TOWARDS GOOD HEALTH
TOWARDS GOOD HEALTH
The Human Body is an amazing gift from God (Psalm 139:13-14). God has designed it to withstand constant pain, fractures and adhesions, and innumerable periods of stresses. Indeed, the human body, though delicate is also the most resilient on earth.
The believer’s body is also the Temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6: 19-20). As such, we are admonished to refrain from immorality and everything abusive (1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:12-20).
And because God has created our bodies for His divine purposes and inhabits them through the Holy Spirit, we need to seriously consider how to take care of our bodies (Ephesians 5:29).
“HEALTH IS WEALTH”, most people would say. But all too often, we don’t pay much attention about proper nutrition or maintaining good health unless we start to lose it. Most of us would rather postpone visiting the dentist or doctor until we start feeling something is wrong. And how many of us have resolved to get back to that treadmill, do more exercise, quit that bad habit or just have enough sleep??
1 Timothy 4:7-8 says, “7Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
Now, we can go from one extreme to the other extreme. Some may focus only on the physical – enrolling in countless gym programs and dieting, but hardly giving time to develop spiritual disciplines. On the other hand, some can be so naïve that just because we’re deep in our spiritual walk with the Lord, even though we neglect sensible health practices, we will be spared from being sick!
The key, I believe is balance and obedience to God’s Word. Proverbs 3:1-2 says, “1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, 2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.” Then verse 7-8 adds, “7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” It should not surprise us that obedience to God’s commandments and other laws would promote good health.* When we obey them, we operate in accordance with the Great Physician’s instructions found in His manual - the Bible. As our Creator, He knows what’s best for us!
It saddens me when Christians disregard God’s dietary guidelines and warnings (Leviticus 11)** – eating not only what can potentially harm them (and in great quantities, I may add) and just say a prayer to the Lord to “cleanse the food from all impurities”. I believe that God has given us His wisdom to choose wisely, and that includes what and how much we eat (Ephesians 5:29; Galatians 5:22).
We would probably all agree that leaving a lasting legacy is one of our desires or even top priority. Whether it’s for our own children or the Children and Youth in our churches, we would do well to invest and ensure the welfare of the next generation. Of course, there is no greater legacy than to pass on our faith and spiritual values to our children - like how Eunice and Lois impacted the life of young Timothy (CF. 2 Timothy 1:5; Deuteronomy 6:4-9). But to do any of that, we would need to be alive and healthy!
As an old classic song goes:“Only One life, so soon it will pass, Only what’s done for Christ will last…”
Indeed, we only have One Life! And we don’t have to contribute to make it end so fast! So, let’s stay healthy - both physically and spiritually for God’s glory (3 John 2; 1 Corinthians 10:31)!
“2Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” (3 John 2)
By: Pastor Vic Lopez (30 May 2010)
OPTIONAL NOTES:
* When the Bible says that those who follow God will generally be healthy, it doesn’t necessarily mean that those who don’t follow God will always be sick. Nor does it mean that God’s people will be absolutely free of disease. 3 John 2 says: “I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” Obviously, God is more interested in our spiritual health than our physical well-being, but He does want us to be physically healthy as well (1 Timothy 4:7-8).
** Although the dietary laws written in Leviticus 11 are primarily for the Jews and were given to distinguish their diet from their pagan neighbours, we can glean many helpful guidelines and principles that can aid us in avoiding unhealthy food.
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GET WIRED!!!
Trials and problems are bound to come… even for a Christian (1 Peter 4:12-13; 1: 6-7; James 1:2-4, 12). But we praise God that “No temptation (or trial) has seized you (us) except what is common to man, and GOD IS FAITHFUL, He will not let you (us) be tempted (tested) beyond what you (we) can bear. But when you (we) are tempted (tried), He will also provide a way of out so that you (we) can stand up under it” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV). (Emphasis and personalization mine.)
We can be victorious over our trials because we know that “He will never leave us nor forsake us” (Hebrews 13:5) and that He is Sovereign over the trials He permits in our lives (2 Corinthians 12:8-10). PLUS He has given us the Church. WE ARE GOD’S GIFTS TO ONE ANOTHER!!!
