By Bing Villa
“Rise up before your bedroom gets light from the rising sun! Breakfast must be ready before the noise of animals outside! It’s lunchtime when you don’t see any length of shadow of the roof because the sun stands in the middle. All in the house before sunset! Prepare for each day the night before!’ Phrases we often hear from our fathers when we were young. Yes, even without watches or clocks, the sun, moon, stars are witnesses to remind us of the valuable resources God has given—TIME. “ And God said, let there be light in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and for years” (Gen. 1:14). How do you invest and use your time as a young person?
Set your priorities.
Know your Biblical goals and be committed to fulfill them because pressures to violate will be continual from various sources. If you don’t plan your time, someone else will. So plan according to priorities such as relationship with God- personal devotion, ministry to others, family, developing your character and talents. The rest you may put on the next category of priorities.
Be single-minded for the permanent one.
In my early college days, I have tried one of the different time management that goes like this; 6:00 to 6:45 am get up and prepare for the part time job nearby, 7:00-12:00 at part time work, 12:15- 1:00 pm lunch and prepare for school, 2:00-7:00 pm at school, 7:00-8:00 travel home, 8:00-9:00 rest and dinner, 9:00-11:00 home works. In case home works require more time, I would either stay late or get up earlier than my usual schedule the next day. Sacrifices I made were for a purpose – to finish college and get a job. But you see, I was single-minded for a temporary one. One day, my persistent friend Linda who stayed next door invited me to attend their youth fellowship. In her zealousness to win souls, I became a Christian. Apostle Paul was single-minded for the Lord in Phil. 3:13-14, his life priority was to know Christ and serve Him. It is part of the permanent that can not be lost.
Invest your time for eternity.
When I was already working in the office, I tried the time management I had in college but it didn’t work. Even as a Christian, I saw as if time itself was a burden because my strength, responsibilities, dreams and demands of other people all conflicted with one another. The tyranny of clocks robbed me of life’s enjoyment; my body began to react in pneumonia, hyperacidity, pimple outbreaks. But during these experiences I learned of God’s divine nature- His timelessness. God has His own sense of timelessness even when we labor under time bondage. The blessing of God’s timelessness does not mean various activities without rest, which did not answer my quest for the abundant life.
Young people, there are needs around which cry for your involvement, attention or re-thinking. Your younger siblings or a child next your door would insist to be taught about Jesus even in your busy time, classmates or fellow youth in the church will unexpectedly need help. Such investments even in small ways are investments for eternity. You should also respect other’s time by coming on time for an appointment (Philippians 2:4). God’s children need to maintain godly flexibility. We need to look continually to God for possible re-direction. Let us be wise in our use of time (Eph 5:15-16).
Showing posts with label From Adam's Ribs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label From Adam's Ribs. Show all posts
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Walking in the Ways of the Lord
By Eden Raquintan
The prophet Samuel was one of the greatest men in the Old Testament. He was so named because his mother, Hannah, asked him of the Lord. Hannah was barren so she petitioned the Lord to give her a son with the promise that he shall serve Him all the days of his life. He started serving the Lord at a very tender age (at 4-5 years old) and did so faithfully until his death.
Unfortunately, the Bible does not speak well of his sons for they “walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.” (1 Sam. 8:3). Samuel was a man completely devoted to do God’s will, but his sons were not. Yes, when Samuel was old he made them judges over Israel, but they did not turn out to be the good judge that he was. They served God, but not faithfully.
As a mother, it is my prayer that someday my children would become the Lord’s servants in our church because I want them to experience the blessing and the joy that goes with faithful service to the Lord. However, I know that it will still take much teaching, nurturing, disciplining, and praying before I could see the fulfillment of my longing. Molding them in His precepts is not an easy task at all. I’m afraid that it is really getting harder and harder for us parents to teach our children to become faithful followers of the Savior.
These are dangerous times. I can wholeheartedly agree with Paul when he said, “perilous times shall come…” in 2 Tim. 3:1 ff. They have, indeed, come. Many of the characteristics of men described in this passage can be seen among us, and our children are not isolated that we can be sure they won’t be affected. The influence of the world is very much felt in many Christian homes.
Television is a powerful medium that has invaded most Christian homes to the destruction of our children. It has been a constant struggle for me and Pastor Jed if we are going to allow our children to watch tv regularly on weekends. Programs that promote homosexuality, fornication, rebellion (in the guise of freedom), and other ungodly acts are all over television. Constant exposure to these could make such loathsome acts acceptable to the viewers in the long run. If uncontrolled, it could also take much of their time which they could have spent in Bible reading, studying, or doing household chores and other more profitable endeavors.
