Tuesday, November 27, 2012
The Purpose of Conscience
I'm sure every one of us has a conscience because God gave it to us. It is like a radar or a warning system that sends us signal once a disobedience is about to occur. It also alerts us for some important things and factors in order to avoid harmful activities and decisions. The conscience also gives us power to identify those things that are moral and immoral. The question is how we respond on it. Do we ignore it or we use it as an important tool to weigh options that leads us to a better understanding?
Speaking of tool, as a believer, it is actually the "magic gadget" being used by the Holy Spirit. He is responsible to pattern this apparatus conforming to the God's principles and teachings. It sharpens us on the way we think so an immediate response is a must. But we should be reminded that the next thing to happen completely depends on us; how we act on those warnings and signals. It is the sole responsibility of the Holy Spirit to send us notification and advise us on the things that we were about to execute. We can choose to ignore these warning bells and stop hearing about it and put completely to ourselves the control for those situations. But be warned, there's a price for every ungodly things that we do.
In 1 Timothy 1:18-20 (18 Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, 19 holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith. 20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.), mentioned those people who chose to reject the alarms of the conscience. They paid no attention to every word that God gave to them. Result was shipwreck faith. Our faith in Him will be destroyed if we stop on listening to those voices. If we completely ignore the radar then it might stop working and that's the time that we should be scared.
Let's listen to those whispers and pay courtesy to all those signals. Whether we call it radar, alarms or warning, it is very important for a believer to understand the principle of obedience and faith. Don't wait the time when the Holy Spirit will not speak to you anymore. God gave us this opportunity to have someone to be with us and be ensured that it will guide us correctly.
image taken from letnotyourhearts.blogspot.com
Monday, November 26, 2012
Money, Money, Money
This morning, as I checked my investments in the stock market, I was astonished to what I saw. Oh yes, I earned enough and it was a tremendous mark. Being a "newbie" in the stock market, those green marks gave me a huge smile. Sometimes, I really think that money is a big part of our everyday lives and generally, we can't live without it. I am blessed that I have a sufficient supply of it but I never put into my mind that this thing will dictate my lifestyle. I've been to those times of being needy so I know exactly how to be wise enough in spending and not allowing money to change me.
There is a saying that money is the root of all evil. Do you agree on this? Well the Scripture doesn't exactly state this thing. Read carefully what 1 Timothy 6:10 says: "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs". When I first read this passage, I immediately concluded that yes, it is money the root of all evil. Fortunately, my spiritual leader here in Dubai opened our eyes and emphasized the words love of money. Money can be generally good or evil; it matters on how we use it. We can help others using the money and we can hire an assassin to kill a man by spending our money. It really depends on how we execute our spending manner.
What generally makes the love of money the root of evil is the way on how we trust on it for what we need. It is like permitting the money to control us and depend only to it. It is a huge insult to God! Failing to have faith in Him will take away all the opportunities to have a deeper relationship with Him. We cannot take our money when we die, money will be useless in times natural disaster as only God controls it. He can immediately make us poor and strip us out of wealth. Oh yes, He is that powerful. On the other side, the love money isn't always involved in the evil things. But it becomes root in our hearts that we become blinded by its prestige and power and that we sometimes come up with incorrect decisions and ungodly things.
We have been warned so we better take the necessary precautions about it. Spend wisely, save for your future and spend it only on the good way. Sharing it with others will bring you a good feeling and a priceless smile can be seen to others. The world isn't all about the money, we have family and friends and especially, we have Him who gives us unending grace and never ending love.
image taken from truth-not-trickery.blogspot.com
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Honoring Your Parents
Recently, I've met someone whom I believe, is a very loving son. If you think that giving up dreams and goals just to take care of your parents can only be seen in movies, then you are wrong. During his college application, he got three scholarships abroad but he declined all of it because his parents were old and sick and he is their only child. He took care of his parents to the very best that he can. So he continued his studies in his home country and worked as a coach. In my opinion, he showed not just about loving your parents but also honoring them.
Ephesians 6:2 (“Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise) clearly states this directive from God. Honoring our parents is a commandment on which we should all obey. This directive should include loving them, bringing joy into their hearts, respecting them, taking care of them and most importantly obeying them. Yes, we are growing so fast and we might be busy in our present work, responsibilities or appointment. But we should never forget that our parents are growing old. Are you willing to sacrifice your happiness just to show them that you love and respect them? How much of your time you are willing to provide to them and taking care of them? We might also think that our parents caused us a lot of pain and that they did not do so much for us. There will be those memories when there was a lot of pain and struggles. Just surrender your hatred to God and empower the importance of forgiveness. Say to God that you are open for anything and He will show you the true meaning of love.
We should remember that obeying Him has its own gifts. In Exodus 20:12 (“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.), reveals the priceless gift that we will receive. I know it won't be easy for others to honor their parents due to the negative things that have happened in the past. Why don't we just remember those beautiful and happy moments with them, those joyful times that we spent with them and forgetting all the hatred and aches. And to the parents, let your children fly on their own and walk into their journey and embrace them with love. My happy moments with my parents were those times that I was with them abroad and spent quality time with them. Those days were priceless.
