smnthfgr

[smnthfgr]

Fearful?

It is very common for man to fear for life. This is why we wait for the red light before crossing the streets, ask someone to take care when they leave, put up signs about driving safely, or give medicine to the sick.

Why do we fear losing life?

We fear losing almost about everything we put high value on. Admit it. You fear losing your loved ones, your job which enables you to provide for them, and that iPhone 11 Pro Max you’ve skipped meals for just so you can purchase.

Same goes with life. Life includes good and bad memories, education, achievements, and relationships built. Most of the time, the more years added to it, the more valuable it becomes. This is why death has become a huge deal for us. It is something we fear, something we dread. It is something we want to avoid as much as we can, so we eat healthy, do exercise, get annual check-ups, and avail health insurances.

Below, I listed a few reasons to help us overcome the fear of losing life.

1. There is something better than life.

David says in Psalms 63:3 (ESV) “Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.”

Everything we have here on earth is temporary. Some time, somehow, we’ll lose our families and friends. It could happen because of a feud or worse, death. Material things will deteriorate: licenses expire, houses could get burnt, and jewels could be stolen. Nothing in this world lasts forever. And putting our hope and security in things that could never last would only cause us pain and disappointment.

Jeremiah said in Lamentations 3:22 (ESV) “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;”

God loves us beyond reasons. This is why we often could not believe if it’s true. The world has always taught us to “love because”. God loves you. Period. No “becauses” nor “only ifs”.

2. God values you.

“The Fall” brought forth an immeasureable gap between God and mankind because of sin. God is holy and just that sin couldn’t stand in His presence, not unless it is paid for by blood. Because of this, we are all doomed to go to hell and be eternally separated from Him. But God doesn’t want this. Yes, He is holy, but He is a loving God too! Since the beginning, He never stops pursuing us. His steadfast love has put high value on us, not because of what we’ve done, but because of who He is. Not because of who we are, but because of what He’s done on the cross.

John 3:16-17 confirms this love.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

Still not convinced? Jesus said this:

“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

‭‭John‬ ‭10:28‬ ‭(ESV‬)

3. God is mighty and able to protect.

The Old Testament holds numerous stories of God enabling His people to win wars, overcome battles, and conquer lands according to His sovereign will and unwavering promises. God is not just more than willing to send His angels to guard us in all our ways, but He, Himself, will fight for us that we need only be still.

“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” (Psalms‬ ‭91:11‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

“The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” ‭‭(Exodus‬ ‭14:14‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

4. Perfect love casts out fear.

Let me first paint a picture of a perfect love.

Imagine your spouse cheating on you, or your children disrespecting you. How about a close friend who starts talking about you behind your back? Or your parents who are failing to provide not just financially but even the intangible necessities?

Will you still be able to love them? Maybe. But you’ll need time to heal and the strength to forgive. And if then, let’s say, you were able to forgive, what if they do it again? And again? And then again?

We can say that we could give them a few more chances but trust me, somewhere down the road, we’ll fail to extend grace and love to them. We’re only human. We are meant to fail, not because God failed while He was creating us, but because we are designed to completely rely on Him, and on Him alone. In our weakness, He will be strong for us. In our lacking, He will complete us.

God’s love for us is not only steadfast. It is absolute and perfect. It is faithful and unfailing. It is infinite and unending. It never runs out, always sufficient, always enough.

John the Beloved said in 1 John 4:18 (ESV).

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”

‭‭Someone once told me that our sin could be as big as The Titanic or any other ship bigger than this, but God’s grace is the ocean surrounding it. Let God perfect you with His love. We can never do anything to deserve it, but God loves without condition. Now, that’s perfect love.

5. We must live for “eternity”.

They say life is short. But let me rephrase that. Life on earth is too short in comparison to the promised hope of eternal life with the Lord.

The understanding of the life beyond what we now have here in this world will totally shift our perspective in a more positive and peaceful approach. Knowing that all the suffering we have to endure in this world is nothing compared to the glory that is to be revealed to us in the future, we begin to give thanks rather than complain.

John the Beloved said in Revelation 21:4 (ESV), “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

God promised the hope of eternal life and not just an eternal life somewhere with someone. He promised an eternal life with Him where there is nothing that could cause you pain. Where anxiety could never touch you again. Where insecurity could never lie to you anymore.

