A Call And a Choice

Deuteronomy 30

A Call to Return to the Lord

“In the future, when you experience all these blessings and curses I have listed for you, and when you are living among the nations to which the Lordyour God has exiled you, take to heart all these instructions. ² If at that time you and your children return to the Lord your God, and if you obey with all your heart and all your soul all the commands I have given you today, ³ then theLord your God will restore your fortunes. He will have mercy on you and gather you back from all the nations where he has scattered you. ⁴ Even though you are banished to the ends of the earth, the Lord your God will gather you from there and bring you back again. ⁵ The Lord your God will return you to the land that belonged to your ancestors, and you will possess that land again. Then he will make you even more prosperous and numerous than your ancestors!

⁶ “The Lord your God will change your heart and the hearts of all your descendants, so that you will love him with all your heart and soul and so you may live! ⁷ The Lord your God will inflict all these curses on your enemies and on those who hate and persecute you. ⁸ Then you will again obey the Lord and keep all his commands that I am giving you today.

⁹ “The Lord your God will then make you successful in everything you do. He will give you many children and numerous livestock, and he will cause your fields to produce abundant harvests, for the Lord will again delight in being good to you as he was to your ancestors. ¹⁰ The Lord your God will delight in you if you obey his voice and keep the commands and decrees written in this Book of Instruction, and if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.

The Choice of Life or Death

¹¹ “This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you, and it is not beyond your reach. ¹² It is not kept in heaven, so distant that you must ask, ‘Who will go up to heaven and bring it down so we can hear it and obey?’ ¹³ It is not kept beyond the sea, so far away that you must ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to bring it to us so we can hear it and obey?’ ¹⁴ No, the message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it.

¹⁵ “Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. ¹⁶ For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy.

¹⁷ “But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods, ¹⁸ then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live a long, good life in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy.

¹⁹ “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! ²⁰ You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

Love Vs Like

What’s the difference between ‘love’ and ‘like’? You’ve come to the right place. Not only do I fix people, I’m a butterfly, and  I’m also a love expert. And by love expert, I mean I am in no way qualified to give you advice in this topic. However, I do love the discussion about love. So here are my opinions. Opinions only.

 

#1

‘Love’ is not a higher degree of ‘like’. I don’t believe that the more I like, the more it is called love. Nope. I believe that ‘love’ and ‘like’ are two totally different scales altogether. Example: monkeys and coffee.

#2

‘Like’ is a natural tendency towards. For example, after trails and tests, I have found that I tend towards burgers more than vegetables. Therefore, I can say that I like burgers more than vegetables. Same with people. We can like some more than others. Some of us even have a ranking list or a scale of how much we like people. ‘Like’ is very much a feeling.

#3

‘Love’ is action. ‘Love’ is also a reaction towards. This means that love is more of a choice that leads to action. What we do can determine whether we love something or someone. What we do can also determine whether we don’t love something or someone. Of course, some of us may be saying, we could just do things but not out of love. In fact, a lot of things we do, we just do cuz we need to, not out of love. But let me turn things around for you. The only way that love can be proven, is through actions. Commitment, patience, sacrifice, defending, determination, faith towards, care, understanding, respect, kindness, excitement, these are actions that can prove love. Love is not a feeling. It is a choice. If I say that I ‘love’ a girl, but all my actions show that she’s no different from stranger, no one will agree with me when I say I ‘love’ her. If I did love her, I’d take every opportunity I’m given to care for her.

#4

‘Like’ is not needed to love. Because love is a choice, we also can choose to love ‘for better or for worse’. Which means, for example, I will still love you even if you did something I disliked. It’s not easy to do, of course. I’m just telling you it’s possible. There will always always be times in our life that we will really really dislike our loved ones, or best friends, or family members. In fact, the closer they are to our hearts, the more hurtful things can get. But we can choose to love them still. Love is a choice, which leads to action. If love is a feeling a few degrees above like, then weddings vows will have no meaning, children will not feel safe, best friends are not best friends. If love is a feeling, there would be a 100% divorce rate in the world, and 90% of it will happen within the first year of marriage.

