I don't have a particular Scripture to attach to this post, although the Golden Rule definitely comes to mind. I happened to be scanning the local news headlines and came across this story in the Glendale News Press. My dad's cat, Riley, would probably get along well with this particular feline. I guess it's a week for us to learn from cats.....
EDUCATION MATTERS:See others as they see themselves
By DAN KIMBER
Published: Last Updated Thursday, January 29, 2009 10:03 PM PST
The older I get, the more inclined I am to accept life lessons wherever and whenever I can find them.One of our cats, for instance, has taught me something that I’ve always known but occasionally need to be reminded of. But before I mention what deep insight came to me, let me try to describe the animal in question. And for all of you who gag on pet stories, bear with me until the end.
Seventeen years ago, our female Calico cat, Fluffy, gave birth to four kittens. One of them was a replica of her mother, and so the ladies in my house (I had nothing to do with this) named her “Baby Fluffy.” I protested. What cat will answer to a human calling out, “Baby Fluffy, here Baby Fluffy.” But I was, as I often am, overruled.
We eventually came up with a more appropriate name based more on the cat’s bizarre behavior. Right from the get-go, this cat was jumpy and uneasy with her surroundings. From the day she opened her darting eyes she indicated a strong aversion to people, scampering under tables and beds whenever anyone tried to pet her. We thought it might have had something to do with the fact that a fairly large earthquake struck on the day she was born, but the other three kittens, for whom we eventually found homes, were typically cuddly, domesticated animals.
We renamed Baby Fluffy, “Schizoid,” (Skitz, for short). Virtually everyone who has been to our house and seen this cat has agreed that she was well named.We couldn’t find a home for Skitz, as she did not show well when prospective owners came by to look her over. I toyed with the idea of getting some cat Valium (yes there is such a thing) to mellow her out, but eventually we came to the conclusion that this little bundle of nerves was ours to keep.Until recently Skitz has been an outdoor cat, preferring to keep us all at a safe distance. She eats the food my wife faithfully puts out for her every morning and perches each day on a kitchen window sill just staring in at us. We’re used to it, but it sometimes creeps out friends who casually glance out the window and meet her steely eyes.
While Skitz doesn’t like people, she’s quite fond of dogs. Big dogs, little dogs — she never met one that she didn’t like to rub up against. That is so un-catlike, but stranger yet is her relationship with birds. Once or twice a year we’ll observe her stretched out on a patio lounge while two or three birds take turns strafing her back. I’ve seen birds do this before, and it usually means that they’re scrounging around for nesting material. I’ve never seen a cat, though, that seemed to enjoy the experience. This one just reclines and doesn’t move during the dive bombing. I tell you it’s one crazy, mixed-up cat.
Lately though, a change has come over Skitz. She actually wants to come inside the house these days, and for the first time in 17 years, she’s even letting us pet her. About a month ago a true miracle happened that had everyone in the family staring in disbelief. The cat actually jumped up on my lap while I was watching television and purred! Never once had it shown any sign of affection to me, nor had anyone in the family ever heard it purr. We called it a Christmas miracle happening as it did only a few days after that day.
All of this got me to thinking about some of the people in my life, past and present — people who I have written off/disregarded/put into a convenient category of “not worth the effort.” I wonder how many have rubbed me the wrong way, or seemed aloof or incompatible or in some way outside of my circle of acceptance? How many Ebenezer Scrooges are in each of our lives, looking to break free from their contrived selves, looking just to find a friend? How many Skitzes are out there, weird and strange as they can be, who need only for us to see them for what they are and not for what we think they should be? How many of us are intolerant or impatient in failing to understand that lives will unravel in their own way and in their own time? How many of us are willing to admit that their strangeness, when you get right down to it, is not much different from our own?
DAN KIMBER is a teacher in the Glendale Unified School District, where he has taught for more than 30 years.
URL: http://www.glendalenewspress.com/articles/2009/01/30/columns/gnp-kimber30.txt
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Waiting in Joyful Hope
Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen (Heb 11:1).
My father has a cat named Riley that follows him everywhere. The minute he sits down, Riley is in his lap. When he goes to the table to eat, she sits patiently at his feet and waits for him to finish his meal (and for the occasional handout). Dad refers to the cat as his “bunk buddy” because she hops up on his bed whenever he lies down. She will meow to alert people when she needs to go outside. And as soon as she finishes her business, she’s at the door meowing to come back inside and resume her vigil at Dad’s side. When Riley got real sick last summer, we were all concerned about how Dad would respond if she didn’t make it. There is a definite routine and rhythm to the day between the two of them.
When Dad was hospitalized for five weeks last fall, poor Riley was really confused. She sat on Dad’s bed for days waiting for him to come back, and would only leave when forced by Mom picking her up to put her outside. She would sit in the den and stare at the recliner where Dad usually sits. She would run to the living room whenever she heard the front door opening, likely expecting it would be Dad coming in. Days went by, then weeks. Dad didn’t come home. Still, the kitty kept to her routine of going to the familiar places where Dad usually is and waiting. Five weeks must have seemed like an eternity for the poor creature! It took her about 3 days to get her bearings back once Dad came home, but that is a story for another blog post.
Although animals don’t have faith and hope the way we humans do, the way Riley persisted in “hoping” for my Dad’s return provided an image of how we should remain hopeful and wait on God when He seems to be absent or when He just doesn’t appear to be answering our prayers at all. We need to keep going to those familiar places of prayer where we expect to find Him. His answer may not be a matter of a simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No.” Sometimes the answer is ‘Yes, but not now.’ And then we must continue to trust that His plans and timing are perfect. If we can do that, the outcome will be even greater than what we imagined. As St. Paul wrote to the community in Rome, hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us (Rom. 5:5).
Last week, I found myself feeling rather down after learning that a number of colleagues with whom I have worked for most, if not all of the 23 years I’ve been with the company will no longer be around. With the prospect of even more layoffs to come and all the turmoil around the office with regard to that, it is coming home to me in no small measure how critical it is to root my hope solidly in Jesus Christ. As much as we don't like to think about it, without that hope, any one of us could succumb to despair, just as people we've read about in recent news headlines. As the familiar saying goes, “There but by the grace of God go I.”
Our political leaders in Washington DC and elsewhere are working feverishly to address the current economic crisis. We need to pray for them. The truth is that none of us knows what the future holds. We don't know when or if things will get better and what "better" might mean. But God does. So let us pray fervently for the people in government who are trying their best to fix things, and for all those people who are facing layoffs and struggling to hold on in the face of incredible economic and personal challenges. Most of all, let us pray for the renewal of our faith and trust that God’s plans for us are for [our] welfare, not for woe; plans to give [us] a future full of hope (Jer. 29:11). Then, let us wait in joyful hope.
My father has a cat named Riley that follows him everywhere. The minute he sits down, Riley is in his lap. When he goes to the table to eat, she sits patiently at his feet and waits for him to finish his meal (and for the occasional handout). Dad refers to the cat as his “bunk buddy” because she hops up on his bed whenever he lies down. She will meow to alert people when she needs to go outside. And as soon as she finishes her business, she’s at the door meowing to come back inside and resume her vigil at Dad’s side. When Riley got real sick last summer, we were all concerned about how Dad would respond if she didn’t make it. There is a definite routine and rhythm to the day between the two of them.
When Dad was hospitalized for five weeks last fall, poor Riley was really confused. She sat on Dad’s bed for days waiting for him to come back, and would only leave when forced by Mom picking her up to put her outside. She would sit in the den and stare at the recliner where Dad usually sits. She would run to the living room whenever she heard the front door opening, likely expecting it would be Dad coming in. Days went by, then weeks. Dad didn’t come home. Still, the kitty kept to her routine of going to the familiar places where Dad usually is and waiting. Five weeks must have seemed like an eternity for the poor creature! It took her about 3 days to get her bearings back once Dad came home, but that is a story for another blog post.
