True Giving
As Jesus looked up, he saw some rich people putting their gifts into the Temple money box. Then he saw a poor widow putting two small copper coins into the box. He said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow gave more than all those rich people. They gave only what they did not need. This woman is very poor, but she gave all she had to live on." ~Luke 21:1-4~
This passage is really important. It's about a poor widow lady who knows how to give to God. She might have not given as much as the rich people, but the heart that she gave with the money she did was so much bigger and worth much more than the hearts that the rich people gave. It's really not about the amount of money that we give, but the heart that we give. We need to give wholeheartedly. God gave us everything He has, even His one and only Son. No matter how much we give, if we don't give Him all our hearts, we're not giving Him anything. Honestly, everything we have/own is not really ours. It's just in our possession as the moment, but it's all God's, so we can't give something that's not ours...especially back to its rightful owner. That is why the heart counts. If we're giving with a heart that says...oh...that's enough, the rest I need to buy those shoes...that's the wrong attitude.
That doesn't mean that we need to give God everything that we have. It just means that although we're tithing only 10%, or only giving a dollar during offering...it's the heart that counts, not the amount. So ask God for a giving heart, so that we can acknowledge Him as more precious than silver or gold...as most worthy of all our praise. We should say to ourselves, "I will not offer to the Lord that which costs me nothing!"
2009-01-29
2009-01-28
January 28, 2009 Luke 12:35-40
Always Be Ready
"Be dressed, ready for service, and have your lamps shining. Be like servants who are waiting for their master to come home from a wedding party. When he comes and knocks, the servants immediately open the door for him. They will be blessed when their master comes home, because he sees that they were watching for him. I tell you the thruth, the master will dress himself to serve and tell the servants to sit at the table, and he will serve them. Those servants will be blessed when he comes in and finds them still waiting, even if it is midnight or later. Remember this: If the owner of the house knew what time a thief was coming, he would not allow the thief to enter his house. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at a time when you don't expect him!" ~Luke 12:35-40~
This passage is about always being prepared. It's a scary thought, but we will never know when the Son of Man will return. The day that Jesus Christ returns is the day that we all should be awaiting. Before that day, we should show that we are ready. That when Jesus Christ does return, we are ready to be taken up to Heaven.
Just like my previous post, it says, "have your lamps shining." Those are the kinds of things we need to be doing at the moment. Before the return of Christ, that is our will on Earth. To be more like Jesus Christ, to share the gospel, to be the salt and the light of this world. By doing those things, we will be showing God that we are ready.
"Be dressed, ready for service, and have your lamps shining. Be like servants who are waiting for their master to come home from a wedding party. When he comes and knocks, the servants immediately open the door for him. They will be blessed when their master comes home, because he sees that they were watching for him. I tell you the thruth, the master will dress himself to serve and tell the servants to sit at the table, and he will serve them. Those servants will be blessed when he comes in and finds them still waiting, even if it is midnight or later. Remember this: If the owner of the house knew what time a thief was coming, he would not allow the thief to enter his house. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at a time when you don't expect him!" ~Luke 12:35-40~
This passage is about always being prepared. It's a scary thought, but we will never know when the Son of Man will return. The day that Jesus Christ returns is the day that we all should be awaiting. Before that day, we should show that we are ready. That when Jesus Christ does return, we are ready to be taken up to Heaven.
Just like my previous post, it says, "have your lamps shining." Those are the kinds of things we need to be doing at the moment. Before the return of Christ, that is our will on Earth. To be more like Jesus Christ, to share the gospel, to be the salt and the light of this world. By doing those things, we will be showing God that we are ready.
2009-01-27
January 27, 2009 Luke 11:33-36
Be a Light for the World ~Luke 11:33-36~
"No one lights a lamp and puts it in a secret place or under a bowl, but on a lampstand so the people who come in can see. Your eye is a light for the body. When your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But when your eyes are evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. So be careful not to let the light in you become darkness. If your whole body is full of light, and none of it is dark, then you will shine bright, as when a lamp shines on you."
