Currently writing letters/poems to my future wife.
Title of first poem: “Blind Pursuit”
I won’t post it here cuzz it’s private & my poems suck :)
But seriously though. Donde esta en mi vida loca?
Why does it seem like we’re always in pursuit of something bigger than what we actually see? Humans spend their whole lives searching for something to fill this unexplainable void in their hearts.
Before I knew Christ, I tried filling this emptiness with everything this world deceptively offered. Friends, girlfriends, drugs, sex, money, etc.
It was such a cheap satisfaction. So finite. How was it even possible to be in a room full of friends, but still feel lonely? To fill myself with every combination of pills & alcohol, but still feel empty?
Ecclesiastes 3:11
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”
It hit me.
We were all created for something bigger than what we perceived. Finally the invisible was more real than the visible. The untouchable more tangible than the physical. The silence more audible than the noise emitted from this world.
It’s when I close my eyes I could finally see. When I sit in silence I can finally communicate. When I die I can finally live.
That void in our hearts that we’ve been longing to fill our whole lives… have been intricately designed to be filled by something eternal, infinite… God.
Only you.
My heart was created to be occupied by eternity.
And it’ll take eternity to know who You are.
Thank you for breaking all my chains.
You pray for one thing, but don’t get an answer.
You fast, read your bible, serve at church, fervently pray, obey all the commandments… Nothing.
Why?
God isn’t listening? He doesn’t care? He’s not responding?
…Be silent. Be still. He’s speaking more than you would ever know.
“Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind.
After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.
And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it…” (1 Kings 19:11-13)
To put it bluntly, sometimes you have to shut up, sit down, and listen. You can’t earn anything from God. It’s not like after you put an X amount of hours serving at church and getting to a certain level of spiritual maturity will then God answer your prayer.
Is God obligated to answer your prayer? Does he owe you something?
Isn’t our whole life’s objective as Christians to become more like Christ? Did God answer every single one of Jesus’ prayers? At the garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus desperately asked God if there was a possibility to take another route other than the cross, did his prayer get answered? But what was Jesus’ attitude? “Not my will, but your will be done”.
In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul shares his testimony of how he pleaded with God 3 times to remove the thorn in his flesh. But instead of answering his prayer, God responds to him saying, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”.
What is that thorn in your life that you are constantly asking God to take away? What if he did take it away? Would that lead you to be more attached to him? Or would it lead you to become self-confident and no longer seek his strength?
What if that thorn in your flesh is really there to keep you desperate for him even more? To make you realize how depraved you are and how much of his grace you really need?
Reevaluate your circumstances.
Maybe God is more concerned with how you are being molded & refined in the storm than actually getting you out of it.
It’d be a waste of time and energy to go through a storm and come out the same person you were when you entered it.
——
This goes for me as well. I’m currently going through a season of refinement. It hurts. But it’s the good kind of hurt. I know God wants the best for me and he’s teaching me to be more like Jesus. I hope this post spoke to you as much as it did to me as I was writing it.
Lost in a Sea of Faces
8:45pm
“So who do we approach next?”
“Hm, let’s try to find someone sitting alone at Starbucks.”
“Alright, before we go, what should we write on this card?”
“Oh! How about that verse from John… Take heart?”
“I found it! John 16:33. ‘I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’ “
“Alright, let’s place the card on Psalms 139… Okay, let’s go. Let’s pray as we walk to Starbucks..”
We were doing an outreach with our church and 5 groups of 4 split into different parts of the Orange & LA county to go minister and encourage random people we encountered. I was grouped with my friends Michelle, Erica, and Jenny at the plaza on South & Gridley avenue in Cerritos. We’ve already approached a few strangers and were really blessed and encouraged by their reactions as we handed out flowers, worship cd’s, and encouragement cards.
I was actually having a crappy day; I lost $80 + my debit card a few hours earlier and was kind of bummed out. I debated on just going home and sulking about my misfortune, but pushed myself to come out regardless. Little did I know the kind of surprise God was going to reveal to me and Erica as we approached our next target..
(As we stood outside of Starbucks, peering in through the glass windows..)
“Alright… I see about 3 people sitting by themselves..”
“Hm.. How about that guy on the laptop?”
(I looked down to the left of me, but saw a family sitting at a table)
“Dang, it seems hectic in there. I don’t want to just stand over someone and try to evangelize while they’re in the middle of doing something..”
“Yeah, you’re right.. Gosh, what should we do then?”
