God has a solution, Guaranteed!

Phil 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

We have learned how every promise of God has a guarantee. Now it does not matter if you have been in a relationship with God for a long time or you just met Him lately, God’s promise is for every single one of His children. Claim it and take hold of it in your heart. Sometimes you’re going to hear some voices in your mind saying, “really? You really think that’s going to happen?” or “you really think it’s just going to come to you like that? Get real!” But we encourage you to shun those thoughts, pay no mind to those discouraging feelings, to those feelings of disappointment, hopelessness and everything else that gets you down. God wants you to experience His mercy, providence, healing, abundance and love by holding on to His guarantees. The most important thing to remember is to WAIT IN FAITH. You don’t know when and how the things you ask for are going to happen, but you believe that God has absolute power to make them happen in your life. You will not try to take some control to plan how it happens, but you wait for God’s direction with full TRUST.

Most of the times in our lives, we become impatient, we like to take things into our hands, we like to plan how things should go and then all of a sudden, we end up disappointed. But now, it’s the best time to start holding God’s guarantees and keeping them in mind. When He says something, He does it to the full measure. When He promises something, He more than keeps His promises. You may have been through a lot, you may have made mistakes, shameful deeds and bad decisions, but God is merciful enough that if you rekindle your relationship with Him, you can still experience the fullness of His love.

In the words of a famous preacher, we must remember this by heart: that God is the God of the universe. He can do anything, He can create anything, He owns everything and the best part of all is, He is my Father! Do not be shy to ask for anything because nothing is too great for Him.

So whatever it is you’re dealing with, no matter how bad it seems to be, Do not contradict this fact. Instead, just keep it in your heart and watch God fulfill His guarantees for you in His time and season. 

In order to follow, Forgive.

I have a friend who has been dealing with a loss of a very closed loved one recently.

You see, when you lose someone, it really hurts, but in her case, someone she loves was taken from her.

You must imagine the pain. the hurt, the anguish and everything your mind will dictate on you because of anger.

Perhaps, during times like these, the world has been most unfair and you are not deserving of such an incident.

But as life goes on, things will unfold, everything will make sense, Everything will suddenly have meaning and we will realize the truth of what we have had to go through.

But one thing is required in order for you to be finally set free from the hatred, from the burden of trauma.
You must forgive. In forgiving, it is you who is set free. In forgiving, you trust that God will be the judge and not you. You will trust that God knows everything and is at work in your life. You will trust God with everything even if it does not seem to be clear to you. You will keep the faith in God that whatever reason He has, it is ALWAYS for your best.

God is in control. Moments of suffering always cloud our vision. They darken things. But when you are focused on the light of God, through your constant communication with Him and your relationship with Him, you will never lose sight of the important things in life. You will never run out of anything. There will always be people, provisions, love, acceptance and care in your life. You will always have exactly what you need if you surrender it all to Him.

Choose to forgive those who have hurt you and those who have hurt you repeatedly. God knows and sees everything. And He will always give us what we deserve. Just continue being a true Christian and continue your duties so that you always walk in His ways.

One day, things will unfold, things will ligthen up, things will make sense...and you will have moved on.

Trusting in the present times

" Lord following you isn't easy, but I believe and trust that You will not leave me as I encounter difficulties in doing so."

It's hard. Yes it is. The moment you focus yourself in giving up everything to Him and letting Him have the steering wheel, there will be a lot of temptations to take the wheel back and control your life. We all hate uncertainty, but it is in the uncertainty of life that we can prove our faith and trust in God. Without faith, it is impossible to please God.

And in proving that faith, there will be a lot of trials to mold us, and to prove that God is the absolute power over everything. You will encounter experiences that will show you how God is the almighty and powerful God who has control over everything. And when you witness to this event in your life, you will be called again and again to submit the most uncertain situations in your life, career, health, family and friends.
The sooner we accept that God is in control, the sooner we can let go and experience the life He always wanted for us. And who can make a better life for you than God? You can never outdo His generosity and His favor, or even more, His wisdom. He knows everything. He sees everything.

In following the commandment to trust in Him and Fear not, God will always put us in a position where we yearn for Him. God knows if and when we are halfhearted in our service, belief and trust in Him. We like to trust God but still we want to control what will happen. That is why we are placed in certain situations that are uncomfortable to us, so that we learn to search for Him wholeheartedly.  And in the scripture, He promises that if you seek Him with all your heart, you will find find Him.

