tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295265612024-03-14T13:42:31.794+07:00Borders of FaithFormerly Known as Missions & TheologyJoeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06135557597523377513noreply@blogger.comBlogger438125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29526561.post-11491798885196612072023-01-24T11:12:00.000+07:002023-01-24T11:12:14.963+07:00Citizens of heaven<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAoVlz8L8XHB__kSiUUdBEMwrkU_FRttFy3AMC44rw-L71CrcYZXruKMV6pQPlGt-EfNAo5kwlR-wcRpgou3vxnB7AaLbcRsUKzWuL9SjKzVYSLRlTENmfBr0LD0TivAXNn7h_iC5dghNDsRZvmapFjnMtthplv5xBm-l3DVs6vxKxA0y9EnY/s6000/convertkit-htQznS-Rx7w-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAoVlz8L8XHB__kSiUUdBEMwrkU_FRttFy3AMC44rw-L71CrcYZXruKMV6pQPlGt-EfNAo5kwlR-wcRpgou3vxnB7AaLbcRsUKzWuL9SjKzVYSLRlTENmfBr0LD0TivAXNn7h_iC5dghNDsRZvmapFjnMtthplv5xBm-l3DVs6vxKxA0y9EnY/w640-h426/convertkit-htQznS-Rx7w-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><blockquote><i>But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies. And change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control. - Philippians 3:20</i></blockquote><p></p><p>Nine months. Yes, we have been back home in Thailand that long. We failed to return for two years because of the pandemic. So, the Thai immigration canceled our visa. They are extending our visa one month at a time.</p><p>The process of getting and extending a visa is a constant source of stress for us. We need to check our passport stamps to see if we must go to the immigration office for a ninety-day appearance. We need to follow all the rules and regulations of immigration if we want to stay here.</p><p>We do not have the same rights and privileges of the citizens of Thailand. These problems do not exist if we are living in our own country. We want to go home but at the same time we want to stay and continue the Lord's work here.</p><p>When Paul says, "we are citizens of heaven" we understand a little of what he means. Heaven is our home. Our true citizenship belongs there but he does not mean that we are waiting for our lives to be over and live off there. It does not mean that God will scrap our physical body and have no regards for it.</p><p>In this passage, what He means is that our Lord Jesus our King will come from heaven to earth. He will change the present situation. By His power He will transform our present body like His own then will put everything under His control. Heavenly citizenship is about human resurrection. When He finally gives the citizenship that we all long for when He transforms the whole universe.</p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by ConvertKit on Unsplash</i></span></p>Joeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06135557597523377513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29526561.post-4408311887072114712023-01-13T09:58:00.005+07:002023-01-13T09:58:48.277+07:00Who knows tomorrow?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjk-dgKSWclJamsz2wS3lppeJ5xXpwlAABAP9NowVAoGYTCNLZeYf6IY6lA4PIj0-fP2jiVixQXf6LPHEj7VgU9mANqqNDGX6AyV0XoVPSbHRjMqMIekSEiwRTYpcl_TPcS1DyVirS4Qc6-WrGm8DQ7QWqrjy1qMa3oRqUCuFYJ5x2cKH9Fs/s5026/patrick-fore-74TufExdP3Y-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3351" data-original-width="5026" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjk-dgKSWclJamsz2wS3lppeJ5xXpwlAABAP9NowVAoGYTCNLZeYf6IY6lA4PIj0-fP2jiVixQXf6LPHEj7VgU9mANqqNDGX6AyV0XoVPSbHRjMqMIekSEiwRTYpcl_TPcS1DyVirS4Qc6-WrGm8DQ7QWqrjy1qMa3oRqUCuFYJ5x2cKH9Fs/w640-h426/patrick-fore-74TufExdP3Y-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><blockquote>Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”- James 4:13-15</blockquote><p></p><p></p><p>Sometimes it takes time for us to fall asleep at night. When this happens, our brain cannot stop working. Our memory goes back to past years. The realization dawns on us that time has wings, and it flies faster than any birds. This is truer when we are getting older. Ten years feels like a week.</p><p>Then we start thinking about the future. We know that ten years will pass by like a week. The year 2023 is still new, but we ask ourselves, "how will this year be for me?" "What will happen to me in the next ten years?" These are the questions that we will not find an answer to. We can only predict what will happen in the next few hours. But the next day will be a total unknown.</p><p>Henri Nouwen says that "the art of living is to enjoy what we can see and not complain about what remains in the dark." Trust the Lord for the next step we take. Thank Him that He shows us the way for the next step. Walk through life with joy and we will be in awe at how far we have gone. </p><p></p><blockquote>The only thing we are sure of is today. Tomorrow is the Lord's to give and guide.</blockquote><p></p><p><i>We thank you Lord for today. Help us to trust you for every step we take to the future. Amen</i></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; white-space: nowrap;">Photo by </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/@patrickian4?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Patrick Fore</a><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; white-space: nowrap;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/74TufExdP3Y?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Unsplash</a></i></span></p><div><br /></div>Joeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06135557597523377513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29526561.post-29995688545920908182023-01-12T14:08:00.004+07:002023-01-12T15:09:25.211+07:00Hopeful in 2023<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmRbcnwxH9DV6C8L_I1C_fnXxKZOYp5J1RQp97PyZtlZDFoNu-503is-mIApIUiOysPi45lYEkdnW_1otUi63eVin3UkaylynNfx_C1eHUJVCieXncYaRwBBtAo_RFyFsE_N1kssI2-XLO4p_YQCc0tFJYdz36UUIPUasZ7kys0QKIM7KqWI/s1280/thank%20you%20card%202023.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmRbcnwxH9DV6C8L_I1C_fnXxKZOYp5J1RQp97PyZtlZDFoNu-503is-mIApIUiOysPi45lYEkdnW_1otUi63eVin3UkaylynNfx_C1eHUJVCieXncYaRwBBtAo_RFyFsE_N1kssI2-XLO4p_YQCc0tFJYdz36UUIPUasZ7kys0QKIM7KqWI/w640-h360/thank%20you%20card%202023.png" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Happy new year. 2022 is over. If you are like us, we expected the past year to be a better year than the two previous years. It was so but it was not what we hoped to be. After two years, we came back to Thailand unprepared for the changes that would happen.</p><p>It was a challenging year for us. The series of events drain our energy and savings. The kids going to college, being sick of covid. Moreover, house repair, truck repair, visa problems, death in the family, and lately the accident. God is faithful. He helped us through the tough times.</p><p>Being grateful when good things happen in our lives is easy. But we can choose to be thankful for the good as well as the bad. For the moments of joy as well as moments of sorrow. For the successes as well as failures. This is faith. This is trust in God for everything he has brought us. We trust that we will see God’s loving hand in everything.</p><p>This year we celebrated the new year together with Jared and Jillian. Singing, dancing, watching fireworks, eating, and praying. The first we have done it in a long time. We are hopeful that this year will be the most exciting for the kids. We know that God will open more opportunities for them in their studies and their service to God.</p><p>We envision that together with the kids we will work as a team in sharing the love of God, in the university, schools, and community. In two years, four of them will graduate and who know what God has in stored for them. </p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Opportunity to connect people to Jesus</h2><p>Christmas! Yes, it is the busiest month for us. We heard people say that the Thai do not celebrate Christmas. I beg to disagree. The Thais always find things to celebrate. Christmas is not an exception. They celebrate it in their own ways. They just do not understand why Christians celebrate it. It is a challenge for us to communicate to them the true meaning of Christmas. This is the best occasion to share the gospel.</p><p>Local churches and schools invited our team (Narlin, the kids and I) to tell the story of Jesus in schools and villages. We did it through drama skit, dance, and carol singing. Of course, it includes the local Pastor preaching the gospel. Please pray that the seed of the gospel planted in the hearts of the people will grow.</p><p>This year, our relationship with our church has grown stronger. We came to know the members more. Our Pastor trust us to preach on regular basis. Jai does the interpretation. Narlin uses her gifts to decorate the church and help the women’s ministry. We now take part in meetings and decision making. They ask for our ideas about the programs and activities of the church. </p><p>Moreover, the children are active in youth ministry and in the worship team. We are thankful that through the church we have the opportunity to connect with more people. In so doing, connect them to Jesus and help them grow in their faith. </p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Thanksgiving and Prayer Concerns</h2><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>We are thankful for another year. God’s provision for a fresh start after a tough 2022. Thankful to the Lord for the couple of friends who helped us out financially at the start of the year. We can take care of our obligations to the university and friends who lent us funds during our time of need. God is indeed faithful.</li><li>Thankful for two children will graduate this year. Tee from high school and Pia from middle school. Tee will go to technical school. Pia will choose her course that she wants to get for college. Please pray for them both.</li><li>Please pray for our visa. The immigration extends it for two months. Then we will have a “long-stay interview” on 17th of January by the Department of Social Welfare and Human Security. This is a requirement to get a one-year visa. Please pray that they will give it to us this time.</li></ol>Joeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06135557597523377513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29526561.post-54965324628788789952023-01-06T10:58:00.005+07:002023-01-07T20:54:55.008+07:00Be Worthy of the Gospel of Christ<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUOxpBIhQE_fo387Q73uH2lhtMToGSDfPsqO8D0n_mDNWAaIqtVa2bIWKQaY3WZITd11ObgbN3OKQLQcxgLPOl8PdpqwWejnq3k1nSSDA6neLUMi5WzT1a-2e4U3y7auCDsp7wguuC1D6CPUlorCaBsYdJEu4kC_qfq38o_UsLwHDSqs3_Wg/s5309/saad-chaudhry-cYpqYxGeqts-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3539" data-original-width="5309" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUOxpBIhQE_fo387Q73uH2lhtMToGSDfPsqO8D0n_mDNWAaIqtVa2bIWKQaY3WZITd11ObgbN3OKQLQcxgLPOl8PdpqwWejnq3k1nSSDA6neLUMi5WzT1a-2e4U3y7auCDsp7wguuC1D6CPUlorCaBsYdJEu4kC_qfq38o_UsLwHDSqs3_Wg/w640-h426/saad-chaudhry-cYpqYxGeqts-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Today is the first day of the new year 2023. Many of us take this opportunity to change many things in our lives. We make resolutions but we do not keep them. In the start of the new year causes us to have to make real decisions.</p><p>Here are the top ten new year’s resolutions.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>10- Spend time with family</li><li>9-Fall in love</li><li>8-Help others</li><li>7- Quit smoking</li><li>6-Learn something new</li><li>5-Staying fit and healthy</li><li>4-Enjoy life to the fullest</li><li>3-Spend less, save more</li><li>2-Getting organized</li><li>1-Lose weight</li></ul><p></p><p>Today, we will think of one resolution that we should keep by. This one resolution is important because what we do with this resolution reflects our commitment tour Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.