The Irritation of Jesus

    Jesus is known to be the Friend of sinners. He came to heal the sick, find the lost, restore the brokenhearted, give company to the outcast, bring hope to the poor and forgive the sinners. Jesus definitely loves them. He came and died for the sinners and broken. He is compassionate, He cares for the weak...that caused Him to burst in tears when they saw them without a (shepherd) leader to lead, and irritation when He saw the teachers and leaders are out of tune (ways of God).

     

First Irritation: HYPOCRISY OF THE TEACHERS OF LAW

"You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."

-leaders with no integrity

-they do not practice what they teach and require to the people

-they lack compassion to people

-they are after the position, title and prestige, not service to people 

• Matthew 12:33-34 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

• Matthew 23:2-13 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: ² “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. ³ So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. ⁴ They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.⁵ “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries^[a] wide and the tassels on their garments long; ⁶ they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; ⁷ they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others. ⁸ “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. ⁹ And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. ¹⁰ Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. ¹¹ The greatest among you will be your servant. ¹² For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.¹³ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. 

^{Second Irritation: LACK OF FAITH}

"Jesus replied, "You unbelieving and corrupt generation! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to me!" 18 Jesus ordered the demon to come out of the boy"

-murmurers

-negative thinkers

-fearful

-doubters

-complacent

-lazy
-unwillingness to go beyond limits

• Matthew 17:15 and said, "Sir, have mercy on my son. He suffers from seizures. Often he falls into fire or water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn't cure him." 17 Jesus replied, "You unbelieving and corrupt generation! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to me!" 18 Jesus ordered the demon to come out of the boy. At that moment the boy was cured. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, "Why couldn't we force the demon out of the boy?" 20 He told them, "Because you have so little faith. I can guarantee this truth: If your faith is the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." 

 
^{Third Irritation: OPERATING IN FLESH}
  "but He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's."
 
^{-they operate by emotion, opinion, reason
-operate in BEC (BLAME, EXCUSE, COMPLAINT)
-self-pity syndrome (wawa ka naman)
-SPED (attention seekers)
-dwells in the comfort zone
-men pleaser}

• Matthew 16:22-23 "Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” ²³ Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

FOURTH IRRITATION: LACK OF ZEALOUSNESS TO (THE HOUSE OF) GOD
 "So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. ¹⁶ To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!”

-they are indifferent
-they are lack of reverence
-compromise righteousness and purity (especially for teachers, preachers and worship team)
-no distinction 
-not consecrated
-lack of passion for God's vision
-lack of passionate spirituality (no intimacy with God, casual with God)
-allowing people to ruin, abandon and compromise their personal commitment and devotion to God

Haggai 1 …3Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4"Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies desolate?" 5Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, "Consider your ways!…

• John 2:13-17 ¹³ When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. ¹⁵ So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. ¹⁶ To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” ¹⁷ His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”^[a]  

      Jesus led the people, not by having position but of conviction, compassion and passion to help, reach and uplift the people. 
      Integrity, faith, submission and passion are necessary to please God and to become one with Him.

     

Martin Luther King Quotes

1. “The purpose of life is not to be happy, nor to achieve pleasure nor avoid pain, but to do the will of God, come what may.”

2. “I just want to do God’s will.”

3. “When I took up the cross I recognized it's meaning. The cross is something that you bear, and ultimately, that you die on.”

4. “The early Christians rejoiced when they were deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In those days the Church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society.”

5. "I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear."

6. "The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict."

7. "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

8. “Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a constant attitude.”

9. "The gospel at its best deals with the whole man, not only his soul but his body, not only his spiritual well-being, but his material well being as well.”

10. "Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step."

Producing a World Changer

     Peter is known to be one of the great leaders of the early church. He became the world changer of his generation until today his legacy continues. However, before Peter was made, there was a John the Baptist who testified and proclaimed about Jesus and Andrew who brought him to the Master. A disciple is reproduced by a disciple maker like Phillip who sought Nathanael to tell him that he found the Messiah. 

     Producing a disciple who will change the world is not by accident but intentionally we need to.... 

1) Testify

• Testimony Attracts True Disciples vv. 34-37
  • -true disciples follow v.37
  • -true disciples seek v. 38
  • -true disciples come v. 39

 2) Invite

• Invitation Leads to Conversion vv.40-42 

• -from Simon (grain of sand) to Peter (small rock) v. 42
• -from weak faith (unreliable) to stable faith (reliable)
• -from fisherman to fisher of men - Matt. 4:19      
  

19 And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people."  
20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

• from personal dream (limited, less and earthly) to God's dream (greater, larger and eternal) 

• from being impulsive (emotional) to a world changer - Acts 5:14-16

14 Yet more than ever believers were added to the Lord, great numbers of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mats, in order that Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he came by. 16 A great number of people would also gather from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.

