Total Surrender

Our forefathers made a very huge impact in our Christianity today. They gave their lives for Jesus. They are willing to surrender everything. How about us?

Today, we talked about a christian emperor, actually the first christian emperor in Rome, she is the headquarter of the Roman catholic church. Her city is known for pagan practices and worship. Sounds ironic to think that a christian emperor will reign in Rome, but that is just how God works, mysteriously.

Constantine, argued by different people if he is indeed a christian or not, was the first christian emperor in Rome. He declared that there is only one Rome, one emperor and one God. It came into my mind upon hearing and absorbing the life of Constantine that the Lord can use anybody for His glory and for His people. He can use normal people. Prominent people. Anyone. The thing that we should keep in mind is whether you are used by God for good or for bad. Pharaoh was built up to be destroyed. Esau He hated and Jacob He loved. Judas was meant to betray Jesus. Can we question God's sovereignty? Of course not! He is God. He can do whatever He wills. We might not understand it but one thing is sure, He has a grander plan for all things that had happen and are happening.

The Christians, upon declaring that ought must have been relieved because of years of persecution and death for standing for the Lord. It must have been very hard for them to live on life when death is chasing them, for what? Standing for the Lord and not recanting their faith for they know that God is worth it, that He is able to save them but if He wills not, then they will continue to love Him until the end.

Unfolding of Mysteries

Why would I unfold to you everything? I am not going to spoil you. I am not a spoiler. I will unfold things in the right time, at the right places and on the right people. I guess you know who is talking here and who is he talking to. God is not a spoiler. He knows his plans and he knows that those are too wonderful for his people to comprehend and so he did not choose to uncover it all, but bit by bit, he uncovered mysteries. We know that God is working in the most amazing way. The most amazing ways, as we all know are not the usual things that happens, amazing could be the annihilation of a generation, the untimely death of a very significant person, the suffering of people. These are amazing when God unfolds the reason behind these illogical events, as may seem, and see the grander picture of God's plan.

For two weeks of attending classes and hearing from my professor and fellow about church history, I can't help but be amazed on how God laid the foundation of His church, his body. There are three significant learning I've gathered from this class, first is, God is in control more than what we can conceive or imagine. We may accused God of allowing such horrible things to happen in the life of his people but in the long run, we know that we can never pinpoint God because He knows everything and we don't. We can only guess, and sometimes our guesses are the exact opposite of what God intended to happen.

Second is often, God's people fail. It's a hard fall but the Lord already prepared a foam so that when we fall we will not break apart. I remembered one of my favorite quote way back when I was in high school. It says, “when you come to the end of your rope, let go and let God. Because either God will catch you when you fall or he teach you how to fly.” This is such a wonderful reminder for me that he is watching, he is ever-present and he will never leave his children. He doesn't want us to break apart. He wants us to grow to be more like him and most of the time, we are stubborn, and so we learn the hard way, God will refine us like pure gold. But when we continue to be pigheaded he breaks us but not crushed us, he let us fail to stand up again. God is such a loving God. We read it in his Word how he forgave and brought his people back to him. It is as if God is telling his people that no matter how far you run, you are not that far, I will always be with you. No matter how far you go, my hands will always be open and ready to receive you. My arms are ready to cuddle you, just come back to me.

Last, it's costly when we venture to another place for the sake of the gospel. It takes courage. As I look back to the apostles and church fathers, I know that bloods had been shed for the sake of the gospel. Lives had been cut short so that the Word of God will be proclaimed to many people. It is indeed costly, but compared to what Jesus had done on the cross, well, we can never compare it. We can never grasp how costly it was to came here on earth, became human, lived, ministered, suffered, died, and rose again.

The foundation has been laid on, will you be willing to continue?

Solid Foundation: Safe within and without

Today, i realized that God indeed is a God of surprises! He is full of surprises that He never runs out. Whenever He unfolds another mystery, i can't help but utter that three letter word "Wow!"
Wow because no words can explain and express how amazing God is in my life.
Today, He once more unfolded another surprise and the usual word that i utter, "Wow!" God thank you!

First day of class

I never would have made it this far without the Solid foundation of God's Word. It strengthens me each single day so that i am able to continue no matter how rough the sailing went through last semester.