tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48666202843565042332024-03-05T12:55:12.148+08:00His Wordscarlomalbashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408377304179787794noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4866620284356504233.post-17223766281584257002018-11-21T14:24:00.001+08:002018-11-21T14:24:06.159+08:00Thinking Good Things<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you believe that the state of your emotion is mainly caused by the things you think? Usually, the stress we experience is because of our internal battle. Be reminded that our mind is a special gift from God. Imagine, there are more than billions of thoughts that our minds can process but we have the freedom to choose what to think.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The bible says - "<i>whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things</i>" (<b>Philippians 4:8</b>). It is very clear that Paul was saying that we can choose what we think and his words encourages us to think only the right things because they impact our lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Minsan ang iniisip natin sa umaga pa lang is our problems, struggles and remedies that can be done. But once you open your eyes, isn't it wonderful to t<u><i>hank the Lord and think of the blessings that He can give us</i></u>? Pag nagto-throwback tayo, mas nakakatuwang isipin at alalahanin yung mga magagandang bagay na nangyari di ba? And with our current status, if we are in the midst of trials, <i>it is way better to think about the things that are praiseworthy because we have a lot to be thankful for the Lord</i>. If you start the day with happy thoughts then your whole day will be awesome.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So let's focus on the good things only. Sabi nga ng isang mentee ko, "<i>let's focus on the positive things na lang because the world is not perfect</i>". Then sabi din ng isa kong mentee, "<i>life is better if puno ng love and compassion ang puso natin and hindi puro galit, pride and ego</i>". So... itigil mo na yang pagpapakataas at pagwo-worry, focus tayo sa good things at sa mga magagandang bagay na nangyayari sa buhay natin. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Photo credit: <a href="https://www.trainingzone.co.uk/deliver/coaching/practical-questions-you-can-use-for-roi-thinking" target="_blank">thinkingzone.com</a></i></span></div>
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carlomalbashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408377304179787794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4866620284356504233.post-41023903034638294902018-11-13T15:58:00.000+08:002018-11-13T15:58:07.834+08:00It Is Not Fair<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Probably most of us have felt that something isn't fair. That we deserve better, that we deserve so much more. Yes it is true, sometimes nagiging selfish tayo. Probably because we were born in a selfish nature. Remember noong bata tayo, we ask for whatever we want. Like, "I want food! Take care of me! I want that!" But let's admit, there are times na tayo rin mismo, nagiging unfair sa ibang tao. Sometimes we feel that we are more privileged sa ibang tao. Madalas din it is easier for us to see the mistakes of other rather than looking at our own. As we all know, <b>nobody is perfect</b> - that is why <u><i>we really need JESUS in our lives</i></u>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The good news is, God is letting these kinds of attitudes as mentioned in <b>Ecclesiastes 3:18 TLB</b> (“<i>God is letting the world go on its sinful way so that He can test mankind, and so that men themselves will see that they are no better than beasts</i>”). Imagine, without God in our lives, we will become inhumane to each other. Without God, there will be no forgiveness, patience and compassion. Lahat tayo nagkakamali, the only thing that makes the difference is how we respond to it. Magpapakamataas ba tayo, paiiralin ba natin ang pride? Itatanim ba natin sa puso natin na lagi tayong tama at full of pain and hatred? Na napaka-unfair? Or we will <b>chill down, pray to God, be humble and surrender to God</b>?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let's face the truth that time will come that we will be answerable to God with all the injustices that we committed so we need mercy. We are not just the victims but sometimes we are perpetrators too. It means that we need Jesus in our lives, always!. He can vindicate and refresh us as written in <b>Psalm 40:17 MSG</b> ("<i>I’m a mess. I’m nothing and have nothing; make something of me. You [God] can do it; you’ve got what it takes</i>"). So the next time you feel that you were treated unfairly, be reminded that every person <u><i>in this world (including you) needs Jesus.</i></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo creidt: <a href="http://www.moneyinternational.com/retirement/unfair-pension-plans-impact-vulnerable-expats/" target="_blank">moneyinternational.com</a></i></span></div>
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carlomalbashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408377304179787794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4866620284356504233.post-32065675843093757982017-06-24T14:15:00.002+08:002017-06-24T14:15:35.418+08:00The Effects of Prayerlessness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><i>Colossians 4:2</i></u> - Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have you ever thought the fact that there is a price when we allow our prayer life to subside? When we realize such certain moment, we sometimes think the repercussion that it will take.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Emptiness</b>. If we fail to make prayer as the priority in our life, we will feel empty and disconnected from the source. Our hearts will feel a strange sense of unrest and uneasiness. Do you realize that when we pray, our burdens seem to be lighter as we have someone to talk to? As I always say, God's yoke is always waiting for us to be shared and surrender to Him any circumstances that we might have.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Lost</b>. When there is no sense of belongingness with Him, we could get lost in the middle of weariness and hardship and we become accustom to it. If we continue in this manner and lifestyle, we begin to rely upon ourselves instead of upon the Lord and the effect could be vulnerability and always at risk of disaster.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To avoid these difficulties, let's make it a habit and priority in our lives the fellowship and communication with the Lord. It is a must that we pray and in contact with our Father in order to clearly hear His voice and fathom His will and plans for our life. If you feel that sometimes you allowed prayerlessness in your life and in "seenzone" with our heavenly Father, confess this to Him. Once you renew your prayer life, you will able to experience again His goodness and re-ecounter God's best.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">image credit: </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">alkalema.tv</span></span></i></span></div>
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carlomalbashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408377304179787794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4866620284356504233.post-14620682173158312522017-05-21T05:08:00.003+08:002017-05-21T05:08:38.234+08:00Confidence in His Light<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMc7p9u1R-WKTmjwHgbKqv3GLf1ktb9DfE9RETapTmbsMKd3pQ-oxUYo1tGE3RDhcGEGzdiJ1-bfsFYZ707mTD4AAzAhr_fknfO7vSQgiaj1Z9vuh8b7zkeWdAU8WVoEUtFrNT-V7b6Wb/s1600/light.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMc7p9u1R-WKTmjwHgbKqv3GLf1ktb9DfE9RETapTmbsMKd3pQ-oxUYo1tGE3RDhcGEGzdiJ1-bfsFYZ707mTD4AAzAhr_fknfO7vSQgiaj1Z9vuh8b7zkeWdAU8WVoEUtFrNT-V7b6Wb/s400/light.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was driving around the block earlier just to destress and take off from my mind a feeling of sadness ( I tried to contact someone but He was unavailable apparently ). Sometimes I just drive and drive just to ease a tension. Then I drove to this dark street and I realized that I am not familiar with the place. So I stopped and opened <b>Waze</b> to know my location and way home. I was around 'Sports City'. Fortunately, navigation became easy because of this application. That moment reminded me of verses that I read last Thursday during my morning devotion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>John 11:9-10</u></b> - <i>" <sup>9</sup>... Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. <sup>10</sup> It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well literally, it is easy to walk and drive during the daylight. But in this verse, the <b>world's light</b> represent the God's guidance and progress in our lives. The word <b>stumble</b> is a symbol of a moment falling out from the personal relationship with the <b><u>Chief Shepherd</u></b>. So if we don't have this intimate relationship with our Creator, we will fall apart and will be clueless to everything that is happening around us. <b>Without His guidance and love</b>, it will always be dark and night in our lives. We will never see the sun shine down upon us. So if you are in the middle of nowhere and seems light is unreachable, <b><i><u>call on His name and meditate on His words</u></i></b>. Don't let the enemy sway you and bring you to the world of total blindness. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just like what happened to me, even if I am not familiar with the place (well, it was my fault driving around there), I was confident because I know I have <b>Waze</b> haha. In real life, let's all be confident in facing challenges and dark matters that run after us. <b><i>We have God in our life and we will never stumble.</i></b></span></div>
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carlomalbashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408377304179787794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4866620284356504233.post-1198180120423898052017-02-26T03:06:00.003+08:002017-02-26T03:08:26.857+08:00A Second Chance<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On our post-Valentine lifegroup, we discussed about second chances; on how we can get our second chance and why should we give second chance to others. When I was doing my devotion and creating the lifegroup teaching points, <b>Matthew 18:21-35</b> (<sup>21</sup> Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times) really spoke to me. This verse is part of "<u>The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant</u>", below video describes what this parable is:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Most of us, for sure, had that one thought “If only I had a second chance, I could…” Our Father grants us second chances, third chances, fourth chances, etc. But we must remember and put in our hearts that we should use those priceless opportunities in good and truthful ways.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We sometimes stumble and we all commit mistakes and after that moment, we inevitably ask our Creator for another chance. God believes and always give us second chances but there are strings attached to those who are doing these opportunities – repentance and change.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now after we have received and earned that second chance, He also teaches us to give second chance to others. Probably “love your neighbor” is His hardest reminder to us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. </span><span style="line-height: 107%;">Our
