please be motivated

"Get Motivated"

Scripture:

Matthew 11:12

"From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it."

What can we learn from the disciples of the past?

One, they lived with a mission.

Their mission? To advance the kingdom of heaven here on earth.

Two, how did they do this?

The verse that we've just read says, "the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing"

The verse further describes the disciples of the olden days as "forceful men"

In simple terms, we can say that the disciples were truly motivated believers in their cause.

And we can learn from them.

Ganun dapat ang ating pamumuhay dito sa lupa. Dapat meron ang bawat isa sa atin na goal in life. Purpose for living. Mission to accomplish.

Pag wala tayo ng mga nabanggit, diba parang meaningless ang ating existence?

Ang taong motivated, excited maging sa umaga, kasi alam niya me importante siyang gagawin ngayon. Me mga nakadepende sa kanya. At pinakaimportante, alam na alam niya, na merong pinagagawa ang Diyos sa kanyang buhay. Papano banamang hindi ka maexcite gumising!

However, motivation is like passion, it's like energy, it's really like excitement. A feeling, that increases and decreases over time. Lalo na siguro pag masyadong tumatagal ang katuparan ng mga hinahangad, so much time and energy ang na dedeplete. Tapos dagdagan mupa ng mga pagsubok, discouragements, trials, setbacks. Ayun na, kaya some people tuloy give up and quit, they've lost the motivation to go on.

How can we continue when we are beset with problems? When we've used up our strength, When we are no longer motivated? How can we remain "forceful"?

The answer is that, we must do something about it.

We must "GET MOTIVATED", again and again, whatever is necessary, to get our groove back, our energy, our passion, our excitement, for the life and mission that God has given us.

Surely there are good days, as there are bad days.

Sometimes gusto mong pumasok sa school, sometimes tamad na tamad ka.

Sometimes gusto mong magtrabaho, at other times, you just want to sleep more and stay home.

Sometimes excited ka to go to church, to serve in the ministry, to do your calling, but let's be honest, it aint all the time. Even the most Godly people get discouraged. Even the most anointed of preachers have entertained thoughts of quiting the ministry altogether.

But we must not allow this to last a few more minutes. This feeling. This thought of giving up. We must do whatever it takes to get ourselves back in the game.

Whatever works for you.

A glass of water, a pitcher of softdrinks, eating your favorite food, watching a movie, going to the spa, secluding yourself in a prayer mountain, getting counselling, or even shopping!

Whatever works for you, just do it.

Always remember, when God gives us a mission, he gives the provision.

Life is beautiful, because God is good.

God's will...

"Knowing God's Will Part 1"

Scripture:

James 1:5-8

5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

We make decisions almost everyday.

Meroong simpleng decision, at meroong mabibigat na decision.

Simple things like when to wake up?

What to wear outside?

What to eat for breakfast?

Where to go after school or work?

What to dvd movie or series to watch before you sleep tonight?

These questions are simple, yet oftentimes we struggle when we are about to decide concerning them, kahit parang ang babaw nila. And this happens almost everyday.

Major decisions naman include, sino ba ang magiging partner mo sa buhay?

Magpapakasal kanaba?

San ka ba titira,?

Mangingibang bansa kanaba?

San kana magche-church?

What will you do with your money?

Ibubunyag mo na ba ang matagal mo ng tinatagong lihim about yourself?

These are but some of the more important things to consider in life.

In all of that, the christian is different from the unbeliever, because, before he makes a decision, he consults God.

Importante sa kanya, hindi lang ang opinion ng nakararami, kundi kung ano ba ang say ni God doon.

In other words, ano ba ang "God's will".

And how do we know kung ano God's will?

It begins with a REVELATION.

Revelation means, a message from God.

Puedeng as you read the Bible, as you listen to a Preacher, o dinaman kaya advice from Godly people. In some occasions, even circumstances can bear the thumb print of God. Mga pagkakataon na hindi sana mangyayari kundi rin lang sa divine intervention. Doors closing, and others opening. Put them all together, and they can be God's message for you.

A REVELATION.