Although animals don’t have faith and hope the way we humans do, the way Riley persisted in “hoping” for my Dad’s return provided an image of how we should remain hopeful and wait on God when He seems to be absent or when He just doesn’t appear to be answering our prayers at all. We need to keep going to those familiar places of prayer where we expect to find Him. His answer may not be a matter of a simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No.” Sometimes the answer is ‘Yes, but not now.’ And then we must continue to trust that His plans and timing are perfect. If we can do that, the outcome will be even greater than what we imagined. As St. Paul wrote to the community in Rome, hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us (Rom. 5:5).
Last week, I found myself feeling rather down after learning that a number of colleagues with whom I have worked for most, if not all of the 23 years I’ve been with the company will no longer be around. With the prospect of even more layoffs to come and all the turmoil around the office with regard to that, it is coming home to me in no small measure how critical it is to root my hope solidly in Jesus Christ. As much as we don't like to think about it, without that hope, any one of us could succumb to despair, just as people we've read about in recent news headlines. As the familiar saying goes, “There but by the grace of God go I.”
Our political leaders in Washington DC and elsewhere are working feverishly to address the current economic crisis. We need to pray for them. The truth is that none of us knows what the future holds. We don't know when or if things will get better and what "better" might mean. But God does. So let us pray fervently for the people in government who are trying their best to fix things, and for all those people who are facing layoffs and struggling to hold on in the face of incredible economic and personal challenges. Most of all, let us pray for the renewal of our faith and trust that God’s plans for us are for [our] welfare, not for woe; plans to give [us] a future full of hope (Jer. 29:11). Then, let us wait in joyful hope.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Forgiving Ourselves
Scripture:
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)
The murderer was condemned to life in prison. Then one day something amazing happened. The guard came and opened the jail cell. "You are free to go. Someone else is taking your place," said the guard. "How can this be? I am still guilty!" said the prisoner. "Your debt has been paid. You are free to leave," said the guard once more. The prisoner decided not to leave. "I cannot allow another to pay my debt," said the prisoner. Because of his pride he chose to remain in bondage.
Imagine the guilt Peter must have felt when he betrayed the Son of God three times by saying he never knew him. Imagine what he must have felt the moment he reunited with Him after the resurrection.
The hardest person to forgive sometimes is ourselves. It is especially hard for high achievers to forgive themselves. We think we are above such failure. However, the Bible says we all sin and it is impossible to remedy that sin by ourselves.
"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives?" (1 John 1:8,10). The question is not whether we will sin, the question is what we will do when we do sin.
There is only one thing for us to do. Go to the cross. Jesus paid for that sin by dying on the cross. Picture yourself writing your sin on a white piece of paper, then pinning it to the cross. Now, leave it there. The cross is for sinners. When Jesus looks at you, He no longer sees your sin. He cannot see the sin because He can only see the cross.
When you come to Jesus with your sin, there is nothing more you can do besides confessing and renouncing your sin. Sometimes it may require restitution with others. However, once you confess your sin and ask forgiveness, it is no longer on the ledger of debts.
Why not choose to walk free. The cell has been opened.
Prayer:
Dear God, Do other people see me as a faithful friend or a burdensome buddy? I pray that I will be the kind of person that other people love and appreciate; not a person that others want to avoid. And I pray that I will be a good friend to others. "A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24). Help me to improve my friendship skills...and to be an example of your love in all I do. Thank you, God. In Jesus' name I pray and give you praise, amen.
(TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman)
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)
The murderer was condemned to life in prison. Then one day something amazing happened. The guard came and opened the jail cell. "You are free to go. Someone else is taking your place," said the guard. "How can this be? I am still guilty!" said the prisoner. "Your debt has been paid. You are free to leave," said the guard once more. The prisoner decided not to leave. "I cannot allow another to pay my debt," said the prisoner. Because of his pride he chose to remain in bondage.
Imagine the guilt Peter must have felt when he betrayed the Son of God three times by saying he never knew him. Imagine what he must have felt the moment he reunited with Him after the resurrection.
The hardest person to forgive sometimes is ourselves. It is especially hard for high achievers to forgive themselves. We think we are above such failure. However, the Bible says we all sin and it is impossible to remedy that sin by ourselves.
"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives?" (1 John 1:8,10). The question is not whether we will sin, the question is what we will do when we do sin.
There is only one thing for us to do. Go to the cross. Jesus paid for that sin by dying on the cross. Picture yourself writing your sin on a white piece of paper, then pinning it to the cross. Now, leave it there. The cross is for sinners. When Jesus looks at you, He no longer sees your sin. He cannot see the sin because He can only see the cross.
When you come to Jesus with your sin, there is nothing more you can do besides confessing and renouncing your sin. Sometimes it may require restitution with others. However, once you confess your sin and ask forgiveness, it is no longer on the ledger of debts.
Why not choose to walk free. The cell has been opened.
Prayer:
Dear God, Do other people see me as a faithful friend or a burdensome buddy? I pray that I will be the kind of person that other people love and appreciate; not a person that others want to avoid. And I pray that I will be a good friend to others. "A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24). Help me to improve my friendship skills...and to be an example of your love in all I do. Thank you, God. In Jesus' name I pray and give you praise, amen.
(TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman)
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Hunger for the Lord
Scripture: "But when he, the spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come." (John 14:15-17)
Despite attending church every Sunday, reading the bible out loud during my carpool every morning, writing these blogs every Wednesday, hanging out with friends who are also Christians, I have struggled over several months, feeling distance from God.
My faith was never in question. And, oh, I knew God was right there with me the whole time. But my personal connection, my feeling of closeness, seemed to have wavered a bit. It bothered me a great deal.
God hadn't moved - I knew I had. "Why don't I hear you like I used to?" "Why don't I feel your presence like I used to?" "What's up, Lord?"
As time moved on - I meant to pray about it more ... but time would get away from me. I'm working, listening to the radio, watching TV, reading the paper, writing letters in the lunch room...
Last Sunday, during our bilingual service, our pastor always has a power point display of his sermon so we can follow along as he speaks. One phrase is in English, the next in Spanish. And up on the screen I saw "...hunger for the Lord...". Spanish: "...tener hambre para el
Two things struck me. One, I'm trying to learn Spanish ... and it isn't coming easy. In fact, it's very difficult for me, given my limited ability to memorize information. Two, despite what I said in One, what a great phrase to learn in Spanish.
When I headed home after service, I ran that phrase through my head ... and then I just started talking to God as I drove. I mean - really talking to Him the most I have talked to him in a really long time! It felt really good. I felt Senor...".connected. I once again felt the Holy Spirit stir back into life within me.
Why had I lost my connection to begin with? I was horribly distracted. I was putting music, letters, talk radio, newspapers ... everything in my head - except quiet time with God.
"Tener hambre para el Senor...". What I was feeling ... was "hunger for the Lord". I longed for connection, I longed to hear his voice again, feel his presence. But what it takes is actively setting aside the newspaper, turning off the radio, the CD player, the TV - not even for 15 minutes! All it took was for me to just talk to God as if He was a passenger sitting next to me in my truck. It was amazing in it's simplicity as well as the response I received.
Connected. Spanish: Relacionado.
"Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance." (I Peter 1:15)
Talk about "practicing what you preach". I'm always telling people, "God doesn't care about what you do as much as where your heart is. Go to church, read the bible, DO all the "Christian" things. But in the end, what is your true connection with Christ? Do you hear his voice in the silence? Do you feel the prompting in your spirit to either act on something or conviction to stop doing something?" Now I needed to apply my own words to my life.
He wants your heart. He wants your time. He wants you to hunger for him.
