I'm responsible for what I say, not for what you understand.

Freedom of speech or freedom of expression must not be a privilege given to certain people and be denied to some others. And if we are just going to use intellect more than ego (feelings), we will be a little less harsh with the description we give the man. Too many seem to be taking advantage of the said freedom to voice their dismay to the extent they explicitly give him names such as bigot, false prophet, hypocrite and many others. In fact, even before the issue came up, he and his family have already been used as laughing stocks by stand up comediennes who bring home moolah for doing so. Yet, nobody dared defend their rights as humans. Their dignity have been trampled on. Now it can be excused as simply comedy?! How convenient is that? While the dude only gave an innocent, honest and bold answer to a question using an analogy. It's a surprise that the ones who've been calling him names don't seem to understand and accept logical rationalization, yet demand theirs be heard and received.

I have not been writing in defense of him. If truth be told, I am not a fan. I was never a supporter. I didn't even like him. He is overrated in my opinion. But, I am standing by him because he courageously drinks from the cup given him. The man speaks not to impress nor to be famous. He speaks what most would be careful to announce in fear of people's judgment. I write not to applaud him but with the intent to try put things into perspective. 

Truth of the matter is, too many a number just got it all wrong. No one was compared to anything. Should we just go back to the question and focus on the NOUN, the topic is clearly "Same-Sex Marriage". The question is NOT "how do you regard homosexuals?" but "what is your take on Same-Sex Marriage? "Group of people" as opposed to "Behavior/Preference".

And to emphasize further, his opinion was SOLICITED. He did not come around shouting, "you people should repent of your promiscuous ways or you will all go to hell!" Nor did he say, "you guys are animals." Let us all please understand the difference and his circumstance.

It took me a few views of the interview to make sure I was not missing a point. But, whichever angle I look at it, twas a general statement emphasizing basic logic―an animal's natural instinct is to find the opposite gender to mate. And if animals know this basic actuality, then they're better creatures than those who were endowed with moral judgment.  Is this not sound analogy? Did he make mention of names? For everyone's convenience here's the video and watch it once again without any biases.

Another way of saying what he said would be, "No, I am not for Same-Sex Marriage. Common Sense tells me that we don't see male-to-male or female-to-female animals mating. If animals instinctively find the opposite gender to mate (given that they have no sense of right and wrong), then humans are worse than animals."

Let us try to break it down...

His position: "I am not for Same-Sex Marriage"   

His justification: Common Sense tells me that we don't see male-to-male or female-to-female animals mating. If animals instinctively find the opposite gender to mate (given that they have no sense of right and wrong), then humans are worse than animals."

*Note: "Humans", as general, was what he said. 

Considering that he is coming from his personal standpoint, his statement sounds rather like―"I am not for Same-Sex Marriage because my judgment tells me that it would make me lower than animals if I'd be for it." As listeners, we take one's opinion as applied to the one giving his or her opinion and not as if addressed to us. Had the question been, "what do you think of the LGBT group?" and his answer was what he answered, it would've been totally foul.

Can't emphasize it enough that he was asked and he gave his opinion (belief, conviction) and he did not do so with the intention to shove it down anyone's throat. He did not do so to earn money. He plainly answered the question. Yes, he is running for office. Yes, he should've known separation of Church and State. Still, it is his conviction expressed because it was called for. Nobody has any right to demand a person to set aside his values (or religious belief) to tolerate another's, nor dictate to him to speak apart from what he believes in only because he is running for a position in government. Don't we all plead for freedom? Why do we detain him within what we believe should be his answer? If others can freely and deliberately satirize another for the sake of entertainment and laughter, why is an innocent remark worthy of reproach?

His response was without judgment nor condemnation with it. No hidden agenda. Plain honesty. Won't we rather have an individual speaking truth instead of lie?

I am not being insensitive to the feelings of those protesting by saying these things. Please slow down in making judgments. I have loved ones and friends who are queers. I love them and I respect their preferences. They're given their rightful freedom without being judged.

Yes, a large number may have been hurt, this fact is not put aside. Did he not quickly apologize, though? Let us in stead aim for understanding and be open to reasons. See from all angles. Acknowledge the innocence of his ground. 

