Well With My Soul

I really loved that song we sang today. It is well with my soul. And I think that i realized something today during the sermon. As Christians, we know that once we believe that we are saved, we have been given salvation and when we are done with our purpose on earth, we will be in heaven, a place without pain, tears or suffering for eternity.

I remember during my baptism interview, i was asked the question, "if you were to die now, would you go to heaven or hell?". I remember answering hell, because I knew of the things i've done, and i was never fully sure of the whole forgiveness idea. How do you know if you're really forgiven?

What I realized today in the sermon is that I really am truly saved. I have believed. My name is written in the book of life, and salvation is already mine! I will be going to heaven to meet with my Lord and Saviour, my spot is secured and he has made a place for me. As long as I continue to have faith in Him, and live my life as a pleasing offering to God and not stray away into the things of this world, im saved.

Finally realizing this and truly embracing it, i couldnt help but smile. Singing that song, i can honestly sing and believe the lyrics, that All is Well With My Soul.

¹³ And now you have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. ¹⁴ The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

Ephesians 1:13-14

Hello, My Name is: Friend

There are so many times I know that i've felt lonely, uncared for, and like an outcast. Friends, sure and yes i have friends but only a rare few are the ones i can truly talk to and can call "BFF"s if you will. Its difficult sometimes, dealing with the loneliness, but thinking and looking ahead towards eternity, I've come to realize that God is THE true friend.

He's always there for you. You dont need to call him, poke him, text him, just say a prayer and he's listening attentively. I know that sometimes i can completely pour out my heart to him when im going through things.

He has this love for you that no one on this earth can ever express. He loves unconditionally, not matter what you're suffering through, no matter how you look, how you speak, or how you dress. He loves each of us because he designed, planned, and created all of us in his image. His love is so great that he died for you. Sacrifice IS love, and his life, the greatest thing anyone can sacrifice, he gave up for you.

You can trust this friend. He'll never backstab you. Everything in this world will fail, will fade, and will corrode. From materialistic things, to friendships and relationships. But this friendship and commitment you make with Christ is forever and eternal.

But there are a few things i think we all struggle with when with this friend we call God. First, the world has become a place where everything is fast, immediate, and we often turn to our friends first because they reply. Whenever i talk to God, there isnt a literal response which provides immediate satisfaction. Also, i think i've talked about this before, but I dont usually feel the connection between his love and the cross because it happened so long ago that it doesnt feel relevant anymore. Lastly is knowing what he wants. I want to know what he wants me to do and what he wants to tell me, but I dont see it, and I cant hear it and its frustrating. Are these flaws of God? No. Its all apart of being a follower of Christ and having faith. Knowing that he is there and believing that his love never fails.

He's the true friend.

When all else fails, he will be the only one to turn to.

But you shouldnt be turning to him WHEN all else fails.

We should be turning to him first and foremost.

¹ See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.

1 John 3:1

Forgiveness.

Ephesians 1:7

⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace

There's no such thing as 'too big of a sin'. God views all sins equally. From stealing to lying. I used to think that God wasn't able to forgive my sins because it was such a bad thing to do. I didn't know how to get rid of that sin. Then i realized that God forgives each and every one of us no matter what. He does it through his grace and mercy and although we don't deserve it he still offers it to us. It's up to us, whether or not we want to repent. God's love is so amazing. His love for us is so abundant that he was willing to give us his one and only son to die on the cross for our sins.

He's a very forgiving God because he cares for us and he wants us to go to Heaven to spend eternity with him.

One.

The past month i've really focused on whats been going on around me, and seeing God work in my life, may it be signs and things going on in my life. But i feel like, we need to indulge in the word more. The scripture is where its at, and its the truth. So im trying to focus my devotionals more on the word, than life occurrences, or Christian books.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

¹ Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. ² But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

³ Then Jesus told them this parable: ⁴ “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? ⁵ And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders ⁶and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ ⁷ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

The Parable of The Lost Coin

⁸ “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹ And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ ¹⁰ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

luke 15:1-10

This is found right after the portion about "The Cost of Discipleship" and before "The Parable of The Lost Son". And when reading this at first, i really didnt know what it meant, i had an urge to move to some other passage, but in the end, something caught on.