OWN Second Chance</span></u></b></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God
is not only the God of second chances; He is the God of another chance. This is
good news because most of us mess up the second chance fairly quickly. One of
the amazing facets of God's character is His incredible patience with us. Psalm
86:15 says it well: "But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness." The Bible
is full of people who received second chances, and even third and fourth
chances: Peter, Jonah, Mark, Samson, David, and others. All trophies of God’s
grace.</span></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="line-height: 107%;">Repent
First.</span></i></b><span style="line-height: 107%;"> Repentance
is one of the first principles of the gospel and is essential to our temporal
and eternal happiness. It is much more than just acknowledging wrongdoings. It
is a change of mind and heart that gives us a fresh view about God, about
ourselves, and about the world. It includes turning away from sin and turning
to God for forgiveness. It is motivated by love for God and the sincere desire
to obey His commandments. <i>Luke 5:31-32</i>
(31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the
sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”)</span></span></li>
<li><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Ask for Forgiveness</i></b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">. Forgiveness is always available! The good news is that, no matter how serious the sin, God is always seeking us out and is willing to forgive and forget our sins and give us a fresh start. As long as we live, it is never too late to ask for forgiveness and make a new start! So Jesus used this illustration: (Luke 15:3-7) 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. When we have sinned, we can ask God for forgiveness, as in the Lord's Prayer: (Matthew 6:12) "And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors."</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Visible and Invisible Change</i></b>. After having the second chance, it is now in our hands the responsibilities to show others and to Him that we have changed genuinely. Remember, people will see our outward personalities and actions to verify our changes. But God sees everything and He sees our heart if we made a pure repentance. 1 Peter 1:7 "These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>2. <span style="line-height: 107%;">Giving
Second Chance to OTHERS</span></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God
is patient and forgiving, He wants His children to be patient with and
forgiving of others. "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly
loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and
patience" (<i>Colossians 3:12</i>). He
gives us second chances, and we must give the same to others. Jesus gives a
stern warning to those who refuse to forgive, saying that if we will not
forgive others, God will not forgive us (Matthew 6:15; see also Ephesians 4:32;
Colossians 3:13; and Proverbs 19:11). If someone is truly repentant, then we
are obligated to forgive (Matthew 18:21-22)</span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Guard & Check your Heart</i></b>. Forgiving others is sometimes very hard, but it is essential if you want to break out of the bondage that it's brought you under. Forgiving others opens you up for the Lord to begin healing your soul and heart (inner healing). Since unforgiveness blocks us from receiving God's forgiveness of our sins (Matthew 6:15), it puts up a wall between us and the source of our healing.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Forgive & Forget</i></b>. Of course, it is impossible to truly forget sins that have been committed against us. We cannot selectively “delete” events from our memory. The Bible states that God does not “remember” our wickedness (Hebrews 8:12). But God is still all-knowing. God remembers that we have “sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). But, having been forgiven, we are positionally (or judicially) justified. Heaven is ours, as if our sin had never occurred. If we belong to Him through faith in Christ, God does not condemn us for our sins (Romans 8:1). In that sense God “forgives and forgets.”</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Giving someone a second chance
means we give him another chance to earn our trust. But that does not mean we
instantly forget what experience has taught us. Trust must be earned over time,
and we are foolish if we give trust prematurely. We can have a loving and
forgiving heart that also practices wise guardianship over our lives.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">When we have wronged someone, we have no right
to demand another chance. But we should work to earn another chance by
continued demonstration of repentance and change.</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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carlomalbashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408377304179787794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4866620284356504233.post-41665856798455176392017-01-07T16:36:00.002+08:002017-01-07T16:48:46.271+08:00Setting Goals<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On my way back to Dubai, I was seating in the plane and was thinking that this year will be a very good and fruitful year for our church. It made me think to do planning and vision casting. So after landing and getting a cab, I immediately asked the team to get ready for an exciting activity. Below is the teaching that revealed to me during my devotion last Wednesday and Thursday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>IS SETTING GOALS UNSPIRITUAL?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No! </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many people wrongly think, "Goal setting is unspiritual because it shows a lack of trust. It's not right to plan. Instead, people should wait for God to lead them.” </span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Granted, God doesn't want us to forge ahead in pride without consulting Him for direction. But neither does He want us to sit around without acting, because He's given us gifts and talents and has also said that we are called to do good works.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Ephesians 2:8-10 (</i></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><sup>8</sup> For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— <sup>9</sup> not by works, so that no one can boast. <sup>10</sup> For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Forging ahead without seeking God or sitting back and doing nothing can stem from fear or a lack of faith. However, setting goals and consulting with Him shows that you trust Him and believe that He is able to lead you while you are moving forward.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The <b>main verse</b> that we studied was <i><span style="color: blue;">Philippians 3:13-14</span></i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><sup>13</sup> Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have <span style="color: red;">taken hold</span> of it. But one thing I do: <span style="color: red;">Forgetting</span> what is behind and <span style="color: red;">straining toward</span> what is ahead, <sup>14</sup> I <span style="color: red;">press on</span> toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Setting goals is a part of spiritual discipline</u></span></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Before you can ever accomplish anything meaningful in life, you have to see what God sees so you can see what God can do in your life</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once you are able to see what God can do, then you have to believe he will really do it</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You have to believe he can help you make the changes you need to make</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you don't believe change is possible, you won't even make the effort to change</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But once you believe you can actually change, then you will be able to set faith goals</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>1. Set Goals Like Running in a Race (v 13)</b></span><br />
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">TAKE HOLD (Apprehend, Make it my own) - to reach the goals, claim it as you have received and accomplished it.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">FORGETTING (Not to have remembrance, Not looking back) - forget the past and old failure but never omit the lessons that you have learned from it</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">STRAINING TOWARD (Forward, Reaching Forth) - focus your eyes on God, focus on accomplishing good works. No laziness, no weakness, no backing down. Aim for gold!</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>2. Set Goals Like Winning A Prize (v 14)</b></span><br />
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">PRESS ON (Pursuing, Chasing, Running) - it is about winning the prize which is knowing God more and hear His calling. Again, setting goals is a part of spiritual discipline. It's not just a good idea; the Bible says you need to set goals in order to grow in your faith. Goals stretch you and help you become all God wants you to be.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>God is a God who sets goals, and he expects you to set them too</u>. Like the Apostle Paul, he wants us to say: Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(<i>1 Corinthians 9:26</i>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>You will make mistakes in setting goals. It's OK</u>. Because God wants to see you do His will, He will teach you the way to go as you walk in faith. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(<i>Psalm 32:8</i>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After the teaching, I divided the team into two groups and put the goals that we will accomplish and might able to attain. It turned out to be exciting and the ideas were pouring out:</span><br />