Know when an opinion is being shoved down another's throat against an opinion simply stated. When an opinion is being forced on anyone, the manner it's said is completely different. It's suggestive or manipulative, while an opinion simply stated only provides justification. He did not preach his religion then demand for viewers to yield. 

It is just unfair that when Christians talk about the Word, they're accused of many things. They're called religious freaks and whatever. Don't we all lie everyday? But, just because we're all liars none of us must point out that it is wrong to steal? Are we all just going to keep shut cause none of us have any right to tell when something is wrong because that is considered judging? But, don't we all make judgment on a daily basis―others' looks, behavior, manners? ...and our basis mostly comes from preference/opinion...we think some people are dressed oddly or some others talk in a manner that we find annoying. It is our predisposition to have opinion and express it.

We (Christians) do not proclaim God's Word because we are perfect. We are imperfect humans who are working hard to obey God. We do fail every single day. We don't claim to be righteous when we speak of what the Bible says. Our struggle to do good and to fight what's evil is not a joke. When we say sin as it is, it does not come from our own biases or opinion (nor do we impose it on anyone). It is Written. But when we are persecuted as bigot, what is the world's basis? Christians are collectively tyrannized. We are prevented from speaking our hearts and minds out or else we will be severely castigated. Where is equality and freedom, then? We're being bullied to shy away only because our weapon is the Truth. Now who is intolerant?

Saying that "it is a sin to commit murder" makes no one self-righteous nor religious fanatic―It's a statement. Telling someone that it is wrong to gossip does not make one judgmental―Another statement. Telling a person (s)he is a "slanderer" IS judging―It's conclusion. One does not condemn a person by quoting the Bible, unless it is spoken with a certain tone―"You are gonna burn in hell because you are this and that" versus "it is said in the Scriptures that it is against God to do this and that..." please clearly see the difference. One's behavior toward others is another story, of course. We, Christians, bully no one. 

Saying that an ACT is wrong is NOT judging. DEFINING a person BECAUSE of his or her act IS judging. We don't go telling people they're bigot. We can rather communicate properly if we find their assertion offensive. Then we can all meet halfway. This is the freedom of expression that is fair to all.

    

Finally, speaking the Truth in love does not have to equate to exchanging the Truth for tolerance. We are not told to withhold the Truth from anyone because we do not want to offend. The Word Itself is offensive to those who do not want to submit to it. The challenge to Christians is not loving people, but loving God above all. Jesus offended many when He overturned the tables and this scene became one solid reason for certain people to question the truth that He is without sin. But was hate His motivation for doing what He did? Twas His zealousness for the House of the Lord that brought Him to act that way. When it comes to the Truth, the challenge to Christians is to either save their own lives or lose it. The choice who to offend.  Jesus said, "I did not come to bring peace, but sword." [Matthew 10:34]

God commands us to love our neighbors, yes. This requires us to accept everyone and treat them as He would treat them with great love, with so much grace and compassion. But, we are commanded to love Him more than His creations. When the topic of God's Law comes to picture, it becomes a completely different cause. Our loyalty is then tested. 

Oh, and before I end this post...I encourage everyone to watch the unedited video of the interview. 

Live and walk in LOVE. ❤

"So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?"

Whose right is right? 

This is a question I asked in my post during the time a sensitive topic became controversial. And currently, it's become, again, a question since different groups have their own opinion about Manny Pacquiao's bold answer to an interview question, which required him to give his own stand/opinion about the issue of "Same-Sex Marriage". A lotta people gave their comments and expressed disappointment on how, as they say, he maligned the LGBT group. They are calling for RESPECT. Known media icons violently reacted. A great number called Manny uneducated and idiot. Even some Christians did not approve of what he did. Then, of course, there are still those who supported Manny and came to his defense. 

But the question remains whose right is right?

