by: Carolina Lim-Gamban Our topic for this week is timely, as the nation is confronting challenges related to faithfulness. Faithfulness involves loyalty, fidelity, or steadfastness to your affection or allegiance. It touches on a wide range of issues in life that we need to revisit and reflect on and carefully realign and readjust ourselves before it is too late to act.
Faithfulness to our beloved country. In the 1973 Philippine Constitution, Section 1 of Article V provides that "It shall be the duty of the citizen to be loyal to the Republic and to honor the Philippine flag, to defend the State and contribute to its development and welfare, to uphold the Constitution and obey the laws, and to cooperate with the duly constituted authorities in the attainment and preservation of a just and orderly society." Sadly, this provision no longer appeared in the 1987 Philippine Constitution. This, however, should not stop us citizens from being loyal to our country nor hinder us from loving and defending the State from aliens and oppressors who are trying to invade or take away what is ours. Grab every opportunity to show your love and loyalty to our nation – this is our faithfulness to our beloved country. Help her rise, boom, and bloom to be the nation that God has designed it to be. Protect her, nourish her, and take care of her. Do not hand her over to another for a bowl of soup. Faithfulness to our spouses and relationships. Fidelity is important in lasting relationships. Strengthening faithfulness is needed to see fewer broken families and relationships. When spouses, partners, or friends are faithful to each other, no storm is too strong for them because both can be a source of strength, encouragement, and inspiration. Resisting any temptation or how it will affect you is a choice one must make consciously. It measures how deep your love, respect, and honor for your spouse or partner. Faithfulness to the Almighty God "Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments." Our God is ever faithful and never changed in His faithfulness to us. His love and devotion to us are demonstrated by how He was willing to sacrifice the one He loved to redeem us from our iniquities, sins, unfaithfulness, and brokenness, once and for all. Time and time again, He is willing to wait for the renewing of our minds and for us to grow into maturity, for our sakes, so that we can experience the life He designed for us. What does He require of us? To be faithful to our Almighty God and not to worship any other gods. To love Him with all our hearts, souls, and minds, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. "Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man."
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Purity should be duly considered in all human endeavors. A pure person has an excellent spirit or nature and is guaranteed that all the work done by their hands is organized and carried out smoothly. One reason is that they are focused, thereby ensuring success. On the contrary, an impure person is double-minded and has a disturbed emotion because of a hidden motive or agenda. Their tasks are frequently haphazard because of the damaging nature within. This is why if we are to know a person, we will know them by their fruits.
Typically, contamination starts in the mind. When we have impure thoughts, it alters our frequency, which eventually affects our actions. Thus, we need to guard our thoughts. As Mahatma Gandhi says, our thoughts become our words; our words become our actions; our actions become our habits; our habits become our values, and our values become our destiny. In line with this, the Scripture tells us that whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, or admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, we should think about such things. Other than thoughts, impurities can also happen because of the negative motive or intention of the heart. This makes intent an essential element for conviction in criminal offenses. A person is penalized because of their evil intention, which propelled them to do a specific appalling act. By determining the purpose, a person is known because it speaks of their characteristic. By purity, we can be transparent because we have nothing to hide. Just like a body of crystal-clear water, we can see what the surface of the water is underneath. In the same way, people see us beyond our outside appearance and become a message to them. Also, we can become like a drink offered to others, and they will not get poisoned. Every word we say to people can create a significant impact, and those who listen to us will drink from us. It is essential, therefore, to be pure in heart because whatever we speak will become a life to others. They are like drinking from us as we speak. Let us do away then from all sorts of impurities. Let us not keep bitterness within us because it will destroy our bodies. Note that it is not what goes into the mouth that makes a person unclean and defiled; what comes out makes a person unclean and defiled. Let us, therefore, make purity our goal because it will open the doors of blessing to us due to trustworthiness. If we become trustworthy with little things because of purity, we will be trusted with much more. We get promoted at work and may be assigned to handle sensitive and confidential matters. by: Dr. Laurence C. Mascay Righteousness is essential when it comes to government service. It acts as a compass, directing the choices and deeds of individuals, especially those assigned to leadership positions. Righteousness, based on moral character and ethical behavior, is a lighthouse that illuminates the way to a just government and peaceful society.