This passage is about being the light in the darkness. There is so much evil in this world that it's so dark. We, christians, need to be the example, we need to shine bright in the darkness. It's a really simple passage, straight forward, and short. In order to be the light, we need to get rid of the darkness within our hearts. The evil in our minds, the lust, the temptations, the sin, selfishness, the foolishness, money, and etc. All these things make our lights dull, so in order to shine brighter, we need to ask God to help us get rid of these things so that we may shine brighter in this world. By this, we can show the world who we are...believers!
"No one lights a lamp and puts it in a secret place or under a bowl, but on a lampstand so the people who come in can see. Your eye is a light for the body. When your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But when your eyes are evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. So be careful not to let the light in you become darkness. If your whole body is full of light, and none of it is dark, then you will shine bright, as when a lamp shines on you."
This passage is about being the light in the darkness. There is so much evil in this world that it's so dark. We, christians, need to be the example, we need to shine bright in the darkness. It's a really simple passage, straight forward, and short. In order to be the light, we need to get rid of the darkness within our hearts. The evil in our minds, the lust, the temptations, the sin, selfishness, the foolishness, money, and etc. All these things make our lights dull, so in order to shine brighter, we need to ask God to help us get rid of these things so that we may shine brighter in this world. By this, we can show the world who we are...believers!
January 26, 2009 Luke 11:5-13
So...I tried to post this yesterday and my blog wouldn't post...T.T
That is why I am posting it right now!
Continue to Ask
Then Jesus said to them, "Suppose one of you went to your friend's house at midnight and said to him, 'Friend, loan me three loaves of bread. A friend of mine has come into town to visit me, but I have nothign for him to eat.' Your friend inside the house answers, 'Don't bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything.' I tell you, if friendship is not enought to make him get up to give you the bread, your boldness will make him get up and give you whatever you need. So I tell you, ask, and God will give to you. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will open for you. Yes, everyone who asks will receive. The one who searches will find. And everyone who knocks will have the door opened. If your children ask for a fish, which of you would give them a snake instead? Or, if your children ask for an egg, would you give them a scorpion? Even though you are bad, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more your heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" ~Luke 11:5-13~
This passage is about asking and receiving. The more we ask, the more likely we are to receive. By asking only once, we are showing our lack of devotion, boldness, desire, passions, and etc.
The previous passage discusses Jesus teaching about prayer. Prayer is important...it's hard, but it's worth it! We need to learn to pray continually, just like it says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17. No matter what, we need to ask God, even though He is already aware of what we need, we need to personally ask Him through prayer. Better yet, we need to continually do it. That shows Him our eagerness, our passion, for whatever we need. Scripture says, we need to ask, search, and knock. If we do, we will receive, find, and the door will be opened.
That is why I am posting it right now!
Continue to Ask
Then Jesus said to them, "Suppose one of you went to your friend's house at midnight and said to him, 'Friend, loan me three loaves of bread. A friend of mine has come into town to visit me, but I have nothign for him to eat.' Your friend inside the house answers, 'Don't bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything.' I tell you, if friendship is not enought to make him get up to give you the bread, your boldness will make him get up and give you whatever you need. So I tell you, ask, and God will give to you. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will open for you. Yes, everyone who asks will receive. The one who searches will find. And everyone who knocks will have the door opened. If your children ask for a fish, which of you would give them a snake instead? Or, if your children ask for an egg, would you give them a scorpion? Even though you are bad, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more your heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" ~Luke 11:5-13~
This passage is about asking and receiving. The more we ask, the more likely we are to receive. By asking only once, we are showing our lack of devotion, boldness, desire, passions, and etc.
The previous passage discusses Jesus teaching about prayer. Prayer is important...it's hard, but it's worth it! We need to learn to pray continually, just like it says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17. No matter what, we need to ask God, even though He is already aware of what we need, we need to personally ask Him through prayer. Better yet, we need to continually do it. That shows Him our eagerness, our passion, for whatever we need. Scripture says, we need to ask, search, and knock. If we do, we will receive, find, and the door will be opened.
2009-01-25
January 25, 2009 1 John 2:1-6
Jesus Is Our Helper ~1 John 2:1-6~
"My dear children, I write this letter to you so you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have a helper in the presence of the Father--Jesus Christ, the One who does what is right. He died in our place to take away our sins, and not only our sins but the sins of all our people. We can be sure that we know God if we obey his commands. Anyone who says, 'I know God,' but does not obey God's commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if someone obeys God's teaching, then in that person God's love has truly reached it's goal. This is how we can be sure we are living in God: Whoever says that he lives in God must live as Jesus lived."