Unknowingly, many of us have also allowed materialism to creep into our homes. A young boy who owns an old model mobile phone once told me, “Nakakahiya po itong cellphone ko kasi, hindi pwedeng idisplay.” Do people have cellphones in order to flaunt them? There‘s a couple who chose to pull out their son from a certain private school because he was gradually adopting the ways of his classmates. He was beginning to think that they were rich enough for him to be able to buy expensive toys, to frequently eat at fastfood chains, and to always go shopping at the mall. One parent aired her concern that the Christian School where her children are enrolled seems to be setting a tradition of having those who are celebrating their birthdays to have a party in class! I overheard another young man, pointing to his shoes, saying, “Hoy, branded ‘to. Galing ‘to abroad!” Are we not loving the world more than the things of God?
Difficult as it may seem, we have to do something about our situation. We should not let our children imbibe more of the world and less of God. One way is to have them join church activities instead of staying at home and watching tv or hanging around with unsaved classmates. Some of our young people come here every Saturday to conduct Bible Studies in the neighborhood and nearby communities. Sunday afternoons are spent in devotions, fellowship, and related activities. Secondly, let us diligently study God’s Word and teach our children the same. Do not just wait for Sunday for them to hear it. If they are not used to hearing His Word daily they won’t automatically be interested to hear it when they go to church. Lastly, let us walk our talk. We ought to be our children’s model, not the celebrities they see on television. No matter how much of God’s Word we teach them, as long as they don’t see it translated into our lives, they will not heed. Let us not walk as Christians on Sundays only. Let us walk as Christians should walk every single moment of our lives, whether our children and other people see us or not. God forbid that we would be the ones to influence our children to fall away from God’s truth.
The prophet Samuel was one of the greatest men in the Old Testament. He was so named because his mother, Hannah, asked him of the Lord. Hannah was barren so she petitioned the Lord to give her a son with the promise that he shall serve Him all the days of his life. He started serving the Lord at a very tender age (at 4-5 years old) and did so faithfully until his death.
Unfortunately, the Bible does not speak well of his sons for they “walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.” (1 Sam. 8:3). Samuel was a man completely devoted to do God’s will, but his sons were not. Yes, when Samuel was old he made them judges over Israel, but they did not turn out to be the good judge that he was. They served God, but not faithfully.
As a mother, it is my prayer that someday my children would become the Lord’s servants in our church because I want them to experience the blessing and the joy that goes with faithful service to the Lord. However, I know that it will still take much teaching, nurturing, disciplining, and praying before I could see the fulfillment of my longing. Molding them in His precepts is not an easy task at all. I’m afraid that it is really getting harder and harder for us parents to teach our children to become faithful followers of the Savior.
These are dangerous times. I can wholeheartedly agree with Paul when he said, “perilous times shall come…” in 2 Tim. 3:1 ff. They have, indeed, come. Many of the characteristics of men described in this passage can be seen among us, and our children are not isolated that we can be sure they won’t be affected. The influence of the world is very much felt in many Christian homes.
Television is a powerful medium that has invaded most Christian homes to the destruction of our children. It has been a constant struggle for me and Pastor Jed if we are going to allow our children to watch tv regularly on weekends. Programs that promote homosexuality, fornication, rebellion (in the guise of freedom), and other ungodly acts are all over television. Constant exposure to these could make such loathsome acts acceptable to the viewers in the long run. If uncontrolled, it could also take much of their time which they could have spent in Bible reading, studying, or doing household chores and other more profitable endeavors.
Unknowingly, many of us have also allowed materialism to creep into our homes. A young boy who owns an old model mobile phone once told me, “Nakakahiya po itong cellphone ko kasi, hindi pwedeng idisplay.” Do people have cellphones in order to flaunt them? There‘s a couple who chose to pull out their son from a certain private school because he was gradually adopting the ways of his classmates. He was beginning to think that they were rich enough for him to be able to buy expensive toys, to frequently eat at fastfood chains, and to always go shopping at the mall. One parent aired her concern that the Christian School where her children are enrolled seems to be setting a tradition of having those who are celebrating their birthdays to have a party in class! I overheard another young man, pointing to his shoes, saying, “Hoy, branded ‘to. Galing ‘to abroad!” Are we not loving the world more than the things of God?
