Thursday, March 22, 2012

Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: Naked I came from my mothers womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord. (Job 1:20, 21 NKJV)

I have decided to follow Jesus - no turning back...

Was feeling a little down this week. Felt discouraged over certain yet to be answered prayers... Spent a little time worshipping with my ipod... and felt the presence of God just step into my room...

Brought back to my memory the song

"I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back. no turning back..."

Monday, March 12, 2012

Giving your life to Jesus - what does it really mean?

As believers, everything we do should fall into 2 categories

1) Loving God
2) Loving people.

Above and beyond WWJD (What would Jesus do?), we should ask ourselves this question:

Is what I'm doing/going to do, show my love for God and people?

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 NIV)

It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.

Do we treat God like a heavenly Santa Claus - with our long prayer lists of what we want?
Do we give offerings because we love God and people, or are we trying to twist God's arm for a blessing?

If we were to lose it all, will we still love God?

I was meditating on Job the other day, I came to a realization that the book of Job is a love story - a man's unwavering love for God.

Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.  (Job 13:15 NKJV)

Is our love for God based on how life treats us?

When Jacob wrestled with God for a blessing, I've always wondered about what happened.

Genesis 32:24-29
Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. 25 Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob's hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. 26 And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.”
But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”
27 So He said to him, “What is your name?”
He said, “Jacob.”
28 And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
29 Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.”
And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there.

Jacob left the encounter with God a blessed crippled!
I believe that God wanted to remind him to look beyond the blessing, and live life reliant on the "Blesser"

To be truly blessed - is to live life reliant on God. Above and beyond what we can achieve or obtain in life, it is all meaningless if we are not reliant on God.

Matthew 16:26
For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

When we say that we give our lives to God, it has to be more than a figure of speech.

For some to give our lives to Jesus may mean the ultimate sacrifice of martyrdom. 8 out 12 of the Apostles met their end that way.

For the rest of us it is surrendering/submitting our dreams and aspirations , our will (the sum total of our life) - to the will of God.

Instead of trying to make a name for ourselves, focus on exalting the name of Jesus through our lives!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

I love the old hymn:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full in His wonderful face

And the things of Earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace


Keep our focus on Jesus and not our needs. God will make sure that things will fall in place.

And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom,and these things will be given to you as well. (Luke 12:29-31 NIV)