pas un cercle.

In french class, we're reading "Le Petit Prince" which explores the life of a curious prince, who travels from planet from planet hoping to make friendships and just explore.

He one day lands on asteroid 327 where he meets a drunkard. He learns that the drunkard is going through a cycle, of shame, then he drinks more, then he feels shameful for drinking, and he drinks more, and its a non stop, never ending cycle. We discussed in class about many cycles in our society. Simple things we deal with everyday, we say we dont have time, and then we procrastinate, and then we complain we dont have time, and we continue to procrastinate. We can also take it on a global level with pollution. As the selfish world we are, if we want energy, or if we want anything, we get it. And through the production of this, we produce CO2 and other toxins released into this planet. We want more, we continue to destroy the earth more and more because of what we want.

As a person who has been a follower of Christ for most of my life, i think its very very easy for us to fall into a cycle, into a routine, whether it may be prayer, devotionals, church or fellowship. Its very easy to go because you have to go. We have to always carry a spark and burning desire for following our God. I know that i have many times, just done devotions because i had to.

Our relationship with Christ is not a cycle. Its not just a bunch of works/actions we do. There more to it. Like a friendship, or a relationship, there is no formula, repeated process in it. You dont always have a candle light dinner at 7pm on thursday nights, you make it new, make it special and different. Our commitment with Christ is special, is unique, and is important. Dont make it apart of our daily cycle.

³⁷ Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment.

Matthew 22:37-38

It's Perfect.

God has a plan for you. A plan beyond your wildest dreams. Did you know that the desires deep within you, the passions that move you deeply, the stuff you care about the most, the things in the world you most want to see changed, the stuff that can most quickly bring a tear to your eye or a smile, what most deeply satisfies you are all things that can lead you to God's purpose for you and your life.

We may not think that something bad that happens is part of God's plan but, it actually is. He planned it so perfectly that you need to take the fact that it is. We may struggle with many different things but everyone struggles. We all have these highs and lows in our lives. We may not like it but, it's a plan that was made perfectly and just for you.

I've struggled with many things last year. From dislocating my knee to a fire before show time. It was a really hard year and i didn't understand why God did that to me but now, i realize that he did it for a purpose. He planned it so that i can conquer each of these challenges and it'll lead to making my faith stronger.

Clearing The Air: Temptation & Sin

There are many many misconceptions with Christianity, especially with us, the followers, for putting out a bad representation of Christ and his image and life towards others. But today i want speak about the misconception about sin.

Sin. Sin is when one fails to please God, does something ungodly, that isnt glorifying Christ. From stealing to pornography, from murder to adultery. All these things are sin. They dont please God and they dont raise his name.

Temptation. Desire. These two things are what people usually get mixed up about. When you desire something, may it be the thought to steal something, "oh i want that chocolate bar" or when you're tempted to cheat on a test. These things are COMPLETELY normal. God created us to desire things and want things, this isnt sinning. Its the first step. Sinning is when you actually act upon your temptation. When you do take the chocolate bar and walk out, when you do look over your friends shoulder and copy down their answer.

Sinning. We all will fall short of God's glory. And if we confess and repent, God will forgive us. BUT, dont take it for granted. He will forgive you, but this doesnt mean you can keep sinning because "oh he'll forgive me anyways". We have to work towards pleasing God. Try your best to walk away from Satan's temptations, and resist from acting upon it.

Something to remember: God will NEVER give you something more you can bear. he knows you can conquer it. Its up to you if you want to conquer it or not. So what's your decision? You? or Him?

At War?

The Same Spirit at Work

Jon Walker

“For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:18 NIV)

A time long ago and in a land far away, I found myself frustrated one day with a co-worker. Actually, frustrated is a mild word because, as my sweet southern aunts might say, I perceived this co-worker as contrary.

Just to be clear: I’m no choirboy, either.

In a Cold War sense, there were fights and quarrels between us, both wanting something, but neither one of us able to get it. Jesus’ brother, James, says this sort of conflict is evidence of ungodly desires (James 4:1–2). I realized that at the core of my frustration was our inability to get along, even though “the Holy Spirit, whom God has placed within us, jealously longs for us to be faithful” (James 4:5 NLT).

This is what God whispered into my ear: “The same Spirit at work in you is the same Spirit at work in him.”

Did you catch that? The same Spirit at work in you is the same Spirit at work in him.

Is there another believer with whom you have trouble getting along? Remember, the same Spirit at work in you is the same Spirit at work in him or her.

This year, what will you do to try and bring peace between you and this person?