(From the corner of my eyes I saw a bright colored object behind a plant)
“What the heck, there’s a woman sitting by herself over there!”
“Oh, perfect! Let’s go approach her… Okay, how should we initiate the conversation?”
“Hm… how about.. ‘Hi! How are you, we just want to give you — “
“Nahhh, that seems.. I don’t know.. cheesy.. Alright, screw it, let’s just go without a game plan. Let’s just pray before we approach and let God do the talking.”
“God, please help us approach this woman. We don’t really have a game plan, so we’re totally relying on you. We believe this is the person you’ve guided us to. Help us show your love to her. Let us just love on her. Amen.”
So we approached this woman, rather a little awkwardly (thanks to my cheesy introduction).
“Hi, how are you!”
Woman: (Confused) “H-hello.. I’m fine”
“I’m Brian and this is my friend Erica and we would like to give you this”
(Hands bible with encouragement card)
Woman: “Oh, thank you.”
“Yeah, we’re from a local church in this area and we just wanted to encourage you with this gift. Are you a believer? Do you know Jesus Christ?”
Woman: “Yes, I am a believer. I actually always end up thinking about Jesus every time I see or hear my name… My name is Jesusita.”
So Erica and I grabbed a seat and started talking to Jesusita. She was in her mid-30’s, Hispanic, and had just gotten off work and was waiting for the bus to go home. She seemed a bit shy, still kind of startled or maybe even weirded out that 2 asians approached her out of no where haha, but she still talked to us and carried a normal conversation.
We talked for about 15 minutes and before we were about to leave, Erica asked her if she had anything we could pray for.
Jesusita: “Well yeah, sure. I’m actually in the process of fighting for the custody of my children.”
“Oh, wow. If it’s not too personal to ask, could you tell us the reason for why you and your husband are splitting?”
Jesusita: (hesitating) “Well, he sexually assaulted me. I don’t know what made him snap. I never saw this coming and never knew this side of him before. So I’m seeing a therapist right now for the mental and emotional damage he inflicted on me.”
“Oh my goodness.. I’m so sorry to hear that..”
Jesusita: (chuckling lightly) “Well yeah, it’s crazy. You don’t see this side until you’re deep into a marriage. After the dates to the movies, the beach, the chocolates and the flowers… You’ll never know the true side of a person until you’re married to them and living with them.
“And how old your kids? When was the divorce?”
Jesusita: “This happened around 2010. My children are 8 and 10 years old right now.”
“Oh man.. They’re still babies..”
Jesusita: “Yeah, so I’m living in a single room with my family because he also stole $200,000 from me and spent it all without even telling me.. He was the head of a multi-million dollar accounting company a few years ago. We had 2 houses, 4 cars, money, but I guess once he lost his job, he took it out on me… Now I have to start my whole life over…”
“… Oh, man..”
Jesusita: “But you know what, it’s a fight every single day of my life. After that incident, I could have just sat around and did nothing with my life, but you know what, I’m choosing to get up every morning and fighting on. I still choose to go to work and attempt to piece my life back together.”
… We were speechless. We passed by dozens of people that night in that plaza. Single parents leaving stores with their child, friends hanging outside of restaurants after their dinner, and others just with their family enjoying life. And here was a beautiful woman, sitting at a Starbucks table alone waiting for a bus… In the midst of the city lights, just another person lost in a sea of faces.
We could have approached anyone, but I believe that through prayer, God had us write down the bible verse on the card in faith and place it to Psalms 139 which related directly to her situation before guiding us to this precious jewel. After listening to her talk about her life, all my problems seemed so microscopic. As a matter of fact, that doesn’t do justice. My problems were totally ECLIPSED in light of hers. She was sexually assaulted by a man she thought she knew and loved. She lost $200,000, her home, and cars. And now she was in the middle of fighting for the custody of the only things that mattered to her… Her children.
“Jesusita, I just want to tell you that you’re an amazing woman.”
Jesusita: (laughs) “Why, thank you.”
“No, you seriously are! You’re amazing and I’m just blown away by what you’ve courageously shared with us. Thank you, you’re so amazing.”
Before we left, we both prayed for her. She then handed us her business card and told us she worked at the H&R block at Sears.
“Can I give you a hug? Because you’re so awesome!”
Jesusita: (laughs) “Of course!”
We departed ways and as we met up with Michelle and Jenny we realized that we ran out of time and needed to meet everyone back up at In-N-Out. We still had a worship cd, Starbucks gift card, and a rose left. So we decided to go back to Jesusita and give her the rest.
