Who Do You Fear?

Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD means safety. - Proverbs 29 : 25

(Source: www.gospelgadgets.org)

Fear of man is so dangerous, that it is called a trap. When we cares about how people look at us or what people value us, aren't we letting ourselves to be judged? We should live our lives to please God and not man.

But why? What kind of trap is it? Compromise! When we start compromising, what happens next is that we start to lose our own selves. We tend to follow what others want.

Fear leads to obedience. When you fear man more than you fear God, guess who you obey more. We have to set our priority right.

Fear of man often leads us into dishonesty and hypocrisy. Sometimes, it's just not easy being the one that stands with integrity, but that's what matters the most.

Fear of God will leads us into living a life with integrity; because when you fear God, you will obey His Words and hates what He dislikes.

Who do you fear? It's your choice!

Fruitful

"I am the true grapevine, and My Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit, and He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have give you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in Me. "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. - John 15 : 1 - 5

(Source: www.it.wikipedia.org)

What exactly is the fruit being spoken here? Growing as a Christian, I sure heard a lot about being fruitful, go and bear fruit. It's everywhere in the New Testament, and in sermons once a while. But somehow, there seems to be a lot of explanation to it.

Fruit in a Christian's life should be the changes in his / her characters. Changed in his / her life, living a Christ-centered life. The passage above says that "you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me." Yes, God wants our obedience.

When we are living a Christ-centered life, surely our character  won't be the same. We will produce fruits as a result. The fruits of the Spirit is what we called it. What are those? Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5 : 22 -23).

We as Christians, we need to show others that we are changed through Christ. Our lives, our actions need to have the essence of love, and all those characters of Christ.

If we are not fruitful, we will be cut off. What good is an unfruitful branch? Therefore, let us live a life that will be a blessing for others through our characters.

Never Changing Love

(Source: www.indonesiawallapaper.blogspot.com)

For the mountain may move and the hills disappear, but even then My faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken," ... - Isaiah 54 : 10

Indeed, when we look around us, things are changing. Only God's love for us is never changing. Did God just said His covenant of blessing? Yes, He did. That's a "WOW" for us, because what has been promised by God, He won't deny. Some people might think, if so why aren't we always blessed? Let's take a deeper look into this covenant of blessing.

Covenant : a solemn agreement, an agreement held to be the basis of a relationship of commitment with God (Concise Oxford Dictionary).

First of all, we got to have a relationship of commitment. Let's put it simple: read the Word, do it. A covenant is an agreement, it requires both parties to keep their end of the agreement. Keep ours and God will definitely keep His, for sure.

Covenant of blessing is sometimes called Abrahamic Covenant. God promises so much for Abraham, because of one thing, that is his faith. So, number two requirement, have faith. Blessings do not fall from the skies! Sometimes we are just so engrossed in the blessing that we forget all about the Giver. God does not want that, Nah Nah.

So next time, if you want God to bless you, remember that He will but you need to keep your end of the agreement. BE COMMITTED & HAVE FAITH.

A Good Soldier

"Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Soldiers don't get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them." - 2 Tim 2 - 3


How to be a good soldier of Christ? Don't get tied up in the affairs of civilian life!

Jesus did say in Luke 9 : 23, that everyone who wants to follow Him must deny themselves. It literally means we who want to follow Jesus, must let go of our old lives, bad old habits, those that are displeasing in God's eyes. Only then we can please God.

What is the prize for being a good soldier?

"This is a trustworthy saying: If we die with Him, we will also live with Him. If we endure hardship, we will reign with Him. If we deny Him, He will deny us. If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny who He is." - 2 Tim 2 : 11 - 13

Our God is a faithful God. If we follow His will and do things that please Him, surely He will also show His faithfulness in our lives. If you want the windows of heaven to be opened right above your head, you need to obey the Word of God and stay away from sin.

~ Being a good soldier is tough,

but the prize is definitely worth it. ~

Prince and Princess

Watching the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton is indeed inspirational.

How many of us now crave to be the prince and princess as well? I don't think I can count them all.

But fret not, for we are all princes and princesses in God's kingdom.
"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to be the children of God, to those who believes in His name." ~ John 1 : 12
Isn't that a good news to everyone who believe in God?

Well, it doesn't just stop there. As a prince and princess, there are regulations they must follow, things they must do. What are those?
1. Royal Regulations
As Chinese Says: "Every house has its own rules." So does the royal family, as well as Christianity. We often says that Christianity is not a religion, it is a relationship between us and our Father in Heaven, as in a family. If it is a relationship, don't we need to keep ourselves within the rules that our Father has set. Where do we find these rules? In the Bible. In fact, Jesus has summarized the rules for us.
Simple, yet can we follow it: "³⁷Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’" ~ Matthew 22

2. Etiquette
As a part of the royal family, people eyes will be on them. The moment they make mistakes, people will just publish their mistakes, double sized. That's why they are taught about etiquette since they were young; some since they are part of the family. How to behave, what is right and what is wrong.
Often we as Christian are being taught to do what is right and to keep our distance from what is wrong. But yet, a lot of time we kept on doing the wrong things! As a result, we embarrassed God, other Christians and Christianity.

3. Love the People
A prince and princess must know how to win the people over for their king. So that the people will always support the king. The easiest and the most efficient way is through L-O-V-E, truthfully and sincerely.
Christians, start winning people over for God through love. But remember, always do it with a sincere heart.

~ Always Longed To Be The Prince and Princess of God's Kingdom ~

Life's About Learning ...

Learn how to:
 

Be Grateful ~ Even if you don't have enough 

Be Sincere ~ Even if you are unwilling

Be Obedient ~ Even if it is hard 

Be Understanding ~ Even if there is incompatibility

Be Patient ~ Even if you are burdened

Be Loyal ~ Even if you are tempted

Gives ~ Even if it may not mean anything

Loves ~ Even if you are hurt

Be Calm ~ Even if you are nervous

Believes ~ Even though it is difficult

~ That's Right. Keep on Learning & Learning ~

Light At The End of The Tunnel

Have ever been in a tunnel? Now we believed that, no matter how long that tunnel is, we ought to see the light at the end of it inevitably.

But in our life, when we are in those long tunnel, we became scared. We constantly asked ourselves, "When is it going to end?", "Is there no end to it?", "When will I see the light?"

Thus we became discouraged, afraid, unsure. Then we will go back the way we came from. This is pathetic. At this rate, we will never make it through that tunnel, never go pass it. We'll just end up in front of the tunnel, looking at it yet doing nothing.

So, I found this verse encouraging for those of you going through a series of tough time, that God doesn't seems to be there for you. Which in fact, He's still there for you.

Proverbs 3: 5 - 6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight."

Note that we should trust in God with our heart. Our own understanding can be misleading most of the time. If we consider everything based on our logic and our timing, then we will be greatly distressed. We'll only end up disappointed.

It seems that trusting God is not all to it. We must also submit to Him. How is it done? Be obedient! Yes, that conclude all. Not sure how that goes? If something is causing you to feel guilty, stop it! If something is pulling you away from God, stop it! If something is taking away your time with God, stop it! Read the Word of God, pray more, love Him, be genuine to people around you, and love them.

And God will make your paths straight. That's the two keys, follow it and you will soon see the lights at the end of the tunnel.

Remember this:
~ The end of the tunnel will always be there. ~