10 Commandments of a Vocalist - Bishop Jordan

There have been so many Reality TV shows that have come out these past years. The popular ones include American Idol, X-Factor and The Voice. What do they have in common? They’re all looking for the best singer in the country. Vocalists compete head to head after weeks of elimination and challenges. How do they do it? How do they preserve their voices under so much stress? What keeps them motivated?

Know that God has created us all uniquely. He has given us gifts that we can use for His glory and to make His name known to the world. He has carefully and lovingly planned for you to have a talent. And that talent is singing.

As a vocalist, you have to know what your strengths are. Are you a pop, jazz or RnB singer? What is the range of your voice? Know your strengths and play up on them. It is also important that you know your weaknesses so that you can work on them and improve your skills.

You also need to be responsible not only for your voice but your body as a whole. What are the right foods to eat? What are the no-no’s in a vocalist’s lifestyle?

Read more here!

10 Commandments of Weight Loss - Bishop Jordan

There are over hundreds of weight loss programs now being advertised and promoted and different gyms trying to get you into enrolling in their establishment. Losing weight can be challenging, but not if you’re focused and disciplined enough to really make it happen.

It all starts in the way you think. Several people have tried weight loss programs and failed. Why? Because their mindset isn’t right. At the back of their minds they think, “ I can’t do it”. Sometimes your values can also be related to weight loss. You need to know WHY you want to lose weight. Is it for health reasons? To get over someone? To prove something to yourself? These little things that creep in our heads affect us physically.

One of the reasons why people gain weight is because of their eating compulsions. Certain factors trigger these urges to binge on food. How can you identify these factors and what do you do with them?

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10 Commandments of Church Administration - Bishop Jordan

Who is the best person to run your church? Church administration not only takes skill but a faithful and humble servant. People who are chosen to lead the church take up great responsibility and require a close relationship with God and a mastery of His word.

In order to know how to lead a church, you must also study how the leaders did it in the Old Testament. Through this, you will be able to emulate faithful leaders such a Moses who stands as an example in leading and disciplining a nation.

You must also know your purpose of being an elder. It is to represent the authority of God. Elders are ordained both authority and submission. They are not chosen to “rule” over a church, but rather to serve and make decisions on what’s best for the community.

Not only is it the church administrator’s job to lead the congregation but also to support the church’s pastor. He must be sure that the pastor is able to do his job effectively and provide the right kind of leadership to the people.

1 Timothy 5:17

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.

Read more here

10 Commandments of a Teacher by Bishop Jordan

Most of us share memories of our favorite teachers. There were teachers who made us laugh in class, helped us understand the most difficult math equations and spent extra hours just to help us with our academic problems. Teaching is such a generous profession. It is a selfless act of willingly sacrificing once time, money and effort in order to help mold the next generation.

Teachers educate us not only in academics, but also about life. We’ve looked up to our teachers ever since we started school as a toddler. They become our coaches, mentors, friends and sometimes-even parents.

In order for you to become an effective teacher, you must know what you are teaching and why you are doing it. Your purpose as a teacher will be one of your motivations to keep inspiring students and aid them in becoming great leaders of their generation.

Teaching does not only mean disciplining, sharing knowledge and grading students. It also means being someone who encourages, loves and takes care of the students.

“Teaching is a calling too. And I’ve always thought that teachers in their way are holy – angels leading their flocks out of the darkness.” ― Jeannette Walls

10 Commandments of a Teacher - Read Here

10 Commandments of a Father - Bishop Jordan

There is this famous television show in the United States, which talks about teenage pregnancy and how a lot of the babies have no dads. While some of them know who their fathers are, they don’t necessarily live with them nor get any support.

“A man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad.”- Anne Geddes

True enough. The main father figure everyone has is the God. He sacrificed his only son, Jesus, for the sins of the people. A father should always be there for his children, to listen to them, to provide for them and to give them love. A father should not show hatred towards his wife nor arrogance towards his neighbor. He should be a role model to his children.

