This year the theme for RHCCC's summer day camp was Babylon: Daniel's Courage in Captivity.
As we prepped for camp I didn't really know my team very well. I was only close to one other person since we grew up with each other. Fear and my nerves just attacked me the night before. I wasn't sure what God had planned for me.
As the first day of camp came I kept reminding myself that it was all for God and no matter what kind of personalities were in my group, I had to deal with it. Just like all of my volunteering experiences, the first day was by far the most tiring. I wasn't used to waking up at 7:30am and getting home at 6pm. It was all so different. As the days went by I realized that the kids were getting more and more engaged in the story of Daniel. They asked questions that opened my mind and they showed me a new perspective on the story of Daniel.
I realized that one of the kids were very happy and always energetic. She was able to come and leave with a smile on her face no matter what happen. She taught me to always be thankful for what I'm given because God made everything for a reason and we should be happy that He's still by our sides.
Another camper was diagnosed with brain cancer about 2 years ago, when he was in JK. This caused him to go through a lot of chemotherapy and treatment for a whole year. Seeing him come to camp and still be able to have a smile on his face really touched my heart. The reason for that is because despite all the pain and troubles that God had hit him with he was still able to thank God and praise Him. One of the Bible points was "When you need help, God is with you." During one of the discussions we were asked to share about one time that God has helped us when we were in need of someone. And so, he said God helped him when he was sick and in pain. It was just amazing to see this young boy still have faith in God despite all the troubles. I realized that if this camper that's 6 can do it, I can too.
After a long 2 weeks of day camp I realized that we should always be thankful because God is with us no matter what happens. These kids showed me how to be a better leader and Christian. I couldn't have asked for a better group of kids and team.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Friday, July 20, 2012
Blunders to Wonders
John 21:15-19
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James Hubbell, an artist, once stated, "Mistakes are gifts." When I first read that, I can honestly say I scoffed. I've made so many mistakes in the past, and I try to learn from them, but thinking them of gifts...? Erm, not really! Sometimes when we make mistakes, we feel ashamed, and try to hide them, apologize for them or correct them. We can't avoid making mistakes!
Like sin, we can't avoid sin. But God doesn't throw us away when we sin, does he? Nope! He uses this opportunity to redeem us. For example, Peter denied Jesus three times after he was arrested, but when he was resurrected, Peter declared three times his love for the Lord. In the end, Jesus commanded him to, "Feed my sheep," and boy, did Peter did just that!
Just yesterday, I told my friend I didn't text them about my horrendous day because I knew sooner or later, they might tell me to shove off. It happened every single time with my past "friends" and I didn't want to repeat the same mistakes; have someone who I thought care about me, shove me away. But they reassured me they wouldn't and I felt at peace. God can use every situation to turn our blunders, into wonders. (:
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James Hubbell, an artist, once stated, "Mistakes are gifts." When I first read that, I can honestly say I scoffed. I've made so many mistakes in the past, and I try to learn from them, but thinking them of gifts...? Erm, not really! Sometimes when we make mistakes, we feel ashamed, and try to hide them, apologize for them or correct them. We can't avoid making mistakes!
Like sin, we can't avoid sin. But God doesn't throw us away when we sin, does he? Nope! He uses this opportunity to redeem us. For example, Peter denied Jesus three times after he was arrested, but when he was resurrected, Peter declared three times his love for the Lord. In the end, Jesus commanded him to, "Feed my sheep," and boy, did Peter did just that!
Just yesterday, I told my friend I didn't text them about my horrendous day because I knew sooner or later, they might tell me to shove off. It happened every single time with my past "friends" and I didn't want to repeat the same mistakes; have someone who I thought care about me, shove me away. But they reassured me they wouldn't and I felt at peace. God can use every situation to turn our blunders, into wonders. (:
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God can change our blunders into wonders.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
What's the Trouble?
Joshua 7:1-13
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Our congregation just finished off a series on the book of Joshua, and this was one of the stories that was told. The Lord had told the Israelites not to take anything and he will deliver the enemies into their hands. Once they arrived, they sent an army capable of taking down Ai's troops, but instead, 36 men were killed and they were chased back to where they came from. It was revealed later that Achan had taken a robe, shekels of silver and gold. Because of this, the Lord did not deliver them as he had went against his wishes.
