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

more joy

Yesterday, before my driving lesson, i quickly ran to subway to grab lunch because i was too lazy to cook and there wasnt anything at home to eat. The main story is in the line at subway there was just a lot of drama going on. The two people before me, one had all these complications and requests and the construction worker behind her got fired up and they started arguing, and in the end she let him go first. While i was making my order, a family comes in with a boy who was loud. Not in an annoying way, just expressing himself a lot. "Wow, is that my sandwich?" "That's beautiful!". It really made my day. He was so adorable and just radiating joy and happiness. He had no worries, he had no complaints, he was living his life a day at a time, enjoying every moment of it. Right before i went to pay, he said hi to me and i said hi back and told his mom that he's absolutely adorable. The first thing she said to me was "he has autism".

I didnt think that at all. After I paid, I left and on the walk home i started to think. Thinking about how much joy he has in his life. How happy he was. Even though he was autistic. I have no clue what he's gone through, rejection, or pain. The past day or two i've also been thinking about myself. About what i've gone though, from loneliness, to acting upon it, sinning, and im scared of what those things will lead to. But thinking about, i think God was really trying to speak to me within that 10 min time period. To rejoice, to live each moment with joy knowing we've been saved, we're forgiven and we're loved.

Having faith in God, and believing that He has saved us has secured us a spot in heaven. Now we have to continue to live out his name and his life to share the great news with others.

²² So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, andyour hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. ²³ In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name,he will give it to you. ²⁴ Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

John 16:22-25

The Coming of The Kingdom

The Coming of The Kingdom of God

²⁰ Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, ²¹ nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”

²² Then he said to his disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. ²³ People will tell you, ‘There he is!’ or ‘Here he is!’ Do not go running off after them. ²⁴ For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other.²⁵ But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.

luke 17:20-24

God works in mysterious ways. I think thats what this passage is going to say. It explicitly says in verses 20 and 21, that people wont be able to observe it, pick it out and determine when it comes, it can come within the next hour, or within the next century. No one will ever know when Christ decides to return again.

Something that caught my eye was the end of verse 21 "because the Kingdom of God is in your midst". That means that its right here with us. Im not fully sure what its talking about, does it mean the church, the fellowship, the Christian environment around us?

The scripture goes on in verse 23 to talk about those who deceive i believe. He says not to follow those who bluntly say "there is it". I guess this goes towards those saying that 2012 is the end of the world. There is no one that knows when the second coming is.

Verse 24 gives a bit of a hint i guess you can say. Flashes of lightning. Lightning is always unexpected, unpredictable, like our Father. "But first he must suffer and be rejected by this generation." Interesting eh? He MUST suffer and he MUST be rejected. I guess from this you can predict the times to come. Like it says in Matthew 10:22,

²² You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

It'll also work the other way. People will reject Christ, and they will reject you also. The fact that the Christian walk is not easy is always coming up. Be ready for a time of turmoil, or pain, or rejection, loneliness. But again it says in the verse, "the one who stands firm to the end will be saved". Dont give up, dont give in, stand strong and fight against the world and the devil.