30 March 2011

If I've been this, If I've been that

We have to accept that we cannot do everything that we want to do in this lifetime.

I have many things I wish I have done when I was younger. Opportunities are rare then compared to today. I dreamed of being the main character of a school stage play, of being a soloist in a band, of being a great varsity player, and even of being a songwriter.

But, guess what, every thing that I wished for never happened. I've been part of musical plays, but I'm always in the background or the pit choir. I've been singing until now, but I've never been a soloist...I'm a chorist. I've been a varsity player in my high school days, but I wasn't able to play nowadays. I have some ligament problem with my knees. No, I've never written a song all my life.

I'm beginning to ask God why He doesn't give me my heart's desires. Until now, I'm so frustrated because I never had what I desire.

These things striked me the most just recently. After all that I've invested for in my skill, talent, and ministry, this is what I get. Lots of frustrations. I've never been frustrated in my whole life. Why? Why does it have to happen when I was much older?

Amidst all these questions, God answered me. The root of all my frustrations is my OWN PRIDE. My desires have been so selfish. I've never even spent a minute praying about my churchmates, my church leaders, my colleagues, and my unsaved friends. All those years, I've been striving to prove to myself and to others that I can do it by myself. God plans otherwise.

If I've never been a part of the church choir, I'll never learn the value of fellowshipping, uplifting one another, and working with one another for the glory of the Lord. If I've been a soloist, I wouldn't have dared to play the piano for Sunday services. I'd rather be sleeping in the house than practicing with the band. If I've been a very excellent badminton player, will I even think of pursuing Music Education as my college course? I can't imagine going through my college days without the company of my music friends and colleagues and the activities that we do together. If I've been a songwriter, would I experience the after-joys of being stressed in practicums and writing lesson plans?

All those years, He is teaching me to be HUMBLE. Instead of being jealous to those who have been doing what I think I should be doing, why not rejoice in their accomplishments? As Philippians 2:3-11 (ESV) says "Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ..." Also, I cannot be proud because I also have fallen short of God's glory. It's only by the redemptive work of Jesus Christ that I was able to do what I'm doing today.

Come to think of it, I would never experience the wonderful grace of God if I never failed, therefore being humble enough to submit to His will (James 4:6). If I boast, I will boast of my weaknesses in which the Lord shows His wonderful glory (2Corinthinans 11:30).

From now on, I will always hold on to the promise of His Word, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you." (1Peter 5:6) Today, I never regret anything that happened.

____________________
31mar2011
I've been so proud after all.
-ara.janelle

14 March 2011

isa akong post-it

yellow. blue. pink. green.
ako ay isang post-it.

makulay.
dumidikit.
nasusulatan.

ako ay isang paalala.
kung ano man ang ako sa iyo.

hindi ako mawawaglit
hangga't hindi ako inaalis.

maaring piliting kalimutan
hangga't hindi tinitignan.

basta ako'y isang post-it.
isa akong ala-ala.

___________________
15mar2011
isa akong ala-alang hindi makakalimutan
at maaring kalimutan...
-ara.janelle

04 March 2011

ShockWave!




It's been refreshing to hear stories of Christians who persevere amidst oppression and persecution. Stories like that of Shi Wei Han, a Christian bookstore owner imprisoned by the military and was now freed, is a testimony of God's goodness and faithfulness.

You see, being a Christian is costly. It does not only cost your most-loved secret sins, your friends, your popularity, but it also costs your life. Being a Christian means having the burden to seek the lost and to confront the sinning brethren. Being a Christian means carrying the cross of Christ wherever you go. It means running the race whatever it takes to reach the goal.

Here in the Philippines, we Christians do not experience persecution like those in North Korea or Iran. Let's admit it, many of us are too relaxed in our faith walk. We text during service. We sleep during sermon. We disregard fellowship with other believers. We don't read the Bible. Some of us don't even pray at all. Remember, there is no such thing as NON-PRACTICING CHRISTIANS! Being a child of God is a gift and a responsibility. This responsibility not only concerns ourselves. It's also the responsibility to build up and edify one another.


Today, I attended Open Doors' Shock Wave: The Beginning at Cornerstone Community Baptist Church. It was a blessing to see so many young people giving up their free time to praise and glorify God by praying for the persecuted. We prayed for Christians in North Korea, Iran, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Maldives, Yemen, Iraq, Uzbekistan, and Laos. As you can see, majority are Islamic countries. These are the Top 10 countries that persecute followers of Christ. They sure are worthy to be called saints. The thing is all Christians are saints. We should live up to the standards of what we are called.

I am so awed by the saints that are faithfully running the race and those who already crossed the finish line. There was a news last March 3 about the assassination of Pakistan's Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti. He was the only Christian official in Pakistan (To read more on this, click this link: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/03/3154734.htm?section=justin). What's amazing is that he knew that he will be assassinated. True enough, it happened. It came as no surprise to him. It should also come as no surprise to us if we face persecution in any form. If you don't experience even a pinch of oppression, you should check your lifestyle. Maybe it's still too conformed to the ways of this world.

Check your life, your faith walk. Are you growing or are you stagnant? Is your attitude improving or was it neglected? Have you surrendered all your sins to the feet of our Great High Priest? Do you even bother about your spiritual growth?

It's always good to reflect every now and then.

____________________
05mar2011
thank you Lord, for another opportunity to remember the persecuted!
thank you for godly people who edify and encourage us to continue amidst all the discouragements through your enablement.
thank you for saving me!!!

i hope that we will counter the waves of turbulence and unease with waves of prayer...
i believe that prayer can reach even the most dark places of this fallen world.
-ara.janelle