This is the product of my fertile thoughts. I am recreating them here and am sharing them with you, dear bloggers, for whatever benefits, if any, you could derive from them. I wish you could be more open and share with me your comments and suggestions so that I can improve on my blog. Thank you, God bless and have a nice day. Mel Avila Alarilla
There will always be pain in our bodies, pain in our hearts, pain in our minds. In fact, pain is an integral part of our lives. It is how we react to pain that determines our standing with the Lord. If we blame Him for all the pains that we go through, then we miss the whole point. Pain is the instrument of God to make us closer to Him. If we cannot endure the temporary pain that we are experiencing right now, think of how much we can endure the pain of losing God and heaven for all eternity. Or think of how much we can endure the scorching flames of hell that will sear our very souls forevermore. Think about that! "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." (Matthew 25: 46). But God is so good and merciful. He will not give us any pain, any trial, nor any sorrow that we cannot overcome. Because together with the pain, trial or sorrow, He will give us His amazing grace (a tremendous spiritual force of comfort and deliverance) to overcome all these. As we emerge triumphant over the pains, trials or sorrows, then we become stronger, more patient and more compassionate towards those who are undergoing similar experiences in life. As we have been comforted by the Holy Spirit, so shall we become conduits of God's graces and blessings to those who are in distress. NOW YOU UNDERSTAND WHY YOU HAVE TO ENDURE YOUR PAIN. CHEER UP! THERE IS ALWAYS LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL. SMILE. GOD LOVES YOU NO MATTER WHAT! "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12: 9a)
Just about two weeks ago, Francis Magalona better known as Franscis M- the master rapper of the Philippines died at quite a young age of 44. Just seven months after he was diagnosed to be suffering from malignant leukemia (cancer of the blood), he died after undergoing the best medical treatments. Just about a month ago, my elder sister died after a second stroke which reduced her to a state of coma and a vegetable condition. Over two months ago, my best friend died of cancer of the ovary. So many people are dying after they were diagnosed to have incurable or dreaded diseases. That is the bane on trusting too much on the miracles of modern medicines and the expertise of specialist doctors. Sick people accepted their fate from the hands of these experts and died in the process. On the other hand, people who do not have the money for treatment from the best doctors but surrendered their fate to God are still alive and some have recuperated from their so called incurable diseases. A dear Christian friend of mine who was scheduled for a major heart operation about three years ago is now very healthy and active in his ministry without the help of his operation. His wife who had lumps in her breast for a possible breast cancer is still alive and very healthy, both of them giving glory to the Lord by their wonderful testimonies. Another old Christian friend who had no money for the operation of his cancer of the prostate gland is now still very much alive after surrendering his fate to God. I should have been dead a long time ago if not for the grace of God. I could go on and on citing cases of Christian friends with dreaded and incurable diseases who left their fate to the tender mercy and grace of God and are still living well and healthy. I commiserate with those living in developed countries and for moneyed people who put their trust in modern medicines and doctors. They usually die after hearing the medical prognosis of their dreaded disease. But for the man of living faith, they live and die in the grace of God. TO GOD BE THE GLORY.
Tags: God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Fying, Living, Grace of God, Medicine, Incurable and Dreaded Diseases, Christian, Specialist Doctors, Trust in God, God is The Healer
Mothers are like little Christ. They are selfless and almost always practice self denial in giving the best for her family. You can find fault in any woman as a female, but as a mother, she is more often than not, faultless. There is no amount of sacrifice she will not endure to ensure the safety and wellbeing of her children. She is like a mother hen who will attack any creature in defense of her chicks. Truly, God has ingrained in the hearts of mothers a special trait that gives them the ability to adapt and sacrifice for the welfare of her family, especially her children. Mothers train their young, especially little girls, at an early age to prepare them for the uncertainties of the future.
In the squalid hovels of the poorest of the poor in Africa and Asia, mothers would often go hungry and sleep on an empty stomach just so she can give what little food is still left on the dinner table to her children. She would not mind working up to the wee hours of the morning just to give her children their next decent meal. Men may often sacrifice their family because of pride and adherence to principles. Not so with mothers. They will beg if they have to just so their children will survive.