Difficult as it may seem, we have to do something about our situation. We should not let our children imbibe more of the world and less of God. One way is to have them join church activities instead of staying at home and watching tv or hanging around with unsaved classmates. Some of our young people come here every Saturday to conduct Bible Studies in the neighborhood and nearby communities. Sunday afternoons are spent in devotions, fellowship, and related activities. Secondly, let us diligently study God’s Word and teach our children the same. Do not just wait for Sunday for them to hear it. If they are not used to hearing His Word daily they won’t automatically be interested to hear it when they go to church. Lastly, let us walk our talk. We ought to be our children’s model, not the celebrities they see on television. No matter how much of God’s Word we teach them, as long as they don’t see it translated into our lives, they will not heed. Let us not walk as Christians on Sundays only. Let us walk as Christians should walk every single moment of our lives, whether our children and other people see us or not. God forbid that we would be the ones to influence our children to fall away from God’s truth.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
God is in Control
By Ruth Salgado
After two years and eight months of praying, God gave Daniel Joshua to Pastor Nards and me on May 8, 2007. What a joy!
But after two weeks we learned that the much-awaited child was sick and needed special medical attention. At first I was shocked. I couldn’t say a word when the doctor explained to us the results of his laboratory exams and his condition. I was totally unprepared for the situation. Pastor and I both cried seeking the Lord’s guidance so that He would not allow the devil to penetrate our hearts and use the situation to discourage us and make us angry with God. As I remember, Pastor Jed said through text that the easiest way to accept the situation is to thank God for what He has allowed. It was hard but it really worked. We began searching our hearts for sin and neglect. I had been very careful during my pregnancy. I even took a leave from work for eleven months just so I could free myself from stress and a strenuous job. But still it happened.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. (Isaiah 55:8)
Since then we visited the hospital every two weeks to monitor Daniel’s health. One doctor said that we always need to be prepared because with his condition he might not live long. Oh! It was like a dagger that struck my heart. As months went by, we did see what was expected of him. Because he has a very small fontanel, his brain was not able to grow just like the normal child. This caused his seizures. He also has positioning which would last for almost two hours per episode.
On his fifth month his seizures attacked very often and his doctor advised that he be confined. One of our brethren referred us to the National Children’s Hospital (NCH), a public hospital for children. On October 17, 2007, we went there for check up and the following day we returned for Daniel’s confinement. During our 27-day-stay in the hospital, we saw how the Lord worked in us, how he moved people to be of help, and how He poured out His daily provisions. Cornerstone was our shelter then. We slept, ate, and did our laundry in the church. Pastor Jed and Ate Eden so generously and lovingly accommodated us. We do appreciate the Cornerstone family who offered prayers and help in whatever form.
If I felt the pain, how much more did Daniel. In his frail body, he experienced different kinds of laboratory exams that needed blood extraction. How many needles were pierced through his body because the dextrose was detached very often! He was fed through Oral Gastric Tube (OGT). The oxygen tank was our companion everyday. He took three high dose drugs to control his seizures, but sometimes these drugs were of no effect to him. In such situation we could only depend on God for help. Day and night we cried unto the Lord so that He would strengthen us. It was a daily battle. We prayed to God not to stop the storm we were in but to make us able to walk through it faithfully.
One week before our discharge from the hospital, we submitted my Philhealth so as to lessen our bills. But it was not honored due to the three months gap during my maternity leave. I was alarmed but Pastor Nards comforted me and told me that God is in control. True enough, the day before our discharge Pastor submitted his Philhealth and when the bill arrived we only had to pay P10.00! What a great God! The doctor advised us to buy an oxygen tank before going home. The brand new costs P4,600.00 at Bambang, Manila. That same day my sister called us up and told us that their office was selling an oxygen tank. When Pastor went there he got it for only P2,500.00!
We learned so many principles in that experience. God never made a mistake in bringing Daniel into this world. In fact, He used Daniel to show us our weaknesses so that we would trust in His strength. As a couple, it brought us closer together. We learned to appreciate and be thankful for the little improvements we saw in Daniel. God tested our faith and obedience through trials to help us grow.
The Lord is still pruning us now, ridding us of our rough edges so that we can be more effective in the ministry. It is hard, really hard because God used not hammer to mold us but a mallet. If it is the Lord’s will for our life, we submit to it. May He be glorified…
But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. (Job 23:10) Amen!
After two years and eight months of praying, God gave Daniel Joshua to Pastor Nards and me on May 8, 2007. What a joy!
