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?
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
GOOD READS: 10 Commandments series
NEW FIND FOR GOOD READS:
http://the-10commandments.com/10-commandments-of-communication.html
Monday, August 20, 2012
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.
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.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
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.ΓΌ
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.
Need a writer?
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.
Need a writer?
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.
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.
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.
Need a writer?
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.
Need a writer?
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
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.
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.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
"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.
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.
Monday, August 6, 2012
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.
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.
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
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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