Now what would be better than finding God and encountering Him in your life and in everything that happens to you?

I believe that whatever discomfort you are facing now, whether in your career, family, health, finances and relationships, God is at work behind the scenes. He is waiting for you to seek Him with all of you. Don't try to snag the steering wheel from His hands because you are afraid. He forbids us to worry and forbids us to fear. Though it is a natural human emotion, He already declared in His word that there is nothing to fear for He holds everything in His hands. God is already promising you a great life with Him and all that's left to do is to accept it!

It doesn't matter who you are. If people don't know who you really are, if you are forced to wear a mask everyday in your life to conceal the real you, with God you can come clean. He loves you and there is nothing you can do for Him to unlove you. The world may judge you, and may even use God to judge you, but God is not of this world. And no human in this world can speak for Him. If you share a special relationship with God and you are deeply rooted in Him, no matter who and what you are, you will find peace in Him and the world cannot hurt you.

All that's left to do now is hold on to Him and trust that His word is always true and will not fade. He saved you already, now you should offer your life as a gift of thanks to Him. Do what He tells you to do and start by trusting in Him. It may not make sense to you, it may be difficult for you, but the turnout will be far greater than you have ever imagined.

I hope you share your life to everyone and bare yourself to God.

Stay blessed!

7 TIPS TO ATTAIN PEACE OF MIND (a repost)

1.Mind your own business. Yes, please mind your own business. When you start being concerned about things which are not related to you, you lose your grip on your thought process which often results in negativity disturbing the mental peace. Basically, your mind starts wandering here and there. As you know that a non-focused mind is evil's workshop hence the germs of negativity and jealousy gain more strength. So next time an unnecessary thought comes to your mind, think whether this is really something you should be worrying for? If not, shun it right away and focus on something positive, practical and fruitful.

2.Surround yourself in positive people. Ignore negative comments and stay away from negative souls. When someone is negative, he spreads negativity and you get affected. Permanently staying with such people will have long term impact on your character so think about your company.

3.Don't think about others too much. Remember the great quote: small minds discuss people; Average minds discuss events; Higher minds discuss ideas and Great minds act in silence. Don't allow your brain to compare yourself to others as this is an insult to yourself. Don't be Jealous; it's a heart killing disease, get rid of it as soon as possible. When you are jealous you focus on finding faults in others even if they don't have. This poisons your soul and steals the mental peace.

4.You can't keep everyone happy. Don't be over sensitive. Be natural and genuine in what you do. Be positive, constructive and ethical in your deeds and then don't really care too much about others. Be aware, don't apply this formula to too closed relations. Develop trust to establish powerful relationships.

5.Control your mood swings as it is an indication of unstable personality. Do it by not being over sensitive to others. Stop being reactive and implosive. Stay calm.

6.Ignore your thoughts about being unlucky. Bad luck happens to everyone. It's not your fault at all. Time whether good or bad, passes quickly. Develop the power of not looking back into your past. Believe in the power of Now. Believe in your skills. Work hard and have faith in God; you will get what you have been entitled for. Be patient and see what God has planned for you. Patience and consistency in your deeds is the key to success.

7.Simplicity in your character and living style can overcome the stress and improve your happiness index. Don't be socially sensitive and start following every single trend your social circle is following.

Catching up

I missed about 3 days of my reflection due to...well, I guess nothing but everyday events.

well, I got to post the first one so if people want to continue them, youversion.com has it.

I went back to the reflection to read on what I missed and I am so glad to have read the next 4 reflections because they were just what I needed. 

I have here a few excerpts from the reading..

Day 2:

Maybe you have a friend like that, someone who always manages to cheer you up and cheer you on, to offer support and friendship in tangible ways. Or you’ve sensed the difference between a place with fresh air and a place without it. There’s something, some quality in certain people and their attitudes, that can transform any environment into a magnetic, life-giving, enjoyable place to be.

Day 3:

Here’s the real secret: You can fulfill the commands of the Bible better by falling in love with God than by trying to obey him. It’s funny, the things we do for love. I hate cleaning out the garage—the time, the effort, the trouble. However, my wife feels like the most loved woman in the world when I help her clean out the garage or tackle a big project that needs to be done. It’s better than sending her a dozen roses—well, almost. The point is, I do it because I love her so much that it brings me joy to do something I know she really appreciates.

