When The Pressure Is On

6:46 AM / Posted by Bhebhe Lacson /

All God’s testings have a purpose—
Someday you will see the light;
All He asks is that you trust Him,
Walk by faith and not by sight.

The gem of Christlike character is formed by pressure and refined by friction.


Romans 5:1-5

1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

4And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.


What makes a shiny apple look so delicious? The skin, of course. But what is it about an apple that actually makes it delicious? The juice and substance inside. That’s the apple’s real "character."

I learned this as a boy watching my mom make applesauce. With a wooden pestle, she would mash the soft, boiled pieces of apple through a metal colander and into a bowl, until all that remained in the colander were drab, flattened skins. But oh, the sauce tasted so good!

God uses life’s pressures to bring out the sweetness of Christlike character in us. Tribulation (which means "pressure" in the Greek) also helps us realize the awful potential of our sin nature and see it for what it is—ugly and tasteless. Under pressure, all kinds of sins begin to surface—greed, selfishness, lust, pride.

Pressure, whether from without or from an unrealistic perfectionism within, is a fact of our fallen world. God controls its intensity and duration so that we can recognize, confess, and renounce those fleshly "skins" that obscure Christ’s character in us.

Tribulation is not something anyone seeks. But when it comes, the Holy Spirit will use it to create in us perseverance, character, and hope (Romans 5:3-4).



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Turn yourself In

1:25 AM / Posted by Bhebhe Lacson /

Accountability Check
Do we immediately become defensive when criticized?
Is the criticism we give to others loving and helpful?
In what ways can we become more accountable?

True friends speak the truth in love.

Galatians 2:11-21
Paul Opposes Peter
11When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. 12Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.

14When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?

15"We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' 16know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

17"If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! 18If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker. 19For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!

The spiritual-sounding phrase "I am answerable only to God" may be a subtle excuse for not answering to anyone, including God!

Charles Colson, one of President Nixon's closest aides during the Watergate coverup, became a Christian. In an article titled "The Problem of Power," he wrote, "Christians need to hold one another accountable. Although I know intellectually how vulnerable I am to pride and power, I am the last one to know when I succumb to their seduction. That's why spiritual lone rangers are so dangerous--and why we must depend on trusted brothers and sisters who love us enough to tell us the truth."

Paul confronted Peter face-to-face for his hypocrisy (Gal. 2:11-14). How embarrassing for Peter! But he needed the rebuke. Peter knew from his previous boasting and denial of Christ that he couldn't trust his own estimate of himself.

All of us must come to that realization sooner or later. One way to make sure you're not the last one to know when you're sinning is to "turn yourself in." Ask a Christian brother or sister to show you where you need improvement. They can help hold you accountable.

Don't be a spiritual lone ranger. Turn yourself in



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Finishing the Race

5:17 AM / Posted by Bhebhe Lacson /

Just live your life before your Lord,
Rise to that higher, nobler plane--
With single eye His glory seek,
And you shall His approval gain.

He who puts God first will have happiness that lasts.

2 Timothy 4:6-8

6For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

7I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

8Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

It's easy to live a long life, at least in America. Look at the statistics: Out of every 100,000 persons, 88,361 reach 50 years of age, more than 70,000 make it to 70, and almost 17,000 get to 85 or more. Staying around a long time, however, should not be our primary goal. Rather, we should be concerned with giving significance and value to all our years and not letting them end in shame and disgrace.

How we finish the race depends to a great extent on the pace we set along the way. Joseph Wittig remarked that when we write people's biographies we should start with their death, not their birth. After all, we have nothing to do with the way our life began, but we have a lot to do with the way it ends.

When Paul wrote 2 Timothy, he was in a Roman dungeon awaiting execution. He said, "I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand" (4:6). At that moment he could testify, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (v.7).

We too can end the Christian race well, even if we began late, started slow, or faltered along the way. The secret is to stay true to Christ to the last moment.

PERSONAL REFLECTION:
Sometimes I thought of life being so unfair - - the powerful rules and the powerless keeps quiet, when I was an unbeliever, I thought of my Life being so unfair. And now, even in Christianity - sometimes it is a little bit unfair also (this is based on my own point of view) unfair between Christians themselves and unfair between God and yourself.
I remember that I put this website up for the mere reason of sharing God's goodness not just to my close friends but for everybody who will be able to visit this site.. I call it a modern way of sharing Jesus since you get to share Christ even to people you do not know. Yes I know that this is some kind of threat to Satan (He hates stuffs like this!) so in between my Journey of Following God's will and trying to please Him in the best that I could - Satan works behind it... it's true so many distractions and so many discouragements ... because of this I was quite unfair to God - because I have to think twice whether to continue this ministry or not - I am very disappointed -- on the things that are happening around me - the words that I hear .. the expressions and actions I see.... but should I just stop here? should I stop this Journey? Should I disappoint God as well? Should I be unfair to God as I see the world around me being so unfair??
I have to start once again... every time people around me misunderstood me - God has always been my ally - when everything around me gets a little unfair - It is Him who still keeps me going somehow - although some people might not understand me - the only hope I have is God's understanding and so I am writing once again.. because I have to finish my course, I should fight a good one! and most of all I should keep my Faith!!!



