there's a plank...

Who am I to judge?

Who are you to judge?

We are equal in sin.

One of the biggest qualities i look in a friend is that they aren't judging. That I can be my 100% self around them, ask the stupidest questions and not get a glare, or a "really? you didn't know that?" or a "do you live under a rock?". Sarcastic or serious, it hurts. And who are we to judge each other. We are equal in sin, equally at fault, and have all fallen short of God's glory.

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ² For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
³ “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴ How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Matthew 7:1-5

We tend to judge others a lot, whether its shown obviously or just judging another on the inside. I know that I most definitely do, especially with first impressions. I think the root of it is pride. Thinking you are higher above, or better than others, but the truth is we are all equal. The one that stole is no better or worse than the one who committed murder. We constantly are looking for faults in another person, trying to compare ourselves to make us feel better about ourselves.

I know many times, especially at church, judging others is an issue. I think its because many of us that attend church have been there for a while now, know all the "standards and expectations" as Christians, and once a flaw is noticed, its immediately beaten down. It develops a negative atmosphere, and people don't feel welcomed. God made people, friends and community so we can feel loved and build each other up and not tear each other down. When we judge, we look at others and not ourselves. Like it says in the passage above, why are we talking about the speck of dust in another's eye when we clearly have a plank in ours.

Don't judge, but love each other. We all have faults and we all stumble, but we should be there for other, to help each other up, not to cast stones to keep others on the ground.

⁷ When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

John 8:7 

The I's Of The World

We've taken over.

Walking home today after school, on such a beautiful day, i looked up to the sky to see this aircraft flying by. I don't know what it was, the point of view, or the blue skies, but it looked really ... "majestic"? What hit me was that there were people on that plane. And I soon realized how advanced our society is now, that we've taken over. There are people on land, there are people underground, there are people miles under the ocean, and there are people miles into the sky.

Although I believe that God gave us this earth for us to live in, but thinking about how much we've used it, and how we aren't taking care of it. Society today is all about "i". Think about it, iPhone, iTunes, Apple has most definitely channeled that "i" concept. Even in the real world, people are constantly thinking about themselves, and using others to get to the top. We've become really selfish in our thinking, and we often forget to put others first and love others as well.

¹² For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Matthew 23:12 

change is coming.

Watching Glee tonight, it's extremely relevant at the moment because the kids at McKindly High are graduating, and they're basically going through the phase at the same time as us. As they await their university responses, as they plan and start to prepare to move out, as they say their final goodbyes and go their separate ways. Tonight's episode really helped me realize the change that was coming and how unprepared I was.

I felt like I am somewhat prepared. I know where i want to go next year, and I'm excited to move out. Like I said in previous posts, all the academic portions I'm prepared and ready to go with, but with friends, family, relationships and people, I'm not ready to say my final goodbyes. I can't help but to think of what the last moment with the people of this stage of life will be like. What will happen our last time, everyone together. I cannot bear to think of how life will be like in a new environment with new people.

Although these people aren't completely gone and cut from my life, but its very probably that certain people will fade, and only the true friends will remain. Who? Maybe people I want, maybe people that will surprise me. Whether or not i like it, this change is coming.

God has a plan. This is something that is very reassuring for me. That he has a perfect and better plan already being incorporated. But as excited I am to see it, and watch it unravel, i know that parts of it do not consist of what I want. For instance, this specific friend, or this particular situation. So I'm scared, while at the same time I'm excited.

What I can do now, is live in the moment and truly treasure all God has blessed me with here and now and continue to move forward from there. The change is coming, most possibly faster than i want.

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

Jeremiah 29:11 

Journey: Guangxi

Second training. The missions trip is approaching fast actually, I'm leaving early july, so that gives us about less than 3 months before we depart and execute this. Today's training was surrounding the topic of Personality. For unity to happen, we must be able to understand each other and our teams, how we work, who we are as people. So we did a quick test.

There are four animals.

The Lion - the extrovert, task-oriented, strong, direct, but too dictatorial.

