The Gospel

Yesterday I went for coffee with a friend. It had been awhile since I had seen my friend and so we took time to catch up. I also had an opportunity to share the Gospel with her, but Lord I pray that I will continue to be persistent not through my own strength, but through the strength of the Holy Spirit. I pray Lord that I will persists to have the same mind that Christ had and that I don't become complacent for one second in my faith, even when the temptation is so strong to be distracted that I draw nearer to you even more during this time. Lord I pray for my friend, I pray for her faith Lord that she will think about what we discussed yesterday and Lord that you will make the Gospel even more clear to her. You love her Lord as you love the whole world and it is not your will that anyone should perish, but  that all should come to repentance and accept salvation that is found in You and You alone. I pray Lord for my walk with you. I am sorry that at times I have been complacent and have compromised. I have fallen into the temptation of distractions and turning my attention to other things, not focusing on planting seeds in the lives of hurting and desperate people. On my way home yesterday, I passed a woman who sat on a bench outside of her apartment sobbing into her phone. Lord there are so many people that have problems, that are relying on their own good works and efforts even achievements to fulfill the longing inside of them, but God we were created (human beings) to have fellowship with you and unless we come into fellowship we will always be seeking for fulfillment in things that cannot satisfy. I pray for her soul, I pray Lord that you will have someone come and share the Gospel with her, how much you love her and that forgiveness is found in you. Lord you can change her life around, only you, shift her perspective. After this life,  creation (human beings) will have to give a report to the Creator (God), including the sins that we have committed, even as small as a lie...sin is sin. However, although sin may be categorized by us human beings as one sin being worse than another (murder worse than lying) to God who is HOLY sin is sin and it is all the same. The Bible likens lust to adultery and although as human beings we justify one sin being worse than another because of the human standards we compare it too, it is all sin to God and sin must be banished. I may see apples and categorize them saying these are big apples and these are small apples, but at the end of the day they are all apples. All sin must be punished...God is a God of love, but God also demands justice. If this is so, that means as human beings since everyone sins, we would also face eternal punishment once we died, BUT THANK GOD that He sent Jesus to die for our sins. God loved us so much that He sent His only begotten Son and the Bible says if we confess our sins and believe in our heart Jesus died for our sins and repent, then we shall be saved. So now we are justified by our faith in Jesus Christ. Standing before God, I don't have to rely on all my good works...."Yes I am a sinner God, but look at all the good works I have done, surely I made up for all the sins I committed..." Now I can say " Yes, I committed sins, I know I am a sinner (small or great), but I put my faith in Jesus as Your word says, I know all my good works can never justify my sins, but my faith in Jesus does and because I trust Jesus and the fact that He died for me and the sins of the whole world on the cross, His righteousness is imputed onto me...I am saved! Jesus is my advocate!

Lord thank you! It is not easy imitating you and your love for others in a world that is all about competition and self seeking, but because my hope is in you I am willing to deny myself and follow you until you call me home. Work reallllllllllly hard and share the Gospel that is able to save people's souls. Eternity is forever! I desire to see world revival and people coming to you. Lord break my pride, I only want to be proud of You. Lord as my flesh wars against me to do what it feels like, remind me of your word. This is a fight! a spiritual battle and as we walk around this earth, we can't see visibly that the enemy is always planning..he hates when we try to tell others about you and will do anything to get us to keep our mouths shut. Meanwhile people continue to turn to the things of this world to find love and satisfaction in a boyfriend, girlfriend, money, careers, travels etc, but these only give them temporary pleasures. I desire to see these people just try you Lord and see that you are good and always satisfying. The enemy will continue to deceive them and tell them lies about who you really are. I pray for believers to stand up and pray pray and pray. Lord may your Spirit move, may believers rise up and fearlessly pray and share the Gospel with everyone. May shackles be broken and people's hearts be moved to hear the Gospel and make a choice, a decision to commit their lives to you. Amen and Amen!

