Inspired by my sister in Christ who started a blogging event which she termed "Thank God, It's Monday!", I'm also writing my own TGIM post to replace all the negative vibes during Mondays until this becomes a bandwagon and a phenomenon.
Today is a rainy Monday and for most in the north, a stormy one. When I was working in the corporate world, the fact that I hate going back to work on Mondays coz it's hard to let go of the weekend bliss made me hate it more when the weather is bad. To think I go to work by car so how much more for those who take the public transportation? Another self-discovery; how ungrateful and so discontent I was before.
What makes me love Mondays, by the way? A lot of things. But I have to tackle only the things I have in store for me today and this week.
I Thank God It's Monday because....
... we're on our fourth week of homeschooling! The kids are enjoying and loving it and so am I. Yay, we are thriving!
... I will again be preparing exciting and engaging activities for our kids to supplement their bookish type of learning and I also learn a lot of things in the process.
... it's raining hard and we homeschool, I'll not be bothered with monitoring the news on status of class suspensions due to bad weather, or worry on my kids' condition away from me, instead I'll use that time doing more productive work. This is so thumbs up! :)
... I sent NXTGen devotional material to one of my Friday Skypleship mommies last night and she sent me a very affirmative reply just now. She said she couldn't wait for our meeting this Friday. This painted a big smile on my face.
... I'm also very excited to meet my Tuesday Skypleship online droup tomorrow for the first time so today I'll be preparing the topics for the meeting.
... even if it's a stormy weather, I was still able to visit my garden and give my greens their nitrogen boost from the coffee grounds the kids got from Starbucks yesterday. Instead of buying chemical fertilizers, we thought of a better idea staying at Starbucks once in a while, buying a couple of drinks while the kids are engaged with their activities and I work on my stuffs. Free AC office space, classroom, unique experience of the kids and of course my free coffee grounds.
... it's one day less to our final assessment day in TESDA which means putting an end to our tedious travel in the south to attend classes and sleepless nights studying and preparing for our portfolio. We are training to become certified assessors and trainors at a national level in our chosen field which is IT. Just adding another hat.
O my, I still got a lot of "to-thank-for-items" in my list which I opt not to write anymore coz I might be divulging too much information. I never thought there actually are a lot of things to be grateful for. Our lives will truly become better if our hearts are always thankful. It's actually God's will for us as stated by the source: "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV). I don't need to look further and wait for signs to know what God's will for me is, it's so crystal clear. I'm already doing God's will in my life by just being thankful.
And the ultimate reward for being thankful is a heart full of peace which comes from the author of peace alone which is Jesus.
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:15-17 ESV)
It's never too late to start a bucket list of gratefulness. I can attest how life changing this small act is.
It's now your turn to publish your own TGIM post, may it be on any social media or blog sites you own and see how it could change your perspective on things and life per se.
Showing posts with label journal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label journal. Show all posts
Monday, July 6, 2015
Monday, June 29, 2015
LOVE THE SINNER, HATE THE SIN
It's all over my news feed. Articles, commentaries, blogs and videos were being published in full blast with the recent ruling in the US that approved "same-sex marriage". If I was still in my "old self", you can easily predict how I would react--condemn the sinner and post guilt trips on social media. But having been transformed by Christ (through his death and saving grace) and maintaining a relationship with him changed my mindset and heart to love one another as I have been a consistent recipient of God's unending grace and love everyday made my stand on this issue to -- "Love the sinner; hate the sin."
I couldn't find any exact biblical reference to this saying. But there is one verse in Jude 1:22-23 that could relate to this idea. It says: "Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.” This could mean that our view should be characterized by mercy for the sinner and a healthy hatred of sin and its effects.
