Baptism -

The Holy Dunk


Growing up in a Christian household, you could say I was immersed with Bible stories.

I remember growing up, hearing all these stories of these Biblical men and women, and thinking well they're just like any other story I hear from the school library. So what's the point? Sunday school was just like story telling time, but each story had a message to take from it.

So I figured alright, these stories are told so that I can learn from them and be a good person. A good person. That was the mentality I had for a very long time; that I call myself a Christian because I go to Church to be a good person, and I listen to Christian music...

I. was. wrong.. entirely wrong lmao.

Christianity isn't about us being good, because no matter how hard we try, We're all sinners. We're all born sinners! no way in our own strength would we be able to mend our broken relationship with God because our own sin gets in the very way. So no, Christianity isn't about us being good people, it isn't a facade to put on to pride yourself with: "hey, look, I'm a Christian, I'm a God loving man, I'm a good person!".

Just look at us, look at the world, the world is not good, our thoughts and minds are pretty rubbish alot of the time, if we could see right through each other's minds and put it on every screen and wall possible, people would be scared! People would just run away!

"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"

(Romans 3:23)

"Your sins have cut you off from God" 

(Isaiah 59:2)

In ninth grade I went to my first youth group session (which I still go to now) and was really challenged by this whole concept of us being sinners, falling short of God's glory. My teacher/mentor kept on talking about baptism and what it symbolises, and what it meant to be a Christian.

Christianity wasn't about us being good, not at all.

It was about a person called Jesus Christ, who was perfect. He was good. And he was the one that died for all of our sins, each and every one of us. Imagine all the sins committed in one single day, the amount of sins in one year, an entire life time, for the billions and billions of people that have lived and will live in future generations... all sins past, present, future, all of it was placed on this one cross where Jesus died. All of it was placed on Him, a perfect sinless person and with it sin died. boom.

"Christ died for sins once for all... to bring you to God"

(1 Peter 3:18)

That image was just so powerful in my mind. Later on I had fully understood how I couldn't reach out to God alone, Jesus was the only way. The only way for a sinful wreck like me to be with God. And that's when I asked for forgiveness; accepting and trusting Christ to be my personal Lord and saviour, the only one who could wash my sins away.

"To all who received Him, 

to those who believed in His name,

He gave the right to become children of God"

(John 1:12)

And because of the Lord's amazing grace, we should learn to live lives that glorify him, that's where the being a good person comes in. It's not about glorifying ourselves by being good people, it's about glorifying Him.

For the wages of sin is death, 

but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(Romans 6:23)

Jesus died for you and me. Think about it.

A New Year

A good one too.

So a new year has dawned upon us, I swear yesterday was October and the day before that was March. But no, time moved quicker than anticipated.

So what now? where to from here?

Being followers of Christ we need to ensure we have a deep and meaningful relationship with God. Make it a New Years challenge to do this. It will be a great challenge this year because of various things, like study and work and all the other stresses that come up in day to day life.

Don't be afraid to take risks. Don't stand there idly asking yourself what if what if? Drop your insecurities because they will only get in the way between you and your relationship with God.

The biggest mistake is fearing you'll make a mistake. 

Let go of the insecurities and let God guide you.

Never fear! Trust the Lord to take you through life's challenges. Don't tell him what to do, He'll tell you what to do. Trust him and go for it.

And on that note, don't just stand there criticising others who took the risk and failed. At least they tried. What did you accomplish? Nothing, except being a pain in someone's ass criticising them.

We all have heard about the miraculous story of Jesus walking on water. If you have read Matthew 14:22-23, you will know that Peter had faith and walked on water too. it might have been for only a very short time but hey, I think we can say he did manage to walk on water. It might seem like a failure but Peter is the only disciple what can say: "Guys, I've walked on water!". What can the disciples in the boat say? Nothing much really.

The point? Don't be afraid to try things and let God guide you. People will criticise but what do they know? at least you had a go. You'll have nothing to lose.