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carlomalbashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408377304179787794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4866620284356504233.post-88094523128100001042016-11-06T02:59:00.001+08:002016-11-06T02:59:40.251+08:00No Longer Slaves<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yesterday, I lead the teaching our lifegroup and I was so excited about the topic. It is mostly about <b>Galatians 4:4-7</b> (<i><sup>4</sup> But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, <sup>5</sup> to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. <sup>6</sup> Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba”, Father. <sup>7</sup> So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.</i>) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These verses tell us that since we are redemmed through Christ, we are no longer under the law, hence we are saved, free and no more slaves. For this teaching, we had three points:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>1. We Are Redeemed (v4-5)</u></b>. Paul made an example on how even an heir is being put to a "slave" status while he was an underage. He is under the care of trustees and guardians and he can only enjoy his inheritance once his father, the master, say he can do so (<i>see Galatians 4:1-3</i>). During the old law, once a person committed a sin, he can just kill an innocent animal and offer it to God then he believed that he will be cleansed. But this is not the real case of how to be redeemed. For us now, we are under the law when we learned old traditions that we practice in our childhood years. We were taught that if we go to church every Sunday, we will become holy and be righteous. Sometimes we need to celebrate fiestas and other customs because we initially believed that it will make God happy. But that is not the right way to be redeemed as described by Paul. These laws (traditions) is like the trustees that guards the heir. We have to realize and understand first what is right and wrong, then the right time sent by our Father is when he sent His only Son. We don't have to offer anything as Jesus Christ, who followed all the laws as human didn't make any mistake paid it all for us when he was crucified on the cross. He <i>died</i> for us. His substitution (offering) is <b>permanent</b>. But this is only achievable <b>through faith</b>, if we first accept that we are sinners and that Jesus died for us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Galatians 2:20</b> (<i>I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of the God, who loved me and gave himself for me</i>). But now that we understand that Jesus died for us, what's next? It didn't stop on that point. It is like we are a new person.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>2. We Are God's Children (v6)</u></b>. Now that we are redeemed, we are now a child of God. By virtue of adoption, we have given:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A new name (<span style="color: red;">son</span>, no longer <span style="color: blue;">slave</span>)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A new legal standing/status (<span style="color: red;">accepted</span>, no longer alienated or <span style="color: blue;">condemned</span>)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A new family relationship (<span style="color: red;">Father</span>, not <span style="color: blue;">Judge</span>)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A new image, <span style="color: red;">image of Christ</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We are God's children so we have to <i>talk</i> like one, <i>walk</i> like one and <i>think</i> like one. Being a child of God is not an easy task. There will always be struggles and temptations that may lead us back "under the law". But the good thing is, since we are sons and daughters of God, he sent us the Spirit of His Son into our hearts. This is to guide us to avoid human flesh sins. We don't need any law to dictate us what to do, we have the Spirit and following it should become naturally.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The power of the Spirit is undeniable but we also need to work and feed it. How? We can do bible study, attend a lifegroup, through prayers, reading the bible, everyday devotion and many more. We have a lot of options so that we can always be aligned with God's plan for us. <b>Galatians 5:16-18</b> (<i><sup>16</sup> So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. <sup>17</sup> For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. <sup>18</sup> But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law</i>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>3. We Are No Longer Slaves (v7)</u></b>. We have been redeemed that lead to our adoption and sonship and as a child of God, He sent us the Holy Spirit and we should listen to Him so that we are not <i>thinking</i> <u>about the law</u>, instead it should be easy for us to just follow the good ways and that is called <b>obedience</b>. Don't call it as sacrifice or following his commandments, don't treat it is as a law as we shouldn't be "under the law". Just be obedient and we can follow naturally without hesitations but only love. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Galatians 5:24</b> (<i>Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires</i>). The lusts and passions of our old sinful nature have been put to death with Christ. Only through faith - the sinful flesh has no power over us. It is our decision to believe it, not work at it! We might have a situation that we can't control and tempting us to do even though we know it is not God's way but we can always ask for strength from Him because he can do anything and nothing is too hard for him. <b>Jeremiah 32:27</b> (<i>I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?</i>)</span></div>
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carlomalbashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408377304179787794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4866620284356504233.post-13468631570996383382015-07-03T01:49:00.004+08:002015-07-03T01:56:21.469+08:00A Realization on Rejection<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday, after I withdraw some cash from the ATM, an Arab guy came to me and told me some insulting words. I was surprised and shocked and stood motionless in front of him for few seconds. I am not sure if other people heard it but I ignored that man. Instead, I came to the parking space, got into my car and thought for a while. I was a little depressed because of what he said. Those words really shook me and I just couldn't accept it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was kind of a wake up call for me. I almost forgot how to accept criticisms and judgement from other people. When I got home I was still thinking of it. It wounded me so deeply. It almost destroyed my self esteem. So I prayed and realized that I don't have to be afraid and just treat it as a lesson and not a rebuke. I have to be better not only for myself but also for my family and especially for Him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I truly believe that our Father never wanted us to feel rejected or abandoned. My devotion today almost made me cry and I am very emotional. But in the middle of quick time with Him. I felt the love, His acceptance and His appreciation. God's words tells us that without being rooted and grounded in the love of God, we cannot experience the fullness of God in our lives. (<b><u><i>Ephesians 3:19</i></u></b> - "and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.")</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rejection is devil's one way of destroying our life, for us to be affected and doubt ourselves. It wounds a person's spirit and can be very painful. I realized that in order to overcome and be victor to this kind of situation, first, we must accept ourselves, who we really are and what our God can do for us. His love is never ending and trust me, it is a very good feeling. (<b><u><i>Hebrews 13:5</i></u></b> - "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."). We also need to start seeing ourselves for who we are in Christ, and the person that God has really formed within us. So I guess God wants to ask me, how is my heart now towards that person who "bashed" me and if I love that man as He commanded me. It is funny but I have forgiven that person and it is a vital step in the process of healing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Image taken from </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">chronicle.umbmentoring.org</span></span></i></span></div>
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carlomalbashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408377304179787794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4866620284356504233.post-67263555730408087952015-03-15T13:45:00.003+08:002015-03-15T13:45:49.449+08:00Who is Your First Love?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmELL944QA7gWkQGB2NZCxTLfUI9r94RZ3RsXmilDtgF5jx9wNw1k_Vv9CXgCX6JwFHKd3CRULH5yR3m59ImiOVEgUxpeozqfJI6P_gQ_t5LoKD1tBVaYP7fx7ihYfIyu3ZhPq5R6tvAW/s1600/godslove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmELL944QA7gWkQGB2NZCxTLfUI9r94RZ3RsXmilDtgF5jx9wNw1k_Vv9CXgCX6JwFHKd3CRULH5yR3m59ImiOVEgUxpeozqfJI6P_gQ_t5LoKD1tBVaYP7fx7ihYfIyu3ZhPq5R6tvAW/s1600/godslove.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you sometimes feel that you are very passionate into something from the beginning but suddenly the interest is becoming less and less? As Christians, we sometimes drift away from the burning fire of passion in serving Him? Am I right? I am not saying that this is normal but this happens to a lot of believers. There could be many reasons but the most important thing is that we always have a chance to rekindle the fire.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we progress in life, most of the times, the priorities will change and we aim to a better and more convenient nature of living. Other reasons could be that we are distracted and very complacent that in time of "service", we are pouring out a lot of reasons and excuses. Let's also remember that "serving without substance" is as bad as ignoring His call. He wants "us" and not our "empty service".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To have a better passion in service for God, we must remember that loving Him and putting Him on the top of our priority list is the greatest commandment. And if we enjoy serving Him in any way that we can, it is also an excellent sign of our love to Him. (<b><u><i>Matthew 22:36-38</i></u></b> '<sup>36</sup> “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” <sup>37</sup> Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ <sup>38</sup> This is the first and greatest commandment.') </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't limit ourselves in a state where we become comfortable in serving Him. Try to find other ways to improve it and get out of your comfort zone. If you are shy to encourage and share His words, start now to change that attitude. Returning to a life of passionate service for God begins with repentance. If we gradually releasing our hands from the sphere of commitment, it also means that we are waving goodbye from our first love. We can always reconnect to Him and put Him in our hearts by regular prayer and meditation on His words. We should have an intimate relationship with Him and that makes Him happy. Be excited everytime there is an opportunity to serve Him. Make your devotion a daily habit and put it in your routine and give way to an amount of time to have a "personal date" with Him and rekindle the flame of your first love.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Image taken from <a href="https://cccooperagency.wordpress.com/2011/10/25/christ-only-aways-living-in-me/" target="_blank">cccooperagency.wordpress.com</a></i></span></div>