Falling in love with God is just like falling in love with another person. You think about him constantly and want to be with him all the time. You can throw away your checklists and just enjoy spending time together.

Your only desire is to be with him, to enjoy him, to receive what he wants to give you, and to give him everything you have.

I encourage you to have an honest conversation with God today. Tell him how you feel. Tell him where you’re frustrated or afraid of loving him. Spend at least a few minutes listening for his response. And remember, God already loves us more than we can imagine.

Day 4:

Paul never lost heart and neither should we. Why? Because what we see and experience around us is not all there is. If we want to enjoy life in the vibrant, fully alive way that we all crave, then we must focus on something bigger than our problems. When we have a larger perspective, we realize that most of our problems are really not significant in the long run

Indeed, God calls us to travel light by keeping our destination in sight. When we live for eternity, our difficulties don’t disappear—but they don’t weigh us down either. We can choose to focus on our problems even as we try to reach some imaginary place of trouble-free living. 

Day 5:

In 2009, (from author) my father-in-law, Billy Hornsby, discovered a stage 5 melanoma tumor on the bottom of his foot. Billy’s response was that God could heal him—and if God didn’t, he said, “I’ve already lived an incredibly full life—better than I ever hoped or dreamed.”

In all his struggles through life, Billy never complained—never. In fact, in the twenty-seven years that I knew Billy, I never saw him have a bad day. And I never heard him say anything negative about anyone—ever. 

He was honest about the fear, pain, and even doubt that accompany suffering. At the same time, he pointed us to the Word of God, sharing how we can let go of fear and dread when we submit ourselves to God, who promises never to leave or forsake us. As he was staring death in the face, Billy modeled courage, a positive attitude, and faith for us. Even his doctors and nurses were blown away by his faith and peace.

These really helped a lot especially now that I'm rushing again just because of some set back. I have literally lost focus again and I guess I'm just too young and I have to learn a lot to know what I really have to do in life..So, even at my age, reflection really does help. We can't keep barging our heads through walls just to get there faster. There must definitely be a better way, or we keep getting headaches for pushing what we want all the time.

Learning through the readings

Good thing I downloaded the bible app in my tablet, now i get to start the a reading plan from youversion and hopefully stick to it and be committed enough to read everyday despite my "busy" schedule.

so anyway, since I am starting a new reflection and bible reading series, I have decided to share every reading that I will accomplish and encourage other people to take some time during the day to reflect on it as well.

All credits to youversion and the authors of their bible reading plans.

So the new reading plan I started is called Experience 14 days of fresh air. It has a reflection and a bible verse together with it so that you get to be familiarized with reading the word.

That just about what I need right now to get over the fussing, rushing and worrying about everything in my life.

This is day 1 and I hope it helps you too.

Have You Heard about “the Doldrums”?

There’s something amazing about feeling a warm ocean breeze across your face from the deck of a ship. And watching the wind fill a giant piece of canvas, tilting that large sail in a way that both powers and directs the vessel, is even more incredible. Before the age of motorized boats, sailors relied on these trade winds to carry them across the ocean.

However, all mariners knew about one area that was to be avoided at all costs: the Doldrums. Taken from the root word meaning “dull” or “lifeless,” the expression “in the doldrums” was used to describe the state of being bored and restless, in a slump. Sailors then gave this name to a specific region along the equator where the weather always seemed to illustrate this lifeless condition—where the air mass just hovered overhead, keeping these sailing ships stuck in place.

It’s not surprising then, that the Doldrums were once feared more than the Bermuda Triangle. Many ships became trapped in the dead zone, forced to endure grueling storms until they wrecked. Sailors would try everything they knew to do to get the ship sailing again, but nothing worked. They were stuck, sometimes permanently.

I think most of us can relate to being in the doldrums. You may know what you’re supposed to do in life, you may even know where you want to go, but you are stuck in this zone where there’s no wind, no breath, no life, nothing to help motivate you and move you along. Maybe you’re going through a storm and doing all you can just to stay afloat. Maybe it’s been a long time since you’ve been fired up about anything. Maybe you’re in a rut and don’t know how to move forward.