Have we forgotten that the person we hailed as our National Hero said this line, "He who does not love his own language is worse than an animal and smelly fish"?  And this line is widely accepted and taught in schools. Must we, then, vote this person out as our National Hero as he did not acknowledge and respect "freedom of choice" and furthermore offended not only the people in his time but also the current generation of Filipinos who are mostly English speakers? Just what is the comparison between people who practice their freedom to choose what language to use and an animal and a smelly fish? I mean, do Philippine animals love Filipino language and actually loyally use it that's why Jose Rizal had to say they are better than Filipino people who do not patronize their own language? Does it degrade, in anyway, the Philippines as a country if its citizens rather use another language as their medium of communication? But, I believe Jose Rizal only had such great passion for the country that he expressed his nationalistic point of view in this manner, and not necessarily because he "hates" people who do not speak the Filipino language. In the same way, Manny Pacquiao has such great zeal for the Law of God and he expressed it using an analogy, which if you come to think of it makes a lotta sense. 

If we are just not  bias about Manny's statement, we will find that he's actually talking about the "natural order of things" based on God's design. An animal's "natural" instinct is to search for "opposite" gender to satisfy its sexual need/urge. Plain and simple. His statement is NOT idiotic but factual. There may be records of certain animals observed to display "homosexual behavior", yes. Yet, it is UNNATURAL in a sense because the intention for copulation is reproduction. Mating is intended for multiplication. And if homosexuality behavior should become a practice, every animal species will decline in number. Again, it is against the natural order of things. Research what causes certain animals do what they do, and may we all be judges as to whether their behavior must be considered acceptable and should be practiced by humans. (Read: Are There Homosexual Animals? Note the subtitle: Lots of animals engage in homosexual behaviour, but whether they are truly homosexual is another matter entirely.) 

In fact, the LGBT groups' argument that homosexuality is natural because it exists in the animal kingdom makes them concede to what they say is condemnation to them because they compare their own selves to animals by justifying, "if animals do it, it is natural... therefore we also can."  But animals do not have sense of right and wrong. They cannot read the Bible. They go by instinct. Humans are created to make proper judgment. Why must we follow practices that animals do? Homosexual behavior among animals is not even a lifestyle choice. And animals do not operate within any moral context. Just because animals have certain practices does not mean those practices must be embraced and observed by humans. Some animals eat their young, but this does not permit humans to be cannibals. Some insects after mating devour their partners, yet it is unacceptable for any human to do the same. We cannot, and must not, use animal behavior as basis to justify our chosen behavior.

Here's another additional fact. homosexual is also different from "hermaphrodite". To highlight a bit the difference, hermaphrodite is "natural". Meaning, the organism is naturally created the way it is — having both male and female reproductive organs. While homosexual is more of a preference or what is commonly known as sexual orientation. No matter how anyone asserts that it is biological or has scientific basis, each gender still remains to have only one reproductive organ and have no option to change later on. Except through surgical means. We know from sex education for which these organs are intended.

Manny did not say the things he said out of hate, but out of passion for God's Word. He was asked what's his stance and he answered from his strong conviction. Does he hate LGBT by answering a question in the manner he did? Did Jose Rizal hate Filipino English speakers when he composed his poem? I believe, they are only fighting coming from their own positions. Besides, the topic is clearly NOT about LGBTs but SAME-SEX MARRIAGE. It is not people Manny referred to, but the ACT or PRACTICE. He is against the ACT/HUMAN LAW...whatever you call it... NOT the people. How come people react violently as if they ARE the act? ...So, why did he have to compare humans to animals? — To remind us all the "natural order of things" — "opposite"-sex as designed by the Creator of the universe and NOT "same"-sex. There's purpose why it is male and female. It is not for humans to re-order the design of God. That makes us violators of His design. Read excerpts from my post, Let's All Stand Firmly Together Against the Many Faces of Hate:

"If artists are protesting that their designs are being copied, therefore, their lawful right to their masterpieces is violated, how much more the Creator of all things has the right to also make a stand?..."

"...as advocates of God's Law, Christians will speak of what the Law says. Christians act as Law enforcers or policemen.  What does a law enforcer or a policeman do? They have the duty of maintaining law and order. In their (Christians) case, they are maintaining the Law of God to keep everything IN "order".  Must they be charged for doing what they're supposed to be doing? They are fighting NOT for what they want, or feel, or think. They are fighting for what has long been established―God's Law and Decrees."