Presently, this guy that I'm talking about is now in Dubai. He asked his parents' permission to work here to earn more and be ready for his future. His parents allowed him, probably they thought that it is time for him to grow and find his passion. Maybe this is the priceless gift that this guy received that after taking care of his parents and ensuring that everything is okay now, he can now accommodate the plans for his future. This guy is my personal trainer in gym; I truly admire him on this aspect. I'm happy that I found this kind of person who is passionate on what he is doing and at the same time, a very loving person, friend, human being and most importantly, a SON.
Image taken from tbcsf.blogspot.com
Thursday, November 22, 2012
The True Meaning of Contentment
Many are saying that humans don't know how to be contented in anything; that it is the natural behavior of each one of us. What we normally do is that we compare ourselves with others and looking for anything that we might lack. It is not bad to aim higher or wish for upper grounds but when do we know that we should be contented? For example, you already have the latest iPad but since iPad mini have emerged, you want it too. You have a good job with a good salary but still after a few months, you might want higher pay since your lifestyle has changed. What is the true meaning of contentment and how can we make sure that we will grasp it.
In Philippians 4:10-13 (10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.), it is so amazing that Paul written these words while he was in prison and still, he had all the satisfaction that he needed. These verses clearly state that contentment is the freedom from worry and frustration about anything in life. Once we have learned and accepted that He is in control of everything, then we don't have to worry about everything. Let Him guide us in our every steps of our journey. Don't let any adversities or trials cheat us out of peace. Don't allow any negative intruders sink in our minds that will only lead us into discontentment.
We might have experienced how to be in great need and there were times that we are so plenty. These phases teach us the difference of having everything from nothing at all. That simplicity is a great virtue in every aspect and we should learn to be contented in a simple way. Free from any sadness and letting Him do the rest. There are some situations that we can't control and that it will only bring us again to discontentment. I'm not saying that once we have learned the true meaning of this thing is that we will never encounter anxiety or frustration again. The question here is how we should respond when are facing them. How should we act in times of uncontrollable things? Should we get angry? Do you try to escape? Are you becoming desperate? Why don't we imitate Paul, he surrendered everything to Jesus so that he will get the real peace.
image taken from northwestbc.com
image taken from northwestbc.com
Thursday, November 8, 2012
The Aftermath of Discouragement
Whenever we are facing trials, we become an easy target of the devil and he will do the best that he can to give us negative effects. Most importantly, we might be facing discouragement during these hardships in our life. We sometimes question ourselves on what we could have done wrong and it will totally lead to doubt ourselves. This destructive force can bring us into a situation on which we will become weak.
Discouragement will result into confusion in everything. Our judging power will be affected. Also, the things that we normally do for Christ might be lessen and our attention will be focused on analyzing things. It seems like we are in the dark and the joy that we had will be changed to anger. Then the blame game comes in on which we normally blame others and finger point at someone else that caused us this bad situation. Perhaps we might look fault with God on why He is doing these things to us. Then the feeling of guilt will enter next and will probably blame the past mistakes that we did. After that, bitterness will develop that could cause a manner of vengeance and retaliation. Discouragement can also bring us into depression and great sadness. Be reminded that there will be no healing and restoration if we don't act on these things. We should be helping ourselves with a complete guidance from God.
James 1:2-4 (2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking), clearly states that this point of our life which we are encountering several trials is only a test of faith so we must work hard to overcome it and don't let discouragement overtake us as it will result to bad things. Above behaviors do not portray the true spirit of Christianity. Just pray to Him and ask for revelations and search for any trace of destructive factors that persuade us to this manner. Cast away discouragement immediately in our lives and always look forward for a victorious life with God.
Image taken from leadershipfreak.wordpress.com
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Flourishing Discernment
We might sometimes think that we are smart, well-educated and matured enough to make decisions for ourselves. Yes, we are living in a fast-paced world and immediate decision making is becoming a trend now. But have we considered His Words in coming up resolutions. We all know that wisdom comes from Him and He also wants us to develop the way we impose a conclusion in everything that we do. That is discernment, the ability to identify right from wrong, true and false, correct and error in a biblical way and this thing requires time to develop.
Wisdom is a very powerful tool and we should use it wisely for any judgment that we use. Also, let's continue to grow and don't get contented with what we have now. There is always a room for improvement and nourishment. Let's be hungry and thirsty in cultivating lessons and reading the scriptures will enable us to provide the best judgment. It clearly states in Hebrew 5:12-14 (12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.), that we need to learn all over again and make a restart in every factors in our lives.
Life is full of situations that require immediate discernment. We shouldn't make a rush decision, instead let's provide time on this. Listen carefully to His voice and commit yourselves and time to Him. Don't let your busy schedule and appointments hinder you in understanding the directions He wants us to follow. Spend quiet time with Him and absorb the truth in unhurried manner. Then as we consume the lessons, let's apply it in our lives, put it into practice and make it a training ground to enhance discerning good from evil. The scriptures will reveal to us God's perspectives that will help us to make a wise choice. So it should be our priority to spend time with Him and continue to grow. Keep the fire burning and always look for an opportunity to cultivate more lessons in life. In order to make the best decision for our life, let's always put our eyes on Him as I'm sure, this kind of Christian trait takes time to flourish.
image taken from loyolapress.com
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