A Man Who Test God…

It was a fine morning when the sun was in its zenith making the multi hued poppies across the meadow to beam brilliantly and gaily dancing with the far wind. A gangling fellow, worn-out and exhausted, stood behind the big oak tree looking directly at his field, verdant bestowed upon his eyes. His cerulean old shirt, tested by time was murky to look at and his aged hat rested on his head covering his thin black hair was a messy thing. He sighed deeply as he stared at the lifeless scarecrows and upon looking at it with a pang of curiosity, a loud roar from beyond perturbed his solitude. He looked up and saw the clouds turned gray, stirred in the vast sky and he looked perplexed and terrified. He got his hat over his head with eyes still fixed on the insufferable scenario he ever saw. “It could be the end of the world,” he cried and knelt down on the earth. He closed his eyes as if afraid what would happen next.

A sudden voice spoke up at him and he knew it came from the stirring clouds. He clandestinely opened his eyes and the clouds held its position as if nothing had happened. He stood up astonished. “Who are you who spoke to me?” he loudly asked upon looking at the open sky. “I am, God!” was the reply. His astonishment grew like a wildfire in the forest as he heard the thing. He looked around to find out if someone was playing a hoax on him. But he was disappointed. His thoughts were indecisive and he’s still uncertain whether it was God who spoke to him or not.
“Did I fear you my son?” asked God compassionately. The man thought of a witty thing to test if He’s really God. He grinned on the brilliant idea and faced the vast sky with pride and buoyancy.
“Now stranger, you’re saying you are God? Prove to me then your ambiguous claim,” said he.

There was a sudden silence and the wind hath passed to and fro. The man waited frantically for His answer. Then God replied: “What is it then my son, you wanted?” The man thought deeply, walking from here to there, looking at the tree standing like sentinels, to the verdant mountains and alack, a decision came as he rested his eyes once more to the scarecrows. Then he said to God: “If you are God really, make those lifeless scarecrows be human like me, for them to plow my field and so me to take my rest.”

Then without much ado, the scarecrows turned to be humans and they’ve started plowing the field. The man, delighted and stunned, looked them with amazement. “And so you believe to me now my son?” God asked to the man. “I still not,” was his proud answer. He weighed things wisely taking advantage for his own sake. “You could be anything than God?” “Ask one more thing my son and I’ll prove to you that I am God.” The man smiled slightly and he opened his mouth to speak up. “Do prove to me the real you upon giving me a mansion with thousand of rooms, with hundreds of servants, silver walls, and a landscape of beautiful foliages and flora. Give me a room filled with gold that even the faraway kings will kneel down before me to see my riches.”

The man waited for a moment for his wishes to come true and he smiled lavishly thinking of the idea. “And that would come true my son,” said God and all his wishes loomed on his eyes. He was now a thousand times richer than a king and he need not to plow his field anymore. His rich could even buy a soul. “Then you believe me now my son that I am God?”

The man still feeling a want of satisfaction answered Him: “You prove to me that you’re God by making the scarecrows human; by giving me the wealth I least expected. But one thing more I wanted,” he said to God. “What is it my son? Tell me.”
The man on his new clothes standing in the midst of his riches shouted: “I wanted to become God and have the powers you all possess!” Then he smiled of the thought that he could be the most powerful creature on earth; that he could be God and be worshipped by the world.

“But that is impossible my son,” God replied. “Then you’re not God! Do prove to me by doing so.” The man demanded impatiently. God sighed deeply and said: “Then you will be god.”

The clouds stirred again and the man, with the wealth the world could envy, stood amidst the open field and became a lifeless scarecrow, the god of the fields.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY(“,)

Prayer For Today

Dear Lord, as I arise
And bend my knee to pray
I ask please place your guiding hand
Upon this busy day

All my yesterdays are said and done
Tomorrow may never be
But I give you full reign over this day
To make the best of me

May each little word I speak
Be filtered through your love
May all my thoughts be connected
To the heavenly courts above

And use my feet to take me
To where you want me to be
Guard my eyes that they would only
See what you want me to see

Give me a heart that longs to show
Others the way back home
And with these two hands help me
Fashion glory for your throne

From the great expanse of eternity
One day is all I can borrow
So help me Lord to take care of today
And we’ll talk again tomorrow.

