When God writes your love story

Hi everyone, my name is Joey and I am a prayer manager at the prayer center. I will love to share my love story to you all today :)

Last Wednesday, the last day of 3 years together with my boyfriend, Alvin, he got down on one knee, under the Brooklyn Bridge, overlook the beautiful sunset of NYC, and he asked me the most beautiful question of all time, "Will you marry me?"

I was in tears, couldn't even say a word, just nodding my head, lol! There were so many things running through my head at that time, all I can think of is, Jesus, You are good, all the time.

To be frank, I went through a lot of broken hearts before I met Alvin. I would spent time feeling sad about my loneliness, cried myself to sleep over boys who do not love me back. Sometime I feel like he was the right person but it was just at the wrong time. I did not understand why God will allow me to be so lonely and broken, yet He promised that He has the best plan for me. However, I did not know that all the while, Jesus wanted me to know that right thing in the wrong time is still a wrong thing.

There's one night when I was crying and praying in the balcony of my dorm in the heart of the city of Malaysia, God gave me a peace to trust in Him. I committed myself to Him, let go completely the pen of my love story to allow Jesus to write one for me. I still remember doubting Him that He will take away my feelings toward a particular someone at that time completely but I promised to keep on trusting.

I committed myself in doing morning devotion early in the morning at the balcony, praying while the sun was rising. I volunteered to help out a missionary from the states who were serving in Malaysia at that time. My heart was occupied by Jesus every day. I was very busy but I was full of joy. I found love and joy that I will never find in an earthly relationship. Little did I realized, I had completely let go of thinking about boy friends or liking someone who will not like me back.

I heard of people saying, "when you stop thinking about dating, that guy will appear". I guess, love is waiting till you are ready, till is right. And I met Alvin. I did not have any feelings towards him at first, we were just friends. I love being with him. He never lead me on emotionally, instead he protected me like how a brother of Christ should protect their sisters in Christ. We are both crazy about Jesus and as times passed by, I started to have strong feeling towards him.

However, the feelings I have is different. There is no scary moment or sadness, it was just pure joy and peace. Even though we knew at that time that we like each other, we decided to wait and pray since he would be going to school in New York while I was in Virginia. Jesus makes things beautiful in its time. This is true! Despite of long distance, my feelings towards Alvin grow stronger each day and finally he asked me to be his girl friend after talking to my parents. As an engineer who loves logic, Alvin is not boring at all. He is so romantic and he makes me fall in love more and more each day. Most importantly, with his leadership in the relationship, we fall in love more and more to our first love, Jesus Christ.

I am thankful for all the blessings from my beloved families and friends. And I am amazed and beyond grateful to my sweet Jesus.

I love this quote from Brooke Fraser, my favorite singer:

I could write a million songs about the way you say my name
I could live a lifetime with you and then do it all again
and like I can't force the sun to rise or hasten summer's start,
neither should I rush my way into your heart

I am glad that I waited for the Lord, and when God writes your love story, He will blow your mind away ;)

Love,

Joey

"Showing Appreciation for the Gift of Jesus!"

How easy it is to forget what our Lord Jesus has done for us! When a person does something kind and loving for another, the hope is that it will be appreciated. We appreciate people who display an attitude of gratitude in response to an act of kindness. This response naturally surfaces when a person pauses to reflect on what has been done for them through the selfless generosity of another. How much greater should be our wonder and appreciation at the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. As the holy Son of God Almighty, knowing no sin, yet becoming sin for you and I, so that we might become right with the Father, Jesus came as a selfless, helpless baby! Personally I am grieved to think of the times I flippantly say: "Yes, Jesus loves me", but fail to ponder and truly understand just how deep that love goes. Is it possible I become numb to the depth of His love, has my heart become calloused?  Have I become so self-centered that all I think about is what satisfies me?  "I’m sorry Lord, please forgive me!"