A lot of people have trust issues with their fathers, which reflect on their current relationships. Many cannot communicate well, or love unconditionally. If you have an absentee father, look at God and make him your Father, and if you are a father, love your children and their mothers unconditionally before it’s too late.

“My father didn’t tell me how to live; he lived and he let me watch him do it” – Clarence Budington Kelland

Read here for the 10 Commandments of a Father

10 Commandments of a Mother

10 Commandments of a Mother

They always say that mothers will always be there for her children no matter what. She will give the clothes off her back, the food that she is about to eat and the shoes that she is wearing for the sake of her family. She is the backbone of every household and the woman behind everyone’s success.

Being a mother is a full time job. They do not require payments in monetary form and would often do what her family requests without delay. She is the ultimate superwoman and we often forget that she also gets tired. Children should always respect their mothers even though there are times when it seems that there is a conflict of ideas between mother and child.

According to Bishop E. Bernard Jordan, we should always be thankful of our mothers, for motherhood requires selfless sacrifice. Because of this sacrifice, most mothers tend to forget about themselves and even their marriage. We should always remind our mothers how much we appreciate them and love them for all the sacrifice that they do.

Motherhood is not an easy task. It requires brawn, brains, beauty, energy, faith and trust to pull it off. We must always remind our mothers of how much we appreciate them and respect for them.

Read more Here

10 Commandments for Dealing with your In-laws

Hollywood has made it difficult to want to get married. There are the real-life divorces happening to “it” couples and there are movies that touch on the horrible experiences of meeting the in-laws. Of course, movies tend to be overly exaggerated but they most definitely have its roots.

When you decide to get married, you also get married to each other’s families. You will have to spend more time with your spouse’s parents and try to create a genuine relationship with them. There are some families that are very welcoming and easy to get along with, while others need a little more patience.

Dealing with in-laws require you to be your authentic self. Why? Because you will spend the rest of your lives talking with them during Christmas, birthdays and other special occasions. When you pretend to be someone you’re not, they will notice it eventually, and you don’t want them to think you were faking it. Be genuine. It will make them understand why your spouse loves you so much. They need to know why he/she chose to live with you and no one else.

The 10 Commandments of Dealing with In-laws will give you a difference perspective. One that is completely different from the movies you’ve seen or dramatic soap operas you’ve followed.

Read more HERE

10 Commandments of a Successful Marriage - Bishop E. Bernard Jordan

The rate of divorce has gone up increasingly in the past years. Let’s not even touch the world of Hollywood where a year in marriage is such a milestone. The world’s standard of love and marriage has been completely distorted. People marry for the wrong reasons and get separated for the shallowest causes.

How can you truly make a marriage last?

Read more about the 10 Commandments of a Successful Marriage

10 Commandments of Conflict Resolution

Conflicts happen all the time. Misunderstandings at work or conflict of interests with family members are inevitable. These problems often get resolved. But when there are situations that are more difficult to manage, how do you deal with these conflicts?

Knowing the basics of conflict resolution may help you in your everyday life. It gives you the opportunity to understand people more and see where they are coming from instead of having a one-sided argument. It will help you respond more rationally and listen to what the other person has to say.

Arguments usually make people more emotional. Sometimes the emotions take over and we end up with dirty fights and harsh words towards each other. Anger builds walls between individuals that result to more quarrels and less understanding.

The key to resolving conflicts is being able to listen to what the other party has to say. If you don’t give each other the chance to explain, then that argument will go in circles. God has commanded us to bear with one another and become peacemakers.