In the Scripture, righteousness is pursuing goodness, fairness, and morality in all facets of one's life. It explores issues of conscience and character and follows laws and regulations. Maintaining what is reasonable and moral in the face of difficulties and temptations means being righteous. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled," says the apostle Matthew. Righteousness is essential to ensure justice, equity, and honesty in government service. Righteous leaders and public servants put the welfare of their people before their interests or the interests of politics. To establish a society where every person is treated with respect and dignity, righteous public servants base their decisions on justice and compassion. Despite its significance, righteousness in governance frequently encounters obstacles and temptations. Even the most well-meaning leaders and public servants can have their integrity tested by the desire for power, the temptation to sacrifice morality for convenience, and the temptation to engage in corruption. However, at these trying times, the dedication to righteousness must not waver. It takes guts to stand up to injustice, humility to own up to your mistakes, and a commitment to putting the public interest first above everything else. People in the government and private service fulfill their obligation to advance justice, equality, and the general welfare by adopting righteousness. In implication, may you always aim to do righteous acts in the eyes of God and before people, and may the ageless wisdom of the Scriptures guide you as you go through the complexities of public service. Remember, as Dr. Laurence Mascay, one of CRVF's speakers and facilitators, says: "You may be mistreated, but live righteously, and you will emerge victoriously." by: Micah A. Tecne Who doesn't love light, righteousness, and good to rule every day? We want to see good things happen in our lives. We desire to be always righteous, but the sad reality is that we live in a world full of chances to compromise. The struggle of bearing our sinful nature sinks in when we fall into sin and get attached to any form of wickedness that leads us to suffer destructive consequences, find ourselves condemned, and be regretful of our mistakes. We suffer the torture of condemnation from people around us, and worst is the soreness of our self-condemnation.
As we find guilty, people convicted of their crime receive their judgment from a court hearing, which makes us reflect on the dire effect of one's wrong choices and actions. We cannot deny that we get so lax that we are safe from judgment if we don't get caught in our wicked actions and sins. As St. Paul once said, God cannot be mocked; a man reaps what He sows, we will bear the consequences of our sins if not today; it will come in time if we fail to realize the greatness of our wicked actions and repent of our sins. We respond differently when we are caught in our sins. Some of us rationalize our wrongdoings to protect ourselves from being judged. Some hide and leave the life of a runaway and are afraid to suffer the consequences that await us. Others tend to do things to cover the sin and pretend innocent to be acquitted. Some of us acknowledge our faults but are unwilling to do anything about them. Others humbly admit wrongs and are willing to go through the restoration process and try to correct them. As we commemorate the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, let it be a time for us to reflect the real meaning of repentance. Our sins indeed have consequences. The consequences of suffering in all aspects. We are afraid of acknowledging and admitting our faults because we don’t want to go through a painful and even long process of restoration. The process of going through a lot of pruning to make as new again. Both Judas and Peter, who were with Jesus, betrayed Him. Judas turned innocent Jesus to be imprisoned and received a lot of pay from the Pharisees, while Peter denied himself as one of Jesus' disciples. Both of them felt guilty but repented in different ways. Judas hanged himself because of guilt, while Peter went back to where he was until Jesus restored him after His resurrection and became faithful to the end of his life. Every day is a struggle between light and darkness, righteousness, and wickedness, good and bad. We struggle to be always righteous, and we find ourselves falling into sin. Because of our guilt, we tend to condemn ourselves and repent the wrong way, destroying our lives. True repentance is not doing another sin to correct the sin; it is an action. It is not only a word being uttered that we are sorry. It happens when we realize our fault, its dreadful impact on us and others, and how it displeases the Almighty God, who sees all things. Our realization will cause us to acknowledge and admit our wrongs and do something about them. We start to make the necessary changes to correct our wrongs. True repentance brings us hope that there is still a chance for us to be restored. An opportunity to turn our wicked past into a righteous present and future. It is a gift that Jesus had on His mind when He died on the cross and was resurrected. As St. Paul said, there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. A psalmist once said, A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. by: Keren May B. Busaing In this age where the plight for 'equality' is intense, the value of submissiveness is among those raised into question, and many have taken it out of proportion. For many liberal believers of equality, being submissive is a weakness and a character that needs to be eradicated in favor of independence. Many approach this social issue with zeal and boldness, all wanting to advocate the full extent of self-dependency, which, along the way, counters the discipline of being submissive. Causes like gender equality, women empowerment, social inclusion, and discrimination are a few advocacies that may wholly or slightly eradicate submissiveness. A British film director once said, "To be feminist doesn't mean you can't be submissive." In other words, our consciousness or confidence of being strong and independent isn't dwindled by the value of submissiveness. In fact, to those who are truly secure in their identity, restraining themselves from constantly asserting their positions is strength. The