3.  Encounter

•  Personal Encounter with Jesus Produces Faith vv. 45-49

• -faith comes from hearing the Word of God
• (listening to God's Word)- thru 4 greatest meetings (devotion, cellgroup, Sunday Celebration and Trainings)
• -transformation happens during encounter with God (Saul)
• (encounter, worship celebration)
• -passion base on Truth and understanding (Paul)
• (not base on emotion or feelings)

      True Disciples testify about Jesus and how they were changed, they draw people back to God. They bring people to Christ (and to the Church) to experience true conversion and transformation that turns them to be a world changer....a disciple maker.

Reflection: The world changer might be just around, waiting for your testimony and invitation. 

John 1:34 And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God." 35 The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, "Look, here is the Lamb of God!" 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher), "where are you staying?" 39 He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated Anointed ). 42 He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas" (which is translated Peter ). 43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.46 Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!" 48 Nathanael asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you." 49 Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"

 

27 Ways To Sleep Better

     The average person spends more than one third of his/her life asleep. But don’t be fooled — just because the body is sleeping doesn’t mean it’s slacking off. During sleep, the body repairs itself so that when the alarm clock goes off, our bodies are renewed and refreshed. Tossing and turning all night can affect judgment, productivity, and the ability to retain information the next day. Over time, it can contribute to obesity, diabetes, and — of course — a chronic bad attitude. (Did someone wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?) So whether or not you're a morning person, check out our list on how to sleep better tonight.
 
     Disclaimer: While factors like stress or big life changes can bring on a few sleepless nights, prolonged trouble sleeping could be a sign of another issue like depression or a sleep disorder like sleep apnea. If these are worries, schedule a doctor’s visit to get things checked out. A medical professional might suggest a hormone test or another kind of evaluation to make sure everything’s okay.

