Few days ago the Thai government put the nation under state of emergency due to the protesters briefly forcing their way into the parliament compound wherein Lawmakers fled and several senior government figures were airlifted by military helicopter to safety. You see, in a spiritual sense, being Christians in a hostile world we are always in a “state of emergency.” We cannot put our guard down for our enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Pet.5:8). Eph.5:15-16 says, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”

"Be very careful"…

“Be very careful” - These are words which are very familiar to all of us. In fact, we use these words to exhort one another quite often. When our children leave the house, we often say, “Be careful.” If one is driving the car, we might say, “Be careful, drive safely.” What we are saying is “Watch out! Don’t do something foolish! Look out for the other guy! Watch your step!” You see the words “Be careful” comes from two Latin words which mean “Looking around” which literally means, “exactly, uprightly.” It’s to keep our eyes wide open, looking around, and discerning the times. The Christian’s walk is to be one that is given careful consideration. It is one that is to be the outgrowth of thought, of purpose, of deliberate and disciplined action. The opposite would be walking carelessly and without proper guidance and forethought.

I read of a news about the senseless injuries and deaths of men and women soldiers after the Persian Gulf War ended. It happened because these soldiers were lulled into a false sense of safety and security. Sometimes in the course of duty, and other times in the pursuit of souvenirs, soldiers carelessly went about in places where mines and booby traps had been placed by the enemy. And this carelessness led to injury and death for some. Now how would you walk when you know that there are booby traps and mines buried somewhere in the ground? You would walk very carefully not carelessly. Christians live in a fallen world, in a hostile and dangerous world. We dare not live our lives in a haphazard fashion. We must give careful thought to our attitudes and actions and decisions. This is what God’s Spirit calls for, nothing less.

Think! Be wise! Look out for detours that take us away from God - and keep your guard up!

With these words Paul is telling us to look down the road before we make our choices, to consider the consequences of our actions before we act. We all know how easy it is to become distracted. We also know what can happen when we are distracted. Think of driving a car. It’s dangerous when you’re driving and you allow yourself to be distracted by anything. Our walk with God should be one that is given great care. We need to watch what we are doing. We need to watch our steps, giving attention to circumstances and consequences, by guarding against everything improper and unbecoming for a Christian. Look first, consider the situation before you take a step! So Paul says, “Don’t be unthinking when you make those choices. Think! Be wise! Look out for detours that take us away from God – and keep your guard up!

Two weeks into the New Year, already many people’s hopes of a better future on earth are dashed to pieces. The world remains the same, no change for the better. Same condition. Same situation. It’s still a hard life. Tomorrow is another day to worry about. Not to a child of God! Would it not be better to leave tomorrow with God? Didn’t Jesus say that we should not worry about our life, what we will eat or drink; or about our body, what we will wear (Matt.6:25)? That the birds of the air do not sow or reap and yet our Father feeds them? That we are more valuable than they (Matt.6:26).

Would it not be better to leave tomorrow with God?

Instead of worrying about tomorrow we’re taught to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” What does it mean when we pray this prayer? First, it means we are saying that we trust God as the source to supply all the physical needs of our lives. In Deuteronomy we’re reminded, “It is God who gives you power to get wealth” (8:18). All the resources at our disposal are gifts from Above, James 1:17James 1:17
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.  

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Second, notice that this trust in God for these needs is for each day. In the first century, bread had to be made on a daily basis. They couldn’t just buy a couple loaves and put them in the freezer. It was baked fresh every day and was an essential part of life. Jesus was instructing His disciples to ask God for what they needed to live for the day. Like manna that comes once a day, God provides one day at a time. So when we pray “Give us this day our daily bread” we’re showing that we’re depending on God a day at a time. It doesn’t say, “Give us next week our weekly bread.” Jesus urges us, “Don’t worry about having enough food or drink or clothing….Do not worry about tomorrow” (Mt 6:31, 34Mt 6:31, 34
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? ³⁴ Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.  

WP-Bible plugin). Instead trust Him each day at a time!

How much is enough, Lord? How much is too much? What can I live without?