Mr. Pacquiao is an advocate of God's Law. He did not speak in front of camera out of nowhere just to shout out his firm belief and to provoke anyone. He was asked. So happened that his opinion is not widely accepted by everyone. Because many have chosen self-rule. “In the last times there will be people who laugh at God and do only what they want to do—things that are against God.” [Jude 1:18] People will fight for what they hold as their rights. And as we all uphold convictions and advocacy, it is inevitable that we will offend others. It is given. But, which right must we uphold, ours or God's?  

You hate those prophets, who go to public places and speak against evil,  

even though they teach good, simple truths.  [Amos 5:10]

The time will come when people will not listen to the true teaching. 

But people will find more and more teachers who please them. 

They will find teachers who say what they want to hear. [2 Timothy 4:3]

But, Manny is not one who says what people want to hear just to please them and win their votes. Of course, he knows he will lose a large number of voters for sticking to his stance. But, just like Jesus, he chose to please God by advocating the Truth than fearing the judgment of men. Now, is Manny without sin? Is he faultless? Did he never commit sin? We all know he did, and surely, he still commits certain violations against God. No one is righteous. Pointing out sin does not require one to be without sin. But must he stop speaking the Truth only because he isn't perfect?

Christians only act as police officers maintaining/enforcing God's Law. They're not perfect. They also commit certain violations just like policemen, judges, politicians do. But, they still ought to do their duty as God's servants, nevertheless. [Let's All Stand Firmly Together Against the Many Faces of Hate]

People wanted only to do evil. So God left them and let them go their sinful way. And so they became completely immoral and used their bodies in shameful ways with each other. They traded the truth of God for a lie. They bowed down and worshiped the things God made instead of worshiping the God who made those things. He is the one who should be praised forever. Amen.

Because people did those things, God left them and let them do the shameful things they wanted to do. Women stopped having natural sex with men and started having sex with other women. In the same way, men stopped having natural sex with women and began wanting each other all the time. Men did shameful things with other men, and in their bodies they received the punishment for those wrongs. [Romans 1:24-27]

And may we not also forget that Jesus made statements like, "you brood of vipers!"  Vipers are venomous snakes. He called some people snakes. He referred to gentiles as dogs. He calls His people sheep.  Jesus used metaphors and they can all be found in the four Gospels. If we do not want to be compared to animals, then let us behave like humans and not pattern our actions on their behavior and practices.  

Related Readings:

Truth is Hate to Those Who Hate the Truth

Why Does the Truth Offend?

25 Reasons Why the World Hates Christians and Christianity 
Jesus Did Not Call Us to Be Nice

 

A Love with a promise of permanence.

"...if any hear MY voice and open the door, 

I will come into their house and eat with them, 

and they will eat with ME." 

~ Jesus 

[Revelation 3:20]

When we open our hearts to Jesus and choose to be in a relationship with Him, it does not mean we are getting ourselves into a system which will require our hard work, nor will we be graded for our performance. We are not expected to blindly obey rules and keep a running tally of our deeds--that if we fail, HE will not anymore want us. The verse above does NOT say, "Jesus will come to our homes, pound on the door and demand we let Him in, and once inside, start demanding we do this and that...OR else....." Jesus comes to us in friendship. He offers UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. The love He offers is not the same as what the world offers ― a love of convenience ...loving only IF it serves "me".

What Jesus offers is simply to get to know Him deeper and be in a relationship with Him. When we begin to learn about Him and His ways...when we understand His cause and when we experience the LOVE He has for us it will enable us to become like Him and will make us desire what He desires for us as we continue abiding in Him. Our very experience with Him is what will transform us to become better versions of ourselves. It is as simple and as complicated (for a human mind to fathom) like that.

So if what hinders you from receiving God's invitation of relationship with Him is FEAR, know that He requires nothing from you except the whole of you. Come to Him as you are. You do not need to change yourself to be qualified. God clearly says in His Word...

"I will put a new spirit in you to change your way of thinking. I will take out the heart of stone from your body and give you a tender, human heart. I will put my Spirit inside you and change you so that you will obey My laws. You will carefully obey My commands." [Ezekiel 36:26]

Notice it is all "His work". He did not say, "You should do this and that and then we will be ok." He clearly said, "I will change you and you will be changed." All we need is to receive the invitation and trust that God already qualified us through His Son, Jesus. Nothing to fear, we only need to TRUST His Word.  ^_^  And then, the commandment to love Him and His people will eventually become automatic to us.

