Prayer: New Year

Lord, I pray to you in humbleness and in truth. I admit that in the midst of doubt, fear and suffering I have doubted your power and your ability to deliver your promises, thus rendering your power and sovereignty insignificant. I who lack trust, faith, and discipleship do not deserve the blessings you have in store for me. How many times have I failed you? How many times have I stood before you and only looked after myself? I, who claim to know the God of the bible, doubt your ways. Lord... in the face of fear and uncertainty, I tremble before life circumstances. I truly open up myself to receive your holy spirit. May I come to believe in your ways and see the world as you see it. I pray that I may fully see the work you have done in my life and be amazed at the power of your love. I pray that my faith in you may be like a mustard seed planted in good soil. Unshaken by the storms of life. I pray that as I walk through life, that I may have greater trust in you and the promises you have for me. Lord... I get on my knees and beg for your mercies for I have sinned and felt short of your grace, given by the son of man. I need you Lord. I offer this 2011 year entirely to you, that my life be fully centered around your love and faithfulness. Because I realize that on my own strength, I am insignificant and a total failure, but with your strength I can move mountains and be a winner in Christ Jesus. May this be the year that your name will be glorified through all my actions and spirit. Yes Lord, all these things in Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Cost of Discipleship: What is Jesus worth to you?

 

Matthew 26:14-25: Judas Iscariot sells Jesus for 30 pieces of silver

What is Jesus worth to me (you)? David Platt has an interesting and poignant take on the quality of our faith in The Radical Question: What is Jesus Worth To You. Though this book was actually very short (20-30 minute read at most), the message in it challenged me in many ways. Platt starts off describing the difficulties and sacrifices Christians in religiously suppressed nations, mainly in parts of Asia, face for choosing to live in Christ and immediately draws a comparison to the Western world. While in America people may still be spiritually fed and seeking the righteous God, we may have forgotten to cost of our faith. In reality, to live as a Christian almost surely means to live in persecution in a lot of places, sometimes leading to imprisonment and death. This puts a lot of things in perspectives as we ponder our comfortable lives in the U.S., where we seldom pay a lot more attention on frivolous things such as sound effects, beautiful buildings, and flashy praise bands in our congregations. Most importantly, we seem to have forgotten what it really means to lay down our future before Christ and allow him to not only guide us, even if it means not living a comfortable life tailored to fit the American Dream. In fact, we are much more similar to Judas Iscariot, the disciple who sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.

Platt goes on to argue that while here in America a lot of us would rather serve a God who conform to our own personal goals and standards of living. Such a God does not exist. In fact, when things do not go as planned to fit the lifestyle that we feel entitled to, we grow bitter and resentful of God.

"And this is where we need to pause. We need to pause because we are redefining Christianity according to our preferences. We are giving in to the dangerous temptation to take the Jesus of the Bible and begin twisting him into a version of Jesus that we are more comfortable with. A nice, middle-class, American Jesus. A Jesus who doesn't mind material security and would never call us to give away everything we have... We are molding Jesus into our image and making him look like us... we are worshiping ourselves" (Platt 21,22).

But Jesus is worth more than that. In fact, he is worthy of our complete devotion and much more than that. Devotion that has not come cheap at the cost of the life of Jesus Christ. Before the throne, we must surrender who we are and allow his plan to run its course in our lives. We are called to glorify God first and foremost, not live a wealthy life. Do not be lured into thinking otherwise. We were created for much more than that. Jesus call us to a much higher plane and gives us a much greater dream. We need to be conquered by a superior ambition and surrender every aspect of our lives to knowing Jesus and making his worth known in all over the world.

This is all not to say that we are called to live in poverty and throw away all our material possessions. At least not usually. God does allow us to keep these things and to live a comfortable life. Yet, we must never NEVER forget that there must be more to life, for Jesus is worthy. We were created for such much more.

"We can decide that He has created us for a much greater purpose. We can decide to die to ourselves and our dreams and our plans, and we can decide to let our hearts be conquered by a superior ambition. Ultimately, we can decide to sacrifice our lives, our gifts, our skills, our time, our families, and our resources to make the great worth of Christ known amid urgent spiritual and physical needs in all over the world" (Platt 40). 

 Is Jesus worth all our desire?

