Don't confuse God's love with the love of the people.The love of the people often increases with performance and decreases with mistakes.Not so much with God's love.HE loves you right where you are. a combination of notes I've copied from the book,creatively compiled forming paragraphs, inserting some of my reflections in between.This is the only book that had empowered me spiritually in the biggest way that no other book did. When it comes to the love of God,there's no question He loved me first! When Jesus came to the world,He didn't come for the righteous but he came for the sinners.Those who are considered outcast,those who are nothing.Say for example the woman who crashed Simon's party.The crowd who saw her that day was judging her.They knew she was a town harlot.They regard themselves as more righteous than her,even Simon.But not for Jesus,she loved and forgive the woman.He saw sincerity in her heart,he saw sorrow and grief.HE saw a woman in confession and willing to be cleanse.There was a very big difference there.When love is compared,Simon's "love is calibrated and stingy" while the woman's love on the other hand is extravagant and risky.Both express their love to Jesus in their own little ways.Simon did by preparing a sumptuous dinner for Jesus while the woman showed hers by wiping the feet of Jesus with an expensive perfume using her hair.We know who's love is sincere and real in the story.
But Jesus is not weighing how much these two love him.It's not about his love because no one can surpass the greatness of his love.There's one thing that Jesus wanted them to learn.Could it be the secret to loving? Could it be that the secret to LOVING is by RECEIVING? You give love by first receiving it. Personally,my heart was so much filled with anger and bitterness and my life had been crowned with pain.But thanks be to God,the more I concentrate on His unconditional love for me,I feel overwhelmed.I still have some anger and pain from time to time but they don't linger anymore.They got no hold of my life and that's the beauty of being loved so much.That we don't know how much we are capable of giving love! Understanding that God gives us peace is one thing-but realizing why he is such a gracious God is something altogether had to comprehend.How can he be Just and Love the sinner? Well,God is motivated to save us-both because of His love for us and his responsibility to deal with sin.His grace is where love and justice meet to provide our salvation.I'm a sinner and yet God loves me unconditionally.Why is it so hard for me to forgive? God's love is greater than anyone can ever know.So I'm asking God's help for me to experience such love in a way that it will be reflected in my life.Love goes the distance.Christ recalled from limitless eternity to be confined by time in order to become one of us.His love meets us in our lives.His love is beyond any question.His love is far greater than what my mind can understand.If I did nothing to gain God's love then How could I even think of loosing it? Nothing can ever separate me from the love of God. Knowing I didn't do anything to earn God's love reminds us not to live in fear of loosing it either.If I did nothing to gain it,how could my performance lose it? Many people live in fear of God's justice because they have never reckoned God's justice with His love.Grace is when two meet together forming an insoluble bond. Though confronted with a sea of faces,Jesus saw every individual heart,every precious life,every eternal soul through the eyes of love.My life is too messed up in reality.I'm too broke to be happy,too hurt to love.Too hopeless to hope again.The good news is, I don't have to earn God's love! It is for free! I can't loose it either.God didn't love based on my performance.He just loved me and it is His choice to love me! I pray to God to help me engrave this truth in my heart.That I would always reflect a Christ like life Character just as I am renewed.If I didn't have to perform to earn it then I've received the greatest power in my life.I'm not Jesus but Jesus empowered me to be.HE set an example when he was alive to show that as long as I live a godly and obedient life, there's nothing I can't do and nothing can harm me or set me apart from the Love of God. Jesus experienced hunger,pain and betrayal and anger.He had all experienced all those human emotions but he didn't give in to temptation or sin.He never once thought of saving himself from such pain or agony.He thought of the crowd that he loves so much.His love is unconditional,unselfish,unfathomable.A very great example to follow.I might have a lot of sentiments but looking into Jesus,he has laid a perfect example to imitate. When it comes to honest hearts,there were days I had to admit that its hard to do anything right.It's even harder to do anything wrong right.We are so much flawed and we are provoked sometimes by small things we keep on sinning.But we can confess our sin right to God.The act of confessing our sins to him ought to bring us closer to Him-knowing we are deeply loved by God.Confession is the act of inviting God to examine the soil of our hearts.It seeks pardon from God.Confession admits wrong and seeks forgiveness.Amnesty denies wrong and claim innocence.Many mouth a prayer for forgiveness while in reality they were claiming amnesty. We are better at keeping God out than inviting Him in.Sunday mornings are full of preparing the body for worship,preparing the hair for worship,preparing the clothes for worship but preparing the soul? Many of us attend church in a hurry.Many of us spend life rushing life from one thing to another.I'm so much guilty of this.I treat Sundays like a big audition that I have to be in time.It's like a scheduled activity that I have to attend so I can have to finish one activity that I have to attend so I have to finish one activity that is on my schedule.What a shame! Worship should be a beautiful prepared day to look forward.I have six days in preparation of everything specially my heart.Even so,God's grace is still on us.It means you don't have to run anymore.It's the truth! Grace means its finally seek to stop! If you have experienced Jesus,you know one thing is true: You just can't turn away from Him.Deep down,you really don't even want to despite your pretense to the contrary.There's something inside that longs to be back in fellowship with Him again.Confession does that.Confessed sin becomes the bridge over which we can walk back into the presence of God. If I claim to be a believer of Christ,I just can't turn away from Him.Therefore,I believe that there's no such thing as "backslide" a term used when A so called "christian" want to to his old ways.Once we are in Christ,we feel guilt in every sin we do and this calls for immediate confession.An opening of heart to God.Asking him to take a look of our heart,cleanse it and purifies us again.So when He clean us,it means we don't go back .Not because we are sinners in nature means we always have to live in sin.We are sinners in nature but God's love is powerful over sin.Before Jesus ascended the heavens,he promised the holy Spirit.What can we do with everything that has been given to us? How can we turn our back to Him in exchange to the hopeless sinful life we had before? ON HATRED.... On anger,It's human nature to want to settle the score.However,God calls us to be super-natural.God's grace towards others.If we experience God's love He requires us to act lovingly towards others-however,undeserving they may appear to be.When someone offends me,my initial reaction is to validate if that person deserves forgiveness or not.But since we are reborn HATRED is so out of plan in a Christian life.After we have been forgiven so much,how could we not forgive others? In other words,we can't give what we never received.If we never received love,how can we love others? In order to forgive,we should know what it means to be forgiven.Being forgiven for our sins comes only through the future-therefore we should experience such great forgiveness to be able to extend others. Christ love is the cure for our own hatred.We have so many reasons why we hate so much but just like the parable of the master who forgave his servant.When this servant was on his way and met one of his debtor,he didn't show any mercy.Why is he so angry? Is it possible that he hates the man because he reminds him of his debts to his master? I also have that attitude.When humiliated or desperate or frustrated and become angry,I will throw it to someone or something as defense mechanism.Then more people got hurt,more people got affected because of me.I know at times that I hurt God of my attitude.Indeed,the key to forgiving others is to quit focusing on what they did to me and start focusing on what God did for me.Jesus love is in action.It affects change.It promotes healing.It gives the debtor the freedom to forgive others. The truth hurts.Sometimes the reason why we become so angry is we blame others for our misfortune.We blame them for our failures and frustrations.Jesus didn't think of his own.He loves us despite of everything.He didn't choose us according to our qualifications.He didn't choose us out of our righteousness.In fact,he chose every sinner during his time on earth.Why did he pick this bunch of people for his closest companions? Because he loved them.He knew how his love would change them into the