Unity.

When we take a look under the hood of a car there are many parts that have to work together in order for the car to run smoothly and achieve it's purpose. We may not notice the importance of the cooperation until it fails. The same is true in relationships. Your relationships with others can run smoothly... and they can also stall (just like a car). 




Philippians 2:1-2

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.

God wants us to be united with the Spirit and one another. When Christians listen to the Spirit, we can be like a smoothly running engine. But when we push ourselves before others, when we're out of step with the Spirit, we're like an engine with parts that won't cooperate.

Live with a Purpose.

God is at work in you through the power of the Holy Spirit. Even when you don't fee like much is going on, God's Spirit is moving, bubbling, welling up from the very depths of your life. 


John 5:2-9 

Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

 Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

   The day on which this took place was a Sabbath,

After 38  years of waiting. Waiting to experience this miraculous moment. The moment to submerge himself in the stirred up pool. A man's life was dramatically changed. He experienced the love of Christ bubbling up in his life. 

God wants our lives to be like the water that is stirred up. He wants us to provide hope for the lost, rest for the weary. He wants to full us with the miraculous.

With Christ you can. Bubble with joy. Shake with excitement. Move with power. Live with a purpose. 

God's Masterpiece.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhfUzodLRvk

You are God's masterpiece. No one's perfect. We all have flaws. The first time i saw this video was back in Grade 10 and i thought it meant nothing. Just another YouTube video being shown at fellowship. The second time hit me hard. It was during retreat and we were talking about how our lives is like a renovation.

It's all bad and unwanted at the beginning but when during the process it gets ugly, destroyed, and it's messy, very messy. Once all the stuff is destroyed and rebuilt in the end it's all pretty and perfect.

Similar to our walk with God. He made us his masterpiece and he shapes and molds us to be like him. During our walk with God it will definitely get ugly. With temptations, struggles, and challenges.

Accept the fact that God made you for a reason, a purpose, and you're perfect. Every time we confess our sins he uses that hammer to chisel away our sins to make us beautiful.

Road to Calvary (VI)

About to do my devotions today, i realized i forgot to leave a passage here, in between the crucifixion and the resurrection, but i think that i'll use this post to really take some time to think about how God has worked in my life and how i've seen his love displayed.

The past little while has been rather rough. I've said in a previous post that i feel like my WORLD life (meaning academics, university and all) is okay. Im not worried about that, about marks and I'm not stressed about work either. But on the flip side, MY WORLD (meaning friends, relationships, has been quite a mess). The past year i've been able to open up more and share with others about my problems, and i've been blessed to have a few special people in my life whom i can trust, whom i can talk to and be completely honest with without hesitation. I cannot thank them enough. I truly believe that God placed them in my life to help me with this time of struggle and i can say that its through them that i see God's awesome love.

Its because of God's love that I'm here today.

Its because of God's love that I'm still standing.

Its because of God's love that i have hope, a reason to live on and to fight.

Death. I've been thinking about that quite a bit lately. Thinking about how easy it would be to take my life, and then all the problems would disappear immediately. But yet i haven't. Its easy to just walk out into the street and get hit, its easy to step off the balcony and fall, but yet I'm still here, still standing and still fighting. How am i getting through? By remembering the eternal things. God has promised us a spot in heaven if we believe. He has promised us a new life of happiness, of joy, without pain, without suffering, forever. Keep your eyes on this, and keep pushing through. Yes, life will throw you the dumps, Satan will lure and entice you, trying to trip you up, but with Christ, you've been saved. If you have believed, confessed and repented, you have ALREADY been saved. Your spot is secure! Thats the greatest hope!

God sent his son to die for you and for me. Jesus, was born in a manger, lived as a carpenter, walked on this earth, endured and faced every trial, every pain, and every temptation by the devil and stood firm, did not give up, and committed until the very end, until "it is finished". May we follow his footsteps and learn to do the same.

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Road to Calvary (V)

Today is Good Friday. It was today, many many years ago that our Saviour was put on a cross, shed his blood for our sins. He gave up his life for us. A sinless, guiltless perfect man died for you and me.

So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. ¹⁷ Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). ¹⁸ There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

¹⁹ Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. ²⁰Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. ²¹ The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”

²² Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

²³ When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

²⁴ “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”

This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said,

“They divided my clothes among them
and cast lots for my garment.”

