#MindstepFive: #Discipline

I face each day with things on my mind about my "5-or-10-years-from-now". And I want my journey to end well. I mean, I want to meet the people from my past congratulating me when I meet them again five to ten years from now. To be really successful, it takes hard work, patience--and everything nice-- plus DISCIPLINE.

Discipline is a system designed to train a person.  For once, I'll be talking about a topic I haven't mastered yet, but something I work on. Discipline.

I admire myself when I was still writing romance books. That time I was on my first year, second year college.

No matter how tired I was, I would really wake up early and be awake 'til dawn just to be able to finish a book in one week considering college paper works, exams, quizzes, events and classes I had to attend. And when I was still not entering college-- since I stopped schooling-- I would face the blank bond papers and spend the whole day type the manuscripts faithfully, using manual typewriter. I admire myself because nowadays, I can't stand an hour just sitting to accomplish some paper works. I have to have a coffee break or stand to see what's going on around. Or visit social networking sites.

August, September, October 2010, several months before I graduated from College, I realized I was so undisciplined. I would wake up unmotivated to face the day and I would accomplish less. I got so worried. This lifestyle was so different when I was in Korea (May, June, July 2010)

In there, I would wake up at 2 am and sleep at 10 pm! Those hours, I worked! I did delivery jobs.

I could deliver hundreds of newspapers and almost fifty(or more!) boxes of Taekbe. I used bike to deliver taekbe.

                          (photo source: http://www.herzlife.com/shopping-online-and-tekbe-ajeossi/)

To check how undisciplined I was, I would make a schedule on how I should spend my day. Before sleeping, I would write how I spent my day. I would compare them. They're very different from each other.

Jesus Christ is a great model of discipline.

The first step to becoming disciplined is by learning how to say, "NO." Jesus was tempted by satan to turn a stone into bread during the time He was in dire need to eat, He was forty-day hungry then. When I was new in the practice of fasting, there were times I was really tempted to eat and I gave into the temptation. I ate. It was hard not to eat. Meaning, Jesus was so great that He was able to endure the temptation of eating despite deep hunger.

satan tried to devour His mind of promises related to acquiring the wealth of the world if Jesus would just bow down before him. Jesus knew He is God and He doesn't need wealth-- neither fame-- because He made all of the things on earth. This world is His. Instead Jesus said, "Away from me, satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only."(Matthew 4:10)

satan brought Jesus to the highest point of a temple. satan tempted Him to jump off.

Matthew 4:6-7 narrates:

"If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written:

          He will command His angels concerning you,

            and they will lift you up in their hands,

            so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

Jesus answered him, "It is also written: Do not put the Lord your God to the test."

It is important that we read the Bible. satan knows what are the things written in the Bible since he was once an angel. satan could use it to devour our mind empty of the Holy Scriptures. Jesus was well-equipped in the knowledge of the content of the Bible. He was able to say, "NO."

In the same way, we could say, "I won't visit Facebook now especially I have many things to do. If I visit it, I might see videos, I might just chat with friends or I'd be so consumed knowing what my friends are posting about. So I will just finish the stuffs I have to accomplish."

Nowadays, many students come to school without homework, projects. They can't study at night because of social networking sites. I am always frustrated in motivating our high school students to let them understand that staying online for long in social networking sites won't do good regarding their future. I am the head teacher of our school so I am researching how to motivate the students and really make them realize the value of their future in relation to what they do at present. They seem more proud to announce the world they lacked sleep because of chatting with someone they like so much. Or because of game. Or because of boredom. Or because of lack of discipline and focus. Or lack of sense of direction. Or lack of dreams. Or lack of their love for their family. Lack of love for themselves.

I worry too much about their future but they don't care of what they do with their lives. I want them not just go to school everyday--some of them are absent from time to time-- I want them to understand why they go to school. And what lies ahead of them after schooling. But I remember what the Bible is saying about one's capacity, ability to listen and understand.

                             (photo source: http://megjohnsonspeaks.com/2014/07/fhe-parable-dirt-mean-sower/)

The Parable of the Sower

     Then Jesus told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear." (Matthew 13:3-9)

Everyone has dreams but not all people succeed. Only the disciplined succeed. Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao is a living epitome of discipline.

