Change in character and reforming our ways

By: Gabriela Yareliz

PART II

So this piece is a bit long; I understand. Time runs short these days, but I encourage you, if you are interested in these topics of peace, philosophy and belief, to read it. I wouldn’t spend time typing this out if I didn’t think this was important.

I have divided the themes into seperate sections so you can read them at your convenience at your own pace if you can’t read it all in one go.

In the end, I think all of our souls are restless and seeking. We are all looking for peace and Truth. I am an inquirer who is walking along the journey; so walk with me.

A TRUE CHANGE IN CHARACTER

Nothing we do can make us look “better” in God’s eyes. In most religions there is something one must do. One must bring a sacrifice to God, whether it be food, jewelry, incense, plants-whatever. It is a constant search to please whatever is out there. Sometimes out of fear.

Yet in God’s Word it is taught that God has made a sarifice, and He offers it to you so you will accept it. God sacrificed Himself and offers Himself you. He is the offering and the offerer.

As we seek to have true peace in God, it is imperative that we seek change. If your belief does not change you from the inside out, then what is it worth? Is it a comfortable belief system so you will not feel a need to change? Is it something shallow? Where does sanctification and emptying oneself of pride and selfishness so God can fill us and mold our characters like him, where does this come into play?

“The sanctification now gaining notice in the religious world carries a spirit of self-exaltation and disregard for the law of God that identify it as foreign to the Bible. Those who teach it claim that sanctification happens instantly, and by this means, through “faith alone,” they profess holiness. “Only believe,” they say, “and the blessing is yours.” No further effort is supposed to be required from the receiver. At the same time they deny the authority of God’s law, claiming that they are released from any obligation to keep the commandments. But is it possible to be holy without coming into harmony with the principles that express God’s nature and will?

The word of God testifies against this traplike doctrine of faith without works. It is not faith that claims God’s favor without complying with conditions on which He grants mercy. It is presumption. (James 2:14-24) (GH 48-49)

“Even so faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone.”

TRUE REFORMATION

What happens when God speaks to us? We are truly convicted; this does not leave us the same.

“The ‘light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world’ illumined the secret chambers of their [our] souls, and the hidden things of darkness were made manifest. Deep conviction took hold upon their minds and hearts. They were convinced of sin and of righteousness and of judgment to come. They had a sense of the righteousness of Jehovah and felt the terror of appearing, in their guilt and uncleanness, before the Searcher of hearts. In anguish they cried out: “Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” As the cross of Calvary, with its infinite sacrifice for the sins of men, was revealed, they saw that nothing but the merits of Christ could suffice to atone for their transgressions; this alone could reconcile man to God. With faith and humility they accepted the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. Through the blood of Jesus they had ‘remission of sins that are past.’

These souls brought forth fruit meet for repentance. They believed and were baptized, and rose to walk in newness of life–new creatures in Christ Jesus; not to fashion themselves according to the former lusts, but by the faith of the Son of God to follow in His steps, to reflect His character, and to purify themselves even as He is pure.

The things they once hated they now loved, and the things they once loved they hated. The proud and self-assertive became meek and lowly of heart. The vain and supercilious became serious and unobtrusive. The profane became reverent, the drunken sober, and the profligate pure. The vain fashions of the world were laid aside.”

When we are convicted, we change from the inside out. We are not left the same.

“Christians sought not the “outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but . . . the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” 1 Peter 3:3, 4.” (Great Controversy, pg. 462)

He crossed His hands

Recollection by: Gabriela Yareliz-

Based on Steve Riley’s sermon at the Florida Conference Campmeeting. Riley is the Senior Pastor of Stanmore Avenue Church in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

Life throws us unexpected things. We don’t always understand what we are going through as we are walking along the journey. Only one thing is true: God guides us, and we must trust Him.

Think about the life of Joseph, registered in the book of Genesis. He went from being the favorite son with a coat of many colors, given to him by the father [Jacob] that favored him, to being in prison.

Joseph went through a lot, and God had to work with him; more importantly Joseph never doubted God.

Sometimes we wonder why God doesn’t just share with us exactly what Providence can give us. Sometimes God lets us get to a certain place in life so that we can react. Our reaction is part of the plot; it helps us get to where we are supposed to be.

What if God had told Joseph: you are going to be thrown into a pit; you are going to be sold; then you will work at Potiphar’s house and his wife will attack you and you will flee; she will lie that you slept with her; then you will be thrown in prison; then you will interpret dreams; someone will remember what you did for them and then you’ll end up being governor of Egypt. Sounds crazy. If he would’ve known all of this he wouldn’t have had the opportunity to react.

