Prayer

It's been said that prayer is the most powerful weapon mankind can ever use. It is more powerful than lightning, and even more powerful than a nuclear bomb or missile.

Isn’t that amazing?

God has given us access to Him – complete, total access – through Christ. He has opened the door of communication, that we can have intimate communion with Him.

Wow.

And yet how many times have we put off our prayer time, putting it at the end of our to-do list of the day – maybe even skip it?

I know I’ve done it. Many times.

I would feel the need to get down on my knees and talk with my Creator, my Friend, but I let other less important things consume my time.

It’s awful that we put prayer as something to do now and then – maybe when we need something, or you feel guilty because you’ve neglected that special time with the Lord.

Guilt-ridden prayer time will hinder communion with God. We need to make prayer an everyday part of life – something we can’t do without, because we acknowledge that we can’t do anything without the Lord. Spend time thanking Him for all He’s doing right now. Bask in His presence and tell Him you love Him. Just worship and let his peace wash over you, and then make your requests known.

It is crucial that when we come to Him in prayer we come believing. Having faith that God hears and He will answer. Never doubt what our God can do. He is mighty. He is everlasting.

Cannot the God who created the entire universe heal your broken spirit? Cannot the God who came down and died for all the sins of mankind also take total control of your life?

Just let God move. It may not be the way you want Him to move, but always remember this: God knows best. Put your trust in Him.

Prayer brings you to an intimate communion with God that you can never feel anywhere else. When you are down on your knees, you are before the throne of God.

Stay blessed.

- C.

Our God is Awesome

Do you ever just get hit anew with the realization that our God is awesome? He is alive, and He dwells among us and within us through the indwelling of His Spirit!  He is the One that created the heavens and the earth, the universe and all that is in it – galaxies, stars and planets! – He is the One that created you and me.

Scientists theorize that outer space can go on forever – at least farther than we can ever know. Wonders have been discovered billions of light years away, but only through a telescope. Despite the aspirations of the people of this planet, we can never know all the mysteries of the universe.

However, there is one mystery we do know about – the greatest mystery of all: that the Creator of this world and all that is outside of it, became man in order to redeem our souls so that we can have everlasting life. It was the ultimate sacrifice, an act of extreme love and mercy.

You see, with all the stars, planets and whatever else out there, God chose to create people who will choose to love and worship Him. Despite the seemingly insignificant place of planet Earth in the universe, we are the ones God chose to bestow His grace upon. We are not insignificant. To think so would be to say that God’s plan is flawed.

We need to stop belittling our positions and purposes in this life. A God that could order the universe in such a way as to reveal Himself will not create people that are useless to His plan. We are all here for a reason, and are a part of His grand design. Things we deem insignificant in fact have a greater impact than we could ever dream.

Let us choose this day to trust Him in all things. He created a planet perfect to be lived on – why now would He abandon us? In the words of Jesus, if the Lord can take care of the little sparrows, He can definitely take care of you!

His love is truly astounding. 

I was looking at some old writings of mine and came across this. Inspired me, so I'm posting it. :)

Change is Inevitable

My "summer project" of writing in this blog as often as possible didn't really turn out the way I had hoped. I made a total of 7 posts since the beginning of June. But hey, I told myself I wouldn't force myself to post weekly. If inspiration hits, then post. Soooo I'm not going to call The Project unsuccessful. Plus, I'm still here, and I still plan on posting more in the future.

I don't even know if anyone reads these posts aside from me. This blog isn't geared towards other readers, really, but mainly for me to have an online journal - of sorts. So if you, anonymous person, are reading this... hello... welcome... what are you doing here? :P

Okay. So, it is September again. Summer is basically over. School has started up again. It is back to the normal daily routine of doing productive things and learning. Leaving the house, seeing other people. All that fun stuff.

My summer was not exciting. I was home for the entire summer, and well... my family lives practically in the middle of nowhere. In the countryside, which IS nice. It's quiet. Peaceful. But sometimes too much so.

