Do You Dare To Be Different?

Do you dare to be different? Do you dare to swim against the current of popular world views? Can you stand for your principles and for what you feel are the right things to do when everybody else is doing the opposite? Can you maintain your scruples and principles amidst the darkness and permissiveness of the world? It is easy to go along with everybody else and be comfortable with the popular and accepted views. It is easy to justify a morally warped principle and way of life when everybody else is doing it. After all, did not the popular maxim says, "when in Rome, do as the Romans do." Yes, it is so easy to swim with the popular current of worldly living since almost everybody else is doing it. Anyway, no one gives a hoot as to what we do with our private lives. Or is there really nobody who cares for what we do? But at the end of the day, when the life of our individual candle is snuff out, we will give an accounting for each and every thing we did, said and thought while we were alive in this mundane world. We did not sprout out of nowhere and we will not be extinguished forever like a flame of a burning candle. There is an existence beyond this present life and we will be giving an accounting to our Creator after our mundane lives are over. So to those who live for the day in excessive pleasures and wanton living, disregarding the norms of morality that God has prescribed to the world, there will be judgment that they will never forget for all eternity. They will rue the day that they disregarded the dictates of their conscience and instead live for their own selves in excessive and profligate living. They had their own "rewards" while they were still living.

Tags: Dare To Be Different, Principles, Going Against The Current, Morality, Excessive and Profligate Living, Conscience, Just Rewards

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Inspirational/Motivational

Teach Us To Number Our Days

How do we look at our lives? Do we look at it as one straight line to nothingness, or do we fill it with purposeful living? Have we brought sunshine to the lives of others? Have we put smiles on the faces of those we met? Have we become an instrument of God in bringing peace and harmony to our surroundings? Have we filled the world with love every day of our lives?

The Bible tells us to number our days so that we can be aware that life is but a transient experience. It is not the end all and be all of our existence. One day we are alive and healthy, and the next day we may be gone. Numbering our days makes us also aware of our total dependence on God for everything. Hence, we are grateful for each day, each hour, each minute and each second that we are alive. When we awake each morning, we thank God for another day of life to serve Him and please Him in everything that we do. We join with the whole of creation in giving Him praise and worship because of His glory and greatness. Look at the birds. They never fail to sing and glorify God every morning. The wind, the blades of grasses, the bubbling brook, the majestic mountains, the clear sky and the dawning of the sun- they never fail to give glory to God each day since time immemorial. And so we breathe the fresh air in our lungs and savor God's all encompassing glory and splendor in the morning.
Like dew that refreshes all plants, God gives us His tender mercy and love as we awake each morning. And so we learn to number our days to spend them to please Him and give glory to His name.

Tags: God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Number Our Days, Glory of God, Whole of Creation

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Inspirational/Motivational

Pre Tribulation Period

There is now a feeling of widespread despair and discontent in the world. Somehow, things are not the same. Extremes prevail. It's either too hot or too cold. Even in the temperaments of people, extremes are evident. People have either gone too evil or too righteous. People are bewildered. They could not ascertain their true feelings. Somehow, they feel a hollowness deep inside, a sort of a personal discontent. What's happening to the world?

We are now witnessing the onset of the Pre Tribulation period of the world. No! This is not yet the Tribulation proper. The Tribulation proper will usher in so much suffering and pain that people will wish they were dead instead of living a hellish existence. Just like in the days of Noah before the deluge, people were enjoying themselves and giving themselves wholly to sinful living.

God is shaking the world to see who are His and who are of this world. There will be no fence sitters nor neutral watchers. Either you are for God or you are with the evil one. People are now afforded their last chance to turn a new leaf on their lives. The message of Calvary rings loud and clear for the whole world to hear. Will you accept the offer of salvation or will you be condemned together with the enemies of the cross?

The grace of salvation and eternal life are offered to us to accept or reject. Those who will not accept it will be condemned together with the lord of this world and his cohorts. The choice is ours. If the situation now is too heavy and burdensome, think of what will happen when the Tribulation proper comes. We can only weep until all tears are gone.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

We Live By Faith Not By Sight

What is the difference between living by faith and living by sight (senses)? Let us illustrate the examples of each one to see their differences. To live by sight (or senses) is to live in this physical world with all its physical realities. We use our five senses, our own strength, our own resources, our connections, our human intelligence and our inter social activities with other people. We live by the standards set forth by man. When we get sick we see our doctor and take the prescribed medicines. We breathe, we live and die by the standards of men.

Not so with those who live by faith. They live by the standards of God. They cling to God's promises even if the physical reality says otherwise. They cling to the very idea that all things are possible with God. They have surrendered their will to God and have let God have a free reign in their lives.

Let me illustrate this with my own personal example to see how God works with individual persons. My eldest sister had recurring hypertension for just a little over two years and had diligently taken her prescribed medicines. When her finances got strained, she failed to take them for about a week. She got a massive stroke that almost resulted in her death. She was confined at the intensive care unit of a hospital for two months. Lately when I visited her, she was so emaciated and could no longer talk. She had her eyes almost bulging out of their sockets. I have a brother in the province whom I was not even aware had diabetes like me. It was probably very recent only. I was shocked to hear that his right leg was already amputated because of his diabetes.