As we turned the corner, we saw something that made us smile. She was sitting there and reading the bible we gave her earlier. We approached her again and gave her the rest of the items and parted ways.
The $80 + debit card I lost earlier? It didn’t matter anymore. Nothing mattered. I was just happy that I came out and had the opportunity to meet Jesusita. My heart was so full of joy and I couldn’t stop smiling every time I thought of her. It was seriously like high school crush or something haha, I couldn’t get over the fact of how amazing this woman was.
We pass by dozens, if not hundreds of people on our daily grind. Sometimes we just get so caught up in the busy-ness that we forget to take the time to stop for someone and just listen to what they have to say. There are so many hurting people out there that hide behind that smile. They get lost in the sea of faces we pass by everyday.
As a church, we need to stop praying in a room and start praying for people outside; stop worshiping in a dimly lit room with a bunch of Christians and start worshiping God by loving on others outside of the church walls; stop studying the bible in the lecture halls and start sharing it with people who need to know.
You don’t need a degree or 4 years in seminary to go up to someone ask them that question. You don’t need a Phd to know how to love on someone. Just love, because there are hundreds of Jesusitas we pass by on a daily basis that just need to be asked, “How are you?”
Secret
Mark 7:24
“Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret.
I don’t know why this verse hit me so hard when I read it..
Even with Jesus’ attempts to hide himself, he was not able to keep his presence a secret! If his attempts are futile, how much more are ours? We can’t escape his love! We’re drowning in his grace!
A fish doesn’t know it’s wet because it spends its whole life in the water. Likewise, we don’t know we’re consumed in God’s presence, love, grace, and all his beautiful attributes because we spend our whole life swimming in it!
His presence is not a secret.
If Jesus himself could not keep it a secret, neither should we.
If you were offered to live a trillion (1,000,000,000,000) years as a king, meaning you had everything you could ever ask for, wealth, health, loving friends & family, and had every single worldly pleasure at your fingertips.. but the catch was, by the end of your trillion year reign, you would have to face eternity in hell, would you take it?
Eternity of anguish seems to eclipse the length of a trillion years of pure pleasure, doesn’t it?
All of a sudden, a trillion years doesn’t seem worthwhile or even long enough, knowing that in the back of your head you’re going to face eternal agony in the end, right?
So why is it that 90 years of dying to our flesh every day seem like forever even though we know that eternity of goodness lies ahead of us?
Romans 8:18
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
It’ll all make sense when you greet me at the finish line. I’m tired of a lot of things.
I just want to be with you already.
Reality Chiggity Check
I hear a lot of girls complain about how all guys are dogs.
Well, let me ask you a question.
Where the heck do you hang out most of the time to make such a conclusion?
If you really think so, I don’t think you’ve looked around.
Of course you’re going to meet dogs at bars and late-night clubs.
You wouldn’t go to a swap meet to shop for a diamond ring, would you?
The guys you’re looking for are rarely out during the weekends and are probably working hard and studying late night to invest in their future.
… I was talking to a close friend of mine the other day and we were just amazed by the fact that so many girls choose to pursue and date the guys that are partying all the time, attending a JC as a 4th or 5th year, still hanging out with high school friends doing high school hobbies, still having their parents pay for their toys, and having shortsighted goals.
We came to the conclusion that it’s because they’re all about having fun right now. It’s easy access for cheap fun. Those guys are willing to buy a couple drinks for the girls and invite them to all sorts of parties. They honestly have it easy right now.
Now, skip the scene to the guy working during the day and studying at home by night. He probably doesn’t go out much and frequently turns down invites to parties. Has a few friends here and there. And definitely no girlfriend at the moment. They’re considered the boring guys, ‘noooo fun.’
Ehh, you reap what you sow.
If you’re doing nothing but wasting time right now and constantly justifying your poor situation by comparing it to a pathetic friend who is just as lost as you are to make yourself feel a little bit better about your circumstances, you’ve got on the wrong scope; you’re going to have to work twice as hard to maintain your life in the near future. Unless by some freak chance you win the lottery, who knows, keep buying those scratchers.
Compare yourself to someone better than you. It may make you work harder.
Your parents aren’t always going to be there to pay for your bills, boy.
Reality is going to slap us all pretty hard, but at least some of us will know when to duck.
Give it a few more years and you’ll start to see the kind of harvest being reaped.
So, where are all the good guys? Working, interning, studying, and investing. Heck, some are even at church!
