The Good Shepherd

“ Lord, I want to be close to you.”

This has been my prayer for the past months. And during the past months until now, I have been experiencing intense trials in my life.

There were times when I felt hopeless. Sometimes, I felt disappointed.

THINGS ARE NOT GOING THE WAY I WANT IT TO. The end is most of the time not according to my plan. What’s worse, I end up really messing up BIG TIME.

I can’t help but ask. “Is this really how it is for those who want to be close to you?”

It’s so hard. It’s so lonely. Even though I pray and pray and spend more time with God, things do not turn out really good.

I wanted to RUN! But now, my life, in my view, is not moving at all. The spirit of stagnancy is always striking me.

“I want to do this! I want to reach that! I want to buy this! I want to achieve that!”

It sucks when your dreams are seemingly impossible at the moment. Instead of being free, I FEEL restrained. I feel like my feet are tied so that every time I try to walk forward with my own efforts, I fall down.

This is probably what they say “the wilderness” in a christian’s life.

It’s not good. It’s not easy. It’s not something to behold. And the temptation to complain is so strong.

I’ll be honest. I am, like everyone else, a human being. There’s that voice telling me to quit, to stop ‘living a holy life,’ to just do what my flesh dictates and trust on my own skills.

“After all, I have the skills to be RICH.”

“ Instead of focusing on the word, focus on increasing my skills in graphic arts.”

I feel rebelling some time. But I praise the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ that through His Son, I am given the grace to continue, to persevere. I always remind myself that I HAVE WALKED TOO FAR WITH THE LORD TO BACK OUT. I MIGHT AS WELL MOVE FORWARD AND KEEP ON.

Then there was a time I was listening to a preaching. This picture became the subject.

The preacher explained the true meaning behind the picture of the Good Shepherd.

She said that this is how shepherds deal with the sheep that keeps wandering from the herd, always ending up lost and in trouble.

The shepherd breaks the legs of the sheep. He carries it on his shoulders. He brings it wherever he goes until the time the legs heal. The sheep gets personal attention with the shepherd.

And when healed, the sheep will be so used to being close to the shepherd that it will choose not to leave his side and wander off again.

It struck me so hard, tears came out of my eyes.

The preacher continued

“Stop despising the wilderness you are at. It is one of the most beautiful places you will ever be in your life because you will get to know God in a personal way. You're finding out that what's in the bible works, that God is faithful, that He is always by your side, that He will never leave you nor forsake you!”

And the Lord, that wonderful awesome Lord,  blessed my heart again with His word.

I praise you Lord Jesus. Even though things are not going the way I want to, I praise you Lord. I love you. Thank you, Good Shepherd ,for giving me the opportunity to rest on your shoulders and spend quality, intimate time with you. I know one day, when You think I am ready, I will enter the Promised Land without ever leaving Your side or forgetting You. Lord, I truly want to be close to You."

    

Speaking the Word of God

These past few weeks had been intense spiritual warfare time for me. Messing with the devil is fun. But when they catch you off-guard, they will use that opportunity to strike you with lies and heavy emotions.

Everytime na papasok ako, may mga araw na okay lang, may mga araw na I am excited for the day, at may mga araw na parang I just want to quit.

Nandoon nanaman yung mga atake ng enemy:

·         Ilang taon ka na diyan ganyan parin sweldo mo

·         People do not appreciate the extra effort you do

·         You’re not happy anymore with what you are doing

·         You are accused of causing the lag pero hindi naman totoo

·         Paano ka makaka-ipon sa maliit mong sweldo

·         Quit! Quit! Quit! Quit!

This is how I pray to God when I feel down in the morning:

·         Lord, I’m here again, in this office.

·         Give me the strength to endure.

·         Di ko na kasi kaya. Ang liit-liit na nga ng sweldo ko

·         Tapos ganito-ganyan

·         I praise you and I bless you

·         I thank you rin

Sa huli, parang walang effect yung prayer ko kasi I had been praying with my problems a lot.

Then one morning, while contemplating on these things, parang may voice na nagsabi sakin  “straighten up, worship God now!”

 I was compelled to obey the voice maski ayaw kong gawin.

