The Strength from God

Joshua 1:9

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

The Kingdom of God is like a Mustard Seed

 

The Kingdom of God is like a Mustard Seed

One of my favorite verses in the bible is Matthew 6:33 “But seek first His Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” With a little knowledge on the works of God, I start reading the bible and start searching information about God.  This verse keeps on appearing to me, and then I realized something is missing.  I seek for God but I have never tried to seek His kingdom.  Come to think of it.

Have you ever imagined what the kingdom of God is? Or how does it look like? Let’s look at the Matthew 4:30;

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

30 Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

Jesus used the mustard seed to describe or compare the kingdom of God to His disciple. Why mustard seed? Mustard seed is the smallest seed on earth but grow into largest garden plant. In God’s Kingdom, small beginnings lead to greater things. Analyze yourself. What is the small seed that God placed into your heart?

Jesus can choose a lot of things to compare the kingdom of God but he chose a seed. You know why? Seed has a lot of potential to turn into bigger things if you will just plant it. Same with the kingdom of God, He placed His righteousness and He gives you a purpose, and these will only grow into bigger things if you will move and plant it. You have to follow what God is telling you. He gives you a promise but never forget that for every promise, there is also a command. Walk with God and cultivate the seed He placed in you. The seed will die if you will just keep it or ignore it.

God place a seed in your hand, and you need to plant it, to make it grow. Step out in faith that the seed you are holding will turn into something new and something big that will change not only your life but also the life of others.

James 2:14-17

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Growth takes time. It is worth the wait. Stay patient as you wait for the planted seed to grow because it will surely grow in God’s control. Don’t give up because God is not only watching you, but He is in you. He will never leave you, but He is teaching you. Everything has a perfect timing. As Joshua 1:7-9 says;

7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Stay faithful. Continue with your purpose. Each one of us has a purpose, but whatever we do, it’s not about you or me, it’s about God. Only God will make you grow, not on your own, but through God’s works in your life. As 1 Corinthians 3:6-9 says;

6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

All great things start with small beginning. Remember that growth is not instant, instead it is an ongoing process, keep on walking with God and you will reach your goal. Keep in mind that you are not alone in this journey; learn to join groups with same goal or purpose. This group will be your spiritual family and you will help each other in growing in the kingdom of God. As 2 Peter 3:18 says;

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

God will provide your needs, but you need to step out in faith to do your part. If you are operating the kingdom of God, He will bless you more but if you are doing it for yourself, you will never grow. As I have said, it is not about you but it is about God, His kingdom and His righteousness. In the end, people will not glorify you but they will glorify God. You need to step out in faith and share the love of God to others because it is your purpose, to worship, to serve and to glorify God. As Philippians 2:9-11 says;

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Glory to God!

 

Photo Credit to hdwallpaperia.com

The Assurance of Things You Hoped for

Who is God for you?

Who is God for you?

Everybody needs an answer. It does not matter what kind of answers you will get as long as you know you are not left hanging or in question. I have a lot of questions in my life. I already got answers to some of my questions, others are still hanging but I trust the Lord that He will answer it for me.

They say there are 3 kinds of answering a question:

1. It’s either you know the answer and this is good.
2. You pretend you know the answer; you say a lot of things that does not lead to the correct answer.
3. Or accepting the fact that you don’t know the answer and just say it outright.

There are questions in our life that once we answer, our life will really change 360 degrees.  “Will you marry me?” is a kind of question that will change your whole life starting the day you say “I do”. But what if someone ask you this question: “Who is God for you?” What would your answer be? This sounds an easy question but not all people can answer this correctly because the basis of your answer is your daily life. Yes, people can see God in your life. How you live your daily life reflects your perspective or understanding who is God for you.

Jesus asks this to his disciples in Matthew 16:13:

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

People not close to Jesus, and sees Him from afar answer this:

They replied, “Some says John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” (Matthew 16:14).

People compared Him to John, Elijah and Jeremiah because they show the same passion:

1. John the Baptist talks about repentance.
2. Elijah shows miracles.
3. Jeremiah considered a whipping prophet.

And it’s the same answer with the people who really don’t know God, especially in our modern time. People will say today about Jesus:

1. That He is just a prophet.
2. He is just a man.
3. He is a big brother of their prophet.
4. He is a good teacher but he is not God.
5. Not real, just an imagination or illusion.

When you don’t know a person you Understanding who is God is important because it’s affect your perspective, practice and lifestyle. These three will show on your life whatever you know about God. Check yourself and ask who is God for you. As Matthew 16:15 says;

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered this question boldly:

1. Jesus is the Christ. Matthew 16:16

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Christ means messiah, anointed one and savior. He is the one whom everyone is waiting. There is only one messiah and He will come once, because the second coming is judging day.