For years now, I fear nothing but this:

A life without Jesus.

My personal relationship with God is something I will never trade for anything nor anyone this world can give me. I can lose everything, even my own life, just as long as I have Him. I have come to realize that indeed, nothing in this world can ever satisfy or complete me. Without Him, I have nothing. And in Him, I have everything.

[smnthfgr]

Him Whom My Soul Loves

There had been numerous times when I had hoped they were “the one”. I had always been “all-out” when it comes to relationships, hoping to keep them from leaving. And numerous times, I had failed.

One of the common advice you’ll hear from people who are trying to comfort you is this:

“May darating na mas higit pa sa kanya.” (Someone better will come along.)

This is a simple truth but I had to admit that it took me time to actually believe in it.

Until, someone found me. When I was crying myself to sleep at night, full of pain and hopelessness, someone found me and loved me with an unfathomable love. When I was hoping I’d die so the suffering will stop, someone found me and put joy in my heart. When I was bleeding inside and almost lifeless, someone found me and completely healed me, giving me a new life.

In the valley, Jesus found me.

Jesus knows me: my past, my present, and my future. He saw my darkest thoughts, my most sinful acts, my most heartless words. And yet, He loved me just the same. Since the beginning, He followed me everywhere, ready to forgive me once I ask for it. With arms open, He was ready to catch me when I fall. With arms around me, He was ready to protect me when I am being attacked. With His words, He was ready to bring not just comfort, but life!

I started craving for more of this love. I spent more time reading His Word and talking to Him. I indulged in the gift of church community. I served the ministry to my heart’s content. I worshiped for hours during my devotion time, like never before. Everyday, I let Him fill me, pour me over, and fill me again. Finally, I was content.

During the height of this fullness and contentment, someone came. I never realized that while God was healing me, I, myself, actually started putting sheets of covering over my heart, over-guarding it. My initial response is to rebuke the idea of someone coming in again. My prayer was, “Father, if this is meant to take me away from you, to distract me from where You are leading me, I don’t want anything to do with it. Take it off of my hands, in the Name of Jesus.”

Because of the coverings I had put around my heart, I did not respond well towards the person who was trying to build a relationship. I closed conversations, I showed little interest, and I always dismissed the idea of “The One”.

But praise be to God, that despite my discouraging responses, this person didn’t stop pursuing. He only obeyed the Lord, and I am nothing but grateful that he did.

He, just like me, is madly in-love with music. He, just like me, takes delight in reading books. He, just like me, never runs out of stories to share. He, just like me, loves his family and puts value in investing time with them.

But most importantly, he, just like me, is after God’s own heart. We are both serving the Lord by worshiping through music and discipleship. We both love spending time with Him and studying the Word. We both value the importance of church community. We both desire to share the gospel and reach out to the lost.

I remember, after laying down his intentions to me, he said (nonverbatim):

“Sam, if this is not the will of the Lord and we stopped talking, I will be sad. But I just know, and my heart is secured, that the Lord will give you the best. And that’s what I want for you as well. Only the best.”

Since Day 1, God had seated with us over conversations and meals together. Since Day 1, I see Jesus in him. This time, I am done “hoping for” “the one”. This time, I know he is the one.

God is faithful. When He says something, His words will never be broken. It will come to completion. It will happen. If He says so, it will be so. God is always true to His promises. His Words will never return to Him empty. In this truth, let’s find hope. In His faithfulness, let’s continue to rely.

God has prepared me well to receive this blessing. Let Him do His amazing work in your life first. God is never too early nor too late. He is always on time. ♥️

To him whom my soul loves,

Thank you for acting on and obeying God’s instructions. Thank you for continuously leading me to a stronger and deeper relationship with Him. Thank you for extending grace and love to me, just how Jesus would. Thank you for going extra miles (literally and figuratively) to show and represent how God wants me to be treated. Thank you for seeing my worth through the eyes of the Lord. Thank you for choosing to be patient and forgiving, always.

Please continue to pursue Him. I’ll meet you there, hon. I love you with the love of the Lord.

[smnthfgr]

Suffering?