But after two weeks we learned that the much-awaited child was sick and needed special medical attention. At first I was shocked. I couldn’t say a word when the doctor explained to us the results of his laboratory exams and his condition. I was totally unprepared for the situation. Pastor and I both cried seeking the Lord’s guidance so that He would not allow the devil to penetrate our hearts and use the situation to discourage us and make us angry with God. As I remember, Pastor Jed said through text that the easiest way to accept the situation is to thank God for what He has allowed. It was hard but it really worked. We began searching our hearts for sin and neglect. I had been very careful during my pregnancy. I even took a leave from work for eleven months just so I could free myself from stress and a strenuous job. But still it happened.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. (Isaiah 55:8)
Since then we visited the hospital every two weeks to monitor Daniel’s health. One doctor said that we always need to be prepared because with his condition he might not live long. Oh! It was like a dagger that struck my heart. As months went by, we did see what was expected of him. Because he has a very small fontanel, his brain was not able to grow just like the normal child. This caused his seizures. He also has positioning which would last for almost two hours per episode.
On his fifth month his seizures attacked very often and his doctor advised that he be confined. One of our brethren referred us to the National Children’s Hospital (NCH), a public hospital for children. On October 17, 2007, we went there for check up and the following day we returned for Daniel’s confinement. During our 27-day-stay in the hospital, we saw how the Lord worked in us, how he moved people to be of help, and how He poured out His daily provisions. Cornerstone was our shelter then. We slept, ate, and did our laundry in the church. Pastor Jed and Ate Eden so generously and lovingly accommodated us. We do appreciate the Cornerstone family who offered prayers and help in whatever form.
If I felt the pain, how much more did Daniel. In his frail body, he experienced different kinds of laboratory exams that needed blood extraction. How many needles were pierced through his body because the dextrose was detached very often! He was fed through Oral Gastric Tube (OGT). The oxygen tank was our companion everyday. He took three high dose drugs to control his seizures, but sometimes these drugs were of no effect to him. In such situation we could only depend on God for help. Day and night we cried unto the Lord so that He would strengthen us. It was a daily battle. We prayed to God not to stop the storm we were in but to make us able to walk through it faithfully.
One week before our discharge from the hospital, we submitted my Philhealth so as to lessen our bills. But it was not honored due to the three months gap during my maternity leave. I was alarmed but Pastor Nards comforted me and told me that God is in control. True enough, the day before our discharge Pastor submitted his Philhealth and when the bill arrived we only had to pay P10.00! What a great God! The doctor advised us to buy an oxygen tank before going home. The brand new costs P4,600.00 at Bambang, Manila. That same day my sister called us up and told us that their office was selling an oxygen tank. When Pastor went there he got it for only P2,500.00!
We learned so many principles in that experience. God never made a mistake in bringing Daniel into this world. In fact, He used Daniel to show us our weaknesses so that we would trust in His strength. As a couple, it brought us closer together. We learned to appreciate and be thankful for the little improvements we saw in Daniel. God tested our faith and obedience through trials to help us grow.
The Lord is still pruning us now, ridding us of our rough edges so that we can be more effective in the ministry. It is hard, really hard because God used not hammer to mold us but a mallet. If it is the Lord’s will for our life, we submit to it. May He be glorified…
But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. (Job 23:10) Amen!
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Tungkulin ng Asawa’t Ina
Ilang taon na ang nakakaraan, isang dalagang Kristiyanong malapit nang ikasal ang humingi ng payo sa akin kung dapat ba siyang magpatuloy sa pagtatrabaho pagkatapos ng kasal, o tumigil na at manatili na lamang sa bahay. Sinabi ko sa kanya na walang nilalabag sa Bibliya ang mga babaeng may asawa na patuloy pa ring nagtatrabaho sa labas ng tahanan basta hindi nila kinaliligtaan ang kanilang pangunahing tungkulin, at iyon ay sa kanilang asawa at mga anak.
Subalit sinabi ko rin sa kanya na ang sitwasyon niya ay naiiba dahil sa kung siya ay magpapatuloy sa kanyang trabaho ay lalabas na siya ang magtataguyod sa kanyang pamilya dahil sa napakalaki ng agwat ng kanilang kinikita. At dahil sa siya ang bumubuhay sa kanila, malakas ang tukso na siya ang maghari-harian sa kanilang tahanan, na siyang magiging dahilan ng paglabag niya sa Banal na Kasulatan patungkol sa pagpapasakop ng asawang babae (Efeso 5: 22-24; Col. 3: 18).
Nalulungkot akong tingnan ang mga pamilyang ang ina ang naghahanap-buhay at ang ama ang nasa bahay upang gawin ang tungkulin ng ina. Oo nga’t ito na yata ang uso ngunit hindi ito ayon sa Bibliya. Ang ama ng tahanan ang siyang dapat na mangalaga (Efeso 5: 29; 6: 4) ng kanyang pamilya at kasama sa pangangalagang ito ang pagbibigay ng kanilang pisikal na pangangailangan. Siya ang may katungkulang bumuhay ng kanyang pamilya.
