Today, I was moved by this blessing found at the end of Paul’s letter to the Romans. This is what I want to me personally but also for you and every single person on this earth. We all need to get to know the God of hope and then live in that hope. Because that’s God will for us. God wants us to overflow with hope. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you…
How did you react to the reading of the Christmas story from Luke 2 this year? Isn’t it amazing how it captures our hearts every time we hear it? Why does it move us year after year? You know, most stories do get boring. But the Christmas story is not just any story. The Christmas story is not just any story We are all familiar with the story line yet we never get tired of hearing the Christmas story. Because…
We are told to rejoice in the Bible. Many times. Why is it so important? Why should we bother? Well, being joyful is better than the alternative, isn’t it? But maybe there’s some blessings hidden in joy for all of us. Could Nehemiah be right? Could joy be strength for us? Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10, NIV,*). Joy Is Strength? If joy is strength, it changes how we see the Bible verses…
How are you doing today? Are you feeling blessed and bursting with eternal joy? Or are you feeling under the weather? No matter how you feel you should know Jesus blesses you, loves you, and prays for you. The Bible tells us so. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. (Romans 8:34, NIV) Jesus even left…
Do you like putting puzzles together? I do. A couple weeks ago we finished a puzzle of 2000 pieces. And this past weekend we put 1000 pieces together. Puzzles are symbolic to life. We don’t know the big picture but all the pieces will eventually form a beautiful picture. No matter how odd pieces we see along the way. Perseverance is the key to puzzles and life as well. But that’s not what I want to share with you today….
One of many temptations in life is to forget where our blessings come from. We explain blessings away by thinking things happened by accident or it was serendipity. Or we take credit for those blessings. Or we don’t recognise them. Sometimes blessings are hard to see or they come in disguise. Also, it takes time for a seed of blessing to grow into a tree and bear fruit. The middle verses of the Bible emphasise the importance of counting our blessings and…
The world says losing is for losers. The Bible says losing is gaining. Which one do you believe? The world says you need to cumulate stuff, fame, wealth in order to be happy. The Bible says if you lose it all, you will gain everything in Christ. It sure sounds backwards. But it is the way to life everlasting. Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside…
Are you marked by joy? Is it evident in your life that Christ lives in you? If he lives in you, your life should be brimming with joy. Because God is joy. God is indeed the source of joy. All joy comes from him. When we stick close to God, joy is present in our lives no matter how dark the world around is. When we dare to embrace the cross of Christ, we are filled with overflowing joy. And…
Don’t wait for tomorrow to be happy and fulfilled. Don’t wait for easier circumstances to be joyful. Don’t wait for something miraculous to happen to start really living. Because life is to be lived right here and right now. The ultimate reason and the unquenchable source of contentment, joy, happiness, and fulfillment are available for you 24/7/365. It’s not positive thinking. It’s not a new method of self-help. And it definitively is not a new program of self-improvement. Apostle Paul already knew…
Are you blaming God for your difficulties? Or are you angry at God for letting you suffer? I have news for you. It’s natural but not Biblical to think life, even for a follower of Christ, should be smooth sailing. The Bible does not promise life without difficulties or give an exempt for suffering. Actually, we are promised quite the opposite. I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have[perfect] peace. In the world you have…
