Four-Way Gospel

I thought of this image after my last post comparing the four gospels.

Amazing, eh? The gospels have all the bases covered and they balance each other out. God's Good News is for everyone.

One book reminds us to look up to Jesus' divine origins (therefore being worthy of worship), another to look down to his humanity (therefore being worthy to be followed). Another looks behind to his Jewish origins (fulfilling ancient prophecies), while the last looks forward to his being Savior of the world.

Lastly, these four directions combined give us the Cross. The gospels tell of Jesus, who was born to die for our sins, so that we might live with Him. God is making sure that this Good News reaches everyone. 

Have we heard the News? If yes, are we going to share it, in any and every way we can? :)

Feb 4 2013

This day is important to me because:

• For the first time, I sent someone (two students) to the Disciplinary Office for cheating. Verbal reminders and personal confrontations are not enough --- people (myself included) don't learn until we reap the consequences of our actions. "God disciplines those He loves" (Hebrews), and so should we.

•  For the first time in over a year, I returned to our research lab. Not much has changed there, it seems, but I feel I've changed much. What I couldn't do before, I could do now. "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." (Philippians)

• For the first time in weeks, I chose to go home early (as in, the sun hasn't set yet). For a long time I needed to get my energy level up; now that it's up, I need to get going. I'm distinguishing between goals (ex: graduate) and means (ex: dance). "Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." (Ephesians)

• I'm using a laptop given to me by my uncle and aunt, and I'll be using a cell phone I "inherited" from my brother. Very good gadgets that I didn't lift a finger to get. "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all -- how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" (Romans)

Plus there are the everyday (but always special) blessings like my family, a fulfilling job, supportive friends, enough finances and yummy food. Thank You, thank You.


"In everything, give thanks." (1 Thessalonians)

:) :)

(Hey! And the day isn't even done yet ;) )

Wisdom is a balance

That's right.

As Paul told the Ephesians to "speak the truth in love," so must we think, live and act with God's balance of truth and grace, justice and mercy, power and love.

It's a balance. It's easy to think of God as this All-Powerful, Majestic Creator (only). And it's easy to think of God as just this All-Loving, Goody Best Friend (only). But a half-truth is a complete lie --- we might completely miss out on God if we only know (or choose to see) one aspect of His Being.

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom." (Psalms and Proverbs)

Wisdom is knowing the Lord in the complete sense (well, as much as fallen limited humans can anyway). Wisdom is looking at the complete picture, first about God then about how He has made me. Finally, wisdom is about pursuing a life full of meaning and purpose.

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7) That last part always gets me. It's funny how I proclaimed 2007 as my year of power, then 2008 my year of love, then... then... nothing. Obviously I lack "sound mind", "discipline", "self-control" (the various translations of that verse); as well as having too much fear (the first part of that verse).

Thanks to God, things are finally changing. This year, without my declaring it (haha), turned out to be my no-fear year, and miracle of miracles, even a little sound mind.

Finally, some balance. I feel His Power strengthening me, His Love encouraging me, and the fears fading away.

As for self-control, I'm learning, bit by bit. (Case in point: I wrote this next paragraph after being distracted by one hour of Plants vs. Zombies.) We're not yet there, but getting closer.  :)


Thank You LORD for the balance, the wisdom, and the complete picture. ♥

Beginnings

 

 http://defrig.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/new-beginnings.jpg

The angel Gabriel greets a young woman (Luke 1:26-38):

"Good morning!
You're beautiful with God's beauty,
Beautiful inside and out!
God be with you.

Mary, you have nothing to fear,
God has a surprise for you...

Nothing, you see, is impossible with God."


Mary responds:

"Yes, I see it all now:
I'm the Lord's maid, ready to serve.
Let it be with me as you say."

Lord, i belong to YOU. i am YOURS.
Let it be with me just as You say.

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ztjE5lQ3DCM/T_oYxLpYhJI/AAAAAAAABng/a1xwYBvWGfo/s1600/beginnings+blog+1.jpg

Jesus was around 30 years old when He said this (quoting from the book of Isaiah at the start of His ministry) (Luke 4:16-21):

God's Spirit is on me;

He's chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor,

Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind,

To set the burdened and battered free,

To announce, "This is God's year to act!"