kind of people God could use mightily. Same with our church composition.I would always reason out that CHCC will never be good in music since we were really gifted with musicians.We reason out that we are not that great in some areas like music,evangelism and preaching.We lack warmth.If Jesus tolerated such lowly men to carry the ministry then there could be a reason why we are selected as members of the church.To find our gift and use it fully. Now let's talk about love worth giving for.The love of Christ bears all things ,believe all things,hopes all things,endures all things.Let his love fall on you do you can fall on them.1 Corinthians 13 is a small known passage for love.We all struggle much trying to adopt this passage in our life but instead of trying hard,let it be a reminder of a love we can't produce,a love we can't resist God's love.Others have promised and failed but God has promised and succeeded He loves you with an unfailing love.And his love-if you will let it,He can fill you and leave you with a love worth giving for. Conventional wisdom says that lack of love implies a lack of effort so we try harder,dig deeper,strain more.Could it be that we are trying to give what we don't have? Are we forgetting to receive first? Am I living in the overflow of God's love? How well do I love the people in my life? Does the way I treat people reflect the way God has treated me? The answer is obviously no.So this makes me question,Have I experienced so little of God's love? Maybe I'm so much full of anger,hatred and resentment that's why my heart is so covered with such bitterness that the love and care of Jesus won't overflow.Hatred will sour my outlook and break my back.The load of bitterness is simply heavy.My knees wil buckle under the strain and my heart will break beneath the weight.The mountain beneath me is steep enough without the heaviness of hatred on my back.The wisest choice-the only choice for me is to drop the anger.I will never be called upon to give anyone more grace than God has already given me. God's love will last forever,never dies,never ends,never fails! Governments may fail but God's will last.Crowns are temporary but love is eternal.Money will worn out but his love never will. When it comes to the greatness of God's love.... There's no way our little minds can comprehend the love of God.But that didn't keep Him from coming.God is for me,if He has a calendar,my birthday would be circled.If he drove a car,my name would be on His bumper.If there's a tree in heaven,he's carved my anme on the bark.we know he has a tattoo that says "I have written your name on my hand" (IS.49:16) Satan may accuse us of the countless sins we commit which we are guilty of.Fingers may point and voices may demmans but the charges bounces of like arrows hitting a shield.Once the judge has released you,you need not to fear the court. This is the love of God,its unconditional.It's fair and just.He loves me no matter what happens.The question is does my life reflect a godly life? If I have received such an amazing unfathomable love,is it reflected in my life? CHAPTER 2: EXPERIENCING THE CARE OF JESUS I'm crying at this very moment and I can't help but be overwhelmed! I was crying meditating on God's love for me.It's just that my heart cannot contain all those emotions and my mind is so much limited to contain such amazing and great love and care from a father. I haven't cried this much for a very long time.I wasn't overwhelmed like this before.Such experience to building intimacy with God is so much to understand or even to think about.I spend 1 week last week meditating about God's love.I don't think I can comprehend it at all.One thing for sure,eternity is not enough to understand how deep or wide or vast God's love is.Today,I was starting to meditate about how much God cares for me.Next thing I know,I was crying.Tears of joy! Tears of happiness! A heart crying in gratitude! Full of praises and worship! It felt so amazing! I'm so grateful! Oh what a feeling! How could God care so much? Why would God even do that for me? Why would God care so much for someone like me? When I grew up fatherless,He stood beside me.He made me feel I have one.I never asked for one because I felt God's hands holding my hands.I felt when I fall and scraped my knees He took me by the shoulder.No wonder,I never search for my father coz It just felt naturally alright.My heavenly father gave me such wonderful experiences like what it feels to be carried on his shoulder or what comfort I have when he holds me by the hand.My heavenly father has filled a certain hole in my life that is more than what I expected.I was never fatherless,I can tell from my experience.Even at times I demand a lot of things ,still you never saw me lesser.Though at one point in my life,I questioned His existence ,He never left me...at times I doubted if He ever cared and loved me,He still never let me go.I don't want to let this feelings go away.I wanted to remember God at moments like this,where my heart overflows with Joy and praises.I'm forever grateful to Him! I just can't understand how could God loved a sinner so much! Actually I can't think of anything now but gratefulness to my savior,my creator,my father,my king! I can just sit and relax while God works for me.Even at those times that I foolishly thought I can do things on my own.But the more I exert and trust on my own efforts,the more I find myself asking God for help.I heard my heart shouting "Father,I messed up again" I don't know what to do anymore.Can you help me clean this thing up? I expect those "I told you so" comments from people around me but never from my heavenly father.Instead I felt and imagine Him smiling as He held me by the hand and whispered in my ear "my child,no worries I'll take care of it" with a very calming assurance telling me that there's no single moment that He never looked after me.That's why when I think of such beautiful moments,I can't help but cry because I don't know how else can I express my deepest gratitude.Even at times I avoid Him.Even at times,I ignore His words.Even if I thought I have escaped ,the fact is I ended still in His loving care.For His deliverance coz I can't simply do things on my own.I needed a deliverer and He did delivered me again and again.More than a father,he never turn His back on me.He simply love me.What more can I say? I just need to trust you completely. Even if most of the time,of all the billion things God did for me and He rarely heard me say "thank you" still He delivered and healed me anyway.At times that my only concern is my physical look or nourishment like being constantly conscious of my health or my figure and I spend my time envying others for things I don't have,God didn't treat me any lesser.He loved me anyway.Even If I'm too busy coping up with my insecurities like my looks,my self or my social status ,still again and again God loved me anyway.God healed me coz He is a very compassionate God.Even at times I never acknowledge God's deliverance,still He cared for me.He loved me anyway. I thought I can handle life on my own.I thought I can fight this challenges on my own but I was so wrong.Turns out,I keep on running to my Heavenly Father for help.He helped me anyway coz he cared much for me.This is not just a feeling,this is not just for the sake of agreeing what I have read from Max Lucado's spiritual perspective.This is all about memories in my life that I seem to almost forgot.This is a personal experience between me and God.The more I commit my self to build intimacy with my Heavenly father,I felt close to home.ANd those years of His love and care for me,when they rush to my mind all at the same time,I felt like my mind is going to explode.It's not just a feeling but a personal experience from my heavenly Father.I can't remember saying my gratitude but still,He cared for me anyway! I realized,in just a few months,I'll be 26 years old and I'm not growing any younger.When I promise Him to commit my life into knowing Him more,I felt more assured and happier.I don't have much worries of feeling guilty because every moment,I can't think of nothing but a heart over flowing with gratefulness! So I keep on running to God the moment I know Him more.I can't tell how much I know Him more but I just knew His attributes as a father watching over me is overwhelming.I was and will always be His little girl who need Him always.And like any girl to a father who asked him to catch her so she can take a great leap from the bed towards him.A father knew what might possibly happen if he won't cathc his little girl on time.A father has fears or doubts too and he knew that if he won't pay attention to his little there's a big possibility that she might end up hurt but such fear or possibilities,a child does not know because she trusts her father so much.She trusts Him! Years under the same roof have convinced her that he is reliable.He is no superman but he is the strongest in her eyes.He is not holy but he is good.He is not brilliant but he doesn't have to remember to catch his child when she jumps. I also see God as a loving father who always does everything for me.The only difference here is he is super in everything.He can't do anything wrong so there shouldn't be doubt that God won't catch me if ever I fall.I have my doubts and fears but God says,I'm here just trust me.If an earthly father knows