“God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.” (Romans 5:20)So often we struggle with the same issues, the same sins, over and over again, thinking that we are subject to do so because of the “sinful nature” we have been taught exists within us.
“Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?” (Romans 6:1-2)
“For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:7,11)
“Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! 16 Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. 17 Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. 18Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.” (Romans 6:15-18)
“Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out.” (Romans 12:2)
“I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure. I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘These are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’”(Zechariah 13:9)And one of my favorite verses about being refined:
“He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness.” (Malachi 3:3)
“Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.” (Daniel 11:35)
“I can no longer carry the future, not even in my imagination. The burden of not-knowing is too heavy for my tired arms.
I can no longer exist for the future, not even in my dreams. I need to live, utterly, in the present moment. I can barely abide, day by day.
My soul is weary of the journey. I am physically and spiritually ailing. It requires all of my effort, and faith, to put one foot in front of the other.
Perhaps someday, if I am lucky, I will look up to find I am further along the path. For now, though, I must walk alone. I must embrace the solitude.”
“When there is silence from God, we take it as a sign of rejection. We approach our relationship with God based on what we have experienced in our other relationships. Our insecurity about God shows up. It shows that we are not comfortable with God. We are not comfortable with the silence.
We need to embrace the darkness… and let God seek us out. Let Go pursue us. And sooner or later, he will show up.
Sometimes we have to walk the journey through those doubts. Even when we don’t fully believe. That is what brings out substance. That’s what strengthens our faith.”
Sam: “It’s like in the great stories Mr. Frodo, the ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were, and sometimes you didn’t want to know the end because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end it’s only a passing thing this shadow, even darkness must pass. A new day will come, and when the sun shines it’ll shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you, that meant something even if you were too small to understand why. But I think Mr. Frodo, I do understand, I know now folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going because they were holding on to something.”
Frodo: “What are we holding onto, Sam?”
Sam: “That there’s some good in the world, Mr. Frodo, and it’s worth fighting for.”-The Lord of the Rings
1. how old are you?
19.
2. are you single?
Yes, but not available.
3. at what age do you think you'll get married?
Never really thought about this. But whenever I get my first million. Soon? ;)
4. do you think you'll marry the person you are with now?
Think? I know!
5. if not, who do you want to marry?
It's her or no one else yo. I'll be a bachelor if not. Not even kidding.
6. who will be your bridesmaid & bestman?
Juss
Sean
Julian
7. do you want a garden/beach or traditional wedding?
Garden in a private island.
8. where do you plan to go on honeymoon?
ROME! :) A Europe escapade sounds appealing to me.
9. how many guests do you think you'll invite?
Only close relative and friends.
10. will that include your exes?
Yeap, I've got no issue with exes.
11. how many layers of cake do you want?
I would prefer to have something more unique apart from a cake actually.
12. when do you want to get married, morning or evening?
Morning.
13. name the song/tune you'd like to play at your wedding.
"This I Promise You" by N Sync
"Thank You" by Keith Urban
"Beautiful In My Eyes" by Joshua Kadison
"And I Love Her" by The Beatles
14. do you prefer fine dining or just normal spoon&fork?knife?
Fine dining.
15. champagne or red wine?
A lil' bit of both to cater for all.
16. honeymoon right after the wedding or days after the wedding?
I'll leave right after. I deserve that break.
17. money or household items?
Money will do. I'm picky with household items and what's what.
18. how many kids would you like to have?
As many as the wife is willing to bare.
19. will you record your honeymoon in DVD/CD?
Sure will. I'll have a team of photogs for the entire gig.
20. whose wedding plan would you like to know next.
I'll mind my own business on this.
God is beyond anything our minds can comprehend. What’s it mean to have a personal relationship with this kind of God? It’s hard to get your mind around.
Now, I believe God listens and God cares and God’s involved, but I find the whole relationship idea hard to comprehend. Loving this kind of God – what does it look like? What does it mean? And how do you do it?
When I think of God I hear a song. It’s a song that moves me.
It has a melody, it has a groove, it has a certain rhythm.
And people have heard this song for thousands and thousands of years, across continents and cutltures and time periods. They found it captivating and they’ve wanted to hear more. And then there’ve always been people who say that there is no song, who deny the music. But the song keeps playing.
And so Jesus came to show us how to live in tune with the song. This is not about one religion being better than another religion. The last thing Jesus came to do is start a new religion.
He came to show us reality at its most raw. He came to show us how things are. Jesus is like God, taking on flesh and blood. And so in his generosity and his compassion, that’s what God’s like. In his telling of the truth, that’s what God’s like. In his love and forgiveness and sacrifice, that’s what God’s like.
That’s who God is. That’s how the song goes.
The song is played all around us all the time. It’s playing everywhere. It’s written on our hearts. And everyone is playing it.
See, the question is not whether or not you’re playing the song. The question is: Are you in tune?
In the book of Acts, it says that God gives us life and breath and everything else. God is generous. So when I’m selfish and stingy and refuse to give, I’m out of tune with the song.
Later, in one of John’s letters, he says that God is love. Unrestrained, unconditional love. So when you see somebody sacrifice themselves for another, for the well-being of somebody else, it’s like they’re playing in the right key. That’s why it’s so inspiring. They’re playing in the right key.
Some people know all sorts of stuff about music. They know stuff about pitch and modes and keys and instruments and they can hear stuff other people don’t. But it’s also possible to get so caught up so the technical aspects of the song that you miss the simple, pure enjoyment of the song.
There are people who talk as if they know everything about being a Christian and yet they can seem way out of tune.
There are others who would say they don’t know much at all about the Christian faith and yet they can seem very in tune with the song.
I know some people who struggle with what it means to have a relationship with God, but they haven’t lost faith and love and hope and truth and compassion and justice and generosity.
An infinite, invisible, massive God – that’s hard to get our minds around. But truth, love, grace, mercy, justice, compassion – the way that Jesus lived – I can see that. I can understand that. I can relate to that. I can play that song.