And this prayer, thirdly, means Contentment - Some people are never satisfied with what they have. Beloved, God gives us that which is necessary, not always the wants of life; He provides for our needs, not our “greeds”. It’s when we insist our “wants” that lead us to troubles and debts! Listen to this prayer of a fellow-believer that I know also expresses our own –

“Lord, sometimes I fear the things I have. They steal my best time and energy by crying for my attention: ’Buy me! Eat me! Wear me! Upgrade me!’ And so I am hungry, because I am feeding my greed and not my soul. How much is enough, Lord? How much is too much? What can I live without? I don’t want too little, for fear of becoming bitter and anxious. Nor do I need too much, lest I turn complacent and blind to the needs of others.

Give us this day our daily bread….I need bread to stay alive, but without the Bread of Life I will never truly live. Teach me contentment, Jesus. Show me a way of true delight in the things of this earth, without mad cravings to own or control. Increase my hunger for You and for the things of Your Spirit. May I never desire anything - a tasty meal, a beautiful dress, even a cozy home - unless You are in the desire, helping me to be grateful and generous.” Amen.

Weathermen reported that there will be 4 to 5 more typhoons that will hit our country before the year ends. Just as we’re still in the rehabilitation stage from Ondoy’s aftermath it seems the nation is yet to brace for another calamity. God forbid. I pray not. And as much as prayer can make a difference, there are things in this life that only God knows why they are allowed to happen. But as I was contemplating on this, with a burdened heart, I can’t help but think of the worst storm that will befall upon the earth…soon!



“Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near.” Zephaniah 1:7Zephaniah 1:7
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
7 Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests. bid: Heb. sanctified, or, prepared  

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I’m reminded of Rev.8:1, “When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.” It is right before the final series of judgment that is to come upon the earth. It is a strange, eerie, but awesome silence as if all of Heaven is holding its breath. It’s the lull before the storm. I believe that what they see at the opening of the 7th seal is so terrible, so horrendous, so incredibly frightening, that no one in heaven dares to breathe a word— like the silence in the courtroom, just before the verdict is read — it’s like the silence in the executioner’s chamber, just before he pulls the switch, or administers the lethal injection!

Zephaniah 1:7Zephaniah 1:7
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
7 Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests. bid: Heb. sanctified, or, prepared  

WP-Bible plugin “Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near.” Zechariah 2:13Zechariah 2:13
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13 Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation. his…: Heb. the habitation of his holiness  

WP-Bible plugin - Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.” And also, Habakkuk 2:20Habakkuk 2:20
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
20 But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him. let…: Heb. be silent all the earth before him  

WP-Bible plugin – “But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.” At that point in the book of Revelation, judgment is about to come to the earth like never before. The storm is about to break in all of its fury, and the enormity of what is about to happen causes even God to pause!

Beloved, a great storm is coming…but in Christ you are safe in His hands, washed by His blood and surrounded by His mercy! When things are not going well, when you are down and discouraged, when you are overwhelmed with the pressures and pain of this life — take heart! In a flash…in the twinkling of an eye…in a moment…everything can change. So, the next time someone says “in a moment” – be reminded. That’s all it takes for everything to change.



To be ready is to simply trust Him each moment of your day, to seek to please Him and live godly lives… 2Pet.3:11-13

But in the meantime, what are we to do? We’re to be always ready! And to be ready is to simply trust Him each moment of your day; to seek to please Him and live godly lives (2Pet.3:11-13). 1Jn.3:3 – “Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” And we’re to help others get ready for Jesus’ return. How? By sharing the gospel. What about family members and friends who would be left behind? Are we doing the best we can to influence them to accept Christ as their personal Savior? Time is getting shorter. Look up, for your redemption draws near!





I was sitting one day at my study table and I noticed outside that the sky was very gloomy. It was 15 minutes past 9 am but it looked like it’s 5:30 am. It suddenly dawned on me, a reminder, of the present situation of the world we live in today. With all of what’s going on all over the world, in spite of the advancement of technology, in spite of the social programs, one could still describe the present situation in one word - gloomy.

