Christmas.
Lord, thank you, and help me.
Amen.
Monday, December 24, 2012
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Temptation vs Gift
Happy are we who persevere under trials and difficulties.
Because when we have stood the test, we will receive the crown of life that God has promised to us who love Him.
If we're tempted, not one of us should say, "God is tempting me."
Because God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does God tempt anyone.
But each person is tempted by their own evil desire.
When we're tempted by our own evil desire, we're dragged and enticed.
After that evil desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death.
We are to be cautious.
We ought not be deceived.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
God chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created.
James 1:12-18
Because when we have stood the test, we will receive the crown of life that God has promised to us who love Him.
If we're tempted, not one of us should say, "God is tempting me."
Because God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does God tempt anyone.
But each person is tempted by their own evil desire.
When we're tempted by our own evil desire, we're dragged and enticed.
After that evil desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death.
We are to be cautious.
We ought not be deceived.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
God chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created.
James 1:12-18
Taking Pride In Our High/Low Position
If we are poor, we ought to take pride in our high position.
But if we are rich, we should take pride in our low position.
Because we will all pass away like a wild flower.
Even the plant is withered by the scorching heat of the sun.
The plant's blossom falls and its beauty is soon destroyed.
Likewise, the rich person will fade away and die even while they go about their business.
How To Receive Anything From God
James encourages us to consider it all joy, whenever we face trials of many kinds, because we know that the testing of our faith produces perseverance.
James says perseverance must finish its work so that we would be mature and lacking in nothing.
He exhorts us to ask God if any of us lacks wisdom.
We should ask God because He gives generously to all people without finding fault, and surely the wisdom will be given to us.
However when we ask, we must not doubt but believe!
Because he who doubts is like a moving wave of the sea, tossed and blown by the wind.
If we doubt like that, we should not think that we will receive anything from God.
Because we would then be double-minded, unstable in all we do.
James 1:1-8
James says perseverance must finish its work so that we would be mature and lacking in nothing.
He exhorts us to ask God if any of us lacks wisdom.
We should ask God because He gives generously to all people without finding fault, and surely the wisdom will be given to us.
However when we ask, we must not doubt but believe!
Because he who doubts is like a moving wave of the sea, tossed and blown by the wind.
If we doubt like that, we should not think that we will receive anything from God.
Because we would then be double-minded, unstable in all we do.
James 1:1-8
How To Know The Will of God
What is the will of God for my life?
It can be confusing sometimes.
Here's an excellent article, knowing the will of God.
How Can I Know God's Will?
It can be confusing sometimes.
Here's an excellent article, knowing the will of God.
How Can I Know God's Will?
God's Vision For His Life At An Early Age
This is Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church, talking about the vision he received at an early age.
Hope Story 3
Asuka Endoh shares the story of how she came to faith in Jesus: "I had hope because I could believe God's promise that He has prepared the best possible path for me.
Source: Jesus.net Japan
Asuka Endoh's Hope Story from Jesus.net Japan on Vimeo.
Source: Jesus.net Japan
Asuka Endoh's Hope Story from Jesus.net Japan on Vimeo.
Hope Story 2 - Naoko Takahashi
How Naoko Takahashi(なおこ高橋) moved from a self-hating wrist cutter to a confident follower of Christ, "precious and loved in God's sight." Naoko Takahashi: "'It is more blessed to give than to receive' is my life motto now."
Source: Jesus.net Japan
Naoko Takahashi's Hope Story from Jesus.net Japan on Vimeo.
Source: Jesus.net Japan
Naoko Takahashi's Hope Story from Jesus.net Japan on Vimeo.
Hope Story - イエスキリストを会う
篠塚昇 My Hope Story source: Nihon Kibou–Hope for Japan
2012.April 篠塚昇 My Hope Story from Jesus.net Japan on Vimeo.
2012.April 篠塚昇 My Hope Story from Jesus.net Japan on Vimeo.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
How To Conquer Fear
The best way to conquer fear is to do what you fear anyway.
I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.
The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
Nelson Mandela
Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.
John Wayne
Courage is doing what your afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you’re scared.
Eddie Rickenbacker
Source: Washington's Blog
Fear is the imagination of the mind.
