Be Like Christ

If you are a Christian, then why are you not following Jesus Christ? Christians mean followers of Jesus Christ. If so, are we not supposed to be like Christ so that people will see our good works (our sweet fruits) and glorify our Father in heaven? We can not be Christians and still immersed ourselves in the licentiousness and rapacity of the world. "What has God have in fellowship with Belial." We can live in this world but not of this world. We can not use other people as standards of spirituality. If we have to compare ourselves, we have to compare ourselves with Christ. In any situation that we may face, especially if we are in doubt, let us ask ourselves this question: "If Christ were here, what would He have done in this situation?" Then we can be assured that our decision will be right and in accordance with His will. How can we do this? The answer lies in Romans 12:2 which says, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is- His good, pleasing and perfect will."

The will of God is for us to be holy like Him and to dissociate ourselves from the sinfulness and carnality of the world. We can not have our cake and eat it too. The verse above said that we are transformed by the renewing of our minds. That means, our minds must think only godly and sublime thoughts, thoughts that edify, thoughts of loving unconditionally, thoughts of selflessness, thoughts of hope and joy, and thoughts of peace.

Let us not run our races to win worldly prizes, they are like steel weights that chain our souls. Instead, let us run our races to win the heavenly prize- to be with the Lord forevermore.

You want to be a good Christian? Be like Christ and follow Him.

Posted by Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Spiritual/Inspirational

The Big Bully On The Block (The Height Of Hypocrisy)

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In a few days from now, three Pinoys convicted of carrying illegal drugs to China will be executed with lethal injections. No amount of cries for mercy from the whole Filipino nation represented by our government could move the Chinese government to stay the execution and commute their sentences to life imprisonment. They mouth about justice for the poor people of China victimized by drugs brought by these drug couriers. They did not even consider that these drug mules were just victims of international drug syndicates who lured them with drug money. Now they preach us about victims of drugs. But their nationals who operate multi billion shabu laboratories and who run most of the drug syndicates in our country are summarily deported after being caught. They do not even serve prison terms and if they do, they easily escape because of the corruption of our jail officials. How about their fishermen who poach in our territorial waters for endangered species and when caught were just deported to China. The big bully on the block is flexing its muscles and we, small fries as we are, shiver in fear and shame. Shame on us as we are bullied by the big boys on the block. These are bullies Taiwan, Hongkong, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and others who always knock us down whenever they see us walking in the block. Even the biggest bully of them all, the US, treat us with contempt giving us outmoded war materials and hand me downs while they pour billions of dollars to their favorite proteges.

When will we learn to stand on our own two feet and defend our inalienable rights as equal citizens of this world. People of the Philippines unite before it is too late.

Vignettes From The Pearly Gates (Part 11)

Day 11

Do we please God or do we please men? Do we seek the approval of men more than the approval of God? If you are suffering even though you are doing the will of God, take heart,

"For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully
committed to Him." (2Chronicles 16:9)

Posted by Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Spiritual/Inspirational

Moving On- The Path To The Future

You want meaningful change? A change that can alter your life forever? Then choose a solid starting and ending point for your life. Start and end with something that you can really die for. Make Jesus Christ the Alpha and Omega of your life, then you have a solid starting point. Focus on Jesus Christ for it is He who was sent to save us from all the prison cells of our lives. He was sent not only to save us from eternal damnation but also to give us a victorious and abundant life.

Throw away all the bitterness from the past. Gather all the grudges, hurts, pains and bitterness in your lives and flush them down the toilet bowl and never let them bother you again. Forgive those who have hurt you before. You yourself have hurt others before. As far as you could, mend fences with those you have offended before and make restitution for your offenses. Unforgiving people always end up wallowing in their own prison cells of anger, guilt and depression. You would not want that for your life, do you?

As we begin to change and alter the circumstances in our lives, and as we turned from a mere spectator to a mover of life, we become channels of His divine blessings and grace for those who are still too weak to learn to walk by themselves. We become the eyes, ears and feet of those the Lord will give us to minister unto.

Moving on is the path to the future. Shall we commence our journey?



Posted by Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Spiritual/Inspirational

Let Us All Pray For Japan

A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 8.9 on the Richter scale hit Japan yesterday unleashing a powerful tsunami that brought a wide swath of destruction in many parts of Japan. Total loss of lives and damages to properties and infrastructures are still being collated as of this moment. The damages have been so severe that most part of Tokyo and major parts of Japan are without electricity. Fire were burning simultaneously in many parts of Japan including an oil refinery. WE ENJOIN OUR READERS TO PLEASE PRAY FOR JAPAN AND THE SURVIVORS OF THIS TRAGEDY. ONLY GOD CAN HELP THEM RECOVER FROM THIS TRAGIC AND CATASTROPHIC EVENT. GOD BLESS US ALL.

Vignettes From The Pearly Gates (Part 10)

Day 10

Though the way be dark and dreary, though fear and dread beset us every step of the way, though death seems to stalk us at every turn, remember to always trust in the Lord and say, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me, your rod and your staff they comfort me." (Psalms 23: 4)

Posted by Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Spiritual/Inspirational

Prayer- The Key That Unlocks The Portals Of Heaven

When was the last time we were in a desperate situation, when our backs were against the wall and we have no where else to go? When was the last time when everyone seemed to have deserted us and we were left alone to face an almost insurmountable trial in our lives? When was the last time we felt terrible pains in our bodies because of lingering illnesses? And when was the last time we suffered a broken heart because someone so dear to us has abandoned and betrayed us?

In situations like these, we are left alone to lick our own wounds and to seek consolation from beyond lest, we fall into the temptation of ending our own lives. Our lives may be shrouded in darkness and we may not see any light to guide us,
but there is Someone who is always willing to listen to us. We can pour out all the pains, the sorrows, the bitterness, the shame, the guilt, everything to Him who is faithful and true and who patiently waits for us to open the doors of our hearts so that He can come in and stay with us.

Prayer is an admission of our total dependence on God who created us. Like little children once more, we seek our heavenly Father who is more than willing to give us all that our hearts desire if only we will delight in Him and His presence in our lives.

"Delight yourselves in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4)

Prayer is the key that unlocks the very portals of heaven, where we seek once again our heavenly Father who graciously showers us with the abundance of His blessings and grace from His great storehouse of blessings.

Pray. It works.

My Prayer - The Platters (1950s) USA



Posted by Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Spiritual/Inspirational