Wired Together.

Acts 2: 46-47a

“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts … praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.”

God blesses churches that worship him joyfully. Truth is, God loves a good celebration. He blesses people who celebrate him! The early Church is a great example of that.

The Bible says of the early Church: “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts … praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people” (Acts 2:46-47a NIV).

There’s enough bad news in the world. The last thing you should do is come to church to hear more bad news. The church is the place for the Good News — the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

The Bible says, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord’” (Psalm 122:1 NASB). God’s church should be a place of joy!

You and I were wired to enjoy God. We were wired to express emotion. If we can’t do that in church, then we’ll do it at rock concerts or sports stadiums. The church should be a place where we can express emotion toward God. Church should be a fun place where we can worship.

Where do we find that kind of joy? In Acts 2, Peter quotes David saying: “I see that the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts his praises! My body rests in hope” (Acts 2:25-26 NLT).

God wants us to live — and worship — in gladness, joyfulness, and hope!

Ignorance and Innocence

Romans 5:12-21
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Have you ever met someone who avoided going to the doctor because they believed there was nothing wrong with them, or they didn't want to know anything was wrong with them? Just because you don't go to the doctor, doesn't mean you're not sick! Sometimes, us Christians, run away in the same way. We believe there is nothing wrong with us, and by avoiding that "measure," we hope that we never hear the news that there is something wrong with us! Ignorance of our sickness does not make us healthy, and in the same way, ignorance of our sin does not make us innocent!


"For if, by the trespass of one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ." [Romans 5:17]


Man to God, is like a speck of sand, while God is like the ocean (technically bigger, but y'know, for the analogy sake!). If you think about it, through that one speck of sand, death came into our world, but through God, we receive grace. If you think about it, God is really big, and how much more is that grace worth?! It's so hard to explain, but so easy to imagine. I was sitting here feeling giggly about the verse. God is so gracious to us!


When people refuse to live by the righteousness of God, they lived by their own standards of right and wrong. That kind of thinking will make you sin! Like ignorance, you may feel that you like a pleasant life, but that does not make you spiritually healthy. Yes, we may be never able to achieve Jesus' righteousness, but we have an ever abundant fountain of grace that pours from our Lord. Let's not be ignorant, because that does not make us innocent! 

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God is the Measurer and Healer of our spiritual health.

Love.

Acts 2:44-45

“And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person's need was met.”

It is the too-little told secret of church growth. Loving churches grow. Cold churches don’t.

That’s the story of the early church, too. They loved each other deeply. Acts 2:44-45 says, “And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person's need was met.” (MSG)

That’s radical love. The Roman government hated Christians. It was illegal to be a Christian. The Romans often tried to kill believers. But even the Romans would say that Christians really loved each other. You know it must be true if the enemies of the Church would say that! But the early Church was known for exactly that kind of love. It is the same kind of love that drew people to Jesus. The Bible said the early Church grew on a daily basis.

We all want that kind of growth in our churches. The way to achieve that is to love like the early Church. We call that fellowship—or being as committed to our fellow believers as we are to Jesus.

There are two reasons people haven’t come to Christ. They don’t know any Christians–or they do! People want to be around those who love them. When a church genuinely loves others, you will have to lock the doors to keep people out.

In Praise of Sovereignty

Psalm 103:15-22
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One of the worse feelings for me is feeling betrayed or upset. My stomach will drop, my heart feels like it stops beating, time seems to stand still for me, and the cold hard truth begins to seep into my brain slowly. Sometimes I feel like I can't breath. Other times, I feel as if the breath's been knocked out of me. When it's really serious, I feel as if someone rammed a knife into my heart time and time again. This was how I felt when I learned I had scoliosis or when I found out my best friend said I was only being tolerated for the duration of our friendship. Neither times did I turn to God and praise him. I cried, blamed myself and didn't allow God to work in me.


"The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all." [Psalm 103:19]


King David of Israel probably felt the same way as I did many times. He stood before Goliath, chased by a murderous King Saul and watched Israel rally under his rule, yet despite all this, he praised God. No matter what happened, he took the time to write psalms, praising and worshiping God in all circumstances, thanking God for his care and control.


I look back on my life and wonder if I do the same. Nope, not at all. The first thing I would do in a terrible situation is not praise God, but put the blame on someone. But no, we must be like King David, and give thanks in all circumstances. 

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Praise the Lord! Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! [Psalm 150:1-2]

Languages.

Acts 2:4

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

God performed a great miracle in the early church. The Bible says of the apostles on the Day of Pentecost that, “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” (Acts 2:4, NIV) God empowered the apostles to speak other languages in order to advance the gospel.

This isn’t a miracle we need in today’s world. The Church speaks every language in the world. We speak more languages than the United Nations. But there is a deeper truth from this passage.

