Foolish

We are foolish and innocent, but with God's light, we can be wise. doing something bad or inconsiderate is much easier than doing good which is why we must put effort into being good.

We should avoid the company of hypocrites and bad influences. No matter how much we detest one thing, they might be able to convince us simply because they are the people we gather with. It is disturbing that a person can change his views quickly with proper persuasion.

If we care too much about our physical characteristics, we won't notice what's inside us, what's inside us is what matters. the outward show passes quickly with time, but what matters most is what's in our hearts which is something that doesn't pass quickly with time, it passes when we change our views it can be for the better, or it can be for worse.

We must be modest. everything we have came from God and not by our own means.

God gives us lots of blessings, we must focus on Him rather than our problems, with Him, all our worries will all seem little and we won't be burdened by it because God is working in us.

The power in praise is not changing our circumstance but it changes us.

Co-work with God

We are weak because we are humans, and in our weakness, that's where God's power is most obvious. We can't really do anything if it weren't from God's grace. Even every beat of our heart is God's grace. We must not let other things occupy what we must offer to the Lord.

We must love God diligently. I have noticed how much people rely on God only because they need His grace on that time and they don't really put their hearts into it. They only mutter some pleas then leave for a more urgent business...

Also the things regarding ignorance "God judges us based on what we know" and a child can easily be excused from sin simply because they didn't know. A person can know a lot of things and some chooses not to know. Some people already know that it might end up wrong, that there are consequences yet refuses to listen bringing up the excuse, "I didn't know!" one kind of ignorance is not knowing because he wasn't aware that there is such a thing or that there might be consequences, the other one is choosing not to know when the book lies open and he refuses to look at it. this one can cost, we should learn in order to know what is right since we were given knowledge of right and wrong.

But still, some people simply chooses to pretend not to know to avoid blame.

What we have, we must offer to God, for these are the things He let us have to help us and to let us help others.

Keep on LeArning

Karlene taught me so many things and how I wish I really wrote down everything she said... I'll share what I did remember...

She said, first must be putting God in the center of everything, I think this is always the main point, God's will, faith in God, fellowship with the Lord. The story in the Bible tells about the time when Peter was trying to make sure if it was Jesus and he asked that if He were really Jesus, He'd let him walk on water. he did walk on water, looking directly at Jesus, but once the waves got bigger, he lost to his fears and sunk. Just like us, the water is the problem we're facing, Peter can be us, the waves is the devil, trying to distract us, keeping our faith in Jesus and not wavering from it will keep us afloat no matter how big the waves are or how deep the waters are.

She also told me the story about Daniel's friends and how they trusted the Lord so much that even the fiery furnace can't burn them. I really want to grow in faith and one day become like those men... trusting the Lord completely with their lives.

I still have much to learn and I bet a huge part of it would come from Karlene. next time, I'll really bring a notebook and try to absorb as much as I can from her.

Bible study with Karlene

I was unavailable at the actual time of Bible Study but Karlene is a great blessing, she discussed with me what she discussed in BS and it was really fruitful. I learned once again. Doing our best for God is a fruitful work, unlike doing our best, simply because we want it for ourselves is dry. If we rely on Him and do our best for Him, we will never get tired or frustrated. Just like what was said to Solomon about building a sanctuary for the Lord. to make it magnificent and unique.

Also she taught me of God's magnificence... I do appreciate God's hand made, but she said it in a deeper way, about God's work never being mediocre, always the best, every single piece is one of a kind. the same specie yet, when you look really close, it's different still.

Every time I meet with Karlene, I learn a lot, I owe a big part of my growth in faith from her...

untitled poem

Jesus, my Savior, my life,
I am but Your lowly servant,
Yet You willingly sacrificed,
Helping us realize Your light.

I don't worth anything at all,
Yet You somehow find my purpose,
You let me respond to Your call,
And under Your wings find repose.

You are the Lord, my only God,
You let my heart beat unceasing,
I find comfort in the praises that I sing,
Let me sing some more for You, Lord.

Consulting God

In the old books of the Bible telling stories about David's reign as God's chosen king, David once made a mistake of not consulting God and the result was... constant loss in battle. Like David, we tend to be self reliant simply because that is something we can account for, but relying on God is much much more reliable. We can never control the circumstances we are in but God can, also, instead of constant pleading and begging for things, we must thank Him and praise Him instead for every single problem that came accross you, and every single good thing He did for you. Those circumstances were all useful to make you as you are right now.

Also, never look at other people's short comings. You know it well enough as I do, we are as imperfect as the other person. All of us are, but we must never look at their shortcomings, instead, look at ours and have a greater faith in God for He is happy the way He made us, so should we, and He's happy the way He made that other person, so should we.

Last thing, the Lord judges us based on what we know. for example. If you don't know that it's not good to tell people prank but hurtful things, you'll be forgiven, "ignorance" but once you already know that it's wrong, never do it again. Just like David's situation in the old books of the Bible, The king of Philistines delivered the Ark by a new cart which was forbidden according to the laws of Moses, David knew this but didn't act on it so He made a mistake. We should avoid doing the things we know are wrong, it is not excusable by ignorance, instead, you'll be branded as a fool.

every single detail

Have you ever felt afraid because of the circumstances in your life and whether it will get better or not?

For the past 18 years of my life, I had too many fears to enumerate and too many doubts to tell, I was afraid that I might never get out of the problem I sank in, I was afraid that things might become worse, I was afraid that I might be stuck on a situation I don't want. I admit that I have a very poor faith before, but it somehow got stronger now thanks to some people.

It's always scary to look at your life while it's in chaos, I thought that I wanted to die and I even prayed for it, just to end everything. but now that I know better, I'm thankful that I experienced them and that I never dared to suicide. it would have been a total waste of God's plan for me, I wouldn't have made new friends and I wouldn't have been able to learn new things. I really thank God that I was able to get over those problems and to learn a little more and to grow a little more.

When we're in a deep hole, let's always look upward and never stop hoping that someone will come to help. Climbing that hole by yourself will be fruitless if no one from above will pull you. just like in the Bible:

Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. (Psalms 127:1)

There is not one bird that fell that God didn't know, just as He knows the exact number of strands of your hair (not exact words)

He planned every single detail of your life, be it your ups or your downs, He never forgot you even for the tiniest fraction of a second and He is always there for you. Learn how to praise Him in every circumstances and never forget how He designed every detail of your physical characteristics and every detail of your life. it's up to you to have faith in Him and find His purpose for every circumstances, because God's grace is strongest at your weakest...

God Bless! He always watches you and will never abandon you, never.