Today has been fantastic! My house mate Jonathan delivered his first baby (he's a medical student); I met up with some good friends; listened to an awesome lecture on African Economics and did my fare share of study. That means free time to blog - WOOT!
I was reading Matthew 7:7-8 one day, it says "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."
What hit me was not the asking, but rather the seeking and knocking part. I realized a lot of times we ask God for something but really don't set about looking for a solution or knocking on the doors. Sometimes we just wait and expect things fall onto our laps. I believe in the natural and the supernatural right? God does His part and He WILL perform miracles but I think we also need to do out part in the natural. We need to do the seeking and knocking as well.
My housemates and I (4 of us) are currently looking for a house to move in to next year. Now, imagine us going "God, please give us a place to stay!" and then just wait for a house to miraculously find us! We're praying (believe me =D) but we're looking online for the house, we're asking around, we're going to go for the inspections and we're talking to people - we're putting in the action.
Maybe we should start to include "Lord, teach me how to help me friend" in our prayers instead of just "Lord, help my friend". Let's learn to take action and partner with God in this journey. God is good and He will not disappoint us, but i was just reminded how important it for us not to be lazy too.
JC.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Saturday, October 11, 2008
A Process
We all know that life is a journey. Sometimes we forget, but we are eventually reminded again and again.
There was this time in my life when I was eager to do everything INSTANTLY. I wanted to to be the best guitar player after a week of practice; i wanted to score the best marks after one study session; i'd want to lose all that weight from dinner after one jog around the park.
I would say that i didn't live the words diligence, faithfulness, patience, consistency in my life.
More and more I'm starting to realize that God works in us through a process. The Bible calls Him the Potter and we the clay right? And if we allow Him, we are going to get molded to be like Him. I found it really helpful to actually understand that this is more like a process than an exam which u pass or fail. Through every failure or success, God can turn it into good for us - to shape us to be more like Him. And in every situation we CAN choose - to be frustrated, worried, angry, pitiful or trusting, rejoicing, peaceful and loving. Most of us can relate to being in a position of this choice.
You know how you never truly know how safe a newly designed car is unless you do one of those crash tests? Similarly, maybe we'll know when have gotten over being a worrier when we can choose not to worry and trust God in the most difficult of situations. Difficult life situations can be opportunities for us to grow. Maybe that's why the Bible tells us to rejoice in various trials! Romans 5:4 says suffering leads to perseverance, which leads to CHARACTER.
We can lose our money, our reputation, our hair, our friends...but our CHARACTER stays with us. It is OUR character, and it's how we choose to live by Jesus and allow Him to mold us that will see us develop to our fullest potential.
And if we are the type that give up easily, it's time to stand up and not give up when it feels the easiest to. Hope this blesses someone.
I need to read this post over and over myself. Love You Jesus!
JC.
There was this time in my life when I was eager to do everything INSTANTLY. I wanted to to be the best guitar player after a week of practice; i wanted to score the best marks after one study session; i'd want to lose all that weight from dinner after one jog around the park.
I would say that i didn't live the words diligence, faithfulness, patience, consistency in my life.
More and more I'm starting to realize that God works in us through a process. The Bible calls Him the Potter and we the clay right? And if we allow Him, we are going to get molded to be like Him. I found it really helpful to actually understand that this is more like a process than an exam which u pass or fail. Through every failure or success, God can turn it into good for us - to shape us to be more like Him. And in every situation we CAN choose - to be frustrated, worried, angry, pitiful or trusting, rejoicing, peaceful and loving. Most of us can relate to being in a position of this choice.
You know how you never truly know how safe a newly designed car is unless you do one of those crash tests? Similarly, maybe we'll know when have gotten over being a worrier when we can choose not to worry and trust God in the most difficult of situations. Difficult life situations can be opportunities for us to grow. Maybe that's why the Bible tells us to rejoice in various trials! Romans 5:4 says suffering leads to perseverance, which leads to CHARACTER.
We can lose our money, our reputation, our hair, our friends...but our CHARACTER stays with us. It is OUR character, and it's how we choose to live by Jesus and allow Him to mold us that will see us develop to our fullest potential.
And if we are the type that give up easily, it's time to stand up and not give up when it feels the easiest to. Hope this blesses someone.
I need to read this post over and over myself. Love You Jesus!