I've never been the kind of person to call up people and invite them over or make plans to go out and do something fun. I always let myself believe that other people have better things to do than to hang out with boring old me. :P Soooooo I keep to myself most of the time. That's where having a large family - six siblings - help out a lot. You don't get too lonely as there are people to talk to. People that don't judge you. They know you and accept you as you are.

Honestly, with my kind of introverted, socially anxious personality, God really did know what he was doing when he gave me a large family. My mom has said something similar - about how having seven children have kept her active and brought her out of her comfort zone a lot more than she would have ventured otherwise. So, God, thank you. I'd be such a big mess if I were an only child. lol

That being said, it doesn't mean that I have never felt lonely, depressed, or exasperated with my life. It's always been a rollercoaster for me. I suspect it's the same way with most people. Life is a journey. There are many things we encounter along the way. And as human beings, our feelings and emotions go with us. Having a horrible day does not mean you have a horrible life. Having a horrible week or month or even year does not mean you have a horrible life... Don't let the negativity define you!

I'm rambling I think. I changed the subject from talking about my summer. Anyway, I had an uneventful summer. Very uneventful. Sometimes I hated it. Sometimes I loved it. It's all in how I chose to view my situation. I could either become very unhappy or choose to find joy daily and enjoy the uneventfulness while it lasted. Sometimes it was the former, but mostly I tried to make it the latter.

Because, well, it's now September and the uneventfulness has no choice but to stop now. Ha.

I've moved to a different city. Enrolled in a different college to try a different course. Changed my environment to try and find a passion and interest. To actually do things. I knew I couldn't go on with how it's been the past year... I needed a change, and so I made the change. Was it the right choice? Lord, I hope so.

Sometimes anxiety hits me and I can only pray Oh, Lord Jesus, help me oh God. Willing away the nervousness and the feeling of what if I don't do something productive with my life? Where the heck is my life even headed?

Change is inevitable. But sometimes you have to move it along and stop waiting for change to find you. Make the change and then see where else it will lead.

So that's what I'm doing.

Give Thanks

Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son 

And now, let the weak say I am strong
Let the poor say I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us
Give thanks

I sat down and opened blogger to start this post, turning on one of my music playlists. Give Thanks was the first song to play, and I thought "How fitting!". The thought I wanted to write about was exactly on that topic -- of the giving of thanks.

One practice I've gotten myself into when I'm feeling down is to write down God's blessings in my life. It helps to put things into perspective again. Sometimes our focus shifts, and like with a camera, when the focus is just slightly off, the whole picture is blurred. When we shift our eyes from focusing on the Lord and His goodness, we forget about our blessings and start worrying and stressing about our struggles and become unhappy.

I can't count how many times the devil has tried to fill my mind with lies.

You're worthless. You don't have any friends. Your life isn't going to amount to anything. Look at you! Ha. Pitiful. Look at them. They're so much better than you.

Oh, sometimes it's like an endless melody running through my mind. Especially when I wake up at 3:00 in the morning.

But those are LIES. I'm not worthless. Christ DIED for me. He predestinated me before the foundation of the world... why on earth would He save my soul if I were worthless?

Friends? I've been blessed with such wonderful people around me! My family, church family, youth from other churches around the world, friendly acquaintances at school and different places. And let's not forget the very best friend anyone could have -- Jesus.  My! Me, friendless? Certainly not.

The Bible says that the footsteps of the righteous are ordered of the Lord. And since I've committed my life into God's hands, I am trusting that He has everything in control. I may not know all the answers right now. I don't even know what step He wants me to take next... but I'm going to let my Lord lead me. And I want to follow His leading. How can our lives amount to nothing with the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us? He has given us power! We are destined to be victorious. Overcomers by the blood of the Lamb! Hallelujah! How blessed we are!

Have you ever played the comparison game? I'm sure we all have. Mmhmm. I guess I could say it's one of my biggest flaws. I had to laugh at myself one time. I was giving myself a pep talk of sorts... and I said "Just fake confidence!". Faking confidence. Hmm. Why can't I just BE confident? Why must I fake it?

