Welcome to the "New Normal"!

Our "new normal" is more joyful, more peaceful, more playful :) -- May 20, 2104

You've seen and heard other people's testimonies, that probably made you go, "Wow. God is so good! That's a miracle!"

Ansel Beluso, a former Philippine showbiz writer and talk show host, and now a full-time servant of Couples For Christ, has a life story that makes me marvel at God's Grace and Mercy. In his own words,

"Yes, for all the four decades of my checkered life then, I had come to accept and embrace and live out the homosexual orientation, basically because I thought that was the only way for me to gain my freedom. So clueless I was then about the evils that my rabidly gay lifestyle actually wrought on the world in which I lived. At the time, I thought that being gay was just that – being gay, which meant being happy.

The pursuit of happiness was the chief purpose of my life then. And I thought I was a success. In my career, I was the creative director of several top-rating TV shows and I even became a showbiz talk-show host. In my love life, I enjoyed the juiciest flesh around and conditioned my mind to believe I loved them and they loved me back.

Former showbiz talk show host, turned full-time servant of God 

Back then, sex was a commodity that didn’t run out. Every weekend, I’d hie off to some nearby province to taste the native delicacies. At one point, I participated in an orgy. I remember also having had sexual relations with six brothers pimped to me by their own father.

Each time I look back on those days, I cringe – both at the enormity of my transgressions and at how totally unaware I was then of how much I was offending God.

All I thought was that I was just having a good time. Besides, I rationalized, the boys whose innocence I purloined badly needed the money I gave them – I was simply sharing with them the blessings of my material prosperity!"

He was a very promiscuous gay person till the Lord convicted him. He has since turned over a new leaf, gotten married, had children, and is now one of the active workers of the Couples for Christ Ministry. He even has a ministry for the "pastoral care and spiritual nourishment of active homosexuals who struggle to step out of the enslavement of their flesh." You can read his full story here.

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In one of my earlier posts, I shared with you about the Machine Gun Preacher, Sam Childers. He was a drug dealer, a drug user, a sex addict, and a lost man before he turned over his life to Jesus. Now, he is not only a preacher, but he has also taken to heart as his main calling in life, to save the children in the Sudan from abuse.

Augustine before he became a saint, (His mother Monica incessantly prayed for his conversion!), was a promiscuous man who could not control the urges of his flesh. It took 17 years before he turned his life over to God. Previous to that, he was even famously quoted as saying, "Lord, let me be chaste, but not yet!!!"

Amazing stories.

Awe-inspiring.

From great sinners to great servants of the Lord.

Simply WOW.

Then, there's me.

When I tell others about having let go and let God on September 1, 2013... When I share with them that I have submitted to my husband, as unto the Lord... When I witness to Jesus' amazing Mercy and Love, I do not get even half the response as any of the above mentioned people would have probably garnered upon their conversion. 

Theirs is like the Saul of Tarsus experience. 
It's fantastic! It's miraculous! It's astounding!

Ansel Beluso was transformed from a "raging homosexual" to a family man and servant of God. 

Sam Childers was a great sinner who became a courageous savior of hopeless children. 

Augustine was a great sinner who became a VERY GREAT saint!

And then, there's the 'Nikka story": "My whole life changed the day I decided to submit to my husband as unto the Lord.", I would start... and nobody and I mean, nobody has ever said, "Wow." :P

I guess by other people's standards, my life is not that "dramatic". Yes, I had an eating disorder. Yes, I was suicidal. Yes, I had depression which led to my possession in the past...  But, my story NOW, of a biblically submitted wife is not astounding at all.  Even with all those trials in my distant past,  I did not do drugs, did not engage in promiscuity -- homosexually or heterosexually, did not smoke, did not steal, did not commit abortion or adultery... did not really live a life of nearly utter contempt of God. 

I could even be categorized as "good". I have been called Ms. Goody Two Shoes several times. 

I have been told by at least four priests that I had the "aura of a nun".

When I divulge to people my change of heart nowadays, I do not get a great reaction.