Then I consider God's protection and guidance over me. I have hypertension for more than 20 years now and diabetes for about 10 years and have been in the valley of the shadow of death so many times that I lost count already. It has been two years since I last saw a doctor although I am regularly taking my prescribed hypertension and diabetes medicines. I was scheduled for three major operations two years ago which did not push through due to some problems. After all those years, I am still alive and relatively healthy to give glory to God and becoming a living testimony to His goodness and grace. Not that I commend myself for what I am doing but I am giving all the praises and glory to my living God who provides for all my needs and have never left me nor forsaken me. TO HIM BE GLORY, HONOR, PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING FOREVERMORE.


Tags: God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Living By Faith, Live By Sight, Living Faith, Grace, Trust in The Lord

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla

Climb Every Mountain

Are you facing a mountain of problems right now and you feel so helpless and alone? Are you traveling in your own desert of trials right now, thirsty and forlorn for your long sought after deliverance and the advent of your own promise land? Is your back against the wall and you feel that the whole weight of the world is crumbling down upon you and you have nowhere else to go? Are you so sick that you could almost smell the scent of death lingering around your bed and you feel that there is no longer any hope nor remedy for your illness? If you are in these kinds of situations right now, cast off your long faces and rejoice for your deliverance is at hand.

Yes, you have now felt the full power of God bearing down upon you. He permitted these things to happen so that you will humble yourself before Him and finally acknowledge that you are totally helpless and that apart from God you can do nothing. Remember, these situations were a result of your own making, when you cast out God from your life in your mad quest to be your own "captain of your ship and master of your soul." They were caused by excessive pride and self glorification and the total disregard of God in your life. It is a good thing that God has given you a last chance to turn a new leaf on life and retrace your steps back to His loving arms once more. Let us surrender our lives to God and cast all our burdens to Him for He cares for us. Let us trust God that He will deliver us from all our predicaments and trials in life. Did He not promise, "Seek you first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33) All things are possible with God to him who believes and trust in his unfailing love. So next time that you are confronted with a mountain of problems so high, just go ahead and climb it, for the Spirit of the Lord is with you and you will surely succeed. GO AHEAD AND CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN.

Tags: Climb Every Mountain, God, Mountains of Problems, Back Against The Wall, Trials, Desert Experience, Promise Land, Deliverance, Kingdom of God

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Inspirational/Motivational

"The Kingdom" (A Short Story)

He surveys his kingdom from all directions. His kingdom extends far beyond his eyes could see. There is so much abundance in his kingdom. Supplies are plentiful.
Here, he reigns sovereign over all his subjects. His subjects love and respect him so much that there is nothing they will not do for their king. He walks leisurely refreshing his lungs with the pure air that he breathes. Ah, how lucky can he be. He is almost on top of the world. Here, he reigns supreme. There is no rival nor opposition to his kingship. Here, his loyal subjects obey his every wish and command. All kinds of sweet and delectable fruit bearing trees abound his kingdom. The majestic flower beds in his numerous gardens are unmatched in beauty and perfection. He even has a harem of beautiful and subservient wives. What more can he ask for? A majestic mountain with a perfect blue top stands majestically guarding his kingdom. Birds of all kinds fly in the air resonating with their melodious voices. Even the animals in the forest beyond his kingdom are tame. They would willingly and leisurely saunter in the yard of the king. Music wafts melodiously in the whole kingdom as though a dozen symphonies were waxing their classical repertoires. Yes, it is a perfect kingdom, fit for a sovereign king such as he.


He sleeps peacefully knowing that all is well in his kingdom. Suddenly, he heard a buzzing sound in his ears as though a bee was surveying his ears as a possible hive. He awakened and was startled to see a barren and desolate isle with nary a sign of life nor activities. Now, he awakens from his delirious stupor. Yes, he is in a desolate island alone. He was shipwrecked and was carried ashore by giant waves. He has been there for three weeks with no food and in his weakened state, he dreamed of his beloved kingdom. He gingerly sleeps again to awake no more.


Tags: The Kingdom, Dreams, Sovereign, Loyal Subjects, Castles in the Air

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Inspirational/Motivational

God's Perfect Time

Are we so anxious for the answer to our prayers that sometimes we feel that God is not listening to us? Do we sometimes teach God what to do to answer our petitions? Church Fathers say that God has only three answers to our prayers: yes, no and later. We may wonder, why later? Could not God give us what we ask for now, at this very moment when we feel we need it most? The Church Fathers also teach us the doctrine of God's sovereignty over all His creation. We can never question God nor His motives for everything He does, for He is God. God gives us what we need and not what we want. And God answers our prayers in His own perfect time and not when and how we want it to be. God is also dramatic. He is fond of pushing us to the very edge of the cliff where we have nowhere else to go, and at the very last moment, He delivers us with dramatic and unmistakable effect that we can never deny His divine intervention and providence.

God's intervention and providence are greatly influenced by the degree of faith by the petitioner. The Bible says, "it is impossible to please God without faith." Faith is the language of the spiritual realm. Who among us would readily sacrifice the life of his beloved son if ordered by God to do so? But Abraham did. And God rewarded his faith and credited it to him as righteousness.

When we pray, let us humble ourselves before a sovereign God who created everything visible and invisible, and let us trust in His unfailing love that in His own perfect time, He will answer our petitions. Prayer with unshakable faith can move mountains.

