How Do I Find God’s Will?

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.  Ephesians 5:17


A certain woman wanting to join her church group going to Israel wondered if she should spend the money.  “God,” she prayed, “please give me a sign and show me what I should do.”  Placing the glossy brochure on her table beside the bed, she drifted off to sleep.  Waking the next morning, she noticed the digital clock read 7:47 AM.  “Didn’t the brochure say we were traveling on a Boeing 747?” she asked herself as she picked up the brochure for another look.


“Yes, that’s it!  That’s my sign,” she thought, quite convinced that she had, indeed, found the mind of the Lord in this decision.


Question: How do you find the mind of God when it comes to decisions?  Is it through coincidence, through dreams or visions, through a combination of circumstances or events, or by flipping a coin?  Others, however, are not at all certain that God really cares whether you visit Israel or take your money and invest in the stock market.


There is one thing for certain.  Each of us has a will of our own—a strong one, too.  You were born with it, and it takes only a few days—sometimes even hours–after you’ve made your entrance in the world to start exercising your will.  Your will is pitted against the will of your parents, and you quickly exert your desire to make your own decisions.


Before Christ came, finding God’s will was more difficult than it is today.  The psalmist of David’s day said that we are not to be like the horse or mule whose direction is subject to a bit and bridle (Psalm 32:9).  An animal who has a bit in its mouth learns very quickly that to exert its will against the will of the rider results in painful protest. The animal is no longer free to do as it pleases.  Refusing the will of the rider results in suffering discomfort or even outright pain.  The message here is that if you don’t follow God’s guidance, you’ll face the consequences.


When Paul wrote to the Ephesians, he instructed them not to be ignorant of God’s will but rather to understand what is His will.  Two words or concepts stand in opposition to each other: an ignorance of what God wants in contrast to an understanding of God’s will, which includes your mind and will.  The word Paul uses to describe a lack of understanding is a strong one.  It means ignorant, or—in the vernacular—just plain stupid.  It’s like ignoring a road map because you are too proud to admit you don’t know where you are going, refusing to look at a compass thinking that you can figure out where to go and what to do without any help.


A final thought: When you become a parent for the first time, you quickly learn that parenting is eighteen years of sometimes gently and sometimes forcibly struggling to determine who is going to be in charge—you or your child.  And the same thing applies to you and your Heavenly Father.  God’s will is better than yours because He knows the end from the beginning. He also knows what’s around the corner, the hidden hazards you can’t see, and He’s far more interested in your doing His will than even you are.


The word Paul uses when he talks of understanding God’s will means you use your brain, you think and evaluate.  It’s a head decision—not an emotional or heart decision.


In His Word, the Bible, God has given us a blueprint, a roadmap, a compass, and a game plan for life. Most of our failures when it comes to understanding what God wants of us come because we make emotional decisions rather than rational ones based on the direction He has given to us through this book.  You can find His will when you seek it, and you can be sure that when you do, you will know, no matter what the digital clock may read.


Resource reading: Ephesians 5:1-18.


https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/how-do-i-find-gods-will/

Autonomous Bangsamoro government takes over Cotabato city

Almost two years after a referendum was held in the southern Philippines, the administration of Cotabato city was formally taken over by the autonomous Bangsamoro government on Tuesday.


Al-Hajj Murad Ebrahim, chief minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), said his government is "pleased and honored to accept the responsibilities of supervising Cotabato City and 63 barangays from North Cotabato as part of BARMM." A barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and corresponds to a village, district, or ward.


In an earlier statement, Ebrahim had said: "The plebiscite in January 2019 for the city's inclusion revealed the will of the majority of the people in Cotabato City."


"Through this process, they democratically signified their desire to join the rest of the region in our shared quest for lasting peace, development and right to self-determination," Ebrahim added.


For his part, Bangsamoro Minister of Interior and Local Government Naguib Sinarimbo committed to implementing the law and providing necessary technical assistance to ensure that all BARMM local government units are able to optimize their performance.


An official statement said the ceremony was held at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex inside the Bangsamoro Government Center in Cotabato City.


Sinarimbo signed the takeover documents, along with Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano.


