Struggling With Sin - Repent: Forgiven

2 Samuel 12:13 says, "Then David said to Nathan, 'I have sinned against the Lord.' Nathan replied, 'The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die."

Now, what sin did David make against the Lord? Here's what actually happened: King David was supposed to join his army in battle but he decided to rest at home. Therefore instead of leading his people in the battle as a king, he sent out his next in command to take his place. And guess where this leads? It leads to the [Wrong Place At The Wrong Time]

One evening as he got to the roof of his palace he saw this beautiful woman named Bathsheba. He saw her bathing and at this point he had a choice to walk away from temptation, but he still chose to commit a sin in God's eyes by forcing her to sleep with him. After finding out that she is married to Uriah, David wanted to keep his secret therefore he told the general to put Uriah in the front lines of the battlefield and let him die there. And there his scheme killed not only the husband, but many men from David's army fell that day.

And then that's where his guy named Nathan came to David and told him that God will punish him. The consequence of that sin led to the death of his son.

David confessed that he has sinned against God and he knew how wrong he was. And the amazing thing to learn from here is that no matter how terribly we mess up, we can share our pain and sadness with God and ask for forgiveness like David did. You're not a world-class sinner that God can't forgive! Nothing you could ever do is bigger than what Jesus has already done for you on the cross! All you have to is ask for forgiveness, and get back up again and walk right in God's eyes.

Remember, God forgave:
(a) Peter, who denied he ever knew Jesus.
(b) David, who slept with another man's wife and then had the guy killed.
(c) Paul, whose first career was persecuting Christians.

God loves you. Period. No strings attached, no matter what, He'll forgive you, if you just ask him to.

But other than the amazing love, grace and mercy about God - Every sin has its consequences. And if you deal with that sin before it gets started, you'll save yourself a lot of trouble in the long run! Trying to hide your sin will always get you in more trouble than just admitting it and dealing with it!

Remember: You can fool men, but you can't fool God. God sees everything and he knows your heart. So ask him this day to search your heart, and to guide you to walk right in His eyes! Yes, God will forgive you the moment you ask Him for forgiveness. But don't go taking his grace for granted, because it has its consequences sooner or later.

Luke 23:34 says, "Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.' And they divided up his clothes by casting lots."
Luke 13:3 says, "I tell you... But unless you repent, you too will all perish."
Colossians 2:13-14 says, "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross."

- Ask Him for forgiveness, then repent -

The Lord Is My Shepherd

Psalm 23:1-4 says, "You, Lord, are my shepherd. I will never be in need. You let me rest in fields of green grass. You lead me to streams of peaceful water, and you refresh my life. You are true to your name, and you lead me along the right paths. I may walk through valleys as dark as death, but I won’t be afraid. You are with me, and your shepherd’s rod makes me feel safe."

In spite of everything you have experienced and are still experiencing, God is still faithful and He is still God. That means He will still be with you through the darkest moments of your life. The fact that you're still alive right now means that God has given you the chance to overcome the things of this world together with Him. Whatever situations and circumstances you are facing, God is faithful and He will see you through it regardless of how long it may take. How can there be a rainbow without any rain!? And you know what's more awesome? It's that He has greater things installed for you in the future!

1 Corinthians 2:9-12 says, "But it is just as the Scriptures say, 'What God has planned for people who love him is more than eyes have seen or ears have heard. It has never even entered our minds!' God’s Spirit has shown you everything. His Spirit finds out everything, even what is deep in the mind of God. You are the only one who knows what is in your own mind, and God’s Spirit is the only one who knows what is in God’s mind. But God has given us his Spirit. That’s why we don’t think the same way that the people of this world think. That’s also why we can recognize the blessings that God has given us."

And the best and only way to be prepared for what's ahead is to stick close to God! To continually praying, committing everything in your life to God and walk faithfully in this journey with Him! God can be trusted, and His love, grace and faithfulness lasts from generations to generations. Whatever weight you have on your heart, whatever you're going through right now - Commit it to the Lord and wait upon Him, for strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord! He will restore you! Press on (:

- The Lord Is My Shepherd -

His Ways Are Higher Than Our Ways

[Why?} - The question that is never far away. Most of the times we ask God why!? Why do certain things happen to us!? Why are things so unfair in life!? Why this and why that!?

