Saturday, September 26, 2015

If I Only had That

     If I only had that thing or that person in my life, my life would be much better. How many times have we said this to ourselves? There is something missing in our lives and we think that someone or something can fill that void within us. We go about guessing in what we need and end up just accumulating things that leave us unsatisfied and having unfulfilling relationships.
     What others have, we think we need to be happy. We may even start to envy other people's wives, girlfriends, husbands and boyfriends or even their material possessions. thinking if we had someone or something like that, it would makes us feel complete somehow. Just as the old saying goes, the grass is always greener on the other side. We are at lost as to what will make our lives feel better. We make the same error in thinking that someone or something will complete me, over and over again. Why do we do this? I think it is because we do not know how to do anything different. We have become limited or narrow minded in our thinking. We limit ourselves to solving our problems with material things hoping they will take care of our spiritual needs.
     Jesus Christ said in Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." So there is a person that can help us make our lives feel complete and his name is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ, our saviour is pointing to our heavenly Father as the source for all of our answers to our spiritual needs. Our fulfillment in life does not rely on having a certain material possession or having a physical relationship with someone. It depends on us having a close relationship with God, by putting the will of God first in our lives and seeking out his wisdom in everything that we do.
     For me, when I say if I only had that, I am referring to the qualities of God's Spirit that would make my life feel much better. If I only have his limitless love. If only I could forgive completely as he has forgiven me. Whatever I am lacking in my life, I turn not to the world for my answers but to God, for he knows exactly what I need (Matt.6:8). I had not always done this, but like a child who had to learn to walk, I fell down a lot in life before I could understand how to walk. I made mistakes, but what is important is that I learned from them and I realized that God's way is the best way every time. Seeking after the world only brought pain into my life but seeking after God has brought me much happiness.
     Matthew 4:4 "But he answered, "It is written. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." Jesus Christ spoke these words to the devil who was trying to tempt him. He relied on the words of God for his defense. Not only did Jesus tell us to live by the words of God, he live his life by them as well. They not only provided him with wisdom but also protection against the devil's temptations. The word of God is not an option we have in life, it is as vital to our lives as water and air. We need his wisdom, love and protection so that we can be happy, and be fulfilled.
     If I only had that feeling of completeness and wholeness in my life and the answer is that I can, by seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.                                                                                                                          (ESV)
         

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Little Bits of Wisdom

     I was throwing out some of my old papers and I found a paper that I had written a long time ago. Upon on it, I had written down some of my thoughts about life. Back then I was always jotting down my thoughts about why are things the way they are, trying my best to come to an understanding about my world. I thought I would share them with you.
 
  Here are a few of my insights that I had written down:

     I believe a lot of people just gave up trying to change the world. They just settle for a place of their own, a place of comfort to live out their lives. But that comfort is only an illusion while living in a chaotic world. You are never really isolated from what goes on around you. Our individual happiness can be destroyed so easily or made less by the evil within our world.
             _____________________________________________

     People makes or agrees to the value in all things like money, diamonds, and gold. It is people that actually puts value on them. Take away the people and there is no more value. The value on things only exist within our human mind. The money and gold that we value, I doubt that any creature in nature would place any worth on them at all.
    If we all lived on an island and we all agreed that shiny shells were valuable. Then someone came to the island with a ship full of gold and fine gems, we would not think he is rich for he does not have any shiny shells that we highly value.
              ______________________________________________

     Don't let others compromise your values. Every time you do, you die a little within.
               ______________________________________________

     Do whatever it takes to make that flower of love and happiness to flourish within you without hurting yourself and others.
               ______________________________________________

     The rule of love and the rule of happiness is to love yourself and to love others. Be happy with yourself and find happiness among others. Preach about love and preach about happiness, and if you make a lot of mistakes along the way, just keep on loving and being happy. ---- from the Orator of Beautiful Words. 


 
 

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Being Our Fleshly Self or Our Spiritual Self?

