In the course of life ...

In the course of life, one faces difficult decisions. One may face two options at once or three if one is so lucky. An open door does not necessarily mean that it is the right one. Likewise, a closed door does not mean it is the wrong one. Some wear their emotions on their sleeves. Others hide them so well that no one can interpret their feelings. And there are those who do not know or understand that aspect of themselves. What do you do when you feel locked out of every available door? Do you pound on the door hoping someone would open it for you? Do you break it down? Or do you walk away? Sometimes pounding on the door makes us feel better as if we are accomplishing something. It does not necessarily mean we care whether the door opens or not. We are seeking help. If no one is on the other side to open it, we place blame elsewhere. Sometimes breaking the door down makes us feel productive and prove our strength. It does not matter whether the results are beneficial or not. Sometimes walking away makes us feel that we’ve accepted the situation as is. But it may reap regrets.  

In the course of time, one faces disappointments, betrayals, tears, and rejections. These encompass all areas of life such as home, school, work, church. These can be from family, friends, colleagues, neighbors, church folk, and people at large. What do you do when you have so much pain and there is no remedy in sight? Do you continue tampering with your open wounds until infected? Do you ignore the wounds and deny their existence? Or do you nurse the wounds until you’re whole again? Sometimes playing with the wounds cause horrific pain that is lived over and over again every time the wound is tampered with. Sometimes denying the existence of wounds render us emotionally impeded or numb. Sometimes nursing our wounds is hard work for it requires discipline, determination, and tenacity. 

In the course of life, we have to carry burdens. Each of us has to bear his or her own burdens. We may have to carry others’ burdens as well. These can range from spiritual to the physical and includes the emotional and psychological. What do you do when you feel weak or inadequate to carry others burdens; let alone yours? Do you unload all of your burdens and run away? Do you hold the burdens and complain every second of every day? Or do you carry the burden appreciating the fact that your muscles are getting stronger? Sometimes unloading all burdens just delays the inevitable for everyone reaps what he or she sows. Sometimes complaining ensures our burdens to be heavier and intolerable. Sometimes a thankful attitude causes our burdens to be featherlike. 

As you can see, the game of life is full of decisions. Behind every action is a decision. Every action is received with a reaction. Wondering why people are treating you the way they do? Look in the mirror and objectively test your motives. Our motives are the fuel that drives our actions. Some can read your motives better than they can read your actions. Our motives can repel others away and have the potential to attract others to us. You have the choice. You can choose how to treat others and how you allow others to treat you. Not doing anything is also a choice. 

This is the game of life which is here today and can be gone in seconds. What about afterwards? What do you do when there are a lot of religions and theories of the afterlife? Do you deny the existence of the afterlife altogether? Do you randomly pick one or remain believing in the theories of your ancestry? Or do you seek the truth? Sometimes denying the existence of anything in life renders us clueless and foolish.  Sometimes accepting something because of convenience ensures we miss out and will cause regrets. Sometimes seeking the truth is hard work. The knocking on every door to determine whether it is the truth or a deception is exhausting on many levels. 

If you decide to seek the truth, consider Jesus Christ. He said in the book of Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” He is not here today and gone tomorrow like many fad religions. He is not positive words to repeat every day to remain positive and have a feel good attitude. He is not a series of actions to appease Him. He does not require harm or bloodshed to befall unbelievers in His name. He is not blind to the happenings of the world. He does not turn a deaf ear to the hurting or the victimized. He is God. He is as alive as you and me. He can hear, see, feel everything happening especially the actions performed in the darkest hour. He knows you better than you know yourself. He tests your heart before your actions. He understands why you act the way you do. He sympathizes with you. He empathizes with you. He loves you even when you do not love yourself. He gently speaks His love to you. Even if the whole world rejects you, He is waiting with open arms. Do you feel unworthy? No one is worthy of His love. Do you feel abandoned by Him? What makes you so sure He was not there for you? Our pain can be so severe that we cannot see the truth. Ask Him to show you the truth. He will. Do you feel like you are the only one experiencing this trauma? You are not. There are many who experienced what you do and can be very supportive of you. Look up. Ask Him for help. He may help you directly. He may send someone to help you. He may have someone pray for you. He may send an article or video that you need. Do you feel alone?  He promised in Matthew 28: latter of 20, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  

Resolutions

We all make New Year’s resolutions. Some want to lose weight and become healthier. Some want to abandon a harmful habit such as smoking. How many people actually keep their resolutions? And for how long? How about you? Are you still committed to your resolutions?

