WHY DO WE LET OTHERS DO THE THINKING FOR US?

Maraming mga impluwensiya sa ating desisyon ang mundo sa ngayon, tulad ng Tiktok, Youtube, mga AI na pagagandahin ka upang ikaw ay itaboy na kumawala sa realidad ng mundo.

Maraming tao ang eengganyuhin ka sa pamamagitan ng mga pangako, offering you small amount of money para sila ay suportahan mo sa kanilang kasakiman at mga pagnanakaw. Entertainment, mga gawaing lihis sa values tulad ng pagmumura, panlalait, pandaraya, upang ikaw ay mapahanga – at uriin na “ahh, totoong tao ito,” tinuturuan ka ngayon na huwag gamitin ang gift of discernment o pagsusuri na ibinigay ng Diyos sa bawat isa sa atin. At baliktarin ang mabuting asal at turo ng ating Diyos.

Taking advice involves seeking input and guidance from others upang makatulong sa iyong paggawa ng desisyon sa buhay. It’s an active and thoughtful approach to decision-making, where you consider various perspectives before making a choice.

Letting others do your thinking for you, on the other hand, involves passively accepting and implementing the opinions and decisions of others without critically evaluating or considering them. Mahalagang magkaroon ng balanse sa pagitan ng paghingi ng payo at paggawa ng mga independiyenteng desisyon, dahil pareho silang may mga merito sa magkaibang sitwasyon.

Let us take this 3 examples:

1. Nagluto ka ng iyong pagkain, dahil wala kang inaasahan na may magluluto para sa iyo.
2. May nagluto ng iyong pagkain, walang lasa at hindi enticing tingnan. Nagpasiya kang ikaw na lang ang magluto.
3. May nagluto ng iyong pagkain, walang lasa at hindi enticing tignan. But, you are too lazy make your own dinner, so you eat what he prepared.

“Taking advice” ay nasasaklaw sa kasong 2 at 3.

“Letting others do your thinking for you” covers case 3 only.

Case no 2 is like when you take advice, you don’t blindly accept what people give you. You take a look at it, evaluate it, and decide whether you want to make something different or use what they made

That is, sometimes, when you take advice, you don’t blindly accept what people give you. You take a look at it, evaluate it, and decide whether you want to make something different or use what they made. Letting others do your thinking for you amounts to using whatever someone else made for you without evaluating its quality.

Kaya karamihan ng tao sa ngayon ay sunod-sunuran lang sa nakikita, naririnig at higit sa lahat, hinahayaang ibang tao (na kadalasan ay mga tuso, mandaraya at huwad) na mag-isip para sa kanila.

Quo vadis?
——–
Luke 11:28 “He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

We Have To Confront Sin.

The world picture Jesus as the “Prince of Peace” na sa buong ministry niya dito sa mundo, malumanay at hindi siya kitakitaan ng galit at higit sa lahat ay mapagpatawad.

Kaya naman ang natanim sa isipan ng tao ay kahit na ilang beses na nagkasala ay papatawarin ni Jesus.

Kaya ang mundo sa ngayon ay puno ng negativity, blatant disregard to rules – feeling victorious pag nakalabag sa patakaran at hindi naparusahan, laganap ang body shaming – hahanapan ng kapintasan sa katawan ang ibang tao, walang “empathy” maliban kung siya ay apektado, makisabay sa uso kahit na ito ay labag sa mga values and God’s command – tulad ng uso pagmumura, panlalait, pambabastos and Christians ay kibit balikat na “wala tayong magagawa, lahat yan ang ginagawa e”

Some of the situations in the Bible that tells us Jesus confronted sins.

1. Greedy people in the temple (Mateo 21:12-13)

2. People sincerely seeking Him – Nicodemus (Juan 3:1-21)

3. Insincere followers – when He fed the crowd (Juan 6:1-27)

4. People living in sin – the Samaritan woman (Juan 4:5-30)

5. Unbelieving family members – his brother James (Juan 7:1-7)

Hindi tayo si Jesus, but we have responsibilities as His follower, to:

1. Speak up about sin – Efeso 5:11; 2 Corinto 10:5, Col 4:6

2. Confront fellow believers who sin – Mat 18:15, Gal 5:19 – 20

3. Resist the evil ways of this world – Santiago 4:7

4. Do not be deceived – 1 Cor 15:33

Where is your Christianity, if you follow, support and promote liars, killers, blasphemers and sinners?

ANYTHING BIG COMES FROM SMALL STEPS

We dream big. Of course, dreams are always big, because it is a world beyond what you are now. Even if you say that you have simple dreams, it is still considered big, because it is a situation that is some level higher and different from where you are now.

