I am reminded of the story of David as I go through this season.
As a teenager, David knew full well that God’s destiny for Him was to become King. However, kingship didn’t come right after God revealed His will. Nor did it come right after “college” or “interning” as his father’s Shepherd Boy or King Saul’s Harp Boy. Also, before the prophecy was revealed to David, it was never mentioned that he had an extensive background of leadership except from leading his flock of sheep. Nor did he express an extreme desire to be ruler of the land. Not exactly the resume that would sweep off royal honchos, huh?
On the onset, it was clear that David had the gift of music. Just the invitation of performing for the King was more than enough affirmation of this gift. If David was like me and he was looking for a sign on what to pursue, this would totally push my button. And if David was a close chum of mine, I would logically presume that this guy was bound to be the next big rock star destined to change the face of music! However, God had already drawn out the plans – grander plans.
At the time of David’s anointing for Kingship, it was clear that He didn’t have the resume for the job. Unlike Goliath and Saul who were built for battle early on, David had nothing to be confident about but God. From this, God built him in leadership and skill for battle. Trust God to be the grandest teacher of all. No MBAs or PhDs from the School of Kingship were required. God knew exactly how to mold His young apprentice and it wasn’t the easy way. Definitely no short cuts. Still, God gave him success in all he did that all of Israel and Judah learned to love this self-proclaimed “poor” and “little known” man.
It took a whirlwind of an adventure filled with hardships and trial before David finally took the throne. And even as King, it was not always smooth sailing for David. The adultery? The murder? The rebellion? Enough said. Nevertheless, David’s destiny was fulfilled. “...David had served God’s purpose in his generation...” (Acts 13:36)
What about David’s gift of music? God certainly did not let that go to waste. David’s gift of music eventually led to the Psalms which has inspired and changed lives generation after generation of who knows what.
Achieving our God-willed destiny would probably prove to be no easy feat. Like David, the path could mean coming across the Goliath and Saul of this world. Through it all, God brought this man of humble beginnings in a place of honor to lead His people.
In Jeremiah 29:11, it says, “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”It gives me great comfort that whatever path I take, whether it’s my destiny or distraction. God will find a way to correct me and place me when and where I need to be.
I do not get to know God and then do His will. I get to know Him more deeply by doing His will. – Philip Yancey
Thursday, October 28, 2010
The David Digest, Part 1: An Introduction
Lately I’ve been reading a lot about how certain successful people came to where they are now. For the most part, I can certainly say that there is not one definite equation on how they came to the “peak” of their success.
Take these Filipino restaurateurs. (Pardon me for the food/business related examples. This might be proof of me flirting(?) with my food/business dreams. :| :| :|)
Margarita Fores. Owner of the well known restaurant chain Cibo and other successful restaurant ventures. She has had no professional training in cooking. Rather, she got into fashion and stayed in Italy. From there, she embraced the culture of Italians and couldn’t help but share the love for their food. And the rest is history.
Lizzie Guerrero. General Manager of The Old Spaghetti House, Chili Willy’s, Grilla and The Stock Market. For her, it was just the natural course to put up a restaurant business. Having been into cooking and baking the most part of her youth and being married to a man whose family owns Cravings, putting up their own restaurant seemed like the natural thing to do. And the rest is history.
Larry J. Cruz. Founder of LJC Group of Restaurants which includes Cafe Adriatico, Abe, Cafe Havana and Bistro Remedios. He’s a very prominent writer. And he confessed himself that he can’t cook. However, later on, he ventured into the food business. And the rest is history.
Let’s go international.
Last summer I watched Julie and Julia, a movie based on the real life story of Julie Powell(Amy Adams) and Julia Child(Meryl Streep).
If you have no idea who Julia Child is, she is the author of Mastering the Art of French Cooking and host of a 1963 television show, The French Chef. Before becoming a master chef herself, Child was professionally into writing and advertising. It was in her late thirties when she stayed in Paris with her husband that she got into French cooking. In the movie, I found it quite funny how she became the most competitive since she was the only woman enrolled in the obviously dominant male class in Le Cordon Bleu. Moreover, being American, racial judgments were definitely at hand. I could go on and on about the trials and hardships that Julia Child went through on how she got to where she was and is but that is what the movie is for.