Achan stole in secret, and when the army came back defeated, the Isaelites knew something was wrong. They just didn't know what. Sin is sometimes just like that; it comes to us secretly, and we know something is wrong, but we just can't put our finger on it. When sin becomes hidden in our lives, we must bring it to the surface. If we don't find the root of the problem, it'll continue to grow, and will grow despite cutting it down again and again, unless you remove the root that grows.
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Our congregation just finished off a series on the book of Joshua, and this was one of the stories that was told. The Lord had told the Israelites not to take anything and he will deliver the enemies into their hands. Once they arrived, they sent an army capable of taking down Ai's troops, but instead, 36 men were killed and they were chased back to where they came from. It was revealed later that Achan had taken a robe, shekels of silver and gold. Because of this, the Lord did not deliver them as he had went against his wishes.
Achan stole in secret, and when the army came back defeated, the Isaelites knew something was wrong. They just didn't know what. Sin is sometimes just like that; it comes to us secretly, and we know something is wrong, but we just can't put our finger on it. When sin becomes hidden in our lives, we must bring it to the surface. If we don't find the root of the problem, it'll continue to grow, and will grow despite cutting it down again and again, unless you remove the root that grows.
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Confession to God ensures forgiveness.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Lessons Learned
Deuteronomy 8:1-10
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One of the things I struggle with the most is accepting that our timing, is not God's timing. To put it in perspective, God's like the giant ocean while I'm just a grain of sand. I want to be pulled into the tide, but the tide only comes ever so often. It's hard to accept sometimes that a few years wait, which is long for us, is only a blink of an eye for God. We get impatient far too easily. Sometimes, we think it's futile and we don't learn anything, but in everything there is a lesson from God.
"Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord." [Deuteronomy 8:2-3]
God shows us a lesson in everything. For many of these individuals, forty years is half of their life! They must have been complaining and losing hope every year, but God tells us it was to test where our heart is. For me, I know waiting forty years is incredibly long! And I'm not even twenty yet! And God also wants us to realize that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Yes, we may quench our physical hunger when we eat, but what about our spiritual one?
"Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you." [Deuteronomy 8:5]
Things in life may be tough, but remember that God loves us so much, he has to discipline us to. What kind of Father would he be if he did not show us right from wrong? Righteousness from unrighteousness? The only reason why we suffer through life is because he loves us, and he wants us to walk on that narrow path. It never will be easy, but it will be worth it.
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One of the things I struggle with the most is accepting that our timing, is not God's timing. To put it in perspective, God's like the giant ocean while I'm just a grain of sand. I want to be pulled into the tide, but the tide only comes ever so often. It's hard to accept sometimes that a few years wait, which is long for us, is only a blink of an eye for God. We get impatient far too easily. Sometimes, we think it's futile and we don't learn anything, but in everything there is a lesson from God.
"Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord." [Deuteronomy 8:2-3]
God shows us a lesson in everything. For many of these individuals, forty years is half of their life! They must have been complaining and losing hope every year, but God tells us it was to test where our heart is. For me, I know waiting forty years is incredibly long! And I'm not even twenty yet! And God also wants us to realize that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Yes, we may quench our physical hunger when we eat, but what about our spiritual one?
"Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you." [Deuteronomy 8:5]
Things in life may be tough, but remember that God loves us so much, he has to discipline us to. What kind of Father would he be if he did not show us right from wrong? Righteousness from unrighteousness? The only reason why we suffer through life is because he loves us, and he wants us to walk on that narrow path. It never will be easy, but it will be worth it.
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To love God is to obey God.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Ant Safari
Proverbs 6:6-11
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Over the summer, a lot of us lose track of time really easily. For me, today, I decided I needed to clean my desk. I woke up, ate breakfast, showered and waited for my hair to dry. But halfway through, I decided to take a nap. I woke up about four hours later, and well, my desk still isn't clean.
"Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores up provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest-and poverty will come to you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man."
God clearly tells us to not waste our time-to learn from the ant, who works continually without someone telling them to, to store up provisions and gathering its harvest.It needs no commander. By contrast, we are very lazy. We don't plan ahead, but we live in the moment. We don't think about how our laziness will add up, but we only look at instant satisfaction. Lets not waste time.
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Over the summer, a lot of us lose track of time really easily. For me, today, I decided I needed to clean my desk. I woke up, ate breakfast, showered and waited for my hair to dry. But halfway through, I decided to take a nap. I woke up about four hours later, and well, my desk still isn't clean.
"Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores up provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest-and poverty will come to you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man."