That's why, from this verse, we gather, be prayerful.

Pray for wisdom. Ipag pray mo muna ang iyong situation before you jump into any major and important decision concerning your life and calling.

Pag gusto mo talaga ang God's will, magpe-pray kamuna.

Ask God to show you his revelation for your life.

"Knowing God's Will Part 2"

Scripture:

James 1:17

17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Knowing God's Will is a gift.

A gift from a loving Father in heaven.

He knows what is best for us, what is good for us, what is perfect for us.

And that is why, to know his will, it is not enough to have a REVELATION.

What do we mean by this?

God's will is known through a REVELATION, that is also verified to be true and real, by a CONFIRMATION, that he likewise sends, to assure the believer of the revelation's authenticity.

Kailangan may confirmation, kung ang iniisip natin, ay God's will nga talaga.

For example, nagpray tayo for a certain option or decision. We feel si Lord ang nagreveal sa atin nung decision na ito. Ang kasunod dapat nito ay confirmation mula ke Lord na yun na nga ang message niya.

Gaya ng verse na binasa natin ngayon, sabi ron "Every good and perfect gift comes from our Father in heaven."

Kaya isa pa sa importanteng dapat natin lahat matandaan, if you know your Father, you will know his gift!

Furthermore, if you know your Father, you will know his will.

Have you been thinking about something very important recently?

Has God been speaking to you through revelations?

Through messages, preachings, bible studies, friends?

Then if you really want to live a life that God blesses, that which pleases God, then seek a confirmation.

Be sensitive and observant to what will happen next in your life.

The people you will meet.

The things that will occur.

The places God will be sending you.

Because God is a God of purpose.

Walang aksidente sa Diyos.

Alam na alam niya ang ginagawa niya.

He is in full control.

Trust in God. Put your hope on him. He will show you the way.

Get your CONFIRMATION

"Knowing God's Will Part 3"

Scripture:

James 1:2-4

2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

When God reveals his will, he confirms it.

And one way by which he confirms his will, is when there are trials and testings.

In other words, when God's will is being revealed, hindi puedeng mawala ang TENSION.

Already we have learned, that in knowing God's will, there must be REVELATION and CONFIRMATION.

Ano naman itong tension?

Hindi bat pag God's will dapat smooth ang lahat?

On the contrary, maraming beses sa bibliya, na me kwento ng mga tao, na even though they were doing God's will, pero, dumaan padin sa maraming pag subok.

Hindi laging smooth sailing ang pagtupad ng God's will.

Kadalasan pa nga, me struggle.

Why?

Because, in knowing and fulfilling God's will, there are (3) forces at work.

God's spirit, the human spirit, and evil spirits.

God's spirit wants to move us forward in life.

To do his will. And eventually, to live a life that is blessed by God.

But evil spirits despise this.

And they will do everything they can to deceive us in staying with the status quo, be lazy in our comfort zone, or worse, to do the opposite of what God wants us to do.

Kaya tuloy, yung human spirit, me struggle.

Depende na sa strength ng kanyang faith kung kanino siya sasama o susunod.

Ang hirap kaya non.

Parang kang pinupunit sa gitna!

And all of these things can happen, as a true believer in Christ seeks his will.

Yes, it is not an easy life.

But it can be so much worse if absent si God sa ating mga decision making.

We need to know and fulfill God's will in our lives.

Kahit na ito pa ay mahirap.

May struggles.

May conflicts.

May trials and testings.

We must now already realize, that in pursuing God's best for us, there will be tension.

Hindi siya basta basta nangyayari without us experiencing some form of struggle.

Akala nga ng iba heaven na agad pag naging christian na.

Lalo na kung ang foundation ng faith ay mababaw. Kung blessings oriented ang kanyang perspective. At kung hindi siya na disciple ng maayos, surely, he will be surprised, na serious matter ang pagiging mananampalataya.

But what is our point?

Don't be discouraged kung merong struggles sa life mo, lalo na kung ang struggles is about you fulfilling what you believe is God's will for your life.