His Physical stats is: 

          Height: 5'6"(1.68m)

          Weight: 122 pounds

His workout routine:

Monday to Wednesday

     Running for 10 miles(stamina building)

     8 rounds of shadow boxing

     15 rounds of sparring

     10 rounds of speed bag

     10 rounds of heavy bag

     7 round of jump rope  

     2 sets of ab crunches of 100 reps

     2 sets of knee ups of 100 reps

     2 sets of diagonal crunches (both sides) of 100 reps

     2 sets of alternate bicycle of 100 reps

     2 sets of leg scissors of 100 reps

     2 sets of vertical leg crunches of 100 reps

     2 sets of side crunches of 100 reps

     2 sets of floor wipers of 100 reps

     2 sets of Russian twists of 100 reps

     10 round of agility ladder drills(speed workout)

Tuesday and Thursday

     Warm up exercise(running for 10 miles) (stamina workout)

      8 rounds of shadow boxing with dumbbells in each hand

      15 rounds of mitt training

      10 rounds of speed bag

      10 rounds of heavy bag

      7 rounds of jump rope

      2 sets of knee ups pf 100 reps

      2 sets of knee ups of 100 reps

      2 sets of alternate bicycle of 100 reps

      2 sets of leg scissors of 100 reps

      2 sets of side crunches of 100 reps   

      2 sets of floor wipers of 100 reps

      2 sets of Russian twists of 100 reps

      Plyometric exercises

Friday

     Warm up exercises(stretching)

     3 sets of shadow boxing of 3 minutes

     8-20 rounds of mitts

     3 sets of double end bag of 3 minutes

     3 sets of speed bag of 3 minutes

     3 sets of jump rope of 3 minutes

     6 sets of shadow boxing of 3 reps

     10 sets of ab exercises of 100 reps

Saturday

     Stamina building workout (running/sparring)

Sunday (rest day)

                                                                                             
                                        (source: http://workoutinfoguru.com/manny-pacquiao-workout/)

It is important that we find time to rest and to relax. Our Almighty God despite being the creator of heaven and earth rested on the seventh day. (Genesis 2:2) Hard work will make us weary and tired, stressed and unready to face the following week. We must trust God and think that resting is our way of showing Him we lift our life to Him. That in anything we do, we honor Him. We also honor Him in our lives if we spend our rest day in worshiping Him by going to church, reading the Bible and reflecting on the week that's been. It is also our chance to regain our strength from a week hard work. In my case I get to sleep only 4 to 5 hours from Monday to Friday and about 6 to 7 hours every Saturday, I could enjoy an eight hour sleep every Sunday. Adventists rest every Saturday.

The future is bleak and obscure. Through discipline we will get to the future life we would like enjoying. Through discipline we become better and we get to accomplish the things we have to do.

 I have many dreams and plans. And right now, I have many jobs. Head Teacher, ESL teacher, I am writing a movie script, blogger, networker, tutor and more. I have to really discipline myself in order to accomplish the things others expect from me; and also accomplish the things I expect for myself. 

Why do we have to discipline ourselves? It is simple. Ten, twenty years from now, do we want to be successful or not? If yes, we have to discipline ourselves. If not, we'd just go with the flow of how life would mold us to be. It's our choice.

Up Next:

#MindstepSix: #Focus

TO GOD BE THE GLORY

#MindstepFour: Paradigm Shift Part Two

"I am tired..."

"No, I am not tired. I can do even more."

Yes. We can do more.

Today, I woke up at 3 am although I slept just 2 and a half hours ago. I am the Head Teacher of our school. I am also a tutor, a writer, a blogger, networker and a big businessman in the making--I am just convincing myself! I am also a dreamer, a big dreamer. I want to build an international ESL company. On my mind is a film I entitled, "Seonsaengnim"--it's a Korean word which means teacher.

There are many things that are on my mind so I work really hard to fulfill them. It's for my future but at present, I have to find ways to fulfill them all.

Starting on Monday, I'll be having another tutorial job aside from my 2:00-3:00 tutorial schedule. I'll be having 6-9 pm tutorial classes. I regularly teach. My working hours is from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

2003 when I entered College was the start I became always busy. My days are always consumed with work. I would always sleep late and wake up early. Sometimes I wonder why I don't get sick. But I know it is because of Jesus. He heals me, he empowers me.

Paradigm shift should not remain a paradigm. It entails actions. The bigger your paradigm is, the bigger the actions should be.

Honestly, I feel frustrated everyday because of my dreams. But at the end of it all, they are also what motivate me. I see my dreams today as visions. I am willing to undertake hardships, trials and difficulties to have them in the years to come. This morning, I saw this video and this summarizes what I am talking about.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10202610140708898

In the video, the cyclist is on a rocky mountain and the slopes are really deathly dangerous. One wrong move could cause the death of the cyclist. Despite the ups and down and the danger in the situation, the cyclist was able to reach his finish line and received applause with WOWS! from the witnesses of his astonishing ride.

It's not really important what situation, what disappointments, problems, misfortune, lose of hope we are undergoing through The point is: is our mind ready? Ready for what?

          a. To wake up from sleep.
          b. To see what really matters. To see what should be done. To see the why's and how's.
          c. To act despite obstacles, criticisms, disappointments.
          d. To accept failures and defeat --for life lessons.
          e. Courage to always go on with a winning attitude.