Mind breeds fear.
To destroy that fear, do what you fear.
I was very socially isolated at one time for quite a number of years.
I don't think I am an introvert (not frank extrovert either, but probably extroverted introvert) but I became more introverted due to social isolation.
I became uncomfortable with many people around me (as I seemed to have lost many social skills) and became quite afraid of speaking in the crowds.
So what I did was go to many social gatherings, I went to all sorts of social events.
First of all, I moved to a flat where 12 people lived together, 5 guys and 7 gals.
I went to many public education programmes, church events, volunteer works, camps, picnics, dinners and even night club (at one time).
Slowly but surely I conquered the fear of being around people socially.
I learned a lot of social skills through those experiences.
I got to meet a lot of people, with their own personalities, desires, dreams, wants and hope.
So I did that for about a year. That was 2 years ago.
I spent the best year of my life then.
Fear is nothing, when you can see the fear in the eyes, and just do it, knowing that you could make a fool of yourself in the process.
But what I found is that we all make mistakes when we learn anything new.
Babies fall down multiple times before they can properly walk.
I was clumsy when I first started learning to ride a bicycle.
Baseball players need to swing enough times and even fail multiple times before they can finally score home runs.
Soccer players need to shoot enough times toward the net, to score goals.
The best way to conquer fear is to do what you fear anyway.
And that fear becomes a memory.
P.S.
And yeah, I had this personalised image of fear (like Darth Maul in Star Wars Episode I: Phantom Menace), his expression was so priceless when I conquered a particular fear.
He actually got afraid of me, surprised and gasping, as if to say, "how could you conquer fear? I can't believe that, what the heck!)
I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.
The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
Nelson Mandela
Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.
John Wayne
Courage is doing what your afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you’re scared.
Eddie Rickenbacker
Source: Washington's Blog
Fear is the imagination of the mind.
Mind breeds fear.
To destroy that fear, do what you fear.
I was very socially isolated at one time for quite a number of years.
I don't think I am an introvert (not frank extrovert either, but probably extroverted introvert) but I became more introverted due to social isolation.
I became uncomfortable with many people around me (as I seemed to have lost many social skills) and became quite afraid of speaking in the crowds.
So what I did was go to many social gatherings, I went to all sorts of social events.
First of all, I moved to a flat where 12 people lived together, 5 guys and 7 gals.
I went to many public education programmes, church events, volunteer works, camps, picnics, dinners and even night club (at one time).
Slowly but surely I conquered the fear of being around people socially.
I learned a lot of social skills through those experiences.
I got to meet a lot of people, with their own personalities, desires, dreams, wants and hope.
So I did that for about a year. That was 2 years ago.
I spent the best year of my life then.
Fear is nothing, when you can see the fear in the eyes, and just do it, knowing that you could make a fool of yourself in the process.
But what I found is that we all make mistakes when we learn anything new.
Babies fall down multiple times before they can properly walk.
I was clumsy when I first started learning to ride a bicycle.
Baseball players need to swing enough times and even fail multiple times before they can finally score home runs.
Soccer players need to shoot enough times toward the net, to score goals.
The best way to conquer fear is to do what you fear anyway.
And that fear becomes a memory.
P.S.
And yeah, I had this personalised image of fear (like Darth Maul in Star Wars Episode I: Phantom Menace), his expression was so priceless when I conquered a particular fear.
He actually got afraid of me, surprised and gasping, as if to say, "how could you conquer fear? I can't believe that, what the heck!)
Loneliness
Do we feel lonely when we are alone?
I've been in a situation where I felt lonely even though there were many people around me.
I've been in a situation where I was isolated socially though I did not feel lonely.
I believe loneliness comes from not being understood.
Even if there are family and friends are around me.
If they don't understand me, I feel lonely.
If I share my thoughts with others and they understand me, I don't feel lonely any more.
Communication is the key.
I find that even if a lot of people do not understand me or misunderstand me, but there is at least one person who understands me, I do not feel that lonely.
Because I have at least one person who understands me.
I am not alone.
Communication.
Prayer.
God lets us pray.
Actually He encourages us to pray.
Why?
I can't see Him!