exactly when to catch his child to avoid her from falling,how much more to God who knows every single thing about me.At times,I need to take a great leap butI have these fears and second thoughts.But I can hear my heavenly fahter's support as He gently whispers in my ear.Trying to tell me to trust Him with the things I don't have any control in my life.He keeps on encouraging me to take the challenge.Asking me to trust Him for he never leaves me alone.He wanted to open up my heart to Him,to approach his grace like a daughter who desperately in need of her father's help again and again.When we broke,we normally talk to our dads coz they talk less and deal with the problem as much as possible.They listen and do something about it.That's how God is to me.Everytime I wanted to talk to Him,I listen while I pour everything to Him.God was my dad since I was born.I never asked for one because you are more than enough than any father I could possibly have.I might not know or understand or be able to tell how much you cared for someone like me but the least thing I can do to show my heartfelt gratitude is to live a life that radiates a Christlike character.A life that overflowed with love and care so that everyone around me will be blessed too!I still am crying till now,I can't stop feeling greatful now.Knowing these truths about you consumes me so much and all I can say for now is thank you! GOD'S PROVISION : THE HOLY SPIRIT Even if God is powerful,he didn't use unexplained miracles to convince man to turn to Him.In fact,He illustrated his love to us through the blood of His son Jesus.And not only that,before Jesus left,he promised the Holy Spirit to help us.God had been transparent enough to human.He communicate to us in human terms.In miracles,in things we can hear and see for our selves.God showed His love and care for us through things that our limited minds can understand.His power sometimes works in ways that puzzles us but in the end it is for us. Jesus left us the Holy Spirit who literary intercedes for us.This is how much Jesus cares.He provided the Holy Spirit so He would dwell in us.So He will transpire in our lives.That we learn to trust Him fully because in reality we can't do things on our own.He promised the Holy Spirit so he can care for evry level of our needs.Everything I may need,i may have already got.I just need to realize that the power I need I actually have-the promised Holy Spirit.Just look deep enough and there's nothing I can't do,with God's help I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me ! Just like the wizard of OZ,it says look inside myself and I find my personal strength.God says,"look inside mysef and I find God". THE FULFILLED PROMISED:JESUS One reason why I don't watch the evening news is because it gives me headache.I can't imagine myself even spending an hour just to watch the evening news because its so depressing.The world is so much full of bad news and its getting worst each day just like how it was prophesied in the Bible.All hopes gone,and it seems that no goodness exist anymore.This world is so much obsessed with knowing what's going on but in reality no one cares! Most men feasted on porn stars.Youths obsessed with drug addicted celebs.And some are victims of too much materialism.Politicians were so busy bringing debate in Congress.Passing bills or so called defending the right of the common people but reality is either they were too busy attacking each other or worst protecting themselves and their allies.On the other parts of this country,a lot are starving due to joblessness.Teacher's wages on public schools comes too delayed.They were in huge debt before they even receive their wages.The goverment actually don't seem to care.They were busy throwing parties in private places.And for those who are in court,they were to busy proving their point over something that's already happen. Whenever there's a terrorist attack,people would speculate and they treat any Pakistani they know as terrorist.When there's an accident that happen on a specific place,people avoided that place.Though it is an isolated case,still people would complicate things and worst media would flash the news repeatedly so everyone would be alarmed and in fear. Well,there's no assurance in this world anymore.This things has to happen as they were prophesied.Seclusion is not simply the answer in facing a scary tomorrow. Fear not! It's a greeting from the angels to Mary when she was chosen to give birth to Jesus.Its the command given to His people.It is used by Jesus to comfort His disciples.No matter how out of control things appear,we are not to be afraid.He is in control.He will take care of us.it is a promised. The Bible is so much filled with promises ,most already fulfilled and some are still to come.We all know that Jesus' birth is a fulfilled promise.He also came from a flawed family genealogy too!In fact,his genealogy showed that he came from a crooked ,deceived and imperfect lineage.This shows that we don't need to suffer the sins of our fathers.They can't judge us based on our forefathers.We can have control over things.We can change,God is our help.We can make the right choices.Jesus had sacrificed himself to renew us,that was a very great difference he made. Jeus who even in the midst of the crowd can hear the rush of a sickman's heartbeat.He can determine our fears,he can see our hoplesness through our eyes.He can see right through our hearts.He can see us right where we are and he can tel exactly what we need and what we are thinking for.He felt nothing but love,care and compassion.He was the promised one who can saved us from the punishment of sin.God never fails in His promises!He fulfilled His prmise through Jesus.Til He comes again.No more fear,hunger and pain! It is a promise! I'll hold on to that promise till Jesus comes! SEARCH FOR SATISFACTION Why are we happy and disatisfied in the very first place? We use to say I'm satisfied but that's usually temporay for just a few minutes or an hour maybe.Because if there's such a thing as satisfaction then why would we use the word "I'm satisfied" more than once in a day?Maybe even in an hour or in a minute? Why do we keep on wanting more? Is this satisfaction after all? We have to keep on looking for things that might possibly satisfy us temporarily but how come we were never satisfied? IS that what it means to be satisfied? It's actually a temporary thing? So we can actually say "For nowI'm satisfied" but I have to look to other options coz I might be bored to death tomorrow! IS there really such thing as satisfaction in this temporary world? At work,I'm use to hear a lot of complaining from my buddies.Unaware,I would hear myself complaining for a lot of things that doesn't concern me.As a result,I'm being stressed! We would complain about how cheap our salary is as compared to other companies.I never ever thought to be thankful first of what I have even before complaining.While I complain about my salary,a lot of poeple who almost worked more than 9 hrs a day are being under paid.I received cool benefits that other big companies don't even offer.In fact,I can buy most of the things I wanted. Reality is,I can't get satisfied at all.I keep wanting things.I keep on demanding.I keep on aiming for more.But the more I'm earning more,the more I'm loosing it to senseless things.The more I get what I wanted,the more I'm turning unhappy.I thought I'm buying stuff to help me save time but It seemed that these stuffs consumed most of my time.Be it cellphones,mp4's,computer,tv's,favorite show etc..etc..I felt my life is too rigid or even crazily scripted.I felt like I'm living my life according to how others wanted me to.I have to follow a certain routine,a schedule,a commitment.I keep on looking,trying to live my life the way I wanted to but nothing stays longer.I keep on loosing what I have.I loose people I love,I loose money,time and even strength at times.I thought can I ever be truly satisfied? I don't want to sound corny or too religious but it is the truth.Yes,I'm too young to make such conclusions but basing it from the past years of my life,I can say the only thing that satisfies me is the thought of my eternal privilege.Heaven as they say.The only one who can satisfy me is God because HE is my creator and He definitely knew me inside out.Ever since He became my personal Lord and Savior,I felt peaceful than ever.I felt unusual comfort and I don't fear anything for no major reason at all.I mean from time to time,I might be shaken to fear,worry or restlessness but every time I bring these to God,I became peaceful again.I know full well that there's nothing more that satisfies than God.I didn't ask for a miracle but God had performed miracles in my life. Life on earth is temporary.Nothing is permanent.So don't build earthly treasure ,instead build heavenly treasures.Life on earth is temporary,Heaven is for me,heaven is eternal and it is created for those who Loves God. "God has planted eternity in our hearts" says King Solomon.