Samantala tayong mga asawa o ina ay dapat na siyang abala sa ating mga tahanan (Tit. 2: 5) at tinitiyak natin ang kaayusan nito, ayon sa pamumuno ng ama sa tahanan. Subalit sa panahon ngayon na napakalakas ng batak ng materyalismo, maraming dahilan ang mga ina upang bigyang katwiran ang paghahanap-buhay. Ang problema ay madalas na nagaganap sa mga tahanan na “kung sino ang mas may pera ang mas malakas ang boses.” Siya na ngayon ang mas may otoridad. Hindi natin maitatangging napakaraming mga babae ngayon ang may mataas na katungkulan sa iba’t ibang sektor ng lipunan.
Tunay ngang baliktad na ang mundo. Ang lalaki gustong maging babae at ang babae ay gustong maging lalaki. Noon ang tawag sa magulang na nasa bahay at nag-aalaga ng mga anak ay “housewife”; ngayon, “house husband.”
Ngunit magkaganito man ang mundo at makiayon man ang marami, nakatitiyak akong ang ating Panginoon ay nalulugod sa mga Kristiyanong asawa’t ina na sumusunod sa Kanyang kalooban at Siya rin ang magtataas sa kanyang Salita at doon sa mga nananatiling tapat dito.
Ngunit magkaganito man ang mundo at makiayon man ang marami, nakatitiyak akong ang ating Panginoon ay nalulugod sa mga Kristiyanong asawa’t ina na sumusunod sa Kanyang kalooban at Siya rin ang magtataas sa kanyang Salita at doon sa mga nananatiling tapat dito.
Subalit sinabi ko rin sa kanya na ang sitwasyon niya ay naiiba dahil sa kung siya ay magpapatuloy sa kanyang trabaho ay lalabas na siya ang magtataguyod sa kanyang pamilya dahil sa napakalaki ng agwat ng kanilang kinikita. At dahil sa siya ang bumubuhay sa kanila, malakas ang tukso na siya ang maghari-harian sa kanilang tahanan, na siyang magiging dahilan ng paglabag niya sa Banal na Kasulatan patungkol sa pagpapasakop ng asawang babae (Efeso 5: 22-24; Col. 3: 18).
Nalulungkot akong tingnan ang mga pamilyang ang ina ang naghahanap-buhay at ang ama ang nasa bahay upang gawin ang tungkulin ng ina. Oo nga’t ito na yata ang uso ngunit hindi ito ayon sa Bibliya. Ang ama ng tahanan ang siyang dapat na mangalaga (Efeso 5: 29; 6: 4) ng kanyang pamilya at kasama sa pangangalagang ito ang pagbibigay ng kanilang pisikal na pangangailangan. Siya ang may katungkulang bumuhay ng kanyang pamilya.
Samantala tayong mga asawa o ina ay dapat na siyang abala sa ating mga tahanan (Tit. 2: 5) at tinitiyak natin ang kaayusan nito, ayon sa pamumuno ng ama sa tahanan. Subalit sa panahon ngayon na napakalakas ng batak ng materyalismo, maraming dahilan ang mga ina upang bigyang katwiran ang paghahanap-buhay. Ang problema ay madalas na nagaganap sa mga tahanan na “kung sino ang mas may pera ang mas malakas ang boses.” Siya na ngayon ang mas may otoridad. Hindi natin maitatangging napakaraming mga babae ngayon ang may mataas na katungkulan sa iba’t ibang sektor ng lipunan.
Tunay ngang baliktad na ang mundo. Ang lalaki gustong maging babae at ang babae ay gustong maging lalaki. Noon ang tawag sa magulang na nasa bahay at nag-aalaga ng mga anak ay “housewife”; ngayon, “house husband.”
Ngunit magkaganito man ang mundo at makiayon man ang marami, nakatitiyak akong ang ating Panginoon ay nalulugod sa mga Kristiyanong asawa’t ina na sumusunod sa Kanyang kalooban at Siya rin ang magtataas sa kanyang Salita at doon sa mga nananatiling tapat dito.
Ngunit magkaganito man ang mundo at makiayon man ang marami, nakatitiyak akong ang ating Panginoon ay nalulugod sa mga Kristiyanong asawa’t ina na sumusunod sa Kanyang kalooban at Siya rin ang magtataas sa kanyang Salita at doon sa mga nananatiling tapat dito.
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