Enjoying God's Beautiful Perspective of Eternity

I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. - Ecclesiastes 3:10-11

I'm 22 years old, getting ready to graduate college in a few months. I should have graduated a year ago, but life throws you curves. I'm terribly impatient, and this short time until graduation feels like eternity. Time is powerful, and impossible to control. I am striving to keep a positive perspective and make the most of my time on this planet we call earth. There are so many times when I want to pout about my current circumstances. Immediately, however, I am stunned by my lack of perspective. Do I have food? Do I have clothes and a roof over my head? Thanks to my loving parents, yes and yes. Why then, do I rob the joy of living with more than enough food and drink to take pleasure in? Time will tell that there is nothing better for me than to be joyful and to do good as long as I live. No matter what my current state is, even in poverty. Now this is tricky...what if I didn't have food and drink to enjoy? Well hopefully there would be people who would be willing to share and do good, but do I really need that joyful giver's food and drink in the end? No, what I need ultimately in the end is that joy with which they possess. This is why Jesus says "I am the Living Water, and the Bread of Life." Jesus had an eternal perspective. We should too. Because if we do, we will enjoy the blessings in this life and set our hearts on eternal life through God's grace, in His time. And His timing is perfect, so God help me to remain on your schedule!

Questions Want Answers

I'm not sure why there are nights I can't sleep, but things just weigh heavy on me and I get uncomfortable. Truth is, I'm insecure and in desperate need of a Solid Rock faith. Something to just lay down my burdens, my pride, my shortcomings, my expectations, my dreams, and my wants on. I have so many questions, and these questions want answers. Everyone knows I'm in over my head, but these questions are still on my mind. I've got to be willing to lose the arguments, and be content with losing control of my so called dream world. I always think about my purpose in life, and then I immediately think about my passion - what makes my heart beat. My passion is bridging cultural gaps. I don't know why, but I somehow learned Chinese in less than a year. I can't tell you how or why, but I know I need to be a "bridge leader" wherever I am in this so called small world. There are so many gaps in this crazy beautiful world. Whether physical or metaphysical, I believe that people can use their inner power to be a change agent for others. Worldly speaking for practicality's sake, I believe in social entrepreneurship. Why not use our passions alongside inventions for the betterment of society? This is a trendy subject, but I don't think enough people are fully tapping into for-profit businesses that truly make a difference. Orphans. Slaves. Pollutants. Poverty. All social injustices lead to poverty. The wealthy are responsible for making the difference. My calling is to be a catalyst for change so as to bridge the gap between the wealthy and the poor. A rather daunting task if you ask me! I'm a mere man studying at an unknown university, in a state that is best known for it's fried chicken. My heart is still beating, and I know I'm not alone in this race. I find this quite comforting :)

"Sometimes I'd like to ask God why He allows poverty, famine, and injustice in the world when He could do something about it...but I'm afraid God might ask me the same question." -Anonymous

Pure Perseverance

If you have Jesus, you have everything.

James, the brother of Jesus, wrote a very practical book. Brief, but poignantly delivered, he suggests all Christians to take a hard look at their lives. I needed to read his first passage, especially. During a group bible study the other day, the Word revealed to me how I let the devil have "little victories" that rob my joy, leaving me wandering from the truth. He hits me real hard with these words from God:

Trials and Temptations (James 1:2-18) "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from The Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first-fruits of all he created."

When I look at my life before and after Christ, I can see how (as Paul says in 1 Peter 2:13), "it is God who works in us to will and to act according to his good purpose." My thoughts are evil, and I don't ask God for help enough to restore unto me the joy of salvation through his perfect gift being Jesus Christ our Lord.

So what does God want us to do for His good anyways? James continues to share the Word and gives us a good answer in the last verse:

Listening and Doing (James 1:19-27)"My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently in the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it -- he will be blessed in what he does.
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
Submit Yourselves to God (James 4:1-10) "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before The Lord, and he will lift you up."

