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
After the collapse of a Chilean mine in August 5, 2010, 33 miners who were initially thought were dead astounded the whole world when a message was sent to the outside world that all 33 of them were still alive. But they were still trapped in a 2,041 feet shaft below the surface as 700,000 tons of rocks collapsed on them. The whole world watched as the best mining experts of the world drilled a bigger hole in the mine to fit a capsule that could load a single miner at a time. After two agonizing months of drilling, the breakthrough occurred and the miners were saved one by one. This is the single biggest and longest saving operation of trapped miners in the history of mining in the world. They emerged one by one from the rescue capsule to the thunderous applauses of well wishers and the whole world. YES, MIRACLES STILL HAPPEN IN THIS DAY AND AGE. AND YES, GOD ANSWERS OUR PRAYERS.
Video of Actual Rescue Operations
Actual Video of Trapped Miners 2,041 feet Below the Surface
GRACE (How Truly Amazing It Really Is) Grace is undeserved merit given to an unworthy recipient by a magnanimous giver. Sounds crazy isn't it? In this age and culture, we know that there is no such thing as free meal. You have to work, even fight for it. But that's grace. On our own, we are incapable of saving ourselves no matter what we do. Ephesians 2: 8-9 says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not fromyourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast."
The human race was born under a curse, under a state of depravity, unable to rise above his own brutish nature without external help. This was the result of man's fall at Eden where he lost the image and likeness of God from which he was originally created. That is why, we have a natural tendency to sin, to rebel and to do evil. It is always a struggle for us to be good, to be pious and not to sin. The scene of the fall of man at Eden is replicated in every man, as he is always faced with a choice to sin or not to sin.
The only solution to escape this vicious cycle of sinning and falling deeper and deeper into the quagmire of wanton living and total wretchedness is to acceptJesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We must confess our sins to Him and let His most precious blood cleanse all the sins we accumulated in our entire lifetime. We must also surrender our lives to Him and be determined not to sin again. If our prayer of acceptance is sincere, the Holy Spirit will overshadow us and will give life to our dead spirit, and we will be born again in Spirit and in truth. Then we shall inherit eternal life. John 3: 3 says, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
The choice is ours, whether we remain spiritually dead or attain eternal life. Romans 6: 23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." The deepest meaning of amazing grace and the only formula for salvation are contained in John 3: 16. It says, "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." "Amazing grace How sweet the soundThat saved a wretch like me I once was lost But now I'm found Was blind but now I see." *
How truly amazing, God's grace is. (* From the song "Amazing Grace" by John Newton)
REDISCOVERING GOD Where do we place God in our lives? Do we place Him at the very center of our existence? Or do we put Him at the farthest corners of our hearts and minds? Some sort of a spare tire to be used when the need arises? The answers to these questions determine how we relate to God. God said, "Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. They will say of me, 'In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength." (Isaiah 45:22-24a) He further added, "I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please....What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that will I do." (Isaiah 46:9b-10, 11b)
God is not affected by how we perceived Him to be. He is not changed nor affected by our puny perceptions. He is sovereign. He does as He pleases. The good news is, He is everything that we could ever think of as good and positive. And He could not contradict His own nature. The bad news (or good news, depending on one's perception) is, He created us with our own free will, and that we have the choice to accept or reject Him. He will never force Himself on us.
There lies the problem. We know that there is a God, but we limit His power over us by our inability to perceive Him as He really is. So we make do with a counterfeit "God" who is capricious, whimsical, moody, revengeful, cantankerous, self seeking and avaricious; who expropriates everything for His own glory alone. Pity the people who looks at God this way. Hosea 4:6a says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Wrong perception of God may lead us to our own destruction, and greatly tie up God's hands to help us out of our predicament. The only solution is to know the real God through His words in the Bible.
