Dear warriors in Christ, I am going to talk about "Being A Devoted Man Of Prayer"!
From the Bible, the book of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, it says "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
How many times do you pray everyday? How about every week? Let's make it month, or a year? Do you pray consistently? Do you believe that prayer has the power to change lives? The verse reminds us to continually be joyful! Furthermore, it tells us to pray continuously! What's more amazing is that it reminds us to give thanks in all cirumstances! Be it good or bad, joyful or tear, sunrise or sunset, give thanks to our Creator! My point is this, as soldiers in Christ, we should continue to pray even in dry seasons! No matter how big the giants that we're facing, all our fears and struggles, how huge the mountain is, we should Keep Praying! Prayer isn't just talking to God, it is also listening to God! If we've got all the time in the world to surf the web, play computer games, go for sports, or doing other stuffs, how about talking to God? I advice you to pray to God everyday!
Check out Colossians 4:2, it also says "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful."
Imagine if you were apart from someone close to you like a buddy, a family member or a girlfriend. You'd probably use Skype, text, eMaiL or call each other to keep in touch! Prayer is our lifeline to God! That's why we have to remain devoted to talking and listening to Him!
In conclusion, I encourage you to be a devoted man of prayer! =)
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Avoiding Every Kind Of Evil
Dear soldiers in Christ, I am going to talk about "Avoiding Every Kind Of Evil"!
From the Bible, the book of 1 Thessalonians 5:22, it says "Avoid every kind of evil."
Clearly, it is stated here the we should AVOID EVERY KIND OF EVIL! That doesn't mean that we will never meet face to face with evil! It's more like how we deal with it when temptation comes! Temptations are bound to appear in front of us, whether we like it or not. The question is: Are you able to decide the right choice while you are in a tempting situation to sin? When temptations are layed down in front of you, do you try to resist the temptation? Or do you tell yourself to get away from that place? We shouldn't try our best to resist it, but to avoid it! Based on my experience and other people's experience, majority of the people will fall and give in to temptaions when they try to resist! Which is why the best solution not to give in to temptation when it is right in front of you is to avoid it and get your eyes and mind on something else!
For me, I discovered that the heart and the eyes are fairly important! We know that when a person's heart is evil, he will scheme for evil plans! As for the eyes, it is also a major part of your body where satan attacks most! Here's an example for guys, it's easier for me to explain. Let's say you're walking in a shopping mall going to buy some movie tickets, and suddenly, lo and behold, a beautiful girl with a near perfection body appears right in front of you, she is wearing clothes that reveals most parts of her body, what would you do?? Would you stop and stare, and fall into lust? Or would you tell yourself, "Hey man, I've gotta roll my eyes away and get out of this situation!?"
Philippians 4:13 says "I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me." Honestly, we're really very weak! All our own little human strength can do is that much. But with God, we can live righteously!
So I encourage you to make lifestyle choices that will not lead you to sin! You can do it! =)
From the Bible, the book of 1 Thessalonians 5:22, it says "Avoid every kind of evil."
Clearly, it is stated here the we should AVOID EVERY KIND OF EVIL! That doesn't mean that we will never meet face to face with evil! It's more like how we deal with it when temptation comes! Temptations are bound to appear in front of us, whether we like it or not. The question is: Are you able to decide the right choice while you are in a tempting situation to sin? When temptations are layed down in front of you, do you try to resist the temptation? Or do you tell yourself to get away from that place? We shouldn't try our best to resist it, but to avoid it! Based on my experience and other people's experience, majority of the people will fall and give in to temptaions when they try to resist! Which is why the best solution not to give in to temptation when it is right in front of you is to avoid it and get your eyes and mind on something else!
For me, I discovered that the heart and the eyes are fairly important! We know that when a person's heart is evil, he will scheme for evil plans! As for the eyes, it is also a major part of your body where satan attacks most! Here's an example for guys, it's easier for me to explain. Let's say you're walking in a shopping mall going to buy some movie tickets, and suddenly, lo and behold, a beautiful girl with a near perfection body appears right in front of you, she is wearing clothes that reveals most parts of her body, what would you do?? Would you stop and stare, and fall into lust? Or would you tell yourself, "Hey man, I've gotta roll my eyes away and get out of this situation!?"