There is only one God who will come to fix the relationship between God and man. As 1 Timothy 2:5 says;

5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men–the testimony given in its proper time.

If God is not true in your life, you will not understand this. But if you are like Peter, you will understand who Jesus is. You can stand firm and bold to testify to God. You will know the true way in heaven.

2. Jesus is the son of the living God. Matthew 16:16

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus is the only God; from birth to death, nothing will change on this statement.

Before His birth:

31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. (Luke 1:31)

In His ministry:

Whenever the evil spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” (Mark 3:11)

To the religious leaders:

Luke 22:70
They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied, “You are right in saying I am.”

On the cross:

Mark 15:39
And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

From Mary’s womb to His death on the cross, no one will say that Jesus is not God because from the start God planned everything. He has a purpose to save us and to fix the relationship of man and God because the man breaks it in the Garden of Eden when Eve and Adam fall to the cruel temptation of the enemy.

And even years after, John the Baptist still testified this fact in the book of John 1:34 says;

34 I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.”

Knowing this makes you to trust to the Lord that He can save you. If you believed in these verses then you will experience Him in your life. People will see Him in you because God is in you. You will receive all the promises of God because of the faith you have for Him. You trust Him with your life and you believe that He is your God, He love you and He will give your needs.

3. Jesus is the firm foundation of our faith. Matthew 16:17-18

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

On that rock means on that truth, you have your faith to God and that is the foundation. You are here because of the mercy and grace of the Lord. And that is the truth. If you don’t believe in God then there is no foundation. If God loves Peter then God loves you. You have the same faith with Peter, and you have the same God.

People are asking when will Christ come but it’s not the question you shall ask instead you ask yourself if you are ready when Christ come again?

In your quiet time today, ask yourself, who is God for you?

On our own we cannot open our eyes. Only God can change our life. Whatever God called you for, it will still show God, whatever understanding you have who God is in your life.

Why do you call Him Lord?

Why do you call Him Lord?

We have thousand list of endearment, either for a friend, boyfriend or family members, as long as you feel close to the person or your relationship with him is better and deeper than to others. Is this how our relationship with God? Our parents usually taught us about God but why do you call Him Lord if you are not sure who is He in your life? Do you give importance to God the way you give importance to your best friend? Ask yourself and check to know if you truly understand your relationship with God.

Why do you call Him Lord and come to Him? Is it because your parents told you? Are you just following the flow from the people surrounds you or is it from your heart? People follow God because they witness God’s miracle, however there is a deeper message for all the teachings and miracles of God. As Luke 6:17 says;

17 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by evil spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.

The usual reaction when you meet someone who can heal you is to follow that person, to come to him and to just stay at his side. You feel protected and you want to witness more. But it’s not the only purpose of Jesus. That’s why He asked in Luke 6:46

46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?

It’s the same today; we call Him Lord, and we call Him our God however we do not follow Him. We do what we think is right even though we know it’s wrong. We push things according to what we want and not to what God’s want. We do not let Him to take full control of our life. We take Him for granted, neglected Him and treat Him like a genie that when we need help that’s the time we will use the lamp and call Him. Sad but true.

So, if you want to take full control of your life then why do you call Him Lord? Do you know the meaning when you call Him Lord? Here’s the true description of calling Him Lord according to Jesus.

1. Starting in coming to God. Luke 6:47

47 I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice

Why do you call Him Lord is because you recognize His authority in your life. You are stating that you belong to Him because He is your master. Calling Him your master does not mean you are His slave, instead there’s deeper message and relationship between you and God when you call Him your master.

The problem with us, we go to God and recognize Him only in times of trouble; when we have problems, sick or confuse. We don’t recognize the Lord who can walk with us in our daily life. Do not take Him as a medicine that you will take every time that you are sick. You read the bible when difficulties

2. Someone who listen to Him. Luke 6:47

47 I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice

Why do you call Him Lord when you do not listen to God? Whoever has your ears has your heart. A lot of people come to God but does not want to listen. Hearing is different from listening. Hearing is you hear God but does not follow while listening understands what God is saying and following or obeying Him.

The sad reality is some people go to God; hear God but does not listen to Him. That is why when people are in the middle of circumstances some do not know what to do and then blame God for everything.

If you are truly listening to God, you will understand Him and His purpose in your life; He has your heart and faithfully follows Him.

