Why is it so hard for us to be real. Real to our feelings or to be honest. Why is it that we hide, shy away, thinking that would be best for fear of hurting yourself, but in the end hurting others more in the process.
Why do we build a wall and when did we start learning how to. Our defense mechanism sure is funny. We become quiet and distant. We play negativity in our minds. We worry for the worst and before the worst can happen, we act like it already is happening.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
"The sharp knife of a short life"
Life is that precious. We've been taking it for granted. We do not know when we will leave this earth, if we did, maybe we would have been more driven in accomplishing things we see as goals. We would live every day as if it's the last.
A friend or family member is that precious. We might have been taking him/her for granted. If we knew that his/her life would be taken away with just so much in the blink of an eye, maybe that would have changed the way we treated him/her. We would have spent more time with them than we normally would. We would have loved them every day as if it were their last.
Thing is we don't know the exact date and time. The exact way and how. All we can do is live with a little faith. Use our own discernment. Remind ourselves never to take people and things ever so lightly. Be sensitive. Be good people.
It would be better if the Lord takes someone away either when they're too young or too old. Young so that before you build a bond and begin loving them more than your own life, they're taken away and the pain would not be that unbearable. Old so that you've had a lifetime spent with that person, and you know it's time to let go.
A friend or family member is that precious. We might have been taking him/her for granted. If we knew that his/her life would be taken away with just so much in the blink of an eye, maybe that would have changed the way we treated him/her. We would have spent more time with them than we normally would. We would have loved them every day as if it were their last.
Thing is we don't know the exact date and time. The exact way and how. All we can do is live with a little faith. Use our own discernment. Remind ourselves never to take people and things ever so lightly. Be sensitive. Be good people.
It would be better if the Lord takes someone away either when they're too young or too old. Young so that before you build a bond and begin loving them more than your own life, they're taken away and the pain would not be that unbearable. Old so that you've had a lifetime spent with that person, and you know it's time to let go.
Bala Nadarajan, you'll always be remembered.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
It's been a long time since I've written something here. Is there any need for updates. It's not like anyone is faithfully reading it but oh well, here goes.
Life always gets in the way.
Do we do things, get on with our schedules only 'cause we need to fulfill responsibilities, obligations, do we go through the motion of life without fully experiencing it. What are we working towards. What's our purpose in living, in breathing. Have you ever sat down and really thought about that? 2010 is almost drawing to an end, and it's insane just how fast it's going.
I'll be resigning from my job early next year and no, it's not because I do not want to be a nurse anymore. If this two and half years have taught me anything, it's that I am glad I am put in a job and a position such as this. I do not know what's next after my degree, I can only plan so much, but it's never in my hands alone.
"Your hope cannot be put in some dreamed-up future. It must be in the God who knows your past, present, and future, and loves you enough to give you the best" - Lady in waiting
Friday, July 9, 2010
a poem read 6 years later.
Was clearing my room today and started browsing through my English file back from when I was in sec 4 and found a yellow post-it on one of my notes on metaphors and it's examples. We leave our English files in the cupboard in class and I can't remember if we had a lock, doubt we had one 'cause we went to our cupboard to take whatever we needed frequently. Most files and books we didn't need to bring back home were kept there. Whoever wrote on that post-it did not leave a name and I don't recognize the handwriting. Even if I do try to recall, this was written 6 years ago.
"You only see what your eyes want to see
How can life be, what you want it to be
You're frozen
When your heart's not open.