Philippians 4:13 says "I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me." Honestly, we're really very weak! All our own little human strength can do is that much. But with God, we can live righteously!
So I encourage you to make lifestyle choices that will not lead you to sin! You can do it! =)
Be Open To Spiritual Things
Dear soldier in Christ, I'm going to talk about a simple verse that tells us to "Be Open To Spiritual Things"!
From the Bible, the book of 1 Thessalonians 5:19, it says "Do not put out the Spirit's fire;".
Now, this verse is short and simple, and it has a meaning. What does it mean to not put out the Spirit's fire? That means we do not close ourselves from spiritual things, but instead we open up ourselves to spiritual things! I remembered once I didn't really believe when my Christian friend told me there this world we live in are full of spirits! There are only 2 faction of spirits that lives around us; one is the evil spirits which everybody knows. And the other is the Holy Spirit that lives within us! But what about our human spirit? It's actually not called human spirit, but rather human soul! That's why the Bible says when we die, our soul will be separated from our body and we will meet Him on Judgement Day!
Back to my point, for many people, whenever they hear somebody prophecy, they will be like "What? That's crap, I don't believe in that man because he doesn't look like a person who prophecies." But what if God was actually speaking to His heart to speak to you? We have to be open to spiritual things, and test them with God's word of course!
I encourage you to heed this final instruction from the apostle Paul, be open to spiritual things!
From the Bible, the book of 1 Thessalonians 5:19, it says "Do not put out the Spirit's fire;".
Now, this verse is short and simple, and it has a meaning. What does it mean to not put out the Spirit's fire? That means we do not close ourselves from spiritual things, but instead we open up ourselves to spiritual things! I remembered once I didn't really believe when my Christian friend told me there this world we live in are full of spirits! There are only 2 faction of spirits that lives around us; one is the evil spirits which everybody knows. And the other is the Holy Spirit that lives within us! But what about our human spirit? It's actually not called human spirit, but rather human soul! That's why the Bible says when we die, our soul will be separated from our body and we will meet Him on Judgement Day!
Back to my point, for many people, whenever they hear somebody prophecy, they will be like "What? That's crap, I don't believe in that man because he doesn't look like a person who prophecies." But what if God was actually speaking to His heart to speak to you? We have to be open to spiritual things, and test them with God's word of course!
I encourage you to heed this final instruction from the apostle Paul, be open to spiritual things!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Respect Older Men
Dear soldiers in Christ, I'm going to talk about "Respect Older Men"!
From the Bible, the book of 1 Timothy 5:1, it says "Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers,"
Let's be honest, many of us aren't really okay with older people! We think they are draggy, sometimes over the top, or even annoying! But the truth is, they're way wiser than you! They've lived on planet earth much longer than you and I! Though they make mistakes occasionally, we aren't to scold them, argue with them and try to correct their thinking instantly! We should step back, and see the whole frame of the situation! We make mistakes ourselves too, why are they receiving the treatment that they shouldn't? Instead, we should be kind and sincere to them, always forgiving and understanding! I always hear people say, "My parents and I have a generation gap! We can't click very well and they always don't understand me! Why can't they respect me for who I am!?" Well, instead of asking that question to yourself, how about respecting them for their experiences and the dues they've paid??
So, I encourage you to respect older men for their experiences and the dues they've paid! Start with your family and church! =)
From the Bible, the book of 1 Timothy 5:1, it says "Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers,"
Let's be honest, many of us aren't really okay with older people! We think they are draggy, sometimes over the top, or even annoying! But the truth is, they're way wiser than you! They've lived on planet earth much longer than you and I! Though they make mistakes occasionally, we aren't to scold them, argue with them and try to correct their thinking instantly! We should step back, and see the whole frame of the situation! We make mistakes ourselves too, why are they receiving the treatment that they shouldn't? Instead, we should be kind and sincere to them, always forgiving and understanding! I always hear people say, "My parents and I have a generation gap! We can't click very well and they always don't understand me! Why can't they respect me for who I am!?" Well, instead of asking that question to yourself, how about respecting them for their experiences and the dues they've paid??