Kasi mahirap i-worship si Lord when you are in the pit (state of thinking about your situation too much na parang pakiramdam mo you’re trapped). Hindi ko siya feel gawin kaya hindi ko ginagawa. Pero that morning, I felt strongly compelled to do it.

So I closed my eyes and started thinking of who God is in my life. Then I started speaking it out loud.

·         God you are my provider!

·         You are my refuge and my strength!

·         You are the lover of my soul!

·         The rock of my salvation!

·         You are merciful and kind to me!

·         You gave me things I do not deserve!

·         You love me unconditionally!

·         I bless you and I praise you. I thank you Lord.

Then, I started addressing myself.

·         Ryan, you are saved! Jesus is your Lord and Savior.

·         Ryan, God’s existence and His involvement in your life is too evident!

·         There is a big big difference from the Ryan then than the Ryan now.

·         Ryan, your life is on the palm of His hand. No one can pluck you away from Him!

·         What He began in you, He will finish! He is a faithful God!

·         Do not ever think that He will not provide for you! Didn’t He provide for the hospital bills of your lola that you were so worried about? Never ever think that He won’t provide in the future!

·         Have your God ever failed you? Never!!

·         Ryan, His plans are perfect! Every mistake you make is a perfection of His plans! Do not fear in making wrong decisions! DO not fear on going around the same mountain! It’s still part of His perfect plan!

·         Ryan, He will never leave you nor forsake you! He is with you all the time!

·         He knows your situation! If there’s one person who cares about you the most, it is your beloved Jesus!

·         Rye, He will always be there. Focus on Him. Magnify Him! If God be for you, who can ever be against you?

·         Rye, the fact that you are changed means God is fighting your battles! He is for you, surely! Surely! Surely!

The words were flowing like water from my mouth. Hindi ako nahirapan na isipin yung mga salita. It was just going out. And after this, I felt extremely good. I felt a dramatic change in my feelings. I felt courage to do something na I was hesitant to do. I forgave a friend who made me angry for the whole week.

Just now I realize, this might be the fulfillment of the verse that the Lord Jesus said – that in us are rivers of living water!

That was the first time I preached to myself. Actually, I have been preaching to myself everyday. Pero it was the first time I preached LIFE to myself. It was the first time I used the word of God to myself. And it worked!!

The word of God is truly alive and powerful!

Most of the times, we like preaching the word to other people. But the Lord revealed to me that it is even more important to preach the word to ourselves.

Another thing, stop being enemies with yourself! You will not be able to speak life at all if you persecute (pity, blame, wound) your own self.

Paano mo malalaman na you are at war with yourself? If you say these things in your mind:

·         Di mo kaya yan

·         Ano ba yan! Palpak nanaman ako!

·         Lagi nalang ako talo! Ganyan naman talaga.

·         Ryan (your name), you are so undisciplined, so selfish, so…(negative adjectives)! How can God ever put up with you!

·         Yan kasi! Ikaw may kasalanan niyan! Yan kasi!

Kasi if eto lagi laman ng isip mo, then these things are the words you will speak to yourself and to others.

But if you magnify God in your mind, and you DECIDE to spare yourself from yourself, then words of life will flow from your mouth. The good thing is, other people will benefit from it.

Preaching/speaking to yourself is applying the word of God. Kasi kapag aasa ka lang sa naririnig mo sa simbahan, eh every Sunday lang yun! Pano yung Monday mo hanggang Saturday?

When is the best time to worship God and preach to yourself? When you don’t feel like doing so!

God bless y’all!

The Most Effective Way to Defeat the Devil

Do you feel/see disturbing ghosts in your dwellings? Yes, they exist. Yes, they are from the devil.

Do you feel any of the following?

• Sadness
• Depression
• Loneliness
• Worry
• Stress
• Anxiety
• Hopelessness
• Fear
• Lust

It’s normal to feel them. But if you live your life with these, they are from the devil.

Do you have cancer, pneumonia, tuberculosis and other expensive diseases? They are from the devil.

Do you experience financial lack? The devil is the devourer.

So what is the best way to battle the devil?

Is it by forcefully shouting this?

  

   “I rebuke you cancer in Jesus’ name! I receive the healing   power of the Lord because by His stripes, we are healed!”