Have you heard about #firstworldproblems? To save you from looking it up on the internet, I listed down examples below:

Complaint: To be honest, right now I feel like I am not being paid fairly with how much workload I have for my job. #firstworldproblem

Reality: A lot of people are looking for a job. You should be thankful, you have an income.

Complaint: "The Starbucks barista spelled my name wrong for the nth time!!!!!?" #firstworldproblem

Reality: You can afford Starbucks! Some can't even afford clean, safe and potable drinking water.

Complaint: "My feet hurt already from driving! The traffic is getting worse and worse!" #firstworldproblem

Reality: You have a car! Some people walk to their workplace so that they don't miss a day for their pay.

Complaint: "It's so hot inside the jeepney!" #firstworldproblem

Reality: You can afford the fare. Some do not even have anything to cover their feet.

Ask a random stranger about their problems and surely they'll be able to talk for hours. All of us have problems, big and/or small. Nobody is exempted. Sometimes we succumb to these problems and reach the point where we already use them as an excuse in different situations.

One of my favorite books from the Bible is Acts. I was reading the first few chapters and I came across the story of the cripple at the Beautiful Gate of the temple whom Peter and his fellow apostles were able to heal in Jesus' Name. People were fascinated and many of them believed in Jesus. The council of the highest priests (Sadducees) heard about the news and called the apostles in and commanded them not to preach in His name again. Still they did and they were thrown in a cell.

They were sent an angel to set them free and the high priests found out about this the next day. They were again called in by the council and this time beaten because they kept preaching about Jesus to the people. Then I came across this verse...

"Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name." Acts 5:41

This made me laugh out of awe. Imagine a person rejoicing after being beaten up because of doing the right thing. Impossible! What kind of sane person will respond like this?

But still, this is an amazing act of bold worship. Even though the apostles were in a position of suffering and extreme pain, they were still able to put even more value to God. This is a great reminder to us that even when we're going through suffering, God's got everything under control. He knows all things: past, present, and future. His plans are perfect and His will will always prevail.

One of the greatest things about the Lord is He's a personal God. He knows when we're in pain, He feels with us and He does everything He can to help us get through.

Now I remember a story in Genesis about the covenant God had made with Abram. God promised He will make Abram a great nation and He will bless him with a son of His own flesh. But the old couple felt like they were already running out of time, so impatiently, Sarai suggested that Abram should take her servant, Hagar, to be his wife and to have a child with instead. Hagar conceived and she started looking on Sarai with contempt. Sarai confronted Abram and he told her that since Hagar is her servant, she can do with her anything she'd want to do. So Sarai mistreated Hagar and the servant fled from her mistress. Although Sarai brought the idea to her husband and Abram lacked leadership in that moment, it was Hagar who had to suffer from her masters' mistakes. But God really is close to the broken-hearted, that He sent and angel to find Hagar and bless her and her child and the great nation to follow under their lineage.

Have you ever been in a situation like this? You feel like you have to suffer from the mistakes of other people you really care about. It could be in a form of bullying, a failed relationship which led to divorce, or simply poorly made decisions without taking into account the people who might be affected.

You can tell me, “Sam, you have no idea what I’m going through.” You’re right. Despite all the sufferings I also went through, I could only imagine how much painful your situation is right now. But there is someone who understands your pain. And that’s Jesus.

Jesus was laughed and spat at, beaten and killed by the very people He wants to save. All He ever did was love us, make a way for us not to suffer forever, and pursue us even if it meant death in the most painful way possible. He knows how you feel and He doesn’t want you to feel any of it. Pain and suffering are never in the original design of God’s creation.

They say “time heals all wounds.” I say, “No, Jesus heals all wounds.” And regardless of time or any other aspect we might consider in helping us get through suffering, if we only let Jesus heal us, we will be healed.

So whatever it is you are going through, surrender it to God. You are not supposed to be fighting alone. You only hurt yourself worse when you keep convincing yourself that you can do it on your own. It’s okay to throw your hands up in surrender.

Someone victorious is going to win battles for you. Someone powerful will help you come through. Someone great is about to turn things around. Someone good will make beauty out of your brokenness.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

‭‭James‬ ‭1:2-4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

[smnthfgr]

Out of Focus?