I think, to them, I have just become WEIRD (or weirder). Haha!:)

Some people probably think I have gone loony tunes!

Some people probably think I have "regressed" by biblically submitting to my husband! I mean who does that these days, right? It's totally against the grain of today's modern Cosmo fun and fearless female!

Some friends even dared ask if I was depressed!

Nikka 2012 - pre-submission to God and to Dong

Depressed? Before I turned over my life to God, often. But now? Never. :)

Sure, there are those hormonal days when it's harder to be cheerful or to maintain Christ's Peace. But, even on those days, since I have started holding captive every thought for Christ, my emotions no longer have the power to boss me around, the way I allowed them to before.

I wish I could really explain the change inside my heart. But words will not be enough to even grasp its entirety. It's one of those things that's better left unsaid. It's a private matter between my God and me. Having a blog though, and documenting this journey that I am on, I am encouraged to share it with others in the hope that my own experiences can touch someone else's life. Sometimes though, I feel that my "merits" are lesser because I have to write about them (Matthew 6:4), but then again, I write this blog for God's Glory, and I am just His "useless servant!", so He can do with this blog any way that He pleases, including taking it down entirely in the future, if need be! (Luke 17:10)

Peaceful Wife Philippines Nikka - Dec 2013

I do know that I am living my "new normal." Initially, it was awkward, odd and felt fake, but as I practiced it day after day, it has taken on a feeling of normalcy, familiarity and even of comfort.

What is the "new normal" for somebody who has given up her life to God for real and has submitted to her husband

 as unto the Lord? (Ephesians 5:22)

- I live every day without fear and worry, knowing that I serve and love a Sovereign God Who works outside of time, and Who is already in the future. All He asks of me is to trust in Him, knowing full well that everything that will happen to me will be filtered through His Able Hands. What?!? That's possible?! I am not worrying myself silly with what will happen tomorrow, next week, next year, in ten years?!?

- I enjoy being biblically submissive to my husband. Who would have thought that to be possible?!? Me?!? I am so Type A, opinionated, domineering, a go-getter, perfectionistic, couldn't stay put in one place... am now keeping still, and following my husband's leading. What?!? That's possible?! I also am being very patient as I wait on the Lord to manifest His Will for me and my life, under my husband's headship. Really?!?  I am not getting ahead of Dong or of God?!?

- I revel in the simplicity of my life now and the obscurity that goes along with being a full-time housewife and mother with some businesses on the side. What?!? I am not feeling envious of my contemporaries who are having the time of their lives with their careers on full-swing?!? (Note: I do have a job offer as we speak, for a new TV program. I have asked my husband to help me discern on what to do with that offer. It came out of nowhere! But nothing is definite yet.)

- I read my Bible daily. The more I get to know Who God is because of His Word, the more I get to know how "nothing" I really am in comparison to Him, and yet He loves me, Jesus died for me, and the Holy Spirit was sent to help me! Wow. The more I get to know who I am in reference to our Sovereign God, the more I rest in His Promises. What?!? That's impossible!!! A Catholic Christian reads her Bible?!? Haha.

I cannot go a day without reading God's Word. I am thirsty for His Promises.

- Dong feels safe with me. It used to be that he was very uptight and defensive about everything. I was always quick to point out his weaknesses or hasty to share my disagreement with his plans. Now, my husband has become more and more manly and has taken on the reins in our relationship. I find myself feeling more protected, more feminine, more peaceful, since I gave up my controlling behavior, and have decided to fulfill my God-ordained role as helper in our marriage. He shares with me his ideas, his dreams, and his hopes, and I support him 100% in them. What?!? That's possible?! I do not feel the need to control my husband or our lives?!?