</p><p>In our passage today, we learn that the Apostle Paul is writing to the Church in Philippi about the importance of living for Jesus no matter what happens.</p><p></p><blockquote><i>Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel… -Philippians 1:27</i></blockquote><p>Let us all be worthy of the Gospel of Christ. How can we be worthy of the Gospel of Christ?</p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">By our manner of life</span></h2><p></p><blockquote><i>Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. -Philippians 1:27</i></blockquote><p></p><p>In the previous verses Paul speaks about the choices he wants with his life. His real desire is to be in heaven with Jesus. He wishes for that time, but he realizes that God has a plan and purpose for his life, so he needs to stay on the earth a little bit longer.</p><p>In verses 21-22, we can see how he thinks and feels.</p><p><i></i></p><blockquote><i>21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!</i></blockquote><p></p><p>Although Paul wants to be with the Lord, he needs to wait because God wants Paul to help others to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus.</p><p></p><blockquote><i>In verse 27, he starts the verse by saying, “Whatever happens.” This means it is the most important thing in our life as a Christian. He is saying that no matter what happens we must follow this instruction.</i></blockquote><p></p><p>So, what does the “manner of life” mean? This word usually means to refer to our life as citizens. As people, are we citizens of the country where we were born and live? Almost all of us are born in Thailand, then those are citizen of Thailand. Some of us are born in Myanmar. Then these people are citizen of Myanmar. Some of us were born in the Philippines.</p><p>What is so special about this word? The people of Philippi have a great pride of their Roman citizenship. They have the special privilege of living under a Roman colony. They know the honor and implications of their high status.</p><p>As a Roman colony, the city also has the highest privilege obtained from the Roman government. As citizens of Rome, they can buy and sell property. They are exempt from land tax and other taxes. They are also protected by Roman law.</p><p>We know that Paul is a Roman citizen. He used that citizenship so he can be released from prison. In using this word, the readers are encouraged to put the same pride and zeal into living as citizens of heaven.</p><p>Our citizenship has a higher standard than the great Roman empire. Our citizenship in heaven is more important than being a citizen of our great nation.</p><p></p><blockquote><i>“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” -Philippians 3:20</i></blockquote><p></p><p>When we do not live up to being good citizens of our country, it reflects poorly on our country. When we do not strive to live a life worthy of the gospel, it will reflect poorly on God we serve and the heaven in which we are citizens.</p><p>What does it mean for us today? The challenge for us is we must let our manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Jesus. People will know how good God is if we are good. But people will not believe that God is good if our manner of life is not worthy of the gospel. Our life should reflect our heavenly citizenship.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">By standing firm</span></h2><p></p><blockquote><i>Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel… Philippians 1:27</i></blockquote><p></p><p>For Paul, standing firm is necessary to make our life worthy of the gospel. The Christians in Philippi should stand firm not for Paul. They must stand firm in Paul’s absence. Our motivation for standing firm is Jesus only. Not any other person.</p><p>The phrase translated “standing firm” is a military term used by a Roman soldier at his post. This is serious matter because if a Roman soldier fell asleep or failed to carry his duty he will be put to death.</p><p>This is what the word means used by Paul. This word is very meaningful to his readers. They know exactly what it means. For us today, we have different understandings of standing firm. We are to stand for Jesus as if our very lives depend on it.</p><p>We are called to stand firm in any and every circumstance. Too many times we let circumstances determine our decision and action. A Romans soldier could not say he fell asleep on duty because he was tired. He was to stand firm no matter what the situation.</p><p>Sometimes, when we face a difficult situation, when it involves some money, when it involves big effort, when it takes a lot of time, we failed to stand firm in the promises of God. I believe today many Christians have become situational Christians. Our faith depends on what situation we are in. Our God is bigger that our situation.</p><p>What does it mean for us? Just like Paul says, whatever happens, whatever the situation, no one will stop us doing ministries for our church. No one will stop us to worship God. Nothing will stop us from doing good in the name of Jesus.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">By striving for unity</span></h2><p></p><blockquote><i>Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel</i></blockquote><p></p><p>When we are united, we are strong. When we strive to be united in our vision, mission, and action we can accomplish great things for God. If we are not united, we cannot do so much. When we are standing firm together, our community will take notice.</p><p>Just recently Argentina became the champion in football. We all know that it is because of their teamwork. Because they are united. A team that is not united in purpose will not win even if it has the greatest player in the world. We all know that.</p><p>Even Messi will not win until he worked together and trusted his teammates. If a team is full of people who just care about their own accomplishments, the team will fail.</p><p>What does this mean for us? As Christians if our faith is only about ourselves, we will fail. If we think only about our own personal growth, we will not grow. We grow together as one. The only way we will grow in our spiritual life is if we will all grow together as one. God is calling us to strive for unity of spirit and mind.</p><p>The word of God is challenging us to be concern with the spiritual growth of our brothers and sisters in the church.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Conclusion</span></h2><p>This new year we want to change. We may want to make resolutions. But God is challenging us to make and keep this one resolution for 2023.</p><p>Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>By our manner of life</li><li>By standing firm</li><li>By striving for unity</li></ul><p></p>Joeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06135557597523377513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29526561.post-62094834217347518732022-02-05T09:21:00.003+07:002023-01-13T11:45:37.559+07:00Reading Notes: Existentialism<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3Vhnxb0nugCj9PdA8HA0km0fibzpDAbpTCxG42__mXi-MUzX-vH7YpP5x3xoT_sHj8PI87YTrDYi3_qVoTnLna78B28CsgiHVzPCqn-VZvVgdu7ERwRAP-6kbCD3otYkut0K2bgSIFiC-0Uzj171W7NlTtEECmqfWZbQpP9HUJoXAC_6FjI4=s758" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="758" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3Vhnxb0nugCj9PdA8HA0km0fibzpDAbpTCxG42__mXi-MUzX-vH7YpP5x3xoT_sHj8PI87YTrDYi3_qVoTnLna78B28CsgiHVzPCqn-VZvVgdu7ERwRAP-6kbCD3otYkut0K2bgSIFiC-0Uzj171W7NlTtEECmqfWZbQpP9HUJoXAC_6FjI4=w640-h373" width="640" /></a></div><p>Existentialism is not a school of thought so much as a trend that appears throughout philosophy during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Prior to this time, philosophical thought had grown to become increasingly more complex and abstract. In dealing with ideas of nature and truth, philosophers began to exclude the importance of human beings.</p><p>However, starting with Søren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche in the nineteenth century, several philosophers emerged placing a newfound focus on the human experience. Though there are significant differences between philosophers of existentialism (a term that would not be used until the twentieth century), the one common theme among all of them is the notion that philosophy should focus on the experience of human existence in this world. In other words, existentialism seeks out the meaning of life and finding oneself.</p><p>Though existentialist thought varies from philosopher to philosopher, there are several common themes. One of the key ideas of existentialism is that the meaning of life and discovering oneself can only be attained by free will, personal responsibility, and choice.</p><p>Paul Kleinman, <i>Philosophy 101</i></p><div><br /></div>Joeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06135557597523377513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29526561.post-35647793127321797232022-01-27T12:20:00.001+07:002023-01-07T21:35:26.404+07:00Notes on Philosophy: Belief<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhVV3f7P8qX6pStjfZLeSpKUFLx5FTQ6ESE0H6CQmBgZZao8L_b3YHx6VX1fI-dsZ2WDpaQdnYhe-CaRkpsT3j7OzTpG6Zhrr-0XpIbp7W4gEWPf3mqu299rtOZvQQfsJDsFmJsD8f_DdW-aYAPfS83E3YU-LM_brkdNzc1Fxj_-ltaJT6R8/s5936/tingey-injury-law-firm-9SKhDFnw4c4-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3957" data-original-width="5936" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhVV3f7P8qX6pStjfZLeSpKUFLx5FTQ6ESE0H6CQmBgZZao8L_b3YHx6VX1fI-dsZ2WDpaQdnYhe-CaRkpsT3j7OzTpG6Zhrr-0XpIbp7W4gEWPf3mqu299rtOZvQQfsJDsFmJsD8f_DdW-aYAPfS83E3YU-LM_brkdNzc1Fxj_-ltaJT6R8/w640-h426/tingey-injury-law-firm-9SKhDFnw4c4-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Your beliefs are your map of reality. They guide you through the day. They are the lenses through which you perceive the world. They are also the deep well from which your actions, attitudes, and feelings flow.<p></p><p>There is nothing more important about you than what you believe. What you value is equally important. But some philosophers think that this is just because a value is nothing more than a special sort of belief. When you value something, you just believe that it is important and worthy of honor.</p><p>Your feelings are certainly an important part of who you are. And so are your desires, hopes, and dreams. But they are all either result of your beliefs, or else are in some other way dependent on those beliefs. You desire what you believe to be good or pleasant. You hope for something because you believe it will contribute to your personal happiness or your overall success. Repeatedly, belief is foundational to who you are.</p><p>Philosophy is the love and pursuit of wisdom. At some level, we all want wisdom for living. No one wants to wander this world like a fool, hobbled by false beliefs about important matters and misled by counterfeit values that can lead to nothing but misery. Because of this, philosophers have always suggested that it is important for us to examine our beliefs. Are those beliefs justified? Are they true? Are they capable of giving us good guidance in life? Do we have among our current beliefs a concrete knowledge about the world in which we live, as well as about ourselves, or are we all just stuck with nothing better than mere opinion? These are questions we all need to ask, and answer.