Have you been so out of place to the point of not knowing where to put yourself in the puzzle? Like you are lost and don't know where to go or what to do. As if you are looking for something or someone you don't even know as if you are so out of place on your own. Like there is that missing piece and you keep searching for it, but until now you haven't found it.
I have good news for you. You are exactly where you needed to be.
Well, our trip to Calatagan, Batangas seemed to help me solve that same puzzling thought in my head. Though I consider myself now a Christian, there are moments when I just couldn't be spirit-filled as I wanted to be. I think, do, or say things that are not really glorifying and pleasing to the Lord. In short, I feel not good enough sometimes, and there is lacking.
5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,
The fellowship was a trip with the community of Singles in our church. At first, I was hesitant to join the group since the other ladies of the small group I belonged to were not able to participate due to a conflict of schedule. Anyway, I just did. I did join. hehe
There were moments in the whole fellowship experience that brought me to some realizations as reminders of what God has been showing me always.
1. God is in control.
Do not worry, instead pray. Taal Volcano had its fit during our travel to Calatagan. The alert text from NDRMMC gave us a heads up of what’s happening to Taal. We were alarmed. But instead of worrying, I decided to pray. I was positive all chose to pray rather than worry. What’s more powerful than any natural phenomenon, it’s none other than prayer.
Thank God, Taal Volcano calmed down and all was well. It is just a simple reminder that He is always in control, that if we surrender everything to Him, He knows exactly where and when it needed to be. He is, always and forever.
2. Spirit-filled men are attractive. Periodt.
No matter what the color, height, fashion sense, or career; pursuing Christ is the way to look attractive. I thought men who prioritize their relationship with God were less of a man than those who follow the worldly standards of being attractive. I had this notion that spiritually inclined men were less attractive than those men I could find on the internet, especially on the dating site or apps. I was proven wrong, my worldly thoughts of attractive men had always been wrong. There is humor in that realization and it is fulfilling. So whether your status is single or married, be attractive and there is only one way to do it, and you already know what I mean. *wink*
3. Washing the dishes is fun.
This might sound shallow to some, but I never thought that a household chore could be that fun! Not until I enjoyed washing the dishes alone and with the others as well. To be honest, it was also an escape from the thought of being out of place in that fellowship. I mean at least I had a task to do, I was not useless. I imposed it upon myself. haha. Perhaps, God made me do it. I felt like a homemaker while washing the dishes. hehe. Oh my, oh my... I could see hope while washing the dishes and realizing, I could do it, I could be a homemaker. Chariz... Thy will be done, still...
We played a lot of games and they were all hilarious. I also learned how to play UNO cards which I thought was a difficult game to learn, and the best part was I got to play it with my fellow singles. Well, I have to be honest again, this blog post is two months late but better late than never.
11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
You’re Beautiful But You Can Be Stunning Inside and Out by Malu Tiongson-Ortiz is the last book I read two months ago. I tried finishing other books, but I haven't even a single one from five of the books I started reading.
As the title of the book says, it is about beauty and not just the physical beauty it has accounts of the holistic approach when it comes to beauty, inside and out.
Some say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But what exactly does it mean? Some say it means that beauty depends on the eyes of the person who sees it. Does it really?
Oxford Languages, an online dictionary, defines the famous proverb "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" as beauty that cannot be judged objectively, for what one person finds beautiful or admirable may not appeal to another.
Shamcey Supsup-Lee said beauty is not definite, we define it. She has a point, and what can we expect from a beauty queen like her. Ms. Supsup-Lee previously competed in Miss Universe 2011, finishing third runner-up. Sure, she knows. Yes, she knows.
But the question is, does beauty equate to self-worth? Yes. No. And sometimes I don't even know. We are influenced by many factors and ideals in life that may affect how we view beauty and self-worth, and sometimes it can be a difficult task to even identify and express their true meaning.
Malu Tiongson-Ortiz mentioned in her book that self-worth is not based on looks which always becomes the basis of beauty, accomplishments, or possessions. Instead, self-worth is based on God’s love for us, according to God’s design and original plan for us.
Having a relationship with God directs us to the right track and sight of how we view beauty and self-worth. And as we grow more in Christ, our identity progressively leans and depends on what He did for us on the cross. He has paid the highest price, and that alone is the proof that we are worth more than any gold, wealth, or riches in this world. We live in a passing world where everything is fleeting and temporary. Our looks, accomplishments, and possessions are anything but passing. We are bound to lose all of the materials we thought of high importance in this lifetime.
Another question is, have you ever asked yourselves what makes us ugly or beautiful? The book You’re Beautiful But You Can Be Stunning Inside and Out gives us lists of what makes us ugly or beautiful, and you might wonder which list is longer.
What makes us ugly?
29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy.
Romans 1:29-31
The list is a bit long, so we have to be aware of them. We don't want a rotten core filled with wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity.
1. Envy, Jealousy
2. Self-centeredness
3. Malice
4. Gossip
5. Slander
6. Pride and Arrogance
7. Vanity
8. Materialism
9. Sharp Speech
10. Nagging
11. Judging
12. Bitterness, Unforgiveness
13. Quick to Anger
14. Neediness
15. Stinginess
16. Domineering, Control, Manipulation
17. Disrespect Towards One’s Husband
18. Bossiness
19. Egotism
20. Hypocrisy
2. Self-centeredness
3. Malice
4. Gossip
5. Slander
6. Pride and Arrogance
7. Vanity
8. Materialism
9. Sharp Speech
10. Nagging
11. Judging
12. Bitterness, Unforgiveness
13. Quick to Anger
14. Neediness
15. Stinginess
16. Domineering, Control, Manipulation
17. Disrespect Towards One’s Husband
18. Bossiness
19. Egotism
20. Hypocrisy
What makes us beautiful?