- I love wearing modest clothing. It used to be that I felt the need to look and be sexy, in order to be validated for my looks. I did not mind the wolf whistles or the salacious stares, even if they were inappropriate and bastos (lewd)! Now, since my conviction and conversion, I find myself dressing in longer clothes, and not obsessing anymore with weight nor beauty. I am almost always without makeup now, my toenails and fingernails are cracking and have not been painted in months, and my hands are becoming rough from too much housework, and yet I haven't felt this great about myself ever! :) What?!? That's possible?! I do not dress like a teenager anymore?!? I do not feel the need to starve myself anymore so I will drop pounds?!? What? I have many dead toenails?!?

- I do not feel the heavy load of always wanting to please people or to appear perfect in front of people.  It used to be that I feared the disapproval or low opinions of others towards me or my actions. I always wanted to appear put together and 'perfect'. Well, nowadays, since I know now who I am ( a great sinner in need of God's Grace daily) I am no longer fazed by my mistakes, weaknesses and sins. I expect them! But, I also am quick to repent and turn to God because I am no longer a "slave to sin" but of God. I am already dead to this self, and to all the opinions others have of me. What?!? I no longer hyperventilate just knowing somebody thought badly of me?! That's possible?! That I will not defend myself to people who have maligned me?!?

- And lastly, I no longer engage in unnecessary "sharings" or gossip. If I do get some nasty bits of info about others, instead of believing in them or making "gatong" (adding up to the story), I immediately think of the good qualities of the person and lift those up to God. I also do not engage in derogatory remarks about other people, whereas before, I enjoyed making "okray" (making fun of people!) especially those whom I particularly disliked or who disliked me! What?!? That's possible?! Can I even keep silent on those juicy tidbits about others?!?

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These are only some of my "new normal" behaviors. :) I wish I can point out every single one of them but they are too many to share about.

I claim nothing from this new behavior, or pattern of thinking, or speaking.

It's all a God Thing. Not a Nikka thing.

All I have going for me are my sins, my repentance for those sins, and my having accepted Jesus into my life. Even though people do not consider me a "great sinner", I KNOW in my heart that I am, that I was. I was self-righteous, prideful, envious, judgmental, condescending, controlling, bitter, etc. etc. Every one of those sins, the Lord saw in my heart. Every one of those sins, I repented for and emptied my heart of (and continue to do so now).  

Jeremiah 17:10

 "But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives.

              I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve."

Because of my decision to let go and let God, Jesus has indeed changed my heart and freed me from all my bondages! Praise God! :) 

It is no longer I who lives but Christ in me. (Galatians 2:20)

I am dead to my former self, and I am a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Therese's First Communion - Dec 2013

There is this adage that says, "Past behavior is indicative of present and future behavior." Partially true. But only if one is judging one's worldly behavior now from one's worldly behavior before.

But, and this one I can assure you about, once God changes you -- how you will think, react, speak, and be --- will no longer be how the old you would have thought, reacted, spoken or been. Even you will be surprised to find out that what used to enchain you and hold you captive, no longer has power over you, now that you have turned your life over to Jesus! :)

The old problems that used to drag you down so fast no longer seem insurmountable.

The old worries that used to make you feel depressed and hopeless, no longer bother you.

The old petty things that used to make you so irked and impatient, no longer irritate you.

Why, you say?

Because in its place is no longer your spirit, but the Holy Spirit. God has transformed you! God has given you His Spirit!!! 

John 14:15-17

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper,[a] to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be[b] in you.

Your past behavior is just that, the past. Leave it there. Good riddance. :)

Today and the future are much, much, MUCH  brighter! Because God is in charge now. What was once normal, no longer is the norm. :)

The old is gone, the new has come!

And the people around you have better get used to this new joyful, peaceful, radiant you because Jesus has saved you! He is living in you. You have already said goodbye to your old, worldly, sinful self!

When that time comes, do not be ashamed to say:

"WELCOME TO THE NEW NORMAL!!!!"

(And the new normal, with God's Help, is here to stay... Yay!!!)

Happy birthday Reuben!!! (May 20, 2104)

May we all be richly blessed! :)

The 7 Gifts of the Spirit vs. The 7 Capital Sins (Choosing Jesus over satan)

As I was writing the post on CONTROL, the Lord directed me into also discussing about the SEVEN CAPITAL SINS. Most probably, because CONTROL and SIN are related.