Have you seen the endorsement video for the new Samsung Galaxy S9? Being in the electronics field and knowing the unlimited possibilities technology could give us, it still amazes me every time something new comes up. Come on, a camera that changes inspired by the biological way our eyes work? Amazing! And I still hadn’t gotten over the Portrait Mode of iPhone 8 and X!

Lately, it has been all about that kind of photography, hasn’t it? Blurred background and all that. Speaking of focus, what’s so significant about it? Why is it that we hate it when our friend takes a picture of us focused somewhere else, and we are all blurred out?

Let’s admit that nowadays our lifestyle is demanding us to multi-task. My younger brother has the tendency of being dissatisfied with holding one gadget only. It’s either he’s holding his mobile phone in front of the computer, or basically just holding two phones all at once, while watching the television. He can’t have an idle time, he can’t stand doing nothing while his game is loading. I, for myself, need music to perform better at work. I need to have something to listen to to get all worked up to do tasks in the office.

Our focus is all over the place that we lose it somewhere.

One of the stories I heard today is from my leader at church. She’s nominated as Employee of the Year and felt blessed just by getting considered qualified for the award, not even desiring to get the title by the end of the year. But as December crawled near, her heart changed. Suddenly, she wanted the award so bad it's almost all she could think about. But just before the event, God spoke to her asking her this: where’s your focus on? The gift or the giver?

I have lots of moments like this. The latest that I can remember is the last time I served for the Kid’s Music Ministry. The week prior to that particular Sunday had been hard on me. I wasn't hitting my targets at work, Chen and I were almost breaking up, I was breaking down and my spiritual health is getting low. I was so tired physically and emotionally, spiritually I am not feeling any kind of restoration. I was crying to God Saturday night before that day until I fell asleep. When I woke up, I’m still feeling heavy.

I am in-charge of praying and leading the team to a little encouragement from the word of God. My mind is blank on my way to church but then I prayed and asked God for something until He gave me a word from Jeremiah 17:7.

“Blessed is the one whose confidence is in the Lord.”

I told my team that I wasn’t okay at all and I almost didn’t want to serve that day but I encouraged them that all of us have our own brokenness and sufferings but it is not us, but God, who moves and ministers to the people and He’s only using us as a medium to advance His kingdom. I went around the Yellow Room to ask some people to pray for me. I remember walking up to the tech booth to ask Melody to pray for me because I am no where near okay, and as soon as she started with “Lord…” I was already crying so hard. Somehow, I released a huge chunk of the heaviness in me. Thank you, Melody for the prayer.

After the first service, I am still feeling down but to my surprise, I was even commended by my fellow volunteers. I was reminded that God, being sovereign and in total control of everything, has always got my back. He never left me and despite of the pain inside me, He was able to use me to minister not just to the preteens but also to the teachers.

I was so focused on my struggles and problems that I forgot to focus on the only one that could take it all away. I was so consumed by the pain that I forgot I had an unlimited supply of joy and contentment.

What are your priorities? Where’s your focus? Is it within your competence? Do you have the time to comply to the demands of your priorities?

It is time to refocus on what must be put first. It is time to reorganize. We are now living in a world where time flies past us because of our busy schedules. Time is one of the most important elements in attending to our priorities’ demands. How do we manage time in line with our goals? Are our goals still Christ-centered? Is it still aligned to His will?

Focus on Jesus and you will be fine. You will be amazed by how different you'll see things that way and how you'll manage to come through your struggles with your eyes fixed to the One who promised you you'll finish strong.

Heart-check ✔

[smnthfgr]

Anxious?

I remember the first day of our board exams last October 2016. Our venue was at UE highschool, if I remember it correctly. When I was praying before we started, I looked around to pray for the other examinees in that room. On the wall to my right, there was a bible passage, and it could’ve been there on purpose, but I doubt it. Still, at that moment, I knew it was what God wanted me to know.

“And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?”

This passage is from the book of Luke, chapter 12 verses 22 to 26. I admit that I thought I wasn’t at all nervous that time but when I read this passage, I started to feel the anxiety that was actually at the back of my head, but then, just as fast as it came, it went away. All throughout my exam days, I never felt anxiety.

Before the review started, I was actually working at this BPO company near our home and I told myself that once the review starts, I would resign. But review started and I wasn’t able to resign. Two months before the exam, I was feeling extremely left out. I felt like I don’t know enough yet to take the board exams. I prayed hard every day and was able to finally resign from my post.