Most of us are tired of loving because it seems we always have to keep giving...keep putting our best foot forward or we lose those we love. That when our human tendency fails to satisfy their needs, it's over. But, here is a LOVE which has a promise of permanence. Receive this unconditional LOVE, today. ^_^ 

One Way to Take My Mind Off My Spinning Worries

For the past weeks (maybe months), I've not been the hyper, fun self that I am. Been feeling low and down. Having a hard time to stay focused and motivated. To make matters worse, I've also been unwell on and off. Which drove me to research about anxiety and stress. I stumbled upon this site, Calm Clinic, which also provided a short test to asses one's stress / anxiety level. My first take gave this result...

Take the 7-minute test and check your anxiety level.

Am not a fanatic of tests that I right away just believe the results I get, but with the symptoms I have, I acknowledge that I've been stressed and burned out lately. 

Was even tempted to blame it all on water. Could be my excuse not to continue with the therapy. :P  But, though it's been making me feel so bloated, I need to acknowledge the benefits I've seen evident since I started regularly hydrating. So...ok, no more excuses. I'll just keep up with it.

My next take after a few days showed this result...

Whenever my head terribly feels like cracking into pieces, my eyes feel like popping out, my shoulders and back feel heavy and stiff, and my stomach like going to burst open, I knew I need to help myself not to feel sorry for being unwell and unproductive. This condition only heightens my stress level. So, instead of just resolving to my hobby (sulking), I watch entertaining and funny videos posted by random people. Laughter is the best medicine, as they say.

And I found one extremely amusing video shared by someone on Facebook, which I don't grow tired watching. Seriously made me laugh out loud! Viewed it many times. Somehow, makes me feel better.

For the sake of those who have not yet seen (which is next to impossible), here I posted the video...

Made me wonder what makes cats leap so high upon seeing a cucumber. I showed the video to friends last weekend and all us wondered together. One friend thought of trying it out with his pet cats and the rest of us consented. Even asked him to take a video of his experiment. 

Today, I thought of Googling why cats react that way seeing a cucumber. There's a long list of threads and on top of the list comes from the National Geographic website. So, that's what I opened. Here's some of the facts I learned...

...the cucumbers are triggering the cats' natural startle responses since they don't normally see cucumbers on the floor.

 ...it's also possible that they may associate the green invader with snakes...

...with a startle response, a cat will often try to get out of there as quickly as possible and then reasses from a distance... 

Read full article HERE.

Hmmm...I feel no guilt whatsoever. And it won't stop me from watching the video. But, definitely, I won't stress any pet animals (esp my dog Keero) that way. Still, it makes me curious if our local cats would have the same reaction as many stray cats are exposed to various objects. *grins*

Related articles:

Why are Cats Insanely Afraid of Cucumbers?
Don't Scare Your Cat with a Cucumber
Spooking Cats with Cucumber Could Cause Psychological Problems...

Working at being Consistent Not to be Inconsistent Consistently

One late night while watching The 700 Club Asia on GMA News TV11, there's this interview with a lady doctor, Ma. Elizabeth A. Micaller, which caught my attention. I think the portion is part of the program's sorta like public service where they provide health information, which they call "Facts Report". There they featured the Benefits of Drinking Water. 

Growing up, I didn't really learn the importance of hydrating. Yes, of course, it was taught in school and elsewhere facts like,"up to 60% of the human adult body is water." Every so often, I heard health professionals saying "drink eight glasses a day". But, it didn't really sink in to me the importance of drinking water. More so, I didn't know that most of my health concerns are related to lack of H2O.

From the interview, Dr. Micaller stated that in most cases, when people feel something wrong in their bodies, they right away resort to taking medication, which is not totally wrong. However, it is noteworthy to consider her statement saying (not verbatim), "since the body is composed of a huge percent of water, when you lose just 10%, you could already feel something not right." She also added that, "when we feel something not good concerning our health, say headache or colds, we must rather first consider hydrating. We must've just probably neglected to fill ourselves with water." Makes sense. Logically, when something loses even a small part of it, it can malfunction. Just the same with our bodies. Not having enough water may not manifest a serious effect in our health right away, but eventually will.