An everyday opportunity to show Jesus my appreciation for His loving actions is through my decisions. I must ask myself: Do I truly believe that there are consequences to ALL of my actions?  Everything I do, say or think does impact my life in some way, either positively or negatively.  If I believe the lie that states, “it’s not hurting anyone” or “it’s only hurting me, so what does it matter?”, then I am sadly mistaken. Everything I do brings about a cause and effect; therefore I want the results of my actions to be beneficial, uplifting, and transforming.  I want to model my life after Jesus Christ, who has impacted the world through His birth, life, death, and resurrection. The effect left on the world has been beneficial, uplifting, and transforming! "Lord, please help me to remember that my everyday choices will have consequences." I must pause and consider what I want the results to be before I choose my actions. Our daily choices could range from small ones which do not need a second thought, all the way to crucial decisions we have considered for weeks that could determine a drastic change of course for the path we are traveling! None-the-less, we are wise to remember that ALL of our choices have consequences!

Would you like to say "Thank You!" to Jesus in a different way this year? Terrific! Pause and give consideration to the potential impact of your thoughts, words or actions...before you turn them loose! Develop the selfless attitude that Jesus modeled for us. Think of others first! Merry Christmas! May this be your year of intentional decision-making.

guest writer: Kathy Voogd

People-Oriented Christianity

As a type-A personality with a slight case of OCD, my need for organization and to-do lists sometimes hinders my spiritual walk. Thus, when God called me to step out of my comfort zone and travel to a foreign country for an internship, I experienced a lot of stretching. Through living in a people-oriented culture, God opened my eyes to how callous I had become.

American culture is pretty cold. We like our personal space, and we don’t want other people sucking valuable time slots from our already busy schedule. We smile and nod and say, “Oh yes, we’ll have to get together sometime,” but we don’t prioritize relationships enough to follow through. Time is money, after all.

At church we check our watches as our stomachs rumble and we wonder how much longer the pastor is going to keep us. We wipe noses and change diapers and wonder when in the world those parents are going to pick their kids up. We avoid the “talkers,” like the plague and when they do catch us, we smile and nod as we back toward the door with an apologetic, “Well, I’ve got to go now…”

In this world of electronic distractions and technological multi-tasking we are caught up in the busyness of life. We have forgotten how to truly listen, focusing 100% of our attention on one person, looking them in the eye, and really hearing what they are saying. We have forgotten that people are more important than to-do lists, and relationships are more imperative than appointments.

Christ was never too busy for people. Although he sometimes withdrew to rest and recharge, He always charged back into the fray. For three consecutive years, Christ was surrounded by people pushing and pulling, demanding His attention and His talents. How tired He must have been! Yet He knew what was truly important: people. Let us follow Christ’s example and love as He loved. 

--C. Wilson

You Are Beautiful

"When I created the heavens and the earth, I spoke them into being. When I created man, I formed him and breathed life into his nostrils. But you woman, I fashioned after I breathed the breath of life into man because your nostrils are too delicate. I allowed a deep sleep to to come over him so I could patiently and perfectly fashion you. From one bone, I fashioned you. I chose the rib, which protects his heart and lungs and supports him, as you are meant to do. Around this one bone I shaped you, I modeled you, I created you perfectly and beautifully.

Your characteristics are as the rib: strong, yet delicate and fragile. You provide protection for the most delicate organ in man, his heart. His heart is the center of his being; his lungs hold the breath of life. The rib-cage will allow itself to be broken before it will allow damage to the heart.

Support man as the rib-cage supports the body. You were not taken from his feet, to be under him, nor were you taken for his head, to be above him. You were taken from his side, to stand by him.

You are my perfect one, my beautiful little girl. You have grown to be a splendid woman of excellence, and my eyes fill when I see the virtues in your heart. Your lips, how lovely when they part in prayer. Your nose, so perfect in form. Your hands, so gentle to touch. I have caressed your face in your deepest sleep. I have held your heart close to mine. Of all that lives and breathes, you are most like me. Adam walked with me in the cool of the day, yet he was lonely.

Everything I wanted Adam to share and experience with me, I fashioned in you; My holiness, my strength, my purity, my love, my protection, and my support. You are special because you are an extension of me. Man represent my image, woman my emotions. Together, you represent the totality of God.

So man, treat woman well. Love her, respect her, for she is fragile. In hurting her, you hurt me. In crushing her, you only damage your own heart; the heart of your Father and the heart of her Father. Woman, support man. In humility, show him the power of emotion I have given you. In gentle quietness, show your strength. In love, show him that you are the rib that protects his inner self."