Tener hambre para el Senor
Prayer: Lord, help us to long for you, make time for you. Help us to cut through all the distractions in life with work, home life, errands and personal troubles. Help us to keep you on the front burner at all times, since ultimately, you guide us through this life. Amen
Despite attending church every Sunday, reading the bible out loud during my carpool every morning, writing these blogs every Wednesday, hanging out with friends who are also Christians, I have struggled over several months, feeling distance from God.
My faith was never in question. And, oh, I knew God was right there with me the whole time. But my personal connection, my feeling of closeness, seemed to have wavered a bit. It bothered me a great deal.
God hadn't moved - I knew I had. "Why don't I hear you like I used to?" "Why don't I feel your presence like I used to?" "What's up, Lord?"
As time moved on - I meant to pray about it more ... but time would get away from me. I'm working, listening to the radio, watching TV, reading the paper, writing letters in the lunch room...
Last Sunday, during our bilingual service, our pastor always has a power point display of his sermon so we can follow along as he speaks. One phrase is in English, the next in Spanish. And up on the screen I saw "...hunger for the Lord...". Spanish: "...tener hambre para el
Two things struck me. One, I'm trying to learn Spanish ... and it isn't coming easy. In fact, it's very difficult for me, given my limited ability to memorize information. Two, despite what I said in One, what a great phrase to learn in Spanish.
When I headed home after service, I ran that phrase through my head ... and then I just started talking to God as I drove. I mean - really talking to Him the most I have talked to him in a really long time! It felt really good. I felt Senor...".connected. I once again felt the Holy Spirit stir back into life within me.
Why had I lost my connection to begin with? I was horribly distracted. I was putting music, letters, talk radio, newspapers ... everything in my head - except quiet time with God.
"Tener hambre para el Senor...". What I was feeling ... was "hunger for the Lord". I longed for connection, I longed to hear his voice again, feel his presence. But what it takes is actively setting aside the newspaper, turning off the radio, the CD player, the TV - not even for 15 minutes! All it took was for me to just talk to God as if He was a passenger sitting next to me in my truck. It was amazing in it's simplicity as well as the response I received.
Connected. Spanish: Relacionado.
"Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance." (I Peter 1:15)
Talk about "practicing what you preach". I'm always telling people, "God doesn't care about what you do as much as where your heart is. Go to church, read the bible, DO all the "Christian" things. But in the end, what is your true connection with Christ? Do you hear his voice in the silence? Do you feel the prompting in your spirit to either act on something or conviction to stop doing something?" Now I needed to apply my own words to my life.
He wants your heart. He wants your time. He wants you to hunger for him.
Tener hambre para el Senor
Prayer: Lord, help us to long for you, make time for you. Help us to cut through all the distractions in life with work, home life, errands and personal troubles. Help us to keep you on the front burner at all times, since ultimately, you guide us through this life. Amen
Monday, January 26, 2009
The New Employee
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us (2 Cor 4:7).
What would happen if Jesus took your place for a year in your workplace? Let's consider some hypothetical things that He might do.
He would do His work with excellence. He would be known around the office for the great work He did (Exodus 31:2).
He would develop new ideas for doing things better (Eph 3:20).
He would hang out with sinners in order to develop a relationship with them in order to speak to them about the Father (Mt 9:12).
He would strategically pray for each worker about their concerns and their needs. He would pray for those who even disliked Him (Mt 5:44).
He would rally the office to support a needy family during Christmas (Jer 22:16).
He would offer to pray for those who were sick in the office and see them get healed (Mt 14:14).
He would honor the boss and respect him/her (Titus 2:9).
He would consider the boss as His authority in His workplace (Rom 13:1).
He would be truthful in all his dealings and never exaggerate for the sake of advancement ( Ps 15:2).
He would be concerned about His city (Lk 19:41).
He would always have a motive to help others become successful, even at his own expense (Pr 16:2).
Prayer:
Dear Lord, fille us with your Spirit and walk in our lives that we may exemplify your will and your glory.
(TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman 01-15-2009)
What would happen if Jesus took your place for a year in your workplace? Let's consider some hypothetical things that He might do.
He would do His work with excellence. He would be known around the office for the great work He did (Exodus 31:2).
He would develop new ideas for doing things better (Eph 3:20).
He would hang out with sinners in order to develop a relationship with them in order to speak to them about the Father (Mt 9:12).
He would strategically pray for each worker about their concerns and their needs. He would pray for those who even disliked Him (Mt 5:44).
He would rally the office to support a needy family during Christmas (Jer 22:16).
He would offer to pray for those who were sick in the office and see them get healed (Mt 14:14).
He would honor the boss and respect him/her (Titus 2:9).
He would consider the boss as His authority in His workplace (Rom 13:1).
He would be truthful in all his dealings and never exaggerate for the sake of advancement ( Ps 15:2).
He would be concerned about His city (Lk 19:41).
He would always have a motive to help others become successful, even at his own expense (Pr 16:2).
Prayer:
Dear Lord, fille us with your Spirit and walk in our lives that we may exemplify your will and your glory.
(TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman 01-15-2009)
Friday, January 23, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Time Is Shorter Than We Think
But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day (2 Pet. 3:8).
I have been given my “marching orders” according to the plan God has for me. I came from God, and at some point in the future, He will call me back to Himself. Since I don't know when that will be, it's all the more important to pay attention to what Jesus said about the need to be ready for His coming at all times for we know neither the day nor the hour (Mt. 25:13).
I sometimes struggle with trusting in God to lay out each step in my life’s journey – and the shortness of that time. It's taking on a whole new meaning in this "hangover period" since President Obama’s inauguration. I find it ironic that the inauguration of the most radically pro-abortion president in history falls in the same week as today’s anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. I can’t help but be concerned about his pre-election promise to sign FOCA into law as one of his first acts as president, and the ramifications of that on so many innocent lives.
Some in the pro-life movement have thrown up their hands and all but hoisted the white flag or surrender at the prospect that all the gains made in the past 8 or so years are about to be summarily undone with a single stroke of the president's pen. While I share that concern, I also find great hope in the words of the Psalmist: Those whose steps are guided by the Lord, whose way God approves, may stumble, but they will never fall, for the Lord holds their hand (Ps. 37:23-24).
As I was putting this post together, the thought came to me that it took time and ten plagues before Pharoah let the children of Israel leave the bondage of Egypt. And as they wandered in the desert for 40 years the children of Israel both tried the Lord and were tried by Him. Similarly, it seems our society will need to be literally pushed to its knees before it recognizes and begs the power of God to free it from the bondage of those people and things we have made into gods. (Clearly, 9-11 wasn't enough to wake us up.) Our fidelity to God's laws is so often like climbing a muddy hill. We take 3 steps forward and then slide 2 steps back.
In his inauguration speech, President Obama said, “We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.” Those are words that every Christian, and indeed every person genuinely seeking truth, can take to heart and appropriate, though not necessarily in the same spirit he intended. We Christians need to stop apologizing for our way of life, for our morality, for defending the God-given rights of the most vulnerable among us. We need to live our values unabashedly and courageously. Uncompromising witness to Truth changes people’s hearts – just as faith in Jesus on the part of a ragtag band of 1st century fishermen and tax collectors ultimately changed the course of human history.
Our new president also said, “The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness” (emphasis mine). These are words that every God-fearing Christian can and should appropriate, though perhaps not the same way that our president intended them. Personally, I’m going to hold the Mr. Obama to his words. “All” means just that. All of God's children, without exception, including the unborn, the disabled, the terminally ill, those on the margins of society.
The president is right about one thing: things will likely get worse before they get better. That has a lot of people worried about how they will take care of their families, and rightfully so. But for the committed Christian, things are different. We know that we have been given in love by our heavenly Father to His Son, Jesus, and no one can snatch us from His hand (cf. Jn. 10:28). Though we may not be spared the trials and tribulations that will surely come, we have read the last chapter and we know how our life story ends – in victory through the cross of Christ. Thus we do not fear, though earth be shaken and mountains quake to the depths of the sea, though its waters rage and foam and mountains totter at its surging. The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob (Ps. 46:3-4).