(Ecc.3:10) But it doesn't take a wise person to know that people long for more than earth. Unhappiness on earth cultivates a hunger for Heaven.By gracing us with a deep dissatisfaction,God holds our attention.The only tragedy,then is to be dissatisfied prematurely.To settle for earth.To be content in a strange load.To intermarry with the Babylonians and forget Jerusalem.We are not happy here because we are not at home here.We are not happy here because we are not suppose to be happy here.We are like foreigners or strangers in this world. I'm so tired,unhappy and stressed is my usual complain from time to time and so with the majority of call center agents I think.Some would reason out,some call centers out there offer bigger salary.Better incentives,cooler environment and account.So forth and so on.Reality is,you are legend if you can stop up to 3 years! So it's so true ,we can't never be satisfied or happy to a place or a job we don't belong or not worth doing.Because we don't fit in.Nothing is forever as long as we are mortals in this earth. Treasures,powers,kingdom,influence,all these will soon end and be forgotten forever.Some people lived life as if they are immortals.Or to some as if they owned this world but when they die,their treasures end up to people they don't even know.Nothing is eternal.They forget they are just mortals. Heaven is a place God prepared for His children.I should not spend too much of my time storing earthly treasures.Live for today and face tomorrow with a full trust in Jesus.I should not mourn much for something I already lost.I don't question God for how things are done or for those he has taken away from me.This uncertainty of life should be a reminder of the truth that God is waiting for me.He's my true satisfaction. I should not search my satisfaction in this world because this world is not my home.I'm not made for earth.I can have moments of joy like a sumptuous meal or even watching a sunrise or a sunset.Or going on a lovely place.But they are just temporary.Nothing is compared with the happiness that lies ahead. Jesus should not be an option in my life.HE should not be our last resort always.When we be out of ideas or we simply had the saddest moments.Jesus is not an option.When there's truly no other name that you can call,then cast all your cares on Him for He is waiting in the midst of the storm.He's waiting for us in a place called Heaven. I may speak about a place where there are no fears,no deaths,no worries.But those are just benefits of heaven.The beauty of Heaven is seeing God.Heaven is God's ultimate expression-a culmination of His continuous care.He provides the promise of heaven one day to get us through the stuff of earth.The only place that can truly satisfy a child of God is heaven.Where I truly belong.A place for those God loves and cares for! WHEN GOD WHISPERS MY NAME I imagine myself in the midst of a huge mess.Derailed dreams,gone opportunities,unfulfilled promises all come at the same time.There were also unfinished task and continuously unable to accomplish anything.Then suddenly I heard God whispered my name.Even at times that I'm tuning in to something,still I hear God whispering my name.I'm totally lost and unsettled.With my hands full,I'm actually unsure where I fit in.The constant changes everyday almost drives me crazy,its so hard to accept change unless you fully understand what it's for. Change is part of our everyday lives.People change.Friends from time to time surprises us with change.Some people gone while new ones come.But despite these truths,there's one thing that I'm thankful the most.God never changes! His love never changes! Changing directions in life is not tragic,losing passion in life is.Something happens to us along the way.Convictions to change the world downgrade to commitments to pay the bills.Rather than make a difference,we make a salary.Rather than to look forward,we look back.Rather than look outward,we look inward,and we don't like what we see. In the TV series "MODERN FAMILY" Phil realized that Nobody loves change, but part of life is learning to let things go and that I agree. We make mistakes so we can learn.We have to commit to fulfill our promise.We love so we know what it means to forgive.Forgiveness yet sometimes,in our most pitiful moment,God use such moment to send an incredible message. God put us back in service to remind us He cares for us.When we make mistakes,He does not banish us to a spiritual junkyard.No,He salvages our mistakes because He cares for us.He removes the rust and grime,buffs out the scratches and hammers out the dent in our frame until we are in working condition again. EXPERIENCING THE FORGIVENESS OF JESUS When Jesus uttered "it is finished" while he was nailed on the cross it means more than what we can understand.The truth is,while almost all we have on earth is bound by time,God isn't. For there's no moment that God was not God.For He is eternal! But the sacrifice Jesus faced million years ago seems to be taken for granted today.We teach this truth as if it was of no value today.So the tendency is,people incorporate these thinking that its easy to commit sins since God can forgive our sins anytime.God's forgiveness is unlimited and so does our sins. It's really a shame to put things that way.That people see Jesus death on the cross as an easy access to heaven and never realizing that a life in Christ should be transformed into righteousness.This I think is one of the effect of how little we know about God.If we know God deeper,then I think there's a small chance of abusing his forgiveness because we would have a deeper understanding of what it means to be redeemed in his love. Yes,there were countless times already that I abused God's love and forgiveness and that's something I'm so much ashamed come to think off.I knew God would always forgive me and its so easy to ask for forgiveness but having the guilt in my heart is a torment. But what if God's forgiveness is a limited? Could I ever be given a chance again? I don't think so! Thank God,his forgiveness is not limited! Thank God the depth of his love and compassion is unfathomable.Thank God for his forgiveness is not based on our worthiness. The cross should always be a reminder of my sins being redeemed.The cross said it all.It is a reminder of God's unfailing love.For once and for all,Jesus endured the pain of being crowned with thorns and pierced on both sides.It's really times up! The cross would always be a reminder that Jesus' forgiveness doesn't end there.It also means it is finished.I don't have to live in guilt but moving forward,I should be living a life changed by the blood of Jesus. I am forgiven for a reason.So I would have another chance to live according to God's way. JESUS CHOICE TO ERASE THE LIST It was Jesus choice to erase the endless list of my sins.Jesus can actually keep it and have it presented during judgement day but He didn't. It was his choice. Again, it was His choice to endure the pain of nails penetrating his flesh.He actually had the power to control everything.He can bring down fire from heaven to burn those men who nailed him.By just merely clenching his fist,he can hit everyone who mocked him but he didn't. It was his choice to stay on the cross.Our lives are so much precious that he is so much willing to trade his life over ours.He was determined to pay the ransom.He was determined to erase the list of our debts.Because he was determined to cleanse .HE was determined to pay our sins. Between his hand and the world,there was a list.A very long list! A list of our mistakes,our lusts and lies our greedy moments and prodigal years.A list of our sins Jesus is willing to sacrifice Himself just for that list.Because He sees us better than we see ourselves.And that is a glorious fact in our lives. MY CALL Come to think of it,what I am right now is the result of my choices.If I hadn't choose to live and forgive then maybe I'm not where I am right now.More importantly,If I didn't choose to accept Jesus,what would be my life like now? I can't imagine actually.I don't even know if I'm still alive.Though it was my choice to believe in Jesus,I still can't fully claim that all this was not on my own but still I acknowledge God's care and love for me.Though he didn't choose for me,still He guided me towards the right path. While its true that I can't serve two masters all at the same time I felt like that's what I have been trying to do for the past years.Its a big shame I know because I claim I'm a follower of Jesus but my acts speaks more of Satan's attributes.I had lived in jealousy,bitterness,hatred and loneliness which I fully know it was my choice.I actually had the choice to be on the other side but yeah,I failed on this one. I'm still blessed that I chose Christ.With all the things that can confuse me from choosing Him,I'm so much blessed to be in the right path. Imagine,if God didn't give us a choice ,could I still be the same as I am now? Or could it be that the world is so perfect that there's not even a chance for men to commit sin or disobey God. God has the power to sire us or to just have us live the way he wanted us to.He could have created a perfect paradise on earth long time ago.But no,because of His love,he gave us the gift of freedom.The freedom to make our own choices.If God had created a world as perfect the way he wanted it,then I wonder if there were still well known and influential celebs out there shouting that there's no God.I don't think there would still be Scientists who had spent most of their time disproving the Bible.Yes,God knew this would happen but He gave us the chance anyway. When Jesus was hung on the cross,two thieves were with Him.Why not 3 or four or even 12? why criminals? Could it be that the 2 