This is a write up on my after thoughts, thought process and a journalling, savoring the moment in gratitude. Also after managing to write 1350 words reflection selfawareness assignment today from 12pm to 1.10pm.....in just a short 1hour...impressive.
So with that begining and in the end I was late for class......things just didn't start off on the perfect note...other than I managed to continue my WoW and managed to level up my characters to which one was 85 a day or also...or ....Things just didn't start at the right music for me. Things are so hay wired...though with the interview SFBT assignment, I was already having thoughts of her.....well you know who... but well they are just some thoughts....nothing substantial. Just looking at the people, the circles of friends of potential pseudo clients to work with.... so with that note I finished the final lecture style lesson for the year....and looking into december with 3 assignments......2x1500 words essay and one full transcripted SFBT session to record.
So service....about extreme delight....and well I went into service at the very last moment and barely could find a seat....only finally to find one at the "extra" room....so be it.....it is fine with me.....saw JJ and Steve.....thinking that most prob JJ will be attending Steve cell group under Ps Jeff team. So worship worship...in an enclosed room....the achostic is really of a different feel....and the feel is so different.....perhaps due to sterotyping of such.... nothing too special.....just plain normal...other than I am sitting by myself with no one else I know in this life time of mine around me in that room...... So the word.. I am quite distracted.....taking down the key verse, although the key verse did strike me...Ps 37:4....something that interest me....but didn't keep me from distracting myself and getting myself divided between.....looking and hearing...well there isn't much to see about.... but in the end...it is a session that reminds me of God goodness and gracious in spite of the little faith that I have.
So service ends.........seems to me like Gkidz ended or there is no Gkidz....indicators.....I saw JN (new abb).....so went to 7-11 as usually, seeing what can be purchased to drink....already thinking that I will not see anyone that will know me......so far only saw 2 ....so still ok..... in the end, I didn't get anything for 7-11.....and best still, I missed my 855 bus.....as it passed by in front of me....well it will be a long wait from how I view it.....so still I waited.....wait wait wait.....looking at my iphone.....thinking at some corner of my mind...well perhaps I may just see her.....well it is just perhaps... so finally 855 came.....in the midst....and before....I was already thinking......well I think I should be more persistence.....I should just simply ask....I should just simply be nagging......and just continue to ask....or perhaps just ask the question... taking that it may be the last appointment to come. Popping 3 out of the 5 question.....from Steve Havey....asking the "miracle" question (not the SFBT style)... the question I at one point liked to ask....well.....back to my iphone....not expecting to see anyone.....not really to expect anything....although points of moment the sensing of something is coming......and indeed.....someone came up.....as I was just sitting behind the bus driver....a single seater.....didn't really notice who came up....it only don about when the person greeted me......and OMG.......God's gracious.........indeed it only the scale of God's graciousness.... that I see her in the most unexpected place.......we had a brief conversation about the bus.....and how long it took...and there is......a blind man came up....and she offered her seat....which is so gracious of her.....so it took a while for me to react....not used to such surprise....surprise surprise...that is down to the gut feeling and sense....the sensing....the coming of thoughts during the hypothesis of Law of Attraction. After I settled my game ....and did some reflection.....and reconsolidation....I managed to stand up and look for her at the back....well......just seeing her and being near is just sufficient.....well it is too me......reflection that just being in God's presence is so sufficient.....as I look back to that situation....I realise that no conversation, from my perspective is required to be in the presence of God. Thus in the similiar situation, as I did disturb her on Whatsapp by dropping a message......and then realise that she is busy with organising something....I just take time to savor the moment......to look at her ....noticing every details...and wondering....... really this is the moment that only God can make....and only the grace of God that is sufficient to give it......and here I am journalling it down. For myself to know....and whoever may perhaps going to read this. So just to occupy myself, I just post on facebook....
"I just can't believe but only know one thing. Only God can create miracles. The experience of extreme joy.
It still takes me a while to recognizing it while I am savoring the moment. Just being in the moment when already in my mind and sensing the prompting already but find it difficult to believe until I do now in exceptional unexpected times and place. Only thanks giving in gratitude are some measure to express the basis of basic of it
So what will come next is still untold. Only time will tell. What can be asked for. 5 stops away. "
So only when I am about the alight that it all ends.......even someone has to get the his friend who is blocking my exit to move aside.....and I get my chance to say goodbye...and a smile. and that ends of the journey......
also thank SS.....for liking the status..... it is nice.....and I really thank God for this moment..... these are moments to charish......moments to remember.....2 times in a month......how gratefully I am......
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Wednesday, November 09, 2011
You Are God's Temple
Leviticus can be a difficult book to read. It is often difficult to see how these laws may be important or how they apply to our lives today. After all, what do moldy walls have to do with our personal relationship with God?
First, it shows us very practically that God really does desire a personal relationship with us. He is invested in every aspect of our lives, even to the level of how we clean our houses. God instructs us because He is good and because He cares.
Second, we can view this in conjunction with 1 Corinthians 6:19, which states that our bodies are temples because Holy Spirit dwells in us, and understand that God desires us to keep our bodies clean and free from things that defile us. Thomas Watson writes, "You who are the temples of God, let me beseech you to take heed of defiling God's temple... Do not defile the temple of God by error. Errors and heresies are as the leprosy which defiles the house (Lev. 14:39)."
Church is still considered by many to be a sacred space. But the Church is not a building-it is the body of Christ, the people. Just as mold can seep into buildings, so can misrepresentations of Christ and false teaching seep into the Church. Therefore, keep your body, God's temple, clean and in order by leaning on the Word of God.
Living Life
First, it shows us very practically that God really does desire a personal relationship with us. He is invested in every aspect of our lives, even to the level of how we clean our houses. God instructs us because He is good and because He cares.
Second, we can view this in conjunction with 1 Corinthians 6:19, which states that our bodies are temples because Holy Spirit dwells in us, and understand that God desires us to keep our bodies clean and free from things that defile us. Thomas Watson writes, "You who are the temples of God, let me beseech you to take heed of defiling God's temple... Do not defile the temple of God by error. Errors and heresies are as the leprosy which defiles the house (Lev. 14:39)."
Church is still considered by many to be a sacred space. But the Church is not a building-it is the body of Christ, the people. Just as mold can seep into buildings, so can misrepresentations of Christ and false teaching seep into the Church. Therefore, keep your body, God's temple, clean and in order by leaning on the Word of God.
Living Life
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
What Has God Done for You Lately?
Take a moment and reflect on the last good thing that has happened in your life. When was it, and why would you define it as good? How long did it take you to think of something good? It is a simple question, but for many people, it can be difficult to answer. Humans have a relatively short memory, especially when it comes to the good that happens in our lives. So often we focus all our attention on the problems of life, without taking the time to remember any of the good that has happened in and through our lives. We remember all of our hardships and troubles, but we are quick to forget all the good that God has done in our lives.
All good things have their source in God, and Psalm 126:3 boldly tells us, "Te LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." Note the tense of the verse. God has already done good things in our lives. He has given us air to breathe and another day to rejoice in His glory. He gives us the desires our hearts, and He makes His presence known in our lives.
It is God's desire to be glorified in our lives, and when we dwell in His Spirit, we see His character revealed to us. Jamie Munson writes, "God's actions reveal his character to us. As we reflect on what God has done and what he has said about himself, we learn more about him." Take another moment to reflect on what God has done for you lately. What does it reveal about Him?
Living Life
All good things have their source in God, and Psalm 126:3 boldly tells us, "Te LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." Note the tense of the verse. God has already done good things in our lives. He has given us air to breathe and another day to rejoice in His glory. He gives us the desires our hearts, and He makes His presence known in our lives.
It is God's desire to be glorified in our lives, and when we dwell in His Spirit, we see His character revealed to us. Jamie Munson writes, "God's actions reveal his character to us. As we reflect on what God has done and what he has said about himself, we learn more about him." Take another moment to reflect on what God has done for you lately. What does it reveal about Him?
Living Life
Clean in Christ
In recent years, cleanliness has becomes very important. Maintaining our physical hygiene fores us to wash our bodies and brush our teeth regularly. In an increasingly socializing world, it is important to present ourselves as inoffensively as possible. But cleaning extends far beyond the realm of personal hygiene. the ideal of cleanliness dictates that we must wear clean clothes and live in clean houses. Further, developing clean energy and even performing business in an earth-friendly way is becoming increasing popular- and expected.
As obsessed as our culture is about being clean, so were the Israelites of Old Testament times. But the people of Israel were concerned about their cleanliness for a completely different reason. While people today are concerned about how they might be perceived by others,the Israelites were concerned with how they would be perceived by God.
Leviticus 14 helps paint a clear picture of how one is declared cleansed of a skin infection in the eyes of God. It is also describes God's desire for us to be declared clean. However, we no longer perform such rituals today. This is because, though cleansing is still vital to our salvation, we are now cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.
Horatius Bonar says, "As a believing man, I enter upon his fullness; I becomes partaker of his riches; and so identified with himself, that his cleanness is accounted my cleanness, his excellence my excellence, his perfection my perfection." Christ is good, and unlike the devil who comes only to steal , kill and destroy (John 10:10), our God comes to cleanse, heal, and give thriving life.
Living Life
As obsessed as our culture is about being clean, so were the Israelites of Old Testament times. But the people of Israel were concerned about their cleanliness for a completely different reason. While people today are concerned about how they might be perceived by others,the Israelites were concerned with how they would be perceived by God.
Leviticus 14 helps paint a clear picture of how one is declared cleansed of a skin infection in the eyes of God. It is also describes God's desire for us to be declared clean. However, we no longer perform such rituals today. This is because, though cleansing is still vital to our salvation, we are now cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.
Horatius Bonar says, "As a believing man, I enter upon his fullness; I becomes partaker of his riches; and so identified with himself, that his cleanness is accounted my cleanness, his excellence my excellence, his perfection my perfection." Christ is good, and unlike the devil who comes only to steal , kill and destroy (John 10:10), our God comes to cleanse, heal, and give thriving life.
Living Life
Good Gifts
If you had three wishes, what would you wish for? Would you wish for more wish, immortality, or perhaps earthly pleasures? If you were to ask this question in a secular setting and again in a Christian setting, you might receive two very different answers, even from the same person.
As Christians, we struggle with two very different desires: the desires of our fleshly selves and the desires of our spiritual selves. As selfish humans, our first wish would be to appease our flesh. But as Christians, we would first want to honor God.
When we ask the question of "three wishes," we usually do it in the context of a magical genie. However, we must realize that there is nothing NOTHING!that we cannot ask God for. This does not mean that God will always answer the way we want Him to, but as His children we are able to ask Him for anything.
God wants to give us good gifts, but how He defines "good" and how we define it is sometimes different. We do not always know what is good for us, and we do not always desire what we should. As Thomas Aquinas writes, "When we say that good is what all desire, it is not to be understood that ever ind of good thing is desired by all; but that whatever is desired has the nature of good. And when it is said, 'None is good but God alone,' this is to be understood of essential goodness." Whether we realize it or not, God gives us good gifts, because He is good.
Living Life
As Christians, we struggle with two very different desires: the desires of our fleshly selves and the desires of our spiritual selves. As selfish humans, our first wish would be to appease our flesh. But as Christians, we would first want to honor God.
When we ask the question of "three wishes," we usually do it in the context of a magical genie. However, we must realize that there is nothing NOTHING!that we cannot ask God for. This does not mean that God will always answer the way we want Him to, but as His children we are able to ask Him for anything.
God wants to give us good gifts, but how He defines "good" and how we define it is sometimes different. We do not always know what is good for us, and we do not always desire what we should. As Thomas Aquinas writes, "When we say that good is what all desire, it is not to be understood that ever ind of good thing is desired by all; but that whatever is desired has the nature of good. And when it is said, 'None is good but God alone,' this is to be understood of essential goodness." Whether we realize it or not, God gives us good gifts, because He is good.
Living Life
Friday, November 04, 2011
The Good behind Banishment
Along with the increasingly common view of a hypocritical Church, the very goodness of God is often challenged by non-believers. For example, Leviticus 13:46 states, "As long as they have the disease they remain unclean. They must live alone; they must live outside the camp." Here the supposed good and loving God banishes sick people not only from His presence, but from the presence of their friends, family, and community. So how does this show goodness?
God jealously love and protects His people. If not dealt with, infectious skin diseases would quickly spread throughout the camp, endangering the lives of everyone. Until cleansing comes, separation of the clean and unclean is necessary for the health of the community. Furthermore, this helps paint a clearer picture of sin and its consequences. Just as God does not want His people to be infected by physical disease, He does not want His people to be infected by spiritual disease, that is, sin. Sin not only infects the sinner but has a nasty habit of terrorizing the lives of others through the sinner. God's goodness exposes our sinful infection so that we might cry out, "Unclean!"
Arthur Pink writes, "Divine light exposes filth within, of which they had no previous realization, causing them to cry with the leper, 'Unclean, unclean!' (Lev. 13:45)...But how thankful we should be if God makes us 'abhor' ourselves (Job 42:6), and thereby make way for prizing Christ all the more!" It is through His goodness that God shows us our spiritual state, so that we might cry out to Him.
Living Life
God jealously love and protects His people. If not dealt with, infectious skin diseases would quickly spread throughout the camp, endangering the lives of everyone. Until cleansing comes, separation of the clean and unclean is necessary for the health of the community. Furthermore, this helps paint a clearer picture of sin and its consequences. Just as God does not want His people to be infected by physical disease, He does not want His people to be infected by spiritual disease, that is, sin. Sin not only infects the sinner but has a nasty habit of terrorizing the lives of others through the sinner. God's goodness exposes our sinful infection so that we might cry out, "Unclean!"
Arthur Pink writes, "Divine light exposes filth within, of which they had no previous realization, causing them to cry with the leper, 'Unclean, unclean!' (Lev. 13:45)...But how thankful we should be if God makes us 'abhor' ourselves (Job 42:6), and thereby make way for prizing Christ all the more!" It is through His goodness that God shows us our spiritual state, so that we might cry out to Him.
Living Life
Thursday, November 03, 2011
We Are Not Good
"Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" is a popular secular Christmas song. Santa Claus, as most people know, is supposed to come on Christmas Eve to give wonderful presents to all good girls and boys. Although this is just a fictional story, it gives rise to a very interesting question: how do we define "good"?
People may have different ideas of what it means to be good "good," depending on where they live. In some cultures, being "good" is based on how well you take care of your family. Other cultures define being "good" by how noble, pure, or upstanding you are. At various times, people who were viewed as "good" by their culture owned salves or mistreated people of lower castes. Because of the fleshy world we live in, "good" is all too often defined by the people with power.
God, however, is not interested in our definitions of "good." Jesus tells us plainly in Mark 10:18 that "no one is good-except God alone." In this vein, James Smith declares, "As bad as man was, and God knew the worst of him- yet knowing the worst of him, he had a purpose of mercy toward him in his heart, and that purpose was to provide a way of salvation for him." We would much prefer to live as good, decent people. No one likes to think of oneself as a bad person. But refusing to accept who we are and what we need-if we really examine ourselves-will only hurt us in the long run.
Living Life
People may have different ideas of what it means to be good "good," depending on where they live. In some cultures, being "good" is based on how well you take care of your family. Other cultures define being "good" by how noble, pure, or upstanding you are. At various times, people who were viewed as "good" by their culture owned salves or mistreated people of lower castes. Because of the fleshy world we live in, "good" is all too often defined by the people with power.
God, however, is not interested in our definitions of "good." Jesus tells us plainly in Mark 10:18 that "no one is good-except God alone." In this vein, James Smith declares, "As bad as man was, and God knew the worst of him- yet knowing the worst of him, he had a purpose of mercy toward him in his heart, and that purpose was to provide a way of salvation for him." We would much prefer to live as good, decent people. No one likes to think of oneself as a bad person. But refusing to accept who we are and what we need-if we really examine ourselves-will only hurt us in the long run.
Living Life
Wednesday, November 02, 2011
The Goodness of God
Superheroes are admired for their strength and cunning They rise up to defend the weak and helpless. They fight against the forces of evil and, against all odds, rise above their enemies. Some superheroes possess extraordinary gifts and abilities, while others rely on technological savvy or physical talents.