The Otter - the extrovert, people-oriented, open and positive, but may talk to much.

The Golden Retriever - the introvert, people-oriented, calm and sensitive, but can get hurt easily

The Beaver - the introvert, task-oriented, has high standards, but is a perfectionist.

I ranked as the golden retriever. And I can totally see it in myself, I'm sensitive, i try my best to sympathize with others, but I can get too sensitive and be hurt easily.

Looking around at the new faces at the training, naturally, there are people i tend to stay closer to, there are people who i judge based on first impressions, for instance there's this one team member who i just am not getting the best vibe from. I feel like we won't mix... and I don't know how to handle it.

We're also in somewhat of an uncomfortable situation. I didn't want to be put in a group with these people, but this team came together from different churches to make up this team. Its another chance to get out of my comfort zone, meet new people, and start new friendships. I have to continue to push myself forward and out there.

During the sharing, they talked about a typical day of the trip. I came to realize that this trip is going to be my longest short term missions so far. OJ Quebec was only 4 days of crazy wake up early, sleep late schedules. Day Camp was two weeks, but it was only most of the day, but on this upcoming trip, we will be up from 6:30am-10pm pretty much everyday for two weeks. In crazy climate and temperatures, with lack of luxury (they said there won't be seated toilets). I wonder how i'll cope. I remember in the past, i've heard these "typical day" talks and them saying that we'll be all exhausted, but honestly i haven't really felt that.

Im guess i'm nervous to work with these new people, i hope that i can mesh well and just open up to them.

¹⁶From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Ephesians 4:16

Endure! - Part 1

¹⁹ Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, ²¹and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²²let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. ²³Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

²⁶ If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, ²⁷ but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

Hebrews 10:19-27

Lately, you can see that my posts have been more topic based instead of passage based, and i can feel the gap between his Word and my life, and its weak. Im starting to really realize the power of his Word, how it is the bread of life. Indulging in it is a must, if you stop, you start to stray away.

I came across this passage while flipping through my bible, and its under "A Call to Persevere". There's more to it and i'll make it the next post, like a MINI MINI series. At this moment in time, there's been a lot i've been trying to push through, and there's been little glimmers of hope that are pushing me through. God will last and not leave my side, so putting my hope in Him is the best choice.

How sure are you of your salvation? (v.22) I remember at my baptism interview, i was asked "if you were to die right now, would you go to heaven or hell?" I remember answering hell. Because of all the things and sins i've committed, there was no way i was near that "perfect" Christian that deserves heaven. Oh boy was i wrong. God hands this gift out to each and every one of us, we take it when we repent and believe in Him. It still took me many many years after to fully understand the assurance of my salvation. Only until recently, I came to realize that my name is already up in heaven in the book of life, that i can say that i AM going to heaven. Christ is my God and my Saviour, and i've dedicated my life to him, no matter how hard the road may be. His life and his sacrifice has cleansed our hearts. We now have the help of the holy spirit, we can be stronger in becoming righteous in a holy manner. May we live our lives each month, each week and each day glorifying God in ALL we do.

Hope. (v.23) we're always looking for hope. It times of trouble especially. We must hold onto Christ because his will keep his promises. That he will one day descend from heaven and will end all sin, all pain, when judgement day will arrive. I await that day. I think i tend to forget this promise and thus lose hope easily.

While on earth, with these challenges and hardships, we cannot do it alone (v. 24-25). I remember struggling through things, and i remember focusing on Philippians 4:13 "i can do all things through Christ" that was my motivator. And as true as that was, i was strong enough, and i had to have other people. Thats why God made people. So we can work and help each other get through trials and troubles. Its always nice to know there's someone there for you, someone you can talk to. Find accountability. Find community. Find support. Find unity. You'll find a good group of people you can talk to, share with, be transparent with and can open up to. Its so important.

