Showing posts with label sharing my bible study. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sharing my bible study. Show all posts

Monday, August 17, 2015

Sharing My Bible Study: Put God first

Hello Friends,

I planned to read Proverbs 4, but the verse I quoted today is from Proverbs 3 that I "happened" to stumble upon. In a situation when it feels like everything is in a huge mess, that life - as wonderful as it is - can be totally cruel and unfair; when it is hard to believe that goodness and kindness still exist because it seems that cunningness, politics, and manipulation rule supreme and wicked people win all the time; when you are in the middle of all those things, then it is ABSOLUTELY neccessay, there is nothing more important, than focusing your sight, heart, mid and soul, to the Lord.

Surely most of you know The Lord of The Rings? It's one of my all-time favorite books, and here I will quote one chapter where Samwise Gamgee and Frodo Baggins are crawling up the Mountain of Doom to cast the ring. Frodo was asleep and Sam was staying awake, realizing with bitter agony that for them this would be a journey with no return. They had a task to do: to cast away the ring, then they will die of exhaustion, hunger, and thirst. They were in a mission to save the world, and yet, they would not be alive to live it. The others will benefit from their hard, perilous journey and sacrifice, others who are not all of them are nice nor kind folks. It seemed so unfair. So hopeless. What was in it for them? All this long trek far away from home, facing danger, threats, death, lack of food, lack of sleep, lack of water. So they will save the world. Big deal. The world will be saved, alright, but they will be dead when it happened. So sad. And cruel. Or is it?


Read this verse carefully:


From the verse, it's clear that the writer - some hundred or thousand years ago - thought that winning favor and esteem before God comes first, and before human beings, second. You might wonder why good people get a bad rep, and two-faced people with bad intentions but excellent ability to "sell themselves to people who matter" gain a stellar reputation. But get this: God is not blind, deaf nor ignorant. If you are being good and nobody else sees it, He does.

In fairy tales, the good people win, but in real life, it doesn't have to be like that. History is filled with stories of good and loyal stewards who got banished or murdered by the Kings because of false rumors and manipulation by the wicked ones. It still rings true to this day. But remember this: the real life that we live in, is not an eternal life. We are only sojourners on this world. We should make the best of it, yes, but this life is not Heaven. Bad people may win now, but who knows what will happen to them in the next life?

Some people might challenge, well, what if there is no next life? What if there is no God afterall? What if Heaven does not exist?

Well, my friends. Let me quote from Carl Jung. I do NOT believe that there is God, Heaven and afterlife. I KNOW that there are.

It's not something that I force others to believe, because one cannot believe what they do not know.

And if you are with me in faith, always remind yourself: care first to please God. Other things will follow.

So, if the world is crumbling down around you, if nobody appreciates your kindness, if people say bad things of the good deed that you do, be good anyway. Stay good. Be kind anyway. Stay kind. Because it is more important to gain favor and esteem from the Lord, than from human beings.

Today when I went home from work, this was the sky looked like. Even the most expensive jewel that money could buy, I think, cannot compete with such splendor and colors and luster. Before parking my car in the garage, I took a moment to stop, took a deep breath, savor the beauty of this sight, and thank the Lord for all His blessings, and for eyes that can enjoy this view.

Have you been too busy or stressed out lately to watch the sun set? Try it. And realize this: no amount of man work, corporate work, busyness, productiveness, schedule, to-do-list, artificial make up, branded goods, meticuluous planning, or anything human can do, can beat, or create, the daily occurence, the magnificent daily thing, God-created, sunset.

And that put all things in perspective.


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Thursday, May 8, 2014

Sharing My Bible Study: James 4

A dear reader, she didn't mention her name, just "A Sister in Christ from USA" notified me that the pictures from my older posts have become un-accesible. Thank you, Sister in Christ! I had a problem with Photobucket, but now it's been resolved. At least for now. So the pictures are now back again!

 Hello, Friends!

If you are a Christian like me, how often do you open the Bible to find solace and comfort, and instead stumble upon firm words? Well, that happened to me more than once! I'm in the middle of a bad day, I'm running to the Bible looking for a quick fix, and guess what, the Lord box my ears instead, scolding me!

Let me share with you one particular occassion, which I think is very apt, since I'm reading The Book of James this week.