#5

Conclusion.

Can I love you and like you? Yes.

Can I love you but dislike you? Yes.

Can I not love you but like you? Yes.

Can I not love you and not like you? Yes.

 

 

Another reminder to you that this is heavily opinionated on my beliefs and my experiences and from what I learned from other people. So don’t quote me as canon. But, I do hope I’ve opened your eyes to how I see the terms ‘love’ and ‘like’.

If you have any questions or doubts, please do comment. Ktnxbai!

Lovers Are Losers

I Corinthians 13:1-7,13

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

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I hope some of you are going “Huh? What?” to those verses up there. That’s probably because of the Old English from the King James Version of the bible. This is a famous chapter about Love.

Lots and lots of marriage ceremonies use these words. But wait a minute. You don’t see the word ‘Love’ even once? Shame on you.

I’m sure we’re all familiar with “Love is patient and is kind; love does not envy. Love does not brag, is not proud, doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, does not seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails…” So on and so forth. That sounds really good. Righteous, even. But for me, in context of how we use the word ‘LOVE’ today, people don’t get the gravity of what those words actually say.

These days, we use ‘love’ to explain a lovey dovey happy feeling inside that is an outcome rather than a cause. An Outcome!? A Feeling!? Shame on you again. People (old people especially) that have been through tough times know that love is not backing out of a relationship even when outcome or feeling says differently. It could be any love relationship; spouse, family, friends, car, house, or even for your country. It means Choosing and Standing Firm. Choice is not an outcome, choice happens right at the beginning before any action or word can even start.

But I’m sure you’re still wondering, why did I share that verse in King James Version? I’m sure you can see, the difference is the word Charity. Have you ever heard that ‘God Is Charity’? No? Me neither.

Think about this, as I said earlier, these days love is a feeling. Charity, however, is action, not a feeling. These days charity means giving to the poor. It also means losing something for someone else. A LOSS! The moment we hear the word charity, we cringe inside. Why? Because it is in our culture to ‘look out for number one’, me. Ouch. We’re just more used to saying “I’m already running low this month” rather than “I can skip one lunch so that you can have one”.

Think about this. In your mind, I’m sure you have two very different definitions of Love and Charity. List them down. Could be feeling, action, point of view, outcome, choice, giving, how much of giving, when, who, what, how low one stoops, how much patience needed, yada yada yada… I dunno how you want to compare those two words. Anyway! Now comparatively, answer me this “God is -”?

Some of you can say that charity is a quality that comes out of love and all that, which is totally true. But people like the word love and not the word charity! You know, I do see God more as an actions kind of guy.  Not only that, He can be angry, sad, happy, proud, or ashamed of me, but He will still work miracles around me and through me. He still makes sure I’m well and healthy and clothes me and feeds me and allows me to have friends and family. Even when He knows I’m disobeying Him, or when I’m an idiot, or when I’m even trying to run away from Him. What is that? Is that a strong feeling towards me? Or a choice: That I’m His son no matter what.

This is a good reminder for me that love is not a feeling but an action. And it’s not even an action based on an outcome. Love is just an action because of choice: A responsibility. An oath. A sacrifice. A LOSS! A devotion. A hope. Despite everything or anything that has happened or might happen. Wow. “I love you” is now “I choose you” and not “I feel for you,” or “I prefer you the most”. A union in marriage with this kind of love sounds very powerful to me. Same as in family and in friendship.

“If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. 

Love is patient and is kind; love does not envy. Love does not brag, is not proud, doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, does not seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails… But now faith, hope, and love remain-these three. The greatest of these is love.”

That sounds pretty different now doesn’t it?

Love Is Rare

But it shouldn’t be.

 

Have you noticed that love is rare in your life? Don’t blame the people close to you. You’re the problem. You need to start changing the way you view people and act toward people. End of story. Love is a choice. Love is action. Take action. Don’t let love be rare.

You’re the problem.

I’m the problem.

Do something about it. Love freely.