But he says he listens to me.
He listens to us.
"Talk," he says.
Lord, thank you for the gift of prayer and I desire to grow in the knowledge of You through prayer.
And I know Jesus listened to this prayer.
I pray for you, too, who read this and all who visit this blog.
God bless you
I've been in a situation where I felt lonely even though there were many people around me.
I've been in a situation where I was isolated socially though I did not feel lonely.
I believe loneliness comes from not being understood.
Even if there are family and friends are around me.
If they don't understand me, I feel lonely.
If I share my thoughts with others and they understand me, I don't feel lonely any more.
Communication is the key.
I find that even if a lot of people do not understand me or misunderstand me, but there is at least one person who understands me, I do not feel that lonely.
Because I have at least one person who understands me.
I am not alone.
Communication.
Prayer.
God lets us pray.
Actually He encourages us to pray.
Why?
I can't see Him!
But he says he listens to me.
He listens to us.
"Talk," he says.
Lord, thank you for the gift of prayer and I desire to grow in the knowledge of You through prayer.
And I know Jesus listened to this prayer.
I pray for you, too, who read this and all who visit this blog.
God bless you
Fasting
We often forget that we eat constantly.
We do remember to eat 3 times, breakfast, lunch and dinner, on average.
But do we really consciously realise that we do eat 3 times each day?
When we do fasting, we realise how important and prominently place food is in our lives.
We cannot live without food.
Period.
Hunger.
When we are hungry we eat.
God says this in regards to food.
"Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."
Matthew 4:4
The word of God and food.
Food and the word of God.
If food is to our physical body.
The word of God is to our soul.
Yes, we can live on food.
But not food alone.
Our souls have spiritual hunger, too.
Whether we realise it or not,
We long for something more than food.
Food is not enough for man.
Man needs purpose.
Man needs God.
Man wants God.
Man desires God.
The word of God fills our hunger for God.
The word of God satisfies us.
The word of God is the food for our souls.
Fasting can indeed accentuate our need for God.
We do remember to eat 3 times, breakfast, lunch and dinner, on average.
But do we really consciously realise that we do eat 3 times each day?
When we do fasting, we realise how important and prominently place food is in our lives.
We cannot live without food.
Period.
Hunger.
When we are hungry we eat.
God says this in regards to food.
"Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."
Matthew 4:4
The word of God and food.
Food and the word of God.
If food is to our physical body.
The word of God is to our soul.
Yes, we can live on food.
But not food alone.
Our souls have spiritual hunger, too.
Whether we realise it or not,
We long for something more than food.
Food is not enough for man.
Man needs purpose.
Man needs God.
Man wants God.
Man desires God.
The word of God fills our hunger for God.
The word of God satisfies us.
The word of God is the food for our souls.
Fasting can indeed accentuate our need for God.
How We Change
This is a topic that I like and want to talk about most often.
I like growth.
I like seeing my own bamboo plant on my desk grow.
I like trees and birds singing on the trees.
Well, how do we grow? How do we change?
What are the ingredients for our growth?
If trees receive light, water and nutrients to grow,
how do people grow spiritually?
I believe spiritual growth occurs primarily through love.
Acts of love is the most powerful motivation for our behavioural change.
Love moves us.
Love frees us.
Love speaks to our souls
Love gives us new energy
Love is unselfish
Love is sacrificial
Love looks to the interests of others
Love forgives
Now if I had a friend with all of the qualities of love, a friend with pure love, would I ever refuse his requests?
No, most likely not (because even his requests would be unselfish and look to my interest and my good).
Would I learn a thing or two from a friend with pure love?
Quite likely, I would unknowingly learn from him a lot of things,
the way he talks kindly to people around him,
the way he is generous to others,
the way he behaves around people and when alone,
and the way he sacrificially supports people around him for their good.
Yeah, I know at least one person exactly like that.
And I am his friend,
Yeah, he is my friend.
His name is Jesus.
I like growth.
I like seeing my own bamboo plant on my desk grow.
I like trees and birds singing on the trees.
Well, how do we grow? How do we change?
What are the ingredients for our growth?
If trees receive light, water and nutrients to grow,
how do people grow spiritually?