You're so consumed with how, what you get
You waste your time with pain and regret
You're broken
When your heart's not open
Mmm. Not sure if I could be in your heart"
Today's my first seeing this.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
"When I speak Your Name,
Mountains move, chains are loosed
When I speak Your Name
Darkness flees; it has no hold on me"
Matt 21:21: "Jesus replied, 'I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, "Go throw yourself into the sea", and it will be done"
Matt 21:22: "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer"
If I'll only believe, You will move mountains for me.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
My greatest love is You
"Every new day Your glory unfolds
Filling my eyes with Your treasures untold
The beauty of holiness brings worship anew
My greatest love is You
Call me deeper into Your grace
The river that flows from the Holy Place
Wash over me, cleansing me through
My greatest love is You"
There's just eight months left if I am to count. I haven't really been writing about my life the past whole year. Most of my posts have been complaints about work instead. Instead of being a place where I write about the things I've learnt or love, I use it to rant.
And though blogs were created to give the owner that "personal space to call his or her own" to rant and let out, it wasn't my intention when I created this one.
The past months aren't all just complaints, there have been many many many good moments that I thank God for.
Although we're only about to end the month of June, I can still say that:
So far, it's been a year of reconciliation. Friends are hard to keep, but worth every effort.
It's been a year of joy.
When I first joined my present ward, my mindset and attitude was completely wrong. I didn't give my colleagues a chance to show me that they're really nice people. I wrote them off and compared them to the set of friends/colleagues I already had, even before I bothered getting to know them personally. Since the start of this year though, I've come to love many of them and even during busier days, at least I can still smile. Work's definitely becoming more fun.
There's also the joy I have with my family and in the church.
It's been a year of new experience.
I love all that I'm learning at work. Another is that I had my first vacation trip with my best friends. 11 days without any adult supervision. See all of us come from protective homes. We planned, came up with the money and the itinerary. The uncles and aunties have been a great blessing too. I'm also going to be participating in the YOG. Assigned to the village's clinic. So that's going to be another interesting experience.
It's been a year of coming back to God, individually and as a family.
Trusting God again for healing. Trusting Him for life.
Life is worth living, both good times and bad times.
There's no point complaining.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Praise You in this storm
I will praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You've never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I'll praise you in this storm"
I lift my eyes unto the hill
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth
- Casting Crowns
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Attitude
How we react to things around us reflects a lot on our inward attitude.
When we smile despite adversities, that is not only a character but an attitude itself. In fact attitude is defined as a 'state of readiness to respond in a characteristic way to a stimulus'.
I've got to change my attitude towards work, and if I don't, work's going to be and will continue being a drag. There's so many things for me to point my finger at and I can continue to complain all day long 'cause when it really comes down to it, you can always find fault in every single thing and let it affect and bother you.
Instead of focusing on the faults at work, I must learn and shift it on my patients instead. How all the little ones make me smile even if I have got to fight and tussle with them just to feed them their medicine. Even if looking after them causes my back to hurt and my legs to ache. Even if I've got to work extra harder during all the busier days, even if I have to miss my meals. I want to focus on the good things at work.
Lord, You've placed me here to be a blessing but I haven't been much. Help me become one.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
How does one work when he/she has got so much pent up frustration. That's the thing with me. I'm no longer clear on what I want, be it in the present or when planning for the future.
Sister T. (being at ward 85 allows me to work under another ward sister) stopped me at the counter yesterday to let me know that ward 31 will be opening up soon and that they're gonna get all of us who disbanded to come back together.
I'm supposed to be happy, I'm supposed to jump at this offer the moment it was made. So why did I reply her with a "I'll think about it". On one hand, I miss working with my ward 61 girls. It's been a long time since the word "fun" was entertwined with the word "work". But on the other, I'm starting to really like some of the current girls/ladies I'm now working with. Before I came to ward 85, I've never known what was it like to work under so many senior staff nurses who are really good at their work and who knows procedures at the back of their hands. Having the assurance that I'm covered and will be taught well, I like that.
If I'm gonna be transferred again now, how sure can I be that I won't again.
Sister T. (being at ward 85 allows me to work under another ward sister) stopped me at the counter yesterday to let me know that ward 31 will be opening up soon and that they're gonna get all of us who disbanded to come back together.