 The seven capital sins stem from the ABSENCE of SELF-CONTROL.

It would be good to point them out and find out if we were guilty of one,

some, most, or ALL (!) of the seven sins.

These sins are called CAPITAL because they engender other sins and other vices.

For non-Catholics who are unfamiliar with what the Church teaches, according to its catechism, there are two major kinds of sins: MORTAL SIN and VENIAL SIN.

Allow me to define the two:

Mortal Sin: 

The Church believes that if you commit a mortal sin, you forfeit heaven and opt for hell by your own free will and actions. It is the complete turning away from God and embracing something else in place. It’s deadly to the life of grace, because it insults the honor of God and injures the soul of the sinner. Mortal sin is like a malignant tumor or a critical injury that’s lethal to the spiritual life.

Cain killed Abel. This is the FIRST MURDER, a MORTAL SIN.

Three conditions are necessary for mortal sin to exist:

1. Grave Matter: The act itself is intrinsically evil and immoral. For example, murder, rape, incest, perjury, adultery, and so on are grave matter.

2. Full Knowledge: The person must know that what they’re doing or planning to do is evil and immoral. 

3. Deliberate Consent: The person must freely choose to commit the act or plan to do it. 

A "white lie" is considered a venial sin.

Venial Sin :

 The Church defines it as less serious breaches of God’s Law. These are sins that meet one or two of the conditions needed for a mortal sin but do not fulfill all three at the same time, or they’re minor violations of the moral law.

* * * * * * * * *

I would like to point out though that ALL SINS do grieve God's Heart. One should not go about deliberately sinning against God just because one's sins are deemed only as "minor" or venial. Every sin when done consciously no matter how "innocuous" it may seem initially, will eventually become a habit. Bad habits cause the conscience to be jaded and hardened. When one's conscience, which determines an act as either good or bad, already considers a "minor" sin, not anymore a sin, but just a "normal occurrence", it can make the sinner level up in his/her sinning. This makes the sinner vulnerable to committing far graver or mortal sins. One has to always nip sin in the bud, in order to not live an immoral life open to temptations and influences by the enemy.

An Example would be:

• A woman befriends a male coworker. He is fun! He is also married. They have many common interests. It starts out as a good friendship.

• They hang out together. They even talk about their spouses and their families. It becomes a fulfilling "platonic" relationship.

• Later on, the woman finds herself confiding to this man. She enjoys his company. He understands her. She cherishes the time they spend together as she talks about her problems.

• They are together all the time, sometimes even just the two of them, at work, and during breaks.

• Soon, he is now dropping her off from work daily.  They give each other "harmless" goodbye kisses on the cheek.

• Suddenly, the woman's husband takes a month-long trip away from home due to his job.

• The woman becomes lonely and needy.

• She seeks the company of the male coworker even more.
  

• The male coworker "comforts" her in her loneliness and lonesomeness.

•  It won't be long before the male coworker makes a pass.

• She is too vulnerable and too sad to resist.

• They kiss, this time on the lips.

• Before they know it, they are already having sex!

• What started out as "innocent" friendship has turned into an adulterous affair!
  

• Like has turned into Lust.

• They are now deliberately living a life of SIN. :(

I would like to point out  that NO sin is "harmless". Every sin offends God. Every sin can lead us farther and farther away from God. That's why the Lord wants us to take captive every thought for Christ. So, the moment the sinful thought crops up, we immediately kill it on the spot! Because sinful thoughts eventually lead to sinful actions and continual sinning will put us  in deep spiritual bondage.:(

That is a life of "death". :(

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[Note: The following info is taken from the Catechism of the Catholic Church]

Here are:

THE SEVEN CAPITAL SINS

CAPITAL Sin #1 :PRIDE 

Lucifer fell from heaven because of PRIDE.

- Pride is undue self-esteem or self-love, which seeks attention and honor and sets oneself in competition with God.

- It is essentially an act or disposition of the will desiring to be considered better than a person really is. 