Christ died for our sins. It's with ardent desire to feel compassion on sinners for whom Christ died, and keeping ourselves from being polluted by the world as well. I'm not saying that I am perfect, it's only through God's grace that gives the conviction to say no to sin. Also, as a limited human being, we cannot love perfectly, nor hate perfectly (without malice). Only God can do both of this perfectly; he can hate the sin and the sinner in a perfectly holy way and still lovingly forgive at the time of repentance and faith. This is kinda mysterious isn't it? God can perfectly love and hate a person at the same time? How could this happen? The bible clearly states this fact in 1 John 4:8-9 which says, "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him." This means that He loves us as someone he created and redeemed, and he also hates us for our unbelief and sinful lifestyle. Being imperfect human beings, we cannot do this but the least we could remind ourselves is to "love the sinner; hate the sin."
Still confused, eh? This simply means we are to hate sin by identifying it, declining to take part in it, and condemning it because it's contrary to God's nature. We should not excuse sin or take it lightly but it should be hated. On the other hand, we have to love sinners. I can think of three ways to do this. First is show them respect as stated in 1 Peter 2:17 which says, "Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor." Second is we pray for them ("First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people." 1 Timothy 2:1). And last and most important is witnessing to them of Christ--sharing our heartfelt faith in Christ and what he had personally done that changed our lives. (No exchange of intellect and debate here.)
It is indeed an act of love to treat someone with respect and kindness even though you do not approve of his or her lifestyle or sinful choices. And it is not a loving act to allow a person to remain stuck in sin. It's not a hateful act to tell a person that he or she is in sin. The exact opposites are true. Sin leads to death ("Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and when it is fully grown brings forth death"-James 1:15), and we love the sinner by speaking the truth in love ("Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ."-Ephesians 4:15).
I couldn't find any exact biblical reference to this saying. But there is one verse in Jude 1:22-23 that could relate to this idea. It says: "Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.” This could mean that our view should be characterized by mercy for the sinner and a healthy hatred of sin and its effects.
Christ died for our sins. It's with ardent desire to feel compassion on sinners for whom Christ died, and keeping ourselves from being polluted by the world as well. I'm not saying that I am perfect, it's only through God's grace that gives the conviction to say no to sin. Also, as a limited human being, we cannot love perfectly, nor hate perfectly (without malice). Only God can do both of this perfectly; he can hate the sin and the sinner in a perfectly holy way and still lovingly forgive at the time of repentance and faith. This is kinda mysterious isn't it? God can perfectly love and hate a person at the same time? How could this happen? The bible clearly states this fact in 1 John 4:8-9 which says, "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him." This means that He loves us as someone he created and redeemed, and he also hates us for our unbelief and sinful lifestyle. Being imperfect human beings, we cannot do this but the least we could remind ourselves is to "love the sinner; hate the sin."
Still confused, eh? This simply means we are to hate sin by identifying it, declining to take part in it, and condemning it because it's contrary to God's nature. We should not excuse sin or take it lightly but it should be hated. On the other hand, we have to love sinners. I can think of three ways to do this. First is show them respect as stated in 1 Peter 2:17 which says, "Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor." Second is we pray for them ("First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people." 1 Timothy 2:1). And last and most important is witnessing to them of Christ--sharing our heartfelt faith in Christ and what he had personally done that changed our lives. (No exchange of intellect and debate here.)
It is indeed an act of love to treat someone with respect and kindness even though you do not approve of his or her lifestyle or sinful choices. And it is not a loving act to allow a person to remain stuck in sin. It's not a hateful act to tell a person that he or she is in sin. The exact opposites are true. Sin leads to death ("Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and when it is fully grown brings forth death"-James 1:15), and we love the sinner by speaking the truth in love ("Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ."-Ephesians 4:15).
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Journey to Journal Again
It’s been a while…
Going back 10 years ago, I had my first venture in blogging to document the events and experiences in my married life and as a new parent. And the contents expanded to include newly acquired skills in photography and baking. But it was only short-lived where the last post was year 2008. I got so caught up on all the hats I’m wearing – wife, mom, career-woman, photographer, baker, business-owner, etc. leaving me no room to reflect and write my thoughts.
Today, I found the zest to write about the detour God placed me in. Detours that took place in marriage, parenting, career and faith. May all I doodle here brings glory and honor to our creator and savior. Everything comes from Him and we ought to offer it back to Him.
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