Prayer Request: For the vulnerable – the unborn, the disabled, the terminally ill, the outcast and the stranger among us.
Prayer: O Lord, our God, thank You for calling us Your children, for counting us among the sheep of Your flock. In these times of uncertainty, help us to sink our roots ever more deeply into Him who is our rock and our strength, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
I have been given my “marching orders” according to the plan God has for me. I came from God, and at some point in the future, He will call me back to Himself. Since I don't know when that will be, it's all the more important to pay attention to what Jesus said about the need to be ready for His coming at all times for we know neither the day nor the hour (Mt. 25:13).
I sometimes struggle with trusting in God to lay out each step in my life’s journey – and the shortness of that time. It's taking on a whole new meaning in this "hangover period" since President Obama’s inauguration. I find it ironic that the inauguration of the most radically pro-abortion president in history falls in the same week as today’s anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. I can’t help but be concerned about his pre-election promise to sign FOCA into law as one of his first acts as president, and the ramifications of that on so many innocent lives.
Some in the pro-life movement have thrown up their hands and all but hoisted the white flag or surrender at the prospect that all the gains made in the past 8 or so years are about to be summarily undone with a single stroke of the president's pen. While I share that concern, I also find great hope in the words of the Psalmist: Those whose steps are guided by the Lord, whose way God approves, may stumble, but they will never fall, for the Lord holds their hand (Ps. 37:23-24).
As I was putting this post together, the thought came to me that it took time and ten plagues before Pharoah let the children of Israel leave the bondage of Egypt. And as they wandered in the desert for 40 years the children of Israel both tried the Lord and were tried by Him. Similarly, it seems our society will need to be literally pushed to its knees before it recognizes and begs the power of God to free it from the bondage of those people and things we have made into gods. (Clearly, 9-11 wasn't enough to wake us up.) Our fidelity to God's laws is so often like climbing a muddy hill. We take 3 steps forward and then slide 2 steps back.
In his inauguration speech, President Obama said, “We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.” Those are words that every Christian, and indeed every person genuinely seeking truth, can take to heart and appropriate, though not necessarily in the same spirit he intended. We Christians need to stop apologizing for our way of life, for our morality, for defending the God-given rights of the most vulnerable among us. We need to live our values unabashedly and courageously. Uncompromising witness to Truth changes people’s hearts – just as faith in Jesus on the part of a ragtag band of 1st century fishermen and tax collectors ultimately changed the course of human history.
Our new president also said, “The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness” (emphasis mine). These are words that every God-fearing Christian can and should appropriate, though perhaps not the same way that our president intended them. Personally, I’m going to hold the Mr. Obama to his words. “All” means just that. All of God's children, without exception, including the unborn, the disabled, the terminally ill, those on the margins of society.
The president is right about one thing: things will likely get worse before they get better. That has a lot of people worried about how they will take care of their families, and rightfully so. But for the committed Christian, things are different. We know that we have been given in love by our heavenly Father to His Son, Jesus, and no one can snatch us from His hand (cf. Jn. 10:28). Though we may not be spared the trials and tribulations that will surely come, we have read the last chapter and we know how our life story ends – in victory through the cross of Christ. Thus we do not fear, though earth be shaken and mountains quake to the depths of the sea, though its waters rage and foam and mountains totter at its surging. The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob (Ps. 46:3-4).
Prayer Request: For the vulnerable – the unborn, the disabled, the terminally ill, the outcast and the stranger among us.
Prayer: O Lord, our God, thank You for calling us Your children, for counting us among the sheep of Your flock. In these times of uncertainty, help us to sink our roots ever more deeply into Him who is our rock and our strength, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Sharing Christ
Scripture: But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. (I Peter 3:15)
My church changed it's morning service (the first of two services we have) to a bilingual service (Spanish/English) in order to better serve our community, in Oxnard, California. It has caused me to consider how the Word of God never changes, but our delivery of the Message does, with the passage of time. There's all types of evangelism going on in the world today, from going door to door to developing sound relationships with others in order to open a door to sharing. Some join missions that travel abroad, joining the work force (a sort of Christian infiltration) in order to share the gospel - often in a covert manner in countries that forbid the spreading of Christianity. Methods have changed over the years, and Christians have learned to adapt to the passage of time, both on a macro scale as well as the micro level. On a macro level, some churches have brought in full on rock bands with electric guitars and drums, and loud singing in order to pull in a younger, more lively crowd. Other churches have developed a "youth only" service, led by a younger pastor who can relate to the needs of the same generation he or she is in. In order to get the Word of Christ out, churches have always had to adapt to the demographics of the area they are located, to the generation that most fills their sanctuaries, among other factors. On a micro level, we are all called to spread the Word of God individually to those unbelievers we befriend. "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:18-20)
I will be the first to admit that I haven't shared Christ with anyone in a long while. Well, that's not entirely true. There's a friend I have who asks the hard questions, and I do my best to share Christ, but my friend approaches things on such an intellectual level, I'm at a loss as to how to defend my faith to him, because I have no answers to his questions. So ... AM I spreading the Gospel? Maybe, but it's discouraging to be out smarted. I'd like to be able to share with others, I just don't know how, without offending them or putting them on the defense. Too often I've run into people who have been hurt by well-meaning churches or Christian individuals who have shared a twisted theology of Christ - and instead of showing His love and kindness, they were fed only judgment and made to feel worthless, bruising both their spirit and emotional psyche, turning them off to anything having to do with God. So as churches conform to society's needs, (ie: going bilingual, bringing in lively bands or choirs, emboldening youth pastors or meeting in a garage in an impoverished part of town) how do we as individuals reach the world around us? I don't have the answer, but it is a question worth pondering, as we are all called to share the Gospel with others. Sometimes it's not with our words, but by our demeanor, our attitudes, by how we treat those around us. Maybe we should pray for the Lord to open doors for us, using whatever gifts we have to reach a fallen world.
Prayer: Lord, we ask You to reveal to us how we can reach others. Open doors for us to walk through, and when we hear Your voice, help us to obey, even if it is out of our comfort zone. Soften the hearts of unbelievers around us, and help us to show Your light to them, with gentleness and respect.
Prayer request: For our hearts to break with compassion for the unsaved, and for the courage to share Christ with others.
My church changed it's morning service (the first of two services we have) to a bilingual service (Spanish/English) in order to better serve our community, in Oxnard, California. It has caused me to consider how the Word of God never changes, but our delivery of the Message does, with the passage of time. There's all types of evangelism going on in the world today, from going door to door to developing sound relationships with others in order to open a door to sharing. Some join missions that travel abroad, joining the work force (a sort of Christian infiltration) in order to share the gospel - often in a covert manner in countries that forbid the spreading of Christianity. Methods have changed over the years, and Christians have learned to adapt to the passage of time, both on a macro scale as well as the micro level. On a macro level, some churches have brought in full on rock bands with electric guitars and drums, and loud singing in order to pull in a younger, more lively crowd. Other churches have developed a "youth only" service, led by a younger pastor who can relate to the needs of the same generation he or she is in. In order to get the Word of Christ out, churches have always had to adapt to the demographics of the area they are located, to the generation that most fills their sanctuaries, among other factors. On a micro level, we are all called to spread the Word of God individually to those unbelievers we befriend. "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:18-20)
I will be the first to admit that I haven't shared Christ with anyone in a long while. Well, that's not entirely true. There's a friend I have who asks the hard questions, and I do my best to share Christ, but my friend approaches things on such an intellectual level, I'm at a loss as to how to defend my faith to him, because I have no answers to his questions. So ... AM I spreading the Gospel? Maybe, but it's discouraging to be out smarted. I'd like to be able to share with others, I just don't know how, without offending them or putting them on the defense. Too often I've run into people who have been hurt by well-meaning churches or Christian individuals who have shared a twisted theology of Christ - and instead of showing His love and kindness, they were fed only judgment and made to feel worthless, bruising both their spirit and emotional psyche, turning them off to anything having to do with God. So as churches conform to society's needs, (ie: going bilingual, bringing in lively bands or choirs, emboldening youth pastors or meeting in a garage in an impoverished part of town) how do we as individuals reach the world around us? I don't have the answer, but it is a question worth pondering, as we are all called to share the Gospel with others. Sometimes it's not with our words, but by our demeanor, our attitudes, by how we treat those around us. Maybe we should pray for the Lord to open doors for us, using whatever gifts we have to reach a fallen world.
