I hope everyone had a merry Christmas this year. I went to my parent's house and had a lazy day of eating, playing video games, playing with Sammie and just chillin and it was awesome.
I agree with Pastor Jae when he said that we are losing the meaning of Christmas these days. It's more about Santa, gift exchange, parties and whatnot and it really is such a busy time of year that we can forget why we do all of it. We need to take a stand against this mentality and remember that we give gifts b/c God first gave us the greatest gift ever in Jesus and really reflect on what that means. We also tend to be more lenient around this time of year and say it's b/c of Christmas or holiday spirit but that should also be because we remember how much God loves us and that we can love others b/c of that.
I also don't think it's a coincidence that Christmas is right before the New Year. It's a great time for us to reflect on the past year and to remember the cross and refocus ourselves for the upcoming year. Why not start off every year with Jesus fresh on our minds? We can learn to use our strengths and efforts to spend more time with our Savior and to think about how we can serve Him better.
Let's all take a few moments out of our busy schedules this holiday season and remember how great Jesus is to us and keep this in our minds as we kick off the New Year.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Day 53
Dec 23: Joshua 1-4
I don't want to be a soft Christian. I don't want to sing songs saying I'll sing of God's love forever, or that I'll give everything to Him, without having some conviction to actually act out on it. I don't want to know the bible inside and out but not apply any of it's teaching to my life. What's the point of doing and saying all these things if it doesn't really move me or inspire me to change my life?
In the first few books of Joshua, Rahab the prostitute shows us how to have active faith. Joshua sends two spies to Jericho where Rahab lives. Instead of turning the Israelite spies into the authorities, Rahab hides them and later tells them that she has heard of the great things their God has done for them and knows that God is about to give them the land of Jericho. She also mentions that the whole city of Jericho is in fear of this God and have no courage to defend the city after hearing all the stories. Rahab asks the spies for mercy and asks them to spare her and her family's lives when they do eventually take over the city. By risking her own life by fooling the King of Jericho, Rahab instead ends up saving her whole family from the Israelites by having faith and fear of God.
Again God shows us that active faith isn't limited to the holiest people, but even someone like a prostitute can do great things with true faith in Him. I need to have this kind of faith and fear or God and really learn to act on it. I don't want to be stagnant in my spiritual life, I don't want to make empty promises to God that I don't follow up on. God has done everything for me and I want to show my love to Him by becoming active in my faith and serving Him for once.
I don't want to be a soft Christian. I don't want to sing songs saying I'll sing of God's love forever, or that I'll give everything to Him, without having some conviction to actually act out on it. I don't want to know the bible inside and out but not apply any of it's teaching to my life. What's the point of doing and saying all these things if it doesn't really move me or inspire me to change my life?
In the first few books of Joshua, Rahab the prostitute shows us how to have active faith. Joshua sends two spies to Jericho where Rahab lives. Instead of turning the Israelite spies into the authorities, Rahab hides them and later tells them that she has heard of the great things their God has done for them and knows that God is about to give them the land of Jericho. She also mentions that the whole city of Jericho is in fear of this God and have no courage to defend the city after hearing all the stories. Rahab asks the spies for mercy and asks them to spare her and her family's lives when they do eventually take over the city. By risking her own life by fooling the King of Jericho, Rahab instead ends up saving her whole family from the Israelites by having faith and fear of God.
Again God shows us that active faith isn't limited to the holiest people, but even someone like a prostitute can do great things with true faith in Him. I need to have this kind of faith and fear or God and really learn to act on it. I don't want to be stagnant in my spiritual life, I don't want to make empty promises to God that I don't follow up on. God has done everything for me and I want to show my love to Him by becoming active in my faith and serving Him for once.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Day 52
Dec 22: Deut 23-34
I got to finish Deuteronomy today thanks to some free time on the train back from the city. I need to get a blackberry or something soon so I can have a bible handy at all times...pretty convenient. Anyways, Deuteronomy was a lot easier to read than the last 2 books. It goes over the rest of Moses's life and ends with his death and has more storyline than directions on sacrifices and laws as Leviticus and Numbers did.