• 1. Establish a bedtime routine. This lets the body know it’s time to unwind from the day’s stress and chill. Figure out a schedule and stick to it every night of the week — even weekends!
• 2. Journal. Thinking about or doing stressful activities can cause the body to release stress hormones, leading to alertness. But writing out stressful thoughts in a journal can help us avoid restlessness once we hit the sheets. Studies suggest certain types of journaling allow us to focus on the positive instead of the negative aspects of our day [1].
• 3. Munch on magnesium. Research suggests magnesium plays a key role in our ability to sleep through the night [2]. Try chowing on magnesium-rich foods such as pumpkin seeds, spinach, and swiss chard [3]. Or pop a ZMA supplement, another form of magnesium, about half an hour before bedtime.
• 4. Try a cup of chamomile tea. This herbal drink can reduce anxiety that might make it more difficult to fall asleep [4].
• 5. Exercise regularly. Studies suggest some aerobic exercise can reduce anxiety and improve quality of sleep in people who suffer from insomnia [5].
• 6. Work out earlier in the day. While exercise can help improve sleep quality, it’s important to schedule workouts that end at least two hours before hitting the hay so that post-workout adrenaline boost doesn’t keep you up.
• 7. Take a power nap during the day. Ten to 30 minutes in the mid-afternoon is best to ensure a good night’s sleep. Any longer and we risk falling into deeper stages of sleep, which can leave us feeling groggy when we wake up.
• 8. Aim for at least seven hours of sleep. While many of us don’t get nearly that much, sleep deprivation has been linked to high cortisol levels (aka more stress) [6]. Recent research also suggests not sleeping enough is linked to insulin resistance, a condition in which the body can’t process insulin efficiently and a risk factor for diabetes [7].
• 9. Bedroom activities only, please. Reserve the bed for bedtime-only activities so the mind associates the bedroom with relaxation....sleep. Work and bills, not so much [8].
• 10. Create a comfortable environment. Whether that means picking the perfect mattress, splurging on 800-thread-count sheets, getting heavy-duty curtains to block out light, or keeping a fan in the room for background noise, make sure it’s comfy before climbing into bed. Share a bed? Work with your partner to make any changes necessary so everyone sleeps well.
• 11. Keep the bedroom slightly cool. Between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal. A room with extreme temperatures leads to more frequent awakenings and lighter sleep.
• 12. Take a hot shower or bath before bed. This can help the mind relax, while the rise and fall of body temperature induces sleepiness.
• 13. Set a daily wakeup time. Just like it’s best to go to bed at the same time every day, it’s a good idea to keep a consistent wakeup time — even on the weekends. Irregular bedtime and wake-up hours can lead to poor sleep patterns [9].
• 14. Make up for lost sleep. Stayed up too late the past few nights? Tack on an extra hour tonight to repay sleep debt and get back on track.
• 15. Keep caffeine fixes to mornings and early afternoons. Drinking it too late in the evening can lead to an unwelcome bedtime boost. For some people, the effects of caffeine can last the whole work day — up to 10 hours after that last venti macchiato.
• 16. Don’t toss and turn. Can’t fall asleep? If you’ve been lying in bed awake for more than 20 minutes, get out of bed and try a relaxing activity like reading or listening to mellow music. Thinking about not sleeping will bring on even more anxiousness — it’s a vicious cycle.
• 17. Check the medicine cabinet. Certain medications might be interfering with sleep. Think a prescription is the culprit to a sleepless night? Talk to a doctor about potential side effects and how to deal with them.
• 18. Leave Fluffy on the floor. Sleeping with pets can interfere with sleep. Snuggle before bedtime and then let them get comfortable elsewhere.
• 19. Face the alarm clock away. Watching the time tick by can actually cause more stress and make it harder to fall asleep. Plus, artificial light from electronic gadgets can mess up our circadian rhythm, making our bodies think it’s time to stay up and party.
• 20. Get techy. Check out the variety of smartphone apps and other gadgets designed to help usher in a better night’s sleep. Tracking sleep over a long period of time can also help us pinpoint what’s helping — and hurting — our snooze time.
• 21. Listen to soothing music. It can improve both sleep quality and duration [10]. Try classical, folk, or slow-paced contemporary styles for some soothing sounds. 
• 22. Sniff some lavender. This scent can actually be an antidote to insomnia. Try burning lavender-scented candles or essential oils to ease into sleep [11].
• 23. Try progressive muscle relaxation. Starting with the feet, tense the muscles. Hold for a count of five and then relax. Do this for every muscle group in the body, working up from the feet to the top of the head [12]. A nightly meditation practice that involves focusing on the breath can also help prepare the body for sleep.
• 24. Dim the lights. Bright lighting, in particular the “blue light” emitted by most electronic devices, might contribute to sleep disturbances. Tech-savvy insomniacs might want to check out the special glasses designed to block blue light and help us snooze through the night [13].
• 25. Get some fresh air. Exposure to daylight helps regulate the body’s internal clock and with it, sleep timing. Getting some sunlight also keeps daytime fatigue at bay, leading to more sleepiness at bedtime.
• 26. Establish an “electronic curfew.” The artificial lights from computers, TVs, and cell phones might make it more difficult for the body to understand when it’s time to wind down. And one study suggests limiting TV at bedtime can reduce sleep debt [14].
• 27. Drink something warm. While a glass of warm milk might not be medically proven to bring on sleep, the relaxation that comes with sipping on a mug of a “comfort drink” like warm milk, hot chocolate, or tea can make those eyelids a bit heavier.

The Influence Is You

  Have you ever heard the word "influencer?" What does it mean to you? One of my favorite devotional writers learned from his publisher the meaning of it. He said, "Big mouths. When these people speak, other listen." Influencers are people who lead. When they speak or exhibit a behavior or buy a product, other follow. Think of people like Malcolm Gladwell and Seth Godin, or think of Billy Graham or Bill Hybels or Rick Warren. 

In Matthew 5:13-14 Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth...You are the light of the world." Here's an amazing instruction by Jesus believes each and every one of us is an influencer. Not just pastors and leaders, but each of us. Preachers and Bible readers are agreed on one thing about "salt" and "light" in our passage: they might mean any number o things, but one thing they do mean is that SALT INFLUENCES MEAT and LIGHT INFLUENCES DARKNESS. They make an impact.

But there's more here: Jesus doesn't urge us to become influencers. He says each disciple, by virtue of being a follower of Jesus, already an influencer. His concern is not becoming an influence but ruining our existing influence. He doesn't want our "salt" to become "unsalty" (what is chemically impossible is morally possible.) He doesn't want our light to be covered up (by refusing to witness to Jesus Christ.)

Another way of looking at this: Jesus wants us to be more influential by faithfully being who we are and by faithfully doing what we are called to do: FOLLOW JESUS, show love to our neighbor as we would to ourselves, and serve others out of the grace we have been shown by God.