From the very beginning of the Church, God expected us to share the gospel in many languages and through many channels. You probably don’t realize it but you know many different languages. Even if you don’t have different dictionaries or grammars for them, you still speak these languages on a regular basis. For instance, if you are a mom of a preschooler, you can talk with other moms of preschoolers like no one else can. If you’re a baseball fan, you can talk to other baseball fans in ways other people can’t. If you’re an engineer, you understand other engineers.

The gospel is for everyone. We need to use every communication channel at our disposal to share it with those who need to hear it. The languages you speak aren’t just the ones codified in dictionaries. Every interest you have can be a vehicle for the gospel. Every commonality you share with a friend can be an opportunity for you to tell them about Jesus.

You have interests and experiences that you’ve probably never considered using for sharing the gospel. On the day of Pentecost, God distributed the gospel among every language in attendance. He wants to use every language the Church has at its disposal today too.

What languages do you speak that God could use to share the gospel? 

A Commitment to Care

Galatians 6:1-2
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A few months ago, when I was an emotional wreck in dealing with a lost friendship with someone who meant a lot to me, I had a few friends who were by my side a lot. Of course, they know who they are, and even though they're a year younger than me, the love the exhibited showed me what Christlike love is all about. Despite the fact I was an emotional wreck, and not being the "Witty" they knew, they loved me, cared for me and were with me every step of the way. As I look back now, I realize that I was a pain to deal with, and at times, I wonder if they ever thought, "How am I going to deal with this girl?"


"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." [Galatians 6:2]


They realized I wouldn't be able to go through this alone, and they were with me every step of the way, carrying my burdens, even though they were so extremely heavy. They loved me when none of my own age group friends did, and when they realized I wouldn't take the first step, they took it for me. What I finally see is that they took my burden, without complaining, and ran with it, soared with it, and they never, ever took the time to complain. They talked to me, stayed with me, prayed with me, and showed me so much love. So much love, and I am so grateful. 


Now, months later, I finally realize the extent of care they had for me, and I have no words to express the gratitude I owe to them. At the same time, I am so eternally thankful for God blessing these individuals into my life. They were, literally, the light shining in the dark room, for me. Much love. <3

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Compassion is the capacity to put Christlike love into action.

Patience.

Being patient is a key ingredient that we all need. 


Today, I went out with my friends to watch a movie and we decided to go for Menchie's afterwards. At this time it was already around 10pm and after we went for some Menchie's we decided to walk back to a bus stop. As we walked and walked we saw no bus stop so we ended up walking back to First Markham Place. We already missed several buses that passed by and this made us wait even longer. As I called my dad to tell him that I am coming home, he said that he would come pick me up instead because he wants me to be safe, rather than taking public transit. So I had to wait for my mother to come back from a meeting in order for my dad to come pick me up. During this time we had to have a lot of patience as we waited outside. Some of us were frustrated and were complaining about how cold we were. 


This reminded me of how much time God has given us to wait for us to stop being stubborn and listen to Him. He guides us through so many things and is always there for us. His works are so wonderful and amazing that in the end, it's all worth the wait. 

Believe God is working in your life even when you don’t feel it. Spiritual growth is sometimes tedious work, one small step at a time. Expect gradual improvement.

There are seasons in your spiritual life, too. Sometimes you will have a short, intense burst of growth (springtime) followed by a period of stabilizing and testing (fall and winter).

Keep a notebook or journal of lessons learned. This is not a diary of events, but a record of what you are learning. Write down the insights and lessons God teaches you about him, about your life, and everything else.

The reason we must relearn lessons is that we forget them. Reviewing your spiritual journal regularly can spare you a lot of unnecessary pain and heartache.

We are often in a hurry when God isn’t. You may feel frustrated with the seemingly slow progress you’re making in life. Remember that God is never in a hurry, but he is always on time. He will use your entire lifetime to prepare you for your role in eternity.

Love for Enemies

Luke 6:27-36
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People generally do not ask me why I do the things I do. They just assume I am a good kid. I don't smoke, party, drink, do drugs, and I'm not that "mean" to other people. People look at me and just think I do the things I do because I am a "goody two shoes." The thing that stumps me is, "Why do they think I do those things because I'm nice/kind, but not because I am a Christian?" You see, there's a difference between those who are just generally kind, and those who are Christian.


"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full." [Luke 6:32-34]


I realize I've been thinking the wrong thing the entire time. I thought that if I went above and beyond, and was kind and nice to everyone, they would think, "Why is she like that?" and I could say, "Because I am a Christian." But no! God doesn't want us to be "good." If we do the things sinners do, we're just human. If we love others who love us, do good to those who are good to us, and lend and expect repayment, what sets us apart?