Life is full of crossroads but we have to keep moving ahead. If a road is diverging in two, which would we choose? There are always two paths in front of us. Our paradigm would direct us, the end result would tell us if we've got that sound judgment and wisdom.

That is the importance of "paradigm shift". All of us have paradigm but it is up to us whether we'll make a good set of paradigm or we'd choose to just be who and how we used to be; or go back to the old ways or choose the things we thought good enough.

To have a good and effective "paradigm" we must open our mind.

Open our mind to what?

1. We have to accept the fact that what we know is not enough yet. We have to know many things. We don't have to know everything but we have to discover the "assets" that could help us in successfully dealing with our everyday concerns.

I'll give you idea how important a good paradigm is. Let me cite a fishball vendor as a good example. Let's say he's at his early 40, father to 4; married to unhelpful woman.

 (photo source: http://petervandever.com/2013/08/are-poor-filipinos-really-poor)

UNSUCCESSFUL FISHBALL VENDOR: He wakes up worried because of expenses. He prepares breakfast completely annoyed of his nagging wife. After eating a simple meal, perhaps rice and tuyo with noodles, he starts preparing his products-- fishball.

(photo source: http://geneviecua.blogspot.com/2011/08/good-morning.html)

(photo source: http://ascientistinthekitchen.net/blogging/will-be-back-to-blogging)

A pack of fish ball costs 42-45.00 Php. A pack has 100 fish balls. Meaning, a pack could be sold with a profit of 5.00 Php. To sell fish ball, there is a need for gas, cooking oil and fish ball sauce. To maximize the profit, the vendor would sell chicken ball and kikiam. Ric, journalism student from the University of of the Philippines writes about the story of Many Tony, a fish ball vendor. His blog (http://blackhelios.wordpress.com/2012/04/24/mang-tony-and-his-fish-ball-story/)  confirms that a fish ball vendor earns around 300.00 Php, if luck permits 400.00 Php earnings sometimes.

As of June 13, 2011, this is the price list of prime commodities in Philippines at annual inflation rate of 4.6, 3.2 and 3.0 for the years 2011, 2012, 2013 respectively. Last July 2014, Philippine inflation rate was at 4.4.

Here's the link: http://www.gov.ph/2011/06/14/price-list-for-selected-basic-necessities-and-prime-commodities-as-of-june-14-2011/

With this kind of income and expenses most probably, the mother and father would always fight. Low income is not the only problem. Most of underground economy business such as this are being eaten by "5-6". It is a business of some people wherein when you borrow 5,000.00 Php, the money becomes 6, 000.00 Php after a month of using it.

Meeting the needs of 4 kids is really hard especially if they all go to school. Or if there's still a kid in infant stage.


SUCCESSFUL STORY: Grace Gupana, as fish ball vendor once, was awarded by Guinness Book of World Records for:

+ World's Biggest Philippine and Israeli flag.
+ World's biggest 10 Commandment tablet
+ Longest Drawing(5 kilometers and 7 meters)
+ Most blood identification tests in 24 hours: 527)
+ Most cholesterol readings taken in 24 hours: 2,302
+ Most diabetes reading taken in 24 hours: 2,302
+ Most diabetes readings taken in 24 hours: 503

(photo source: http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/10718152/image/87703098-grace-galindez-gupana-holds-a-guinness-record-certificate-in-front-of-the-world-s-largest)

 (photo source: http://fil.wikipilipinas.org/index.php/Grace_Galindez-Gupana)

Good paradigm gives birth to successful life.

2. Allow changes in our lives.

Jeremiah 29:11 reminds, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and future."

God tests us. He allows problems and difficulties in our lives but those are still for our own good. Trials and struggles come to us to make us stronger and wiser. Besides, God will never give us what we cannot handle.

Remember, "No pain, no gain."

3. Let God use our lives for His purpose.

God made us. Therefore, we are His. Our lives are His.

When we give our life to God, our days become easier to face; our problems become easier to solve. It is God who sustains our wants and needs. Therefore, He deserves all the glory and honor. Through our lives, God must be glorified. God will do something great in our lives, we just let Him work in and through us.

4. We have to be disciplined to do what God is asking us to do.

Luke 10:2: He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

We should not say we are bored, lazy since there are many things to do.

If we feel sad, we could go out and make someone happy. If we cannot solve a problem, we could just look for someone whom we could help solve his/her problem--let's give God the work of solving our problems when we can't. If we feel alone, let's think we can do many things for others. Many kids can't read. Many kids can't add, can't subtract yet. Why don't we help them? If we know Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, why don't we tell a friend, a Facebook friend or to a neighbor about Him?

5. Open our mind to the lessons of books, especially the Bible.
Always think we are an empty cup every time. We'd realize there are more things that we have to know and learn.

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good pleasing and perfect will." --Romans 12:2


UP NEXT:

#MindstepFive: #Discipline

To God Be The Glory

#ParadigmShiftPartOne

Would you believe they are just the same one tabletop?