Then after leaving the church, I hurry to leave the place. Then I pass by a beggar as if I did not see him. Then I quarrel with the jeepney driver for not stopping on the place where I want to go down. Then I judge the person I saw passing by.

After all that, I seriously expect the Lord to fight my battles and answer my prayers?

Don’t get me wrong. It’s a must to shout against the devil or declare the word of God out loud. But what will shouting and praying and believing (if i really believe) do for me if I live my life full of me, myself and I and away from selfless love?

Well, here’s the catch: the best way to defeat the devil is to get your mind off yourself and to start a walk of love through selfless giving.

• Enjoy giving time to love God through worship. Doing so will drive out evil spirits in your place.
• Give God that reverential fear that He deserves. Stand for what is right in front of others.
• Enjoy doing good things to people every day.
• Enjoy being faithful to your tithes.
• Enjoy giving alms to the poor. It may be food or money.  
• Desire for complimenting your peers. Make them feel good for the day.
• Be excited in helping a person in need.
• Forgive those who have offended you.
• Say sorry to those you have hurt.
• Doing good should be a want-to, not a have-to.
• Enjoy a life avoiding lies, hurts, strife. Enjoy being a peacemaker.
• Be thankful about every situation, good or bad. Have the control to avoid complaining.
• Trust God that whatever you are going through, He is with you and will not leave you nor forsake you.

Surely, some people will disagree.

“No Rye, it is not by our works that the Lord hears our prayers. It is by faith. It is through what Jesus did on Calvary."

Jesus died so that our sin nature be transformed into the God nature so that we are reconnected to the Father who gives us sufficient grace (enabling power) to do good and to love Him and other people by heart.

And now that we have the grace to love God and love others, we are enabled through Christ and in Christ to do them by heart. And when we do them by heart, the Lord hears our prayers and fights our battles. Our enemies are His enemies. He is for us and not against us.

I'm not saying you have to do good for your prayers to be answered. I'm saying have this selfless mindset and purpose your life to live it in love. We have it in us. It's just that we do not intend to walk in love because we are so consumed with ourselves.

Stop saturating yourself with feel-good sermons. The bible is filled with verses that say the Lord does not listen to the prayers of the wicked, evil, and unrighteous. His face is against them.

Well, as long as I purposely live a life only for myself, not doing the things the Lord wants me to do, even though I am called a Christian, I am still unrighteous and evil as far as God is concerned. 

Not all who calls Him "Lord, Lord" (lukewarm Christians) will enter heaven. "Depart from me you workers of iniquity." He will say that to those who claim to be believers but are not workers of righteousness.

Christians are the righteousness of God in Christ. We are righteous by nature because Jesus, the One who now lives inside us, is righteous.

But here is wisdom: you are not called righteous until you do the right thing that the Lord inspires and enables you to do.

Look, I may be an inborn designer. But unless I design something, I will not be called a designer.

Not all humans are called humans. Some people live like animals. Civilized savages as we term it. There is a tagalog saying about this. “Madaling maging tao pero mahirap magpakatao.”

Same with Christians. Sadly, not all are righteous in God’s eyes. He calls them lukewarm. They are the Sunday-Only Christians ( I was one of them).

Yes, they are all made righteous by nature. But unless they work out what God works inside of them, they are pretty much like non-believers. (Actually, worse. That’s why the world hates us. We do not do the talk.)

This is what the devil does not want us to know. The enemy wants us to believe that by just having the name Christian, we will be spared from him. The enemy blinds us to the part that we need to play in order to get to the Promised Land (prosperous life).

This is a biblical truth. The devil could not touch Jesus because Jesus went about doing good. He has no similarity with evil. The Father God favors Jesus who did good everywhere that’s why demons flee before Him.

Note also that Jesus did not struggle in shouting “I rebuke you, devil.” He said it plainly.

Once we realize that the spiritual battle is actually the Lord’s battle, we can sit back, enjoy life while doing good everywhere we go, just like Jesus did. And the Lord’s favor will be upon us.

So to battle the devil effortlessly, pray for the grace to walk a love walk. It doesn't mean you have to do good all the time. It doesn't mean you have to be perfect. It means getting your mind off yourself, and live a life that is purposed for giving – loving God and loving others.  

And the cool part is that ghosts will not want to be around you!

