Walking THROUGH the Valley of the Shadow of Death

Excellence – A First-Class, Faith-Filled Life

2008-11-17T00:17:00.001+08:00

Is it possible for people to change?

You'd better believe it!

Declare war on mediocrity! And be challenge to be excellent for Christ's sake.

God's Word says that we should strive for excellence in every way.

"But just as you excel in evertything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness adn in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving" (2 Corinthians 8:7)

And as we are excellent, we will become known for excellence:

"Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 3:13)

If you don't think excellent thoughts, if you refuse to live an excellent life, if you fail to share the excellent message of the gospel, what excuse do you plan to use when you stand before your excellent God?

Are you tired of being mediocre? Would you like your faith to be first-class? If so, read on.

Here are some tips for becoming a person of excellence.

Get to know God. (Don't settle for the five minutes it take to read a short devotion. Talk to him all day today and every day. Read his Word morning, noon and night.)
Hang around excellent people. (ask each to help you become better in a certain area of life.)
Resist temptation to compare yourself to others. (Godly excellence is not so much being better than everyone else, but—read this carefully—it is walking in the power of the Holy Spirit to be the best you can be wherever it is that God has placed you.)
Examine your life carefully at least once a week
Read an excellent reminder in Titus 3:1-8

Taken from: Youthwalk Devotional Bible (1997) p. 1332

Jesus vs Satan – Joke for the Day

2008-10-22T14:53:00.001+08:00

Jesus and Satan were having an on-going argument about who was better on the computer.

They had been going at it for days, and frankly God was tired of hearing all the bickering.

Finally fed up, God said, "THAT'S IT! I have had enough. I am going to set up a test that will run for two hours, and from those results, I will judge who does the better job."

So Satan and Jesus sat down at the keyboards and typed away.

They moused.

They faxed.

They e-mailed.

They e-mailed with attachments.

They downloaded.

They did spreadsheets!

They wrote reports.

They created labels and cards.

They created charts and graphs.

They did some genealogy reports.

They did every job known to man.

Jesus worked with heavenly efficiency and Satan was faster than hell.

Then, ten minutes before their time was up, lightning suddenly flashed across the sky, thunder rolled, rain poured, and, of course, the power went off...

Satan stared at his blank screen and screamed every curse word known in the underworld.

Jesus just sighed.

Finally the electricity came back on, and each of them restarted their computers.

Satan started searching frantically, screaming:

"It's gone! It's all GONE! I lost everything when the power went out!"

Meanwhile, Jesus quietly started printing out all of his files from the past two hours of work...

Satan observed this and became irate.

"Wait!" he screamed.

"That's not fair! He cheated! How come he has all his work and I don't have any?"

God just shrugged and said, "JESUS SAVES!"

-sent by Marlo Aala through YM

Who Am I

2008-10-16T16:19:00.006+08:00

Who am I? Who are you? Do you know what purpose you have in this life? Who are we that someone Greatest of all the Greatest, the Lord of all Lords, the King of all Kings would care for such sinners like us?

These questions were similar to the questions of Mark Hall, singer and songwriter of the song Who Am I by Casting Crowns.

I ask you to watch this video from start to finish, meditate on the lyrics and dig deep in your hearts and ask who am I.

The ARCHENEMY of EXCELLENCE

2008-10-13T23:23:00.004+08:00

Are you living a very average, very unspectacular life? Are you settling for 75's or C's when you could be making 85 or even 90's? Are you working just enough to keep your boss off your back? In sports training or practice, are you goofing off and unwilling to make the effort to improve your skills? Does your spiritual life consist of a once-a-week church attendance and an occasional prayer when in trouble; and when asked if your following after God you respond, "Huh?!"

The philosophies "I'll do just enough to get by" and "Don't take anything too seriously!" were foreign to the apostle Paul. Listen to his counsel.

1. Be a Winner! "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize" (1 Corinthians 9:24).

2. Do your Best! "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).

The word MEDIOCRE originally meant "in the middle of the mountain." Perhaps the image is that of a mountain climber who, halfway to the summit, decides to quit. He settles for less than the top. He's mediocre.