Unworthy

Been thinking about life more than usual again… And well, for my failures, I don’t feel worthy of the good friends I have. I don’t feel good enough for the jobs I may be applying for. Nor do I feel like a good son or sibling. I’m definitely not doing well in my spiritual life. Which means I’m not good enough to be called God’s child. His blessed one. His work of art. How can i be like this and be part of God’s plan and mighty movement?

Well, it is a choice isn’t it? I can take off my baggage and jump on the J-train. Or I can dig into my pity hole and keep begging for mercy.

What should I do?

Die, Self, DIE!

To Do List

 

for those of you who don’t know,

i’m currently on “menganggur” mode and am still searching for a job.

(btw, i took a degree in business administration. a little self promotion here. i need a job!)

but i was thinking,

i’m really not trying hard enough to find that job.

 

“why?” thunked you.

 

good kusiton.

well honestly,

i have this to-do list that i want done before i get this job, see?

and it’s like, i’m just a(teeny)bit lazy to get those stuff done.

which means, i cant get that job yet.

or else i’ll have a job,

without

things

done.

=O

 

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Doing God’s Will

 

you know,

We Christians like to say things we don’t understand.

 

wow.

i should start every blog post with that sentence haha.

 

for example,

“Not my will, but Your will be done.”

or

“We should desire only one thing, God’s will.”

 

ok fine, those aren’t my “examples” per se. (what does “per se” mean anyways? HAHA)

they’re actually what i’ll be using to get my point across.

 

so lets dissect these sentences.

they focus on importance of God’s will.

and the death of our own will.

 

that’s actually good. in a way.

but. God gave us a will.

shouldn’t we be using it?

 

well.

i have an opinion.

Permission to speak, sir!

 

…too bad, you don’t have a choice.

 

See, God has a plan for each of us.

 

but (again), He doesn’t Force us to do it.

WE have to USE our will to CHOOSE His will.

God DID give us a will for a reason.

 

 

in the new testament, Paul mentions about dying to ourselves.

(he wasnt talking about physical death)

but i don’t think he meant that ALL our dreams and passions are evil.

and i don’t think that if we have desires outside of what God says in the bible, we’re sinners.

 

King Solomon wrote this in Proverbs 16:3

Commit your actions to the Lord,
    and your plans will succeed.

 

wait.

did you say

MY actions?

MY plans?

what happened to “i ONLY do the will of God“?

 

God gave men creativity.

God gave us a will to decide between possibilities.

I believe that God plants seeds of different passion, desires, skills, and abilities inside us WAAAAAY before we were even planted into our moms.

 

So how can our desires and dreams be bad?

well, it can.

if it’s not dedicated to the Lord.

Also, it can be bad if God has obviously told you to do something else.

sheesh.

 

 

Lesson #1

How to make our plans and desires right and beautiful?

 

firstly,

you need time.

more specifically, anything you call Now.

even if it’s later, “now” will still mean “now”. so don’t worry about that.

secondly,

you need a means of communication with God.

more specifically, anything you call Pray.

anywhere. don’t worry about which direction to look. don’t worry bout credit limit either.

thirdly,

you need to be honest.

Just tell Him you want your desires and dreams to be from Him.

He’ll actually slowly show you:

Which dreams are from Him,

which passions are from other un-good places,

and which plans are just up to us to decide.

 

 

So remember kids,

we do have a choice;

We always have and always will.

and many-a-times, our will is also God’s will planted into us.

we just have to be focused to see it.

and aware that we might get it wrong all the same.

 

 

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P.S.

 

“thunked”

is the past tense of 

“thunk”

is the past tense of

“think”

 

 

Is It A Choice To Choose?

#1

Don’t let them call you a ‘bimbo’. You’re nerdy enough for me.

 

#2

God wants us to CHOOSE to love Him. He’s not gonna MAKE us.

 

 

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Do We HAVE To Die?

 

over the centuries, people have always wanted to have control.

people have always wanted to be able to choose neverdeath. err… immortality. i meant.

 

there are many natural things in life that we don’t have a choice about.

like, firstly, of course, death.

life? yes. we do have a choice between life or no life.

but death? it’s a must. it’s a certainty. it’s adhering to the laws of nature and science.

also, we don’t have a choice but to be governed by the laws of physics… like gravity. and space. and time.

thirdly, we don’t get to choose our biology. i’m not a dolphin. and my dad is not Eminem. I don’t have a choice.

and, another thing we don’t get to choose, this is a big one, is CHOICE.