My Foundation

I went for a walk. As I walked I asked you Lord to speak to me I wanted to hear you clearly. I was mostly quiet for the entire walk, just praying in my heart. As I began to walk alongside the river I saw stairs by the river, but on the other side of the river. I couldn't cross the river although it would be the quickest way, but in order to get to the other side of the river I had to walk around. Around? That meant at least another 30 to 40 minutes and although I thought "forget about it!" I really wanted to sit on those stairs. I had walked on the same side of the river and always postponed going to the others side. Tonight would be the night! As I walked Lord, I thought about the times that I just gave up, doubted and disappointed you, but I promised you that no matter how hard life is or how tough things get even if I am knocked down and take time to get up, I will keep believing in you, keep holding onto my faith. When I finally made it to the other side of river I sat down on the stairs and listened to the rushing waters, it was amazing to hear its sound knowing that it is not a water tap that humans can turn it off, I marveled how the water close to me stood still but a few centimeters further in it rippled. It took me awhile before I noticed that across the river from where I just walked there were similar stairs....I could have sat there, but I didn't notice that there were stairs. Sometimes we have to go across the river and travel further to see the whole picture. On my walk to the stairs I noticed stars and tried to count them, I think I counted eight. I never really noticed the stars here before. All creation testifies of YOU. Lord you are good and your mercy endures forever. I pray that my faith may endure, Lord I want to stay grounded on You. You are my foundation.      

I plant Lord, but you give the increase...Amen

Yesterday I had planned to do some writing. However as I sat in a coffee shop, I was introduced to a lady. We had begun a conversation of our lives and backgrounds and then touched on the topic of God. She had squirted the question of death and shared that once she dies she believes that she will just fall asleep. My heart sank Lord. As I listened to her, I realized Lord that she was trying to find her identity and that it was as if she neglected your word (the Bible) based on the fact that she had read it and did not agree and that her idea of you Lord was based on what she could intellectualize. I told her that the human standard cannot be compared with a absolute HOLY standard and if so, it would just show us our sinfulness as we are all sinners in need of forgiveness. It was quite difficult to get through to her Lord, especially because she was a wordsmith, in love with reading books and studying frameworks, but God I held onto faith. I know Lord that I can't only tell her, but show her your love. I pray that the Gospel will be translated every so easily in her life and that she will encounter you  and when she does I know she will never be the same again. Lord, I thank you for giving me your peace, not as the world has, but a peace that passes all understanding. I thank you Lord that I may plant a seed, but it is YOU who gives the increase. Jesus you are coming back soon. God thank you for showing me that there is no partiality with YOU. I want to be conformed more into the image of Christ each day, from now on and forever more until you come back for me. 

Live each day like it's your last ....glorify God and tell others the good news

I have been working on preparing some documents for an upcoming church event and I am for the opportunity to serve. However, I want to serve God with humility and to always remember this. I want to serve knowing that I gain nothing, not even recognition...I don't want it! I just want to be able to serve faithfully. Looking at the news today and hearing about so many innocent victims who lost their lives to gun violence, as innocent victims, bystanders attending a party or on the way home from work and I feel almost sick, at times I feel scared. Yet in the midst of these tragedies I am reminded about my relationship with you Lord. I need to stop any complacency, complaining, relaxing and live for you. Everyday that I get up I will thank you for my breath, I will work hard to and walk in the calling that you have called me. I am more motivated to DO what it is I have to do. Writing books, teaching, encouraging, singing anything that you have called and prepared me to do, I will do it. It is as if I don't want to sleep, but just work so that when you come for me you find me working or when you call me home someday you will be happy that I redeemed the times for the days are evil days nowadays. Our world is getting worse and Jesus you are the only living hope that when we die, we will live forever with you because of your faith not in our works, but in you Lord. Only you Lord.

One life to live and after the judgment

I see souls. God from now help me to only see souls, not people. Souls destined for an eternity with you or an eternity without you. When I look at the world from this perspective my calling is more urgent to tell others about you. It is so easy to get caught up with the worries of this world, focus on working and saving up to buy a nice house someday, for a family, for future investments and retirement. I know now that I would trade it all Lord, this world is fading and I would trade all the riches in this world and give it up just to focus on eternity and seeing souls be saved to live forever with you. 

