THE MESSAGE......THE INVESTMENT

We as people or as human being, we have many desires in our heart. We have many likes and dislikes. We have many things that we wanted. So we have the desires, likes, needs and wants. And in all humanity, we all know that the basic needs of man are the food, clothes and shelter. Of course, if you have the food and the food you are eating is of little nutrients, still you will become malnourish. If you do not have any home to be called as own, you are homeless. And if you do not have something to wear on your body, even a single shirt, you are shirtless.

Nobody in his right mind wanted to be deprived of these basic needs, that is why, we keep on imagining, dreaming, desiring and planning in our lives. In fact, we have this so-called short and long term planning.

Yes, because of the nature of having this lust of the eyes, and the lust of the flesh, we cannot avoid to continue desiring things. And after we desire, we plan, then we put it into action so that our dream will not end up as in impossible dream.

There is nothing wrong if we desire something or if we make our planning by ourselves. Since we have the education, skills, talent, knowledge, etc. And we are free to make use all these things.

You know, bro. Paul has said in 1Co. 6:12 about our being free of doing something. Let me quote this verse: “I am free to do all things; but not all things are wise. I am free to do all things; but I will not let myself come under the power of any.”

Since from the old testament in Proverbs 21:2, God has said something for us. Let us read this: Every way of a man seems right to himself, but the Lord is the tester of hearts. Let us read the example from the bible:

Luk 12:16 Then Jesus told them this parable: "There was once a rich man who had land which bore good crops.
Luk 12:17 He began to think to himself, 'I don't have a place to keep all my crops. What can I do?
Luk 12:18 This is what I will do,' he told himself; 'I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, where I will store the grain and all my other goods.
Luk 12:19 Then I will say to myself, Lucky man! You have all the good things you need for many years. Take life easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself !'
Luk 12:20 But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night you will have to give up your life; then who will get all these things you have kept for yourself ? ' "

So, what I am trying to point out here from the verses mentioned that God is reminding us that He is in full control of everything.

Now, we are entering a New Year. To others, they have a new year resolution. Some will renew their plans, strategies, etc. Others will continue to desire things that they did not get last year, or something that they failed to accomplish and they want it to happen this year.

Actually, we are forgetting something. We ourselves, make things harder for us. Since we know that even if we make plans for ourselves, still God’s purpose prevail. Let us see the evidence in Proverbs 19:21:

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. “

The best thing we can do to our desire is to obey what God wants us to do. Do you have any idea?

Let us read Psalm 37:4-5 (ESV) English Standard Version

Psa 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psa 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.

In other version as in GNB (Good News Bible) says:

Psa 37:4 Seek your happiness in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desire.
Psa 37:5 Give yourself to the LORD; trust in him, and he will help you;

Now, how are we going to delight in the Lord so that our heart desires will be given to us? Are you interested to know? To be continued…….

THE MESSAGE.....THE GIFT

• There are many occasions in our lives that we desire to receive gifts. For example, during Christening, Dedication, Baptism, Birthday, Wedding, Graduation, Anniversary or even on holidays, like Thanksgiving and the most popular of all is the Christmas Day.
  
  Is there any one out there who does not want to receive gifts? You know, if we want something but then, we do not have any capacity to have that something, we desire that someone can give that something for us. Do you agree with me?
  
  Let us think deeper, most of the time, what we desire really in our lives is something of material value, something that we can see and hold on. But once we received it, up to what extend that material gift benefited us? Of course, once we received a gift, we have gladness in our heart and most of the time, that is for our own sake. And once the gift that is of material value became old or out of fashion, damaged, etc. We loose interest on it and we desire a new one, until we become more and more obsessed of desiring material things.
  
  We cannot deny to ourselves that we can stop desiring things around us. Because we have this so-called Lust of the eyes, Lust of the flesh. And mind you, the world is becoming more and more subjected to material things, taking into consideration the technology wise.
  
  That is why, for you to be able to cope with this changing world, we become selfish, we think only of ourselves, even to the point we pulled down someone in the ladder just to be on top. Gaining material things, power, respect, etc. are the best we could give to ourselves as “GIFT’.
  
  But don’t you know what the bible is telling us? Knowing what the advise of the bible will do good to us, probably, you will seek the heaven’s door. As it is written in Matthew 6:33 saying “But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you as well.”
  
  If you do not know how to seek the Kingdom of God, of course, ASK God. In Matthew 7:7 says, ASK and it will be given to you; SEEK and you will find; KNOCK and the door will be opened for you.
  
  Or let say, are you lacking wisdom on how to seek God? Well, in James 1:5 says, But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ASK God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him.
  
  Speaking of gift, as I have said already, we all wanted to receive gifts. But what kind of gift that we really wanted to have? Are we going to satisfy ourselves to receive gift that is of material value only? That will last only for a short period of time and that only ourselves will only benefit from it.
  
  In 1 Co. 12:31 is conveying a message for us to look into. Let me quote this verse. “But earnestly desire the higher gifts and I will show you a still more excellent way.” In other version, “But let your desires be turned to the more important things given by the Spirit. And now I am pointing out to you on even better way.”
  
  So, there is a so-called, gifts from the Holy Spirit. Are you aware of these gifts or are you ignorant about these gifts?
  
  You know, Bro. Paul has said in 1Co.12:1 saying: Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. And for your information in 1Co.12:4, says, Now, there are varieties of gifts, but the same spirit.
  
  Do you know what are these varieties of gifts that we can receive if only we ASK God? To be continued……….cheers