I'm supposed to be happy, I'm supposed to jump at this offer the moment it was made. So why did I reply her with a "I'll think about it". On one hand, I miss working with my ward 61 girls. It's been a long time since the word "fun" was entertwined with the word "work". But on the other, I'm starting to really like some of the current girls/ladies I'm now working with. Before I came to ward 85, I've never known what was it like to work under so many senior staff nurses who are really good at their work and who knows procedures at the back of their hands. Having the assurance that I'm covered and will be taught well, I like that.
If I'm gonna be transferred again now, how sure can I be that I won't again.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Fulfillment that lasts forever.
Proverbs 23:16-17: " Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off"
There have been times and moments when I look at non-believers and wonder how would life be like if I wasn't a Christian. What would I be doing now, what characteristics and values will I have if I wasn't born into a family who serves in church.
I can wear what I want. Say what I want. Do what I want. It'll be so fun. No restrictions. I can work my way up, reach the top, live life by my own rules. It's my game. I can completely destroy myself emotionally, spiritually, physically and not feel horrible about it. I have envied. Being able to do whatever I want without minding it's consequences on eternal life.
I've realized this though: Eternal life in heaven may not sound attractive now. If I pit it against the sights, sounds and colors of this world. To live like there's no tomorrow. But heaven will definitely win hands down if we are to choose between these two: a place of peace, joy, comfort, treasures, where there is no pain or a place filled with fire, darkness, misery and torture for all of eternity. So what do I want now, what's more attractive. Fulfillment that can only last this lifetime, or a hope that does not cut me, that goes past this lifetime and gives me fulfillment that will last forever. Eternity has got no end. I'll need to remember that.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
"Lost Purpose, Lost Places" by Lisa Bevere
"We frequently lose what we have because we fail to remember why it was given. Adam and Eve forgot their purpose and lost their place. They knew they were created for dominion, but they forgot why. Grasping for what was lost, they began to misuse their strengths, and used their dominion against each other. Essentially, the fall of man originated the battle of the sexes. Thus, the wrestling began.
"Have we learned anything in all the years of pain? How many parents have lost the hearts of their children because they forgot why they had them? It was never to control them but to provide an environment in which they flourish. How many couples have lost their marriages because they forgot why they were together? They fight againts each other rather than for their love. Do we grasp and wrestle with others for their roles because we lose sight of our own? We all lose when we take from others what was not theirs to give."
(From Lisa Bevere's "Fight like a Girl")
You know what Sheela. You were MADE a nurse.
It wasn't YOUR choice. Given a choice, you'd never ever ever want to be a nurse.
The reason why you clean crap, you work hard and long, you run around, you get busy making sure the plans for all your patients are done, you advocate, you teach, you look after, you listen, you SERVE was never meant for YOU to feel good. It wasn't for you. Maybe for once, you've gotta stop complaining and thinking about yourself but of others and what you can do, so that THEY will get better.
Maybe you've gotta start praying again, and DO what your blog name says. To start nursing your patients with God's love.
"And while I'm serving others as You would have me do, please help me remember that I'm truly serving you" - R. Fogle.
"Have we learned anything in all the years of pain? How many parents have lost the hearts of their children because they forgot why they had them? It was never to control them but to provide an environment in which they flourish. How many couples have lost their marriages because they forgot why they were together? They fight againts each other rather than for their love. Do we grasp and wrestle with others for their roles because we lose sight of our own? We all lose when we take from others what was not theirs to give."
(From Lisa Bevere's "Fight like a Girl")
You know what Sheela. You were MADE a nurse.
It wasn't YOUR choice. Given a choice, you'd never ever ever want to be a nurse.
The reason why you clean crap, you work hard and long, you run around, you get busy making sure the plans for all your patients are done, you advocate, you teach, you look after, you listen, you SERVE was never meant for YOU to feel good. It wasn't for you. Maybe for once, you've gotta stop complaining and thinking about yourself but of others and what you can do, so that THEY will get better.
