Speaker: Sis. Techie Rodriguez, Elder, The Lord's Flock Catholic Charismatic Community

"Be Happy With Who You Are! "

In order to enlarge our vision and to live favor-minded, we should be happy with who we are! Unless we appreciatewwe are, the Lord cannot do what He wants us to be!

Some people develop physical, emotional and social problems when they do not like themselves and their personality. They feel uncomfortable with how they look, how they talk, and how they act. They compare themselves with how other people look, talk, and act.

Some people feel insecure about who they are. They want to be different from what they are. They desire to be somebody else. They also want to be approved by people around them. They do not feel better until they secure such approval.

You Are Unique and Original!

You should be happy with what God has made you to be. He has made you unique. He does not want clones; He wants variety. He wants you to appreciate your uniqueness and your differences with other people. He wants you to be original. Be happy that you are special to God!

Free Yourself from Self-Imprisonment.

If you are unhappy with who you are, you are imprisoning yourself. If you desire to be like someone else, you are like a prisoner limited in what you can do and unable to enlarge your vision. You must set yourself free from this self-imprisonment in order to be able to enlarge your vision and to live favor-minded. without this self-imposed hindrance, you will freely receive favors from God.

We All belong to the Body of Christ.

We are all parts of the body of Christ but we do not have the same function. We have different work assigned for us by the Lord. (Romans 12:4-5) We are unique. W e are different from each other. None of us are exactly the same even though we all belong to only one Body.

Don't Squeeze Yourself into a Box!

With who you are, do not "squeeze into a box" by pressuring yourself to change simply because you want to be like others in appearance or traits. You also do not want others to impose their styles on you. Of course, you may learn from good examples of others and adopt some changes within you. However, you should not feel insecure if you do not have the physical, emotional, or intellectual traits of other people.

Remember that you have an Intrinsic Value to God. In your uniqueness, you are valuable to God - even if you have committed many mistakes in the past. You are a child of God.

Thank God for our Body and All its Parts!

We must thank the Lord for our body and all its parts - internal and external. We must also thank God for our character, our attitudes, and our renewed way of life. We should appreciate and love every physical feature of our body and every trait of our new character. We must thank God for everything He has given us as well as for the change He did for us. As we confess with our lips our joy and happiness in who we are, we enlarge our vision and live favor-minded.

More on Enlarged Vision and Faith!

Before Elijah, the prophet, was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind. God said to Elijah "Ask for whatever I may do for you, before I am taken from you". Elisha answered, "May I receive a double portion of your spirit?" "You asked something that is not easy ", God replied.

Like Elijah, we can ask the Lord fro "double portion". With our enlarged vision, we can ask for things that are not easy. With our eyes of faith, we claim God's favors. We thank the Lord for healing us, for restoring us, for enabling us to forgive, and for countless personal favors!

Fatih is the substance of things hoped for and evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) Faith is seeing things that do not exist yet. It is seeing events that have not yet happened. It is the assurance that what one visualizes in his mind and heart will happen and become a reality.

Faith is believing, trusting, and expecting what God has said and promised. It is visualizing with one's spiritual eyes of faith the reality of God's word in his daily life.

Those who believe even if they have not seen are blessed. (John 20:29). To those who believe with amazing faith, healing will be done for them. (Jesus and the Roman Centurion - Matthew 8:5-13).

Many Times in the Holy Gospel, Jesus asked, "What do you want me to do for you"? (Matthew 20:32, Mark 10:36, Luke 18:41). We believe our Lord is still asking us the same question. Jesus wants us to answer His question by using our spiritual eyes and an enlarged vision.

What do you want God to do for us? Shall we visualize and rise to a higher level of spirituality? Shall we have a vision of victory in our life? Shall we faithfully expand our vision in to the future? Let us also visualize what God wants us to do for Him. let us practice enlarging our vision.

Let Us Have the Right Environment

One factor in expanding our vision is the environment. Is our environment conducive to development of an enlarged vision focused on God and His favors for us? Do we have a suitable place for prayer, praise and worship? Are we surrounded by people who are also faithful to God or by grumblers, complainers, and gossipers? Perhaps, we should move to another place. We can ask God to change our environment.

The story of the four lepers (2Kings 7"3-7) who left the city gate to go to the Aramean camp (God caused the Aramean army to hear the sound of chariots and horses and to bandon the camp and flee for their lives) is an example of what God can do mightily to save His chosen people.

If there is a need for us to change our environment, let us do something and act. Like what God did for the Israelites, He can do mighty favors for us - His own children. God can also cause the change of our environment.

Environment includes the people near us and those surrounding us. As we expand our vision, as think about what is pure and lovely, as we dream our dreams, let us make sure we are in the company of the right people. Let us associate with successful people and envision good things happening to us. Before long we will also be successful. The Holy Bible abounds on this subject of the right company:

----- "Walk with wise men and you will become wise, but the companion of fools will fare badly." (Proverbs 13:20)

----- "Every counselor points out a way, but some counsel ways of their own. Be on the alert when one proffers advice, find out first what he wants. For he may be thinking of himself alone; why should the profit fall to him? He may tell you how good your way will be, and then stand by to watch your misfortune. Seek no advice from one who regards you with hostility; from those who envy you, keep your intentions hidden. Speak not to a woman about her rival, nor to a coward about war, to a merchant about business, to a buyer about value, to a miser about generosity, to a cruel man about mercy, to a lazy man about work, to a seasonal laborer about the harvest, to an idle slave about great task; pay no attention to any advice they give. Instead, associate with a religious man, who you are sure keeps the commandments; who is like-minded with yourself and will feel for you if you fall." (Sirach 37:7-12)

----- "For lack of guidance people falls security lies in many counselors." (Proverbs 11:14)

When you face difficult decisions, seek advice from spiritual people. Keep the company of people contagiuos faith. Before long, you will be filled with faith. Associate with people of visions and you will catch their visions. Do not be absent in the gatherings of the community. It is the right environment for you. (Sirach 6:33)