So, I encourage you to respect older men for their experiences and the dues they've paid! Start with your family and church! =)
Watching Your Life And Doctrine Closely
Dear soldiers in Christ, I'm going to talk about "Watching Your Life And Doctrine Closely"!
From the Bible, the book of 1 Timothy 4:16, it says "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers."
What? We will save both ourselves and our hearers when we watch our lives and doctrines closely? Oh yes that's right! We will save people by having the right doctrines and knowledge of God! Imagine somebody came up to you and ask you, "Hey, is it true that God will not save those who are rich? That those who are rich are destined to burn in hell?" For a person who knows the truth and has the right knowledge about God, the answer will be "No, they won't burn in hell if they are rich. But the chances of them leaving everything behind, all their wealth and riches, is like a needle in a haystack!" This answer sounds right? That's because it is true! But what if you don't know the answer, and you feel that every rich person in the world will burn in hell? Both you and your hearer will have the wrong image of God and hence destroys the truth of God! When we don't know how to answer a question, tell that person that you'll get back to him/her, and go ask somebody who is much more mature in Christ! Seek advice and help others with the advices you have received!
So, I encourage you to regularly examine your life and what you believe! It's really important! =)
From the Bible, the book of 1 Timothy 4:16, it says "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers."
What? We will save both ourselves and our hearers when we watch our lives and doctrines closely? Oh yes that's right! We will save people by having the right doctrines and knowledge of God! Imagine somebody came up to you and ask you, "Hey, is it true that God will not save those who are rich? That those who are rich are destined to burn in hell?" For a person who knows the truth and has the right knowledge about God, the answer will be "No, they won't burn in hell if they are rich. But the chances of them leaving everything behind, all their wealth and riches, is like a needle in a haystack!" This answer sounds right? That's because it is true! But what if you don't know the answer, and you feel that every rich person in the world will burn in hell? Both you and your hearer will have the wrong image of God and hence destroys the truth of God! When we don't know how to answer a question, tell that person that you'll get back to him/her, and go ask somebody who is much more mature in Christ! Seek advice and help others with the advices you have received!
So, I encourage you to regularly examine your life and what you believe! It's really important! =)
The Balance and Knowing What To Believe
Dear soldiers in Christ, I've got more powerful verses to share with you! I'm going to talk about "The Balance and Knowing What To Believe"!
From the Bible, the book of 1 Timothy 4:7-8, it says "Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."
This is a really powerful verse!! It's straight to the point, and it's really true! What's worth all the training in gyms or sports when you don't really exercise yourself spiritually? Most guys would make themselves stronger and bigger and "Buffed-up", yet they forget the most important thing in life which is exercising spritually! Many guys exercise physically so that the girl next door or the girl of their dreams would fall in love romantically with their awesome body! But what's the point when your knowledge in God is empty??
With your amazing body, you can be a hero!
But without God, you can be a total zero!
Let me share with you this conversation that these 2 guys had,
Daniel: "You're still working out? Your sister said you left for the gym three hours ago!"
Joseph: "Yeah, dude. I'm loving it. I'm starting to see big-time results."
Daniel: "You are looking bigger. Hey, you're not using steroids, are you?"
Joseph: "No way! I mean, there's no question, they do work. You can turn into an animal in no time. But do I want to shrink myself where it counts, lose my hair, break out all over and start punching lockers? No thanks. I'm just using legal supplements and busting my tail in the gym."
Daniel: "So what's your goal?"
Joseph: "To get ripped. To be massive. You know, to just look really good. The bigger you are, the more people notice you."
Daniel :"Yeah, but look around you. Here's a bunch of guys spending hours a day in front of a mirror. When does trying to look good become an unhealthy obsession?"
Joseph: "Now you're starting to sound like my sister. She's always saying, 'Why don't you spend even ten minutes a day thinking about how you look on the inside?' Hey, look, I know al that stuff. I'm a Christian. Why can't I be a Christian bodybuilder and have an influence on these guys?"
Daniel: "You can. No doubt. Let me ask you one last question, and then I'll let you get on with your curls. If something happened and you couldn't be massive, and you had to settle for an average physique, would you feel like you're less of a man? Would you feel inferior?"
Joseph: "I don't know. Maybe. But I'd rather not think about that right now."