Tags: God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, God's Perfect Time, Divine Providence, Faith

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Inspirational/Motivational

Divine Providence

Have you ever been so financially short in your life that you worried about where you will get your next meal? Do you find it harder and harder to make both ends meet? Do you always find yourself always in debt and your expenses always outstrip your earnings? Do you sometimes feel like your pocket has holes in it and that money is so easily lost? Have you worked yourself to death only to find out you still have no security for your future? Stop for a moment and survey your life, your thoughts and your philosophies in life. We must first accept that money will never be enough. As long as we are slaves to our cravings for material things, then we will always be short of everything. We must first take stock of ourselves, what we can do, the talents we have, what we are good at, the connections we have, the opportunities on hand and how we value money in our lives.

The Lord said that by the sweat of our brows shall we live. That means all must work to earn a decent living. Paul said in the Bible that, "those who do not work will not eat." So God taught us the value of hard work and honest living. But He also taught us to pray for our daily bread. He did not say for our weekly, monthly or yearly bread because God wants us to focus on our immediate needs and entrust the future to Him.

We must acknowledge first that every good thing comes from God and God will always help those who help themselves. We must live simple lives always contented with what we have and always expectant of the very best from our heavenly Father. He said, we must seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all things else will be added to us. We must first enrich ourselves with heavenly treasures before we strive for worldly treasures. Those who seek only the riches of the world at the expense of their soul will find death so terrifying because they are so bankrupt of the riches of heaven. Trust the Lord and His divine providence. "BUT MY GOD WILL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEEDS ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY BY CHRIST JESUS." (Philippians 4:19)

Tags: God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Divine Providence, Trust in The Lord, Heavenly Riches

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Inspirational/Motivational

Health Is Wealth

Truly, there is no truer maxim in life than this phrase. We may have all the riches and material comforts in life, but if we are not healthy, we will never live to enjoy them. It is sad to see people work themselves to death to accumulate wealth. And when they attain it, they spend all their money for the healing of diverse diseases they have contacted because of the unhealthy habits they developed in their mad quest to acquire their cherished wealth. The solution to this is moderation in all aspects of our lives. True, we must set goals and try to attain them so that we can live a fulfilled life. But in attaining them, we must never forgo or neglect the other aspects of our lives.

We must live a truly holistic lifestyle. We have to eat the right amount of nutritious food that enables our body to rebuild itself. We must exercise regularly. We must have the right amount of sunshine and a regular communing with nature to soothe our nerves and calm our minds. We must have healthy interactions with our loved ones, relatives and friends, avoiding enmity with anyone. We must always think positive thoughts of love, hope, joy, peace and reverence for all life. We must banish all negative thoughts, emotions and feelings from our minds. And most of all, we must be at peace with God, pursuing our purpose in life as He delineated it for us.
As we become a vital cog in the economy of God and the brotherhood of men, we feel fulfilled and satisfied with our lives. Then we can honestly say that we have lived a truly happy, healthy and fulfilled life for all to witness and glorify our God. TO GOD BE THE GLORY NOW AND FOREVERMORE.

Tags: Health is Wealth, Holistic Lifestyle, Regular Exercise, Nutritious Food, Avoid Negative Thoughts, Focus on Positive Thoughts, Be at Peace with God and All Men

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Inspirational/Motivational

Banish Those Dragons From Your Mind

Do you have dragons in your mind that bedevils you? Do you have dragons that cause untold miseries in your lives? You have to identify these dragons and banish them away from your mind before they can cause irreparable damages and havoc to your life. Let us identify these dragons and what damages they have inflicted in our lives.

1. The Dragon of Bitterness- Have you been hurt before? Were you a victim of betrayal or backstabbing by your most trusted friend? Were you deserted by a loved one? Whatever pains these people may have caused you, this may leave a lingering spirit of bitterness in your heart. This will act like acid scarring your very soul and will cause you untold sufferings and sleepless nights. Learn to forgive and forget and banish this powerful dragon from your life. Then move on to a higher plane of existence and a more meaningful life.

2. The Dragon of Doubt and Fear - This dragon has caused many failures and sufferings in our lives. It prevented us from attaining our full potentials in life. Banish it from your life and see how the angel of success will replace it and assure victory in your life.

3. The Dragon of Covetousness - We covet what we do not have and so we hate the people who have it all. Banish this dragon from your life before you commit a crime against your fellowmen.

4. The Dragon of Arrogance and Pride - Pride caused the downfall of Lucifer from heaven. Pride caused the defeat of so many men. Banish this dragon from your mind and learn to be humble.

5. The Dragon of Lust - This dragon has caused many defeats and downfall to so many people- from Samson to Napoleon Bonaparte. Lust for anything is sinful. This dragon must be banished from your mind.

6. The Dragon of Avarice and Greed - Man is never satisfied. He wants more and more of everything. Let us banish this dragon from our mind and learn to live a simple and contented life.

There are so many other dragons that bedevil man's life. The important thing is, we identify them all and banish them from our minds. In their place, let us think of all the positive things that the Holy Spirit bring- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. We are the products of our thoughts. So let us think only pure, positive and pleasant thoughts and reap a life of success, joy, peace and contentment. NEVER LET THE DRAGON ENTER YOUR MIND.