The earthquakes, the famines, the political and economic instability, the hate-crimes, the ever-increasing immorality, etc…, makes one disturb and afraid. Many people today are filled with fear and insecurity, hopelessness and despair. Man looks to himself (to his own “wisdom”) for solutions but still falls short and could not give lasting solutions. When man chose to turn his back from God, these (the above present situation) are the results, and man could not fix it! Man with all of his “brilliance” could not repair the damage he had done to himself!

The only solution for man’s hopelessness and despair is the cross of Christ (Jn.3:16). The path to hope is repentance unto salvation that is in Jesus. God’s word many years ago has predicted the “gloominess” of the world. This is how this present age is going to end. The judgement of God is coming upon sinful man. Nobody can hinder it. But man can stop himself from going to destruction - by trusting in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. He is our only hope, our only salvation!

One day when He comes again to reign, the gloom will turn into bloom! He will bring rest to His saints and His rewards are with Him.There will be lasting joy, peace and fellowship with the living God. There will be no more separation but only great reunion with our loved ones who died in Christ before us and with the saints of old. There will be a new heaven and a new earth. The old order of things will pass away and be replaced by God’s new creation of things. At last, we will be forever with the Lord! This is our hope.

This is our message. Now, I have 5 things to ask from you christian brother/sister : 1) Wake up from your slumber! Live for the glory of God. Live for that which has value in God’s sight. Don’t allow yourself to be entangled by the materialism of the age. Live for that which has eternal value! 2) Stand up and be counted. Enlist yourself for God’s army. This is no time to play around! Get serious with your walk. Mean business with God. Offer to God everything He has given you for His glory. 3) Preach the Word in season and out of season! 4) Pray, Pray, Pray without ceasing! 5) Be faithful. For He who has called you is faithful (1 Thess.5:24). And, 6) Do all these in LOVE!

We live in a high stress culture

photo credit: karindalziel
We live in a high stress culture. Many experts say that coping with stress is the #1 health priority of our day. We know that medical science has closely tied worry to heart trouble, blood pressure problems, ulcers, amongst others. For example…millions of people today have high blood pressure due to stress/anxiety; every week 112 million people take medication for stress related symptoms. So how do we deal with stress? Paul shows us how in his letter to the Philippians (Read Phil.4:6-7):



STEP ONE: BE ANXIOUS ABOUT NOTHING

The word “anxious” means to have a “divided mind”. A mind divided by between the worries of the world, and the peace of God. Another definition is “To be pulled in different directions.” Our hopes pull us in one direction; our fears pull us the opposite direction – and the result, we are pulled apart. Worry is a kill joy and source of stress. We tend to expect the worst in life. Worry is worthless. It cannot change the past or control the future. It only messes you up right now. It is an incredible waste of energy. It is a waste of creativity. When we worry about things, they get bigger and bigger. The Bible says, “Do not worry about anything.” Probably this is the hardest command to obey.



STEP TWO: PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING

Whenever God tells you to eliminate something He always has something superior. He always replaces a negative with a positive. Paul is saying, don’t panic — pray. If you stopped worrying, realize how much free time you’d have. It would create a great vacuum, a void in your life to stop worrying. Pray during that time. If those people who say “I don’t have time to pray” would spend their time praying instead of worrying, they’d have a whole lot less to worry about.



STEP THREE: THANK GOD FOR ALL THINGS

The attitude of gratitude. The healthiest human emotion is the attitude of gratitude, having a grateful heart, being thankful. It actually increases your immunities. It is a physical benefit to express the attitude of gratitude. If you’re depressed, make a list of fifty things you can be grateful for. When you’re grateful, it gets the focus off your problems and gets the focus on the benefits in your life. We have so much that we take for granted. Develop the attitude of gratitude and watch the stress level in your life go down.



THE RESULT

If you do this you will experience God’s Peace which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. People try pills, fads, drugs, therapy, rock crystals, stress reduction seminars and listen to tapes, books — anything to give just a little peace of mind. Paul says God’s peace is a gift to you. It is a gift that cannot be explained, duplicated, fabricated or understood. It is the sense of peace that comes over your life. THANK THE LORD FOR HIS PEACE TODAY!