So lately, I feel like I've been reading and hearing more and more about how important obedience is. How obedience is a sign of strong faith, a sign of mature love for our God and it's starting to sink in more and more. Chapter 28 is titled, Blessings for Obedience, and the first 2 verses say:
"If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God."
The word carefully means a lot in this verse to me. It shows that we need to be attentive and conscientious of what God's commands are first so that we can follow them efficiently instead of blindly. Once we come to obey these commands, God pours out blessings to us. It reminds me of verses like Matthew 6:20, "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven," and Psalm 84:10, "Better is one day in your courts, than a thousand elsewhere."
I've really been trying to understand these types of verses recently. It's so hard to ignore material things b/c we think about the present the most, and sometimes think about the future a few years down the line. But, if we truly believe that God has provided us with eternal life, these years we have on earth will be a microscopic portion of our existence. Nothing in this life will last, absolutely nothing, so why store up our worldly treasures when we should be storing up heavenly ones? God has helped me understand the importance of obedience more and more and has also been helping me understand how unimportant worldly things are.
I think one way I've seen this has been through Tiger Woods. I'm sure his story has been pretty much beat to death by now but whatever. A few weeks ago, myself and a countless number of people thought this guy was invincible. He makes double what anyone else does in the world of sports per year making over 100 million. He has his own video games, his own foundations, tons of endorsements and sponsorships, and is maybe the most clutch athlete ever. He is the last sports figure I would have expected to be in this kind of mess with the media but there he is. All this money and worldly gain has just gotten him into trouble and he is not exempt from these problems just b/c of how rich he is. Biggie was right, mo money mo problems.
I got to finish Deuteronomy today thanks to some free time on the train back from the city. I need to get a blackberry or something soon so I can have a bible handy at all times...pretty convenient. Anyways, Deuteronomy was a lot easier to read than the last 2 books. It goes over the rest of Moses's life and ends with his death and has more storyline than directions on sacrifices and laws as Leviticus and Numbers did.
So lately, I feel like I've been reading and hearing more and more about how important obedience is. How obedience is a sign of strong faith, a sign of mature love for our God and it's starting to sink in more and more. Chapter 28 is titled, Blessings for Obedience, and the first 2 verses say:
"If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God."
The word carefully means a lot in this verse to me. It shows that we need to be attentive and conscientious of what God's commands are first so that we can follow them efficiently instead of blindly. Once we come to obey these commands, God pours out blessings to us. It reminds me of verses like Matthew 6:20, "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven," and Psalm 84:10, "Better is one day in your courts, than a thousand elsewhere."
I've really been trying to understand these types of verses recently. It's so hard to ignore material things b/c we think about the present the most, and sometimes think about the future a few years down the line. But, if we truly believe that God has provided us with eternal life, these years we have on earth will be a microscopic portion of our existence. Nothing in this life will last, absolutely nothing, so why store up our worldly treasures when we should be storing up heavenly ones? God has helped me understand the importance of obedience more and more and has also been helping me understand how unimportant worldly things are.
I think one way I've seen this has been through Tiger Woods. I'm sure his story has been pretty much beat to death by now but whatever. A few weeks ago, myself and a countless number of people thought this guy was invincible. He makes double what anyone else does in the world of sports per year making over 100 million. He has his own video games, his own foundations, tons of endorsements and sponsorships, and is maybe the most clutch athlete ever. He is the last sports figure I would have expected to be in this kind of mess with the media but there he is. All this money and worldly gain has just gotten him into trouble and he is not exempt from these problems just b/c of how rich he is. Biggie was right, mo money mo problems.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Day 51
Dec 21: Deut 12-22
Deut 13:6-9 says "If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, 'Let us go and worship other gods'...do not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity. Do not spare him or shield him. You must certainly put him to death."
