On Sunday my choir had a fund raising concert entitled 'An Experience With God'. And people the name was exactly what happened. God came and moved and it was awesome. The presence of God was there and was felt. We expected God to move, We wanted him to show up and he did. It reminds me that we can only receive as much as we expect. If we expect it, and chase after it, it will happen. God wants to birth within us a desire for experiences with him. Not all being the same but each one different and more intense than the other.
My encouragement, Love on Jesus, hunger and thirst after him and see a Super Natural Transformation that only the Spirit of God can bring.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Keep Pressing
We often don't get the answer we desire the first time we ask. Sometimes we do but othertimes we have to press in and on with God. God requires that we chase after him for the answers we desire. He births in us this longing and desire for him that allows us to continue to pursue him.It is up to us to acknowledge that desire and pursue it. God requires so much more than a song. He desires that we chase after him, seek him, want him, long for him and he will answer our prayers. Note that the answer may not be the answer we desire but it will be an answer. I pray that we do not keep pressing when it seems that God is silent. God Bless!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Are you sleeping?
In the same story mentioned before another significant thing occured to me. So of us as Christians are sleeping. We are in a spiritual thinking that we will beable to snooze for awhile. we believe, like the five foolish virgins, that we have time. Guess what people we dont. In Mark Jesus speaks about the signs of the end times. Look around. Its happening. It has begun. The time is so near I can feel it. I bbeg of you dont be caught sleeping. Get up and Get prepared. The time is here!
Are you sleeping?
When Jesus took some of his desciples to Gethsemane he told them to wait at a particular place and stand guard. After praying for an hour he returned and they were sleeping. He woke them up and again went to pray, when he returned he was sleeping again. He again woke them up and left again to pray. When he returned he found them asleep again. The first time Jesus returned he said something that was very important. He admonished them to watch and pray so that hey would not fall into temptation.He ends by saying the spirit is willing but the body is weak.
As youths we always have a fire for God. We want to do so many things for God. But then bit by bit piece by piece life happens. You have responsibilities like school, family, church even work and you then have no time to commit to doing what u started. U become tired and weary and give up. Your spirit is willing but your body is shutting down. After the frustration u begin to feel like a failure. U stop praying and reading ur Bible mainly because u feel ur not worthy of that time with God. And even though people tell u that u are, u dont really want to hear them. You reach the point where you no longer feel the oresence of God with you. And soon enough you become the person that you dont recognise. Where did the willing spirit u had go? Where is the fire that was once there? Can you come out of it?
Jesus died so that we can be covered. Covered with his mercy and his grace so that inspite of our slip ups we can still come back to him. His arms are always open and he stands waiting for us to come back. So what are you gonna do? Are you going to wallow in what you are in and not wake up and return to you first love? The choice is yours.
As youths we always have a fire for God. We want to do so many things for God. But then bit by bit piece by piece life happens. You have responsibilities like school, family, church even work and you then have no time to commit to doing what u started. U become tired and weary and give up. Your spirit is willing but your body is shutting down. After the frustration u begin to feel like a failure. U stop praying and reading ur Bible mainly because u feel ur not worthy of that time with God. And even though people tell u that u are, u dont really want to hear them. You reach the point where you no longer feel the oresence of God with you. And soon enough you become the person that you dont recognise. Where did the willing spirit u had go? Where is the fire that was once there? Can you come out of it?
Jesus died so that we can be covered. Covered with his mercy and his grace so that inspite of our slip ups we can still come back to him. His arms are always open and he stands waiting for us to come back. So what are you gonna do? Are you going to wallow in what you are in and not wake up and return to you first love? The choice is yours.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
The first shall be last!
My sisters and I were grown up to always strive for excellence. In everything that we do. Academically I think it was the hardest. Now don't give me wrong I am glad we were pushed because I don't think we would have worked as hard. But it birth in us this spirit of competition. Because we always wanted the highest GPA and to be the best at whatever we did, everything became a competition. I did not know how much so until after an exam in college, I looked over to my friend and realised he scored on point higher than I to take the highest score in the class and I was pissed. I was pissed at him and myself. He looked at me and asked me why and I couldn't tell him. I was embarrassed. I honestly didn't care about how I could help those who are not doing as well as me. My mind was now set on beating the score of those who scored over me. By any means necessary.