If you had the talents and abilities of a superhero, what would you do with it? Many of us would want to rise to the challenge and fight evil, though others would use it for their own personal agenda.
God is vastly more capable than any superhero. There is nothing that He cannot do. God, if He so desired, could destroy us in an instant with the sound of His voice. We often take God's goodness for granted. God certainly is not required to be good. As the Creator of everything, He is well within His rights (and power) to treat us however He chooses. So how much greater is it that God's nature is a good nature.
How do we know that God is good? Acts 14:16-17 declares: "In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy." Knowing this, what should be our responses? John Howe writes, "It is of the greatest consequence to us, in all the world, to have our souls habitually possessed with a believing, admiring sense of the goodness of God." God is good, and this is something that is good for us to dwell on.
Living Life
If you had the talents and abilities of a superhero, what would you do with it? Many of us would want to rise to the challenge and fight evil, though others would use it for their own personal agenda.
God is vastly more capable than any superhero. There is nothing that He cannot do. God, if He so desired, could destroy us in an instant with the sound of His voice. We often take God's goodness for granted. God certainly is not required to be good. As the Creator of everything, He is well within His rights (and power) to treat us however He chooses. So how much greater is it that God's nature is a good nature.
How do we know that God is good? Acts 14:16-17 declares: "In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy." Knowing this, what should be our responses? John Howe writes, "It is of the greatest consequence to us, in all the world, to have our souls habitually possessed with a believing, admiring sense of the goodness of God." God is good, and this is something that is good for us to dwell on.
Living Life
Tuesday, November 01, 2011
Careful Examination
According to 2 Timothy 3:16, all Scripture is from God, and more than that, it is useful to all our Christian walks. This is evident when we look at the books that make up the New Testament, because they tell us how we ought to live. But how does the Old Testament apply to our daily lives? The Old Testament may seem archaic and no longer applicable, but it is through the Old Testament that we have a deeper, richer understanding of the New Testament.
Leviticus 13 explains what to do in case of skin disease. This seems more like it should be in a medical journal rather than a spiritual text. Yet God does not command doctors to inspect the people, but the priests. God is making it clear to His people that He does not care about our spiritual lives only, but about our physical lives as well. The priests are meant to take are of the people in every sense of the term.
Furthermore, as Ligon Duncan says, "The idea behind this, again, is that disease and decay are incompatible with the blessing of the presence of God in the assembly of His people... Therefore these diseases...become things which exclude your from the assembly of God's people in His presence and worship."
God wants us to be able to worship Him; He does not want us to be separated from Him. Also, God makes clear that He will carefully examine His people. Every pronouncement made by the mouth of God is not based on impulse or whim but on careful and thorough examination.
Living Life
Leviticus 13 explains what to do in case of skin disease. This seems more like it should be in a medical journal rather than a spiritual text. Yet God does not command doctors to inspect the people, but the priests. God is making it clear to His people that He does not care about our spiritual lives only, but about our physical lives as well. The priests are meant to take are of the people in every sense of the term.
Furthermore, as Ligon Duncan says, "The idea behind this, again, is that disease and decay are incompatible with the blessing of the presence of God in the assembly of His people... Therefore these diseases...become things which exclude your from the assembly of God's people in His presence and worship."
God wants us to be able to worship Him; He does not want us to be separated from Him. Also, God makes clear that He will carefully examine His people. Every pronouncement made by the mouth of God is not based on impulse or whim but on careful and thorough examination.
Living Life
Monday, October 31, 2011
God's Mercy Saves
Mercy shows us a lot about the character of God. God's mercy corrects the sin in our lives, and it is through God's mercy that our sin is atoned for. But God's mercy is not limited to what we do or do not do. God's mercy is not limited to our quality of life. Above all, it is important to remember that God's mercy saves us.
God shows us mercy because He loves us and because His mercy rescues us. Thomas Watson says, "God shows mercy in saving us. 'According to His mercy, He saved us.' (Titus 3:5)... Mercy is mercy indeed, when God perfectly refines us from all the lees and dregs of corruption; when our bodies are made like Christ's glorious body, and our souls like the angel. Saving mercy is crowning mercy. It is not merely to be freed from hell but enthroned in a kingdom!"
God has mercy on us in our present lives, but God's abundant mercy will be revealed in even more amazing ways in the world to come. We will finally see through the lens of eternity, and God will reveal to us just how good He is. But more than that, we will experience God. WE will see Him, hear Him, and touch Him. We will exist with Him in perfect creation. God's mercy does not just save us from punishment; it gives us a reward. God's mercy gives us something to look forward to; glory revealed.
God asks for the best from us, but He is also preparing His best for us. This is why we hope for salvation to be realized.
Living Life
God shows us mercy because He loves us and because His mercy rescues us. Thomas Watson says, "God shows mercy in saving us. 'According to His mercy, He saved us.' (Titus 3:5)... Mercy is mercy indeed, when God perfectly refines us from all the lees and dregs of corruption; when our bodies are made like Christ's glorious body, and our souls like the angel. Saving mercy is crowning mercy. It is not merely to be freed from hell but enthroned in a kingdom!"
God has mercy on us in our present lives, but God's abundant mercy will be revealed in even more amazing ways in the world to come. We will finally see through the lens of eternity, and God will reveal to us just how good He is. But more than that, we will experience God. WE will see Him, hear Him, and touch Him. We will exist with Him in perfect creation. God's mercy does not just save us from punishment; it gives us a reward. God's mercy gives us something to look forward to; glory revealed.
God asks for the best from us, but He is also preparing His best for us. This is why we hope for salvation to be realized.
Living Life
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Understanding the World through God
Psalm 119:130 declares, "The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple." Yet how do most people understand the world around them? Often it is science that informs them about the world. Through careful observation, they strive to understand the world around them in new and incredible ways. They look above the stars and galaxies beyond and even interactions between particles that are too small for the naked eye to see.
Science is limited by the paradigm of the researchers and their own personal beliefs. Science is supposed to be objective, emotionless, and based upon cold hard facts; however, it is based on pre-established laws and theories. For better or worse, science is bounded by what we think we already know. As useful as science may be, it is not what we have our hope in.
J.C Philpot writes, 'It seems as if we needed day by day to be taught over and over again our own sinfulness, weakness, and helplessness, and that none but the blessed Lord can do us any real good. Religion is not like any art or science which, when once learned, is learned forever; but is a thing which we are ever forgetting, and ever learning over and over again."
Science would have us believe that we can find all the answers to life if we look and search hard enough. Science, in fact, is looking to find this very thing: one theory which explains everything in the universe. Without acknowledging God, this feat will never be accomplished. As rational as science is, it refuses to accept that nothing can come into being or hold itself together in existence without God.
Living Life
Science is limited by the paradigm of the researchers and their own personal beliefs. Science is supposed to be objective, emotionless, and based upon cold hard facts; however, it is based on pre-established laws and theories. For better or worse, science is bounded by what we think we already know. As useful as science may be, it is not what we have our hope in.
J.C Philpot writes, 'It seems as if we needed day by day to be taught over and over again our own sinfulness, weakness, and helplessness, and that none but the blessed Lord can do us any real good. Religion is not like any art or science which, when once learned, is learned forever; but is a thing which we are ever forgetting, and ever learning over and over again."
Science would have us believe that we can find all the answers to life if we look and search hard enough. Science, in fact, is looking to find this very thing: one theory which explains everything in the universe. Without acknowledging God, this feat will never be accomplished. As rational as science is, it refuses to accept that nothing can come into being or hold itself together in existence without God.
Living Life
God's Mercy Corrects
Everyone makes mistakes, while some people make lots of mistakes. Fortunately, we can learn from our failure. Our failures help us confront the difficulties and weakness in our lives with cold, harsh, truth. Lesson borne from difficult often stick with us.
When we backslide and sin, God is faithful and will rebuke us. This probably will not be a fun experience, but it does show God's love for us. Thomas Watson writes, "God shows mercy in correcting us. He is angry-in love... His rod is not a a rod of iron to break us-but fatherly rod to humble us. '[God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.]' (Heb. 12:10)."
We do not often associate mercy with correction. We usually associate correction with judgment. Mercy, however, is about ending suffering, and God wants our suffering to end. The fact of the matter is, when we sin, we suffer. There is a direct correlation to sin and suffering. Sin always hurts someone, which is why God hates sin so much.
God is infinite and perfect; He really does know what is best for us. We may not always like accepting this as a fact. We fight and resist Him, but God does not give up on us. He wrestles with us through our problems. Every relationship will have its share of difficulties. We can choose to ignore these difficulties and let the relationship suffer, or we can confront the issue. The strongest relationships is life are not the ones without conflict, but the ones that overcome conflict.
Living Life
When we backslide and sin, God is faithful and will rebuke us. This probably will not be a fun experience, but it does show God's love for us. Thomas Watson writes, "God shows mercy in correcting us. He is angry-in love... His rod is not a a rod of iron to break us-but fatherly rod to humble us. '[God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.]' (Heb. 12:10)."
We do not often associate mercy with correction. We usually associate correction with judgment. Mercy, however, is about ending suffering, and God wants our suffering to end. The fact of the matter is, when we sin, we suffer. There is a direct correlation to sin and suffering. Sin always hurts someone, which is why God hates sin so much.
God is infinite and perfect; He really does know what is best for us. We may not always like accepting this as a fact. We fight and resist Him, but God does not give up on us. He wrestles with us through our problems. Every relationship will have its share of difficulties. We can choose to ignore these difficulties and let the relationship suffer, or we can confront the issue. The strongest relationships is life are not the ones without conflict, but the ones that overcome conflict.
Living Life
Thursday, October 27, 2011
God's Mercy Is Superabundant
God gives life to this earth. It is through His mercy that He provides us with good. It is through His mercy that He provides us with shelter. In sickness or health, every breath that we take is from the abundant mercy of God. Every breath we take is from the abundant mercy of God. Every breather we take is because of God.
This is a difficult but important perspective to have. God is better to us than we realize. Our sins, even the smallest ones, should be reproved immediately. Yet God lets us live our lives and even blesses us. Acts 14:17 states, "Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy." God can do this because He is merciful.
Mercy is God's abundant testimony to us. Thomas Watson describes, God's mercy is superabundant. The Lord has treasures of mercy in store... The vial of God's wrath, only drops- but the fountain of His mercy, runs....His mercy is over-flowing and ever-flowing. His mercy is infinite -without bounds, and without end."
Whatever our situations, we rest firmly in the grace of the cross. We can get lost in the difficulties of our circumstances, and in doing so become overcome with our own private tragedies. But God calls us to stop looking at ourselves and to fix our eyes on Him. Whether we live on this earth for ten years or one hundred, our time on earth is short. Focusing on ourselves never solves any problems. Focus instead on God, and live for the life to come.
Living Life
This is a difficult but important perspective to have. God is better to us than we realize. Our sins, even the smallest ones, should be reproved immediately. Yet God lets us live our lives and even blesses us. Acts 14:17 states, "Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy." God can do this because He is merciful.
Mercy is God's abundant testimony to us. Thomas Watson describes, God's mercy is superabundant. The Lord has treasures of mercy in store... The vial of God's wrath, only drops- but the fountain of His mercy, runs....His mercy is over-flowing and ever-flowing. His mercy is infinite -without bounds, and without end."
Whatever our situations, we rest firmly in the grace of the cross. We can get lost in the difficulties of our circumstances, and in doing so become overcome with our own private tragedies. But God calls us to stop looking at ourselves and to fix our eyes on Him. Whether we live on this earth for ten years or one hundred, our time on earth is short. Focusing on ourselves never solves any problems. Focus instead on God, and live for the life to come.
Living Life
Love God's Law
How many of us love reading God's Word? Reading the Bible is usually something that we have to do. It is a task that we must cross off our list before we can continue with the rest of our day. More often than not, the Bible is a burden to us rather than a blessing.
Yet it is the Bible that informs us of God's will for our lives. It is because of the Bible, and all the books that are contained in it, that we know the character of God. It is through this Book that we understand what sin is and how to deal with it.
As we read through the Bible, we fall more in love with God and realize just how precious His Law is. God's Law is more than just Him telling us what we can and cannot do. God's Law is more than just Him telling us what we an and cannot do. God's Law holds a grander purpose in His divine story. John Piper writes,"It's plain that we do not die to the law in every conceivable way. We rejoice in the law in some ways (Rom. 7:22), and in the law we see a witness to the ['righteousness...given through faith in Jesus Christ' (Rom. 3:22)], and we establish the law through faith in Christ (Rom. 3:31); the goal of the law is Christ."
It is through the Law, and the judgment that it brings that we see a clearer picture of the mercy of Jesus Christ. God's Law reveals how truly sinful we are. It is through the Law that we really see how pathetic, imperfect, and in need of grace we are. And then Jesus comes and lavishes us with mercy. Nothing demonstrates God's mercy better than His Law.
Living Life
Yet it is the Bible that informs us of God's will for our lives. It is because of the Bible, and all the books that are contained in it, that we know the character of God. It is through this Book that we understand what sin is and how to deal with it.
As we read through the Bible, we fall more in love with God and realize just how precious His Law is. God's Law is more than just Him telling us what we can and cannot do. God's Law is more than just Him telling us what we an and cannot do. God's Law holds a grander purpose in His divine story. John Piper writes,"It's plain that we do not die to the law in every conceivable way. We rejoice in the law in some ways (Rom. 7:22), and in the law we see a witness to the ['righteousness...given through faith in Jesus Christ' (Rom. 3:22)], and we establish the law through faith in Christ (Rom. 3:31); the goal of the law is Christ."
It is through the Law, and the judgment that it brings that we see a clearer picture of the mercy of Jesus Christ. God's Law reveals how truly sinful we are. It is through the Law that we really see how pathetic, imperfect, and in need of grace we are. And then Jesus comes and lavishes us with mercy. Nothing demonstrates God's mercy better than His Law.
Living Life
God's Mercy Unveils Eternity
This world is full of incredible of beauty and natural wonders. Mount Everest, Victoria Falls, the Grand Canyon, the Great Barrier Reef, the Aurora Borealis, the Paricutin Volano, and the Harbor of Rio de Janerio are just some examples of incredible wonders God has created here on earth.
This world, however, and all that is in it will pass away. From its natural wonders to its materials of value, everything pales in comparison to the majesty that will be revealed in the new world to come. Psalm 119:89-96 praises God for His Word, His faithfulness, and the steadfastness of the world He created.
Thomas Boston writes, "The man is instructed in the knowledge of the vanity of the WORLD. Psalm 119:96, 'I have seen an end of all perfection.' Regenerating grace elevates the soul...Grace brings a man into a new world: where this earthly world is reputed but a stage of vanity, a howling wilderness, a valley of tears."
We know the earth has not always existed, and we know that it will not always exist. As humans we try in vain to hold on to the things of this earth. We hold on to our jobs, our education, our possessions. It is through God's mercy that we see the world for what it is: temporary. God did not have to reveal to us. He chose to. As a result, we are empowered through the knowledge of God to live for eternity rather than the present.
Living Life
This world, however, and all that is in it will pass away. From its natural wonders to its materials of value, everything pales in comparison to the majesty that will be revealed in the new world to come. Psalm 119:89-96 praises God for His Word, His faithfulness, and the steadfastness of the world He created.
Thomas Boston writes, "The man is instructed in the knowledge of the vanity of the WORLD. Psalm 119:96, 'I have seen an end of all perfection.' Regenerating grace elevates the soul...Grace brings a man into a new world: where this earthly world is reputed but a stage of vanity, a howling wilderness, a valley of tears."
We know the earth has not always existed, and we know that it will not always exist. As humans we try in vain to hold on to the things of this earth. We hold on to our jobs, our education, our possessions. It is through God's mercy that we see the world for what it is: temporary. God did not have to reveal to us. He chose to. As a result, we are empowered through the knowledge of God to live for eternity rather than the present.
Living Life
Confidence in Sovereign Mercy
Having a relationship with God is something that we must take seriously. He should not be some casual acquaintance. He is, after all, the One who knits us together. He is the Author and Perfecter of our faith, and the One who directs our paths. Psalm 46:10 exhorts us to be still and know that He is God.