Where are all the dogs? Hanging out at the bars, at their friend’s house playing video games, and definitely not working at a potential long-term career site.. and yes, some are even at church too.
Nice guys finish last? Well, let’s just say, they last.
Bad guys get first pick? Yeah, they for sure get the first boot too.
Just food for thought. I’m not saying everything is concrete truth.
I’m also not implying that I fit the category of a good guy.
Don’t take this personally. If you do, I’m guessing you fit the criteria of what I’ve just described.
Just think, reflect, and be on your way.
———————
And yes, I forgot to add, this post applies to the women too. I applaud you ladies holding your own and not always having to depend on someone to get by. The ones working hard and going home before 11pm to get ready for work the next morning.
My hats off to you diamonds.
Revelation
What God has taught me the past couple weeks.
There is a difference in being ‘nice’ to someone and genuinely loving them.
Being nice asks a person how they are doing and maintains a 5 minute conversation. Loving them keeps them accountable throughout the week.
Being nice returns a favor. Loving serves regardless the condition.
Being nice brings a friend to church. Loving is being the church & representing the Love of Jesus to a friend no matter where they are.
Being nice helps a person when asked. Loving helps a person without letting them know.
Being nice sympathizes. Loving mourns and prays with them.
Being nice is trying to maintain your life without any help. Loving is admitting that you can’t do it on your own and letting it all go to God.
Being nice is shallow. Loving is immeasurable.
Being nice is easily forgotten. Loving never makes a person forget how you made them feel.
Etcetera.
Etcetera.
I realized I have just been nice to people. Loving those who loved me back.
No wonder there was no fruit being produced.
Change this heart of stone. I can’t do it on my own. You know I can’t. I’m throwing my arms up and allowing you to mold me.
I’m tired of living comfortably. Invade. Devastate. Interrupt this flow of easy living.
Help me love those who can care less about me. Help me swallow my pride and be like you.
By your grace and your grace only, allow me to pursue a lifestyle pleasing to your eyes. A living sacrifice.
Cut the weeds out my life.
“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” — Oscar Wilde
When did it become so difficult to surrender?
When I should be giving up my worldly ways, I end up giving up the tasks you asked me to take.
I’m tired.
I’m tired of trying so hard in trying so hard.
It’s difficult to go through a dry season and at the same time try to maintain my composure. Poker face. ‘Act’ in front of the church.
Having the title ‘leader’ at a church does not mean we don’t go through the same struggles as others.
I struggle with anger.
I struggle with lust.
I struggle with addictions.
I struggle with anxiety, depression, loneliness, stress, frustration, etc.
I have a very distant relationship with my family.
I have a traumatic past. Quite dark.
I have a side of me only God knows.
Etcetera.
I’m one messed up pile of crap blended with more crap and fanny packed on a mountain of crap.
I’m tired of trying to be jolly at church. Tired of trying to talk to people who can care less about me.
Tired of having friends I used to hang with view me a fool who’s investing in eternal things.
I really just want to roundhouse kick every one in the pelvis.
I’m a warm Luke. A room temperature cup of coffee. For now.. Just a phase.
But God is good. No doubt about that. I just feel inadequate a lot of the times. I fail. I fail. I fail.
I fall. Get up.
I fall. Get up.
I fall. Get up.
I fall. Get up.
I fall. Get up.
I fall. Get up.
I fall…. *silence*
God. I know you’re good.
But God. I’m so messed up. I’m naturally wayward. Hell-bound.
I feel like every time I fail you, I further the distance of blessings you want to give me.
But you’re not restrained by my failures, right?
I’m tired of trying so hard. I just want to soak in your presence. Please.
Why the hell am I writing here. I don’t know. But you’re reading. Whoever you are.
I’m not perfect. A leader at church isn’t. We’re just able to hide our wounds better.
I’ve been to leadership meetings where I’ve witnessed some of our toughest leaders break down.. Exposing their deepest struggles.
Crying on their knees because of the pain they are going through.
Desperately asking for prayers with tears in their eyes and a quaking in their voice.
But you don’t see that during church. You only see the jolly faces. The laughter. The joyful bodily expressions during worship. You see a person with no problems in their lives. You see a person that has it ALL together. Perfect family and job.
We’re all messed up. It’s just by the grace of God we’re able to pursue goodness.
Hope this gives you a little perspective. Whoever you are. I’m just like you. Probably even worse.
“Let’s risk the ocean, there’s
only grace.Where you go, I will follow..”
(Sometimes - David Crowder)
You in me is like holding my plastic cup and trying to fit in it the earth’s seas.