We carry out our influence when we are directly connected to the right people. They are the one who help us and train us to do well. Like the disciples of Jesus, whatever their past and who they are, they were able to leave a positive influence to their generation, change the world and do great things by following the instruction of their Master.

If we pick weeds from our garden daily, if we water our flowers daily, our garden flourishes; if we pick weeds once and water once, our garden dies. The same way, if we read the Bible daily, if we pray daily, if we love daily... if we are faithful, over time our influence may increase.

Being a SALT of the earth and LIGHT of the world is natural to true disciples of Christ. They follow the example of their Master that turns them to become disciple makers. Christlike character shall be reproduced to those who follow them. True Disciples are the salt and light of the world, who go and make disciples, they are world changers, nation transformers and disciple makers. They exploit transforming influence.

Reflect on these things: What kind of influence do you have and can you have? Where could you learn to have "more" influence? How does faithfulness prompt you to see a long-term deepening influence?

Sure Success For This 2014

Last week my three year old son was watching "Jack the Giant Slayer". He really loves seeing full pack action battle movies. He actually wants to become a soldier someday, I see a fighter inside him, from the eyes of an innocent child who is unafraid to face the battle and slay the giants. Actually, he cries when hurt, hungry and left alone, even so, his confidence is regain when I throw my arms around him.

  

     I remember David, a boy who was brought up in an atmosphere of tending sheep, fighting the lion and the bear. But not only that, his confidence was developed through an intimate bond with the Lord. His confidence is present as he sees his Protector. He knew no danger in facing Goliath for greater is his God who protected him from the claws of the beasts.

     The Confession of David in Facing the Giants  (1 Samuel 17)

1. NO ONE CAN DOWNGRADE MY (GOD'S) PEOPLE. (v. 26) "For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? "      
2. DO NOT BE AFRAID, I WILL FACE THE CHALLENGE. (v. 32) “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”
3. I AM DOING THIS BEFORE, I KNOW DISCOMFORT. (vv. 34-35) “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock,  I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb.
4. I WILL OVERCOME THIS CHALLENGE AS I OVERCAME BEFORE. (v.36)  "Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.”
5. THE LORD WILL GIVE ME VICTORY (Success). (v.37) “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”
6. MY SUCCESS WILL GLORIFY GOD'S NAME.  (vv.45-47) “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.  This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.  Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.” 

     Year 2014 shall surely be full of challenges but victories as well if only we will follow how David faced his . Get used of discomfort and hardwork,of course never shall we neglect our time to know God more, OUR OF CONFIDENCE, OUR DOUBLE BLESSING!

      With all kinds of trials we encountered in the family, culture, and nation...we can strongly confess: 

     "NO ONE CAN STOP OUR RISING AND SUCCESS, FOR WE ARE GOD'S PEOPLE."
     "NO LONGER AFRAID OF CHALLENGE, WE ARE READY TO FACE IT."
     "NOT INTIMIDATED BY DISCOMFORT AND HARDWORK, WE WERE BORN FOR THIS."
     "WE OVERCAME AND WE WILL STILL OVERCOME."
     "WITH GOD SUCCESS IS NOT AN OPTION."
     "OUR SUCCESS REVEALS GOD'S GLOBAL & GREATER GLORY."

     

Preventing Gas Formation

   The Gas was formed in our Human body due to the Digestion Problems and Some foods are also cause for the Gas formation, Simple reasons like improper cleaning of the Vegetables, and Fast Eating makes the Gas to be Formed in the Stomach.


     Gas is not harmful, But it irritates you,A part form this Foods the point to be Noted is Chew your Food Neatly, it will makes the Digestive System work smaller and we get the Proper Digestion

       Some Foods that Prevent the Gas Formation in your body is given below

1) Consumption of the Ginger will Soothens your Stomach and help in your Digestion, it Reduces the Excessive  Gas Formation

2) A Teaspoon of Raw Honey will Prevents the Excessive Gas Formation

3) If you are feeling that your Foods are not digested properly, Just add Peppermint leaves to the Tea or else Chew the Leaves, it will prevents the Gas formation

4) Water, just like flushing in the Washbasin our Body also needs the Water to do it

5) Pineapple is an tasty fruit that helps your Food to Break down which leads to the Easier Digestion

6) Avoid some Dairy products like Milk, if you are Suffering with Excessive Gas Formation

7) As Onions and Garlic are high in Sulfur, it will forms More Gas, so Better to avoid it

8) Excess of Beans will lead to Gas, so better to avoid it