Fast-forward after Joseph has become someone great, he has two sons.

Genesis 41 and 48 tell us he (Joseph) had two sons.

Let’s look at the story:

Genesis 41

50 And to Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On, bore to him.

51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh:[a] “For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house.”

So Manasseh was named basically meaning that Joseph wanted to forget his family and where he had come from. It was a name meaning the complete forgetting of your past and afflications.

52 And the name of the second he called Ephraim:[b] “For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

Here we see the name Ephraim recognizes God, and how he blessed Joseph even through his affliction.

Genesis 48 tells us that Israel (Jacob, Joseph’s father) was very sick and so Joseph goes to see him, and so there he is face to face with his father whom he has tried to forget after so many years in Egypt.

“Now it came to pass after these things that Joseph was told, “Indeed your father is sick”; and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

2 And Jacob was told, “Look, your son Joseph is coming to you”; and Israel strengthened himself and sat up on the bed. 3 Then Jacob said to Joseph: “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, 4 and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a multitude of people, and give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.’

5 And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine. 6 Your offspring whom you beget after them shall be yours; they will be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance.

7 But as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died beside me in the land of Canaan on the way, when there wasbut a little distance to go to Ephrath; and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).”

8 Then Israel saw Joseph’s sons, and said, “Who are these?”

9 And Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me in this place.”

And he said, “Please bring them to me, and I will bless them.”

Jacob wants to bestow a blessing on the sons. Something important to note is that the first-born has “primogeniture.” The first son was the recipient of the blessing according to custom. The first born would sit at the right hand.

10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. Then Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them. 11 And Israel said to Joseph, “I had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your offspring!”

12 So Joseph brought them from beside his knees, and he bowed down with his face to the earth. 13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near him. 14 Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn. 15 And he blessed Joseph, and said:

“God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, The God who has fed me all my life long to this day, 16 The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, Bless the lads; Let my name be named upon them, And the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; And let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”

17 Now when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took hold of his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”

19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.”

20 So he blessed them that day, saying, “By you Israel will bless, saying, ‘May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh!’” And thus he set Ephraim before Manasseh.

21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers.”

In this story we see something interesting. When it comes time to bless the sons of Joseph, Jacob crossed his hands. He bestowed the blessing on Ephraim, the one who symbolized what God had done.

Sometimes in life God crosses His hands. The unexpected get the blessing in an unexpected way. God’s favor knows no color or favoritism; He favors whom he will.

Sometimes certain doors stayed closed in our lives so that we will be forced to react. So that our reactions can become part of a plot, the grand story that has us at center stage.

God sometimes blesses us in ways we do not understand, but if you receive His favor, then be joyful.

Ultimately this story represents many things, its depth I cannot go into at this point. I can say this: Jacob was the younger son who received the blessing instead of his twin brother, Esau. Isaac was the youngest son of Abraham who received the blessing instead of Ishmael. Now, note that the first born always received the blessing, but still the younger was made greater.

This makes me think of Jesus, and how Jesus took our place. We as a fallen humanity deserved the penalty for disobeying God’s law; the penatly of the transgression of the law is death, yet God crossed His hands and blessed us, and God himself took our place.

God loved us with an eternal love. Love takes risk. He took that ultimate risk, and also paid the ultimate price.

Life is messy, and confusing, but God has a plan. He uses every situation for our good even if we do not realize it.

Nothing can stop God. Nothing hinders His purpose; He’ll cross His hands if He has to.

If you are in a confusing place, know that God is in control. Remember Joseph and those who have gone before us whose lives have worked out.

Nothing can stop God’s blessing for you if you are willing to receive it. He’ll cross His hands and bless you if He has to.

“All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances…”-Shakespeare

True peace in God and reformation

By: Gabriela Yareliz

So this piece is a bit long; I understand. Time runs short these days, but I encourage you, if you are interested in these topics of peace, philosophy and belief, to read it. I wouldn’t spend time typing this out if I didn’t think this was important.

I have divided the themes into seperate sections so you can read them at your convenience at your own pace if you can’t read it all in one go.

In the end, I think all of our souls are restless and seeking. We are all looking for peace and Truth. I am an inquirer who is walking along the journey; so walk with me.