If you say that you are a follower of Christ, you are his child and his representative. If you know that God does not like sin, yet you continue to do so, it isn't right. (v.26-27) But God is a good God. He gives us free will. You can do whatever you want. He won't stop you and wont force you. If you continue to indulge in the world, then he'll just wait, hoping for the day you turn back to him. Judgement day is coming for all of us. God will go through all of us, one by one, looking through what we've done, if we were true followers and servants of Christ.

We have continue to fight and push forward.

Salvation is assured for us.

There is hope in God's love and promises.

He's given us people that will support and encourage us.

We cannot go back to our usual desires and sinful habits.

¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Romans 12:12

music.

Tonight I was lucky enough to attend Bayview Secondary School's spring concert. To start off, I have a story for you. So I totally thought it was at their school, so i arrive at 6:45 as my friend told me to come earlier and the parking lot was completely empty. Scrambled in and found out it was at unionville. I had to drive home, and finally get my dad to drive me there. And i was late. And missed half of my friend's performance. How embarssing.

Anyways, listening to the music, and watching the band, a few things crossed my mind. How music is so universal, and how it brings everyone together. You can take it from the musical point of view, where there are so many different instruments, from the brass, the woodwinds, where you can be even more specific, the tuba, the trumpet, the oboe, the bass clarinet, how things so different, yet come together to make such a beautiful harmonic sound.

From a person point of view, looking at all the students playing, some are athletes, some are the artsy ones, some are the book worms, and some are the true band geeks. They all come from different areas and interests to come together to create music. Music was the one common thing they had together.

Similar to all that, God is what should bring us all together. We are all working towards serving Him, loving Him, and glorifying His Holy Name. God loves everyone, and this love brings all of us together, from different cultures, different places, different races, and different personalities. It isn't exclusive, its for every one out there.

At the same time, this can also relate as with teams. I remember for SNA, i really saw how God pieced us together. Bringing us together as a whole, as a unit. We all had different talents, different spiritual gifts and together we created SNA, a beautiful masterpiece for God's glory.

God has a plan for each and everyone of us, and it may draw surprising things, it may draw things you don't want, but they all have a purpose, a perfect purpose for you. Its up to you whether or not you're willing to let him go and execute that plan for you.

⁵ For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.

Romans 6:5

nothing to something.

Ever since planning SNA this year for December, the message we were conveying really stuck in my head. The overarching message was that everything is meaningless. Everything fades, from relationships to materialistic things, that all things will fail us and that we are putting our hope in the wrong things. We should put our faith and hope in Lord Jesus Christ because he lives, and he's promised to love us back, unconditionally and eternally. We should put our hope in something worth putting our hope into. Knowing God will never fail and will never fade assures us that this is the right choice.

After thinking that through, i keep thinking, why are we doing this then? Whats the point, of getting these academics, going to university, getting that degree that'll fade, working to have a career, why can't we just give up on this?

I said that during our devotions last night at AGAPE and my counsellor gave me an answer that really got me thinking and really answered my question. He started with a story. Saying that one time on the street a friend said to another, "how can i help this homeless man?", and the friend responded with nothing at the moment, but you can work hard, study hard until you have a position of influence to then help this man.

I think this whole time i've just been thinking about myself. Where does all this take me, how will it benefit me. But from what i got out of it, its completely different. God gave us talents and gifts and passions, for instance, mine is Wildlife Biology, and he's also given us opportunities and privileges, if you can read this, you have internet, and if you're going to university, you are a part of 2% of the richest people in the world. God's granted us education, and its with this, the passion, the opportunities for us to work hard to help others. Not so you can get a good job a good pay a good car and a good house, but to be in a position of influence to help others.

¹¹For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

More.

We were heading to the doctor's today after school and we drove all the way down to Scarborough to meet this doctor, and on the way there, looking out the window, i realized that there was much more. So much more.

I think because im so used to the community and area I live in, i think thats all there is. Like the story with the frog in the well, it looks up and all it sees is the sky is a small circle, but when he climbs out of the well, he then realizes and sees all the more in the world. Today, i remember when passing a school, seeing all the other kids walking home with their backpacks, i realized that there are more people in this world.