Gift

Today before you think of saying an unkind word
Think of someone who can’t speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food –
Think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Before you complain about your husband or wife –
Think of someone who’s crying out to God for a companion.

Today before you complain about life –
Think of someone who went too early to heaven.

Before you complain about your children –
Think of someone who desires children but they’re barren.

Before you argue about your dirty house, someone didn’t clean or sweep –
Think of the people who are living in the streets.

Before whining about the distance you drive –
Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.

And when you are tired and complain about your job –
Think of the unemployed, the disabled and those who wished they had your job.

But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another – Remember that not one of us are without sin and we all answer to one maker.

And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down –
Put a smile on your face and thank God you’re alive and still around.

Life is a gift,
Live it,
Enjoy it,
Celebrate it and
Fulfill it.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY(“,)

Idols

Idolatry is anything that diverts our attention and devotion to GOD.

We now live in an idolatrous world that worships practically anything: celebrities, hobbies, jobs, sports, money, cars and other possessions. Many of us exert all our energy, time and money into these things that we no longer have room for GOD. Once we discard GOD, we therefore strip ourselves of HIS grace and later become pagans in our own way of life and the laws of evil will start to rule.

Sadly but true, Christians are now waging a battle against widespread secularism, materialism, greed, sex, drugs, different vices, power-worship and many more.

Each of us is therefore called to live a victorious Christian life amidst an idolatrous environment.

Let us therefore continue being the salt of the earth so that others will see the difference serving a true living GOD. HIS word will always prevail and remain powerful (Acts 19:20).

TO GOD BE THE GLORY(“,)

Blind Spot

“…Jesus told them(disciples) “All of you will desert me….Peter replied, ‘Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ Peter said to Him, ‘Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.’ And all the other disciples said the same.” MARK 14:27-31
__________________________________________________________________

Peter was confident. He had no doubts. He couldn’t imagine any circumstances in which he would “fall away” from following Jesus, as He had prophesied.

Peter boldly declared that he never would fall away. But Jesus warned that he would deny Him three times that very night. This was not possible, Peter replied, for he was ready to go to the death for Jesus!

Then, just a few hours later, Peter did exactly as Jesus had predicted. He fled when Jesus was arrested. Then he denied Him three times, even cursing and swearing.

Through these events, Peter realized he had a huge “BLIND SPOT”.

Thinking he was strong, he had no idea how weak he truly was.

He thought he could face any problem, but he didn’t realize how quickly problems could overwhelm him.

He thought he was firm in his convictions, without understanding how quickly he could be shaken.

Peter’s experience provides a powerful lesson to all of us.

No matter how mature, strong, or experienced we think we are, we inevitably will go through situations that stretch and challenge us.

Like Peter, we will see things about ourselves that may surprise and disappoint us…

Making us realize just how weak we are in our flesh and how much we need Jesus!

Today, ask God to help you to recognize any blind spots in your life.

Ask Him to open your eyes to areas where you need to change.

As you go through life, humble yourself before Him and seek to be humble in your relationships with others.

Constantly submit your life to God.

Be teachable and ready to recognize any blind spots.

GLORY BE TO GOD(“,)

Enough Running…

Is there something difficult in your life that you tend not to talk about??

Is there something, buried deep inside of you, that you never want to dig it out and you let it lay there and fester and grow inside of you like a bad disease?

There are so many people who run from their problems. They run and run and never face them. They run from people that they do not like or have harmed them in some way, or avoid places that may trigger a reaction and bring up bad memories. And the big one that people run from, is the past.

Instead of dealing with these issues, people take the easy way out and ride down the comfortable path called “Least Resistance.”

Do you know when you face these problems in your life and attack them head on, you become stronger and you will grow spiritually??

Do you know when you face your fears, those fears (most of them) go away??

If you want to lead a great, healthy, happy life for yourself, with values and hopes and dreams, you must first get rid of that heavy baggage you carry around inside of you…Just drop it off and never pick it back up again.

Every time this uncomfortable situation comes up in your life, do not bury your head in the sand. Greet the problem head on and with a positive mindset and you will realize that the huge problem that has been beating you up mentally, for so long and so many years, was just a figment of your imagination. It was never real to begin with and certainly will never hurt you.