Here I was, after having a bad day, or bad months, I forgot (it's funny how some trials that we felt so heavy at that time, felt so mundane and even forgotten when we look back at it, huh), whining and complaining and sniffling and pouring my heart out to the Lord. After I said everything it was needed to be said, I was like "OK, Lord, I'm done. Now it's your turn. Please say something nice and comforting, and please leave this burden and problem from me."

I opened the Bible in random, and stumbled upon James 4. Heigh ho! If you ever read The Book of James, you would have known that St. James was one firm, no-nonsense, straigh-to-the-point, sharp as an arrow, kind of writer.

This was the first verse I laid my eyes on:



Ouch! They said that the truth shall set you free, but more often than not, the truth is not so sweet afterall! It's like the Lord said to this spoiled brat: "Hey, kiddo. You coveted for things that you should not have because they are wrong for you at this moment, that's why you suffer! And now you pout like a little child who doesn't get his portion of candy. I am God, and I don't like your attitude!"

Ouch. Again. Now I'm casting my eyes down like a little child who is being scolded by his parents. And yes, the Lord is our Heavenly Father. I knooooooowwwwww..... I wanted something. I wanted something so bad that I pushed God to give it to me. It could be anything: a new house, a husband, success, going to a long-awaited concert, for higher number of sales, increase of salary, whatever. And when we don't get it instantly, we stomp our feet and shout to God: "I prayed! Why don't you give me what I want? I already prayed/went to Mass/fasted/gave alms to the poor/etc. so in return I demand that You give me what I want!"

Does that impudent whining sounds familiar? Well, I don't know about you, but I did it so many times.

Now, think of it this way. Who are we to demand anything from the Lord? Who are we to bargain with the Lord? Who are we that we feel if we something for God, then He is entitled to pay us with something that we want in return? And who are we that we feel like God has the task to cater to our every whim NOW, on our schedule? Is He the Lord God, our creator, and not our subordinate who is supposed to do everything we ask on schedule? Who is the creator of Heaven and Earth? You or Him? Who is the Father? You or Him?

That should be clear enough. No explanation needed to explain the inappropiateness of our behavior. Yet how many times have we prayed something like this: "Please Lord, if you give me this deal/promotion/a boyfriend/pay raise/etc. I will donate USD XXX for charity/pray three rosaries." Hmmmm... I think the creator of Heaven or Earth don't need our measley money or whatever it is we can give Him. I mean, doesn't everything we have came from Him?

Now the second part that caught my attention.



Submit. Resist the devil. Come near to God. Purify yourself. Lament for your sins. Be humble.

I would highlight: "Lament for your sins."

Let's pretend that you are a parent who is having dinner with your son. You told him, "If you finish your salad, I will give you cookie." Not only the son didn't finish his salad, he intentionally toppled down his plate full with nutritious salad that you have painstakingly prepared for him. Then he said: "I want my cookie."

How would you react?

Most likely you will say, "No cookie for you. You have misbehaved. Now, say you're sorry."
Imagine the child pouting, stomping his feet and said: "No way! I want my cookie. NOW!"

That's painful to admit, but I was that disobedient, impudent child. More than once. Many, many times.

I won't even ask forgiveness for my sins, first. Instead, I expect God will give me a quick fix. I opened the Bible hoping to find something comforting, THEN God will give me what I want, because, well, I prayed and read the Bible, didn't I? I was being good, wasn't I?

Well, it's like God, the parent say: "No, child. No cookie for you. I have told you to eat your vegetables, but you didn't. Instead, you toppled down your plate and made a big mess. Now, say you're sorry. Then, together we will clean up this mess. But still, no cookie for you until next meal. IF you finish your vegetable as I said you should."

God said, "Say you are sorry, Daughter. Repent for your sins, first. Then we'll clean up the mess you created, together. But you've gotta be sorry first, whether or not you will get the cookie."

"Dear Lord,
I have misbehaved. I have disobeyed You and was being selfish.
I ask for forgiveness. Please forgive my sins and my weaknesses.
Please help me to start anew and do better, so I won't do the same mistake again.
Please stand by my side and may I be stronger and wiser and grow from these trials.
May this experience makes me become closer to You.
I am so ashamed of my sins.
Please forgive this impudent child of Yours.
Amen." 
 
I'm linking up to these wonderful Ladies:

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