nature of submissiveness is not always dictated by whether we are right or wrong, and being right only sometimes means that we need to fight for it until the end. The strength in submissiveness comes when we back down and give way to the other party - for couples, the wife to her husband; for structural authority, the subordinate to their superior. Strength is only sometimes expressed by being loud and contentious. Whenever we submit, it doesn't mean that we are backing down from what is right. There are other avenues to stand up for what is right, and it begins when we make the choice (which is a strength) to preserve peace through submission. A peaceful atmosphere is perfect for the seed of righteousness to sprout. By being wise, we will eventually realize that the value of submissiveness characterized by humility is a strategy. It is not a power play where one will emerge as the winner. Being able to submit is an inner strength where an individual can demonstrate growth and maturity by seeing every situation beyond the now. It is an ability centered on security, confidence, and leadership. Submissiveness is inner warfare, and whenever we struggle and feel the desire to win, it lets us choose to be strong by being able to back down. It is always the one who can subdue his inner desires who can make the difference. It is always the one who is not particular about winning that is the real winner. On the other hand, those who are contentious are always loud and seeking to win or be above the others who are missing out. Whether we are young and must submit to the elders, a wife and must submit to the husband, or subordinates submitting to superiors, let us choose to do so and always. Saint Paul, in his letter to the Romans, said, "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God." This principle is not contrary to the equality, equity, dignity, inclusion, and diversity advocacies we encounter these days. Instead, it is a foundational material that is necessary to address them. By fulfilling the ways and patterns of God, these issues are resolved by the ways of God. Submissiveness is a command that paves the way for Him to directly take control of every situation we are in. It is part of the pattern to success, and every rebellion (against authorities) causes delay and sometimes eliminates God's power to take over. Let us choose to be strong by being able to submit. by: Jesus V. Sison, PTRP CRFV Deputy National Director The Almighty God created all of humanity equal. It might have been a centuries-old debate because of observed differences in socio-economic status, gender roles, and ethnic practices. One thing stands out: God allows the sun to shine on both good and evil. As it was written, "He gives His sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike." In addition, the Book of Genesis expresses that God created both man and woman in His image and likeness, and he equally blessed them. His image and likeness in the man and woman provided that we all have dignity and identity that must be honored and respected. Article 1 of the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) states that "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood." This has become the bedrock for all human rights documents and activities. Moreover, this has attested to the Holy Scriptures' portrayal and conception of man and woman according to God's grand design.
Here in the Philippines, equality is highly esteemed, as it was mentioned in our Constitution in the preamble and its contents. To quote, "We, the sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid of Almighty God, to build a just and humane society, and establish a Government that shall embody our ideals and aspirations, promote the common good, conserve and develop our patrimony, and secure to ourselves and our posterity, the blessings of independence and democracy under the rule of law and a regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace, do ordain and promulgate this Constitution. The first word, "we," explicitly says that despite their uniqueness and differences, every Filipino calls on to the Almighty God. It denotes that as we acknowledge God, who is sovereign and above us all, we recognize that we are all equal under Him and heaven. Then, we notice that "equality" is one of the sixteen values mentioned in this exordium. Thus, it would be deemed an essential foundational element in building a moral, decorous, and altruistic society if cited. This was concretized in our AmBisyon 2040, our very own Philippine Development Plan championing a "Matatag, Maginhawa at Panatag na Buhay" (Strongly rooted, comfortable, and secured life) for every Filipino. It is a dream for all and a hope for all that equally benefits everyone. In pursuing this promising and glorious future for the nation and the people, the Constitution accentuated Social Justice and Human rights in Article XIII, Section 1. It stated that “the Congress shall give highest priority to the enactment of measures that protect and enhance the right of all the people to human dignity, reduce social, economic, and political inequalities, and remove cultural inequities by equitably diffusing wealth and political power for the common good. It encapsulates the concept of fundamental human rights and safeguarding the belief that all people are of equal value and dignity. It implies and epitomizes that no person, organization, government, and its instrumentalities should prevent someone from living with dignity and open opportunities. The state should promote laws and enactments that set the tenor for how it deals with its people and how its people regard each other. We must believe that it is meant for everyone equally, no matter what region they're from, their tribe, race, religion, culture, nationality, age, sex, preferences, beliefs, disability, sexual orientation, or intelligence. This year's women's month celebration theme is "Lipunang Patas sa Bagong Pilipinas; Kakayahan ng Kababaihan, Patutunayan!" Although it is focused on women's and girls' empowerment and provision of equal opportunities, gender equality is not a woman's issue but a human issue. It's not about women longing to be superior to men. It's all about equal rights, respect, self-worth, and access to and control of resources as part of decision-making. It's about having equal choices