Live free of mental anguish…

Live free of anxieties of what you think is going to happen…

Live free from the fears of the unknown…

Live free from something that happened so long ago and has been keeping you chained down for years, stuck from forward progression….

Let it all go…

Declare freedom from all of this and watch your life flourish with healthy positive faith filled thoughts.

Happiness is right around the corner peeking it’s head out at you. Go get him and welcome him into your heart. Hasn’t it been long enough??

May God bless you and every person that you touch in life.

To God be The Glory.

Clinic!

I went to the Lord’s Clinic to have my routine check-up and I confirmed I was ill.

When Jesus took my blood pressure, He saw I was low in tenderness.

When He read my temperature, the thermometer registered 40 degrees of anxiety.

He ran an electrocardiogram and found that I needed several “love bypasses” since my arteries were blocked with loneliness and could not provide for an empty heart.

I went to orthopedics, because I could not walk by my brother’s side and I could not hug my friends, since I had fractured myself when tripping with envy.

He also found I was short-sighted, since I could not see beyond the shortcomings of my brothers and sisters.

When I complained about deafness, the diagnostic was that I had stopped listening to Jesus’ voice talking to me on a daily basis.

For all of that, Jesus gave me a free consultation thanks to His mercy, so my pledge is to, once I leave this clinic, only take the natural remedies He prescribed through his words of truth:

* Every morning take a full glass of gratitude.
* When getting to work, take one spoon of peace.
* Every hour, take one pill of patience, one cup of brotherhood and one glass of humility
* When getting home, take one dose of love
* When getting to bed, take two caplets of clear conscience

——————————- ——————————- ——————————-

Do not give in to sadness or desperation for what you are going through today.

God knows how you feel…

God knows exactly and with perfection what is being allowed to happen to you in your life at this precise moment.

God’s purpose for you is simply perfect.

He wants to show you things that only you can understand by living what you are living, and by being in the place you are now.

May God give you…
* For every storm, a rainbow
* For every tear, a smile,
* For every care, a promise,
* And a blessing in each trial.

For every problem, life sends a faithful friend to share.
For every sigh, a sweet song.
And an answer for each prayer.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY(“,)

Birthday Lessons (23 Things I’ve Learned Last Year)

 

Last April 5, 2011…I celebrated my birthday and let me share with you some 23 Lessons that I’ve learned. Here it goes:

1. No one can ruin your day without YOUR permission.
2. Most people will be about as happy, as they decide to be.
3. Others can stop you temporarily, but only you can do it permanently.
4. Whatever you are willing to put up with, is exactly what you will have.
5. Success stops when you do.

6. When your ship comes in…. make sure you are willing to unload it.
7. You will never have it all together.
8. Life is a journey…not a destination. Enjoy the trip!
9. The biggest lie on the planet is that ‘When I get what I want I will be happy.’
10. The best way to escape your problem is to solve it.

11. I’ve learned that ultimately , ‘takers’ lose and ‘givers’ win.
12. Life’s precious moments don’t have value, unless they are shared.
13. If you don’t start, it’s certain you won’t arrive.
14. We often fear the thing we want the most.
15. He or she who laughs……lasts.

16. Yesterday was the deadline for all complaints.
17. Look for opportunities…not guarantees.
18. Life is what’s coming….not what was.
19. Success is getting up one more time.
20. Now is the most interesting time of all.
21. When things go wrong…..don’t go with them.
22. God can only fill your hands if it’s empty.
23. Put God first in everything you and you will succeed.

To all who wished me via text, email and social networking, Thank you very much.

Let’s keep running and living for His glory.

God be Praised.

Our Father (The Prayer)

Our Father who art in Heaven. . . .
YES?

Don’t interrupt me. I’m praying. . . .

BUT YOU CALLED ME.

Called you? I didn’t call you. I’m praying. Our Father who art in Heaven….

THERE, YOU DID IT AGAIN. Did what? CALLED ME. YOU SAID, “OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN..” HERE I AM. WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND?

But I didn’t mean anything by it. I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day. I always say the Lord’s Prayer. It makes me feel good, kind of like getting my duty done.