If we could all just realize our worth. There is not one person that is greater than another person. In God's eyes, we are all His people. He loves us all with unconditional love. He doesn't have a favourite. At the end of our lives here, He doesn't look at who was the most outgoing or the most well-dressed. He doesn't look at how many parties you attended or how many times you've travelled. What matters is that we allow God to work in our hearts and manifest in our lives. It doesn't have to be a grand show. Living simply and honestly, humbly walking with God is the best thing we can do on this earth. So stop the comparison game! We are all unique and we are all special in God's eyes.

So when you find yourself growing unhappy and discontented with your situation in life... Think about your blessings. Write them down. And give thanks to the Lord for them.

Running the Race | Camp July 1-4

I've just gotten back from an extraordinary weekend and thought that I should share some of my thoughts about it here.

The Lord really moved in such a powerful way, and I can't stop thinking about it. The Lord dealt with me personally about different areas of my life I needed to surrender and reconsecrate.

God's love and care for us is overwhelming. He cares so much, and He wants us to know this. He desires for us to love and care for Him also, to delight in Him and have a relationship with Him that is greater than anything else.

That is what I want. To know Him deeper, to have a closer walk. To be in His presence daily. To keep falling deeper and deeper in love with Him.

I had come to a point in my life where for the past two years, I really haven't grown much in my faith. I knew I was lacking. I knew I could be more sincere and dedicated. I should have been praying about certain situations and decisions, seeking His will in everything -- but I didn't. I could have been searching the Word daily, receiving strength from Him, but I let other things take priority over spending time with my Lord.

I stalled.

The theme of the camp this weekend was "Running the Race".

During devotions with my group, we discussed hindrances in the physical and spiritual race.

When you are going to run a race, or let's say, a marathon, you have to prepare for it. If you are out of shape, would you be able to finish the race? Sometimes you will face rocky terrain, and hills and mountains. Sometimes the weather isn't ideal. There may be distractions along the way. You may run out of energy and strength. Succumb to dehydration. So many things could happen.

Same in the spiritual race. Worldly distractions and not spending time in the Word will make us unprepared to run this race and conquer all obstacles in our path. We need to prepare ourselves by getting into prayer and by reading and studying the Word of God.

In the book of Nehemiah, the prophet prayed that God would strengthen their hands "for this good work", as they rebuilt the walls in Jerusalem. With one hand they worked on the wall, with the other, they held their sword, ready to conquer any enemy that might rise up against them to stop the wall from being completed.

We need that strength that could only come from our Lord -- the Holy Ghost power abiding in us, leading and guiding us.

That's my prayer. Lord, strengthen our hands for this good work. Strengthen our legs as we run this race, that we will

"Press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus".

That we will

"Lay aside every weight that doth easily beset us" --pressures of this world, cares, burdens... these are all chains that weigh us down. We can't run if we have chains wrapped around our feet.

A heavy burden weighing upon our shoulders will slow us down. Imagine the Lord coming along, the God of the universe for whom nothing is too hard to carry, coming along and offering to take your burden. Why hold on to it? Surrender it to Him. The liberty and freedom you'll find in Him is like no other!

Let Him take your burden. Let Him break every chain.

Oh, He is such a marvelous God!

Like Paul, when it comes to the end of my race here on earth, I want to be able to say this:

 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

{2 Timothy 4:7,8}

Where God Wants Me to Be

I reminded myself something today, and it made me want to think about it further. The topic is this: realizing that where you are right now is where God wants you to be.

I know, nothing profound. Seems rather obvious.

But here's the thing. Often I have found myself dissatisfied with situations in my life and around me. Situations that I have no control over. I think "Oh, I can't wait to get out of here." I think about how wonderful things will be once they change.

But to constantly be seeking change... is this the way we should be handling things?