You in me is like a pebble swallowing up the milky ways and all its galaxies
You in me is like lighting a trillion pounds of fireworks inside a fragile balloon.
You in me is like a category 5 hurricane being consumed by a vacuum.
You in me is crazy.
You’re more than enough, but I will never get enough.
It’ll take eternity to know who you are.
A trillion years will pass, and I’ll only begin to know the fragments of your heart..
From the microscopic & intricate design of human biology to the endless, cosmic galaxies and universal mysteries
From molecules & complexly structured plants, bugs, animals, to unknown goliaths of the sea and cosmos of the universe.
All THESE… are just FRINGES of who You are…
You’re too good to me. And I can’t understand it,
Higher than the furthest star in the universe, more furious than a supernova,
your love surpasses all knowledge,
And that just blows my mind over&over&over again.
I am nothing! I’m a piece of dust, floating on a piece of rock, amongst a googolplex of other pieces of rocks, dust, and junk.
buuuutttttttt You! A big GOD! Looks down and sees worth in me!
I was your enemy! I was lost and I hated you with a passion just last year!
I cursed your name, hated Christians, challenged your authority, etcetera…
Why the HECK did you save me? You could have let me go so many times..
When I overdosed at the age of 14, you could have let me go then..
When I lived my life at a 100 miles per hour for many sinful years, you could have let me go then..
When I ended up in the hospital because my appendix ruptured, you could have let me go then..
When I found myself in jail, you could have let me go then..
When I constantly rebelled against you, cursed you, blatantly disrespected & hated you, you could have snapped your finger and that could have been the end of me..
One question.. Why?
I HATED you and didn’t want to have anything to do with you.
Why did you save me? Why did you have mercy on me?
Few of my friends died without knowing you.. And it kills me to even THINK what they are going through right now..
Why did you preserve my soul?
Why do you KEEP blessing me?
Why do you KEEP answering & listening to my prayers?
I don’t understand this CRAZY LOVE. YOU CONSIDER MY PRAYERS.
I AM NOTHING. I AM NOTHING. I AM NOTHING.
BUT YOU PURSUE ME.
YOU WON’T RELENT, UNTIL YOU HAVE ALL OF ME.
YOU STARTED A GOOD WORK IN ME AND YOU’RE FAITHFUL TO FINISH IT.
EVEN IF I AM FAITHLESS, YOU REMAIN FAITHFUL, FOR YOU CANNOT DISOWN YOURSELF…
..What is man that you are mindful of him? and the son of man that you care for him?
Whatever it is… I am convinced that neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons,
neither the present nor the future,
nor any powers,
neither height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen.
We are called to run this big race called life. Our goal is to live out the gospel, persevere, keep the faith, and ultimately strain toward the FINISH.
We will fail. That’s an inevitable fact.
We will doubt. When we are faced with pain, sorrow, or unanswered prayers, we question the existence of God.
We will get hurt along the way.
See, when we’re doing good, when we’re sprinting full speed towards the goal, reading our bibles, spending time with Him in the secret place.. God is watching proudly from the stands.
“C’mon! You can do it! You can win this race! I am so proud of you..”
But once we hit that speed bump..
Once something painful inflicts our life, we slow down and eventually stop running. We collapse, we give up, we reach a stalemate in our spiritual walk..
(Proverbs 24:16)
”..for the righteous falls seven times and rises again..”
We tend to forget that it’s during those times that God comes running to us from the stands. He breaks through every security and overcomes every opposition to come to our aid.
Just like this video, He rushes to our side and carries us home.
“It’s okay, it’s okay, I’m here, let’s finish this race together..”
And upon reaching the goal, He lets us go and whispers, “I knew you could do it.. I’m so proud of you.. Welcome home.”
Don’t think God is limited to your failures. He is not limited to what you can or can’t do. He who started a good work in you will be FAITHFUL to finish it.
No matter the situation. No matter the magnitude of your failures and mistakes, even at times when we don’t believe in ourselves, He will complete the good work He started in you.
(2 Timothy 2:13)
“When we are faithless, He remains faithful for He cannot disown Himself..”
__________________________________________________________________
(Philippians 3:13-14; 20-21)
Straining Toward the Goal
“…13Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus...
...20But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”
A Letter from Christian Guys
Girls, could we talk to you right out of our hearts for a few minutes? It is awkward for us to talk about something of this nature, in person, so we thought we would write our feelings.
The cost of following.
(Source: neysheruno)
FAITH..
