Our freedom

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

“and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

Know Christ, follow His lead, and leave the results to Him. His word frees us from the slavery of our sin, our idols, and our search for meaning and identity outside of Him.

Christ is our freedom.

These strange mercies

Hospitals are usually places that recall uneasy feelings in most people’s minds. And when you’re forced to go, the experience is usually a very unpleasant one. Yet, if a sick person understands how the uncomfortable (the hospital) is the means to getting better, then it makes the whole hospital ordeal a more bearable place.

And so ended 2011 to give way to 2012. At the very end of the year there were lots of “inconveniences” (mom’s poor health, uncertainties of the future, new and unexpected learning experiences…). These were God-brought situations that were not in my agenda. Trials and tears that eventually have given way to deeper joy. I recognize that if the Lord had not placed me in the valley of tears, I would not have experienced His personal care and love towards me the way I recently have. Sickness, lack of resources, unmet desires…have all been used by God to keep me in this journey with Him with gladness. They have been shut doors that have led me to better window views. And what’s more, these strange mercies of mine have helped me recover a clear perspective of God’s purpose for me is–– “Be still and know that I am God.”

It’s good to be in the fire of trials if it’s the place designed by God for me in the present time. Where I am, what I’m doing, and what I’m becoming is God’s grace for me. And I can only have peace about it. I’m learning that this life is not only sadness, nor only happiness. It’s more a bittersweet thing. When we get to heaven, everything will be complete.

“Grace is the fact that God will take you to places you didn’t intend to go in order to produce in you what you could not achieve on your own” (Paul Tripp)

Yes, Jesus loves me (again)

Gifts.

It’s Christmas time, and with it come students’ gifts. Presents come in all forms: accessories, candies, chocolates, and nicely decorated journals. If you’re lucky, you may even get some personalized stickers or cards.

But you never get stuffed animals.

Like. Ever.

But God knew I needed a stuffed animal. One that would make me cry. He wanted to show His grace to a poor sinner like me in an unique way. This has been a very bad week for me: I haven’t been “an exemplary Christian”. And I’m sorry and ashamed. But God wanted to remind me (in a very creative way) that in spite of me, still “Jesus loves me”.

And so it came this morning. It came sitting in a bag. I pressed it and it sang to me the song. For a moment I felt I was back in Haiti. It gave me a very much needed,  fresh reminder that “Yes, Jesus loves me”. Yes, He loves me despite of how low I’ve fallen, and how much I’ve failed him.

The Bible says it so. The stuffed dog kindly reminded it to me.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” John 3:16

Thank you Jesus because You love me.

Scrolling down your Bible

“Please open your Bibles and turn to…”, the pastor said.

I don’t remember what he said next because I realized something strange was happening around me. I got too busy observing my friends as they were doing exactly what I was. They were taking out their iPhones from their purses and finding the Bible passage.

When did we stop bringing our regular, heavy, leather-covered Bibles to church? Long time ago, if you ask me In a couple of years, I think pastors should start saying, “Open your Bible app and find…”. Also, instead of “turn to John 3:16″, they’ll say, “Scroll down to John 3:16″ or something.

I praise God for technology. He’s the giver, and if I may say so without being disrespectful, the All-knowing geek. I hope and pray that all this cool stuff around us won’t get sidetrack us. That we don’t get too distracted by the light thrown at our faces by our devices so that we miss the Light of the World.

By the way, if you want some good Bible apps, here are a few I can recommend:

ESV Study Bible + My-all-time favorite Bible app! It’s got everything the ESV Study Bible has…just that it’s less heavy

ESV Bible  The best Bible translation available

Blue Letter Bible

Bible

Let me rediscover You

There’s something about rediscovering that stands out to me. King Solomon once said that there’s nothing new under the sun. That’s true at all levels. It’s true even in the spiritual realm. When we’re down and needy, we don’t need any new experience with God. We just need to go back to Him and rediscover Him– who He is and what He’s done and continues doing. By His grace, we can know and love him better.

Here’s a song by Downhere. It’s a CCM group I found a few years ago. They have this unique way to write and share truth through their music. I remember their music was used by God some years ago to make me think of Him in a different way. Today I’m sharing with you a song that’s a cry out from a desperate heart for God. I hope it serves you.

Your Spirit hovers over my waters
Your love burns longer than the sun
The skies of thunder echo Your wonder
Your praises can’t be over-sung
The whole universe is witness
To only a part of what You’ve done

CHORUS: Let me rediscover You
And breathe in me Your life anew
Tell me of the God I never knew
Let me rediscover You

You see my weakness, my pride, my blindness
You wield Your power through them all
Of all the mysteries, still,
The greatest to me is that You’re faithful when I fall

How can I say I know You

When all I know is still so small

CHORUS

Let me cry “Holy, Holy, Holy”
Let me awaken to Your majesty
And see a glimmer of Your glory
Let me abide in You

Let me rediscover You
And by Your grace I’ll follow through
Reveal to me the God I thought I knew