Working together


Around the city, people early on Tuesday took to motorbike rallies expressing joy over formally becoming part of the Bangsamoro autonomous regional government.


"We welcome the City of Cotabato and 63 barangays from North Cotabato to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao," Sinarimbo said.


Ano added: "The people of Cotabato City have spoken when they voted in favor of inclusion to the Bangsamoro Government in a plebiscite in January 2019."


Meanwhile, another Bangsamoro government official, Marjorie Jalosjos, underlined that working together with different offices would be "important to sustain peace in the country."


Debold Sinas, Chief of the Philippine National Police, said the police force is committed to "full support to the gains of the Bangsamoro people."


With its inclusion, Cotabato will be the region's third city. Lamitan City in Basilan and Lanao del Sur's capital Marawi City are two other cities in the autonomous region with a population of nearly five million, according to unofficial figures.


It was on Jan. 21 last year that a majority of 36,682 residents of Cotabato voted in favor of joining the newly-formed BARMM.


Earlier, the now-replaced Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) also ran its administration from Cotabato, thought the city was not under its administrative jurisdiction.


Autonomous government


A historic referendum was held on Jan. 21 and Feb. 6 last year in southern Mindanao, granting autonomy to Moro Muslims.


On Feb. 26, Ebrahim took his post from the central government's regional governor in an official ceremony.


He was appointed by President Duterte to administer the Bangsamoro Transition Authority through to 2022.


With comprehensive autonomy, Muslims will be free in their internal affairs, being able to establish and administer courts of Islamic law within their jurisdiction and manage their surrounding waters jointly with the central government.


They will be bound to the Philippines in foreign policy, though with some flexibility.


In addition, former fighters of the Moro National Liberation Front, as well as those from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front will be eligible to join the official armed forces.


https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/autonomous-bangsamoro-govt-takes-over-cotabato-city/2077456

Cotabato City now officially part of Bangsamoro region

COTABATO City —Nearly two years after its residents voted for inclusion through a plebiscite on Jan. 21, 2019, Cotabato City is now officially part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) following a ceremonial turnover held Tuesday, Dec. 15, in the city.


National Secretary of Interior and Local Government Eduardo Año and Interior and Local Government Minister  Naguib Sinarimbo led the ceremony through signing of documents to facilitate the transfer of supervision of Cotabato City to the BARMM, as well as properties and assets, and movable properties and records of the DILG Cotabato Field Office.


“Nagagalak akong makasama kayo sa ating makasaysayang paglipat ng Lungsod ng Cotabato, kasama ang iba pang mga barangays, pag-aari at kagamitan, sa pamamahala ng BARMM,” Año said in his speech.


During the ceremony, Año also formally turned over the supervision for the 63 barangays from North Cotabato to Sinarimbo.


“The people have spoken, their outcry for autonomy resounding loud and clear throughout the archipelago,” Año said.


“The Bangsamoro Organic Law was ratified, thus fating the transfer of Cotabato City, 63 barangays from North Cotabato, DILG Regional Office, properties, assets and records to the BARMM government,” Año added.


He underscored that through the leadership of Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim and MILG Minister Sinarimbo, “we will continue to improve the standard of governance and steer public service to cater to the needs of our Moro brethren.”


“Rest assured that in allowing you, our Muslim fellowmen to retake control of your destinies, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) will not let you tread through this rocky and unfamiliar path alone,” Año said.


Sinarimbo said the ceremony "marks another significant milestone" in the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement of the Bangsamoro as well as the Bangsamoro Organic Law.


“I commit to implement the law and provide all the necessary technical assistance to ensure that this (Cotabato City) local government unit, like all of the LGUs under the jurisdiction of the Bangsamoro Government, are able to optimize their performance,” Sinarimbo said.


Meanwhile, Ebrahim said the Bangsamoro Government was pleased and honored to accept the responsibility of supervising Cotabato City and the 63 barangays of North Cotabato as part of the BARMM.


“Sa turn over na ito, tayong lahat ang panalo, walang talo. In shaa Allah,” Ebrahim said.


