A note of Joy

As I was doing my devotion this morning, God revealed to me certain things in the book of Ecclesiastes. Many may regard Ecclesiastes book is a gloomy and pessimism because of the findings based on the writer’s limited view of those things “under the sun,” the visible things of life.  Today God revealed a different perspective in this book; joy is a gift of God.

There is nothing in possessions whether in material goods, in money; there are no earthly materials that can enable us to have joy forever.  However, it is possible to obtain a kind of “joy” all your life if you take it from the hand of God. This gift of joy will be given to those who please Him [Ecclesiastes 2:24~26]. How to please God? Faith! It is faith that pleases Him, belief that He is there and that everything comes from His hands. God intends us to have joy, gladness, happiness and His program to bring it about including the opposites; pain, sorrow, bereavement, and disappointment – all these things are gifts of God. When we see life in those terms, any and every element of life can have its measure of joy- even you’re in sorrow, pain, and grief.

Sometimes we do have a problem where we have such a shallow concept of things; we want everything to be smooth and pleasant. Most of the struggle of life comes from us, wanting to be God ourselves, wanting to take charge of our lives. When things don’t go along the way we want, we sulk and pout and get angry with Him. We threw away their faith and say, “What’s the use? I tried it, but it doesn’t work.” If you attempt to live a life without recognition of God, ultimately you will find yourself empty, dissatisfied and restless that life is miserable and meaningless.

In conclusion, I would encourage everyone to continue to trust in the Lord with all your heart and not lean on our own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him. Sometimes God send hardships in our lives so that we might be taught. Let’s continue to pursue faith and believing that He has made everything beautiful in its time; for whatever He do, no one can able to fathom what God has done from the beginning to the end. Lastly, the secret of joy and life is the presence of God himself!

A Valentine Message

Remembering Back- The past can give you hope for the future..

Married people make it their business to remember how their love began. Anniversaries recall their wedding day, year after year. Wedding rings remind them about commitment. Wedding photos capture the moment when “two become one”. In remembering the beginning of their love, couple often find new hope for future. Forgetting, on the other hand, amount of treason. If one person forgets the all-important anniversary, tears and anger may follow.

Doesn’t all these statements above ring bells in our head? Probably, we should ask a few questions from above; Are we taking note or remembering how we and our relationship with Christ began like the married people? What reminds you of your commitment to God today? Jesus’ crucifixion captures the moment where God reconciled humans as Jesus says “It is finished”. In remembering the beginning where Jesus as our first love, everyone finds a new hope for the future. But two things we should remember are God’s grace and His unconditional love.

Like married couples remembering back, we too can recall God’s work – his powerful victories recorded all through Scriptures, His promises and proofs of love toward his people. Through all the tough times that we have gone together with God, I believe we are strengthened to face the future and to recommit ourselves to trusting God’s care.

As I remembered Pastor Denis mentioned in the bulletin, the greatest quality we can ever have in this world is love. Love is truly and simply the best policy in our life. As we are celebrating Valentines today let us not focus in the worldly kind of love; lustful love, or a love blinded by lies, or a selfish love. Loving someone is a decision, rather than a feeling or emotion. Instead, we should learn the love where we love God more than our partner. We should have our loving relationship with God beyond than anything else. If you can give your Valentines an expensive gift, singing love song or surprises and most of all time, what about our God? God is our valentine too. What gift or surprises are you presenting to God today? God doesn’t require you give Him surprises or an expensive gift; broken hearts, broken lives He will take them all. All God ever wanted is an obedient heart and spend some quality time with Him.

Therefore if you have forgotten your first love today, I urge you to remember and capture back the very first moment where you fell in love with God. I believe God loves you more than your Valentine. You were on his mind, even before you were born. Every tear that you cry is precious to His eyes. God is there for you all the time even your partner left you. God even gave His most precious gift to everyone; His son Jesus as a gift even it’s not on the Valentine’s Day. Can you see God’s love extends right to your heart?