Monday, July 25, 2011

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Don't we all just love a nice love story? Romeo and Juliet, a classic for the ages. Titanic, highest-grossing movie of all time (if you account for inflation). Twilight (bleh), a hit among tweens. all these work, why? Because they all are centered around the theme of romance.

One of the most touching lines a person can say to his loved one is "I will die for you". This is best exemplified in the song "Grenade" by Bruno Mars. "I'll catch a grenad for you... I'll jump in front of a train for you.... etc. etc." Sacrifice is part and parcel of true love, dramas have told us as much.

However, how many times do we actually hear such incidents happen in real life? Well yes, Wendi Deng literally leapt to the defence of her husband Rupert Murdoch. But someone giving up his or her life for another? An organ maybe, but not so much a life.

All these just serve to show how much God truly loves us. John 3:16, we quote that verse so many times it is automatic, but do we realise just how significant that verse is? Jesus died on the cross, the worst kind of death possible. For us. Us mere mortals. Think about it.

If God can send His son to die on the cross for us, we can trust that He cares about every other aspect of our lives. Therefore, do not worry, for God will not leave you nor forsake you.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Yes We Can

Many a times we wonder if we are ever going to be good enough in what we are doing. We watch Cobus on Youtube and wonder if we can ever drum as well as him. We watch our friends play basketball and wonder just how much it will take to match their standards on the courts. We hear about the results others achieve in school and wonder whether we are hit the books more.

We all strive to be the best in whatever fields we are interested in. But sometimes, we just do not see the progress we are making, we start questioning whether it is worth it putting in all the effort when no results are shown. But actually, we have no need to worry. Why? God almighty is in charge. He is the boss.

We must understand that it is God who made us. Even before we were formed in our mothers' womb, God already knew us. He knows the number of strands of hair on our head. If He gave us the interest to pursue certain hobbies/activities, would He not also provide us with the necessary skills? In Exodus 4:10-12, in response to Moses' uncertainty about his ability to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt, God said: "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord?" Indeed, it is God who gave us the hands to play guitar, drums, basketball, whatever. It is God who gave us the brains. Galileo Galilei, an emminent scientist, once said: "I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reasoning, and intellect has intended for us to forgo their use."

What is more, we can count on God to help us. We have the Holy Spirit with us. Just as how God sent His angel ahead to find a wife (Rebekah) for Abraham's son Isaac in Genesis 24, we can also trust that God will send his angel with us and make our journey a success (Genesis 24:40).

So what is stopping you now?