ALL RIGHT. GO ON.

Hallowed be thy name.

HOLD IT. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

By what?

BY “HALLOWED BE THY NAME.”

It means….it means….good grief, I don’t know what it means. How should I know? Its just part of the prayer. By the way, what does it mean?

IT MEANS “HONORED,” “HOLY,” “WONDERFUL.”

Hey, that makes sense. I never thought about what “Hallowed” meant before. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

DO YOU REALLY MEAN THAT?

Sure, why not?

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

Doing? Nothing, I guess. I just think it would be neat if you got control of everything down here like you have up there.

HAVE I GOT CONTROL OF YOU?

Well, I go to church.

THAT ISN’T WHAT I ASKED YOU. WHAT ABOUT THAT HABIT OF LUST YOU HAVE? AND YOUR BAD TEMPER? YOU’VE REALLY GOT A PROBLEM THERE, YOU KNOW. AND THEN THERE’S THE WAY YOU SPEND YOUR MONEY…… ALL ON YOURSELF. AND WHAT ABOUT THE KINDS OF BOOKS YOU READ?

Stop picking on me! I’m just as good as some of the rest of those phonies at the church.

EXCUSE ME….I THOUGHT YOU WERE PRAYING FOR MY WILL TO BE DONE. IF THAT IS TO HAPPEN, IT WILL HAVE TO START WITH THE ONES WHO ARE PRAYING FOR IT. LIKE YOU, FOR EXAMPLE.

Oh, all right! I guess I do have some hang-ups. Now that you mention it, I could probably name some others.

SO COULD I.

I haven’t thought about it until now, but I really would like to cut out some of those things. I’d like to, you know, be really free.

GOOD, NOW WE’RE GETTING SOMEWHERE. WE’LL WORK TOGETHER…. YOU AND ME. NOW, SOME VICTORIES CAN TRULY BE WON. I’M PROUD OF YOU.

Look Lord, I need to finish up here. This is taking a lot longer than it usually does…. Give us this day our daily bread.

YOU NEED TO CUT DOWN ON THE BREAD TOO… YOU’RE OVERWEIGHT AS IT IS.

Hey, wait a minute! What is this, “Criticize Me Day?” Here I was doing my religious duty, and all of a sudden you break in and remind me of all my hang-ups.

PRAYING IS A DANGEROUS THING. YOU COULD WIND UP CHANGED YOU KNOW. THAT’S WHAT I’M TRYING TO GET ACROSS TO YOU. YOU CALLED ME, AND HERE I AM. IT’S TOO LATE TO STOP NOW. KEEP ON PRAYING. I’M INTERESTED IN THE NEXT PART OF YOUR PRAYER.. …. WELL, GO ON.

I’m scared to.

SCARED? OF WHAT? I KNOW WHAT YOU’LL SAY. TRY ME AND SEE.

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

WHAT ABOUT JOE?

See I knew it! I knew you would bring him up! Why he’s told lies about me, cheated me out of money.. He never paid back that debt he owes me. I’ve sworn to get even.

BUT YOUR PRAYER…WHAT ABOUT YOUR PRAYER?

I didn’t mean it.

WELL, AT LEAST YOU’RE HONEST. BUT IT’S NOT MUCH FUN CARRYING THE LOAD OF BITTERNESS AROUND INSIDE, IS IT?

No, but I’ll feel better as soon as I get even. Boy, have I made some plans for ol’ Joe. He’ll wish he never did me any harm.

YOU WON’T FEEL ANY BETTER. YOU’LL FEEL WORSE. REVENGE ISN’T SWEET. THINK OF HOW UNHAPPY YOU ARE ALREADY. BUT I CAN CHANGE ALL THAT.

You can? How?

FORGIVE JOE. THEN I’LL FORGIVE YOU. THEN THE HATE AND SIN WILL BE JOE’S PROBLEM AND NOT YOURS…YOU MAY LOSE THE MONEY, BUT YOU WILL SETTLE YOUR HEART.

But Lord, I can’t forgive Joe.

THEN I CAN’T FORGIVE YOU.

Oh, you’re right! You always are. And more than I want revenge on Joe, I want to be right with you…. All right! I forgive him. Help him to find the right road in life, Lord. He’s bound to be awfully miserable, now that I think about it. Some way, some how, show him the right way.