PEACE

How is it that we can have true peace in God? We, as humans, often have a struggle of trying to earn things and doing things by our own merits. By doing good things, by fasting, by going to certain places, we feel we can achieve a peace with God. That we can be counted as “good enough”; that somehow there is a balance, and our good somehow cancels out the bad.

We think that we, finite minded sinners, can through our finiteness be good enough for God or earn some sort of salvation. This could not be further from the truth. Maybe this is what we truly believe. That in our lives it is up to us to impress God or earn His favor. Perhaps we do not blatantly try this, but sometimes this mentality is revealed in subtle ways.

What is it that tells us this is not true? How can we truly have salvation or simply peace with God?

Let us look at the case of a monk. They say there is no greater proof than first-hand knowledge. True experience. No one can tell you that what you experienced is not true, so here is a bit about his experience.

About this monk:

“Every moment that could be spared from his daily duties he employed in study, robbing himself of sleep and grudging even the time spent at his scanty meals. Above everything else he delighted in the study of God’s word.

He had found a Bible chained to the convent wall, and to this he often repaired. As his convictions of sin deepened, he sought by his own works to obtain pardon and peace. He led a most rigorous life, endeavoring by fasting, vigils, and scourgings to subdue the evils of his nature, from which the monastic life had brought no release.

He shrank from no sacrifice by which he might attain to that purity of heart which would enable him to stand approved before God. “I was indeed a pious monk,” he afterward said, “and followed the rules of my order more strictly than I can express. If ever monk could obtain heaven by his monkish works, I should certainly have been entitled to it. . . . If it had continued much longer, I should have carried my mortifications even to death.”–Ibid., b. 2, ch. 3.

As the result of this painful discipline he lost strength and suffered from fainting spasms, from the effects of which he never fully recovered.

But with all his efforts his burdened soul found no relief. He was at last driven to the verge of despair.” (Great Controversy, pg. 124)

This monk was Martin Luther. Note: It is not only the Christian world that falls into this earning of peace and constant effort.

“When it appeared to Luther that all was lost, God raised up a friend and helper for him. The pious Staupitz opened the word of God to Luther’s mind and bade him look away from himself, cease the contemplation of infinite punishment for the violation of God’s law, and look to Jesus, his sin-pardoning Saviour.

“Instead of torturing yourself on account of your sins, throw yourself into the Redeemer’s arms. Trust in Him, in the righteousness of His life, in the atonement of His death. . . . Listen to the Son of God. He became man to give you the assurance of divine favor.” “Love Him who first loved you.”–Ibid., b. 2, ch. 4.

Thus spoke this messenger of mercy. His words made a deep impression upon Luther’s mind. After many a struggle with long-cherished errors, he was enabled to grasp the truth, and peace came to his troubled soul.

He set before the people the offensive character of sin, and taught them that it is impossible for man, by his own works, to lessen its guilt or evade its punishment.

Nothing but repentance toward God and faith in Christ can save the sinner. The grace of Christ cannot be purchased; it is a free gift. He counseled the people not to buy indulgences, but to look in faith to a crucified Redeemer. He related his own painful experience in vainly seeking by humiliation and penance to secure salvation, and assured his hearers that it was by looking away from himself and believing in Christ that he found peace and joy,” (GC, pg. 125).

 

One Direction

By: Gabriela Yareliz

Maybe it’s the jr. high school girl in me, but this group is really cute. They have that boppy-teen, clean-meaningful-lyrics music. The world is lacking in true poetry that does not disrespect anyone.

Anyway, this totally brought a smile to my face…their music makes me feel like I am 12 again (and that is a good thing).

Nostalgia

By: Gabriela Yareliz

It is official- I am having serious cricket withdrawals. I have quit freaking out about assignments and failed group projects. As I look around the library I see people in complete exhaustion sleeping on textbooks in defeat. Sad story. End of the semester- 3 weeks to duke it out.

I am not sad about graduation seeing that after this I have 3 more years to study my heart out. No nostalgia there.

Possible antidotes for cricket nostalgia (?):

1] Be with the people you miss; could backfire and make you more nostalgic-kidding

2] Red Mango’s Spoonable Strawberry Banana Smoothie; it can cure anything

3] Playing cricket; I would probably get my head blown off… Harshul and Dilip can attest for my sad athletic ability

4] Watch the “3 Idiots”

I love you cricket team! And I miss you more than you know-

So to complete the nostalgia… I am sharing these clips (they’ll give you a good laugh). It’s a movie I associate with the guys on the team because they are just as amazing!

