My family bought a house in the city of Roselle about a year ago. Driving to downtown Chicago, if not accompanied by traffic and at the speed of 75mph, only takes a mere 40 minutes using Hwy 290. It's not too bad; an added bonus is that my house is really close to the hwy as well.
Driving to work is quite a pleasure. I don't get stuck in rush hour traffic like most Chicagoans. One day I decided to time myself - it took me about 15 minutes to drive the 7 miles distance from my house to my office. Not too shabby, I'm not complaining.
While driving every morning at 8.30am using the same road to get to the major streets, I happen to keep noticing this older man walking on the sidewalk alongside my car. He's probably in his late 60s. White hair, hunched back, and always with his cane. The first day I saw him, I forgot about him as soon as his reflection was gone from my rear view mirror. The fourth day I saw him walking at 8.30am, I was intrigued. After 10 months of seeing him and his beloved cane everyday, I just want to stalk him, find out where he lives, and spend a couple of hours talking to him.
This mysterious old man is always wearing his favorite blue windbreaker jacket. Wearing a hat, I saw that he has his headphones on, too. I wonder what he's listening to. Is it a radio? It could be a radio receiver in his pocket. Or is it a CD? What kind of music does he listen to? Classic? Jazz? Country? Wouldn't it be a riot if he listens to hiphop? Ooooh, so many possibilities.
I've started to learn his route as well. He doesn't go to the little streets/alleys; from my house to the next major intersection, I'd say it's a good 0.8 mile. That is the route he takes; to the intersection and back. Before 10am, this man has walked 1.6 miles. On some days, I don't even walk 1 mile! What a way to start the day, don't you think?
I remember one day it was raining. I woke up late because the alarm clock didn't go off. I was thinking in the back of my mind: "My old man is not going to take his walk today. I wouldn't! It's raining! I'd be lazy and go back to sleep." But boy, was I wrong! While turning on my wipers, I saw him walking with an umbrella over his head, already on his way home. He was almost done with his walk. I suddenly felt ashamed. I was running late. The old man? He was walking on time.
And that is almost the case everyday for the past 10 months. I purposely look for him whenever I drive to work. Never has he missed his walk. From Monday to Friday, at 8.30am (I don't know if he walks on weekends). You can find him walking; whether it'd be a clear day, a rainy one, a very sunny morning, or a gloomy sky. He's there with his music and his cane... and occasionally, his umbrella.
It got me thinking; shouldn't I be like that when it comes to my spiritual life? Shouldn't I read His Word everyday, pray everyday, be kind and joyful everyday (among many others), irregardless the "weather" the world has for that day? If it was a happy day, shouldn't I not forget to give praise? It it was one of the sad days, shouldn't I still be faithful to Him? I need to walk with God everyday, just like the old man. Rain or shine.
I need to be more like you, my old man...
And while on that note, I need to know where you live as well.
I would love to spend one Saturday morning with you.
Showing posts with label Inspiration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Inspiration. Show all posts
Monday, September 14, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Half Baked
As I walked into the church today, I was expecting a typical day, good worship music, encouraging message, get some lunch and go home. Oh boy was I wrong... I was once again challenged as a Christ follower. The preacher was talking about half-baked Christians, like these half baked cookies, that left bad taste in people's mouth, a bad memory that en grained in their mind for years to come. Maybe bad things that we said, or our poor conducts that made people said, "If that's Christianity, I don't want to be part of it."
A half-baked Christian is someone who acknowledge Jesus as a Savior but not necessarily acknowledge Him as Lord in his/her life. Jesus said, "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" (Luke 6: 46). Some of us Christians, even those who are involve in ministries in church, are missing the Jesus' authority in our life. It's like we forgot what we heard on Sunday when Monday morning comes and we live our lives our own way. Sometimes we have all the good intentions but we just simply half-baked.
What if Moses only took the Israelites half way to the promised land, what if Joshua only circled the Jericho wall half the time, what if David only hurled the stones half way from Goliath? What if Jesus only walked half way to Calvary?
It's OK, we are all guilty of this at some point in our live. So, let's all of us strive to be a fully baked Christians, like these yummy chocolate chip cookies, bringing pleasant memories to people that we met.