Last night I was reading the 10th chapter of Mark and came across the story of John and James. They requested the honour of sitting on the right and left side of Jesus. Immediately Jesus gave them a lessen in humility and servant hood. The basis that we mus serve others. The first mist become last. It reminded me about the high horse I was on and had to come down of off. We sometimes believe that we deserve certain things. We did this and that so we are entitled somethings. Then we need to be reminded to come off of the high horse that we are on and humble ourselves.
So my encouragement today is simply this: Lets do some introspection. Where do we need to humble ourselves and become a servant before we can lead.
Last night I was reading the 10th chapter of Mark and came across the story of John and James. They requested the honour of sitting on the right and left side of Jesus. Immediately Jesus gave them a lessen in humility and servant hood. The basis that we mus serve others. The first mist become last. It reminded me about the high horse I was on and had to come down of off. We sometimes believe that we deserve certain things. We did this and that so we are entitled somethings. Then we need to be reminded to come off of the high horse that we are on and humble ourselves.
So my encouragement today is simply this: Lets do some introspection. Where do we need to humble ourselves and become a servant before we can lead.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
I am reading some news and a statue of Jesus on the I-75 was struck by lighting. It was burnt to the ground. What is interesting to me is the number of comments written about it. Christan's and non Christians a like. What stands out to me the most is the number of non Christians with something to say about it. One even says "This is a sign saying stop worshiping me and get a life". I didn't know what to say. the blatant disrespect for my God.
Last night some of my friends and I were having a discussion on the fact that we as Christians sometimes compromise our Christianity so that we don't offend others. Interestingly enough, the non christians do not compromise for us. They curse in front of us, they call us out to work and they constantly have negative things to say. And we stay quiet in our churches and youth groups because we do not want to offend.
The fact is if The Word of God says its sin, then guess what, its sin. And nothing one can do or say will change it. So, we will be persecuted because we are no longer 'tolerant' of what the world is trying to deem as ok. But the truth is their is no lukewarm in sin. Its either you are obedient, or disobedient simple as that. So my encouragement is this. Study the word of God so that you can with all Boldness declare it. We can no longer be silent. No one else is.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Coming Clean!
The point of creating this blog was to share the everyday (well almost everyday) life of myself as a Christian young person. To avoid all pretense and to be honest about my joys, sorrows, victories and struggles. The more I think about it however, I realise that I have been pretending. The very thing I despise is the thing that I am becoming. I never say when I am struggling. I always come with the victory story after.So here is me coming clean.
Most times when I have not writtn for awhile is because I have nothing to say. When I have nothing to say is when my relationship with God has taken a backburner and I am focusing more on something else. This something else being anything from school work to persons to a job I may have to do. It sucks because at those times I feel the furthest from God.
This also occurs when God ask you to do something and you are disobedient. School is out and for us at the school I attend we usually have one last big outing before we all leave for the break. This year like always we went to see a movie. We planned this outing for awhile so I was really pumped. While getting dressed God told me not to go. I reasoned with God so much about it being the last time most of us will see eachother because they graduated and I still went. Since then I have not been able to really feel the presence of God around me. I know I was disobedient and I have repented for it over an over again. And this isnt the first time.
So what do you do when because u dont feel God's presence around you? What do you do when u dont feel like worshipping because u feel like ur not being heard? What do u do when u dont feel like reading ur Bible because God is saying nothing to u through his Word? What do you do?
As Christians we dont operate on feelings. How we feel is never to be trusted. our hearts can lead us astray and into danger we dont see coming. So what do I do? I choose to worship. I choose to read God's Word and I choose to pray. It doesnt matter how i feel. God's promises are secure because he cannot lie. His WORD says that he will NEVER leave me or forsake me. And I hold firm to that promise. So even though right now I done 'feel' him, I know that he is here.
