Balloon.

Imagine a balloon that's deflated, sitting at the palm of your hand. What can it do, this flat, disappointing piece of lifeless rubber? Then, add the magic ingredient. Lift it to your lips and slowly breathe your life into this balloon. Feel is expand under your fingers. Once you let go it'll fly, bounce, float, and fall. It's a journey to new places, new possibilities. 


Genesis 2:7

Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

God breathed life into dust and created a person. Throughout history, God has continued to breathe life into his people, awakening, creating, and restoring. But those who receive the breath of God need to be ready to go where the Spirit takes them. You never know where God's going to take you. We have to learn to be flexible and rely on him 100%. 

Journey: Guangxi

This summer, I'm heading out Guangxi, China for a short terms missions trip and tonight we had our first training session, where each meeting revolves a specific theme, from expectations, to love, to unity, to the actually lessons we're teaching.

At the end, one of the veterans came up to share with us and he talked about the journey. Not just for this specific trip, but for missions trips in general. We're going for two weeks to teach english, but thats not the only thing. That's only one small portion of the entire journey. He challenged us to reflect and think about this process. It starts now actually, or even before. As he said, when you first start praying about it. Thats what I intend to do with this series, i'll try to update myself and y'all on my journey. From today, the first meeting, the ten weeks of training we'll go through, the two weeks of execution, the the debrief afterwards. Its a long process for a short term missions. He also challenged us with two questions. "So What?", "What's the next step?". These are things we need to answer after the trip (which i will eventually, as long as I remember). He said that many people usually get a spiritual high from these missions and once they return, it just drops back.

Going along with the theme of tonight, expectations. They really talked about preparing ourselves personally, for the change in environment, the change of lifestyle, from the living conditions, the food, and the people. And because we're going with a bunch of people, we focused on unity as well, and prayer.

There were so many new faces there although more than half of the people were from my church, RHCCC. It was interesting to get to know new people, and i could already feel myself being pushed out of my comfort zone. Im excited to interact with this new group of people, knowing that God brought us together for a reason. How i'll mesh with them? That's a whole other story. Im praying that I can be open to them, and just be able to have peace and unity with our whole group.

Personally, reflecting on everything so far, i can say that I'm not that excited for the trip. Im giving up so many things for this trip, my OJ missions, day camp, overnight camp, and i know I'm really going to miss them. I hope they don't forget me! But as i journey into this new realm, of new people, and new experiences, i pray that i'll keep my eyes and heart open to new ideas, new cultures, and new encounters. May I learn to be willing to take in what God wants to teach me. May all of it be for God's glory now and forevermore.

¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17

Brother In Christ.

Through all this pain, drama, laughs, cries. I finally realized one thing. I don't need this boy to be in my life so that I can love him for more than a friend.

Today i realized after this long journey i just need another brother to stick with me, through thick and thin. It took so long for me to finally realize that i shouldn't like this guy for more than a friend. I'm proud to say that he's my brother in Christ. He's stuck by me through my rants, hits, laughs, and just about everything in between.

I still don't remember when we first met but that's not really important. The thing is, I've always treated him for more than a friend. I feel like i did this because i just needed someone there to fill that hole in my heart.

I learned that when a guy treats you well it's not always cuz he likes you for more than a friend but it's cuz he wants to treasure the relationship that he has with you.

Clearing The Air: Baptism

Baptism. I feel like many people dont fully understand the meaning behind it and its purpose. I think many people think its something only the "super spiritual" can do. And to be honest, i thought it was like that too. I felt that i had to be completely sinless, or at least "above a certain level of holy" to be able to get into it. I remember during that time, when i was making my decision, i was struggling, and i felt that i had to overcome the struggle before i would step into the water.

But i've come to learn that Baptism is nothing like that. In a nutshell, baptism is your public declaration of your commitment to Christ. I guess you can say its like a marriage. Its that kind of public declaration. You are telling the world, without shame and with confidence that you are a follower of Christ.

But we must also understand that a commitment to Christ is a BIG DEAL. You can just choose to give up or walk away. God does give us free will and will let us go if we do choose so, but when we dedicate ourselves to someone, we shouldnt be doing that. Following Christ is big. Like it says in Luke 9:23,

²³ Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

This is a commitment that will last a life time, and in previous posts, we've discussed that its not easy, at all. God will throw at you trials and obstacles that are meant to build your faith. Its these times you may feel that God has abandoned you, but he's there if you call on Him.

Back to baptism. If you're a Christian and you havent been baptized, think about it, reflect on your journey and your walk with Christ and think about if you're ready to tell the world that you love our Saviour and God and that you're ready to tell the world that you're His.

Remain.

This image is my iphone wallpaper at the moment.