God clearly tells us to not waste our time-to learn from the ant, who works continually without someone telling them to, to store up provisions and gathering its harvest.It needs no commander. By contrast, we are very lazy. We don't plan ahead, but we live in the moment. We don't think about how our laziness will add up, but we only look at instant satisfaction. Lets not waste time.
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In God's pattern book of nature we can trace many valuable lessons.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Unique.
Psalm 139:13-14
“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it”.
The Bible says you were prescribed before birth. God knew what you would be like. He chose you, and he chose your characteristics. This means you are unique. There is only one you. There is nobody else who could be you. If you don't be you, who is going to be you? You are irreplaceable.
I read recently that there are 25,000 varieties of orchids in the world. If I had been God, I would have made a yellow orchid, a blue orchid, and a red orchid. Not God. The creator loves variety — 25,000 different varieties of orchids.
What's even more amazing is there are 4 billion varieties of people. And God made them all. You're unique. Nobody can be you. David says be grateful: “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it” (Psalm 139:14 NLT).
Be glad you're you. God didn’t make you by accident. Can you imagine an artist whose paintings all look the same? How about a guy who paints 12 pictures and puts them up in his living room, then the pictures come to life and vote to all become like one. The artist would be disappointed. God doesn't want you to be like anybody else. He wants you to be you.
When you understand this, you will be less likely to fear rejection.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Rejection and Love.
Psalm 27:1
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; I will fear no one. The Lord protects me from all danger; I will never be afraid.”
The fear of rejection is based on two things. First, we all need to be loved — that's a fact. We all desperately need massive doses of love in our life to be healthy individuals. God says, "I want to love you." God is love, and he knows you need to be loved.
But, second, we develop the false idea that our need to be loved is solely dependent upon one person or a group of people. When you expect someone else to meet 100 percent of your need for love, you're asking for trouble. You're setting yourself up for hurt and opening the door for the fear of rejection. When you look to any other person besides God to meet all your love needs, he or she can't. There is no human being alive that can love you as completely and as fully as you need to be loved, and there never will be. Only God can do that.
So the first step in overcoming the fear of rejection is to put God in first place because he's the only one who can ultimately meet all your needs.
Does God ever love us through other people? Of course. Does God want us to love others? Yes. Does he want to use us as channels of love? Absolutely.
But, you will never have all your needs met by any person or group of people. God never meant it to be that way. They just don't have enough love. Human love is limited; God's love is unlimited and unconditional. No matter how deep your need is, he can fill it.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Worrying.
Proverbs 29:25a
“It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you.”
If you constantly worry about what other people think, then you’re caught in an emotional trap. You don't have to please everybody any more than you can please everybody. It's a myth to think that in order to be happy, you must be liked and approved of by everyone you meet. It's just not true.
Even God can't please everybody, and only a fool would try to do what even God can't do. Jesus said he only focused on pleasing God (John 8:29).
So how do you handle hard-to-please people? One thing you don't do is cave in. Just because you're a Christian doesn't mean you're supposed to submit and let others manipulate you. Romans 12:2 says, "Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold" (Phillips).
The truth is, no one can pressure you without your permission. If you feel pressured by someone, you're allowing yourself to feel pressured by that person. If you feel controlled or manipulated, you're allowing yourself to be controlled or manipulated.
You don't have to do that! It's OK to stand up for what's right. It's OK to be assertive. Many Christians are afraid to speak up. Many think it's more spiritual to just be quiet and put up with it all. But God doesn't expect you to be a doormat — and he didn't make you to be a wimp.
It's Okay to Ask
Luke 7:18-28
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Yesterday, I had a BBQ with a few friends, and the girls ended up having some 'girl time' to talk. My friend had an issue where she really needed some prayer and guidance. The just of it is, everyone is against what she is doing, but she is unsure if her actions are reflection of God's plan for her. There was a lot of doubt, and I told her that if you walk down that path, and it is in God's plan, he'll close the doors unnecessary to his plans.
"...he sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"" [John 7:18]
Even John the Baptist was doubtful of many things. He sent his men to ask Jesus if he was the Messiah, to ensure that his ministry was valid. Instead of accusing him of mistrust, Jesus stated the miracles he was doing, with witnesses, used things from the Old Testament John would understand, and even praised him. We question and we doubt because it's our human nature to. If we are shaken by uncertainty, God is the one that can assure us of certainty.