My prayer has always been more of asking for God’s peace. I prayed that even though I only have two months left, I would remain calm and will have the strength to really focus on catching up with my subjects.

Right after the third day of my exam, I felt the electric buzz of anxiety inside our dorm room. Although, we decided to not talk about it until the results come out. I was waiting for the anxiety to come and taunt me, give me sleepless nights, and make me go crazy, worrying. It didn’t came. It never did. And whenever I talked to God during the “waiting time” I can hear Him telling me, loud and clear, I have given this to you. You just have to wait. So instead of worrying, I was so excited.

I knew I didn’t really do well with all of my subjects, though I was quite confident with some of it. But the thing is, I never accepted the possibility of failing the boards. Not in a stubborn way, but the thought never actually came to me. See, it was God’s peace all those times that kept me together, assuring me that the promise He’s given me will come through.

Have you noticed how the word “good” has been taken for granted? When you say, “it’s good”, it’s more like, it’s okay, not that much, just good. But for me “good” is a strong word.

We know that God is great, and God is good. These are two very different characteristics of God. I want us to focus more on the “He is good” part.

Why shouldn’t you be anxious?

God was, is, and will always be good. Purely good, that never has he intended to bring us harm, or take us to deep waters where we wouldn’t be able to overcome. Worrying just says we do not trust Him enough to provide, to save, to keep his promises, and to sustain us, and deliver us until the day He comes back. Going back to the verses, God has always been capable of providing for the ravens and we should know by now how we are more valuable to Him.

God, with all his grace, mercy and goodness, doesn’t want us to end up in hell, so once and for all, He gave His one and only son, Jesus, to die on the cross for us, as a living sacrifice, to cleanse the world from sin and so that He will be able to take us to the place He has prepared for us. Knowing this, what else do tou think can He not give? What else can He not do? What else can He not provide?

Let us all align ourselves to the will and the way of God. Read His word. Meditate on it day and night and seek Him. The more we know Him, the more we will be able to trust to give our lives completely to His hands. God is in control. He has everything figured out. Never doubt His will and wisdom. He’s got you.

If you are asking for something, if there is something heavy in your heart that you wouldn’t want to burden you anymore, cast it all to Him. Whatever you have to ask, ask Him. God hears and He listens. If it is according to His will, why won’t He give it to you? He has given you His life already, what else can He not give?

“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

Luke 12:32

P.S.

I passed. 😊

[smnthfgr]

God’s compassion for the suicidal

In 1 Kings 19:4-14 Elijah feels suicidal, and tells God to take his life. 

God doesn’t get angry at Elijah.

He doesn’t tell him that he’s being silly, or that suicide won’t solve anything. He doesn’t freak out, nor does he ignore Elijah’s cry. God validates Elijah’s pain. Through an angel, God provides Elijah with food and water because Elijah is probably exhausted (he had fallen asleep under a tree after telling God that he wanted to die, and this was probably the safest thing at that point for Elijah). Getting to the point where you don’t want to live any more is an exhausting place to be. You cannot think of anything else other than wanting to end the pain.

Once he’d finished eating, Elijah lies down again. But God wants to continue validating Elijah, and continues to have compassion over him. He wants to be with Elijah during his crisis. He wants to keep Elijah safe. The angel comes back again (1 Kings 19:7) and this time adds (and validates) that the journey is too much for Elijah (1 Kings 19:8) and that he needed more food. Elijah was then able to move on and travel for forty days and nights to reach Horeb.

I really love 1 Kings 19:4-14. It tells us a lot about God. He cares about people who are suicidal – he is loving, gentle, patient, compassionate, and he knows what we need. He provides Elijah with physical, spiritual and emotional healing. 

The church could probably learn a lot from the way God deals with Elijah. Suicidal thoughts are something which are incredibly common but the church doesn’t always deal with them in the best way. Often, suicidal thoughts are invalidated and ignored rather than validated and accepted. 

The angel is gentle with Elijah. He doesn’t tell him to pray more, nor does he tell Elijah that suicide’s a sin or that he’s demon possessed. He doesn’t even tell Elijah to stop feeling suicidal – he simply tells Elijah to eat.