JC.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Romans 10:15
PlanetUNI Event on the 27th at Dallas Brooks Centre. It's going to be amazing! A celebration and an invitation to those who want to know more about Jesus. Come and see how un-boring He actually is. It's $5 per entry and starts at 7:30pm. There's going to be performances, praise and worship. Pastor Matt Fielder will be there to spice things up for ya! Presence of God will be there, it's going to be the best.
See u guys there!
Intimacy
To sum up, it's been a blog famine for me of late. =) So I actually haven't been reading blogs as well, let alone login to my own account and spend time posting.
However, I thought i should.
Intimacy - spending time with our Dad; chit-chatting; worshiping; listening; communing; loving; laughing; being transparent...whatever that word means to you.
How is our relationship with God going? Okay, let's put our tags as "leaders" aside for the moment. Let's not think about the amount of time we spend serving in church, practicing for worship services, or writing sermons. Let's forget about the number of people we're reaching out to.
Being a servant in the house and being a son of the House is a altogether different is it? (just learned about this at Inner Champ).
From out relationship with God, are we still entering His rest and Presence? Are we listening to what He has to show us? Does the thought of spending time with Him cause a spring to our step? See, I believe God wants us more than we can ever want Him. So much of the time we're like little brats who don't want to listen and think we know it all.
For those of us plagued by guilt, we NEED His Grace. Accept that we are not worthy (you prob don't have a prob with that), but also accept that His Grace is bigger than anything. The Cross is bigger than anything. Let's enter in everyday with that full assurance and confidence His Grace has given us. He's saying, "Come in and feast! Come in and hang out with me, the door is open! The curtain is torn; come, come! The entrance is free, it's been paid for!" See, we need to hold fast to that confidence and to be strong in the grace because the enemy will want to rob us of that. That will stop us building our relationship with God.
I constantly fight to keep my confidence in His grace. I'm not losing my relationship with God to the lies of the enemy anymore. Who's voice are we listening to?
JC.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Have No Fear
Got this from a devotional I subscribe to, I have to admit I almost don't read it at all but just thought this was really good for a lot of us. Let's declare His promises! Heaven and earth shall pass away but His Word shall remain yea? When we have no confidence in ourselves and in our situation, it's His promises than can uphold us. =) Be blessed guys.
JC.
JC.
Worried? Pray!!
So also is My Word. I send it out and it always produces fruit.
Isaiah 55:11 TLB
Are you worried today? If you are, begin these words until they take root in your heart, awaken your faith, and become your fixed attitude towards GOD! This prayer will bring results!
“Father, you told me not to fear, for you are with me. You will strengthen me, you will help me, and you will uphold me with the right hand of your righteousness. You said those who rise up against me will be confounded. (Isaiah 41:10-11) You also said that no evil would befall me neither would any plague come near my dwelling, for you have given your angels charge over me to keep me in all my ways. (Psalms 91:10-11) You declared that when I walk through the rivers of difficulty, you won’t let me drown. When I walk through the fires of oppression I will not be burned for you are the LORD my GOD. (Isaiah 42:2-3)
“You said that no weapon that is formed against me will prosper and that you will silence every tongue that rises against me in judgement because I am you servant. (Isaiah 54:17) You promised that if I ask anything according to your will, you would hear me and that I could have it. (1 John 5:14-15) You said I am blessed when I go out and blessed when I come in. (Deuteronomy 28:6) You told me to cast all my cares on you and you would take care of me.” (1 Peter 5:7)
Adapted from A Fresh Word For Today
by Bob Gass
Saturday, August 2, 2008
There's More Than One Christianity?
Found this in my study Bible during my devotion yesterday morning.
There are 4 types of Christianity (3 are distortions):
Judaized Christianity (distortion)
Definition: Christians are Jews who have recognized Jesus as the promised Savior. Therefore any Gentile desiring to become a Christian must first become a Jew.
Danger: Tends to add human tradition and standards to God's law. Also subtracts from the Scriptures God's clear concern for all nations.
Legalized Christianity (distortion)
Definition: Christians are those who live by a long of "dont's". God's favor is earned by good behavior.
Danger: Tends to make God's love something to earn rather than to accept freely. Would reduce Christianity to a set of impossible rules and transform the Good News into BAD news.
Lawless Christianity (distortion)
Definition: Christians live above the law. They need no guidelines. God's Word is not as important as our personal sense of God's guidance.
Danger: Forgets that Christians are still human and fail consistently when trying to live only by what they "feel" God wants.