The problem when we dream big, is that we also try to do something big and hope for big results, immediately. We think that we can fulfill our dream by doing big things. And that is where we all fail, we seem lost in doing big actions, concocting big plans, and surpassing big hurdles. We become overwhelmed.

Remember that all big things start from small things. Everything in the universe is but a mass of small matters. Dusts.

So why won’t we do small steps, small actions at a time?

Even the smallest of actions, the ones James Allen called trivial and insignificant, can lead to great success.

Lao Tzu stated it simply, for everyone to understand: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

Pero papaano, how, de que manera?, you may ask.

Sir Isaac Newton’s principle that a “body at rest tends to remain at rest and a body in motion tends to remain in motion,” definitely applies to the action principle. Once you’ve taken the first step (even a baby step), the next steps seem easier to take. And to continue his statement, “…. unless acted upon by an external force.”

Every journey begins with a single step and for most of us, the first single step is the hardest part. But our mistake often lies in making “leaps” not steps. Or being afraid to take the first step.

Making tiny steps is not difficult. And it can lead to big changes. It can bring you to places.

Let your energy go. Let your talents flow. Let you creativity show.

And most of all, let your faith move that first tiny step on the road to success in life.

Go now, take that stride to life. God wishes to lift your feet.

Don’t deny Him.

———-

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.” – Psalm 37:23

Jesus Christ’s Pure Love

Si Jesus ay nagmahal at nagtiwala sa Diyos. Sinunod niya ang plano ng Diyos, no matter what sufferings He has to endure. Pinili niyang pumarito sa lupa at manirahan sa katawan ng tao habang ganap na Diyos. Si Jesus ay lumakad, nakinig, at sumunod sa Diyos nang buong pagtitiwala dahil minahal din niya tayo nang walang pasubali.

Nabuhay si Jesus para sa Diyos dahil kaisa siya ng Diyos. Ang pagiging isa kay Hesus ay nangangahulugan na ang Diyos ay lumakad at namuhay kasama natin sa katawan ni Kristo! Pinili ng ating Maylalang na magpakumbaba at manirahan kasama natin.

Ang kanyang pagpili ay nagpapakita ng kanyang pagnanais at pangako na makasama tayo sa isang walang hanggang relasyon ngayon at sa langit.

That is pure love.

———-

“Kapag tayo ay nag-iibigan sa isa’t isa, ang Diyos ay nananatili sa atin at ang kaniyang pag-ibig ay nagiging ganap sa atin.” 1 Juan 4:12

MATUNGGO’Y DUN DIN

Ang salitang “matunggo’y dun din” ay gamit sa larong tatsing. Tatsing came from the English word “touching.” Each player aims na makakuha ng pinakamaraming tansán (taya) mula sa iginuhit na hugis bilog sa lupa gamit ang kani-kaniyang pamato (bato).

Ang larong ito ay nangangailangan ng galing sa pagtantiya upang mailabas ang mga tansán nang hindi maiiwan ang pamato sa loob ng iginuhit na kwadrado. Maliban sa tansán, gumagamit din ang ibang mga manlalaro ng lead washers o kaya naman ay barya. Kapag barya na ang ginamit, it is the early awakening sa pagsusugal.

Sa bawat turn ng manlalaro ay doon sya pupuwesto kung saan huling naglanding ang kanyang pamato. At dito nga ginagamit ang salitang “matunggo’y dun din” which means, kung ito ay matamaan ng pamato o ng taya na tumalsik at maiba ng puwesto, doon pa rin sa original na puwesto titira ang may ari ng pamato.

Ang buhay ay para lang tatsing.. “matunggo’y dun din”.

Sa negatibong banda, ang pananaw ng iba ay di sila dapat matinag sa kanilang tinatamasang kasaganaan, posisyon, kapangyarihan o kayamanan. Tumutumbok sa landas ng kasakiman at pagwawalang bahala sa kapuwa. This is miserable wealth.

“Matunggo’y dun din.” Sinuman sa tingin nila ay balakid o nagtatangka na agawin ang tinatamasa o manghingi ng tulong ay aalisin nila sa landas. Buhay na walang katiwasayan at walang kasiyahan.

Sa positibong banda, this goes to life’s principles. When you know what you believe in, define your principles and make the commitment to live and make decisions based on those beliefs making sure that you are of help to anyone. This is what gives meaning to life.

And you don’t need to defend it. Because you are doing good in the eyes of God. Walang anumang tukso, anumang pagsasamantala, anumang paninira, pananalbahe ang makakagupo sa iyo, sapagkat ikaw ay totoo… walang peke.

“Matunggo’y dun din”. Di ka matitinag sa kinatatayuan mo. Buhay na puno ng pagtitiwala, kasiyahan at katiwasayan.

And a prize is waiting for you.

Hala. Taya na at simulan na ang tatsing ng buhay.