(Chatur’s speech, where Rancho switches some words around, and ‘The Silencer’ doesn’t speak Hindi well enough to know so he memorizes the crazy speech and recites it-subtitles when you click cc– I love his facial expressions and passion)

(Free Advice-Rancho’s free advice to Pia)

(Just like he imagined her- I love this scene)

“Rancho was right when he said ‘Pursue excellence, and success (Chateur) will follow, pants down!'”- (wink)

Have an awesome day!

Schopenhauer

By: Gabriela Yareliz

I’ve been an insomniac lately… this reminded me of Robert Benigni in “Life is Beautiful,” “La Vita E Bella,” where he tries Schopenhauer to go to sleep (because everything is possible when you want it to be and you can be what you want to be), and he also uses it on the woman he likes when he wants her to look at him. I love how he moves his little hands 🙂

Ferruccio says, “I wanted to sleep so I told myself, ‘sleep, sleep’…”

Then, Guido wakes him because he is literally saying it in his ear and moving his little hands… The secret is to not move your hands and not say anything out loud, Ferruccio says.

So– dormo, dormo… sleeeeeeep.

Painting by: Arturo Espinosa 

A man’s face as a rule says more, and more interesting things, than his mouth, for it is a compendium of everything his mouth will ever say, in that it is the monogram of all this man’s thoughts and aspirations. Arthur Schopenhauer
Every parting gives a foretaste of death, every reunion a hint of the resurrection. Arthur Schopenhauer
 “To live alone is the fate of all great souls.” Schopenhauer

Hope for triumph over evil and evidence

By: Gabriela Yareliz

Hey guys!

So, I was reading this morning and I read this passage that really made an impact on me. Because I wanted to share I typed it out, so you could read it… (I am just cool like that-kidding). I hope you enjoy it, and feel free to send me a message or comment if you wish (I do like dialogue).

From “The Great Hope,” Pacific Press and Review and Herald publishers:

“In His Word God has given enough evidence of its divine character. Yet finite minds are inadequate to comprehend fully the intentions of the Infinite One.  “How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!” (Romans 11:33). We can understand His actions and motives enough to see unlimited love and mercy united to infinite power.  Our Father in heaven will reveal to us as much as it is good for us to know. Beyond that we must trust the Hand that is all-powerful, the Heart that is full of love.

God will never remove all excuse for unbelief. All who look for hooks to hang their doubts will find them. And those who refuse to obey until every objection is gone, will never come to the light. The unrenewed heart is in conflict with God. But faith is inspired by the Holy Spirit and will flourish as we cherish it. No one can become strong in faith without persistent effort. If people allow themselves to raise trivial objections, they will find doubt becoming stronger.

But those who doubt the assurance of His grace dishonor Christ. They are unproductive trees that block sunlight from other plants, causing them to droop and die under their chilling shadow. The lifework of these people will always stand as a witness against them.

For those who honestly want to be freed from doubts, there is only one course to pursue. Instead of questioning the things they do not understand, they should pay attention to the light that already shines on them, and they will receive greater light.

Satan can produce a counterfeit that so closely resembles truth that it deceives those who are willing to be deceived, who want to avoid the sacrifice that the truth demands. But it is impossible for him to hold even one person under his power who honestly desires to know the truth no matter what the cost. Christ is the truth, the “Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.” (John 1:9). “If anyone wills to do his will, he shall know concerning the doctrine,” (John 7:17).

The Lord permits His people to go through fiery ordeal of temptation, not because He enjoys their distress, but because this is essential to their final victory. It would be inconsistent with His own glory to shield them from temptation, because the purpose of the trial is to prepare them to resist all attractions of evil.”  (pg. 24)

…

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel,” (Genesis 3:15).  “This enmity, or hostility is not natural. When Adam and Eve broke the divine law, their natures became evil, in harmony with Satan… When Satan heard that enmity would exist between himself and the woman, and between his seed and her seed, he knew that by some means human beings were going to be enabled to resist his power.” (pg. 12)

“No one is safe for a day of an hour without prayer. Plead with the Lord for wisdom to understand His word. Satan is an expert in quoting scripture, placing his own interpretation on the passages in hopes of causing us to stumble. We should study with humility of heart. While we must constantly guard against Satan’s deceptions, we should pray in faith, continually, “Do not lead us into temptation” (Matthew 6:13).” (pg. 25)

-E.G. White