In fact, rejoice, kasi isa yan sa indicator na nasa tama kang path.

And through all the tension, hold on to God, He will never let you go.

"Knowing God's Will Part 4"

Scripture:

James 1:12

12Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

In Knowing God's Will, we have studied at least (3) major points.

First, REVELATION.

If it is God's will, he will reveal.

Second, CONFIRMATION.

That if it is God's will, he will confirm.

And third, TENSION.

That even the presence of struggles can serve as a confirmation of his will.

And now, the fourth, in this (5) part series.

PROVISION!

Yes, eventually, kailangan ito bilang pruebe, ebidensiya, katiyakan, na indeed, what we are doing, is his will.

Sabi nga, if it's God's will, he will provide.

He will open doors.

He will pave the way.

He will soften hearts.

He will make you and your intentions known.

He will show you the money.

He will make the impossible possible.

Ganyan ang God's will, walang sino sino. Walang hadlang na hindi mabubuwag. Walang harang na hindi matatanggal. Walang pangangailangan na hindi niya ipagkakaloob.

Pag gusto ni Lord, walang puwedeng makapipigil.

Ang problema, pag ayaw niya?

O di naman kaya, hindi pa right timing.

Sa prayer, we can expect the following answers.

Yes, No, and Wait muna.

Sana laging yes or no lang, para malinaw agad.

Kaso nga lang, there are times that God wants us to wait first. Puwedeng dahil me trials and testings muna na alam niyang kailangan nating daanan. Or we have sinned against him, kaya kailangan natin muna ng cleansing. Minsan, wrong pa ang motive. Hindi tama ang katwiran o dahilan.

Maraming possible reasons why God opts to delay the fulfillment of his will in our lives.

Ang importante, ayusin natin ang ating puso, ayusin natin ang ating faith, ayusin natin ang ating buhay.

And when all is in their right place, at right timing na, you can expect, even God's abundant provision for all your needs.

Sabi nga, pag me vision, me provision.

"Knowing God's Will Part 5"

Scripture:

James 1:27

27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Knowing God's Will is about being Christian.

It's about making Christ the center and Lord of one's life. So much so, that we value and place at the highest importance and consideration, his say, on every major decision that we are to make in life.

That is why, a true believer in Jesus Christ, would always pray before anything else. He would always read the Bible before anything else. He would always ask fellow Christians before anything else.

Because, he knows, that is the right thing to do.

And in Knowing God's Will, we have discussed that it is important to have REVELATION, CONFIRMATION, TENSION, and PROVISION.

And now for the fifth, and final part of this series, we are reminded, that for anything that God wants a believer to do, there is always a purpose behind it.

In other words, to know God's will, we must see, how that decision, leads us to the fulfillment of our calling in God, our MISSION.

Yes, mission.

Sabi nga nung verse natin for today, "Religion, to be pure and faultless, should be about looking after orphans, taking care of widows."

Aanhin mo ang lahat ng ritwal kung wala naman itong epekto sa ating puso, pag iisip, ugali, katwiran, at pagtulong sa kapwa?

Ano kinalaman ng ating magiging decision sa buhay sa ating ministry?

Malaki. Because all christians must have a ministry.

And our ministry is because of our calling.

Because of our mission.

The one God has assigned for us to do on this earth.

The reason we exist.

Why we are on this earth.

Meron tayong lahat nyan.

Yung iba alam na. Yung iba hindi pa alam. Yung iba nakalimutan na. Yung iba nagmamaangmaangan pa din na wala.

Hindi puwedeng magtagal tayo sa pagiging Christian na hindi natin natutunton ang mission natin, ang calling natin, ang ministry natin.

Mamamatay ang faith natin pag nagtagal tayo na hindi natin alam, at hindi natin ginagawa ang ating mission in life.

Kaya, for any decision that you would have to make in life, always consider, "E ano naman ang kinalaman nito sa mission ko ke God?

How will this decision help me, in fulfilling God's calling for my existence on this earth?"

God's will, always includes, God's mission!

song for myself...