</p><p></p><blockquote><blockquote><i> Nothing is so firmly believed as that which we least know. — Montaigne</i></blockquote></blockquote><p></p><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">by Thomas Morris</span></div><div><span style="font-size: small;">Photo by Tingey Injury Law Firm on Unsplash</span></div><div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div></div>Joeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06135557597523377513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29526561.post-13475638179318381842021-05-03T10:58:00.004+07:002023-01-07T21:24:09.384+07:00Why Do We Worship Together? <h2 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUFaVop_ji6KMLW-GQe_YJBWq12dwgz_m5L12_1JtyUvnJ31hSQEAh0okKOmhzb5yROiwZ3dZZIxvCSO6iuvBkMOPNZjSM0SSiJUNTwGSRYqpw2RIf7GmorMTGw7IqTi3NbXhMwYUYqbEI55LYEaJckuZkVM85GxekTYGMapbH6KuByzwr0U/s5184/james-barr-lf8nwCdrx00-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUFaVop_ji6KMLW-GQe_YJBWq12dwgz_m5L12_1JtyUvnJ31hSQEAh0okKOmhzb5yROiwZ3dZZIxvCSO6iuvBkMOPNZjSM0SSiJUNTwGSRYqpw2RIf7GmorMTGw7IqTi3NbXhMwYUYqbEI55LYEaJckuZkVM85GxekTYGMapbH6KuByzwr0U/w640-h426/james-barr-lf8nwCdrx00-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></h2><p>Evangelical Christians came to Thailand almost five hundred years ago. Today only about 1.2% of people in Thailand are Christians. We are very few in a predominant Buddhist country. </p><p>What makes it sad is that many people who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ do not attend worship services. More so, participate in church activities. Imagine if the 1.2% of Christian are faithful in attending worship service every Sunday. What do you think will happen?</p><p>Hebrews 10:22-25 says,</p><p><i></i></p><blockquote><i>22 Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.</i></blockquote><p></p><p>Here in this passage, we will find three reasons why we worship together in church every Sunday.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">We draw each other closer to Jesus (22)</h2><p><i>Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings (22)</i></p><p>Why do we worship God in the church when we can worship Him everywhere? Anyway, God is everywhere, Jesus is everywhere. But the Bible says that worship is a special moment when Jesus is present. A presence that is different from his presence in the world. There is something special when we gather to worship him in this place. Verse 22 says it is because “draw near to God.”</p><p>Why do we come together here every Sunday? We come here to draw closer to our Lord Jesus Christ. We do not come to the church to hear a sermon, to listen to music, to fellowship with others or to give an offering. These are all good reasons, but the most important reason is we draw near to Jesus.</p><p>The book of Hebrew reminds us that in the Old Testament times, only the High Priest can go to the Holy of Holies to be in the presence of God. The ordinary people stay in the outer court and wait for the priest on what God will say to them. </p><p>But today, when we worship together in this building, we all go directly to God. We don’t go in as individua, but we all go in together as a church, as a community. When we worship together we all go direct to God because of the blood of Jesus Christ. And because of that we are in the presence of Jesus whom we worship.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">We declare our faith in Jesus (23)</h2><p><i>Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. </i></p><p>Notice the word “unswervingly” this means “we do not change direction.” It seems that during the New Testament time there are many Christians who are “swerving.” They change direction. It means they stop coming to the gathering of believers to worship. In the New Testament time, when they stopped coming to meet with other believers. It meant they go back to their old ways of life.</p><p>In other words, in the New Testament time a person boldly declares his faith in Jesus if he regularly joined other Christians in worship. On the other hand, if he did not come to worship with others, he blatantly denied his faith in Jesus.</p><p>This is a challenge for us today, do you know that when we come to the church to worship, we declare our faith? It is like we are saying, “I still believe in Jesus Christ.</p><p>This is how important for Christians to be faithful in attending worship service. If a person is no longer coming to the church, then he cannot claim to be true follower of Jesus Christ. </p><p>The church and Jesus Christ are not the same, but they are inseparable. If we are not faithful in attending our church worship service, then we are also not faithful to our Lord Jesus.</p><p>We have to make a firm decision to be faithful to the church of Jesus. Attending our church worship is not all our witness but it is a particularly important part of our witness. If we are faithful to our church, we are saying to the lost that we are faithful to Jesus.</p><p>I challenge everyone here right now, if we are all going to be faithful in attending our church worship. I am sure, there will a significant increase of number of people who will come to the church and will believe in Jesus Christ. </p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">We encourage one another (24-25)</span></h1><p><i>24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.</i></p><p>When we worship together, we also encourage one another. How do we encourage one another? </p><p>First, we encourage others by our presence. When we come to the church, we are saying God is important. Jesus is important and our brothers and sisters are important to us. When we are here you are saying I love Jesus and I also love my brothers and sisters in Christ. Isn’t that a big encouragement already?</p><p>Second, we can encourage our church family when we take part in worship. We don’t come here to watch but to worship; we do not merely come here to sing but to serve! We do not come just to listen but to do what we heard. When we worship with all our heart, we encourage others to worship with all their hearts. </p><p>The truth is we need each other. It is our responsibility to encourage our brothers and sisters to love one another and to help them do good work. We should also inspire others to grow in their faith. </p><p>We cannot grow in our relationship with God apart from other Christians. Our relationship with God grows deeper when our relationship with other Christians grows deeper too. </p><p>How do we grow and encourage one another? When we worship God together our love for one another grows deeper and our faith in God grows stronger.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h2><p>There was a church that was built in the 1550’s in (Doubes) France. In that church building they had no candelabra. They had no lights. The mayor of Doubes instructed everybody to bring his own lantern to the church. At the end of the pew there was a place where the people would hang their lanterns. </p><p>As people would come one at a time, bringing their lantern to church, they would hang it at the end of the pew. And the more people came, the brighter the church building became. If no one came, the church building was in darkness. </p><p>Every time we come to church to worship together; we are bringing the light of our Lord Jesus Christ. If we choose not to come, just imagine, we put out our light a little until the darkness overcomes us. If we come and worship together, our church light becomes brighter, and we defeat the darkness.</p><p>Why do we come and worship together? When we worship together, we draw closer to Jesus, we declare our faith in Jesus, and we encourage one another.</p>Joeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06135557597523377513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29526561.post-78177336943548599132021-01-27T14:55:00.004+07:002021-01-27T14:55:41.005+07:00Community of Priests<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uHgeHBayA-8/YBEcWNCNgXI/AAAAAAAEeGI/IrISSCO6mAIkPciTuzWAfT8f6MBDeErrgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/omeli-podcast-yneEtI7-g5I-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uHgeHBayA-8/YBEcWNCNgXI/AAAAAAAEeGI/IrISSCO6mAIkPciTuzWAfT8f6MBDeErrgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/omeli-podcast-yneEtI7-g5I-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><i>"The whole Earth is mine to choose from, but you’re special: a kingdom of priests, a holy nation."</i> - Exodus 19:6 (MSG)</p><p>As Christians, we are all priests. We make connections to God on behalf of others. As a priest, we represent the needs of others before God. We set God's word before men and women.</p><p>The Israelites in biblical time became a community of people and became a priest for one another. The Lord trained them in the rigors of faith like listening to God and receiving his grace. Moreover, obeying his commands and receiving his promises.</p><p>Israel realized that their identity is in God. Without God's presence and action in their lives, people would not know who they were. This is so true with Christians.</p><p>It is sad that many of us forget this. We forget the God who saves us and that he is with us. We need each other to remind us of this truth.</p><p><i>God put us in a kingdom of priests, made up of simple Christians like you and me. We present people to God and God to people</i>. -Eugene Peterson</p><p>Prayer</p><p><i>Lord, help us to speak and act your reality to those we know. Presenting them to you and you to them. Amen.</i></p><div><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@omeli?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">OMELI PODCAST</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/priest?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></span></div>Joeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06135557597523377513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29526561.post-25964604785037322842021-01-21T18:33:00.006+07:002021-01-27T14:45:43.146+07:00Suffering is Our Badge<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9onlQlY3LsI/YAlmKa-ahNI/AAAAAAAEeD8/Ilk8xZpyGx0nFcFMz2n2C8XAbl9oeLDNwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/kelly-sikkema-AageOrR0Iqs-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1223" data-original-width="2048" height="382" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9onlQlY3LsI/YAlmKa-ahNI/AAAAAAAEeD8/Ilk8xZpyGx0nFcFMz2n2C8XAbl9oeLDNwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h382/kelly-sikkema-AageOrR0Iqs-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><i>My friends, be glad, even if you have a lot of trouble. You know that you learn to endure by having your faith tested. But you must learn to endure everything so that you will be completely mature and not lacking in anything.</i> - James 1:2-4<p></p><p>We should be thankful if we do not get sick and experience pain. Some people are not so fortunate. God does not promise that we will not experience pain, difficulties, and heartaches. </p><p>Because these experiences help us to persevere and grow. He might not relieve us of pain but it makes us a better person. More patient, more caring, and more loving.</p><p>Quote</p><p><i>“Suffering, then, is the badge of true discipleship. The disciple is not above his master. Following Christ means passio passiva, suffering because we have to suffer.”</i> - Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship</p><p>Prayer</p><p><i>Lord, in times of pain and suffering, please help us understand that relief is not the goal. But this experience will make us grow to become like you. Amen.</i></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-offset-key="plh4-0-0" style="background-color: #fafafa; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; letter-spacing: -0.2px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-text="true" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Photo by </span></span><a href="https://unsplash.com/@kellysikkema?