(illusion created by Stanford University psychologist Roger Shepard)

If we're asked whether the tabletops above are identical, we would answer, no--they are different from one another. But if you get a measuring device, you'll find out that they are just the same.

In the same manner, there is this thing we call life but we all look differently at it.

You might argue if I tell you this is Marilyn Monroe. 

Do you see Marilyn Monroe or Albert Einstein?

If I tell you this is Marilyn Monroe and you don't believe, I just have to let you see what I see.

Go a little far from the picture and you'll see Marilyn Monroe.

If someone were poor and another person would tell him/her, he/she's rich, there must be something wrong in the eyes of the person telling that especially if this someone experiences hunger, is homeless and penniless.

You are wealthy, do you believe?

Yes or no?

Look at the arrangement of the dice and see them an impressive triangle.

I just showed you, looks could be deceiving. What we see is not the whole truth. What we know is not all perfectly true and correct--something we should not always rely onto, believe in. There are things we think of, we think about that we have to change.

Bad disposition, past experiences, bad habits or others stuffs that hinder us to have better life--they are some of the things that must be discarded NOW.

If someone is telling you you are nothing, would you believe?

If someone is telling you you are hopeless, you'll never meet 'good future', would you believe?

You may look at the mirror and see someone beautiful or handsome. You may look at yourself as someone kind or rude. You may develop thinking about yourself as productive or someone whom the world cannot be relied onto.

Do you ever wonder why some celebrities despite looking good still decide to undergo surgery? Some people whom in our sight appear beautiful or handsome, sexy--whom we consider near perfection still want to have a part of their body changed? Because another person's view in us cannot satisfy what we believe about our "self-image". Our self-image is what we know about "who-I-am" without considering "this-is-what-they-think-about-me".

How do you know if there is problem in the way you look at things? I won't google it, here's my own list.

1. You see and imagine ghosts anywhere you go. You are worried to close your eyes while washing your face. You are worried the moment you open your eyes, ghost would appear just in front of you.

2. You always cry because you always think God gives you all the problems He could shower you. You think your life is like a TV drama. The fact is, we all experience the same level of problems, frustrations, disappointments but we approach life differently.

3. You don't want to face the day. All of us should go out and live the life God wants us to experience. Cowardice is a mental approach to living the wrong way. Be brave. Be bold. Life tests us. When it gets tired, it would soon keep blessing us. we just have to show we deserve a good life by not giving up on tests. Besides, life won't test you in the way you won't be able to bear---same is true in having blessings. Life won't bless you if you don't know how to handle the good things it could bless you with.

4. You always sing when you are sad. You always cry when you are happy.

We should face life as it is. If a friend or family member died, cry. If you are happy, laugh and shout your joy to the world. Be yourself!

There is a Time for Everything

          There is a time for everything,
               and everything on earth has its special season.
          There is a time to be born
               and a time to die
          There is a time to plant
               and a time to pull up plants.
          There is a time to kill
               and a time to heal.
          There is a time to destroy
               and a time to build
          There is a time to cry
               and a time to laugh
          There is a time to be sad
               and a time to dance.
          There is a time to throw away stones
               and a time to gather them.
          There is a time to hug
               and a time not to hug
          There is a time to look for something
               and a time to stop looking for it.
          There is a time to keep things
               and a time to throw things away.
          There is a time to tear apart
               and a time to sew together.
          There is a time to be silent
               and a time to speak.
          There is a time to love
               and a time to hate.
          There is a time for war
               and a time for peace.
                                         --Ecclesiastes 3:1-7

5. You have problem in the way you look at life if you don't believe God.

How did I become who I am if ever nobody created me?---Ask this to yourself if you think there is no existing God.

Paradigm Shift is a battle field of decision-making. It is switching off of an ineffective body system, killing bad habits to be transformed into someone better.

It is choosing a better option.

Many of us complain that we get to do less because of social networking sites. We all know this but not all would decide to not actually visit them and do something more productive. It's a choice.

Many students would come to school without homework. In the same manner, some teachers are not inspiring, active or dedicated to the teaching profession. It's a choice.

Any successful person should have a powerful willingness, dedication and action to arrive at a better result of paradigm shift.

FOCUS is a field where paradigm shift should be playing at. Someone deciding to have better life should not keep shifting paradigm.

It is not like deciding to not visit a social networking site now and visit it again when the "worse-you" sets in. It is not forgetting who we want to be for something we just feel at the moment. It should not be an spark of likeness to be better now and a lose of hope and perseverance after awhile.

                                   (photo source: http://agr.georgia.gov/cogongrass.aspx)

"Ningas-cogon" describes the attitude of some Filipinos. When this grass is lit when dried, it sparks or makes fire but then eventually dies. This grass serves as warning to some Filipinos not to be good only at the start then eventually "die" at the course of a struggle.