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Yesterday, I had a BBQ with a few friends, and the girls ended up having some 'girl time' to talk. My friend had an issue where she really needed some prayer and guidance. The just of it is, everyone is against what she is doing, but she is unsure if her actions are reflection of God's plan for her. There was a lot of doubt, and I told her that if you walk down that path, and it is in God's plan, he'll close the doors unnecessary to his plans.
"...he sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"" [John 7:18]
Even John the Baptist was doubtful of many things. He sent his men to ask Jesus if he was the Messiah, to ensure that his ministry was valid. Instead of accusing him of mistrust, Jesus stated the miracles he was doing, with witnesses, used things from the Old Testament John would understand, and even praised him. We question and we doubt because it's our human nature to. If we are shaken by uncertainty, God is the one that can assure us of certainty.
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Reassurance comes as we doubt our doubts and believe our beliefs.
Monday, July 9, 2012
Truth.
John 16:13
"But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the 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."
In faith, I know this to be true:
The Spirit of truth works within me, and he guides me deeper in God’s truth. The Spirit of truth guides me to find truth wherever it can be found, because all truth is God’s truth (John 16:13).
The Spirit of truth has no agenda except to speak the truth, and he guides me into what is yet to come (John 16:13).
The Spirit of truth encourages me to take each step of faith. I know this to be true and will live accordingly. I believe, Lord; help my unbelief. The Spirit of truth guides me to the places where I will face my fears, and, as I face them in God’s strength, they wither away like vines overwhelmed by the brightness of the sun.
The Spirit of truth will lead me through a wilderness meant “to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant” within my life (Jeremiah 1:10 NIV).
And I will fear man no more, because I trust the Lord will keep me safe and keep me true to the truth (Proverbs 29:25).
Who's Behind It?
1 Chronicles 17:16-24
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Have you ever experienced something so good, you feel proud? Like a perfect mark on test or exam, or even your parents telling you how proud they are of you? How about the moment you win an award or receive a scholarship? Sometimes, it's so easy to feel proud of ourselves when good things happen to us.
"Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?" [1 Chronicles 17:16b]
When King David realized his overflowing of blessings, he did not swell up in pride, but he thanked the Lord as all good things comes from the Lord. We're tempted everyday to believe it's our own abilities, our own work and our own effort that allowed us to achieve this. When we are blessed, let us remember that God is the only one who brings blessings, not ourselves.
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Have you ever experienced something so good, you feel proud? Like a perfect mark on test or exam, or even your parents telling you how proud they are of you? How about the moment you win an award or receive a scholarship? Sometimes, it's so easy to feel proud of ourselves when good things happen to us.
"Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?" [1 Chronicles 17:16b]
When King David realized his overflowing of blessings, he did not swell up in pride, but he thanked the Lord as all good things comes from the Lord. We're tempted everyday to believe it's our own abilities, our own work and our own effort that allowed us to achieve this. When we are blessed, let us remember that God is the only one who brings blessings, not ourselves.
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The hand of the Father is behind all good things.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Freedom.
John 8:36
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
The world defines freedom as a life without any restraint: "I can do anything I want to do and say anything I want to say without anybody telling me what to do." Everybody else may get burned by you, but you get to do it your own way. The world says you can have your freedom, but only by being totally selfish.
Yet, the Bible says the only way to true freedom is through Jesus: “If the Son sets you free, then you will be really free” (John 8:36 TEV).
Real freedom is freedom from fear, where you’re truly free from guilt, worry, bitterness, and death. You’re free to quit pretending because you’re free to be yourself.
How do you get rid of those kinds of fears? By letting God love you! The apostle John teaches that, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear ...” (1 John 4:18a NIV).
When you realize how much God loves you, you’ll begin to live in true freedom. In fact, you worship God when you recognize that “God is love.” It is an act of worship to agree that he is a loving, caring, generous God and that we can “rely on the love God has for us” (1 John 4:16a NIV).
The Viral Gospel
Acts 7:59-8:8
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Over the lifetime of the internet, there are many videos that have gone viral. These videos just spread like a wildfire, seen by many, but it's something that many people cannot control. Many advertisers would love to have control over such impacting advertising technique.
"But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went." [Acts 8:3-4]
In the same way, after Stephen's death, instead of hiding and hoping not to be persecuted, the church scattered and preached the gospel; "viral" in a way. The gospel is something we can't keep to ourselves. We must share it and ensure that everyone hears of the amazing news of eternal life. Even in the most difficult situations, we must keep on sharing the good news.
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Over the lifetime of the internet, there are many videos that have gone viral. These videos just spread like a wildfire, seen by many, but it's something that many people cannot control. Many advertisers would love to have control over such impacting advertising technique.