“The historic vote for its inclusion during the 2019 plebiscite on the Bangsamoro Organic Law signals the people’s shared desire for lasting peace, development and understanding to the Bangsamoro people’s right to self-determination,” he added.


The chief minister assured that BARMM’s development will echo in the city and the 63 barangays, with no constituency left behind regardless of faith, ethnicity, or affiliation.


“We ask our dear constituents to find commonalities among our differences, to choose hope over fear, to choose unity over division, and to work together in co-creating the Bangsamoro – reflective of our shared stories as Moros, Christian Settlers, and Indigenous communities,” Ebrahim said.


Witnesses to the ceremony were National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Philippine National Police Chief Debold Sinas,  BARMM Grand Mufti Abu Huraira Udasan, Executive Secretary Abdulraof Macacua, Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal, DILG Undersecretary Marjorie Jalosjos, provincial governors, and municipal mayors, among others.


Also present were Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Undersecretary David Diciano and, via zoom, Department of Finance Undersecretary Bayani Agabin.


Meanwhile, Cotabato City officials led by Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi maintained their opposition to the inclusion in BARMM.


In her statement, she said they are still awaiting the result of the petition filed before the Supreme Court.


Wearing red shirts, employees of the city showed their support for the mayor.


Security measures were tight around the city to ensure the safe and orderly conduct of the turnover ceremony.—LDF, GMA News


https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/768137/cotabato-city-now-officially-part-of-bangsamoro-region/story/

Cotabato City, 63 Cotabato province villages now officially part of BARMM

COTABATO CITY—The seat of the Moro autonomous region on Tuesday (Dec. 15) became officially part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).


Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano formally turned over supervision of the city to the BARMM Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG) at a ceremony in the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex here.


Año also turned over supervision of 63 villages in six towns of Cotabato province which, along with the city, voted to become part of BARMM at a plebiscite in 2019 to ratify the Bangsamoro Organic Act.


As part of the handover, Año transferred the records and assets of the former DILG regional office and the Cotabato City field office to the BARMM.


With the DILG chief during the turnover rites were Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Debold Sinas, and Undersecretary David Diciano of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.


Also at the event were, among others, BARMM interim Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal, BARMM Executive Secretary Abdulraof Macacua, Maguindanao Gov. Mariam Mangudadatu, Sultan Kudarat Gov. Suharto Mangudadatu and Cotabato provincial administrator Efren Piñol, representing Gov. Nancy Catamco.


“We all know it will not be easy to bring change and the processes for the turnover of governance of Cotabato City to BARMM,” said Ano in a speech at the ceremony. “This has a big implication and impact on the security situation and safety of the entire city and region,” he said.


He also appealed to armed groups to end the violence in the city and the whole of Mindanao.


“We are all tired of violence, so now is the time for us to win together,” he said, noting officials involved in the transition should lead the local governments through this rough journey of transition.


The 63 villages of Cotabato province included Dunguan and Tapodoc in Aleosan; Manarapan, Nasapian, Kibayao, Ktulaan, Langogan, Pebpoloan and Tupig in Carmen;


Nanga-an, Simbuhay, Sanggadong, Buluan, Pedtad, Simone and Tamped in Kabacan; Damatulan, Kadigasan, Kadingilan, Kapinpilan, Kudarangan, Central Labas, Malingao, Mudseng, Nabalawag, Olandang, Sambulawan, Tugal and Tumbras in Midsayap;


Lower Baguer, Balacayon, Buricain, Datu Binasing, Kadingilan, Matilac, Patot, Lower Pangangkalan, Datu Mantil, Libungan Torreta, Upper Pangangkalan and Simsiman in Pigcawayan; and


Bagoinged, S. Balong, S. Balongis, Batulaawan, Buliok, Gokotan, Kabasalan, Lagunde, Macabual, Macasendeg, Barungis, Bualan, Bulol, Fort Pikit, Gli-gli, Manaulanan, Nabundas, Nalapaan, Nunguan, Pamalian, Panicupan and Rajah Muda in Pikit.


Although the capital of the now defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao since 1989, Cotabato City was never part of that political entity.


Edited by TSB


https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1372111/cotabato-city-63-cotabato-province-villages-now-officially-part-of-barmm