We are not called to understand every of God's ways. But we are called to trust Him even as we plunge into the unknown. And that's where faith comes in, because without faith it is impossible to please God.

Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

God calls the church His bride, and we are His church. And He promises to keep us, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do us apart, and nothing can separate you from His love.

Our God is a mighty deliverer, a stronghold in times of sufferings. He is our stand and hope, and He will see you through this life. When we finally do meet Him, there will be no weeping, no hurt or pain, no suffering, no darkness, no sick or lame, no hiding - Because He will hold us close to Him even as He already is now :)

Remember God is God regardless of your situation, and He loves you very much. Though what you go through just seems unfair and it feels like the world is crushing on you - Hey, my God is not too small that He cannot help you with your problems. God will never fail. Trust Him.

- For His ways are higher than our way -

- Remember, the church is His bride: And we are the church -

- Trust Him, because He is God: Have faith in Christ -

The Promises Of God

Has God promised you something? Has He spoken to you and you're waiting for His promise? Have you been waiting long? I want you to know that if it is God's promise, it shall come to pass. However long it may take, God's timing is perfect. And He always fulfill His promises.

Numbers 23:19 says, "God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?"
Joshua 21:45 says, "Not one of all the LORD's good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled."
Psalm 145:13-14 says, "Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down."

Keep waiting upon the Lord, for He will give you the strength to do so. Do not fear, nor be intimidated by the world - Because the Lord your God is on your side!

Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."
Matthew 11:28-29 says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
Isaiah 40:29-31 says, "He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."

Press on hey :)

- God always fulfill His promises, wait upon the Lord -

- Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord -

Our Refuge And Strength

Deuteronomy 33:26-27 says, "There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides on the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemy before you, saying, 'Destroy him!' "

Do you ever think of God as your refuge, a place to go when you feel like the whole world is against you? Try Him. He can shield you from the messed-up things going on in your life and give you the strength you need to face them and overcome them.

Seek the Lord with all your heart - There you will find Him. Don't let the struggles of your circumstances and situations in life draw you away from God. But in all things: Pray. You don't have to be intimidated by the things of this world, for the Lord your God will ride on heaven to help you on his clouds of majesty. Press on: In Him :)

- He will be your Refuge and Strength -

Temptation, Lust and Immorailty

[Temptation]

James 1:12 says, "Happy is the man who doesn't give in and do wrong when he is tempted, for afterwards he will get as his reward the crown of life that God has promised those who love him."

James 1:13-14 says, "And remember, when someone wants to do wrong it is never God who is tempting him, for God never wants to do wrong and never tempts anyone else to do it. Temptation is the pull of man's own evil thoughts and wishes."

James 1:13-18 says, "When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created."
Romans 1:18-32 says, "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them."

[Lust]

Proverbs 7:25-26 says, "Don't lust for their beauty. Don't let their coyness seduce you. For a prostitute will bring a man to poverty, and an adulteress may cost him his very life."

Galatians 5:16-26 says, "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."

[Sexual Immorality]

1 Corinthians 6:18 says, "That is why I say to run from sexual sin. No other sin affects the body as this one does. When you sin this sin it is against your own body."

Matthew 5:27-29 says, "You have heard that it was said, `Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell."

James 4:1-4 says, "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God."

1 John 2:15-17 says, "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."

[Your mission]

John 3:16-21 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God."

1 Timothy 6:11-12 says, "But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses."

2 Timothy 2:22 says, "Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 says, "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil."

John 8:12 says, "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

John 14:15 says, "If you love me, keep my commands."

- It's time to love the Lord your God with all your heart -
- Repent -

My Problems Are Big, But My God Is Bigger

As we are moving through 2012 into the month of May: Do you have lots of worries, concerns, issues, disappointments, anxieties or even sicknesses that you keep thinking about? Well, my God is not too small that He cannot help you with your problems! Whatever issues that burdens your heart and regardless of how heavy the weight that you carry in your heart - God knows, and He cares for you. He feels how pressuring and difficult it is to endure all these pain in life. But hey - the great news is this: He's not going to watch you suffer and let you drown in your sorrows! He will help you to overcome the weaknesses that you have, the troubles in life and even take away your pain and heal your life! I for one can honestly say that with all my heart! But you've got to take the first step - To come before Him, pray to Him and just give all your cares and concerns to Him. And when you do that, be prepared for what He's going to do in and through your life! You'll be amazed at how loving, graceful and merciful God is to us regardless of what we've done in the past! Greater things have yet to come in your life!