That's like a professional athlete saying, "Oh, I don't really care if we win today. My goal is just to go through the motions and pick up my paycheck. If I have just an average performance, I'll be happy." What would you think if you heard that? Would you pay to watch someone with that kind of attitude?

Have you been "doing your best" and "being a winner"? Or are you settling for mediocrity?

This is Paul's encouragement to us to be more than mediocre in Philippians 3:13-14:

"Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward a goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Taken from: Youthwalk Devotional Bible (1997) p. 1296

Why is it so hard to let go?

2008-09-25T22:47:00.001+08:00

Is letting go the only choice I have? Can't I do anything about it? Lord God, please tell me what to do, I am really lost. It hurts me so much to stay in this valley. I want to get out. But do I really have to let go of something very important to me so that I can move on? Tell me, O Lord, tell me.

Awake, O Lord! Why do You sleep?

2008-09-23T23:16:00.001+08:00

My Cry

But now you have rejected and humbled us; you no longer go out with our armies. You made us retreat before the enemy, and our adversaries have plundered us. You gave us up to be devoured like sheep. The peoples shake their heads at us. My disgrace is before me all day long, and my face is covered with shame at the taunts of those who reproach and revile me, because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.

All this happened to us, though we had not forgotten you or been false to your covenant. Our hearts had not turned back; our feet had not strayed from your path. But you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals and covered us over with deep darkness.

Yet for your sake we face death all day long; we are considered sheep to be slaughtered.

Awake, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever. Why do you hide your face and forget our misery and oppression?

We are brought down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground.
Rise up and help us; redeem us because of your unfailing love.

- Psalm 44:9-11,14-19,22-26

You are God my stronghold. Why have you rejected me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?
Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.

- Psalm 43:2-3

His Answers

Numbers 23:19

God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?

Warning from Israel's History [1 Corinthians 10:6-10, 13]

Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.

Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry."
Do not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did – and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.
You should not test the Lord, as some of them did – and were killed by snakes.
And do not grumble, as some of them did – and were killed by the destroying angel.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Balaam's Donkey [Numbers 22:21-35]

Then the Lord opened the donkey's mouth, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?"

Balaam answered the donkey, "You have made me a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now."

The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?"

"No," he said.

Then the Lord opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.

The angel of the Lord asked him, "Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is reckless one before me. The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared her."

Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, "I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased. I will go back."

Word of Wisdom for today [Proverbs 5:22-23]

The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast.

He will die of lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly.

Ambushed by ANGER

2008-09-15T09:15:00.006+08:00

Anger is powerful, isn't it? One minute, you're smiling; the next, smoke is coming out of your ears!

Consider these verses:

" 'In your anger do not sin': Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry" (Ephesians 4:26)
"Everyone should be … slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires" (James 1:19-20)

Hey, what the?!? The first passage seems to condone anger. But the second seems to be saying that anger is to be avoided. Is this one of those famous contradictions that people say the Bible is full of?

Paul and James are talking about different kinds of anger. The anger of Ephesians 4:26 might be called righteous indignation. It's the justifiable anger you feel when you or others have clearly been wronged. Jesus felt this kind of anger when he cleared the money changers from the temple.

But James warns against a selfish tendency to rationalize anger too quickly and for trivial reasons.

When you feel your temperature rising, don't explode! Count to ten and pray immediately and think of "A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control." (Proverbs 29:11)

With the Bible as your guide, try to honestly assess the situation. Is your anger justifiable, or is it selfish?

If it's selfish, ask God to help you drop it.
If it's justifiable, don't bury your feelings and burn! Talk gently with the offending party (Luke 17:3). If they repent, forgive them immediately. If they refuse, give the situation to God (Romans 12:17-21). He will handle it with perfect justice.