To go somewhere better, there must be focus to where we want to go--and consistency in action, decision-making and "mindstep" should go with it. In our journey to success, we experience set backs, loses and many other negative dispositions. A good person's paradigm shift should be strong in the sense that the person deciding to be better is equipped enough physically, emotionally, emotionally, socially--to stay fit to keep moving without the consistent shift of paradigm.

#MindstepFour: #ParadigmShift

How to evaluate if a shift of paradigm is effective?

There is no formula to success. Same is true in dealing with "paradigm shift". We base our "paradigm" on the result of our decisions in our lives. As long as our life is performing well or our life is getting better, then we can say that we are on the right track. But if we keep losing, we don't get to do what we have to do, we experience negative emotions toward others and ourselves, that's the time we realize there is need for "paradigm shift" or another paradigm shift. But then again, it should not be a consistent, continuous shift of paradigm.

Paradigm shift should be positive. We don't make a shift on our paradigm the negative way or else something negative would also take place. Karma.

If we'd plant something positive, we would reap something positive. If we'd cultivate on bad soil, plant bad seeds, we would be reaping bad.

Matthew 7:12 reminds, "Do to others whatever you would like them do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets."

Up Next

#ParadigmShiftPartTwo

To God Be The Glory

#MindstepThree: #GoodValueSystemPart2

Looking at the mirror allows us to judge ourselves whether we look good or bad; or if there is something we have to do to improve our appearance.

What good things could happen should we just opt to apply good value system in the way we live---and why do we experience bad?

When we wake up in the morning, we have a choice what kind of paradigm we will believe in.

We have two options always.

After the clock alarms, we could:
Option A: Stop the alarm and get up to face the day.
Option B: Stop the alarm, feel there's a need for longer sleep, unready, lazy.

It's not important whether we stand immediately after the alarm or not.

The quality of work and productivity of the day matter.

If we choose A but we do something unproductive and cheap in the course of the day, it is worst than struggling to stand up but we do what God wants us to accomplish for the day after deciding to finally get up from bed.

After getting up, we have a choice if we would start with God through praying and reading the Bible; or express our negative emotions on others. We could think and behave negatively, affecting the people around us the same way.

The choice is ours.

Most often, we choose to do bad not necessarily because we want to do bad, or we are bad. We are just not aware of the benefits of the good things we do for others and for God. Most often, we listen to what our body tells us to do.

Kids lie, fight with each other and do stuffs what satan tells them. In the same manner, now that we are adult, we get to also encounter satan. That is the reason why we also commit mistakes and sins.

One time, I asked myself why do I do the things I don't like doing~ and yet I know that the effect of those is bad.

I realized, it is because I don't understand my purpose why I am here on earth. I was always concerned with the things regarding my body~ what I think, what I feel and what I want.

I didn't fully know that God has a purpose in my life.

Rick Warren, in his best selling book The Purpose Driven Life, asked, "What on Earth am I here for?"

On the first Chapter of the book, he discussed that life is not about ourselves. We have to look at life in the point of view of the living God. That we are made special for His purpose.

Jesus Christ came to save us from perish in hell. It is selfishness if I know Jesus, I am going to heaven because of Him and I won't do something for others to know Jesus Christ.

We could acquire the best value system by looking at how Jesus Christ lived. His life is accounted in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John of the New Testament of the Bible. In the succeeding books, it is accounted how he was followed by Christians whose life was touched, moved and changed by the Lord.

Acquiring bad value system happens when we don't realize God has a wonderful plan in our lives. If we will just allow God, He can use us for the "Great Commission". He wants all mankind to be saved. To go to heaven.

Some people are blinded by wealth, by fortune and fame. Some people are blinded by love for others. Some are blinded by their love for himself/herself.

The Bible is very straightforward in teaching us. Here is what it says when we don't walk the good path.

And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
                                                                                                      --Matthew 5:30

SIN is with us when we are in bad value system. It is sin that separates us from God's love.

Matthew 26:41: Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

1 John 1:9: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Good value system begins with our willingness to participate in the advancement of God's kingdom. It becomes more evident when we allow Christ to shine in our lives. We can never be perfect. We can never be who others want us to perfectly be. But God has a perfect plan in our lives. That will give us a sense of purpose.

Matthew 5:13-16 tells how wonderful, precious we are. And this is why we have to have good value system.

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and gives light to anyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

YOU ARE THE SALT AND LIGHT OF THE WORLD!

We have two options:
Option A: Ignore the teachings of the Bible.
Option B: Spend time to know what It is telling us.

Option A: Obey what the Bible is telling us.
Option B: Don't care.

We will never be able to understand the Bible without the help of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that guides us everyday in our walk with God. Without the Holy Spirit, it is impossible for us to understand the mysteries of the Bible, to see The Light.