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   Sharing the video

Facts Report: Benefits of Drinking Water

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The serious problem is, it's been a struggle on my end to drink water. For years, I've developed a habit of drinking occasionally. Usually, only when extremely thirsty, or after eating sweets and salty food that I remember to sip. This is NORMAL for me, which I didn't know NOT normal for any living thing. And those years, I've battled with many ailments I could've been spared of had I just learned to practice hydrating. I wish I could turn back time and I'll start over making water a significant part of my life. It's never too late, though. Only, if it did happen earlier in my life, I could've saved myself from spending so much on skin treatment products because of allergies and zits! And, my skin could've now been displaying elasticity and radiant glow. A concern I'd been most frustrated about, though stomach problems and headache and other illness should've been on top of my list I wish to not experience anymore. Hehe. Lessons, indeed, come late after every tests!

What Dr. Micaller shared was something I kept reciting in my head, but I seriously find hard to do. Especially, my stomach has become accustomed to not being stuffed more than its normal capacity. Drinking in the morning also makes me feel so bloated. It's such a tough thing to start a habit a little later than one should've had. And this isn't just a habit that I need to kick start just for the heck of complying to a general health advice. It is a must. It is vital. Crucial to keeping my body at a good condition. I ought to be a good steward of this body God gave me, which the Word refers to as the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). Therefore, I need to exert more effort in taking care of this temple. 

So, I looked for ways I could remain consistent in this attempt to keep the amount of water in my body at a normal healthy level on a daily basis. Of course, I realized  that this requires a lotta discipline and consistency. These are the prime essentials. Otherwise, whatever tool I use will not be of help, at all. So, how am I going to add this to my to-do-list without failing to exercise it only because my body doesn't automatically alert me? I thought I needed something to keep me notified. Thanks to TECHNOLOGY, there are countless apps to use to help people with my same problem. (Just now I've been alerted! I'll step out shortly to get a 250ml cup of water.)

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Back from gulping down B'lue, my current favorite flavored water. ^_^

There are only three flavors: Orange, Calamansi, and Lychee. My most favorite is Orange.

B'lue is a new refreshing lifestyle water-based drink designed for you! 

It is inspired by the #LiveToFeel generation. Try it!

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Going back, I wanna share this app I found and it's been a big help so far. Hourly, I am being reminded that I hafta hydrate. The app am talking about is called, Aqualert. I downloaded it from Google Play about late last month. It is wonderfully serving me well. With this app, you can decide how much water in ml or oz you want to drink at a given time, and you can also choose how often within the day you're going to drink to help you reach your goal. Like in my case, I chose to complete 1500ml within 10am til 12mn, drinking 250ml every hour. It's not really healthy enough, but believe me it's a huge improvement! I used to finish a 1500ml in one or two weeks! So I am congratulating myself for the progress. ^_^

Am gonna show how well am doing the past weeks...

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My Weekly Progress

First Week

(Started on Tuesday)

 Second Week

(Mostly sick the entire week)

Third Week

(Looking Good)

Current Week

@14:25

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I love the app. I find it really useful and helpful. Though, am already starting to get annoyed hearing the notification sound. Not because the sound is annoying. Just, it's really not easy to start a habit. And definitely, it is not easy to drink this much water. I always feel stuffed and it makes me feel so uncomfortable. What I don't like most is that I get to be in the loo every few minutes after drinking 250ml! At times I just wanna hang out there until my next cup. But, then, this is part of the discipline. If I want to be healthy, I gotta keep focusing on reaching the end of the tunnel than whine about the hassles it brings along the way. Whew! Suggestion for an app to use to keep a positive outlook?!

But, look! Aqualert not only alerts me, it also motivates me, as well... 

I have a lot to look forward to!