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with GOOD. Romans 12:21

Application Example:

Something happened in my office that made me feel depressed. I was in the bus when the memory of that event tormented me. In my mind: "So devil, you want fight? I'll give you fight." I normally do not share my seat sa bus. But I stood up and let the standing lady sit. I can't explain it but I felt the devil was irritated. The torment was gone after a few minutes.

Kabanata 10

 Sinisira ng mga patay na langaw ang amoy ng pabango,

      Kapag naghalo ay naglalabas ng maalingasaw na amoy;
 Ganoon rin sa taong marunong at respetado

      na gumagawa ng kaunting kahangalan 

      at kaunting kasalanan.
      

² Ang marunong na tao’y sinusunod ang kanyang puso,
      Ang hangal ay hindi ito pinapakinggan.
      

³ Kahit na makisabay ang hangal sa mga marurunong,
      Sa ganoong gawain siya’y tunay 

      na kulang sa kaalaman,
   Halatang –halata na siya’y isang hangal 

      sa kanyang pakikisabay.
      

⁴ Kapag nagalit ang isang taong mas mataas sa’yo,
      Huwag magulantang at huwag magpadala sa emosyon;
  Dahil ang mahinahon na pagsagot at pagsang-ayon

      ay nagpapakalma ng matitinding galit.
      

 ⁵ May nakita akong kalupitan sa ilalim ng araw,
      Isang kamalian ng namumuno at nagtatalaga:
      

⁶ Sa mataas na posisyon natatalaga 

      ang mga hangal at isip-bata,

   Dahil sa kanilang gutom sa katanyagan at karangyaan;
      Samantalang ang mga yumaman sa sipag at tiyaga

      Na siyang dapat nasa itaas

      ay nakukuntento sa mabababang posisyon.

      

⁷ Silang walang pera ang siyang namumuhay 

      na parang mayaman, 

  Ngunit silang anak ng mayayaman 

      na napalaki ng mahusay

  ay nagpapakababa na parang mahirap.
      

⁸ Siyang nagpapaka-taas sa pamamagitan 

     ng pagpapa-baba sa iba

     ay mahuhulog sa sarili niyang hukay,
  At siyang nakiki-alam sa mga bagay 

     na hindi niya dapat  pinapaki-alaman

     ay mapapasama.
      

⁹  Siyang nag-aalis ng bato sa daan ay masasaktan,

      Gayon din sa taong ayaw mahirapan;
   Nanganganib masaktan ang taong naghahati ng kahoy

     para ito’y lumiit dahil mas madaling gamitin,    

     Gayon din sa taong palaging gustong madali at mabilis
      

¹⁰ Kapag ang palakol ay mapurol,
        At hindi ito pinapatalas,
        ang gagamit nito ay kailangan 

        maglabas ng dobleng pwersa;
    Kaya patalasin ang utak,

       Upang mapadali ang trabaho.
      

¹¹ Madalas nanunuklaw ang ahas kapag hindi nahahalina;
        Gaya ng ahas, ganun rin ang taong madaldal.
      

¹² Mabait at magalang makipag-usap ang marunong,
      Subalit ang bibig ng hangal ang laging nagdadala sa kanya ng problema
      

¹³ Sinisimulan niya sa walang kwentang bagay,
      Tinatapos sa kalokohan.
      

¹⁴ Masyadong maraming sinasabi ang mga hangal.
      Pati sa mga bagay na walang sinuman 

        ang makaka-alam;
      Tinatalak niya na parang alam niya.
      

¹⁵ Pinoproblema ng hangal ang bawat trabaho niya,
      Dahil hindi niya alam kung pano hanapin

    Ang mga bagay na makakatulong sa kanya sa siyudad

      kung saan naroon ang maraming bilihan!
      

¹⁶ Kaawa-awa ka, lupain, kapag ang hari mo ay asal-bata

       At parang bata na hindi kayang tulungan ang sarili, 

       kailangan pa ng gabay

    At ang mga namumuno kasama niya ay nag-pipista

       Sa oras ng pagtatrabaho!
      