crosses on the hill symbolize one of God's greatest gift to man-the gift of choice! We can choose where to spend eternity.The big choice,God leaves to us.The critical decision is ours.That is the only decision that matters. There are times when God sends thunder to stir us.There are times when God sends blessings to lure us.But then there are times when God sends nothing but silence as He honors us with the freedom to choose where we spend eternity.The choice is ours.Two person can be placed in a very same situation and its up to them.One might chose death while the other chose life.One might choose to live in hatred while the other chose forgiveness. Same with our choices in life.We create our own experiences.We create our own love story.Its our choice to accept Jesus in our lives or not.We don't blame others for whats happening in our lives because it is us who made the choice.We don't question God when we are in a hard situation because we never question God when we are happy and blessed. As for me,whatever choices I made,I still ask God to guide me.It's my call.Just like when Jesus chose to die on the cross for me,It was his. I pray that all the choices I made will give glory to God. WHAT WILL I LEAVE ON THE CROSS? What can I leave on the cross? If Jesus has bled on the cross Just to for the forgiveness of men,what would be my personal response? Would I just always stare at the cross and be reminded of my unworthiness? Or will I just thank Jesus for the cross and then forget everything? Or would I cast all to Jesus and live a new life? The cross is a complete expression and illustration of God's love and forgiveness.My sins were washed on the cross but it shouldn't stop there.I cast my fears,my guilt and my worries.I leave my anger,feeling of resentment to the cross.So I will start a new life. I'm not even asked to clean or scrub the stains of Jesus' blood.He is not asking for anything.He just wants a response. In order for the cross of Christ be the cross of my life,I need to bring something to the cross. I'm overwhelmed of the essence of the cross.Sad thing is sometimes I want to remind Jesus of my past mistakes.Even after I have confessed them and receive his forgiveness,their memory begins to bother me and I feel the need to bring them up in conversation.But Jesus wants me to remember this truth;When he forgives me,he totally forgets.The past is just that-it has passed! The truth is forgiveness is not a feeling,it is a fact.Regardless of our finicky feelings.However,the closer I am to Jesus,the more I feel the effects of his forgiveness in my life.When we experienced Him,we experience the fullness of what it feels like to be free. THE HEART OF JESUS Understanding that gives us grace is one thing-but realizing why he is such a gracious God is something altogether hard to comprehend.Does it mean that we should do something evil so that good will come? Of course,God will not measure his standard my measuring my sin God is motivated to save us because of his love for us and His responsibility to deal with sin.His grace is where love and justice meet to provide our salvation LOVE HUNG ON THE CROSS He looked around the hill and foresaw a scene.3 figures hung on three crosses.Arms spread,heads fallen forward and they moaned with the wind.Men clad in soldiers garb sat on the ground near the trio.Women clad in sorrow huddled at the foot of the hill.Faces fear streaked.All heaven stood to fight.All nature rise to rescue.All eternity poised to protect but the creator gave no command.It must be done,he said and withdrew the angel spoke again.It would be less painful.The creator interrupted softly,but it wouldn't be love. PETER
GOD IS CRAZY ABOUT ME God's loves you just the way you are.If you think his love for you would be stronger,if your faith were,you're wrong!If you think his love would be deeper,your thoughts are wrong again.Don't confuse God's love with the love of people.The love of people often increases with performance and decreases with mistakes not so much with God's love.He loves you where you are. It wasn't right that spikes pierced the hands that formed the earth.And it wasn't right that the son of God was forced to hear the silence of God. It wasn't right but it happened for while Jesus was on the cross,God sat on his hand.He turned his back.He ignored the screams of the innocent.he sat in silence while the sins of the world were placed upon His son.while a cry a million times bloodier than John's echoed in the black sky. "My God,my God why have you forsaken me? was it right? No was it fair? no was it love? yes What made us Christians is not perfection but forgiveness. Courage is an outgrowth of who we are.Exterior supports can temporarily sustain us but only inward character creates courage FROM HEAVENS PERSPECTIVE: GOD'S GRACE IS SUFFICIENT From my personal experience,whenever I asked for something and God didn't answer, I feel frustrated and even resentful at times.In my mind,I argue.I question Him of his promise to ask for anything.After a week of understanding God's grace it became more clear to me that God's grace is sufficient.I just don't see it because I was so blinded with my own expectations.But when God saved my soul from hell,that is already sufficient.Just like the illustration of the Pilot who was trying to save every passenger from dying but each passenger ask for something that they don't actually need.At that certain circumstance,all they need is to follow the Pilot's instruction to wear their parachute and jump to save their lives but some would even bother asking what color to wear,what things to bring or some would even busy themselves worrying what if they will just wait for the plane to go down a bit? The truth is,only one item is necessary for the jump,and he provides it.He places the strategic tool in our hands.The gift is adequate,but are we content? No,we are restless,anxious even demanding. Just as God is willing to provide what we really need,we are asking for what we just wanted.All God expects from us is to see His grace as more than enough to sustain us.We were continuously annoyed because we were too busy seeing things on our own perspective and never understanding that God just need us to entrust everything to Him and trust in the simplicity of His provision. I now understand that my attitude in asking him is so demanding that's why I always get that frustrated.There were times that the one thing I so wanted are the things that I never get.And yeah,my reaction is an illustration in understanding God's grace to me. What if the request is delayed or even denied? If God says no to you,how will you respond? If God says,I've given you my grace,and that is enough,"will you be content? CONTENTMENT.That's the word.A state of heart in which you would be at peace if God gave you nothing more than what he already has.Ever wondering why we keep on wanting more? Because there is nothing on earth that can satisfy our deepest longing. As for me,I really commit myself to put my contentment in Christ.I know for a fact that it would be so hard but what inspires me is the fact that God's grace had saved me from hell is a sign that he meant more than salvation.To what I can understand ,God wants me to learn how to entrust my everything to Him and to trust Him with my needs.If He saved my soul then what more can't he do for me? If He provided my spiritual needs,why not my physical needs? Experiencing Jesus is not a nirvana-like experience-oblivious to or exempt from personal pain.In fact,pain is an essential to experiencing the fullness of Jesus-his strength,his faithfulness,his comfort. You wonder why God doesn't remove temptation from your life? If He did,you might lean on your own strength instead of His grace. HOW GRACE WORKS Grace is freely given but a lot refuse it.Why don't people accept God's free gift? The answers are similar.Some are too embarrassed. To.To accept forgiveness is to admit sin,a step we are slow to take.Others fear a trick,a catch.Surely there's some fine print in the Bible.Other's think who needs forgiveness when you're as good as as I am? Receiving a gift that I don't deserve at all overwhelmed me.My tendency is to reject it because it would just make me uncomfortable.I remember when a missionary came to our place and where teaching us about Jesus,my initial reaction was to question him.Immature questions such as "why".You have the chance to end evilness in this world,why not just do it.Then when I found out he even died for me,I was like I'm not a murderer or a thief or a pagan worshiper.I'm the one being abandoned here.Why would I be leveled t those sinners who killed or those who had committed the worst crimes in this world.Why would my sin be compared to them? I'm no criminal,why would God forgive them just as he did to us who only commit minor sins.I was really self righteous that time because I was angry.My heart was so much filled with anger and hatred to people who took me for granted.I was so much angry for I felt like life is so much unfair.But when I fully understood the grace of Jesus,I was crying for thinking I don't need him.I knelt down,and pray indeed I need Jesus from my darkened heart.I need his grace to help me live a new life.I even asked for forgiveness for my unbelief and accusations and suspicions. After years of experiencing his grace,I still can't totally understand how his grace is.Its