If you really love God you will exert effort loving Him. You will never know how much God really loves you unless you exert effort and discipline yourself in giving time with your quiet time talking to God. If you are too busy doing good things but doesn’t have time reading your bible, then you missed the true meaning of your relationship with God. Start reading your bible to understand God’s purpose in your life. If you know the word of God you will know truth and you will hear God. As John 8:43-50 says

43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

When you truly belong to God, you will listen and you will obey. If you cannot hear God then you must ask yourself if you truly submit yourself to God, if you truly let God take full control in your life and if you truly accept Him in your heart. As John 10:27 says;

27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

It’s not easy to follow or to obey God. It’s easy to say that you will follow but when the situation comes, it’s really hard to do. Remember when your mom told you to wash the dishes? Or when your dad told you to clean the house? It’s hard but we follow our parents. Why? Is it about fear? Or is it about lack of choices? Do you follow God because you think you have no choice?

Appreciate when your parents taught you to those simple things because you will realize that your parents want the best for you. We follow our parents because we have a relationship with them. You will never follow a stranger because you do not know him and you do not have a relationship with Him. Same with God, we follow because we know Him and we have a relationship with Him when we submit and commit ourselves to Him.

Do not think that you are just following God because you do not have a choice. You have a choice and that is to obey or not. You obey because you understand the purpose of God. You do not obey because you do not understand Him. That is simple. Think about it.

God is our father and we have a relationship with Him that’s why we follow Him. You understand your relationship with Him; His reasons for teaching you and you know your purpose. As James 1:22 says;

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

If you pretend that you are listening but still not obeying God, you are not deceiving others instead you are deceiving yourself. Why do you call Him Lord when you are not letting Him change your heart or to take full control of your life? You shall stop pretending and showing to others that you love God but still living with your old life and doing your old habits. Live your life with God, truly following and obeying His ways.

 

Photo Credit to desktopwallpapers4.me

Stop feeling empty and Learn to Count your Blessings

 

How to feel complete?  How to feel worry free?    How to be rich?  All you need to do is to stop thinking about being empty and learn to count your blessings.

 

Some wish blessings, others pray for them. Some send blessings and they become one. – Joyce C. Lock

 

Count your blessings instead of your crosses;
Count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count your friends instead of your foes.
Count your smiles instead of your tears;
Count your courage instead of your fears.
Count your full years instead of your lean;
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.
Count your health instead of your wealth;
Count on God instead of yourself.
– Author Unknown

 

 

Learn how to forgive and to love

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32)

It might be stormy now but it will surely pass

 

Keep the faith…Hold on.
Things will get better.
It might be stormy now, but it cannot rain forever.

7 Reasons of Failed Relationship

7 Reasons of Failed Relationship

Everyone is looking for someone who will stay at their side until their hair turns grey. Romantic as it may seem but in our modern time, you need to know the 7 reasons of failed relationship before you jump into the next level. Knowing these reasons will help you to understand and to do the things that you need to do to avoid the bad things that will end up into another failed relationship.

Checking websites after website about this topic leads me to zero result. It’s not that nobody wrote about this, certainly thousands of people already wrote this topic, however I didn’t find what I am truly looking for: the deepest reason behind all reason of reasons of failed relationship.

And because I cannot find what I am looking for, I started to write an article about it and share my 7 reasons of failed relationship and I am hoping that you could relate on it and maybe think about it.

My 7 Reasons of Failed Relationship:

1. Unprepared.

How romantic it is to meet each other accidentally and felt that “love at first” feeling, but don’t forget to keep in mind to established the basic foundation of relationship which is friendship. Make friends and get to know each other well. Do not jump into a relationship after another because you thought you are in love. Don’t mislead by the idea of compassion versus love. As Proverbs 17:17 says;

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Coming from a bad relationship, you are still vulnerable and felt weak that when someone approach you and do the things that you are looking for a man, you will think that he is the one for you. Some people will use your bad situation just to go into your life. Go and make friends but never look for love because love will come at your unexpected moment.

2. Insensitivity.

God gave you five senses: Sense of touch, smell, sight, hearing, and taste. I know you already know that however you do not use it on your relationship.

Sense of touch is use to take good care of the one you love. You offer a hand before she go out of the car or down from the bus. You hold hands while crossing the streets or you carry her bags for her.

Sense of smell is use to appreciate her perfume or his cologne, or you can also say how good is the smell of the dish cooked for the two of you.

Sense of sight is use to look at your partner and not to others while talking or walking on the streets. Set your eyes for the person you love to avoid temptation and misunderstanding. Never try to look at that girl in red miniskirt or that guy in black tuxedo because it will just complicate things in your mind.

Sense of Hearing is use to listen on your partner’s repetitive story for the nth time or for the dull jokes that you never know where the idea came from.

And finally, sense of taste is use to taste the food (of course! so don’t think different about tasting, LOL!) cooked for you because it’s done out of love not just to impress you but to express the love for you.

Simple things that you can do and yet you don’t do it anymore after the “getting-to-know-each-other” level because you thought everything is alright. As Romans 12:16 says;

16 Be sensitive to each other’s needs – don’t think yourselves better than others, but make humble people your friends. Don’t be conceited.