- Pride may be expressed in different ways:

•  by taking personal credit for gifts or possessions, as if they had not been received from God

•  by glorying in achievements, as if they were not primarily the result of divine goodness and grace

•  by minimizing one’s defects or claiming qualities that are not actually possessed

•  by holding oneself superior to others or disdaining them because they lack what the proud person has

•  by magnifying the defects of others or dwelling on them. 

- When pride is carried to the extent that a person is unwilling to acknowledge dependence on God and refuses to submit his or her will to God or lawful authority, it is a grave sin.

Jesus taught us humility.

Bible Verses to Live By:

1 John 2:16
16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life[a]—is not from the Father but is from the world.

James 4:6
6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Proverbs 16:18 
Pride goes before destruction,
    and a haughty spirit before a fall.

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CAPITAL Sin #2 AVARICE/GREED 

(from Latin avarus, “greedy”; “to crave”) 

This picture went viral  around the Philippine netosphere
when the Napoles scandal broke out.

- Greed is the inordinate love for riches.

- Its special malice, broadly speaking, lies in that it makes the getting and keeping of money, possessions, and the like, a purpose in itself to live for.

- It does not see that these things are valuable only as instruments for the conduct of a rational and harmonious life, due regard being paid of course to the special social condition in which one is placed.

- It is called a capital vice because through it many other sins are committed.

- It is more to be dreaded, in that, it often cloaks itself as a virtue, or insinuates itself under the pretext of making a decent provision for the future.

- In so far as avarice is an incentive to injustice in acquiring and retaining of wealth, it is frequently a grievous sin.

- In itself, however, and in so far as it implies simply an excessive desire of, or pleasure in, riches, it is commonly not a mortal sin.

Jesus taught us simplicity and the absence of' 'love' for worldly things.

Bible Verses to Live By:

Proverbs 15:27 

A greedy man brings trouble to his family, but he who hates bribes will live.

2 Peter 2:3 

In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

James 3:14-16 

14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 

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CAPITAL Sin # 3: ENVY

The infamous picture of Sophia Lauren  "eyeing" Jayne Mansfield's bosom

-  Resentment or sadness at another's good fortune of the seven capital sins, envy is contrary to the tenth commandment.

- Envy is not quite the same as jealousy.

- Jealousy seeks another advantage for oneself while envy tries to destroy another advantage.

- Jealousy can be good depending on what one is actually desiring. St. Paul wrote that his apostolate was to make his fellow Jews jealous of Christians — not so that they would persecute and try to destroy them (as in envy) but so that they would seek the spiritual advantages of conversion to Christ (see Romans 11:15).

Jesus always claimed that the Father "was greater than I" even though 
he and the Father "are one".  Totally no power play and no envy on his part.

Bible Verses to Live By:

Proverbs 14:30 

A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

Psalm 37:1

 Do not fret because of evildoers, Be not envious toward wrongdoers.

Galatians 5:21

envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

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CAPITAL Sin #4: WRATH/ANGER

- The desire of vengeance.

- How we judge it depends upon the quality of the vengeance and the quantity of the passion.

- When these are in conformity with the prescriptions of balanced reason, anger is not a sin. It is rather a praiseworthy thing and justifiable with a proper zeal.

-  It becomes sinful when it is sought to wreak vengeance upon one who has not deserved it, or to a greater extent than it has been deserved, or in conflict with the dispositions of law, or from an improper motive.

- The sin is then in a general sense mortal as being opposed to justice and charity. 

- It may, however, be venial because the punishment aimed at is but a trifling one or because of lack of full deliberation.

- Likewise, anger is sinful when there is an undue vehemence in the passion itself, whether inwardly or outwardly.

- Ordinarily it is then considered a venial sin unless the excess is so great as to go counter seriously to the love of God or of one's neighbor.

Jesus teaches us that it is not a sin to get angry,
especially if it is righteous anger as in the case of his cleaning out the Temple.
But he also reminds us that in "our anger, we should not sin."