"But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." [Luke 6:35-36]


We must do everything in love, because God is love. Like the video I posted on my profile page, The 'Unforgivable' Sin, we must do things not because we have to or fear going to hell, but because we understand God's love so much, we want to extend that love to others. 



"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." [Luke 6:27-28]


Prayer is one powerful weapon. Pray for those who need God, yes, but also pray for those who mistreat you, hate you, despise you, and ultimately, those whom you thought you'll never pray for. We don't want to show human kindness, we want to show God' love. There is a line, and I pray that the next time someone looks at me, they realize it's God working through me, not "human kindness."

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Returning good for good is human; returning good for evil is divine.

Winning Arguments.

1 Corinthians 1:10 

"I beg you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to stop arguing among yourselves. Let there be real harmony so that there won’t be splits in the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose."

Stop trying to win arguments.

Instead, make it your goal to love those who disagree with you. Go for the love, not the win. Jesus tells us love will always win; he guaranteed that when he walked out of the tomb.

When you find yourself in an argument with other believers, use these biblical guidelines for getting along:

Let mercy guide your response (Proverbs 3:3–6). In a conflict, most of us say we only want what’s fair, but God’s approach isn’t about being fair. It’s about grace and mercy (Romans 5:8).

Let God determine the truth (2 Corinthians 13:8). The truth is not determined by your thoughts or feelings (1 John 4:1) or the opinions of others. Truth is what God says it is; he is the sole authority for interpreting any situation (2 Corinthians 10:5).

The Bible says we shouldn’t rely on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5), that what appears to be right to us may very well be wrong (Proverbs 14:12).

Look for God’s presence (Matthew 28:20). Satan wants us to believe we’re in the battle alone. Follow the example of the young shepherd boy, David, who believed God was in the fight and that the battle belonged to the Lord (1 Samuel 17:47).

Look for the conflict’s true source (Ephesians 6:12). According to God’s Word, we’re really not fighting other people; our real enemy is Satan and his “unseen spiritual forces of wickedness.”

Lay down human weapons (2 Corinthians 10:4–5). When we try to meet our own needs, working independently of God, we tend to use what the Apostle Paul called weapons of the flesh. These include: manipulation, gossip, slander, ridicule, threats, blame, nagging, deception, and silence. When we use them, we end up in an “evil for evil” cycle, and that’s like trying to fight a skunk with “stink” — everybody loses!

Learn to use spiritual weapons (2 Corinthians 10:4). The Bible tells us that prayer is a powerful spiritual weapon. After we put on the whole armor of God, we’re to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” (Ephesians 6:18 NIV).

Pursuit

John 6:42-51
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God works in mysterious ways. You never know who will look at your life, and be affected by it. For those that know me, you know my medical condition has played a huge part in how I became a Christian. When I found out about my condition, I really despised God for "what he had done to me." But now, looking back, I realized that's God drawing me near to him; it's a daily reminder that he's in control of my life. I was so consumed by worldly views and how they perceived beauty that I did not understand how God made me beautiful. 


"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day." [John 6:44]


How is God drawing you near? Who did he bless into your life, or use to guide you to him? Although I feel as if I'm not "out there" enough to make a huge impact and leave a legacy, I've had a friend tell me, "It's because of you that I am the Christian I am today." That hit me so much, and it made me realize, God will use anyone to draw his people near, whether you think He can use you or not.

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Love is the magnet that draws believers together and attracts unbelievers to Christ. 

Reconciliation.

Matthew 5:9

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

When you are in conflict, concentrate on reconciliation rather than resolution. There’s a big difference: Reconciliation means to re-establish the relationship, but resolution means to resolve every issue by coming to agreement on everything. 

That's simply not going to happen. I don't care if you both love the Lord or are deeply in love with each other; there are some things you'll never agree on, because God has wired each of us differently.

But you can disagree without being disagreeable — that's called wisdom. The Bible says in James 3, “Wisdom is peace loving and courteous. It allows discussion, and it is willing to yield to others.” 

The Bible says it's wise to compromise. You can have unity without uniformity. You can walk hand-in-hand without seeing eye-to-eye. You can have reconciliation without resolution of every issue.

When we focus on the relationship, the issues often become insignificant. This is my challenge to you: In a world filled with conflict, war, prejudice, violence, partisanship, and broken relationships, commit to becoming an agent of reconciliation.

It is no accident that the first letter of P.E.A.C.E represents God’s goal for us to be peacemakers. It’s always more rewarding to resolve the conflict than to dissolve the relationship.

Any Distance, Any Time

Matthew 9:35-38
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How many of you have visited Hong Kong or a relative far away? How did you get there? The most likely option is by plane, is it not? How many of you have gone on a family outing to a nearby city, such as Niagara to see the falls? How did you get there? The most likely option is by car, is it not? How many of you have decided to grab lunch at a nearby restaurant with a friend during school? How did you get there? The most likely option is by walking, is it not?


"Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing ever disease and sickness." [Matthew 9:35]


When I had a brother who was in need, my heart went out to him. I knew he needed a sister with him, but I had a really busy week and no time at all. But God placed this burden on my heart and I knew that just by praying wouldn't mean anything compared to seeing him face to face. The next day, I was texting him as usual, and told him I was going to the studio to break, when in reality, I traveled an hour by subway, and half an hour by bus, switching twice in order to reach this brother in need.


God came down from Heaven to Earth to save us. We have planes, cars, and even feet to bring us to our destination. When a brother or sister is in need, do you not go to them if they need comfort? No distance is ever too far. Jesus Christ went the extra mile to leave his throne in Heaven behind to come to Earth, yet when a friend is in need down the street, we say we can't visit them? When we do things in the name of love, we can go any distance. Jesus did that. Why can't we?

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What God gave us, He wants us to share. 

Enemy Deception

John 8:42-47
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A quote from The Art of War by General Sun Tzu has been used for centuries in military and other areas of life, such as politics, sports, business, leadership and management. It states that, "All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near." This is the same for our spiritual enemy. 


"Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." [John 8:42-44]


Our enemy, the devil, uses deceit so craftily, sometimes we don't even realize we're falling into sin. At the end of one of my favorite song, Lies by amp movement, they write in the video,


"I cannot tell you to believe in devils, I may not even be able to prove to you they exist, but don't you think that if they did exist, the first thing they'd do is convince you that devils aren't real? That way, you are no threat to their influence. You'd just be another helpless victim. So the question is, is that you?" 


This really hit me, as sometimes it doesn't even cross my mind that there's the lion, the devil, out there, prowling for me. He tempts me everyday, he's everywhere, trying to make me fall. Sometimes, it doesn't even hit me that the devil is real.


"Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."" [John 8:45-47]


I think this verse is really scary to be honest. If you do not belong to God, who do you belong to? The devil. You cannot be in the middle, but either or. You either belong to God, or you belong to the devil. Now, do you believe in the devil, or has he used his deceit on you too?

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God's truth is the best protection against Satan's lies. 

Silence

Matthew 26:57-64
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God calls us daily to live a life of love, and to show Him through our lives. When you're at school or at work, are their subjects that continually come up? Such as the latest movie to watch, or what happened on the most recent episode of Pretty Little Liars. Although there is a time and place for everything, you wouldn't be talking about this during an exam, would you?!


"But Jesus remained silent." [Matthew 26:63a]


Sometimes during our Christian walk, there is a time and place for everything, and sometimes, there is a time and place to be silent. I believe if you're telling someone about Christ, and they are uncomfortable about it, you may want to tell them when they are more comfortable and open about God. Pray for an open heart! Or if the conversation will deter away from Christ, you may want to pray about it and bring up this conversation another time. 


When Jesus was arrested, He remained silent, knowing it was the best thing to do in this situation. I find it funny how the men demand the truth, yet when they are told, they don't believe it! How ridiculous is it to ask something you don't want to believe the answer to! Not only our words and lives are a witness for Christ, but also our conduct as well!

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Silence can be one tool in evangelism.

Put Others First.

Philippians 2:4-5

“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”

Conflict does not resolve itself. It must be dealt with intentionally. Conflict gets worse when you leave it alone. If you have something wrong with someone, or someone has a problem with you, take the initiative to work it out.

When should you work it out? At once. Postponed conflict only gets worse. You need to do it as soon as possible, before it festers and turns into bitterness. You can’t just look at your own viewpoint or situation; you have to look at the other person’s viewpoint, too. This is very difficult, because it's not natural. It requires an intentional shift, where you change your focus from looking at your needs to looking at someone else’s needs. 

It also takes God working in your life to do that. 

When we understand where people are coming from, the less conflict we're likely to have with them.

How do you learn to understand others? You listen. Listen more than you talk. Again, this is not easy for many of us. Some of us get so anxious to make our point, to tell our side, to defend ourselves; we don't even stop to listen to what others are saying or to consider their point of view. 

You are most like Christ when you ask, “What are her/his needs, and how can I meet them?” When you're angry, you're preoccupied with yourself. But when you're like Christ, you look to each other's interests and not merely your own.

One of the most powerful peace-making statements is when you say to someone else, “I'm sorry. I was only thinking of myself.”

Tempting Outside; Toxic Inside

Proverbs 2:6-10
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Maybe it's because we live in such a worldly-desire-filled society, but many teenagers find smoking attractive. I find it revolting, yet I do know some smokers. A cigarette is tempting on the outside, but inside, it's full of toxins that can kill your body. Government requires packaging to display pictures of the long-term effect of smoking in hopes of reducing the population from smoking. But as we can see, many people still indulge in this activity. 