One failure is by no means a complete failure.

More negative thoughts will detract you from God.

So don't waste time regretting, negative thoughts will only pull you down, and pull down your relationship with God too. I shoulda, I coulda, I woulda.. those thoughts are irrelevant now. You are in a new year, and the most important thing is you are here now, ready to make a fresh start so get on with it! Don't bother sinking yourself with regret, rather focus on the challenges of tomorrow and what the new year has to offer.

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV)

This new year? Live a life that glorifies God. Trust him and build a deep personal relationship with him. Don't be afraid to take a risk (a sensible one), to jump in and to let God take control of your situations.

It will be a heck of a challenge but hey I'm going to try my best. 

Trusting God I've got nothing to lose!

Blessings for the new year!

In Christ Alone,

Wilks

The Reunition Song

He’s sitting in the desert

In the midst of a burning sun

Avoidance to reconcile

The wrongs that have been done

He suffers days of separation

He’s missing his old friends

He’s longing just to be with them
 

Well this is just a story

We read from day to day

And we’ve always known what happens over the page
 

Forgiving arms form hugs for one another

On their knees they bow down to each other

Weeping as they take this grace above

Familiar warmth that comforts these brothers

A sense of being home once again

Years of separation, ended once for all
 

Just doing my own thing

Ignoring God along the way

Personal desires

Indulgences for me too

All of my dreams and intentions

Are planned out for my days

And before I know it, they start to crumble all away
 

This aint no story anymore

This is my real life

It’s when I realise God belongs in the heart of my life!
 

The Lord’s forgiving arms are wide open

On my knees I fall to him

And tears of joy fall from the eyes of mine

A familiar warmth that’s comforting

A time complete, a time with him

Years of separation ended once for all
 

Lots of words to get though yes. 
But praise the Lord that he gave me the wisdom and strength to actually produce a song of my own in time for Coffee night. The whole idea of this piece is that yes, we drift, just like how these characters in the Bible did. Yes Jacob and Esau did pretty terrible things to each other and as a result ran away. So did Joseph’s brothers, who sold him off as a slave to Egypt. but years of separation were ended once they reunited again, and the Bible goes into alot of detail describing the emotions and things like that that went on; the whole process of forgiving each other.

I guess that sometimes we drift from God. especially when we’re going so well on our own, we feel like we don’t need God to complicate our lives further. so we neglect him, even though we know that he is there. We use him at our own disposal, only when things crash down terribly and we see no way out, except him. He doesn’t deserve this, the ‘last resort go to’ so to speak, I mean he created us for goodness sake. but yes that’s how it is and God’s just waiting there, with his forgiving arms wide open, waiting and wanting to have this close personal relationship with each and every one of you. Just like how Esau forgave Jacob, Joseph forgave his brothers, the Lord’s going to forgive you, and have this awesome reunited relationship with you again.

It was a great encouragement receiving the feedback i received after performing this, but yes there’s nothing else to say except that the glory goes to God! 

Meaningless! Meaningless!

life is just meaningless.

To be honest with you, I have not really dwelled into the old testament of the bible much, but after coming across the first little bit of the book of Ecclesiastes, I've gotta say i've been blown away..

“Meaningless! Meaningless!”

says the Teacher. 

"Utterly meaningless!   

 Everything is meaningless.”(Ecclesiastes 1:2)

Wow..
Ok so let's put this into some sort of context here. These are the words of Solomon. The great, King Solomon. Now this guy asked God for one thing and that was wisdom. He was incredibally smart, and also rich. He owned the gold deposits, much like those that dictate our modern economy and finance today. he literally owned the wealth of a country. He had 700 wives, and 300 concubines. That's 1000 women in his life, heck knows how he managed them all. He had everything!

Yet he still claims life is meaningless, how could this be?

Reading on, he goes on about how working throughout the day is meaningless, how generations will just come and go, the sun will still rise and set, the wind will continue to blow, and how streams flow on forever, yet seas are never full.