Tags: Dragons, Bitterness, Doubt and Fear, Covetousness, Arrogance and Pride, Lust, Avarice and Greed, Fruit of the Holy Spirit

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Inspirational/Motivational

For Whom The Bells Toll

"Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in
mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the
bell tolls; it tolls for thee."

by Ernest Hemingway
For Whom The Bells Toll



Just recently, one of the most popular action star in the Philippines died at the young age of 56 after battling cancer for two years. Previous to that, the King of Philippine movies died of cerebral stroke even though he was at the pink of his health. The list could go on and on. People with debilitating and dreaded diseases surviving their sicknesses and incredibly living on for an indefinite number of years while people who seemed to be relatively healthy, falling on the wayside.

Only God knows who will go and who will stay. The bells will toll for those they are intended to be tolled for. No amount of money or riches can buy an indefinite extension of one's life. Money may buy human organs to replace malfunctioning ones, but this will only add a few years to the buyer's life. In the end, he has to face the music and go with the ebb and flow of life. For what has been written and destined will be accomplished according to His divine plan. We can only bow our heads and accede to the fact that "for whom the bells toll, it tolls for thee." ARE WE PREPARED TO MEET OUR CREATOR?

Tags: Death, For Whom The Bells Toll, Ernest Hemingway, Uncertainty of Life, Inevitability of Death

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Inspirational/Motivational

Fear Of The Lord

Proverbs said, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." When I was just a new Christian, I often shun away from this verse because fear has a negative connotation to me. I would reason out that I loved God more than I feared Him and that perfect love cast away all fears. But as I grew and matured as a Christian, this phrase assumed a new and different meaning to me. Why would the author of Proverbs associate the fear of the Lord as the beginning of wisdom? Seen in the light of John 3:16 ("For God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.") which showed the incomparable love of God for all men, I began to understand and appreciate that verse.

Fear of the Lord means fear of offending Him who has given the most precious possession He has to save all mankind. And to do the one thing that He abhors most, and that is- sinning, is really unthinkable. When we realize all the wonderful things He has given us- from birth to eternal life, to countless blessings- there is a reverential fear and awe of Him and the desire to please Him and do His will. Fear of the Lord then simply means to live in order to please God and give glory to His name. Fear of the Lord means to avoid the one thing that will separate us from Him, and that has always been, sin.

So as we fear the Lord and avoid incurring His wrath through sinning, we reap the incalculable harvests of blessings and graces that He so abundantly bestow to those who fear Him and obey His will. Did He not promise in Matthew 6:33 that, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Truly, it is wisdom to choose the path of grace, salvation, blessings and fellowship with God and our fellow brethren and the joy and glory of eternal life with the Lord. SHALL WE START TO FEAR THE LORD?

Tags: Fear of the Lord, God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Righteousness, Salvation, Grace

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla

I Am My Brother's Keeper

Cain committed the world's first murder by killing his brother Abel. When God confronted Cain about his brother's whereabout, he gave this classic remark, "Why, am I my brother's keeper?" Throughout all the ages, man carried this same cavalier attitude towards his fellowmen. He always turned a blind eye on the sufferings of others and we could almost surmise that in his mind, he always carry the same answer that Cain gave to God- "Why, am I my brother's keeper?"

Now, is the time to reverse this decadent attitude of man towards his fellowmen.
Instead, let us show our concern and care for the least of our brethren by declaring these words:

Yes, I am my brother's keeper.
His pain is my pain.
His joy is my joy.
His sorrow is my sorrow.
His happiness is my happiness.
His hunger is my hunger.
His deprivation is my deprivation.
His ignorance is my ignorance.
His poverty is my poverty.
His sickness is my sickness.
His struggles are my struggles.
His loneliness is my loneliness.
His isolation is my isolation.
His imprisonment is my imprisonment.
His tortures are my tortures.
His agonies are my agonies.
His search for truth is my search for truth.
His cry for freedom is my cry for freedom.
His quest for salvation is my quest for salvation.

I cannot just sit here and mind my own business oblivious to what's happening to my brother. I cannot keep a blind eye to his cry for deliverance. I will make a commitment right here and now that henceforth, I will be my brother's keeper and I will do everything in my power to help him in every way I can. So help me God.

Tags: We Are The World, I Am My Brother's Keeper, Universal Brotherhood, Love, Peace, Joy

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla

Are You A Worry Wart?

Are you a worry wart? If so, you are in deep trouble. Worrying leads to so many diseases like hypertension, ulcer, obesity, anorexia nervosa, sleeplessness, tension reactions, restlessness, loss of appetite, neuralgia, and so many other diseases. It attacks the brain and nerve functions of the body. Excessive worrying can also lead to severe nervous breakdown and weakening of the immune system. At the back of worrying is the fear and dread of something awful that is forthcoming. It is like the proverbial sword of Damocles hanging in the air over our heads.

The antidote to worrying is complete trust in God and in His inherent goodness. Those whose trust in God is intact and solid never worry because they believe in His promise that He will never leave them nor forsake them. Even in the direst situations, when everything seems impossible and we feel the whole weight of the world crushing down upon us, we just have to surrender all our cares and troubles to the Lord and He will lead us to the way of deliverance we never imagined before. Have we not overcome all the severest trials in the past when we put our trust in Him? Surely, He will do it again and give us the peace of mind we so long for. Those whose hearts do not rest on the Lord have only themselves to blame if worrying becomes their normal fare. As it is, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD.

