continue to pray

Im completely guilty of not spending enough time with Christ in prayer. Usually, its short and simple before meals, and long and lengthy before I head to bed.

Prayer is so important with Christ, its our only form of communication with Him. Thinking about it, sometimes I really feel like I'm just using Christ, with all my requests, not only for myself but for other people as well. We've learnt to pray Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication. I know that many of us usually just skip to supplication. God is not our vending machine for us to take advantage of.

I really hope that i can continue to pray more, its hard to go to him in prayer sometimes, but its so important and i hope i can continue to practice that.

Remember that prayer can be simple, it doesn't have to be formal and crazy, God hears you, you can cry out, you can speak softly, he's listening.

²⁴ Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Mark 11:24 

:)

Reflecting on the past week, i think my week was a hundred times better than the week before, I could smile on the windy, rainy walks to school, i could laugh genuinely and be joyful. God is good. Im so happy that things picked up. Im in a very content place in my life right now. Although there are still struggles, and hardships i feel like so much has been lifted off. I know God will allow more challenges to come my way, but I'm ready to take them on knowing they will only make me stronger. There isn't much content to the post, but after such an amazing week, i really needed to be thankful for what God has given me, the people, the opportunities and the infinite blessings.

Praise God for an amazing week. He is Good.

¹¹ Light shines on the righteous     and joy on the upright in heart.  

¹² Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous,    and praise his holy name.

Psalm 97:11-12 

endurance!

Everyone has their bad days. Today just so happened to be mine. I felt like the day was going to be okay, but as time passed, things just seemed to get worse. Hearing about 10238 summatives to be scheduled in one week, just that mood of not wanting to work grow, slipping into the traps of the Devil.

Im so glad that i have support and people checking up on me. Its the greatest feeling. I was able to email one of my great friends who i can put my trust in. Just simply having people to vent to and someone to listen is quite the relief.

Endurance. Life was never promised to be an easy breeze. Each and everyday we have to push ourselves forward. Some days may pass easier than others, but life is life. There will be problems, there will be mistakes, there will be flaws, mistakes and struggles, but we must endure.

2 Timothy 4 talks about running this race, this enduring race. It never ends. We are in a constant lifelong battle with the devil. Like it says "⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful." Can you say that this reigns true in your life and will continue to do so?

We will all slip up. Its okay. But we must repent, turn back to God knowing he's already waiting for you with open arms, in overflowing love for you. Confess and you will be forgiven.

Although my day was messy and thrown around, God has new mercies on us each day, and I promise that i will not fall behind, and will keep running this race until the end for my Lord my God has gave up his son for me. Im grateful and blessed.

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. ² We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

Hebrews 12:1-2

Clearing The Air: Prayer

Prayer is one of our only ways to communicate to our father. Its a time of confession, praise, thanksgiving, and acknowledgement, but i think many people misunderstand what prayer really means.

Im guessing that when people first hear the word "prayer", they imagine people in white cloaks, getting onto their knees, heads bowed, hands together, eyes closed, and just completely in the zone. Prayer does not need to be like that.

Prayer also doesnt need to be out in the open, fully obvious and evident. (Matthew 6:5-8)

⁵ “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. ⁶ But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

⁷ “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. ⁸ Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Prayer can be something as simple as a quick word to our Father. You dont necessarily have to get on your knees, it can be just a sign of devotion and respect. You can think a prayer as well.

Prayers also dont have to be formal. You're not talking to the president. And although you're talking to the king of kings, the creator and the saving one, he's your father as well as your friend. Prayers can be like "heavenly father, we thank you for your grace and love..." or it can be "hey God, how's it going, i've been feeling really tired lately...". Whats important is that you are praying wholeheartedly.

Another misunderstanding. God is not a vending machine. You dont pray and expect him to give you things. God does have a say in all this, if he decides to give what you want/need. For instance, praying that you'll do well on a test versus praying for wisdom to make the right decisions for university.

Prayer is simple, informal, formal, intimate, wholehearted conversation. Just remember one thing, that you are talking to the Father, the almighty and powerful wise king.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, POOF!

Its almost everyday, im upstairs and i hear my parents call "sik fann!" (let's eat!) and i think i've always been taking it for granted. That the food just magically appears on the table each time. Until today. They called it and i was thinking, about all the hard work and effort to get the food onto the plate and in my mouth. From bringing in the money to buy the food, driving to get it, picking it out, paying for it, storing it, seasoning it, washing it, cooking it, plating it and then finally eating it.

And this isnt a once in a month thing. Its not a once a week thing either. Its a 3 times a day thing. And i think its always been in the back of my mind, but i dont think i've fully realized how blessed we are. That we have family and parents that are willing to put their time, money and effort into getting the food on the table.

We have to continuously learn to be thankful. Of our family, or friends, but most important, of our Saviour. We definitely take things on this world for granted way too much. I also think being thankful keeps us grounded. It reminds us that someone greater has provided for us, and has loved us. That we, i guess you can say, are incapable, and that we're thankful to have someone be there for us. It reminds us that we cant do it alone.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner dont just magically appear on the table.

Be Thankful.

Thanks!

Philippians 1:3 says, "I thank my God every time I remember you."

This verse is a verse that is engraved on a ring that i have matching with my friends. Although i don't see them anymore, i still need to thank God for them. Without them, i wouldn't be who i am today.