So this is what the soldiers did.

²⁵ Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” ²⁷ and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.”From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

John 19:17-27

Christ was crucified for us. If you looked into it, you were see exactly how extreme and how painful it really was, from the whipping, to carrying the cross, to being nailed, hung, and pierced. He went though a lot of pain for us.

We get to see a last glimpse of Pilate's character here, and like the speaker described in the sermon today, that some people respond to the cross by just touching it, not embracing it. Pilate recognized that God was guiltless, but he still gave into peer pressure in the previous post. Pilate wrote "The King of The Jews" as a statement, whereas the others wanted it to say that "he CLAIMED to be the King of The Jews". But Pilate stayed true and kept it how he wrote it, hinting at the truth and what he believed and saw. A sinless, guiltless person, taking the blame and the consequence for something he didn't deserve.

The next part, with the casting lots, it said that it was done to fulfill scripture as it was said in Psalm 22:18. I personally do not see and understand the significance yet besides fulfilling scripture. For instance, why did they cast lots for it? What was the point of that?

The last few verses, i feel like it shows the detail of God's plan. That when Mary saw her son up there on the cross, he had already planned for her to be taken care of, by his disciple. It shows how detailed our God thinks, how exact and precise, and to the tee. That all things are perfect in his hands.

²⁸ Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” ²⁹ A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. ³⁰ When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

³¹ Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. ³² The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. ³³ But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.³⁴ Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. ³⁵ The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. ³⁶ These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,” ³⁷ and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”

John 19:28-37

"It is finished". Jesus' final words before he died on the cross. You can really see his true dedication to his Father and to the plan. He carried out every single bit of God's plan from beginning to end, not wavering or straying away.

Again, like the garment and the lots, scripture was to be fulfilled when Jesus was pierced. That no bones will be broken, only pierced, as referred to in Exodus 12:46, Numbers 9:12, as well as Psalm 34:20. Its amazing to see that even after Jesus' death that scripture is being fulfilled and God's plan is always in motion.

Jesus' body was then buried in a tomb, and he lay there the next three days, and while the world mourned, God above knew that something greater was coming.

Resurrection Sunday.

¹⁹ Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

John 2:19

Road to Calvary (II)

After Jesus' prayer for himself, his disciples, and for us, he is betrayed by Judas as he knew and expected.

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” 10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

John 18:1-11

We've heard this story several times, and we've always learnt and have known Judas as the "bad guy". But when I was thinking about this passage today, and reading it over, i think that Judas truly represents all of us. We have all betrayed Jesus, we have all gone against him, behind his back, and have fallen short of his glory.

And its okay, we are human, we are sinners and we cannot be perfect and holy. But as Christ followers, we have to strive for this holiness, for this righteousness to become like and imitate God. If we say we are followers yet still indulge in the things of this world, thats being two-faced and it doesn't present a good representation of Christ. In this world we are called to be light, and everyone is looking at us. Your actions, and speech as Christians can easily make impressions on others, whether it may be positive, negative, accurate or inaccurate.

The last two verses real stuck out to me. When Simon uses a sword and slices off the servant's ear. Thinking about it now, and thinking about how impulsive he was, I think many times as Christians, as we start to build our faith, after we pass the early stages, we can easily develop as "Holier Than Thou" attitude, and I think we easily judge others very quickly as well. Like Simon, instead of cutting off an ear, we'd say "oh we're better than that person", "oh he's does this, when he shouldn't be doing it", but we really should be looking at ourselves. Everyone is equal in sin. Jesus says to him, "shall i not drink the cup my father gives me?". I found this as a really odd statement, why would he say such a thing? I think he's trying to say that because Jesus knows it is apart of God's plan for him to die, he needs to obey and follow it, (drinking the cup) and execute and fulfill his purpose.

One last thing i noticed was how calm Jesus was. Although he knew his plan for him, he was calm. For us, i think we often are scared and would panic because we don't know his plan for us, but Jesus' plan was death. Yet he had such great faith in God, ready for whatever he has in store for him.

As this final week before Easter arrives, continue to reflect and think about, how you are representing Christ, after understanding and knowing what kind of person he is.