                                       (photo source: http://kingsenglish.info/2011/08/30/fell-by-the-wayside/)

Up Next:

#MindstepFour: #ParadigmShift

To God Be The Glory

#MindstepThree: #GoodValueSystemPart1

We live in a fallen world. From time to time, we experience and feel bad. We dream and it doesn't necessarily mean that our dreams would all come true. We love but sometimes we are hated or we hate. Or our definition of love--or our way of expressing it is different from others.

If we want to be successful, good value system is important, very important.

Developmental psychologist Claire W. Graves (1914-1986) first used the term "value system" in his Emergent Cyclical Levels of Existence Theory. Practitioners of Graves' model have defined value systems as a hierarchically-ordered, always open set of morals, ethics, standards, preferences, belief systems and world views that come together through self-organizing principles to define an individual, a group or a culture.

                                                     (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Value_System)

All creations and inventions have systems making them move and function.

Each individual should also develop a personal system in order to cope up with the trying times and the challenges we are facing these days.

I want to share my ideas on this topic but this doesn't mean that I perfectly do and practice what are all written here. I am also in the process of incorporating and putting the things on here for my improvement.

Answer the following questions to discover whether you have body system which you could apply to do your daily activities.

1. Do you have regular time for waking up?
2. Do you have regular time for sleeping?
3. Do you allot time to praying and reading the Bible before waking up and sleeping?
4. Do you have faith?
5. Do you plan?
6. Do you execute your plans?
7. Do you easily give up?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Do you have regular time for waking up?
2. Do you have regular time for sleeping?

Or you just let the consequences and opportunities wake you up and wait 'til they knock you down to sleep?

A. Valuing time is the basic thing we have to be doing.

Ephesians 5:15-17 narrates, "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Psalms 90:12 tells, "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

In 2002, average life span of Filipinos was at 68.55 years. That means we just have 600, 498 hours.

How do we make use of them?



3. Do you allot time to praying and reading the Bible before waking up and sleeping?

B. Meditating on God's Word is essential. Through the Bible, we get insights and enlightenment. Through praying, we get to talk with our Creator. Through praying we get to share our heart's innermost with our Father.

Here are some of what the Bible says about praying.

     B.1.) I Thessalonians 5:17
              Pray without ceasing

     B.2.) Philippians 4:6
            Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let
            your requests be made known to God.

     B.3.) James 4:3
            You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it on your lusts.

     B.4.) 1 John 1:9
             If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from
             all unrighteousness.

     B.5.) Colossians 4:2
            Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.

4. Do you have faith?

C. The value of praying is important. With it is faith. Whenever we pray, we should have faith that God listens to us and He is with us in anything we do. We have to believe that even if our dreams are impossible, as long as it is for the good of mankind, they are possible with God.

Through Proverbs 3:5, the Bible reminds us, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not on your own understanding."

Hebrews 11:6 states, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for He that comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He rewards them that diligently seek Him."

Jesus Christ, to test the faith of His disciples, brought them to a raging seas, violent storm while they were on a ship. He was sleeping in the stern then the disciples woke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind dead down and it was completely calm..

He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and waves obey him!"
                                                                               --Mark 4:38-41

In our lives, we experience storm. We must always think that God is an awesome, omnipotent, powerful God. We must trust His love and care.

What happens when we become scared?

One time, the disciples saw Jesus walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

"Lord, if it is You," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."

"Come," Jesus said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!"

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
                                                                                                --Matthew 14:26-31

This tells us that sometimes, we trust God but eventually, when we see the problems, we give up and lose hope. But God is just around to reach us out of drowning.

It is hard to lead or do our stuffs alone, leaning on our power, strength and knowledge. So praying and having faith are important. They should go together.


5. Do you plan?

D. Planning.

Do you plan your meals? Every morning we wake up, how we wish there's delicious meal. Do you have study plan? Business plan? Marketing plan?

We are familiar with the trite saying, "If we fail to plan, we plan to fail."

It was God's plan to let us live in a paradise--in the Garden of Eden. satan attacked, he succeeded. We became sinners. Still, God planned to rescue us through Jesus Christ. He sent us His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but will have an everlasting life.

I remember, when I was in high school, my 4th Year English teacher asked us to make an essay entitled, "Success A La Carte". She asked us to make a "menu" of our success.

It was something like this:

                                                           Success A La Carte

Ingredients:

1 bottle of patience
1 bowl of love
1 gallon of hard work
1 tbsp of preparation
salt and paper to test

Put the 1 tsbp of preparation on a separate bowl. Heat a pan on a stove. Mix the gallon of hard work and one bottle of patience on the pan. Pour the bowl of love into the pan. Mix the 1 tsbp. of preparation. Sprinkle it with salt and "paper" to test.