     Everyday we have to decide in how we are going to be. We have to decide in how are we going to reacted to the different situations in our life. Are we going be our fleshly (primitive) self or our spiritual (higher) self? In the Bible, it speaks about our flesh always being in conflict against our spirit. So in a way we have two choices, listening to our flesh or listening to our spirit.
     Our fleshly human body seems to be perfectly suited for this world. It feels, taste, hears, sees and smells. It knows when to eat and to drink. It deals with some of it's needs automatically and tells us what else it needs in order to stay alive. This basically functioning body is given to all of us at birth, as it was design by God. But as we all know the human body is much more than it's basic self. Within it is where our conscious self resides. The conscious self is like the parent and the body is like the unruly child that needs guidance. If the conscious self does not bring discipline to the body. The body will rule itself by basic instinct relying on it's impulses and desires as a guide.
    We can see how our undisciplined mind works in a child that is growing up. The child needs a lot of discipline and instruction in order to just survive in this world. A child is motivated by it's basic impulse, causing it to want something or to do something, even if it is harmful and dangerous to itself. A parent is needed to guide the child so to help it to learn self-control. The parent knows it is vital for the child's survival to learn the difference between what is right and what is wrong.
    God is our heavenly Father and he is trying to keep his children from harm. He sent his only begotten son Jesus Christ to us, so to instruct us in how to live our lives. He showed us that he wanted us to have total control over our bodies, to let the spirit rule over the flesh. He wanted our conscious self to embrace his teachings in order to bring discipline to the body and lessening it's control over us. God is telling us and showing us through his son Jesus Christ that our mind with the help of his Holy Spirit that we can gain control over our flesh and not be it's slave.
     Our conscious mind (the parent) can rule over the body (the child) with God's instruction and help. We can show love over hate, forgiveness over vengeance and live upon this earth as higher spiritual beings. However, we can see how those who reject God's plan, act in a fleshly way. They let their bodies (the flesh) rule over their mind. They hurt themselves through their addictions as well as hurting others by violence and verbal abuse. They are people who do not say no to their bodies desires. They spoil the child (the body) by not saying no and the body will act like a spoiled child and keep on trying to take control over the conscious mind (the parent). They do not understand their conscious mind is the master and their body is the slave, thus they become the slave to own their body's desires.
     Galatians 5:16,17,24 "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." Those who believe in God, obey his words. They do the work that is needed to grow in a spiritual manner. They subject their flesh to the higher laws of God. They know that their bodies are the temple of God's spirit (1 Cor.6:19). They know that the Spirit within is guiding them in the right direction and bring them into a closer relationship to God. We are God's obedient children and he is preparing us to be with him in his kingdom.
     God's way is the better way to live. Living in an unselfish way, having control over your body and mind. By doing this, you would be a member of society that is loved rather than being feared. You would bring honor to yourself and to your family rather than shame. God's way is the higher way for us to be. Just like a good Father, God is looking out for our benefit by telling us to be a more spiritually minded and not to give in to our temptations and fleshly desires. He knows that the sin that we practice will only bring about destruction to our soul.
     God's way, Galatians 5:22,23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; ...." What more can you asked out of life if your have these qualities. You would feel complete and whole within yourself. No more feeling unsatisfied, God's Spirit would bring satisfaction to your whole soul. Being around those who have the fruit of the Spirit would make you feel happy, joyful and give you the feeling of being loved. This is God's way, the perfect way for all of us to be.
   
         

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

I can Stand Tall even When I am Knockdown

    This is what I can say to our world. I am content with my life and you cannot hurt me. If you think that I deserve your love that is fine with me and if you think that I do not, that is also alright with me. I will not let you take control over my life and how I feel. I am content and at peace. The Lord has strengthen me and made me strong. He has put his love within my heart and it will not be taken away by anybody or by anything in this world. Knock me down and I will get right back up as I was, a child of God.
    Even if I was surrounded by violence I will not live my life in a violent way. If I was surround by corruption, I will not be corrupted. God has put his laws within my heart and I will live by them. Righteousness over unrighteousness every time.
     I am not perfect but I will strive to be perfect as God is perfect. I want to be like my Father in heaven. I want to live in the light of his love and be like that love while I live upon this earth. I know that God's goodness is for everyone and not for a limited amount of people. I want to praise God now and forever for what he has done and will do for all his children within our world.
     Yes, I can still stand tall even when I am knockdown, for God will never abandon me. He will be with me until the day that I die and even beyond that. I am forever his and he will forever be my God and I will always say, "Glory be to God forever and ever, Amen!"  

Sunday, September 6, 2015

From Separate Lives, We Become One with the Lord

     From separate lives we become one with the Lord. When we heard our Lord's call we merge our path with his. We come to him out of many reasons, each unique to ourselves. How can one man satisfy so many people with his words and by his actions? What Jesus Christ has for us we wanted. What he did for us we needed. We needed a way out of our current condition. We needed hope for our lives. In him we found the answers that we were looking for and the healing for our hurting soul.
  The Lord said to us:
Matthew 5:6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."
John 4:14 "but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become to him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
John 11:25,26 Jesus said to her, " I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die...."
     Jesus Christ lifted our spirits up and gave us eternal hope that there is more to our life than suffering and death. Each of us with a different story to tell, can agree that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). Jesus drew us to him and now we are better than we were before. We can say with confidence, what is written in Psalms 119:105 "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
     Our road in life though separate is leading us to come together someday so to stand together in unison in praising the Lord. Revelation 7:9,10,17 "After this l looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" 17For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
     Jesus Christ connects us to him as his large congregation upon this Earth. Something inside of us wanted to be close to him and to his people. We were looking for a new home, and in him, we found that home that we were looking for. It is built upon his love and his words and promises. We were on separate paths but now we reside within his church, our new home. A new home filled with our brothers and sisters who love the Lord as much as we do. We begun on different roads in life but now we stand together on the same path to Jesus.
                                                                                                                 (ESV)