Maybe you've gotta start praying again, and DO what your blog name says. To start nursing your patients with God's love.
"And while I'm serving others as You would have me do, please help me remember that I'm truly serving you" - R. Fogle.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
The Reason
"We are the reason that He gave His life
We are the reason that He suffered and died
To a world that was lost He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live"
There have been so many moments when I lose the reason in all that I do.
When life doesn't seem to have much joy anymore, when I wake up and start my day looking forward to end it, when everything starts being a drag.
It's the same at work.
There have been soooo many moments that I feel like just walking away.
How nice it is, to leave everything behind. To go somewhere far from it all. So that I don't have to hear the call bells, the cries, "Nuurrseee!" or doctors, nurses, pharmacists and all those who remembers my name saying "Sheela, could you _____ "
I want to do more. But I don't know what "more" is.
Will I be content being a nurse for kids and working shifts in the hospital?
Will I be content being a housewife and looking after my own kids, watching every detail as they grow, cleaning the house and making sure everything is in order?
Will I be content doing extra hours somewhere else if I do choose to leave nursing, earning more than enough so that I could spend on myself, with much shopping and pampering?
What will I really be content with and how would I know?
I wanna do something that makes me genuinely happy, but what is it really?
What's the real reason behind all this that I'm doing?
We are the reason that He suffered and died
To a world that was lost He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live"
There have been so many moments when I lose the reason in all that I do.
When life doesn't seem to have much joy anymore, when I wake up and start my day looking forward to end it, when everything starts being a drag.
It's the same at work.
There have been soooo many moments that I feel like just walking away.
How nice it is, to leave everything behind. To go somewhere far from it all. So that I don't have to hear the call bells, the cries, "Nuurrseee!" or doctors, nurses, pharmacists and all those who remembers my name saying "Sheela, could you _____ "
I want to do more. But I don't know what "more" is.
Will I be content being a nurse for kids and working shifts in the hospital?
Will I be content being a housewife and looking after my own kids, watching every detail as they grow, cleaning the house and making sure everything is in order?
Will I be content doing extra hours somewhere else if I do choose to leave nursing, earning more than enough so that I could spend on myself, with much shopping and pampering?
What will I really be content with and how would I know?
I wanna do something that makes me genuinely happy, but what is it really?
What's the real reason behind all this that I'm doing?
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Proverbs 16: 1-4
vs 1: "To man belong the plans of the heart but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue"
Baffling. What does vs 1 really mean? "To man belong the plans of the heart". In our hearts resides our thoughts and desires. Plans we are set upon on doing, those that we have built in our hearts. Our hearts are usually entangled with our emotions and feelings.
The heart skips and dances to music when it's in love
The heart turns heavy when it's sad
The heart pounds when it's angry.
A man/woman makes choices and says things based on what his/her heart is feeling or going tru'. A man plans his life and it's moments, those that he can control, based on his heart.
"but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue" A reply is a response to something that was said or done. Put these two sentences together, and what does it mean?
Looking at and studying it, i realized that God has got a response to what we have set our hearts on doing. We may make a list of a million things to do, but what does God have to say about them?
vs 2: "All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord"
When it comes to doing things our way, we fight for it and come up with reasons to justify why we want it such. What may look good to us, may not really be so. What sounds and looks enticing, like a good bullet-proof plan, may not be so in the end. How sure are we? God looks not only into our plans, He looks beyond it and into the heart that makes them.
vs 3: "Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed."
vs 4: "The Lord works out everything for His own ends - even the wicked for a day of disaster"
I cannot commit something to someone if I'm still holding tightly onto it. To commit would mean "to put into charge or trust". It's to give our situations/circumstances/actions entirely to God. Thrusting it into His hands instead - when we commit to God, we are saying "Here Lord, here are my plans, it may not go the way I want it to go, but i'll still give them all to You".