Waiting on God

White Angel Breadline (1932) by Dorothea Lange

We live in hard times. Never, since the Great Depression, have we endured such economic hardship and public pessimism. Though it seems countries like Brazil, India and China are doing great economically, we often ask ourselves... what about us? We, who have been living in the comfort of a prosperous American economy for decades, are now faced with the idea that perhaps our standards of living and economic security is no longer an assured thing. The American Dream is a myth; the United States is no longer the land of freedom and opportunity as it once was during the industrial revolution. Is there a purpose for all this suffering? Has God forsaken this nation? The simple answers are yes and no, but it is difficult to take that to heart. We have grown spoiled... entitled. Forgetting that in spite of the recent economic woes, we still complain nonstop while good people die outrageously in poverty and in hunger in other parts of the world. However, my heart goes to all of those who suffer the aftermath of the housing crash and perhaps even 9-11. Believe me, even I have been greatly impacted by these events in more ways than not.

Perhaps this entry might be more of an attempt to reassure myself that there is a silver lining at the end of the tunnel, and that things will be okay while I pray continuously for God to show himself in my life. Life has not been easy, and though I have not lost sight of the big picture, it is easy to grow pessimistic and bitter. And because I have no other option, I read the scripture and pray.

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. - James 1:2-4

The word of the Lord says that the good and perfect plan of God is only and always fulfilled and made known in God's timing. Trust in the Lord, for he is in complete and total control. We as God's people face difficult trials until He reveals himself to us. That is the promise he makes. We need to hang in there. Know that God Immanuel is with us.

I do believe that somehow there is a purpose for suffering in our lives. Have you grown closer to God during this time? Have you let go and let God take over? Persevere in the Lord, and as you wait glorify him above all else. Be thankful for the grace he has shown to us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and for delivering a plentiful life in the United States thus far. Let us grow in Christ like never before, for the harvest will be plentiful. Let us hang in there faithfully, indeed never forgetting who truly is in control.

Michael Vick: Road of Redemption

Michael Vick, Quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, is my favorite sports figure. I put him above some of my other top athletes e.g. Kobe Bryant, Ron Artest, Tim Tebow, Troy Polamalu, Yuna Kim, Roger Federer, Usain Bolt. No one, and most certainly not the media, will ever forget the sins that led to his 18 month sentence in prison and filing for bankruptcy. In simple words, Vick simply REALLY messed up his life almost beyond the point of redemption. His public image, money and prospect of a career in the NFL were all gone. But as he sat in prison, something clicked.

In Michael Vick's own words, "I wanted a chance to redeem myself," he said. "Pre-incarceration it was all about me. When I got to prison, I realized I couldn't do it anymore. The one thing I could rely on was my faith in God."

Some may say he was simply sorry for getting caught doing the wrong thing. Others may speculate this is all a publicity stunt. But I really think he is being transparent and sincere when he speaks about starting life anew walking alongside God. But I do think this is a very important and poignant example for all of us, and certainly in my own life. God works in mysterious ways, and though I am sure we are and should be held accountable for the decisions that alter the course of our lives, everything happens according to the plan of God.

I do believe God has been working through Michael Vick. He broke him when Vick deemed himself invincible, and in times of despair Vick restored his relationship with God. More importantly, it is through Vick that many people out there may witness the transformation of one of the most hated characters in public history to one of the most inspiring born again Christian. I do believe that Vick has let go and let God take care of the rest, and that speaks very profoundly to me. For God is the God of mercies and redemption.

Though it is hard to allow God lead our lives in the midst of a skeptic nation, I pray that we may be people of faith and trust in the promises that God has for us in spite of life circumstances and tribulations.

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity.[a] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile. - Jeremiah 29:11-14

²⁶ I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. - Ezekiel 36:26

Most importantly, however, we should know that this story of redemption is not all about finding a prosperous materialistic life through the power of God, because living with God does not automatically equate being wealthy. He is not a genie that grants wishes when we pray to him. Rather, when we give glory to God, we gain a lot more spiritually and there is joy and peace that God has promised to bring to all of us.

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. - Matthew 6:33

By the way, if anyone is interested, Vick made a big time come back, got into the Pro-Bowl this year and is taking his team to the NFL playoffs. Praise God.

Trusting in the Lord's Call

How Will It Be? from Quest Church on Vimeo.

This sermon by Pastor Gail Song Bantum, from Quest Church in Seattle, WA, has spoke deeply in my heart. Why is that? Because it challenged me to search my heart and ask myself whether I have been limiting God's sovereignty over my life on the basis of my life circumstances.