The key is to be intentional, to be more aware about which areas of our lives where we are weak and keep a watch on them. Nothing is automatic, only decay and corrosion is automatic. Reading the word of God daily and apply it daily in our lives will help us tremendously in our walk with Christ. We need to remember that we who professed faith in Jesus Christ, that we are His soldiers, and soldiers listen and obey the commander-in-chief's commands.
And tomorrow is Monday morning, and I brace for the dawn...
"Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting."
(Psalm 139: 23-24)
A half-baked Christian is someone who acknowledge Jesus as a Savior but not necessarily acknowledge Him as Lord in his/her life. Jesus said, "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" (Luke 6: 46). Some of us Christians, even those who are involve in ministries in church, are missing the Jesus' authority in our life. It's like we forgot what we heard on Sunday when Monday morning comes and we live our lives our own way. Sometimes we have all the good intentions but we just simply half-baked.
What if Moses only took the Israelites half way to the promised land, what if Joshua only circled the Jericho wall half the time, what if David only hurled the stones half way from Goliath? What if Jesus only walked half way to Calvary?
It's OK, we are all guilty of this at some point in our live. So, let's all of us strive to be a fully baked Christians, like these yummy chocolate chip cookies, bringing pleasant memories to people that we met.
The key is to be intentional, to be more aware about which areas of our lives where we are weak and keep a watch on them. Nothing is automatic, only decay and corrosion is automatic. Reading the word of God daily and apply it daily in our lives will help us tremendously in our walk with Christ. We need to remember that we who professed faith in Jesus Christ, that we are His soldiers, and soldiers listen and obey the commander-in-chief's commands.And tomorrow is Monday morning, and I brace for the dawn...
"Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting."
(Psalm 139: 23-24)
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Moments of Truth
What is your life verse?
I hope these verses will help you in your walk with Christ...
SALVATION
John 1:12
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
Romans 10:13
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Titus 3:5
He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
I hope these verses will help you in your walk with Christ...
SALVATION
John 1:12
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
Romans 10:13
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Titus 3:5
He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
ASSURANCE
1 John 5:13
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
Romans 5:1
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 John 5:12
He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
TEMPTATION
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
TRIALS
James1:2-3
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
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.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
FEAR
2 Timothy 1:7
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
WISDOM
James 1:5
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.
I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.
ANGER
Ephesians 4:26-27
“In your anger do not sin." Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
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.
CONTENTMENT
Philippians 4:11
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
But godliness with contentment is great gain.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
POWER
Philippians 4:13
I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.
"With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."
“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the LORD Almighty.
PRIDE
James 4:6
But He gives us more grace. "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
"I want to know You...
I want to hear Your voice...
I want to know You more."
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
What Do You Want on Your Tombstone?
A friend sent me this "Commitment as a Christian" from a pastor in Africa. I can only hope that will be said of us on our tombstone one day.
As for me, I'm still a long way to go...
“I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.
My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me--my banner will be clear!”
As for me, I'm still a long way to go...
“I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.
My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me--my banner will be clear!”
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Be near me, Lord Jesus...Light of the World...
The ultimate Light has come to our dark world.
He came in a form of a baby, God wrapped in a flesh, for He is called "Immanuel" which means, "God with us." The ultimate Gift for us all, Him who's light is so bright... that those who their life have been touch by Him have that light also.
He commands us, His followers that "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
A new dawn is coming, a new chapter is coming for us as the new year is approaching. Let's be that Light, to act justly everyday, loving mercy in every way and walking humbly before our God. God came to this world because He loves all of us and He for a reason beyond my own understanding He actually cares for us and wants to save us, so we can be with Him someday in Heaven.
Now the challenge is "How people that don't believe that God is good and loving may see that He is actually good and loving?". We, His people, are the answer. It may seem like a bad plan to leave God's rescue plan to all of us, the imperfect selfish people. Nevertheless that is part of His plan to show that He is good and full of love. But we are not alone, those who has put his/her trust in Christ Jesus has the gift of Holy Spirit that will guide us, renew us, inspire us and convict us. Jesus promises us also that He will be with us to the very end of the age.