"An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins."
(Proverbs 29:22)

Taken from: Youthwalk Devotional Bible (1997) p. 686

i posted it because it really hit me. I am a hot tempered man, Pikon, and sometimes tactless, i am now struggling to conquer and overcome them. and there are times that when i'm mad, i need to vent. i do computer games, go drinking, smoking, going to bars, punch a kickbag or a banana tree, etc. But now i have a better solution on how to vent my anger, Reading the Bible, and doing my devotions. it really helps, i can testify for that :D

Feelings: Don’t Be Afraid to Express Them

2008-09-10T20:19:00.003+08:00

Have you been in a tough situation recently when you found it hard to express your feelings? Maybe someone in your family was very sick, or your parents were going through a divorce. Perhaps your boyfriend or girlfriend broke up with you. Whatever the situation, you were hurting. Were you able to get all your feelings out into the open? Or did you have a hard time expressing how you felt?

Everyone has been in a tough situation at one time or another. Jesus was in one when his friend Lazarus died. Jesus loved Lazarus and his sisters. They were his close friends. Now Lazarus was dead, and Mary and Martha were hurting. Jesus stood in front of the tomb, and cried.

The next time you're in a situation and it hurts, take a lesson from the Teacher of all teachers: Cry about it.

Why are people uncomfortable when someone cries? Even when a loved one dies, people will often pat on the back the one who is crying and say, "Oh, don't cry." Crying gives outward evidence of inward pain. It's like drawing a picture of the pain for everyone to look at, and people are often uncomfortable with such pictures.

Crying is a beautiful way to express hurt as laughter is to express happiness. Don't be afraid of it. Crying releases the tension that grief causes. Crying can blunt the sharp edges of hurt. Crying eases the pain of tough situations.

The next time you're in a hard situation, if someone tells you, "Oh, don't cry about it," politely ignore them and go on expressing your feelings—just as Jesus did.

Read John 11:35 where Jesus Expressed his feelings.

From: YouthWalk Devotional Bible (1997) p. 1148

IF ONLY... (090401)

2008-09-04T23:00:00.007+08:00

Exactly 7 years ago from today, If only knew what I know now, things could have been much better. I wouldn’t have to go through all these sufferings. I would have been the most happiest man in the whole world. I would have enjoyed all the blessings that God has to offer me. If only I was passionately seeking God 7 years ago, I would have realized that His blessings were just in front of me. If only I saw what I see today, light would have been enveloping me, not shadow, not darkness, not suffering. If only 7 years ago God slapped me in the face and said, “Wake up and see you are well again. Stop sinning or SOMETHING WORSE may happen to you!” (John 5:14) Then I wouldn’t have lost my life; I wouldn’t have had to lose something dear to me. If only I didn’t throw away my life to selfishness, foolishness, stupidity and sin God would have opened the flood gates of heaven earlier. If only…

I know I cannot change the past. These are just wishes from my heart after all the realization and revelations I have learned the hard way. Right now I am living in denial of what had happened to me. In my thoughts I am bargaining with God, wishing it didn’t happen this way. And now, I am grieving for loosing something very very important.

When I change, everything else changes

2008-09-02T13:51:00.001+08:00

What brings change? The things that you stop doing or the things that you start doing?

Initiate the change

New links:

Kia's Blog

Charlo's Blog

Words of Wisdom - Proverbs 25

2008-08-30T13:30:00.005+08:00

Don't work yourself into the spotlight, don't push your way into the place of prominence.
It is better to be promoted to a place of honor than face humiliation by being demoted.
Patient persistence pierces through indifference; gentle speech breaks down rigid defenses.
Singing light songs to the heavyhearted is like pouring salt in their wounds.
Better live alone in a tumbledown shack than share a mansion with a nagging spouse.

Proverbs 25: 6, 7, 15, 20, 24

From: Eugene H. Peterson's THE MESSAGE //REMIX The Bible in Contemporary Language (2006)

Repairing a Rotten REPUTATION

2008-08-30T13:07:00.003+08:00

After a history of "breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples" (Acts 9:1), Saul did not exactly have a great reputation among Christians. Even after his conversion on the road to Damascus, he had a hard time convincing the members of the first century church that he had truly changed. In fact, "When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple" (Acts 9:26).

However, because of Barnabas, an older, more mature Christian, stoop up for him (acts 9:27) and because Saul continued to exhibit a changed lifestyle (acts 9:28-30) he was able to repair his rotten reputation. Over time Saul, the Christian hater, became known as Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ.