Things will just go on and on, in some sort of eternal cycle, yet we are only on this earth temporarily. so then, whats the meaning in our lives then? if we were to leave this earth without finding meaning in our lives, then what misery, what waste.

Solomon then goes on to pursue meaning in his life through all sorts of places.

• The first one being Human wisdom. academics. study study and study. God even made him wise, and yet, Solomon's like nope. you can study all you want, but life's going to still be meaningless no matter how smart you are.

• The second place he looked for meaning was pleasure. And still he's like nope, just meaningless.

• He then goes through a list of alcohol, getting drunk, laughter, and still, no meaning found there.

• He then goes on to indulgences, like spoiling himself with the best of everything. in the case of Solomon, it was building houses, mansions, estates, vineyards, gardens, parks, reservoirs.. that's a great deal of real estate i tell ya, yet still he's like nope, no meaning found with indulgences.

• At this point i'm thinking farout! already he has everything one needs to live a very, very luxurious, laid back lifestyle, yet Solomon still claim's it is meaningless!

• So then, he goes onto finding meaning in riches of the world. he owned heaps of gold, like the deposits and the mines full of gold. he could afford anything, and everything in this world, yet superior wealth still is meaningless.

• Next he goes onto Music. meaningless.

• Hard work and labor, meaningless.

• Marriage, to like 1000 women!?! still, meaningless.

• Fame? meaningless.

• Education, lifestyles? meaningless.

• Military power? meaningless.

Everything is meaningless!

So what is the meaning of life? Of course Solomon doesn't leave it there, he goes and tells us I've found it!!

The meaning of life is knowing God. Drawing closer to him and developing a precious, loving relationship with him. Still, you can indulge in earthly pleasures, but putting God first, makes a huge difference in placing meaning into your lives.

You will find meaning beyond measure.

Other people try to find meaning in their lives through other ways alone, like motivational speeches, life's mottos, loyalty, achievements, horoscopes, quotes, dramas, games, television, magazines, music, facebook, hobbies.. not to say these things are bad or anything but in the end there is an emptiness about it. But knowing God through music, through photography, though reading, through listening, there is this eternal truth that underlays that screams out to us: This stuff is real. This stuff is meaningful.

I have got to be honest, I completely understand where Solomon is coming from. Infact most of us should. In life we do our things, go to school, go to work, play, listen to music, and still we feel whats the point? Its just meaningless, everyday work.

If you have found meaning in your life then that's great.

But if you haven't, pursue God.

You will find meaning beyond measure.
In Christ Alone,

-Wilks

Miracles

of this day and age...

Why don't we see many miracles today? yet in the bible we hear about miraculous works all over the place.

Well first of all, what is a miracle?

a miracle is something, and event or action that defy's the laws of nature! Something that doesn't seem to fit into how this world works. Something that seems completely impossible.

It's going to be dead obvious when you read about a miracle, or even see one as a matter of fact. For example

• when Moses struck water out of a rock,
• when the soldier struck Jesus's side and out came water,
• when Jesus fed 5000 men and their families with five loaves and two fish,
• when Jesus heals believers numerous times,
• God keeping the sun still for Joshua,
• the parting of the red sea...
• when Jesus walked on water,

you know what the list could go on a

nd on and on and on!! that was off the top of my head, but just google 'miracles in the bible' and you'll see heaps.

So why then were the Bible days so fascinating? why's the world seem so dull at this day and age? Does God still work his miracles for us today? Or is he just sitting back, relaxing and observing us all?

Whats drives people to believe sometimes

is rock hard solid evidence. The whole 'gotta see to believe' attitude. For some people, they have to see a miracle right before their eyes before they can say, "yep, this stuff is for real."

For those few people who have witnessed miracles, good for you. But most of us haven't. And you could be the oldest most hardworking Christian out there, and still not be able to witness one.