This short passage reinforces to me how serious our relationship with God is. God is #1 and comes before anything and everything and whatever deters you from your relationship with God must be removed. We aren't going to go around killing people that interfere with our walks in this day and age. Instead, we must detach ourselves from these people, but at the same time, attach ourselves to others that will push us. Having that strong community is something that I learned is absolutely necessary for our walks. It makes things so much easier. You have people that can give you biblical advice, people that have gone through similar trials, people that can just listen to you when you are troubled and the list goes on and on. I thank God so much for providing me and surrounding me with people I can go to now for help and also making me someone that friends can rely on when needed. Let's continue to remove things that hinder us and seek out things that will accelerate our walks with God.
Ecclesiastes 4:10-12 - If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
James 5:16 - Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
Deut 13:6-9 says "If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, 'Let us go and worship other gods'...do not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity. Do not spare him or shield him. You must certainly put him to death."
This short passage reinforces to me how serious our relationship with God is. God is #1 and comes before anything and everything and whatever deters you from your relationship with God must be removed. We aren't going to go around killing people that interfere with our walks in this day and age. Instead, we must detach ourselves from these people, but at the same time, attach ourselves to others that will push us. Having that strong community is something that I learned is absolutely necessary for our walks. It makes things so much easier. You have people that can give you biblical advice, people that have gone through similar trials, people that can just listen to you when you are troubled and the list goes on and on. I thank God so much for providing me and surrounding me with people I can go to now for help and also making me someone that friends can rely on when needed. Let's continue to remove things that hinder us and seek out things that will accelerate our walks with God.
Ecclesiastes 4:10-12 - If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
James 5:16 - Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Day 50
Dec 20: Deut 9-11
When I look back on certain moments and situations in my life, I can see that God was always in control and had his plan all set out. All I did in those times were follow God and really try to hear his voice and his advice.
In Deut 9, God instructs Israel to cross the Jordan and overtake nations that are greater and stronger than them. While this may seem like a losing cause, God says to them, "But be assured today that the Lord your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire." How reassuring must this have been for the Israelites? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Sometimes though, there are things that we feel are out of our reach. Starting with college, we would have our reach schools, then there are certain jobs that we feel we might be unqualified for, and other times we may feel we might not be able to serve God in some sort of way that we feel unholy for or not ready for. Let's look to God during these times and know that nothing is out of reach when we have God on our side. Let's seek out his advice, be diligent in prayer and listen for his voice. God could have certain plans for us that we don't know and that reach school, job, or means to serve could be part of it. It would be a shame if we missed out on a chance to glorify God somehow because we were blinded by our own pride. Let's remember Phil 4:13,
"I can do everything through Him who gives me strength," and not underestimate it's true meaning.
When I look back on certain moments and situations in my life, I can see that God was always in control and had his plan all set out. All I did in those times were follow God and really try to hear his voice and his advice.
In Deut 9, God instructs Israel to cross the Jordan and overtake nations that are greater and stronger than them. While this may seem like a losing cause, God says to them, "But be assured today that the Lord your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire." How reassuring must this have been for the Israelites? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Sometimes though, there are things that we feel are out of our reach. Starting with college, we would have our reach schools, then there are certain jobs that we feel we might be unqualified for, and other times we may feel we might not be able to serve God in some sort of way that we feel unholy for or not ready for. Let's look to God during these times and know that nothing is out of reach when we have God on our side. Let's seek out his advice, be diligent in prayer and listen for his voice. God could have certain plans for us that we don't know and that reach school, job, or means to serve could be part of it. It would be a shame if we missed out on a chance to glorify God somehow because we were blinded by our own pride. Let's remember Phil 4:13,
"I can do everything through Him who gives me strength," and not underestimate it's true meaning.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Day 46
Dec 16: Deut 5-8
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." - Deut 6:5.