Yesterday, i went out for dinner with my grandmother, and it just so happened that i bumped into an old friend, who i havent seen for 2-3 years even thought we've tried to meet up. And it was his birthday too! We texted throughout dinner, catching up, and it was nice just glancing up at him and exchanging smiles. I havent seen him in so long, i've missed him, his company, and his presence.

After dinner, i got to chat a bit more in person, but we continued to text for the rest of the night. And we started to share. Im really surprised with how much he opened up and how much he trusted me. The fact that we havent talked and met up in a long time, and that he still has this trust in me really said something. With his sharing, i realized and saw that he really indulged into worldly things. I remember that he used to go to church, but he left. I tried to talk to him about it, see his views on it, without seeming too "holy" and condemning him. I tried to speak in love, and it was really hard.

Knowing that he's far away, that its hard to talk and be there for him, i hope that our texts did speak up to him, hopefully he'll find alternative resolutions to the things he does. All i can do is pray. Like the passage above, it talks about how when a sinner comes to Christ, there is more joy and celebration, then 1000 righteous people without repentance. I thought of him when i read this. To be honest, i dont know how i can impact him and share God's love and grace to him. It seems impossible.

I guess trusting in God is the way to go with this one. Hoping that he will be somehow spoken to, and transformed from within to see God's love and mercy to see that the things of this world dont last and to receive the greatest gift of all. Please pray for him for me!

Every single child of God that comes running back to the Father is a great celebration and a great time. I hope we can all help those around us, by shining and living as lights of the world.

each day.

Getting a notification in the morning knowing that a friend was hit by a car is never a great way to start the morning. Especially when its a friend you love, care for, and look up to.

This really put into perspective life. Life. It is like a vapour as the bible describes it (James 4:14). Its short. It seems long, oh 60-80 years of life, of suffering and of pain, but compared to ETERNITY, its so infinitely short.

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This line i guess you can say represents time. that tiny, microscopic dot, is your life on earth, and that line is eternity. Can you not see the immense difference between life on earth and on heaven? Its so short. And it comes and goes.

With this notification i got this morning, everything just put into context and i realized how fragile life exactly is. I may see him one week, give him a hug, have a typical chat, and the thought of not know if he'll even be there or if i'll see him the week after, thats a scary thought. We often take life for granted, and we just think, "oh we have another day", but do we really. God has the power to end your life with a blink of an eye. Really live each day like its your last, but for the right reasons.

each day is a gift.

each day is a blessing.

The Means of Grace

Going through the book "You Can Change" by Tim Chester that my pastor gave me, i came across this, "The Means of Grace" and i just wanted to share my thoughts.

This is basically another way of saying spiritual disciplines, how reinforce your faith. The author prefers "The Means of Grace" and here are the seven.

1. The Bible

- the bible reveals our hearts and Christ's glory

- through the bible we can see what Christ has done, his greatness and his power, his miracle and control.

- the bible is able to cut through you and expose your heart, uprooting the source of our sinful desires and thoughts.

- Psalm 119:11 talks about storing God's word in your heart, and with this power, this truth, we can fight against sin and not fall into Satan's traps.

- "Dont read Scripture everyday as a duty to tick off, but savour the truth of God that it reveals. Read it not to be INFORMED, but to be TRANSFORMED and CONFORMED to the likeness of Jesus."

The Bible is the TRUE TRUTH. I think i've said before, a quote there reading Christian books arent a replacement for the bible. With the Word, we know that each word is truth and is right and is God's voice. Indulge and really KNOW IT and it'll change you from the inside out.

2. Prayer

- we have to realize that God is the only one that can truly change us, and when we do, prayer will become more and more important and powerful in our lives

- "prayer will consume sin, or sin will choke prayer" - J.C. Ryle

- we need to learn to immediately look towards the Father in prayer when we are tempted

I think we're all lacking prayer, but that second point really hit me. Its one or the other. There is no inbetween. Dont fall away from God. Prayer is the only telephone line we have with him. Pray to Him, not only in times of need and suffering, but just anytime. May it be a prayer of thanksgiving, cry, or celebration. Pray with others, pray together. Prayer doesnt have to be get down on your knees and pray, it can be a simple thought and a word.