"But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went." [Acts 8:3-4]
In the same way, after Stephen's death, instead of hiding and hoping not to be persecuted, the church scattered and preached the gospel; "viral" in a way. The gospel is something we can't keep to ourselves. We must share it and ensure that everyone hears of the amazing news of eternal life. Even in the most difficult situations, we must keep on sharing the good news.
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Spread the gospel; it's contagious!
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Looking Back
Genesis 48:8-16
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Waking up this morning, I looked at my phone and the texts I sent last night. Most of you has experienced it, but at night, you get really emotional; you over think and things don't really tend to go your way. The texts I sent were really, really unnecessary and I instantly regretted it, wishing I could take it all back.
But looking back on the journey I have taken with God, there should be no regrets. We make life decisions everyday. Some may be small and might not do much, but some will be large and alter our relationship greatly. And I think this is one of those big things. Although I want to regret it, everything happens for a reason, and it's all a learning experience.
As we look back on our walk with God, let us realize that our Shepherd guides us in the path of righteousness, no matter how confused or upset we may be.
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Waking up this morning, I looked at my phone and the texts I sent last night. Most of you has experienced it, but at night, you get really emotional; you over think and things don't really tend to go your way. The texts I sent were really, really unnecessary and I instantly regretted it, wishing I could take it all back.
But looking back on the journey I have taken with God, there should be no regrets. We make life decisions everyday. Some may be small and might not do much, but some will be large and alter our relationship greatly. And I think this is one of those big things. Although I want to regret it, everything happens for a reason, and it's all a learning experience.
As we look back on our walk with God, let us realize that our Shepherd guides us in the path of righteousness, no matter how confused or upset we may be.
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We can trust our all-knowing God for the unknown future.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Thoughts.
Proverbs 4:23
“Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.”
Long before psychology came around, God said your thoughts determine your feelings and your feelings determine your actions.
Our minds are really an amazing creation. It would take a computer the size of the Pentagon just to carry out the basic functions of your brain. Your brain contains over 100 billion nerve cells. Each individual cell is connected with 10 thousand other neurons.
You are constantly talking to yourself — all the time. You’re talking to yourself right now! Research indicates that most people speak at a rate of 150 to 200 words per minute, but the internal dialogue that you carry on with yourself (self-talk) you do at a rate of 1300 words per minute.
The problem is, in all that self-talk, a lot of people are like Job. In Job 9:20, he says, “Everything I say seems to condemn me” (TEV). If you're typical, you are your own worst critic. Right? You're always putting yourself down. You could walk into a room smiling, but inside you're saying, “I’m fat. I’m dumb. I’m ugly. And I’m always late.” Most of it is unconscious.
God wants you to stop putting yourself down. When you put yourself down, who are you really putting down? You’re really pointing to the Creator who made you. When you say, “God, I’m worthless. I’m no good. I can’t do anything,” you’re saying, “God, you blew it with me.” That’s why God says it’s wrong to put yourself down.
How do you eliminate negative self-talk so you can become a more confident person? It’s the principle of replacement: “Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about all you can thank God for and be glad about it” (Philippians 4:8 TLB).
Focus on what you want to be, on what God wants to do in your life. I don’t know any better antidote to low self-esteem than to read God’s Word every day. Study it, memorize it, meditate on it, and learn it in your life. I can’t tell you a better thing to help you raise your confidence level than to get in the Bible and start believing what God says about you.
One Body
1 Corinthians 12:18-27
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The Bible states very clearly we're all a part of God's family. We all have a role, and a position within the body to make up the body of Christ. Not everyone is a hand, not everyone is a foot, not everyone is an eye, but we each are different parts that work together to make up the body of Christ.
"...its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it." [1 Corinthians 12:25-26]
I think one of the saddest things for me to learn these past few months, is that the body is scaring away the rest of the parts. The body is the church, and the church is not a building. I've had friends being driven away from church in order for "things to be made right" and friends that tell me they don't feel safe at church; they feel insecure, judged and ultimately, they don't feel loved. How is that a family? How is that a church?
The sad truth is, despite the fact people read this passage, understand it and tell others about it, they don't live it out. I am only one person, and I can only do so much to show them love, something they have not received at their church. My prayer is that this vision of a body that cries for each other, rejoices with each other and cares for each other deeply will be truth. There will be a day where my family isn't driven away by each other, or where they can go to church, not scared of the people within this physical building. We are all one body, so why are we driving away essential parts of it?