The thing is, God still works in this world, with us and for us in this day and age, we can still see this through Providence.

Providence is where God has worked within laws of nature to fulfill his objectives. These could be really small things too. And all these things, very subtle things, can be blamed on the game of chance.

Was it providence that you met a new friend today? or was it chance?
Was it providence that you were born into a Christian family? or was it chance?
Was it providence that someone asked you to Church? or was it chance?
Was it providence that you survived an earthquake? or was it chance?

Was it providence that you, the reader are still reading up to this point?

Well maybe it was by chance that you came across this blog.
maybe it was chance you are reading up to this point right now.

call it chance.
call it coincidence.
call it what you want.

I'm gonna call it God's providence.

God wants you to know him more.

However that may happen,

whether it be through this blog or not,

I pray that you may come to know him more,

and that His words will touch you some day.

and for those that do know him,

be challenged,

be encouraged

by God's providence,

and use these opportunities

to further his kingdom and spread his love.

In Christ alone,

-Wilks

ask yourself today: "was that just chance or was that providence? what does God want me to do with it today?"

Suffering...

...why does it happen?

It really hurts seeing all these things happen around us.

Christchurch is a beautiful city, with really nice people too. as if they deserve what they got.

And so was Queensland, who were hard hit by floods, then realised a poweful Cyclone was on the way to rip through their beautiful state.

A lot of people come up to me and ask why on earth does this happen? If God is in charge of this world then why is he creating all this suffering? Sure. I was asking myself this question a few times too. ‘why?’

Getting frustrated at God is a common thing that a lot of people do. In some cases it even deters our faith.

Once, my Auntie was working in a nursing home. With her was a new, young doctor who was on his first week. After he had finished his shift he was hit by a car. Strangely enough all of his body was fine, except his head which got hit the hardest. As a result he was then in a vegetative state, and was unable to speak, or eat or even move. All he could do was to roll his eyes around everyday. My auntie was really frustrated and angry at God and saying:“why!? Why did you do this? You could have used this young doctor to heal many more people but instead you choose to let him get run over”

She was angry for days on end but then a voice finally made it clear to her.

“Who are you? Who are you to judge me? Everybody’s life is in my hands..”

And from there she realized that there is a God.

An all powerful God.

An all knowing God.

The one that created and breathed life to all living creatures on this earth.

So back to the original question, why is there all this suffering here on earth? Why does God let it happen?

God did make a perfect world for us once upon a time. A place where we didn’t have to work, a place that was for us all to admire. A place without any rules except one, to not eat that one specific fruit.

But hey, man stuffed up. As a result God expelled us from that perfect world.

So God did intend the world we live in to be perfect. But it was man’s wrong doing that stuffed it up. Why do people fall sick? Why do people lose loved ones? Why do tragedies even exist? Why do people even suffer in this world?

Well it was sin, man’s wrong doing that made this world imperfect. The consequence of sin is an imperfect world for us all to live in.

Sin is in all of us. It was in Adam and Eve once they ate that forbidden fruit.

Everybody has sin in them.

Everybody commits it.

God gave you life. He gave life to everyone who ever lived, and he will give life to generations to come. He has your life in his hands, so why question him?

"Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Genesis 18:25)

"But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’”" (Romans 9:20)

All in all, God has a plan, and know the outcome of all circumstances. While for now he may let trials and suffering enter our lives, he also is a merciful and loving God.

"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." (Romans 8:28)

God Bless to all,

and our hearts are with all those who were affected by the recent tragedies.

-Wilko

Christmas...

..a miracle!