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carlomalbashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408377304179787794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4866620284356504233.post-40501952829963593992014-11-23T17:58:00.002+08:002014-11-23T18:49:21.598+08:00Nothing is Impossible<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I heard that there was a plan of building Hope church in Dubai, at first, I thought it won't be easy since this is a Muslim country and besides, there are big Christian churches that have been established here. I told to myself, it is impossible. How can we invite members as it is not allowed to do it publicly (in Singapore, we can distribute some pamphlets about the church in a mall or street)? How can we start, we don't have any leaders here? Where do we get the money to spend in lifegroup and services? But those doubts suddenly diminished when inch by inch, we reached our goal. This November we will be celebrating our first anniversary and I couldn't believe it! It has been a whirlwind and exciting journey.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This experience thought me that indeed, nothing is impossible with His guidance. I am so blessed to meet these believers who helped hand in hand in building this Hope church in Dubai. As the saying of my forever favorite verse (<b><u>Philippians 4:13</u></b>) - "<i>I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me</i>". We are all overcomers and if sometimes we experience problem that seems to have no solutions and we don't know what to do, we should learn to focus our eyes only to Him because He will teach us lessons that we can't learn in any other way. It is also an opportunity to understand and nurture His presence in the midst of a situation of walls of nothingness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we are asking the question 'What am I going to do?', just remember <b><u>John 6:5-6</u></b> (<i><sup>5</sup> When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” <sup>6</sup> He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do</i>). These are all tests and there is nothing, as in nothing that He can't do even in our wildest imagination. It is a reminder that we need to implement things according to His process and procedures and that everything comes from God and not from human solutions and resources.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In every obstacle that we face, just remember that God has the solution and sometimes, He might require our involvement and participation to achieve. He may even ask us to do something unreasonable for us. But believe me; everything is within reasons and for our own good. Initially I had many doubts about planting church here in Dubai but now, it so fulfilling that we have accomplished something that can please Him. We didn't do it on our own, we believe He has always been guiding us and giving us wisdom when it comes to decision making.</span></div>
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carlomalbashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408377304179787794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4866620284356504233.post-21931337845410229782014-10-08T19:12:00.001+08:002014-10-08T19:12:22.143+08:00Christian Backsliders<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday, I received a sad news about a dear friend who might lost her way from the path to a good relationship with Christ. It was so surprising to learn that story as we never imagined that it could happen to her. It got me asking myself, how can be a strong and matured Christian swayed away from his/her belief? What made her do that and what are the factors that might have contributed to drift away. My devotion today is about the probable reasons why some Christians are backsliding and how can we help them and avoid such situation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am not an expert in defining backsliding but in my understanding, it is a point where there is a spiritual regress and disobedience. It may also mean perpetual state of willful rebellion. In bible we have references for this. <b><u>Jeremiah 3:22</u></b> (Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding. Yes, we will come to you, for you are the Lord our God) and <b><u>Jeremiah 31:22</u></b> (How long will you wander, unfaithful Daughter Israel? The Lord will create a new thing on earth— the woman will return to the man). In these verses, the important words are faithless and unfaithful which have the same meaning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are many reasons that we can itemize and think of. I have been to this situation before but I am glad that I have managed to bounce back and enlighten the fire again. In my experience, I realized some of the aspects that might result to backslide could be:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Refusal to Face Their Own Guilt</i>. Yes, sometimes they will be questioning their mistakes and incorrect actions and try to defend them. They often not think of the danger that will come to them if they do not receive forgiveness for wrongs done. Since they have committed disobedience, they are thinking to harden their hearts and will choose such a way to harden more to avoid the wrath that they might receive.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Fear of Condemnation</i>. Truly, there is no condemnation in Christ. But backsliders are thinking that if their church leaders give them advice and provide other solution, for them, it is condemnation and it will lead to inquest them and question their own cleanliness. They become proud and they will not listen to any words that they will receive and this will also head to rebellion.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Full of Pride</i>. I think this one is the totality of the previous items. Backsliders will think low about gospel and His words. They will try to uphold their reasoning and will put in their mind that there is nothing wrong to enjoy some things as we only live once. The way they will shield their ways of life will become stronger.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The Listen to the World</i>. They will stop living a holy life because they will accept advice from unsaved people whether it could be family or friends. They could also be influenced by what they see in television, movies and even social media. The trouble will start once they also pay attention to the temporal things in this world. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Poor Examples</i>. We cannot deny that there are some bad examples that surround the Christian life. It could be a church leader or a friend in their own lifegroup. Once these bad samples caught the eye of a believer, they might be questioning their faith and will query on the validity of their status.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Hebrews 6:4-6</u></b> (4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen[a] away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So how can we help the backsliders? We can pray for them. It actually depends on the situation and the level of disobedience. It is not easy to let them understand and could result to arguments. But if there is a chance, try to be reasonable if there is a possible discussion. As they say, prayer is the most powerful thing that we have. As for the believer, we can avoid to backslide by focusing our eyes to the Lord. Some people can let us down but with Christ, we can always count on Him. We should always examine our faith, <b><u>2 Corinthians 13:5</u></b> (Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?). Come to Him for forgiveness and seek Him every day. Stay in His words and be surrounded by other believers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Image take from ladysmithbaptist.co.za</i></span></div>
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carlomalbashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408377304179787794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4866620284356504233.post-62384817983318497252014-09-03T15:53:00.000+08:002014-09-03T15:54:38.126+08:00Facing New Challenges<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday, my boss talked to me about a new opportunity. It was way better than my current position and tasks. I admit I was very hesitant at first because for sure it means bigger responsibility. Also, I didn't feel comfortable yet as I feel that I am still a "newbie" in this level. But honestly, it is the best job opportunity I've ever had (of course a salary increase is a big possibility) and I wasn't expecting this as early as now. Another factor is that most of my colleagues have better and longer experiences than me and that they are also older. This is indeed a big challenge for me and I am having doubts if I can do it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We all know that most of answers to all our questions can be found thru His words. So I seek for His messages about it. I decided to make it my devotion for five days so that I can have answers about it. After few days of reading His words, I realized that we should do one thing in this kind of situation, face challenges with faith. So I found these verses from <b><u>Joshua 1:1-9</u></b> and it was an instant affirmation of His plans to me and the pointers i have learned from it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="font-size: small;"><sup>1</sup> After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: <sup>2</sup> “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. <sup>3</sup> I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. <sup>4</sup> Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. <sup>5</sup> No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. <sup>6</sup> Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. <sup>7</sup> “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. <sup>8</sup> Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. <sup>9</sup> Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”</i></span></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Be Strong and Courageous</i></b>. If new responsibilities and bigger challenges are about to come your way, we should face them in a manner of full confidence and positive attitude towards it. We should also be strong and keep in mind that He will not give us something that we can't be victorious.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Obey His Words</i></b>. Upon the transition of these challenges, we should always consider that each action has its own guidelines. In every decision, let's consider His teachings and messages so that the outcome will be according to His plans. When we are obedient in His words, it will be a sure success. So we must always follow His directions and have a heart that always praises Him.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Meditate on the Scriptures</i></b>. It will also help us if we will have a daily devotion and meditate on His words. To accomplish the will He has for us and to keep us the right path, biblical thinking is the best approach in everything that we do. Trust me, once you put into your heart His messages and listen to His voice, everything will be easier.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Fear No More</i></b>. Like what He said, He will always be with us wherever we go. So we shouldn't doubt our abilities and we should cast away those fears. Faith and prayer is the best weapon that we have.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I told my boss that I will inform him my decision after my two weeks' vacation in USA but as early as now, I am sure what will be my answer. I have learned that if new challenges come into our way, we shouldn't avoid and run away from it. We shouldn't retreat and doubt ourselves, just read the promises He made to Joshua and we will realize that they are also applicable to us. So we should focus and keep our eyes only to Him and we must obey His instructions. We should also remember that these opportunities can give way to be a blessing to others and to serve Him more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Image taken from legacyportfolio.co.uk</i></span></div>
carlomalbashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408377304179787794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4866620284356504233.post-15065974176599957912014-08-20T15:15:00.002+08:002014-08-20T15:16:03.438+08:00Water Baptism<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfqn9Zcv20HSt98cdcjb6m4oGJWhiFK7KWzRYY3ZeX0C7H9Aa8BNmF-bvMxXiLIgWkPkyjyS4cGwMSUUc-ClrSTpc4tPgQMJ09Z-9JlE-xBbX13zlH24W2S8Kqb3_0XVq0aF0NXBWO1ir/s1600/waterbap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfqn9Zcv20HSt98cdcjb6m4oGJWhiFK7KWzRYY3ZeX0C7H9Aa8BNmF-bvMxXiLIgWkPkyjyS4cGwMSUUc-ClrSTpc4tPgQMJ09Z-9JlE-xBbX13zlH24W2S8Kqb3_0XVq0aF0NXBWO1ir/s1600/waterbap.jpg" height="320" width="293" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was February 2011 when I had my water baptism. It was in Siloso Beach in Singapore. For me, it was like a magical event. I was surrounded with friends and brothers and sisters in Christ. On that day, I felt that I made the right decision and that I made Him proud and happy. And behind those smiles was a heart of joy and fulfillment and it was so touching and I was so emotional. I was so fortunate to have my leaders around me that convinced, explained and made me realize the importance of public declaration of faith.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Baptism is from the Greek verb "<i>baptidzo</i>" which means "<b>to immerse</b>". So basically, when a person is baptized in water, his or her body is totally immersed in the water and brought out again. It also symbolizes the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and our identification with Him in them. So what is the meaning and significance of being baptized? We can narrow it to these sections.</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Identification and Union with Jesus Christ</u>. When a person receives Jesus as Lord, he identifies fully with what happened to Jesus. Water baptism is a physical act that should indelibly mark the mind of the person being baptized with the reality of his union with Jesus Christ.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Public Testimony</u>. It serves as an outward sign and testimony of inward grace. It is like given an opportunity to openly testify to others of his born-again experience. When a person is born again, he is baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>The Old is Gone, the New Has Come</u>. When a person being baptized is under the water, it is like a representation of being buried and a proclamation that the old you no longer exists. The symbol of coming up out of the water signifies our being raised to new life with Christ. It is now living and making Him the Lord of every aspects of your life.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Not the Act that Saves Us</u>. We should be reminded that water baptism is not the act that saves us. It is actually the act that symbolizes how we are saved! We have first to accept and make Jesus us our Lord and Savior and believe that God raised Him from the dead. Water baptism is an experience after salvation confirming and strengthening our commitment to live a godly life.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Water baptism will be of great and significant time in our life as a believer. It is part of the solid foundation that we need to build upon. The time to fully follow and obey Jesus and fulfill the plan and purpose He as prepared for our life. </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">1 Peter 3:21</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> (</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Credits to kcm.org</i></span></div>
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carlomalbashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408377304179787794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4866620284356504233.post-46833647447007911082014-08-18T13:00:00.001+08:002014-08-18T13:00:25.908+08:00The Effects of Insecurity<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIajYWOtVKn6NTx5akG7NSHXJEO8c7RFaiouC6BUhE4t9saCfZwmhhFcBaKvzdM9SMe74dWxAxKC4-XXoQ_zrYjwiTQbtShxEN7v0vpFSPYwiaL4H-wBuj3wSoEsC4pRcH7q30N4AUmDF/s1600/InsecurityMannequin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIajYWOtVKn6NTx5akG7NSHXJEO8c7RFaiouC6BUhE4t9saCfZwmhhFcBaKvzdM9SMe74dWxAxKC4-XXoQ_zrYjwiTQbtShxEN7v0vpFSPYwiaL4H-wBuj3wSoEsC4pRcH7q30N4AUmDF/s1600/InsecurityMannequin.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We can't deny that sometimes insecurity lingers into our mind and that we cannot run from it. We try to avoid it but we can't help to compare ourselves to others and doubt our own strength. To begin with, being insecure is not a healthy attitude. Trust me, it will not help you at all. To start, why don't we discuss the effects it brings to us?</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Insecure People are Angry</b>. There will be a moment that sometimes, we feel so poor about ourselves; that we are not satisfied with what we have now. We are not contented to the level of accomplishment that we are earning. These results to anger as we, sometimes, resent the success and happiness of others.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Lack of Confidence</b>. If we don't trust ourselves and very doubtful to what we have, and that our confidence level is so low, we become prideful and snobbish. It causes us to withdraw from others and maybe misinterpreted as act of arrogance. It may bring thought to others that we don't want to be surrounded by other people.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Fear</b>. If we are insecure about everything, we become fearful. Due to this, we can't make our own decision and that we will always depend to others. We will become very afraid that our decision might result to a mistake. Well, who doesn't make mistake? Remember that making mistakes is one of the best ways to learn how to do it and correct it in the future.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Difficulty in Relationship</b>. Difficulty in establishing good and lasting relationship is another effect of insecurity. Insecure people tend to question their value and how can they contribute and improve anyone else's life. Everyone needs a deep and meaningful relationship whether it is friendship or a romantic one. It helps us grow and contributes to our maturity.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every time I feel insecure, I always pray to God, for Him to make me realize and recognize my areas of self-doubt. We can always ask Him to help us towards the freedom of insecurities and wipe away all our doubts. The verse that becomes helpful is this: <b>Psalm 143:8</b> (<i>Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life</i>). Just trust Him, He loves us so much.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Image taken from rich-christian-living.com</i></span></div>
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carlomalbashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408377304179787794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4866620284356504233.post-32635175741836067962014-03-16T18:20:00.003+08:002014-03-16T18:20:46.439+08:00Rejoice in the Midst of Trials<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDHAmwhZqR8W7gKEyCeE6HQpKOCARLkZgDMqcEb9FyHVlFZTo6gqWUD5gmqb3vOO9-XsI_ZV4UEt6fyKn6czXQ1MQoWDbmYOWdP4tB3bPP6bAMEbWAnPINii9OFAC9oOIB5mvND1NpPHCc/s1600/midstoftrial.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDHAmwhZqR8W7gKEyCeE6HQpKOCARLkZgDMqcEb9FyHVlFZTo6gqWUD5gmqb3vOO9-XsI_ZV4UEt6fyKn6czXQ1MQoWDbmYOWdP4tB3bPP6bAMEbWAnPINii9OFAC9oOIB5mvND1NpPHCc/s1600/midstoftrial.jpeg" height="220" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everytime we have a problem, our primary focus, sometimes, is being withdrawn from God. We mainly concentrate on the issues that are coming to us and think about it most of the time that will lead to lose our attention from the Lord. It is not easy to suffer from a situation that you don't know what to do and don't have any idea how to overcome it. We should remember that during these hard times, we must focus our mind and spirit to the Lord and take advantage of the situation to meditate and become closer to Him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is so amazing to read David's verses of praise that are in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%20Ps%20145:1-13" target="_blank"><b>Psalm 145:1-13</b></a>. Despite those sufferings and lots of circumstances, he just surrendered everything to his Father and continuously praise Him and bring all the praises. For him, the center of his life is only God and that there is nothing that He can't do. All of his attention was only to God and he used his situation as an opportunity to meditate in His words.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a believer, we are mostly being tested in the midst of trials; on how we will react on it and how our faith and trust will evolve. Adversities are part of Christian life and it makes us stronger about everything. When meditating through His words anticipate divine help and believe that we will claim victory for all these kinds of situations. So treat the problems in a positive way, rejoice in it and continue to believe in His power and spend time with Him. Use these times to devote a time only for Him. Isn't it wonderful that despite all these circumstances in life, we are rejoicing because we know that His presence will embrace us and lead us to His promises?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Image taken from nextdoormormon.com</i></span></div>
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carlomalbashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408377304179787794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4866620284356504233.post-33573082507975799542014-01-02T13:23:00.001+08:002014-01-02T13:23:16.137+08:00God's Silence<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKZd8_E0Lq-TXlWgdD6BtDgnmb-uVM8zehaMPvzm2uoQxaLeb1_w32zHZpVXhk2BrHKNVBO345jOyu7E94BqoWyJiYi-BrW_HukuhONhhhOE78ZiFUbxMnH3ECvaZf4sLxtHieCfG8mI5/s1600/godssilence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKZd8_E0Lq-TXlWgdD6BtDgnmb-uVM8zehaMPvzm2uoQxaLeb1_w32zHZpVXhk2BrHKNVBO345jOyu7E94BqoWyJiYi-BrW_HukuhONhhhOE78ZiFUbxMnH3ECvaZf4sLxtHieCfG8mI5/s1600/godssilence.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have you ever felt that God is 'missing in action'? That we continuously praying but we can't feel the response and only hear our breathing? Maybe you were thinking that He hated us because you weren't able to feel his presence? Well, think again. He has always purpose in everything and His view is wider than ours. This silence means something, it has its goals and we shouldn't be worried. During our problems and adversities, we sometimes feel that He is not listening and we call out 'where are you God'? Yes, He can be very silent and the Holy Spirit may leave us... but not temporarily and doesn't mean He is abandoning us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you will read <b><u>John 11:1-6</u></b> (1 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” 4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days), Martha and Mary came running towards Jesus about their brother Lazarus who was very sick at that time. Jesus listened but stayed few more days. You might be asking why He didn't come in rescue immediately. His silence has its very purpose:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>1. He Wants Our Attention</i></b>. We could be very busy in our career or personal life that sometimes we forget Him and when the time comes that we need Him, he 'cannot be reached'. This silence is one way of Jesus to call and grab our attention. It means that we should always put Him number one in our daily priority list. Haven't you noticed that if our parents are very silent, we became curious and would ask questions what is worrying them? It is the same thing, He wants us to run towards Him and witness His great power and in this verse, He showed us that He conquers death and that nothing is impossible to Him. Our attention also prepares us for greater things that will come into our lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>2. He Wants Our Trust</i></b>. When we pray, we sometimes want an immediate action and response. But His silence also teaches us to fully trust Him. By this trust, our faith becomes more intact and our foundation is being nourished. Trust Him in everything that we do. When Martha stated that she believed that Jesus is the Son of God indicated that full confidence and trust is very rewarding and the result was, Lazarus was raised from death.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know it is very frightening and frustrating that sometimes we cannot feel God's presence but be confident that God is always with us and His silence won't last forever. There is always a purpose, just embrace the promises that He has for us and learn the lessons of His words.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Image taken from silverspiral.org</i></span></div>