This is the year!

I'm 30 now... I'm not the Savior of the world but a sinner forgiven with a part to play.

This is the time to watch God move;

to live in faith, not doubt;

because yes, the situation may be hopeless

but nothing is impossible with God.

In Luke 5:4-11:

Jesus said to Simon, "Push out into deep water and let your nets out for a catch."

Simon said, "Master, we've been fishing hard all night and haven't caught even a minnow. But if You say so, I'll let out the nets."

It was no sooner said than done --- a huge haul of fish, straining the nets past capacity. They waved to their partners in the other boat to come help them. They filled both boats, nearly swamping them with the catch.

Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell to his knees before Jesus. "Master, leave. I'm a sinner and can't handle this holiness. Leave me to myself." ... Awe overwhelmed Simon and everyone with him...

Jesus said to Simon, "There is nothing to fear. From now on you'll be fishing for men and women." They pulled their boats up on the beach, left them, nets and all, and followed Him.

 

http://www.jdlejeune.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/hearthmath-new-beginning.jpg

Put your hearts UP!

"If we give a little love maybe we can change the world..."


This is such a cheerfully cheesy song+video, even for me! But Ms. Grande pulled it off --- even redeeming the very "emo" track "What's Up?" by the Four Non-Blondes. Yup, the world does need more love and more hope-filled songs like this. The Philippines especially, beset with strong winds and rain to the point of calamity, needs a lot more sunshine than usual (literally and figuratively).

So put your hearts up! Along with the cheese comes the sun ;)  ☼

Thanks for 30 ♥

Writers used to end their work with "30". But today, my 30th birthday, I find there's so much more to write --- and celebrate --- about.

May I never run out of reasons to say, "Thank You, Lord."

Image credits: image.wallpaper777.com; gocarlo.com; static.desktopnexus.com; u.jimdo.com

Reminders for the 30-year-old ;)

Because I'm officially turning 30 tomorrow ;)


11 Famous People Who Were in the Completely Wrong Career at Age 30
Heehee :) Quite encouraging. ;)

Letter to an Incomplete, Insecure Teenager
From tadpole to half-mature to complete... Beholding (God) is becoming (more like Him).

J. I. Packer's Advice To Aspiring Writers
Go deep in personal worship; Write to hit hearts; Write from a sense of calling.

How to Glorify God at Work
Honoring God wherever we are.

Questions to Ask When Preparing for Marriage
Hey, I'm just asking...

Too Soon Old
Every age and season is significant.

A 30-Year-Old Dream I Have Outlived By One Year
Surely my reward is with my God.

No fear, only love :)

http://mormonsoprano.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/greg-olson_love-evident.jpg

Since yesterday, I've had this urge to get a Venti (largest) Starbucks frappucino. My favorite is Dark Mocha, but they're featuring a new flavor, Cookie Crumble.

I'm not rich: I work for every centavo I get. Neither am I brand-conscious: I'm just as happy with a four-peso Nescafe instant coffee sachet.

My Starbucks cravings would appear to be an extravagant luxury, and that's actually the point: This is my date with God.

Disclaimer 1: Every now and then I check my heart if I'm just using God as an excuse.
Disclaimer 2: Of course, God can speak to us at any time and any place.
Disclaimer 3: The Bible reminds us that obedience (a flexible heart) is more important than sacrifice (an inflexible ritual).

Having said those, there are moments when I feel that He has something to say, and that I better be all eyes-ears-and-heart-ready. Like yesterday. I was thinking, Lord, You can talk to me here and I don't have to go to a coffee shop, right? But again, that's part of the point. Not that Starbucks is a holier place than the metro train or our living room, but it's probably because I have to be really out of my comfort zone, doing nothing but listening to Him.

http://www.alighthouse.com/godslove1.jpg

This morning, around noon, I finally got up, ordered the new Cookie Crumble frap (venti please!), and sat down.

