self-righteousness

Have you ever been around self-righteous people? Are YOU one of those self-righteous people?

So often I catch myself looking down on other people, and then I realize that I have not love for them; no compassion for others. And then I remember experiences I've had with individuals who just think they know everything, and everything they say is right, and I realize how unpleasant these people are. I look at myself and think, this is how unpleasant I am. Nobody likes to be around self-righteous, bitter, Mr or Ms "Always-Right".

This self-righteousness stems out of pride. Only a proud person is self-righteous. Bible says "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Bible also says "if God is for us, who can be against us?" The opposite is true: If God is not for us, then everything is against us. Yes, God remains faithful even when we are unfaithful, but when we run away from God, how then can we hope to experience the blessing and grace he has for us? And then we have these people, complaining that nothing's working out for them, or that God hates them. Cant you see the pride in what they say?

We know that all things work for good to those who love God, who are called according to His purpose. You want things to work out for you? Do I want things to work out for me? Then we have to place our own pride, our own righteousness aside. We have to come with the righteousness that is in God himself. APART FROM HIM THERE IS NO ONE RIGHTEOUS, NO NOT ONE!!

Faith in God--Abraham placed his faith in God, and his faith was accounted to him as righteousness. It's not gonna be your pride. It's not gonna be your own righteous. True strength is not always about you being always right. True strength comes from God, and knows that you could never be right if not for Christ who died for you. True strength is seen when you have the guts to admit you were wrong, and ask for forgiveness, and not plowing straight into your own pit of pride.

Often, I wake up to this realization that I need to surrender this pride in me.

Do you need to do the same?

Asher Noel

See,
I'm standing on the beach,
An arm to heaven reach
And eyes fixed on high,
To voice my silent cry.

See,
The winds ablow on me,
And waves of gentle sea.
With this life I live--
Inhale Your mercy, breath.

See,
With might I keep aloft
A feeble hand so coffed
With war and with pain
To know Your grace again.

See,
I see Your providence
And hear in this silence:
A sign of Your voice
Amidst all the noise.

See,
I see now what You seek;
I hear now when You speak
And know the comfort
Of the peace in Your Word.

See,
Oh happy I will be!
A babe with destiny
Born, O borned to die
That man no longer cry.

See,
Raised my hand I'll keep
Till tear and mournful weep
Is washed; and sweet song
Will I sing all night long.

Innocence

The innocence of naivety is admirable,
but the ignorance of it is not.
Some say ignorance is bliss and pleasurable,
yet in it no benefit is wrought.

What then is the blessing of naivety
when all is foolishness and lack?
It is Innocence, its company;
makes anything white that's black.

Earache (cont'd)

I went to the doctor
Finally, said yes
To seek out a cure
For this illness

Relieved to know
It wasn't bad cheese
Or dirty canals
Of water or grease

Just common infection
The usual facade
A seasonal reaction
To bacterial jihad

Antibiotic drops
An earful each day
These microbial cops
Shoo terrorists away

Thank you for praying
Your prayers were heard
He saw my suffering
And promptly answered

His ultimate Cure
Was upon that cross
His Son, so pure
To redeem what was lost

So earache, be warned
I'll see you no more
In seven days, begone
For I've got my Cure!

personal values...

I wrote the following in my autobiography that i had to complete for an assignment last semester.

My experiences in life have taught me many things. Most of all, they have instilled in me priceless one-word values that have generally governed my ethics and conduct. Most of these words I have learned through my experiences, and I still continue to learn them.

I believe in Integrity and Truth. An honest person is strong in and from the inside, and he is strong only because he knows what is true. To me, this is just as important as being strong on the outside.

I believe in Diligence. God sees a hard worker even when his hard work is not recognized by others.

I believe in Respect. I grew up in culture where respect towards those older than me was a given. However I also learned that respect has to be earned and not commanded.

And finally, I believe in Faith, Courage and Possibilities. The famous Bible verse in Hebrews says that without faith it is impossible to please God. I believe in this with all my heart, and I know it is because of faith in God that gives me the courage to take bold steps for His Kingdom. I know also that as I take these steps, there will always be possibilities. The Apostle Paul once said, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” And Jesus Christ himself declared to the man with a demon-possessed son, “All things are possible to him who believes!” Therefore I have no doubt in the things which God has called me to do.

Cornelius, a good friend, sent me a text msg yesterday from Sabah. He quoted the verse:

And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Revelation 22:12

What are you doing?

Earache...

I'm having an earache
Right side of my head
During my fall break
I feel like I'm plagued

Please pray with me
For His mercy
That I will be free
From this malady