"For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those who walk is blameless." [Proverbs 2:6-7]


What about our actions? A lot of them have long-term effects as well. The book of Proverbs continually remind us by repeating "in the end" in a lot of the verses. In the end, will the effect be toxic or detox? Will it fill you up with sin or wash away temptation? God gives us wisdom to see the foolishness in our choices and hope that we will choose the right path. Down the road, in the end, will it be joy or death that awaits you?

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Wisdom is understanding what's really important. 

Confess.

Matthew 7:3-5

Why do you notice the little piece of dust in your friend's eye, but you don't notice the big piece of wood in your own eye? First, take the wood out of your own eye. Then you will see clearly to take the dust out of your friend's eye.

When you are faced with a conflict, instead of accusing, attacking, or blaming the other person, begin with humility. This is true even if the conflict is 90% their fault.

 

Everyone has blindspots. No one is perfect and there are things we do that contribute toward a conflict that we have difficulty seeing. 

 

So, before I start attacking and blaming, I need to do a frank evaluation and ask, "How much of this conflict is my fault?" I need to do an honest checkup and admit my part. When you're wrong, admit it.

 

And when you're right, shut up! 

 

Be honest with yourself. Jesus says to look at what is in your own eye first and that will help you see the conflict clearly.

 

Ask, "Am I being unrealistic? Am I being insensitive? Am I being over-sensitive? Am I being too demanding? Am I being ungrateful?"

 

But our nature is to be self-centered and stubborn, unwilling to change! More relationships die from inflexibility than anything else

 

The Bible teaches we must lead with humility. How do you break a logjam in a conflict? Say, "I'm sorry, I was only thinking of myself."

 

A Good Neighbour

Luke 10:29-37
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"In June 2011, when disastrous flood- waters chased residents of Minot, North Dakota, from their homes, the people of that community did what seemed to come naturally to them—they helped others who were in need. People from more than an hour away, without being asked, showed up to help. Some loaned their campers to those who lost their homes and others allowed their garages to be used for temporary storage."


The people of that town showed immense amount of love for the flood victims. I mean, it's hard to share your home with people you barely know! It's funny how we can respond so readily and selflessly when people are in need, but when it's our everyday life, do we really show what it means to be a good neighbour?


People who see us, will see God through us. If we embody no love, no mercy and no forgiveness, do we really love God? This is something I struggle with a lot. To be able to show love freely to those I'm not friends with, to those that disrespect me, and to those who don't really "click" with me. It's so easy for me to act rude, or just ignore them. Have you heard of the phrase, "Give respect to get respect"? Or "If you don't respect me, I won't respect you"? How wrong are those! We are God's children, embodied in love to everyone, even those who disrespect us. 


As God's children, love should come naturally, and not be forced. This is something I still have to learn. Although we may not have a natural disaster to respond too, we can show love through others mercy (Luke 10:29-37), treat others fairly (Leviticus 19:13-18; James 2:1-8), speak to others truthfully (Ephesians 4:25), and forgive others completely (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13).

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Our love for Christ is only as real as our love for our neighbour. 

chasing:

every scene is a chase scene.

whether it be on stage, on tv, or in our daily lives,

we are chasing something, a goal, a dream, some sort of result.

To chase this "thing", there are steps we need to take. Some steps are the right steps, some steps are the wrong steps. Mistakes are bound to be made, lessons are meant to be learned, and experiences to have. Its a process, its a journey, and it progresses. It gets better.

Looking back again, I watched our SNA again this year, because i got distracted from studying. Anyways, I was watching it and to be truthfully honest, at first, i really was critical and it was even if i dare say discouraging, because it was my work that was on stage that i wasn't satisfied with. But as the fifty minute drama came to life, and went on, i realized and saw it grow before my eyes, as the audience became more invested, as the storylines were built, it grew and blossomed. Like these chase scenes, we were chasing this final product. And for me, what was most rewarding was seeing how invested the audience was, the cheer and claps when the door opened, the laughs when Sheldon kept replacing his glasses, and the gasps when the orb broke, those were the moments i was living off of.

Life is difficult sometimes, but try and don't give up halfway. When i was watching it, i actually thought to myself, "we should just stop the show." But no, this is a commitment, as actors we must stay in character and pull through. Like a marathon you run, you run and complete the race, you shouldn't stop halfway and give up. And SNA was a perfect example to show that if you stick it through, you will find great results. With our walk with Christ. When times get rough, stay faithful, stick it through. The storm will pass and the sun will shine once again. It only gets better. Learn from your experiences and grow from it.