Tags: Worry Wart, Nervousness, Anxiety, Dread, Hypertension, Obesity, Anorexia Nervosa, Sleeplessness, All Things Are Possible With God

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Inspirational/Motivational

Valley Of The Shadow Of Death

Have you been through the valley of the shadow of death? If so, what was your experience there? I have been through that valley so many times before that I lost count of them. My first experience there was when I was a little child barely six years old. I was pulling a toy cart at the backyard of my grandma in a faraway province where my mother was born. I never saw that old well since I was pulling my toy cart and was walking backwards. The next thing I knew was that I was falling inside that old scary well. It was an eerie experience as though I was transported to another world. All that I could remember was that scenes from my life flashed through the screen of my mind. I was lucky that it was summer during that time and the water level of the well was only chest deep. I became an instant celebrity in that quaint town when I was pulled out to safety still clutching my rubber slippers.

My next near death experiences occurred when I was already an adult. I have been with hypertension for more than twenty years now. I am also suffering from type 2 diabetes. I have congenital scoliosis (bone deformity) on my lower back. I also have acute hernia and prostate gland problem and an enlarge thyroid gland. I have been on the verge of near strokes so many times that I lost count of them. There were times when I thought death was already imminent. I had all the classic symptoms of full blown strokes except the actual stroke itself. Through all those near death experiences, I never panicked but I just relaxed and left my fate to my faithful God.
I was never afraid to die because I knew I would be with Him when I do. For more than twenty years now, He has kept me alive to bear witness to His faithfulness to those who really trust and believe in Him. MAY HIS NAME BE GLORIFIED FOREVERMORE.

Tags: Near Death Experiences, Valley of The Shadow of Death, God's Grace and Faithfulness, Trust in His Unfailing Love

Posted by Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Inspirational/Motivational

Choices

The choices we make in our lives will determine what we will become. They are some sort of a crossroad where we choose whether to go to the left or to the right. First of all, we have to choose which will we will exercise. Is it our own personal will or the will of God? We have been trained and nurtured by worldly wisdom to learn to exercise our own will in everything that we do. As the poem goes, "I am the captain of my ship, I am the master of my soul." In the competitive world in which we live, it is the battle of wills of different individuals with different vested interests and persuasions. But the Bible says, we have to follow in and walk by the will of God. As the Lord's Prayer says, "let Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." That is the first choice we have to make.

The second choice we have to make in our lives is how we should live our lives. Shall we live by faith or shall we live by sight ( the senses)? We have our senses to use and we are so dependent on them. But in difficult and trying times, when our senses tell us of the impossibility of things, shall we not rely on our faith to carry us through? Remember, the Bible says that faith can move mountains. Those who hold on to the functions of their senses and those who exercise their own will are limited in the things they can accomplish. They cannot go beyond the possible. Not so with those who surrender themselves to the sovereign will of God and have exercised their faith rather than their sight (senses). Nothing is impossible for them. They will experience out of this world possibilities. NOW WHICH OPTIONS WILL YOU CHOOSE?

Tags: All Things Are Possible With God, Divine Will, Personal Will, To Live By Faith Not By Sight, Miracles Do Happen For Those Who Believe

Posted Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Inspirational/Motivational

Voices

There are so many voices that compete for our attention. Which voice we will heed will determine the path that we will take on our journey through life. The earliest voices that we heard were those of our parents. Theirs were the voices that nurtured us in our formative years. Then, there were voices of tiny angels like us who dreamed and wondered with us when we were groping for answers to the unending questions of life. We have encountered the different voices of our teachers and mentors as they instilled in us the disciplines and idealism that helped shaped our formative years. Yes, theirs were the voices of our heroes of the past, the ones we placed in our pedestals. Then, there were the cacophonous voices that proliferated our world when we competed with other wannabes as we climbed the stairway of the corporate world. Those were the voices of intense rivalries, of backstabbing and rumor mongering, of idle talks and gossips, of dressing downs and praises for jobs well done. There were even sinister voices that led us astray, who promised pleasures galore but led us to the decadence of our souls.

But there is one particular voice that we must heed and take to heart. That is the still small voice that whispers so softly in the stillness of the night when everything is so quiet. We can only hear it when we are at peace with ourselves and not agitated. It is the voice of God coursed through our consciences. Continuous disregard of that small soft voice will result in the hardening of our hearts and losing the ability to hear that still small voice. Which voice we follow will determine our destiny for eternity. SHALL WE HEARKEN TO LISTEN TO THAT STILL SMALL VOICE?

Tags: God. Jesus Christ, Conscience, Still Small Voice, Voices

Posted byMel Avila Alarilla

It's A Wonderful Life

Have you not consider how wonderful it is to be alive? How thoroughly rewarding it is that we are loved by people that mattered most to us? Have we not appreciated that the sun shines after a stormy day or the light dawns after the darkness of the night? There are so many things we ought to be thankful for. Surely, we thrive in the fresh air we breathe. We hear the singing of the birds in the morning and the swaying of the leaves and grasses as the wind passes by. We are thrilled by the surging of the waves in the picturesque seashore. And have we not gotten the thrill of our lives by journeying to the imperial mountains that stand majestically amidst the clouds. The tiny creatures of the day and night show how wonderful it is to be alive. Have you seen the flying eagle as it soared ecstatically among the clouds, impervious of all the din down below? How we love to stroll by our favorite bay walk as seagulls come flying by? How we marvel at the majestic sun as it sets in its golden halo as the night slowly creeps in? And how we savor our favorite ice cream bar as we exchange pleasant stories in the moonlit night?