Conflicts, we're always in them. Whether it may be with family, with friends, with yourself. They can be small conflicts over who's the pick up the phone or big conflicts that can cause destructive consequences. According to this devotional, it states that when these conflicts arise, it is evidence of ungodly desires. This does make sense. Whenever we're in conflict we have a desire for something, something for us to go our way. For instance, when the phone rings and you're arguing with someone else to pick it up, you yourself dont want to move, you want keep on doing what you wanna do. Its just you you you you. These are not godly desires. The passage (James 4) speaks about dealing with worldly things, within the scripture it even says "flirting with the world" God is a jealous lover, he wants you to be faithful, so when we "fight" with others, there are no godly desires present, and becomes something God isnt pleased with.

This is an interesting line. “The same Spirit at work in you is the same Spirit at work in him.” The same people you have conflicts with have the same spirit as you. What does that even mean. Thinking about it, here's my stab. Like we're somehow all connected? What do you think? comment below.

Are you in conflict with anyone? Are your desires aligned with Christ's? Or are they selfish desires? Are you "at war"? How are you going to re-establish that peace with them?

this was a more difficult one to understand,

Jason

"Here I Am, Send Me!"

Second Devo of the year!

So now its starting to become a mix, i've subscribe to Daily Hope by Rick Warren, so my posts may also come to here as well. And wow, perfect timing. This summer, im stuck in a conflict on missions. Here my dilemma in a nutshell.

The past two years i've done Day Camp/Overnight Camp as well as a Quebec missions trip and both years i've had so much fun, getting to know more people, working with kids, and it has impacted me so very much. I honestly LOVE working with kids, it brings genuine and true happiness into my life and i miss them so much. Now this year, i can go again with that route for the third year in a row, OR ive been asked to do a China's missions trip with my family, tagged along is also a vacation to HK/Japan/Korea, places like that. And I honestly dont know what to do. I feel like i should focus on family more this year.. but i feel like i cant give up my kids. At first i was planning to do missions according to Acts 1:8:

"But you will recieve power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

I was planning to do Urban Promise (gr 9), Quebec, OJ (gr 10), Belize/China (gr 11/gr 12). So basically starting small and going out and further. That makes sense right? But then my first year of OJ, one of the pastors said that maybe it should be the other way around, be more concentrated. Focus on ONE missions to build your relationship in that community, thats why i went to OJ again last year. So now what... :S

But today's devo was exactly about missions. Not really answering my question, but its a sign right?

Jesus Cleanses and Calls

by Jon Walker

“‘Woe to me!’ I cried. ‘I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips ... and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.’ Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal ... which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, ‘See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.’ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” (Isaiah 6:5–8 NIV)

One of the most effective tools the enemy will use to keep you from serving God this year is convincing you that you’ve either messed up too much or that you must clean up your life before you can get God’s attention. When these thoughts pop into your head, sniff the air for the scent of sulfur because they are lies straight from the fires of Hell!

God’s intention when he convicts us of our sins is not to condemn us; rather his breath of life disperses that satanic smoke the father of lies uses to keep us on the run from God.

If you follow the sequence of Isaiah 6, you’ll see how God initiates the process that brings you into his holy presence and purifies you to remain in his presence, and that your new guilt-free, sin-atoned status will compel you and prepare you for the unique mission God sets before you.

Isaiah reports that God’s fire is a cleansing fire that burns your guilt away and purifies you from sin, sealing within you the work of Jesus Christ. The prophet also suggests God’s ultimate purpose for cleansing us is to prepare us for mission: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” (Isaiah 6:8 NIV)

Prior to God taking the initiative to cleanse Isaiah, the prophet felt overwhelmed and unprepared for any mission on God’s behalf.

After the cleansing, Isaiah is energized with a desire to serve God.

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, God has done the work of preparing you for whatever task he will ask of you. How will you seek God and his mission for you this year?

One of the most effective tools the enemy will use to keep you from serving God this year is convincing you that you’ve either messed up too much or that you must clean up your life before you can get God’s attention. - i think i've struggled with this, maybe not with the missions field, but with baptism (totally off topic i know). But i'd always think i'd need to be completely "pure" for me to get baptized, but i soon realized that baptism isnt some sign of you being pure, its just a proclamation of your commitment to Christ. Baptism is the next step of faith after accepting Christ when you're ready to tell the world that you're a Christ follower. After you get baptized, you dont all of a sudden become perfect either, life is still a journey and you'll still face obstacles, but with Christ and that commitment you have the power and the faith to carry on.

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, God has done the work of preparing you for whatever task he will ask of you. How will you seek God and his mission for you this year? - i really dont know. i dont have much time either to make my decision. Im really bad at hearing God. When do you know if its just you talking, or if its the devil? How do you know when your thoughts/desires align with Christ? What is a sign from God and what is just a coincidence? i'll have to continue to pray for these signs and an answer, please pray for me too! :)

where will God send me this year?

Jason