War!

     War, the act of politicians to save their personal glory.  War, the act that forces another people to defend itself and become tainted by the blood of their brothers.  War, the act that forces the innocent to kill the innocent.  Truly this earth is too small to kill one another in the name of nations, religion, nor whatever deviated purpose.  The hardship it brings to families with the loss of sons and daughters, the blackening of hearts with hatred prodded by misguided leaders ravages mankind with division when we need to be as one to improve the plight of all mankind.  War should always be the last option in any situation.  We, as Christians, have no excuse.  Peace should always be our primary option.  Love your enemies.  Find alternative solutions to killing.  Did not our Lord Jesus conquer the world with love?  But...I suppose there exists a time for war to defend oneself or a friendly country being trampled by an aggressor.  But...let that be the last option when no other is available and pray for the innocents on both sides.

There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace. 

Ecclesiastes 3

Humbled

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

Many times...

I take credit for that which belongs to You

I feel strong due to myself

I leap for joy for me

I stand tall and proud when I should bow

I walk away when I should stand firm

I grovel when I should cement my feet 

Forgive me my Lord...

My good acts come from You

My strength comes from You

Give me humility in the face of vanity

Give me the wisdom, strength, courage to stand firm for You

Lord, make Your ways mine 

Let Your love shine through me

Let the weak stand on my shoulders

Let the poor in spirit find joy and life in the love You have given to me

Let me be a beacon in the darkness to You, my Lord

Help me stand firm against the waves that tower over 

For what am I if not for You

Let me carry the flag into the battle against darkness

Let it be about You and for You

As You spoke, if not for You, we are against You

Let Your will be done
And, above all, teach us humility
As You were Lord, we are here to serve others
In those acts, we will serve You and your will
And become humble

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,   Peter 5:6


For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.   Matthew 23:12

Physical and Spiritual

     The Physical is finite.  The Spiritual is infinite.  Our minds cannot comprehend infinite or how anything or any place exists period.  How can something go on forever without boundary?  How can the physical be period?  What or who created existence?  How can we be aware of our existence?  An intelligence had to create this and us.  Our Father's house has many rooms, said our Lord.  I find exciting every word of our Lord and Father.  Jesus was trying to explain Himself and existence now and in the next life in simple terms to help people grasp an image and understanding of it.  Truly, we are not capable of fully imagining nor comprehending our Creator.  I have been asking for many years and He has slowly revealed to me glimpses of eternity and infinity, but I cannot possibly begin to comprehend this fully.  I have a feeling our spiritual selves can come much closer, but, in this physical form in this room of our Father's house, it is difficult to understand or imagine.  These thoughts bolster my faith in our Lord.  Read his words carefully.  He does not hide the truth from us.  Jesus was frustrated many times by people's failure to understand his teachings.  Isn't being a Christian exciting and thought provoking?  Spend time with God, and listen and ask questions and listen some more...do it on a daily basis.  Give our Father a part of our time.

Persecution in Malaysia

     Our Christian brothers and sisters in Malaysia need our prayers.  Islam is the official state religion though people are supposedly able to practice other religions.  The government is openly recognizing Christianity as a threat to Islam, and taking action to subvert Christian worship.  There are many people in Malaysia following this blog.  My prayers and those of other Christians around the world are being said for you.  Have faith, God always hears our cries for help.  He moves in His way to intervene.  It may not seem like he is acting, but God is never sitting still when his children are in need of his help.  You are a shining example to the rest of the world to believe and practice your faith in the midst of persecution.  You are a living testament to believers not facing such tremendous and dangerous  threats for worshiping our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Love shall bring victory.  I know in your situation it must be a true test of your faith to love your persecutors, but that is what our Lord asked us to do...Love your enemies for it is easy to love your brothers.  We ask the Lord to watch over you during the daily trials of your faith.  Your perseverance strengthens our faith.  God is using you.  You are not alone.  Christians around the world are watching.  

I sit here thinking of you, Father,
I feel a soft breeze upon my shoulders,
I look up and see the tree gently moving,
I know you are here with me.

You always come near when I need to talk with you,
You always listen to my needs,
You always help no matter how trivial,
You always smile and blow your sweet breath upon me,
You always comfort and reassure me,
You always take time for trivial me when millions are calling to you in pain,

Thank you Father,
Hallowed be thy name,
You have my love and I have yours,
Though I am but a speck in your creation,
You always come when I call out your name,
Thank you Father,
I pray that when I grow up, I will be just like you.

Father, give us the strength, wisdom, and courage

To gather your Son's flock to Him

So that He may glorify your name,

Our Lord calls out for this 

So your will shall be done

Make us your instrument in this holy act

Mold us into that which serves you

Let them know that our words are from you

We pray this

Through Your Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

Amen

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 and 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."
     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, 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 glory to the Father.  You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
    
     Cannot you see?  This magnificent earth we live upon and the infinite stars, galaxies, and the space around us are but one room in our Father's house.  We cannot envisage in our physical minds the totality of this statement.  But we can know that it must be infinite and glorious as is our Father. 
     He is the way and the truth and the life.  How powerful.  How simple. No one comes to our Father except through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, King of Kings, Lord of Lords.
     "Don't you know me, Philip..."  Truly he was God come to earth in human form.  There is no hesitation in his answers.  He speaks with such authority, such all-knowingness, absolute confidence in His manner.  This is no madman...one day excited...one day depressed.  He is the same today, yesterday, and tomorrow.  Do we really believe?  Do we really have faith?  Do we need His love?  We must have faith in Him and ask in His name, and  you shall truly have it all...eternal life.  He did not say this life would be easy.  We must go forth as an army armed with His love to conquer and rescue our brothers and sisters in need.  What armies with the most advanced weapons cannot do, we can do armed with His divine love.  We must gather in our Father's children.We must begin now. 
    
    

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Philippians 4:4

Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness!   Psalm 150:2

If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.   1 John 4:20

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--   Ephesians 2:8

Understand and practice these things.  For they are the basic principles of Christianity.