GOD IS LOVE

God is not sex.

But I think that many people have made an idol out of sex. They’ve made sex a god that they worship. They have made sex out to be the pinnacle expression of love… and while it is great– a special gift from God — it is by no means the all and end all of love.  The Enemy (devil) has sold them a bill of lies.

And the Enemy had been using the powerful influence of pop-culture and the media to do it… for much of our lives.  Daily, we have been bombarded with images and ideas, suggestions and scenarios that mis-shape and deform our attitudes and appetites in the areas of sex and intimacy.

They have come in the forms of TV commercials and Radio ads, billboards and magazine covers, movies and TV shows, texts, tweets, blogs and Facebook updates, jokes and stories, gossip and simply meditating!

We have become desensitized to what a healthy and appropriate perspective on sex, sexuality, intimacy and love really is.

And it’s not just us (adults)… but our youth as well.

Chap Clark, in his book entitled ‘Hurt’ suggests that “because of the increasingly graphic nature of what our young people are exposed to… they are experimenting sexually earlier and earlier in their development.  What they see: on TV, in movies, on the internet, billboards, etc., they don’t know what to do with. They don’t have a way to filter or process it… and mistakenly, they figure that “it most be OK to try.”  And they do.  More and more.  At younger and younger ages.  And it’s wounding them… possibly like it’s wounded some of us.  Why? Because there’s something very powerful about how God has created us — as relational beings — and this intimate act of sex is meant to bond us in ways that we cannot understand.

Sex is such a gift within the context of marriage, and so dangerous outside of that same context.  Yes, the things we do outside of marriage will follow us into marriage. The memories. The regrets. The pain. The shame. The attitudes about sex.  An unhealthy sex life as a single can lead to an unhealthy sex life as a married person.  Yes, God can redeem our sexual past, but consequences of our impulsive behaviors can be long-lasting.

So why didn’t someone tell us about the truth behind Sex?

Why didn’t we know this before we dive head first into feeding our sexual appetites?  Probably because sex has been one of those things that we just don’t talk about.

Sex sounds STRANGE but we NEED to talk about.

In the past, if anyone has talked to us about sex… the message was usually pretty simple:

It was NO or it was WAIT.

NO- “No. No. Don’t do it! Wait. Wait! You can wait! Just wait! Wait until you’re married! Just wait. No, don’t do it, it’s bad!”

“No,” as an answer, has only served to cast suspicion and fear on the idea of sex.

And this isn’t good.

WAIT- “Just wait until you’re married.”

And “waiting” has been the primary message of abstinence.

Abstinence – the message is to wait until you’re married… implying that sex (this “ultimate” expression of love) is something that you can’t have… until you’re married… and only then can you experience the BEST of love. Translated— singles can’t experience the best of love. L

Celibacy – suggests that we not only refrain from sexual activity, but that we choose God – and delight ourselves in God – above all else. In this scenario anyone — everyone — is able to experience the best of love. J

Abstinence can more liken to Starvation…

Starvation is simply abstaining from eating… we withhold food from our bodies and give it nothing else to feed on.

Celibacy can more liken to Fasting…

Fasting, while also abstaining from food, is more about replacing that consumption of food with a more intentional consumption of God.

Consuming God- Pursuing God with everything we have. Putting God first.

Our culture has made a god of sex.  But only God can be God.

Sex is a gift from God — to be experienced in a specific context… but it is not the ultimate expression or experience of love!                            www.miraclehour.com

WHY C E L I B A C Y ?

Well, Abstinence implies that you just need to wait.  HOLD ON until you gets     married. Then you can fulfill the (sexual) desires you feel.  And ONLY then will your life feel complete!  This line of thinking suggests that the married life is the only way to live a full (and fulfilled) life! BUT IT’S NOT.

 Chastity has implications for singles and married and again is defined by a period of ‘abstaining from’ for a season and/or certain reason.

 Virginity has to do more with a physical state than a spiritual one, and therefore is not ideal for Christians to have as their focus.

While CELIBACY might conger up images of nuns, monks, fulltime church staff (for Christian Churches) and also for you who— choose to live into God until He calls you into marriage.

So Why Be C E L I B A T E?

·        Sex is one of God’s creations – seen as good.

·        Sex is a sign of a unique oneness between a husband and wife

(a covenant).

·        Sex is also a sign of God’s radical fidelity and faithfulness to the Church.

 And while this isn’t the extent of the conversation, it’s typically where it ends.  That being the case, sex is often elevated to look like the ultimate expression of holiness, BUT IT’S NOT.

 CELIBACY is a way of making us available to God… and everyone else.

 The Coming of Jesus redefined the Choice of Intentional Radical Singleness!

 Jesus often asked His followers to leave their family to follow Him — in some ways elevating the ‘Church’ family over the biological family.

 Paul goes on to say that ‘it is even better to be single!’ (If you can)

 Contentment is a big theme of Paul’s.