Read more - 10 Commandments of Conflict Resolution

10 Commandments of Glossolalia

For some churches, speaking in tongues is a taboo, for others it is encouraged.
‘Glossolalia’ refers to a believer speaking in words that were never part of his or her known language. It happens commonly during states of deep religious prayer or songs of worship.
When you receive God in your life, the Spirit of the Lord gives you the ability to gain its fruits and gifts as your live your Christian life – including tongue-speaking.
Tongue-speaking was part of our history. This first happened during the day of the Pentecost when the believers were enabled by the Holy Spirit to speak in languages. This gift has been carried on from thousands of years until the present day.The 10 Commandments of Glossolalia by Bishop Bernard E. Johnson explains the origin of this gift and teaches us how to use it wisely. It guides us on how to make use of this gift. It is important to know that this gift is used to convey the message of God and nothing else. We are used as a vessel by the Holy Spirit to communicate to people of different nationalities and backgrounds. It is God’s way of speaking to those who need to hear the Gospel.

Go read more about it here: 10 Commandments of Glossolalia

10 Commandments of Intention by Bishop E. Bernard Jordan

We all have dreams and goals in life. The journey to fulfilling those dreams is always the memorable and vital ones. Which is why it is important that we check our intentions and if they are aligned with God.

Intent is synonymous to “motive”. Every time we act upon pursuing our goals, we always need to know if our intentions are good or bad. God watches our steps and weighs our motives. Our intentions are important to the Lord.

In order to achieve what we desire, we need to have the motivation to do it. But we must always be careful with our behavior in doing so. Some people will do anything in order to get what they want. They will step on people and not care if their actions affect others on the way. Our behavior matches with our intent. We must always have a positive behavior in order to have positive outcomes.

We need to set our intentions and be able to base it on who we are and our values. When our hearts are filled with faith, then our intentions become pure and good. Our intentions tell us about who we really are, and God can see that. 

Get 10 Commandments of Intention HERE!!

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One of the best reads ever of this 10Commandments Series!!!!

10 Commandments for Escaping Bankruptcy by Bishop E. Bernard Jordan

The bankruptcy rate in the U.S. is alarmingly increasing. There are a lot of reasons why taxpayers file for bankruptcy. Most of which include job loss, excess use of credit cards, medical expenses, uncontrolled spending, student loans and even divorce.

There are also unexpected situations leading to bankruptcy that individuals aren’t prepared for. It is the perfect time that you prepare and try to avoid this from happening to you.

Charles Noble said, “You must have long term goals to keep you from being frustrated by short term failures.” Planning ahead is key in avoiding these short-term failures. It will hinder possible problems in the future if you plan wisely.

Sound financial planning is vital for everyone. It is all about thinking for the future and preparing for the worst thing that could happen to you. You must set goals for yourself. This will push you to work harder and keep you further away from debt. Of course, goals should include action plans. How will you attain this task? What will you do to gain more income?

The 10 Commandments of Escaping Bankruptcy will guide you into being debt free and out of that financial rut.

10 Commandments for Escaping Bankruptcy 

10 Commandments On What To Do if Your Child Hits You

I'm not yet a parent. Soon, I hope to be a mom. I don't think anyone is every really prepared for parenting, until it happens. But it won't hurt to read up and to soak up as much knowledge & WISDOM about parenting. After all, it is one of God's best roles. We will always be accountable to the children He will bless us with.

But what if these BLESSINGS suddenly becomes violent and aggressive, to the point wherein they are hitting us. What to do? Good thing to be reading about this now, than later.

10 Commandments On What To Do if Your Child Hits You

10 Commandments of a Job Applicant

I've always been so scared of job interviews. No matter how prepared I think I am, I always feel like there is something I missed out on doing. This is a great read on how to be confident in applying for the job you've always wanted.

10 Commandments of a Job Applicant

10 Commandments

A blog site for a 10 Commandments series. Pretty awesome.

If you were to write a 10 Commandments to something, what would you write about? Or what would you want to read about?

GOOD READS: 10 Commandments series

NEW FIND FOR GOOD READS:

http://the-10commandments.com/10-commandments-of-communication.html

SWIM ONE MORE STROKE

This never fails to inspire me. Never give up. God is FAITHFUL --- ALWAYS.