I desire more of you, to love you more, to show your love to others. I am so thankful for your grace and mercy. I use to rely on my good works and compare myself to others, but God you showed me that in your eyes there is no partiality. You love the guilty, the prisoner, the liar, the thief, you loved all of us in our sinful state that you sent Jesus to die for us on the cross and now when I stand before you when I die, I don't have to go through a bunch of reasons, excuses or even present to you the good works that I have done because I have nothing good to offer to a Holy God. Even if I lived a good life and gave to the poor, one little lie that I tell makes me guilty of your law. No human being can live perfectly or present themselves righteous to you, but because you sent Jesus anyone that puts their faith in Jesus Christ and trust that he died for our sins will be made righteous NOT by our works, but by faith in Jesus. 

Many people will meet the grave trusting in their good works, but come to find out that all their works are futile. The decision on how we choose to live our lives and if we place our faith in Jesus or not must be made before we meet the grave, because when we die our decisions are irrevocable.

God I want to be a faithful servant, remind me that the pleasures of this world are quickly fading and only what I do for You Lord will last. God I want to see souls from now on and with an urgency demonstrate your love to others. I want others to see a difference and ask for the joy and hoe within me. I desire to live for you and only you and I want the angels to be rejoicing in heaven as souls are ushered into your presence. My confidence is in your Lord and help any unbelief. The Spirit is willing, but my flesh at times is week and will sometimes be enticed by the desires of this world. I pray that I will be filled with your word so that I may be able to flee and fight temptations. Continue to reveal yourself to me. I love you Lord, you are my one desire. 

Sacrifice

Life calls for sacrifice, but it is only natural for us as human beings to be so. Sometimes our selfishness is intended, most of the time it happens naturally. Comfort and convenience makes everything easier and so people will do anything to consider their needs first or the needs of those they love (family/close friends) before meeting those needs of other people. Thank you God for showing me otherwise. Last night I cleaned the house, before telling my sister she needed to make more of a sacrifice to clean and keep things tidy. I know I do too, but cleaning was something that I have been doing for months. As I began cleaning in the wee hours of the morning 12am I just kept thinking sacrifice Lord. For some people maybe you are showing them something different in their lives right now, but with me you are showing me unconditional sacrifice. Even when I clean and the house gets messy again to not wait for others to come in and help because sometimes they wont be able to do it and even if I have a schedule for the week, don't worry about it just get back in there and clean. It may feel like I am a servant, but all things I do I do unto You Lord and through constantly cleaning and picking up other people's mess and mine too, you have taught me patience and what your love looks like. It is sacrificial. I went to bed close to 3am this morning and God knows I fought every inch of sleep since I was up at 5:10am yesterday morning, traveled back home for 4 hours on a bus and then went straight to church to help out with programs and to attend service, I came home around 7:00pm and went to a coffee shop to do some writing until 11:50pm. God is good though we have to be prepared to work all the time. I ask God to show me more sacrifice, I was beginning to resent sacrificing all the time ans asking God how much longer. It is similar to when Peter said: "Lord how many times should I forgive my brother?" And Jesus answered and said seventy times seven. God is good and His mercy endures forever.

God please take away any residues of bitterness, please take away the desire for me to want and get the last word in, in a quarrel, God please take away the quarrel itself. I want to be like you in every facet. Forgive me for being stubborn at times, selfish in my thinking at times and help me to work harder to sacrifice my time and needs to serve others. Also teach me obedience first and show me what it means to obey as obedience is better than sacrifice. God I pray for the unfinished projects that I have started and aim to finish, Lord I pray that you will show me how to prioritize my time in such a way that I may get what needs to be done done, but by not being selfish and just focusing on my own schedule, to do this as I continue to make sacrifices to serve others. I pray for ideas for my projects and for patience when the ideas don't come as quick as I would like them to come. God I pray for my students that you will continue to help me teach well and that my students will learn well. Thank you for this day and as I pray for all those that I will meet today that I may rise to share Christ with them in my actions and words and through sharing the Gospel. I pray that you will prepare their hearts to receive the good news that you love them despite their past and present, and today is the day of salvation, if they hear your voice I pray that they will not harden their hearts. God you are always good. Continue to glorify your name and may your will be done on earth as it is in  heaven. Amen :)