And it is this God, the God, who has a good plan and purpose for our lives. Jeremiah 29:11 states, "'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.'" Our God really does want the best for us. He wants to see us succeed and run after Him. We are not divine, and we do not have the privilege of knowing how life will turn out. Even when life takes turns we do not expect, we can know and trust that our God is good.
Death, for example, is a part of life. Yet God is sovereign and in control over every season of our lives. John Piper writes, "When George Muller's wife of 39 years died, he preached her funeral sermon from the text 'Thou art good and doest good' (Ps. 119:68)... The Lord's will was to take her. Therefore, with great confidence in the sovereign mercy of God, Muller said, 'I bow, I am satisfied with the will of my Heavenly Father.'" Surrendering is not easy, but because God is sovereign and merciful, we can stand firm in Him, no matter the season of our lives.
Living Life
And it is this God, the God, who has a good plan and purpose for our lives. Jeremiah 29:11 states, "'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.'" Our God really does want the best for us. He wants to see us succeed and run after Him. We are not divine, and we do not have the privilege of knowing how life will turn out. Even when life takes turns we do not expect, we can know and trust that our God is good.
Death, for example, is a part of life. Yet God is sovereign and in control over every season of our lives. John Piper writes, "When George Muller's wife of 39 years died, he preached her funeral sermon from the text 'Thou art good and doest good' (Ps. 119:68)... The Lord's will was to take her. Therefore, with great confidence in the sovereign mercy of God, Muller said, 'I bow, I am satisfied with the will of my Heavenly Father.'" Surrendering is not easy, but because God is sovereign and merciful, we can stand firm in Him, no matter the season of our lives.
Living Life
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Walking in the Freedom of the Law
One of the few characteristics traits that all humans have is a sense of justice. Each man, woman, and child intrinsically knows when wrong has occurred. People who have been abused often have a skewed sense of justice, and ideas surrounding the true meaning of justice have changed over time and from culture to culture. Nonetheless, everyone has a system of right and wrong.
Justice is strongly ingrained in humanity, and all it takes is clever arguments and discussion to convince other to judge fairly. Mercy, however, is something that people struggle with. When wrongs have been committed, we feel that they must be corrected. Yet James 2:12-13 tells us, "Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment." Mercy is something that is very important to God, and it is mercy that defines our faith.
Henry Law explains, "Could He have written more clearly, more largely, more lovingly to testify His delight in mercy? In His Gospel-ordinances forgiveness is the foundation-stone... His forgiving goodness and pardoning grace exceed all thought. Glad experience confirms, ['Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.' (Ps. 32:1)]."
We are able to stand before God as redeemed for no other reason than God's love and mercy. If mercy is important to God, then we had better be a people who act like it.
Living Life
Justice is strongly ingrained in humanity, and all it takes is clever arguments and discussion to convince other to judge fairly. Mercy, however, is something that people struggle with. When wrongs have been committed, we feel that they must be corrected. Yet James 2:12-13 tells us, "Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment." Mercy is something that is very important to God, and it is mercy that defines our faith.
Henry Law explains, "Could He have written more clearly, more largely, more lovingly to testify His delight in mercy? In His Gospel-ordinances forgiveness is the foundation-stone... His forgiving goodness and pardoning grace exceed all thought. Glad experience confirms, ['Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.' (Ps. 32:1)]."
We are able to stand before God as redeemed for no other reason than God's love and mercy. If mercy is important to God, then we had better be a people who act like it.
Living Life
God's Mercy on Hypocrites
God has sent a beautiful message to the people of this world about unfailing love and mercy. Those who understand this come to call Christ their Savior. But if this is such a wonderful message, then what is preventing so many people from coming to Christ?
Sadly, the answer is us. Christianity is not only seen as a "boring" religion, but the hypocrisy of Christians is what stands in the way of many coming to faith in Christ. Too many people have been burned by the Church because the Church lacks love. Christ is love, and we are commanded to reflect that love to others; but we fail. We are wonderful examples of saying one thing about Christ and living another way. This way of living is an effective way of lying to the world around us.
We must realize our own humanity; lying and hypocrisy are dangers that anyone can fall into Psalm 119:29 does not assume any natural defense or spiritual immunity against falsehood. The psalmist humbly comes before God and petitions Him to be gracious and merciful.
Arthur Pink writes, "How we should be humbled by such a prayer as this [Psalm 119:29], for it is evidently an appropriate one for all the Lord's God, who is often made painfully conscious of how much insincerity and hypocrisy is mixed up with his worship, supplications, repentance, and thanksgiving!"
We might be hypocritical in our nature and know we need to change. But we cannot change if we are not shown the way. It is God's Word that lights the way to the transformation of our minds and actions.
Living Life
Sadly, the answer is us. Christianity is not only seen as a "boring" religion, but the hypocrisy of Christians is what stands in the way of many coming to faith in Christ. Too many people have been burned by the Church because the Church lacks love. Christ is love, and we are commanded to reflect that love to others; but we fail. We are wonderful examples of saying one thing about Christ and living another way. This way of living is an effective way of lying to the world around us.
We must realize our own humanity; lying and hypocrisy are dangers that anyone can fall into Psalm 119:29 does not assume any natural defense or spiritual immunity against falsehood. The psalmist humbly comes before God and petitions Him to be gracious and merciful.
Arthur Pink writes, "How we should be humbled by such a prayer as this [Psalm 119:29], for it is evidently an appropriate one for all the Lord's God, who is often made painfully conscious of how much insincerity and hypocrisy is mixed up with his worship, supplications, repentance, and thanksgiving!"
We might be hypocritical in our nature and know we need to change. But we cannot change if we are not shown the way. It is God's Word that lights the way to the transformation of our minds and actions.
Living Life
Thursday, October 20, 2011
God's Mercy Provides Purity
David was a remarkable man of God. He constantly trusted in God for his victories, and He did his best to stick to the commands of God. David trusted in God to overcome lions, bears, and Goliath the giant. David trusted that God would protect him, even in the face of adversity due to Saul and his own son Absalom. But, as righteous as David was, he still fell into sin by committing adultery.
We all sin. But, as believers, we have two choices after sinning: remain in sin, or repent. God punished David for his sin, but David did not blame God for the consequences of his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba. When confronted by the prophet Nathan, David realized he needed to repent, and so cried out to God for mercy (Ps. 51). Joel Virgo writes, "We need to see it [sin] from God's vantage point, and God says: TREASON... David appeals to God's covenant mercy (steadfast love)-which speaks of his dependable nature."
Purity is a struggle for many. Although it may take different forms for men and women, it is a battle that both genders face. Of course, most Christian do not want to struggle with the issue of purity. When we give our lives to Christ, we would like to think that our old addictions simply vanish. What Christian wants to admit he or she struggles with pornography, anorexia, or depression? Yet when we fail, we can rely on God's mercy to carry us through the pain of our impurity.
At the same time, God provides, a clear antidote to our struggles. Psalm 119:9-11 shows us how to avoid impurity altogether: by meditating on the words of God.
Living Life
We all sin. But, as believers, we have two choices after sinning: remain in sin, or repent. God punished David for his sin, but David did not blame God for the consequences of his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba. When confronted by the prophet Nathan, David realized he needed to repent, and so cried out to God for mercy (Ps. 51). Joel Virgo writes, "We need to see it [sin] from God's vantage point, and God says: TREASON... David appeals to God's covenant mercy (steadfast love)-which speaks of his dependable nature."
Purity is a struggle for many. Although it may take different forms for men and women, it is a battle that both genders face. Of course, most Christian do not want to struggle with the issue of purity. When we give our lives to Christ, we would like to think that our old addictions simply vanish. What Christian wants to admit he or she struggles with pornography, anorexia, or depression? Yet when we fail, we can rely on God's mercy to carry us through the pain of our impurity.
At the same time, God provides, a clear antidote to our struggles. Psalm 119:9-11 shows us how to avoid impurity altogether: by meditating on the words of God.
Living Life
God's Mercy Restrains SIn
God is good to us. In the end, God will allow us to live as we choose. Revelation 22:11 states, "Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy."
We are God's sheep; God knows those who are His, and He looks after us. He knows the conflict of our hearts and how our every inclination is toward evil. So God works with us and He molds us. They Holy Spirit convicts us in our sin, and He speaks to us in our temptation. Sin is always our choice. Satan cannot force us to sin; God will not make us. It is always our decision.
As Thomas Watson writes, "God shows mercy in restraining us from sin. Lust within- are worse than lions without! The greatest sign of God's anger, is to give men up to their sins ... While the ungodly sin themselves to hell, God has laid the bridle of restraining grace upon us!"
Living Life
We are God's sheep; God knows those who are His, and He looks after us. He knows the conflict of our hearts and how our every inclination is toward evil. So God works with us and He molds us. They Holy Spirit convicts us in our sin, and He speaks to us in our temptation. Sin is always our choice. Satan cannot force us to sin; God will not make us. It is always our decision.
As Thomas Watson writes, "God shows mercy in restraining us from sin. Lust within- are worse than lions without! The greatest sign of God's anger, is to give men up to their sins ... While the ungodly sin themselves to hell, God has laid the bridle of restraining grace upon us!"
Living Life
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Nothing is Innocent
There is something about holding a baby for the first time that makes us gush with emotion. Babies often represent simplicity and, more especially, innocence. It is easy to see babies as adorable and pure because of their newness.
The law concerning child birth in Leviticus 12 forces us to confront a difficult reality, however. As beautiful and precious as babies are, they are still born into a sinful world. There is not a place on earth that we can take them which will hide them from the grip of sin. There is not a place on earth that we can take them which will hide them from the grip of sin. There is no amount of instruction that we can give as parents which will prevent our children from sinning. It does not matter where or how we raise them; people are born to sin.
God is not punishing women here for giving birth. God uses this as a process for reminding women, as the primary caregiver, that even an innocent baby has a sinful nature. Henry Law writs, "Its properties are guilt; and guilt alone can be imparted by it. From Adam's fatal passage into Satan's realms, each child is Satan's bondslave. Each birth now propagates corruption. Hence she, who bare, is warned to bend, as bullrush in the valley. She must sit solitary as unclean."
Raising children is a heavy burden, and the knowledge that our children are doomed for destruction should bring us to our knees. That is why the best thing we could ever do for our children is to pray for them. Thankfully, we serve a good, gracious God. He hearts our prayers, and He responds to them.
Living Life
The law concerning child birth in Leviticus 12 forces us to confront a difficult reality, however. As beautiful and precious as babies are, they are still born into a sinful world. There is not a place on earth that we can take them which will hide them from the grip of sin. There is not a place on earth that we can take them which will hide them from the grip of sin. There is no amount of instruction that we can give as parents which will prevent our children from sinning. It does not matter where or how we raise them; people are born to sin.
God is not punishing women here for giving birth. God uses this as a process for reminding women, as the primary caregiver, that even an innocent baby has a sinful nature. Henry Law writs, "Its properties are guilt; and guilt alone can be imparted by it. From Adam's fatal passage into Satan's realms, each child is Satan's bondslave. Each birth now propagates corruption. Hence she, who bare, is warned to bend, as bullrush in the valley. She must sit solitary as unclean."
Raising children is a heavy burden, and the knowledge that our children are doomed for destruction should bring us to our knees. That is why the best thing we could ever do for our children is to pray for them. Thankfully, we serve a good, gracious God. He hearts our prayers, and He responds to them.
Living Life
Monday, October 17, 2011
Be Whole Because I Am Whole
When you think of the word "holy," what images pop into your head? Do holy people wear long robes with halos floating above their heads? Is holiness the act of constantly reading your Bible, praying to God, having quite time and the like? God declares that we are to be holy because He is holy (Lev. 11:45), but what exactly does that mean?
While many of us are very familiar with the word "holy," it is not a word that we really understand well. Ray Stedman contends that the meaning behind holiness is best understood in terms of the word "wholeness." He is a beautiful person. He is absolutely what a person ought to be. He is filled with joy and love and peace. He lives in wholeness. And he looks at us in our brokenness and says to us, 'You too, shall be whole.'"
This lens of holiness allows us to see God's mercy on us. He sees us as sick, weak, and broken. More than just making us perfect, God wants to mend our brokenness and see us made whole again. It is easy to look at the law and see the restrictions that are borne out of it, rather than the freedom that it brings. But God did not place restrictions on us; He provided us with a cure for the disease of sin. We were broken and bitter, and God took pity on us. Through His Law, He showed us how to live in wholeness. When we failed, He came to earth and repaired us with His blood.
Living Life
While many of us are very familiar with the word "holy," it is not a word that we really understand well. Ray Stedman contends that the meaning behind holiness is best understood in terms of the word "wholeness." He is a beautiful person. He is absolutely what a person ought to be. He is filled with joy and love and peace. He lives in wholeness. And he looks at us in our brokenness and says to us, 'You too, shall be whole.'"
This lens of holiness allows us to see God's mercy on us. He sees us as sick, weak, and broken. More than just making us perfect, God wants to mend our brokenness and see us made whole again. It is easy to look at the law and see the restrictions that are borne out of it, rather than the freedom that it brings. But God did not place restrictions on us; He provided us with a cure for the disease of sin. We were broken and bitter, and God took pity on us. Through His Law, He showed us how to live in wholeness. When we failed, He came to earth and repaired us with His blood.
Living Life
Friday, October 14, 2011
Donkey story
One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for ......hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.
He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.
As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!
MORAL :
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.
Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
2. Free your mind from worries - Most never happens.
3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less from people but more from God.
You have two choices... smile and close this page,
or pass this along to someone else to share the lesson .
God bless us all!
He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.
As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!
MORAL :
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.
Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
2. Free your mind from worries - Most never happens.
3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less from people but more from God.
You have two choices... smile and close this page,
or pass this along to someone else to share the lesson .
God bless us all!
Silent Before God's Judgment
Aaron's sons were suddenly struck down by God and without notice in Leviticus 10:2. Aaron could have wailed and protested, but he had just been commissioned by God as holy. Aaron had been given a specific command to minister as high priest to the Israelites, and if he did not obey, he would have been killed, too.
This passage almost makes God seem to be uncaring and apathetic. After all, where is His mercy in all of this? But God is not apathetic to our situations. Our God is just and holy; His Law requires that He be treated as such. Aaron and his family had been lifted to a position of high authority. They had been given a great gift, which they then heinously abused in the sight of God. They were the intercessors between God and His people, so when they sinned, there was no one to intercede on their behalf (which is what makes Christ all the more special)
Arthur Pink writes, "Consider the circumstances. Aaron's two sons, most probably intoxicated at the time, were suddenly cut off by Divine judgment. Their father had no warning to prepare him for this trial; yet he 'was silent!' O quarrel not against Jehovah. Be clay in the hands of the Potter. Take Christ's yoke upon you and learn of Him who was 'meek and lowly in heart.'"
Through Christ Jesus each one of us has automatic access to the mercy of God. Do not forget that mercy is unearned. It is relief from punishment that is deserved. As we come to understand that mercy, our hearts should begin to resonate with humility and thanksgiving.
Living Life
This passage almost makes God seem to be uncaring and apathetic. After all, where is His mercy in all of this? But God is not apathetic to our situations. Our God is just and holy; His Law requires that He be treated as such. Aaron and his family had been lifted to a position of high authority. They had been given a great gift, which they then heinously abused in the sight of God. They were the intercessors between God and His people, so when they sinned, there was no one to intercede on their behalf (which is what makes Christ all the more special)
Arthur Pink writes, "Consider the circumstances. Aaron's two sons, most probably intoxicated at the time, were suddenly cut off by Divine judgment. Their father had no warning to prepare him for this trial; yet he 'was silent!' O quarrel not against Jehovah. Be clay in the hands of the Potter. Take Christ's yoke upon you and learn of Him who was 'meek and lowly in heart.'"
Through Christ Jesus each one of us has automatic access to the mercy of God. Do not forget that mercy is unearned. It is relief from punishment that is deserved. As we come to understand that mercy, our hearts should begin to resonate with humility and thanksgiving.
