Delight Yourself in the Lord

When I was young, I looked up to my father as my role model, my hero, someone who was very wise and very brave and very strong. I remember immitating him and spending a lot of time with him. I remember we use to take long walks by the shore, we'd wrestle, he taught me how to fire a gun and self-defense, he brought me to the mechanic whenever he'd have his car fixed and when he was wit his buddies, I would be right there tagging along with him. In short, I enjoyed being with my father. I learned and loved what he loved to do and that made our bond all the more stronger. And because we were too much alike, whenever I'd ask something from my father, he would easily give it to me. When he bought something for himself, he'd buy one for me, too. It was easy for him to buy me stuff because I was so much like him. He knew what he liked and since I was so much like him, he knew what I liked and that was what I'd usually get for my birthday or christmas or those in between days when he was just feeling generous.

I guess that's what Psalms 37:4 mean. "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."

When we love the Lord so much that we spend so much time reading His word, meditating on His word and applying those truths in our lives, we become a lot like Jesus. When God sees us, He sees the face of the Lord Jesus in us and because God the Father and Jesus are so much alike and we look so much like Jesus in the eyes of the Father, it becomes easy for Him to give us the desires of our heart because what we want is already in tune with what He wants.

Our desires, our passions should be in tune with God's. That way He can bless us as we continually fellowship with Him with pure love and delight.

YOU ARE SPECIAL by Max Lucado

This is one of my favorite stories... good for teaching young kids... click on this link or search for "you are special by max lucado - uploaded by counteirick" on Youtube.

Why Faith Makes A Difference

Before there ever was the DaVinci code, there was the Holy Grail. Books written by intelligent people who avers that Jesus had a family and that He wasn't God but just an ordinary man. Was Jesus really God in the flesh or was He just just a man?

The more important question to be resolved when people find themselves at this crossroad is whether they should believe this lie or stay true to the path Jesus had laid down for us.

Imagine this: if you believe that Jesus was just a man and then you die and you find out that He is God, you actually lose believing in the lie that was propagated by the DaVinci code and the Holy Grail.

But what if you keep to your faith and you die and find out that Jesus is God just like you've always believed? Then you actually win the crown of life that God has prepared for you.

That is why faith makes a difference. We can hold countless debates and arguments but the bottom line is, we'll find out for sure when we get to the other side.

So keep your faith no matter what many "intelligent" people tell you. They can't corrupt your faith unless you leave Christ's side. Stay by the Lord and be strong in Him. Our reward is not here in this life on this earth but in the everlasting.

Reading the Word: Which Version Is Best?

I was rummaging through a secondhand bookstore when I heard an older man carrying out a very heated discussion with a much younger man which version of the bible is best. As I listened to them, my thoughts wandered to the versions of the bible that I keep and which I read and compare in studying God's word.

I have the New International Version (NIV), the Amplified Bible, The New Living Translation (NLT), The Message (TM) and The Living Bibile (TLB). Most of the time, I read the TLB paraphrase or the NLT because it's easier to read.

I wonder why the heated discussion between the two? God's word is God's word. And I believe God provided us with so many different translations, versions and paraphrases so that He can relate to us in terms that we can understand His wonderful plan for our salvation. To me, it doesn't matter which version or translation or paraphrase you use or read for as long as it draws you near to God and makes you want to follow Him.

Besides, God Himself said that we shouldn't be tripping each other up. So in my opinion, the best version is the one that makes you want to keep on studying the Word of God. It is the version, translation or paraphrase that prompts you to live in the word.

Living in the Fullness of God's Love

A lot of people erroneously believe that once you become a christian, it's all smooth-sailing afterwards. The sky is blue, the world is at peace and you got it all made.

But sometimes, that isn't always the case. Although God wants us to live happy, secure lives, the sun doesn't always shine as bright and as warm as we want it to be. Even in the most faithful christian life, a little rain will surely fall and what you thought was a steady boat will be attacked by torrent winds, rain and waves.

Living in the fullness of God's love isn't always peaceful. And it's not always easy. But there's one thing that I have noticed from my own personal difficulties. Living in the fullness of God's love means being at peace in your relationship with Him, whether in joy or in sadness, in victory or defeat, in abundance or want. Living in the fullness of His love means no matter at what point you are in life, if and when He calls you home, you are ready. Because after all, we are all meant to answer to a single call in this life, and that is God's call for us to believe in Jesus, accept His sacrifice for our sins, repent of our sins and turn our backs on sin.

Living in the fullness of God's love means coming home to Him every waking minute of our eartlhly lives until we find ourselves face to face with Him.

Holding On To God's Promises While Waiting For Jesus To Calm The Storms In Your Life

I never thought that it would be possible for me to be in such a big mess. My life right now would be the living, breathing version of what the Psalmist described as "the darkest valley" in Psalm 23. Whichever way I turn, darkness engulfs me.

But I draw strength from the word of God. His promises are what keeps me from giving up. He promised that He will never leave me. He promised that I will never be tested beyond what I can bear. He commanded me not to fear. He has declared that He has made me as strong as a wild bull. He promised that He will give me all that I need if I live for Him and keep my faith in Him. He promised that He will avenge and vindicate me, giving me justice for all the times that I was oppressed. He promised that He is my protector and my deliverer. And He promised that one day, if I don't weary of doing good, He will reward me.

It will always be difficult to be joyful and hopeful when life seems bleak. But it is always during these times that we are suppose to keep our joy and to keep our faith. While our Lord sleeps amidst the storms of our lives, let us continue to praise God. Let us wake Him through our songs of praise instead of the jarring noise of our panic shouts for help.

Perhaps the Lord is just lying down with eyes closed, not really asleep, observing whether you'll remember His promises and trust that He'll keep them. Because after all, when we are in the deepest darkest valley, we tend to think that He doesn't see us, He doesn't hear us and that He has left us.

But the truth is, He just closed His eyes for a while to check your faith.

When You're Tired of Everything... Let Go, Lean Back... God is There to Catch You and Carry You

I really feel like giving up on my life. Everything's a mess and the more I struggle, the more I feel like there's no hope. I have so many things on my mind. So many things that I wanna do. When I look around and see that it isn't working, I just wanna throw myself off a bridge.

It is then that God reminds me of a certain picture where Jesus is carrying a depressed man. I looked it up in my computer and I just cried. Despite everything, God is telling me, "It's alright to let go. You can lean back. I am here. I will catch you. I will carry you."

I am so tired of a lot of things. Tired of struggling. Tired of trying to fit in everyone's needs into my life. Trying to win everyone's affection and approval. I don't have to do these things anymore. I will just let go and lean back. Jesus is there, He will catch me for sure. And He will carry me through.

Surrender to God is such a sweet thing. My sins are forgiven. I, again, am made whole.