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The Bible states very clearly we're all a part of God's family. We all have a role, and a position within the body to make up the body of Christ. Not everyone is a hand, not everyone is a foot, not everyone is an eye, but we each are different parts that work together to make up the body of Christ.
"...its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it." [1 Corinthians 12:25-26]
I think one of the saddest things for me to learn these past few months, is that the body is scaring away the rest of the parts. The body is the church, and the church is not a building. I've had friends being driven away from church in order for "things to be made right" and friends that tell me they don't feel safe at church; they feel insecure, judged and ultimately, they don't feel loved. How is that a family? How is that a church?
The sad truth is, despite the fact people read this passage, understand it and tell others about it, they don't live it out. I am only one person, and I can only do so much to show them love, something they have not received at their church. My prayer is that this vision of a body that cries for each other, rejoices with each other and cares for each other deeply will be truth. There will be a day where my family isn't driven away by each other, or where they can go to church, not scared of the people within this physical building. We are all one body, so why are we driving away essential parts of it?
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We need one another in order to be who God wants us to be.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Firework and Freedom
Galatians 5:1-14
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Canada Day was a few days ago, and many of my friends went to set fireworks. I stayed home and watched Suits! But, through the windows, I heard the sound of fireworks popping, and I remember when I did go watch fireworks, they were beautiful. Yet, these fireworks are made from the same ingredients as a bomb. A bomb causes destruction, ruining lives and tearing apart family. How can something so beautiful, can also be so deadly?
"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love." [Galatians 5:13]
God gives us freedom, free will, and doesn't force us to become robots. Yet, when we take freedom, and turn it into sinful nature, it will destroy us. Freedom used for God is a beautiful thing. Not everyone will have the same freedom we do, but everyone has spiritual freedom. Let's give the glory to God today.
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Canada Day was a few days ago, and many of my friends went to set fireworks. I stayed home and watched Suits! But, through the windows, I heard the sound of fireworks popping, and I remember when I did go watch fireworks, they were beautiful. Yet, these fireworks are made from the same ingredients as a bomb. A bomb causes destruction, ruining lives and tearing apart family. How can something so beautiful, can also be so deadly?
"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love." [Galatians 5:13]
God gives us freedom, free will, and doesn't force us to become robots. Yet, when we take freedom, and turn it into sinful nature, it will destroy us. Freedom used for God is a beautiful thing. Not everyone will have the same freedom we do, but everyone has spiritual freedom. Let's give the glory to God today.
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Freedom doesn't give us the right to do what we please, but to do what pleases God.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Truth.
John 8:32
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Read this as a prayer today:
Jesus, you are the Truth, and the Truth sets me free. You are the Truth, and your Truth lives in me.
I clothe myself in your Truth, Jesus, putting on the coat of a new self, “created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24 NIV). You are “the way and the truth and the life,” and I am connected to God through you and you alone (John 14:6 NIV). Because of you, I know the Truth about who I am and I know that your life is working in me (Galatians 2:20).
Truth enables me to discern and reject the lies of the enemy. Your Truth demolishes arguments and pretensions that are at war with the knowledge of God. In your Truth, I will “take captive every thought” and make it obedient to you (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV). With your Truth, I will teach these thoughts to obey you, King Jesus (suggested by 2 Corinthians 10:5 MSG).
Your Truth says I’m forgiven, I’m loved by my Creator, and I’m God’s child, beloved and empowered by the Spirit of Truth.
The Truth enables me to respond to your direction. I can trust your leadership, I can trust your commands, and I can trust your plans because you are the Truth.
I will leave it up to you to interpret the facts and determine the truth of any situation. I will let your Truth make the decisions, and then I will obey and leave the consequences in your loving, truth-filled hands.
All the decisions are yours to make. Because you are Truth, I can respond in the Truth in all situations; I am no longer a slave to my emotions.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
Ephesians 1:15-23
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I think that sometimes, we forget how beautiful prayer can be. At one point of our Christian walk, we probably dreaded prayer. We probably hated praying, and would say a quick few words so that we don't feel guilty about not praying. But prayer is a way to communicate with God, our almighty Saviour; it is not a right, but a privilege. There are obviously different ways you can pray; there is no mention in the bible your hands must be clasped and your eyes must be closed.