3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
We only need the fruit of the Spirit to make us beautiful and stunning inside and out.
1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness, Gentleness, Goodness
6. Faithfulness
7. Sel-control
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
You are beautiful, girl, but you can be stunning inside and out!
I once read in a literary piece, which I can't even remember the title or story, that money is the root of all evil and I used to agree and support this notion, that it was a fact. People fight because of money. A person gets killed because of money. There is hunger and poverty because of money. Etc. etc. etc. All these bad and sad things happen because of this thing or tool called MONEY.
But now there is a shift in how I perceive money. Money is good. But it is love for money that tends to invite the evil and filth of the world into our lives.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
I read this little book written by Ed Lapiz entitled Keep Making Money. It gives Biblical advice and tips in the aspect of finance. It greatly affirms the goodness of money if earn and spend righteously as prescribed by the Scriptures, specifically from the book of Proverbs, chapter 31.
The book contains two parts: The Profile of a Good Money Maker and The Lifestyle of a Good Money Maker. The author, Ed Lapiz, listed down the qualities of a good money maker in the book.
Lapiz gives us 12 qualities that should be apparent and included in the Profile of a Good Money Maker, and they are enumerated as follow:
- A good money maker works with her own hands.
- A good money maker produces what she needs.
- A good money maker produces surplus goods to sell.
- A good money maker knows what and when to buy.
- A good money maker trades.
- A good money maker works hard.
- A good money maker is positive.
- A good money maker speaks sensibly.
- A good money maker gives to people.
- A good money maker gives to and pays the deserving.
- A good money maker lets her workers rest.
- A good money maker gives to God.
These qualities struck me the most from this book. They are both practical and definitely spiritual. There is such thing as God's economy and it works very differently in the world's economy we are involuntarily or voluntarily has been living and immersing with since immemorial time. Never have I thought that earning and spending or giving and receiving money can be a spiritual endeavor of any human being, if not for God's provision of wisdom in my journey in this world.
We must have the right perspective about money. Sometimes money isn't just cash or coins we all have in our pockets or wallets, it could be our talents, skills, or services we can offer. As Lapiz mentioned in the book "money" can be anything or currency you could give to people in exchange for what they give you or what they do for you.
Lapiz also commented on the lifestyle of a good money maker. It is a lifestyle having a house that will contain great treasure, may it be literally or figuratively, and a comfortable, secure and cheerful life. Indeed, making money has never been this good and spiritually satisfying.
Furthermore, this book leads me to these questions:
- Am I a good money maker?
- Is it evident in my lifestyle?
- Do I possess the qualities in the profile of a good money maker?
Sometimes, if not always, we have to examine ourselves if we already succumb to our sinful love affair with money. We have to keep in heart, soul, and mind that love for money will keep us away from Him, and that is something we never ever want to happen.
I believe in God, that truth that He sent Jesus His only son to save us from death and eternal damnation. But that knowledge alone didn't help me fully understand the gravity of this massive demonstration of love (John 3:16). I couldn't fully appreciate the role of Jesus in this war against the evil forces in the spiritual realm. This might sound superficial and crazy but this battle could not be any more real than it is. I was at bay and didn't want to be considered by others as a fanatic and too proud to approach a God I never got to know up close and personal. I was doing fine and sourcing my strength and power to continue living from the negative emotions and feelings I harbored as I grew up.
I thought the path I headed was "okay" since everyone seemed to be going in that direction. They just go with the flow of the rotten system. It doesn't matter if something is wrong, it doesn't matter if they talk about people behind their back, it doesn't matter if they say hurtful and insulting words as long they have the fun and pleasure of it, it doesn't matter if they step on others just to enhance their own image and a lot more things that I thought and was foolishly convinced that doesn't really matter.
My resistance didn't take long and eventually went with the flow. I thought it would be easier if I do what others do, but it only gave me a hard time. I kept on rejecting the system no matter how much I tried to embrace it. I had a hard time and was left conflicted, lost to who I am and how should I really deal with the world.
Lost, I was in need of direction, like a compass that would tell me where to go or what to do. All my plans for my career, dreams, family, my life as a whole were for naught. Everything was in vain as I recognized the dirt inside me that almost ate me up alive, swallow me whole and spit me in the deepest and darkest pit of hell. I was drowning. I was alive but barely breathing. I was in dire need of salvation from my sin and worst from myself. I was like a ticking bomb ready and wanting to explode in a split second. Self-destruction was just around the corner. Everything didn't make sense. I wanted to see the end of my worthless, shameful, and sinful life.
So here comes the question: why Jesus? Does he have anything to do with my life or with your life? Just who really is He? What's the big deal about Him? Maybe, these are just some of the questions you have in mind. Or if you already received the answers, praise God if that is the case. But if you are still searching and seeking the answers to these questions, then these are just some answers you might need right now. The book Why Jesus? tells us the need to have Jesus in our lives. The author Nicky Gumbel enumerates three reasons why Him, why Jesus:
- He satisfies our hunger for meaning and purpose in life
- He satisfies our hunger for life beyond death
- He satisfies our hunger for forgiveness
So again why Jesus for me, and for you too...
BECAUSE He gave me an opportunity to make a restart (2 Corinthians 5:17). He died on the cross and took all the guilt and shame (Romans 5:8). He defeated death so we can have eternity with and through Him (2 Timothy 1:10). And more wisdom and encounter to bless you and me as we journey and develop that personal and intimate relationship with Him... <3
And why not really? What better reasons do you have for you not to put your faith in Him? Nada.
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