I have posted this verse in my previous post, and I will post again:
Philippians 4:6 says, "Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart."
1 Peter 5:7 says, "Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you."

P.S: When Jesus hung on the cross for us, He didn't just die for you - But for every single sin you will ever commit. Regardless of what we have done in the past, God still loves us. Because while we were still enemies of Christ, He died for us. Let us not take his grace for granted and begin this moment forward in trusting Him and letting go of every weight that so easily tears us down. God loves you, and you can always count on Him! In all things: Pray (:

- My God is not too small that He cannot help you with your problems (: -

Jesus Is Our Rock

Philippians 4:6 says, "Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart."

Always remember: That God is still in control no matter where you are now in life. The battle your are in is not yours, it belongs to God. So trust God to see you through it, because He will. Have faith even as you are going through the battle that God said He will fight for you! Remember: God is always guiding us in front, picking us up from behind; reigning above us, carrying us from below and always holding our hands side by side through every situations and circumstances we face in life! We've got a God who loves us so much! He is our Rock and Fortress! He is our Deliverer and Defender! He is our Strength and Hope! Our God is Able, our God is Mighty! And He is our Hope and Stand! His love is Extravagant! Whom shall we fear when we are His? Press on hey :)

P.S: Sometimes God lets us hit rock bottom so that we will discover that He is The Rock at the Bottom! :)

- Have faith and trust in God -

Please Hold On, Sudden Stops Are Sometimes Necessary

To every reader who already knows, I am currently studying in Australia, Melbourne!

In Melbourne, they have this transportation medium called the trams. It look something like this -> https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHaAUE4AacEzDChvSW9uUC_VQ1Qy7-GYXlld76DR-eALNrfOyvEOZKCXC5E5YfbmBLy_OIddpOFKwSZmYkFNFMOiIqZ2rufoGgM-XH9GEk71O8Fa0LgKu8WPB720Afv0ouANagw515cY/s400/8-Toorak_ParkSt-01.JPG

Every time I board the tram to venture towards the city back and forth, I will always see this notice "PLEASE HOLD ON, Sudden stops are sometimes necessary." At first it didn't dawn on me that it was something important God was trying to teach me. All I knew was that because the tram moves at a certain speed and sometimes it stops abruptly so it might be rather unstable for the passengers on board. Still I decided to take a picture of it in my camera.

After more than a month I only realized what it meant. Other than the safety caution for the passengers on board, God was also teaching me that sometimes "Sudden stops in life are sometimes necessary". It might be to discipline us, build us, increase our faith in Him and to bring us closer to Him as He bring upgrade to our lives, and He is asking us to "HOLD ON" to Him because He is still in control no matter what!

If there's one thing I have learned in trusting God through 20 years of my life, is that our God is ABLE, our God NEVER FAILS and He honors you when you honor Him! Whatever you are struggling with in life, whatever you are going through in life, every mistakes you have made in your past - It's time to step up in faith and trust God because He loves you! Why does He forgive and loves us? Because, He just does (:

Therefore brothers and sisters, I encourage you to continue to press on in life trusting in God. Whatever plans and goals and dreams you have in life, just commit it to God. And in all things - Pray. Remember: We may throw the dice, but God decides how it falls.

Hebrews 12:5-10 says, "...'My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.' Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers discplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness."

Press on gladiators of Christ (:

My Desperate Prayer

Father, I place my trust in You - For greater things have yet to come in my life. And I pray that my brothers and sisters all around the world will keep their hope in you as I have, that they will not be intimidated by the things of this world because they have You on their side. I also pray that those who does not know You will come to You and You will reveal Yourself to them as You have to me. Father, You are not too weak that You cannot save the people of this world. I believe that You know what's best for all of us, and may you continue to build us up to be giant faithful warriors for You, thank you Father.

"The LORD gives strength to those who are weary. Even young people get tired, then stumble and fall. But those who trust the LORD will find new strength. They will be strong like eagles soaring upward on wings; they will walk and run without getting tired." - [Isaiah 40:29-31]