God has a special purpose for your life.  I am here in Ontario. Another is in the other side of the world. We may never meet. But God has designed us to live lives that honour him -- in whatever environment we find ourselves in.

Instead of looking at how different your situation right now could be, look at your situation right now and think about how God has designed it specifically for you. In every trial and situation, there is a lesson to be learned - and a blessing to take away with you. I really do believe that.

God has a purpose and a plan for me here. No one else can fill my shoes, and I can't fill anybody else's shoes.

From now on, I want to look at my life through different eyes. How can I serve God with all my heart? How can I be a blessing today, right now, this week?

Where God plants me, I want to take root and grow.

"Be anxious for nothing..."

Fear.

I've struggled with it. So many of us have.

To be fearful is to be afraid of something as likely to be dangerous, painful, or threatening. Google defines it as "an unpleasant emotion". And what goes hand in hand with fear? Anxiety. "A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome".

Oh, boy. I'm very familiar with that feeling. In fact, I came very close to having panic attacks in which I would start to hyperventilate whenever I thought about something that I was fearful about. I cried many tears at my inability to deal with certain situations. I have lain in bed, crying and praying for strength.

For a few years, Philippians 4:6-7 became my motto.

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Whenever I began to feel overwhelmed, I would pick up my Bible and turn to this passage. It's probably my most read scripture, to be honest.

Paul admonishes the believer to pray, and ask God humbly, earnestly, for help. To give thanks as you pray -- believing that God is already taking care of your need. When we are able to release our cares and worries, and trust that God is in control, that is when the peace of God will fill our hearts.

We humans, we're forgetful. Many times I have read this scripture, and fallen to my knees in prayer, asking God to fill me with peace. Many times I've risen, feeling soothed and more at peace -- but then I'd allow my anxiety to return. Again and again.

The Bible says to cast our cares on The Lord - for He cares for us. Cast. To cast is to throw something - to let go.  The Bible says let go of our cares and burdens.

It doesn't say set your burden down for a little while and then pick it up again. 

Surrendering is hard. Let it be a daily struggle. Don't accept that anxiety is just a part of who you are as a person. Keep praying and making supplications to God. Keep at it. No matter how long it takes to be freed from the chains of fear, there's a promise that those chains will be broken.

...

Fitting In

Have you ever felt out of place?

Growing up in a Christian household, and especially a pastor's kid, I definitely have felt out of place many a time.

At school I was the girl with the long hair and skirts and no makeup. I stood out. Big time.

At church, I was the pastor's kid - and in the teenage years especially, I found that a lot of youth tended to be cautious around me. Perhaps they thought I would tell my dad of their antics. Or maybe they thought me innocent and easily shocked. Maybe they feared my judgement. Whatever it was, I too felt out of place even among the people I should have been closest to.

It's funny because while other young people my age were going through their rebellious stages, I had pretty much already gone through mine--and because people kept their distance, they never understood that in fact I could have been a friend that they could have talked to. I would sympathize and pray for them. Not judge them. I wasn't perfect, either. Far from it.

The expectation that I was this perfect, godly individual bothered me. I am human, too. I made mistakes--lots of them. I sometimes look back on my young teenage years and think about how things could have gone so differently for me, had not God stepped in and changed my desires.

I felt uncomfortable looking different and having different interests from the people around me. I tried to fit in by listening to all the popular artists and reading the popular books that my classmates were into. I started incorporating curse words into my vocabulary to show my classmates that I was just like them. When people around me started talking about drinking, I showed interest. If I had ever gotten into a situation where somebody handed me a drink, I would have probably drank.

But God protected me from that.

I went to a camp the year I was 14. That's where I realized that God has a purpose for me. I am not born here to fit in with the world's ways. I am born to stand out. To be a light. There is more to life than the superficiality that the world hides behind.

The year after that, I went to a different school than most of my classmates for high school. I suddenly was thrust into a whole different atmosphere--different classmates and friends... and I had a different attitude.