When you feel invalidated, remember that God validates you fully. He accepts and acknowledges how you feel, and he says it’s okay.

If you feel suicidal, I encourage you to reach out for emergency help.

My ask is also always open for people who need help.

[smnthfgr]

Love Like Jesus

Two questions to start with: how did Jesus love and how to love like him?

Philippians 2:5-8 “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

God is a loving God, the only one who loves beyond reason and comprehension, and overlooks mistakes and flaws. Yet, at the same time, God is a holy God. His words can never be bent, his promises can never be broken, and his authority, power and righteousness can never be brought to question.

During the earlier times, the presence of God was very limited, that the Israelites built a tabernacle (according to God’s commands) to create a dwelling place for God on earth. Before a person can come in and stand before God’s presence, he had to go through a thorough process of cleansing the spirit from sin. One of which is the shedding of the blood of an animal sacrifice, blemishless and perfect. Now when God saw how helpless the world had become, he made a way for us all to be saved from sin forever, at the same time, still complying to the original way of acquiring forgiveness.

He gave his one and only Son, Jesus, as the sacrifice for the forgiveness of all our sins: past, present and future. This is the perfect demonstration of God’s loving yet holy nature.

Jesus lived the life we are to live: sinless and pure. He was the only one who can bring us salvation. He left the comforts of his throne in the heavens to die for all of us. He became man, humbled himself and endured the suffering caused by the very same people he wanted to save.

To love someone who’s done to you many wrongs and has hurt you despite all the things you did for them, that’s impossible. But nothing is impossible with God. His thoughts and ways are higher than ours, that as much as we try to comprehend, we can never understand Him.

How to love like Jesus?

Relying on our own strength and understanding, we might have already considered the impossibility of loving like Jesus. Jesus is capable of this love because he is holy and perfect. And the world has always told us that “nobody’s perfect.”

But the bible says, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matt 5:48). Jesus won’t command something we won’t be able to fulfill, even for this matter, God made a way for us to be made perfect. And that is through Jesus, for apart Him, we are nothing.

You are capable of loving like Jesus, that’s the truth. Now how can that be possible?

“But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” (Matt 5:44)

There are instances in our lives that someone dear to us had hurt us, whether intentional or not, that we find it hard to love them the same. How about the people we don’t know personally? How much more, loving the people we never really cared about in the first place? The people who’d offended us or bullied us?

Again, we think that it’s impossible. And sometimes, you can’t help but compare yourself to them, the way you treat them from the way they treat you. But through God’s eyes, we’re all the same. We all sinned and are all forgiven. The same love God has for you is the same love he has for the people you don’t like or the people you don’t know.

We are capable of loving because he loved us first.

Yes, you are capable of loving people despite their many many flaws. You are capable of loving someone who's hurt you. You are capable of loving those who persecute you, who gossip about you, who never saw the good things you do, who never said anything nice to you. Yes you are and yes you will.

How?

Let us not be selfish and share them the gift we have received. The first step is to share Jesus to them. We are called to share the word not just to those people we care about, but even those people we do not know. We are called to share the gospel not just to our family and friends but also to those we don't get along with. By this act, you show your love and at the same time, you let God use you to advance his kingdom.

I believe we all have a heart as big as God's. Strong and capable. So love like Jesus.

[smnthfgr]

Ugly?

Hello beautiful! Why do you look sad?

When I was younger, I remember how much I wanted to be a ton lot prettier, hoping that people would treat me rather differently. When I grew a little bit older, I learned to tell myself that no, it will always be up to other people whether I’d be pretty or not and that I never really have to try very hard. They said, true beauty lies within. Too mainstream and familiar, yes, but now, I come to realize true beauty.

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

This verse reminds me that even before I was born, even before I fluttered my tiny eyelids open to soak up my first light ever, I am beautiful. Just the way I am, I am beautiful. But just as the world and man grew older, they made up these standards and basis we learned to use for comparison, and some were exalted and risen above the rest, who were unfortunate enough to be given only a faint idea of the truth and were drowning in lies and insecurities. We tend to live and go on with the rules of the world, trying to please the eyes of the world when in fact, we only have a single pair of eyes to please, and that is God’s.

The amazing part of the truth is that, no matter how low our rank is in this world, we are all equal in His eyes.

"Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life."