for our future in general. Where do we go from here? Where do we fit in? What can we do? Several suggestions were enumerated on how we could help promote equality. We must first be sensitive and humane as we become conscious of every person's rights. Let's be open to learning and listening to each other as we create a safe atmosphere and environment for everyone. We should be flexible and prepared to accustom and fine-tune our views, thoughts, perspectives, and judgments as we develop a culture of inclusivity and sensitivity. We move with the same frequency in our hearts, having the same mindset as the Sovereign God who willed all these things to exist and happen. We can make change for everyone. "We make change work" for everyone as we uphold equality. by: Nathaniel A. Saquiban Obedience is one of the important values that all of us should possess. It opens up the door of blessings and enables us to remain in a favored life. It is simple. Every act of disobedience will have a corresponding penalty, which is expected to be contrary to relief and comfort. Obedience, thus, is contingent on a joyful and abundant life. Consider the scenario that happened to Adam and Eve. They were brought out of blessed life because of disobedience to the commands of God. In the same way, people who are confined behind bars may be put in miserable conditions or may be denied benefits and privileges because of disobedience.
Obedience is also significant, not only because it benefits or is advantageous to us personally, but because it will profit the community members. It is the virtue we should observe if we realize a peaceful, orderly, and disciplined society that results in progress and prosperity. We cannot expect a governmental unit to flourish if its constituents are not law-abiding citizens. If the people are lawless, everything will be disorganized because no chain of command is followed. Everyone does what they wish, and the environment becomes chaotic and unclean. More than laws, rules, and regulations are needed. It also takes a strong will on the part of the authorities to accurately and strictly enforce and implement the laws, rules, and regulations. People must be governed and learn government rather than a government of themselves where they do what they want. In the Philippines, this is what is needed. Laws must be exacted if we are to achieve our economic goals. People's freedom and liberty must be regulated, and those in high places are not exempted. They should model a lifestyle of obedience. People often clamor for change in the high echelon of society, allegedly because subordinates and subjects are good followers for fear of punishment, but not to some who are in leadership. That kind of situation should not be the trend. One of the positive effects of obedience is to train us for righteousness. The more we obey, the more we become righteous and learn righteousness. Obedience must become a habit so that we are honed to upright living. However, it is suggested that the reverse is a better way. We should first possess a righteous or holy nature so that obedience will become the fruit. Obedience is easy if we are changed on the inside. This is the reason why the value of obedience is anchored to the core value of spirituality. We should strengthen spirituality so that obedience automatically follows. A spiritual mentor once said, "Surrender is better than obedience because surrender necessarily encompasses obedience." If we are surrendered to the authority of God, we will not have a problem in the area of obedience. We do not have to think whether to choose our will or the will of God because a good subject always submits to the will of his or her sovereign. Let us, therefore, surrender to our Almighty God so that we may consistently live a life of obedience. by: Dr. Laurence C. Mascay One of my former college professors once said, “Every second is a decision.” The simple act of waking up in the morning is a decision. Deciding whether to eat or not is a decision; choosing to sit or not is a decision. In life, it is unavoidable to make decisions, no matter how small or big they are. Hence, decisiveness, defined as “the ability to make decisions quickly and confidently” by the Cambridge Dictionary, is important because of its impact and repercussions.
In the Scriptures, it is written, “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’”. An implication of this passage is decisiveness. Humans tend to change their minds quickly due to circumstances, feelings, and moods. Thus, careful planning and thinking, along with calculated risks, must be considered in decision-making. Because once a decision is made and acted upon, it is hard to undo. On the other hand, John Maxwell, an authority on leadership, said: “Once a decision is made, you should stop worrying and start working. It’s not always what we know that makes it a good decision. It is what we do to implement and execute it that makes it a good decision.” The following are some suggested strategies from various sources to help you become more decisive. One: Clarify your values and priorities. Understand what matters most to you and what your long-term goals are. Two: Gather information. Make sure you have all the relevant information before deciding. Having a good understanding of the situation will help you make a more informed choice. Three: Think about the pros and cons. Make a list of the advantages and disadvantages of each option. This will help you see which one is better. Four: Ask for advice. Don't be shy about seeking input from others, significantly if the decision affects them or they have expertise. Ultimately, take responsibility for your decisions. By incorporating these strategies into our decision-making process, we can become more decisive and confident in our choices. We entrust the outcomes to the Lord as we apply these suggested strategies. The Book of Proverbs reminds us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." by: Micah A. Tecne A common saying, "no man is an island," reminds us that we live in a world where we need each other. We are created to live and work together. Together, we can accomplish more. To have a more harmonious work environment, we need accountability. Patrick Lencioni said, "without accountability, there can be no trust, and without trust, there can be no meaningful collaboration."