I feel like many people take their friends, family, relatives, etc. for granted. They don't thank them for what they've done. We often don't say anything because we may be lazy. Laziness shouldn't get in the way of a few words.

Friends are those who stick to us when we're in the worst conditions.
Family, we may not like our family but there's no way we can change it. We'll always have the same parents, siblings, and have the same birth order. They know you inside and out. They've seen you every step of the way. I gotta admit that i can be really dry to my family. They might've frustrated me or it was just because i was in a bad mood.

A simple "Thanks!" can make someone smile. I learned that from my mission's trip to Kenya. Stepping into a country that is completely opposite from Canada was just a slap in the face. I realized that some of them don't have a family to go home to.
We have to thank God for everything. JESUS. Food. Friends. Shelter. Family. School. EVERYTHING. He's given us so much more than we deserve.

We must thank God for everyone who's entered our lives. We may not like them but God put them in your life for a reason.

One simple word can make someone's day. Just say it. Thanks.

Clearing The Air: Salvation ≠ Works

Many people think like this, and i think its needed to clear it up and get it out once and for all. Salvation does not come from good works. God does not list down every good or bad work, and then weigh it and then decide if you are "worthy". That isnt how it works. Many MANY people think that doing these good works gets you into heaven. Many people do good works just to feel good about themselves.

But as followers of Christ, thats not really how it works. I've learnt that its more of the other way around. We've confessed, repented, and believed, and through our faith we have been saved. Believing that God sent his only son to die for us, that he took our sin and died, but more importantly rose again. He's the reason we live, and because of this sacrificial act, we're thankful and we're grateful. Thats why we choose to live out his name and reflect his nature and character, through those good works.

Let us continue to spread and share the good news and God's love through our speech and our actions. Lead and influence by example.

Rejoice.

²⁴ The LORD has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.

Rejoice. Its important that we rejoice, firstly, happiness is always better than sadness, its just a better feeling. It promotes optimism and joy in one's life.

I remember reading a verse that states "to rejoice in all circumstances". Whether it may be sad, something horrid, anything that happens try to learn to rejoice because our God is good.

Rejoice can also mean thanksgiving. Look around you and realize how blessed we are. Yesterday someone came in and talked about clean water, how much we use it and it really opened my eyes and reminded me how blessed i truly am. Its so unfair to others and we're just absorbing all these resources, the gap between the rich and the poor is so wide. Be thankful and count your blessings.

Reflect on how powerful God is. He has the power to destroy you in an instant, you may not wake up tomorrow. Who knows. Im not trying to scare you, but really live each moment and make it count. Sometimes i wake up and i think God for just giving me another day to live. We complain about school, about work, but think about the people that dont even have the chance to know how it feels to learn. We're SO blessed and we all take it for granted.

I remember thinking back to my kids, overnight camp, day camp, and just seeing the joy in them, and how carefree they are and how happy they are, its... so freeing i guess you can say. At an age like mine, we stress over school, over friends, but these guys, they're just... free as birds, enjoying life and enjoying what they have. I think we need a bit of that in our lives regularly. To just rejoice, and enjoy what we've been given.

Rejoice. Rejoice. Rejoice.

Jason

Prayer Granted: 1.25$

Expect God to Answer Your Prayers

Rick Warren

“If you want to know what God really wants you to do, ask him ... but if you don’t ask in faith, don’t expect the Lord to give you any solid answer.” (James 1:5-6 TLB)

God wants to direct you in life, but two things need to line up: You have to ask the right person, God, and you have to ask with the right attitude — in faith, expecting an answer.

Have you ever asked God for something and didn’t expect to get it? That’s why you didn’t get it. God works in our lives according to faith. So many times we say, “God, please guide me!” and we walk away not even waiting for guidance. We just immediately start to work. We say, “God, I want you to give me wisdom; help me make the right decision.” But we don’t really expect him to do that. We think it all depends on us.

God has promised to give us wisdom, if we will ask. Wisdom is seeing life from God’s point of view. Wisdom is the ability to make decisions the way God makes decisions.

Think about this: God never makes a bad decision. He never makes a mistake. He says if we trust him and listen to him, he will guide us. But we must ask in faith.

Just to start.. i had this problem with devos before... sometimes i feel like the message is super repetitive and that i already know this concept.. teach me something new kinda, that usually results in me stopping because i find it boring and useless. I've been told that maybe this is God trying to tell me something, to remind me something, but sometimes i dont know. We'll see :)

Expecting God to answer your prayers. God DOES answer prayers, and there are usually 3 answers. YES. NO. and WAIT. Like we've stated before, God knows best, and sometimes you may not understand what is going on, why certain things happen, but know that its for the better. You may not understand God's plan at this exact moment, but you will eventually. It may be tomorrow, it may be in weeks, or even in years.

Over the years i've also learnt that God is not a vending machine. Now that i think about it, i think i am using him like that recently, and sometimes not meaning it either. Its just ME ME ME, i want THIS THIS THIS, give me THAT THAT THAT. You cant just ask things from him. Like the structure i guess you can say for prayer, ACTS: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication. We first praise our God and Saviour, confess our sins, a big reason God may not answer your prayer is because you have unconfessed sins. thank Christ for all he's blessed you with and then AT THE END you ask him for things.

Pray to God IN FAITH. He WILL answer your prayers if you pray humbly and wholeheartedly.

prayer is key!

Jason

Starting 2012's Walk: In Love.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ephesians5:1-20

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

cheers to the new year!

Jason