THE PROMISE

Lord You know my heart

And all my desire

And the secret things

I never felt

Lord You know them well

Though I may be young

I see and understand

That at times like sheep

We go astray

And things get out of hand

Chorus:

So I promise to be true to You

To live my life in purity

As unto You

Waiting for the day

When I hear You say

"Here is the one I have created

just for you"

Until then Oh Lord

I will be content

Knowing that true love

Will come someday

It will only come from YOu

Coz I have seen

The suffering that

loneliness can cause

When we choose to give

Our love away

Without a righteous cause

(Repeat Chorus)

Dare to be DEFINITE

Dare to be definite!

"And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the Lord which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee: Deliver me, I pray thee".Gen. 32:9, 11.

There are many healthy symptoms in that prayer.

In some respects it may serve as a mould into which our own spirits may pour themselves, when melted in the fiery furnace of sorrow.

He began by quoting God's promise:

"Thou saidst." He did so twice Vs.9,12.

God puts Himself within our reach in His promises!

And when we can say to Him, "Thou saidst," He cannot say no.

He must do as He has said.

If Herod was so particular for his oath's sake, what will not our God be?

Be sure in prayer.

- to get your feet well on a promise.

Jesus desires that we shall be definite in our requests.

And that we shall ask for some special thing.

"What will ye that I shall do unto you?"-

- is the question that He asks of every one who in affliction and trial comes to Him.

Make your requests with definite earnestness if you would have definite answers.

Aimlessness in prayer accounts for so many seemingly unanswered prayers.

Be definite in your petition.

Fill out your check for something definite, and it will be cashed at the bank of Heaven when presented in Jesus' Name.

Dare to be definite with God!

Bring Christ's Word--Christ' s promise, and Christ's sacrifice--His blood, with you!

And not one of Heaven's blessings can be denied you!!

Are you willing to PRAY?

Jesus set the example!


Two interesting observations can be made about the pace of Jesus' ministry.

One is that He never hurried anywhere.
Jesus was never in a rush.
His purpose was so clear that other things were not allowed to put him in a rush.

The other is that He consistently found the time and the quiet to pray.

A healthy prayer life needs those two things:
-Time and quiet.

How can you have a healthy prayer life without taking time to pray?
You can't.
Some praying we do "on the run."
It may be that we pray while driving or while working around the house.

Still, we need quality prayer time, undistracted by any other activities.

The other need is for quiet.
Finding a time and place where you are undistracted is vital to a healthy prayer life.
For some, those times and places are easy to find.
For others, it is a challenge.

Jesus set the example!
He took time and found a quiet place to pray.

Will you?
Do you take time to pray?
Why not right now?

Jesus did.
You should also

What is a FRIEND?

What is FRIEND?

Friend is whom you can depend on, someone who will stand by your side until their last drops of his or her breathe. People tend to misconstrue the word friendship, they tend to see and value the words as it is, but have we ever thought what the real meaning of this word is?

Friendship is most demonstrated on the cross. Positive sign which mean increase, so, what does it mean…Friendship is sharing life to other people. We open doors and our lives to let others see and know who we are. We can’t just limit ourselves by our actions and what we feel. Our joys, our sorrows, our pains, our victories are all factors to share life and touches lives. We can best do it once we opened our hearts and learn to love a person who surrounds us.

Life of Jesus is one best example of friendship. What He did is to give His very own life for the sake of His friends and that’s we. Jesus shed His blood not only for me but for you because He loves us unconditionally and He never wanted to see us in pain. He always wants the best for us. As the cross says “INRI”, we were reminded that once Jesus shared His life for us to be saved. He is the good and the best demonstration of being a friend. A good man who made a way to touch lives and His compassionate heart brought Him the love that is so lavishing and so big to what we can contain.

If we say to others, I am your friend. Do we really mean it?

Friendship is a Commitment and Accountability to others. If we mean friendship, we must be able to do an impact, we must share our lives and change life, we should be an encourager, a living testimony and a legacy to them. We need to know our responsibilities as their friends. Our commitment is not like with Jesus who needs to shed blood but through our actions and words, we need to be an influence in bringing out the best in them.