This is a short passage about Jesus Christ, our saviour. Just like Joe had mentioned in service today, and as it says in scripture, Jesus Christ is the only way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father, except through Him.
We all sin, but as believers, as followers, we shouldn't be sinning as much as we do. That's saying that we believe in God, but not showing that we do. That's making God lose His credentials since we are His people. We pray, teach me to be more like You, teach me to be more like Your son, Jesus Christ. Whenever we pray this, we should be praying this with a sincere heart, willing to become more like Jesus. Jesus was the only sinless man on Earth. He was perfect, and He had to die on the cross to cleanse us of our sins. It's only hypocritical to ask that we be more like Him, yet sin constantly.
We should look upon Jesus and truly desire to be more like Him. He is our example...scripture says, we're supposed to be the worldy form of Christ. That is our goal, to be a leader like Him, to be sinless like Him (although that's impossible), to share the gospel like Him, to have faith like Him, to have love like Him, and etc. He is the helper, the one who models who we need to become.
"My dear children, I write this letter to you so you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have a helper in the presence of the Father--Jesus Christ, the One who does what is right. He died in our place to take away our sins, and not only our sins but the sins of all our people. We can be sure that we know God if we obey his commands. Anyone who says, 'I know God,' but does not obey God's commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if someone obeys God's teaching, then in that person God's love has truly reached it's goal. This is how we can be sure we are living in God: Whoever says that he lives in God must live as Jesus lived."
This is a short passage about Jesus Christ, our saviour. Just like Joe had mentioned in service today, and as it says in scripture, Jesus Christ is the only way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father, except through Him.
We all sin, but as believers, as followers, we shouldn't be sinning as much as we do. That's saying that we believe in God, but not showing that we do. That's making God lose His credentials since we are His people. We pray, teach me to be more like You, teach me to be more like Your son, Jesus Christ. Whenever we pray this, we should be praying this with a sincere heart, willing to become more like Jesus. Jesus was the only sinless man on Earth. He was perfect, and He had to die on the cross to cleanse us of our sins. It's only hypocritical to ask that we be more like Him, yet sin constantly.
We should look upon Jesus and truly desire to be more like Him. He is our example...scripture says, we're supposed to be the worldy form of Christ. That is our goal, to be a leader like Him, to be sinless like Him (although that's impossible), to share the gospel like Him, to have faith like Him, to have love like Him, and etc. He is the helper, the one who models who we need to become.
2009-01-24
January 24, 2009 Romans 11:33-36
Praise to God
"Yes, God's riches are very great, and his wisdom and knowledge have no end! No one can explain the things God decides or understand his ways. As the Scripture says, 'Who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been able to give him advice?' 'No one has ever given God anything that he must pay back.' Yes, God made all things, and everything continues through him and for him. To him be the glory forever! Amen. ~Romans 11:33-36~
This is a short and sweet passage that really says it all!!! "To Him be the glory forever!" Everything we have...we own...is not really ours. It's all God's, and He is just lending it to us for the moment, so that we can be occupied before we enter His Kingdom.
So...we've been struggling with a place for the retreat recently...but luckily, we are having it at church. Although we might see it as negative, because we're not retreating to another place, we should use this opportunity to better our situation. We should be thankful that we have a place to hold the retreat...scripture says, "No one can explain the things God decides or understand his ways," just like that, we don't know why we ended up having to hold the retreat at church, but God may have a plan. We just need to make the best of it! I was thinking about it today...although we're pretty close to campus, so it's easier for people to leave and come back and stuff, because we're all sleeping in the same place, in one big room (guys at church, and girls at Joe's) we are able to have more fellowship and really experience the family environment. I believe this will be a great experience...especially for the guys cuz they need to be real troopers, sleeping in the freezing church building. ^^
Anyways, we really do need to praise God and acknowledge Him for who He is, most worthy of all our praise! He has given us everything we have, even our lives, and on top of that, He has given us salvation through His one and only son, Jesus Christ. No matter how much we give back to God, we can never thank Him enough and we can never take credit for what we do, because He deserves so much more. So, 'Praise to God!' "To Him be the glory forever, amen!"