—-0000—-

“Like the twilight in the road up ahead
They don’t see just where we’re goin’
And all the secrets in the universe
Whisper in our ears
All the years will come and go
Take us up, always up
We may never pass this way again”

– Seals and Crofts

GO GET YOUR DREAMS … WITH GOD

Dream is not what you see while you sleep but it is what you see that doesn’t let you sleep.

Live life in alignment with your dreams. Stick to the path. Focus on your goals. When we take our eyes off of our goals, anxiety, worry, and doubt immediately begin to take over and regrets of yesterday start to eat our enthusiasm.

“Nawa’y ipagkaloob niya ang iyong hangarin, at sa iyong mga plano, ika’y pagtagumpayin.” Mga Awit 20:4

AND THE WORST DAY GIVES YOU LESSONS

Alisin ang “sana” at “siguro” sa isipan. This will only move your farther from your direction in life. Hindi ka masisiyahan sa nangyayari sa buhay mo, di mo maaappreciate ang mga bagay na nasa sa iyo at di ka makakatuon sa pagpapatuloy ng tahakin sa pagtuklas ng iyong pangarap.

Magiging isa kang tao na laging nakatingin sa nagdaan at di mo makikita ang direksyon na ibinibigay ng Panginoon.

“Sapagka’t hindi niya aalalahaning lubha ang mga kaarawan ng kaniyang buhay; sapagka’t sinasagot siya ng Dios sa kagalakan ng kaniyang puso” – Ecclesiastes 5:20 

1COR 13

We are expected to do three things: accept the sacrifice of Christ, bring others to faith, and hurt no one by word or deed. By others include people of other races, political affiliations, wrong doers, non-believers, transgender people, and people of other faiths.

We are not expected to forment hate, spread lies, promote bashings / cursings, and divide people.

We are not instructed to cheer on killings and vengeance but to respect and value life.

After all, we are all children of God.

Implanted with spirit of discernment called…. CONSCIENCE.

—–
“I think I hear my conscience calling
You feel too good this can’t be right, keep me on
I think I hear my conscience calling
What are we doing here tonight?

– Dan Hill

WE CANNOT COMMAND NATURE BUT OBEY HER

I remember noong mga 3 years old pa lang ang panganay kong anak, we went for vacation sa aking hometown, sa Hondagua, Quezon. Enjoy na enjoy siya sa mga tanawin sa daan. He asked for candy, at kumuha ako. Tig-isa kami. Then, I opened the window ng sasakyan and threw the candy wrapper outside. Nakita ito ng anak ko and he remarked:

“Si papa napakalaki ng basurahan. Buong mundo!”

Ang laki ng hiya ko sa kanya noong araw na iyon. And from then on, I stopped throwing garbage ng hindi sa tamang pagtatapunan.

Small candy wrapper lang iyon, pero kung lahat tayo ay ganoon ang gagawin, malaki ang magiging epekto sa degradation ng environment. SAbi nga ni Henry VAn Dyke:

He that planteth a tree is a servant of God,
he provideth a kindness for many generations,
and faces that he hath not seen shall bless him.

———–
” I see skies of blue, and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world”
—- Louie Armstrong

LIFE’S PURPOSE

Life is not measured by the degree of our happiness but by the degree of our usefulness.

People pursue happiness all of their life. That is why we buy things that we thought could make us happy, we follow people that we assume could provide us with what we need, we believe in someone who feeds our egos and makes our heart swell with pride, we work hard to get the approval of people we don’t like and prove we are better than them.

But, at the end of the day, there is that insatiable feeling – the continuous pursuit of happiness.

I believe that happiness is not the purpose of life itself. Happiness is simply the result of our usefulness.

There are a lot of things that we do that purportedly results to happiness:

1. We buy a new dress or shoes
2. We eat in an expensive restaurant
3. We buy a car
4. We get to purchase a new house and lot
5. And so on, the list is endless

Ralph Waldo Emerson says:

“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”

It is as simple as “what have you been doing that makes a difference to others”

Helping your son finish his school project, giving your mother a warm hug, handing food to those who are hungry, giving tips to somebody who delivers your ordered food, helping your neighbor with a job you know how to do well these are some of the simple acts we can do to make a difference.

Giving hopes to troubled souls, enlightening those believing in lies and fake promises, not conforming to the deceits and misleading words of leaders and people who have sinister intentions, reporting offenses and rejecting any offer of misdeed in exchange for worldly pleasures are bigger acts to make a difference because these are unpopular[EC1] 

Being useful is a a decision.  Ask yourself, what are you doing in this world?

It could be helping the children and elderlies, creating words that inspires others, preparing drinks for customers, whatever you do that will make an impact to other people.

Anything. Just don’t do something that will harm others.

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 [EC1]