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Tag: surrender

No Peace without Jesus

No Peace without Jesus

The war in Ukraine has shaken us all. How is this possible in the year 2022? I guess, we humans truly are a sinful bunch. We truly need Jesus. Maybe this is a wake-up call to all of us to see what’s really important in life and what’s superficial and vainglory. May we all be reminded that in the world there is no peace without Jesus. But with Jesus, we have peace that is real even in the midst of…

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The Bookends for Any Blessed Day

The Bookends for Any Blessed Day

For quite some time now I have started my day by surrendering myself, my life, and that particular day to Jesus. It has blessed me and taught me how to walk with God throughout the day. But something was still missing. God showed me I needed another habit to the end of the day. And that’s how I learned the bookends for any blessed day. What’s the other bookend then, you ask. It’s as simple as the one in the…

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Removing Impurities Leads to Wholeness

Removing Impurities Leads to Wholeness

Complacency is dangerous. It can spiritually kill us. And that’s not something we want, right? Yet we are in danger if we are not alert. Feeling smug about ourselves and valuing comfort over compliance to God puts us on the dangerous ground whether we realize it or not. That’s why need to examine ourselves and ask the Holy Spirit to show us whether we are straying away from the path God has for us. Removing impurities leads to the wholeness…

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Emotional Holy Week Roller Coaster

Emotional Holy Week Roller Coaster

The emotional Holy Week roller coaster starts with Palm Sunday and its sweet taste of success and popularity as the crowds cheer Jesus on as he entered Jerusalem. It follows with the bitter taste of failure and betrayal as Jesus is crucified on Good Friday. Thankfully, the ride does not end there. We finish the tour with the elated resurrection joy on Sunday. How do you deal with all this? Jesus takes all our false expectations, all our self-righteous thoughts,…

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Heads, Hearts, and Hands

Heads, Hearts, and Hands

Lately, I’ve been pondering on two stories Jesus told according to the Gospel of Luke. The first one is the parable of two builders and the second one is the parable of the sower. They’re both perfect for Lenten reflection. Jesus is asking “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? (Luke 6:46, NIV, emphasis added,*) You see, faith requires heads, hearts, and hands. Faith is not just a belief system we embrace, right? It…

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Good Riddance 2020

Good Riddance 2020

Are you ready for the New Year? I am, at least, ready to say goodbye to 2020. Good riddance, right? 2020 is a year we won’t forget easily. I had such high hopes for it, yet it was nothing I had hoped for. Yet I am thankful. Because I learned a lot this year, I bet you did too. And, most of all, I am thankful because God is good all the time. The Lord is good,A strength and stronghold in the day of…

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Faith Is Lived in Christ

Faith Is Lived in Christ

Sometimes I wonder if we just believe to get to heaven. In that case, we see faith as an insurance policy. We repent and become forgiven citizens of heaven but then we go back to live like we always used to do. But that’s not what Jesus wants us to do, is it? Faith is lived in Christ. Not away from Christ. Faith is meant to be so much more than an insurance policy for the afterlife. [And I am…

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Accepting Death and Dying Is Hard yet Necessary

Accepting Death and Dying Is Hard yet Necessary

It’s hard to accept death and dying, especially when it comes too close to home. Yet death and dying are part of life. No one will stay on earth forever. Yet somehow we still would like to pretend death and dying are not part of our lives. And when death claims one of our own, we might even be angry at God for taking our loved one. We’d like to have cake and eat it too. It’s human to not…

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When Grace Reigns in You

When Grace Reigns in You

Does grace reign in you? This is an important question for every believer. If grace doesn’t reign in you, either sin or self-righteousness rules you. Neither brings life or freedom. Only grace does. Abundantly. When grace reigns in you, all is well. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:21, NLT,*)…

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Faith and Control Do Not Mix Well Together

Faith and Control Do Not Mix Well Together

Today I have four quotes and three Bible verses about faith and control to share with you. We all would like to have everything together, be in control so we could relax and enjoy our lives, right? But that’s not how faith or life works. Faith and control don’t mix well together. How come? If our goal is to be in control, we push faith away. The one who is in control is the god in our life whether we…

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