Ah, the earth is so peaceful as the light of the moon encompasses us all. And yes, have we not felt the presence of an Unknown Being who have made all of these things possible? How wonderful it is to be alive and cared for by an Almighty God who is so gracious in providing all of our needs. ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE.

Tags: It's A Wonderful Life, It's Wonderful To Be Alive, Life, Love, Cherished Memories, God, Divine Providence, Divine Grace

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Inspirational/Motivational

Live Each Day As Though It Is Your Last

Live each day as though it is the last day of your life. Savor each moment. Relive each dream. Focus on the joy of your heart. Each breath, each beat of your heart will tell you that it is so wonderful to be alive and happy and strong and well. Yes, life is so good. Why do we have to waste our time looking at negative things in life when there are countless blessings and positive things we could focus on? Why do we fret on a love that was lost instead of looking at the countless love and caring that are showered upon us by our loved ones and true friends? Why do we rue the opportunities lost in the past when there are countless of opportunities beckoning before us? If we dig just deep enough, each sand will uncover a long lost pearl. If we just strive hard enough, our golden dreams will see its fruition in our lives.

Have we not felt so blessed that we have been born without any congenital defects to hamper our progress in life? And even if we have one, are we not glad that it is not worse than the defects and misfortunes that others have? For every misery that we dwell upon, there are so many blessings in the air waiting to be plucked if only we would notice them.

So keep your head up high and feel the sweet scent of air flowing through your lungs and live each day as though it is your very last. Smile and the whole world smiles back at you.


Tags: It's A Wonderful World, Live Your Life Fully, Count Your Blessings, You Are loved


Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla

The Last Curtain Call (A Short Story)

Your most productive years may have been behind you now and you spend your time in utter loneliness and isolation, reliving your glorious past. Before, you were used to the praise and adulation of your millions of fans, but now you are left alone, staring on a blank wall where the sound of silence seems so deafening. Ah yes, you could still hear the applause, the laughter, the celebration every time your name was called during curtain calls. Your name was on everyone's lips and dashing gentlemen made a beeline to hand you their bouquet of flowers. You have them all, boxes of chocolates, endless greeting cards, love notes- everything that reminded you of the tumultuous glory days of your life. People swooned when they heard your voice, and each end of your production numbers were greeted with thunderous applause and endless calls for an encore.

Ah, you remember your past loves, the endless queues of men in your life. The fabulous places you have reached, the how do you do's with the high and mighty in your heyday. You have been around the world living in the adulation of your legions of fans. You savored each inebriating moment of your existence. You transferred from arms to arms, intoxicated by the love abundantly poured on your lap by your countless lovers. But you had your final curtain call. You are no longer famous. You are no longer beautiful. The voice that has so captivated millions of souls have now been reduced to a croaking and melancholy voice.

And as you look at the empty wall on a cramped room you are renting, you felt the hot tears of loneliness and grief falling from your eyes, gliding down your face. You closed your eyes and relived once more in your mind the glory days of your youth, when the world adored the beautiful and marvelous you. That was your very last curtain call. Early next morning, the porter of the hotel found a lifeless corpse of an old and emaciated woman still clutching in her hand her favorite photograph.

Tags: Vaudeville Superstar, Rich and Famous, Last Curtain Call
Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla

Self Fulfilling Prophecy

When was the last time we worry about so many things and found out later that all our worse fears came true? When was the last time we berated our kids about their faults and told them they will grow up someday to become good for nothing? And when was the last time we nag our spouse on his/her obvious faults? Beware, all that we profess with our mouths may become self fulfilling prophecies. Remember, we have the power to bless or curse anybody by the power of the spoken words. And more often than not, negative pronouncements carry with them intense emotional undertones that are more liable to become true.

Kids believe whatever their parents say to them. Parental pronouncements are imbedded deep in their subconscious minds and they are liable to act out the roles delineated to them by their parents. So we must be very careful what we say to our kids, to our spouses and even to ourselves in moments of anger and emotional outbursts. We do not want the things that we say to them or to ourselves to find realization, do we not?

Better to give positive love affirmations and encouragements to our kids, our spouses and even to ourselves. They will even reinforce the good traits imbedded in our characters. Careful, careful!


Tags: Self Fulfilling Prophecies, Traits, Positive Affirmations, Negative Pronouncements, The Power of the Spoken Words

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla

The Pursuit Of Happiness

This is the most abused term nowadays. Everybody seems to be always in pursuit of happiness. Happiness is something very temporary. It is the attainment of a short term goal. It is the satisfaction of the immediate needs of man. But is the pursuit of happiness beneficial to man in the long run? Remember, the pursuit of happiness is anchored in the immediate gratification of man's wants. People call it freedom to do what they want to do, without any restrictions , without any fear. They call it freedom from fear. But where does this pursuit of happiness leads man?

To tell you the truth, it leads man to perdition and eventually, to slavery to sin. Sin is something man enjoys for it is a violation of a restriction or command, and man loves to violate every command and every restriction there is. But John 8:34 says, "Jesus replied, 'I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin." Why? Because although sin is enjoyable at the start, it becomes addictive, and without man noticing it, it eventually becomes the master of the sinful man. It attains a life of its own. Man, who used to enjoy and wallow in sin, now becomes entangled in its deadly web and is unable to disobey the harsh voice of its tyrant master and break free from its strangle hold. And man becomes more miserable than when he first started.

