Posts

Attitude is important

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  We are prone to major on what is external. When we measure success, we measure education, money and position. When we describe suffering, we focus on adverse circumstances or failed undertaking. But one thing we usually forget is God is in full control and a Christian with good attitude will be able to do well in both prosperity and adversity.  In the words of Paul , I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me.  This is not a promise that simply by believing in Christ, you can become an NBA player or that you will pass the exam without studying.  It is a promise that through Christ you can survive (and thrive) in both prosperity ("full") and adversity ("empty").  When we are prosperous, do we have the humility to enjoy it without taking credit from God? Can we enjoy prosperity without falling into the thinking, "I am a self -made man ?" When we are in adversity, can we accept it with joy and say with Paul, "Therefore I am well content ...

Function comes from position

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  Be holy for He is holy.  That is the goal for every Christians. We wanted to reflect the Father's holiness .  But when it comes to execution, Christians don't agree. Many focused on behaviour management. I guess because it is easier to see and Christians can be so performative. Many Christians think that holiness equals the number of Bible studies you attend, the prayer meetings you joined or the length of your prayers. I beg to disagree. Many unbelievers do this, and most are even more faithful than Christians because they think this is how they are saved.  In the words of a very wise theologian, long dead: Anything that an unbeliever can do is not the spiritual life .  The spiritual life requires a supernatural execution and that is why we need the Holy Spirit . Without the Holy Spirit, we can't live the spiritual life.  At point of salvation , the Holy Spirit puts us in Christ , and we share His eternal life , His holiness and His sonship, among many o...

Self-care tip: Read your Bible

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  Self-care is a buzz today. Lahat ay ine-encourage na alagaan ang sarili. Nag-ehersisyo, healthy diet, stress free environment, at mga supplements. Yet there is one fundamental self-care tip na madalas malimutan. And that is caring for our soul.  Gaano ka ka-invested sa iyong personal na soul care ?  We spend a lot on healthy foods and supplements but naalala mo man lang kayang pakainin ang iyong kaluluwa? Ang Salita ng Diyos ang nagbibigay ng spiritual growth at nagbibigay ng proteksiyon sa ating mga isipan laban sa stress ng pang-araw-araw na pamumuhay.  We spend a lot on gym and home gym equipment to build muscles but have we invested the same sa ating spiritual muscles? Spiritual muscles grow when we use the Word of God to grow our faith in the midst of trials. Ngunit marami sa ating lumalayo sa Diyos kapag nahaharap sa mga pagsubok ng buhay.  We spend money for travels to find peace but ilan sa atin ang nag-i-invest sa prayers ( Philippians 4 )? It does...

Peaceful heart even in raging storm

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  Madalaling mag-claim na "God is good" when everything is going right in your life. Ang tunay na sukatan ay kung masasabi mo ito when you're in the middle of a storm .  I am afraid napaka-soft ng mga Christians natin. Masaya tayong maglingkod kapag malusog ang katawan, may perang dumarating at matagumpaybang buhay. Ngunit sa sandaling dumating ang problema, ang ating reaksiyong ay indistinguishable sa mga hindi mananampalataya.  Ilang Cristianong tumigil maglingkod dahil sinisisi ang Diyos sa pagkakaroon ng sakit? Ilan ang hindi na nagsisimba nang magkaroon ng problemang ekonomikal ? Ilan ang tumalikod sa pananampalataya dahil sa pag-uusig ?  Ang mga kamay na masiglang kumakaway sa pagpuri ay nauunang kumaway mamaalam when things don't go their way. Ang mga labing nauunang mag- "I love you Lord" ay unang tumatakwil sa Kaniya kapag dumating ang mga pagsubok ng buhay.  Sa halip na gamitin ang mga pagsubok ng buhay bilang oportunidad upang gamitin ang doktrin...

Prayer for acquaintances

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  This is the 10th installment of prayers, Nieto-style .  After praying for the neighbors, I next pray for the people na madalas kong makahalubilo. I prayed for my coworkers. Hinihiling kong makita nila sa akin ang kasiyahan ng isang Cristianong manggagawa. Makita nilang gumagawa para sa kaluwalhatian ng Diyos and not eye-service .  I also pray para sa aking mga kalungga o officemates. Sila ang lagi kong kasama kaya I pray na mag-iwan ako sa kanila ng magandang halimbawa.  Then I pray for my students by section. I prayed na makita nila sa akin ang magandang halimbawa bilang second parent. Wala akong pakialam kung gusto nila ako o hindi pero huwag nawang mangyari na isipin nilang tamad akong magturo.  Mukhang marami dahil I divided them into ten installments. But in actuality, aabutin lamang ito ng 10-15 minutes.  You don't have to pray very long para tanggapin ng Diyos ang iyong prayers. You just need to pray according to the will of God.  Hindi ito p...

