Vignettes From The Pearly Gates (Part 5)

(Day 5)

Hurting? Rejected? Are you being loved as much as you are loving? Are you measuring the love that you are receiving more than the love that you are giving? Then know that, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." (1 Corinthians 13: 4- 8a)

Posted by Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Spiritual/Inspirational

By The Fruits You Will Know The Tree

Do sour trees bear sweet fruits? Or sweet trees bear sour fruits? No, sweet trees bear sweet fruits, and sour trees bear sour fruits. So it is true that by the fruits you will know the tree. This is also true with humans. We know who the person really is by his fruits- how he interacts with other people. A person can say all he wants to say but people will only see the very examples that he does, especially in interacting with other people.

So you want to know how a particular person interacts with others? Ask his immediate family. Ask his house helps and subordinates if he is the superior of other employees. Ask his neighbors and friends. Ask his church mates. The very persons who really know him is his spouse and his parents. Ask them who he really is. You may be surprised by their candid answers.

We may not leave any monuments or lasting memories behind when we are gone from this world, but God will never forget the little things that we have done each day to give a little ray of sunshine to a gloomy neighborhood; that sweet smile that transformed the dreary day of the people we chanced to encounter everyday; the kind words of love and comfort that we generously gave to those in need of them; the extra mile we went through with a friend just to help him get by with his problem; the glass of cold water we handed down to a thirsty stranger or the piece of bread to a hungry beggar; the selfless acts we did when we give way to others even if it is already our turn at the gate.

These and every little selfless acts of kindness we do everyday to all people will reflect the glory of God in our lives and will serve as tiny seeds of righteousness planted in different souls. In due time and with the right conditions, these tiny seeds will sprout, grow and mature into fruit bearing trees that will also produce the sweetest fruits that will reflect and magnify the glory of God in this world.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

You Are The Sunshine of My Life - Stevie Wonder (1970s) USA




by Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Spiritual/Inspirational

Vignettes From The Pearly Gates (Part 4)

(Day 4)

The mind is the battle ground of opposing heavenly forces. Good or bad, we choose whatever predominates our mind. But whatever predominates our mind goes down to the heart, and out of the preponderance of the heart determines what we say or do. Let us then fill our minds with, "Whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things." (Philippians 4: 8)

Posted by Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Spiritual/Inspirational

Joy (That Indescribable Feeling That Wells Up Inside)

Joy is different from happiness although to many, they may mean the same. Happiness is contingent upon the realization of a cherished goal or want. Happiness is an external manifestation of that feeling of elation over a positive development in one's life.

Not so with joy. Joy is from the Creator. It is the feeling of indescribable joy that is not contingent on any external circumstances or situations in one's life. One may be in the most miserable and dangerous situation in life and still be in the state of indescribable or overflowing joy. Why? Because indescribable or overflowing joy is anchored on the firm hope and faith of the believer in the promise of His Creator.

Have you ever thought about the reasons why the early Christians exuded that indescribable joy even though they were persecuted, crucified and fed to the lions by their Roman tormentors? The frenzied mob that flocked the Coliseum during those times were awestruck by the stoic faith and calm in the faces of those Christian martyrs as they were mauled to death by lions, or were burned alive at the cross, or were mercilessly slaughtered by war toughened gladiators.

Expecting that the victims would be so hysterical and fight their tormentors to preserve their own lives, the audience were treated to a sight seemingly out of this world. The Christians were looking up to heaven and were singing praise and worship songs to their Creator. Why? Because they were clinging to that cherished hope that they will be with their Creator in His blissful abode after their impending demise.

If we are at peace with our Creator and we know that we are walking in His will, then we have that same indescribable and overflowing joy in our hearts. No matter what the circumstances may be, we may be living in the most wretched situation, yet that same indescribable and overflowing joy will remain in our hearts until we see the day of our eventual deliverance and return to the bosom of our Creator.



Posted by Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Spiritual/Inspirational

Vignettes From The Pearly Gates (Part 3)

(Day 3)

When the climb seems so hard and the mountain seems so steep, when we stumble from the very guides we thought would lead us through, when body and soul weakens from the daily struggles and toils, remember to say to yourself, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4: 13)

Posted by Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Spiritual/Inspirational

Pride Goes Before Destruction

What was the sin of Lucifer before he was cast out of heaven and before he was thrown down to earth to become Satan? Was it not the sin of pride which caused him to rebel against God and the heavenly hosts (angels)?

Lucifer was the highest, the most intelligent and the most beautiful of God's creation. He was almost like God but was never God.

In his worship like admiration of himself and all his superlative attributes, self pride caused him to aspire to become God. He was able to win over his side one third of the heavenly hosts and they rebelled against God and the remaining heavenly hosts.

The faithful heavenly hosts of God, led by a lowly archangel by the name of Michael, defeated Lucifer and his rebellious angels who became demons. (Lucifer was ranked as the highest Seraphim. Seraphims and Cherubims are of the highest rank- the first order in the hierarchy of angels while angels and archangels are on the third and lowest rank).

The worst enemy of man is pride. As the saying goes, "pride goes before destruction." Pride originates from a very high estimation of one's self. A proud man does not want to depend on God but wants to stand on his own two feet alone. In fact, he rebels against God's authority over him and does not want anybody to reprove him when he does something wrong. The poetic line from the poem "Invictus" characterized him most. "I am the captain of my ship, I am the master of my soul."

This is in direct contrast to God's admonition to man when He declared, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)


James 4:6b says, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." God loves those who are of a humble heart but abhors those who are proud in their minds. In fact, God gave these three attributes as His most admired ones, and humility was at the top of the list. Isaiah 66:2b says, "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word."

You want to please God? Humble yourself before Him and acknowledge His sovereignty over your life. Remember, pride goes before destruction.


Posted by Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines

Vignettes From The Pearly Gates (Part 2)

(Day 2)

Whatever pain you may be suffering in your heart, however heavy the load maybe on your shoulder, however cold and dark your nights may be, remember that, "The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn shining ever brighter till the full light of day." (Proverbs 4: 18)

Posted by Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Spiritual/Inspirational