Julie Powell? She earned popularity from her blog and book on her successful attempt to go by Child’s book. Google her.
Story time over. Reflection now.
“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you...” (Isaiah 30:18)
This verse never fails to strike me. I hope that we wouldn’t be swooned by Satan’s lie that God doesn’t care because He does. Even if I choose to give up caring, He won’t. That’s just who He is. I’ve been so stressed out lately of finding the right path for me – of determining which step to take to grasp on to that God-willed destiny. Maybe in my “concern” for determining God’s will for my life, I’ve overlooked the fact that I can never “out-concern” Him. As much as I want to pursue His vision for my life, He’s even crazier for me to get there. He’s the one who planned it out!
Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Andy Stanley puts it this way, “God does not give out direction for contemplation and consideration. He gives it out for participation.” It’s not a matter of tell-me-Your-will-then-I-weigh-my-options. It’s a heart of “Yes, God!” before anything else.
This season of path finding made me assess areas of my spiritual life primarily that of Trust. Again, God brings me to His revelation of being still and waiting. Again, He brings me back to the value of child-like faith – of wondrous amazement of who He is and what He can do. Will I have faith enough to believe that He is able to fulfil the craziest of dreams that would be set in my heart? Will I be humble enough to obey and take that leap of faith? Will I listen?
Take these Filipino restaurateurs. (Pardon me for the food/business related examples. This might be proof of me flirting(?) with my food/business dreams. :| :| :|)
Margarita Fores. Owner of the well known restaurant chain Cibo and other successful restaurant ventures. She has had no professional training in cooking. Rather, she got into fashion and stayed in Italy. From there, she embraced the culture of Italians and couldn’t help but share the love for their food. And the rest is history.
Lizzie Guerrero. General Manager of The Old Spaghetti House, Chili Willy’s, Grilla and The Stock Market. For her, it was just the natural course to put up a restaurant business. Having been into cooking and baking the most part of her youth and being married to a man whose family owns Cravings, putting up their own restaurant seemed like the natural thing to do. And the rest is history.
Larry J. Cruz. Founder of LJC Group of Restaurants which includes Cafe Adriatico, Abe, Cafe Havana and Bistro Remedios. He’s a very prominent writer. And he confessed himself that he can’t cook. However, later on, he ventured into the food business. And the rest is history.
Let’s go international.
Last summer I watched Julie and Julia, a movie based on the real life story of Julie Powell(Amy Adams) and Julia Child(Meryl Streep).
If you have no idea who Julia Child is, she is the author of Mastering the Art of French Cooking and host of a 1963 television show, The French Chef. Before becoming a master chef herself, Child was professionally into writing and advertising. It was in her late thirties when she stayed in Paris with her husband that she got into French cooking. In the movie, I found it quite funny how she became the most competitive since she was the only woman enrolled in the obviously dominant male class in Le Cordon Bleu. Moreover, being American, racial judgments were definitely at hand. I could go on and on about the trials and hardships that Julia Child went through on how she got to where she was and is but that is what the movie is for.
Julie Powell? She earned popularity from her blog and book on her successful attempt to go by Child’s book. Google her.
Story time over. Reflection now.
“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you...” (Isaiah 30:18)
This verse never fails to strike me. I hope that we wouldn’t be swooned by Satan’s lie that God doesn’t care because He does. Even if I choose to give up caring, He won’t. That’s just who He is. I’ve been so stressed out lately of finding the right path for me – of determining which step to take to grasp on to that God-willed destiny. Maybe in my “concern” for determining God’s will for my life, I’ve overlooked the fact that I can never “out-concern” Him. As much as I want to pursue His vision for my life, He’s even crazier for me to get there. He’s the one who planned it out!
Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Andy Stanley puts it this way, “God does not give out direction for contemplation and consideration. He gives it out for participation.” It’s not a matter of tell-me-Your-will-then-I-weigh-my-options. It’s a heart of “Yes, God!” before anything else.
This season of path finding made me assess areas of my spiritual life primarily that of Trust. Again, God brings me to His revelation of being still and waiting. Again, He brings me back to the value of child-like faith – of wondrous amazement of who He is and what He can do. Will I have faith enough to believe that He is able to fulfil the craziest of dreams that would be set in my heart? Will I be humble enough to obey and take that leap of faith? Will I listen?
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