What our friends are is a reflection to who we are.

Friends are those people who will stick through thick and thin. “A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity.” “Proverbs 17:17”

I hope that God will use me to be your friend and may I be a blessing to your life that I might do my commitment as your friend. Thank you for being a gift to treasure, a friend whom I want to share the beauty of life with God’s love.

What is LOVE?

What Is Love?

One must understand whether "what is love" can be a question which can be answered? Love cannot be a question. For, if it is a question then an answer should be there. If the answer is there, where is it? This question is ancient and an answer should have been found by now! If the answer has been found, the question would have disappeared.

But the question still remains, meaning the answer has not been found. If it has not been found as yet, then what is the certainty that it will be found? Maybe the mind can never find the answer! A single answer, which will please all minds, is not possible for each mind has its own ideas of love. Hence a universal answer is an illusion.

Individual answers are there for love and for this very reason there are arguments about love for each mind will contradict the answer of another mind. This contradiction is normal for each mind lives in a different point in time. Hence "what is love" is an illusionary question, which has no answer!

How do you define love?

Some say it's mysterious, magical, complex, difficult, imaginary, thought-provoking, inspirational, intuitional, joyous, immeasurable, ecstasy, and undefinable. Perhaps.

In one of Dr. John Gray's audio cassettes he defines love as follows: "Love is a feeling directed at someone which acknowledges their goodness."

On the same cassette, he refers to the definition by M. Scott Peck: "The willful intent to serve the well being of another."

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. - 1 Corinthians 13:5-7

My favorite is by Paramahansa Yogananda: "To describe love is very difficult, for the same reason that words cannot fully describe the flavor of an orange. You have to taste the fruit to know its flavor. So with love."

Love itself is a universal experience. Yet, every individual occurrence - while perhaps bound by a common thread - seems absolutely unique. Love is what love is! To everyone it expresses itself differently.

Love is the answer to "all" questions!

It is important to stand in Love, not fall into it.

Love is waking up to find the object of your affection in the dream you were having asleep on your shoulder.

Could it be that Love is a story that can never be fully expressed?

Love is a bond or connection between two people that results in trust, intimacy, and an interdependence that enhances both partners.

Love is the ability and willingness to allow those you care for to be what they choose for themselves, without any insistence that they satisfy you. - Leo Buscaglia

Making Love is the highest level and the most loving way we can physically express or demonstrate our Love for our love partner. Everyone knows that the sexual experience can be the single most loving, most exciting, most powerful, most exhilarating, most renewing, most energizing, most affirming, most intimate, most uniting, most stress-relieving, most recreative physical experience of which humans are capable.

When you tell someone something bad about yourself and you're scared they won't Love you anymore. But then you get surprised because not only do they still Love you, they Love you even more. - Matthew - age 7

Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day. - Mary Ann - age 4

Logic says everything in this world has a cause and an effect. True Love is the only feeling which is its own cause and its own effect. It is something illogical and yet above all logic. I Love her because I Love her, and I Love her so I Love her. - Prateek Kumar Singh

Love is comforting someone in need of Love and having them know that somebody cares.

Love is looking past imperfections in your partner and seeing the beautiful person inside. True love seeks the happiness and well being of your partner. Love expresses itself in the mutual respect you demonstrate to your partner.

Guys, this one is for you! - Love is letting your partner have the TV remote for 30 days!

Love must be experienced. Its meaning is infinite and can never be totally defined.

The opposite of Love is fear. Think about it.

There is no fear in Love; but perfect love casts out fear. - Bible

God is love.

Love is loving someone without expecting anything in return; no judgments, no restrictions; no limitations; no expectations!

True Love is the nature of bliss.

Love is expressed when you are being someone who loves someone for who they are, not who you think they should be.

Love is embracing differences and discovering ways in which to build a common lifestyle, share decision-making, and taking equal responsibility for the results.

I was nauseous and tingly all over. . . I was either in Love or I had smallpox. - Woody Allen

Love seeks no cause beyond itself and no fruit; it is its own fruit, its own enjoyment. I love because I love; I love in order that I may love.