Bible Verses to Live By:

Romans 12:19

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

James 1:19-20 
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Matthew 5:21-24 

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift…” 

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CAPITAL Sin #5: LUST 

- The inordinate craving for or indulgence in sexual pleasure.

- The evil of lust is reducible to this: that sexual satisfaction is sought for either outside marriage or, at any rate, in a manner which is contrary to the laws that govern marital intercourse.

- Indulging in lust is a mortal sin, provided of course, it is done in a way that is voluntary in itself and fully deliberate. This is the testimony of St. Paul in the letter to the Galatians, 5:19:

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are fornication, uncleanness, immodesty, luxury… Of the which I foretell you, as I have foretold to you, that they who do such things shall not obtain the kingdom of God.” 

- This teaching applies to external and internal sins alike: “Whosoever shall look on a woman to lust after her, has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28).

Women were respected and treated with kindness by our Lord Jesus
Christ. This was the Samaritan woman at the well  whom Jesus asked water from. 

Bible Verses to Live By: 

1 Peter 2:11

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

1 Corinthians 6:18 

Flee fornication. Every sin that a man does is without the body; but he that commits fornication sins against his own body.

Hebrews 13:4 

Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

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CAPITAL Sin #6: GLUTTONY 

- Overindulgence in food or drink.

- The moral deformity discernible in this vice lies in its defiance of the order postulated by reason, which prescribes necessity as the measure of indulgence in eating and drinking.

- A glutton wants things according to the apt rendering of Father Joseph Rickably: too soon, too expensively, too much, too eagerly, too daintily.

- Clearly one who uses food or drink in such a way as to injure his health or impair the mental equipment needed for the discharge of his duties, is guilty of the sin of gluttony.

- It is incontrovertible that to eat or drink for the mere pleasure of the experience without desire of nourishment or table fellowship, is likewise to commit the sin of gluttony.

- Someone habitually gluttonous is so wedded to the pleasures of the table as to live merely to eat and drink, so minded as to be of the number of those, described by the Apostle St. Paul, “whose god is their belly” (Phil 3:19).  Such a one would be guilty of mortal sin. 

- Likewise a person who, by excesses in eating and drinking, would have greatly impaired his health, or unfitted himself for duties for the performance of which he has a grave obligation, might be guilty of mortal sin.

Jesus would always eat with his apostles. He even drank some wine with them.
He also ate with sinners and tax collectors.  Eating is a great way to have fellowship with people but always with moderation. 

Bible Verses to Live By:

Proverbs 23:21   

For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty:

and drowsiness shall clothe [a man] with rags.

Deuteronomy 21:20  

And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son [is] stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; [he is] a glutton, and a drunkard.

Proverbs 23:2  

And put a knife to thy throat, if thou [be] a man given to appetite.

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CAPITAL Sin # 7: SLOTH 

A real-life picture taken of a tambay (Filipino word for jobless) lazily sitting
while some American/Canadian volunteers paint and build his house.

- A culpable lack of physical or spiritual effort; acedia or laziness. 

- One of the seven capital sins which represent the “I don't care” feeling.

- A man sees that the practice of virtue is hard and so resists the service of God.

- He becomes slothful and his soul grows sluggish and lazy at the thought of the painful life journey.

- The idea of right living inspires not joy but disgust, because of its laboriousness. - This is the notion commonly obtaining, and in this sense sloth is not a specific vice according to the teaching of St. Thomas, but rather a circumstance of all vices.

- Ordinarily it will not have the malice of mortal sin unless, of course, we conceive it to be so total that because of it one is willing to reject some serious obligation.

- In this sense sloth is directly opposed to charity. The man who is slothful violates, therefore, expressly the first and the greatest of the commandments: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind, and with thy whole strength.” (Mark 12:30).

- Sloth can also indicate a wasting due to lack of use, concerning a person, place, thing, skill, or intangible ideal that would require maintenance, refinement, or support to continue to exist. (Wikipedia)

Jesus had only 33 years to live on earth; of these, three of which were supposedly

spent on his ministry. For sure, He never wasted any minute fulfilling the Father's Work!