I meant, test your paper, your preparation.

What's you Success A La Carte?

Planning without execution is useless.

F. Execution.

Being successful is not easy. The decision to be successful is different from someone who is merely just dreaming. A dreamer is happy imagining things. It's very easy, fun, exciting and colorful. Someone who wants to be successful undergoes trials, difficulties, hindrances, disappointments, persecutions, etc. Success takes place when we pass the series of tests.

Jesus Christ became a good leader for us to be reached by the Word of God. He chose twelve disciples to be able to execute the plan of the Lord.

Moses tried to fulfill God's plan in His life-- alone. Jethro, his father-in-law, advised him, "The thing that you do is not good. Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do." --Exodus 18:17-20.

Jethro told him to choose, develop Godly leaders who would do what he was doing to be able to maximize his time and energy with bigger productivity.

The late Zig Ziglar, a notable book writer and speaker once said, "You must manage yourself before you could lead others."

G. Giving Up, Giving In?

Anyone experiences failures. If we keep accumulating them, we will be exhausted of living. This is the time we feel all of life's problems are all ours. The best way to face the day is to empty ourselves of negative past experiences. Let God fill us with His revival, His love, His hope, His strength and blessings. In this way, we get to develop positive mindset in order to face each challenging day.

We keep striving hard longing, waiting for our success. When we are close to attaining our goals and dreams, we tend to give up.

When we give up we lose what we are working hard for. We always have to remind ourselves of why we started what we are journeying about in order to not quit. Whenever we are on the verge of quitting, think of all the time, money and effort we've invested prior to beginning and the investments along the way.

A good journey is painful, full of lessons through hardships. Success is sweet when we'd realize we learned so much from what we cried about.

For me, a good value system is a cycle and combination of what we think, what we feel and what we do. As long as we think God is always with us, we do good for others; we seek God's wisdom---> we are in a good system.

No matter how well we think our journey is, life is imperfect.

What's essential is we believe God, we believe in ourselves to uplift the quality of life of mankind.

Every individual, company and  leadership has a different value system. It depends on their goals.

The bottom line to be successful is number one, seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Number two is to fear God, love God above all else.

Up Next:

#GoodValueSystemPart2

To God Be The Glory

#MindstepTwo: CleansingAndRenewalPart2

II Corinthians 5: 17 reminds us, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

When I became a Christian, I was always worried people would know me and talk about the bad things I've done. My mind was very negative. I would always think, what if people wouldn't like me anymore if ever they'd discover who I was. There was always an idea on my mind that's negative.

Whenever some people were talking, I always had thinking it was me whom they're talking about. Bad thoughts.

"I don't look good."

"I feel poor."

"They might not like me."

"I don't like the way I talk."

"Something bad might happen."

...and so on...

My mind was always filled with negative thoughts. It's just recently that I realized, with those thoughts on my mind, had my life improved? No. In fact, it's becoming worse.

II Corinthians 5:17 reminded me that I should claim God's forgiveness and the gift of new life. I have to claim that with Jesus Christ, I am cleansed and all unrighteousness from the past are all erased. I have to believe I am BORN AGAIN. Like a baby--empty, waiting to be filled with God's love.

I learned that satan is always around to break us, to feed our mind with bad thoughts. In my case, satan filled my mind with negative self-image. I've thought of all the bad I could thought of about myself.

To erase this kind of thinking, we have to reprogram our belief window. Belief window are the things we believe about our life. If we have bad belief window, bad things might happen to us. If we have good belief window, positive outcomes might take place. We no longer think problems and hindrances as they are. We now look ahead at the effect of them in us. That they'd make us better people after any storm.

In my case, I wrote many positive things which I would read every morning and every night. Sometimes, I tend to disagree with those but again and again, I have to make myself believe them.

They are impossible to think of but I've decided to just believe them. Besides, I'm choosing to walk my journey the positive way.

The list is on my Facebook. Here's the link: (My 2014 Paradigm https://www.facebook.com/notes/joniver-carlos-juane/my-2014-paradigm/10151985383787740)

1. God loves me.
2. I love God more than anything else.
3. I fear the Lord.
4. Today is the best day of my life.
5. I am successful.
6. I am happy
7. I always smile.
8. I'm optimistic.
9. I share and give.
10. I share the gospel and salvation.
11. I don't have debt.
12. I am healthy and wealthy.
13. I have healthy and contented family life.
14. God grants my every need.
15. God sustains me.
16. I am responsible.
17. I am reaching my dreams one step at a time.
18. I am having all my dreams at hand at the right time.
19. Reaching my dreams though impossible is a possible thing with God.
20. I am creative and proactive.
21. I pray as much as possible.
22. I read the Bible as often as possible.
23. I am a billionaire.
24. God uses me for a purpose.
25. People like and love me.
26. I start and finish my tasks.
27. I help other people as much as I can, as long as I can.
28. I love my jobs.
29. I have strong spiritual network.
30. I have healthy and wealthy business network.
31. God is being blessed and glorified though my life.
32. I face each new day with renewed spirit and enthusiasm.
33. I give my best, do my best and excel at my best.
34. I practice 5S.
35. Everyday is a busy day in preparation for the future.
36. I rise from bed after the alarm
37. People are gonna buy from me cars, house and lot and a lot lot more!
38. I'm gonna have my The BELL Experience books printed this 2014.
39. The BELL Experience becomes a global brand.
40. 2014 is gonna be a year of continuous blessings.