Back to the topic of chasing things, its interesting with Christ because we actually aren't chasing anything. The thing, salvation is already secured for us! We only are the build our relationship with Christ, stay faithful, and fulfill his purpose for us.

with SNA, they chased the Orb of Avaskus,

with the World, we chase fame, success and our dreams,

with Christ, we don't chase, we live to glorify God.

verse of the day: James 1:12

¹² Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

Judge Rightly

Job 42:1-8
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Have you ever sat down with a friend, listening to them rant and rant about someone who wronged them? You basically know this person from what your friend tells you about them. Based on this minimal information, do you judge them? I can honestly say that I have. My friend's boyfriend lives in England, and well, they've never met. Anything that I've heard from her, I've judged him based on that, and this passage brings light on this kind of behavior.


"I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has." [Job 42:7b]


This passage is about Job's two friends, who believed Job had sinned due to tragedies that were happening to him. God came to his defense, not because they judged Job, but because they spoke falsely about him. When we base our judgement on minimal information about others, we are sinning against God. 

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If you are a Christian, remember that people judge your Lord based on you. 

New Heart.

Psalm 51:10

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

God spoke the world into existence, and he spoke you into your mother’s womb. Even now, he can speak into the chaos of your life to bring it shape and form (Psalm 51:10).

This is a Genesis event, where God speaks into the void and the darkness of your life, creating for you a new beginning. 

God can create something from nothing. He can take a heart that is broken, impure, or failed and turn it into a heart that is whole, pure, and purposeful. God wants to see you pure, so he takes an active role in creating your new heart and bringing order to the chaos of your life.

Your job is to submit to his sovereignty, humble yourself before him, and ask for his help.

Lord, speak a Genesis moment into our hearts and into the circumstances of our lives. We acknowledge “everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:30 MSG).

Renew in us a steadfast spirit (Psalm 51:10), no longer chaotic or controlled by events, circumstances, or feelings. Give us lives shaped by you and by your Spirit flowing through us.

Our Father in Heaven

Luke 11:1-13
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Today's is Father's Day, and ironically, also my dad's birthday. To be honest, my father and I don't have a really good relationship. We rarely speak, and when we do, it's either to debate or to inform each other of something of importance. He is Buddhist, and I am Christian, and I have tried reaching out to him, but not enough. Despite that, he is also the father God has placed in my life, and although he isn't perfect, he is a good fatherly figure to me. 


There are no perfect Fathers on Earth. There is only one perfect Father and that is God. In this passage, he clearly states when we pray, we must acknowledge that before everything else.


Fathers everywhere believe that money can ultimately bring happiness, but no, it will bring contentment for a short period of time. What children need is their father's time, something money can't purchase! How lucky is it that we have a father that is there all the time for us? 


"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit tot those who ask him!" [Luke 11:13]


My father has bought many things with me, and sometimes yes, the times we spend together are unforgettable (and awkward at times xD), but how much more will my heavenly Father give when I ask?

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Our heavenly Father's arms never tire of holding His children. 

Lost and Found

Luke 15:4-10
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Think of your most valuable material possession. Got one in mind? Okay good. Now imagine you lost it? What would you do? If you lost your dog, you'll probably be searching everywhere, printing off LOST posters and calling animal pounds, right? If you lost your cellphone, you'll probably call it, retrace your steps or inquire a LOST&FOUND booth, right? If you lost your credit card, you'll probably look everywhere for it, call them to cancel it or replace it, right? Now, what if you found your lost item. Will you not rejoice? Will you not tell the people that are helping you look for it that it is found? 


Imagine God looking down at a sinner, his most valuable possession, repenting of sin. Does he not look with pleasing eyes at his creation? Does he not rejoice at the fact they have repented? Does he not make a path for him to share the good news?


Since you know the good news, would you not share it so others may learn of the love of the Lord and repent of their sins? Lets go out into the world and find those lost sheep.

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To be found, you must first admit that you're lost. 

Reflect Before You Respond.

Proverbs 29:11 

"A rebel shouts in anger; a wise man holds his temper in and cools it."

When you’re angry, don’t respond impulsively. Delay is a great tool in controlling anger. I'm not saying delay indefinitely or even beyond a day; the Bible says don't go to sleep when you're angry. I'm talking about delaying it for five minutes. 

When you start to get ticked off, take "time out" for a few minutes. Give yourself some time to reflect and think through the situation. If you don't stop and think, you are likely to do the wrong thing. You need to reflect before you respond.

When we get angry, we need to make a habit of stepping back, waiting a few minutes, and then looking at the situation from God's point of view. Notice how the Bible says a wise man lets his anger cool down (Proverbs 29:11). So, "cool it" is a Biblical term! A modern translation might be: “The wise man waits and chills out.” Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence, said, “When angry, count to ten before you speak. If very angry, count to one hundred.”