Excerpt from Facing Your Giants by Max Lucado

Don't make the mistake of Florence Chadwick. In 1952 she attempted to swim the chilly ocean waters between Catalina Island and the California shore. She swam through foggy weather and choppy seas for fifteen hours. Her muscles began to cramp, and her resolve weakened. She begged to be taken out of the water, but her mother, riding in a boat alongside, urged her not to give up. She kept trying but grew exhausted and stopped swimming. Aids lifted her out of the water and into the boat. They paddled a few more minutes, the mist broke, and she discovered that the shore was less than a half mile away.

"All I could see was the fog," she explained at a news conference. "I think if I could have seen the shore, I would have made it."

Take a long look at the shore that awaits you. Don't be fooled by the fog of the slump. The finish may be only strokes away. God may be, at this moment, lifting his hands to signal Gabriel to grab the trumpet. Angels may be assembling, saints gathering, demons trembling. Stay at it! Stay in the water. Stay in the fight.

Give grace, one more time. Be generous, one more time. Teach one more class, encourage one more soul, swim one more stroke.


Let's work together.  

Do I REALLY have what it takes?

this totally made me day. going into a new season in life, i've just asked this question, lo and behold in just a few minutes literally... God answered. AMAZING.ü


excerpt from John Eldredge's Waking the Dead (emphasis and comment added):


God endowed you with a glory when he created you, a glory so deep and mythic that all creation pales in comparison. <imagine how a breathtaking sunset or a magnificent landscape can be so dull compared to me... totally mindboggling> A glory unique to you, just as your fingerprints are unique to you, just as the way you laugh are unique to you. Somewhere down deep inside we've been looking for that glory ever since. A man wants to know that he is truly a man, that he could be brave; he longs to know that he is a warrior; and all his life he wonders, "Have I got what it takes?" A woman wants to know that she truly is a woman , that she is beautiful; she longs to know that she is captivating; and all her life she wonders, "Do I have beauty to offer?".......

"Those he justified, he also glorified" (Rom 8:30).  And "in the meantime, "you have been transformed, and you are being transformed. You've been given a new heart. Now God is restoring your glory. He is bringing you fully alive. Because the glory of God is fully alive.

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Why are you SO AFRAID?

Yesterday was a tough day. We've all had those days when one thing goes wrong, then another would follow. It's painstaking to experience one bad news over another. It's downright discouraging because it seems that there's no way out. It also brings fear to our hearts.
I was calling out to God. I was crying out how tired I was and how I could not deal with it anymore. When I was reading my Bible today, I found people in a similar (well not exactly, but this was how I felt in my spirit last night).
The disciples were on a boat with Jesus. Suddenly a furious storm came, and WAVES BROKE OVER THE BOAT, SO THAT IT WAS NEARLY SWAMPED. Jesus was sleeping during that time, even when it seemed like the storm would overpower the boat and they would all drown. The disciples asked a similar question that I think a lot of us, at one point or another asked God:

"Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

Haven't we asked God the same thing in our lives? When storms shake us, don't we cry out, "God, don't you care about me?" or "God, don't you care that this is happening to me?"
Now, I don't want to belittle the disciples. I think at some point, their fear was valid because I can imagine the waves were so huge because it could already swamp the boat. They were literally in a position were in they were in danger.

Jesus responded first by quieting the storm saying, "Quiet! Be Still!" The wind died down instantly and it was COMPLETELY CALM.

Yes, the disciples' fear was valid. However, they forgot one important factor: Jesus was in their boat. In the face of danger and difficulties, it's so hard to view that Jesus is still in the same boat with us. It's so easy to forget our faith and focus on the fears that these circumstances bring.