just so hard to understand the fact that grace is something given to me even if I don't deserve it. However,It's just sad that God's grace is being abused.I heard my brother once said,since God can forgive my sin in the past or even in the future then why not live the life I want and confess my sin in the future?Is that the intent of grace? Is it God's goal to promote disobedience? God's grace teaches us not to live against God or to do the evil things the world wants to do.Instead,that grace teaches us to live now in a wise and right way.And in a way that shows we serve God (Titus 2:11-12).God's grace has released us from selfishness,why return? Sin put us in prison.It locked us behind bars of guilt,shame and deception.What does the prison have that we still desire? It makes no sense to go back in prison. Sin has no power over us anymore.We don't have to sin no more.We are no longer slaves.So when we sin it is because we have chosen to sin.It just mean that we cannot actually commit sin because of our new nature.It's just that God's gift of freedom that we are to make our choice. Experiencing the grace of Jesus means we feel his strong hand on our shoulder as we hear the words "my child,you are free". Grace is a free gift.Something given to us even if we don't deserve it.The challenge is can one who has been given the free gift not share that gift with others?I suppose.But let us remember that all f our life is a gift of grace.And let him remember that the call of grace is to LIVE A GRACIOUS life.For that is how grace works. MY VOW OF COMMITMENT By grace,I am made new in Christ.By grace,I am buried and made alive in Christ,By grace,I am redeemed.And just as how a couple made vows together in a church,it is a promise they always have to remember to keep them going when things get tough. So I came up with writing a VOW to God and also is my prayer.I'll call it my VOW OF COMMITMENT. Today,I stand in front of the man who died on the cross for me.While he did everything he could to express his love for me that includes giving me eternal life by giving me a new life.Starting the day I met him,my life has been changed.I can still remember the feeling like I can die at that very moment.I can't help but felt like I was the most blessed person in this planet.Why would I not feel that way when I learned that he died just for me.But as days go by,sometimes I feel down and from time to time I felt maybe I don't deserve to be even called his child.I feel really down and ashamed for being a disappointment to him but I'm making a vow to him ,that is to always remember his grace to me.That when I feel like I am a disappointment and I did a lot of stupid things I promise to look back and remember the VOW I made to you.To always remember this moment.And this is my vow,I commit myself to live a life that gives glory to you.And from time to time that I might mess up,help me to remember this.Amen. ROYAL PAUPERS We were made royal paupers.How about that? It was honestly too much to take but God wasn't trying to impress me or anyone.he simply loved me so much that even a pauper,a nobody like me he cared too much. One of the greatest incredible realizations we can make about God's gift is his TIMING.he didn't love us after we changed.it wasn't after we decided to give or commit to the ministry.He loved us even before.What could be more precious than that? We have so much Bible passages that speaks about our deep need for God.We have so much blessings and promises given by God.But the question is should we remain Royal Paupers? What should we do ? what should I do personally? First,i should have a "deep hunger for God".A spiritual hunger for the nourishment of my soul.Just like how I always strive to stay healthy and fit,i also have to feed spiritual food.I haven't took much healthy spiritual food in years so I'm sure that would make m spiritually weak. Spiritual hunger should not be a yearning to be avoided but rather a God-given desire to be heeded.My weakness is not to be dismissed but to be confessed. Sometimes its hard for me to do so specially when there were too much pain in the past that I was reminded of.Sometimes,all I did is to wonder how things should be resolved.Again,I was so much obsessed with the thought of dealing with my own problems.I was obsessed with the behavior that I should be responsible enough to fix my mess.I thought I'm dealing with it.Turns out,I'm not actually solving anything but I'm complicating things.I think too much,I dwell on a pain or a failure for so long.I still know I made the past get hold of me even in times that I think I had moved on.It was really hard to deal all these without feeding spiritually coz I will collapse.I need nourishment. and thanks be to God for offering such forgiveness.hanks for giving me a second chance.Most of all ,thanks for the gift of salvation,the privilege to be part His family.The wonder privilege to be a child of God. The story didn't end with God's forgiveness.It would be enough if God just cleansed my name but he does more.he gives me my name.A name that should be protected.A name meant to be of blessing to others and a name that should give glory to him always! GOD TO THE RESCUE While we struggle on how to get out of the dark pit,God does all he can to get us out.While we depend too much on our own strength thinking we can always do things on our own,God did more than what we needed,his son being sacrificed.We were so foolish trying to be self righteous,thinking we can win God's salvation through good works. The conclusion is unavoidable,salvation simply does not work.Man has no way to save himself.But Paul announces that God has a way.Where man fails God excels.Salvation comes from heaven downward,not earth upward." A new day from heaven will dawn upon us". Just like how it was discuss previously,we need God's grace.And there's no way for us to work out our salvation.We need Jesus,our mediator to reconcile us with God.And we were made right to God through our faith in Him. When God sent Jesus as a sacrifice or substitute for our sins,he put grace in motion.He simply put the cost of our sins infinitely more than we can pay.Grace must come to our rescue-in the person of Jesus Christ. But some people for some reason accept Jesus as Lord before they accept Him as a Savior.It's easier to comprehend his power than His mercy. This is really true as well in my case because understanding God's mercy is too much how much more when it comes to his grace.How can I accept something that I don't deserve? Sometimes its easier to put things that way.It's easier to believe God's power rather than the reality and power of His grace.It's really overwhelming come to think of it but it is the truth.God came to our rescue so we may experience His grace. Don't get it wrong,God does't condone our sin,nor does he compromised his standard.He doesn't ignore our rebellion nor does he relax his demands.Rather,than dismiss our sin ,he assumes our sin and incredibly,sentences himself.God's holiness is honored.Our sin is punished ..and we are redeemed.God is still God.Amen! PERSONAL APPLICATION I'm so much thankful for the million times God showed mercy to me apart from his grace.There are times that I think its too much.But thanks be to God,he's serious when and he's not kidding when Christ died once and for all,he mean it.he came to rescue me from the penalty of death and that's what matters.I'm grateful and thankful for such wonderful gift to me. WE NEED GRACE "in order to understand the grace of God,we have to understand his wrath" God's anger is due to the evilness and wrongs his people do.It is not influenced by his moods or needs but it is simply by the evilness we do. Many people don't understand God's anger because they confuse the wrath of God with the wrath of man.Human anger is typically self driven and prone to explosions of temper and violent deeds. God doesn't get angry because he doesn't get his way.he gets angry because disobedience results in self destruction.God is rightfully angry.God is a holy God.Our sins are affront to his holiness.His eyes are too good to look at evil.He cannot stand to see those who do wrong.God is angry at the evil that ruins his children.As long as God is God,he cannot behold with indifference that his creation is destroyed and is holy will trodden underfoot. What separates us from God is S I N.We're not strong enough to remove it.We're not good enough to erase it.For all of our differences,there's one problem we all share.We are separated from God.We live in a sinful world.In fact,according to Paul there are 3 types of person in this world a) HEDONIST
b) JUDGEMENTALIST
*I think this category is where most of us fall specially me.We are so busy saving our image and to make ourselves better we compare ourselves to those that are worse than us. c) LEGALIST