¹⁷ Pinagpala ka, lupain, kapag ang hari mo 

       ay napalaki ng maayos,

       may sariling prinsipyo at paninindigan,
    At ang mga namumuno kasama niya 

        ay nagpipista sa tamang oras—
    Para kumuha ng lakas at pag-asa 

       at hindi para lang sa kalasingan!
      

¹⁸ Sa katamaran kaya nagluluma ang gusali;
        Dahil sa walang ginagawa, walang nangyayari, 

         walang pagbabago

    kaya nasisira ang pamamalakad.
      

¹⁹ Ang pista ay kailangan para sa kasiyahan,
       Gayun din ang alak;
    Subalit pera parin ang mas kailangan

        para mabuhay sa mundong ibabaw.
      

²⁰ Huwag manira ng mga namumuno, maski sa isip lang;
      Huwag magsabi ng masama sa mga may pera, 

       maski sa sarili mong kwarto;
    Dahil baka may makarinig at siguradong 

      ito’y makakarating sa kanila,

      Intensyon man nilang sabihin o di kaya’y nadulas lang
      

   Para silang ibon na nandyan lang sa tabi-tabi 

      at naghahanap ng pagkain.

   Sila’y lilipad sa ibang lugar dala ang dumi 

      galing sa lupang kanilang tinapakan.

Some Notes:

• Reputation takes years to build but it only takes a few seconds to destroy.
• It is nice to hear that it is wise to listen to your heart. This is not the heart that talks of the flesh. This is the heart that has the God-like traits. The heart is mostly manifested through what we call “conscience.”
•  Nangyari na sa’kin ang masigawan ng boss. And the tendency, most of the time, is to stand what we think is right, therefore we find ourselves trying to overrule our superiors. If not, we speak ill of them with our peers.
• Wisdom says if someone of power became furious because of something you said or did, you should remain calm. Do not let emotions overwhelm you. Swallow your pride. Talk to your superior as peacefully as possible. Agree with them even if they are wrong. In your mind, now is not the right time para pagsabihan siya. What God wants from us is to keep the respect for our superiors.
• It makes sense why most of the people in higher positions are immature inside and why people who grew in humility prefer lower positions. Immaturity has pride as their adviser. Pride wants more. Pride lusts for power and recognition and fame and riches.
• I’m not saying all of those who are up there are immature. There are still those few who, because of their wisdom (which brings humility), were promoted by God and by men.
• Verse 7 are the social climbers of today. Talagang wala nang bago sa ilalim ng araw!
• You will never make it in life if you always want it easy and quick. Shortcuts are the longcuts of life.
• Verse 10 is the foundation for the advancements we enjoy now. Technology is from God as wisdom and knowledge only comes from Him. It is wise to get a hold of that!
• It is foolish to think that you can do tasks all on your own. (Ouch!) You need wisdom in order to know where you can get the equipments that will help you in your task. You need humility to enable you to ask for help.
•  Blessed is a country who is ruled by wise, mature leaders. I pray for more of them in my country where dynasty is prevalent.
• If you do not want to get in trouble, learn the great art of shutting up. It will save you a lot of trouble. 

Kabanata 9

 ¹ Aking isinapuso lahat ng ito upang aking masalaysay ang lahat ng aking natutunan: na ang buhay ng matutuwid, marurunong (pantas) at ang kanilang mga gawa ay nasa pagdedesisyon parin ng Diyos. Hindi alam ng tao kung ano ang dapat mahalin at dapat kamuhian sa mga bagay na paparating palang.

 ² Dahil lahat ng bagay ay pare-pareho para sa lahat:
      Kung ano ang nangyayari sa matuwid, 

      nangyayari rin sa masama;
      sa mabait,  sa banal at sa hindi;
      Sa naniniwala at di naniniwala sa Diyos.
      Kung ano ang sa mabait, ganun rin sa makasalanan;
      Kung ano ang sa taong may isang salita, 

      ganun rin sa taong walang isang salita.

³ Ito’y kalupitan sa mundong ibabaw: pare-parehong bagay lang ang nangyayari sa lahat. Totoong ang puso ng tao ay puno ng kasamaan; sila’y puno ng kaululan habang nabubuhay, tapos nito ay mamatay rin.

⁴ Ngunit habang may buhay, may pag-asa. Mas mainam pa ang buhay na aso kaysa patay na leyon.
      