**based on a Christmas message by my Pastor.**


we all know about the Christmas story, infact we've probably heard it over a thousand times and even seen it acted out in front of us. We have the shepherds, the wise men, Mary and Joseph and a wonderful story of Jesus' birth. however, what's hidden beneath this story is a miracle.


do you believe in Christmas?


do you believe in Miracles?


miracles.. probably not. Not everyday do you see rising walls of the sea, a cold burning bush and all those other unnatural events that occured back in the Bible days. but have a think of this:

John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Now I have probably quoted this passage one to many times but it has so much relevance to Christianity! Well, in the passage we see God sent his Son to this earth, out of his own love. now we believe that as Christians and as celebrators of Christmas. (God's Son is Jesus)


but how can this be!? how do we, of all sinners deserve God's very own Son to come down to this earth as a human!? And to later save us all from sin!?!?

Part of God's very self has been a lived a part of this earth. Just like all of us. that's a Miracle!


life's easy these days. all we have to do is just accept Jesus, believe in him and we shall have eternal life!

some people think that Christianity is just about a set of rules that people follow to become Christian.
no! its a little more than that!!


Its about accepting this miracle in ourselves! and truly experiencing this miracle inside us.

Do you believe in miracles?

Christmas is an exciting time with family and friends. I hope you all have a safe and Merry Christmas and blessings for the new year!

-Wilko

(:

Power of thy word...

Sounds like a crazy, corny title, but it’s true.

The bible is something that Christianity is based on. Everything that we need to know is in the bible.

The words in the bible are not just words printed on paper, but it is the very breath of God. So think about that book that lying on your bookshelf, it’s God’s word speaking to you.

Don’t trust what people around you are saying about God, or how you should live. You would know what is true and what is not, by reading the bible! Everything that we need to know about christianity is in the bible.

So my pastor, (he’s a great man :D) and he reads the bible heaps, and even memorises large chunks of it. While he was still young, he was a pastor of a church which was made of bluestone. Now back then in the 80's, bluestone buildings were pretty awesome, and people would pass by, asking the pastor if they could have a look at the church, he would say: “yes, go for it, the keys are over there and the front door is there just walk in and have a look.” So heaps of these people were fascinated by this building, including this one guy, who seemed to be on drugs or something, but of course, there were no drugs in the 80's. :/

So that drugged up guy was like:

“Hey, pastor?” And pastor was like:

“Yes, I’m pastor of this church,”

“Can I have a look at your church?”

Now, this pastor was a little suspicious of this guy, so he’s like:

“Yes.. Why?”

“Well, God sent me to go and bless all the churches of Australia, and when I’m done, I’m moving off to New Zealand to bless all of the churches there.”

My pastor was thinking to himself what!? Where on earth is that in the bible? (well it isn’t) he was extremely suspicious of this guy right now.

“Okay,... I’ll let you in, but I’m going to have to follow you.”

So they walk in, and this guy immediately starts waving his arms and dancing around the notice boards and the church isles, chanting under his breath , and my pastor was like oh... no, this guys evil.

“HEY!” says the pastor in a firm voice, “Do you believe in God?”

And the guy says in like a flat voice: “I do.” It was like as if someone was speaking through him. Like as if he was possessed or something.

Then he starts dancing and waving his arms again.

My pastor was like... ok, what am I supposed to do here? So he was just standing beside this guy, and he prayed for God for Jesus’s blood to cleanse this church from the evil that was happening. (the dancing guy was obviously doing something evil!)

So he was thinking as to what to do, and he remembered a passage from the bible that he read over, never really took notice of, but it for some reason it replayed in his head:

1 John 4:1-3
Test the Spirits
“1Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.” NIV

If you don’t understand it don’t worry, I’ll explain it to you.

So this passage is saying that not all who claim to be people sent from God, are genuinely people sent from God. And we can test this by seeing if that person acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in flesh, from God, (meaning that Jesus came to earth, in a human body, sent from God), and if they do acknowledge this, then they are really sent from God. For those who don’t acknowledge this, they are from the devil, or those against Christ. (Antichrist)

So my pastor was like:

“Hey! You said you believe in God right?”

He stops dancing and replies: “I do.” in a blank tone.

“Do you believe in Jesus Christ?”

“I do.”