Taking time out

I packed a bag, took with my Bible, a few articles of clothing and toiletries and jumped on a train heading  the road 4 hours  in the opposite direction, away from my home. This week I wanted to spend time working on unfinished goals and projects that I got distracted from, I wanted to also get to get some quiet time away from the busy city to just reflect on my relationship with God. I thank God that I had the opportunity to get back into the swing of writing. It has been forever since I sat down to write stories.  I use to love writing as a child and I could do it for hours. My imagination was much more vivid back then, but then I stopped, not writing completely, but I shifted my focus to songwriting. I have been thinking about the past lately and how I had dreams of becoming an established author and publishing books. Honestly, I just got distracted with the perils of life, my instability and inability to just focus on one thing at a time, I guess worked against me in actually accomplishing one set goal, but God is good and God is faithful. I can never rule out how God works and when he works. Lately, I have been writing more and God is reviving and restoring my passion. He has showed me so much about faithfulness and not saying "I can't do this or that." I use to hear so many times preachers add in their sermons that God just wants availability and it is so true. Availability and willingness is what is needed for one to be used in mighty ways. I am learning that God shapes and moulds us through situations and so who cares if I am not qualified or not to write. I will tell the Lord my fears and commit all my thoughts and concerns to Him, but most importantly I will draw closer to Him because the more I do the more he shows me His character and moulds me into His image. I want to live as Christ did and imitate Him. Amen and Amen!

Readers please comment

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Human Trafficking...Suicide...God I am ready for YOUR justice.

I am lying down in bed, today I heard  a sermon about the human trafficking victims in Cambodia and how a man gave up his promising career to try and rescue and restore these girls. I also watched the Nefarious documentary. Although I knew a little about human trafficking the documentary really brought me deeper into the issue. I thought about YOU Jesus and how much you love each and everyone of these girls trafficked into sex prostitution. Yet these girls are hopeless, feeling worthless as they have been treated as cheap merchandise and at times even animals are treated better than them. I have been lying down quietly, I don't even know what to think Lord or how to think. How does a mother sell her daughter to pimps so that she can eat her daily bread, would the mother not choose to starve? Have people just become so desensitized to this way of living and onlookers and those who have freedom to fight for justice just plain and down right complacent? If so, then Lord break our hearts, break my heart, as someone with freedom looking in at these issues of human trafficking and not just human trafficking, but other issues such as suicide, Lord I want my heart to feel the intense pain that these victims feel. I want to hurt like they hurt, and hurt with them, I want to cry with them, I don't want to feel satisfied with the comforts of life when across the ocean, families are selling their daughters just so they can get the basics of life, although some also sell because they want a better lifestyle. YOU have showed me that my I can depend on you and that there is POWER in the gospel to set the captives free, even the most oppressed, vulnerable and those treated as worthless, in my eyes they are more prepared to accept YOUR love which is DIFFERENT from what the world gives.

What next Lord? I know that I don't have to wait to feel equipped before I act in faith. NO! All you require Lord is faith and availability. The just shall live by faith. Lord today I give over my desires, my plans, my gifts that you have given to me, my passions and even my faith. God take these and show me what you will have me to die for. Everyone is looking for a cause for which they can dedicate their life too. Lord in sickness and in health until death brings us together in the place you have prepared for yours and those who love you, use me to live out your heart for justice, to loose spiritual and physical chains of the oppressed. I may not be qualified by the world's standards. but I am thankful that you continue to reveal to me that you are the KING of the universe. I love you LORD, let's go get this world! In the process if I get wounded and hurt, yet will I praise your name. In this process, if I seek to even get the slightest perception that I have done everything in my own strength, humble me Lord with your mighty hand. I love you :)