 The Single Men & Women who choose to live fulltime into God would be cared for by the local church.

 Ultimately, Marriage and Singleness are BOTH viable options!

So what are the IMPLICATIONS for us today?

1.  We should place marriage and sex in proper perspective.

2.  We should give God our full attention, whether single or married.

3.  Choosing CELIBACY is more than enduring singleness.

4.  CELIBACY gives us insight into the inclusive and all-encompassing nature of God’s love.

5.  Christians can be free to marry, or not marry, without feeling pressured by the culture or church.

6.  Fulfillment comes from God alone and not another human.

7.  Singles have more freedoms, and flexibility, to serve God and go where He calls.

8.  Our hope lies in Christ and not in anything here on earth.

CELIBACY is about aligning our attention to God — whether single or married which will ultimately lead to the most fulfilling way of life possible… which means one doesn’t have to wait until they’re married to experience it!

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK?

www.miraclehour.com

HAPPINESS IS ACHIEVABLE

Mahalagang sabihin na ang pagtatamo ng KALIGAYAHAN ay pagsunod sa pamantayang moral na makapagpapaunlad ng pakikipag- ugnayan sa kapwa.  Kapag nakadarama ng KALIGAYAHAN-HAPPINESS ang tao, tiyak na magiging madali para sa kanya ang mapaunlad ang pakikipag- ugnayan sa kapwa.

Halimbawa:

 Parang “nakatungtong sa ulap” si Kesiah dahil matataas ang kanyang grade.  Masayang- masaya siya kaya lahat halos ng masalubong niya ay masaya niyang binabati.

 Sinagot na ni Dhang ang matagal na niyang manliligaw na si Rodel.  Akalain mong dahil sa sobrang kaligayahan ng binata, agad itong nagpabili ng hapunan sa Max’s para magkaroon ng masaganang hapunan ang pamilya ng kanyang nilalangit.

 Isang milyon ang premyo ni Aldrin nang siya ay naitanghal na top- earner ng kumpanya.  Masayang nasabi ng anak sa ina, “Ma, payag po ba kayong ibahagi natin sa iba ang ating biyaya?” “Oo naman anak! Ibili natin ng maraming goods and kinds upang ating maibahagi sa maraming nangangailangan ng tulong” ang tugon ng ina.

 Hindi man nakamit ni Yhang ang inaasam niyang maging photo-journalist ng mga leading newspapers, siya ay nakadama ng “makalangit na kaligayahan” nang siya ay mapabilang sa Book Publishing Ministry ng isa sa kinikilalang reverend ng bansa.

ooOoo

Eh, ano ba ang kaligayahan/happiness na isa sa mataas na pamantayang moral?

      Ayon kay Dr.Ly Sycip, chairperson ng U.P. Department of Psychology, “Happiness is a positive feeling or emotion.” Sabi naman ni Ma. Kathleen Bernadette Nisperos, faculty member ng Ateneo de Manila University, “It is a state of balance” at inihayag naman ni Teresa G. Tuazon, ng nasabi ring pamantasan, “Happiness, to be more meaningful, should be a state of mind, a kind of disposition.  It is an inner and deeper sense of being at peace with God, the people around you, & the things that you do.” Inihayag naman ni Felix M. Montemayor sa kanyang aklat na Ethics, The Philosophy of Life, “Happiness is the ultimate good and goal of men.” Samantala, ang happiness alinsunod sa Lingkod ng Diyos Apostol Renato D. Carillo, “Ang tunay na kaligayahan ng buhay ay nasa pagbibigay.”

      INAAMIN NG MGA PSYCHOLOGISTS NA WALANG “RULES OF THUMB” KUNG PAANO MAAARING LUMIGAYA ANG TAO, PERO NANINIWALA SILANG SA TULONG NG MGA SUMUSUNOD, MAPAUUNLAD NG TAO ANG KANYANG SARILI KAYA MALILINANG NIYA ANG SARILI, TUNGO SA PAKIKIPAG- UGNAYAN SA KAPWA.

1.Tibayan ang pananalig sa Maykapal.  Siya ang magbibigay ng dahilan upang lumigaya ang tao.

2.Tanggapin, pahalagahan, ikaligaya, at ipagpasalamat ang mga biyaya ng Panginoon.  Ikaliligaya kung matututunang ipamigay ang iba nito sa kapwa.

3.Matuto kang tumanggap ng hirap at pasakit.  Upang lumigaya, tandaan mo, “kapag may hirap, may ginhawa”.  “Ang lahat ng suliranin ay may kalutasan.”

4.Iwasan ang manatili sa kalungkutan.  Gumawa ng paraan upang lumigaya.  “Life is what you make it.”  Pilitin mong malampasan ang hirap at kalungkutan- makisama ka sa mga masasayang tao at liligaya ka!

(attend @ JIOSWM. www.miraclehour.com)

5.Patawarin ang iyong sarili, pati na ang iyong kapwa at makakadama ka ng kasiyahan at kaganapan.