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: #fafafa; border: 0px; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; letter-spacing: -0.2px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="plh4-1-0" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Kelly Sikkema</span></a><span data-offset-key="plh4-2-0" style="background-color: #fafafa; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; letter-spacing: -0.2px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-text="true" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"> on </span></span><a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/thorns?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: #fafafa; border: 0px; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; letter-spacing: -0.2px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="plh4-3-0" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Unsplash</span></a><span data-offset-key="plh4-4-0" style="background-color: #fafafa; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; letter-spacing: -0.2px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-text="true" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></span></p>Joeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06135557597523377513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29526561.post-61916313156118073492021-01-19T16:57:00.001+07:002021-01-19T16:57:36.907+07:00Freed to Serve<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W6c3CdSI8ss/YAasnceCBJI/AAAAAAAEeDw/YsXUHDi0wQoKlELblU99iN8riatRqNIcQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/_MG_1977-173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W6c3CdSI8ss/YAasnceCBJI/AAAAAAAEeDw/YsXUHDi0wQoKlELblU99iN8riatRqNIcQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/_MG_1977-173.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><i>My friends, you were chosen to be free. So don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do anything you want. Use it as an opportunity to serve each other with love.</i> - Galatians 5:13</p><p>In the Gospels, Jesus was not portrayed as a middle-class conservative. Much less, a political radical. He did not join the Sadducees or the Zealots. Jesus gave us an alternative to these two positions.</p><p>His way put God's kingdom and concerns at the center of His activity. He rejected the man-made rules which encouraged religiosity. Religiosity did not free people from their sin, hopelessness, and social rejection.</p><p>Jesus does not belong to religion nor politics but to the world. Not to those who have it all but to those who need justice and mercy. He calls us to serve in love especially the poor, widows, and orphans.</p><p>Quote</p><p><i>"The world exercises dominion by force... Christ and Christians conquer by service."</i> - Dietrich Bonhoeffer</p><p>Prayer</p><p><i>Lord, help us to be not to be too concerned with politics. But more about your kingdom. Proclaiming the good news by helping the poor and serving those who need justice and mercy. Amen.</i></p>Joeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06135557597523377513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29526561.post-38401199045146995502021-01-13T09:34:00.001+07:002021-01-13T09:34:09.472+07:00 Cheap Grace<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OxcCAEiii7E/X_5b4RgUBQI/AAAAAAAEeCw/4C78m3CLZlYivGQUZDjXFG8if2owAZ48ACLcBGAsYHQ/s860/4101-f5f6e35c-d399-4a52-a864-d2c5ad89602a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="860" height="298" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OxcCAEiii7E/X_5b4RgUBQI/AAAAAAAEeCw/4C78m3CLZlYivGQUZDjXFG8if2owAZ48ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h298/4101-f5f6e35c-d399-4a52-a864-d2c5ad89602a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i><br /></i><p></p><p><i>What should we say? Should we keep on sinning, so that God’s wonderful kindness will show up even better? No, we should not! If we are dead to sin, how can we go on sinning?</i> - Romans 6:1-2</p><p>God's gift of new life in Jesus Christ is a gift we received. This gift is costly to God. He made it available to us through the death of His Son, Jesus.</p><p>Living a new life daily is not easy. It is a continuous response in faith and trust. Living in humility, confession, and submission to Christ as Lord of our life.</p><p><b>Quote</b></p><p><i>“Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ—living and incarnate.”</i> - Dietrich Bonhoeffer, <i>The Cost of Discipleship</i></p><p><b>Prayer</b></p><p><i>Lord, grant that us may not cheapen Your grace by taking it lightly. But help us dedicate ourselves to doing your will. Amen. </i></p>Joeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06135557597523377513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29526561.post-691835291576223962021-01-10T20:48:00.003+07:002021-01-10T20:48:51.746+07:00 Learning to Listen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bvqCTda3CTY/X_sFOlDTxyI/AAAAAAAEeCg/jkAGKNf9DEMp-dR4hrBQUW7TY0eqqTpMgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/danielle-macinnes-IuLgi9PWETU-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="427" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bvqCTda3CTY/X_sFOlDTxyI/AAAAAAAEeCg/jkAGKNf9DEMp-dR4hrBQUW7TY0eqqTpMgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h427/danielle-macinnes-IuLgi9PWETU-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>James 1:19-20</p><p><i>Remember this, my dear friends! Everyone must be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to become angry. Human anger does not achieve God's righteous purpose. </i></p><p>We have to admit it. We are not good listeners. Our own thoughts and concerns distract us from doing so. Doing what we want for others is not serving. Serving others is finding out what they need and help to meet them.</p><p>How do we know what other's needs are? By carefully listening to their hopes, fears, and concerns. Effective service comes from listening and it only happens when we give our time to others.</p><p><i> “The first service that one owes to others in the fellowship consists in listening to them. Just as love of God begins with listening to his word, so the beginning of love for the brethren is learning to listen to them.”</i> -Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together</p><p>Prayer</p><p><i>Lord, please help us to give our time to listen to others especially those who are in need.</i></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@dsmacinnes?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Danielle MacInnes</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/conversation?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></span></p>Joeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06135557597523377513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29526561.post-40985141748887123122021-01-07T20:51:00.007+07:002021-01-08T11:50:28.313+07:00We all can pray<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w7BV_XD1C0w/X_cQhMAlzJI/AAAAAAAEeCI/EOpe5f6tO7Q0Q7l_I54NZTWiiE3V7I4awCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/after-prayer.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w7BV_XD1C0w/X_cQhMAlzJI/AAAAAAAEeCI/EOpe5f6tO7Q0Q7l_I54NZTWiiE3V7I4awCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h320/after-prayer.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>1 Thessalonians 1:2-3</p><p><i>"We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." </i></p><p>We can do many things for one another. We can love, encourage, help carry each other's burden. We can challenge, support, give, and serve. But we have to realize that we cannot do everything for others.</p><p>The pandemic shows us that we cannot be with our friends and families who are infected with covid or other sicknesses. We cannot do anything to show our love except maybe extending financial help.</p><p>Yet one thing we all can do is to pray for one another. We pray for people we know who are in need of healing, provision, and victory. We should pray for people who ask us to pray for them. And there is no reason under heaven that we cannot. </p><p><i>“And above all, we must not neglect the greatest service that is left to us, our faithful daily intercession.”</i> - Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Way to Freedom</p><p>Thought</p><p><i>The greatest act of friendship is to pray faithfully for those we care about.</i></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Adapted from Charles Ringma, <i>Seize the Day with Dietrich Bonhoeffer.</i></span></p>Joeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06135557597523377513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29526561.post-60564802430318011642021-01-06T15:41:00.001+07:002021-01-07T18:22:52.743+07:00We owe to others what God did to us<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tEMOlp6huY4/X_V3U_ws8hI/AAAAAAAEeBc/tI7pTf2bt6Yg3sKwa3Wn88TF2EzRkH45QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1200/0096721_forgiven-by-yongsung-kim-yk1015646.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="857" data-original-width="1200" height="458" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tEMOlp6huY4/X_V3U_ws8hI/AAAAAAAEeBc/tI7pTf2bt6Yg3sKwa3Wn88TF2EzRkH45QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h458/0096721_forgiven-by-yongsung-kim-yk1015646.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Matthew 6:14-15 </p><p><i>For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. </i></p><p>Christians should act toward others the same way God acted toward us. God is generous, faithful, and gracious. We can not help but treat others with these attitudes.</p><p>God forgives us so we should forgive others. He blesses us so that we can enrich others, and sets us free so that we can serve others. Having received so much from God, we can give to others out of the gratitude of our hearts.*</p><p><i> “When God was merciful to us, we learned to be merciful with our brethren. When we received forgiveness instead of judgment, we, too, were made ready to forgive our brethren. What God did to us, we then owed to others.” - </i>Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together </p><p>Prayer</p><p><i>Lord, having received from You, help us to bless others with Your blessing. Amen.</i></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Charles R. Ringma, Seize the Day with Dietrich Bonhoeffer</span><i><br /></i></p>Joeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06135557597523377513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29526561.post-59051939310062407702021-01-04T07:00:00.002+07:002021-01-04T07:00:10.188+07:00Live Beyond Our Limitations<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-98q8oeXxVvQ/X_FnNSqc-dI/AAAAAAAEd94/Dwgf5x7ZsegaWTwEOrVCoOZNgtI_zwaqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s840/psalm-42-5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="840" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-98q8oeXxVvQ/X_FnNSqc-dI/AAAAAAAEd94/Dwgf5x7ZsegaWTwEOrVCoOZNgtI_zwaqgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/psalm-42-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><i>Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God</i> - Psalms 42:5</p><p>Our life situations, most of the time, are not ideal. The year 2020 proves this is true. But the situation and events in our lives should not control the way we live. </p><p>It is what we make of them that will define the direction of our life. When we overcome our fear, anger, disappointment, and frustrations. It is the time to celebrate what we have, our ministry, and trust God for the result.