Osama Bin Laden's Death: Should we rejoice?

When I heard about the news, I thought to myself well he DESERVES it and started to thank God for the victory.

It was when I was chatting with a friend that made me rethink things.

This friend asked, why would we as Christians rejoice for somebody's death?

And he's right.

Because even if how sinful a man can be, he's still a man God loves unconditionally, a man whom Jesus died for just like you and me.We can all say, well his SINS are greater compared to our petty ones. But the truth of the matter is, it's still sin and God detests it. Small or Big.

So the question is, should we rejoice or should we be sad?

Thank God, I found the answer from my favorite author's blog, Joshua Harris:

Justin Taylor helpfully states that "it's appropriate for Christians to intermingle grieving and gratitude. Grief for a life made in the image of God but so destructive of human life and so dishonoring to God. And gratitude for justice being served as an instrument of God's wrath."

Now that's the right perspective!

Just like what Jesus said "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."

Source: http://www.joshharris.com/2011/05/how_should_we_respond_to_osama.php

Pursue Love

Go after a life of love as if your life depended on it—because it does. 

Heb. 14:1a (The Message)

Even If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. 

So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love. 

SO Pursue Love!

For I Know The Plans I Have For You

A lot is going on right now with my life. Work. LoveLife. Ministry. Family.

They were just too much and I think I can no longer bear them all.

And then when I was about to just give up and lose focus and do my own way, God just hit me with His Word!

I have read these verses before but this time they were more meaningful than ever:

Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version)

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Psalm 139: 1-6 (The Message)

God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand.

I'm an open book to you;

even from a distance, you know what I'm thinking.

You know when I leave and when I get back;

I'm never out of your sight.

You know everything I'm going to say

before I start the first sentence.

I look behind me and you're there,

then up ahead and you're there, too—

your reassuring presence, coming and going.

This is too much, too wonderful—

I can't take it all in!



Even how much confusing life can be! Even how much difficult problems can be. Even how much hopeless the situation can be. I am sure of one thing: GOD KNOW HIS PLANS FOR ME!

Know in the English Dictionary means "to perceive or understand as fact or truth; to apprehend clearly and with certainty"

Isn't that amazing? God knows clearly with certainty His plans for me and you. Plans to give you Hope and a Wonderful future! I'd reiterate what the Psalmist said: "This is too much, too wonderful - I can't take it all in!"

Praise the Lord!

Tiger Woods and Father in Nike Ad | A Story of Second Chance

1 Cor. 13:5 (New International Version)

"Love...keeps no record of wrongs"

When I heard about the greatest golfer Tiger Woods falling for temptation having affairs with multiple women, A lot were hurt, a lot got discourgaed and I guess a lot more condemned him (as if they're as not as sinner as Woods is).

Along with it, advertisers and sponsorships started to back out and dropped him as their model.

I'm sure Woods intentionally or unintentionally did what he had done is sorry and had learned his lesson (hopefully).

Very true were the words of Jesus,

"If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her" referring to adulteress Mary Magdalene. John 8:7 (NIV)

and true enough God's Love doesn't keep record of wrongs. it may sound like a cliche but it's a FACT God is a God of second chances. I have failed a million times, but God is always ready to accept me no matter what.

Here's a story of second chances. Woods failed, and the time has come to rise up and be back again. He's scheduled to the PGA Tour this week and as a start Nike (one of the brands who stood by him) gives us a treat. An Ad featuring Tiger Woods and his father Earl Woods who actually was his mentor and teacher.

Praise the Lord!

Here's the video:

"Tiger, I am more prone to be inquisitive, to promote discussion," Earl Woods says. "I want to find out what your thinking was. I want to find out what your feelings are. Did you learn anything?"

Truly he did. How about you?

Source Story

Atheist Author Gina Welch Going Undercover among Christians

Okay.


To be honest, i don't know who Gina Welch is and what books she has written but she has caught my attention when I was browsing Time.com with an article entitled "Going Undercover Among Evangelicals". As I read through the article, I then knew Gina Welch is an Atheist who spent two years with the Evangelicals to know what's up with the other side of the "Faith World". She did this according to the article with the goal of bridging the gap between believers and unbelievers and also most probably for her to write her newest book In the Land of Believers: An Outsider's Extraordinary Journey into the Heart of the Evangelical Church with more depth and truth because this time it will be from personal experience.


The full interview is here: "Going Undercover Among Christians" but let me pick some interesting "discoveries" she had during the "undercover" period which can even level up our very own faith.


1. She thought before that Evangelism is just too invasive to another person where one faith or "theory" is forced to a person and convinced him to believe. She realized that it is "very different" than what she had thought it was. It's more of doing something for another person to save him from eternal suffering. And she hit it bull's eye. That's actually the main reason why there's evangelism to tell the people about the salvation God has for them through the Lord Jesus Christ.


2. She thought that people are just concerned about the glory they will have in the after life. But she experienced an entirely different thing again. She saw people who were very concerned with being good in this life. They wanted to do as Jesus would do in this life. And TRUE enough! Let this just be a reminder to each one of us that our relationship with our God is not just about us getting eternal life but to show this life to others as well!


