Do we love Him?

I read an article, and im inspired by it so much. Here's the summary :)

Agape "Love" is :

1. love is greater than faith and hope
2. it shows whether we're His children or not.
3. is long suffering and compassionate
4. forget about itself
5. hates evil and delights in the truth that's Christ
6. love that never ends.

Jesus asked Peter 3 times, "Do you love Me?"

This qs gets right to the heart of the matter. It's central issue between us and God. This qs is more important than any other, we get this one right and everything else falls into place.

Love is not just some comforting word, it shows my deepest part of my being. What happens when we answer: "Yes. Yes, God, I love You." Jesus says to Peter: "Follow me!"

I can follow Jesus only when I love Him. I can be His disciple only when I love Him. I can deny myself, take up my cross, and follow Him only when I love Him. I can profess Him and join His church only when I love Him. I can love others sincerely only when I love Him.

Have you ever wondered how fans can stand in line for hours to buy tickets to a rock concert or a football game? It is because they love the band or the football team. Love makes sacrifice a privilege, service an honor, suffering a joy. And He wants our love.

But how do I know if I love Him?

Although love is an invisible entity, its fruits are clearly seen. If we truly love the Lord, we
will show this by obeying His Word.

1. We're not ashamed of the gospel, and not ashamed to confess Him before men. There's no such things as radical Jesus followers and moderate ones. We all are called to deny ourselves, take our cross, and live for Him.
2. Keep His commandments.

"If you love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15).

Many times, we think God is like our grandfather.

"Ok God, You're cool. You're good, I get it and I love You, but You dont understand. This is 21st century. You're so old fashioned.".

No wonder, sometimes we feel dissapointed, it's because we're creating God in our own image. When He says, "I never leave you, nor forsake you", it's 100% true and guaranteed :)

It's not what we say, but what we do!

He isnt finished with me yet

It's quite a challenge for making commitment to open our heart up to God every single moment. That's why many people said that daily prayer is the hardest form of prayer. There are days when I feel moved, and there are days when I feel nothing. That's why I need to remind myself again and again : who am I, and what I'm living for.

“You will never know how much you believe something until it is a matter of life
and death.” “If you think of this world as a place intended simply for our
happiness, you find it quite intolerable: think of it as a place of training and
correction and it’s not so bad.” – C.S Lewis

I’m still in process, being wounded, healed, wounded again, and experiencing deeper healing… because, I’m not done yet! He isnt finished with me yet! and He isnt finished with you too :)

It's funny, for when I'm weak, then I'm strong. For God helps those who cant even help themselves. Through the storms in life, He wants me not to depend on myself, friends, even my family, but only depends on Him.

I love this quote:

"Life is a series of pulls back and forth... A tension of opposites, like a
pull on a rubber band. Most of us live somewhere in the middle. A wrestling
match...Which side win? Love wins. Love always wins" ~ Mitch Albom

Sometimes we just like in the middle of wrestling match. Sometimes we're going through setbacks. And actually, setbacks arent always bad, three steps forward and two setbacks is still a step forward :)

~your fellow wrestling Jesus-lover.

unmasking the hypocrite

“I am not going to have anything to do with church because it is full of hypocrites, they're a bunch of hypocrites."

Have u ever heard people made that kinda statements? Well, somehow this is true, but not all true. To be honest, I was one of them, one of the hypocrites. I thought I was good enough, and knew enough. Until I realized, I knew nothing.

"The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today, is Christians who
acknowledge Jesus with their lips, then walk out the door and deny him by their
lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable." ~ DC
Talk

Jesus isnt like "a Genie in the bottle", where we can easily call and then put Him back in bottle. And yet many times, we often treat Him like that.

Lets do something more, something radical. Saying we love Jesus, going to church and bible study, doing ministry, wearing "I love God" t-shirt, having "Jesus loves me" sticker in car's bumper clearly arent enough at all.

Lets do something more.

Lets live our life for something worth living for, and die for something worth dying for. Lets live for Jesus.