I think this has really stuck with me the past few days, especially on Sunday when Pastor Ming was talking about it. I remember writing in Jacky's bookmark to forever remain in Him. Ha just going to side track. Im so happy and proud of him. He's shared his story with me and im honestly amazed at how much he's grown and how much he's changed, he's a true inspiration to me and hope i can experience some kind of change like that someday, or at least somehow find the willpower to make such a change. But writing that in his bookmark, and hearing Pastor Ming speak about it, i remember thinking, "i wonder what he's thinking right now" (that is if he saw the connection).

But i think this is a great reminder we need to constantly remind ourselves of. To remain in Him. This verse comes from "The Vine". The gist of it talks about how we are branches that are attach to the vine, the vine being God. The vine provides us with the nutrients, the minerals to grow and to thrive. We need to remain in Him. Its a scary thought when you read on and learn that the ones that fail to produce good fruit are withered, cut off, and then burned. We have to be constantly producing good fruit, that is the fruit of the spirit. And this only happens when we remain in Him. Whether if that is indulging in His Word, spending time in prayer with Him, or glorifying in Him.

Last night was a whirlwind. But after the wind blew, the things flew, and everything was messed around, i've come to somewhat of a weird... odd conclusion. I dont really know where i am in my walk with Christ at the moment. Pastor HM is my mentor, and he says that im on the right track, but many times, i think, and i dont know what im doing. Where i am. Doubt floods my mind. I feel like my faith has plateaued, and i havent progressed for a while now. I always say i need to step it up, but i never really do. Last night, I let Satan get the best of me. I was told that I meant nothing, that no one cares, that life is just too difficult to manage. I didnt feel worthy of anything. His love, his grace, his sacrifice, why he hasnt given up on me, and why he's still here. All that piling on top of school stress and friendships, i just felt really lost. I have to learn to remain in him. I have to learn to get right with God and i just have to have Him reassure me. No worries, last night, i just tripped and fell, but im slowly getting back up on my feet and trying to walk this out again. Who said the Christian Life was going to be a breeze? no one.

Remain in Him and He will Remain in You.

Clearing The Air: The Good Life

Ha, wonder if this will turn into a series, but i dont know if anymore will come after this one.

This is also a biggie. We'll just jump right into it.

Becoming A Christian does NOT EQUAL A Good Easy Breezy Life.

Many MANY people think becoming a Christian and accepting God will make life so much better, he'll handle everything, and it'll just be a breeze. No more sadness or suffering, no tears, just joy and happiness.

In FACT, becoming a Christian is probably the opposite. God WILL give you challenges and trials for you to endure, to test your faith in Him. I've learnt that life on earth is a test, a test for eternity. God will throw you questions, obstacles, problems, and scenarios and will test how you react/respond to them. God honouring or not. If you pass the test, he will say,

“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!" (Matthew 25:21)

Believe me. The run and the journey is hard, and its rough, but knowing that God is on your side is already relieving. Know that he'll never abandon you, even in the roughest and the toughest times, he's always by your side. Learn to call on Him and he'll be there. Im not saying accepting Christ will lead to a misery and dreary life, in fact it WILL lead to happiness. Yes, there are "rules" that we may find annoying, and restricting, but its for our own good in the long run, and he's protecting us because he loves us oh so much. Having God in my life has changed me, its given me hope, and im happy and proud to call him my Saviour and my God.

⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7)

Will you be able to say this at the end of your journey?

I Got This. Trust.

Don’t See How? God Will Make a Way.

Rick Warren

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

(Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV)

You may be facing a dead end right now — financial, emotional, or relational — but if you will trust God and keep on moving in faith, even when you don’t see a way, he will make a way.

It will become more understandable as you head down the path he sets before you, but understanding is not a requirement for you to start down the path. Proverbs 4:18 says, “The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day” (NIV). One day you will stand in the full light of eternity and view the big picture. You’ll see God’s purpose behind the path he specifically chose for you.

In the meantime, do what Proverbs 3 says: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Be patient. God knows what he’s doing. God knows what is best for you. He can see the end result. You can’t. All those problems, heartaches, difficulties and delays — all the things that make you ask “why” — will one day be clear in the light of God’s love.

But for now, we’re learning to trust God.

TRUST. It’s something that we all have. May be big or small but we call have it. There may be times where we don’t trust anyone or the opposite of that, we trust someone a lot.

It’s something that we all have to work upon and can’t just leave it as that. When we say trust in the LORD with all our heart do we really do that or just say it. I know for me, it’s a struggle. I’ve faced many challenges and it seems that sometimes I ask God “Why Me?” then it all goes downhill.

