Overcoming Temptation-The Christian Way

Temptation is a desire or craving to do something which you think is wrong. Temptation in a loose sense may indicate a lack of self control. Every human being living on earth is vulnerable to temptation. Satan is the schemer of temptation. He is always on man’s path scheming ways he can trick and ruin him. Since the time of creation he is in paradise with Adam and Eve. Even Jesus Christ when he was in the flesh was not exempted from being tempted but he did not succumb to temptation. Christians should learn from our Lord how to resist temptation. Although temptation is common to all man God will not allow his people to be tempted beyond what he can bear and he will provide a way to escape. That is if we surrender ourselves to Him and resist the devil, the devil will flee from us. In some instances it is our own decision to succumb to temptation, more especially in a time when we are caught in a crossroad and are given the option to accept or resist a tempting offer. Temptation measures the strength of our faith to hold to our conviction to do the right thing. The decision of Joseph, the son of Jacob to resist the invitation of his master’s wife to lie in bed with her ( Genesis 39:1-23), is one good example of a man with a strong conviction that could able to resist temptation. Overcoming temptation requires the strength of our mind, the power of our will and the resistance of our body to run away from the point of temptation.

Temptation start with our curiosity; the curiosity to try something that are illegal or prohibited or something branded as bad or malicious. A thrill seeker person would always want to antagonize. The same with a men’s pleaser, he is easily enticed and be pressured by his peer group. He lacks the will to resist because he has no faith in God nor confidence in himself. Once we feed our curiosity and develop the satisfaction to do it once again, we develop our indulgence to stay with it. The next thing is, we found ourselves being hooked into it, then the habitual indulgence become a vicious cycle. Until such a time when a tiny smoke develop into a big fire and we are to pay for the consequences.

Temptation is a normal thing happens in our life if we succumb to it, we could always ask for forgiveness to God and bounce back never to do it again. Then our merciful God will find a way for us to escape if there would have another attempt by Satan to tempt us.

By being born again, God has renewed our spirit to follow our Savior’s example when He was on earth. But it doesn’t mean that we would never fall to temptation just like our Lord Jesus. We are still on our flesh, the Bible says, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is wiling but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41). We need to be attuned with the words of God in able to strengthen our conviction to please God and resist temptation. When we know God’s words and live by it, we will develop a strong vigilance to identify the alluring temptation and before it clouts us we could readily pray for them to get away from our path.

My Travel Experience

It was month of April when the travel agency has called me up to confirm my passport ready. I was sponsored by my son-in-law to visit their first baby. My daughter has just given birth to a healthy baby girl in Saudi Arabia where the couple has been working for the past two years. It's their first baby after three years of marriage. Though their were excited to have a baby they would be saddled with the burden of caring for her and this saddened my daughter because this would mean she might stop working. It's the reason also why I was asked to speed-up the processing of my passport. I'm doubly excited to tackle the task of being a nanny to my grandchild and to travel abroad for the first time. I arrived here in Saudi last May anxious to find out how the procedure is going and how I should adapt to their culture. My lady co-passengers mostly Filipinos are already putting on their abayas when the plane has touchdown and we were advised to be alighting from the plane sooner. My daughter has called me up on my mobile phone, they were already on the arrival area to fetch me. I was still on the ground waiting for my baggage to pass the x-ray machine. After I got hold of my baggage I was finally relieved. I know I have nothing to worry about I have not brought anything illegal or banned materials but still my being first time traveler to totally different culture like us ,it make me shrink.

Contrary to the negative picture of how Saudi's strict culture has been projected in my mind, I was met with group of smiling and contented Filipino workers upon my arrival to the rented house of my daughter. Some of them have stayed in Saudi for more than ten years with their family and children renting on one big mansion sharing together with other Filipino families with each occupying a big room space with common kitchen and comfort room. A room space is as big as or a little bigger than the row house being sold for a low-income earner in the Philippines. All rooms are air-conditioned and all families are enjoying a comfortable lifestyle owning necessary automatic electrical appliances and cars. Electric bills are very minimal almost negligible to the budget compare to the Philippines. The temperature outside is hot dry above 40 degrees centigrade and there is an occassional sand storm. With contrasting temperature of hot dry outside the room and cold dry inside, we all experience dryness of the skin and everybody are applying the petroleum jelly to moisturize the skin and our sweat gland remains intact.

