Choose Life, Choose Jesus

On my car bears a sticker - a name big enough that no one can miss.  It has generated both positive and negative responses. Some have found it amusing, some embarrassing. Where others have found it weird, others have taken courage from it. It could be a good start to conversation, or else a controversy but one thing is for sure….

It is the name above every name. It is the name that every knee in heaven, earth, and hell shall bow to, and every tongue confess that ‘Jesus Christ is Lord‘ (Philippians 2:9-11). Whether you agree or disagree, it is what the God of the whole universe has already declared - like it or not.  Can anyone stop the sun in its track and the coming of the moon at night? Can anyone capture the power of the lightning in their hands or contest the rumble of the thunder with their voice?  Can anyone calm the pounding of the great ocean waves or cease the shaking of the earth? No one except God.

When the name of 'Jesus' becomes a taboo, it is exactly where Satan wants everyone to be; his purpose is to suppress and keep anyone from experiencing the power inherent in that name.  The devil knows that what we speak out or what we don't speak out will either bring life or death.  When the disciples were casting out demons and laying hands over the sick, whose name did they utter?  It's no other else's name except the name of JESUS.

“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days….” Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NIV)

“The thief [Satan] does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly“. John 10:10 (NIV)

Taking one day at a time

My dear Lord Jesus,
I take everyday as a gift from you. This is the day that You have made; whatever this day brings, whatever comes my way is your gift to me. I receive it with rejoicing and gladness in my heart. I won’t worry about how I’d cope tomorrow because You are already there. I only need your grace and strength for my today. There is no fear - for you my Lord, are the master of my whole life, my everyday, my every hour, my every minute, my every second, my every breath.  Thank you and I love you so very much.  I am yours forever.

Do-rhen

“For I knows the plans that I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

In the hands of Abba

What's your life like?  An idle activity?  It's things that you do less the higher purpose. Just going along, floating along, working along, then doing it all again. It’s not necessarily useless, it’s just really boring. It’s when you reply to someone who happened to asked how you are, “same old, same ‘old….“

What is life? What should it look like?  In the hands of your Creator....

Like a little child holding God’s hand, you just know that He wouldn’t let you go; it’s like sitting on the top of the tallest mountain and seeing everything below but you’re really sitting on God’s shoulder looking down next to His ears, you just know that those things you thought were overwhelmingly big are dwarfed from where you now sit and He can hear even your heart’s tiniest whispers; it’s like God allowing you to walk on your own but being aware that He really is near, you just know that He is ready to catch you when you fall; it’s like walking without fear, you just know that God’s voice is enough to scare off anyone or anything that might harm you; it’s like God taking you in His arms like a little child and throwing you up in the air catching you and you scream in surprise and glee, you just know that He loves to hear your laugh and excitement. Then on that day when I finally see JC, I’d say, “what an adventure I had with You back there, that was awesome!” That’s LIFE!

'And because you are sons [daughters], God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son [Jesus Christ] into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"  Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son [daughter], and if a son [daughter], then an heir of God through Christ'.  Galatians 4:6-7 (NKJV)
'The thief [the devil] does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.  I [Jesus Christ] have come that [you] may have life, and that [you] may have it more abundantly'.  John 10:10 (NKJV)

Being Still

I lie in wait…almost tempted to think that perhaps God had forgotten or had fallen asleep; or that He had lost the prayer request that I trustfully handed Him. As I ponder on these questions, I’ve become very much aware of the struggles happening within my heart. It began to challenged the very knowledge and nature I have known about God - who He is and has become to me, His love and His faithfulness. I felt myself rise to take control. ‘God needs a bit of a push, I will help God to get things going’, I heard my thoughts say compelling me to manipulate my situation. Whatever happened to putting God in the driver seat? Laughing quietly, I saw myself asked God, "Lord, would you like me to drive?" How silly am I to think that I know better than the God who created my destiny and my purpose! But the question still remains - “Can I really trust Him? Is God really good - all the time?”

His Word says so and anything, any thought or anyone that says otherwise is telling a lie. The God I surrendered my whole life to, my everyday, my every minute, my every second, my every breath, is the same God who is in control and has always been. Nothing escapes His sight. He who sees the beginning and the end remains faithful in times both good and bad. He and His word is trustworthy forever.

Casting Crowns - Who am I

“Lord, what is [human] that You take knowledge of us?…We are like a breath; Our days are like a passing shadow”.
Psalm 144:3-4 (NIV)

“…For what is your life? It is even a vapour that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” James 4:14 (NIV)

“But You have loved us so much that You gave us Your only son Jesus Christ that whoever believes in Him should not perish but will live with You forever.” John 3:16 (NIV)

Then comes the uncertain

Just when you thought you were walking in assurance and were just about to reach that much awaited destination, the Lord takes you through a period of uncertainty. It is when what you thought you knew was logical suddenly makes you think that perhaps you may have just misunderstood. It is when you thought you have put yourself in the best place to make the events that take place to work for you suddenly comes to a halt. It is when you thought the path ahead of you was clear suddenly becomes dim. And the Lord tells you to keep walking and hands you with a single light with just enough brightness to enable you to see what is immediately before you but not far enough to see what is ahead of you. When all but the Holy Spirit’s gentle voice to guide you, and those familiar ‘little notes of promises’ that JC drops within the depths of your heart keeps you going - taking those cautious tiny steps. When your everyday depends on that voice you know now so well from the intimate times you have spent with Him. These are the critical times when your identity in Christ is challenged. When what you said, “ ‘I AM HIS BELOVED and that’s more than enough’ “ , goes through a test of fire if His love for you is really more than enough.

JCluvMD

Sixteenth of April two thousand and ten, written in the page of my spiritual journal occupying but two single lines, in final resolution and profound revelation, I have found my identity and put to rest all my uncertainties....

Who am I in Christ? ‘I AM HIS BELOVED’ and that’s more than enough.