Prayer: Lord, we ask You to reveal to us how we can reach others. Open doors for us to walk through, and when we hear Your voice, help us to obey, even if it is out of our comfort zone. Soften the hearts of unbelievers around us, and help us to show Your light to them, with gentleness and respect.
Prayer request: For our hearts to break with compassion for the unsaved, and for the courage to share Christ with others.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
You May Not Remember
You may not remember all that you do,
But God has recorded it all for you.
The good times, the bad times, the times you were sad,
The fun times, the dumb times, the times you were mad.
When sleeping, when snoring, when dreaming, and awake,
When walking, when talking and taking a break.
For we are His children, and we know that He cares,
For God is our Father and nobody dares
To forsake all His love, when He comforts our heart,
To shows us He loves us and from Him we can't part
From the ways of His Word,
To forsake, how absurd.
Oh yes I remember the things that He's done.
And forever with Him, together, we're one.
But God has recorded it all for you.
The good times, the bad times, the times you were sad,
The fun times, the dumb times, the times you were mad.
When sleeping, when snoring, when dreaming, and awake,
When walking, when talking and taking a break.
For we are His children, and we know that He cares,
For God is our Father and nobody dares
To forsake all His love, when He comforts our heart,
To shows us He loves us and from Him we can't part
From the ways of His Word,
To forsake, how absurd.
Oh yes I remember the things that He's done.
And forever with Him, together, we're one.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Bank owned? God owned!
Scriptures: “So do not worry, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:31-33)
The other day, after I took my son to school, I noticed a sign on my way back home. It was a sign put up in the front yard of a house. The sign read, “Bank Owned.” It was the first time I noticed such a sign in my neighborhood. It was a sign that I have seen so many times because it has been in TV news all the time since the economic downward spiral started.
I couldn’t help wondering what had happened to the people living in that house. Were they forced out of their home? Or, did they leave on their choice to preserve their financial well-being a little longer? Did they have little children? What was the outlook for their future? Given the economy and the unemployment rate, there have been many reports of tragic situations like this one. They lost their jobs and, as a result, their homes, too.
This thick and dark cloud called “Recession” seems to be hovering over everyone’s life, from individuals to the government. It’s only weeks away from the day when the state government of California will run out of money to pay for anything. Bad news seems to be everywhere, either individually or collectively. And the worst part is no one seems to be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. As a result, I came home that day with a pretty heavy heart!
The next day, as I began to prepare for the bible study we have every Sunday morning, I came across the passage in Luke 11:3 where Jesus taught us to pray this, “Give us each day our daily bread.” I paused. A question flashed in my mind, “Why did Jesus only teach us to pray for daily bread? What happened to other needs? How about housing? Aren’t they important too?” Then I remembered the passage of today from the book of Matthew and the promise Jesus gave us there cleared all the clouds I had.
He said, “…your Heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:32-33) How comforting to know that He is our Father. We are His children. We belong to Him. He loves us and cares for our well-being. He knows our makeup and is keenly aware of every need of ours.
To all these needs of ours, He told us not to worry. All that He asks of us is that we seek His kingdom and His righteousness. Then, He promised that all these things we need will be given to us because we are so precious to Him.
Yes, the economy may not be doing well and our financial crisis may cost our houses. But, none of them can take away our identities as children of God. He is still our Heavenly Father and still in charge of our lives. All we need to do has been laid out in the bible, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2)
Though banks can own our house, let’s not forget, God owns our lives!
Prayer Requests:
For those losing their homes and struggling in keeping their family together
Prayer:
Father, help us to look to you for the provision of our everyday needs. Help us to cast all of worries and burdens into Your hands and seek with all our heart, mind and strength Your kingdom and righteousness, as You have commanded us. We know You are still in control and we look forward to the blessings of proclaiming Your faithfulness in our lives as a glorious testimony of Your goodness. In the wonderful name of our Lord Jesus we pray, Amen!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Input, Output
Scripture: “Do not envy wicked men, do not desire their company; for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about making trouble. (Proverbs 24:1-2)
Sometimes I have trouble finding just the right scripture to go with the concept of a blog in my head, so I did the best I could with the help of a friend to find the appropriate scripture. Somehow I think there is one that would match closer, but I didn’t give myself enough time to research it out.
That being said, I have come to the interesting realization that some people can be more impressionable than others, and it all depends on our past experiences and personality traits. Just recently, I’ve discovered just how fragile I can be.
Have you ever returned from a camping trip, and smell like campfire? Ever hang out with someone long enough to pick up on cute phrases they say, so YOU start saying them, too? Even soldiers go to war and often come back different men from when they left. Why is that?
The world can leave its mark on you. Whether you are conscious of it or not, we walk out into the world, but if we aren’t careful where we are treading, I have discovered how easy it is to let more of the world in than you ever intended.
What I learned about myself this week is how incredibly empathetic I can be in areas I never expected to be. I’ve always been an empathetic person. That is to say, I put myself “in others shoes”. I feel their pain, their struggles, their desire to be heard, and their fears, hopes and joy. It’s a God given gift, really. I’ve been able to make friends with people on a deeper level because I can identify with them on many levels.
One thing I have known about myself, though, is to be careful with how much secular music I listen to, particularly hard rock/heavy metal music. I know, sounds crazy. But I love the screaming guitars and the driving percussion of that kind of music. But I have to be most careful regarding the lyrics of the CDs I buy. I always look up the lyrics on the computer first, because I learned a long time ago that if they sing with bad language, bad language will come out of my own mouth instead of saying “rats! or “crud!” like I always do. This is what I mean by “the world leaves its mark on you.”
Just recently I picked up a book by a rock star who published his journal from 1987, when he was in his late 20s. It’s the story of his descent into a life of drug addiction and debauchery.
I picked up this book, not only because I am familiar with the band he is in, but also because as I flipped through it, it reminded me of the journals I used to keep as a teenager. Under regretful circumstances, I have only one of several journals in my possession, the rest I got rid of. I found it interesting to peek into the life of another journal-keeper.
The problem is, his life is so sad, so full of sin, so dark and muddled by drugs, that I drove home the other day feeling rather melancholy. I wasn’t sure why at the time, but I’m pretty sure it’s because I slipped into his shoes. The dark hopelessness in his life must have gotten to me, and I hadn’t even realized it!
At this point, I only have about 60 pages left to read. At least, in this book, it’s a story of his descent – but his eventual recovery from his life of drugs. So I’m interested in reading to the end.
But it really made me step back and realize I have to be so careful what I choose to listen to and read – because the world would be more than happy to swallow me whole!
So my blog today is about always being mindful of where you go in your head, what you choose to watch on TV, listen to, read. Even if you’re not as empathetic as I am, we all have weaknesses, and we must continually guard ourselves, ever vigilantly, lest we stumble away from God. Careful what you put in, because it all shows itself in your life somehow. Is that good or bad? It all depends on what you fill yourselves with.
A friend of mine shared this poem with me, when I told her what this blog would be about:
Watch your thoughts because they become your words
Watch your words because they become your actions
Watch your actions because they become your habits
Watch your habits because they become your character
Watch your character because it will become your destiny
Author: Joyce Meyer
Nicely written!