So let's us a group in the coming year try to be that light, show our good deeds, be more loving to our friends, our family, people that God has put in our path and importantly strangers. Let's lovingly challenge each other in these areas, to be the Light-bearer to all people. This is not just a cliche that we read in a Christmas card, we can actually do this.
With that I wish all of you a wonderful and a Merry Christmas. Stay warm, share laugh and love with family, friends...
Thank you Lord Jesus.
You have shown us, what You require
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give
We must go live to feed the hungry
Stand beside the broken
We must go
Stepping forward keep us from just singing
Move us into action
We must go
Fill us up with Your spirit and send us out
Fill us up with Your spirit and send us out
Fill us up with Your spirit and send us out Lord
He came in a form of a baby, God wrapped in a flesh, for He is called "Immanuel" which means, "God with us." The ultimate Gift for us all, Him who's light is so bright... that those who their life have been touch by Him have that light also.
He commands us, His followers that "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
A new dawn is coming, a new chapter is coming for us as the new year is approaching. Let's be that Light, to act justly everyday, loving mercy in every way and walking humbly before our God. God came to this world because He loves all of us and He for a reason beyond my own understanding He actually cares for us and wants to save us, so we can be with Him someday in Heaven.
Now the challenge is "How people that don't believe that God is good and loving may see that He is actually good and loving?". We, His people, are the answer. It may seem like a bad plan to leave God's rescue plan to all of us, the imperfect selfish people. Nevertheless that is part of His plan to show that He is good and full of love. But we are not alone, those who has put his/her trust in Christ Jesus has the gift of Holy Spirit that will guide us, renew us, inspire us and convict us. Jesus promises us also that He will be with us to the very end of the age.
So let's us a group in the coming year try to be that light, show our good deeds, be more loving to our friends, our family, people that God has put in our path and importantly strangers. Let's lovingly challenge each other in these areas, to be the Light-bearer to all people. This is not just a cliche that we read in a Christmas card, we can actually do this.
With that I wish all of you a wonderful and a Merry Christmas. Stay warm, share laugh and love with family, friends...
Thank you Lord Jesus.
You have shown us, what You require
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give
We must go live to feed the hungry
Stand beside the broken
We must go
Stepping forward keep us from just singing
Move us into action
We must go
Fill us up with Your spirit and send us out
Fill us up with Your spirit and send us out
Fill us up with Your spirit and send us out Lord
Sunday, November 2, 2008
The 10 Commandments of Dating (Part 3) (Beware: Mature Discussion Ahead)
Dating Commandment VII:
Thou Shalt be Dedicated to Grow!
The most frustrated and miserable people in marriages are those who married a spouse who are not willing to grow. By grow it means identify what needs to be worked on in a relationship and do whatever it needs to do in that relationship. It maybe by reading a book, getting resources, joining a bible study group or even going to a Christian counseling. Find someone who has an open mind and willing to grow. We are always growing. It’s either we are growing to get closer to Christ or move away from Him.
Dating Commandment VIII:
Thou Shalt Have a Healthy Boundary Around Sex! (Caution: Adult Mature Theme)
SAVE SEX FOR MARRIAGE!
God sets up boundaries around sex, because He loves you and He doesn’t want you to get hurt. When you close sexually to a person, you are giving all of yourself to that person. It is one of the most close intimate experience you will ever have, and God wants to protect you by having that experience in a context of a marriage, in a committed love in marriage. God knows how delicate your heart is in this area.
Sexual Purity Verses:
1 Corinthians 6:18-20 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food; but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord; and the Lord is for the body. Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? May it never be! Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a harlot is one body with her? For He says, “The two will become one flesh.” But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.
Hebrews 13:4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
Galatians 5:19 - 21 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Ephesians 5:3 But do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints.
1 Thessalonians 4:1 – 8 Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you may and excel still more. For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. Consequently, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.
The bottom line is sex for us who are single, needs to wait until marriage.
When we are in disobedient in this area, there will be consequences that we will pay in the future. You will carry an emotional baggage in your life as a result from sexual relationship before marriage.