You see, based on this conversation, Joseph is definitely lacking in something! And that's balance! Balance is fairly important!
Is it a sin to want to be in good shape? Not at all! But it's not enough to give only our bodies a workout. 1 Timothy 4:7-8 already states clearly that godliness has value for all things!
One of the saddest things in the world is the person whose body is strong, but whose character is weak. What happens when the muscles begin to sag? What will you have then?
If you're getting yourself built-up, try to organize it! While you're busy pumping up physically, don't let your spiritual muscles go to waste. Try coordinating your physical and spiritual workout schedules! For instance, on the days you work your arms, do your Bible study! On the days you work your chest and abs, do a service project for your church!
As for 1 Timothy 4:7, we need to be able to discern what is right and wrong! Knowing what to believe is really crucial!
You see, Timothy wasn't the only one who had to worry about "godless myths" and "old wives tales." Here is a list of a few popular LIES that the world has input into many of us, and we need to be aware of them:
(i) "It doesn't matter what you believe about spiritual things, as long as you believe in something." [This is a huge lie!]
(ii) "Jesus had some good ideas, but he wasn't the Son of God." [The Bible is a record of history, and it was recorded that Jesus is the Son of God!]
(iii) "It's only a sin if it hurts someone else." [Obviously a lie!]
(iv) "If you give to this ministry, God will make you wealthy." [It doesn't work this way!]
(v) "If you can't accept someone's lifestyle, you're being narrow-minded." [Oh no you're not!]
(vi) "Sex is OK if two people agree to it and really care about each other." [If you both really care for each other, you wouldn't have sex before marriage! Love and sex is not the same!]
I encourage you, like an athlete training for the big game, train yourself to be godly! You can do it with the help of Christ who strengthens you =)
From the Bible, the book of 1 Timothy 4:7-8, it says "Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."
This is a really powerful verse!! It's straight to the point, and it's really true! What's worth all the training in gyms or sports when you don't really exercise yourself spiritually? Most guys would make themselves stronger and bigger and "Buffed-up", yet they forget the most important thing in life which is exercising spritually! Many guys exercise physically so that the girl next door or the girl of their dreams would fall in love romantically with their awesome body! But what's the point when your knowledge in God is empty??
With your amazing body, you can be a hero!
But without God, you can be a total zero!
Let me share with you this conversation that these 2 guys had,
Daniel: "You're still working out? Your sister said you left for the gym three hours ago!"
Joseph: "Yeah, dude. I'm loving it. I'm starting to see big-time results."
Daniel: "You are looking bigger. Hey, you're not using steroids, are you?"
Joseph: "No way! I mean, there's no question, they do work. You can turn into an animal in no time. But do I want to shrink myself where it counts, lose my hair, break out all over and start punching lockers? No thanks. I'm just using legal supplements and busting my tail in the gym."
Daniel: "So what's your goal?"
Joseph: "To get ripped. To be massive. You know, to just look really good. The bigger you are, the more people notice you."
Daniel :"Yeah, but look around you. Here's a bunch of guys spending hours a day in front of a mirror. When does trying to look good become an unhealthy obsession?"
Joseph: "Now you're starting to sound like my sister. She's always saying, 'Why don't you spend even ten minutes a day thinking about how you look on the inside?' Hey, look, I know al that stuff. I'm a Christian. Why can't I be a Christian bodybuilder and have an influence on these guys?"
Daniel: "You can. No doubt. Let me ask you one last question, and then I'll let you get on with your curls. If something happened and you couldn't be massive, and you had to settle for an average physique, would you feel like you're less of a man? Would you feel inferior?"
Joseph: "I don't know. Maybe. But I'd rather not think about that right now."
You see, based on this conversation, Joseph is definitely lacking in something! And that's balance! Balance is fairly important!
Is it a sin to want to be in good shape? Not at all! But it's not enough to give only our bodies a workout. 1 Timothy 4:7-8 already states clearly that godliness has value for all things!
One of the saddest things in the world is the person whose body is strong, but whose character is weak. What happens when the muscles begin to sag? What will you have then?
If you're getting yourself built-up, try to organize it! While you're busy pumping up physically, don't let your spiritual muscles go to waste. Try coordinating your physical and spiritual workout schedules! For instance, on the days you work your arms, do your Bible study! On the days you work your chest and abs, do a service project for your church!
