, I look for a women's Bible study at my church to join. That has always been a blessing, as I'm able to fellowship with other Christian women and moms while finding a quiet hour away from the kids and the constant needs at home.”

•“I keep a weekly prayer journal that's divided into three parts: thanks, confession and requests.”

•“Surprisingly, I find that moments when I am simply sitting, watching and enjoying my daughter, are moments when I am more aware of God’s presence than ever. That’s when, in my heart, I thank Him for her, recognize how blessed I am and utter quick prayers (two-sentence pleas) to Him for her, for me as her mom, and for my husband.”

•Pray while in the shower or when you’re getting ready for the day.

•Write reminders and memory verses on sticky notes around the house.

•Set a reminder on your phone or computer to remind you each day to fit in some quality time with God.

•Read the Bible with your kids, even if they’re playing on the floor and don’t seem to really be listening. By doing so, you’re setting a good example – and they might even surprise you by how much they absorb!

•Purchase an audio version of the Bible (some websites also offer these). Listen while you cook dinner, fold laundry or do other household tasks. Also great while in the carpool lane!

•Set your children up with a craft project (something that needs minimal supervision) or institute an “alone time” each day when everyone plays or relaxes in their own room. Use this time to study Scripture, read a devotional book or simply pray.

What Lies Ahead

I welcome the year 2011 with God's grace, mercy and blessings! A new year entails a new and revised set of goals, some milestones to achieve especially with children.

• Caleb is going to start on solids already, so my goal is to get him to eat veggies so it will become a habit. I do not want him to be like his sister who loathes greens and orange-colored vegetables.
• Speaking of habit, I want praying to become our family's habit. Also, reading the Bible again and again I will incorporate in my everyday life.
• Financially, I need to be careful with spending and peruse sites like Savings.com. I hope I make good use of deals that could help me save money in the long run. Also, I need to market Human Nature aggressively. I am starting with that by giving the products as gifts for any occasion. I wish they would like them and order from me. 
• De-clutter, a word I dread but is a must! Our house is as chaotic as it can be. Practice being ruthless is what I should do when it comes to cleaning out shelves, toy boxes and closets. I have to keep in mind that the more I give out or give up, the more space I'll have for new stuff.
• I aim to teach my daughter more on the alphabet and to write letters and numbers better. Did I mention that she started junior nursery already last November? I was proud that she didn't cry on her first day and first week of classes. And it's heart-warming to see that she has a zeal for school since she likes to answer her assignments.
• I also have a new blog, which I call: 

Please click here to learn more about it

I didn't include it anymore, but this is the first story I wrote for my blog. The new blog was created on impulse, actually. So I decided that my fictitious stories be stored in one place. I hope to write more and share my inspirations, thoughts and stories woven from my loom of a mind. I also hope that some people will bother to read it. :-)

By the way,this is my first ever entry to Mommy Moments hosted by Mommy Chris.

Preparing For A Toddler

Infanticipating couples or families usually prepare for the baby by:

• Painting and decorating the nursery
• Setting up the crib, car seat, carrier, stroller, playpen, high chair
• Washing, ironing, folding, sorting the baby clothes and accessories
• Shopping for age appropriate toys
• Looking for a competent pediatrician
• Research baby names online or through books

But, how do we prepare for a toddler? The ways listed below are based on my own experience with my toddler.

• Buy sturdy furniture
• Also a sturdy bed and mattress for jumping
• Have completely washable walls as they are canvasses for the scribbler
• Watch out for paint that's starting to peel, or this might happen:

Doesn't it look like a silhouette of an animal in slouchy jeans?

• Remove fragile items within her reach, goodbye to centerpieces on the coffee table
• Expect magazine pages to go missing
• Be creative
• Be armed with PATIENCE (something I am still learning)

A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense. Proverbs 19:11
Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone. Proverbs 25:15

The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. Ecclesiastes 7:8

⁵in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; ⁶in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; ⁷in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 2 Corinthians 6:5-7

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

¹⁰And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully ¹²giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. Colossians 1:10-12

¹²Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:12-13

But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 1 Timothy 1:16

Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 2 Timothy 4:2

⁴Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5

Note: Bible verses from BibleGateway.com

Meet Caleb

His first name was chosen by his daddy, I chose Caleb as his second name. Why Caleb?

• I wanted a name from the Bible.
• But not a super common one here in the Philippines.
• He was mentioned by God, as in the verse in the picture above
• He was faithful to God.
• He knows and declares God's victory. (He was one of the spies sent to the promised land of Canaan.) "Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said,'We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.'" Numbers 13:30
• Know more about Caleb here and here.

Branches and Root

Most moms, like me, cannot help but find their children to be their sources of great pride. It is but natural. We find ourselves comparing notes with other moms and launching into a detailed account of how we successfully potty-trained our little ones in just a week, for example. My daughter Elle is a blessing from the Lord, she is wonderfully and beautifully made by Him. I cannot credit her lovely attributes to myself alone, she was made with my hubby Rix, of course. And we are partners in raising her. Also, parenting needs loads of wisdom from God. He is after all the greatest parent everyone could have. So there is no room for me to boast of Elle's good points, I am just grateful that the Lord, the root that supports our family, has made her that way, I am just there to enhance them and lead her to Jesus.

God's Word is Precious

It sure is nice to go back to those times when we were happy, ecstatic, and filled with positive anticipation of what life has to give. But when things do not go the way we wanted them to, when the people we thought would make us happy didn't quite meet our expectations, we are weighed down with sorrow. It seems as if there is nothing but despair to look forward to, it seems life does not go on for us. But God says there is hope for all. There is light at the end of the dark and damp tunnel we are going through. He gives His word on that, we can rely on His precious and great promises written in the Bible. Even if the people we love seem to desert us in times of great need, God will never ever leave us. Trying moments are there to teach us to trust in Him, in His goodness, in His love. To be close to Him is what He desires. In time, I will see the reasons and the lessons for the difficulties I am going through.