Most times when I have not writtn for awhile is because I have nothing to say. When I have nothing to say is when my relationship with God has taken a backburner and I am focusing more on something else. This something else being anything from school work to persons to a job I may have to do. It sucks because at those times I feel the furthest from God.
This also occurs when God ask you to do something and you are disobedient. School is out and for us at the school I attend we usually have one last big outing before we all leave for the break. This year like always we went to see a movie. We planned this outing for awhile so I was really pumped. While getting dressed God told me not to go. I reasoned with God so much about it being the last time most of us will see eachother because they graduated and I still went. Since then I have not been able to really feel the presence of God around me. I know I was disobedient and I have repented for it over an over again. And this isnt the first time.
So what do you do when because u dont feel God's presence around you? What do you do when u dont feel like worshipping because u feel like ur not being heard? What do u do when u dont feel like reading ur Bible because God is saying nothing to u through his Word? What do you do?
As Christians we dont operate on feelings. How we feel is never to be trusted. our hearts can lead us astray and into danger we dont see coming. So what do I do? I choose to worship. I choose to read God's Word and I choose to pray. It doesnt matter how i feel. God's promises are secure because he cannot lie. His WORD says that he will NEVER leave me or forsake me. And I hold firm to that promise. So even though right now I done 'feel' him, I know that he is here.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
From a Friend of mine to you
Know God Even When the Odds Are Against You
Our relationship with God must be personal – relationship with God must be built on a personal encounter with Him. We must know where we stand with God, even when those closest to us do not raise the accolades of our persistence that we sometimes look for.
In reading about Job, we see that he was confronted with a very difficult situation. Job knew that he was blameless and that he had walked righteously before His God. He knew that he had done nothing to make God angry. But he also knew that the pain which he was experiencing was not inflicted on him apart from the permission of his God.
When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar came to him, they had every intention of comforting him (Job 2:11). However, they failed to grasp the reality of the matter. They reasoned, from the outside, that there was no way that a righteous and blameless man would be allowed to go through the testing that Job was experiencing.
But Job had a personal relationship with God. This relationship enabled him to stand firm in the fact that he had done nothing to displease his God. Yet he trusted God enough to speak truthfully and honestly before Him and still, he knew that God would be God and bring His will to pass.
We must never allow ourselves to doubt God. We must always be in a tune with God and we must trust that He would let us know when we are out of step with Him. People cannot direct us in the paths of God. God can use people to speak to us, but it is God who gives the direction where His purpose and plan are concerned.
Job’s friends were sure that they knew what they were talking about. They were convinced that Job had gone wrong somewhere, somehow. He reprimanded his friends for trying to win favour with God. They were saying the things that they were expected to say; they were guessing (Job 13: 7 – 10). We must learn of Job’s friends:
- We must never judge people’s situations based on the difficulties that they experience. God is the only righteous judge. We must let Him be God.
- We must never seek to speak without first understanding from God’s perspective. Job’s friends failed to see the situation from God’s point of view, and as such, they posited invalid hypotheses.
- We should never seek to give people “spiritual answers” for their problems, unless those answers are directed by God himself. We may only cause their pain to increase. It is God who determines what truth is, not man, regardless of how pious the man may be. God is the Mighty Counselor. We must always seek His advice before we speak on His behalf.
Job knew where he stood with God, and although his situation pressed him, he held on to the truths that God had taught him in times before. Even when the vote was four to one, when his friends and wife were against him, he held fast to the belief that he was in right standing with God and God delivered him in the end.
Sometimes, Christians struggle and the church puts them through unnecessary fatigue because they simply do not understand the struggle. We must never poke our noses in other people’s struggles; we must not comment, unless the Lord gives utterance.