In heaven, we will hear the best testimonies of living the principles of Christ among mothers. MOTHERS ARE THE BEST GIFT OF GOD TO THE WHOLE OF HIS CREATION.
Tags: Mothers, Gift of God, Crowning Glory, Creation, Selfless, Self Denial, Sacrifice, Children, Family, Little Girls, Uncertainties of the Future, Poorest of the Poor, Africa, Asia, Food, Dinner Table, Empty Stomach, Wee Hours of the Morning, Decent Meal, Pride, Adherence to Principles, Fathers, Survival, Heaven, Best Testimonies, Principles of Christ, Best Gift
What we perceive with our five senses (touch, sight, smell, hearing and taste) are our physical reality. They compose everything that we perceive in this physical world. But there is another reality far higher and finer in existence than physical reality and that reality has a profounder effect in our lives more than we actually feel and acknowledge it. That reality is the spiritual reality. It is the heavenlies or the heavenly realms where the forces of good and evil clash and where there is a battle for the control of the minds of man. It is the reality where the promises of God contained in His words operate. If we know how to use this reality to our advantage then we can change our lives for the better. Take for example the promise of God for an abundant life in John 10:10a. Even if we see poverty and misery in our midst, we can always pray and thank God for our daily bread and for His divine providence in our lives. It will help a lot if we will picture in our minds the vividness of that abundance which is overflowing and satisfying. Or we can pray and thank God for our divine healing and see in our mind's eyes our actual physical healing. In due time, these prayers and mental imagings coupled with a steadfast faith (or extreme belief) in God's faithfulness will cause that spiritual reality to manifest into physical reality.
But beware, the heavenlies or heavenly realm is also the favorite haunting ground of Satan. This is where he deceives and manipulates the minds of people whose hearts are away from God. Satan is a master at lying and the bigger the lie, the sweeter are the come ons for man. One lie of Satan is: there is no God. Atheists succumb to this lie since they perceive God as a killjoy who is out to spoil their fun. Another lie is: there is no heaven or hell so enjoy your life the best way you can. Sensual persons or persons who indulge in the pursuit of sensual gratifications succumb to this lie. Another lie is: death is the end of one's existence. Those who commit suicides and end their lives through fanatical beliefs succumb to this lie.
Paul warnd us on this when he said, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authority, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:12) We must pray and claim God's promises in His words so that we can counteract all the wiles of the enemy. To get a foothold on the heavenly realms, "let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith." (Hebrews 12:2a) Focus and claim God's providential promises and see your life change for the better.
Sorry that I am out of circulation for the next 10 days or so. We just transferred to a new residence and we still have to reconnect our internet line. Reconnection will take at least 10 working days. I'm sorry if I have not commented on those who left comments on my blogs. I am also sorry to my friends and readers if I have not visited your sites. Sorry to my fellow members of Entrecard and BlogCatalog whom I was not able to visit because we still do not have a line. To all of you, my deepest apologies. I am just typing this in an internet cafe. Thanks for bearing with me. God bless us all.
"Salvation is found in no one else for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) And that name is Jesus Christ who will come back in glory and power to shame and judge all who maligned His name. The Bible says, "all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved." So if you are calling on any name other than Jesus Christ for your salvation, then you are already condemned. The Bible further states in Philippians 2:9-11, "Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him a name that is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father." When Jesus comes back to bring judgment upon all men on earth living and dead, everybody, including the unsaved and Satan and his minions, will be forced by the mighty sword of the avenging angel to kneel down before Jesus Christ, the King of kings and the Lord of lords. All His faithful servants will be overjoyed as tears of joy for their eventual deliverance will flow from their eyes. The mockers, the proud and conceited, the high and mighty who taunt the heavens with their mocking words will all be required to pay obeisance to the glorious Lord. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth for the children of the world who exchanged God's glory for the wanton enjoyment of the pleasures of the world. And they and Satan and his cohorts will finally meet their fate in the fiery lake of fire where the worms never die and where the flames are not extinguished.