As for 1 Timothy 4:7, we need to be able to discern what is right and wrong! Knowing what to believe is really crucial!
You see, Timothy wasn't the only one who had to worry about "godless myths" and "old wives tales." Here is a list of a few popular LIES that the world has input into many of us, and we need to be aware of them:
(i) "It doesn't matter what you believe about spiritual things, as long as you believe in something." [This is a huge lie!]
(ii) "Jesus had some good ideas, but he wasn't the Son of God." [The Bible is a record of history, and it was recorded that Jesus is the Son of God!]
(iii) "It's only a sin if it hurts someone else." [Obviously a lie!]
(iv) "If you give to this ministry, God will make you wealthy." [It doesn't work this way!]
(v) "If you can't accept someone's lifestyle, you're being narrow-minded." [Oh no you're not!]
(vi) "Sex is OK if two people agree to it and really care about each other." [If you both really care for each other, you wouldn't have sex before marriage! Love and sex is not the same!]
I encourage you, like an athlete training for the big game, train yourself to be godly! You can do it with the help of Christ who strengthens you =)
Pray For Your Country
Dear soldiers in Christ, I am going to share with you about "Praying For Your Country"!
From the Bible, the book of 1 Timothy 2:2, it says "for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."
Now, we know that every country isn't perfect! Malaysia is a country where corruption has led its way up into the ranks of the parliament! Almost everybody in the government are corrupted! Is it strange that God isn't doing anything? Well, it isn't because He isn't doing something!! Barisan Nasional are actually losing seats compared to the previous years! We know not what will happen in the future, but we do know that it is our duty as soldiers of Christ to pray for our country! We should charge in the battlefield spritually and pray for our country and all the leaders in our government! Do not underestimate the power of prayer, because it changes lives!!
I encourage you to be thankful for the freedom you enjoy and pray for your government leaders! Pray and believe for a change! =)
From the Bible, the book of 1 Timothy 2:2, it says "for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."
Now, we know that every country isn't perfect! Malaysia is a country where corruption has led its way up into the ranks of the parliament! Almost everybody in the government are corrupted! Is it strange that God isn't doing anything? Well, it isn't because He isn't doing something!! Barisan Nasional are actually losing seats compared to the previous years! We know not what will happen in the future, but we do know that it is our duty as soldiers of Christ to pray for our country! We should charge in the battlefield spritually and pray for our country and all the leaders in our government! Do not underestimate the power of prayer, because it changes lives!!
I encourage you to be thankful for the freedom you enjoy and pray for your government leaders! Pray and believe for a change! =)
Holding On To Faith And A Good Conscience
Dear readers, I'm going to share with you about "Holding On To Faith And A Good Conscience"!
From the Bible, the book of 1 Timothy 1:19, it says "holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith."
You see, holding on to faith and a good conscience is easy to say, but not easy to do! However, we shouldn't give up whenever we fall down! The Bible constantly reminds us to stand back on our feet and continue our journey of faith with Him! No matter how tired you are, or how much doubts fills your mind telling you that God is not real, don't let these things stop you from knowing how Great your Father is! I can proclaim and declare to you that the Lord is REAL! So keep holding on to faith and you will find God there!
I encourage you to live in a way that lets you maintain a clear conscience!
From the Bible, the book of 1 Timothy 1:19, it says "holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith."
You see, holding on to faith and a good conscience is easy to say, but not easy to do! However, we shouldn't give up whenever we fall down! The Bible constantly reminds us to stand back on our feet and continue our journey of faith with Him! No matter how tired you are, or how much doubts fills your mind telling you that God is not real, don't let these things stop you from knowing how Great your Father is! I can proclaim and declare to you that the Lord is REAL! So keep holding on to faith and you will find God there!
I encourage you to live in a way that lets you maintain a clear conscience!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Fight The Good Fight Of The Faith
I want to strongly encourage you to fight the good fight of the faith!
Although I have written this in my older posts and even on my blog, allow me to say this again: From the Bible, the book of 1 Timothy 6:11-12, it says "But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses."