Proverbs 16: 9: "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps"
It is a learning process but we need to remember that God has always got the best in mind for you and I.
The relationship we have with time is only limited to this current moment. All we can do when it comes to the future is to make little plans and notes of what we can and are able to do.
It is only God who knows and is able to see what would really happen.
Baffling. What does vs 1 really mean? "To man belong the plans of the heart". In our hearts resides our thoughts and desires. Plans we are set upon on doing, those that we have built in our hearts. Our hearts are usually entangled with our emotions and feelings.
The heart skips and dances to music when it's in love
The heart turns heavy when it's sad
The heart pounds when it's angry.
A man/woman makes choices and says things based on what his/her heart is feeling or going tru'. A man plans his life and it's moments, those that he can control, based on his heart.
"but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue" A reply is a response to something that was said or done. Put these two sentences together, and what does it mean?
Looking at and studying it, i realized that God has got a response to what we have set our hearts on doing. We may make a list of a million things to do, but what does God have to say about them?
vs 2: "All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord"
When it comes to doing things our way, we fight for it and come up with reasons to justify why we want it such. What may look good to us, may not really be so. What sounds and looks enticing, like a good bullet-proof plan, may not be so in the end. How sure are we? God looks not only into our plans, He looks beyond it and into the heart that makes them.
vs 3: "Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed."
vs 4: "The Lord works out everything for His own ends - even the wicked for a day of disaster"
I cannot commit something to someone if I'm still holding tightly onto it. To commit would mean "to put into charge or trust". It's to give our situations/circumstances/actions entirely to God. Thrusting it into His hands instead - when we commit to God, we are saying "Here Lord, here are my plans, it may not go the way I want it to go, but i'll still give them all to You".
Proverbs 16: 9: "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps"
It is a learning process but we need to remember that God has always got the best in mind for you and I.
The relationship we have with time is only limited to this current moment. All we can do when it comes to the future is to make little plans and notes of what we can and are able to do.
It is only God who knows and is able to see what would really happen.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Dear Jesus, You're Amazing and to You i lift my heart
Jesus, You're Beautiful and to You i lift up my eyes
My face forever tilted towards heaven
I've faltered and swayed
Your faithfulness I'm in awe
I've stumbled and fell
Your mercy and Your grace I'm in awe
I love You
and all my life, i want to love You
Take my life and make it whole
For I can't do this on my own
Jesus, You're Beautiful and to You i lift up my eyes
My face forever tilted towards heaven
I've faltered and swayed
Your faithfulness I'm in awe
I've stumbled and fell
Your mercy and Your grace I'm in awe
I love You
and all my life, i want to love You
Take my life and make it whole
For I can't do this on my own
Friday, October 30, 2009
"Here with Me" by Mercy Me
I long for your embrace
Every single day
To meet you in this place
And see you face to face
Will you show me?
Reveal yourself to me
Because of your mercy
I fall down on my knees
And I can feel your presence here with me
Suddenly I'm lost within your beauty
Caught up in the wonder of your touch
Here in this moment I surrender to your love
You're everywhere I go
I am not alone
You call me as your own
To know you and be known
You are holy
And I fall down on my knees
I can feel your presence here with me
Suddenly I'm lost within your beauty
Caught up in the wonder of your touch
Here in this moment I surrender to your love
I surrender to your grace
I surrender to the one who took my place
Every single day
To meet you in this place
And see you face to face
Will you show me?