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Protecting the Hurting

8:58 PM / Posted by Bhebhe Lacson /

Putting It Into Practice
Is there someone in my church who is hurting?
What could I do? Would a kind word, a visit, or
an encouraging card from me be helpful?

What concerns one child of God concerns the whole family of God.

Like an injured child, hurting people need protection.
Let's make sure they get it from the church.
1 John 3:10-20
10In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

11For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

12Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

13Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

14We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

15Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

16Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

17But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

18My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

19And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

20For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

I will never forget the time when our lovebird was attacked by a strayed cat. strayed cat can be found anywhere in our place. It was around 3AM in the morning when my mom heard something came down from the roof and suddenly our lovebird was crying in pain. My mom knocked us on our door and told us to check. So we got up and checked.. It seems that he was ok.. but when we double checked.. He had a cut around his kneck. I was in pain too - I think I can feel how hurt he was.. so have to place his cage inside our room just to make sure that the cat won't come back and hurt him again..

We checked on the internet how to take care of a hurt lovebird.. I was worried when I read about an article about it living for a maximum of 24hours. We can't afford bringing him in a vet.. so we had him medicated with human drugs. every morning I would spray antibiotic on his wound and put the same in his water.. he barely eats at all.. everytime I checked on him, he was weak everyday.. days past, weeks past... I am greatful that he survived. I took care of him for almost a month, I have alotted time for him after a month he regained his strength and finally he was fine now!

My experience reminds me of how we should protect the people in our churches who have been damaged by life. John told us to love one another (1 Jn. 3:14,17-18). In fact, this is an important way we demonstrate that we belong to the Lord (v.19). If we sense the presence of people who need our love and care, we can't just ignore them and risk losing them. If we don't protect them with Christian love, the next time they get hurt they may turn elsewhere for help.



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Don't Say it!

4:30 AM / Posted by Bhebhe Lacson /

There are some silent people
Whose praises should be sung;
They preach a mighty sermon
By guarding well their tongue. --Posegate

If you hold your tongue now, you won't have to eat your words later.

Proverbs 10:8-21

8 The wise in heart accept commands,
but a chattering fool comes to ruin.

9 The man of integrity walks securely,
but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.

10 He who winks maliciously causes grief,
and a chattering fool comes to ruin.

11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.

12 Hatred stirs up dissension,
but love covers over all wrongs.

13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,
but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.

14 Wise men store up knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.

15 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city,
but poverty is the ruin of the poor.

16 The wages of the righteous bring them life,
but the income of the wicked brings them punishment.

17 He who heeds discipline shows the way to life,
but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

18 He who conceals his hatred has lying lips,
and whoever spreads slander is a fool.

19 When words are many, sin is not absent,
but he who holds his tongue is wise.

20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver,
but the heart of the wicked is of little value.

21 The lips of the righteous nourish many,
but fools die for lack of judgment.
[There is] a time to keep silence. --Ecclesiastes 3:7

In Discipleship Journal, Cynthia Heald told of a time she and her husband Jack were talking about remodeling their house. He said he wished he had his brother-in-law's skill for carpentry. "For a brief second," Cynthia wrote, "I was ready to make a snappy reply by saying, 'Maybe my next husband will be more handy.'" She went on, "For once in my life I thought before I spoke and asked myself, 'Will this benefit Jack?' Of course the answer was no! So I was quiet for a moment and responded in a much more positive way."

The Bible tells us that we can accomplish much good with kind, thoughtful, and wise words (Prov. 10:31-32; 16:23; Eph. 4:29). We can all think of times we have been blessed by the gentle, encouraging words of a brother or sister in Christ.

Ecclesiastes tells us that there is also "a time to keep silence" (3:7). Sometimes we can accomplish more by not saying anything. We avoid inflicting pain, creating conflict, or damaging someone's reputation or future.

When we're tempted to say something critical, damaging, confidential, boastful, whiny, or patronizing, we need to stop and think of the effect. Let's follow Solomon's advice about "a time to keep silence" and don't say it! —DC Egner


PERSONAL REFLECTION:

Have you experienced, you wanted to burst out in anger and wanted to say anything that would hurt the person your angry with at the very moment? I did, my heart aches in so much anger and disappointment, after receiving a very harsh comment, I wanted to answer back -- something damaging, something that would hurt the person twice as much as I was hurt, that is our sinful nature -- but after I calm down, I'm glad I didn't, I'm thankful that I chose to keep silent or I would regret the words that might have been said, words that you can't take back

I won't forget this line from Ninang Jane during her testimony: "Huwag mong Hayaang masira ang patotoo mo dahil sa maling gawa nila"; it's true we are accountable for it.

I think I am victorious - I am victorious over satan, I am victorious over my old sinful nature - and I praise God for that!

As Christians, let us strive to say something encouraging to someone, specially to our fellow Christians, let's be more sensitive toward each others' feelings. Let's think twice before we say something.


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