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carlomalbashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408377304179787794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4866620284356504233.post-54484109389953121682013-08-15T13:46:00.001+08:002013-08-15T15:09:56.392+08:00Servanthood<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Tt3Huj8wVJK4QWLxl54ygok-uzamwNBrOifVRQkZ3Kjc8n_YK3G3l5ep5idVR-Sd2OthnQYsklRlaeBjARNF1_JPwNaf-D8GuUUe7AtbB73Mwc9qiauzPJLfIJs4UMQ00D-5RKi5MUOW/s1600/servanthood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Tt3Huj8wVJK4QWLxl54ygok-uzamwNBrOifVRQkZ3Kjc8n_YK3G3l5ep5idVR-Sd2OthnQYsklRlaeBjARNF1_JPwNaf-D8GuUUe7AtbB73Mwc9qiauzPJLfIJs4UMQ00D-5RKi5MUOW/s320/servanthood.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This post is from my first (serious) spiritual leader, <a href="https://twitter.com/theo_ville" target="_blank"><b>Theo Villa</b></a>. The teaching seems to be very timely as we are building a lifegroup (and hopefully church soon) here in Dubai and serving God in this location is a big challenge but a great opportunity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Servanthood (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+2%3A1-12&version=NIV" target="_blank">John 2:1-12</a>)</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Serving God is an invitation to all [ver 1-2]</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Matthew 9:37-38 (TNIV) - </i>(Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.")</span></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everyone of us is called to serve God. His invitation goes out to everyone regardless of age, sex, education background, family background or profession. </span></li>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Serving God requires willingness to serve [ver 4]</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God has given us gifts... gift of leadership, gift of music, administration... and so on... but these are nothing if we are not willing to use it for the glory of God. Further more, God does not look at what we do best, but God looks at the willingness of our heart to do His will. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>1 Samuel 16:7 (TNIV) </i>- (But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things human beings look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.")</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God knows what's on our heart... He knows your motives, he knows if you are scared, He knows if you are willing to be used by Him. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Serve God because you are willing not because you are able to do things... </span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Serving God Requires Obedience ver [5-7]</span></u></b></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Obedience is a state of heart. You can obey your leaders but deep inside you grumble... You can obey some yet your mind would say... "My idea is better than yours" </span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Obedience is humility... accepting others and respecting others. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You obey your leaders because they are God's appointed Shepherds, leaders, & mentors... you obey them because you honor & respect them. </span></li>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Serving God requires you to serve God First and then others.</span></u></b></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your Master is Jesus... </span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You serve Jesus when you serve others.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You serve Jesus if you serve together with your leaders.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You serve Jesus if you offer your talents & skills for His glory.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Serving God means Jesus first, serving others & lastly yourself. Serving God means to focus on God Himself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Hebrews 12:1-2 (TNIV)</i> - (Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, [2] fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.)</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Serving God brings out the best in you [ver 9-10]</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Serving God means:</span></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">allow Him to use you </span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">allow Him to discipline you </span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">allow Him to transform you thru His Love</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">allow Him to develop your character</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">allow Him to discover your gifting</span></li>
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<b style="text-align: justify;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God reveals His goodness through your serving [ver 11-12]</span></u></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many people will be blessed because you have serve God... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God will bless you and through you many people will be blessed... you will be a channel of blessing, an encourager, through you healing will come, through you many people will come to know Jesus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Image taken from <a href="http://hudumacrc.org/" style="text-align: left;">http://hudumacrc.org</a></i></span></div>
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carlomalbashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408377304179787794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4866620284356504233.post-10236096058936857172013-08-14T13:39:00.000+08:002013-08-14T13:39:14.440+08:00One More Chance<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPkISui62siDXSiRysIrxLpp_z_MiWXxRtuxBtJu9imAiok1SSgY7kymSsKCCegPRQOBG-IXSt7Ln2_Ja-O8P674sF2XqUruZmM0t60_N4I6f0jkM-1JCX8FcAVCluxj4BSHEuTBt4ajy/s1600/onemorechance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPkISui62siDXSiRysIrxLpp_z_MiWXxRtuxBtJu9imAiok1SSgY7kymSsKCCegPRQOBG-IXSt7Ln2_Ja-O8P674sF2XqUruZmM0t60_N4I6f0jkM-1JCX8FcAVCluxj4BSHEuTBt4ajy/s320/onemorechance.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nope, this isn't about that famous movie about Popoy & Basha. This is about ourselves and the people around us. Everytime we meet new friends I am very sure that there will always be an inclusion about the past, yesterday or last month or last year. Behind those closed doors were absolutely some mistakes and misfortunes, no exceptions. Each one of us has that past sins and adversities that somehow taught us in order to live a better life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Given that fact, we can still encounter some people who choose to isolate theirselves and feel so sorry about those things they did "once upon a time". Also in our end, we sometimes feel ashamed of the wrong actions that we did long time ago and we are letting this dark shadow to haunt us. This kind of emotion can be a result of how are we looking into past and focus on those mistakes that will lead us to fear about judgment and the feeling of guilt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But the best question is how our Father sees us? This my friend I can tell you that his lenses are always clean, no spots. He always sees us in the image of crystal clear water, no dirt and no bacteria. All of the past mistakes have been vanished upon seeking forgiveness and that should make us guilt free on how we look inside into our hearts. A better way to understand the deeper meaning of forgiveness is can be seen in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%208:1-11&version=NIV" target="_blank"><b>John 8:1-11</b></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. It is about a woman who was caught committing adultery but Jesus did not judge her, instead total forgiveness and new chance was given.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Aside from that, there is grace that is always available and "free" for everybody. We know that if we commit mistakes, we hurt Him but since He has this unending love for us then we can be assured that there is no condemnation. Once we accept that forgiveness that He offers then we are certain that new chance and new beginning is in the making. Second chances are always best as we have the tendency to be better and these chances help us to strengthen our faith and cultivate a deeper relationship with Him. Everybody deserves a second chance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Image taken from 1loveforchrist.com</i></span></div>
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carlomalbashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408377304179787794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4866620284356504233.post-33309995733210141492013-07-24T14:08:00.001+08:002013-07-24T14:10:18.396+08:00What to Expect When You Are Expecting<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqLS7iFiuK4nNgvnblVY9k1xW4Zquo4s5D0BVUmc5F7hTT6PhVKNvYevAN5hwaZuGRTIbRwB_XpHXPJNsYu9D10EI4PVtBDvkt5W53FsNBV5GIYBiSRVGsxO5i65NJ6Ez-ZJcEFsrjVUv/s1600/effectiveprayer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqLS7iFiuK4nNgvnblVY9k1xW4Zquo4s5D0BVUmc5F7hTT6PhVKNvYevAN5hwaZuGRTIbRwB_XpHXPJNsYu9D10EI4PVtBDvkt5W53FsNBV5GIYBiSRVGsxO5i65NJ6Ez-ZJcEFsrjVUv/s1600/effectiveprayer.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh yeah the title seems to be about pregnancy but it is not. It is basically how to up lift our hope and expectations when we are asking something from God. I remember when my job in Barclays Capital ended, I prayed for a job that doesn't have a job rotation so that I don't have to work at night. After few weeks, my prayer was granted but I forgot to mention Him that I did not want to be an "on call support". But my new job that time required me to be available for any system malfunction at night. Then I remember a preaching from a pastor before that we should pray for the exact things that we want and not too vague.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we are talking and praying to God and basically asking something, we should be more specific and don't settle for less. Sometimes, we hesitate to pray specifically because we don't have enough faith that anything is possible; we put in our mind that any prayer results will be just fine. Even Jesus prayed a specific item during His execution (<b><u>Luke 22:42</u></b> - “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”). He sets himself to accept the Father's will, but he prays for deliverance. To help us pray more effectively, I have enumerated some things that we should always remember:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Anything is Possible with Him</u>. Oh yes, He has unlimited power and can reach anything. (<b>Luke 18:27</b> - Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Pray with Confidence</u>. Stop being embarrassed for what you are praying for. Even if it is a partner in life, a better paying job or a new house in a famous village, be positive for the best answers. We should always be confident and that confidence starts with knowing that thru Him, we can do anything (<b>Philippians 4:13</b> - "I can do all this through him who gives me strength")</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Strengthen your Faith</u>. Believing into something that He promised us even it is not visible thru our eyes is a way of assurance from Him. Faith is one of the most important factors of our foundation and we should continue to hold on to it. (<b>Hebrews 11:1</b> - "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see")</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Prosper your Hope</u>. Keep on asking for what you pray for until you heard His voice saying that "this is what I have prepared for you" and be assured that He has the perfect answers that resulted from our Hope that everything will be okay in His perfect time. Continue to ask without hesitations. (<b>Luke 18:1</b> - "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up")</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">So always expect for the best and the above mentioned items can help a lot in managing the things that will come in our way after an intimate conversation with Him. There is no shortcut in achieving victory in life. So be specific to the things that you want and put hesitations aside when talking to Him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Image taken from powertochange.com</i></span></div>