The Lamb Who is the Lion

Revelations 5:1-12
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From this passage, we see that Christ Jesus reveals himself in wounds. Many wonder, "Why should our exalted Lord appear in His wounds in glory?" Well, the answer is because his wounds are His glory. Christ Jesus came down as a baby, lived a pretty mundane life with his carpenter father and mother, and died like "a lamb to the slaughter." Many individuals began to think that this was the end, but God proved otherwise by overcoming death and allowing him to show His glory by rising from the dead three days later. 

When Christ Jesus comes down again, for the second time, we will bow to our knees and sing praises to him. 


"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" [Revelation 5:12]

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To honour our King, His praises we sing.

Anger.

Proverbs 14:17

"People with a hot temper do foolish things; wiser people remain calm."

The Bible says there is always a price tag to uncontrolled anger. Can you relate to any of these verses?

• “Hot tempers cause arguments, but patience brings peace.” (Proverbs 15:18 TEV)
• “People with quick tempers cause a lot of quarreling and trouble.” (Proverbs 29:22 TEV)
• “People with a hot temper do foolish things; wiser people remain calm" (Proverbs 14:17 TEV)

The Bible says, “The fool who provokes his family to anger and resentment will finally have nothing worthwhile left. He shall be the servant of a wiser man” (Proverbs 11:29 TLB).

Whenever I lose my temper, I lose. You don't make it to the top if you're continually blowing your top. The word "danger" is the word "anger" with the letter "d" in front. And anger is dangerous. You could lose everything: your reputation, your spouse, your job, your health. 

A few years ago, I read medical research on the human heart that revealed that if you reduce the hostility in your life, you can prolong your life. Mom and Dad, listen: We may get a short-term pay-off by motivating our kids through anger — they will comply out of fear — but in the long run, we’ll lose, because anger always alienates. It turns people off rather than turning them on. And, instead of getting what you want, it causes people to become apathetic to your needs and angry at you.

One way to manage your anger is to come to grips with how much it is costing you.

Manage Your Anger.

1 Corinthians 13:5

"[Love] … is not easily angered." 

The Bible says, "Love is not easily angered." It doesn't say "Love never gets angry at all." In fact, sometimes the loving thing to do is to get angry. Jesus became angry in the temple when he saw his Father's house being run like a marketplace.

At the same time, we can love someone and still get angry at that person. Sometimes the anger may be righteous and sometimes it may be selfish, but the people we love the most are the ones most likely to make us angry.

God placed the capacity to get angry in your biological makeup. Being angry is not a sin; it can become a sin if we allow it to push us into destructive behavior. But the emotion itself is not a sin. The Bible says even God gets angry.

You can't avoid anger, but you can learn how to control it. You can resolve to manage it so it becomes an asset rather than a liability. This means you quit making excuses and justifying your anger: "That's just me. I just blow up. I can't control it."

Anger can be controlled. Have you ever been in a fight with someone and things are getting pretty loud, but, then, the telephone rings? Notice how quickly you can manage your anger! You have a lot more control over your anger than you think you do. Resolve to manage it, and, then, confess, "I can control it with God's help."

Test Of Patience.

Hebrews 10:36-37

"You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For, 'In just a very little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.'"

f you're discouraged because of God's delay in answering your prayers, understand the delay isnot a denial. Just because the answer hasn't come yet doesn't mean God isn't going to answer or that he's forgotten you or that he doesn't care about you.

It simply means "not yet"!

Part of becoming spiritually mature is learning the difference between "no" and "not yet," between a denial and a delay. The Bible tells us, "He who is coming will come and will not delay" (Hebrews 10:37 NIV).

God's delay may be a test of your patience. Anybody can be patient once, and most people can be patient twice. A lot of us can even be patient three times. So God tests our patience over and over and over.

Why? So he can see how patient you are? No!

He does it so you can see how patient you are — so you know what's inside you and your level of commitment. God tests you so that you know he is faithful, even if the answers you seek are delayed.

If you're discouraged, turn it around by remembering God teaches you patience during delay. Ask him to transform your discouragement into patience.

Handling Frustration.

Isaiah 26:3

"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you."

Ask yourself, "Did I cause it?" The Bible says, "A man reaps what he sows" (Galatians 6:7b NIV). We are frustrated by many things in life because we bring them on ourselves.

Ask yourself, "What can I learn from it?" Romans 8:28 says, "In all things God works for the good of those who love him." There are many bad things in the world, but all things work together. God can even take the negative and turn it into a positive if we let him. Use irritation as an opportunity to become more like Christ.

Thank God in the situation. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, "Give thanks in all circumstances." You don't have to be thankful for a bad situation, but you can be thankful in a bad situation. Frustration may be a blessing in disguise.