A man of God lives in freedom to choose what is right! He is a warrior in the struggle for souls, pursuing righteousness, godliness, faith and honor! He is a defender of the weak and one who is passionate about purity! He is bold in witness and courageous in deed! A man of God is a lover of God and others: family, friend and enemy alike! He loves as Christ loved the church, always protecting, cherishing and defending!
Brothers and sisters in Christ, it's time to be radical for God! The world doesn't need a bunch of weak, cowardly, half hearted Christians who are just playing the church game! The world needs men and women who are willing to live with passion, strength and fierce conviction! It needs men and women who are hungry for God and who don't get sucked into the world's foolish traps!
Be brave for the LORD, for He walks beside you through the valley of shadows! Fear no evil, for He is with you! Be strong in the Lord! Trust in Him till the end of your lives! And give Him praises and thank Him for all that He has done and will do in your life for you! Remember always, man will fail you, but the LORD never fails you!
May God be with you dear brothers and sisters in Christ! May the grace of the Father, the love of the Son, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit dwell in our hearts and be with us, in Jesus Name, Amen! =)
Although I have written this in my older posts and even on my blog, allow me to say this again: From the Bible, the book of 1 Timothy 6:11-12, it says "But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses."
A man of God lives in freedom to choose what is right! He is a warrior in the struggle for souls, pursuing righteousness, godliness, faith and honor! He is a defender of the weak and one who is passionate about purity! He is bold in witness and courageous in deed! A man of God is a lover of God and others: family, friend and enemy alike! He loves as Christ loved the church, always protecting, cherishing and defending!
Brothers and sisters in Christ, it's time to be radical for God! The world doesn't need a bunch of weak, cowardly, half hearted Christians who are just playing the church game! The world needs men and women who are willing to live with passion, strength and fierce conviction! It needs men and women who are hungry for God and who don't get sucked into the world's foolish traps!
Be brave for the LORD, for He walks beside you through the valley of shadows! Fear no evil, for He is with you! Be strong in the Lord! Trust in Him till the end of your lives! And give Him praises and thank Him for all that He has done and will do in your life for you! Remember always, man will fail you, but the LORD never fails you!
May God be with you dear brothers and sisters in Christ! May the grace of the Father, the love of the Son, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit dwell in our hearts and be with us, in Jesus Name, Amen! =)
Have Courage To Say Something
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ! I would love to encourage you about "Having Courage To Say Something"!
From the Bible, the book of 1 Timothy 6:17, it says, "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment."
First of all, allow me to ask you a question. Do you have any friends who are rich and wealthy? Do you have friends who put their hope and trust in money? Do you have friends who prioritize money as head of their lives and become slaves to money? Some people have friends like that, and they are willing to do anything for money, even if it means hurting another person or damaging their own life seriously!
What have you done for your friends so far after knowing you have such friends? Do you ignore them and let them live the life they want? Or do you take the guts out to say something telling them they need to re-prioritize their life? You should have courage and be brave to tell them what they are doing wrong! Do not be afraid to confront them!
If you're a teacher, and you noticed one of your student made a mistake in an essay, would you ignore the student and let that student continue to make the same mistakes? Or would you confront that student and tell him/her about the mistakes so that that student will learn from it?
My challenge to you is that whenever you see a friend who has misplaced priorities, have the courage to say something!
God bless you and have a nice day!
From the Bible, the book of 1 Timothy 6:17, it says, "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment."
First of all, allow me to ask you a question. Do you have any friends who are rich and wealthy? Do you have friends who put their hope and trust in money? Do you have friends who prioritize money as head of their lives and become slaves to money? Some people have friends like that, and they are willing to do anything for money, even if it means hurting another person or damaging their own life seriously!
What have you done for your friends so far after knowing you have such friends? Do you ignore them and let them live the life they want? Or do you take the guts out to say something telling them they need to re-prioritize their life? You should have courage and be brave to tell them what they are doing wrong! Do not be afraid to confront them!
If you're a teacher, and you noticed one of your student made a mistake in an essay, would you ignore the student and let that student continue to make the same mistakes? Or would you confront that student and tell him/her about the mistakes so that that student will learn from it?
My challenge to you is that whenever you see a friend who has misplaced priorities, have the courage to say something!