As individuals and team members, we should learn the art of being accountable for our actions and choices. We take responsibility for the results of our actions. As we acknowledge any success of our labor, we should also learn to take responsibility for the consequences of our wrong decisions or actions. There are instances when everything is falling apart, and we tend to shift the blame to others to save our reputation and face. This alters the team dynamics and eventually impedes the team's success. As Tamara Renaye said, "Accountability feels like an attack when you're not ready to acknowledge how your behaviors harm others." Being accountable manifests humility in acknowledging one's own faults and taking the responsibility to mend them. Admitting one's own mistake is such a real struggle. It is a dilemma for everyone. Admitting our mistakes may destroy the people's trust in us and eventually destroy our reputation. King David tried to cover his adulterous acts, killing Uriah, the husband of Bathsheba, yet Prophet Samuel rebuked him. He acknowledged his fault and took responsibility. He humbly accepted and suffered the consequences of his sin. His humility touched God's heart. Despite his sin, David is still regarded as "The Man after God's own heart." King David's heart of accountability brought more grace and favor upon him. Being accountable is a sign of maturity and outstanding leadership; as Courtney Lynch said, "Leaders inspire accountability through their ability to accept responsibility before they place blame." The moment we learn to be accountable shows readiness for our promotion and leadership elevation. If we aim for a leadership promotion, we learn to be accountable. If we want to have a successful team, it should be composed of accountable people. A team with only one mission and vision. As Pat Summitt said, "responsibility equals accountability equals ownership. And a sense of ownership is the most powerful weapon a team or organization can have." Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. If we want to see ourselves and our organization succeed, decide to be accountable now. by: Keren May Busaing When the going gets tough, do we have what it takes to remain committed and dedicated to the good things that we previously decided to take on? Commitment and dedication are qualities that are rare nowadays.
In the complexity of our day-to-day lives, it is easy to overlook the need for commitment and dedication. Most of the time, the demanding nature of our everyday activities results in decisions that overlook our dedication to the bigger picture. While this is called flexibility to the unexpected, how far are we from our original aspirations? Have we deviated from the essence of what we are supposed to commit to? For example, our resolve to become a better version of ourselves while we are in the moment is intense, and our dedication seems focused. Immediately, particular plans of action towards accomplishing it are lined up in our minds, for others, in their planners. Then, we take action according to our plans. It’s easy and smooth at first, then time passes, and so does our consciousness to fulfill it. Commitment and dedication are characteristics that we need to choose to do in our daily lives. While the specifics in our action plans may change, there are other ways to accomplish our goal of becoming better versions of ourselves. Commitment and dedication do not mean we should religiously stick to our action plan. There is no exact formula, and the constant is the goodness and purity of our intentions. Our ways and timelines may change, but we will eventually get there as we commit and act in righteousness toward it every day. Most importantly, as an everyday choice, commitment and dedication admonishes us to reach or accomplish our aspirations in righteousness. There is no shortcut to success; trying to do so is the opposite of commitment and dedication. It is impatience and contrary to the essence of our good intentions. As King David says in his Psalm, “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.” Commitment and dedication are a partnership with God. By understanding that His plans for us are perfect - to prosper us and not to harm us, to give us hope and a future, committing must not be difficult for us. Let us then choose to commit to God’s ways that He shall delight in us and establish our steps towards our aspirations. Amongst the many ways to accomplish our success, let our commitment be specific to accomplishing things with God - not by our might nor by our own strength but by God’s Spirit, who is continuously at work in us. Altogether, let our daily consciousness be at peace, knowing that when the going gets tough and that in the midst of the many plans in our minds, it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. Let our dedication be first established in Him, and our success, beyond what we can imagine, shall follow. Let this be our conscious choice every day, commit to God and His ways. |
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