Prayer request: For guidance and a closer walk with God to keep away from things that could be harmful to our spiritual life.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for making it so evident to me how fragile I am without You. Through this experience, help me to draw closer to You. Help each of us to make decisions with You always on our minds and hearts, guiding our every footstep. Amen
Sometimes I have trouble finding just the right scripture to go with the concept of a blog in my head, so I did the best I could with the help of a friend to find the appropriate scripture. Somehow I think there is one that would match closer, but I didn’t give myself enough time to research it out.
That being said, I have come to the interesting realization that some people can be more impressionable than others, and it all depends on our past experiences and personality traits. Just recently, I’ve discovered just how fragile I can be.
Have you ever returned from a camping trip, and smell like campfire? Ever hang out with someone long enough to pick up on cute phrases they say, so YOU start saying them, too? Even soldiers go to war and often come back different men from when they left. Why is that?
The world can leave its mark on you. Whether you are conscious of it or not, we walk out into the world, but if we aren’t careful where we are treading, I have discovered how easy it is to let more of the world in than you ever intended.
What I learned about myself this week is how incredibly empathetic I can be in areas I never expected to be. I’ve always been an empathetic person. That is to say, I put myself “in others shoes”. I feel their pain, their struggles, their desire to be heard, and their fears, hopes and joy. It’s a God given gift, really. I’ve been able to make friends with people on a deeper level because I can identify with them on many levels.
One thing I have known about myself, though, is to be careful with how much secular music I listen to, particularly hard rock/heavy metal music. I know, sounds crazy. But I love the screaming guitars and the driving percussion of that kind of music. But I have to be most careful regarding the lyrics of the CDs I buy. I always look up the lyrics on the computer first, because I learned a long time ago that if they sing with bad language, bad language will come out of my own mouth instead of saying “rats! or “crud!” like I always do. This is what I mean by “the world leaves its mark on you.”
Just recently I picked up a book by a rock star who published his journal from 1987, when he was in his late 20s. It’s the story of his descent into a life of drug addiction and debauchery.
I picked up this book, not only because I am familiar with the band he is in, but also because as I flipped through it, it reminded me of the journals I used to keep as a teenager. Under regretful circumstances, I have only one of several journals in my possession, the rest I got rid of. I found it interesting to peek into the life of another journal-keeper.
The problem is, his life is so sad, so full of sin, so dark and muddled by drugs, that I drove home the other day feeling rather melancholy. I wasn’t sure why at the time, but I’m pretty sure it’s because I slipped into his shoes. The dark hopelessness in his life must have gotten to me, and I hadn’t even realized it!
At this point, I only have about 60 pages left to read. At least, in this book, it’s a story of his descent – but his eventual recovery from his life of drugs. So I’m interested in reading to the end.
But it really made me step back and realize I have to be so careful what I choose to listen to and read – because the world would be more than happy to swallow me whole!
So my blog today is about always being mindful of where you go in your head, what you choose to watch on TV, listen to, read. Even if you’re not as empathetic as I am, we all have weaknesses, and we must continually guard ourselves, ever vigilantly, lest we stumble away from God. Careful what you put in, because it all shows itself in your life somehow. Is that good or bad? It all depends on what you fill yourselves with.
A friend of mine shared this poem with me, when I told her what this blog would be about:
Watch your thoughts because they become your words
Watch your words because they become your actions
Watch your actions because they become your habits
Watch your habits because they become your character
Watch your character because it will become your destiny
Author: Joyce Meyer
Nicely written!
Prayer request: For guidance and a closer walk with God to keep away from things that could be harmful to our spiritual life.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for making it so evident to me how fragile I am without You. Through this experience, help me to draw closer to You. Help each of us to make decisions with You always on our minds and hearts, guiding our every footstep. Amen
Monday, January 12, 2009
A Foreign Object
Scriptures: “remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in His flesh the law of its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility” (Ephesians 2:12-16)
Last Friday night, my son and I spend the night in the urgent care because he carelessly got a splinter underneath his nail. It caused great pains and I had to take him to see a doctor. Having seen the situation, the doctor gave him two choices: 1) since the splinter was in between his finger and his nail, the doctor said he could give it some time and, with the growth of nail, the splinter would come out someday, and 2) the doctor could perform a small surgery to cut the nail open and retrieve the splinter right away.
Having suffered from the splinter all night, my son went for the second option. So the doctor gave him some anesthetics on his finger and, as he explained earlier, cut open his nail and pulled out the splinter. Then the doctor prescribed an antibiotics for him. On the way to the pharmacy, I commended my son for his courage and toughness dealing with the “operation.” He responded, “I guess our body simply does not tolerate foreign objects.” To which I said, “The design of God is amazing. It seems like our body knows exactly what belongs there and what not.” Then, my son said, “I guess this is true spiritually, too.”
For a moment, I was silent, thinking about what he just said. I think he was right! Somehow, deep down in our heart, we knew we were not right with God. There was something inserted in between God and us, something that brought misery into our lives, something that broke the fellowship we could have with God, and that something is what the bible calls sin. Prophet Isaiah said, “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:1-2)
Unfortunately, unlike the splinter my son had, sin would not and will not come out on its own. It would stay there and continued to corrupt us, even when we don’t realize the presence of sins in our lives. At that point, we become the dead-end to ourselves, hopeless for eternity and ignorant of the need for redemption.
This sin issue is present and prevalent in every human culture. Throughout human history, we have tried every means we knew to solve this problem. All the religious teachings on doing good work for redemption is a living proof of human efforts to address this sin issue. But, to no avail, human condition continued to worsen without hope until God Himself came to deliver us and took upon Himself all our sins so we could be given a brand new start. Such was the salvation accomplished by our Lord Jesus on the Mount of Calvary.
Apart from being thankful for the grace of salvation provided for us, we need to remember redemption was prepared because, in God’s view, there’s a need to address and to get rid of this sin issue. As children of God, we want to live a life pleasing to Him. To do so, we need to stay away from all unholy deeds and words and be attentive to where the Holy Spirit is guiding us. God is more than gracious enough to bless each of us, His beloved children, with the indwelling of His Spirit. It is our initiative to respond to His leading. He has promised, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1)
Praise God!
Prayer Requests:
For children suffering in urgent care facilities or emergency centers
Prayer:
Our gracious Father, thank You for exposing the sin reality to us and for becoming the solution for this very issue that we are unable to address. Please help us to be constantly attentive to the leading of the Holy Spirit who will not only help and usher us into the depth of Your riches, but also help transform us to be Your useful vessels to bring others in this crooked and depraved generation into Your grace of salvation for we pray in the precious and mighty name of our Lord Jesus, Amen!
Last Friday night, my son and I spend the night in the urgent care because he carelessly got a splinter underneath his nail. It caused great pains and I had to take him to see a doctor. Having seen the situation, the doctor gave him two choices: 1) since the splinter was in between his finger and his nail, the doctor said he could give it some time and, with the growth of nail, the splinter would come out someday, and 2) the doctor could perform a small surgery to cut the nail open and retrieve the splinter right away.
Having suffered from the splinter all night, my son went for the second option. So the doctor gave him some anesthetics on his finger and, as he explained earlier, cut open his nail and pulled out the splinter. Then the doctor prescribed an antibiotics for him. On the way to the pharmacy, I commended my son for his courage and toughness dealing with the “operation.” He responded, “I guess our body simply does not tolerate foreign objects.” To which I said, “The design of God is amazing. It seems like our body knows exactly what belongs there and what not.” Then, my son said, “I guess this is true spiritually, too.”
For a moment, I was silent, thinking about what he just said. I think he was right! Somehow, deep down in our heart, we knew we were not right with God. There was something inserted in between God and us, something that brought misery into our lives, something that broke the fellowship we could have with God, and that something is what the bible calls sin. Prophet Isaiah said, “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:1-2)
Unfortunately, unlike the splinter my son had, sin would not and will not come out on its own. It would stay there and continued to corrupt us, even when we don’t realize the presence of sins in our lives. At that point, we become the dead-end to ourselves, hopeless for eternity and ignorant of the need for redemption.