3. Repetition of mistakes. 1 Corinthians 14:38

38 But if someone doesn’t recognize this, then let him remain unrecognized.

Boom! You are now thinking about your partner’s mistake. Don’t. You will just ruin your day. Instead of thinking about your partner’s committed mistake, think about your own mistakes. If you have committed a lot of mistakes from the past, keep that in mind how that happened and please avoid doing it again. Know the things that you do that your partner hates and avoid doing or committing it again. If you have the idea of “if-he-loves-me-he-will-accept-me-for-who-I-am” then please don’t go into a relationship. In a relationship you both need to adjust and change some things to make the relationship work.

Selfishness is natural in human however the word sacrifice does exist and that made you to think about your partner’s needs first before yours; that’s how true love works in a relationship.

4. Reminiscing.

It’s good to reminisce; bringing back all the good memories from the past and remembering all the things between the two of you but please remember only the good things and forget about the bad things. It will do no good for both of you if you keep on counting all the bad things that happened. As Philippians 3:13 says;

Brothers, I, for my part, do not think of myself as having yet gotten hold of it; but one thing I do: forgetting what is behind me and straining forward toward what lies ahead,

Also, stop checking your ex’s profile on Facebook; you have no reason at all for you to check it every day.

5. Silent War.

Misunderstanding are normal in a relationship however if it happens thousands of times a week then think again. When misunderstanding happens, don’t let your anger runs into your nerve that you start the cold war or the silent treatment. That is very immature. Not talking for the night will lead both of you to break up the next day because you did not explain your side and your partner will think differently about you. Remember: Your partner is neither a psychic nor a fortune-teller to know what you’re thinking. Speak up and say politely how you feel or what you are thinking! As Proverbs 12:22 says;

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.

6. Pride.

Humility is giving importance to others first rather yourself. Pride can kill not only humility in a relationship but also the relationship itself. You cannot say sorry or you cannot accept mistakes. You think you are always right and your mind is close for your partner’s opinion. And when misunderstanding happens, you always wait till he take the first move to say sorry and you always do that until your partner got tired and looked for someone else.As Mark 10:45 says:

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

It’s cute when your partner do those silly things to win you back but it’s no longer cute when you have this misunderstanding for 4 times a week.

7. Love is not enough.

The last reason for this list of 7 Reasons of Failed Relationship is your own feelings. Do you really love the person you always hold hands? They say love without measure and that is true, but if you feel that something is missing, you are not contented or you only think about what is good for you and not for your partner, then think again if you are really in love. As 1 Corinthians 13:7 says

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Most relationship failed not because love is absent; that is a No, No. Love is always present, it’s just that, one loves more and the other loves less.

Now that you know the 7 Reasons of failed relationship, you can at least avoid those things to happen on your relationship. This will also help you on how to handle your relationship and your partner.

Going into a relationship, you need to clear yourself from hatred of the past, make sure you are ready not only for love but also for hurt because it’s part of every relationship; you are giving your partner t love you and to hurt you at the same time. Established the basic foundation of relationship, communicate well, and pray. Ask God to guide and to take full control of the relationship if you really want to make the relationship last long.

3 Ways of Fighting the Battle

 

3 Ways of Fighting the Battle

Every person deals with different situations every day. It does not matter what kind of situation you are facing in, what matter is how you face it. There are 3 ways of fighting your battle that you already knew but you never apply into your life.

I’d been into many battles of my life that I could never win all by myself. I know God is there to fight the battle for me and I trusted Him that He will never let me down.

My 3 ways of fighting the Battle:

1. Call Him. Psalm 120:1

I call on the LORD in my distress, and he answers me

In times of difficult situation the first thing to do is to call God. DO not call your friends and others because the first person who can help you is God. He is powerful and He can make everything possible.

Keep in mind to talk to God before you make a wise decision to the situation.

2. Open up. Psalm 55:22

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.

Before you call a friend and share your thoughts and problems, share it first to God. If you really want a solution to your problem, God will give it but if you only want sympathize then you can tell it to your friend. Don’t get me wrong but not all your friends can help you but God can always help you so why would you go to your friend if you can have the best solution from God?

God can help you better than your friend.

3. Do not be afraid. Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

 

This is not the first time that you need to face a difficult situation and you know that God will always stay at your side to solve it. Never entertain the feeling of fear because God is powerful and bigger than your problem.

After you called and talked to God, put your trust in God because He can solve your problem. Do not worry because God will answer you.

Life is full of surprises and knowing the 3 ways of fighting the battle will help you to deal with these surprises. You cannot control the things happening in your life. All you can do is to put your hope and trust to God. You cannot control things but God can and all you have to do is to let Him take in-charge of your life fully.

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