Beyond Friendship

When we are new in community, we always look for friendship. It just make sense, God is present in our relationships and most of the time He makes His presence felt through this relationships.

The more we grow in our relationship with God the more we come into consciousness that friendship is but a step towards a more complete relationship with God. When we grow more in relationship with God the more we view friendships as secondary to God.

Our friendships are to be anchored at the foot of Christ. Meaning, when friendships blur our purpose of renewal in Christ, when friendships distracts our relationship with God, when friend/s becomes our focus instead of God in the friendship, then we are actually putting our growth in Christ in jeopardy and our real friendship into question. There can never be real friendship apart from Christ. Christ has to be the center and ultimate focus of friendship. Without Him, friends end up users. In friendships He increase, our human friendships decrease.

Never be deceive of friendships that seems to be going stronger because it may in fact already leading you to another road. It can only be strong in Christ. Friendships in Christ does not gloss over mistakes; it speaks the truth with love. It seeks the goodness of the other and points the other to Christ.

So friends, let us all anchor our friendships, in Christ. Beyond our human friendships is our friendship with God.

Magnify

“My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my savior…” Luke 1:46-47. Mary provides a model of having a positive attitude towards life. Let us magnify the greatness of the Lord and not the greatness of our problems.

by aats 

Persistence and Insistence

A strong belief on something or someone makes one determined to fight to the end and insist on the idea until the last breath. As Christians we are more than sure that it is in Jesus that we can find salvation. Therefore if we believe in Christ, we must persist in His mission and insist on the message, because this will bring salvation to others.

by aats

Confidence in God

“Do not fear when others become rich, when wealth of their houses grows great. When they die they will take nothing with them, their wealth will not follow them down.” Psalm 49:17-18

There can never be better assurance than God. Everything fades away, nothing lasts except the love of God manifested through Godly relationships. Confidence in God then rather than riches!

by aats

The Smell of Rice

I am having some tea for the morning and since it’s still hot I started smelling it instead. The tea was flavored with roasted rice. I started smelling the aroma. The smell of rice brings back memories of my place of birth. The smell of rice makes me smell Philippines. I love every bit of it. It brings back all good memories. O, thank God for the smell of rice, aroma of His faithfulness. Thank you Lord for good memories, may I build new ones. Amen.

July 25, 2012

Winnipeg MB

by aats

Rising Above The Situation

My calling is stronger than my feelings. If not I would have resigned long time ago. We have people who suddenly step down from service after something or someone hurts them. A much more mature response is required for leaders. We have no control of other people but we have control of ourselves. Okay you are hurt, so what now?

by aats

Milagro sa Pinili-ay

Eleksyon na usab, daghan napud magpahumot sa katawhan. Mga tima-ilhan nga hapit na ang pinili-ay:

1.    Ang mga dili managad manglamano na sa kamot.

2.    Ang dili makita, makita na.

3.    Bisan dili peryente, ma paryente na.

4.    Magbinalhinay na pagpa rehistro.

5.    Ang mga pista daghan na kolekta.

6.    Daghan na mga paliga (basketball, volleyball ug uban pa), nakangayan sa… siyempre “umaabot nga magpapili sa eleksyon”.

7.    Ang dili musuroy sa mga baryo, magsuroy suroy na.

8.    Ang mga hakog nikalit nag pagkamang-gihatagon.

9.    Ang dili mungisi sige nag ngisi.

10.   Daghan na muhalad sa simbahan. (Kinahanglan ipakita jud nga nihalad para ingnon buutan.)

Mao kini ang milagro sa pinili-ay. Hinaut unta magpadajun ang pagakabuutan ni Dodong ug ni Inday. Na hala, iampo ta!

Sa tinud-anay, atong hinuklugan kining mga tima-ilhan sa dili maajong pamolitika. Maajo unta nga naa napud mga laing apelyedo nga managan... para dili lamang magpuli puli... kanang dili lamang naay plata porma, kundili naay paagi nga makab-ot ang mga tinguha sa katawhan. Ang saktong tumong mao ang pagpalambo sa lungsod, ug kaajuhan sa katawhan. Kung magpatunto gihapon ta, na ajaw na paglaum ug maajong kaugmaon, kay magpupo ra ta sa atong gipugas.

Mao kini hagit sa katawhan, himbisi ug sakto ang managan, butohi ang sakto ug abilidad, maajo nga liderato, ug naay plano, bisan way kuarta.

by aats

A Conversation on Answering the Call

Someone said, “Do everything in love. Everything.” I replied, “So you mean “everything”, including the yes to Him even if it means mission life? She said, “Everyday is a chance to choose love and say Yes to Him, but let's continue to actively pray for the YES you speak of.” I asked further, “What’s the difference of the yes I am speaking of from the other yes you are speaking of, because there is no difference, it’s the same yes.” She said, “You know what, Kuya, this is true!”

So it is not a question of bigger yes from other yeses in life but sensing the personal calling and being able to say yes to it. “There is no such thing as a lesser calling,” she said. I replied, “It’s not about bigger or lesser calling, but about specific and personal calling and being able answer to that call. This is the only way to live life to the full. You might say if it is my call, well then, it’s not yet my time, but it’s not even a question of time but of trust in the future full of hope. The future will always be full of hope, so long as we continue to love & serve our God in the kind of life we are called for. 

by aats

A Good General

A good general does not leave his troops at the thick of the battle. He sees it through the end. He drives it to victory no matter what the costs. He leaves no one behind while always having the eyes focused on the prize. He inspires and disciplines, he encourages and tells the truth, he is at the forefront leading the battle yet at the background for others to shine. He is admired and respected, loved and feared. He is above and beyond reproach, dependable and visionary. He can arouse the soldier to fight and give their lives for a cause.  And for a Christian, he is above all a lover of Christ!

by aats

Decisions

Be prepared of the consequences of your decisions. Discern well, you might regret it. Every decision always has something to give up in order to pursue something greater. May we truly discern so when we decide we will have peace.  Are you at peace with your decision? 

by aats