⁵ Dahil alam ng buhay na sila rin ay mamamatay;  

      (may panahon pa magbago)
   Ngunit ang nangamatay na ay wala nang alam, 

       wala nang pag-asa
  wala na silang pabuyang matatanggap,
      dahil sila’y nakalimutan na, sila’y wala na.
      

⁶ Ang kanilang pag-ibig, hinanakit, at inggit 

          ay naglaho narin;
      Di na sila kailanman magkakaron ng lugar
      sa kahit anong bagay sa ilalim ng araw.
      

⁷ Kaya’t ikaw na buhay ay makuntento, 

        kumain ng may galak
    uminom ng may masayang puso;
   Dahil tinanggap na ng Diyos ang iyong pagtatrabaho.
      

 ⁸ Panatiliing malinis ang budhi, ang puso,
      Panatiliin ang Diyos sa inyong isipan.

 ⁹ Mabuhay ng kontento at nagagalak kasama ng iyong asawa na makakasama mo habang buhay dahil ito na ang naitakdang ibigay para sa iyo, ito ang iyong pabuya sa iyong pagtatrabaho.  

¹⁰ Kung ano man ang sa tingin mong ikasasaya mong gawin, gawin mo na ng buong puso! Dahil sa libingan, wala nang trabaho, mga kagamitan, kaalaman o kaya’y karunungan.

 ¹¹ Nang ako’y bumalik sa pasasaliksik, nalaman kong—

      Ang karera ay hindi lang para sa mabibilis,
      maski ang laban para lang sa malalakas,
      o kaya naman pagkain para lang sa mga marurunong,
      o kayamanan para lang sa mga may alam
      o di kaya naman biyaya para lang sa magagaling;
      Lahat ay binigyan pare-parehong oras at pagkakataon.
      

¹² Dahil hindi hawak ng tao ang kanyang oras:
      Parang isda na bigla nalang nahuli sa lambat,
      Parang mga ibon na nahuli sa patibong,
      Ay ang mga taong biglang nakakadanas,
      ng matinding pagsubok sa buhay.

¹³ Itong karunungan na ito, akin ring nasaksihan, at ito’y kahanga-hanga sa akin:

¹⁴ May isang maliit na nayon na may kakaunting nakatira. Isang malakas na hari ang umatake sa nayon na ito at nagtanim ng mga malalaking patibong sa paligid nito.

¹⁵ Sa loob ng nayon ay may mahirap subalit marunong na tao. Sa kanyang karunungan, nailigtas niya ang nayon mula sa hari. Subalit wala man lang kumilala at naka-alala sa taong nagligtas sa nayon.

¹⁶ Kaya’t sinabi ko sa sarili ko:


      “ Ang karunungan ay mas mainam kaysa lakas.
      Gayunpaman kinamuhian ng iba ang 

          karunungan ng mahirap na tao,
      Kanyang mga salita’y di pinapakinggan.
      

     ¹⁷ Ang mga salita ng marurunong 

             na hindi naririnig ng marami

       Ang dapat pinapakinggan ng mga tao
        kaya sa boses ng pinunong namumuno sa mga hangal
      

     ¹⁸ Ang karunungan ay mas mainam 

             kaysa sandata para sa gera:
        Ngunit mas mabigat at nakasisira ang isang kasalanan

            kaysa sa maraming kabutihang iyong nagawa.

   

Some Notes:

• I am quite surprised that same things happen to everyone. I thought in life, there is a formula in order to succeed. So if this is what Wisdom says, it means getting a degree will not guarantee you a good life in the future. It means tiring yourself to reach your dreams will not guarantee you success in your goals. They are still decided by the Lord.
• So stop struggling for your future! Enjoy your today so that you will never regret it.
• The reality is you do not really know what’s going to happen next. It is your choice to tire yourself in manipulating uncontrollable events or to rest and trust in Christ who holds time in His hands.
• Habang may buhay, may pag-asa.
• Enjoy your life! Life is short. Find that work that will enable you to enjoy being busy. Seek God for He will make your joy complete and lasting!
• Seek wisdom while you are alive. Wisdom will enable you to enjoy and be contented in your life.
• In this world, Wisdom is easy to ignore. He is a soft voice and only few people are interested to stay still and hear.