True Christianity
Definition: Christians are those who believe inwardly and outwardly that Jesus' death has allowed God to offer them forgiveness and eternal life as a GIFT. They have accepted that gift through faith and are seeking to live a life of obedient gratitude for what God has done for them.
Danger: Avoids the above dangers.
What type of Christian are we?
There are 4 types of Christianity (3 are distortions):
Judaized Christianity (distortion)
Definition: Christians are Jews who have recognized Jesus as the promised Savior. Therefore any Gentile desiring to become a Christian must first become a Jew.
Danger: Tends to add human tradition and standards to God's law. Also subtracts from the Scriptures God's clear concern for all nations.
Legalized Christianity (distortion)
Definition: Christians are those who live by a long of "dont's". God's favor is earned by good behavior.
Danger: Tends to make God's love something to earn rather than to accept freely. Would reduce Christianity to a set of impossible rules and transform the Good News into BAD news.
Lawless Christianity (distortion)
Definition: Christians live above the law. They need no guidelines. God's Word is not as important as our personal sense of God's guidance.
Danger: Forgets that Christians are still human and fail consistently when trying to live only by what they "feel" God wants.
True Christianity
Definition: Christians are those who believe inwardly and outwardly that Jesus' death has allowed God to offer them forgiveness and eternal life as a GIFT. They have accepted that gift through faith and are seeking to live a life of obedient gratitude for what God has done for them.
Danger: Avoids the above dangers.
What type of Christian are we?
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Love At a Distance
My friend Trili told me last night that she always gets her revelations in the shower, as in like enlightenment.
I totally agreed.
Today, it happened again! U know what i realized? In the shower. I realized (at least for myself) that it's actually quite hard to love people that are really close to me. Realize how easy it is to "love" and have "compassion" for the people in Africa but hate you little brother? By people close to me i actually mean people that know me inside out, people that know my faults, my past, my REAL me. Not the me everyone that I'm nice to knows, but the me when I'm sulky, when I'm moody, when I'm bad. I use to think that I'd have to go through the whole awkward stage when they'll say, "What's the matter with you? Why are you suddenly so nice to me?"
Ok for me, that's awkward.
But this is the deal. For people that I hardly know, people that I watch from the tram stop, people that aren't exactly close friends - I find it easier to "love" and be "nice" to. And i was thinking about it, about myself. Know what I realized? Of course it's easier!! OF COURSE!! It dawned upon me like a warm shower on a winter morning. ;)!
It's easy to love at a distance because we can FAKE IT.
Well, there's really no responsibility. We hardly come into contact with them, we don't really have to care for their problems. We don't have to bear their burdens, we don't have to be patient with them. We don't have to clean up their mess, we don't have to SACRIFICE anything for them. All we do is just have a nice feeling about them. That's not love! That's faking it. The Bible tells us not to love with hypocrisy. In other words, if we think we can love the people in Africa, we'd better start loving those around us.
SO RANDOM YET SO GOOD!
love (the irony),
JC.
I totally agreed.
Today, it happened again! U know what i realized? In the shower. I realized (at least for myself) that it's actually quite hard to love people that are really close to me. Realize how easy it is to "love" and have "compassion" for the people in Africa but hate you little brother? By people close to me i actually mean people that know me inside out, people that know my faults, my past, my REAL me. Not the me everyone that I'm nice to knows, but the me when I'm sulky, when I'm moody, when I'm bad. I use to think that I'd have to go through the whole awkward stage when they'll say, "What's the matter with you? Why are you suddenly so nice to me?"
Ok for me, that's awkward.
But this is the deal. For people that I hardly know, people that I watch from the tram stop, people that aren't exactly close friends - I find it easier to "love" and be "nice" to. And i was thinking about it, about myself. Know what I realized? Of course it's easier!! OF COURSE!! It dawned upon me like a warm shower on a winter morning. ;)!
It's easy to love at a distance because we can FAKE IT.
Well, there's really no responsibility. We hardly come into contact with them, we don't really have to care for their problems. We don't have to bear their burdens, we don't have to be patient with them. We don't have to clean up their mess, we don't have to SACRIFICE anything for them. All we do is just have a nice feeling about them. That's not love! That's faking it. The Bible tells us not to love with hypocrisy. In other words, if we think we can love the people in Africa, we'd better start loving those around us.
SO RANDOM YET SO GOOD!
love (the irony),
JC.
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