Man, this is hard to swallow. I admit, I am quick to speak and slow to listen. This shows my pride. This shows my insecurity. What a wretched man I am! Thanks be to God who has loved me despite my sin, and shown me how to live according to the righteousness which is Christ. Jesus healed the sick, and helped the helpless. Most importantly for me, he humbled the prideful like me. Thinking I can find wisdom on my own is folly, yet having received Christ, I now love his Word. I now know God, and love God with all my heart.

But I'm still suffering; complaining instead of considering it pure joy.

My faith is small, and my prayers are weak. I know it is because I lack wisdom, and I lack patience. James reminds me:

Patience in Suffering (James 5:7-12) "Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of The Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what The Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. Above all, my brothers, do not swear -- not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your 'Yes' be yes, and your 'No,' no, or you will be condemned."

God graciously grants me patience as I am reminded that there is no condemnation for those who are healed by Christ, his Son, through the confession of sins and faithful prayers. God's grace humbles me and brings me back to the innocence of His love for me. Oh, how he loves to seek and save the lost -- including those like me who have wandered from the truth.

Joyfully In Christ,
Jon
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Magnolia Dr,Richmond,United States

How do you REALLY love someone?

Amateurs by Andy Davis

So this is how it feels,
Lean in to kiss the one you love and she turns a cheek
Tell ya how it feels,
watchin the walls of the house that you built start crumblin
Yeah you feel love is passin by
One more time
But you're not surprised.

Chorus:
Yeah we're all amateurs and heaven knows we're not perfect
We try to get it right, and we keep messin up but we're learnin.
When the day is done (Whoa-oh), I wanna know
How do you love someone,
how do you really love someone?

If you're further down the road, put up a sign arrow to show me which way to go
Yeah maybe you could start a fight
If your love is strong we could just follow small
Yeah you feel like you're broken down, way down
Til the truth comes out.

Chorus
Yeah we keep messin up this love
Chorus x 2

This song is beautifully written. It sparks interest for me to understand further on his question: How do you REALLY love someone? What does Scripture say about loving someone?

Jesus loved us so deeply, and he has the ultimate perspective which is revealed to us through these prayers:

Jesus Prays for Himself (John 17:1-5) "Father (God), the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began."
Jesus Prays for His Disciples (John 17:6-19) "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth, your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified."
Jesus Prays for All Believers (John 17:20-26) "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that or sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

Wow. Jesus showed us how to really love by praying for us to remain in his love that transforms our hearts. Love is a verb. LOVE DOES. So take to heart these verbs Jesus uses in his prayers: Glorifies, Knows, Reveals, Prays, Gives, Obeys, Accepts, Sends, Believes, Protects, Keeps, Sanctifies, Unifies and (most importantly) Love Remains.

In Christ's Love,
Jon

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Magnolia Dr,Richmond,United States

Better is One Day

There are so many times when I dwell in fear and doubt, not knowing what lies ahead of me. "I was thinking, over thinking. I think one too much. I'm a one-track mind. I feel out of touch. I'm so far behind. I'm trying to accept, out of all of this. Why I feel this way." - Relient K

I can't listen to the voices inside my head telling me lies. I have to listen to my heart in order to renew my mind. Jesus, help me out.

Jesus Comforts His Disciples (John 14:1-14) "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." (Doubting) Thomas said to him, 'Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?' Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.' Philip said, 'Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.' Jesus answered: 'Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring flory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit (John 14:15-31) "If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.' Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, 'But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?' Jesus replied, 'If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you. If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe, I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me. Come now; let us leave."

How deep the Father's love is for us. It's everlasting and never fails. Better is one day in His courts than a thousand elsewhere. I believe it's time to follow Jesus. One day at a time. Because "when a nightmare finally does unfold, perspective (Jesus) is a lovely hand to hold." - Relient K

In Jesus' name,
Jon


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Magnolia Dr,Richmond,United States

Our Portion, Forever. Godspeed.

"Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire none but you. My heart and flesh may fail but you are the strength of my heart. Oh, the strength of my heart. You are my portion, forever. You are my portion, forever. Lord, you are mine forever. Whatever things were gained I count as lost, all for the sake of my reward. More than that I'm counting everything a loss compared to this: knowing Christ, my Lord." - Shane & Shane

Sundays. They always revitalize my spirit for the week ahead. This time around, however, I am really being tested. I'm wishing I could fast forward through this last semester and finish my degree! Of course, there is no such thing as a "fast forward" button other than on my television.

Don't you ever wish you could rewind, skip, or maybe even put your life in slow-motion? I know I do, but I wanted to see what Scripture had to say about making the most of our time. Here are wise passages from King Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes:

A Time for Everything (Ch. 3:1;15-17) "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven...Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account. And I saw something else under the sun: In the place of judgement--wickedness was there, in the place of justice--wickedness was there. I thought in my heart, 'God will bring to judgement both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time for every deed.'"

Stand in Awe of God (Ch. 5:1-3) "Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven, and you are on earth, so let your words be few. As a dream comes when there are many cares, so the speech of a fool when there are many words. When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it."

Obey the King (Ch. 8:2-8) "Obey the king's command, I say, because you took an oath before God. Do not be in a hurry to leave the king's presence. Do not stand up for a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases. Since a king's word is supreme, who can say to him, 'What are you doing?' Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm, and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure. For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a man's misery weighs heavily upon him. Since no man knows the future, who can tell him what is to come? No man has power over the wind to contain it; so no one has power over the day of his death. As no one is discharged in time of war, so wickedness will not release those who practice it."

Remember your Creator While Young (Ch. 12:1-8) "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, 'I find no pleasure in them'--before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain; when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim; when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades; when men rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint; when men are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags himself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then man goes to his eternal home and mourners go about the streets. Remember him--before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the wheel broken at the well, and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it."

God's word is so powerful. In conclusion, I must say I am in awe of God after reading this and to the point of fear and responsibility. Indeed, to much is given, much is required. God has given us so much! I hope you too feel the same way, and that you will begin to recognize God, who has set eternity in our hearts, today. But also be ready--awake and watchful, as Jesus shares this parable which we can interpret through the gift of God's Holy Spirit apportioned to those who willfully choose to follow Christ:

Watchfulness (Luke 12:35-48) "Jesus says,'Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.' Peter asked, 'Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?' The Lord answered, 'Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose the servant says to himself, 'My master is taking a long time in coming,' and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much will be asked."

The cost of following Christ and obeying God's commandments is priced high. Yet at the same time, the reward is everlasting enjoyment of God's presence--which is priceless.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Magnolia Dr,Richmond,United States

Keeping in Step with the Spirit

I'll never forget that day at the airport when my family was emotional about me leaving for a year to study in Hong Kong. I have to admit, I was pretty close to tears when I checked through security. Heavy luggage was nothing compared to the weight of my spirit when I waved goodbye to my sister, brother, and parents. In that moment, I began to question myself for choosing to leave them. Excitement got the best of me I guess, because I remember suddenly beaming with anticipation and totally forgetting about my fears and doubts. I was so giddy I think I started laughing to myself as I thought about what I was getting myself into. People probably thought I was high!



Times like these, where I suddenly go from extreme sadness to gladness, make me wonder where I need to be emotionally. How can we be certain that our attitude is right at all times? I constantly need a heart monitor it seems. Does it really even matter how we react to different things that happen?

I investigated further in Scripture and found this passage:

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourself be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who were trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.
But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 'A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.' I am confident in the LORD that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be. Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature (or the flesh); rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command; 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."
-Galatians 5

Everyday we are bombarded with lies in our heads, and they can crush our spirit. What we find in Scripture is the fact that we don't have to let our minds control us. We don't have to live according to our sinful nature! In Christ Jesus, we can live according to his Holy Spirit which is freely given to us who are held captive and in need of some spiritual freedom!

If you would like to be set free from this sin we are living in, then become a new creation in Christ Jesus! It is with our hearts that we believe and confess Jesus is LORD. Then our mouths profess how his Spirit has renewed our minds and changed us from the inside out.

In Christ,
Jon

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Magnolia Dr,Richmond,United States