Mini Bites 6.0

Your talents make a way for you. 

Daniel was so good that the king had to create a new position for him just so his talents could be of better use. Daniel didn't scheme his way to the top. Daniel didn't have a 5 year plan. Daniel was faithful where he was and those above saw and realized his potential to do more and gave him the opportunity to do so. 

If you want more, then do the most where you are right now. Do more than what they ask for. Be faithful with what you have at this moment and a way will be made for you. If not by humans, then definitely by God. He will always find ways to elevate you. 

Mini Bites 5.0

God isn't looking for grandiose, extraordinary actions. No, He isn't looking for a marvelous show. Although what you do may look small to you, it pleases God immensely because it shows faith. With that tiny step, you're telling God "Here is what I can do and I'm trusting you to do what I cannot do." It shows that you aren't going to worry, that you won't micromanage Him, that you will rest while He takes care of the rest. That's all He ever wanted: faith as small as a mustard seed. Remember that can move mountains!
Hebrews 11:6 Matthew 17:20 James 2:14-26

Mini Bites 4.0

Contentment is a heart condition: who or what are you gonna place your hope in? Transitory things that are here one moment and gone the next? Or God, who was and is and is to come? (Matthew 6: 19-21) He is constant. He will never leave you nor forsake you. If you hand over all of who you are to God, no calamity, no trouble, no heartache can steal your joy, your hope that is in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:35-39). He is unshakable  He is unmovable. God is the surest bet you can ever make in these uncertain times. Place your hope in Him (Psalm 42:11).

Mini Bites 3.0

Doing the right thing, following God is hard especially when you look around and see worldly people thriving while fruit is barely manifesting in your own life. But don't give in, don't give up the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12). Of course living in the world looks appetizing. The devil wants you to stumble into sin, so he's gonna make it look tempting. But you have to remember that the world is not your example- do not conform!- Jesus is your only example: He is the only way! (Roman 12:2). Keep your eyes on Him and your feet will not stumble (Proverbs 3:23-24). He will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:6) and in due season, your life will be a harvest full of His promises. Waiting on God will never be in vain. He always delivers right on time. 

Siri And Me

I stalled at the light.

Again, Siri said to turn right for I-405 North.

I looked up and to the right was the sign clearly marked for I-405 South.

She repeated herself. I yelled back that it said South. "What are you doing? Where are you trying to take me?"

Because this wasn't the first time she gave me dubious directions. I had half a mind to cross the street and take the exit for the real I-405 North but I didn't. She kept saying my exit was to the right. She kept saying it was this right. Not the right coming up or the left where I thought the correct one was. She said this right, right next to me, right now: take it.

"God, don't You forsaken me at 10:30 at night!" I screamed as I, against my better judgement, followed Siri's directions.

It was dark and I was tired and I was in a city that I haven't explored in the daylight so for once I decided to listen to what Siri had to say.

But I did it begrudgingly. Every few inches my car went, I threatened Siri that if she wasn't taking me home, I would personally bury her and come up with a better version of GPS.

I'm smart enough, I could definitely do a better job.

This isn't the first time that I have had a heated conversation with Siri. These past few months I contemplated throwing her out the window because she is so frustrating!

Our hate-hate relationship started when I moved across country to L.A.

I knew what I was getting into, driving from Florida to California, but dang every time I looked at Siri, her blue dot moved like an inch after an hour of driving! That didn't make sense. All these mountains and trees and grass passing me by and Siri still telling me I have thousands of miles left...

e.g 2,000 miles left to destination-hour passes-1,997 miles left to destination.

What you talking about Siri?!

Despite the many headaches, the many detours and the many missed exits I have had to endure with Siri being my guide, God has taught me a lot through this contraption.

I am a control freak. I read the directions beforehand (I try to memorize them but my brain doesn't work that way anymore) and then I hold my phone in my hand always double-checking what Siri spits out. Which is dangerous because my eyes aren't even on the road, the road that is on a mountain most of the time.

Yea, I drive on mountains with no hands sometimes: I am fearless.

And yes, I do have Siri speak out loud but her voice doesn't make me feel comfortable especially when she thinks it's all good to tell me this next exit, the exit that I am about to pass by is the exit I need to take and I'm 3 lanes away...

Siri, where they do that at?

But this doesn't even compare with the trouble I have with God.

On many occasions, I try to take the map from His hands, thinking that I can do a better job than Him.

• I take detours and end up lost.
• I always second guess His directions especially when the signs in the physical world don't match up with what's being said.
• I get restless and bored when the journey becomes too long, causing me to doubt if I am actually going the right way, if I am actually seen by Him.
• Then I always feel frazzled and rushed with those last minute warnings to go a certain route.

This walk with God is exhausting and it doesn't have to be that way.

I need to trust Him. I need to have faith.

• I need to trust that even when I make mistakes, when the world turns against me that He will make everything work for my good and His glory (Romans 8:28).
• I need to trust that He is sovereign, that His word will be regardless of what's happening in my life. It will happen the way He said it will (2 Corinthians 5:7).
• I need to trust that I am always on His mind, that He hasn't forgotten about me (Psalm 56:8). I also need to trust that even on the long trips, when nothing is happening, I am on the right path (Proverbs 16:9).
• And I need to trust that when He does call me that He will grace me with the ability to do His will (1 Corinthians 15:10, Philippians 4:13, 2 Corinthians 12:9).

If I could just do that, trust a bit more, my life would be so much easier!

Because to be honest, when I intervene, I'm not helping at all: I'm hindering His plans. I slow things down and more time is added to the wait as He cleans up my mess.

And all that could be avoided if I had faith because I'm not good at the patience thing either.

But I thank God that He is still faithful when I get my control-freak on. He will never give up on me even when I am faithless. He is still there for me through all my hangups.

And God is still there through yours too, no matter what. Don't ever forget that.

Mini Bites 2.0

Your action activates your blessings. You have to do something in order to receive. What you have been praying for will not fall into your lap if you stay in bed. Faith is not passive; it is dead without works, without action (James 2:17). God is faithful but are you acting as if He is? Are you walking into His promises? Or are you letting fear hold you back? It's ok to be scared but do it anyway. God will make a way in the desert (Isaiah 43:19). Don't let your circumstances fool you; God is able. He is more than able: He is sufficient. Now walk like it.