--Jesus Loves You 

As a woman it is normal to want to be beautiful and attractive. Women often seek affection from men. For a long time I struggled to compete with other girls around me, to look better, to feel better. But one day during my time with God, I read Psalm 139:14 where God told me that "Payel, you are fearfully and wonderfully made." I am perfect in His eyes. I am flawless in the eyes of Him who created me. He does not look at my outside, He examines my heart. I don't need to measure up to anybody because God already loves me the way I am. I do not need to be afraid or shy or incomplete because His love and grace is enough for me. I am made complete in Him. I would like to encourage all women who struggle with their image or self-esteem: God loves you the way you are. He has made you in His image and in His likeness, there can't be anything greater than that. No matter what the world says about you, remember your Creator created you flawless and He will be with you until the end of time. You are precious in His sight.

To all the men, love and respect women because God created them for you. God created them to be your helper, your supporter. By loving women, you love God, and by respecting women, you respect God.

Steadfast Love

"Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds." --Psalm 36:5.

In the ESV version of the Bible, the phrase "steadfast love" appears 191 times. In other versions you might encounter the phrases "lovingkindness," "unfailing love," or "mercy."

The Hebrew word found in this verse is "chesed" meaning

- zeal toward someone
- mercy toward those in misfortune
- to act kindly toward
- the grace and favor of God toward men
- constant or abiding mercy or favor

In English the word "steadfast" means

- firmly fixed in direction, place, or position
- firm in purpose, resolution, faith, or attachment
- unwavering adherence
- firmly established

The etymological origin of the English word "steadfast" came from the Sanskrit word "pastyam" meaning "dwelling place." It later evolved to "fæst" in Old English meaning "firmly fixed, steadfast, secure, enclosed."

In other words, God's love is zealous, unmerited, and firmly fixed. Nothing we do can alter or change it. I love the analogy of God's love being like a secure "dwelling place" that shields us from the elements.

When I think of a secure dwelling place, my friend's log house comes to mind. It was made from massive 10x10 inch hewn logs that ran 15-20 feet long. A deep 10 foot porch wrapped around three sides of the house supported by great wooden columns.

I can remember sitting on the bed in my friend's room during a raging storm. The wind howled around the corners of the house, the lightning washed the sky white, and the thunder shook the earth, but inside those strong walls I felt perfectly safe and secure.

God's love is like that. But unlike most "dwelling places," God's love won't weaken or decay with time and weather. It withstands the ages of eternity and the battering elements of our constant sin without altering or changing. If nothing else, the knowledge of God's steadfast love toward us is sufficient reason to take joy today.

--Catherine Wilson

God's Love for His Children

The devotion that I did today came from two different passages: John 3:16 and Ephesians 3:19. These two verses speak about the love that God has freely given to every one of His children. Two important aspects that are emphasized from the reading of these two verses are: first how crucial it is to recognize and accept God’s love and second how to demonstrate His love within ourselves.

First, to take a look at John 3:16, a verse most everyone has scripted into their mind, it is recognized that God so loved the world, meaning each of us who are living in it, that He gave His only begotten son. God sent Himself in human form through His son, Jesus Christ, to earth. By God sending Himself in the flesh to earth to walk and talk like us shows great humility and love. He did this in order to save us from the sinful nature we have received for which separated us from Him. He loves us unconditionally and did not want to be separated from us, the sinners. God’s love cannot be earned or unearned. God’s love just is. The love He holds for every one of us is a covenant. A covenant is an eternal and unbreakable promise, unlike a contract for which one can easily break the agreement.

Second, let’s take a look at Ephesians 3:19. This verse is delivered by Paul to the congregation in Ephesus. These words are in the form of a prayer. His prayer is that the people would come to know God’s love, so that they may be strengthened by it.

Understanding and accepting God’s love will completely transform our life. Inwardly we will be greatly planted and strengthened by His love. Through this, we will be strong enough to defeat anything that may speak against us, outwardly.

In summary, it is most important to first seek God’s love through His truth, accept it, and then demonstrate it to every person that steps in or around our life. God is love; therefore let us reciprocate that throughout the words we speak and the actions towards others. We were made in the image of God, and we are called by Him to be like-minded in His ways.