God bless you and have a nice day!
Seeking mature and reliable mentors
Dear soldiers in Christ, allow me to encourage with this short verse.
From the Bible, the book of 2 Timothy 2:2, it says "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others."
Now, what does it mean to be qualified to teach others? Well, that means you have receive the gift of God, matured in God's Words to teach God's Words to every hearts! You see, everyone in this world will have a mentor at some point of their life! Sometimes mentors can be your dad, older brother, pastor, or even your closest friend! Mentors are here to give advice and teach you, so that you may grow and mature in the LORD!
So I encourage you to seek out mature, reliable men who can teach and mentor you! Pray to God and ask Him for one! He will surely provide you!
God bless you and have a nice day! =)
From the Bible, the book of 2 Timothy 2:2, it says "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others."
Now, what does it mean to be qualified to teach others? Well, that means you have receive the gift of God, matured in God's Words to teach God's Words to every hearts! You see, everyone in this world will have a mentor at some point of their life! Sometimes mentors can be your dad, older brother, pastor, or even your closest friend! Mentors are here to give advice and teach you, so that you may grow and mature in the LORD!
So I encourage you to seek out mature, reliable men who can teach and mentor you! Pray to God and ask Him for one! He will surely provide you!
God bless you and have a nice day! =)
Getting Away From Temptation
Good day soldiers in Christ! It's Sunday today, and I would like to talk about "Getting Away From Temptation"!
You see, everyday wherever we are, there will be temptations around us whether we notice them or not. Sexual desires, cheating somebody, being disobedient, and sometimes even getting lazy is a temptation! What do we do when we're in the middle of the battlefield, when we are surrounded by temptations? Have you ever been through that kind of situation, when you feel hopeless as if you are surrounded by giants that are about to crush you? I'm gonna talk about sexual temptations, and I'm gonna point this more to guys, as it is easier for me to explain it.
From the Bible, the book of 2 Timothy 2:22, it says, "Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."
Honestly, if you're a normal teenage guy, you don't stand a chance against sexual temptation when you are exposed to it. Not now, at least. The problem is that your hormones, those things that you read about in biology classes or sex education classes; when they get going, lust is never far behind! You can't look at a half naked girl without getting your hormones fired up, not to mention a few lustful thoughts. Take note that many guys have been through this and are going through this. That's why the best strategy for keeping both your actions and thoughts pure is to "flee" sexual temptation! Don't give lust a chance to get started! When you see something that you know could spark a hormone stampede, change the channel or turn off the computer!
So for "Guys", I strongly urge and encourage you don't look at dirty videos, magazines, internet sites or anything else that fills you with sexual lust!
Don't try to resist it. I can be certain that most men who tried to resist it have failed and realized it's almost impossible to resist sexual temptations! Instead, you should flee from it! Since I'm a guy myself, one thing I remind myself when I am faced with temptation is God's Word, "If you love Me, you will obey Me." When you have the chance to get away from that temptation, do it before it consumes you and leaves you feeling hopeless!
I hope you "Guys" have learned something from this! Have a nice day and God bless you =)
You see, everyday wherever we are, there will be temptations around us whether we notice them or not. Sexual desires, cheating somebody, being disobedient, and sometimes even getting lazy is a temptation! What do we do when we're in the middle of the battlefield, when we are surrounded by temptations? Have you ever been through that kind of situation, when you feel hopeless as if you are surrounded by giants that are about to crush you? I'm gonna talk about sexual temptations, and I'm gonna point this more to guys, as it is easier for me to explain it.
From the Bible, the book of 2 Timothy 2:22, it says, "Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."
Honestly, if you're a normal teenage guy, you don't stand a chance against sexual temptation when you are exposed to it. Not now, at least. The problem is that your hormones, those things that you read about in biology classes or sex education classes; when they get going, lust is never far behind! You can't look at a half naked girl without getting your hormones fired up, not to mention a few lustful thoughts. Take note that many guys have been through this and are going through this. That's why the best strategy for keeping both your actions and thoughts pure is to "flee" sexual temptation! Don't give lust a chance to get started! When you see something that you know could spark a hormone stampede, change the channel or turn off the computer!