“But, do you believe that he came to earth, in flesh, sent from God..?”

And the very second my pastor said this, the guy went into a raging fit and started swearing abuse and curses to my pastor. He said stuff like: “God will curse your family, he will kill you! He will kill all your family! All your friends!... etc.etc.” and he just walked out of the church, still yelling out, walking down the street, still yelling out and my pastor was like ‘hmm.’

It was my pastor’s first time having an encounter like this, but keep in mind he was a young pastor. And he didn’t care about the curses, because he knew that they were all fake. (Believe me, he’s still alive and well today.)

So the whole point of this long story is that the words in the bible aren’t just words in a book, but they are the very breath from God! God spoke to my Pastor at that time, through the bible. The words weren’t meaningless, but instead they were strong, and they meant something. As demonstrated by my pastor then, there is a power behind the words in the bible.

Powerful stuff.

So don’t just leave that book lying around, pick it up! Study it with friends or with the church. You’ll learn a lot from it, and who knows when you’ll need it?

example of a bluestone wall ^
WL

Assumptions..

..can be dangerous

I am not quite sure if this is relevant to the bible, but this thought has been bothering me for a while now, so I thought I’d post it up.

So as I said, assumptions can be very dangerous. It might be the quick and easy way out to explaining things to yourself, but it can have really big consequences, especially from a social aspect.

So let's have an example: you see this boy playing piano. You see that he tries really hard. You can even get the sense that he is showing off by moving his body around when he plays. You are sitting in the audience. You then develop a dislike inside your mind for that person for showing off. You keep hearing in your head things like: "man, this guy! Won’t stop moving his body!..won't keep his head under control,.. he's so dam cocky.. etc. etc." later however, you find out that this person was autistic, and that was the only song he knew how to play, and as for the way he played; (keeping on moving his body around) it was due to his disability.

Have you ever done something like that? It may not be exactly about an autistic boy playing piano, but something along the lines of assuming something else in your head about someone, but realising that you were completely wrong. I can tell you for sure right now, that I have done this many times! And if you haven’t, then well maybe I chose the wrong topic to post up today.
So assumptions can be dangerous. You could hate someone for the wrong reasons! We are not here to judge people, their actions, their lifestyles. God does the judging. For according to what I believe in: Christianity, God judges us when whether we are or not worthy to live an eternal life in heaven. Because God judges us up there, whatever we judge on earth is then useless! In the end it’s up to God.

It is interesting however because it is natural to judge people. From the very first minute you meet someone whether they be a stranger or not, you will form some of judgments and assumptions in your head about that person. In psychology I learnt that when you meet someone new, like in an interview or something, almost 80% of a person’s character is judged upon the first 4 minutes of meeting them. That’s huge.

So how do we deal with this then? Assumptions and judgments can be dangerous because they can lead to many different things. Things like hating someone for the wrong reason, talking to someone with the wrong tone of voice, changing the whole ‘mood’ of the room that you are in, it can affect others! Some people would go way far just because of assumptions. People get bashed, people get assaulted, people get.. (insert word here) just because people thought wrongly about someone. Homophobic people could wrongly accuse a guy for being homo, and bashing the heck out of him. Assumptions can get very dangerous!

But I am sure that you are not going to bash someone just because you thought they were…whatever.

So how we deal with it is to just live with it! Keep it inside you. Don’t express your hate for someone just cos of this or that, keep it inside your head. If your head becomes too full, like you’ve had enough of this person or something, then go talk to someone about it. Just don’t rage it out!

You don’t their full story so don’t assume their full story. Only God does.

just wanna say: i am definitely guilty for getting frustrated at people alot

Orright, this was probably the most weirdest post I have written :/

God bless

WL

Testimony - God's Providence

When I was young, I went to church every Sunday for Sunday school.
In Sunday school they told us lots of stories from the bible and I loved it.
I particularly liked Solomon's story and how he built the temple and how he was the wisest of all men at the time.