..SEEKS
..CHALLENGES
& MOST IMPORTANTLY IT DEMANDS
THE IMPOSSIBLE.
Disregard the size of the mountain, but consider what the view would look like from on top!
There’s a famous quote that goes,
“People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.”
Stop listening to what people tell you! They tell you to consider worldly things like your finance, possessions, retirement, career, circumstances, etc. They tell you to focus on the waves rather than on Jesus who is standing out in the ocean beckoning to you!
My friend once told me,
“If Jesus is standing in the middle of the storm,
that’s the safest place we can be.”
What!? You want to be in the middle of the raging storm?
Wait, you’re telling me you want to live in Africa amongst the poor for the rest of your life?
What?! You’re going to abandon your education, your career, your family and friends to go to a communist country and devote one year to spread the gospel?!
You’re crazy! That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard..
But that’s the gospel! That’s living a life totally parallel to the scriptures! Everything Jesus and the apostles did was irrational! It was viewed by many to be dangerous, outrageous, radical, and unheard of!
In Acts 5:40, the apostles were lashed 39 times for spreading the gospel and threatened to not speak of Jesus any more..
After the apostles left the council, they REJOICED that they were counted worthy to suffer for Jesus’ name and preached all the more!
What the heckkkkkk! Honestly, if you were to witness that, wouldn’t you think they were crazy?
It’s not! A life lived anything less than radical is an offensive gesture to what Jesus did on the cross.
I have a friend whose older sister recently dropped everything she had in the U.S. to go over to China and serve for a year. She put her education on hold as a grad student and left everything! She left her family, church, and security to go over to China to serve and evangelize.. We need to have deep convictions like that. We’re all called for that! It’s not a calling for specific people! No, it’s required for anyone who professes they’re a christian! Jesus commanded us to make disciples of all nations!
Jesus didn’t die on the cross for us to live a life of complete comfort and serenity. Screw retirement! Spending the last 20 years of your life lavishly spending money on yourself? Do you really think you’ll be confident enough to stand in front of God one day to hear Him say, “well done, my good and faithful servant..”
Well done for what? Well done for keeping God in a box all your life? Well done for camouflaging yourself in the world and conforming to its doctrine? Well done for spending the last 20-30 years of your life living in total comfort? Well done for going to church once a week while still loving what the world offered? After all, that’s what Jesus died for, right?
Instead, most of us will be in for the biggest shock of our lives when God says, “Away from me. I never knew you.”
..We’re meant for so much more, guys.. Understand that once you lose your life, you gain everything.. You get more when you give than when you receive.
Of course you’re going to feel inadequate when you constantly compare yourself to a wealthy individual. Try spending a day helping the homeless, you’ll realize you have a lot more than you realized..
Screw the recession. It’s got nothing on me. Jesus says to consider the birds of the air and the lillies of the field. They do absolutely nothing for the kingdom, yet God takes care of them.
They don’t compare to how God sees us. Honestly, sometimes I forget how God sees me. I always struggle with the fact that it’s not by what I do or who I am that makes God love me.. It doesn’t matter if you put a guy who’s been a christian for 50 years and fasts twice a week next to a guy who doesn’t know Jesus.. He loves them equally the same..He loves us because that’s just who He is. No strings attached.
Love is not God..God IS Love. Get that? Love does not justify who God is and what He is supposed to do.. Rather, God justifies what love is and all the characteristics of it.
We’ll never know how crazy God is for us.. We’ll never know the depths or heights.. It’s unfathomable.. Like Ephesians 3:19 says, ‘it’s a love that surpasses knowledge..’
I’m tired of putting my security in my job, my bank account, my school, family, friends, etc..
I want to go to Africa one day where I have no one and nothing else to depend on, but God alone..
Why Africa? Why not evangelize here in the US?
We have enough people here. There’s a church on every block. In contrast, there are thousands upon thousands dying in Africa everyday from diseases, starvation, war, famine, natural disasters..
In a place where mothers hold their babies not knowing if they’ll be able to have enough clean water to drink by the end of day disturbs my heart.. I just wonder how many die not knowing this great Love..
As Francis Chan puts it,
“Aren’t the best things in life not planned by us? Isn’t God the one who miraculously and graciously puts the pieces of our life together?”
Things fall apart, things fall together, in the end He makes all things work together for our good!
So I don’t care what people say! They say I’m being irrational and ignorant trusting in something I can’t see and desiring to go to the unknown..
I want to lose everything so I can gain everything..
Oh death, where is your sting?