3. Lastly, she said "Being around people who disagreed with me on almost everything, I had to re-examine every part of what I believed to make sure I believed it for a reason." I just pray knowing in two years I'm sure TRUTH has been planted in her heart, that the Holy Spirit works in her heart and convict her of the truth and bring her not to a new religion but to a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.


I also pray, maybe not all atheists will do what she did but through her book people will be blessed and be drawn to Jesus Christ. Drawing people to Jesus through a book of an atheist? Impossible, maybe. But nothing is impossible with God!

This is Love

1 John 3:16 (The Message)


This is how we've come to understand and experience love:

Christ sacrificed his life for us.

Our RESPONSE: This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves.

If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God's love? It disappears. And you made it disappear.

What's the Point?

We've received God's Love for free and was shown to us in the most perfect way (laying down His life for us). God expects for us to show the same love to others as well!

You are God's Treasured Possession

For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. 

The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples 

on the face of the earth 

to be his people,  

his treasured possession.

Deuteronomy 7:6 (New International Version)

Holy means "set apart". The Word of the Lord just tells us we've been set apart out of many (6,805,700,000 people in the world according to US Census Bureau) whoever you are, no matter where you're from, whatever your background is, 

You are and will always be HIS! 

And and not just HIS but one that is TREASURED (person greatly valued or highly prized according to Dictionary.com)

When you experience, rejection or the feeling of being unwanted, remember this verse...

You will always have HIM!

God's Love in You!

1 John 2:15-17 (The Message)
Don't love the world's ways.

Don't love the world's goods.

Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father.

Practically everything that goes on in the world

—wanting your own way,

wanting everything for yourself,

wanting to appear important—

has nothing to do with the Father.

It just isolates you from him.

The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—

but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.

It's amazing how different God's Love and Human Love are.

You want to know the secret of a long-lasting relationship and a succesful life?

Have God's LOVE in you!

Picture source

Unconditional Acceptance

Breakfast at McDonald's


This is a good story and is true, please read it all the way through until the end! (After the story, there are some very interesting facts!):


I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree.


The last class I had to take was Sociology.


The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with.


Her last project of the term was called, “Smile.”


The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions.



I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway. So, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally.



Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning.

It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son.



We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did.

I did not move an inch... an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved.

As I turned around I smelled a horrible 'dirty body' smell, and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men.

As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was 'smiling'

His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance......

He said, 'Good day' as he counted the few coins he had been clutching..

The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation.

I held my tears as I stood there with them.

The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted.



He said, 'Coffee is all Miss' because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm.

Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes.

That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action.

I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray.

I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's cold hand..

He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, 'Thank you.'

I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, 'I did not do this for you. God is here working through me to give you hope.'

I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son... When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, 'That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope..'

We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give.

e are not church goers, but we are believers.



That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love.



I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand.

I turned in 'my project' and the instructor read it.

Then she looked up at me and said, 'Can I share this?'

I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class.

She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God share this need to heal people and to be healed.

In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's, my son,the instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student.

I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn:

UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE..

Picture from here.

Why is there HELL?

Anyone of us has asked why would a Loving God create a place like Hell where people are tormented and punished? Why don't we just all go to Heaven and be with Him?

The 11 minute video will explain to you why. The next video, I would say would be the most important 11minutes of your life!

Open your hearts and Listen to God's message!

For God So Loved The World

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

John 3:16 (New International Version)

As we celebrate this Christmas, let's not forget the real reason why Jesus came. He came for us! He came to die for us! He came because He loves us!

May HIS name continually be praised!

Truest, Most Real and Amazing Love of All

This is supposed to be my entry to Testify to Love: Get a chance to win Avalon’s “The Greatest Hits” at my friend's blog: Gannsdeen.com.


Sadly it's late now. I wasn't able to read the part where he says the deadline in Nov. 30th and today is unfortunately December 1st. Now, I'm sure all of you are now shouting and asking why I didn't do it before the deadline. To answer that, I didn't notice and I forgot. LOL! Enough of that, here's my post:


My post is all about the Love that every man is dying to have. It's more than a feeling or anything else. It can't be faked, in fact it's THE most real thing. A lot of us have run from there to here, from hurt to more hurt, from failed expectations to more failed expectations. It's almost a hopeless cycle.


I had a conversation with a friend who just broke up with his boyfriend. This friend of mine is a "HE" as well, making their relationship a homosexual one. If 10 years ago, this kind of relationship is a taboo. At this time though, it has become a "normal" thing especially that I'm working in a call center. (Disclaimer: I don't agree to this kind of relationship but I respect my friends who are engaged in it). So back to my conversation with him. I asked him, what really happened? Why did they break up after more than a year? He answered (hesitantly) it's because he no longer understands what his partner really wants and that he now had grown tired meeting the needs of the other while expecting his own needs be met as well. Actually, most of the relationships we see right now is of this nature. You agree or not. Everyone engages in a relationship because they need something from the other person. It maybe financial needs, emotional support, or just having someone to lean on. Don't take me wrong, these are why there are relationships. For our needs to be met. But when these "meeting of our needs" become the center of the relationship then that's when it crumbles. When each one starts to take and expect instead of freely giving without expecting in return, that's when relationships end.