During Teen's Conference 2011 when I was a captain, the captains made a huge Skype conversation and invited us all in. Imagine 90 people within a group! At one point, they wanted to pray for each other. So they typed out their prayer and sent it into the chat. As it went on, my stomach felt bad. I realized that it felt like they were trying to out pray each other, to have the most extravagant and wordy prayer. Sound familiar? I brought it to the attention to my fellow captain and we both left, unable to convince them otherwise and to pray by ourselves. Yes, prayer is a wonderful thing, but when we try to use it to show how great we are as opposed to how great God is, there is a problem there.
"For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers." [Ephesians 1:15-16]
I recently realized God took out the closest friend I ever had in my life, to replace it with two Christians that will definitely grow with me in Christ. Although I was hurt, I cried, and I was upset beyond repair, God really showed me he will give something better. This verse reminded me of the faith of these two individuals who accepted me without words and showed me unconditional love. I thank them everyday in my prayers, as their faith and their love for God is so evident, that I was actually surprised. But God does everything for a reason, and whether you're praying out loud, praying through e-mails or just talking to God on the bus, remember that all the glory belongs to him.
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I think that sometimes, we forget how beautiful prayer can be. At one point of our Christian walk, we probably dreaded prayer. We probably hated praying, and would say a quick few words so that we don't feel guilty about not praying. But prayer is a way to communicate with God, our almighty Saviour; it is not a right, but a privilege. There are obviously different ways you can pray; there is no mention in the bible your hands must be clasped and your eyes must be closed.
During Teen's Conference 2011 when I was a captain, the captains made a huge Skype conversation and invited us all in. Imagine 90 people within a group! At one point, they wanted to pray for each other. So they typed out their prayer and sent it into the chat. As it went on, my stomach felt bad. I realized that it felt like they were trying to out pray each other, to have the most extravagant and wordy prayer. Sound familiar? I brought it to the attention to my fellow captain and we both left, unable to convince them otherwise and to pray by ourselves. Yes, prayer is a wonderful thing, but when we try to use it to show how great we are as opposed to how great God is, there is a problem there.
"For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers." [Ephesians 1:15-16]
I recently realized God took out the closest friend I ever had in my life, to replace it with two Christians that will definitely grow with me in Christ. Although I was hurt, I cried, and I was upset beyond repair, God really showed me he will give something better. This verse reminded me of the faith of these two individuals who accepted me without words and showed me unconditional love. I thank them everyday in my prayers, as their faith and their love for God is so evident, that I was actually surprised. But God does everything for a reason, and whether you're praying out loud, praying through e-mails or just talking to God on the bus, remember that all the glory belongs to him.
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Praying for others is a privilege - and a responsibility.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Birthdays.
17 years of life has passed by like a blink of an eye.
So 17 years ago, I was born TODAY.
I can't even believe it myself. I had nothing planned for today. No one was home to celebrate with me, except my little brother. To be honest I thought that it was going to be the worst birthday date ever. I wasted half my day by sleeping in and after that I went outside to tan and play ball.
As time passed by, I just sat at home doing nothing and all of a sudden the doorbell rang I already knew that one of best friends were going to come and visit me but she told me to grab my shoes and come outside. So i do what she says and all of a sudden 4 of my friends walk onto my driveway holding a cake. I was very surprised and how well they pulled it off because I never suspected a thing. As we were eating cake I realized how blessed I was with these 5 friends. God has put them in my life for a reason. They baked this cake all day and mission-ed all the way to my house just to celebrate my special day.
I realized that I should always be thankful for my friends, family, peers, etc. because God has placed each and every one of them in your life for a reason. He created a purpose, good or bad, for them to help and encourage us to become stronger Christians.
Philippians 1:3
"I thank my God every time I remember you."
So 17 years ago, I was born TODAY.
I can't even believe it myself. I had nothing planned for today. No one was home to celebrate with me, except my little brother. To be honest I thought that it was going to be the worst birthday date ever. I wasted half my day by sleeping in and after that I went outside to tan and play ball.
As time passed by, I just sat at home doing nothing and all of a sudden the doorbell rang I already knew that one of best friends were going to come and visit me but she told me to grab my shoes and come outside. So i do what she says and all of a sudden 4 of my friends walk onto my driveway holding a cake. I was very surprised and how well they pulled it off because I never suspected a thing. As we were eating cake I realized how blessed I was with these 5 friends. God has put them in my life for a reason. They baked this cake all day and mission-ed all the way to my house just to celebrate my special day.