The Birth of Jesus Foretold
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[a] the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Just as Mary in Luke 1:26-38, the mother of Jesus, herself acted in brief disbelief upon the message of an angel directly sent from God, I feel like I often times feel God calling but render it impossible to follow due to circumstances. In particular, I feel I'll likely have a problem following God's call unless that call involves the prospect of social upward mobility to the point of it becoming idolatrous. That's so sad. We are often so materialistic that whatever we ask or expect of God has to do with frivolous gain. I think I need to ask God to give me his vision and have the boldness to follow his plan in life boldly.

Footprints in the Sand

Footprints in the Sand by Mary Stevenson

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from
anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,
"You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during
the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one
set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most,
you have not been there for me?"

The Lord replied,
"The times when you have
seen only one set of footprints,
is when I carried you."

Discerning God's Call: Affinity, Ability, Opportunity

I admit I am the worst person when it comes to listening to God speak. I have a feeling I wouldn't even notice even if he threw words at my face and they magically turned into rotten tomatoes upon landing. Fortunately, there are people like Tim Keller who make some sense out of the word for people like me, who need an extra push to understand the word of God. I have been praying for awhile and I do believe I am finally in the right track to finding an answer to the big question, "how do you discern a call?"

There are three parts to discerning a call. The first part is you feel it, want it, and there is a passion for it (Affinity). The second part is when other people agree that you have the talents, the gifts and the skills (Ability). The third part is, do things open up or is there an opportunity that comes to you (Opportunity).That is the best way to say, 'God speaks to my own heart, God works through friends, and God is Lord of History'. If all three don't come together, then you don't have a call.- Timothy J. Keller

So there you go... I couldn't word it better than that. I used to think that if you just read the word of God, bible, I would certainly find the answer to any question. Though my stance has not completely changed, I must say I have been approaching it the wrong way. You can't simply open the bible and randomly, yet miraculously, find something that directly applies to you. However, we need to understand that it is through meditation of the word that we may be able to make the teaching directly applicable to our daily lives. I wish Keller had some bible passages that directly backup his opinion about discerning God's call, but I am sure I could find something out there if I look hard enough.

The Call

I have been struggling a lot with the concept of "my [our] life calling". In light of recent changing life events, I find myself questioning everything I once thought I knew, including my purpose in life. More often than not people really don't know what to say, which makes this a much arduous task to accomplish. So what exactly IS a calling?

Calling is the truth that God calls us to himself so decisively that everything we are, everything we do, and everything we have is invested with a special devotion, dynamism, and direction lived out as a response to his summons and service. ~Os Guinness

I have been reading this book called The Call by Os Guinness (the same guy who owns Guinness beer), and I have to admit it has been pretty good. Guinness argues that a calling is less related to our vocation, and more our purpose in life.

Our primary calling as followers of Christ is by him, to him, and for him. First and foremost, we are called so someone [God], not something [e.g. motherhood, politics, teaching] or somewhere [e.g. Africa]. Our Secondary calling, considering who God is as sovereign, is that everyone, everywhere, and everything should think, speak, live, and act entirely for him... neither work nor career can be fully satisfying without a deeper sense of calling but "calling" itself is empty and indisguishable from work unless there is Someone who calls

That, of course, adds an extra layer to the daunting task of finding what we perceive as "our call". We know whatever we do (much like in missions) is to glorify god in our delight to his greatness. Any and every task we engage in must start with worship and end with worship. I find this to be extremely difficult to accomplish since my life feels like a mess. Of course, Guinness makes sense, but the question becomes why should I feel delighted in God if my life is messed up the way it is? Has God really been there for me? The fact of the matter is that we cannot know our call if we don't abide in the holy spirit, worship him with all our heart_mind_soul_strength and trust in the Lord. It is truly in times of suffering, when we feel least able to praise, that we must turn to God and remember who he is. We cannot trust God if we do not acknowledge who he is as a sovereign and loving god and what he has done for us. We must not allow circumstances be our god; let God be our god. So pray... pray hard... pray until you can see the big picture of who we are in relation to who God is. Pray until he can give you the clear picture of what his call is in our lives.

Consider the story of Joseph in Genesis 37-43. His calling was not made apparent until only after he was sold as a slave by own own kin, been erroneously accused of rape, and spent several years forgotten in jail. We know in the end, God used him to practically save Egypt and in the process he became the most powerful person in the state (something like a prime minister). In spite of all his life circumstances, he still remained faithful to the Lord and worshiped him no matter what. It took years for God to finally reveal his plans and deliver his blessings, but that is the promise that God gives to all of us. I cannot say I have found my calling yet, but I am hopeful that he will deliver it to those who love him and then shower them with his blessings.

Thanks be to God.