So for "Guys", I strongly urge and encourage you don't look at dirty videos, magazines, internet sites or anything else that fills you with sexual lust!
Don't try to resist it. I can be certain that most men who tried to resist it have failed and realized it's almost impossible to resist sexual temptations! Instead, you should flee from it! Since I'm a guy myself, one thing I remind myself when I am faced with temptation is God's Word, "If you love Me, you will obey Me." When you have the chance to get away from that temptation, do it before it consumes you and leaves you feeling hopeless!
I hope you "Guys" have learned something from this! Have a nice day and God bless you =)
Friday, October 16, 2009
Accepting Forgiveness
Dear soldiers in Christ, after many busy days and nights, I decided to encourage you with a verse! I'll be talking about "Accepting Forgiveness"!
From the book of 1 John 1:9, it says "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
You see, God doesn't just forgive us; He purifies us too! That means that He washes away whatever sins we confess, scrubs our hearts clean and forgets about our sin forever! Here's a tip: If God forgets about a sin, you should forget about it too! But of course, learn from your mistakes at the same time! Don't keep beating yourself up over something you've been forgiven for! Do what you need to do to make things right! Apologize to anyone you might have hurt by your actions and seek their forgiveness... and then move on!
Remember, our God forgives us because He loves us unconditionally! So the next time you screw up and mess up badly, go to God for forgiveness and don't keep lingering on the sin! Why most of the times we feel as if the guilt of the sin is still hanging on us even after we ask for forgiveness, it's actually satan telling you that you're too guilty and God still have not forgiven you fully! Satan will tell you lies, saying that you've messed up too badly that even God don't want to forgive you. But the truth is, we can never sin more than God can forgive! So don't believe satan's lies; use the Word of God to counter the lies whenever you encounter them!
I hope you're encouraged by this encouragement! Have a nice day and God bless you! =)
From the book of 1 John 1:9, it says "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
You see, God doesn't just forgive us; He purifies us too! That means that He washes away whatever sins we confess, scrubs our hearts clean and forgets about our sin forever! Here's a tip: If God forgets about a sin, you should forget about it too! But of course, learn from your mistakes at the same time! Don't keep beating yourself up over something you've been forgiven for! Do what you need to do to make things right! Apologize to anyone you might have hurt by your actions and seek their forgiveness... and then move on!
Remember, our God forgives us because He loves us unconditionally! So the next time you screw up and mess up badly, go to God for forgiveness and don't keep lingering on the sin! Why most of the times we feel as if the guilt of the sin is still hanging on us even after we ask for forgiveness, it's actually satan telling you that you're too guilty and God still have not forgiven you fully! Satan will tell you lies, saying that you've messed up too badly that even God don't want to forgive you. But the truth is, we can never sin more than God can forgive! So don't believe satan's lies; use the Word of God to counter the lies whenever you encounter them!
I hope you're encouraged by this encouragement! Have a nice day and God bless you! =)
Monday, October 5, 2009
Do Not Love The World
Good day dear soldiers in Christ! I've got a message to share with you all today!
From the Bible, the book of 1 John 2:15-17 says "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."
(If you struggle with a love for the things of this world, look a little deeper to see what's causing it. Are you trying to build a reputation or cultivate an identity for yourself - maybe as one of the best-dressed guys in your school, college, workplace; or as the one who always has the latest electronic gadget before anyone else does? Are you trying to keep up with your friends? Are you a sucker for cool TV commercials? Once you figure out the root of your problem, you can ask God to help you take care of it and develop a passion for the things that really matter. So I encourage you to refuse to be obsessed with the world and the things of this world!)
Have a nice day and God bless you =)
From the Bible, the book of 1 John 2:15-17 says "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."
(If you struggle with a love for the things of this world, look a little deeper to see what's causing it. Are you trying to build a reputation or cultivate an identity for yourself - maybe as one of the best-dressed guys in your school, college, workplace; or as the one who always has the latest electronic gadget before anyone else does? Are you trying to keep up with your friends? Are you a sucker for cool TV commercials? Once you figure out the root of your problem, you can ask God to help you take care of it and develop a passion for the things that really matter. So I encourage you to refuse to be obsessed with the world and the things of this world!)
Have a nice day and God bless you =)
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