Asa: He trusted the doctors more than God

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  Ang kwento ni Haring Asa ay mababasa sa 2 Cronica 14-16 . Gaya nang iba sa seryeng ito, maganda ang kaniyang simula. Ang patotoo ng Biblia ay: 2 Chronicles 14:2-4 [2]Asa did good and right in the sight of the Lord his God, [3]for he removed the foreign altars and high places, tore down the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherim , [4]and commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers and to observe the law and the commandment. Bukod sa personal na lumakad siyang kasama ni Yahweh , inutusan niya ang buong Judang sumunod sa kautusan at palatuntunin. Ang resulta ay: 2 Chronicles 14:5-6 [5]He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah. And the kingdom was undisturbed under him. [6]He built fortified cities in Judah, since the land was undisturbed, and there was no one at war with him during those years, because the Lord had given him rest. Sa loob ng mahabang panahong, mayroong katahimikan ang lupain.  Nang subukan ng mga Etiopeng saku...

Amaziah: His heart has become proud

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  Ang kwento ni Amaziah ay makikita sa 2 Hari 14 at 2 Cronica 25 . Siya ay isang larawan kung bakit hindi dapat magpakampante ang mananampalataya sa kaniyang kabanalan. Kahit ang matuwid ay maaaring malaglag nang dahil sa kapalaluan.  He started well, 2; at mayroon siyang sense of justice, 3-4. Maaari niya sanang gamitin ang kaniyang posisyun upang maghiganti ngunit matapos ipapatay ang mga assassins ng kaniyang ama, hindi niya ginalaw ang pamilya nito.  Ngunit mayroon siyang tendency na umasa sa kamay ng tao. Sa kabila ng katotohanang sinasamahan siya ng Diyos, nagbayad siya ng tulong mula sa mga walang takot sa Diyos, 5-10. Nakinig siya sa propeta at pinauwi ang mga ito ngunit ang maling desisyong ito ay mayroong negatibong konsekwensiya.  Bagamat siya ay nagwagi laban sa mga Edomita , sinugod naman ng mga pinauwing Israelita ang mga bayan ng Juda .  Na hindi siya perpektong lumalakad sa daan ng Panginoon ay makikita sa kaniyang pagkumpiska sa mga diosdiosa...

Praying for a testimony sa harap ng mga kapitbahay

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  This is the 9th installment of prayer, Nieto-style .  After praying for the leaders of the community, sunod ko namang pinapanalangin ang aking mga kapitbahay. Mahalaga sa Cristianong magkaroon ng maayos na testimonyo sa harap ng mga hindi mananampalataya .  Pinapanalangin kong makita ng mga kapitbahay ang liyab ng aming pananampalataya . Makita nawa nila ang kasiyahan naming mga Cristiano sa paglilingkod sa Diyos.  Hinihiling kong ingatan kami ng Ama sa aming paglakad upang hindi matisod ang mga kapitbahay sa amin. Isang bagay ang itakwil nila ang evangelio dahil hindi ito katanggap-tanggap sa kanilang paningin. Ibang bagay ang itakwil nila ito dahil natisod sila sa masamang testimonyo.  Wala akong problemang tawaging snob. Pinipili ko ang aking sirkulo. Pero huwag nawa nilang alimurain dahil sa pagiging magnanakaw, lasenggero o basagulero.  Hinihiling kong gamitin kami ng Ama bilang testimonyo sa kanila upang kung kami man ay muling mag-imbita ng house...

Uzziah: Pride was his downfall

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  Azariah (also known as Uzziah ) started well. He is a warning how pride can fell even the most faithful of God's people.  2 Chronicles 26 :3-4 [3]Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Jechiliah of Jerusalem.[ 4]He did right in the sight of the Lord according to all that his father Amaziah had done. Uzziah started young but reign long. He also walked in righteous rule. Not as perfect as David (the standard for righteous leadership) but righteous enough to bring prosperity of God to the country.  2 Chronicles 26:5 [5]He continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah , who had understanding through the vision of God; and as long as he sought the Lord, God prospered him.  He "continued to seek God" so he is not a casual believer. He has mentor in Zechariah. And this results to prosperity as "God prospered him." V6-15 showed that his seeking of the Lord results to him becoming ...

Prayer for the leaders

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  The 8th instalment of prayers, Nieto-style is prayers for the leaders. Matapos ipanalangin ang mga balo at maysakit, ipinapanalangin ko naman ang mga pinuno ng bayan. Ito ay bilang pagsunod sa  1 Timothy 2:1-4 [1]First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, [2]for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. [3]This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,[4]who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Hinihimok ni Pablong ipanalangin ang lahat ng mga pinuno. Hindi sinabi ni Pablong ipanalangin lamang ang mga mababait o ipanalangin lamang ang mga binoto ngunit ipanalangin ang lahat ng nasa kapangyarihan, mabuti man o marahas. After all, tayong mga Cristiano ay magkakaroon ng katahimikan kung tahimik ang ating bayan.  Ipinapanalangin kong una ay magkasundo sila at huwag nang mag-away-away ...