Washer Machine

Have you ever felt like life treated you as if you were in the turn cycle of your washer machine?

I don’t know–but to me, see life seems to bring me through the same trials over again and over again. And like a dog to its vomit, I repeat the same mistakes.

The one mistake I commit a lot is trying to run things on my own strength. At the peak of my game, I feel like Superman with the wind in his back: nothing can’t withhold me from getting the job done.

Then a computer crashes. Help disappear. Batteries die. Those expectations you felt seemed so belittled, now are casting shadows over you.

Now the “S” on the chest doesn’t seem so super anymore.

Life doesn’t always gives us the wind to let our capes bask in the air. We all come to a point where we are as broken cups: we cannot give as much as we could if we were whole.

Jesus promised,“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38 NKJV).

Face it. We’re all human. We all empty ourselves and lack the strength to meet the demands that are called upon us.

But Jesus wants to fill us with Himself. In Him we have:

-Strength in weakness: And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV)

-Rest in difficulty: Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28 NKJV)

-Company in loneliness: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4 NKJV)

-Guidance in uncertainty: I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. (Psalm 32:8 NKJV)

It has been said God cannot fill an empty vessel when he is full of himself.

Don’t wait to get to the pit of the trial to call on Jesus. At the very start, let the pride go now and ask him for help. It will save you time in the washer.

Thank You Pastor Miller

Pastor Chuck Miller was an old pastor at our church. Beyond his deep love for people and his natural willingness to serve was his selfless devotion to his country. His face was marked by his service.

Pastor was a helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War. At one battle, his chopper was shot down and crashed head first into the earth. Miller survived the crash, but his face was stripped with scars that crossed from left to right over face from the glass of the shattered chopper window.

After the war, Miller became a missionary and eventually served as my pastor at my church when I was a boy. My brothers and I would love our rides with him when he would sometimes drop us home from Awana Bible club.

I wish I had a picture of him for you, but he died 13 years ago. And while he was alive, I was too young to realize my moments with him weren’t eternal.

Thank you Pastor Chuck for giving up your comfort to fight injustice. You remind me of  Christ when He surrendered His rights to become our Savior. You still are my hero.

My Advocate

I’m not a perfect person. I lie. I lust. I rebel. I put people down…

There are even times where I don’t seek the Lord because I feel I’m not worthy to speak to Him. “I failed Him again…He should not take me back. He’s too good to forgive a wretched guy like me.”

There is a great divide between the filth of John Bell and the perfect righteousness of God Almighty. But I have a mediator.

“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” -1 Timothy 2:5 (NKJV)

Between this great divide of sin and righteousness is Jesus Christ. We were separated from God justly for our sin, but by Jesus’ blood, “He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation” (Eph 2:14).

Christ came and bridge the gap between sinners. We now have access to God’s throne!

God even says for us to come to Him boldly (Hebrews 10:19). But what about me and when I fail God in sin again?

1 John 2:1 says,“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (NKJV)

Jesus is our eternal advocate to God. Hebrews 7:25 says He is continually in Heaven making intercession for us. We can reside in the fact that because of Jesus, God will never us let go.

He has also promised us that “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 (NKJV).

Be strengthened that though you fail in sin, you can still make things right and enjoy fellowship with God.

Beautiful Things by Gungor

While I’m still raving about Gungor, I highly recommend picking up their album, Beautiful Things (2010). I’ve been teasing my ear by listening to this album by Pandora and YouTube, but today I remedied myself by getting a copy. Both your heart and soul will be enriched as you joyfully praise and soberly reverence your Creator.

Gungor

If you haven’t picked up an album from Gungor, I beg to hurry and log into your iTunes Store. Gungor is the new screwed in light bulb in Christian music, shinning a new style of contemporary worship.

Lead by wide acclaimed Christian music artist, Michael Gungor, Gungor sets itself in a genre all on its own with their creative God-exalting lyrics and their original upbeat music style.

I’m not joking when I said that their songs are very God directing. Their single “We Will Run” (from Beautiful Things 2010) alone is an anthem cry for serious heart change and sincere return to the Lover of Our Souls.

Their latest album, Ghosts Upon the Earth (2o11), is a delightful narrative from the fall of man to our promised eternal freedom from the presence of sin.

Gungor will be a heart gem as you listen in reflective appreciation to Him Whom first loved us!

iHeart My iPhone, But…

I love my iPhone. Let me correct myself: I REALLY love iPhone. It has so much eased my life in so many ways. But I’ve noticed how much it has hurt my time with my family.

1 Corinthians 10:23 says, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify”(NKJV).

My iPhone is not a sin (Hallelujah!), but doesn’t edify my family when it steals my attention from them.

What’s Up John Bell? News Update 8

I’m home and happy!

Hello World! It’s been ages (over a year!) since I’ve let you in on what’s new in my life (never mind updating my blog since yesterday).

School’s been out for almost two weeks now, and to be honest with you: I couldn’t be more happier! Let me not imply that I didn’t enjoy this semester.

God has blessed me in many unique ways this last year that are too many to recall right now! One specific blessing was God’s use of special people to nurse and nurture my spiritual growth. Even as I write, names of these dear loved ones are joyfully springing up from memory.

Since I’ve been  back home, I have been recovering from a cold that a dear friend decide to part with me as left school. (what a gift!) Church has blossomed new opportunities including a young men’s Bible study.

My beloved Sunday school as also blossomed by its number. We now have 15 children under our wing, so please pray that we get help as we need to separate the children for effective learning.

Last Christmas,  I interned at Christian TV station where my dad hosts a TV program. My time there was irreplaceable by new experience and people networking. Since my return, it has been beckoning me to return. I’m eager to try out the new tricks I have attained from this past semester’s classes.

Our church will be hosting a team from the States that will be assisting us in community evangelistic outreach. We do anticipate some fruit so keep us up there on your prayer list.

Please also include on your prayer list: we have reach some serious financial difficulties in regards to my college tuition. We do need to see breakthrough in this area and I know Our God is able!

It’s a joy as always to follow this blog. It’s been a sheer blessing to share what God has invested in this old jar of clay. I’ve also particularly enjoyed your comments from time to time, and I hope to hear from some of you other folks too! Let’s keep sharpening each other!

May Jesus spoil richly with many blessings as enjoy Him more and more every day. If you have any ideas, suggestions please feel free to write me. Again thank you!

Blessings,

John Bell
Seeking to Know God Personally and Make Him Known

Me VS the Will of God

The Lord’s angel appears to Zechariah to declare the birth of Zechariah’s son John whose mission will be to prepare men for the arrival of Christ. Zechariah in his old age doubted the angel’s word, and the angel punished him by making him unable to speak and hear:

“[Angel Gabriel to Zachariah] But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.” Luke 1:20 (NKJV)

Do you ever find yourself questioning the will of God? However unusual to normal it may be to you, it is God’s design, and like Zechariah if you doubt God, He will restrain you if necessary to get you to acknowledge His will that He wants to accomplish with you.

Old Zechariah did not believe what the angel was saying, and by his own mouth he denied God’s power to give him a son at his old age. Because of this, God took his hearing and speaking away from him. It was only when John was born that he was able to speak and hear again. God took what hinder Zechariah from believing and used it to humble him and understand His plan.

God is the same with us today. Possibly, God may want you to serve someplace that would be least of interest to go. If we are resistant against His will, He may use bankruptcy, sickness or even a loss of a loved to move us to obey His will. We must understand that God is the final authority over our lives, and He determines our purpose. May we remember that.