Not only did he veer away from the dictates of his conscience, he has chained himself to slavery under the grip of the lord of this world- Satan. And in the end, the pursuit of happiness becomes a short cut on the road to hell. The Bible warns us about this when it says, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7:13-14) Let us be included in the few who enters the narrow gate and eventually finds eternal life.

Tags: Pursuit of Happiness, Freedom From Restrictions, Freedom From Fear, Narrow Gate, Destruction, Eternal Life

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla

Let Us Not Waste Each Precious Moment Of Our Life

We will travel the paths of this world just once, so let us make the most of our short lives. Each moment is so precious to waste in idle talks, disparaging remarks and negative thoughts. Let us spend each moment of our lives doing positive things, contributing to the upliftment and welfare of our fellowmen. Let us flash that winsome smile to each person we chance to encounter. Let us help each person that seeks our help to the best of our abilities. Let us comfort those who are undergoing pains and sufferings. Let us spend precious times with our loved ones and show them how much we love and care for them. Let us make each precious moment count by being a channel of blessings for God's love, blessings and abundance to our less fortunate brethren.

We cannot always help others physically and financially, but we can always pray for those who are in need of them. We can pray for our brothers who are sick and destitute, especially those suffering from dreaded and incurable diseases. Prayer will cost us nothing, but it will open the very floodgates of heaven so that grace and blessings will pour down upon the people we will pray for. Let each golden moment of our lives count.


Tags: Precious Moments of Our Lives, Prayers, God, Love For Our Fellowmen, Brotherhood of Men

Posted by:Mel Avila Alarilla

Yesterday, July 15, Was My Birthday

Yesterday, July 15, was my birthday. I thought all along that Facebook would notify my friends about it. But to my horror, it did not and I have to make an emergency post there to notify my friends. Alas, my other friends who do not regularly open their FB account were oblivious of it. So I have to make this emergency post to announce to all my friends and readers that yes indeed, July 15 was my birthday. The pictures above are those of my family, remnants of the few photos that survived that flash flood that inundated and destroyed most of our belongings including our precious photos and books. I thank all those who sent greetings and wishes at my Facebook wall. Special mention goes to Shiela Worthington (Shydub) and Demci Apdian Diaz (Dhemz) who sent me money via PayPal. I was shocked beyond words by their generous gesture. Thank you very much mommies. God bless you more for your thoughtfulness and generosity. Thanks to all who supported me and patronized my blogs all through these years. May the Lord bless us all and grant us all our hearts' desires.

Do Not Sell Yourself Short

Do not be misled by Satan and his minions. If you are born again, that is, if you have already accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior, know the full benefits of His death and resurrection at Calvary. Claim these benefits for yourself and your household and begin to enjoy a truly victorious Christian life. What are these benefits which cost the life of the only begotten Son of God? They are:

1. Eternal life with God in His kingdom.
2. Co-heir with Jesus Christ in the kingdom of God.
3. An abundant and prosperous life on earth.
4. The holiness and righteousness of Jesus Christ imputed upon us.
5. Full forgiveness of all sins.
6. Full restoration of our original birthright as we reacquire our identity as being created in the image and likeness of God.
7. We receive the triple benefits from the Holy Spirit which are power, love and wisdom.
8. We become the temple of the Holy Spirit.
9. We exhibit the fruit of the Holy Spirit- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.
10. We are seated with Christ at the right hand of the Father.
11. Freedom from sickness.
12. We are justified before the Father. It is as if we never sinned at all.
13. We are transformed from glory to glory until we reach the whole measure of the fullness of Jesus Christ.
14. We are more than conquerors and we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
15. God will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
16. We will enter God's rest and we will have abiding peace, joy and love in our hearts.

These and so much more promises we can claim in the name of Jesus who has given us freely by His amazing grace. Let us start living the truly victorious Christian life and become a trailblazer for those who are still deceived by the enemy.


Tags: God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Victorious Christian Life, Abundant Life, Freedom from Sickness, Fruit of the Holy Spirit

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla

The Secret Of Power Living (Identify With Your True Self)

We always identify ourselves with our physical body. When our body is sick, we say we are sick. When our body is healthy and we are happy, we say we are happy and in the best of health. We function as though we only have body and soul in us. And as the soul takes the driver seat in our lives, we become emotionally high strung, victims of the prevailing moods of our emotions.

The Bible said, we were created in the image and likeness of God. And that image and likeness is the spirit and not the soul nor the body. The problem was, our spirit died when our first parents fell into sin. And the death of the spirit of man and the accompanying curses meted out to our first parents have been the bane of mankind ever since. We all have been born in the state of depravity.

But Jesus Christ redeemed us from these tragedies. Acceptance of Him as our Lord and savior enables the Holy Spirit to revive our long dead spirit. Now, the secret of power living is identifying with the spirit and not with the soul or body. Let the spirit take its reign over our lives and align our will with the will of the Father and we will see wonders unfold in our lives one after another.

First of all, we must concentrate on God's unwavering love for us. We claim the full benefits of Calvary. We must remember that we are co-heirs with Jesus Christ in the kingdom of heaven. The holiness and righteousness of Jesus Christ were imputed upon us when we were born again. And we are seated with Christ at the right hand of the Father. Whatever we ask in the name of Jesus, in agreement with the will of the Father, and through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, that we shall receive.