So far the places I have visited is the mall and hospital. We went shopping at the Riyadh gallery last Friday. The week end days here are Thursday and Friday so my daughter have to plan all the necessary outing and shopping during those days. The mall is superb big and full of lights. Friday is the day for family. Women are not allowed to go out without their abayas on and also to walk alone without their husband or children. Single women have separate days of malling allowed only during Monday. Supermarket occupies a very large space and grocery items have a very low cost with plenty of promo items and they are usually be bought in bulk.

My daughter has a work during Saturday. It's a vaccine day for my grandbaby I was with my son-in-law to take their baby to the hospital. We already have a contact Filipino nurse in the hospital so we can well be accommodated. We were welcome by our smiling Filipino nurses. It's a private hospital and most nurses are Filipinos. I take pride for them they are smart and friendly.

Spiritual gifts - exploring one's gifts.

I began to explore myself when I attended a seminar on Spiritual gifts that God has given us. It's a new discovery to myself, though I have indulged so much on self-reflection and introspection since I was converted to Lord Jesus and became a member of Christian church nevertheless, I've never been aware of such gifts, if ever I have it. That's how I downgrade myself and at times doubted my own abilities. I have been limiting myself to the thought that there are only chosen few who are gifted with talents and that exclude me. Though I refuse to be taken aside, once in a while I join the group where the action is. I accept challenges for my ability and this I'm sure of myself because I never shun from responsibilities delegated to me. Though I'm the passive type who just waited for the project that comes.

When I found my new home church, my concept of myself has given a new shape. I have attended a number of seminars that focus on ministry. "Ministry in the church" means using whatever God has given us to serve Him. That's where I explore my other "abilities" or describe in the Bible as "Spiritual gifts"

I Peter 4:10

"As every man receive the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."

Do you know that there are around 500 to 700 "abilities" that an average person has? One believer may have a kind of ability which the other person does not have.

I Corinthian 7:7

"For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man has his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that."

Before one discover his spiritual gifts he should know first the donor of the gifts.

Exodus 31: 3

"I (Lord)... have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship. "

Once the person becomes a believer of Christ he should find a home church where he could make use of gifts that he has and serve God as well.

You should be willing to work or be an active member of the church by accepting responsibilities. As your work progress, you will discover several other abilities or "gifts" that God has given you.

The value of not giving up

This is a forwarded message. I posted it for others to read and encourage people to continue living for God. If there is one last hope that is God.

Don't ever ever give up......
One day I decided to quit...I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality... in fact I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.
"God", I asked, "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"

His answer surprised me...
"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"
"Yes", I replied.
"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them.
I gave them light.
I gave them water.
The fern quickly grew from the earth.
Its brilliant green covered the floor.

Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.
In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful.
And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. He said.
"In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed.

But I would not quit.
In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would
not quit." He said.
"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant. ..But just 6
months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.
It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive.
I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."
He asked me. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots".

"I would not quit on the bamboo.
I will never quit on you."
"Don't compare yourself to others."
He said.
"The bamboo had a different Purpose than the fern.
Yet they both make the forest beautiful."
"Your time will come", God said to me.
"You will rise high"
"How high should I rise?"
I asked.

"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.
"As high as it can?" I questioned.
"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."
I left the forest and brought back this story.
I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you.
Never, Never, Never Give up.

Don't tell God how big the problem is,
tell the problem how Great God is!
Heavens door opened this morning, God asked me... My CHILD...
what can I do for you?" and I said "Protect and bless the one reading this message.
God smiled and answered ... "request granted ............

This message is now in your hands.
What will YOU do with it?
send this to at least 10 people so they too will have their
lives in God's hands
You never know when GOD is going to bless you!! Good things happen when you least expect them to !!!!!!!!
If You Value Someone, Give them Your TIME. Nothing Else Matters AS Much >>> Never ever give up till the last moment, May be that moment can change your life <<<

Marriage Encounter- Scrutinizing its essence and value

(Photo by smoothdude from flickr)

Why a lot of marriage fail? Let's have a marriage encounter -scrutinizing the essence and value of marriage as we try to picture a married couple. But first let me have this important reminder:

"Marriage is one sacred union between man and woman tied by a common vow to cleave to each other till death separate them." Whether you agree with me or not, marriage is instituted by God. He is the author of marriage, thus, He alone has the power to snatch one partner from the other. Or let them stay in love with each other for as long as they live. The common situation nowadays, is nothing else than a temporal union. There are lot of young couple today separate as early as three years of marriage or even lower. It's very unfortunate that marriage is no longer consider as sacred but something a couple (wants to experiment and undone after a whirlwind romance.