Just think about this, if you with your dating partner can abstain from sex before marriage, to have self-control in this area, just imagine how this will build the confidence in your relationship on setting up boundaries on other things in your relationship and throughout your life. Things such as setting boundaries in handling finance, raising and handling your children, interaction with the opposite sex and etc. If you take sex out of the equation in your relationship, you can have the time to really get to know each other, to build on your relationship, to deepen your friendship, to deepen your intimate emotional relationship.
Sex is defined as oral or genital stimulation to orgasm outside the clothes or underneath the clothes and genital intercourse.
So how do we set the limits?
1. Spend some time to write a purity covenant before God with your partner. Slip it in your bible as a reminder.
2. Have an accountability partner. Find someone the same gender as you are, that you trust that can challenge you in this area.
3. Remove the temptation from your relationship. For example avoid spending time together alone in the bedroom late at night, avoid putting yourselves in a situation where the sexual temptation may arise and stay out of the “swimsuit” area of your body (use your imagination) until you both get married.
If you honor God in this area, God will honor your relationship.
To those of you who remains a virgin and honors God with your purity, God bless you, God bless you that in this sex crazed culture you have won this battle. Don’t let other people undermine you and don’t let other people make fun of you because of your choice to remain pure before God.
To those of you who had not remain pure in this area, those who had made compromise in the past in the area of sexual purity, “as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us”, God forgave you and you have to draw a line in the sand from now on and decided to make a new commitment before Christ.
Dating Commandment IX:
Thou Shalt Seek Wise Counsel!
Wisdom is learning from other people and not to repeat their mistake. Learn the wisdom from the bible, from this love letter from God and ask God for wisdom. Learn from godly couples that you know and try to soak the wisdom that came from their successful marriage. Good marriage is a hard work, but the pay off is well worth it. Be the best student of your partner.
Dating Commandment X:
Thou Shalt Not Ignore the Warning Signs!
Be wise. Don’t jump in to fast in a dating relationship. You will recognize these warning signals when you get know someone more and more, do not ignore them. Have a moment of reflection on those signals.
On final note, for those of you who are dating or thinking about dating, honor God with your relationship. Keep yourself pure, and grow spiritually together, don't let your dating partner pull you away from Christ and pull you away from serving God. No one person is worth it, compared to the love that God has lavished us in pour life.
Remember for all of you singles out there, that when Lord Jesus was in this world, He was a single man and He did miraculous things in His ministry. You too as a single can have a complete life, a wonderful ministry to further the Kingdom of God.
* Special thanks to WCCC
Thou Shalt be Dedicated to Grow!
The most frustrated and miserable people in marriages are those who married a spouse who are not willing to grow. By grow it means identify what needs to be worked on in a relationship and do whatever it needs to do in that relationship. It maybe by reading a book, getting resources, joining a bible study group or even going to a Christian counseling. Find someone who has an open mind and willing to grow. We are always growing. It’s either we are growing to get closer to Christ or move away from Him.
Dating Commandment VIII:
Thou Shalt Have a Healthy Boundary Around Sex! (Caution: Adult Mature Theme)
SAVE SEX FOR MARRIAGE!
God sets up boundaries around sex, because He loves you and He doesn’t want you to get hurt. When you close sexually to a person, you are giving all of yourself to that person. It is one of the most close intimate experience you will ever have, and God wants to protect you by having that experience in a context of a marriage, in a committed love in marriage. God knows how delicate your heart is in this area.
Sexual Purity Verses:
1 Corinthians 6:18-20 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food; but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord; and the Lord is for the body. Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? May it never be! Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a harlot is one body with her? For He says, “The two will become one flesh.” But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.
Hebrews 13:4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
Galatians 5:19 - 21 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Ephesians 5:3 But do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints.
1 Thessalonians 4:1 – 8 Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you may and excel still more. For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. Consequently, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.
The bottom line is sex for us who are single, needs to wait until marriage.
When we are in disobedient in this area, there will be consequences that we will pay in the future. You will carry an emotional baggage in your life as a result from sexual relationship before marriage.