"NOTHING IN ALL CREATION IS HIDDEN FROM GOD'S SIGHT. EVERYTHING IS UNCOVERED AND LAID BARE BEFORE THE EYES OF HIM TO WHOM WE MUST GIVE ACCOUNT." (Hebrews 4:13)
Tags: God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Name Above All Names, Salvation, Grace, Eternal Life, Joy, Peace, Deliverance, Children of God, Faith, Love, Perseverance, Bliss, Heaven
Procrastination is a deadly disease. Deadly because people who have it fail to recognize it or they just ignore it altogether. It's vocabulary is as deadly too- later, tomorrow, next time and someday. Procrastinators have eight days in a week- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and the eighth day is called...SOMEDAY.
Someday may mean tomorrow, next week, next month, next year or maybe... never. It can be as long as eternity itself. How often have we been turned off by people who just did not have time for us? How often have we been hurt when people turn us down by such words as: "I'm too busy right now, I'll attend to you later"; or "just come back some other time when I'm no longer busy." Do we remember the hurt look at the face of our child when we hollered at him with such words as "Can't you see that I'm busy? Go to your mommy!" That will be the start of the day our child will look for attention from others. That may happen to our spouses too. If we don't have much time for them, others may give them the time and attention they craved from us and we might lose them altogether. Then we will rue the day that we did not give them the quality time that they were crying for. Regrets will set in and we will say to ourselves, "If only I had time for them."
The antidote for procrastination is purposeful living, if we know the purpose of God for our lives and accomplish each task for His glory alone. Next time that there is a task at hand, say to God and to yourself: "I'll do it Lord for your glory, right here and now."
"WHATEVER YOU DO, WORK AT IT WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AS WORKING FOR THE LORD, NOT FOR MEN." (Colossians 3: 23)
In Memoriam Today, February 23, 2009 at exactly 10:00 am, my eldest sister- Lulu died after a lingering coma brought about by a second massive stroke. I am so devastated by her death but I commend her spirit to the Lord. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
" Any man's death diminishes me because I am involved in mankind. And therefore never send to know for whom the bells toll, it tolls for thee." For Whom The Bells Toll by Ernest Hemingway
Life is ebb and flow. It is never constant. Life is up and down. It is never steady. Life is a constant change. We are like mere puppets at the end of a marionette strings manipulated by fate. Who can say I am what I am and I am where I had wanted to be? Only fools say that. Nobody stands proud and mighty who can look up to heaven and say I have been what I decided to be and I have accomplished all that my mind has purposed in my life. We are like rag dolls in the swelling eddies of life's current, carried in the ebb and flow of the changing fortunes of life. Was it not so long ago that America stood proud and mighty among the community of nations? Now it has bowed down on its knees and the whole world bowed down with her. Only God is constant in the scheme of things. Only He decrees who would rise and who would fall. The high and the mighty have fallen in the weight of their own decadent lifestyles, leaving only memories of their once insatiable appetite for worldliness and pleasure seeking. Many people look only for the pursuit of happiness. But what is it? Only a vain clutching at straws set on fire at a mere spark of life's changing fortunes. We will walk this life but once, and many have succumbed to the pursuit of their own happiness at the expense of their souls. Is it worth it? Can a lifetime of "happiness," gross materialism, sensuality and the satisfaction of our cravings for sexual and sensual fantasies ever compensate for the loss of our conscience and the desire to please God and walk in His ways? Only time will tell what the real truth will be. Then those who sneered at people who obey God will have the chance to prove their lifelong obsession to live their lives the way they wanted to. But will there be weeping and gnashing of teeth when the Lord comes for judgment?
Tags: Ebb, Flow, Life, Meaning of Life, Happiness, Pursuit of Happiness, Changing Fortunes, Gross Materialism, Cravings, Desires, Sexual Fantasies, Obsession, Constant Change, Puppets, Marionette Strings, Fools, America, Decadent Lifestyles, Souls
"Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts" (Hebrews 4:7b)
DO YOU NEED HELP? ARE YOU IN THE DARK? CAN'T FIND YOUR WAY AROUND? NEED A FRIEND WHO WILL STICK WITH YOU THROUGH THICK OR THIN OR WHEN EVERYBDOY ELSE HAS DESERTED YOU?
