Wit's End

When things don't go your way.

When it seems like everything's done.

When it feels like you've hit rock bottom.

When you're at your wit's end.

Ready to give up, ready to lose hope. Had enough, can't go on. Im sure we have experienced that before in our lives, at least one point in time. Its discouraging, its frustrating, and often times, we may question God, wonder where he is an why he's abandoned us. When we have Satan breathing down our neck, we easily get distracted, our own thoughts tear us down, we over think and analyze everything, and things just seem to get worse.

We have to look forward to something, we have to have hope in something, or else there really is nothing worth living for. If there was no hope, we would basically live and die. We must remember to set out eyes on Christ, the one who will unconditionally love us forevermore. He will never leave our side in times of darkness and in times of trouble. As long as we continue to follow him, abide in him, he will give us peace and strength to carry through.

⁹ But he said to me,“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. ” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 

ducklings!

The past few days on the way to and from school, i've noticed little goslings twaddling across the field with their mother goose. But it was today that i stopped, i watched, and observed life, as spring has finally sprung (with the most outrageous weather i must say). I noticed the protective parents as i walked by, i noticed how curious and how ignorant the ducks were. As they stumbled towards the pond, i noticed one was left behind, checking out the plants or something.

I really took it in, this was life. You start off as a child, always thinking, and living in the moment. Then later on, you grow, you learn and you become a parent, to the point where you're thinking ahead, there are more things that bother you, from the people watching and glaring by, to the struggles you deal with everyday.

¹³ People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴ When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁵ Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” ¹⁶ And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. 

Mark 10:13-16

Receive the kingdom of God as a little child. What does that mean? What do children have that don't that will help them receive this kingdom better than us? I think when we reflect and compare, we think too much. When a child is presented with a lollipop or any gift, what do they do? They jump right in and take it. Where as an adult would consider the benefits, the reasoning, the purpose, what it is, if its dangerous, but the Kingdom of God is the greatest gift, and you don't need to question it. Go right for it. Its sitting there on the table, on a silver platter with your name on it. Are you going to sit there, doubt it and question, or accept it.

¹⁴ Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

 Matthew 19:14

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?

Truth?

14 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.² In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. ⁴ And you know the way to where I am going.” ⁵ Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” ⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him andhave seen him.”

⁸ Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”⁹Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. ¹¹ Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

¹² “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. ¹³ Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

John 14:1-14

I was able to read through this passage several times throughout the day, and i think thats extremely necessary when we are trying to understand scripture, to fully break it down and understand each word and phrase. I also think that if one has a open heart and mind to receiving the word, it will speak and be understood different each time.

When I read verses 5-6, it immediately brought me back to a discussion we had at retreat, when someone brought up the question, "how do we know Christianity is the true faith?" I confess and admit that i've had my doubts, and im sure we all have. We may question, what if this isnt the "right" way, what if after we pass, there was no heaven, it was all a trick, what if the pastors knew about something and were just tricking us all along? How can i be sure that Christianity is what i should believe in? And as we were discussing, these are a few points that came up. Firstly, i've learnt that out of all the different religions, from Buddhism to Hinduism, that Christianity seems to be the only INVITING others to come see what this "relationship" is about. We also brought up a second point, that was that Christianity is not self-oriented. Many other religions are based on doing deeds/goods to gain blessings or goodness. Whereas in Christianity, Christ has already died for you, and he presents each and every one of us with the gift of eternal life, and it is only if we accept and take the gift, is then that we become saved. And therefore like in verse 12, we do these good works not to gain salvation or approval, but out of thanksgiving, out of commitment, as we follow Christ's footsteps.

side note: I myself am a Christian and believe that through Christ, believing that he died on the cross, and has forgiven me of my sins has saved me from the consequences of sins, and has granted me eternal life. Although i may say that Christianity is the "right" (lack of better word) way, it does not mean that all other religions are wrong, there are definitely things about other religions we can learn from and follow.

Verse 8 also stood out to me. Many many of us are like Philip, we are constantly looking for more. Again back to the retreat discussion, we talked about proof and facts. The world is all about facts, especially the science realm of things, we need proof we need evidence to believe that something is true, but this is faith, not science. There are so many crazy questions that we are curious about, for instance, how the dinosaurs fit into the whole seven days of creation, but over the years of being a Christian i've learnt that sometimes, its just not humanly possible for one to fully understand all this. We can go ask the father when we see him one day! Its hard to believe like that, blindly, but that is faith! Believing without seeing. Its impossible to have all the questions answered. I think this also goes for a test, that with these curiosities, these things that dont fully make sense, its another type of test of our faith. If we can continue to follow him, knowing that he is greater and has plans for us, even though many of our questions are not answered.

People are constantly afraid of change, of the unknown, but are you willing to dig deeper and follow Christ and let him take the reigns of your life?

verse of the day: Ephesians 2:8-10

⁸ Forby grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing;it is the gift of God, ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast.¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.