The story goes that Solomon asked God for wisdom and that God granted him this wisdom.
1 Kings 4:29-30
29 God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. 30 Solomon's wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the men of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.

And then in Sunday school they taught us that if we pray to God, he will answer our prayers.
And so, I prayed for wisdom like Solomon. I was living in Singapore at the time and I felt that I needed this as we had exams at the end of every term starting from year 1.

I was in year 2 at the time, I after I prayed it, I just sat back and relaxed, confident that God will give me the gift of wisdom automatically.
What I didn't realise was that God helps us gain gifts that we ask him for through trials and problems that he sets for us.

So, I asked for wisdom right? Well...God helped me gain this wisdom by helping me understand the world more. By giving me problems to solve so that I may learn from my mistakes.
I got lots more homework and my dad gave me harder problems to solve, and I moved to Australia.
So, the compilation of all these problems helped me realise that God had actually granted my wish. To be wise. But however, we can never be the best because in life, there's always more that you can learn.
1 Corinthians 3:19
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness"

And this is true, for even the wisest of men cannot match to God's foolishness.

But the main point in this was that firstly, ask and you will receive.
Secondly, God put problems in your life for you to acheive something with it.
Lastly, God will help you along with your problems, just don't push him away

Well, now I'm wise enough to realise that sometimes it is better to remain ignorant.
But it is up to God how much wisdom you can get.

This was one of the first lessons that helped me become a wiser person and I'm still learning from this.

Remember, ask and you will receive unless it is not God's will.

God bless :D

Posted by LL

Choose Life!

(adapted from one of the topics Reggie Dabs gave out that night)

imagine, back in primary school or something, your friends kid you into wagging school and how 'cool' it would be to skip school for a day, and go do whatever tickles your pickles. But, instead you stand firm in what you believe is correct, and say: "no, i'm going to school!" 

so you do. you go to school.

and on that very day in school, your teacher says:

"okay kids, now we have a test this Friday..."

*kids all gasp*

"but, im going to give you all the answers. so get out a pen and paper, and write down what im about to tell you: 

   first question is true. 

   second question is false. 

   third question is false. 

   fourth is..., (etc.)

"now i want you to bring this piece of paper into the test on Friday..."

now, you would be loving that piece of paper! like literally keeping in your safe or something until Friday came. well wouldn't you?

the twist is, your friends wagged school! and didn't get to know the answers for the test!

This very scenario is happening right now in real life.

God gives you the answer to life in the Bible! in the Bible it tells you to CHOOSE LIFE! (or die)

in John 3:16 (again) - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Deuteronomy 30:19 - "This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live"

Romans 3:22(a) - "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe."

Romans 4:24 - "but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead."

Romans 10:9 - "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

Galatians 3:22 - "But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe."

(all verses sourced from the NIV Bible.)
The Bible tells us in many ways to CHOOSE LIFE! to believe and accept Jesus Christ into our lives. (now i'm sure that there are many more versus, which i am yet to find)

our lives are very much like the school scenario i mentioned earlier:

• our lives are like tests, that God has set us all, just like any test a teacher sets her pupils.

• God loves us so dearly that he provided the answer to that test by giving us the Bible. The teacher loves her students so much that she gave out the answers.

• yet there were still people that chose to wag school. that are ignorant of the answers to the test. so what are you going to do? if you had the answers, wouldn't you want to share it with your friends? even thought they wagged (which is a bad thing to do) you would still forgive them, just cos they're your friends! so of course, you would want to share the answers with them?

this is much like how the Bible is treated now. many people choose to ignore the Bible, the very book with the answers to Life. since i know the answers to life, then wouldn't i want to share it with all my friends? furthermore, to everyone i possibly can possibly reach to!?

well it's just something for you to think about for now.


May God bless you all.

written by WL

When you feel down..Think of God and Jesus

I've been listening to this song for awhile now and it was said that it is a Christian song. A song that talks to us from Jesus' perspective.