¹⁰The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. ¹¹In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. ¹²Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.

Romans 6:10-12

Road To Calvary (I)

Since it is the final week before Easter comes around, i decided that I wanted to dedicate this week to Jesus' road to Calvary. Im planning to go through his last moments on earth, everyday, starting from John 17 (not sure why i picked there). Here goes. May God speak to you and me through his Word.

¹ After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. ² For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. ³ Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. ⁴ I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. ⁵ And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

Jesus Prays for His Disciples

⁶ “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. ⁷ Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. ⁸ For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.⁹ I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. ¹⁰All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. ¹¹ I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. ¹² While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe bythat name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

¹³ “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. ¹⁴ I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. ¹⁵ My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. ¹⁷ Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. ¹⁸ As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. ¹⁹ For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

Jesus Prays for All Believers

²⁰ “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,²¹ that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²²I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— ²³ I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

²⁴ “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

²⁵ “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. ²⁶ I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

John 17

After reading through and listening to what Jesus said in this prayer, there's really a lot of context here. So i'll try to break it down, or just share first thoughts that came to my mind. In the text i was reading in, ESV, i didn't know it was split into so many parts, but i guess that'll be an advantage.

Verses 1-5, when reading this, i thought that this could also be a prayer we should be praying to God with. He talks about glorifying God with his life (v.2) just as we should be with our speech, and actions, living as a holy and pleasing sacrifice. It also hints about our purpose on this earth. Christ's purpose was to be sent to die, carrying the sins of mankind, granting us salvation and forgiveness for those who believe and repent. But for us, can we say v.4 before we leave the earth? That we've brought glory to his plan?

Verses 6-19, going through this, i can really see how Christ is the connection between us and God. Like that cartoon i've seen where the cross is the bridge between earth and heaven. In these verses I feel like he's really talking FOR us. For instance, he says protect them (v.11). He's really talking for us, wanting the best for us, but something extremely important is that he's praying for those who have accepted the truth (v.8-9). He states very clearly that he is praying for them (those who accepted the word), NOT the world. Reading this section over and over, you can really see how much God has loved us. He talks about how he's protected us while he was on earth, but now that he's leaving he hopes God can provide and watch for us (v.11-12). The rest of the verses continue to show his connection with us, being the link between the sinful and the holy. Verse 16 dives right back into being representatives of Christ, of living IN this world, not OF this world. As followers of Christ we must live and strive to imitate him. Jesus knows that following him is hard, and the world will hate you because you are going against the current, the trends, but its a fight (v.14).

Verses 20-26 are similar to the section before, but instead, Christ is praying for all the believers versus his disciples earlier. But no only does Jesus pray for the believers, he adds in the non believers too. He knows that there are people who do not believe, and that he proclaimed his name, radiating God's love to others, and he hopes that that can continue to happen through his disciples and through us. Thats one of the more general purposes we have on this earth, to share his love and good news to others.

Reading and going through this passage, I think i've finally opened up and have seen Christ's love for me. I've always felt distant from his death and sacrifice because it happened so long ago, but reading his prayer, it really shows his love for us as we see him speaking for us.

⁹ This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹¹ Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

1 John 4:9-11

TBA

confused? uncertain? I know I am. I don't know why I'm going through the things i'm going through. Why am i dealing with loneliness, why am i fighting these certain struggles and problems. It might be the same for you. That you're going through certain things may it be a broken family, cutting or other addictions. I know that i myself don't want to be struggling with this. I've struggled with temptations and sins for years now, and its frustrating that i haven't permanently become victorious. But while looking through stuff, deciding on what to talk about today, i decided to talk about Proverbs 16:4.

"The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble."

Everything we struggle with, everything that happens each day, good or bad, a pain or a celebration, the people we meet, all has a purpose.