I realized that I should always be thankful for my friends, family, peers, etc. because God has placed each and every one of them in your life for a reason. He created a purpose, good or bad, for them to help and encourage us to become stronger Christians.
Philippians 1:3
"I thank my God every time I remember you."
A New Day
Psalm 118:19-29
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My Teen's Conference captain two years ago told me something he does everyday. In the morning, before he does anything, he will pray to God; he starts the day off with God. At night, before he sleeps, he prays to God; he ends the day off with God. I think that's a very smart practice to have, to ensure ourselves that we realize that each new day is God's gift to us. I try to keep that practice as well, starting and ending the day off with God.
"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." [Psalm 118:24]
Each new day is a day where God has given us a clean slate, a new opportunity to show God's gift of life through us. We cannot anticipate how the day will go, or even prepare for it. You may think, "I'm just going to school today, then coming home to do homework, use the computer and sleep," but no! God made this day, and just because you "plan" these activities doesn't mean it'll always work out that way. We must fully rely on God to bring us through the day and rely on him and his grace, not our own! Let us remember that each day, each breath is a gift from God.
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Each new day gives us a reason to praise the Lord.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
The Offering Plate
2 Corinthians 8:1-15
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This devotion spoke of a pastor who disliked talking about giving to the church, since his previous employment included fundraiser. I think the perception of giving is really warped, even in today's day and age. In today's passage, this was the verse that hit me the most:
"Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own." [2 Corinthians 8:2-3]
He states that even in the most severe trials, they had overflowing joy and they gave as much as they could, entirely on their own. Pastor Francis Chan was not kidding when he said the rich are at a disadvantage. Pastor Ho-Ming talked about how people are living for trees. Money,degrees, and stuff that don't matter are from trees! Yet the rich live for these things. How disadvantaged are we?!
This passage tells us a lot about giving:
- Give yourself first to the Lord (8:5)
- Give, remembering the example of Lord Jesus (8:9)
- Give according to your means (8:11-12)
- Give enthusiastically because of God's love (9:2)
- Give generously, not grudgingly or because of outside pressure (9:5-7)
"...they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will...just as you excel in everything-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us-see that you also excel in this grace of giving." [2 Corinthians 8:5b, 7]
The people at the Macedonian churches gave themselves first to the Lord, then the rest to God's will. Not only do we need to excel in faith, speech, love, but also giving! Now back to the Pastor. He ended up teaching this passage, and well, he obviously had to talk about giving! When he did, he took an offering plate, and stepped on it. Why?
We need to give our entire lives to God, not just our wallets. That means time. God's time is not our time. If there's a sister or brother in need, who are we to say, "I don't have time for you?" Who are we to turn away single mothers and homeless individuals? We all sin, and I have ignored these people, but let the Holy Spirit pour out of you and excel in love and giving. We must give our lives, not just our wallets.
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.
.
This devotion spoke of a pastor who disliked talking about giving to the church, since his previous employment included fundraiser. I think the perception of giving is really warped, even in today's day and age. In today's passage, this was the verse that hit me the most:
"Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own." [2 Corinthians 8:2-3]
He states that even in the most severe trials, they had overflowing joy and they gave as much as they could, entirely on their own. Pastor Francis Chan was not kidding when he said the rich are at a disadvantage. Pastor Ho-Ming talked about how people are living for trees. Money,degrees, and stuff that don't matter are from trees! Yet the rich live for these things. How disadvantaged are we?!
This passage tells us a lot about giving:
- Give yourself first to the Lord (8:5)
- Give, remembering the example of Lord Jesus (8:9)
- Give according to your means (8:11-12)
- Give enthusiastically because of God's love (9:2)
- Give generously, not grudgingly or because of outside pressure (9:5-7)
"...they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will...just as you excel in everything-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us-see that you also excel in this grace of giving." [2 Corinthians 8:5b, 7]
The people at the Macedonian churches gave themselves first to the Lord, then the rest to God's will. Not only do we need to excel in faith, speech, love, but also giving! Now back to the Pastor. He ended up teaching this passage, and well, he obviously had to talk about giving! When he did, he took an offering plate, and stepped on it. Why?
We need to give our entire lives to God, not just our wallets. That means time. God's time is not our time. If there's a sister or brother in need, who are we to say, "I don't have time for you?" Who are we to turn away single mothers and homeless individuals? We all sin, and I have ignored these people, but let the Holy Spirit pour out of you and excel in love and giving. We must give our lives, not just our wallets.
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When we give ourselves completely to the Lord, all lesser giving becomes easier.
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