Love is a decision.

"If you Loved me, you would. . ." Not! Love is not manipulative. It must never be used to get others to do what you want. When you Love someone you never ask them to sacrifice a part of themselves in the name of Love. This form of manipulation contaminates our Love for another.

Love is to like with a great intensity.

True love has a foundation of integrity, respect, faith and trust. Love is the force that brings about unity and harmony.

Although love is at the root of our basic nature, Love for another human being must be cultivated. It takes time for Love to mature.

Is your love free and unconditional, or is it mixed with various needs, conditions and demands from your partner?

The road to self-discovery is paved with Love.

Love has no meaning other than the meaning "we" give it.

Perhaps. . . Love just Is. While in its allness and in its nothingness, all we need to do is simply let it Be.

To demonstrate Love. . . say, "I Love you" - outloud - at least once each day to someone you love. There is magic in these three little words. Saying "I love you" is the most beautiful gift you can give to your partner. These words are the most treasured a person can hear. To be different, say, "I Love you" in a foreign language.

What is A Christian? Are You One?

Many people say they are Christians, but does this profession measure up against what the Bible says a Christian is?

If you say you are a Christian, what is the basis for saying this? Your answer might be something like one of the following statements: �I live in a Christian country�; �I have always been a Christian�; �my parents were Christians�; �I have always been to church�; �I don't do anything to hurt other people�; �I am a moral and upright citizen�; �I do a lot of work for Charities�. These, however, are not the answers that the Bible gives to this question.

The Bible deals with our status in God's eyes, the one who made us and keeps us being. It deals with the matters of our heart, our inmost self. Where we were born and the things we have done, even the best things, are not what makes us accepted in God's estimation � and that is what really counts in the end!

We are told by Jesus Christ Himself that there is only one way to God, only one way to be accepted by Him. Jesus tells us that He is the way, He alone.

How is it that Jesus Christ is the only way to God? The Scripture teaches us that all human beings are born with a terrible problem, one they can't resolve themselves. This problem is their own internal enmity against God's rightful and absolute rule over their lives. It's not just an internal problem. It makes us think and do what we want, not what God wants. The Bible uses the word �sin� for this. It means to �miss the mark�. This is what we inherited from the first man, Adam, who started the rebellion. This is my problem; this is your problem too.

Not only do we have this terrible problem internally towards God, but also we have another one as a consequence. This is God's just condemnation of our sin and rightful anger against us. We have all �missed the mark� and the result is that God has pronounced the �guilty� verdict against us for our sin; yours and mine. The sentence against this guilt is death, both physically and spiritually, ultimately resulting in an eternal separation from God's goodness and an eternal and awful punishment that the Bible calls Hell. A fearful yet just punishment for our willful rebellion.

So how is it that Jesus Christ is the only way to God in the face of this terrible situation? Jesus Christ is God's answer to our problem. Jesus Christ is the Son of God who entered this world of ours as a man, a real human being, even being born a baby. He was fully God and fully human, something very hard to understand, yet crucial to dealing with our problem of sin. Because he was God's Son, He didn't start off with an enmity against God, He loved God from the very start and with all His being, He wanted God's rule over Him. He lived out his life as a true human being without ever sinning against God His Father; not once. So He didn't deserve to die, he didn't deserve punishment; but that is exactly what he endured. But why?

As we said before, Jesus Christ is God's answer to our problem. Through the incredible and completely undeserved love of God He accepts the death Jesus Christ died, undeserved as it was, as the punishment for the sin of all those who trust in Him as their representative, their substitute, their advocate, their Saviour. More than that, God accepts the righteous life of Jesus Christ as His peoples. The Bible puts it this way, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God".

God calls us, God commands us to turn away from our rebellion, our sins, and our desire to go our own way and turn to Him trusting what He has done through Jesus Christ to deal with our biggest problem.

So, we can ask the question again, are you a Christian? Is your answer that same as before, does it have the right basis; the basis the Bible gives us?