And listened.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlzRpRo3rhpbKqZibTVFjZJLpD6-nguwyVrnKc7i6jNQ7_OTLSFj_q4lNNy-ZygaktUxWHDgnbz5mAxMiI-zqz7h1DVGLkWSD2-VbNxQldx4K4qgw4mzSbC3hlvDKQczeMcbdZ/s1600/God+Loves+You.jpg

Perfect love drives out fear. (1 John 4:18)


Love extravagantly. Live generously. (1 Corinthians) 


Love  <--->  Eternal Life
Hate  <--->  Murder
(1 John 3:14-15) 


My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. 
     Shut down debilitating self-criticism (even if there's some truth to it)
God is greater than our worried hearts
     and knows more about us than we do ourselves
We're no longer accusing or condemning ourselves
     We're bold and free before God!

We're able to stretch our hands out
     and receive what we asked for
     because we're doing what He said,
     doing what pleases Him
          ==> Believe in Jesus Christ
          ==> Love each other
As we keep His commands,
     we live deeply and surely in Him
     and He lives in us.
And this is how we experience His deep and abiding presence in us:
     by the Spirit He gave us.
(1 John 3:18-24)


My dear friends,
     don't believe everything you hear.
Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you
     Not everyone who talks about God comes from God
     There are a lot of lying preachers loose in the world.
(1 John 4:1)


Let us continue to love each other
      since love comes from God
Everyone who loves
      is born of God
     and experiences a relationship with God.
(1 John 4:7-8)


If we love one another, God dwells deeply within us
     and His love becomes complete in us --- perfect love!
(1 John 4:12)

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ku6xCHVqAGI/TDCo0-n7lnI/AAAAAAAAAHA/_gktbjc8dHU/s1600/forgiven%5B1%5D.jpg

To love, to be loved (1 John 4:17-21)
God is love.
When we take up permanent residence in a life of love,
     we live in God and God lives in us.
This way, love has the run of the house,
     becomes at home and mature in us,
      so that we're free of worry on Judgment Day ---
      our standing in the world is identical with Christ's.
There is no room in love for fear.
     Well-formed love banishes fear.
     Since fear is crippling, a fearful life
     --- fear of death, fear of judgment ---
     is one not yet fully formed in love.
We, though, are going to love --- love and be loved.
     First we were loved, now we love.
     He loved us first.
If anyone boasts, "I love God," and goes right on hating..., he is a liar.
The command we have from Christ is blunt:
     Loving God includes loving people.
     You've got to love both. 

 

http://tearsinabottle.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/gods-love.jpg 

The Fundies of Love

Yes, this is funny :)

http://themetapicture.com/heres-an-idea-2/

Christians (currently aka Fundies or Fundamentals) have been known to hate, hurt and even kill in the name of God. If we are strict about God's commands (including those on idolatry and homosexuality) --- we should remember that these boil down to (1) loving God and (2) loving your neighbor.
 
If we speak the truth about what pleases God and what disgusts Him... do we speak it in love for the hearers' sake? Or do we speak it in love for ourselves, in disgust of "others", and overall self-righteousness?

If we talk about God's judgment at the end of days, do we also talk about the Son that sets us free?

If we bombard people with accounts of hell, do we also give them glimpses of heaven?


There is no more condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1) Sometimes, we share the "Good News" by focusing on the "Bad News" --- that one is a wretched sinner. Guess what: the sinner probably already knows the problem. Why not focus on the solution: talk more about God Himself?


Love does not mean tolerating or condoning the evil actions of the beloved. But true love goes the extra mile to help the loved one. Jesus left heaven to restore us. If we are already saved, what have we been doing?

Start and end the week right

Does your week go something like this?

 

http://themetapicture.com/how-weekdays-pass/ 

First things first... and last. 


"Begin the first day in holy worship;
don't do any regular work on that day.
...
Conclude the seventh day in holy worship;
don't do any regular work on that day."
       --- Numbers 28:18,25 (The Message version)


"On the first day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.
...On the seventh day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work."
       --- Numbers 28:18,25 (New International Version)


Is this where we got Saturday and Sunday as "week-ends"? For the ancient Israelites, one day was actually their week-end and the other the week-start. Still, I usually just see both as rest days at the end of my week, if my work even ended at all.

 http://memegenerator.net/instance/14114371

Do we do this? Worship God first, and last too, for the week? How about for the day? Perhaps if we're feeling particularly pious (or need something really bad), this could be how we start and end our year...

Let's remember our priorities. First Person first... and last.... and all throughout our days.