This sin issue is present and prevalent in every human culture. Throughout human history, we have tried every means we knew to solve this problem. All the religious teachings on doing good work for redemption is a living proof of human efforts to address this sin issue. But, to no avail, human condition continued to worsen without hope until God Himself came to deliver us and took upon Himself all our sins so we could be given a brand new start. Such was the salvation accomplished by our Lord Jesus on the Mount of Calvary.
Apart from being thankful for the grace of salvation provided for us, we need to remember redemption was prepared because, in God’s view, there’s a need to address and to get rid of this sin issue. As children of God, we want to live a life pleasing to Him. To do so, we need to stay away from all unholy deeds and words and be attentive to where the Holy Spirit is guiding us. God is more than gracious enough to bless each of us, His beloved children, with the indwelling of His Spirit. It is our initiative to respond to His leading. He has promised, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1)
Praise God!
Prayer Requests:
For children suffering in urgent care facilities or emergency centers
Prayer:
Our gracious Father, thank You for exposing the sin reality to us and for becoming the solution for this very issue that we are unable to address. Please help us to be constantly attentive to the leading of the Holy Spirit who will not only help and usher us into the depth of Your riches, but also help transform us to be Your useful vessels to bring others in this crooked and depraved generation into Your grace of salvation for we pray in the precious and mighty name of our Lord Jesus, Amen!
Friday, January 9, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Eternal Hope
Scripture: "I wait for You, O Lord; you will answer, O Lord my God."
Over the Christmas and New Years holiday, I spent a lot of time at home, and a lot of time with my dog, Skittles, and my roommate's dog, Buttercup.
Every time the dogs hear the crinkle of a wrapper, the sounds of someone rummaging through the cupboards or I sit down to eat a meal, there they are, looking intently at me as I take every single bite of food. They sit very still, stare, and wait. They wait for a morsel, any morsel, that may or may not come. (And it doesn't usually come from me. Mean, huh?) 8-)
It occurred to me over the holidays that dogs are the symbol of eternal hope. Just picture this: Skittles and Buttercup at my feet, watching and waiting intently, whether I feed them or not. They watch. They wait. They are patient.
I couldn't help but wonder, isn't that what God wants from us? Not just waiting mindlessly for a crumb that may or may not come, but we serve a God that knows all our needs and desires. We serve a Lord that loves each one of us and out of devotion, we wait for Him. We wait for Him to respond to our prayers. We wait for His second coming. We wait for our time to see Him face to face.
Do I have the kind of eternal hope Skittles and Buttercup demonstrate, even with their simple minds?
With the New Year, I feel like I have a clean slate, a chance for a "do over", an opportunity to improve upon things I didn't do so well in 2008. One of those things I'd like to do better this year ... is to wait upon my Lord with the same kind of expectancy, diligence and intensity I see in Skittles & Buttercup.
Prayer: Lord, help me to tune my ears to Your voice so that I will know it instantaneously and take action, like a dog hearing a wrapper crinkle in the house. Help me to be that eager to be with You, as I wait for Your orders and Your guidance throughout the year.
Prayer request: Father, help us to draw closer to You this year in ways we never have been before!
Over the Christmas and New Years holiday, I spent a lot of time at home, and a lot of time with my dog, Skittles, and my roommate's dog, Buttercup.
Every time the dogs hear the crinkle of a wrapper, the sounds of someone rummaging through the cupboards or I sit down to eat a meal, there they are, looking intently at me as I take every single bite of food. They sit very still, stare, and wait. They wait for a morsel, any morsel, that may or may not come. (And it doesn't usually come from me. Mean, huh?) 8-)
It occurred to me over the holidays that dogs are the symbol of eternal hope. Just picture this: Skittles and Buttercup at my feet, watching and waiting intently, whether I feed them or not. They watch. They wait. They are patient.
I couldn't help but wonder, isn't that what God wants from us? Not just waiting mindlessly for a crumb that may or may not come, but we serve a God that knows all our needs and desires. We serve a Lord that loves each one of us and out of devotion, we wait for Him. We wait for Him to respond to our prayers. We wait for His second coming. We wait for our time to see Him face to face.
Do I have the kind of eternal hope Skittles and Buttercup demonstrate, even with their simple minds?
With the New Year, I feel like I have a clean slate, a chance for a "do over", an opportunity to improve upon things I didn't do so well in 2008. One of those things I'd like to do better this year ... is to wait upon my Lord with the same kind of expectancy, diligence and intensity I see in Skittles & Buttercup.
Prayer: Lord, help me to tune my ears to Your voice so that I will know it instantaneously and take action, like a dog hearing a wrapper crinkle in the house. Help me to be that eager to be with You, as I wait for Your orders and Your guidance throughout the year.
Prayer request: Father, help us to draw closer to You this year in ways we never have been before!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
The Vine
Scripture:
"I am the true vine." (John 15:1)
I am the true Vine.—This is a heavenly mystery. The earthly vine can teach you much about this Vine of Heaven. Many interesting and beautiful points of comparison suggest themselves, and help us to get conceptions of what Christ meant. But such thoughts do not teach us to know what the heavenly Vine really is, in its cooling shade, and its life-giving fruit. The experience of this is part of the hidden mystery, which none but Jesus Himself, by His Holy Spirit, can unfold and impart.
I am the true Vine.—The vine is the living Lord, who Himself speaks, and gives, and works all that He has for us. If you would know the meaning and power of that word, do not think to find it by thought or study; these may help to show you what you must get from Him to awaken desire and hope and prayer, but they cannot show you the Vine. Jesus alone can reveal Himself. He gives His Holy Spirit to open the eyes to gaze upon Himself, to open the heart to receive Himself. He must Himself speak the word to you and me.
I am the true Vine.—And what am I to do, if I want the mystery, in all its heavenly beauty and blessing, opened up to me? With what you already know of the parable, bow down and be still, worship and wait, until the divine Word enters your heart, and you feel His holy presence with you, and in you. The overshadowing of His holy love will give you the perfect calm and rest of knowing that the Vine will do all.
I am the true Vine.—He who speaks is God, in His infinite power able to enter into us. He is man, one with us. He is the crucified One, who won a perfect righteousness and a divine life for us through His death. He is the glorified One, who from the throne gives His Spirit to make His presence real and true. He speaks—oh, listen, not to His words only, but to Himself, as He whispers secretly day by day: “I am the true Vine! All that the Vine can ever be to its branch, “I will be to you.”
Prayer:
Holy Lord Jesus, the heavenly Vine of God’s own planting, I beseech Thee, reveal Thyself to my soul. Let the Holy Spirit, not only in thought, but in experience, give me to know all that Thou, the Son of God, art to me as the true Vine.
(True Vine: Meditations for a Month on John 15:1-16, by Andrew Murray)
"I am the true vine." (John 15:1)
I am the true Vine.—This is a heavenly mystery. The earthly vine can teach you much about this Vine of Heaven. Many interesting and beautiful points of comparison suggest themselves, and help us to get conceptions of what Christ meant. But such thoughts do not teach us to know what the heavenly Vine really is, in its cooling shade, and its life-giving fruit. The experience of this is part of the hidden mystery, which none but Jesus Himself, by His Holy Spirit, can unfold and impart.
I am the true Vine.—The vine is the living Lord, who Himself speaks, and gives, and works all that He has for us. If you would know the meaning and power of that word, do not think to find it by thought or study; these may help to show you what you must get from Him to awaken desire and hope and prayer, but they cannot show you the Vine. Jesus alone can reveal Himself. He gives His Holy Spirit to open the eyes to gaze upon Himself, to open the heart to receive Himself. He must Himself speak the word to you and me.