"Yes, God's riches are very great, and his wisdom and knowledge have no end! No one can explain the things God decides or understand his ways. As the Scripture says, 'Who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been able to give him advice?' 'No one has ever given God anything that he must pay back.' Yes, God made all things, and everything continues through him and for him. To him be the glory forever! Amen. ~Romans 11:33-36~
This is a short and sweet passage that really says it all!!! "To Him be the glory forever!" Everything we have...we own...is not really ours. It's all God's, and He is just lending it to us for the moment, so that we can be occupied before we enter His Kingdom.
So...we've been struggling with a place for the retreat recently...but luckily, we are having it at church. Although we might see it as negative, because we're not retreating to another place, we should use this opportunity to better our situation. We should be thankful that we have a place to hold the retreat...scripture says, "No one can explain the things God decides or understand his ways," just like that, we don't know why we ended up having to hold the retreat at church, but God may have a plan. We just need to make the best of it! I was thinking about it today...although we're pretty close to campus, so it's easier for people to leave and come back and stuff, because we're all sleeping in the same place, in one big room (guys at church, and girls at Joe's) we are able to have more fellowship and really experience the family environment. I believe this will be a great experience...especially for the guys cuz they need to be real troopers, sleeping in the freezing church building. ^^
Anyways, we really do need to praise God and acknowledge Him for who He is, most worthy of all our praise! He has given us everything we have, even our lives, and on top of that, He has given us salvation through His one and only son, Jesus Christ. No matter how much we give back to God, we can never thank Him enough and we can never take credit for what we do, because He deserves so much more. So, 'Praise to God!' "To Him be the glory forever, amen!"
2009-01-22
January 22, 2009 1 Corinthians 12:12-31
The Body of Christ Works Together
This passage is about the body. The parts that make a whole: ear, eyes, nose, hands, feet, and etc. If the body was only eyes, we wouldn't be able to hear, if only hears, we wouldn't be able to see. The different parts work together to make one body. Just like that, each part of the church works together to make a whole church!
The beginning of this chapter discusses the different gifts of the holy spirit. With these gifts, we need to come together as a church and that will make a difference. Each individual person has his/her own unique talent that God has given to him/her. Whether it may be to speak in front of a congregation, to play music in the praise band, to greet people, to clean, to count offering money, to lead people spiritually, to perform miracles, to pray for the church, and etc. There are so many different parts, and these parts have to come together to make a whole. We can't have a church with just a praise band, nor can we have a church with just a pastor. Each and every part needs to come together and work together, serving each other, in order to make a church~~UNITY! Every person within the church matters, even if not given a specific position in the church. Everyone should be a servant within the church because "we were all baptized into one body through one Spirit. And we were all made to share in the one Spirit."
This passage is about the body. The parts that make a whole: ear, eyes, nose, hands, feet, and etc. If the body was only eyes, we wouldn't be able to hear, if only hears, we wouldn't be able to see. The different parts work together to make one body. Just like that, each part of the church works together to make a whole church!
The beginning of this chapter discusses the different gifts of the holy spirit. With these gifts, we need to come together as a church and that will make a difference. Each individual person has his/her own unique talent that God has given to him/her. Whether it may be to speak in front of a congregation, to play music in the praise band, to greet people, to clean, to count offering money, to lead people spiritually, to perform miracles, to pray for the church, and etc. There are so many different parts, and these parts have to come together to make a whole. We can't have a church with just a praise band, nor can we have a church with just a pastor. Each and every part needs to come together and work together, serving each other, in order to make a church~~UNITY! Every person within the church matters, even if not given a specific position in the church. Everyone should be a servant within the church because "we were all baptized into one body through one Spirit. And we were all made to share in the one Spirit."