My relationship with God must be just that – between God and I. I do not need to consult with others to find out whether God is leading us or speaking to me. It cannot be denied, that seeking the counsel of Godly men and women is crucial when making decisions and it is certainly a Biblical principle that has been applied throughout Scripture. However, one must always remember, that when the day is done, one does not need a “majority vote”. I just need God’s assurance. How ever and if ever He chooses to bring confirmation, then Amen!
If He chooses to bring that confirmation through a human source, then praise God still. God never needed man’s concurrence with His opinion to make it right.
With or without us, God’s plan is the right plan and God’s way is the right way!
Kerese Harrinandan!
Our relationship with God must be personal – relationship with God must be built on a personal encounter with Him. We must know where we stand with God, even when those closest to us do not raise the accolades of our persistence that we sometimes look for.
In reading about Job, we see that he was confronted with a very difficult situation. Job knew that he was blameless and that he had walked righteously before His God. He knew that he had done nothing to make God angry. But he also knew that the pain which he was experiencing was not inflicted on him apart from the permission of his God.
When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar came to him, they had every intention of comforting him (Job 2:11). However, they failed to grasp the reality of the matter. They reasoned, from the outside, that there was no way that a righteous and blameless man would be allowed to go through the testing that Job was experiencing.
But Job had a personal relationship with God. This relationship enabled him to stand firm in the fact that he had done nothing to displease his God. Yet he trusted God enough to speak truthfully and honestly before Him and still, he knew that God would be God and bring His will to pass.
We must never allow ourselves to doubt God. We must always be in a tune with God and we must trust that He would let us know when we are out of step with Him. People cannot direct us in the paths of God. God can use people to speak to us, but it is God who gives the direction where His purpose and plan are concerned.
Job’s friends were sure that they knew what they were talking about. They were convinced that Job had gone wrong somewhere, somehow. He reprimanded his friends for trying to win favour with God. They were saying the things that they were expected to say; they were guessing (Job 13: 7 – 10). We must learn of Job’s friends:
- We must never judge people’s situations based on the difficulties that they experience. God is the only righteous judge. We must let Him be God.
- We must never seek to speak without first understanding from God’s perspective. Job’s friends failed to see the situation from God’s point of view, and as such, they posited invalid hypotheses.
- We should never seek to give people “spiritual answers” for their problems, unless those answers are directed by God himself. We may only cause their pain to increase. It is God who determines what truth is, not man, regardless of how pious the man may be. God is the Mighty Counselor. We must always seek His advice before we speak on His behalf.
Job knew where he stood with God, and although his situation pressed him, he held on to the truths that God had taught him in times before. Even when the vote was four to one, when his friends and wife were against him, he held fast to the belief that he was in right standing with God and God delivered him in the end.
Sometimes, Christians struggle and the church puts them through unnecessary fatigue because they simply do not understand the struggle. We must never poke our noses in other people’s struggles; we must not comment, unless the Lord gives utterance.
My relationship with God must be just that – between God and I. I do not need to consult with others to find out whether God is leading us or speaking to me. It cannot be denied, that seeking the counsel of Godly men and women is crucial when making decisions and it is certainly a Biblical principle that has been applied throughout Scripture. However, one must always remember, that when the day is done, one does not need a “majority vote”. I just need God’s assurance. How ever and if ever He chooses to bring confirmation, then Amen!
If He chooses to bring that confirmation through a human source, then praise God still. God never needed man’s concurrence with His opinion to make it right.
With or without us, God’s plan is the right plan and God’s way is the right way!
Kerese Harrinandan!
Smile Jesus loves you!
I have realised how much smiling improves not only my mood but the mood of persons around me. Then it cme to me. Jesus spread so much joy when he traveled and taught. He healed the sick and cast out devils. Made people happy and gave them such a joy that they could not help but share it. Has Jesus not brought us that same joy! Are we not so happy to be children of God. My challenge to you today is to share your joy with at least one perso everyday. As simple as giving a compliment works! be Blessed.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Wohooo!
So its been awhile this I know. Findind time to do anything around this time for me is hard. Today my encouragement is short and sweet. Relationship with God is the greatest relationship you will ever have! Try it!
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