The problem is that, when the storm winds are blowing and life gets hard, most of us don’t run to God for shelter and protection—we run from him, right into the eye of the storm. Maybe we feel like we’ve done something wrong and therefore stay away from God, afraid he’ll punish us more. Or we feel like God should have prevented the trials we’re going through. Or maybe we find we’re just too lukewarm about God—we don’t want to go to hell, but yet we don’t really want to serve God, either. So we drift away and get stuck in the doldrums.

If you find yourself in the doldrums today, I encourage you to invite God to come alongside you and begin to revitalize you with his healing wind. I am convinced that if you pursue God, you’ll discover a passion and zeal for living while enjoying every dimension of your life like never before. And be encouraged: as painful as the doldrums are, God is able to use this stuck place to do great work in your life.

2 Corinthians 1:8-10

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8For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:9But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:10Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

To whom is it due?

An all too familiar situation popped inside my head after the mass reading today.

Everyday in our lives, we see a lot of homeless people, beggars, street vendors, or their worse counterparts, muggers and snatchers.

But if there's anything they have in common, it would have to be this: they are all in need of love.

And love, being the multiplex of all understanding and definition, is the great cure for all of this, as Mother Teresa has put it.

Everyday, I commute to work. I do not have specific statistics but allow me to say that 75% of my jeepney rides to work is accompanied by the experience of a child with an envelope going up the jeepney and asking for alms.

When I take the MRT (train), I am welcomed by even more beggars with different versions of asking for alms. Some have babies with them, some have placards, some have medical prescriptions, some have cans or cups, some with physical defects and some singing with a guitar or going solo.

As I walk the street to where I work, there they are again. The crippled, the abandoned, the orphaned, the homeless and the elderly.

Heartbreaking. Truly, if I had all the money of the world, maybe I can help them. But all I can do is spare the change in my pocket. Plus, I cannot save all the problems in the world, let alone, the route I pass by every day.

I remember some family members refuse to give alms to them and would frequently say: "where are their parents?", " Don't give to them because they are making it a business", "this woman is stationed here everyday", "same old tactics", "why don't they work?", "complete sign of laziness","I don't think she/he is really sick", "they should make their lives happen" or "they depend their lives in the mercy of others".

I understand, of course, that every single one of us earns every cent by working hard and mostly on an 8 hour shift daily, that it why it is so hard to let go of that spare money. For us, pamasahe narin yan (it could be spent for the commute fare).

What I don't understand most is why some people find it easy to help those who they are familiar with, rather than the people who are anonymously asking for help (kudos to those who are helping non- selectively).

Well as I have read it today,

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
   when it is in your power to act.
28 Do not say to your neighbor,
   “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
   when you already have it with you.

While we do not really know "to whom it is due", we really are in no position to judge a deserving person from an undeserving person by our own standards. Because as far as the book of life has stated, we are all imperfect. We are also instructed to give the benefit of the doubt to our neighbors, because after all, we cannot pretend to know their situations, because we really do not know anything at all.

If we cannot help them by giving money, perhaps you can create a better way to help them? Instead of ignoring their needs, there's probably a better way to help get the people off the street and help them make a living out of their lives.

If you are reading this right now, take time to relish everything you have. You may be blessed enough to afford your needs plus your wants, no matter how luxurious. Most of the time, people do not appreciate the value of everything that has been given to them until it is taken away.

Thank God you have not been in the bottom of the barrel. If you have experienced it, perhaps He has lifted you up already, if you are experiencing it now, perhaps there is something to be learned from your bankruptcy. We are always where we are supposed to be. God always places us in a position where we will yearn for Him because once we get too comfortable, we often lose our sight of Him.

He knows. He always knows. God is always aware.

Instead of judging the misfortune of others and what caused it, perhaps we can just say a short prayer for them and thank God for the blessing of being able to help them and having the means.
After all, everything you have, all the means you have, came from God and will be used for His purpose.

Everybody is due some good, if not all good. Just as you think you deserve some slack or break, so others must also feel the same way. Remember that no matter how close you are to a person, you can never have the slightest idea of how they feel or what they have been though in their life. And we must always respect that. You cannot really set a measure to how much generosity and charity is expected from you, because as the bible says,

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (Lk 12:48)

Start to live a giving life, giving need not always be in material possessions, but it may also be in spiritual support, time and love. You may be someone's life saver just by being generous enough.   Just think of everybody else who has saved your life by being so generous to you. It would be nice to pay it forward.