3. Community

- the church is to be a community of change, where there is support, love, and accountability. no judgement or put downs.

- remind each other, watch over each other, walk with each other, pray for each other, serve together, and learn from each other

Accountability is SO important, and that is what the church should be. We must all individually work hard to be good representatives of our Saviour, of Christ, reflecting his love, his mercy, his grace and his life. Support one another in all things and walk through life holding each other.

4. Worship

- "when we worship God, we're minding ourselves that God is bigger and better than anything sin offers."

- "we sing the truth so that it moves, inspires, stirs, encourages, and so transforms us."

- let God "retune" our hearts through worship

Remember that worship isnt only about singing during that sunday service, you can worship him through anything, and we should worship him through everything. Through speech, through actions, and through thoughts. Continue to keep Christ in mind and you will learn to embody and remember his glory, his greatness and his love.

5. Service

- Sin is fundamentally an orientation towards ourselves, therefore when we serve we learn to think of others' needs first.

Service is extremely important. It reminds us that its not about us, its about God and others. It also is a great opportunity to try new things and see what our gift is. There are many ways to service God. It doesn't have to be the forefront and in the spotlight, it can be simple, small, and hidden as well.

6. Suffering

- "often the events of our lives appear to be meaningless and irrelevant. But all the time God is training us in grace and godliness."

Suffering is always questioned, but know that its for a better good, and through it we learn to rely and trust in our Father who knows all, cares for all, and controls all. There is a greater, bigger and better plan ahead, push through it and dont lose faith!

7. Hope

- meditate on the future, eternal life

- remind yourselves that there is better yet to come, greater things that will happen and eternity of happiness that awaits

- "thinking of Christ's return loosens the hold that the world has on us and inspires us to change."

Salvation is a past, present and future thing. Focus on what is eternal, do not dwell on the earthly things, things that dont last and will fail, but think about whats to come, and the end, where a eternity of happiness, without tears, without pain, awaits us.

Dust Bunnies.

Today as I sat down to start my studies, i was all prepared, organized, and set up, until i swept my finger across my desk where i dont often use. And...

dust.

i hate dust. It actually bothers me so much that it can get anywhere, and just lingers, and they're all little particles. And this some swipe spiralled into a massive clean up. I wiped down my ENTIRE desk, including all the different levels, and just EVERYTHING. This then moved onto cleaning my drawer top and then that lead to moving my books....

and in the midst of all that, i came to realize. This is what we were made from. God made Adam out of dust. And like Ecclesiastes 3 says,

¹⁹ Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. ²⁰ All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.

This kinda goes back to the SNA message this year. Nothing. Nothing on this earth will last. Relationships, materialistic things, pride, nothing on this earth will full satisfy except for God. All things will corrode, will fail, and will break. That is why we must learn to set our eyes on things that are greater, things that will last, and things that are eternal. Not earthly things.

On the lines of dust, i kept thinking, its so hard to clean up, its such a hassle, its.. literally nothing. Like what is it exactly... bits and pieces of what? And it kinda comes out of no where too...

i dont know, this post isnt the most organized and structured, but it was just a revelation i had today.

Seek The Greater (Eternal)

2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:2)

So many things are going on in life. There noise and commotion, may it be physical, emotional or spiritual. But my very great and wise mentor said "set your eyes on Jesus". Everyday we're surrounding by the things of this world, from gadgets and toys, to beauty and vanity. And yes, obviously, we're LIVING in THE WORLD, but like i said,

we're living IN the world, not OF the world. We arent a part of the world and we dont indulge in worldy matters, we're only using it as our temporary home.

I really wanted to focus on that verse above,

² Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:2)

Things on this earth will most definitely seem tempting, and intriguing but let us look further. Christ has so much more in store for us in heaven (John 14:2). More than we can ever imagine, more than gold and silver, better than the latest gadgets, i cant even describe it to you because.. i simply cant.

Keep watch on the eternal things. What will last. Things on earth will not last, they will only fade. Set your eyes on Christ, that is what will forever last.