Living Life
Relational Mercy
Whatever we give to God, God takes very seriously. Material things do not entice God the way they entice us. While God does demand un-bruised and unbroken sacrifices, God is not as interested in what we bring to Him as He is about the heart.
The first account of men offering sacrifices to God is found in the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4. The Bible states that God approved of Abel's sacrifice because Abel offered his best, while Cain did not. Instead of accepting this as a lesson from God, Cain resent Abel and murdered him.
God may not always accept our sacrifices, especially when our hearts are far from Him. But when God sees our hearts and is moved to accept our sacrifices, He will move in our lives. Leviticus 9 shows the people of God giving Him everything exactly as He asked for it. They listen to the words of God and follow through with action. God is so pleased that He shows up in power (vv.23-24)
Leviticus demonstrates how relational God is with His people. Notice that God first spoke to the Israelites. The Israelites listened to God, and then they acted in obedience to His commands. Finally, God appeared before them in power, and they praised Him. Henry Law writes, "Profoundest worship was their instant act. Believer, do the like. God sends His Son to seek - to save... Witness after witness from His courts assures, that pardon, acquittal, release from every woe, admission to the home of heaven, are yours. Oh! then, let every breath praise God."
In all things, we are meant to be relational with Christ. When God showers us with mercy, we are meant to respond relationally.
Living Life
The first account of men offering sacrifices to God is found in the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4. The Bible states that God approved of Abel's sacrifice because Abel offered his best, while Cain did not. Instead of accepting this as a lesson from God, Cain resent Abel and murdered him.
God may not always accept our sacrifices, especially when our hearts are far from Him. But when God sees our hearts and is moved to accept our sacrifices, He will move in our lives. Leviticus 9 shows the people of God giving Him everything exactly as He asked for it. They listen to the words of God and follow through with action. God is so pleased that He shows up in power (vv.23-24)
Leviticus demonstrates how relational God is with His people. Notice that God first spoke to the Israelites. The Israelites listened to God, and then they acted in obedience to His commands. Finally, God appeared before them in power, and they praised Him. Henry Law writes, "Profoundest worship was their instant act. Believer, do the like. God sends His Son to seek - to save... Witness after witness from His courts assures, that pardon, acquittal, release from every woe, admission to the home of heaven, are yours. Oh! then, let every breath praise God."
In all things, we are meant to be relational with Christ. When God showers us with mercy, we are meant to respond relationally.
Living Life
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Do Not Take Mercy for Granted
There is no amount of past, present, or future sin that will separate us from Christ's love or forgiveness. We will always be shown mercy for our sins. While there is truth to the fact that God will always forgive us for what we do, there should be a change from our old selves to our new selves. Once forgiven, we cannot continue living like we used to. Unfortunately, this is not the way it is for many Christians. As a result, we find ourselves treating God's mercy with contempt through our actions; we take God's mercy for granted.
Charles Spurgeon emphasizes, "It is a sad thing that any who have seen God's judgements on others, and have escaped themselves, should draw from this special mercy a reason for adding sin to sin (Jer. 3:8)." Spurgeon points out five areas in which we take God's mercy for granted:
First, we do not readily or actively acknowledge the mercy we have have received; we allow it to remain unnoticed. Second, we take God's mercy for granted by falling under the belief that mercy is something that we have earned or even deserve. Third, we spit on God's mercy by refusing to repent of our sins and by refusing to wholly surrender to God. Fourth, we might use mercy as an explicit reason to harden our hearts and delve deeper into sin (Christ will forgive us for whatever we do, right?). Finally, we abuse God's mercy by believing that Jesus will not return tomorrow - maybe one day, but certainly not tomorrow, or a month from now, or a year. As Christians, God has called us into wisdom, not foolishness. God actively chooses to give us mercy; it is not something we should expect or demand. Mercy truly is a gift and should not be taken for granted.
Living Life
Charles Spurgeon emphasizes, "It is a sad thing that any who have seen God's judgements on others, and have escaped themselves, should draw from this special mercy a reason for adding sin to sin (Jer. 3:8)." Spurgeon points out five areas in which we take God's mercy for granted:
First, we do not readily or actively acknowledge the mercy we have have received; we allow it to remain unnoticed. Second, we take God's mercy for granted by falling under the belief that mercy is something that we have earned or even deserve. Third, we spit on God's mercy by refusing to repent of our sins and by refusing to wholly surrender to God. Fourth, we might use mercy as an explicit reason to harden our hearts and delve deeper into sin (Christ will forgive us for whatever we do, right?). Finally, we abuse God's mercy by believing that Jesus will not return tomorrow - maybe one day, but certainly not tomorrow, or a month from now, or a year. As Christians, God has called us into wisdom, not foolishness. God actively chooses to give us mercy; it is not something we should expect or demand. Mercy truly is a gift and should not be taken for granted.
Living Life
Monday, October 10, 2011
Merciful Sacrifice
The Old Testament is very symbolic in nature. God did not require so many sacrifices because He enjoys watching animals be killed. Each sacrifice meant something. The Israelites were not performing acts of animal cruelty; they were shepherds, and they brought their very livelihood before the presence of God. It symbolized trust and submission.
The ritual describe in Leviticus 8 is also very symbolic in nature. Horatius Bonar explains, "The victim was selected by Moses, who was thus representing God. It was not Aaron and his sons who chose the sacrifice; it was God who made the choice for them... Thus, in one sense, God lays our sins upon the sacrifice; but, in another, it is we who lay our sins upon it, when we bring them to it and confess them over its head." Moses selected a ram to consecrate Aaron; God chose Jesus to consecrate us. Just as the ram's blood covered Aaron, Jesus' blood covers us.
We have entered into a relationship with Jesus Christ. It was He, in His mercy, who offered an acceptable sacrifice for our sins. But we are still required to accept His gift of mercy. Accepting God's mercy must be taken seriously, and it calls us to proper action. Just days after being anointed as priests of Israel, Aaron's two eldest sons were killed by God for failing to honor the commands they were given. Commit yourselves to God, but realize what it means to be committed to God. When we accept Jesus Christ into our hearts, our lives must become different. We are exhorted again and again to no longer live for the world. By ourselves, that is impossible, That is why, in His mercy, Jesus offered Himself as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to the Lord.
Living Life
The ritual describe in Leviticus 8 is also very symbolic in nature. Horatius Bonar explains, "The victim was selected by Moses, who was thus representing God. It was not Aaron and his sons who chose the sacrifice; it was God who made the choice for them... Thus, in one sense, God lays our sins upon the sacrifice; but, in another, it is we who lay our sins upon it, when we bring them to it and confess them over its head." Moses selected a ram to consecrate Aaron; God chose Jesus to consecrate us. Just as the ram's blood covered Aaron, Jesus' blood covers us.
We have entered into a relationship with Jesus Christ. It was He, in His mercy, who offered an acceptable sacrifice for our sins. But we are still required to accept His gift of mercy. Accepting God's mercy must be taken seriously, and it calls us to proper action. Just days after being anointed as priests of Israel, Aaron's two eldest sons were killed by God for failing to honor the commands they were given. Commit yourselves to God, but realize what it means to be committed to God. When we accept Jesus Christ into our hearts, our lives must become different. We are exhorted again and again to no longer live for the world. By ourselves, that is impossible, That is why, in His mercy, Jesus offered Himself as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to the Lord.
Living Life
Loving Kindness
Anyone who knows more than one language understands that translating languages can be very difficult. The same is true for the Bible. The Bible was originally written in Greek, Hebrew, and Aramic. Due to the difference in language syntax, translating the original documents into modern languages can sometimes prove to be challenging. Because of differences in vocabulary and grammar, translators will either choose to translate word for word (like the KJV), or thought for thought (like the NIV). As best as we try to translate the original writings, unspoken understandings or contexts can be left out.
One example is the Hebrew word "chesed." "Chesed" is closely associated with English word "mercy," but as N.HSnaith describes, it is also with the phrase "loving kindness" comes from,. Snaith says, "God's loving-kindness is that sure love which will not let Israel go. Not all Israel's persistent waywardness could every destroy it. Though Israel be faithless, yet God remains faithful still. This steady, persistent refusal of God to wash his hands of wayward Israel is the essential meaning of the Hebrew word which is translated loving-kindness."
Understanding the greater context of the word "mercy" helps us to understand our God better. "Chesed" shows us a God who actively pursues us in mercy. It shows us that God shows mercy and kindness to us, long before we regret or even realize what we are doing.
Living Life
One example is the Hebrew word "chesed." "Chesed" is closely associated with English word "mercy," but as N.HSnaith describes, it is also with the phrase "loving kindness" comes from,. Snaith says, "God's loving-kindness is that sure love which will not let Israel go. Not all Israel's persistent waywardness could every destroy it. Though Israel be faithless, yet God remains faithful still. This steady, persistent refusal of God to wash his hands of wayward Israel is the essential meaning of the Hebrew word which is translated loving-kindness."
Understanding the greater context of the word "mercy" helps us to understand our God better. "Chesed" shows us a God who actively pursues us in mercy. It shows us that God shows mercy and kindness to us, long before we regret or even realize what we are doing.
Living Life
A Thankful Heart
When Christians prepare for a long trip, they often lift up prayers of blessing and protection. When someone in sick, believers gather to pray for healing. It is not uncommon in the Christian community to commit prayers before major events such as surgery and during major events such as lingering sickness.
As Christians, we learn to lift up prayers for many things. But what do we do when God answers our prayers? We might spend a few minutes thanking God for answering our prayers, but then we go right back to asking for more and more. Our prayers lives are important to God, and although He wants us to bring our desires before Him, we are also called to give thanks to God.
Giving thanks to God is shat should mark our thoughts and actions. J.R.Miller writes," When there was any special favor shown or blessing received, the heart's gratitude should express itself in this way...if One recovered from a dangerous sickness, his first walk abroad was to the tabernacle with his sacrifice. Should we not bring some new gift to God's altar-after every recovery from sickness, every deliverance from danger every new kindness enjoyed?"
Lamentations 3:22-23 says, "Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." God's mercy to us is new every morning, so we should come before Him every morning with an offering of thanks.
Living Life
As Christians, we learn to lift up prayers for many things. But what do we do when God answers our prayers? We might spend a few minutes thanking God for answering our prayers, but then we go right back to asking for more and more. Our prayers lives are important to God, and although He wants us to bring our desires before Him, we are also called to give thanks to God.
Giving thanks to God is shat should mark our thoughts and actions. J.R.Miller writes," When there was any special favor shown or blessing received, the heart's gratitude should express itself in this way...if One recovered from a dangerous sickness, his first walk abroad was to the tabernacle with his sacrifice. Should we not bring some new gift to God's altar-after every recovery from sickness, every deliverance from danger every new kindness enjoyed?"
Lamentations 3:22-23 says, "Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." God's mercy to us is new every morning, so we should come before Him every morning with an offering of thanks.
Living Life
Saturday, October 08, 2011
Boy's dont realize how much one little thing can upset a girl
45 THINGS A GIRL WANT, BUT WON'T ASK FOR:
1. Touch her waist.
2. Actually talk... to her.
3. Share secrets with her.
...4. Give her your jacket.
5. Kiss her slowly.
Are you remembering this?
6. Hug her.
7. Hold her.
8. Laugh with her.
9. Invite her somewhere.
10. Hangout with her and your friends together.
KEEP READING ..
11. Smile with her.
12. Take pictures with her.
13. Pull her onto your lap.
14. When she says she loves you more, deny it. Fight back.
15. When her friends say “I love her more than you”, deny it. Fight back and hug her tight so she can’t get to her friends. It makes her feel loved.
Are you thinking of someone?
16. Always hug her and say I love you whenever you see her.
17. Kiss her unexpectedly.
18. Hug her from behind around the waist.
19. Tell her she’s beautiful.
20. Tell her the way you feel about her.
One last thing you need to do to show her you actually do mean it.
21. Open doors for her, walk her to her car - it makes her feel protected, plus it never hurts to act like a gentleman.
22. Tell her she’s your everything - only if you mean it.
23. If it seems like there is something wrong, ask her - if she denies something being wrong, it means SHE DOESN’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT - so just hug her.
24. Make her feel loved.
25. Kiss her in front of OTHER girls you know!
WE MIGHT DENY IT BUT WE ACTUALLY LIKE AND KINDA WANT YOU TO TICKLE US ..
26. Don’t lie to her.
27. DON’T cheat on her.
28. Take her ANYWHERE she wants.
29. Text message or call her in the morning and tell her have a good day at school, and how much you miss her.
30. Be there for her whenever she needs you, and even when she doesn’t need you, just be there so she’ll know that she can always count on you.
ARE YOU STILL READING THIS? YOU BETTER, BECAUSE IT’S IMPORTANT.
31. Hold her close when she’s cold so she can hold you too.
32. When you are alone hold her close and kiss her.
33. Kiss her on the cheek; (it will give her the hint that you want to kiss her).
34. While in the movies, put your arm around her and then she will automatically put her head on your shoulder, then lean in and tilt her chin up and kiss her lightly.
35. Don’t ever tell her to leave even jokingly or act like you’re mad. If she’s upset, comfort her.
REMEMBER ALL THESE THINGS WHEN YOU ARE WITH HER NEXT ..
36. When people diss her, stand up for her.
37. Look deep into her eyes and tell her you love her.
38. Lay down under the stars and put her head on your chest so she can listen to the steady beat of your heart, link your fingers together while you whisper to her as she rests her eyes and listens to you.
39. When walking next to each other grab her hand.
40. When you hug her, hold her in your arms as long as possible.
MAKE SURE SHE KNOWS SHES LOVED.
41. Call or text her at night to wish her sweet dreams.
42. Comfort her when she cries and wipe away her tears.
43. Take her for long walks at night.
44. Always remind her how much you love her.
45. Sit on top of her and tell her how much you love her and then bend down to her face and kiss her while you’re sitting on her.
You’ll never know when she needs just a little more love .. ♥!
Like if Like it ♥!See More
By: Boy's dont realize how much one little thing can upset a girl.
1. Touch her waist.
2. Actually talk... to her.
3. Share secrets with her.
...4. Give her your jacket.
5. Kiss her slowly.
Are you remembering this?
6. Hug her.
7. Hold her.
8. Laugh with her.
9. Invite her somewhere.
10. Hangout with her and your friends together.
KEEP READING ..
11. Smile with her.
12. Take pictures with her.
13. Pull her onto your lap.
14. When she says she loves you more, deny it. Fight back.
15. When her friends say “I love her more than you”, deny it. Fight back and hug her tight so she can’t get to her friends. It makes her feel loved.
Are you thinking of someone?
16. Always hug her and say I love you whenever you see her.
17. Kiss her unexpectedly.
18. Hug her from behind around the waist.
19. Tell her she’s beautiful.
20. Tell her the way you feel about her.
One last thing you need to do to show her you actually do mean it.
21. Open doors for her, walk her to her car - it makes her feel protected, plus it never hurts to act like a gentleman.
22. Tell her she’s your everything - only if you mean it.
23. If it seems like there is something wrong, ask her - if she denies something being wrong, it means SHE DOESN’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT - so just hug her.
24. Make her feel loved.
25. Kiss her in front of OTHER girls you know!
WE MIGHT DENY IT BUT WE ACTUALLY LIKE AND KINDA WANT YOU TO TICKLE US ..
26. Don’t lie to her.
27. DON’T cheat on her.
28. Take her ANYWHERE she wants.
29. Text message or call her in the morning and tell her have a good day at school, and how much you miss her.
30. Be there for her whenever she needs you, and even when she doesn’t need you, just be there so she’ll know that she can always count on you.
ARE YOU STILL READING THIS? YOU BETTER, BECAUSE IT’S IMPORTANT.
31. Hold her close when she’s cold so she can hold you too.
32. When you are alone hold her close and kiss her.
33. Kiss her on the cheek; (it will give her the hint that you want to kiss her).
34. While in the movies, put your arm around her and then she will automatically put her head on your shoulder, then lean in and tilt her chin up and kiss her lightly.
35. Don’t ever tell her to leave even jokingly or act like you’re mad. If she’s upset, comfort her.
REMEMBER ALL THESE THINGS WHEN YOU ARE WITH HER NEXT ..