*</p><p><i>“The important thing is to make the best use of one’s possessions and capabilities—there are still plenty left—and to accept the limits of the situation, by which I mean not giving way to feelings of resentment and discontent.”</i> - Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters And Papers From Prison</p><p>Prayer:</p><p><i>Lord, give us the strength to follow your will and not be bound by the limits of our situation. Amen.</i></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Charles R. Ringma, Seize the Day with Dietrich Bonhoeffer</span></p>Joeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06135557597523377513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29526561.post-66938943967631419932021-01-03T11:06:00.005+07:002021-01-03T11:06:34.189+07:00My Burden Is Light<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uLORmG-eOw8/X_FCVJIr5aI/AAAAAAAEd9s/0521Acd6KSwvNuliEJ162DPPNWn0ODjCACLcBGAsYHQ/s1200/72137-71856-matt-1128-cc1200wtn.1200w.tn.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="1200" height="334" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uLORmG-eOw8/X_FCVJIr5aI/AAAAAAAEd9s/0521Acd6KSwvNuliEJ162DPPNWn0ODjCACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h334/72137-71856-matt-1128-cc1200wtn.1200w.tn.png" width="640" /></a></div><i><br /></i><p></p><p><i>28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” - </i>Matthew 11:28-30</p><p>We long for freedom but create oppression. We strive for ease, but make it hard for ourselves. We seek to make our own way, yet become lost in the process. We run from God but create our own idolatry. </p><p>So, we need to surrender to Christ to find peace. We need to embrace God’s words and ways to find true liberty. We need to walk the narrow way of obedience to find true fulfillment.</p><p>We need to surrender our own way, which finally becomes the way of sorrow, and enter the freedom Christ has won for us.</p><p><i>“If they follow Jesus, men escape from the hard yoke of their own laws and submit to the kindly yoke of Jesus Christ.”</i> -Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship</p><p><i>Lord, make us your captive so that we can be free.</i></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Excerpt from Charles Ringma, Seize the Day With Dietrich Bonhoeffer</span></p>Joeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06135557597523377513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29526561.post-42861943242619210472020-12-13T14:11:00.004+07:002020-12-14T08:07:04.371+07:00The man who raised the Son of God<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RPdIGpeIFM0/X9W-LR7naaI/AAAAAAAEdjc/RXwyNSUyR905suVbReAW2iriI8lRO_XTQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/0_3clrYORcY-fu4gpy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" height="268" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RPdIGpeIFM0/X9W-LR7naaI/AAAAAAAEdjc/RXwyNSUyR905suVbReAW2iriI8lRO_XTQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h268/0_3clrYORcY-fu4gpy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><i>"But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus because He will save His people from their sins.’</i>" Matthew 1:20</p><p>Joseph does not get much attention in the Christmas story. The spotlight points to Mary and the birth of Jesus. And rightfully so.</p><p>But we can learn a lot about this good man. Joseph first appears in the Bible in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. He was a carpenter whose lineage went way back to King David.</p><p>Joseph was a man of strong conviction who put his faith into actions. The Bible described him as a righteous man chosen by God to be the human father of Jesus Christ.</p><p>What kind of man God has chosen to raise His own Son? God knew who that man was. Joseph obeyed God. We can imagine how shocked he was when the angel informed him that Mary was pregnant.</p><p>Joseph never questioned God's plan in choosing him to take care of Mary and her son. In doing this, he gave up his own dreams. He dedicated his own life to them and remain faithful to God.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>He was courageous in believing the angel</li><li>He was faithful in believing God's plan over his own</li><li>He honored God by obeying His word</li></ul><p></p><p><i> "Joseph was the earthly father of Jesus, the man entrusted to raise the Son of God. Joseph was also a carpenter or skilled craftsman. He obeyed God in the face of severe humiliation. He did the right thing before God, in the right manner."</i> - Mary Fairchild</p>Joeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06135557597523377513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29526561.post-22400715305323470662020-11-09T10:07:00.004+07:002020-11-09T10:18:04.714+07:00A reflection on nature<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FJBkLvkY3Ls/X6iwhjakmFI/AAAAAAAEcts/VxBwTJEYPS0rbd5C_IHsjVQw-XDsRymeQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/_MG_4067-235.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="349" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FJBkLvkY3Ls/X6iwhjakmFI/AAAAAAAEcts/VxBwTJEYPS0rbd5C_IHsjVQw-XDsRymeQCLcBGAsYHQ/w525-h349/_MG_4067-235.jpg" width="525" /></a></div><p></p><p><i>“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge."</i> -Psalm 19:1-2</p><p>If we look around, we see evidence that God wants us to be joyful. God's creation is proof that God loves us more than we can ever know. The world that we live in is beautiful.</p><p>Our appreciation of creation grows as we get older. When we are younger, we take everything for granted. Nature was not majestic and glorious. The sun comes up in the morning and went in the evening. But now we know that God makes the sun rise up each day.</p><p>When I walk out of our house, I see green grass and trees, and colorful flowers. Butterflies and singing birds. Sunshine, blue sky, falling rain. Playful cats and friendly dogs. Why I haven't noticed these before? Now I see them as God's wondrous gifts.</p><p> If we look at creation and meditate on its goodness, we will discover ourselves crying out, “You love me, don’t you, God?”-J.B. Smith</p><p><i>Lord, when I consider creation, I better understand the love you have for me. Amen.</i></p>Joeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06135557597523377513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29526561.post-7462024230467634632020-10-09T18:06:00.002+07:002020-10-14T13:51:02.809+07:00A reflection on security<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KOayGTYp73E/X4afxFHGMII/AAAAAAAEcRs/otoii611hX41BtZyClFLxgQl8J0gYs4XgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1530" data-original-width="2048" height="478" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KOayGTYp73E/X4afxFHGMII/AAAAAAAEcRs/otoii611hX41BtZyClFLxgQl8J0gYs4XgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h478/IMG_0761.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><i>Surely the righteous will never be shaken;<br /></i><i>they will be remembered forever.<br /></i><i>They will have no fear of bad news;<br /></i><i>their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.<br /></i><i>Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; <br /></i><i>in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.</i></p><p>Psalms 112:6-8</p><p>Who among us never feel insecure?</p><p>Insecurity is a feeling of uncertainty. We get tired of thinking that we don't measure up to other people's expectation. We are fearful that something bad might happen to us. It causes a lot of stress. We can't relax.</p><p>What are the basis of our security? We expect different answers from different people. Success, financial stability, material possessions, popularity, jobs, family, health, insurance and so on.</p><p>As Christians, we may claim these are not our answers. But our words and actions may show otherwise. How do we react when we don't have money, when our health is failing, when our friends left us? Or when we lost our material possessions? These situations may reveal that our sense of security depends on these factors.</p><p>We believed that our security is in God. We know it is true. People should know this truth in our lives during difficult times.</p><p><i>Lord, we pray that we would find security in You. This world tells us that we put our security in people, in wealth, in housing, in everything but You. We pray that we trust in You and believe that we can be secure in You. Amen.</i></p><gdiv id="ginger-floatingG-container" style="left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG ginger-floatingG-closed" style="display: none;"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-disabled-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Enable Ginger</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-offline-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip"><em>Cannot connect to Ginger</em> Check your internet connection<br /> or reload the browser</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-enabled-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-disable"><ga></ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Disable in this text field</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool"><ga class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-edit">Edit</ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Edit in Ginger</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-mistakes"><ga><span class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-mistakes-count"></span></ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Edit in Ginger</gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-wrap"><ga class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-close">×</ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-frame"><iframe scrolling="no"></iframe></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv><gdiv id="ginger-floatingG-container" style="left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG ginger-floatingG-closed" style="display: none;"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-disabled-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Enable Ginger</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-offline-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip"><em>Cannot connect to Ginger</em> Check your internet connection<br /> or reload the browser</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-enabled-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-disable"><ga></ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Disable in this text field</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool"><ga class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-edit">Edit</ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Edit in Ginger</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-mistakes"><ga><span class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-mistakes-count"></span></ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Edit in Ginger</gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-wrap"><ga class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-close">×</ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-frame"><iframe scrolling="no"></iframe></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv>Joeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06135557597523377513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29526561.post-77646888762422410762020-10-04T18:50:00.004+07:002020-10-04T18:56:16.158+07:00A reflection on the end times<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xum7tnHq1tE/X3m2Z0SIRbI/AAAAAAAEb0c/GYUOyrjOY5gidIYT8DWsDfotueE7hTOngCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/_MG_7198-91.