Jesus asked a very important question to his disciples that I think we should ask ourselves as well: "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

And he's right, Jesus has been nothing but faithful to us and to his disciples. Before this instance, they were seeing Jesus perform miracles here and there, healing the sick, and casting out demons. In the same way, we saw him touch our lives and the lives of people we love. We experienced his grace and his favor so many times, as well. Yet, when storms come... we still forget and fret, and fear that we're going to die.

Why are we still so afraid?

For those of us, who may say, not me, I've never experienced Jesus that way in my life. Maybe the question should be, is Jesus in your boat? Maybe it's time to ask him into your life and into your boat for you to experience his power, his love and his faithfulness in our lives.

 I believe Jesus wants to be in our boat if we welcome him in our lives. More so, I believe that when he is in our boat he expects us to trust that he has got us. We already know what happened. Jesus calmed the storm, no fret... no fuss. He is God and he is in control.
With Jesus, fear should not be an option anymore when it comes to difficulties, danger, and disappointments. With Jesus, there's only faith. When we're with Jesus, there's only stillness in the midst of a storm.

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More than enough

I'm just really amazed at how God's Word has PERFECT, make that, IMPECCABLE timing :)

I'm going to talk about the time when Jesus fed thousands with five loaves of bread and two fishes. I know it's a very familiar story. As kids, it's something we've learned. However, I think that's where the problem lies. The familiarity of the story steals the great truth and revelation behind the story.

When all the disciples had were five loaves of bread and two fishes, to feed THOUSANDS... it was Jesus who BLESSED THEM WITH MORE THAN WHAT WAS NEEDED.

"They ate and were all satisfied, and the disciples picked up TWELVE BASKETFULS OF BROKEN PIECES OF BREAD AND FISH." - MARK 6:42-43

A lot of people lost a lot in the Ondoy Typhoon. Some people lost everything. All that was probably left was nowhere near sufficient to get them by. Even those that were not affected could feel that they had nothing in excess, and chose not to donate

I encourage you today to step out in faith and believe that Jesus is in control. He will take care of everything we need. More than that, he will bless us with so much more, so we can be an even greater blessing to others :) Why? Because he is faithful always... because that's who he is.

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Why depressed people cannot absorb good advice?

Interesting. I've stumbled over this when I was writing a piece on depression:



Physiological activity of the brain. Cutting-edge research also suggest that moods and thoughts are influenced not only by neurotransmitter and hormones but also by the cellular activity of various parts of the brain. The activity of particular areas of the brain can now be studied by measuring the rate of blood flow or energy metabolism; modern techniques permit areas as small as the nail on your little finge. to be visualized. Depressed persons often have decreased blood flow to several areas in their brain, especially the frontal regions. Brain activity appears to be shifted to other areas of the brain involved in processing emotional arousal. These changes may also be accompanied by a relative increase in the activity of the nondominant side of the brain (usually the right). Taken together, these changes in brain activity might explain why some depressed people seem to be virtually unable to use good advice or standard problem-solving strategies to reduce their difficulties. It is as if an arousal circuit of the brain is stuck in the "on" position and deactivates other, more complex circuits.

*Now I know

Thase, M.E. and Lang, S.S. (2004). Beating the blues: New Approaches to overcoming dysthymia and chronic mild depression. New York: Oxford University Press.

"it was NOT you who sent me here, but God."

Anyone who knows the story of Joseph would understand what his brothers had placed him through. It was horrible. I believe even before they sold him as a slave, they bullied him and made him feel bad because of the dreams that he had. Imagine having been sold, by your own brothers.I cannot even begin to think of the kind of offense and resentment I would feel if my sisters would do something of a similar act of disowning me.

Nancy once told me out of her disappointment that I did not have pasalubong (a treat) for her when I got home, "You're not my sister, you did not bring me pasalubong." I remember being extremely hurt. I even said, "Remember what you told me, Nancy." I knew that seeds of resentment were being planted in my heart. It took a day for me to be able to speak to her again. She's a five year old who needed discipline but really did not understand what she was saying.