Just think about this, if you with your dating partner can abstain from sex before marriage, to have self-control in this area, just imagine how this will build the confidence in your relationship on setting up boundaries on other things in your relationship and throughout your life. Things such as setting boundaries in handling finance, raising and handling your children, interaction with the opposite sex and etc. If you take sex out of the equation in your relationship, you can have the time to really get to know each other, to build on your relationship, to deepen your friendship, to deepen your intimate emotional relationship.
Sex is defined as oral or genital stimulation to orgasm outside the clothes or underneath the clothes and genital intercourse.
So how do we set the limits?
1. Spend some time to write a purity covenant before God with your partner. Slip it in your bible as a reminder.
2. Have an accountability partner. Find someone the same gender as you are, that you trust that can challenge you in this area.
3. Remove the temptation from your relationship. For example avoid spending time together alone in the bedroom late at night, avoid putting yourselves in a situation where the sexual temptation may arise and stay out of the “swimsuit” area of your body (use your imagination) until you both get married.
If you honor God in this area, God will honor your relationship.
To those of you who remains a virgin and honors God with your purity, God bless you, God bless you that in this sex crazed culture you have won this battle. Don’t let other people undermine you and don’t let other people make fun of you because of your choice to remain pure before God.
To those of you who had not remain pure in this area, those who had made compromise in the past in the area of sexual purity, “as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us”, God forgave you and you have to draw a line in the sand from now on and decided to make a new commitment before Christ.
Dating Commandment IX:
Thou Shalt Seek Wise Counsel!
Wisdom is learning from other people and not to repeat their mistake. Learn the wisdom from the bible, from this love letter from God and ask God for wisdom. Learn from godly couples that you know and try to soak the wisdom that came from their successful marriage. Good marriage is a hard work, but the pay off is well worth it. Be the best student of your partner.
Dating Commandment X:
Thou Shalt Not Ignore the Warning Signs!
Be wise. Don’t jump in to fast in a dating relationship. You will recognize these warning signals when you get know someone more and more, do not ignore them. Have a moment of reflection on those signals.
On final note, for those of you who are dating or thinking about dating, honor God with your relationship. Keep yourself pure, and grow spiritually together, don't let your dating partner pull you away from Christ and pull you away from serving God. No one person is worth it, compared to the love that God has lavished us in pour life.
Remember for all of you singles out there, that when Lord Jesus was in this world, He was a single man and He did miraculous things in His ministry. You too as a single can have a complete life, a wonderful ministry to further the Kingdom of God.
* Special thanks to WCCC
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
The 10 Commandments of Dating (Part 2)
Dating Commandment IV:
Thou shalt not isolate!
Often times we saw ourselves or our friends disappear after they got into a relationship. Vanished and never to be found. This is actually is pretty unhealthy, for a relationship to be healthy we need feedback from people that we trust and care about our best interest.
Dating Commandment V:
Thou shalt stand firm in thy faith!
NO MISSIONARY DATING!
What is that? It is a long term relationship with a non-believer hoping that someday we can change them to be a Christ follower. Only they and God can change them.
Please don't fall in love with someone who is not in love with your First Love, Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul warned the believers in
"Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?" (2 Cor 6: 14-15)
When 2 cattle are yoked together, they will lift each other's load to go forward. The stronger cattle will actually carry the weaker cattle in the same yoke. Now imagine if the two cattle have unequal yoke, one will go to the left and one will go to the right, one will drag the other, imagine the frustration.
Even a relationship between two believers, we need to know where each other is in their spiritual journey. Ask deep questions about their faith journey in first 1-3 dates to find out about how they accepted Christ, how is their serving life, their prayer life, etc.
Couple with same faith that serve together and pray together will have a better chance of success in their marriage.
If you caved in to compromise about your faith in your relationship, there might be some underlining issues that you need to ponder and address. Issues such as acceptance, neediness, etc.
Dating Commandment VI:
Thou shalt learn to fight fair!
FIGHT IS INEVITABLE!
It is not a question of if, it is a question of when.
Asses yourselves on how you handle conflict:
Is it:
1. Withdrawal?
Avoid conflict at all cost, passive, no talking about it. This is Unhealthy way.