“Two is better than one… because if one falls, the other will lift him up” (Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10). We are all uniquely created by God with different personalities, gifts and abilities (1 Corinthians 12:12). But God intended this diversity not for us to compete but to COMPLETE and COMPLIMENT one another. We need each other not only to grow but to edify and build the church! This is accomplished as we bond in brotherly love and accountability.
The giant redwoods of California truly illustrate this. These giant Sequoia trees towering 100 to 385 feet, with a trunk 20-25 feet in diameter (or wider than most houses!) can actually live up to more than 2000 years!!! The secret however is not in the favorable climate or soil conditions but underground, where their roots are interconnected!!! Their consolidated strength (synergy) keeps the entire forest intact even in the harshest of weather!
HOW WE NEED TO HAVE STRONG LINKS IN THE BODY OF CHRIST AS WELL! As we learn to share the stories of our lives and grow in His Word (esp. in our cells and bible study groups, the e-group and now through this website), we “knit” our spirits together, provide strength to one another and encouragement to face the “storms” of our lives TOGETHER!
At times when we feel like a “zero” let’s remember that God uses ordinary people and delights in transforming us into great heroes (e.g. Gideon in Judges 6:11-16)! As we grow dependent on Christ yet interdependent on one another, we become like little “zeroes” inter-connected with each other, providing synergy and form a mighty “fishing net” that God can use to catch “fish” (Luke 5:1-10)!!
LET’S START GETTING CONNECTED!
GET W-IRE-D!!!
“How good and how pleasant it is when brethren dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1)
Pastor Vic Lopez
NOTE: “W-IRE-D” is WIN-IRELAND DIGESTS
Senior Pastor's Testimony
A TESTIMONY OF GOD’S GOODNESS
BY PTR. VICTOR LOPEZ
BY PTR. VICTOR LOPEZ
My father and mother separated last April 1976 when I was in High School. We were all asleep that night when my father got home drunk from his police duties the day before. He knew he had done some offenses which aggravated their sour relationship and so he tried to reconcile with my mom, who was unwilling at that time, making my dad very upset and violent. Feeling hopeless, he got his .45 cal. gun from his drawer, opened their bedroom’s door which leads to our second floor ‘sala’ converted to children’s quarter, and aimed the gun at me. My mother sensed the danger and screamed, tagging my dad’s arm as he clicked the trigger that sent the bullet through the floor about nine inches from the bed I was lying on. Everybody woke up. The lights were turned on and soon a serious meeting is being held downstairs at the main ‘sala’, discussing who would like to go with whom. None of us children could respond appropriately and through tears my father decided to leave the house that was once our home…
I remember asking God so many questions then. Coming from a very devout Catholic background that teaches: “The family that prays together, stays together.” I became confused and disillusioned… I guess I’m not the only one who felt the emptiness because all of us seemed to drift apart from each other since then. It was not until 1978 when things started to take on new meaning. I was a freshman at UP-Diliman then, and all my former friends from Manila Science high School went to different schools leaving me quite disoriented and lonely… Our block-section was invited to attend a gathering called “Kilalanan ‘78” sponsored by UP-Campus Crusade for Christ. Thinking it would be a party to meet and have lots of new friends, I was introduced instead to the Person of Jesus Christ. I remember Mr. Art Guina sharing a simple presentation about God’s great love, His forgiveness of my sins and his desire for me to be his child and be with Him forever. Though I did not see myself all that bad, I understood what he said and realized that my good works were not enough to save me (Isaiah 64:6). That June 23, 1978, I prayed a simple prayer of faith, inviting Jesus Christ into my heart as my personal Savior and Lord.
The days, weeks and months that followed after that experience, developed my love for God and established my new faith on our Lord through follow-up and discipleship groups. Later, I attended my very first Leadership Training Institute (LTI) in Los Baños, Laguna where I also learned how to share my faith using the Four Spiritual Laws. Naturally, I also shared Jesus to my mom and my siblings, and on several occasions I visited my dad to share God’s love as well. I was misunderstood at first and even persecuted but later on they looked forward to receiving the cards, pamphlets, Daily Breads, Christian calendars and bookmarks I give them on occasion. The Lord also enabled me to invest in giving them a Bible each, along with the prayer that God will heal the wounds and restore our family.
