Family for the Lord

Family for the Lord
by Danny Tariman

“As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15c)

I have seen the verse in many homes: some in a simple frame hanging on their door, and some are more elaborate. But the meaning is the same – it signifies that the family living in that household are serving the Lord.

I was pleasantly surprised too, to find out that the Internet has a lot of articles on how to serve the Lord.

One that struck me is serving the Lord by serving your own family. This service can take many forms: helping each other in the kitchen, helping your spouse tend the garden, helping your parents clean the house, and many more.

There are also simple ways of serving each other in the family: attentively listening when one is saying something, praying for each other, showing love and respect for each other.

Of course, there are other, and equally important ways of serving: helping in your church ministry, giving your offering and tithes to the church, helping a neighbor in need, comforting the sick or a grieving friend.

There is one common denominator: when done out of love for the Lord, when we give all our hearts in simple ways of service, it is a service for God. As the Bible says in Deuteronomy 10:12 “love and serve the Lord, your God, with your whole heart and with your whole being”.

Reflection: Are you and your family serving the Lord? In what way can you serve Him more?

Prayer: Lord, am sorry for the times I have not given my heart in serving you. May I see You in others whom I serve. Amen.

The Joy of Giving

Family on Mission
The Joy of Giving
by Danny Tariman

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts20:35)

It was a birthday wish that my daughter told my family months in advance.

She wanted to organize a free dental outreach to benefit people who cannot afford to see a dentist.

She saved money for this dental mission of helping the poor. All we have to do is support her, prepare the logistics, and pray for the success of this mission.

Village folks gathering for the free dental services

I contacted a few friends who are in the dental profession. We are blessed that they accepted our invitation. One doctor was even very happy to render her services for free and gave free medicines too, because she will also be celebrating her birth-month on the same month as my daughter.

We organized a remote rural village to be the recipient-beneficiary of this family-organized outreach. We went to a far flung village at the foot of Sierra Madre mountain range in Laguna.

With the help of local leaders, one beautiful Sunday in October, we fulfilled the wish of our daughter to have an outreach mission.

Dentists treating a patient at the village hall.

We were able to provide free dental services – with free medicines – to almost 60 patients. I had the chance to roam around while the event was on-going, and was able to speak to local folks. They were all full of gratitude that their village was a recipient/beneficiary of this dental mission.“

I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.” (Matthew 25:40)

One elderly woman told me “It would be very expensive for us to visit a dentist to have our teeth treated. Thank you very much!”. Many people, including the village head were very thankful for this free dental services.

The “mission team” at work

Out of gratitude, just when we were about to go, the local folks gave us generous portions of their local harvest: buko (young coconuts), rambutans, banana, cassava, lanzones, coconuts. Wow! It was overflowing! They we so insistent to give us all these stuff, we can’t refuse.We are very thankful to the Lord for allowing us to be a channel of His blessings for our less-fortunate brethren. We thank the Lord too for giving us generous dentists who performed the dental procedure, and friends who helped us in this mission.

As the Bible says “it is more blessed to give than to receive”! Indeed we were so blessed to have organized this dental mission. Thank You, Lord!

The “mission team” composed of dental professionals and family friends, resting at a local village store.