2. Give-In Style?
The people pleaser. This requires no courage but high on consideration for other. This is also Unhealthy way.
3. Stand Your Ground?
My way or the highway. This requires big courage but low consideration for other. You could win the battle but could lose the relationship. This is also Unhealthy way.
4. Compromise?
Let's meet each other halfway. This requires lots of courage and has high consideration for other. Be honest to each other. This is a healthy way.
5. Collaborative?
Our way. This requires lots of courage and has the highest consideration for other. This is the BEST way.
If you made mistakes, this is a very BAD way to apologize:
"I'm sorry you feel that way..."
"I apologized, now your turn."
This is pretty insincere apologies.
We are not a mind reader, therefore the great need to communicate. We don't know the motive when our loved one made the offence.
"...bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do." (Colossians 3: 13)
When you like to mend your relationship with your love one, you should say these 3 things sincerely:
1. I'm sorry. (Not, I'm sorry, but...)
2. Please forgive me, when you ready.
3. I forgive you (if the other is asking for forgiveness).
...to be continued.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
The Ten Commandments of Dating (Part 1)
Some of us is dating now, thinking about dating or just done with the whole dating thing... I want to share what I learned last wednesday at church. As a singles group, I hope that this will be beneficial for all of us to learn how we are as a Christian should date. No doubt that the Christian view of dating is different that the world view of dating. Don't let the world teach you theology.
Relationship and dating, they all start with YOU. No one else can make you happy, whole or complete. You must be solid and complete all by yourself.
Do you know who you are?
Do you feel good about yourself?
Do you have a solid sense of worth and value?
REMEMBER – It all starts with you!
Dating Commandment I:
Thou shalt get a life!
Pursue your life now, don’t put it off to the future.
Pursue your dream and goal in life now. Some people put their life on hold until they found the one. If I met someone then…If I got married, then…If I owned a house, then…If I found the perfect job, then…You could be missing the best years of your life. You could be missing the blessing that God has in store for you.
Dating Commandment II:
Thou shalt have the same values!
Find out and write down what would be your values.
Figure out what are your non-negotiables and what are your negotiables in a relationship.
Don’t let your non-negotiables be your negotiables!
Examples of values:
- Relationally intimate with God and other people
- Family oriented
- Spiritually mature
- Sexually pure
- Servanthood
- Financially mature
- Committed to growing
- Playtime (Fun !)
- Active in church
Find out also if the person that you like has good characters mentioned in Galatians 5: 22:
Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-control.
Test these characters in that person, observe how they relate and treat other people, observe if you can see these characters manifested in their life.
Don’t try to change a person later in the relationship! (either they have these characters or they don’t).
Dating Commandment III:
Thou shalt go deep to build a foundation!
(Relational Intimacy, not physical intimacy)
Communication! Communication! Communication!
Build a strong foundation in a relationship through communication.
Ask yourself these questions:
- What qualities draw you to this person?
- What is the level of sharing in this relationship?
- Do you feel safe? Can you be honest? Open? Able to be silly or serious? Able to be comfortable?
There are more to come and I will try to be a better learner and to take better notes to share with everybody.
(To be continued….)
Relationship and dating, they all start with YOU. No one else can make you happy, whole or complete. You must be solid and complete all by yourself.
Do you know who you are?
Do you feel good about yourself?
Do you have a solid sense of worth and value?
REMEMBER – It all starts with you!
Dating Commandment I:
Thou shalt get a life!
Pursue your life now, don’t put it off to the future.
Pursue your dream and goal in life now. Some people put their life on hold until they found the one. If I met someone then…If I got married, then…If I owned a house, then…If I found the perfect job, then…You could be missing the best years of your life. You could be missing the blessing that God has in store for you.
Dating Commandment II:
Thou shalt have the same values!
Find out and write down what would be your values.
Figure out what are your non-negotiables and what are your negotiables in a relationship.
Don’t let your non-negotiables be your negotiables!
Examples of values:
- Relationally intimate with God and other people
- Family oriented
- Spiritually mature
- Sexually pure
- Servanthood
- Financially mature
- Committed to growing
- Playtime (Fun !)