During Earth Hour tonight, I got to sit down and chat with my parents. But to be honest, it felt more forced. But as time went on, we started to talk about family. There's this TV show on right now called "Who Do You Think You Are" and it explores celebrity guests as they travel around the world, discovering their family tree and the genealogy behind it, uncovering secrets, and surprises about the past. Talking to my mom about it, she talked about her mom, my grand mother, and how her grandmother (my great grandmother) was a single family. It was tonight where she realized that my grandmother was raised in a single-parent family, and how it applies to today. Hearing about the past, about what was and what came to be, it can be seen as God's plan. Im not exactly sure how it was apart of the plan, but for instance, my grandmother (raised in a single parent family) could chat with others who also are facing the same issues, and can provide comfort, and words to share with generations down the line. Decades ago, when my grandmother was raised, she probably didn't understand why she was alone, why she didn't have a dad, but its possible that generations later, she realizes that this is why.

Same goes for you and me. Why am i struggling with this, why is that apart of our lives. But there is a reason. There is a purpose. Don't give up. God has a plan for you, and if you give up, he cannot use you to your greatest potential.

⁹ In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the LORD establishes their steps.

Proverbs 16:9

broken, fragmented

Easter is fast approaching, and we have to take the time to reflect on our Saviour's sacrifice. Christ was beaten, battered, spat on, speared, cussed at, all the horrible, painful things one could ever imagine. He bore all that for us. He took on the sin of the world, the sin of mankind upon his shoulders and on the cross. WE were the ones that nailed him to that cross.

He was broken for us. But he made us whole.

Without him, our lives have no purpose, because of God he has made me who i am now, with a reason on this earth, with a specific route and plan for my life. He's given me people who i can be accountable with, people who support and love me. To bind us, unifying us, and making us whole. It is through Christ we have come together. Praise God.

As Easter comes along, think about who he went through for us, and what he has done for us by doing so.

²³ For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread ²⁴ and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.”

1 Corinthians 11:23-24

sunlight sweep

Coming home today, I realized something which i somewhat made into an analogy, and i just wanted to share it with you all.

I've heard many many times people ask, "how does salvation work for those who wont ever hear the gospel?". Personally, i know that God has a plan for each and every one of us, a perfect, almighty plan with a purpose, with a goal, and with reasons. So I think that no matter where you are, everyone will somehow hear the gospel at least once in their life. God sent his Son to die on the cross for everyone, and everyone is a child of God, so he wont leave anyone out. Like a shepard and his sheep, if one strays off, he will go in search of it until they find it.

So walking home, on this bright and sunny day, i saw the shadow and the sunlight hitting the walls of the houses, and i thought to myself. Sunlight hits everything. The sun encircles the earth, and everyday we see it rise in the east and set in the west, you watch the shadows move, and eventually, everything is hit and touched by the rays of light.

Like the world, every single person is touched by the gospel, but there's more to do. Will you take this gift of salvation when you hear about it? Everyone gets the chance, but its up to you to act upon it. No one else can give you that gift and force you to take it. God has handed it out on a silver platter and no one else can make you take it.

The choice is yours.

¹¹ For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people.

Titus 2:11

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

The Valley of Dry Bones

¹ The LORD took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the LORD to a valley filled with bones. ² He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out. ³ Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?”

“O Sovereign LORD,” I replied, “you alone know the answer to that.”

⁴ Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the LORD! ⁵ This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again!⁶ I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”

⁷ So I spoke this message, just as he told me. Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley. The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons.⁸ Then as I watched, muscles and flesh formed over the bones. Then skin formed to cover their bodies, but they still had no breath in them.

⁹ Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man. Speak a prophetic message and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.’”

¹⁰ So I spoke the message as he commanded me, and breath came into their bodies. They all came to life and stood up on their feet—a great army.

¹¹ Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, ‘We have become old, dry bones—all hope is gone. Our nation is finished.’ ¹² Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel.¹³ When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the LORD.¹⁴ I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the LORD has spoken!’”

Ezekiel 37:1-14

Today I wanted to look back into the theme verse for TC this year. I think its a very powerful and compelling verse, from Ezekiel 37:23. It says,

²³ They will never again pollute themselves with their idols and vile images and rebellion, for I will save them from their sinful backsliding. I will cleanse them. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.

I wanted to read more about what context it was in, but when reading Ezekiel 37, i found the first bit really intriguing, so today I want to talk about that. The Valley of Dry Bones.

Reading this passage, (verses 1-14) I am still a bit lost in what context it is in, but the scripture was very interesting. To sum it up, it talks about walking through a valley of bones and how the Lord will speak and breathe life into them. It even goes into detail with the tendon and flesh forming.

