The Beauty of Being A Servant

Some people are thinking that ushering ministry is the most lowly ministry in the church. As we see, those people are arranging the chairs, doing some chores, greet here, greet there, and so many others.

But this is another time to break some mindsets. As what Paul said in 1 Corinthians:

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

– 1 Corinthians 12:12, 14

Paul compared the church to a body, different parts, different purposes, but one body. Just imagine if your body is just one big eye, where will be your other senses? The same thing in church, if all people were concentrated in just one ministry, how the church will work? First, this is the beauty of being a servant, to be specific, being an usher, without them, the church will not work.

Second, and the most important, Jesus had set an example of being a servant. He is God who came down here on earth not to be served, but to serve. The best example Jesus had set? It was when He washed His disciples’ feet (John 13:1-17). And Jesus said to His disciples:

Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.

– John 13:14

This article not just apply only for those in ushering ministry, it applies to all of us. We experience always being ordered to do this and that, and sometimes we felt that those people are treating us like maids. But that’s not true. Jesus already set an example for all of us to see the beauty of being a servant. And lastly, you are not serving people, you are serving God.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,

– Colossians 3:23

Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

– Matthew 20:25-28

Worshiping While Burdened: The Best Worship Experience Ever

All of us have different styles on worshiping God. All of us also have different reasons on worshiping Him.

For me, the best worship experience is when you were battered, burdened, got weary by the trials and problems that you are in, then you come to God to worship Him, woah! That’s explosive. The feeling when you are tired and battered by all of your problems, as you worship God on that state, you can really feel God’s weight in your life; to the point when you do not care about what’s surrounding you anymore. What you care on that moment is God, and God alone.

I remember during last IGNITE 2011 conference, the time when I almost lost a friend, at that moment for me, one of the heaviest burden I’ve ever carried yet; when worship time came, I was on the stage where I don’t care of those people surrounding me. At that moment, I fell on my knees, almost kissed the ground,  singing and crying at the top of my voice, during that moment, I said, “Lord, di ko na kaya to. I surrender this to you. All I want is You.” And after that, I felt that my burdens that I’m carrying was slowly being lifted away from me, and all I felt is the weight of God’s presence.

Another reason why I like that kind of worship is because Jesus commanded us that we should come to Him when we are burdened:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

– Matthew 11:28

That’s my reason why I love that kind of worship. Yes, we have different reasons and styles on worshiping God, but it is not all about the styles or reasons, we worship God because of who He is, and He deserves to be worshiped. And through the cross, where Jesus shed His life, we are now enjoying worshiping God anytime, anywhere.

#worshipnomatterwhat

The Tongue III: The Language of Death

We’ve been hearing a lot of words as we listen. Those words we hear will produce various results in our life. Some of those words bring encouragement, but some brings very disastrous results.

What do I mean “disastrous”? How many of you will be encouraged when you hear curses? I guess all of us will not be encouraged.

Curse words will only bring death in our being. As what was written in Proverbs:

Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

– Proverbs 12:18

Those words are like a sword, it can destroy our soul. It is like killing you softly by pouring out those words in you. Curse words destroy everything; it has a power to destroy relationships, can destroy our thinking about life, and most especially, IT CAN DESTROY YOU. Just imagine you’re in a house where cursing is just a normal talking, imagine the destruction that is taking place inside you when you always hearing and receiving those kinds of words.

Cursing will never bring good  in our life, it only brings death; that’s why I call it “The Language of Death“. As what I’ve said before, if you have nothing good to say, SHUT UP! Learn how to control your tongue and you will get its fruit, depending on how you use it. It only produce two fruits: Life and Death. Use your tongue wisely and learn how to control it.

keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.

– Psalm 34:13

For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.

– 1 Peter 3:10

Anger “Management”

Have you ever got mad? What are the things you do when you are mad? IS your anger affects those people around you?

This is another time for breaking some mindsets; it’s okay to get mad sometimes (Even Jesus got mad too when he drove those who were selling at the temple). BUT, don’t let that anger lead you to sin. Yes people, uncontrolled anger will lead you to sin.

Uncontrolled anger is like a wildfire that will destroy virtually everything surrounding it. In other words, your anger will affect ALL those people around you. And as we always see, it always has negative effects to those people around you when you got mad uncontrollably.

What does the Word of God says about this subject? First, anger will never glorify God, as what was written in James:

Human anger does not achieve God’s righteous purpose.

– James 1:20 (Good News Translation)

Second, it will lead you to astray.

A quick-tempered man does foolish things, and a crafty man is hated.

– Proverbs 14:17 (NIV1984)

Lastly, as what I’ve said a while ago, uncontrolled anger will lead you to sin.

An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.

– Proverbs 29:22 (NIV1984)

Just like what I’ve said, it’s okay to get mad, even Jesus got mad in some situations, but you must learn how to control it. Control it so that you will never fall to sin. When you are in that situation when you really want to explode in anger, you should pray for more patience Be patient at all times, brothers and sisters, for it will produce a good fruit.

Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.

– 2 Timothy 2:23-24

“Sign” of Love

As time goes by, we’ve seen a lot of things that signify love. We often see those “signs” in a relationship. In old times, we see those signs written on a tree. For example, “Juan ♥ Maria”. In our modern times, it is a so-called “callsign”, a theme song, a thing like a pendant, a number, a shirt, etc.

But, have you ever known what is the greatest sign of love? You can see it on the wrists (Not hands) of Jesus. As those huge nails drove on Jesus’ wrists, it’s a sign of God’s unfailing love for each and everyone of us just for us not to be separated eternally from Him. Those scars in His wrists is a constant reminder for all of us that He loves us so much that He gave His life for us to experience eternal life, eternal life with God.

One last message, if you want to experience God’s love, accept Jesus Christ in your heart as your Lord and Savior, and your life will never be the same again.

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

– Isaiah 53:5