By realizing that there's more and more, i started to realize exactly how small we are. I've heard people say this but i've never experienced it or realized it yet, that when they stand next to the ocean, they realize how small they are.

Look up. See the ceiling with the little dots or holes? Imagine that a single one of those dots is our home, earth. Now imagine that one dot, split into 6 000 000 000 other dots. The entire ceiling is the galaxy, and one of the 6 000 000 000 dots within that one dot is you. Can you imagine how small we are compared to the world, the galaxy, but most importantly to God? We are so small, and so incompetent.

Our God is bigger than "the ceiling" he's huge. This is my God, this is OUR GOD.

²⁸ Have you never heard?
Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
²⁹ He gives power to the weak
and strength to the powerless.
³⁰ Even youths will become weak and tired,
and young men will fall in exhaustion.
³¹ But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:26-31

Am I Just Another Person?

Think about how GINORMOUS this universe is.

Although you and I are just one person on this tiny planet that's revolving around a sun that's in this huge universe. At night you're surrounded by millions of stars.
Think about how much of this universe is unseen, how long it takes for each star's light to reach you.

God made us as just one person but we are all important. You may or may not know but you've probably made an impact on someone's life. God sees you from up above.
You're important and unique. No one is like you.
Yes there are many people in this world but to find someone exactly like you is impossible.

YOU are his creation. He trusts you to be part of his plan. God invests in you.

I hear you!

God Designed You to Hear His Voice

Rick Warren

“God does speak—sometimes one way and sometimes another—
even though people may not understand it.”
(Job 33:14 NCV)

God designed you to hear his voice. In a sense, there is a “receiver” in you that allows you to get guidance from God.

What channels does God use? The primary way that God speaks is through the Bible. This is why we need to read the Bible every day. God’s will is found in God’s Word.

God also speaks through godly Bible teachers. Have you ever been in church or at a Bible study and you feel like the teacher is speaking directly to you? In that moment, God is speaking directly to you.

God also speaks through other Christians. He even speaks through you. If you’ll stay in tune to him and learn his Word, sometimes God will use you to say things to people that he wants to say to them. It’s not something special reserved only for pastors; God speaks through every believer at different times.

God also speaks through your circumstances and your pain. God is speaking all the time. But we must listen. Tune in to God and he will lead you on the right path.

Hearing God's voice is what many people find difficult. For me, it is a challenge. Sometimes i don't exactly know if it's God himself or someone else just messing with me. We always have to keep in mind that He never stops talking.

Through thick and thin, he's there for us. He's the one that keeps us accountable and he's the one that helps us while we are in pain. It may be hard to understand what he's saying but, using his Word, it helps us give us a better understanding of who he is and what he's done.

He may be hard to understand at first but we have to accept it. Keep in mind that without Him you wouldn't be here. He made us who we are and we need to keep our ears open because he made us so that we can listen to him and be obedient to him.

We all have our different struggles and obstacles that we've faced or we are facing now but just remember that God is there for you 24/7.

He never leaves you.

God's Voice?

Afraid of Making The Wrong Decision?

Rick Warren

“He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:3b NIV)

Sometimes we’re afraid of making the wrong decision. And that creates stress.

But God says there is an antidote to our indecision. Psalm 23:3 tells us, “He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” We handle the stress of decision-making by letting God guide us.

You may be thinking, “But I’ve tried this!” You asked God to guide you, but then you became more confused than before. You still couldn’t figure it out. You wonder, “Why is knowing God’s will so difficult?”

Is God playing games with us? Of course not! God wants to guide us. He wants us to know his will more than we want to know it. Our problem is we often look for the wrong thing when we’re trying to find God’s will.

Some of us look for a feeling. Some of us want a methodical approach to God’s will, a recipe, or a formula to apply. Some of us take a magical approach and look for God to do some fantastic sign.

All of these ways lead to frustration and cause us to miss God’s will.