Useful sites you can read about the same topic:

The Water in You
Six Reasons to Drink Water
The Top Ten Health Benefits of Drinking Water

 

 

A Jolt of Joy Weakens Pain

"Be joyful always." First time I read this line from the Bible, it made me think how can it be possible to remain joyful when a lotta factors affect one's mood? Who wants to be sad and negative, anyway? I am certain that everyone would rather want to always feel happiness. Nobody hankers to feel annoyed, nor frustrated, nor fearful...not any bad and negative feelings. It is happiness and everything it brings which people desire. Yet things happen. Situations beyond our control influence our state. Traffic, other people's irresponsibility and inconsideration, accidents, mishaps, delays...these are but just some of the countless things we are often forced to face even we refuse to. No matter how we try hard to avoid certain things and situation that steal happiness, they simply show up―uninvited.

This is the reality, which should not anymore come to us as a surprise since Jesus already warned all us that "in this life, we will have many troubles". Both good and bad situations co-exist with us. They come around. We can't wish all the good for ourselves and the bad to disappear. The fight to maintain inner peace and joy in order to remain in the state of happiness is not in the WISHING for things to happen according to our comfort, but in the CHOOSING to be comfortable in the midst of discomfort. Happiness is a choice that should not be dependent on outward situation; it is a result of being fully decided to remain happy regardless of what life presents.

Being and staying happy is hard work. Doesn't come in a silver platter. This is the reality. One can never be happy by simply waiting for his her situation to get better. Unkind and inconsiderate people are everywhere, the Sun's heat burns the skin, some places are simply chaotic and stinky, rush hours get you stuck, computer acts up when you badly need to meet a deadline, network service is poor, cashier crew moves so slow, someone not deserving gets promoted instead of you, you're always the subject of gossip-mongers...none of these things is within anyone's control. Nobody likes any of these. But these are realities. And whining about things you have no control over only aggravates the frustration which already has built its nook inside of you. By wishing things to be different, we are only painting mental pictures of how things could have been better had they been the way we think they should be, yet nothing gets fixed. It only makes us resent things even more. We only get more frustrated at how things are going wrong around us. But it's not the things around us that's wrong. It is us. Our perspectives...

We are wrong for... 

expecting the world to adjust for us.  

demanding for a better world.
allowing our emotions dictate how we should feel and behave.
making things outside of ourselves accountable to our own happiness.
making people responsible for our misery.


But the truth really is...

The world came before us. It has no obligation to make us happy.
There is nothing wrong in the world. It just exists and revolves as designed.
Our emotions were never our masters. We just give them the upper hand.
Our happiness is ours. It's within. Situations come and go. They mind no one. They don't happen to deliberately make anyone suffer. They don't connive to make sure our day is ruined.
It is not another person's responsibility to make us happy. It's our own responsibility to ourselves.


Simply put, we just behave so entitled. Just because we exist we think things should go our way. The way that is convenient and comfortable for us. But, in the bigger scheme of things, we are not all that matters. The world won't stop just because we're annoyed for every single unpleasant thing that happens to us. The world won't be sorry that we are always displeased. The world won't turn itself into our slave just for us to be always happy. It's not how things go. 

The Bible tells us to "Always be joyful. Always keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you..." [1 Thessalonians 5:16-18]

It is not God's obligation to keep us happy. He is not our slave that when we want something, we go to Him and order Him to do for us what will satisfy us, and then we will be happy. No, the Word is clear, it is His will for us to maintain joy in our hearts no matter the circumstance; to be thankful in all situations; and to pray unceasingly. There is nowhere in the lines nor in the entire passage that God tells us to be joyful, thankful, and prayerful only in this or that condition. We were told to ALWAYS choose these things regardless of what the world throws at us...and I believe the reason is because being joyful, thankful and prayerful prove that we have faith in Him. That our inner peace rests in His Truth and not in the things around us. That we place our trust not in "chariots and horses". Our focus is not in the receiving all that we long for, but in simply waiting for His daily supplication. That we love Him even when we are denied the comfort, the material blessings, anything that brings smile to our faces.