*the problem with this is we can never do enough to save ourselves Truth is every person on God's green earth has failed.The Hedonist failed because they were pleasure centered and not God centered.The judgementalist failed because they were high minded and not God -minded.The legalist failed because they were work driven and not grace driven.Asses yourself honestly against what Paul says are three types of people in the world. This is what happen in our lives minus God.The good news is we receive God's grace.The good news however isn't good news until we first wrestle with the unspeakably bad news of our looseness.For it is by grace,we have been saved through faith and not by our own works. In spite of our sinful nature.nature. In spite of getting God angry to us still he gave us his grace.Something we don't deserve and yet was given to us. In spite of the types of person we are,crooked,selfish,self centered this hasn't avoid God from sending his son to die on the cross to conquer sin once and for all.Now,that is the good news! God's highest dream is not to make us rich nor popular or successful or famous.God's dream is to make us right with Him.And being right means living in our new self.A self renewed by the blood of Jesus.We are helpless that no matter what we do,we can't save our selves from the wrath and punishment of God.Yet the only way to be right with him is through the blood of Jesus,a result of His Grace.We really need his grace! HOME (IS WHERE WE RIGHTFULLY BELONG) HOME.Means where our family is.Home can also mean warmly welcomed.Home is where we always look forward to go back one of these days whenever we are overseas or far from home. But our spiritual home is in Heaven.Yes,that's heaven! Where there is no more crying or pain or hunger or brokenness. And.And everyone who is in Christ is looking forward to going there someday.It is indeed a joy to be home someday. One time,we were talking about sickness,accidents and deaths at the office when one of my office mate asked me if I'm ready to die.I answered without hesitation that I am very ready.I am the only one actually who answered with readiness to death anytime.Most of them see themselves die at certain age in their lives.They reason out that there are still a lot of things to do and accomplish.In my understanding,they fear death because there's no assurance where they will be after death. Well,I can testify what Joy it is to be in Christ while I am alive,what more to the idea of meeting him someday in his kingdom. That is what makes the promise at the end of the beatitudes so compelling: "rejoice and be glad,because great is your reward in heaven.A reward called H O M E. HOME.Means where our family is.Home can also mean warmly welcomed.Home is where we always look forward to go back one of these days whenever we are overseas or far from home. But our spiritual home is in Heaven.Yes,that's heaven! Where there is no more crying or pain or hunger or brokenness. And.And everyone who is in Christ is looking forward to going there someday.It is indeed a joy to be home someday. One time,we were talking about sickness,accidents and deaths at the office when one of my office mate asked me if I'm ready to die.I answered without hesitation that I am very ready.I am the only one actually who answered with readiness to death anytime.Most of them see themselves die at certain age in their lives.They reason out that there are still a lot of things to do and accomplish.In my understanding,they fear death because there's no assurance where they will be after death. Well,I can testify what Joy it is to be in Christ while I am alive,what more to the idea of meeting him someday in his kingdom. That is what makes the promise at the end of the beatitudes so compelling: "rejoice and be glad,because great is your reward in heaven.A reward called H O M E. Rejoice in the Lord always but sometimes sin hinders us from rejoicing.The most miserable person on earth is a disobedient christian.Experiencing Jesus becomes bittersweet for that person-longing to have fellowship with Christ but still lingering outside his door because of sin. Jesus understands we are human by nature.Imperfect.Some days we can't seem to make the choice to be joyful.We maybe overwhelmed.Grieving,confused.Hurting.However,in heaven,there will be no such thing as "good days" and "bad days".We will rejoice forever. Experiencing the Joy of Jesus makes us different.it affects us .Knowing what we know,seeing what we've seen.It just doesn't make sense to choose fleeting moments of earthly pleasures over eternal joy.It no longer seems appealing to grow bitter over our hurts instead of better.We find ourselves exactly where the Beatitudes said would be-hungry for more in Jesus... BRIEF SUMMARY Does God loves us because of our Goodness? No,he loves us because of his goodness,kindness and great faith.Your goodness does not enhance his love nor does your weakness dilute it. God's grace is where love and justice meet.And God proved his love by sacrificing his son. The cleansing is not a promise for the future but a reality in the present as well.He is faithful to provide both for the future and our present and has given us the holy spirit so he can care for us at every level of our need. His grace is always enough-also for the heavy trials.Thus,Christians can always be cheerful.cheerful. In spite of all that Jesus had to endure ,he was joyful.Sacred delight is an inner exuberance that comes from God.And joy begins with having the faith that you are forgiven. REFLECTION Rejoice in the Lord always! But how come we don't rejoice when life is so messed up? How can I be happy when all my life it was in shades of gray? How can I even smile if I don't have anything to smile about.How can I rejoice when I came from a broken family.Cold and distant.How can I rejoice when friends turn their backs on me and got no one to run to. How can I rejoice when even at work,no matter how I wanted to be at my best,I was always a failure.How can I rejoice and be contented in life when I was treated like a looser ,unwanted and never was desirable to the eye of any man. How can I rejoice when I live all alone on the same routine every single day.Bills to pay,things to settle and work and work and work.How can I ever call this life when my life has no life at all? How can I be proud and happy when I keep disappointing others.How can I be happy when I keep on hurting others because of my sharp tongue. How can I even love myself when the person I love the most don't love or even like me? How can I rejoice when my desire to finish school is still hanging? how can I be confident of myself if I don't even like how I look? How can I forgive others if I myself is so much guilty? How do I know what it means to love unconditionally when I didn't love at all? My insecurities and bitterness and pains can go on and on.It only stop when I met a lot of people who were less privilege than I am and yet they wear a smile just to make me smile.A friend who still tried to make me laugh than fill me in with more depressing news.I was humbled. I stop whining not until I spoke to a brother who don't have any job and don't know how to provide the needs of his family. I stop myself from being bitter when I watch the evening news, a lawyer student raped and mistreated but when she was able to recover,she smiled with grace and said I forgive them peacefully. I'm just humbled by certain things and circumstances on this earth.I just realized the things that I am wincing about is nothing as compared to those who have nothing and no reason to be happy and yet they choose to celebrate life.God indeed is a great God.He never left us alone in our time of need. After almost 3 months of reflecting on "experiencing the heart of Jesus" I find myself drawing more and more into a challenging application.After all,there's no sense at all when there's no application.I know fully that whatever I read in the book is a guide for me to discover the beauty of God's character and to help me experience God's love,care,grace,forgiveness and joy in my life. What hinders me from pushing to my limit? What hurt me and what kept me bitter? These are just few of my realizations. What's holding me back? And how I see myself in front of God? What have I become of so far? I question myself,there's no doubt that I have receive most of these free gifts of God.No doubt,I was loved long before I was born.No doubt he cared for me all my life.No doubt of His forgiveness and grace.There's no doubt that God is delighted when I act according to His will.There's no doubt I experience all those but still I keep asking myself.What is it with the other's that they had developed a deeper intimacy with God? Why it is that it's so easy for them to entrust everything to God.They just don't have fears or doubts.There trust in God is so great that they don't have setbacks in their hearts.As a result,God made them prosperous? Maybe,it's about time to be pushed beyond my limit.If I can do everything I can just to keep and get what I wanted,what can I not give to God? It must be my heart that needs to be changed.It must be my heart where everything started. In order for me to experience the heart of Jesus,I must also be sure of my heart condition.It must be right with God so I also know how to love unconditionally,to care ,to forgive ,to be gracious and most of all to always joyful in life regardless of the circumstances. STATE OF THE HEART There's no denying that when it comes to heart matters,first thing that comes to mind is either heartbreak or love.But to Jesus' listens,the heart was THE TOTALITY OF THE INNER PERSON-the control tower.The cockpit.It is the seat of character-the origin of desires,affections,perceptions,thoughts,reasoning,imagination,conscience,intentions,purpose,will and faith. The heart is the center of spiritual life.If the truth of a tree is bad,you don't try to fix the fruit;you treat the roots.And