There are three people in the Bible who made special resolutions.  Not much is revealed about these resolutions. The men can be considered great for individualized reasons. They are famous and two can be considered infamous. All of them have had an impact on those around them and their lives impact us nowadays. We can learn many things from their lives and their resolutions.  

“Though you probe my heart and examine me at night, though you test me, you will find nothing; I have resolved that my mouth will not sin.” Psalm 17:3 NIV. David determined that his mouth will not sin.  Words have a powerful impact on self and others. In Proverbs 18:21, words bring life or death sooner or later. It delves deeper than mere words. Jesus said, “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” So in order for a person not to trespass with words, the heart has to be pure. If there is a problem with your words, perhaps a little digging in the heart arena will fix the problem. “We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check,” James 3:2.

“But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way,” Daniel 1:8. He resolved not to eat the king’s food. He regarded God to be greater than the king. He was not afraid of the king for he feared God. God gives us free will. He respects our decisions because of His love for us. If we choose Him above all, He guaranties our victory through the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Daniel chose God above all and found favor with many. In certain verses of scripture, God’s word to the soul is like food to the body.  Jeremiah said in 15:16, “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God Almighty.” In Psalm 119:103, God’s word is deemed sweeter than honey. Anything we fill our sight, ears, mind, and heart with has the potential of bringing us closer to God or separating us from Him. We need to be selective in every arena of our lives if we want to be an impact in our world. Daniel was selective and impacted his world.

“For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified,” Paul said in I Corinthians 2:2. He did not want to know the latest news or gossip of the church. He did not use persuasive speech or fancy words. He spoke in the power of the Holy Spirit. We fill our lives with many things that in the end will be useless or a waste of time. We study the Bible and ignore the author and main character. We go to church for specific motives that disclude Jesus Christ. We attend church religiously and live the rest of our time as we please. We serve in churches without the power of the Holy Spirit. We are lying when we sing worship songs. We practice hypocrisy when we act pleasantly to certain people we cannot tolerate. How many times have you told someone you cared when you didn’t? We are stumbling blocks to others and ourselves. We are deceived by thinking we are on the right road when in fact, we are digressing and regressing. The foundation of the Christian faith is Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Paul kept that point in front of him during his visits to the Corinthian church. He impacted his world.

Those three men made resolutions and with the help of the Holy Spirit, they kept their commitments. Do know that God loves you and respects all of your decisions; one being following Him or not. Some people do follow at a distance. He is not going to force them to come closer. It is our decision how close we come to God. It is a relationship. If we decide to come closer, He will draw us to Himself. He will reveal more of Himself. No one I know has ever regretted being a follower of Jesus Christ.

Until next time: “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” III John 1:2 NIV

What about love?

What do you do when you are faced with a broken relationship whether marriage, friendship, or any that made you fond of another?  It may be rejection, a misunderstanding, lack of communication, or changes made such as a move of residence. In short, love can break a heart.

We tend to look for answers. We tend to question God. We tend to seek simpler times and ask, “What if …?” But nothing remains the same. Everything changes. Everyone changes. Change can be good so long as it builds up in the long run. Nature changes and adapts to the weather and seasons. A tree in spring looks differently than it does in autumn. Although the leaves dry out and fall, the tree does not die. It is getting ready for the next season of its life. It has deep-seated roots that allow it to remain tall and strong throughout all seasons.  

We are all enamored by love. Do we love the idea of love? Do we love the feelings / emotions associated with love? Do we love how love makes us happy? Do we love how it makes us grow and expand beyond ourselves and selfishness? Or do we hate feeling alone? Do we hate how culture frowns upon the ‘loner’? In short, are we running to or from something / someone because we want to or because we have to?

We are all enamored by love. Some seek it above and beyond anything else. Yet He is very close; just a chat away. We were created out of love; Ephesians 1:4-5. We were redeemed with love; Romans 5:6 and Ephesians 2:4-5. He gave His all because He loves us; John 3:16. Let’s not settle for a counterfeit version and give our love away so cheaply. Let us love for He loved us first; I John 4:19.

I wish for you a valentine who would never disappoint you; someone who will be there when you are in need; someone who would love your tears away; someone who loves you unconditionally. I wish you Jesus Christ. For love can mend a broken heart.