It would be understandable for me if Joseph never forgave his brothers again. I would feel for him if held a grudge because of everything he's been through just because of his brothers' envy. I would utterly get it. Perhaps if it was me, so what if I was placed in a high seat of politics?! People who were supposed to love me treated me like dust.  I could imagine the kind of bitterness he could have for them if only... If only God did not reveal to him the his plans and if only God's grace was not sufficient.

"So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt." Genesis 45:8

This was a familiar passage. But it struck me today. I knew that Joseph was so mature that he would be able to forgive his brothers. Never once in Scripture did he curse or express resentment for his brothers. When the times were the toughest, Scripture would always note that "the Lord was with Him."

It's familiar to know that because God forgave us, we should forgive others as well. But Joseph saw the bigger picture. He had such a relationship with God that he perceived all the trials and suffering that he went through to be God's way of making His purposes come to pass.

What?? He never blamed his brothers?? I know this was how the story went. But I find it mind-blogging to come to a point wherein you look at the person who has terribly hurt and violated you in the past and tell that person, you did not do this to me, don't worry about it, it was not you, God did because he had a plan. Joseph did not only forgive them, he set them free of any hint of accountability for everything he had gone through.

I can name people whom I choose to forgive but still feel hurt or bitterness towards (it's a process).  But to come to the level wherein you could see this person that has hurt you and understand that God used this person to bring you to a higher level of blessings...now that's FAITH.

I believe that it is faith and revelation that could only come from being in an intimate relationship with God. In Joseph's darkest hours, God was with Him. How close can you get? Sometimes, when you get close to people, you understand their perspective. I believe Joseph was able to see his brothers through God's eyes.

My prayer today is to see people the way Joseph saw his brothers. I pray that when I see people who have hurt me, offended me, or did any harm against me that I could totally forgive them, set them free in my heart and most of all love them because God used these people for us to become the person we were meant to be.

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Talking Donkey

When I was reading my Bible today, I realized an instance when God literally made a donkey talk. I just found it so funny.

There's this guy Balaam who was going against God's will. He was about to disobey God, in his heart,  he already did by deciding to disobey God.

He was riding his donkey to go the the princes of Moab in disobedience of God. An angel appeared to the donkey (and only the donkey, Balaam could not see it) and just stood in whichever way it went to keep Balaam from going. The angel blocked Balaam's path to the princes of Moab.

Three times Balaam struck his donkey for it to go that way...until they were totally cornered.
Finally, God opened the donkey's mouth.

Donkey: What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?
Balaam: You made a fool out of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.
(Hellooooo! You're donkey is TALKING to you. and you're TALKING back!!!!!!!)
Donkey: Am I not your donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?
(So, how I see it... nagtatampo na yung donkey with Balaam, which is so cute. But still TALKING donkey!!)
Balaam: No.
Then God opened his eyes to see the angel that kept his donkey from obeying him.

Numbers 22: 21-35

When I was reading this, I was really laughing. I mean God was so cool to actually make the donkey talk. But then I realized, it really was no laughing matter. Disobedience is not something funny. And God was so gracious to intervene (even with something so unconventional) to stop him. I don't know, i think I'd prefer a burning bush than to have some animal talk to me.
During the time Balaam was beating his donkey, he was not really getting the point that the reason his donkey was acting up was to keep him from disobedience.

More often than not, when things are not falling into place, or people are not being agreeable and so on, we feel so disappointed that we think there is something wrong with them (the circumstance, the people, etc). We don't consider that there must be something wrong with the path that we're choosing to take and road blocks happen in order to stop us from doing something really stupid.

Thank God for roadblocks... and for talking donkeys...
During this season that I'm still waiting to hear from God, I hope I'm not being so manhid (insensitive) that God would have to use my dog to tell me what path He wants me to take.
Oh Lord, please don't... I'll faint if that happens.

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