Nothing is impossible with God. So let us start to identify with our spirit and enjoy the benefits of power living. I am a living witness to this. I have been terribly sick for more than two decades now, and I always claim health instead of sickness. And I am well and able today, praise God. I have been retired from active work for so many years now, but God had supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. In all of these, all I can say is TO GOD BE THE GLORY now and forevermore.

Tags: God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Power Living, True Self, Spirit, Body, Soul

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla

Exercise Your Way To Health

The lifestyle of the now generation is fraught with so much danger and peril. The sedentary lifestyle of most people are such that there are no more room for balanced exercises. Thus, they eat a lot, sit and relax most of the time in front of the computer, TV, video game machine, DVD, or their ipod or MP4 players. Thus, they consume so much food but let them stay in their bodies and they become so lethargic and dull due to lack of exercise. And to compensate for their feeling of heaviness and lethargy, they drink a lot of energy drinks or even indulge in mind awakening drugs such as shabu, cocaine or marijuana.

Have we ever wondered why there are so many obese people especially in rich and developed nations? It is because they have so much of everything, and as everything in nature, excess of anything can kill. The remedy to this is the old fashioned style of exercising to relax our body and to replenish the stale air in our lungs. But most people are averse to exercising outdoors. They have their usual litanies of excuses.

If you cannot or do not want to go outside, then you can exercise inside. You can do stationary jogging for one hour. Or you can sweat it out in your own room by dancing your way to your favorite disco music. Be sure to close all the windows and shut off the air conditioner and voila, you have your own sauna room where you can exercise and sweat off your excess poundage. It is not only good for the heart and lungs but good for the bones too. Our bones absorb the calcium that we take in through exercise.

So you want a healthy body? Exercise your way to a better health and a younger, more self confident you.

Tags: Exercise, Physical Fitness, Healthy Lifestyle, Younger, Self Confident

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla

The Reality Of Hell (This Is A True Story)

Sounds of Hell

The Truth about hell—A group of Communist Scientist have become believers in the reality of Hell.

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". . . they dig into hell . . ." Amos 9:2 Click here to Listen To the full 'Sounds in Hell' recording 2:39: sounds of hell real audio :: sounds of hell mp3 You listen and make your choice.

The following article appeared in the well respected Finland newspaper, Ammenusastia: "As a communist I don’t believe in heaven or the Bible but as a scientist I now believe in hell," said Dr. Azzacove. "Needless to say we were shocked to make such a discovery. But we know what we saw and we know what we heard. And we are absolutely convinced that we drilled through the gates of hell!" Dr. Azzacove continued, ". . .the drill suddenly began to rotate wildly, indicating that we had reached a large empty pocket or cavern. Temperature sensors showed a dramatic increase in heat to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit." "We lowered a microphone, designed to detect the sounds of plate movements down the shaft. But instead of plate movements we heard a human voice screaming in pain! At first we thought the sound was coming from our own equipment." "But when we made adjustments our worst suspicions were confirmed. The screams weren’t those of a single human, they were the screams of millions of humans!"

Drilling to Hell

The Three Most Terrible Nights Of My Life

My second eldest son- Rommel and her girlfriend- Cherryvelle


My second eldest son is working at a call center in Quezon City. Last Thursday night he bade goodbye to work. He did not return home for three days and has not responded to my text messages to him. I almost did not sleep those past three nights imagining the worst scenarios that could possibly happen to him. My fear was that he became a victim of a hold up which was so common among call center agents going home at ungodly hours. My fears were heightened when her girl friend texted me asking if he has already left for work. When I told her that he did not return home for three days, she too became agitated. I could only turn to God for relief and comfort. I realized how helpless and vulnerable I was when faced with the uncertainties of life. Last night he came home and could not explain well enough why he was absent for three days and where he slept during those days. I was just so relieved to badger him with the details. THANKS GOD THAT NOTHING UNTOWARD HAPPENED TO HIM. TO GOD BE THE GLORY.

Doubt And Fear (Twin Whammy Against Victorious Living)

Have you stand in a bowling alley, holding a bowling bowl in your hand and the thought raced across your mind that, "what if my ball goes to the gutter?" I tell you, 9 out of 10, it surely will. Why? Because negative thoughts of doubt and fear are a powerful mindset that throws our natural abilities to disarray. Or when you are having a game of table tennis with a friend and you suddenly realized that your opponent was better than you and that you have never beaten him before. Chances are, you will lose that game as you always did before.

Doubt and fear are the twin nemesis of faith and belief in one's ability to triumph. Many a battle were won not by superior military strength but by the sheer genius and persistence of the commander of the victorious army. Many a forlorn and lovesick bachelors could have won the hearts of their fair maidens if only they had the guts to tell what were in their hearts. Alas, doubt and fear got the better of them and they lost even before the real battle began. Many languishing souls at the bottom of the career ladder of success were there not because they were incompetent or lacking in innate abilities but because they were lacking in guts and self confidence.

Look at the movie stars and the sports heroes. They gleam with extreme self confidence and they communicate this to their adoring fans and audiences. Next time that you stand in the bowling alley with a bowling ball in your hand, close your eyes, then visualize in your mind's eyes that you have a strike. Then open your eyes and focus on the kingpin, take a deep breath, then release the ball. Chances are, you will get your strike. Life is like that. The world applauds the winner and ignores the loser.

Tags: Doubt and fear, Nemesis of Success, Self Confidence, Belief in Oneself

Posted by Mel Avila Alarilla