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xum7tnHq1tE/X3m2Z0SIRbI/AAAAAAAEb0c/GYUOyrjOY5gidIYT8DWsDfotueE7hTOngCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/_MG_7198-91.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><i>Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”</i> - Acts 1:6-8</p><p><i> And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come</i>. -Matthew 24:14</p><p>The Book of Acts is a missionary book from beginning to the end. </p><p>The apostles were interested in politics and the end times. They wanted to know when Jesus would restore political independence to Israel. But Jesus told them that it is not for them to know the times or dates." (Acts 1:6)</p><p>Here as elsewhere, Jesus discouraged believers to speculate about the end times. Much more to get involved in politics. Instead, He commanded us to focus our energies on evangelizing the world. *</p><p>When will the end come? We don't know. But God allowed us to be his partners about His plan for this world. He wants us to work with Him for the end to come sooner. Every believer must get involve in proclamation of His kingdom to all people groups. </p><p>When we have shared the gospel of the kingdom to all the peoples of the world, then every eye will see His coming again. We don't know when, but we know the ultimate sign--when the gospel reaches all the nations the end will come.</p><p><i>Lord, I pray that I can do my part for the sharing your gospel to all nations. May it be as a sender, mobilizer, or goer. Amen.</i></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">*IMB, Explore Mission</span></p><p><br /></p><gdiv id="ginger-floatingG-container" style="left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG ginger-floatingG-closed" style="display: none;"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-disabled-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Enable Ginger</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-offline-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip"><em>Cannot connect to Ginger</em> Check your internet connection<br /> or reload the browser</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-enabled-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-disable"><ga></ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Disable in this text field</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool"><ga class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-edit">Edit</ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Edit in Ginger</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-mistakes"><ga><span class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-mistakes-count"></span></ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Edit in Ginger</gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-wrap"><ga class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-close">×</ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-frame"><iframe scrolling="no"></iframe></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv><gdiv id="ginger-floatingG-container" style="left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG ginger-floatingG-closed" style="display: none;"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-disabled-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Enable Ginger</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-offline-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip"><em>Cannot connect to Ginger</em> Check your internet connection<br /> or reload the browser</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-enabled-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-disable"><ga></ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Disable in this text field</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool"><ga class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-edit">Edit</ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Edit in Ginger</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-mistakes"><ga><span class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-mistakes-count"></span></ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Edit in Ginger</gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-wrap"><ga class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-close">×</ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-frame"><iframe scrolling="no"></iframe></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv>Joeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06135557597523377513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29526561.post-4391292282790968142020-10-02T10:35:00.008+07:002020-10-02T10:49:05.651+07:00A reflection on posting act of kindness<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jv6Yu7fQKGE/X3ahHtxxwII/AAAAAAAEbzY/sNKUjVrsrOcE24G5iNorPJbK74bro_uRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/joshua-hoehne-Uo2ZXh4XOLY-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1225" data-original-width="2048" height="382" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jv6Yu7fQKGE/X3ahHtxxwII/AAAAAAAEbzY/sNKUjVrsrOcE24G5iNorPJbK74bro_uRwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h382/joshua-hoehne-Uo2ZXh4XOLY-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;"><br /></i></div><i>“When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you”. - Matthew 6:3-4</i><p></p><p><i></i></p><i> “The most genuine acts of kindness are done without fanfare and when no one is looking.” ― Jason Pollock </i><p></p><p>Facebook and other social media platforms give us opportunity to advertise our activities. We can even do a live broadcast of our worship service and Bible Studies. Praise the Lord! </p><p>Many people post their every act of kindness. They promote causes, organizations, needs, and ministries to inspire people to join. Much more so that others can contribute, take part, and help with acts of service.</p><p>Yet, we need to check the motives of our hearts why we do what we do. Do we use social media so that we can earn praise and admiration, or is it out of love for people and the desire to honor God?</p><p>But you know what? The Lord prefers that some of your acts of service need to be a well-kept secret between you and God. </p><p><i>Dear God, please help me love others and honor You both in my words and actions. Amen</i></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo from Unsplash</i></span></p><gdiv id="ginger-floatingG-container" style="left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG ginger-floatingG-closed" style="display: none;"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-disabled-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Enable Ginger</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-offline-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip"><em>Cannot connect to Ginger</em> Check your internet connection<br /> or reload the browser</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-enabled-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-disable"><ga></ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Disable in this text field</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool"><ga class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-edit">Edit</ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Edit in Ginger</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-mistakes"><ga><span class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-mistakes-count"></span></ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Edit in Ginger</gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-wrap"><ga class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-close">×</ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-frame"><iframe scrolling="no"></iframe></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv><gdiv id="ginger-floatingG-container" style="left: 0px; 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position: absolute; top: 0px;"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG ginger-floatingG-closed" style="display: none;"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-disabled-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Enable Ginger</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-offline-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip"><em>Cannot connect to Ginger</em> Check your internet connection<br /> or reload the browser</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-enabled-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-disable"><ga></ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Disable in this text field</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool"><ga class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-edit">Edit</ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Edit in Ginger</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-mistakes"><ga><span class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-mistakes-count"></span></ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Edit in Ginger</gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-wrap"><ga class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-close">×</ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-frame"><iframe scrolling="no"></iframe></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv>Joeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06135557597523377513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29526561.post-20859714881616071952020-09-26T13:07:00.003+07:002020-09-27T09:04:50.222+07:00A reflection on anxiety<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XwKwLXGimFs/X27aLIU3dJI/AAAAAAAEbqM/1qFazJihTd0be4omIz9s7BBIvoj9oCGOACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20190523_145251.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="321" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XwKwLXGimFs/X27aLIU3dJI/AAAAAAAEbqM/1qFazJihTd0be4omIz9s7BBIvoj9oCGOACLcBGAsYHQ/w428-h321/20190523_145251.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><i>Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. - Philippians 4:6-7</i></p><p>I have to be honest, after my surgery and diagnosis, I have had days of anxiety attacks. Especially, when I'm having pain. But I have overcome.</p><p>Anxiety is a worst sickness than Covid-19. Perhaps we may not get coronavirus but it seems many of us have caught the "worry" virus. Paul reminds us not to worry about everything. It is an impossible command for us to obey.</p><p>The pandemic, failing economy, job security, and financial stability. These cause people to be afraid and anxious about the future. The reason Paul can say to the Philippians not to worry because He knows that God is present and cares for them. "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)</p><p>God wants us to bring all our concerns to Him. God's desire is to give to Him in prayer what is bothering us, whatever concerns we have, whatever we want to happen.</p><p>Regardless of worries over the economy, our jobs, and our health, we can be free from anxiety. Why? Because we can bring all issues to God in prayer, and he will tend them.</p><p><i>Lord, I want to trade my anxiety for your peace. Amen.