The Bible tells us we are not of this world--we are the Lord's. As the old hymn goes

"This world is not my home
I'm just a-passing through"

Passing through this world, why not make a difference in the life of at least one person?
Can an individual make an impact if they meld into the crowd? Why hide in shadows, when we can spread light and positivity?

No, these days I no longer try to "fit in". Sure, I could use a confidence boost. I could be bolder. But I understand that fitting in has no benefits.

I want to be a  vessel that God can use. And He can't use me if I'm full of other things. The Bible says that whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon".  Matthew 6:24

I'd rather serve God and find my position in His Word. Because that's where I fit in best. In His plan, and not mine own.

"Rejoicing in hope... Patient in tribulation"

In this crazy world we live in, it is so easy to get bogged down with all the negativity we see, hear, and experience. Terrible things happen. People get hurt or killed. Crimes and diseases run rampant. People betray you. Friends leave.

The apostle Paul in the Bible suffered much persecution. So many people were after his life. He survived a stoning. He once escaped a city by going over the wall in a basket. He was imprisoned multiple times.

It's astounding that he of all people should write to the Philippians: "Rejoice in the Lord always; and again, I say rejoice" (Phil 4:4). And in Romans 12, he wrote that as Christians we must be "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing instant in prayer".

I can imagine Paul in a dark, dirty prison -- peaceful. I can imagine a guard looking at Paul in confusion, thinking "This man should be in anguish, and yet he betrays no feeling of inner turmoil. In fact, he appears to be at peace with his surroundings and his current situation! He must be crazy!"

Or perhaps the prison guard wondered about that peace Paul had, and desired to have it too. There is an account of Paul and Silas singing and praising God while they were in chains. Their worship filled the place to the extent that an earthquake shook the prison and chains were broken and doors opened. Not one person was hurt. Paul and Silas could have walked away right there and then, but they remained, and witnessed to a prison guard, leading him, and later on, his entire family, to Christ.

Paul understood that no matter what the situation, God was able to take it and use it for His glory. Paul had complete trust that the Lord was in control - God had a purpose for him to do. And if that purpose had been fulfilled, then it didn't matter where Paul was and what was going to happen to him. If he was to be killed, he knew that he was going to a place where the divine love and presence of the Lord reigned. There is no greater reward than that.

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

No matter the situation you are facing, take heart. Jesus conquered all sin and death on the cross of Calvary. He placed all of our sins, sickness, worries and cares on his own shoulder. And he rose in victory, showing that there is a resurrecting power that will take hold of our hearts and lives today. You may feel that things couldn't possible get better. They will. The price has been paid already. We are overcomers in Christ Jesus.

Wherever you are in your life right now, rejoice in this blessed hope that the gospel has brought to us. Be patient in your trials and tribulations and you'll see that God can take your situation and use it for His glory.

Continue in prayer. The Bible says that "the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous availeth much." God hears you. Trust that He is in control.

That's where we find peace. In trusting.

Starting a Blog | Take #100

To write out some of your thoughts and share some of your secrets and publish them on a platform for anyone to find is a vulnerable thing to do.

I've attempted keeping a blog for years now... and it just has never happened the way I wanted it to. There have been many times I began writing and publishing a post, and then ended up thinking twice about it... resulting in deleting the post altogether.

Why is that?

I got into the habit of always second guessing myself. I look at things I say or do and wonder how people are going to react.

I've decided that from now on, I'm going to create a space for myself here where I'll allow myself to write whatever I want to - and keep it up. To stop worrying about what other people are going to think. I'm going to do this for myself.

I'm not a great writer, but I enjoy writing. Though sometimes it gets frustrating when you just can't seem to find the right words to put together to express the point you're trying to make. But, no matter.

I'm going to let this blog evolve into whatever it will become. I just want a space to write my thoughts - whether they are random, deep, hilarious, or utter nonsense. :)

And should anyone stumble across this little blog of mine, I hope that they might find some encouragement or even a tidbit of amusement, too.