Watch Community! :)

The TV series "Community" is hilarious yet deep. Do watch :)

Normally I would post personal-but-not-really-related-to-God topics only on Facebook, but then again...

(1) Is anything not related to God?

(2) Hey, I saw this Christianity Today article about the show, so, there.


The latest update is it will move to another network and will extend to another three seasons. Yay.

Do watch and be blessed. Gnyt :)

Thank You (Jan 13, 2012)

Thank You Lord for:
* snorkeling ♥
* Iloilo getaway with friends from work
* Kenny's break-fast with friends from church
* letting me teach my fave subject once more
* the time, the money, the discipline
* my new home away from home ^_^
* more faith in the One who's in control

It's only the 13th of the first month and great things are already here. Here's to an awesome year! All glory to God ♥

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Thanks to Bless, Resmond and Arvin for the pics :) )

Songs for the New Year :)

I've been enjoying listening to these songs (thank you Mellow 94.7) and just realized they're quite appropriate as we welcome the new year. One talks of letting go of the regrets and hate of the past, while the other compels us to keep moving toward our dreams.


Let's. :) 


1.Shake It Out by Florence + the Machine 

I am done with my graceless heart
So tonight I'm gonna cut it out and then restart

I'm ready to suffer and I'm ready to hope
It's always darkest before the dawn

It's hard to dance
With a devil on your back
So shake him off




2. Paradise by Coldplay 

In the night, the stormy night, she'll close her eyes
In the night, the stormy night, away she'd fly

Dream of Paradise
I know the sun must set to rise

Work! Worry... Worship.

The last three labels (tags) in this blog are:

Work
Worry
Worship

How funny. In that order even.

This season I am called to work. And working leads me to my old lifestyle of fussing over everything, multitasking, rushing on a caffeine high...

In other words, doing things in my own power --- being my own god, life before *the* God.

And then I worry because of the tons of problems that pile up. Or is it me who's just shrinking? And drowning? And I panic because I can't do it and I'm done for, lagot, messed up, in so much trouble...


And then...

I remember God.

I remember that it is He who started the good work *in* me, so it is *He* who will finish it.

That it is *He* who causes me to *will*, and to *act* accordingly.

That *nobody* is perfect but Him alone, and nobody can boast before Him.

That He calls me to obey, to please Him, to bless others, and to bring glory back to Him... And that this is an invitation, not to go back to workaholic Teci, but to let God be God in all aspects of my life.

Because all things are possible, through God, and only through God.


Worship is where we lay all our troubles down and remember what --- Who --- is really more important. The One before Whom we and our petty little issues fade away. But it's OK. Would we rather degenerate squabbling over foolish insignificant matters, or be filled with the God of All Things?

Worship is the start of a new, deeper, fuller relationship with our God.

Let us begin. :)

Seek what they sought.

Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise.
Seek what they sought.
- Matsuo Basho


Pursue God, not the godly.
- Teci Pulido :)


Don't get close to me, get close to God.
- bumper sticker :)


I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, but he said to me, "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God."
- John the apostle, Revelation 22:8-9

Stress makes His flowers bloom

A typical conversation nowadays:

Person-I-haven't-seen-for-some-time: You're blooming.
Teci: Oh really? But I've been under a lot of stress lately.


All glory to the God who gives us everything we need... plus plus. :)

SNL.

SNL.

"Sabi Ni Lord." (Filipino for, "Thus says the Lord.")

:)

God Loves Teci :)

Thanks to ImageChef's Word Mosaic :)

Awesome 28

It's been an awesome 28 years with the simply awesome GOD.

The future can only be better. :)


It does one well to treat each day as a "birthday" --- if only to realize that one is special, and to be thankful for the One who makes each day and each person special.

On my Facebook wall, two friends greeted me with, "Happy na, birthday pa!" (Loosely translated as, "You're not just happy, it's your birthday too!") Indeed, indeed. :)

May we all be as blessed, more and more. With God, each day simply gets better. :)

had nothing to give...

Yesterday, had nothing to give caroling street kids... except a Christmas tree lollipop with flashing light. The smiles on their faces were priceless.

Some things are more important than money :)

They became kids again... i hope, so can we :)