Faith in God is tested not in believing that God will simply do what we ask Him to do for us; but in trusting that whether He gives what we ask for or not, we hold true in our hearts that He is good and faithful, and that His love endures forever. We trust Him with His answer―whether yes or no, when, and how―His term and not our terms. Besides, the Bible tells us that God will give us what we ask for in prayer according to His will. If we say that He is God, then we oughta leave to Him the decision to grant or deny our requests. And our response must show humility ― "not my will but Yours be done."  

So, if we truly trust His answer, we will express a thankful and joyful heart. Just like when King David finally received God's answer to his prayer and fasting. He pleaded for his child's life. When God gave His answer, even it was a NO, he got up, fixed himself, gave thanks, and went on with the day. (2 Samual 12:14-31).   

It is our duty to maintain a happy heart. We must not look for reasons to be joyful and thankful. We must learn to delight ourselves in the Lord (Psalm 37:4). The Word did not tell us only once to remain joyful...

In the book of Romans, 

"rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." 

In Philippians 4:4, 

"rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice"

In the book of James, 

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 

for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 

And let steadfastness have its full effect, 

that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing"

In 1 Peter 4:13, 

"But you should be happy that you are sharing in Christ’s sufferings."

The Word tells us to be joyful/happy...even in difficult and trying situations. The command is to BE JOYFUL ALWAYS. How? By praying and asking for humility and for grace to obey this command. Why humility? Because when we understand that we deserve NOTHING, yet we receive many wonderful things, we will eventually learn how to accept that both good and bad things will be given to us. Therefore, we will readily receive even the unpleasant things with equal thanksgiving and joy the same as when we receive pleasant ones.  

 "The humble will see their God at work and be glad.  

 Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged." 

[Psalm 69:32, NLT]

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Read similar posts below:

Reasons to Be Thankful

Be Joyful, Keep on Praying, Be Thankful

In All Things Be Joyful

Living For God in the Last Days

Why Does God Exhort Us to Rejoice  Always?

Happy reading!

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I Speak Only From Experience

First love never dies, a cliché but oh so true! Writing must’ve been it, at least for me. It keeps embracing me back even after long whiles of absence. Just when I thought I would end the year with very few posts (for the lack of interest and drive), an opportunity knocked. *bright smile* I, once again, embrace the fact that writing is very much a part of me by taking this on-the-side gig, which came out of the blue. A wonderful blessing. An answered prayer.

On a different note............. 

Yesterday afternoon, I went my way to Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City for a meeting at this interesting dining place. It’s a humble, welcoming place where you can taste “something else”…and where you can take a break from the usual and unhealthy fast food menus. Here, they serve organic goodies, and to my surprise, native chicken and goat! Well, the name speaks for itself—T.G.G.A., which stands for “The Great Goat Adventure”. No, I don't think this diner is in anyway connected to the blog site with the same name. It’s, rather, the “Home of the Best Goat Recipes and Other Naturally Grown Meals.” Not so many (I belong to this demographic) may be as adventurous to try out few and far between meals, but take it from me, it is worth the try.

I was blessed I was offered and served a nice plate of what they call, Ilokonganisa Taco Salad, which is unbelievably only priced at P85. Friends and family know I am no veggie eater. But, this salad truly appealed to my taste buds. I couldn’t stop taking a bite while listening to the presenter. Quite embarrassing, but it’s just so irresistible!

Too bad am not a big eater. So, I resolved to just going back to T.G.G.A. really soon with friends to try out their other offers. You may take a look at what is on T.G.G.A.'s menu by visiting Happy Culture Good Company. Am actually looking at it right now and already choosing what to try. Hmmm...I think I'd try their Cabbage Rolls (P65), Goat Sampler (P980 good for 4-5 peeps), Insarabasab (P110 solo / P330 sharing), and I know a friend who will surely go for the Goat Ramen (P99).  

T.G.G.A. also have a cozy function room for small gatherings. Perfect for intimate get-togethers especially this holiday season. I rarely give recommendations, but this one is a must-try. 

T.G.G.A. - “The Great Goat Adventure” 

 Address: #70 Mindanao Avenue, Project 6, Quezon City 

Contact numbers:  632  517 98 95 / 63919 465 2654 / 63915 435 1457 

Twitter: @tggamindanaoave

Will definitely write about my next visit and will tell more. ^_^ Drop by again. 

Toodle-oo for now!