Showing posts with label ephesians. Show all posts

Saturday, January 7, 2017

Setting Goals

carlomalbas 1/07/2017 04:36:00 PM , , , No comments :

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.

IS SETTING GOALS UNSPIRITUAL?

No! 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.” 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.

Ephesians 2:8-10 (8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.)

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.

The main verse that we studied was Philippians 3:13-14.
13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Setting goals is a part of spiritual discipline
  • 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
  • Once you are able to see what God can do, then you have to believe he will really do it
  • You have to believe he can help you make the changes you need to make
  • If you don't believe change is possible, you won't even make the effort to change
  • But once you believe you can actually change, then you will be able to set faith goals

 1. Set Goals Like Running in a Race (v 13)
  • TAKE HOLD (Apprehend, Make it my own) - to reach the goals, claim it as you have received and accomplished it.
  • 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
  • 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!

 2. Set Goals Like Winning A Prize (v 14)

  • 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.

 God is a God who sets goals, and he expects you to set them too. 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. (1 Corinthians 9:26)
You will make mistakes in setting goals. It's OK. 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. (Psalm 32:8)

 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:




Friday, July 3, 2015

A Realization on Rejection

carlomalbas 7/03/2015 01:49:00 AM , No comments :

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.

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.

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. (Ephesians 3:19 - "and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.")

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. (Hebrews 13:5 - "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.

Image taken from chronicle.umbmentoring.org

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Honoring Your Parents

carlomalbas 11/25/2012 01:04:00 PM , No comments :

Recently, I've met someone whom I believe, is a very loving son. If you think that giving up dreams and goals just to take care of your parents can only be seen in movies, then you are wrong. During his college application, he got three scholarships abroad but he declined all of it because his parents were old and sick and he is their only child. He took care of his parents to the very best that he can. So he continued his studies in his home country and worked as a coach. In my opinion, he showed not just about loving your parents but also honoring them. 

Ephesians 6:2 (“Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise) clearly states this directive from God. Honoring our parents is a commandment on which we should all obey. This directive should include loving them, bringing joy into their hearts, respecting them, taking care of them and most importantly obeying them. Yes, we are growing so fast and we might be busy in our present work, responsibilities or appointment. But we should never forget that our parents are growing old. Are you willing to sacrifice your happiness just to show them that you love and respect them? How much of your time you are willing to provide to them and taking care of them? We might also think that our parents caused us a lot of pain and that they did not do so much for us. There will be those memories when there was a lot of pain and struggles. Just surrender your hatred to God and empower the importance of forgiveness. Say to God that you are open for anything and He will show you the true meaning of love.

We should remember that obeying Him has its own gifts. In Exodus 20:12 (“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.), reveals the priceless gift that we will receive. I know it won't be easy for others to honor their parents due to the negative things that have happened in the past. Why don't we just remember those beautiful and happy moments with them, those joyful times that we spent with them and forgetting all the hatred and aches. And to the parents, let your children fly on their own and walk into their journey and embrace them with love. My happy moments with my parents were those times that I was with them abroad and spent quality time with them. Those days were priceless.

Presently, this guy that I'm talking about is now in Dubai. He asked his parents' permission to work here to earn more and be ready for his future. His parents allowed him, probably they thought that it is time for him to grow and find his passion. Maybe this is the priceless gift that this guy received that after taking care of his parents and ensuring that everything is okay now, he can now accommodate the plans for his future. This guy is my personal trainer in gym; I truly admire him on this aspect. I'm happy that I found this kind of person who is passionate on what he is doing and at the same time, a very loving person, friend, human being and most importantly, a SON.

Image taken from tbcsf.blogspot.com
Subscribe to: Posts ( Atom )