I am the true Vine.—And what am I to do, if I want the mystery, in all its heavenly beauty and blessing, opened up to me? With what you already know of the parable, bow down and be still, worship and wait, until the divine Word enters your heart, and you feel His holy presence with you, and in you. The overshadowing of His holy love will give you the perfect calm and rest of knowing that the Vine will do all.
I am the true Vine.—He who speaks is God, in His infinite power able to enter into us. He is man, one with us. He is the crucified One, who won a perfect righteousness and a divine life for us through His death. He is the glorified One, who from the throne gives His Spirit to make His presence real and true. He speaks—oh, listen, not to His words only, but to Himself, as He whispers secretly day by day: “I am the true Vine! All that the Vine can ever be to its branch, “I will be to you.”
Prayer:
Holy Lord Jesus, the heavenly Vine of God’s own planting, I beseech Thee, reveal Thyself to my soul. Let the Holy Spirit, not only in thought, but in experience, give me to know all that Thou, the Son of God, art to me as the true Vine.
(True Vine: Meditations for a Month on John 15:1-16, by Andrew Murray)
Monday, January 5, 2009
Rejoice, why?
Scriptures: “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:19-20)
Last Friday night, I went to our church to attend a meeting of our young adults’ fellowship. Yesterday, I went to our church for the first Sunday service of year 2009. In both occasions, everyone greeted each one with, “Happy New Year!”
Even though some aged brothers and sisters would add to their greetings something like, “I can’t believe another year has gone by!” or something like “It’s funny how time seems to fly so much faster when you are old!” but people were still excited over the start of a new year.
It seems to me that people, in general, love new things; new clothing, new cars, new houses, new toys, news, etc. Yet, interestingly enough, none of these new things last very long. They may stay in our closets, on our bookshelves, in our toy boxes, and our garage for a few days, months, or even years. But, long before they are disposed of, they would have been re-categorized as old. The joy they brought to our lives unconsciously but quickly fades away as they lose their newness.
Yet, Bible time and again tells us to be joyful. How can we be joyful always when our experiences seem to say differently? In today’s passage, Jesus gave us a couple of reasons to rejoice: 1) we have been given the authority to overcome the power of the enemy and, 2) our names are written in heaven. These are all great reasons to rejoice. Of the two reasons, Jesus demanded that we rejoice because our names are written in heaven. Why?
I think the answers lie in the meaning of having our names written in heaven. To me, it means: 1) since our Lord Jesus has paid the penalty for all our sins, we will not be subject to the judgment that sends sinners to eternal condemnation. This is definitely a wonderful reason to rejoice.
Secondly, I think it means that we are citizens of this Kingdom of God and, as such, we have been promised the protection and guidance of the almighty God. More than these, as Jesus our Lord has triumphed over the power of death and the power of Satan, we have all been made victors in Him who defeated that which once enslaved us. This triumph will be forever remembered and celebrated and, as such, is an everlasting reason to rejoice.
Thirdly, I think it means that we are children of the Most High God. Paul said in his letters to the Galatians, “So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.” (Galatians 4:7) Yes, because of Jesus, we can call God “Abba Father” and have a father-to-children relationship with Him. More than a life giving relationship, we have also been made heirs to all spiritual inheritances. Paul also said, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3) Every spiritual blessing in Christ? Wow! God has certainly showered upon us His blessings from His riches. Such love is definitely beyond our understanding and deserves the response of joy from us!
Last, but definitely not least, I believe it means that we have received eternal life before God. We are not simply children of God in this age or this life. We have been sealed for fellowship and communion with God for eternity. That eternal life of having fellowship with God starts the moment we acknowledged our need for salvation by Jesus. Though what eternity is all about is still beyond me. What I have received and enjoyed so far are already beyond my understanding. The infinite God desires to spend eternity with someone like me? I don’t know about you. But, to me, just the thought of it blows me away!
Over this New Year holiday, when every economists is giving gloomy forecast for our economy, have you lost your smiles on your face and your joy in your heart? If so, consider these thoughts on the promises God has made to us. He who is faithful will see to it that, when our names are written in heaven, we still have all the reasons we need to be joyful!
Prayer Requests:
For those who are facing financial problems in this problematic economy
Prayer:
Our precious Lord, thank You for reminding us who we are in Your sight. We want to embrace this new year with Your love and power so we may be Your instruments to touch and transform all lives You have brought before us. May You always be exalted in all our words and deeds and may this new year bring us closer to Your heart. In the name of our Lord Jesus, the name above all names, we pray, Amen!
Last Friday night, I went to our church to attend a meeting of our young adults’ fellowship. Yesterday, I went to our church for the first Sunday service of year 2009. In both occasions, everyone greeted each one with, “Happy New Year!”
Even though some aged brothers and sisters would add to their greetings something like, “I can’t believe another year has gone by!” or something like “It’s funny how time seems to fly so much faster when you are old!” but people were still excited over the start of a new year.
It seems to me that people, in general, love new things; new clothing, new cars, new houses, new toys, news, etc. Yet, interestingly enough, none of these new things last very long. They may stay in our closets, on our bookshelves, in our toy boxes, and our garage for a few days, months, or even years. But, long before they are disposed of, they would have been re-categorized as old. The joy they brought to our lives unconsciously but quickly fades away as they lose their newness.
Yet, Bible time and again tells us to be joyful. How can we be joyful always when our experiences seem to say differently? In today’s passage, Jesus gave us a couple of reasons to rejoice: 1) we have been given the authority to overcome the power of the enemy and, 2) our names are written in heaven. These are all great reasons to rejoice. Of the two reasons, Jesus demanded that we rejoice because our names are written in heaven. Why?
I think the answers lie in the meaning of having our names written in heaven. To me, it means: 1) since our Lord Jesus has paid the penalty for all our sins, we will not be subject to the judgment that sends sinners to eternal condemnation. This is definitely a wonderful reason to rejoice.
Secondly, I think it means that we are citizens of this Kingdom of God and, as such, we have been promised the protection and guidance of the almighty God. More than these, as Jesus our Lord has triumphed over the power of death and the power of Satan, we have all been made victors in Him who defeated that which once enslaved us. This triumph will be forever remembered and celebrated and, as such, is an everlasting reason to rejoice.
Thirdly, I think it means that we are children of the Most High God. Paul said in his letters to the Galatians, “So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.” (Galatians 4:7) Yes, because of Jesus, we can call God “Abba Father” and have a father-to-children relationship with Him. More than a life giving relationship, we have also been made heirs to all spiritual inheritances. Paul also said, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3) Every spiritual blessing in Christ? Wow! God has certainly showered upon us His blessings from His riches. Such love is definitely beyond our understanding and deserves the response of joy from us!
Last, but definitely not least, I believe it means that we have received eternal life before God. We are not simply children of God in this age or this life. We have been sealed for fellowship and communion with God for eternity. That eternal life of having fellowship with God starts the moment we acknowledged our need for salvation by Jesus. Though what eternity is all about is still beyond me. What I have received and enjoyed so far are already beyond my understanding. The infinite God desires to spend eternity with someone like me? I don’t know about you. But, to me, just the thought of it blows me away!
Over this New Year holiday, when every economists is giving gloomy forecast for our economy, have you lost your smiles on your face and your joy in your heart? If so, consider these thoughts on the promises God has made to us. He who is faithful will see to it that, when our names are written in heaven, we still have all the reasons we need to be joyful!
Prayer Requests:
For those who are facing financial problems in this problematic economy
Prayer:
Our precious Lord, thank You for reminding us who we are in Your sight. We want to embrace this new year with Your love and power so we may be Your instruments to touch and transform all lives You have brought before us. May You always be exalted in all our words and deeds and may this new year bring us closer to Your heart. In the name of our Lord Jesus, the name above all names, we pray, Amen!
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