A warning about the Subject of reputation:

A religious reputation will not get you into heaven. The apostle Paul had a lot of religious credentials, but it was not until he trusted Christ that he found eternal Life (Philippians 3:4-11).

Are you trying to revamp your reputation? Remember the Lessons from Saul's life:

Trust Christ – Changing your outer image is a waste unless you also have changed inner identity (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Find a "Barnabas" who will believe in you and disciple you.
Be consistent. It takes many months (maybe even years to undo a bad reputation. Don't give up (Galatians 6:9).

Taken from: Youthwalk Devotional Bible (1997) p. 1074

Psalm 25

2008-08-30T12:48:00.007+08:00

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul;
in you I trust, O my God.
Do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
Show me Your ways, O Lord,
teach me Your paths;
guide me in Your truth and teach me,
for You are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
Remember not the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways.
For the sake of your name, O Lord,
forgive my iniquity, though it is great.
Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
The troubles of my heart have multiplied;
free me from my anguish.
Look upon my affliction and my distress
and take away all my sins.
Guard my life and rescue me;
let me not be put to shame,
for I take refuge in You.
May integrity and uprightness pretect me,
because my hope is in You.
Redeem ME, O God,
from all MY troubles!

Be MERCIFUL – Not Merciless!

2008-08-29T00:23:00.003+08:00

The Bible gently reminds us of a more tolerant way than a path screaming for justice.

Our heavenly Father is merciful (Micah 7:18).
We are to be like our heavenly Father. "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children" (Ephesians 5:1).
Therefore, we must be merciful to others. "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful" (Luke 6:36).

Mercy means loving and accepting others even when they don't deserve it. It means choosing to overlook their shortcomings and differences.

You can't be prejudiced or bigoted and also be merciful. Like oil and water, intolerance and mercy simply do not mix.

If God suddenly refused to deal with you mercifully, where would you be?

Intolerance is intolerable for believers. Instead, practice mercy today.

Forgive that family member who recently hurt your feelings.
Resist the urge to strike back at that friend or acquaintance who has it in for you.
Cancel a debt (financial or emotional) that someone owes you.
Refuse to answer back when someone gossips about you.
Show compassion to someone who is trapped in sin. Don't turn away from such people! On the contrary, let them see the love of Christ through you.

Taken from: Youthwalk Devotional Bible (1997) p. 1089

Forgiveness is FOR GIVING

2008-08-28T19:27:00.002+08:00

Forgiveness is NOT:

Denying that you've been hurt
Explaining away the wrong behavior of someone
Trying to understand why a person has acted a certain way

Forgiveness is:

Consciously choosing to release others from debts you feel they owe you because of the hurts they have caused in your life.

Taken from: Youthwalk Devotional Bible (1997)

p. 1068

A Brother Who Sins Against You

2008-08-28T19:24:00.004+08:00

Matthew 18:15-17

"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector."

Matthew 18: 21-22, 35

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"

Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven."

"…forgive your brother from your heart."

Psalms 6

2008-08-28T19:21:00.002+08:00

O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger

Or discipline me in your wrath.

Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am faint;

O Lord, heal me, for my bones are in agony.

My soul is in anguish.

How long, O Lord, how long?

Turn, O lord, and deliver me;

save me because of your unfailing love.

No one remembers you when he is dead.

Who praises you from the grave?

I am worn out from groaning;

all night long I flood my bed with weeping

and drench my couch with tears.

My eyes grow weak with sorrow;

they fail because of all my foes.

Away from me, all you who do evil,

for the Lord has heard my weeping.

The Lord has heard my cry for mercy;

the Lord accepts my prayer.

All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed;

they will turn back in sudden disgrace.

Psalms 13

2008-08-28T19:17:00.002+08:00

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?

How long will you hide your face from me?

How long must I wrestle with my thoughts

And every day have sorrow in my heart?

How long will my enemy triumph over me?

Look on me an danswer, O Lord my God.

Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;

my enemy will say, "I have overcome him,"

and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

But I trust in your unfailing love;

My heart rejoices in your salvation.

I will sing to the Lord,

For He has been good to me.