36. When people diss her, stand up for her.
37. Look deep into her eyes and tell her you love her.
38. Lay down under the stars and put her head on your chest so she can listen to the steady beat of your heart, link your fingers together while you whisper to her as she rests her eyes and listens to you.
39. When walking next to each other grab her hand.
40. When you hug her, hold her in your arms as long as possible.
MAKE SURE SHE KNOWS SHES LOVED.
41. Call or text her at night to wish her sweet dreams.
42. Comfort her when she cries and wipe away her tears.
43. Take her for long walks at night.
44. Always remind her how much you love her.
45. Sit on top of her and tell her how much you love her and then bend down to her face and kiss her while you’re sitting on her.
You’ll never know when she needs just a little more love .. ♥!
Like if Like it ♥!See More
By: Boy's dont realize how much one little thing can upset a girl.
Why Women Cry
Why Women Cry
A little boy asked his mother, "Why are you crying?" "Because I'm... a woman," she told him.
"I don't understand," he said. His Mom just hugged him and said, "And you never will."
Later the little boy asked his father, "Why does mother seem to cry for no reason?"
"All women cry for no reason," was all his dad could say.
The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why women cry.
Finally he put in a call to God. When God got on the phone, he asked, "God, why do women cry so easily?"
God said, "When I made the woman she had to be special.
I made her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world,
yet gentle enough to give comfort.
I gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times comes from her children.
I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going when everyone else gives up, and take care of her family through sickness and fatigue without complaining.
I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any and all circumstances, even when her child has hurt her very badly.
I gave her strength to carry her husband through his faults and fashioned her from his rib to protect his heart.
I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife, but sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand beside him unfalteringly.
And finally, I gave her a tear to shed. This is hers exclusively to use whenever it is needed."
"You see my son," said God, "the beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.
The beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart - the place where love resides."
Author: Unknown
A little boy asked his mother, "Why are you crying?" "Because I'm... a woman," she told him.
"I don't understand," he said. His Mom just hugged him and said, "And you never will."
Later the little boy asked his father, "Why does mother seem to cry for no reason?"
"All women cry for no reason," was all his dad could say.
The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why women cry.
Finally he put in a call to God. When God got on the phone, he asked, "God, why do women cry so easily?"
God said, "When I made the woman she had to be special.
I made her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world,
yet gentle enough to give comfort.
I gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times comes from her children.
I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going when everyone else gives up, and take care of her family through sickness and fatigue without complaining.
I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any and all circumstances, even when her child has hurt her very badly.
I gave her strength to carry her husband through his faults and fashioned her from his rib to protect his heart.
I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife, but sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand beside him unfalteringly.
And finally, I gave her a tear to shed. This is hers exclusively to use whenever it is needed."
"You see my son," said God, "the beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.
The beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart - the place where love resides."
Author: Unknown
Friday, October 07, 2011
A quick reflection
Its seems so overwhelming and yet brings a reality touch to how I feel.. sometimes it is a unpleasant or a milder word, a uneasy feeling. Well, cuddling with my ever faithful Yokie Bear......faithful sitting at my bed side....nowadays, I hug it less......perhaps I bath everynight.....or just that I am distracted by Facebook games.... it has being a while since I return to doing deeper reflection.....deeper thoughts of how am I really feeling.....consolidation of my feelings and emotions..... as next saturday draws near, the meet up that had some homework to do which now I don't really remember much, only know got to detail down how I felt on each of the occassion....it is become an increasing success for me to "box up" my emotion so to the point that I don't really feel much....or process my emotion much. I take things as it is....
Here are a few things that I have in mind that I wish to process....though only for myself to read.....and God to know.....I guess no-one....not really anyone will read this...but well...I just put this for record purpose...again...
1. Self-sabotaging actions and thoughts - This is something that as I go through the night lesson on positive pyschology...about thinking traps, it is something that I picked up and perhaps work on it.....and reduce the occurance of it....finding the roots....and finding the source.....and nip it at its source....or reduce its source
2. Relationship with my mum - seems like it is where I wish the most, yet I failed th most.....not sure how much have I process thru or have not process thru at all.....but things don't seem to be as normal or manageable as before....perhaps the one who can't let it go is on my side....thus perhaps for once, I should go for enocounter weekend again......and let God do a new work.....something that is being 2 years....and it becomes consciously unconscious reflex actions and words...that I know I could have done something else but yet still does the same thing again and again....non-constructive non affirming.....poor tone...non-loving way.... task orientated and non relational.........just do it...but don't care about how it is done..... the source of hope...yet the source of despair and anguish...... so I only can let it be....learned to be helpless at situation...and feel divided on what I can do and what is to be done.
3. Moving on..... I serious thought I should move on with life.......no point still thinking about Miss Lin ....and what so whatever....re-align myself.....with a different set of purpose and goals..... or just engrossed myself with work work work work work work work,....ministry...minstry...ministry......no relationship...no BGR....don't think about mate.....just mission mission mission mission mission...God God God God God...Master master master.....No more 3M but only 2M....over the years ...especially these 2 years....I still feel that though it is a good motivation, it has it "extreme" non solid foundation basis.....God centre....God will provide....God has its plan.....God have others.....God will know.....well in simple....I am just tired....burden larden by life....and just wish to carry on with life...living day by day.....yet with the discontentment that I can do more....but yet can't...with self critical thought and self sabotaging actions.....how worse can it go......perhaps a quick solution is good.....but yet God just don't want to take me home....yet.....supppose He has a plan for me...which I am not aware...or I am too fearful to know....or to realise it....thus well....it goes back into a cycle...again and again.....running the hamster wheel.........running but having not work done....not displacement....got distance but no displacement....so get me out of the wheel....or get a wheel that moves.....God I know you are real....however I don't feel I am real anymore....for I don't feel a sense of existence.....or self...but only a task to do...to continue......and just do.......where actin speaks....but emotions are squesh.....where not how I feel matters, neither how I think matters...but what I do.....how sad it can be...but well this is the stage where I think I am.....I can see and relate to the change and I wish at times I would have taken a different choice......but well....choice is already made.....so just go through ....and go through hell out of it....
Here are a few things that I have in mind that I wish to process....though only for myself to read.....and God to know.....I guess no-one....not really anyone will read this...but well...I just put this for record purpose...again...
1. Self-sabotaging actions and thoughts - This is something that as I go through the night lesson on positive pyschology...about thinking traps, it is something that I picked up and perhaps work on it.....and reduce the occurance of it....finding the roots....and finding the source.....and nip it at its source....or reduce its source
2. Relationship with my mum - seems like it is where I wish the most, yet I failed th most.....not sure how much have I process thru or have not process thru at all.....but things don't seem to be as normal or manageable as before....perhaps the one who can't let it go is on my side....thus perhaps for once, I should go for enocounter weekend again......and let God do a new work.....something that is being 2 years....and it becomes consciously unconscious reflex actions and words...that I know I could have done something else but yet still does the same thing again and again....non-constructive non affirming.....poor tone...non-loving way.... task orientated and non relational.........just do it...but don't care about how it is done..... the source of hope...yet the source of despair and anguish...... so I only can let it be....learned to be helpless at situation...and feel divided on what I can do and what is to be done.
3. Moving on..... I serious thought I should move on with life.......no point still thinking about Miss Lin ....and what so whatever....re-align myself.....with a different set of purpose and goals..... or just engrossed myself with work work work work work work work,....ministry...minstry...ministry......no relationship...no BGR....don't think about mate.....just mission mission mission mission mission...God God God God God...Master master master.....No more 3M but only 2M....over the years ...especially these 2 years....I still feel that though it is a good motivation, it has it "extreme" non solid foundation basis.....God centre....God will provide....God has its plan.....God have others.....God will know.....well in simple....I am just tired....burden larden by life....and just wish to carry on with life...living day by day.....yet with the discontentment that I can do more....but yet can't...with self critical thought and self sabotaging actions.....how worse can it go......perhaps a quick solution is good.....but yet God just don't want to take me home....yet.....supppose He has a plan for me...which I am not aware...or I am too fearful to know....or to realise it....thus well....it goes back into a cycle...again and again.....running the hamster wheel.........running but having not work done....not displacement....got distance but no displacement....so get me out of the wheel....or get a wheel that moves.....God I know you are real....however I don't feel I am real anymore....for I don't feel a sense of existence.....or self...but only a task to do...to continue......and just do.......where actin speaks....but emotions are squesh.....where not how I feel matters, neither how I think matters...but what I do.....how sad it can be...but well this is the stage where I think I am.....I can see and relate to the change and I wish at times I would have taken a different choice......but well....choice is already made.....so just go through ....and go through hell out of it....
Thursday, October 06, 2011
The Gift of Mercy
The story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) is a parable about mercy. It tells the story of three men - a priest, a Levite, and a Samaritan - who find a man who has been attacked by robbers. The priest and Levite pass the man by, but the Samaritan has compassion on the man and brings him to an inn where he can be cared for.
The priest and Levite were not heartless; they did not help because they knew what it would cost them: if they tended to the man, then they would have become unclean according to the Law. The Samaritan, who, as someone from a people group that the Jews hated, represent the lowest of people, knew he would be unclean if he helped the man. Yet, he was full of compassion and showed the man mercy.
Mercy is no simply showing kindness to people, but is relieving the sufferings of people. Mercy is sheltering the homeless and visiting those in bondage. Mercy is reaching out to those who are hard to love. Mercy comes at a cost, but it is something that is important to Jesus.
Mark Driscoll writes, "Jesus taught on mercy (Matt. 5:7, 9:13, 23:23). He is repeatedly described as having compassion (Matt. 9:36; 15:32; 23:37; Luke 7:13) and was so filled with mercy that He sometimes wept (John 11:35). " It may sometimes be difficult to show mercy to the people around us, but as the body of Christ, we ought to reflect Jesus' heart of compassion to others.
Living Life
The priest and Levite were not heartless; they did not help because they knew what it would cost them: if they tended to the man, then they would have become unclean according to the Law. The Samaritan, who, as someone from a people group that the Jews hated, represent the lowest of people, knew he would be unclean if he helped the man. Yet, he was full of compassion and showed the man mercy.
Mercy is no simply showing kindness to people, but is relieving the sufferings of people. Mercy is sheltering the homeless and visiting those in bondage. Mercy is reaching out to those who are hard to love. Mercy comes at a cost, but it is something that is important to Jesus.
Mark Driscoll writes, "Jesus taught on mercy (Matt. 5:7, 9:13, 23:23). He is repeatedly described as having compassion (Matt. 9:36; 15:32; 23:37; Luke 7:13) and was so filled with mercy that He sometimes wept (John 11:35). " It may sometimes be difficult to show mercy to the people around us, but as the body of Christ, we ought to reflect Jesus' heart of compassion to others.
Living Life
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
God's Mercy Guides
God's desire for the Israelites was that they remain pure in all that they do and say. That is one of the reasons why He gave them laws and decrees to follow. The commands given in Leviticus 6:24-30 demonstrate God's desire for them to remain holy, and God gave the priests such explicit directions concerning His Law because of that desire for holiness. God guided the priest in every step of the sacrificial process-everything from where and how to kill the sacrifice to how to eat the allotted portions.
And God's desire for us has not changed over time; He desires holiness from His people even today. Thus, He gave us the Law through His prophet Moses, showed us how to live out the Law through His Son Jesus, and continues to guide us through the Holy Spirit. In all things, God guides us every step of the way. God's guidance in our lives is a blessing, not a curse. God never forces us to do anything, but in His mercy shows us the best possible path.
Thomas Watson writes, "God shows mercy in guiding and directing us. He guides our affairs for us; and chalks out the way He would have us to walk...HE guides our heads to keep us from error; and He guides our feet to keep us from scandal. Oh, what mercy it is-to have Gd to be our guide and pilot!" God is not a tyrant who simply demands submission to His laws; He is a God of great mercy and compassion, who desires to help us to be holy. Therefore, we ought not to feel oppressed by God's guiding commands, but rather comforted.
Living Life
And God's desire for us has not changed over time; He desires holiness from His people even today. Thus, He gave us the Law through His prophet Moses, showed us how to live out the Law through His Son Jesus, and continues to guide us through the Holy Spirit. In all things, God guides us every step of the way. God's guidance in our lives is a blessing, not a curse. God never forces us to do anything, but in His mercy shows us the best possible path.
Thomas Watson writes, "God shows mercy in guiding and directing us. He guides our affairs for us; and chalks out the way He would have us to walk...HE guides our heads to keep us from error; and He guides our feet to keep us from scandal. Oh, what mercy it is-to have Gd to be our guide and pilot!" God is not a tyrant who simply demands submission to His laws; He is a God of great mercy and compassion, who desires to help us to be holy. Therefore, we ought not to feel oppressed by God's guiding commands, but rather comforted.
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Mercy Presupposes Sin
We are sinners, and we sin. There is nothing we can do to stop it. There is no pace we can hide where sin will not find us. If we were alone on a deserted island for forty years, we would still sin. We probably sinned today, we will probably sin tomorrow, and sin will come and haunt us for the rest of our lives. Sin is not something that we can ever totally purge from our earthly selves.
God knows that we are going to sin, and He knows what we will struggle with for the rest of our lives. We must be careful not to immerse ourselves with for the rest of our lives. We must be careful not to immerse ourselves in religion to try to become perfect and thus fall into the trap of legalism. This only leads to cycles of spiritual pride and self-condemnation. Nor should we fall into thinking that it does not matter if we sin since there is nothing that we can do about it and God will forgive us. This path only leads towards spiritual blindness and a lukewarm spiritual life, which God detests.
A.W.Pink states, "[One] issue of God's goodness is His mercy, which denotes the ready inclination of God to relieve the misery of fallen creatures. Thus 'mercy' presupposes sin." Sin is something that we need to confront head on, but only through the mercy and strength of God. God's strength allows us to battle sin and emerge in victory. It is God's mercy that restores us and gives us our hope for the future.
Living Life
God knows that we are going to sin, and He knows what we will struggle with for the rest of our lives. We must be careful not to immerse ourselves with for the rest of our lives. We must be careful not to immerse ourselves in religion to try to become perfect and thus fall into the trap of legalism. This only leads to cycles of spiritual pride and self-condemnation. Nor should we fall into thinking that it does not matter if we sin since there is nothing that we can do about it and God will forgive us. This path only leads towards spiritual blindness and a lukewarm spiritual life, which God detests.
A.W.Pink states, "[One] issue of God's goodness is His mercy, which denotes the ready inclination of God to relieve the misery of fallen creatures. Thus 'mercy' presupposes sin." Sin is something that we need to confront head on, but only through the mercy and strength of God. God's strength allows us to battle sin and emerge in victory. It is God's mercy that restores us and gives us our hope for the future.
Living Life
This Little Light of Mine
There is an old song called "This Little Light of Mine." It is a children's song about always letting the light of Christ shine through us. But this is more than just a simple song. It is a profound truth that is rooted in God's Word. In Matthew 5:14, Jesus tells us: "You are the light of the world."
Jesus was not sharing a new teaching. He did not come to destroy the Law, but to fulfill it. God the Father told us what the laws are; God the Son explained them. The picture of an eternal light sinning forth for all men to see had already been symbolically represented in Leviticus 6:8-13. Thomas Watson writes, "In the temple the fire was not to go out by night. ['The fire must be kept burning on the altar continously'] (Lev. 6:13. There was, says Cyril, a mystery in it, to show that we must be ever burning in holy affections and desires."
While we are commended to shine brightly, it is important to remember that we are just lamps; God is the light. Lamps house sources of light, but they are not the sources themselves. In this same way, we can point people towards the gift of God's salvation and the grace He pours forth, but we ourselves are not that gift. Furthermore, it is only through God's mercy that we are enable to do this. Do not take God's forgiveness lightly. Through God's mercy we were forgiven, and this mercy now enables us to share His glory. Mercy is never required; it is always undeserved. We first had to experience mercy ourselves before we could go out and show the world.