You are precious, honored and loved by the Holy One, the One above all things, the only One who matters. And in His eyes, you matter.

True beauty comes from a heart that is of Christ. A heart wherein He resides. A pure and compassionate heart that is over-flowing with beauty, it radiates outside.

This is power. This is a gift from God. Did you know that a beautiful heart attracts the lost? God made so, because He is helping out in fulfilling the mission we have. He is leading to us the people who need ministers. He’s bringing us, himself, the people who need to hear the truth. If you have a willing heart, let God crush and beat and mold a beautiful one. Use it to introduce Jesus to the world. Use it to populate beautiful hearts this world needs and not to be exalted above the rest. Use it to share the Word and not to spread insecurities. Use it to glorify Him and not yourself.

What we think of ourselves is far more significant than what others have to say. And God doesn’t want us to feel less of ourselves than how much He sees us. But then, it’s your choice.

Choose to be beautiful, dear. ;)

[smnthfgr]

Weak?

Hi, are you feeling weak and powerless?

Ever since I started studying engineering I never had a whole schoolweek of complete sleep. I always have tons of written reports, piles of books to read, gazillion exams to study for and ghosts of terrifying mathematical creatures haunting me 25/8. Now, I really regret the times I stomped my foot and the tears I cried whenever mom wanted me to sleep after lunch just so I could have access to the magical door that leads you outside the house. Two major sources restore our physical energy: sleep and food. Three hours of sleep won’t be able to keep you awake for long and a skipped lunch won’t be able to allow you to think straight for a couple or three hours. I wake up early for school, stay up late to finish some stuff and additional staying-up for social media. So I’m confessing that yes, I am slowly and painfully turning into a zombie.

How can we say that we are weak spiritually?

Being a Christian is incredibly a million times harder than being otherwise. But it doesn’t mean it’s not worth-it. People think that when they already have accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior, hardships and trials will be gone forever when in fact, it is exactly the other way around. Being a Christian is like being a magnet to the evil schemes of the enemy. But the amazing thing is, hardships and trials will try to bring you down, knock you out and suck every shred of life inside you but YOU ARE STRONG ENOUGH to snatch the matches in their hands before the fire catches you. The bible says “…you are strong, and the Word of God abides in you, and you overcome the wicked one.” (1 John 2:14) You are never weak because quite frankly, the ultimate source of life and strength is God and God never runs out of good things for His beloved children.

Powerless? Jesus said in Luke (chap. 10 ver. 19) “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” He also gave us authority through His name, saying “…whatever you ask the Father in My Name He will give you…” (John 16:23)

Can we just pause for a moment and read these verses a couple of times?

Jesus gave us POWER over all the power of the enemy, through His Name. It can never, by any means, hurt us and take us away from God’s amazing love and grace. We have power over the lies of the enemy, over sickness, over condemnation, over poverty, over broken relationships, over dying faith, over sufferings and pain, over broken hearts and hopeless lives. We have power over these things combined and multiplied because God is on our side. And knowing that God is Almighty and Great, who says we got no power? The enemy is no-match to our awesome God. The enemy is not even in the same league! And if our God is for us and with us, then who or what can ever stand against us?

Also through His Name, we have access to ask God anything, any time, and mindful that God is the source of everything it’s just relieving that in Him we never lack any good thing. Financial provision, peace of mind, courage and patience, strength and faith, hope and grace. God can give you everything it takes to make all things work together for your good. He can turn tables. He can calm storms for you. He can crush the things that hurt you. He can stand before you and fight for you. In Him, you are never weak and powerless. In Him, you are the victor, never the defeated. In Him, you will always win because He’s already won it all for you.

Did you know that there is a story in the bible quite similar with the movie 300? I am reminded of the story of the great warrior of valor, Gideon, who was handpicked by God to fight for the freedom of Israelites from the Midianites and the Amalekites. There were 22,000 warriors left after thousands of his men gave up and ran home. Gideon trained these men and ended up with 300. They were apparently outnumbered but God promised him he would win. And he did.

God never breaks His Word and His promises. So when He says you are strong, believe. And when He says nobody can hurt you, hold on to that promise. Because God never takes a break from being God. He never rests from watching over you. He never stops renewing your strength.

All you have to do is pray and ask.