Two portions of this passage stood out to me,

verse 5-6,

⁵ This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! ⁶ I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”

It says I will do this, I am going to do that, I, I, I meaning God. He is the one that is breathing in life into us. He is granting us the Holy Spirit and purpose when we believe in him. No one and nothing can give us that. No materialistic thing, no friend or relationship can give us that permanent joy and satisfaction.

I think there are three stages illustrated within this bit of the passage. First, we are all just dry bones (v.1). This is before we've come to Christ or even heard of him. We're dead, dry bones with no meaning, no purpose, not attached to anything, on our own. Then later in the passage when prophesied, the bones came to life, "the bones came together" "and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them", but the most important part, "there was no breath in them" (v. 7-8). I think you can take this stage as hearing about God, and starting to see his love, his life, his grace and his mercy for us. BUT, there is no breath in us. The last stage is when life is breathed into us. And when "breath enters them, they came to life and stood up on their feet, a vast army" (v. 10). When we've repented and have turned away from sin, fully committing and dedicating our life to our Lord and Saviour, that is when we can true stand up on our feet and be apart of this "vast army". An army for God as we fight for his glory, fight against the devil and the temptations Satan may bring our way.

verse 12-14,

¹² Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel. ¹³ When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the LORD. ¹⁴ I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the LORD has spoken!’”

Like that verse (Colossians 2:13), we were once dead, but God has given us new life, and has "opened our graves", "causing us to rise again". By giving our lives to God, he has given us much more, a greater life, and a greater purpose. God has already gifted us with eternal life, and because of that, let us run the race, and fight the good fight!

Running Mindlessly

Found this in my devotional today, which reading at school and i thought it was really interesting. Take a quick read!

In Buddhism, a thangka painting typically portrays the wheel of life—the historic representation of the nature of human existence. Central to the painting is the circle of life, which has no beginning or end. Life with its endless reincarnations is a spinning wheel that never stops. Perhaps most ominous about the thangka is that the hands and feet of the devil grip the wheel from behind. It’s obvious who is in control of such a spinning history of futility.

In my office I have a painting by a Christian from Tibet who created a very different thangka. In this thangka, the wheel of life has been invaded by Christ’s incarnation and transcended by Christ’s resurrection. And the hands and feet of the devil are broken free from the wheel. As our text states, Christ disarmed “the powers and authorities” and “made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”

Billions of people in our world think that life has no real purpose—that we’re like hamsters on a spinning wheel, running forever in meaningless circles. But history is under God’s control; it had a beginning and will have an end. The devil’s defeat means a world in which all things are made new—even the likes of you and me.

~ Today's Devotionals (iPhone App)

"The hands and feet of the devil are broken free from the wheel." This wheel represented life, the constant battle between world, sin, temptations, struggles and difficulties, we constantly want to give in, and its just too much effort and work to fight it through, but will you fight the good fight? Before, the devil was holding your "wheel of life". After accepting Christ, he's come into your life, broken off the devil's grasp on you and have set you free.

"The devil's defeat means a world in which all things are made new..." All things are made new, your life, your actions, your mind, your heart and your soul. You've been forgiven, given another chance, another shot. A clean slate, no record of any wrongs. God has already conquered the devil, and so can you with his aid and guidance.

Are we like "a hamster on a spinning wheel, running forever in meaningless circles"? Indulging in things we should not be? Or have you stepped off that wheel and have realized your purpose in life?

Prove It!

Sunday School this week was a challenge. I think as Christians, there are many things we tend to avoid, but are yet so essential to our faith. Evangelism, standing up for our faith. As Christians, can we explain why we believe? This is what our teacher challenged us with. If you came across this question/statement, how would you answer it?

Prove That God Exists.

I remember when he asked us that question, as well as "is there a God", i cringed, i really didnt want to answer it. I felt so inable to answer it, i didnt feel equipped enough to answer it, to figure out all the facts, to disprove the big bang theory, or whatever other scientific facts, but the truth is we have to face this question. The world has this mindset that things arent true unless proven, thats what science is all about! But how do we prove something we cant see? How are we to answer this if it comes along our way one day? Think about it.

We went around the room sharing our ideas, and a university student was the person we were trying to convince, and many people gave interesting things that i was most interested to hear.