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carlomalbashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408377304179787794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4866620284356504233.post-55195187703308808022013-07-16T14:19:00.000+08:002013-07-16T14:19:26.719+08:00Making a Stand on Your Principles<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDlXz4OFsajLizHgIDO6tlQn6JYYxbeyAUmOw6cxK2k18hB9OWcxTbmZI87a-ugr7F8LoYVFC-AQlDFdUmCCtetksFG9JB5CFL_TT7XvP9lm6plHavV3RdqwrYupWLrKmsy96DWSOxGtms/s1600/stand-firm.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDlXz4OFsajLizHgIDO6tlQn6JYYxbeyAUmOw6cxK2k18hB9OWcxTbmZI87a-ugr7F8LoYVFC-AQlDFdUmCCtetksFG9JB5CFL_TT7XvP9lm6plHavV3RdqwrYupWLrKmsy96DWSOxGtms/s320/stand-firm.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last Sunday, on my way back to Dubai via Singapore Airlines, I watched a documentary about the biggest Hindi festival. It showed there how far a believer can go just to prove their faith and make a stand on their religion. There was a man who gave up his right hand by raising it for 20 years. The other was not sitting down for 10 years. I was amazed by their conviction and I respect their own belief and ways to show it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For sure you have seen some Christians who are ready to pay heavy price to stand for what they believe. But are we ready if we are the one being tested? How prepared are we in facing such situations and overcoming the fire? We should always be careful in what we do and how it may affect others as we might commit mistakes that will eventually result into negative atmosphere. Some real life examples include: (1) you are residing in a house where in another room, an unmarried couple is living together (2) upon entering Singapore, you lied about the question "what is your purpose" and instead of telling the truth [to look for a job] you will say "to spend holiday and pleasure". (3) You watched a concert of your idol rather than going to a Sunday service or weekly lifegroup</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With above examples, how will you stand about marriage first before anything else; the rule on not telling lies; idolatry should be avoided and He should be the priority. Well, we should be careful in giving opinions as we might be labeled as judging others. The most important thing that we can do is to stay strong in our belief and faith by continuously avoiding such things and situations. <b><u>1 Corinthians 16:13</u></b> (Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.) commanded us to be firm and brave when confronted by questions and doubts. Another thing is to provide concrete and biblical advice but never degrade others' morale. In bible, there are characters who gave up their lives just to prove and stand firm on their principles. We should also have a very strong foundation and be surrounded by people who can contribute towards Christian maturity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let us also remember that we always have Him and that we are not alone in this fight as stated in <b><u>2 Chronicles 20:17</u></b> (You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you). I am not telling you to literally give and risk your life to prove that you are worthy and can protect the teachings and beliefs to the full extent. Understanding your purpose and believing that everything should be complied biblically is a good start in showing it. We also have the priceless and most powerful tool in the world: prayer which brings us closer to Him and an opportunity to talk to Him and seek guidance, protection and wisdom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Image courtesy of daletedder.wordpress.com</i></span></div>
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carlomalbashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408377304179787794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4866620284356504233.post-6677336703992587022013-06-13T16:14:00.001+08:002013-06-13T16:14:38.244+08:00Results of Lack of Prayer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieHy9Pqy8_YBu3leNaqHlpSs8nVznenrK-Eg-yZQiDhz15YDz8kQj5qNFRTrPQCeTW_UXPRdBFdpM5Pt6fsVx3FTZuN96K1oF0lU1RSuvYJzuqRgh0hrGgBAOpQq9q8VcXz7O4J6TUnyFx/s1600/no-prayer-736096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieHy9Pqy8_YBu3leNaqHlpSs8nVznenrK-Eg-yZQiDhz15YDz8kQj5qNFRTrPQCeTW_UXPRdBFdpM5Pt6fsVx3FTZuN96K1oF0lU1RSuvYJzuqRgh0hrGgBAOpQq9q8VcXz7O4J6TUnyFx/s1600/no-prayer-736096.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prayer is one of the most powerful tools that we have in our life. It is an essential part of being a Christian and be ensured that our walk with Christ is in a progressive and correct path. The best thing we can do is to put prayer in our priority list and include it in our daily routine. We should spend some time alone with Him not just in times of need but also for comfort and guidance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I admit that for the past few weeks, I've been lazy about my daily morning devotions and my prayer time was slowly diminishing. Because of this, I snapped that resulted to discomfort and a tiring environment for me. My OCD things were becoming a hindrance in my "regular" routine. For no reason, I had to close and open the every door for five times. During my sleep, I woke up every two hours just to wash my hands and ensure that it is clean. I even cleaned my room at midnight and didn't care even if it takes me until early morning to finish. I also bought a handy vacuum cleaner just to be sure that every dust in my room will be cleaned instantly. It was so tiring but when I asked myself, "What is going on with me? Why is this happening again?" I assessed myself and found out that I haven't been talking to Him for quite some time because I became busy with work and other stuffs. I started to pray hard again and my devotion is now on track and I have recovered from these nasty OCD things.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I realized that prayers really help that it can lift your burden and reveal to you the wonderful things around you. It also helps us to make a wiser decision and have a clear mind in every step we take. In <b><u>Matthew 11:28-30</u></b> (28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”) states that He is just waiting and He is always ready to lift us up and find rest in His presence. Without prayers will make us very weak and can leave us confused about everything.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also, be reminded that if we are lacking of intimate communications with Him, we become a primary target of the enemy. They have several stages on how to feel us unworthy. First, they will discourage us that will lead to losing our hope that will result to doubt. Then if we are doubting, we can be in the state of disillusionment and they will whisper to us, "where is your God?", "you are unworthy", "stop being a Christian" and if we listen to these lines, we have no other way but towards to great disaster. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let's keep into our mind, heart and soul that prayer isn't just about asking for something from Him but it also for our own comfort in times of needs, we find rest and most importantly, it is our surviving tool and this tool is our way for getting the correct assistance, guidance and protection. God is so generous that he always gives us a new beginning so why don't we start now to put back prayer in our priority list.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Image taken from petersaysstuff.blogspot.ae</i></span></div>
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carlomalbashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408377304179787794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4866620284356504233.post-42917832613034767242013-05-30T15:50:00.001+08:002013-06-15T00:23:43.740+08:00Gratitude and Prayer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Last night, I was able to attend the Hope Filipino Dubai lifegroup. Hope was my church in Singapore that opened my path into Him that resulted to personal relationship with Christ. I was so glad to know that finally, there is a lifegroup here in Dubai that will have the same spirit as to what I have experienced in Singapore. Though the lifegroup setup last night wasn't the same as the Singapore "version", it was a good start for me since it was only the 2nd gathering and we don't have a ministry house yet. Nevertheless, we had a fruitful discussion over dinner. That night, I was reminded of two major points during our sharing session.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First, we must/need/should thank God for everything. Not just for blessings and good happenings in our lives but also the challenges. As I shared before here in my blog, problems and adversities are good opportunities to get closer with Him. We might sometimes feel helpless and that there is no one else to run to but to Him. So for every obstacle in life, we should thank Him. For every pit stop in our journey to victory, let's take a pause and pray and thank Him for the opportunity of feeling His presence and guidance. The world isn't all about happiness and joyful moments. Time will come that we will be pulled out from our comfort zone to face "non-entertaining" parts of our lives. This is clearly stated in <b><u>1 Thessalonians 5:18</u></b> (give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus). These chapters of our life is not about punishing us but a reminder that He is always there for us, waiting to be called and waiting for a spare time that we might have. And besides, there is nothing we can't overcome if we have Him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Second, I was reminded to pray not only for ourselves and family but also for others such as co-workers, friends, housemates, etc. We might sometimes forget that the people surround us have a great effect on our daily lives. If we are cornered by an angry person then everything around us can be messy. If a friend is having a problem, it consumes us, we got affected. If a housemate is in a bad situation, the atmosphere of the house will be polluted. We should also pray for them that everything will be okay and that God will give them the wisdom for every decision and to remind them the never ending love of God. Pray for their success and pray for a wonderful day. Verse <b><u>1 Timothy 2:1</u></b> (I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people) describes what kind of prayers we should do.</span></div>