Bible Verses to Live By:

2 Thessalonians 3:10

10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.

Proverbs 19:15

15 

Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep,

    and an idle person will suffer hunger.

1 Timothy 5:8

8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

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Knowing now the seven capital sins, I wonder how many of those did you check? One, two, three... all? 

It would be so easy to feel like the scum of the earth because of our sinfulness and just wallow in self-pity and guilt. But, take heed; don't despair! The Lord came to earth not for the saints, but for sinners like you and I. (Mark 2:17) God sent His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life! (John 3:16) God demonstrated His Love for us, in that Christ died for us while we were still sinners!!! (Romans 5:8)

All He is asking from us, is that we "REPENT (Acts 3:19), turn away from our sins,  turn to the Lord, and be faithful to the gospel." For us Catholics, that was what the priest told us to do, when he put the ash on our foreheads last 
Ash Wednesday --  the start of the Lenten season. 

It is Christ's call to all of us Christians --  
Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Pentecostal Christians, Evangelical Christians, Baptist Christians, etc...  

-- no matter what denomination.

This coming Good Friday, if not today, ("for if today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts!" (Hebrews 3:15)) let us crucify our old selves with Jesus on the cross, "that the body of sin might be done away, so we should no longer be in bondage to sin"! (Romans 6:6)

As we commemorate Holy Week, may we reflect on the life of Jesus, and decide to follow Him not a moment later, in order that we no longer become "slaves to sin, but slaves to righteousness." (Romans 6:18)

It does not end with us being sinners. It ends with us being saved from our sinful lives, and being given new selves, in and through Jesus Christ!!!  (Gal 2:20) 

If on one hand, there are SEVEN capital sins that ensnare us and bind us to the world, to the flesh and to satan; on the other hand, there is a list of corresponding SEVEN gifts of the Holy Spirit that believers will possess, when they decide to let go and let God rule their lives. 

The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are enumerated in Isaiah 11:2-3. They are present in their fullness in Jesus Christ but are found in all Christians who are in a state of grace. 

If the SEVEN CAPITAL SINS were :

1. PRIDE
2. GREED 
3. ENVY
4. WRATH
5. LUST 
6. GLUTTONY   and 
7. SLOTH

The SEVEN GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT are:

1. WISDOM 
2. UNDERSTANDING
3. RIGHT JUDGMENT
4. COURAGE
5. KNOWLEDGE
6. PIETY    and
7. REVERENCE or FEAR OF GOD

And as a bonus, not only will we possess the SEVEN Gifts of the Spirit, But we also get to have the NINE Fruits of the Spirit, once we submit our lives to our Lord Jesus Christ! 

Winner all around!!! 

We experience these (I bask in them daily!!! Praise God! Unless I give in to sin, and I have to suffer the loss of it till I repent and go back to a state of grace.) when we have died to our old selves and have decided to live for Jesus Christ.

The NINE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT are:

1. LOVE
2. JOY
3. PEACE
4. FORBEARANCE
5. KINDNESS
6. GOODNESS
7. FAITHFULNESS
8. GENTLENESS      and
9. SELF-CONTROL 

Galatians 5:22

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and  envying each other.

The Gifts plus Fruits (of the Spirit) outnumber the (capital) sins!!!

          *satan's team                             Jesus' Team                                         

                                                

      7  Capital sins                                           7 Gifts of the Spirit
   +                                                           +             

       many other sins              vs.                     9 Fruits of the Spirit 

_____________________                   _______________________

7 capital  sins + Countless Tortures                        16  Gifts and Fruits + Countless Blessings   

Prize: Eternal Damnation and a Ticket                        Prize:   Salvation and a Ticket to                                         to Hell                                                                          Heaven

Whose team are you on?

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This Holy Week, may you choose Jesus. 

He is waiting for YOU.

May we all be richly blessed! :)

* I do not capitalize satan's name. 

He does not  deserve a capital letter.