In contrast, I witness a couple as old as 80 years of age, married for about 50 years but their bond had grown stronger in time. There is no special secret, like other young couple today, these old folks had also gone through lots of quarrels, disagreements and incompatibilities as common to others. Their marriage had also been swayed for sometime, but managed to stick together. They had of course, undergone the test of time. And this test of time is one factor that many couples agree in fulfilling a lasting relationship.

Old couples who have been married for more than 50 years belong to the era when they experienced, hard manual labor, scarcity of foods, post war damages, emotional depression and spritual struggle. These things made the couple cleave to each other even more for comfort and solace.

When Adam and Eve were banished from Eden, they had no one to turn to , thus clinging to each others arms, they accepted God's punishment quietly. They have stopped blaming each other but took their responsibility to each other as husband and wife also as parents to their children.

In parallel situation, the financial hardship a couple is experiencing may drive them closely together as they eager to solve problems on their own. As they perform their task together they discover the significance of each one. Compare to the affluent who have their rich independent jobs and almost tied down to each jobs that they have no time for each other anymore. Where you spend most of your time is where your passion develops and too much of it can blow your head off-balance that can be absorbs by your partner. Such negatives traits as greediness, selfishness, insecurities, jealousy, may come to the picture and ruin the couples' relationship. Sad to say, most of the separated women I talked to were the active, independent type who were left to handle the responsibility of being a single parent.

I read a book on "A Biblical Portrait of Marriage" by Dr. Bruch H. Wilkinson This is a kind of workbook that is being used in course on establishing a God-controlled marriage. The teaching were all based on the Bible on its portrait of Marriage. I just one to take the brief discussions on the course with some pointers to follow:

1). The Role of the Couple - to leave the parents domain and live as one flesh.

Genesis 2:18, 23-24

"And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh

Matthew 19:4-6

"And He answered and said to them, Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female." and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."

2. The responsibility of the Couple - To cleave to each other

Hebrews 13: 4

"Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge"
I Corinthians 7:3

"Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband"

3. The role of the husband as the head

Ephesians 5:23

"For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the bod. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her"

I Corinthian 11:3, 8-9

"But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. For man is not from woman, but woman from man. Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man"

I Peter 3:7

" Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered"

4. The role of the wife as helper

Titus 2:4-5

"That they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed."

5. The responsibility of the husband to love his wife

Colossians 3:19

"Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them"

Ephesians 5:28-33

"So husbands ought to love their own wive as their own bodies; he who loves is wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church, Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband"

6. The responsibility of the wife is to submit to her husband

Ephesians 5:24,33

"Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

I Peter 3:1-3

"Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear."

The couple may not achieve the ideal or the perfect marriage but abiding on God's Word would guide them towards achieving a lasting relationship.

God isTesting your Faith

The hard days maybe the time God is testing your faith With a lot a discouraging news on work condition and downturn of economy, the thought of it might have a depressing impact on your future planning. Some may have already felt agitated especially those who have been directly hit by the recession. But lucky enough the recession was not like a sudden bomb that exploded without any warning at all. Perhaps, we could just be going through a testing of time and start tightening our belt a little bit. I was in one government office waiting for my papers to release. A man in microphone who is calling out the names of those released papers made his overture, "you know we, who already experiencing poverty will no longer affected by the recession, because we have been used to it, unlike those who are in an affluent status, they could be badly stricken if ever." I chuckled, in approval, as he looked at me. I was sitting in front of him. I'm sure this man knows the way to endurance and patience, I told myself.

I was reminded of the Jews during their 40 days in the wilderness. There were lots of complaints along the way as they experienced fatigue, hunger and thirst. Yet, the ever faithful God, never abandoned them. They were fed and given water to drink. God sent them pillar of fire during the night and pillar of cloud during the day, to make them feel comfortable. But the people don't realize God's blessing to them and continue to bicker among them and yearn for those days they were in Egypt, where foods are visible and material things are within reach.

I would like to think, that there would be two things which may possibly happen if the recession continue to persist; it's either the people would seek God more or stray from God even more. At any rate, God is not asleep. He knows that everything would have its own time and season... and for his own people God will make it pass

Hebrews 11:1-3

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.