- Active in church
Find out also if the person that you like has good characters mentioned in Galatians 5: 22:
Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-control.
Test these characters in that person, observe how they relate and treat other people, observe if you can see these characters manifested in their life.
Don’t try to change a person later in the relationship! (either they have these characters or they don’t).
Dating Commandment III:
Thou shalt go deep to build a foundation!
(Relational Intimacy, not physical intimacy)
Communication! Communication! Communication!
Build a strong foundation in a relationship through communication.
Ask yourself these questions:
- What qualities draw you to this person?
- What is the level of sharing in this relationship?
- Do you feel safe? Can you be honest? Open? Able to be silly or serious? Able to be comfortable?
There are more to come and I will try to be a better learner and to take better notes to share with everybody.
(To be continued….)
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
The Necklace
A couple of weeks ago, when we learned about giving back our resources to God, I remember a story I read years ago about a little girl and a necklace. I am not sure who originally wrote the story or where it came from, but I found it online at: http://akpbible.blogspot.com/2004/11/necklace.html.
Here is the story from that blog.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The cheerful little girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them; a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box.
"Oh mommy, please mommy. Can I have them ? Please mommy, please ?" Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl’s upturned face.
"A dollar ninety-five. That’s almost $2.00. If you really want them, I’ll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday is only week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma." As soon as Jenny got home; she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner; she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday her Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace. Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up.
She wore them everywhere; Sunday school; kindergarten; even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet; they might turn her neck green. Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed; he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night as he finished the story, he asked Jenny;
"Do you love me?"
"Oh yes daddy. You know that I love you."
"Then give me your pearls."
"Oh daddy not my pearls. But you can have Princess; the white horse from my collection; the one with pink tail. Remember daddy? The one you gave me. She’s my very favorite."
"That’s okay; Honey; daddy loves you. Good night."
And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.
About a week later; after the story time, Jenny’s daddy asked again; "Do you love me?"
"Daddy, you know I love you."
"Then give me your pearls."
"Oh Daddy not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper."
"That’s okay. Sleep well. God bless you little one. Daddy loves you."
And as always; he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.
A few nights later when her daddy came in Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed. As he came close he noticed her chin was trebling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek.
"What is it Jenny? What’s the matter?"
Jenny didn’t say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver she finally said; "Here daddy this is for you."
With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny’s daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime store necklace; and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny. He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her the genuine treasure.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
God bless!
Here is the story from that blog.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The cheerful little girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them; a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box.
"Oh mommy, please mommy. Can I have them ? Please mommy, please ?" Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl’s upturned face.
"A dollar ninety-five. That’s almost $2.00. If you really want them, I’ll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday is only week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma." As soon as Jenny got home; she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner; she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday her Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace. Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up.
She wore them everywhere; Sunday school; kindergarten; even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet; they might turn her neck green. Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed; he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night as he finished the story, he asked Jenny;
"Do you love me?"
"Oh yes daddy. You know that I love you."
"Then give me your pearls."
"Oh daddy not my pearls. But you can have Princess; the white horse from my collection; the one with pink tail. Remember daddy? The one you gave me. She’s my very favorite."
"That’s okay; Honey; daddy loves you. Good night."
And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.
About a week later; after the story time, Jenny’s daddy asked again; "Do you love me?"
"Daddy, you know I love you."
"Then give me your pearls."
"Oh Daddy not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper."
"That’s okay. Sleep well. God bless you little one. Daddy loves you."
And as always; he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.
A few nights later when her daddy came in Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed. As he came close he noticed her chin was trebling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek.
"What is it Jenny? What’s the matter?"
Jenny didn’t say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver she finally said; "Here daddy this is for you."
With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny’s daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime store necklace; and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny. He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her the genuine treasure.
| So it is with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so that he can give us beautiful treasures. Are you holding onto things that God wants you to let go off? Are you holding on to harmful or unnecessary relationships; habits and activities that you have come so attached to that it seems impossible to let go? Sometimes it is so hard to see what is in the other hand but do believe this one thing ..... God will never take away something without giving you something better in its place. |
God bless!
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