The chorus goes like this:
You wanna be together with me for eternity?
You turn your head the other way and choose to feed your greed.
You are my masterpiece, I have washed your feet.
My love for you will never change, I will never change.

Yes, like Wilkins told me, it is really broad and it can relate to more than just Christ. It can relate to a boyfriend girlfriend relationship but, if you try to apply this to how Christ feels about us, it connects.
 
In this chorus, Jesus is asking us do we want to be with him for eternity? That he will give us eternal life just by you answering yes and accepting him. Just like the samaritan woman said in John 4:12 "Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?" And Jesus replied with this, Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

And then in Psalms 107:9, it describes Jesus as ..for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. What are these good things you say? What is this water that never makes you thirsty? Why it is not mere water but it's eternal life. Eternal life in heaven where you will neve thirst after this eternal life as you already have it.

And then in the second bit of the song it describes us that we turn our head from God and just keep on doing our evil deeds.
However in the third sentence it says, You are my masterpiece. And that's exactly what we are. We are the final product of God's marvelous creation and built in the image of him. In Genesis God describes our creations as VERY good. Not just good.

And the final bit of this chorus I feel is the best and best describes this song. It says.. I will never change.
Jesus will never change! He will always be there for you when your down. Sometimes you might think you don't deserve God because you turned away from him. But, if u confess and admit your wrong-doings, He will forgive you!

This is just one of the many extracts of how we can apply God's feelings about us.
 
In many ways, God loves us deeply and I know sometimes people just feel down and unappreciated. Like there's no one there for them. But, maybe if you turn to your side instead of staring mindlessly into the past or future you will find God. :)

God Bless and Good Night :)

Amen

Posted by LL

P.s for those who want to listen to this song..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=462GNf0nl4c

What is Christianity all about?

i just realized that most of our readers are not Christians.

so my question is to you. what is Christianity?

now you would probably just say, living a restricted life, praying to God, living by the Bible, going to church every week etc. now lemme tell you, its much more that that!

Explaining the bridge to life:
God Loves all men and wants them to know him. But, man is separated from God and his Love! why then is man separated from God and his love?

Because he has sinned against God! (sin means wrong doings against God). 
 Sin separates us from God's Love. and what does this separation lead to?

It Leads to DEATH and JUDGMENT. :O

but! there is a solution.

Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for our sins, is the way to God. now does this include everyone?

it most certainly does! except, only those who personally receive Jesus Christ as into their lives, trusting Him to forgive your sins, can cross this bridge. And how does a person receive Jesus Christ?

EVERYONE MUST DECIDE INDIVIDUALLY WHETHER TO RECEIVE CHRIST.

i cant make you do it. it is your own choice.

pray sincerely asking Jesus this:

           Lord Jesus, Please come into my life

           and be my saviour and Lord.

           Please forgive my sins,

           and give me the gift of eternal life

- and He will do this now!

if you have invited Jesus Christ into your life, the bible says you now have eternal life. (this means a life in Heaven forever after this life on earth.)

This is what Christianity is about! -accepting Jesus Christ as your savior, and gaining entry into heaven :)

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." NIV Bible

*note that God's one and only son is Jesus Christ.

biblio:

"Bridge to Life" - Navpress publishing.

images:

http://www.angelfire.com/mo2/goodnews/bridge.html

now as to why i created this blog in the first place.
i created this blog, not so that Christianity can be the dominant religion as if it were some huge  competition.. HECK NO!

i created it so that you all have the opportunity to gain entry into God's Kingdom: Heaven. instead of falling through the loops of Hell. which ever one you choose, its up to you! you can choose to believe that there is a God, who wants to have a deep relationship with you, or not.

i have always been worried about what will happen to me after my life on earth ends.

but now, i know, and i want to share the good news that: THERE IS MORE TO LIFE AFTER THIS! :D provided Jesus Christ has been invited by you, into your lives.

God Bless!