Month: December 2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR! + NEW YEAR V. BEST YEAR EVER

He break through our darkness
The best year is Jesus coming to break through our darkness

Every year is a hope for a better future. For us who are God’s children, every year is the hope for the best future to come! The return of Jesus!

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. (I Thessalonians 4:16, 17 NKJV)

One day, maybe even today at the eve of a new year, we will see Him breaking out of the sky in radiant glory. There all our sadness that glued us to mourning and hopelessness will fade as we open our eyes in a brilliant joy that will outweigh all excitement this world had ever or could ever muster.

We will rise when He calls us. The world and all its sorrows will look strangely dim to us, as depart from it to join Jesus Who will lead us to place He has prepared for us.*

And we will be with Jesus! Insecurity is be swallowed by eternal security. Doubt is shadowed by everlasting hope. Darkness is hidden by the Light of Jesus, for There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light.(Revelation 22:5 NKJV)

He will wipe every tear from our eyes “because the former troubles are forgotten….they are hidden from [our] eyes” Isaiah 65:16 NKJV).

“There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4 NKJV) All the things that once troubled us and weighed us with sigh and concern will be erased, leaving behind only the memories that lighten our hearts to the greatness of our great God.

Then as the it has been foretold in the Word of God, we will altogether cry in joyful praise and celebrate, singing this song to the Lamb:

“Great and marvelous are Your works,Lord God Almighty!
Just and true are Your ways,
O King of the saints! ” **

2013 sounds great and promising, but THE BEST IS STILL YET COME!

So honestly I want to go Home! So if Jesus can today, I’m hoping in the best future I can ever enjoy!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I HOPE THIS YEAR WILL BE THE YEAR THAT JESUS COMES BACK!

LET’S BE READY FOR HIM!

*Luke 14:1-4 NKJV: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

**Revelation 15:3

Christmas Tragedies

Christmas is a joy in itself. Ultimately, we joy in the gift of a Savior who is Christ Jesus coming to earth to save us from the consequence of our sins against God and restore true, eternal peace. We also delight in joyful memories that are produced around loved ones as we gather together to celebrate Christ’s birth.

But while we sang glad songs to our Messiah, across the sea many shed great tears of tragedy.

Nigeria

Early Christmas morning, 12 Christians were killed by gunmen. These killings occurred during open attacks against the Christian community that included raids upon two churches and in numerous Christian homes. While the assailants have yet to be confirmed, the BBC strongly believes it to be none other than the aggressive Islamic terrorist group, Boko Haram that has claimed the lives of over 700 Christians in 2012.

Boko Haram is devoted to convert the entire nation of Nigeria into an Islamic state and since beginning of this year has demanded every Christian to leave the country. Last Christmas, Boko Haram massacred 44 believers.

Iran

Pastor Nadarkhani with his beloved family.

We all rejoiced in September when we received the news of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani’s release from prison. On Christmas Day Pastor Nadarkhani was rearrested by Iranian authorities.  According to the Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), Pastor Nadarkhani has to complete the remainder of his time in prison (45 days) and finish uncompleted paperwork.

Since October 2009, Pastor Nadarkhani has been detained in prison without bail for his protest against his children being taught the Qur’an in school. Later on, Iranian authorities also charged Pastor Nardarkhani with apostasy and converting Muslims which is illegal in Iran.

During his time in prison, Pastor Nadarkhani has suffered aggressive persuasion to recant his faith and also had been sentenced to be executed on several occasions that were continually dropped because of the overwhelmingly outcry by the international community on Pastor Nadarkhani’s behalf.

WHAT GOD DID

While here on earth, Jesus did promise to those who would testify of Him, will suffer persecution. In fact Jesus said,

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:18-19 NKJV).

As followers of Jesus, being persecuted is part of what it means to belong to Christ. Paul made this evident to us in Philippians 1:29: “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.”

God sees our brothers and sisters suffering for His cause. We should honor their work to proclaim Christ, and God has stored great eternal rewards for their exchange to risk their lives to expand God’s kingdom.

WHAT WE CAN DO

1. PRAY

>These people are suffering at the hands of sinful, depraved people who are plagued by Satan’s hatred for God’s people. We hate their sin, but desire that these sinners be reconciled to God. We need to PRAY that God save them.

>PRAY for the peace of Nigeria from all the mass genocides, especially the attacks against Christians.

>PRAY for Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani’s immediate release. God got out once. He can do it again. Also PRAY for him to remain unharmed while detained and for strength for his family.

2. PUBLICIZE

The social media is a very powerful tool of influence today. Get the word across – wherever, however – telling the world, we don’t tolerate these social injustices.

Feel free to repost this blog for the purpose of promoting public awareness of these social injustices.

Closer to His Heart

A pastor once said, “You as close as to God as you choose to be.”

There is a lot of truth in that. God doesn’t impress Himself on anyone.

God says profoundly in James, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” James 4:8 (NKJV)

A person is as close with Him as they want to be.

Love is like a fire: it grows as much it is fed. It doesn’t stay lukewarm: it either gets bigger or it dies out.

If you love someone, you would desire for that relationship to grow; but it is only to grow if you put effort into it. It is going to take more than wishful thought. If you want to get closer to that person than you have to converse ways for you both to get to know each other better.

Your relationship with Christ grows by the investment you put into it.

We can never lose our salvation for it is a gift, but we can shrink our spiritual life to where it just seems superficial and shallow. This happens if we neglect to feed ourselves continually by talking to Jesus and from reading God’s Word.

God won’t push Himself on us. James says clearly: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” James 4:8 (NKJV)

To get close, you must show interest and take action to see it happen.

God said in Jeremiah 29:13,“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. “

Are you not satisfied with your relationship with Christ? You are at the right place.

Start from wherever you are until you see progress. Call on Him. Prayer can be a simple as, “Help me to want you.”

Christ will embrace your efforts for He sees a child who desires to come closer to His heart.