#yesimasinner

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Like a Mustard Seed

“It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” (Mark 4: 31 – 32)

TheKingdomofGodwas likened to a mustard seed, and it is a perfect comparison. When you let the Kingdom to rest within you, it will grow. When you give it even just the smallest space in your heart, it will blossom in you. It will grow so big that you cannot control it anymore. It will move you.

“So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive good or evil, according to what he has done in the body.” (2 Corinthians 5: 9 – 10)

As it moves you, you begin to feel that your fears are dying down. You find it easier to trust in God. You will begin to experience that completeness in Him. As it grows, you will find it hard to contain it within yourself, you just have to go out there and profess your faith. You will begin to take small steps towards preaching the unconditional love of God for us. Be warned though. Being a follower is not easy.

“Thus says the Lord GOD: "I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar, and will set it out; I will break off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I myself will plant it upon a high and lofty mountain; on the mountain height of Israel will I plant it, that it may bring forth boughs and bear fruit, and become a noble cedar; and under it will dwell all kinds of beasts; in the shade of its branches birds of every sort will nest. And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD bring low the high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do it.” (Ezekiel 17: 22 – 24)

The disciples never had it easy. Preaching theKingdomofGodmeans being the tree whose shades beasts and birds dwell in. But as others take comfort in our shade, we are the ones exposed to the unforgiving elements. But as theKingdomofGodgrows in you, it will never matter! Since you have complete trust in God, it will not matter if you will have it easy or have it hard in this lifetime. Obstacles will be obstacles. But we trust that God will never leave us nor forsake us.

What truly matters is that God will say “Good job!”

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God's Gym

Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed.

Ecclesiastes 10:10

Let us consider this:

Let's say your problem is akin to a big block of wood. And the only solution is to chop it off until it becomes small pieces enough for you to carry it or throw it or burn it, etc. But to chop it off, you only have a dull ax to do it. But to chop a big block of wood with a dull ax will require much of your strength, with no guarantee you will finish the job. What if you run out of energy and will to finish it? All because there was unnecessary expenses of energy when a more productive approach would have done the job faster and more efficiently.

So what is the more productive approach? Sharpen the blade. 

For us believers, the ax represents our faith, the wood our daily obstacles, and the blade represents the tools we need to overcome these. The ax (faith), it is already a given. It is with us. It is present forever. But sometimes, we stumble upon some blocks (daily obstacles) and even though we've encountered a lot of blocks of wood before, there are some which will definitely get to us. But if our blade, if the tools we need to combat them is not sharp enough, there is a good chance we will be stuck there or it will affect our relationship with God.

The point is, believing is not the start and end of being a follower. Where faith is always with us, we also need make sure we have the necessary tools at hand. We have to be fit and be strong, and choose the tools that will efficiently help us to tackle the problems.

In God's gym, there are programs to make sure all of us believers are ready to face challenges. There is the "Bible classes" program, wherein you study and analyze further God's words and how we can apply His teachings in our lives. There is also the "Regularly hear mass" program wherein you get to join the community in not only praising the Lord for a blessed week, but also appreciating the role of every community members in shaping us into a good Christian. Under these programs, we are given tools like, greater understanding, deeper love, firmer resolve towards people and events that may shake our faith. In this way, we are better prepared to swing that ax and chop that wood, and be done with it.

If we go to the gym to be active and stay fit because we want our bodies to better endure the stress of our everyday lives, why not we make our souls fitter and healthier for the Lord?

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This is what the LORD says: “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the LORD who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the LORD, have spoken!

Jeremiah 9: 23-24

PROUD! :)

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“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

Jeremiah 1:5

I firmly believe that God has planned great things for me. I will put my trust in Him. My faith shall never falter.

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“I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.

Isaiah 43: 25

Thank you Lord for being loving and forgiving. :)

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A reminder to the Youth

 Young people, it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do.So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. But remember that youth, with a whole life before you, is meaningless. --Ecclesiastes 11: 9-10

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From: Life Application Study Bible

"Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest." -- Ecclesiastes 11:4

Insight:

"Waiting for perfect conditions will mean inactivity. This practical insight is especially applicable to our spiritual life. If we wait for the perfect time and place for personal Bible reading, we will never begin. If we wait for a perfect church, we will never join. If we wait for the perfect ministry, we will never serve. Take steps now to grow spiritually. Don't wait for conditions that may never exist."

Note: This is taken from the Life Study Bible Application reading plan I am subscribed to. I have no intention of posting this as my own. I figured there is no better way of explaining things than what was originally written in the article. All credits go to the author(s). For your own copy, click here.

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Ecclesiastes 5: 19-20

And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God.God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past.

People who focus on the present: the gift of another morning, the reward of being able to work, the God-given strength to endure sacrifices, have no time to dwell on the past. Their eyes are set forward, they don't stare at what's behind them because they know that right before them, God has laid down a magnificent thing: a life filled with love. They enjoy life because God is in it.

Let us be these people. :)