Thursday, March 29, 2012

Picking Grains


Mat 12:1:8 

There are so many instances in our lives when we tend to look at things without digging deeper first. We tend to judge easily. In the story of the disciples picking grains on the Sabbath, Jesus in his response to the accusations of the Pharisees seems to point out that the law should serve the people, not the other way around. The Pharisees, who are more concern of following the law, forgot that the disciples of Jesus were hungry. How could you deprive a hungry person of food? The human person is more important than laws. The law should serve the best interest of the human person, rather than degrading his humanity further. Law should give life and freedom, not otherwise.

Secondly, the Pharisees actually were just waiting for Jesus to make mistakes. From the beginning they already judge him as not the messiah, so they closed their eyes and ears and all they do is to find faults so they can bring him to trial. How many times can we sometimes be faultfinders? The heart will never lie.

Lord, help me to value my fellow human beings as your own image and likeness and not just look for faults instead look for a spark of goodness in them. Amen.

by aats

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Thank God for the Trash

I have the habit of just writing anywhere some random thoughts that comes along. Realizations, reflections, messages, inspirations and more, I just wrote it anywhere. So I usually ended up piling trash. I rewrote and saved a large number of it already in my e-files. But last week though my laptop together with my two external drives were stolen while on mission. Our van was robbed while we left it in the park to attend a mass.

I came to know that my things were gone already when I tried to find my laptop because I had a meeting that was about to start and I could not find it. The first thing that came to my mind were my files compiled for so many years. Things can be recovered, but thoughts are hard to come by. Those were gems for me. The good thing is that I still have the raw materials somewhere in my compiled trash were all those thoughts were written. The robbers did not include the papers inside correctly thinking that those were trash anyways. Thank God, in the disguise of a trash, my writings were saved, because in those trashes were written my thoughts and reflections.

I may not be able to recover everything but thank God for the trash, I have something to rewrite now. After all, everything was not lost. Trash as it may seem, they are precious still because of what are written in it.

Something to reflect further, we maybe a trash but we are precious still because written within us are the words of a loving God who created us. 

by aats

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Memories


“I thank God every time I remember you.” Philippians 1:3

Bad memories empty our soul with fuel of hope. It can lead to despair and stagnation. We can never live in the past or else we will miss the blessing of today and tomorrow. The past should not imprison us; instead embolden us to break free from it. The only way for us to break free is to recall all learning’s and realizations as possible and let it become the wings to fly ahead. The past does not define us.

Good memories fuel our journey to the future. It gives us confidence to face challenges that will come our way and in fact makes the journey not just bearable but joyful.

Bad or good memories, they are part and parcel of our life. We can never run away from it. They are part of who we are.

In everything, we thank the Lord for all the joys, learnings and realizations.

by aats

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Defining Love

Are you having a hard time defining love? Or you want to know the standard of loving? Look at Jesus, study, reflect and live out His ways. Look at the cross and know where love can lead you. Jesus on the cross is the ultimate definition of love. 

by aats

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Oppression


Every time we are about to do something good there are always obstacles that come along. We refer to it as oppressions. When all we thought everything was planned, suddenly comes an unexpected complication. Situation such as double bookings of the venue on the day itself even after confirming it many times, last minute cancellation of speaker, and service team not showing up. These are just some few instances were the evil one tries his best for the godly activities not to happen or Gods word not to be proclaimed. The worst thing though is that we who are preparing for something become the “oppression” ourselves.

I consider oppressions as signs of something good coming out from a certain endeavor. After all, why would the evil one wanted it not done? The important thing is never losing sight that it’s a spiritual battle. We can never lower our guard and be complacent. And importantly, let us not be the “oppression” ourselves to our fellow brothers and sisters.

by aats



Monday, March 12, 2012

Stand Firm



If you will be charge for being a Christian, will there be enough evidence to convict you?

Talking about faith, it is really hard to stand by what we believe in if we are not fully convicted. Only deep faith in Jesus can make us withstand any challenge to our faith in Him. Stories upon stories of followers of Christ had been told about how they stood for their faith even up to death.

In this age, we do have our stories to tell. I happened to read the story of an Afghan Muslim, Abdul Rahman. While working with a Catholic non-governmental aid group in the 1990’s, he came to know about the Christian faith. He finally converted to the Catholic Church. He was disowned by his family, divorced by the wife and deprived of his children on the account that he is no longer a Muslim. His family reported him to the government. He was arrested and threatened with death penalty for converting to Christianity.

When facing a possible death sentence, Abdul Rahman held firm to his convictions: "They want to sentence me to death and I accept it… I am a Christian, which means I believe in the Trinity… I believe in Jesus Christ."  (Wikipedia)

Subsequently, under heavy pressure from the international community, he was released from prison on 2006 and was offered an asylum in Italy.

May God grant us who are born Christian, the same conviction to our faith as the newly converts have. Amen. 

by aats

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Mission Heals


When we start thinking and acting of and for God and start thinking and acting of and for others, mission starts and healing begins. Mission always heals. It heals the person from self-centeredness and contributes to his own well being in the long run. The person who does the mission ended up actually benefiting personally while making a difference for others.

Thank you Lord for the mission that heals. Amen.

by aats

Sunday, March 4, 2012

A Man of God


A man of God is a man of mission. He brings people closer to God more than to himself. He is not being worshiped instead emulated in his worship of God. A man of God cannot help but proclaim Him who died for him. He has a sense of purpose and the purpose is nothing but sharing His love.  He loves because HE loves.

by aats

Friday, March 2, 2012

The Best Health Insurance


Jesus is the best health insurance. You don’t have to worry for bills because His is for free, you don’t have to apply you just need to pray and you don’t have to worry some exclusions because His insurance covers all. His love is boundless, His mercies never ends and His healing touch within reach. 

Go to Jesus and be insured!


by aats