</i></p><div><br /></div><gdiv id="ginger-floatingG-container" style="left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG ginger-floatingG-closed" style="display: none;"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-disabled-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Enable Ginger</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-offline-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip"><em>Cannot connect to Ginger</em> Check your internet connection<br /> or reload the browser</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-enabled-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-disable"><ga></ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Disable in this text field</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool"><ga class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-edit">Edit</ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Edit in Ginger</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-mistakes"><ga><span class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-mistakes-count"></span></ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Edit in Ginger</gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-wrap"><ga class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-close">×</ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-frame"><iframe scrolling="no"></iframe></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv><gdiv id="ginger-floatingG-container" style="left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG ginger-floatingG-closed" style="display: none;"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-disabled-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Enable Ginger</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-offline-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip"><em>Cannot connect to Ginger</em> Check your internet connection<br /> or reload the browser</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-enabled-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-disable"><ga></ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Disable in this text field</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool"><ga class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-edit">Edit</ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Edit in Ginger</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-mistakes"><ga><span class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-mistakes-count"></span></ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Edit in Ginger</gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-wrap"><ga class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-close">×</ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-frame"><iframe scrolling="no"></iframe></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv>Joeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06135557597523377513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29526561.post-23852593857693001422020-09-26T07:09:00.004+07:002020-09-28T10:54:03.269+07:00A reflection on words<p> <span data-offset-key="74qu2-0-0" style="background-color: #fafafa; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: italic; letter-spacing: -0.2px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ybX6Qrg1nSQ/X26GNI-j-HI/AAAAAAAEbpA/UyeDLMFTbpE1NH0_8biD2xFuw4aWO_sWACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200612_144422.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1405" data-original-width="2048" height="405" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ybX6Qrg1nSQ/X26GNI-j-HI/AAAAAAAEbpA/UyeDLMFTbpE1NH0_8biD2xFuw4aWO_sWACLcBGAsYHQ/w590-h405/20200612_144422.jpg" width="590" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span data-offset-key="74qu2-0-1" style="background-color: #fafafa; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -0.2px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">9 </span><span data-offset-key="74qu2-0-2" style="background-color: #fafafa; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: italic; letter-spacing: -0.2px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have </span><span class="passivevoice" style="background-color: #c4ed9d; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.2px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: background 0.5s ease 0s; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="74qu2-1-0" style="border: 0px; font-style: italic; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-text="true" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">been made</span></span></span><span data-offset-key="74qu2-2-0" style="background-color: #fafafa; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: italic; letter-spacing: -0.2px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in God’s likeness. </span><span data-offset-key="74qu2-2-1" style="background-color: #fafafa; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -0.2px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">10 </span><span data-offset-key="74qu2-2-2" style="background-color: #fafafa; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: italic; letter-spacing: -0.2px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. - James 3:9-10</span></p><div data-block="true" data-editor="4ed0a" data-offset-key="1u445-0-0" style="background-color: #fafafa; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.2px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="1u445-0-0" style="border: 0px; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="1u445-0-0" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br data-text="true" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="4ed0a" data-offset-key="2d1qt-0-0" style="background-color: #fafafa; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="2d1qt-0-0" style="border: 0px; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Libre Baskerville, serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.2px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our words have the power to bless or to curse.
Words have power both to negate or confirm. A good word can edify. It can encourage someone to keep going. It can even give life direction to those who lost their way. Not only our words can bless others, but they can also motivate others to glorify God.
Our words declare His great works. They testify to His limitless mercy and praise His wonderful ways. The truth is these are the main use of our tongue. To bless others, bless God and in doing so, we bless ourselves too.
The question we need to ask ourselves is this: do we use the power of our tongue to bless? Are our words too negative that cause discouragement to others? Do our words build up or destroy? Do our words make people closer to God or otherwise?
<i>Lord, I know my tongue often gets ahead of my mind and heart. I am quick to speak and I repent of the many thoughtless things I have spoken. I am sorry for words I have spoken in anger or in gossip. Please help me to see when I am about to speak without thinking and to check my heart. Help me be slow to speak. Help me Lord to be a person full of loving words, full of your Spirit, overflowing with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control. Amen.*</i>
</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Prayer online by Debbie Przybylski</span></span></span>
</div><div style="color: #111111; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.2px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div></div><gdiv id="ginger-floatingG-container" style="left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG ginger-floatingG-closed" style="display: none;"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-disabled-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Enable Ginger</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-offline-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip"><em>Cannot connect to Ginger</em> Check your internet connection<br /> or reload the browser</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-enabled-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-disable"><ga></ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Disable in this text field</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool"><ga class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-edit">Edit</ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Edit in Ginger</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-mistakes"><ga><span class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-mistakes-count"></span></ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Edit in Ginger</gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-wrap"><ga class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-close">×</ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-frame"><iframe scrolling="no"></iframe></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv><gdiv id="ginger-floatingG-container" style="left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG ginger-floatingG-closed" style="display: none;"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-disabled-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Enable Ginger</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-offline-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip"><em>Cannot connect to Ginger</em> Check your internet connection<br /> or reload the browser</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-enabled-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-disable"><ga></ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Disable in this text field</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool"><ga class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-edit">Edit</ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Edit in Ginger</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-mistakes"><ga><span class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-mistakes-count"></span></ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Edit in Ginger</gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-wrap"><ga class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-close">×</ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-frame"><iframe scrolling="no"></iframe></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv><gdiv id="ginger-floatingG-container" style="left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG ginger-floatingG-closed" style="display: none;"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-disabled-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Enable Ginger</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-offline-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip"><em>Cannot connect to Ginger</em> Check your internet connection<br /> or reload the browser</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-enabled-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-disable"><ga></ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Disable in this text field</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool"><ga class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-edit">Edit</ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Edit in Ginger</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-mistakes"><ga><span class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-mistakes-count"></span></ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Edit in Ginger</gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-wrap"><ga class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-close">×</ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-frame"><iframe scrolling="no"></iframe></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv>Joeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06135557597523377513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29526561.post-25062034844330789302020-09-23T10:34:00.001+07:002020-09-23T10:43:02.315+07:00He took up our pain<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CAyQ8JAcNkQ/X2q-sUPRS9I/AAAAAAAEblo/HCGZrigaMzUq1a4QIn80jsqM6w4DEJtRgCPcBGAsYHg/s678/FB_IMG_1600609995647.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="678" height="455" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CAyQ8JAcNkQ/X2q-sUPRS9I/AAAAAAAEblo/HCGZrigaMzUq1a4QIn80jsqM6w4DEJtRgCPcBGAsYHg/w456-h455/FB_IMG_1600609995647.