Turn the frustration into a funny, humorous event. The Bible says, "A cheerful heart is good medicine" (Proverbs 17:22). A sense of humor is God's antidote for anger and frustration.

Ask God to fill you with his love. Why? Because 1 Corinthians 13:5 says, "[Love] is not easily angered." Love is self-giving, not self-serving. We get irritated because we think everyone and everything has to revolve around us. Love concentrates on the other person.

Jesus faced constant frustrations, but he never got irritated. He always made time for people. We get so preoccupied with our own things that we forget that people are the priority in life. 

take 77, action!

I had to opportunity to lead, direct and create another video project with a few friends, and it was lots of fun, whether it was working with adults, kids, teens, i love being able to work with people, meet new people, learn new techniques and try new things.

It was very brief and we weren't taking things super seriously or professionally either, usually finishing scenes in two to four takes, but for this one scene, we got up to nine takes. Because our actress couldn't get the right line in. But thats filming right? When something isn't right, something needs to be fixed, we need to re-film the scene because whats caught on tape, stays on tape. For instance, if they weren't wearing the right costume, you cannot edit a hoodie onto a person. But its okay, we have more film to take, and we can afford new takes with different perspectives.

Similar to our walk with God, he is constantly giving us new takes, whenever we stumble or mess up, but he's patiently there with the camera, holding it up no matter how tiring it is, ready to say "lets try that again, but this time, do this this and this, ready... take 54! action!". All those other takes that cannot be used, they're forgotten and discarded. Things were caught on tape and cannot be changed, like how time passes, it just depends on how we use it. Whatever is done, is done. But there's a fresh new start, a new take for when you do succeed.

Our God is a loving, forgiving, awesome God.

He forgives and forgets.

verse of the day: Matthew 18:22

²² Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Bad Temper Is Contagious.

Proverbs 22:24-25 

"Don't hang out with angry people; don't keep company with hotheads. Bad temper is contagious—don't get infected."

Is anger contagious? Yes. Can you be infected by someone else's anger? Certainly. Ever been in a situation where someone else gets loud, and you do, too? What's happening? There's a transfer of energy. It's contagious.

If you are serious about changing an imbedded, habitual lifestyle of inappropriate anger, then you need to start hanging out with other people who know how to manage their anger. That's one of the benefits of a church. That's why I believe in joining a church family and getting involved in a small group: You pick up positive values.

The methods we use to express our anger are learned. Since they're learned, they can be unlearned. Parents, every time you blow up and lose your cool, you're modeling inappropriate anger to your kids. You're teaching, and they're learning. 

I'm what?

We had our grad tea today last period where we got the information on commencement, and basically the last day we step foot into what will be called "school" for the past four years. It never really hit me, but it finally has. Im graduating. This is the end. We've worked hard for four whole years, and its our turn to walk across the stage, receiving the diploma, knowing we've completed another stage of life. 

Reflecting back on the past four years of high school, i really start to think about what i've done. Have I impacted anyone? We got our yearbooks today, and we were busy signing everyone's book till the day ended, and i remember reading a brief one that said "you're the nicest person at RGSS!". Is that how people see me? As nice? But this nice, is it general nice? or is it God's love nice? Have i been walking through the green hallways radiating his love and his life? People know that I'm Christian because i wear a cross on my neck and all, but do they see it in me?

Its been four years, and its time to graduate, but looking back, besides academics and friends, have i set that example and light for others to see and feel God's love and work in my life? Im not sure. 

With that said, I'm hoping that people did see a difference in me, who was God working. But as a old door closes, and a new chapter unfolds, may i continue to shine as a child of God, to those around me, to people i don't know, and I pray God will reach out to others through me next year. 

verse of the day: Matthew 5:16

¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others,that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Make God-Size Goals.

Genesis 24:7a

"Abraham said, 'The Lord brought me from the land of my relatives to this land and he has solemnly promised me that he would give this land to my descendants.'" 

The Bible has more than 7,000 promises from God to you — promises of success, confidence, health, prosperity, strength, wisdom, and more. Why does God make these promises?

Because he wants you to learn to trust him.

When you set a goal, don't focus on the problems; focus on the promises. Find a promise in God's Word that will take you to your goal.

This is what Abraham does when Eliezer, his servant, starts to worry about accomplishing the goal he is given. In today's verse, Abraham tells Eliezer about the promise he received from God: "He'll [God] send an angel before you so that you can find a wife there for my son" (Genesis 24:7b NCV).

You don't need an angel, because dozens of times in Scripture God has said, "I'll be with you no matter where you go." God is always with you, whether you feel it or not. You just need to plug into the power.

The size of your God determines the size of your goal, and godly goal-setting always starts with a promise from God. Don't look at your limitations; look at the promises of God.