Living Life
Jesus was not sharing a new teaching. He did not come to destroy the Law, but to fulfill it. God the Father told us what the laws are; God the Son explained them. The picture of an eternal light sinning forth for all men to see had already been symbolically represented in Leviticus 6:8-13. Thomas Watson writes, "In the temple the fire was not to go out by night. ['The fire must be kept burning on the altar continously'] (Lev. 6:13. There was, says Cyril, a mystery in it, to show that we must be ever burning in holy affections and desires."
While we are commended to shine brightly, it is important to remember that we are just lamps; God is the light. Lamps house sources of light, but they are not the sources themselves. In this same way, we can point people towards the gift of God's salvation and the grace He pours forth, but we ourselves are not that gift. Furthermore, it is only through God's mercy that we are enable to do this. Do not take God's forgiveness lightly. Through God's mercy we were forgiven, and this mercy now enables us to share His glory. Mercy is never required; it is always undeserved. We first had to experience mercy ourselves before we could go out and show the world.
Living Life
He Bears Our Iniquities
If you are pulled over for speeding, you will get a ticket. It does not matter whether you know what the speed limit is or not. You have broken the law, and ignorance is not an excuse; you must deal with the consequences of your actions. This holds true for our spiritual lives as well: If we sin, whether we know it or not, we held responsible for it.
God wants us to take responsibility for both what we know and do and say, and what don't (Lev. 5:1-4). While we are often aware of our sinful nature, we are not always aware of what exactly our sins are. But the Holy Spirit will convict us in due time, and once we are made aware of specific sins, we are required to do something about them.
In the Old Testament, the Israelites were always required to beat the penalty of their sin. William Plumer writes, "The expression bearing sin or bearing iniquity, occurs more than thirty times in Scripture, and in every instance it means to bear the sufferings or penalty of sin. Thus in Leviticus 5:1, God ordains that if a person does not speak up when he hears a public charge to testify regarding something he has seen or learned about, he will 'bear his iniquity.'"
Ultimately, God must judge all sin (whether known or unknown, whether sins of action or inaction). God is good, but He cannot simply turn a blind eye to all the evil we have done. Something must be done about our sin. So God the Father sent His Son to bear the burden - that is, punishment of our sins. That is what mercy is.
Living Life
God wants us to take responsibility for both what we know and do and say, and what don't (Lev. 5:1-4). While we are often aware of our sinful nature, we are not always aware of what exactly our sins are. But the Holy Spirit will convict us in due time, and once we are made aware of specific sins, we are required to do something about them.
In the Old Testament, the Israelites were always required to beat the penalty of their sin. William Plumer writes, "The expression bearing sin or bearing iniquity, occurs more than thirty times in Scripture, and in every instance it means to bear the sufferings or penalty of sin. Thus in Leviticus 5:1, God ordains that if a person does not speak up when he hears a public charge to testify regarding something he has seen or learned about, he will 'bear his iniquity.'"
Ultimately, God must judge all sin (whether known or unknown, whether sins of action or inaction). God is good, but He cannot simply turn a blind eye to all the evil we have done. Something must be done about our sin. So God the Father sent His Son to bear the burden - that is, punishment of our sins. That is what mercy is.
Living Life
Remember Your Place
Soaking up God's love feels good. Awesome times of prayers, worship, and fruitful Bible studies are incredibly rewarding and fulfilling. These are wonderful things to experience, but let us not forget from where we came: out from under the wrath of the Lord Almighty!
We all must accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and the one and only Lord. Until this happens, we remain under the wrath of God. The Bible instructs us to approach God with fear and trembling, but not because He is some mighty, all-powerful Being who enjoys smiting worthless, insignificant people like us.
John Piper says, "Fear and trembling are not because God is our enemy but because he saved us from his wrath through Christ, and now we stand on the brink of the Grand Canyon of his holiness and justice and grace and wrath with unspeakable wonder...overcome with worship at the depth of his majesty."
Many of us do not fully grasp the danger we were in. Some of us might have encountered the painful consequences of sin on this side of eternity, but anything we might have encountered pales in comparison to what awaits on the other side of death. Jesus Christ, knowing the imminent danger we were in, acted as a human shield and intercessor. He sacrificed Himself and saved us from God's wrath.
We are expected to be in love with our God and to personally know Him, but let us not downplay His glory, majesty, power, or wrath. God might be our friend, but let us not forget our place-we still need to show Him honor and respect.
Living Life
We all must accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and the one and only Lord. Until this happens, we remain under the wrath of God. The Bible instructs us to approach God with fear and trembling, but not because He is some mighty, all-powerful Being who enjoys smiting worthless, insignificant people like us.
John Piper says, "Fear and trembling are not because God is our enemy but because he saved us from his wrath through Christ, and now we stand on the brink of the Grand Canyon of his holiness and justice and grace and wrath with unspeakable wonder...overcome with worship at the depth of his majesty."
Many of us do not fully grasp the danger we were in. Some of us might have encountered the painful consequences of sin on this side of eternity, but anything we might have encountered pales in comparison to what awaits on the other side of death. Jesus Christ, knowing the imminent danger we were in, acted as a human shield and intercessor. He sacrificed Himself and saved us from God's wrath.
We are expected to be in love with our God and to personally know Him, but let us not downplay His glory, majesty, power, or wrath. God might be our friend, but let us not forget our place-we still need to show Him honor and respect.
Living Life
God's Wrath on Families
Why is it important to honor your father and mother? Some of us have come from very healthy families. But as divorce and abuse rates climb, this is becoming less common. More and more people are coming from broken homes. So why should you honor someone who has hurt you?
You cannot change your past, nor should you dwell on your past. But it has shaped who you are today. No one, absolutely no one, has been raised in a perfect, ideal home. Every family has problems and issue. Those that overcome these issues will do so through God's grace and love. If you cannot forgive those who hurt you, you cannot be healed.
A.W. Pink writes, "Failure to honor father and mother, wherever it is found, is in large measure due to parental departure from the Scriptural pattern." Yet this is not a reason for us to blame our parents; it should encourage us to examine ourselves and the families we raise. We must be good examples for the children around us. It is the parents' role to point children, even the rebellious ones, into a relationship with God.
So pray for the children in your lives, whether they are your own children, your nieces and nephews, or children you know through your work or ministry. And Remember that God has called us to be people who are submissive, not rebellious. Honor your father and mother, and be men and women of noble character. Avoid God's wrath for disobedience: raise a healthy family
Living Life
You cannot change your past, nor should you dwell on your past. But it has shaped who you are today. No one, absolutely no one, has been raised in a perfect, ideal home. Every family has problems and issue. Those that overcome these issues will do so through God's grace and love. If you cannot forgive those who hurt you, you cannot be healed.
A.W. Pink writes, "Failure to honor father and mother, wherever it is found, is in large measure due to parental departure from the Scriptural pattern." Yet this is not a reason for us to blame our parents; it should encourage us to examine ourselves and the families we raise. We must be good examples for the children around us. It is the parents' role to point children, even the rebellious ones, into a relationship with God.
So pray for the children in your lives, whether they are your own children, your nieces and nephews, or children you know through your work or ministry. And Remember that God has called us to be people who are submissive, not rebellious. Honor your father and mother, and be men and women of noble character. Avoid God's wrath for disobedience: raise a healthy family
Living Life
The Difficulties of God's Wrath
God's wrath, as well as how and when God pronounces judgment, is not for us to debate. Many people do not like the fact that God is pronouncing judgment. However, as W.J. Grier says, "Those who reject the wrath of God often plead that their rejection is in the interests of the love of God; but actually... Christ's propitiatory sacrifice to satisfy divine justice and propitiate God's wrath is the greatest exhibition of divine love. We read in Scripture: 'Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins' (1 John 4.10)."
God's wrath is an attribute that belongs to Him, and whether we like it or not, it is something that we need to learn to accept. Many people have tried to find their way around the wrath of God, sometimes even by turning to different religions.
These, however, simply ignore the reality in which we live. Understanding God's wrath is important. It is because of our sin that we are under wrath. It is because of God's wrath that we are condemned to die, but it is because of our condemnation that God fully expressed His love for us by granting us the gift of life through the bloodshed of His Son Jesus Christ.
As Romans 6:23 states, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." This verse condenses the message of the Bible: There are consequences for all our actions. Ultimately there are only two actions we can take: reject God, or accept Him. If you reject Him, you will die. If you accept Him, you will live. This is the hard, simple truth.
Living Life
God's wrath is an attribute that belongs to Him, and whether we like it or not, it is something that we need to learn to accept. Many people have tried to find their way around the wrath of God, sometimes even by turning to different religions.
These, however, simply ignore the reality in which we live. Understanding God's wrath is important. It is because of our sin that we are under wrath. It is because of God's wrath that we are condemned to die, but it is because of our condemnation that God fully expressed His love for us by granting us the gift of life through the bloodshed of His Son Jesus Christ.
As Romans 6:23 states, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." This verse condenses the message of the Bible: There are consequences for all our actions. Ultimately there are only two actions we can take: reject God, or accept Him. If you reject Him, you will die. If you accept Him, you will live. This is the hard, simple truth.
Living Life
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
God's Wrath against Lust
Lust is a huge problem in society. Although different societies deal with their lust issues in different ways, the problem itself is universal. Sex sells well, no matter what form it comes in, because of our addiction to lust.
This is not just an issue in the world at large but in the church as well. Sex is a trap that nation of Israel fell victim to time and again. King David is considered to have been a righteous man of God and one of the greatest kings of Israel. However, he committed adultery with Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11).; His son Solomon, though considered to be the wisest man to have ever lived, took many wives and concubines (seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines!) who led him astray (1 Kings 11:1-13). There are many more examples of how lust led the nation of Israel to fall away from God. Lust is huge problem, and it is not a sin to be taken lightly. It is a sin that we must flee from.
Thomas Watson writes, " Take heed of the sin of immorality. '[God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.]' (Heb. 13:4). Such as burn in immorality are in great danger to burn one day in hell! let one fire put out another; let the fire of God's wrath- put out the fire of lust!"
Lust is all about gratifying one's own desires. It is extremely selfish in no way glorifying to God. God loves us, but He hates our sins. Knowing this-and you are responsible for what you know-we should not continue to do the things God hates.
Living Life
This is not just an issue in the world at large but in the church as well. Sex is a trap that nation of Israel fell victim to time and again. King David is considered to have been a righteous man of God and one of the greatest kings of Israel. However, he committed adultery with Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11).; His son Solomon, though considered to be the wisest man to have ever lived, took many wives and concubines (seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines!) who led him astray (1 Kings 11:1-13). There are many more examples of how lust led the nation of Israel to fall away from God. Lust is huge problem, and it is not a sin to be taken lightly. It is a sin that we must flee from.
Thomas Watson writes, " Take heed of the sin of immorality. '[God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.]' (Heb. 13:4). Such as burn in immorality are in great danger to burn one day in hell! let one fire put out another; let the fire of God's wrath- put out the fire of lust!"
Lust is all about gratifying one's own desires. It is extremely selfish in no way glorifying to God. God loves us, but He hates our sins. Knowing this-and you are responsible for what you know-we should not continue to do the things God hates.
Living Life
God Really Hates Sin
The Bible bears witness to God's strength, wisdom, and love time and time again. But these are not the only attributes of God. He is glorious, beautiful and majestic God. He is the God of peace and He is our Good Shepherd. Yet there is one aspect of God many Christians often do not like to talk about: His wrath. We do serve a loving, God, but that does not mean God never gets angry with us, just because He loves us.
And God is very justified in His anger. Everyone, even Christians, consistently falls into the traps of sin. But not only does this world forget and ignore the commands of God, but this world, and all who are in it, treats God and sin very trivially. Sin is not trivial to God! John Gill says: "How greatly must the divine Being be incensed by it! In that, for it, he [Adam] has caused death, that is, his wrath to passing the judgment on him, and all his offspring; so that,in consequence of it, all the children of Adam are the children of God's wrath."
Because of sin, we deserve to go to hell, to eternal torment. It is not fair to say that God simply dislikes sin. When we dislike something, we avoid it. God does not try to avoid sin. Instead, He is so incensed about sin that He created an eternal place of permanent torture for it. God hates sin; though He loves us, He abhors the sin we commit. Ultimately, retribution must be made for our actions: either in the death of Jesus or in our own spiritual death in hell.
Living Life
And God is very justified in His anger. Everyone, even Christians, consistently falls into the traps of sin. But not only does this world forget and ignore the commands of God, but this world, and all who are in it, treats God and sin very trivially. Sin is not trivial to God! John Gill says: "How greatly must the divine Being be incensed by it! In that, for it, he [Adam] has caused death, that is, his wrath to passing the judgment on him, and all his offspring; so that,in consequence of it, all the children of Adam are the children of God's wrath."
Because of sin, we deserve to go to hell, to eternal torment. It is not fair to say that God simply dislikes sin. When we dislike something, we avoid it. God does not try to avoid sin. Instead, He is so incensed about sin that He created an eternal place of permanent torture for it. God hates sin; though He loves us, He abhors the sin we commit. Ultimately, retribution must be made for our actions: either in the death of Jesus or in our own spiritual death in hell.
Living Life
The Godless Are Destined for Wrath
What would you do if your family's house were on fire? What about if an enormous natural disaster were to strike or if loved ones were to be kidnapped, robbed or attacked? You would do something! No one would simply ignore the circumstances and try to live as though it were a normal day, thinking, "I'm glad that's not me. I'm glad I'm O.K!" Yet, this is exactly what we are doing in the spiritual realm.
Evangelism is not an option God gave us, rather it is a command. This does not explicitly mean holding up street signs about the impending end of the world. Nevertheless, our lives must be marked by evangelism in some way.
Many Christians seem to think that evangelism is a choice. If we feel "called" to do it, then we will "take that step of faith." The sad truth is that it is not something many of us want to do, and we see it as a burden. Our problem with evangelism lies in our misunderstanding of it. We become so mired in our own comfort that we lose sight of why evangelism is so important. Henry Law writes, "Think not, that hell is the mere phantom of brain-sick thought. It is no fable fondly framed to scare weak minds. It is dreadful reality! It is a gigantic certainty! It is the sure conclusion of a godless life!"
We should have many motivations for wanting to evangelize, such as seeing our friends and family in heaven and seeing them experience the grace, peace and love of God. Furthermore, remember that evangelism is simply telling what Christ has done. It is never our job to convince someone of who God is. That is the work of the Holy Spirit.
Living Life
Evangelism is not an option God gave us, rather it is a command. This does not explicitly mean holding up street signs about the impending end of the world. Nevertheless, our lives must be marked by evangelism in some way.
Many Christians seem to think that evangelism is a choice. If we feel "called" to do it, then we will "take that step of faith." The sad truth is that it is not something many of us want to do, and we see it as a burden. Our problem with evangelism lies in our misunderstanding of it. We become so mired in our own comfort that we lose sight of why evangelism is so important. Henry Law writes, "Think not, that hell is the mere phantom of brain-sick thought. It is no fable fondly framed to scare weak minds. It is dreadful reality! It is a gigantic certainty! It is the sure conclusion of a godless life!"
We should have many motivations for wanting to evangelize, such as seeing our friends and family in heaven and seeing them experience the grace, peace and love of God. Furthermore, remember that evangelism is simply telling what Christ has done. It is never our job to convince someone of who God is. That is the work of the Holy Spirit.
Living Life
Sunday, October 02, 2011
Refusing to Rest
There is great wisdom in learning to rest. In fact, one of the Ten Commandments is about resting on the Sabbath day (Deut. 5:12-15). This is not a command to simply go to church on Sundays. This is a command to make sure that your Sabbath day (and you must take one every week) is different from every other day. Of all the sins we commit, this one is certainly one we do not take seriously. Yet God views all sin in the same light.
Resting is not the same as being lazy. Rather, our weekly Sabbath is a time for us to remember and reflect on God and to take a step back from our busy lives. Regardless of how much work you accomplish today, you will always have more tomorrow. Psalm 46:10 declares, "He says, 'Be still, and know that I am God.'" It is in the stillness and silence that God asks us to dwell on Him.
God wants us to have active lives, but He also demands times of rest. J.C Ryle writes, "Let us pray for a right understanding of the law of the Sabbath. Of all the commandments that God has given, none is more essential to the happiness of man, and none is so frequently misrepresented, abused, and trampled under foot."