2009-01-21
January 21, 2009 1 Corinthians 6:1-11
Judging Problems Among Christians
"When you have something against another Christian, how can you bring yourself to go before judges who are not right with God? Why do you not let God's people decide who is right? Surely you know that God's people will judge the world. So if you are to judge the world, are you not able to judge small cases as well? You know that in the future we will judge angels, so surely we can judge the ordinary things of this life. If you have ordinary cases that must be judged, are you going to appoint people as judges who mean nothing to the church? I say this to shame you. Surely there is someone among you wise enough to judge a complaint between believers. But now one believer goes to court against another believer--and you do this in front of believers. Surely you know that the people who do wrong will not inherit God's kingdom. Do not be fooled. Those who sin sexually, worship idols, take part in adultery, those who are male prostitutes, or men who have sexual relations with other men, those who steal, are greedy, get drunk, lie about others, or rob--these people will not inherit God's kingdom. In the past, some of you were like that, but you were washed clean. you were made holy, and you were made right with God in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Spirit of our God. 1Corinthians 6:1-11
This passage is mainly about being a hypocrite!!! I admit, I have a problem with judging...or maybe a lot of is criticizing...I critique like everything...people, places, food, things...etc. I believe everyone has problems with judging...especially among Christians. What we don't realize is that we are such big hypocrites. We judge someone for doing something while we might do the same thing or something worse. For example, we might judge a christian for smoking, yet attending church...just cuz they're smoking doesn't mean they're not a christian...better yet, they might even be a better christian than you. Alongside, you might be a drinker...whether it be social or at a party...how would you judge somebody for smoking and coming to church if you drink regularly and come to church?
A lot of times, I hear that some christians are afraid to show who they really are in front of other christians. Just because they feel like they will be judged and looked down upon. We all judge each other, but who gives us the right to judge anybody? God made us all unique in His image. Each and every single person is precious to God no matter what. Currently I'm reading a book called "Becoming a Contagious Christian" by Bill Hybels and Mark Mittleberg. One of the first chapters in the book is called 'People Matter To God.' In this chapter, they talk about different people, both christians and non-christians...stating that both matter to God equally. It also mentions short narratives on how the authors encountered times where they were given the opportunity to love someone who everybody else rejected. It's hard not to judge because we're so proned to doing it. Society sets a standard. There are stereotypes everywhere...even in christianity.
This passage states that people who do wrong will be judged before God's Kingdom. We are all sinners...we all do things we shouldn't but becoming believers, we received salvation. We have been washed from our sins through the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Our job is to not judge those who do wrong, but to help the unbelievers and those who do wrong come to Christ and also be washed clean.
"When you have something against another Christian, how can you bring yourself to go before judges who are not right with God? Why do you not let God's people decide who is right? Surely you know that God's people will judge the world. So if you are to judge the world, are you not able to judge small cases as well? You know that in the future we will judge angels, so surely we can judge the ordinary things of this life. If you have ordinary cases that must be judged, are you going to appoint people as judges who mean nothing to the church? I say this to shame you. Surely there is someone among you wise enough to judge a complaint between believers. But now one believer goes to court against another believer--and you do this in front of believers. Surely you know that the people who do wrong will not inherit God's kingdom. Do not be fooled. Those who sin sexually, worship idols, take part in adultery, those who are male prostitutes, or men who have sexual relations with other men, those who steal, are greedy, get drunk, lie about others, or rob--these people will not inherit God's kingdom. In the past, some of you were like that, but you were washed clean. you were made holy, and you were made right with God in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Spirit of our God. 1Corinthians 6:1-11
This passage is mainly about being a hypocrite!!! I admit, I have a problem with judging...or maybe a lot of is criticizing...I critique like everything...people, places, food, things...etc. I believe everyone has problems with judging...especially among Christians. What we don't realize is that we are such big hypocrites. We judge someone for doing something while we might do the same thing or something worse. For example, we might judge a christian for smoking, yet attending church...just cuz they're smoking doesn't mean they're not a christian...better yet, they might even be a better christian than you. Alongside, you might be a drinker...whether it be social or at a party...how would you judge somebody for smoking and coming to church if you drink regularly and come to church?
A lot of times, I hear that some christians are afraid to show who they really are in front of other christians. Just because they feel like they will be judged and looked down upon. We all judge each other, but who gives us the right to judge anybody? God made us all unique in His image. Each and every single person is precious to God no matter what. Currently I'm reading a book called "Becoming a Contagious Christian" by Bill Hybels and Mark Mittleberg. One of the first chapters in the book is called 'People Matter To God.' In this chapter, they talk about different people, both christians and non-christians...stating that both matter to God equally. It also mentions short narratives on how the authors encountered times where they were given the opportunity to love someone who everybody else rejected. It's hard not to judge because we're so proned to doing it. Society sets a standard. There are stereotypes everywhere...even in christianity.