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
                                                                                     -Philippians 4:13

Battling against satan is the hardest thing. When satan sees our weaknesses, he works out on that to make us his slave, to bring us into darkness. If satan sees we are weak in things connected with money, he will bring us to the things connected with money. If we are weak with fleshly desires, he brings us to the things connected with fleshly desires. If we are weak, if we don't have Jesus Christ in our lives, it would be easy for satan to devour us.

How do we fight against satan?

1. We have to think God has a very big gift for us if we stay away from satan.
2. We have to always communicate with God for empowerment against satan. satan is strong when we are weak for having no guard. Our guard is the Holy Spirit and the power of the blood of Jesus Christ living in us.
3. God speaks to us through His Word, the Bible. It would be nice and empowering, enlightening to read it as often as we can.
4. Pray.
5. Surround yourself with people who love Jesus as well. The people we are with affect us tremendously. If we are surrounded by negative people, we are most likely to be negative as well. If we are with positive and encouraging people, we will be like them too.


What if you are a loner?

It's your time to get out of your shell. In loneliness. Approach someone, look for friends. Don't be afraid to be hurt by others. Be a friend and you'd see that people are all loners. We all need a friend. To have a friend, the best thing is to be a friend to others. In that way we gain friends.

While taking a bath this morning, this paragraph was what's on my mind.

Don't be selfish so as to claim all the problems of the world are yours alone. Others are just brave enough to smile, face the world with confidence in God and think there are good things bigger than one's problems.


Up Next:

#MindstepThree: #GoodValueSystem

TO GOD BE THE GLORY

#MindstepTwo: #CleansingAndRenewalPart1

It's a new day, a great day to work hard to fulfill my dreams.


Yesterday, I shared you that Jesus Christ renews, empowers us. He works greatly in our lives to be of use for the advancement of the kingdom of God here on earth.

We all experience miracles. In fact, every second of our lives is a miracle. Every cell in our body works in an intricate, sensitive, delicate manner. Our Almighty God makes us strong everyday to do what we want to do in our lives.

God is giving us freedom~ isn't it would be better if we give our all-out effort for Him? We should not let satan eat our desire and hunger to be successful. satan wants us to fail. he's a fallen angel and he wants to be with us.

Do you want to fail? If so, go with satan!

If satan has successfully conquered us~ but we want to get out of him, there are many ways.

1. Go to a good friend. Tell your problems to him or her. It would be better to consult and get the advice of someone who knows Jesus Christ. If you feel like you don't trust the people around you, you can reach the The 700 Club Asia. For more information, please do visit The 700 Club Asia.

We all need enlightenment. satan wants us to stay in darkness with him.

To desire for change, think about your future. Do you want to have a life in hunger, distress, frustrations, sadness and difficulties?

Or do you want a prosperous and abundant life?

Go with satan if you're choosing the first. Desire to have Jesus Christ in your life should you want the latter.

When I was in darkness, while praying I listened to these songs. While listening, I tried to think of myself being successful in the years to come, my family are happy, I have great job and I am surrounded by good people. I mean, I wanted to really change my life anew. While imagining, I thought that would be possible only if Jesus Christ lives in me.

1. Lift Up Your Hands
2. Still
3. Who Am I?

Then I prayed to God to send me the Holy Spirit to understand His purpose in me. I read the Bible and went with people to understand the mysteries written in the Bible. I still attend Bible study to understand it more.

Here are the basic things written in the Bible.

1. We are all sinners. No one is righteous.

Romans 3:23 says, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"

2. The good things we do are like rags in the sight of God.

Isaiah 64:6 says, "All of us have become like the one who is unclean,
    and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
we all shrivel up like a leaf,
    and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

3. We, sinners, will go to hell.

Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life though Jesus Christ our Lord.

4. Jesus Christ came to save us.

John 3:16 states, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in HIm should not perish, but have eternal life.

John 14:6.
Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."

There is no other way to go to heaven except through Jesus Christ.

This is the Part One of this topic.

I will close this blog topic part one asking you to say a prayer. You may pray on your own to have a new beginning or use this site as your guide.

I accept You Jesus as my Savior.



Up Next: 

#MindstepTwoPart2


TO GOD BE THE GLORY

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