God does not want you confused, and he does not want you stressed over making any decision. He is there, guiding you every step of the way.

This is his promise, so you can believe it to be true: “He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.”

SPEAK TO ME. :) This has to be a sign right? I totally struggle with this EVERY day with ALL the decisions i cant make. For instance, that missions one (refer to posts below). Its good to know that God doesnt want me stressed or confused, but could he be more clear then? Unfortunately, after reading the devo it didnt answer any of my questions... so it wasnt the most helpful.

Everyone has different ways of interpreting God's voice. It may be through dreams, through other people (thats a reliable one), through reading scripture (which is also reliable because.. he wrote the bible), through signs, like if things come up often, there are just so many things that CAN be God's voice, but how are we to know if they are or arent?

BUT something that i can talk about is what i learnt at a devo at my Quebec's missions. It was based on waiting and watching. Here it is:

Throughout the missions at Ouje-bougoumou this summer, different people got to lead night devotionals each day regarding anything. They just had to share something with us. The following regards prayer and it just really really really stuck with me. I hope to be able to work it out more in my life, apply it more and watch it grow through me. It's based on one word in this passage;

⁴¹ “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” - Matthew 26:41

This was said by Christ Jesus during his last moments with his disciples in Gethsemane as he went to pray. At first when i read this passage, what stuck out to me is "pray so that you will not fall into temptation". But that day, what our leader pointed out blew my mind. WATCH.

There's a reason why God put WATCH and PRAY instead of just PRAY or WAIT and PRAY. The disciples stayed behind as Jesus went to pray. Why didnt he say WAIT and PRAY? Here's why. There's a distinct difference between WATCHING and WAITING. Let's look at 2 different scenarios that'll maybe help us understand.

"Today we went to the park for summer camp, but there was only one bus that had to take two trips to pick up the group in two different sections. During this hot hot hot day, (like 39 degrees), the group that is picked up second frolicks in the grass, looking at animals, and plays hand games while the bus returns for its second pick up."

"At the park, the sun shone brightly and strongly on all the kids. As groups C&D, the remain groups stayed behind as group A&B were returning to church, they continue to complain constantly about the heat, fatigue, hunger, and thirst. Although they were complaining, they stared at the park entrance and got excited whenever they saw something yellow pass by."

There is one scenario above that describes WAITING and another that describes WATCHING. Can you guess which one it is? Scenario one described waiting, and scenario two described watching. The dictionary provides a deeper understand with another perspective.

Waiting: to remain inactive or in a state of repose, as until something expected happens.

Watching: to be alertly on the lookout, look attentively, or observe, as to see what comes, is done, or happens.

(definitions from dictionary.com)

I love the one word in the waiting definition. INACTIVE. Waiting is INACTIVE, where as Watching is ACTIVE. Like the scenario, the kids were FOCUSED. EXPECTING for the bus to arrive, where as the other, the kids were just minding their own thing. The bus could have passed by, they could received a phone call saying a blue bus was coming instead, but they would have missed it.

Jumping back to the passage. Jesus said to the disciples, WATCH and PRAY. This gives us a CLEAR outlook and guide line on how we should pray. We have to pray and whenever we call out to God, God listens to you. He will always provide an answer. 3 main answers, YES. NO. and WAIT. But, we have to WATCH. We always say things like "if its according to your plan" but, not we have to EXPECT an answer because he WILL reply. When we expect an answer, it doesnt mean, do whatever you want and the next day you'll see a YES/NO/WAIT word made of clouds in the sky, but it means to be FOCUSED. Watch for the answer. Watch for his signs. If we just WAIT for an answer, its really easy to miss God's opportunities he gives us, the gifts and blessings we get, and what we want too. In fact, waiting causes distractions and maybe you wont even see the giant cloud providing your answer either.

We have to learn to WATCH instead of WAIT when we pray. Its something i need to improve one, and actually WATCH. EXPECT IT. FOCUS ON YOUR SURROUNDINGS THAT GOD WILL ANSWER. Watch and Pray.