This passage states that people who do wrong will be judged before God's Kingdom. We are all sinners...we all do things we shouldn't but becoming believers, we received salvation. We have been washed from our sins through the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Our job is to not judge those who do wrong, but to help the unbelievers and those who do wrong come to Christ and also be washed clean.
2009-01-14
January 14, 2009 Isaiah 65:1-16
~All People Will Learn About God~ -Isaiah 65:1-16-
This passage talks about the evil people that make God angry versus those who really honor Him. Fake Believers vs. True Believers
Those who say they believe God, but act otherwise make God angry. Those who believe in luck, in fate, as opposed to praying to God for those blessings...they make God angry. God looks down on them and see every single thing they do, but they continue to sin against God. Even still, they call themselves believers, they call themselves holy people, that other sinners aren't allowed to be near them/to be associated with them. These are the people that make God angry. These are the people that won't receive blessings, won't receive salvation. God tries to speak to these people, but they're so blinded by their own foolishness, ignorance, selfishness, and etc. that they can't hear or see Him.
On the other hand, true believers know to pray to God for blessings. They know to believe and serve only Him. They are the ones to receive many different blessings from God because God sees what they do. He sees who they are. This makes God happy/proud.
We should ask God to shed away the layers of sin, guilt, selfishness, foolishness, ignorance, and whatever is blinding us from seeing Him, whatever is covering our ears, making us deaf from listening to Him. Just like the song, 'Hear Us From Heaven,' we should sing: open the blind eyes, unlock the deaf ears, come to your people as we draw near, hear us from heaven, touch our generation, we are your people, crying out in desperation.
This passage talks about the evil people that make God angry versus those who really honor Him. Fake Believers vs. True Believers
Those who say they believe God, but act otherwise make God angry. Those who believe in luck, in fate, as opposed to praying to God for those blessings...they make God angry. God looks down on them and see every single thing they do, but they continue to sin against God. Even still, they call themselves believers, they call themselves holy people, that other sinners aren't allowed to be near them/to be associated with them. These are the people that make God angry. These are the people that won't receive blessings, won't receive salvation. God tries to speak to these people, but they're so blinded by their own foolishness, ignorance, selfishness, and etc. that they can't hear or see Him.
On the other hand, true believers know to pray to God for blessings. They know to believe and serve only Him. They are the ones to receive many different blessings from God because God sees what they do. He sees who they are. This makes God happy/proud.
We should ask God to shed away the layers of sin, guilt, selfishness, foolishness, ignorance, and whatever is blinding us from seeing Him, whatever is covering our ears, making us deaf from listening to Him. Just like the song, 'Hear Us From Heaven,' we should sing: open the blind eyes, unlock the deaf ears, come to your people as we draw near, hear us from heaven, touch our generation, we are your people, crying out in desperation.
2009-01-13
January 13, 2009 Psalm 84
Wishing to Be in the Temple
"Lord All-Powerful, how lovely is your Temple! I want more than anything to be in the courtyards of the Lord's temple. My whole being wants to be with the living God. The sparrows have found a home, and the swallows have nests. They raise their young near your altars, Lord, All-Powerful, my King and my God. Happy are the people who live at your Temple; they are always praising you. Happy are those whos strength comes from you, who want to travel to Jerusalem. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it like a spring. The autumn rains fill it with pools of water. The people get stronger as they go, and everyone meets with God in Jerusalem. Lord God All-Powerful, hear my prayer; God of Jacob, listen to me. God, look at our shield; be kind to your appointed king. One day in the courtyards of your Temple is better than a thousand days anywhere else. I would rather be a doorkeeper int he Temple of God than live in the homes of the wicked. The Lord God is like a sun and shield; the Lord gives us kindness and honor. He does not hold back anything good from thsoe whose lives are innocent. Lord All-Powerful, happy are the people who trust you! ~Psalm 84~
Once again, another passage in being happy. This passage is about the journey of the Christian. Just like the title, it's about 'wishing to be in the temple.' Who's temple? What temple? The Lord's Temple!!!
The hope of the everlasting temple of God along with the everlasting God makes us happy! We can rejoice because God is there always and forever and the courtyards of His temple is where we, believers, wanna stay!!!