When I feel jaded or apathetic in my spiritual life, I ask God to help me rebound by praying this verse. I feel like it covers everything that we should be doing as Christians. If we truly love God, we will do all the right things for the right reasons. I know it's good to be specific in our prayers, but sometimes it just feels less and less genuine when we recite the same prayers over and over again. At those times I like to simplify. It feels too forced to go through everything that could be on my mind and it results in frustration and weaker prayers for me. Going back to the basics with this prayer helps it be more meaningful. I know that if I really come to love God with all my heart soul and strength, other areas of my life will become stronger and I thank God that such a simple prayer could do this.
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." - Deut 6:5.
When I feel jaded or apathetic in my spiritual life, I ask God to help me rebound by praying this verse. I feel like it covers everything that we should be doing as Christians. If we truly love God, we will do all the right things for the right reasons. I know it's good to be specific in our prayers, but sometimes it just feels less and less genuine when we recite the same prayers over and over again. At those times I like to simplify. It feels too forced to go through everything that could be on my mind and it results in frustration and weaker prayers for me. Going back to the basics with this prayer helps it be more meaningful. I know that if I really come to love God with all my heart soul and strength, other areas of my life will become stronger and I thank God that such a simple prayer could do this.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Day 45
Dec 15: Deut 1-4
Today's reading just quickly reinforced how great God is to me. In one of the chapters, Moses is speaking about staying away from idolatry and how these idols cannot see or hear or eat or smell. He then says, "But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul...For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you."
Such simple yet encouraging words. Again, in this day and age, it's so easy to get caught up in the material world. All these crazy realistic video games, iphones, blackberries and so on make it so easy for us to get caught up in other things and take time away from God. God knows it's going to happen though. It's human nature for us to be attracted to these things from time to time and we'll be crazy about it for a little while but the excitement inevitably fizzles out. I got caught up on playing video games on xbox live and that took up more time than it should have. Playing halo 3 on live is awesome; it's never the same thing. I also just got a taste of the new Call of Duty and that game is even more ridiculous. I won't get that game cause it could ruin me.
As long as we seek God out as much as possible, we will find Him and He will take us back b/c he's merciful. He won't abandon us b/c we paid more attention to something else for a little, but let's still remember that God is jealous and that he wants our attention and our relationship with Him more than anything else. We need to make sure God is getting the time He most certainly deserves. We need to plan around God and not try to squeeze Him in instead of the other way around. Let's slow down a little bit from this material world and remember what our #1 priority should be and not sacrifice our relationships with God for something that will be boring in 1-3 months.
Today's reading just quickly reinforced how great God is to me. In one of the chapters, Moses is speaking about staying away from idolatry and how these idols cannot see or hear or eat or smell. He then says, "But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul...For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you."
Such simple yet encouraging words. Again, in this day and age, it's so easy to get caught up in the material world. All these crazy realistic video games, iphones, blackberries and so on make it so easy for us to get caught up in other things and take time away from God. God knows it's going to happen though. It's human nature for us to be attracted to these things from time to time and we'll be crazy about it for a little while but the excitement inevitably fizzles out. I got caught up on playing video games on xbox live and that took up more time than it should have. Playing halo 3 on live is awesome; it's never the same thing. I also just got a taste of the new Call of Duty and that game is even more ridiculous. I won't get that game cause it could ruin me.
As long as we seek God out as much as possible, we will find Him and He will take us back b/c he's merciful. He won't abandon us b/c we paid more attention to something else for a little, but let's still remember that God is jealous and that he wants our attention and our relationship with Him more than anything else. We need to make sure God is getting the time He most certainly deserves. We need to plan around God and not try to squeeze Him in instead of the other way around. Let's slow down a little bit from this material world and remember what our #1 priority should be and not sacrifice our relationships with God for something that will be boring in 1-3 months.
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