Posted by Mel Avila Alarilla Philippines Spiritual/Inspirational
Yes, we are depressed. Yes, we are desperate. Are there any remedies to these conditions? Whether depression is a state of the mind or a result of a chemical imbalance of the brain is not the issue here. I leave that to the experts. What I'm after is, how we can alleviate the pain and misery that depression brings to its untold number of victims. The effects of prolonged depression is catastrophic to the psyche of its victims. It leaves behind a lingering sense of hopelessness and despair that may even trigger a violent tendency towards self destruction. It's like entering a dark tunnel without any hope of ever coming out of darkness into the light. People loses their sense of right or wrong. They are bewildered, totally disoriented and seemingly helpless. Can hope and prayers overcome depression and despair? With due respect to the medical experts, I say yes. Hope is like seeing a flicker of light in the all pervading darkness of a tunnel.It gives us a sense of anticipation that finally, as we reach the end of the tunnel, we shall finally see the light of day. And who gives us this hope? Only God can and will. And we can fan the flames of hope through prayers. "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:31) How do you think those early Christians were able to face death with calm equanimity as they were crucified, mauled by lions and bears, or defenselessly butchered by battle scarred gladiators? They sang songs of praise and worship and even uttered prayers of forgiveness for their tormentors. They were clinging to that glorious hope of a blissful afterlife. "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him." (1Corinthians 2:9) Surely depression, outright insanity and total helplessness would have set in to those who have no hope whatsoever if faced with the same situations. Today, situations may vary but the results will still be the same. Those who have hope and diligently nurtures it with regular and intense prayers are those who will be able to overcome any obstacles and trials in life, whether they be depression or despair. Unflinching hope and intense prayers usher us to the very presence of God, where we can pour out all the pains and sorrows welling in our hearts. Did not the Lord admonished us to, "Cast all your anxiety on Him for He cares for you." (1Peter 5:7) When depression sets in, we must never give it a foothold by lingering on it. We can counteract its effects by claiming the promises of the Lord and through His triumphant Spirit. "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty." (Zechariah 4:6b) If we persist in prayers, our hopes will be rekindled like a blazing torch that will illuminate the total darkness surrounding us. In God's time, we will receive our most cherished healing and deliverance. PRAY! IT WORKS!
LIGHT OF THE WORLD, SALT OF THE EARTH God admonished us to become the light of the world and the salt of the earth. Why? Because there's so much darkness in this world that people are groping for the true light that will illuminate their perilous paths through life. Man's life has been so drab and tasteless that God needs people to become the salt of the earth to give flavor to an otherwise tasteless existence of mankind. Man has lost his true perspective in life. Man has associated himself with worldly pursuits in life where everybody else wants to get ahead and to be on top at the expense of others. It does not matter whether he steps on the lives of so many people just so he can reach the summit of success, fame and fortune. But once he reaches the top, man realizes that it is so lonely up there, bereft of the true happiness and contentment in life.How many rich and famous people who, after ascending the heights of fame, fortune and success, have become so disillusioned of the emptiness of it all and have decided to end their lives by suicide. Others die at the height of their popularity through reckless and insatiable quests for thrills and the ultimate highs in life. They drown their lives with an overdose of sex, partying, drugs, thrills, extravagance, orgies and whatever it is they fancy that can give them the ultimate high and thrill of their lives.
But at the end of the day, in their own private moments, they weep in loneliness and despair because they realize that they were left holding an empty bag of sheer emptiness and loneliness and the darkness of their souls. And since they have become too proud and defiant to go back to God and humble themselves before Him, they decide instead to end their meaningless existence.
Yes, God needs more people to become a light of the world and a salt of the earth. Would you rather be included in the Guinness Book of World Records or in God's Book of Life? Think about it, my friend.
Posted by Mel Avila Alarilla Philippines Spiritual/Inspirational
HUMILITY- A TRAIT OF A TRUE CHILD OF GOD Of all the traits that God so admires in man, humility tops them all. This is in accordance with what God said in Isaiah 66:2b, "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word." In fact, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." (James 4:6b) Why? Because God is Himself meek and humble in the person of Jesus Christ. An example of forgiveness and restitution of rights given back to a returning and humble sinner is the case of the Prodigal Son in the Book of Luke. After getting his entire inheritance from his father, and after squandering it all in profligate and wanton living, he became so destitute and hungry as he sought a job feeding pigs. Realizing his grievous sin and humbling himself, he decided to return to the house of his father to seek employment as a mere hired man. He was yet a long way off from their house when his father saw him and ran after him and embraced him. Seeing that the prodigal son was repentant and humble, he fully restored to him all his lost privileges as a son. So it is with us. No matter how sinful we may have become, no matter how wretched our conditions maybe, if we humble ourselves before God and seek His divine forgiveness by believing in Jesus Christ, divine forgiveness and complete spiritual restitution will immediately be given to us. This is the grace of God and it is not contingent on our own worthiness before Him or what accomplishments we may have achieved. It is solely contingent upon the amazing grace of God as we humble ourselves before Him and ask forgiveness by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who are humble of heart and sought the Lord's guidance and protection after forgiveness were granted to them, are assured by God to enjoy a blissful life with Him in Paradise.
Posted by Mel Avila Alarilla Philippines Spiritual/Inspirational
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. 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
"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?