"Lord All-Powerful, how lovely is your Temple! I want more than anything to be in the courtyards of the Lord's temple. My whole being wants to be with the living God. The sparrows have found a home, and the swallows have nests. They raise their young near your altars, Lord, All-Powerful, my King and my God. Happy are the people who live at your Temple; they are always praising you. Happy are those whos strength comes from you, who want to travel to Jerusalem. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it like a spring. The autumn rains fill it with pools of water. The people get stronger as they go, and everyone meets with God in Jerusalem. Lord God All-Powerful, hear my prayer; God of Jacob, listen to me. God, look at our shield; be kind to your appointed king. One day in the courtyards of your Temple is better than a thousand days anywhere else. I would rather be a doorkeeper int he Temple of God than live in the homes of the wicked. The Lord God is like a sun and shield; the Lord gives us kindness and honor. He does not hold back anything good from thsoe whose lives are innocent. Lord All-Powerful, happy are the people who trust you! ~Psalm 84~
Once again, another passage in being happy. This passage is about the journey of the Christian. Just like the title, it's about 'wishing to be in the temple.' Who's temple? What temple? The Lord's Temple!!!
The hope of the everlasting temple of God along with the everlasting God makes us happy! We can rejoice because God is there always and forever and the courtyards of His temple is where we, believers, wanna stay!!!
2009-01-12
January 12, 2009 Philippians 4:4-13
"Be full of joy in the Lord always. I will say again, be full of joy. Let everyone see that you are gentle and kind. The Lord is coming soon. Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks. And God's peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Brothers and sisters, think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected. Do what you learned and received from me, what I told you, and what you saw me do. And the God who gives peace will be with you. I am very happy in the Lord that you have shown your care for me again. You continued to care about me, but there was no way for you to show it. I am not telling you this because I need anything. I have learned to be satisfied with the thigns I have and with everythign that happens. I know how to live when I am poor, and I know how to live when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of being happy at any time in everything that happens, when I have enought to eat and when I go hungry, when I have more than I need and when I do not have enough. I can do all thigns through Christ, because he gives me strength. ~Philippians 4:4-13~
This verse correlates with one of my favorite verses: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18--"Always be joyful. Pray continually, and give thanks whatever happens." It's weird that all these verses I tend to read or hear sermons about are all about being happy, having a happy heart, rejoicing in the Lord, being joyful always. Is God trying to tell me something? Am I not rejoicing? I look back onto my life, the things going on...everyone has hard times, sufferings, burdens, those of which are given by God to test our faith, to see us grow...through all this, we should be able to rejoice, just as Jesus Christ rejoices in the Lord.
On New Year's Eve evening, I went up in front of my home church and sort of gave a testimony...something I really felt deep within my heart. I see the people within the church always fighting over little issues, always having grudges or bad feelings toward each other...I also see my parents and other families, financially burdened, living life full of more worries than happiness. It depressed me to see that happen within my family and friends, within my church. So when I went up to the front, I started out with thanking everyone for always showing me love, for always praying for me, then I read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. I shared with them that I was really convicted to share about love, about joy, about thanks. Instead of looking at the glass half empty, we should always look at the glass half full. There might be hard times, sufferings, burdens, hardships, etc. but there are also many things to be thankful. We are so much more priveleged/blessed than many other people within this world, we are still alive, we have family, we have received salvation, we have been taught the gospel. We have an everlasting God and an everlasting kingdom awaiting us.
Just the other day, Sharon and I were coming back from OIL retreat in Pennsylvania. There was a snow storm of over 9 inches heading towards Pennsylvania and it had already started snowing by the time we were heading home. I started out driving, and I was so worried that the road conditions would be bad, especially around the retreat center because there were so many curvy, hilly roads, but thanks be to God that we were able to make it to the highway safely. Then while on the highway, we were all going really, really slow, but I was trying to pass up a car, so I switched lanes and our car slipped...it kept going towards the car in the other lane, so in order to not hit the other car, I turned to wheel in the other directions, which spun the car...we spun and spun and finally landed in the median in the grass...thanks be to God that we were both fine and the car was also fine...just a lil ditch, so we needed to call 911 to call the state police to call the tow truck which pulled us out. Meanwhile, so many people stopped to see if we were alright, thanks to all of them. Anyways, my point is, just right after a retreat, right after getting so blessed, we got into that really dangerous, where not only we were in danger, but the other cars could also have been in danger. Still, God protected us, allowing us to be safe. Although the tow truck cost some money, we are still really, really thankful and joyful that God protected us, that he cared for us, just like it says in verse 10.