Years have passed since then… Another policeman murdered my father last July 31, 1985, but I praise God that my mom cried and finally forgave him when we buried him. Nobody said anything, but I sensed the healing taking place as we all realized that “LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO FILL IT WITH PAINFUL MEMORIES” and that we needed each other to make life meaningful…. Our family became united again. So far, my mom and oldest sister, Agnes has also come to know the Lord, as well as my aunt Naty and my cousin Nickoy. Slowly, the Lord is bringing to pass His promise to me in Acts 16:31 that says: “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you and your whole household will be saved!”
I have had several jobs since then. God is also blessing my family and me with promotions and bigger opportunities. My company, Concords Marketing Inc. (a distributor of Encyclopaedia Britannica Phils.) sent me to head the District Office in Cebu last November 1991. It was because of that “assignment” that I started growing in WWCF-Cebu and seeing God restore me from my backsliding. God is truly faithful through all those years and I finally responded to God’s call to serve Him full-time last April 1994. My Ilonggo friend Pastor Edman Locsin, invited me to join him on a mission trip to Bacolod and La Carlota last October 1994. The Lord allowed me to meet a godly, beautiful and gifted woman from WWCF-Bacolod, Melissa Garcia who later became my wife and partner in the ministry last July 29, 1995. Looking back now, I can see how God’s hand was upon every detail of my life and my family’s to prove once more that He is Faithful and Good. Hallelujah!!!
“FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE TOWARDS YOU,
PLANS FOR YOUR WELFARE AND NOT FOR YOUR CALAMITY,
TO GIVE YOU A FUTURE AND A HOPE.
THEN YOU WILL CALL UPON ME AND COME AND PRAY TO ME
AND I WILL LISTEN TO YOU.
AND YOU WILL SEEK ME AND FIND ME
WHEN YOU SEARCH FOR ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART.”
(Jeremiah 29:11-13)
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Sister Melissa's Testimony
PERSONAL TESTIMONY OF MELISSA G. LOPEZ
WORD INT’L MINISTRIES - IRELAND
29 MARCH, 2008
WORD INT’L MINISTRIES - IRELAND
29 MARCH, 2008
I was raised in a loving, harmonious and peaceful home together with my sister and brothers. Our family had happy times together especially on family vacations every summer in our modest farm in Iloilo. Together, we enjoyed the beach, fresh air, good food and the beautiful scenery. However, when I turned 13, those family traditions came to an end. My mother died of breast cancer after battling the disease for three years. Since then, our family was never the same again.
Several years later, another tragedy happened in our family; my older brother had a cardiac arrest after a severe attack of asthma. Since then, I had cultivated the fear of death and of the unknown. My mind was filled with questions like “why would god allow death in our family so early?” And “what would be my future like”? I have tried joining religious and civic groups hoping to get some answers. However, I got more confused and misled.
Through my father’s untiring support, I made my way to college. I took up a course in accounting at CPU (Central Phil. University). In one of my accounting subjects, I have regularly observed that my teacher, Ms. Marlyn Martinez, never misses praying before the lecture. I started to feel a different kind of peace whenever I was in her class. Not many months later, she shared the wonderful news which had put meaning and purpose to my life and clearness to my questions - that God loves me so much and has the best plans for me. She also shared the free gift of eternal life that God is offering to those who seek him.
Two decades had passed after I have received eternal life, my husband Victor , my sons – JD and Joshua and myself were traveling a slippery, winding and partly-lit road going to Malaybalay City when suddenly the taxi we were riding lost its control and swerved downhill and finally landed a huge tree. The collision enabled all our luggage and heavy boxes to roll over my back that caused me several bruises. Thank God, though, that my family and I were spared from any major harm. That incident could have cost our lives. However, the peace of God and His promise of eternal life had comforted me. Now, whatever life brings me, I am assured that God’s hand is upon me and I have nothing to fear.
All glory and honor belongs to him for what he has done in my life.
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