Rest is a gift from God, not a burden. God is not amused when we reject His gifts. Exodus 31:14 states, "Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it is to be put to death; those who do any work on that day must be cut off from their people." God takes the Sabbath seriously. His wrath remains on the who do not.
Living Life
Resting is not the same as being lazy. Rather, our weekly Sabbath is a time for us to remember and reflect on God and to take a step back from our busy lives. Regardless of how much work you accomplish today, you will always have more tomorrow. Psalm 46:10 declares, "He says, 'Be still, and know that I am God.'" It is in the stillness and silence that God asks us to dwell on Him.
God wants us to have active lives, but He also demands times of rest. J.C Ryle writes, "Let us pray for a right understanding of the law of the Sabbath. Of all the commandments that God has given, none is more essential to the happiness of man, and none is so frequently misrepresented, abused, and trampled under foot."
Rest is a gift from God, not a burden. God is not amused when we reject His gifts. Exodus 31:14 states, "Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it is to be put to death; those who do any work on that day must be cut off from their people." God takes the Sabbath seriously. His wrath remains on the who do not.
Living Life
Responding to Trials and Temptation
Do you know the Ten Commandments (Deut. 5:1-22)? In many ways, these ten laws describe how we should live our lives. They are very easy to understand, and they seem easy to follow. However, no one is perfect, and Christ has revealed that sin is not simply a matter of our physical actions. Sin is an issue of the heart as well as the thoughts and desires of our inner most being. Sin is evil, and therefore, those who sin are evil.
Everyone sins, and at various times, we will all be confronted here on earth with our sins. When you are confronted with the consequences of your sin, what do you do? When you fall into the hands of temptation, into the clutches of painful trials, or are pushed into uncomfortable corners, how will you respond?
In the end, the righteous and the wicked will act differently. Thomas Watson writes, "The afflictions of the godly are fruits of covenant mercy. Afflictions on the wicked are effects of God's wrath... Affliction on the godly is like bruising spices-which makes them give off a most sweet and fragrant aroma. Affliction on the wicked is like pounding weeds with a pestle-which makes them give off a foul stench."
Everyone is faced with difficulties in some shape or form, whether they are mental, physical, emotional or spiritual. Yet not everyone reacts the same way. When God presents us with trials of persecution or temptation, we can either act in pride and rebellion or in humility and submission.
God's wrath remains on the wicked and their pride and rebellion. Although no person is wholly holy or righteous, through Christ's righteousness we are made holy and righteous.
Living Life
Everyone sins, and at various times, we will all be confronted here on earth with our sins. When you are confronted with the consequences of your sin, what do you do? When you fall into the hands of temptation, into the clutches of painful trials, or are pushed into uncomfortable corners, how will you respond?
In the end, the righteous and the wicked will act differently. Thomas Watson writes, "The afflictions of the godly are fruits of covenant mercy. Afflictions on the wicked are effects of God's wrath... Affliction on the godly is like bruising spices-which makes them give off a most sweet and fragrant aroma. Affliction on the wicked is like pounding weeds with a pestle-which makes them give off a foul stench."
Everyone is faced with difficulties in some shape or form, whether they are mental, physical, emotional or spiritual. Yet not everyone reacts the same way. When God presents us with trials of persecution or temptation, we can either act in pride and rebellion or in humility and submission.
God's wrath remains on the wicked and their pride and rebellion. Although no person is wholly holy or righteous, through Christ's righteousness we are made holy and righteous.
Living Life
Miss (Interpreting) the Point
There are people who watch movies and enjoy them for what they are. There are others who watch movies but get distracted by bad acting, bad lines or silly production mistakes. These create a distraction from the rest of the movie and its underlying purpose: to all too often translates into religion as well. One bad experience with a Christian or one disagreement over how the Bible should be interpreted may make people walk away from the faith forever.
God's wrath is just one reason why some reject the Gospel. It does not fit well with their ideology of a loving God. Or perhaps, they find God to be too barbaric and evil. As terrible as it is, there people reject God because they do not understand Him. The primary message of the Bible is not about God's impending wrath upon the world; it is about His love story to us, not His letter of intent to kill.
Understanding how God's wrath fits into His great love for us important. Michael Horton writes, "That God's wrath required punishment underscores his justice, but the fact that he himself gave what was required in the place of our punishment underscores his merciful love. And in both cases it is God who gives up his Son to the cross and the Son who gives himself up in the Spirit." God's wrath is the product of His just nature. He must fulfill the requirements of the law. After all, God's wrath upon us is not unjustified.
Living Life
God's wrath is just one reason why some reject the Gospel. It does not fit well with their ideology of a loving God. Or perhaps, they find God to be too barbaric and evil. As terrible as it is, there people reject God because they do not understand Him. The primary message of the Bible is not about God's impending wrath upon the world; it is about His love story to us, not His letter of intent to kill.
Understanding how God's wrath fits into His great love for us important. Michael Horton writes, "That God's wrath required punishment underscores his justice, but the fact that he himself gave what was required in the place of our punishment underscores his merciful love. And in both cases it is God who gives up his Son to the cross and the Son who gives himself up in the Spirit." God's wrath is the product of His just nature. He must fulfill the requirements of the law. After all, God's wrath upon us is not unjustified.
Living Life
The Godly Were Destined for Wrath
When we die, our souls do not cease to exist, nor do they re-enter the cycle of life. Our souls go to either or hell. As Christians, we should have a ready understanding of this. Hell was designed to torment and punish the extremely powerful entities of Lucifer and his followers. Hell is not Satan's kingdom, it is his eternal prison. Those that reject God will end up ther. Unfortunately, "There is a Saviour, who delievers from this death. There is a friend, who bestows heavenly life. Jesus appears, and on the cross endures the death, and by His righteousness brings in new life."
God is righteous, and He must do something about unrighteousness. Since God is truly just, HE has to judge the world for its actions. But our God is not so far removed from us that He cannot sympathize with our hopeless plight. Because of God's Holy and Righteous Law, judgement must occur. Amazingly, our God poured out His own terrible judgement on Himself.
Jesus not only saved us from our destructive tendecies, but He also saved us from the eternal consequence of sin. Jesus took dreadful wrath upon Himself because of love. He took every drop of God sized anger and rage. Take some time to reflect on that.
Living Life
God is righteous, and He must do something about unrighteousness. Since God is truly just, HE has to judge the world for its actions. But our God is not so far removed from us that He cannot sympathize with our hopeless plight. Because of God's Holy and Righteous Law, judgement must occur. Amazingly, our God poured out His own terrible judgement on Himself.
Jesus not only saved us from our destructive tendecies, but He also saved us from the eternal consequence of sin. Jesus took dreadful wrath upon Himself because of love. He took every drop of God sized anger and rage. Take some time to reflect on that.
Living Life
God's Wrath against Murder
Murder is something that is recognised as being universally evil. James Smith states, "Murder is the greatest crime that we can commit against our fellow-men, and it is a crime that calls for punishment, both from God and man." While different people will argue over what is and is not murder (war, self-defense, execution, abortion, manslaughter,etc.), no one wants to be called murderer. Murderers are evil, and taking some one's life in cold blood is something that should never be done. This, of course, has not prevent murder from ever happening. wars break out and enemies kill each other. Many people have been killed in the name of hate, prejudice, intolerance, and inequality.
But murder is more than the physical act of killing someone. True murder, like every other sin, is a heart issue. While many of us have never actually killed someone, we have murdered people by the anger in our hearts. 1 John 3:15 pronounces, "Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him."
God calls us not to hate but to love. "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbour as yourself. I am the LORD" (Lev. 19:18). This includes those who have hurt and abused us. this includes everyone who has ever betrayed us or left us broken and bitter. Love is not easy, but it is absolutely necessary to surrender hate (even well-deserved hate) at the foot of the cross.
Living Life
But murder is more than the physical act of killing someone. True murder, like every other sin, is a heart issue. While many of us have never actually killed someone, we have murdered people by the anger in our hearts. 1 John 3:15 pronounces, "Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him."
God calls us not to hate but to love. "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbour as yourself. I am the LORD" (Lev. 19:18). This includes those who have hurt and abused us. this includes everyone who has ever betrayed us or left us broken and bitter. Love is not easy, but it is absolutely necessary to surrender hate (even well-deserved hate) at the foot of the cross.
Living Life
Wrath Delayed and Grace Revealed
God is good. Therefore He hates what is evil. But if this is the case, why does God not uproot evil here and now? Why would God allow evil to persist? This is one of the arguments against existence of God, but it is flawed in some of its assumptions. God expressly answers this question in the parable of the weeds found in Matthew 13:24-30, as well as in Revelation 22:11-12. God hates sin, but He has also given everyone the gift of free will, and He judges us on the basis of eternity, not momentary time on earth.
God has declared that no one is righteous, no even one. Psalm 143:2, Ecclesiastes 7:20 ad Romans 3:9-11 are just some examples of God declaring this to us. If God states that we are all evil, then by this logic God should uproot and destroy everyone right now. Yet God does not wish to see all His creation destroyed. God confronts His creation, and, as W.J.Grier states, "When men see God's righteousness and His wrath, it is then that they becomes earnest seekers after grace."
Could God stop all forms of evil here on earth? Of course! But this life is not about what magic tricks God can do. God does no exist to live our lives for us. Rather, our lives are about what He has already done for us and how we accept this message.
Living Life
God has declared that no one is righteous, no even one. Psalm 143:2, Ecclesiastes 7:20 ad Romans 3:9-11 are just some examples of God declaring this to us. If God states that we are all evil, then by this logic God should uproot and destroy everyone right now. Yet God does not wish to see all His creation destroyed. God confronts His creation, and, as W.J.Grier states, "When men see God's righteousness and His wrath, it is then that they becomes earnest seekers after grace."
Could God stop all forms of evil here on earth? Of course! But this life is not about what magic tricks God can do. God does no exist to live our lives for us. Rather, our lives are about what He has already done for us and how we accept this message.
Living Life
God's Wrath against Unbelieft
We already know that God's wrath remains on those who refuse to accept His Word. Since they have not accepted His grace, they must feel the weight of His wrath. But unbelief is a sin that many believers struggle with today.
We might believe in God, and we might have accepted His offer of salvation. But that does not mean we necessarily trust Him every step of the way. There are circumstances in which we are uncertain. There are situations that we call "impossible." For example, if our best friend were to diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, would God heal it? We know God can, but do we believe God will? This is an issue that divides Christians, and whether or not God will heal is not exactly the point. The point is our faith. Ruth Bryan writes, "It [Unbelief] is the sin which most suits with our sense of feeling;The coming sinner feels the workings of sin and wretchedness in his flesh, and the wrath and judgment of God due to sin, and often staggers under it."
Do not confuse unbelief with humility. God calls us to be humble before Him, but He also calls us to trust Him as well. Consider Israel, which was forced to roam around the desert for forty years before it could enter the promise land. Why? What grievous sin did they commit? They did not hold firm to God. They committed the sin of unbelief (Heb. 3:7-19).
We have no good reason to doubt God, and yet we continually find reasons to do so. We lose faith because we are still single or because we do not have children to call our own. Whatever the reason, do not doubt God's ability or timing in your discouragement.
Living Life
We might believe in God, and we might have accepted His offer of salvation. But that does not mean we necessarily trust Him every step of the way. There are circumstances in which we are uncertain. There are situations that we call "impossible." For example, if our best friend were to diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, would God heal it? We know God can, but do we believe God will? This is an issue that divides Christians, and whether or not God will heal is not exactly the point. The point is our faith. Ruth Bryan writes, "It [Unbelief] is the sin which most suits with our sense of feeling;The coming sinner feels the workings of sin and wretchedness in his flesh, and the wrath and judgment of God due to sin, and often staggers under it."
Do not confuse unbelief with humility. God calls us to be humble before Him, but He also calls us to trust Him as well. Consider Israel, which was forced to roam around the desert for forty years before it could enter the promise land. Why? What grievous sin did they commit? They did not hold firm to God. They committed the sin of unbelief (Heb. 3:7-19).
We have no good reason to doubt God, and yet we continually find reasons to do so. We lose faith because we are still single or because we do not have children to call our own. Whatever the reason, do not doubt God's ability or timing in your discouragement.
Living Life
God's Wrath on Good People
One distinct feature of Christianity that makes it so different from other religions is that it is not based on what you do. For most if not all other religions, what happens to you after you die is not necessarily based upon how fervent your faith is, but on how well you perfom. Your "good deeds" are weighed against your "bad deeds," and the better you are, the better your reward will be.
God makes it clear, however, that there is no such thing as "good enough." While this osunds like a nice theory on how to get into heaven, it simpy is not valid. There is only one way in: through Jesus Christ. Simply claiming to know Jesus is not sufficient either. You must have a real relationship with Jesus Christ, and that relationship will be made evident through your actions.
But to those who are expecting mercy and grace from God simply because you are a "good person" who goes to church on Sundays, Jams Smith writes, "You have no future to presume upon, no promise that God will meet you on the bed of death; you may be taken away with a stroke, in a moment, in the midst of your sins! The wicked are taken away in their wickedness; only the righteous have hope in their death. Do not presume on the mercy of God, for it is expressly said in his word, ' He hates all workers of iniquity.' And you are a worker of iniquity at present!"
Make sure you know where you stand with Christ. You either stand with Him or against Him. Have you given up your citizenship on earth for a citizenship in heaven? If so, you ought to live like it.
Living Life
God makes it clear, however, that there is no such thing as "good enough." While this osunds like a nice theory on how to get into heaven, it simpy is not valid. There is only one way in: through Jesus Christ. Simply claiming to know Jesus is not sufficient either. You must have a real relationship with Jesus Christ, and that relationship will be made evident through your actions.
But to those who are expecting mercy and grace from God simply because you are a "good person" who goes to church on Sundays, Jams Smith writes, "You have no future to presume upon, no promise that God will meet you on the bed of death; you may be taken away with a stroke, in a moment, in the midst of your sins! The wicked are taken away in their wickedness; only the righteous have hope in their death. Do not presume on the mercy of God, for it is expressly said in his word, ' He hates all workers of iniquity.' And you are a worker of iniquity at present!"
Make sure you know where you stand with Christ. You either stand with Him or against Him. Have you given up your citizenship on earth for a citizenship in heaven? If so, you ought to live like it.
Living Life
God's Wrath on Liars
IS it always better to tell the truth? There are times when lying seems to be an easier way out that avoids the most problems. There are times when telling the truth avoids the most problems. There are times when telling the truth will have very adverse and painful repercussions. Even so, we must tell the truth. As painful as the truth can be, lies are always worse.
God clearly shows us His thoughts and opinions about lies: He hates them. God is truth, and He expects His people to live in truth and love. When it comes to lies and liars, Thomas Brooks writes, "Dreadful are the threatenings that the great God has given out against liars: Psalm 5:6, 'You shall destory those who tell lies.' ... God, by one judgment or another, in one way or another, will cut off all flattering lying lips, as a rotten member is cut off from the body."
This does not mean that we must answer every question we are asked. We need to exercise wisdom and descernment. Wisdom is knowing what to say, and discernment is knowing when to say it. We are called to be people of integrity in all that we do and say. Do not answer rashly or sarcastically. But above all, "Do not lie. Do not deceive another" (Lev. 19:11b)
God clearly shows us His thoughts and opinions about lies: He hates them. God is truth, and He expects His people to live in truth and love. When it comes to lies and liars, Thomas Brooks writes, "Dreadful are the threatenings that the great God has given out against liars: Psalm 5:6, 'You shall destory those who tell lies.' ... God, by one judgment or another, in one way or another, will cut off all flattering lying lips, as a rotten member is cut off from the body."