Along with being thankful in that matter, we should also be thankful for what we already have. As human beings, we have wants and desires, but first, we should really consider if we need it. God has already given us those that we really need. My home church is going on missions this summer and I believe God is really telling me to be thankful, to really be considerate of my less privileged brothers and sisters around the world. On top of that I think He is telling me to not worry and to just be joyful as I wait for God to give me what I need. Another one of my favorite verses: "I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength." Just reading these words encourages me and motivates me.
2009 has already come around and a third of January has already passed. Coming upon another passage of being joyful and thankful, I really feel convicted to share with you all that it really helps to be joyful. Ask God for that happy heart...always be thankful!!! He will continue to care for us as we await His kingdom come!
This verse correlates with one of my favorite verses: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18--"Always be joyful. Pray continually, and give thanks whatever happens." It's weird that all these verses I tend to read or hear sermons about are all about being happy, having a happy heart, rejoicing in the Lord, being joyful always. Is God trying to tell me something? Am I not rejoicing? I look back onto my life, the things going on...everyone has hard times, sufferings, burdens, those of which are given by God to test our faith, to see us grow...through all this, we should be able to rejoice, just as Jesus Christ rejoices in the Lord.
On New Year's Eve evening, I went up in front of my home church and sort of gave a testimony...something I really felt deep within my heart. I see the people within the church always fighting over little issues, always having grudges or bad feelings toward each other...I also see my parents and other families, financially burdened, living life full of more worries than happiness. It depressed me to see that happen within my family and friends, within my church. So when I went up to the front, I started out with thanking everyone for always showing me love, for always praying for me, then I read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. I shared with them that I was really convicted to share about love, about joy, about thanks. Instead of looking at the glass half empty, we should always look at the glass half full. There might be hard times, sufferings, burdens, hardships, etc. but there are also many things to be thankful. We are so much more priveleged/blessed than many other people within this world, we are still alive, we have family, we have received salvation, we have been taught the gospel. We have an everlasting God and an everlasting kingdom awaiting us.
Just the other day, Sharon and I were coming back from OIL retreat in Pennsylvania. There was a snow storm of over 9 inches heading towards Pennsylvania and it had already started snowing by the time we were heading home. I started out driving, and I was so worried that the road conditions would be bad, especially around the retreat center because there were so many curvy, hilly roads, but thanks be to God that we were able to make it to the highway safely. Then while on the highway, we were all going really, really slow, but I was trying to pass up a car, so I switched lanes and our car slipped...it kept going towards the car in the other lane, so in order to not hit the other car, I turned to wheel in the other directions, which spun the car...we spun and spun and finally landed in the median in the grass...thanks be to God that we were both fine and the car was also fine...just a lil ditch, so we needed to call 911 to call the state police to call the tow truck which pulled us out. Meanwhile, so many people stopped to see if we were alright, thanks to all of them. Anyways, my point is, just right after a retreat, right after getting so blessed, we got into that really dangerous, where not only we were in danger, but the other cars could also have been in danger. Still, God protected us, allowing us to be safe. Although the tow truck cost some money, we are still really, really thankful and joyful that God protected us, that he cared for us, just like it says in verse 10.
Along with being thankful in that matter, we should also be thankful for what we already have. As human beings, we have wants and desires, but first, we should really consider if we need it. God has already given us those that we really need. My home church is going on missions this summer and I believe God is really telling me to be thankful, to really be considerate of my less privileged brothers and sisters around the world. On top of that I think He is telling me to not worry and to just be joyful as I wait for God to give me what I need. Another one of my favorite verses: "I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength." Just reading these words encourages me and motivates me.
2009 has already come around and a third of January has already passed. Coming upon another passage of being joyful and thankful, I really feel convicted to share with you all that it really helps to be joyful. Ask God for that happy heart...always be thankful!!! He will continue to care for us as we await His kingdom come!
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