He purposely chose these struggles for each and every one of us because he knows that there’s a way to get you out of it. It takes time and patience to work with God. Obedience is key in this relationship. If He tells us to go somewhere (for example a mission field) and we don’t want to we have to make a big decision.

We may not see the path that he has made for us right away but we need to stay focused and be mature about what he has set for us.

Guide Me.

We all like to be independent. Whether it be doing your own laundry or going off to university. We often think of when we’re independent we are by ourselves, no one’s there to tell you anything.

But let’s take a step back. Who was there to die for you? Who was there to forgive your every sin? Who was there to lead you when you were struggling?

JESUS CHRIST (:

He’s always there when we need help. He guides us and makes our every move. He knows each of our names, how many strands of hair we have on our head, and everything in between.

I, personally, forget that He’s up there waiting. But in the end I realize that anything is possible with Him.

It even says in Matthew 19:26, “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

In the devotion for today Rick Warren says, “God made you so that you would not be able to see into the future no matter how much you try. Why did God do this? He did it so you would depend on him.”

I don’t know how else you can say it. He wants all of us to depend on Him.

He’s there for us and always will be.

"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

Starting 2012's Walk: In Love.

Lets start this devo thing. Or else ima forget about it and who knows where that'll lead us.

I was kinda unsure of what to do today, but i opened my ESV bible app and i was on Ephesians 5. Walking In Love. Here's what it says.

¹ Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children ² and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

³ But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. ⁴ Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. ⁵ For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.^{[a] 6} Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. ⁷ Therefore do not be partners with them.

⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) ¹⁰ and find out what pleases the Lord. ¹¹ Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹² It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. ¹³ But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. ¹⁴This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. ¹⁸ Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

ephesians5:1-20

Walking in love. This is how we should be walking in 2012, and we can use it as a guideline to keeping on track with God and staying right with God. Lets just dissect the passage.

v1. be imitators of God. Something extremely important here is the fact that we cannot be imitators of God... if we dont know who God is or what he did, and there's only ONE place where you can find that, in the bible. So in other words, study his Word. I've been reading a book; "You Can Change" by Tim Chester. Here's a quick quote. "Our job is to study the glory of God revealed in the life and death of Jesus. We're to study his character, learn his role, and understand his motivation, so that in every situation we can improvise the part. We'll face situations that Jesus never faced. But if we understand his character well enough, we'll be able to improvise. We'll be a good Jesus." By studying the Lord, we'll know how to act and we'll learn to naturally live it out.

v4. no foolish talk, but let there be thanksgiving. Our mouths are strong and powerful. They can either be a weapon, used for deceit and destruction, or as a tool, used for thanksgiving and encouragement. Like it says in the verse, let there be thanksgiving. But think about it, why would you talk foolishly, and hurt others with your mouth. What good does it do you? Why not instead, praise God, thank God, thank others, and support others. We have to learn to control our mouths in 2012. Things you say can NEVER be taken back, so watch what you say.

v8. walk as children of light. Light, the properties of light are that the light waves move in all directions and it never stops. They can reflect, refract, diffract, and bend. Thats how we should be. As children of LIGHT, we radiate, our World and society today is black, is dark, filled with chaos, sin and evil and we are the little specks of light that are used by God to brighten up the lives of others. Through our actions, and through our words, God's name is glorified. This brings up and issue that i have problems with. I've learnt (from that book again) that we are representatives of God. It pains me to see people that say they are Christ followers, but then decide to radiate something else. If we represent God, let us represent in UNITY. By radiating something different, people change their thoughts about who we are, as a WHOLE. Think about how your actions affect others. Im not saying i radiate pure light and pure holiness, but at least learn to work at it.

v15. look carefully then how you walk. Kinda just adding on to what i said before. But as the new year starts, take some time to reflect on your past and how you've been walking. Are you radiating God's love? or are you showing something else?

v20-12. giving thanks always to God the Father and submitting to one another. Be thankful. Sometimes i wake up and realize how great God is to me. Count your blessings. The fact that you can read this blog post means your already blessed. That means you have internet, while means you have a computer if not a mobile device, which means you have electricity, probably a house, and depending on where you live your own room, a car, a job or a school. Think about how much God has blessed you with and think about how you can pour some of that blessing into other people. Submitting to other people. I've learnt that support and accountability is amazing and important in one's life. Life is a long hard journey. Being a Christian is not an easy life as some may think. But God fills our live with obstacles and struggles so we can grow in our faith and learn to trust in our almighty God when we're failing. But also, build a community where you have people to reach out to and ya'll can push each other up when you're falling. You are running a race alone, but you can have many many many people cheering you on from the sidelines.

That mustve been a long post. But think about it. How are you going to walk this upcoming year in 2012. In love? or Out of love?

cheers to the new year!

Jason