This does not mean that we must answer every question we are asked. We need to exercise wisdom and descernment. Wisdom is knowing what to say, and discernment is knowing when to say it. We are called to be people of integrity in all that we do and say. Do not answer rashly or sarcastically. But above all, "Do not lie. Do not deceive another" (Lev. 19:11b)
God's Wrath against Idolatry
Idolatry is a very real sin that is prevalent today. It comes in many forms, from idolizing celebrities to idolizing actual idols of gods. God detest all forms of idolatry. William Plumer writes, "No doubt idolatry is exceedingly offensive to God...And it is true that the most terrible denunciations of Heaven's wrath, made in Scripture, or executed in providence, are against idolatry and kindred sins." God intensely desires to be glorified. When we set up idols, we give praise to things that cannot do anything for us and that certainly do not deserve glory. Everything found on earth has come into existence through the power of God. Every single thing on Earth has its origin in God. To take these things and worship the created instead of the Creator is nothing short of insulting.
Idols can do nothing. They are simply pieces of rock, wood or metal. They hold no more power than any other piece of rock, wood, or metal. These practices are still very common in Eastern cultures, but the West is just as guilty of idolatry. Western idolatry comes in the form of various addictions and hobbies. They idolize athletes, who are just as imperfect as they are. They glorify technology, and they devote their time to the Internet.
Whatever form idolatry comes in, God is greatly displease by it. Technology might be amazing, but we ought not to give glory to technology itself. We ought to give glory to God, the One who created it. Actors and musicians might be incredibly skilled, but we ought not to give praise and glory to these people alone. God is the One who gave them these skills, and He rightfully deserves the glory and praise.
Living Life
Idols can do nothing. They are simply pieces of rock, wood or metal. They hold no more power than any other piece of rock, wood, or metal. These practices are still very common in Eastern cultures, but the West is just as guilty of idolatry. Western idolatry comes in the form of various addictions and hobbies. They idolize athletes, who are just as imperfect as they are. They glorify technology, and they devote their time to the Internet.
Whatever form idolatry comes in, God is greatly displease by it. Technology might be amazing, but we ought not to give glory to technology itself. We ought to give glory to God, the One who created it. Actors and musicians might be incredibly skilled, but we ought not to give praise and glory to these people alone. God is the One who gave them these skills, and He rightfully deserves the glory and praise.
Living Life
Not a Drop of Injustice
What is justice, and how do you know when you encounter it? Many people think they know what justice is: it is about getting what is fair. This sounds simple enough, but "fair" is often based on our own perception and ability to empathize.
Exodus 21:23-24 states, "But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot," While this passage may be familiar to most people, the intent behind it is less so. God was not granting the right to revenge by taking an eye for any eye; instead, He was placing restriction on it. It is our human tendency to overreact and to take more than what was taken from us. When people harm us, we want to hurt them more. this is often why arguments escalate in the manner they do. Our perceptions of our circumstances cloud our judgment of what is really "fair" and "just".
God, however, is perfect. Therefore His judgments are always perfect. Thomas Watson writes, "God's wrath is just. The wicked shall drink a sea of wrath-but not one drop of injustice! God is justified in condemning sinners at the last day. They deserve wrath, and it is no injustice to give them that which they deserve." God is not vengeful. If anything, He often withholds from us what we deserve. But there will come a time when the full weight of God's wrath will be poured out on Earth and when God will no longer hold back. When that time comes, mankind will finally witness what it really deserves, and it will learn just how much God truly detest sin.
Living Life
Exodus 21:23-24 states, "But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot," While this passage may be familiar to most people, the intent behind it is less so. God was not granting the right to revenge by taking an eye for any eye; instead, He was placing restriction on it. It is our human tendency to overreact and to take more than what was taken from us. When people harm us, we want to hurt them more. this is often why arguments escalate in the manner they do. Our perceptions of our circumstances cloud our judgment of what is really "fair" and "just".
God, however, is perfect. Therefore His judgments are always perfect. Thomas Watson writes, "God's wrath is just. The wicked shall drink a sea of wrath-but not one drop of injustice! God is justified in condemning sinners at the last day. They deserve wrath, and it is no injustice to give them that which they deserve." God is not vengeful. If anything, He often withholds from us what we deserve. But there will come a time when the full weight of God's wrath will be poured out on Earth and when God will no longer hold back. When that time comes, mankind will finally witness what it really deserves, and it will learn just how much God truly detest sin.
Living Life
God's Wrath on Foolishness
Adam is unique among all men. He was the first men to ever be created. His father was God the Father, and he is the only man to have no mother. He walked with God in paradise, and for a time experience a world without sin. No one knows how long Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden. They could have live there one day or fifty years. Regardless of how long they lived there, Adam and eve are the only humans to have experience a world that was not under God's wrath. Imagine then, being kicked out of paradise.
James Smith writes, "He [Adam] could only expect the fulfillment of the sentence, 'You shall surely die!"... It[righteousness] was, like suitable clothing-his defense, his comfort, and his ornament. But it was gone! He had willfully cast it away-and he was naked. He felt defenseless, miserable, and degraded." Adam and Eve committed a simple, foolish sin. They ate something they were not supposed to. Even so, they were kicked out of the Garden of Eden and were fully subject to the wrath of God.
Adam and Eve are not the only ones who sin foolishly. Whether it is through ignorance or foolishness, we all inevitable do something we know we should not. Ignorance is not an acceptable defense before God. Neither is foolishness. God calls us to self-control so that we might always be clear-minded and alert. Do not make foolish or rash decisions. God gave you a mind to use, not abuse.
Living Life
James Smith writes, "He [Adam] could only expect the fulfillment of the sentence, 'You shall surely die!"... It[righteousness] was, like suitable clothing-his defense, his comfort, and his ornament. But it was gone! He had willfully cast it away-and he was naked. He felt defenseless, miserable, and degraded." Adam and Eve committed a simple, foolish sin. They ate something they were not supposed to. Even so, they were kicked out of the Garden of Eden and were fully subject to the wrath of God.
Adam and Eve are not the only ones who sin foolishly. Whether it is through ignorance or foolishness, we all inevitable do something we know we should not. Ignorance is not an acceptable defense before God. Neither is foolishness. God calls us to self-control so that we might always be clear-minded and alert. Do not make foolish or rash decisions. God gave you a mind to use, not abuse.
Living Life
Saturday, October 01, 2011
Eternal Wrath
In life, there are some choices and decisions which cannot be taken back. However, we can always learn from our mistakes, and through wisdom, and guidance, we can even grow as people.
In this sense, there are very few acts and decisions in life which will permanently determine the rest of our fate. If you commit rape and murder, you will probably go to jail, but it does not mean that you cannot meet Christ later in life. Even if we commit the most heinous crime, we can ultimately be forgiven by God.
However, this is not the case after death. We have one life to live, and then we are done. We will submit to God the whole of our lives, and God will judge us based on that. Once God pronounces His divine judgment, whether for good or bad, that decision is permanent. Moreover, God's judgments are eternal. J.C Ryle states, "The state of things after the judgment-is changeless and without end. This misery of the lost, and the blessedness of the save-are both alike forever... As surely as God is eternal-so surely is heaven an endless day without night, and hell an endless night without day!"
Most of us have around seventy years to figure out how we want to spend the rest of eternity. Comparatively, this is not a lot of time. So make the most of it, and above all, live a life that is pleasing to God. Once God makes His judgment, He will not change His mind.
Living Life
In this sense, there are very few acts and decisions in life which will permanently determine the rest of our fate. If you commit rape and murder, you will probably go to jail, but it does not mean that you cannot meet Christ later in life. Even if we commit the most heinous crime, we can ultimately be forgiven by God.
However, this is not the case after death. We have one life to live, and then we are done. We will submit to God the whole of our lives, and God will judge us based on that. Once God pronounces His divine judgment, whether for good or bad, that decision is permanent. Moreover, God's judgments are eternal. J.C Ryle states, "The state of things after the judgment-is changeless and without end. This misery of the lost, and the blessedness of the save-are both alike forever... As surely as God is eternal-so surely is heaven an endless day without night, and hell an endless night without day!"
Most of us have around seventy years to figure out how we want to spend the rest of eternity. Comparatively, this is not a lot of time. So make the most of it, and above all, live a life that is pleasing to God. Once God makes His judgment, He will not change His mind.
Living Life
Thursday, September 29, 2011
5 Perfectly Good Reasons You Might Be Single
5 Perfectly Good Reasons You Might Be Single
by Scott Alden on May 26, 2011
For us single folks, it can get a little tiresome having our relationship status constantly framed as a problem. Sure, some may have issues that they’re unaware of that are keeping them out of the relationship they want, but, on the other hand many of us are just fine where we are.
Related: 15 Perks To Being Single and Dating
I recently spoke with writer, experienced dater and all-around-bad-ass Rachel Khona about the misconceptions that many people have about the unattached masses.
“Single women are often portrayed as marriage/baby hungry predators who are just looking to sink their claws into a man. Single men are often seen as non-committal and only out for some poon. The reality is there are men and women on both sides of the spectrum and in-between,” Khona says. “These days more women are interested in having a good time and I actually find a lot of men who do want commitment. I think people have a few bad experiences and they start to stereotype the opposite sex, but that’s just kookoo for cocoa puffs.”
Indeed.
Related: 7 Conversations You Have To Have Before You Commit
These misconceptions often affect the way that singles view themselves, too. They come to believe that their relationship status reflects poorly on them: They must be too desperate, too immature, or just too screwed up for relationships.
Take heart. You might be single for perfectly good reasons. Here are 5:
1. You’re not just looking for any relationship. You’re looking for the right one.
There are those people who get married right out of college and are 100 percent sure of that choice and live happily ever after. The rest of us might need to figure out what we’re really looking for before taking that next step. What you actually want may be very different from what you imagine, and it helps to know what’s really out there. According to Khona, casual dating is an excellent way to learn about your needs, desires and deal-breakers:
"You might think you’re OK dating a starving artist until you realize you’re tired of hanging out with someone who’s broke. Or you may start dating someone who’s really amazing personality-wise, but sucks in bed -- and realize that bad bedroom skills is a deal-breaker. Or you may realize you no longer want to date a guy who doesn’t share the same political views as you. Dating is a learning experience. You trip, you fall, you make mistakes, and you learn from them. Once you learn a lesson, your point of view shifts, and you start attracting different people."
Related: Your Friends Know Why Your Single. Do You?
2. You’re totally traumatized by your last relationship
In which case, OWN that. It’s really important that you don’t jump into anything you’re not ready for before you’ve put in some real time processing that loss. If you can keep one foot in the dating game, have some fun and build up your confidence? Power to you.
3. You’re enjoying dating multiple people
Absolutely nothing wrong with that. It’s better to be upfront about it, but if that’s what’s working for you and no one else has a problem with it, why not?
Related: 6 Perfectly Good Reasons To Date Multiple People
4. You’re busy
Relationships are time consuming and you’ve got stuff to do. Maybe you’re focusing on your career, or your art, or school, or you’re a detective who’s this close to cracking that big case. Sure, it’s worth it for the right relationship, but if you’re someone who has a hard time balancing your work life, your love life and your social life (which is pretty much everyone, right?) then casual dating might just work better for you until you’re on more solid ground career-wise. Just be aware that if a relationship is something you want in your life, at some point you’ll have to put some energy into that.
Related: Don't Look For The Right Person, Become The Right Person
5. You have things to learn from being single
Often, you’ll hear single folk say that they’re “taking a break from relationships to work on themselves.” It’s become something of a cliche, but there is a lot of truth to it. I asked Khona for her take on what can be learned from being single that can’t be learned from a relationship:
“How to be independent. How to take care of yourself. It’s nice because you know that when you meet someone, it’s because you want to be with them and not because you need to be with them. Personally, I feel like I can be my own person rather than swaying to the will of a guy. Kind of like an oak tree, instead of a palm tree.”
Agreed. If you’re using your single time to get solid in yourself, you’re just going to be that much more solid in a relationship when the time is right.
Whether it's a means to an end, a phase, or a lifestyle choice, being single should never be a source of shame. Dating can be enjoyed for what it is, whether you're actively seeking a relationship, or not.
Rachel Khona is a writer, performer and real-deal dating expert living in Brooklyn. She is currently working on her memoir about growing up wild-at-heart in a conservative Indian family, Tales of a Dot Head. You can keep up with her on Twitter Facebook
Quoted: http://www.howaboutwe.com/date-report/1280-5-perfectly-good-reasons-you-might-be-single
by Scott Alden on May 26, 2011
For us single folks, it can get a little tiresome having our relationship status constantly framed as a problem. Sure, some may have issues that they’re unaware of that are keeping them out of the relationship they want, but, on the other hand many of us are just fine where we are.
Related: 15 Perks To Being Single and Dating
I recently spoke with writer, experienced dater and all-around-bad-ass Rachel Khona about the misconceptions that many people have about the unattached masses.
“Single women are often portrayed as marriage/baby hungry predators who are just looking to sink their claws into a man. Single men are often seen as non-committal and only out for some poon. The reality is there are men and women on both sides of the spectrum and in-between,” Khona says. “These days more women are interested in having a good time and I actually find a lot of men who do want commitment. I think people have a few bad experiences and they start to stereotype the opposite sex, but that’s just kookoo for cocoa puffs.”
Indeed.
Related: 7 Conversations You Have To Have Before You Commit
These misconceptions often affect the way that singles view themselves, too. They come to believe that their relationship status reflects poorly on them: They must be too desperate, too immature, or just too screwed up for relationships.
Take heart. You might be single for perfectly good reasons. Here are 5:
1. You’re not just looking for any relationship. You’re looking for the right one.
There are those people who get married right out of college and are 100 percent sure of that choice and live happily ever after. The rest of us might need to figure out what we’re really looking for before taking that next step. What you actually want may be very different from what you imagine, and it helps to know what’s really out there. According to Khona, casual dating is an excellent way to learn about your needs, desires and deal-breakers:
"You might think you’re OK dating a starving artist until you realize you’re tired of hanging out with someone who’s broke. Or you may start dating someone who’s really amazing personality-wise, but sucks in bed -- and realize that bad bedroom skills is a deal-breaker. Or you may realize you no longer want to date a guy who doesn’t share the same political views as you. Dating is a learning experience. You trip, you fall, you make mistakes, and you learn from them. Once you learn a lesson, your point of view shifts, and you start attracting different people."
Related: Your Friends Know Why Your Single. Do You?
2. You’re totally traumatized by your last relationship
In which case, OWN that. It’s really important that you don’t jump into anything you’re not ready for before you’ve put in some real time processing that loss. If you can keep one foot in the dating game, have some fun and build up your confidence? Power to you.
3. You’re enjoying dating multiple people
Absolutely nothing wrong with that. It’s better to be upfront about it, but if that’s what’s working for you and no one else has a problem with it, why not?
Related: 6 Perfectly Good Reasons To Date Multiple People
4. You’re busy
Relationships are time consuming and you’ve got stuff to do. Maybe you’re focusing on your career, or your art, or school, or you’re a detective who’s this close to cracking that big case. Sure, it’s worth it for the right relationship, but if you’re someone who has a hard time balancing your work life, your love life and your social life (which is pretty much everyone, right?) then casual dating might just work better for you until you’re on more solid ground career-wise. Just be aware that if a relationship is something you want in your life, at some point you’ll have to put some energy into that.
Related: Don't Look For The Right Person, Become The Right Person
5. You have things to learn from being single
Often, you’ll hear single folk say that they’re “taking a break from relationships to work on themselves.” It’s become something of a cliche, but there is a lot of truth to it. I asked Khona for her take on what can be learned from being single that can’t be learned from a relationship:
“How to be independent. How to take care of yourself. It’s nice because you know that when you meet someone, it’s because you want to be with them and not because you need to be with them. Personally, I feel like I can be my own person rather than swaying to the will of a guy. Kind of like an oak tree, instead of a palm tree.”
Agreed. If you’re using your single time to get solid in yourself, you’re just going to be that much more solid in a relationship when the time is right.
Whether it's a means to an end, a phase, or a lifestyle choice, being single should never be a source of shame. Dating can be enjoyed for what it is, whether you're actively seeking a relationship, or not.
Rachel Khona is a writer, performer and real-deal dating expert living in Brooklyn. She is currently working on her memoir about growing up wild-at-heart in a conservative Indian family, Tales of a Dot Head. You can keep up with her on Twitter Facebook
Quoted: http://www.howaboutwe.com/date-report/1280-5-perfectly-good-reasons-you-might-be-single
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