I believe spiritual growth occurs primarily through love.
Acts of love is the most powerful motivation for our behavioural change.
Love moves us.
Love frees us.
Love speaks to our souls
Love gives us new energy
Love is unselfish
Love is sacrificial
Love looks to the interests of others
Love forgives
Now if I had a friend with all of the qualities of love, a friend with pure love, would I ever refuse his requests?
No, most likely not (because even his requests would be unselfish and look to my interest and my good).
Would I learn a thing or two from a friend with pure love?
Quite likely, I would unknowingly learn from him a lot of things,
the way he talks kindly to people around him,
the way he is generous to others,
the way he behaves around people and when alone,
and the way he sacrificially supports people around him for their good.
Yeah, I know at least one person exactly like that.
And I am his friend,
Yeah, he is my friend.
His name is Jesus.
Even Demons Believe, And Shudder
Do you believe in one God?
Well, that is a really good start.
But that is not enough.
Because even demons believe there is a God, and know that God is one.
"You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!"
James 2:19
It's one thing to believe there is one God intellectually.
But it's quite another thing to have a personal relationship with Him.
Have you always known there is one God?
But never actually thought that it was possible to have a relationship with something as big and awesome as God?
Well, he is not a God who alienates himself from us.
Because Jesus came to us 2000 years ago.
God became a human being and lived like us.
Jesus knows what it means to live as a human being on the face of the earth.
He knows you and me.
He loves you and me.
He invites you to live this life with Him.
He is a good teacher.
He is a good friend.
He is a good big brother.
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
Well, that is a really good start.
But that is not enough.
Because even demons believe there is a God, and know that God is one.
"You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!"
James 2:19
It's one thing to believe there is one God intellectually.
But it's quite another thing to have a personal relationship with Him.
Have you always known there is one God?
But never actually thought that it was possible to have a relationship with something as big and awesome as God?
Well, he is not a God who alienates himself from us.
Because Jesus came to us 2000 years ago.
God became a human being and lived like us.
Jesus knows what it means to live as a human being on the face of the earth.
He knows you and me.
He loves you and me.
He invites you to live this life with Him.
He is a good teacher.
He is a good friend.
He is a good big brother.
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
Spirits: Are They All Good?
Here's what the Bible has to say about angels, spirits and Satan:
And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
2 Corinthians 11:14
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
1 John 4:1
And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home--these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.
Jude 1:6
For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment;
2 Peter 2:4
Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!
1 Corinthians 6:3
Not all angels are good.
There are two types of angels:
Satan himself was one of the angels who was like a worship leader in heaven. But then he idolised himself,
"I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.
I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High."
Isaiah 14:13, 14
That was very foolish of him.
He thought he could beat God.
God is God.
Satan is a fallen angel.
And fallen angels are now called demons or devils who are perennial liars, whispering to us that we are not loved by God.
Don't listen to their lies.
Listen to God.
Listen to Jesus.
I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.
Jeremiah 31:3
And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
2 Corinthians 11:14
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
1 John 4:1
And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home--these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.
Jude 1:6
For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment;
2 Peter 2:4
Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!
1 Corinthians 6:3
Not all angels are good.
There are two types of angels:
- Angels who love God and follow Him
- Angels who were foolish enough to follow Satan
Satan himself was one of the angels who was like a worship leader in heaven. But then he idolised himself,
"I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.
I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High."
Isaiah 14:13, 14
That was very foolish of him.
He thought he could beat God.
God is God.
Satan is a fallen angel.
And fallen angels are now called demons or devils who are perennial liars, whispering to us that we are not loved by God.
Don't listen to their lies.
Listen to God.
Listen to Jesus.
I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.
Jeremiah 31:3
The Author And Perfecter Of Our Faith
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
Perseverance
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Hebrews 12:11
Hebrews 12:11
Father of Lights - Jesus Culture
I love this song, Father of Lights, by Jesus Culture.
The song is named after the documentary movie called, "Father of Lights."
The song tries to convey the heart of God the Father for His children, us, who identify with Him.
The song is named after the documentary movie called, "Father of Lights."
The song tries to convey the heart of God the Father for His children, us, who identify with Him.
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