6.Gawin mo ang iyong mga pananagutan sa buhay, lalo na ang may kaugnayan sa tao, sa mga pangyayari, at sikapin mong maging positibo ang kahihinatnan nito.

7. Magtiwala sa sarili (sa iyong angking talino, kasanayan, kakayahan, talento, at galing na bigay ng Diyos sa iyo.)

8.Huwag kang mawawalan ng pag- asa.  Ito ang magbibigay sa iyo ng lakas ng loob na ipagpatuloy ang iyong layunin, tungo sa pakikipag- ugnayan.

9.Magkaroon ng kapalagayang-loob na mapagkakatiwalaan upang magbigay ng inspirasyon.

10.Ibahagi ang iyong sarili sa iyong kapwa.  Kapag may natulungan ka, sasabihin nila sa iyo, “Ikaw ay mabait, masipag at matulunging tao.” Ang mga salitang ito ay magpapalakas ng iyong loob at magdudulot sa iyo ng kasiyahan upang ipagpatuloy ang iyong mabuting pananaw sa buhay.

11.Magpasalamat ka.  Ang marunong magpasalamat ay madalas na tinutulungan kaya nalulutas ang suliranin.

12.Tanggapin mong ang kalungkutan ay nasa isip lamang.  Nalulungkot ang tao, dahil ito ang iniisip niya.  Ang negatibong iyong naiisip ay magaganap sa iyo.

13.Ang pera ay hindi ang lahat sa mundo.  Kapag yumaman ang tao, “kumikitid” ang “mabibili” nilang kaligayahan.

14.Unawaing may panganib sa paghahanap ng kaligayahan sa mundo. Kapag alam mo kung anong panganib ang iyong kakaharapin, madali mo itong malalampasan.

15.Kilalanin mo ang Panginoong Hesus upang malaman mo na ang tunay na kaligayahang iyong hinahanap ay sa Kanya lamang matatagpuan.

(attend @ JIOSWM. www.miraclehour.com)

BLOG MISSION

My Blog Mission/ Purpose/ Passion:

“To SHARE my

POSITIVE MIND

and be a 

BLESSING!”

cabreraflorina.blogspot.com

ios.florinac@gmail.com

BLOG FAITH

ARTICLE OF FAITH

These we believe that:

1.   The Bible is the only infallible and authoritative written Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

2.   There is one God eternally exist in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Deut. 6:4, 1 John 5:7, II Cor. 13:14, Matt. 3:13-17, 28:19)

3.   We believe that man is created in the image and likeness of God, but man fell because of sin. (Rom.3:10, 5:12)

4.   Christ paid the price on the cross for the redemption of man. (John 3:16, Rom. 5:8)

5.   Man cannot save himself and that he can only be saved through faith due to the redemptive works of Christ. (Eph. 2:8-9)

6.   Through repentance and acceptance to Jesus as Lord and personal Savior, man can freely enjoy the forgiveness of God. (John 1:12, Acts 3:19)

7.   Unless a man is born again, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. His spirit was being regenerated through the Holy Spirit. (John 3:3)

8.   Water baptism in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and the Lord’s Supper through Holy Communion are one of the ordinances, which the Lord gave for the Church. (Matt. 28:19, 1 Cor. 11:23-26)

9.   The initial evidence that a Christian has been baptized in the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues. (Acts 2:4, Acts, 19:6, Acts 10:44-46)

10.There are nine fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit, which every believer of Christ should possess. (1 Cor. 12:1-11, Gal. 5:22)

11.Miracle never ceases and divine healing can be received in answer to the prayer of faith. Christ has the power to heal the sick. (Exo. 15:26, Mk. 11:22, Lk. 18:27)

12.Rapture will take place at any moment. Jesus will return immanently to take His True Church. (1 Thes.4:16-18, 1 Thes. 5:1-2, Acts 1:11,John 14:1-4)

13.Jesus Christ is God who became man, born sinless through virgin birth. He was resurrected and ascended to heaven, sitting at the right hand of the Father after His death on the cross. (Phil. 2:6-11, Heb. 1:8, Titus 2:13)

14.The method that God ordained to support His work and to spread His Word is through tithes and offerings. (Mal. 3:10, II Cor. 9:7)

15.Perfection of the Church – living like Jesus – will happen through perfect obedience to God and to His word. (Matt. 5:48, 1 Cor. 11:1, II Cor. 13:9, 11, Eph. 5:25-27, Col. 1:28, 1 Thes. 5:23-24, 1 John 2:6, 1 Peter 2:20-21, Heb. 6:2, 12:2)

16.There are five-ministry gift that God gave to the Church, and the ministry of the prophets and apostles still exist today. (Eph. 2:20, 3:5, 4:7-11, 1 Cor. 4:9, 12:28)

Written by: Apostle Renato D. Carillo/ www.miraclehour.org