if a person's actions are evil,it's not enough to change the habits; You have to go deeper.You have to go to the heart of the problem,which is the problem of the heart. Sow seeds of hope and enjoy optimism.Sow seeds of doubt and expect insecurity. But most of all, You change your life by changing your heart. STATE OF MY OWN HEART This topic reminded me of one of my favorite TV show which is American Idol that I just finished watching a while ago. I notice the judges and mentors would always give advice or comments such as the singers "have to put their heart to the song".They must feel it so they can connect with the crowd or whoever is watching them.It also includes being a dynamic singer like controlling or driving the crowd to like them more as a singer.One thing that they also give their contestants in this competition is their individuality because it is much needed when you are a performer.If you don't have an identity ,you will easily be forgotten. Again,I'm not promoting the show but I agree with what the judges has to say.I guess they know what they are saying considering the experience they have as a performer all those years. I connected it to the topic because just like what the mentors where saying in this competition,your song should be an expression of what is in your heart.If you know what you're singing,people can feel it.But if you're just singing to be perfect or to impress or to compete and win and you're doing it out of passion,then definitely ,the crowd listening to these singers will not feel anything at all. My point is,our hearts content is always manifested in our expressions.Be it in our gestures,our tone or in whatever we do or say. One example is my QA performance at the office.I find it hard to earn a high evaluation because my heart is half hearted. My attitude is nor right.I just don't like their guidelines and I sometimes questions it.In some cases,I come to work too tired and bored that my TONE always said it all.Either they mark me for being unfriendly or rude.I am a performer when it comes to ranking but I'm always part of the bottom performers when it comes to QA. I so wanted to change because if they are disappointed in me then how much more with me.But the more I tried my best to be at my best,the more I'm loosing it and it's really so much frustrating and even depressing. While I was meditating on this topic,I was glad I had the opportunity to evaluate my heart tonight.I agree that in order for me to change my life,I have to have a change of heart.To check where I'm broken and in pain.I have to set my heart right to God.Not just to impress,not just to brag about what I can do but to do things out of the love for God. THE BLESSINGS OF GOD When it comes to God's blessing,there's a very popular bible passage that most might be familiar of-the Beatitudes. when I was a kid,I have to memorize it for my Sunday school.When I was in High School,I have to memorize it to pass my Religion Subject.And every time I hear it from a sermon,I see it as a generalized promise to everyone who puts his hope in God. But today,after studying it,I was able to see it differently and deeply. This passage (Mat.5) describes God's radical reconstruction of the heart.Observe the sequence.First we recognize we are in need (we are poor in spirit).Next,we repent of our self sufficiency(we mourn).Then we quit calling the shots and surrender control to God.(we're meek).so grateful we are in his presence that we yearn for more of Him (we hunger and thirst).We recognize,God alone will fill our cavernous needs and we trust God to do it.The result? We rejoice! As we grow close to Him,we become more like Him.We forgive others (we are merciful).We change our outlook (we're pure in heart) We love others (we're peacemakers) We endure injustice (we're persecuted). I fully understand now that it's more of just a scripture to memorize.Now I understand that it's more than being aware that it is an individual blessing for each kind of people.I have this idea in mind that each person is entitled to one beatitude.I didn't realize that this are actually blessings from God that is for EACH one of us.I never, even know that its like a process of change.A step to being closer to Him. It's no casual shift of attitude. It.It is a demolition of the old structure and creation of the new.The more radical the change,the greater the joy.And its worth every effort,for this is the joy of God. However,this Joy that we have been taking about is sometimes overcome by a bandit.Yes,bandits are not only into physical things but they can also penetrate spiritually and emotionally.The difference is we can control them from taking over what's ours because we have a choice.This bandit is fear.We are being robbed of joy if we give in to F E A R.It's task is to take our courage and leave us timid and trembling.His method is to manipulate us with the mysterious,to taunt us with the unknown. If we are in Christ,these promises are not only a source of joy.They are also foundations of true courage.We faced our fears with force or we stock -pile wealth. We.We seek security in things.We cultivate fame and seek status but C O U R A G E is an out growth of who we are.Exterior supports may temporarily sustain but only inward character creates courage. When God looks at us,He doesn't just see us.He sees the one who surrounds us.That means failure is not a concern for us.Our victory is secure! Truly,If I am in Christ,what can men do to me to harm me? Rejoice in the Lord! Just thinking of the blessings I have in my life makes me so much thankful,what more could hinder me from rejoicing?! It could be hindered by bandits like fear,personal expectations and doubts but Just like what's promise in Matthew 5,I am blessed! Rejoice! SACRED DELIGHT There's a big difference between "HAPPINESS and JOY". Happiness depends on what we feel under certain circumstances in just a period of time.Joy is a God given gift,an eternal part of who we are.It's not built on shaky foundations of circumstances.It's a life built on inner exuberance that comes from God.Circumstances couldn't affect joy-it was untouchable. I can remember lot of times when I'm happy but having joy in life,it is something that I don't need to remember because its already part of who I am.The joy of eternal life.The joy of being exempted from eternal destruction.The joy of finding my peace in God. DELIGHT is part of being joyful.If we have joy,then obviously we are delighted.But we can't fully understand this if we don't understand the delight of the father,for again this came from God.Delight is a discovered pearl,a multiplied talent,a heaven bound beggar,a criminal in the kingdom. Joy can be the result of many things in our life.We can't even fully understand where it all started but as for me,It's very clear it is Jesus' presence in my life. We may know about God without knowing Him at all.In fact,unless we experience Him and know what it means to be in His presence,it's likely we will never know Him. In my observation,happy people are mostly loved.Most would love spending time to a more positive person than some depressive sad person.Because it is being with happy people that draws our down spirit to be happy too.Their happiness overflows to people around them.It's like a smile,when you smile it's like a virus that infected others,they smile back at you.I never saw someone who frowned at me after I smile.Unless,it's an enemy of course who's angry with me. I believe experiencing the Joy of Jesus means I have to hangout more with Him so I can fully acquire the same joy he has.I can never fully understand what it means to be joyful in Christ if God isn't present in my life.I believe knowing Him more is more than the memorized version of the Bible passages that we read.Knowing Him more is experiencing Him personally.I had a few moments of being overwhelmed while I study God's love and forgiveness and believe me,I can't comprehend Him.I felt like I'm going to explode if I insist on understanding everything in mere human terms. As a result of being joyful,it should also over flow in our lives so people around us will benefit. I have seen a lot of godly people who's joy in life has been expressed through God's different ministry.Sometimes,they express their joy by using the gift God gave them.I saw godly people who minister in the gift of giving.If they give,they are all out as if there's no problem at all,they help others by giving out almost everything they can give and they offer their time like they don't have anything important to do.That is the difference of joy and happiness. Personally,before I was really felt with bitterness and revenge.I was so angry that I wanted revenge.But it done me no good.In fact,I still have struggles with the result of my attitude. I.I rarely smile and It's a challenge for me to jive in or to do small talk.I'm scared being in a crowd for fear of being OP.But some true friends had told me that I have improved.I'm more happy,I smile a lot and laugh a lot that some would tease me like I'm in love. Actually,yes I am in love to the one who loved me first.I know this joy that I feel right now is forever.And while I carry a life full of joy,I also help inspire those around me to seek the true source of joy-God. I have truly experienced the heart of Jesus and It is so overwhelming!
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