SCIENCE FACTS:

- If it was tilted an angle too much to the left or to the right, we would either burn or freeze.

- Scientists talk about how life was formed from amoebas to sea creatures to land creature, but how do you go from absolutely NOTHING to something without a greater and stronger force?

- Big bang theory, that planets are red shifted, that they are moving away, therefore at one point in time, they must have been close together, but what gave it that umph of energy to create that bang?

OTHER FACTS:

- there has to be a greater purpose in life, why are we living, without God, there is no true purpose on earth

- the bible has been sustained for so long, its almost impossible. If someone didnt believe then they could have destroyed and burned it, and yet it has been passed on and is still living and breathing for thousands of years

These were all things people shared and we discussed, are they strong, are they convincing, that's up to you.

Afterwards, the university student pointed out two answers she liked.

First, she said the answer that "if we could prove that God existed, then we wouldn't have a choice to believe or not". That is very true, if God was proven, everyone would realize the truth and turn to him right? That was very thought provoking for me.

Second, which i think i've talked about previously somewhere, is the comparison between other religions. That if you look at many other religions, they are all self-oriented, doing deeds to gain something, may it be self-fulfilment, or happiness. But if you look at Christianity, its the other way around, we have all be presented with the gift of the gospel and eternal life, its up to us to accept that gift or not. And also, you see that Christianity is the only faith that is inviting and welcoming. You dont see Buddhism holding events inviting people to be Buddhist as well. We are Christians are sharing and want others to hear the good news as well.

After all the talk, we came to a final conclusion, that i think is pretty solid. The best proof for this answer is you. The Christians. The Christ-followers. Are your deeds and your words proclaiming and glorifying Christ? If you are, others will see God working in you and through and that is the greatest proof that he lives, he reigns, and that he is the way, the truth and the life.

Are YOU the living proof to answer this question?

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.

greater things are yet to come.

Glee is my inspiration for this post. Today's episode talked a lot about life, death, and suicide. For many people, young, old, tall, small, no matter what sexual orientation, what lifestyle, gender or race, everyone goes through life, and its tough, its rough and it frustrating. It will have its ups and downs, and there may be days where you think to yourself, life sucks. But that is no reason to even think about taking your life. Things WILL get better, but what's even greater is that there's hope, and greater things are yet to come, beyond this earth.

¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. ²² For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. ²³ And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly aswe wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.²⁴ For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

romans 8:18-25

I've learnt that life is like a circle, there will be its ups, and its downs, but even though you may be at the lowest point, it will pick up and get better. Learn to have faith and trust in the Lord, he has greater plans for you.

In heaven, God has a place ready for you, but you have to pass his test on earth. If you can sustain and pull through all the challenges and storms he may send your way. Will you be able to hold on and stand firm in your faith, knowing God is almighty and good and will pull you through any depressing, frustrating or painful time in your life? There are MANY greater things yet to come that you have no idea of, if you give up on yourself and on life, you'll never get the opportunity to experience the blessings God has instore for you. Dont lose faith.

Run!

Isaiah 40:28-31

²⁸ Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The LORD is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,

and his understanding no one can fathom.

²⁹ He gives strength to the weary

and increases the power of the weak.

³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall;

³¹ but those who hope in the LORD

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

When you run in a race what's the purpose of it? Why do people keep pushing themselves, even when they're tired? We often keep running until we just can't anymore. We have things in our spiritual lives where we're running and running and just don't stop, even when we're tired. God wants you to enjoy your spiritual life. He doesn't want you to become weary or for it to ever become boring. He wants you to be strengthened and renewed. He wants to you feel you are running well - he wants you to be a winner, not a loser.

Hold you hands in victory above your head. Close your eyes. Breathe in and out deeply. Picture God filling you with strength. Filling you with encouragement. With joy in a race well run. With a reminder that it is for him and to him you run.

I often find myself pushing myself to do my best, even when the task is somewhat boring. When i look back at what i have done, i realized that i could have done it so much better if i slowed myself down. I always find myself rushing myself and i don't learn as much. I realized that i should slow myself down and let God guide me, instead of me running ahead of the plans.

Slow and steady wins the race.

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.