Faith like potatoes

I recommend this movie. Although I havent watch this movie yet, because I still cant find the dvd, but I watched the trailer, and read the synopsis. It was amazing! This is based on true story of Angus Bunchan. You can read the synopsis, and then download its discussion guide here. For more information click here.

be inspired!

watch this, and be inspired:

http://www.tangle.com/view_video.php?viewkey=f01ddda0a84aa85d069e

God, bring us deeper, deeper till nothing matters anymore but You.
not the way I look in front of people.
not things I have or not have.
but YOU, only YOU!

Friends, it's not too late yet. as long as there's breath, there's a hope. I agree what Mitch Albom said in his book : "No life is a waste, the only time we waste is the time we spend thinking we're alone."

with Jesus, anything is possible. Dont let yourself be fooled any longer.

BE FREE!

becoming martha?

I'm sure many of us know the story of Mary and Martha. They both are friends of Jesus. One day, Jesus came to their house. Martha wanted everything to be perfect for Him, she began to prepare dishes, tidy things, etc while Mary on the other side she just sat with God, and listened to everything He said.

There're times in my life, that I am much more like Martha. I am just too distracted with many things that seemed to be more important, or even I'm just too busy with "my attempt to pleasing God" for example just to be busy with ministry things. But the sad things is, sometimes when I evaluate what is my true motivation, I felt ashamed. There's nothing wrong with attempt to pleasing God, but when it makes my personal time with God diminished, or even disappeared then it's not right.

Through this thing, I know how broken I am, how weak I am, and therefore I need You.

We cannot outgive God, and what really matters is our heart.

Yesterday was easter. We're reminded again that Jesus is already died for our sins - and rose again. He has became the biggest criminals that ever exist, biggest liar, and full of condemnation only because of us, for our redemption. Until this time, I cannot understand why He would die for me and you, it's seems unbelieveable and doesnt even make sense. That's why we called it grace, the beauty of grace.

I believe that His redemption, not only for our sins in the past, but also our sins in the present, even in the future. But it doesnt mean that we can just do anything, because His redemption.

"Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindnes of God leads you to repentance." Romans 2:4

Lets become more like mary than martha.

Be better!

is it true?

Have you ever wonder : "why God leaves me? what happened with my life? Where's God when I need Him the most?"

and im sure, we're all have been in that kinda situations. But is it the way it is? can I say, when my life is ok, when I dont have problems, it means God is with me, and when I have many problems, when my life seems to mean nothing, it means that God isnt with me.

Let me make it clear, that God is always there, no matter what situations are you in. He's always be with us.

But let me make it clear,

why we dont realize it? we're the one who leave Him. And how much longer does He has to wait for us?

i've learned..

I've learned....
That happiness is a choice, like it's said that happiest people do not necessarily have the best of everything. and somehow it's true.

I've learned....
That when I give others smile, it makes me feel better.

I've learned....
That just one person saying to me, 'You've made my day!' makes my day.

I've learned....
That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

I've learned....
That being kind is more important than being right.

I've learned....
That I'm so imperfect, sometimes I win and sometimes I lose too. And that what makes me human.

I've learned....
That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.

I've learned....
That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.

I've learned....
That simple walks with my father around the block when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.

I've learned....
That I never know how someone meant for me until i lost them.

I've learned....
That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.

I've learned....
That money cant buy many things.

I've learned....
That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I've learned...
That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

I've learned....
That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I 've learned....
That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

I've learned....
That love wins, love always wins.

I've learned....
That problems and failures do me good.

I've learned....
That everyone, no matter what they have, and who they are, they need to be greeted with a smile.

I've learned...
That life is tough, but I'm tougher.

I've learned....
That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

I've learned....
That to envy somebody is just a waste, coz i never know what they've been through to get there.

I've learned....
That at the end, nothing do matters, but God.

I've learned....
That my God is alive, and He trully is.

I've learned....
That without Him, I am totally nothing.