Reveal yourself to me
Because of your mercy
I fall down on my knees
And I can feel your presence here with me
Suddenly I'm lost within your beauty
Caught up in the wonder of your touch
Here in this moment I surrender to your love
You're everywhere I go
I am not alone
You call me as your own
To know you and be known
You are holy
And I fall down on my knees
I can feel your presence here with me
Suddenly I'm lost within your beauty
Caught up in the wonder of your touch
Here in this moment I surrender to your love
I surrender to your grace
I surrender to the one who took my place
Thursday, October 15, 2009
It's the climb
"There's always gonna be another mountain. I'm always gonna wanna make it move. Always gonna be an uphill battle. Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose. Ain't about how fast I get there. Ain't about what's waiting on the other side. It's the climb"
Proverbs 12: 18: "Reckless words pierce like a sword but the tongue of the wise brings healing"
Proverbs 15: 2: " The tongue of the wise commands knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly"
This battle at work doesn't seem to be ending. Everytime I'm settled - there's always something that'll happen to change it. Just that Lord, help me so that in my anger I do not sin or say things that are wrong and harsh. If there is nothing pleasant for me to say, help me control my tongue and to choose my words instead.
It's frustrating, I'm close to tears when i think or talk about it, however I guess, it's the journey and what I learn in the meantime that should matter more. "It's the climb"
Miley Cyrus may not have been thinking about You Lord when she sang this. Maybe not even the song-writer/s too. However just as the lyrics say, I'll keep my faith even if things aren't going the way I want "Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose"
I'll just keep trusting in You.
Proverbs 12: 18: "Reckless words pierce like a sword but the tongue of the wise brings healing"
Proverbs 15: 2: " The tongue of the wise commands knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly"
This battle at work doesn't seem to be ending. Everytime I'm settled - there's always something that'll happen to change it. Just that Lord, help me so that in my anger I do not sin or say things that are wrong and harsh. If there is nothing pleasant for me to say, help me control my tongue and to choose my words instead.
It's frustrating, I'm close to tears when i think or talk about it, however I guess, it's the journey and what I learn in the meantime that should matter more. "It's the climb"
Miley Cyrus may not have been thinking about You Lord when she sang this. Maybe not even the song-writer/s too. However just as the lyrics say, I'll keep my faith even if things aren't going the way I want "Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose"
I'll just keep trusting in You.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
There's a need for continual asking of forgiveness. A continual atonement of sins.
There's not one person who's able to by his own might and accord, able to walk pure and blameless. 'Cause our hearts are corrupt and thoughts evil by nature. Not one, other than our Lord Jesus, walked this earth without sin.
God's blood is always ready for those who recieve Him.
A fact that will never change. his blood cleanses all, wipes away all.
But why then, do we still sin day by day?
I believe the same way God's love shows through the blood and the nails, it's the same love that allows us the freedom of choice, even if some that we make causes God to grieve, sadness in His eyes and pain in His heart.
Years back, when Daniel or Solomon was still in children's church, and when i was serving as a cellgroup leader/helper, he asked Chris, why can't God make us, everyone, love Him then. Surely He has the power to make everyone fall in love and obey and follow His ways.
Chris answered that it's cause God wants us to choose.
Sure, a snap of His fingers and the entire universe can adore Him. but God, our gentle God, does not want robots worshipping Him. He wants hungry hearts who chooses to worship Him.
Everyday we have got to choose to cleanse our hearts with His blood.
Everyday, we've got to choose between doing what we know is right and pleasing to God or doing things that are sin.
Everyday we have got to fight the beast in us.
Thankfully, we know and can be assured that, when we call out to Jesus, He'll give us the strength to overcome. Thank God for His grace.
Ephesians 5: 8-10: "For you were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord"
Hebrews 10:22: "Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guitly concience and having our bodies washed with pure water"
1 Thessalonians 4:7: "For God did not call us to be impure, but to live with a holy life"
Ephesians 1:7: "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace"
1 Corinthians 15:10: "By by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect"
"God gives eternal choices, and these choices have eternal consequences. Isn't this the reminder of Calvary's trio? Ever wonder why there were two crosses next to Christ? Why not six or ten?
Ever wonder why Jesus was in the centre? Why not on the far right or far left? Could it be that the two crosses on the hill symbolize one of God's greatest gifts? The gift of choice."