 

God gave us a will to make decisions.

God gave us the free will to choose anything for ourselves.

but not only that.

EVERYTHING. Requires. A Choice.

we HAVE to make a decision.

 

To agree with something, a choice.

To disagree, a choice.

To be ignorant, a choice.

To accept a fact, a choice.

To doubt it, a choice.

To act on it, a choice.

To let it go, a choice.

To complain, a choice.

To face it, a choice.

To walk the easy path, a choice.

To walk the road less taken, a choice.

To go with the flow, a choice.

To dare to be ridiculed, a choice.

To practice, a choice.

To procrastinate, a choice.

To be all round pessimistic, a choice.

To be joyful and thankful, a choice.

To be disobedient, a choice.

To trust, a choice.

To harbor anger, a choice.

To love, a choice.

 

you know, everything comes down to what we choose.

even when situations are out of control, it’s how we respond that counts.

even if everyone disagrees, if my conscience tells me it’s right, i still have to choose.

 

this is what determines character.

 

ask yourself:

do you make your own decisions?

or do you let your mood, situations or environment dictate your choices?

 

i’m not saying it’s easy to develop character.

in fact, that’s what problems are for; to help us grow.

when we make a choice to face a problem head on, we overcome something that we can never overcome if we don’t make the difficult decision.

problems and difficulties are like mirrors, they reveal a side of you that you’ve never been able to see by yourself.

also, if we don’t deal with this problem, it’ll always seem to keep appearing.

just like looking into a new and different mirror.

no matter how many new and different problems you’re gonna face, if the previous flaw in self has not been dealt with, you’ll see the same flaws show in the new and different mirrors.

the same issue will occur.

so choose to deal with it.

 

i can’t say i’m super holy.

just like obedience and holiness is a choice,

disobedience and sin is also a choice.

i have to say (honestly), i choose to sin and be disobedient all the time.

let me give you a very innocent example from my own life.

if someone is late for a meeting that i’m chairing, i get mad!

i choose to let my emotions rule over my actions.

cuz it’s downright easy to do.

but, you wanna know what’s the Most Difficult thing to do when someone makes me angry?

choose keep a joyful face, forgive, and continue to live life the best i can without making the situation worse.

you know, that’s just too difficult to do!

that’s just crazy.

 

but God’s all about crazy isn’t He?

 

 

Will the Judgement Day look like this? prolly not… 

 

we hear people talk about the JUDGEMENT DAY all the time.

 

but I tell you the truth, brothers, Judgement day is not about fire and brimstone raining from the sky.

judgement, is when God weighs our character and compares it with Jesus’ character.

and our character is built on choices we’ve made.

 

 

let’s make the right choices.

 

 

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The Book Of Proverbs

 

is a super good book to start reading about choices.

making wise and productive and efficient choices.

in fact, the bible talks all about choices.

 

anyways,

let’s take making the right choices seriously.

 

 

Response Or Choice

Hi Emmeline

 

i dedicate this song to you

 

 

 

 

What Is This Love?

 

i have a theory that any relationship requires two parties to be involved.

whether its siblings, parents, friends, best friends, acquaintances, or spouse.

you need two to call it a relationship.

but love, is a one person involvement.

i can love you without your permission.

i can love you without you knowing.

i can love you even if you downright don’t want it.

imagine if we needed permission to love our babies.

how long do we have to wait for them to learn to respond?

and they probably wont live that long if we didnt love them.

 

which is why love is a choice.

NOT a response.

 

but here i am feeling in my heart different from what i believe.

why is it so easy to love and care for strangers without them acknowledging or needing them to show gratitude?

but its so hard to love and care for close friends and family without expecting them to show acknowledgement and gratitude?

its like. i want them to love me back.

sure its a natural response,

we were created to give love and receive love.

but i think its not good to EXPECT it too much.

it only allows room for hurt and disappointment.