Love, I've explained to him must be selfless. For relationships to work, one must be willing to give and give and just give. With this he replied, "Isn't that unfair?". Of course it is. That's what love really is. Even if the other one doesn't give back, it just continues to love no matter what. This kind of love is seldom found. Especially when people who are looking for it doesn't have it in the first place?

Where is this Love then?

It's in the Father, the GOD who created everything including love and the ability to love.

Here's what the Bible says from The Message version:

But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him. Rom. 5:8

And John 3:16 from The Message version still:

"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

Now we were of no use whatever to him, but He still chose to love us. And he continues to love us no matter what. I mean, REALLY! It doesn't matter what you have done or what you are going to do, He'll continue to LOVE us.

When each partner has this Love then that's when relationships grow! Why? They're already filled with God's love that they just overflow without anymore taking.

Here's a song from Hillsong that would always tell me how Real, How TRUE and How Amazing God's Love is:

So You Would Come by Hillsong

God Bless you more and more!

Living A Routine Life?

Are you living a routine life?

Heres' the LIFE God has prepared for us!

John 10:10 (The Message)

"I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of."

Now you choose...

Relient K: Who I am Hates Who I've Been Video, Lyrics

Here's a great song that has touched my heart.

It's a song from Relient K enttiled "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been"

Amazing meaning! Great Song!

Check out the Video and Lyrics after the jump!

"Who I Am Hates Who I've Been"

I watched the proverbial sunrise
Coming up over the Pacific and
You might think I'm losing my mind,
But I will shy away from the specifics...

'cause I don't want you to know where I am
'cause then you'll see my heart
In the saddest state it's ever been.

This is no place to try and live my life.

[Pre-Chorus]
Stop right there. That's exactly where I lost it.
See that line. Well I never should have crossed it.
Stop right there. Well I never should have said
That it's the very moment that
I wish that I could take back.

[Chorus]
I'm sorry for the person I became.
I'm sorry that it took so long for me to change.
I'm ready to be sure I never become that way again
'cause who I am hates who I've been.
Who I am hates who I've been.

I talk to absolutely no one.
Couldn't keep to myself enough.
And the things bottled inside have finally begun
To create so much pressure that I'll soon blow up.

I heard the reverberating footsteps
Synching up to the beating of my heart,
And I was positive that unless I got myself together,
I would watch me fall apart.

And I can't let that happen again
'cause then you'll see my heart
In the saddest state it's ever been.

This is no place to try and live my life.

[Pre-Chorus x2]
[Chorus]

Who I am hates who I've been
And who I am will take the second chance you gave me.
Who I am hates who I've been
'cause who I've been only ever made me...

So sorry for the person I became.
So sorry that it took so long for me to change.
I'm ready to be sure I never become that way again
'cause who I am hates who I've been.
Who I am hates who I've been.

You are a new CREATION! The OLD has gone, the NEW has come!

Logan, The Sky Angel Cowboy

This is a call recording of Logan Henderson who called in and shared what God had told him. He is now called "The Sky Angel Cowboy".

You will be blessed with this child and if you are like me I would wish to be just like him!

Same zeal, same enthusiasm, same love for God and His WORD!

Praise GOD!

He knows and He remembers!

Revelations 2:1-7 is the letter to the Church in Ephesus. This passage is famous on the point of the Ephesians forsaking their first Love for the Lord. It's even entitled "The Loveless Church" from New King James Version. If you're like me I'm easily drawn to the Title's point in reading the passage.

This changed when my Pastor preached about this last Sunday.

Here's the passage from Revelations 2:1-7

The Loveless Church

1 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,
‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”’

But here's the new revelation:

Did you notice verses 2 and 3? The first time I read this, I thought to myself this is just a "background" of what the Church of Ephesus was before they lost their first love. But actually, it also talks about God's nature and love towards the Church.

HE KNOWS!

Yes! You read it right! He knows! God said in verses 2 and 3 that HE knows their works, their labor, their patience, their perseverance and the many more good things they have done for Him!

What am I trying to say?

I'm saying GOD knows and GOD remembers everything we've done in the past for Him. He remembers our little act of kindness, our labor in the ministry, every tear we cried, every prayer we uttered, every step we took to visit a friend, every cent we gave to those who are need. Yes! Everything is accounted for. Every labor we've done has been written down and will never be in vain! 1 Cor. 15:58

And this even though just like the Ephesians, He's no longer our first love. He remembers the good even if we've failed him a lot of times already! He took notice FIRST of the good things before the bad.

That's how GOD is. He loves us so much that no matter how idolatrous and even though we always go and look for other "lovers", He remains to be the greatest lover. The lover who never forgets.

As a TL during coaching sessions, we are asked to start with recognition then the Areas for Improvement (weaknesses of the agents) and then end it with Recognition again so that agent leaves with a light and happy heart.

Now, notice what GOD said after the telling Ephesians they've lost their first love:

But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. Rev. 2:6

Now I think that's just sweet. Isn't it?