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carlomalbashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408377304179787794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4866620284356504233.post-79995895818915238982013-04-15T16:39:00.002+08:002013-04-15T16:39:57.977+08:00Obeying God's Words: How's Your Foundation?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The preaching last Thursday service was about obeying God's words. It was actually a very powerful message. I was actually telling to myself, 'Uh oh, Lord you are talking to me again!' Basically, when it comes to prayer and pouring of blessings, we immediately claim them and we say, 'Oh Lord, it is for me, I claim it, give it to me oh Lord!' but when commandments are being relayed, we ignore them and we say, 'Oh, this message is not for me, it pertains to others'. Claiming victories and blessings is so easy for us but when we were instructed to love your neighbors, do not judge others, give forgiveness, etc, we tend to point our eyes to others.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In these kinds of situations, we should check our foundation of faith. Do we have the strongest foundation that any instructions that He will give us, we will obey. Do we have the deepest foundation that we believe that any adversities and challenges will pass and we will be victorious? The main verse on that service was <strong><u>Luke 6:46-49</u></strong>. Basically, there are three things that we should know and check about our foundation:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Foundation is important when we obey God</em> (<u>Luke 6:46-47</u> - "<sup>46</sup> “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? <sup>47</sup> As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like."). Obeying God should be easy and listening to His words is far different from living them. We read the bible but do we apply it into our lives? We call Him our Lord and the source of everything but why we are not putting Him on top of our priority list? Why are we giving Him divided attention? Following His commands will be as easy as natural thing once we have that faith and trust in Him that have been cultivated from our foundation. Most Christians will face a command that isn't easy to understand but the perfect way to respond to it is to follow and be reminded that He has the widest understanding and that He sees everything so there is no way but to follow the commandment and the lessons behind it should be applied into our daily living.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Foundation will be tested</em> (<u>Luke 6:48</u> - "They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built."). Challenges are inevitable and these are one of the tools that He uses to give us a chance to get closer to Him and not to harm us or destroy us. The foundation will be tested to check if we have our full trust and faith on Him. We should never give up and face these tests knowing that we are not alone. That we have Him and that everything has a purpose. The best example of this attitude is Job's life (<strong><u>Job 23:10-11</u></strong> - "<sup>10</sup> But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. <sup>11</sup> My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside.") That despite those unfortunate things that happened to him, his faith was indestructible and was strong as ever.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Foundation dictates the outcome of what it built</em> (<u>Luke 6:49</u> - "But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.") If our foundation is not that strong, then the result can be easily identified: we might give up, turn to our own understanding and rely to our own strength that can lead to more negative things. But if we have a strong foundation, everything will be easier and everything that surrounds us will be a testament of how great He is.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Foundation of faith is like the foundation of a house that is being built. If it is so deep then it can't be shaken but if it is shallow then you know what will happen. We might sometimes need to check our foundation and categorize if it needs minor repair, major repair or total destruction. Building a strong foundation takes time so we should be careful with it and ensure that we are surrounded with people and things that can help us to enhance and improve it.</span></div>
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carlomalbashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408377304179787794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4866620284356504233.post-37398237938754730482013-04-08T15:18:00.001+08:002013-04-08T15:18:10.288+08:00Attention! (Says the Lord)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2qOK7oXcCrHPbXlMI9uhD3tekg0-HZC5iyer52co9N-sJ8wSelEa8WeBEjHE8jsTK-pRD50GVEmo4hWkk3VCP3G3E6Xg6XHe_YK8ZRbceGwBvTc5dw1f5qUBvJKGMS-XNwcYcedue3Az/s1600/attention.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2qOK7oXcCrHPbXlMI9uhD3tekg0-HZC5iyer52co9N-sJ8wSelEa8WeBEjHE8jsTK-pRD50GVEmo4hWkk3VCP3G3E6Xg6XHe_YK8ZRbceGwBvTc5dw1f5qUBvJKGMS-XNwcYcedue3Az/s320/attention.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Imagine yourself in a room alone, concentrating on your writing tasks and suddenly you heard an alarming sound. Definitely your attention will be reverted to that noise and you will check what it is and what the cause of such sound is. If you are crossing the street and a police officer whistled and stop you, will you be alarmed? If you are in the office and so busy reading your Facebook timeline when your boss came into your desk, will you be get attentive? Surely the answer is yes. There are many ways on how this world can get our attentions and can wake us up in the midst of daydreaming or imagining a happy vacation. We get attentive when something is not working according to our plans. We lost our focus by a sound, a situation and a powerful thing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our Lord has special ways of getting our attention. We might feel in distress and might feel that we have a restless spirit that sometimes you don't know what to do and how to overcome such situation. There could be someone that will tell you powerful words that can help us to recognize that something is wrong. Or some challenges that will make us stop and ask ourselves: is there something that He wants to tell me? Did I do something wrong? You want to say something to me Lord? Let's read <b><u>Deuteronomy 1:42-44</u></b> (<sup>42</sup> But the Lord said to me, “Tell them, ‘Do not go up and fight, because I will not be with you. You will be defeated by your enemies.’” <sup>43</sup> So I told you, but you would not listen. You rebelled against the Lord’s command and in your arrogance you marched up into the hill country. <sup>44</sup> The Amorites who lived in those hills came out against you; they chased you like a swarm of bees and beat you down from Seir all the way to Hormah.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the above verses, Lord is showing us to always seek Him and listen to Him carefully. One of his tools in getting our attention is unanswered prayer for us to sharpen our faith and trust in Him. The difficulties in our lives can also reveal to us that He is calling us and He wants something from us. The failures that we are experiencing are also His way of telling us that we didn't listen to Him and now He has our attention. But we should be reminded that He has the best plans for us and He acts in our best interests. This is a reminder that in our problems and tragedies, He is waiting for us to seek Him and listen to His words as we might be getting busy in our life in the modern world that sometimes we forget Him. We get preoccupied and we focus on the things that are happening in our lives that is causing a divided attention towards Him. Nevertheless, let's not forget that victory and failure is part of our lives that are poking us and reminding us that our Father waits for us, seeking our attention as sometimes He gets jealous.</span></div>
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carlomalbashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408377304179787794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4866620284356504233.post-57531124112073079612013-03-13T14:10:00.001+08:002013-03-13T14:11:39.126+08:00What to do with Criticisms?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently, I did an action that might be questionable to others and that might lead to be criticized by other Christians. But I don't want to argue about it since it was my personal decision and declaration and I believe that my relationship with Him is as strong as before or even stronger. In Christian life, we can't escape criticisms from others; on why we are doing the things we do and what our real intentions are. These kinds of questionings might lead to conflict with others and we will be tested on how we will act and respond on it. How can we handle such situations and what are the godly ways to do it? How can we show that despite those damaging words and thoughts, we can still avoid great conflicts?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The best examples and answers to these questions are visible in Paul's life. If you will read <b><u>Philippians 1:12-18</u></b> (<sup>12</sup> Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. <sup>13</sup> As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. <sup>14</sup> And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. <sup>15</sup> It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. <sup>16</sup> The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. <sup>17</sup> The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. <sup>18</sup> But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice), you will see how Paul reacted on the criticisms of other members of church in Rome. Despite those conflicts and questions of intentions, he still showed positive attitude towards it because he was confident that he is doing what God wanted him to do: it was to share words and gospel. On his letters, you will not see any harsh words; instead, he spoke of encouragement and resolution to avoid conflicts. He also did not defend himself but the words and his love of God were exposed. It was so unbelievable that even he was in chains, he still rejoiced and celebrated the joys of being with Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In real life, there will be people who will bring us down and can lead to loss of focus. The best thing that we can do is to look upon Him and clear out our hearts and offer Him the greatest praise. Some criticisms can be hurtful and painful but in His arms, there will be rest and peace. Don't act negatively and don't ever think about of revenge and vengeance. The most important thing is that we know from ourselves that our intentions are clean and that no harm will be put in our relationship with Christ. But in some instances, we can accept suggestions from others and check ourselves if we might need some corrections with our actions. But these things should never ever lead to doubt and loss of faith. Ask God for help and stay intact with your beliefs and understanding. As the song goes, "and if our God is for us, then who can stand against?"</span></div>
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