THERE NOW! HOW DO YOU FEEL?

Hmmm… not bad. Not bad at all, In fact I feel pretty great. You know, I don’t think I’ll have to go to bed uptight tonight for the first time since I can’t remember. Maybe I won’t be so tired from now on because I’m not getting enough rest.

YOU’RE NOT THROUGH WITH YOUR PRAYER..GO ON.

Oh, alright…..And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

GOOD…GOOD. I’LL DO THAT. JUST DON’T PUT YOURSELF IN A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN BE TEMPTED.

What do you mean by that?

QUIT HANGING AROUND THE WRONG PLACES, WATCHING INAPPROPRIATE MOVIES AND TELEVISION, LISTENING TO SINFUL CONVERSATIONS; HANGING AROUND THE PLACES WHERE PLAYBOY AND PLAYGIRL ARE SOLD. CHANGE SOME OF YOUR FRIENDSHIPS. SOME OF YOUR SO-CALLED FRIENDS ARE BEGINNING TO GET TO YOU. THEY’LL HAVE YOU COMPLETELY INVOLVED IN WRONG THINGS BEFORE LONG. DON’T BE FOOLED. THEY ADVERTISE THEY’RE HAVING FUN, BUT FOR YOU IT WOULD BE RUIN. DON’T USE ME FOR AN ESCAPE HATCH.

I don’t understand.

SURE YOU DO, YOU’VE DONE IT ….. LOTS OF TIMES. YOU GET CAUGHT IN A BAD SITUATION, YOU GET INTO TROUBLE AND THEN YOU COME RUNNING TO ME. “LORD, HELP ME OUT OF THIS MESS, AND I PROMISE YOU I’LL NEVER DO IT AGAIN.” YOU REMEMBER SOME OF THOSE BARGAINS YOU TRIED TO MAKE WITH ME?

Yes, and I’m ashamed Lord. I really am.

WHICH BARGAINS ARE YOU REMEMBERING?

Well, when the guy next door saw me backing away from the neighborhood bar.. I told my wife I was going to the store.. I remember telling you, “Lord don’t let him tell her where I’ve been. I promise I’ll be in church every Sunday.”

HE DIDN’T TELL YOUR WIFE, BUT YOU DIDN’T KEEP YOUR PROMISE, DID YOU?

I’m sorry Lord, I really am. Up until now I thought if I just prayed the Lord’s prayer everyday, then I could do what I liked. I didn’t expect anything to happen like it did.

GO AHEAD. FINISH YOUR PRAYER.

Oh yes….For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD BRING ME GLORY? WHAT WOULD MAKE ME REALLY HAPPY?

No, but I’d like to know. I want to please you. I can see what a mess I’ve made out of my life, and I can see how great it would be to really be one of your followers.

YOU JUST ANSWERED THE QUESTION.

I did?

YES, THE ONE THING THAT WOULD BRING ME GLORY IS TO HAVE PEOPLE LIKE YOU TRULY LOVE ME. AND I CAN SEE THAT HAPPENING BETWEEN US. NOW THAT SOME OF THESE OLD SINS ARE EXPOSED AND OUT OF THE WAY… WELL, THERE’S NO TELLING WHAT WE CAN DO TOGETHER.

Lord, let’s see what we can make of me, OK?

YES, LET’S SEE.

IF

If you never felt pain,
how would you know that I am the Healer?

If you never had to pray,
how would you know that I am the Deliverer?

If you never had a trial,
how could you call yourself an over comer?

If you never felt sadness,
how would you know that I am the Comforter?

If you never made a mistake,
how would you know that I am the Forgiver?

If you knew all,
how would you know that I will answer your questions?

If you never were in trouble,
how would you know that I will come to your rescue?

If you never were broken,
how would you know that I can make you whole?

If you never had a problem,
how would you know that I can solve them?

If you never had any suffering,
then how would you know what I went through?

If you never went through the fire,
how would you become pure?

If I gave you all things,
how would you appreciate them?

If I never corrected you,
how would you know that I love you?

If you had all power,
how would you learn to depend on me?

If your life was perfect,
than what would you need me for?

Love,
Jesus