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vlj3isrGUoI/X2q-sajwrzI/AAAAAAAEblo/mdfF22O-B3cWSOpuwcm4o_jZqMdMmaX0ACPcBGAsYHg/s692/FB_IMG_1600610006515.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="692" data-original-width="692" height="453" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vlj3isrGUoI/X2q-sajwrzI/AAAAAAAEblo/mdfF22O-B3cWSOpuwcm4o_jZqMdMmaX0ACPcBGAsYHg/w453-h453/FB_IMG_1600610006515.jpg" width="453" /></a></div><p>It took us a whole day waiting for a vacant room in Lung Center Hospital. Then as we were settling down in our ward, a nurse came in. She asked me for my name, reading from her note, she told me that I was there to have “metastasectomy." She tried to pronounce it twice but failed. We all laughed, and I told her, “yes, I will have thoracic surgery to remove a metastasis in my right lung”.</p><p>My surgeon delayed the procedure for a couple of days. He told us that his fellows would not be available. We had to wait for them so we did not have to pay for people who would assist him in the surgery. We were thankful for the delay because we spent a couple of days receiving visitors. We were happy to reunite with family, relatives, and friends. </p><p>I also need to undergo several clearances. My cardiologist had to make sure my heart would not fail during the surgery. The pulmonologist conducted a series of difficult breathing tests. To make sure that my lungs would be strong enough to lose a chunk.</p><p>It was six o'clock in the morning when a hospital aide came and transferred me to the operating room. Our roommates, after sharing our two days with them, wished me "luck" that was the last time I saw them because they would check out later. </p><p>I had been under the knife before and I knew the routine. The anesthesiologist assured me that everything will be alright. She checked the drip needle that the nurse stuck on my right hand where she would inject the anesthesia. She told me that it was too small, and she had to stick a bigger one on my other hand. But I did not have to worry because she would do it when I was sleep already. I told her it was okay because at this point, I lost count on how many needles were stuck on my body.</p><p>Then she put a mask on my face, and I fell asleep. When I woke up, it was already afternoon. I could not breathe; breathing was so excruciating painful. I may have been crying out loud, and I guess I was. I looked out the viewing room, I saw my wife Narlin, my son Reuven, my sister Dadai and some friends. I may had looked so bad because they seemed to be on the verged of crying. I tried to smile to assure them I was alright, but it looked more like grimace. I tried to put up a thumbs up sign, but I guess nobody noticed.</p><p>When I got back to my room, the surgeon told me that he would release me the next day because of the hospital hazard. Most of the patients there have contagious lung diseases and it would be better for me to recover at home.</p><p>Unless... they removed the machines that pumped air on my lungs and drained the fluid. It caused me so much discomfort because I needed to go to the rest room and I didn't want to do it lying down. They brought an x-ray machine on the room to see if my lungs were inflated already. The doctors thought it was okay to remove and I felt relived that I could finally go to the rest room. And go home.</p><p>Then something happened that would extend my misery for the days to come. The doctor removed the six-inch tube from my lungs with no local anesthesia (ouch!). He was trying to be funny doing that so I won't notice him doing it.</p><p>As we were preparing to go home, the nurse removed the drip needle. Remember, the anesthesiologist stuck a bigger needle on my left hand. So she first removed the needle on my left hand and then proceeded to remove the one on my right hand. My wife, my sister, the nurse and me were having a nice chat that we didn't notice that I was soaking with blood. She forgot to tape the needle hole on my hand and the blood was flowing like a mini faucet from the hole in my hand. It was terrifying.</p><p>Then while I was changing my shirt, I coughed, fluids came flowing out of my surgical wound. A doctor came and patched it up. But the fluids kept on gushing out from the wound. The surgeon requested for ultrasound to know how much fluid remained in my lungs. After giving it a lot of thought, he decided to insert a JP drain into the surgical wound using a skin anesthesia. He did this in the emergency room. The procedure was so painful that I almost lost consciousness.</p><p>We would be traveling for more than four hours back to Malasiqui. The doctor knew that when the effect of the skin anesthesia would wear off in three or four hours. He taught me how to administer the anesthesia by injecting it through the JP drain. Before we left, we asked the nurse to do it for me, but she would not. She thought it was unusual to inject skin anesthesia inside the wound. So I had to do it for every three or four hours for a day for the next twenty-four hours.</p><p>It was a painful experience. I could not imagine the ordeals that our Lord Jesus had to go through. Besides all the pain and suffering He had went through, at the last minute of His earthly life, a soldier had to pierced His side. I can understand, how fluid (water and blood) flowed from His lung. My pains were nothing compare to what Jesus had experienced. He went through the pains and sufferings so that we can enjoy a lasting relationship with God our Father. </p><p>Our Lord Jesus understands our pains, hardships, difficulties and sufferings. He experienced all those for us.</p><p>Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering,<br />yet we considered him punished by God, <br />stricken by him, and afflicted.</p><p>But he was pierced for our transgressions,<br />he was crushed for our iniquities;<br />the punishment that brought us peace was on him,<br />and by his wounds we are healed.</p><p>We all, like sheep, have gone astray,<br />each of us has turned to our own way;<br />and the Lord has laid on him<br />the iniquity of us all. </p><p>Isaiah 53:4-6 (NIV)</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><gdiv id="ginger-floatingG-container" style="left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG ginger-floatingG-closed" style="display: none;"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-disabled-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Enable Ginger</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-offline-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip"><em>Cannot connect to Ginger</em> Check your internet connection<br /> or reload the browser</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-enabled-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-disable"><ga></ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Disable in this text field</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool"><ga class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-edit">Edit</ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Edit in Ginger</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-mistakes"><ga><span class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-mistakes-count"></span></ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Edit in Ginger</gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-wrap"><ga class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-close">×</ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-frame"><iframe scrolling="no"></iframe></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv><gdiv id="ginger-floatingG-container" style="left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG ginger-floatingG-closed" style="display: none;"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-disabled-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Enable Ginger</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-offline-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip"><em>Cannot connect to Ginger</em> Check your internet connection<br /> or reload the browser</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-enabled-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-disable"><ga></ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Disable in this text field</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool"><ga class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-edit">Edit</ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Edit in Ginger</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-mistakes"><ga><span class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-mistakes-count"></span></ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Edit in Ginger</gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-wrap"><ga class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-close">×</ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-frame"><iframe scrolling="no"></iframe></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv>Joeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06135557597523377513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29526561.post-38174722328003949522020-09-12T13:52:00.001+07:002020-09-14T08:17:00.038+07:00A reflection on being a servant<i> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QThMmD3eimg/X1xvuwXgGmI/AAAAAAAEbCc/ciDsZ0YD_L8kr3icp126RtZzKb9z-gd1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/unnamed%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="358" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QThMmD3eimg/X1xvuwXgGmI/AAAAAAAEbCc/ciDsZ0YD_L8kr3icp126RtZzKb9z-gd1wCLcBGAsYHQ/w358-h358/unnamed%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br />Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.</i>- John 12:26<div><br /></div><div><div>The church exists on earth mainly for three reasons. First, to glorify God through our service. Second, to edify the saints by serving one another, and last to make disciples of all nations by serving the non-believers.</div><div><br /></div><div>In other words, the church exists for service. The church is here to provide us opportunities to serve. We are here to serve God and the community. God has called us to serve. He saved us to be a servant. In John 12:26, we will learn three truths about being servants of Jesus.</div></div><div><br /></div><b>Servants follow Jesus</b><div>Following Christ means being led by the Holy Spirit, make decisions and choices according to His guidance, do what He would have wanted us to do. Being a disciple and servant means we die to ourselves; we surrender our right to make decisions for ourselves. Jesus is our Lord. He determines where we live, how we live, what we do.</div><div><br /></div><b>Servants are found where Jesus is</b><div><div>The idea is for us is we need to find out where Jesus is working and follow Him there. We can follow Jesus intimately and we will know. This truth helps us see that our worship (even our worship service) should be a time that we encounter Jesus. For some people going to church is like a duty or an obligation. But for us, it is about celebrating what God has done in our lives. We anticipate what God will do and where He is working.</div></div><div><br /></div><b>God honors the servants of Jesus</b><div>When we serve the Lord with gladness with passion and enthusiasm, God will honor us. There is no earthly honor that can exceed that. Is it possible for God to honor us? According to the word of God, it is possible, yes, we can and it’s a choice. When we present Him our lives, our talents for his use, when we say take my life and lead me, Lord, He will.</div><div><br /></div>Joeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06135557597523377513noreply@blogger.com0