"The two criminals have so much in common. Convicted by the same system. Condemned to the same death. Surrounded by the same crowd. Equally close to Jesus. In fact, they begin with the same sarcasm: 'the two criminals also said cruel things to Jesus' (Matt 27:44 CEV"
"But one changed"
"Does not the shepherd leave the ninety-nine sheep and pursue the one lost? Does not the housewife sweep the house until the lost coin is found? Yes, the shepherd does, the housewife does, but the father of the prodigal, remember, does nothing.
The sheep was lost innocently.
The coin was lost irresponsibly.
But the prodigal son left intentionally. The father gave him the choice. Jesus gave both criminals the same"
"How could two men see the same Jesus and one choose to mock Him and the other choose to pray to Him? I don't know, but they did. And when one prayed, Jesus loved him enough to save Him. And when the other mocked, Jesus loved him enough to let him. He allowed him the choice. He does the same for you"
- Max Lucado's "He chose the Nails"
Chapter 6 "I will let you choose"
There's not one person who's able to by his own might and accord, able to walk pure and blameless. 'Cause our hearts are corrupt and thoughts evil by nature. Not one, other than our Lord Jesus, walked this earth without sin.
God's blood is always ready for those who recieve Him.
A fact that will never change. his blood cleanses all, wipes away all.
But why then, do we still sin day by day?
I believe the same way God's love shows through the blood and the nails, it's the same love that allows us the freedom of choice, even if some that we make causes God to grieve, sadness in His eyes and pain in His heart.
Years back, when Daniel or Solomon was still in children's church, and when i was serving as a cellgroup leader/helper, he asked Chris, why can't God make us, everyone, love Him then. Surely He has the power to make everyone fall in love and obey and follow His ways.
Chris answered that it's cause God wants us to choose.
Sure, a snap of His fingers and the entire universe can adore Him. but God, our gentle God, does not want robots worshipping Him. He wants hungry hearts who chooses to worship Him.
Everyday we have got to choose to cleanse our hearts with His blood.
Everyday, we've got to choose between doing what we know is right and pleasing to God or doing things that are sin.
Everyday we have got to fight the beast in us.
Thankfully, we know and can be assured that, when we call out to Jesus, He'll give us the strength to overcome. Thank God for His grace.
Ephesians 5: 8-10: "For you were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord"
Hebrews 10:22: "Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guitly concience and having our bodies washed with pure water"
1 Thessalonians 4:7: "For God did not call us to be impure, but to live with a holy life"
Ephesians 1:7: "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace"
1 Corinthians 15:10: "By by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect"
"God gives eternal choices, and these choices have eternal consequences. Isn't this the reminder of Calvary's trio? Ever wonder why there were two crosses next to Christ? Why not six or ten?
Ever wonder why Jesus was in the centre? Why not on the far right or far left? Could it be that the two crosses on the hill symbolize one of God's greatest gifts? The gift of choice."
"The two criminals have so much in common. Convicted by the same system. Condemned to the same death. Surrounded by the same crowd. Equally close to Jesus. In fact, they begin with the same sarcasm: 'the two criminals also said cruel things to Jesus' (Matt 27:44 CEV"
"But one changed"
"Does not the shepherd leave the ninety-nine sheep and pursue the one lost? Does not the housewife sweep the house until the lost coin is found? Yes, the shepherd does, the housewife does, but the father of the prodigal, remember, does nothing.
The sheep was lost innocently.
The coin was lost irresponsibly.
But the prodigal son left intentionally. The father gave him the choice. Jesus gave both criminals the same"
"How could two men see the same Jesus and one choose to mock Him and the other choose to pray to Him? I don't know, but they did. And when one prayed, Jesus loved him enough to save Him. And when the other mocked, Jesus loved him enough to let him. He allowed him the choice. He does the same for you"
- Max Lucado's "He chose the Nails"
Chapter 6 "I will let you choose"
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