HOPE :: Jeremiah 31:31-34

'The time is coming,' declares the LORD, 'when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them, ' declares the LORD. 'This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,' declares the LORD. 'I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,' declares the LORD. 'For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.'

This is My Desire...

Let me serve you, Lord, with my unworthy life, let your humble servant offer You my life, my strength, the best of me to glorify Your name -- that others may share in Your light, that they may experience the same joy that I have in Your presence and in Your promises.

...that I may praise You til the end of my days...that I offer you the best of me, always the best!

Let me be a beacon of light, to shine like a star pointing people to Your Son, Jesus Christ.

I give you my heart, I give you my soul
I live for You alone
Lord, have Your way in me...

Prism |<>| What Does it Mean to be Free?

    when in the deepest moment of pain, you let go
    when amidst the fast paced world, you be still
    when at the height of happiness, you give thanks
    when you have no more strength left, you go on
    when there is no one looking, you do good
    when amidst lies, violence, and darkness, you love
    when faced with death, you see life everlasting
    when given the choice of anything and everything in the world...
          you choose the Truth

"I'm Just Out to Find...the Better Part of Me..."

“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” John 12:24 (NIV)

There's nothing more difficult than running a race you know you have trained for but realize can't finish well.

Excerpted from The Purpose Driven Life Daily Devotional

When you think about your walk with Jesus, some days you may wonder, “Why is this so hard? I’m still struggling with so many problems. When will I finally get it right?”

Try these steps for spiritual growth:

* Nurture growth with God’s Word – I know you’re already doing this, but when you read the promises of God, again and again, it helps you remember that He is at work, even when you can’t see Him at work: “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1 NIV).

* Cooperate with God as He prunes – Praise God for the work he’s doing in your life, remembering “he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more” (John 15:2 NLT).

* Pray through the “fruit list” – Pray through the “fruit list” (the fruit of the Spirit) from Galatians 5:22-23. The NIV Bible lists the fruit as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Ask God to help you grow this fruit in your life.

The Drumbeat of Creation

All God's creation echo God's rhythm and His melody.

Listen to the crescendo of God's love
As the music builds up and soars
Remember those moments of captivated awe
Of being awash in waves of golden choruses and rainbow harmonies
And wait...wait...wait for that last sweet and final note...
In that one note, remember...
the magnificense of creation...
the sunrise...the sunset...
a child's laughter...the glorious mountains...
that special smile of someone you love...
and as the note fades...

Love, joy, and the peace of God fills us like an everlasting sustain...

Sing a New Song

"The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
~ Deuteronomy 31:8

I am a Messenger

Nothing but the moon in the midnight sky, horses hooves pounding on the ground, torches suddenly light up the night, furious continuous knocking on the door...the messenger has come with urgency. It isn't as dramatic as this setting, but in the same way, I have come.

It is time. The Lord Jesus has been my teacher, He has been feeding my hunger and thirst for His word. People wonder where, how have I learned what I know. I believe, for us who seek Him earnestly and want to know Him -- He does not leave us in the dark. The Lord has given me His scroll. His message I am passing on.

Let this be the story of those who are chosen. The message but goes through our hands. At the appointed time and place, we are called to speak. Speak.

He is my Strength, my Source, my Portion. I am His cup, His mouthpiece, His instrument. Lord, let no force on earth stop me nor make me hesitate to deliver Your word to Your people. Town to town, person to person, moment by moment...encourage me up to my last breath!

I am Your messenger.

Lord, I Offer My Life to You

All that I am, all that I have
I lay them down before you, oh Lord
All my regrets, all my acclaims
Joy and the pain, I'm making them yours

Things in the past, things yet unseen
Wishes and dreams that are yet to come true
All of my heart, all of my praise
My heart and my hands are lifted to you

Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I've been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice

Lord I offer you my life
Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I've been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer you my life

What can we give
That you have not given?
And what do we have
That is not already yours?
All we possess
Are these lives we're living
That's what we give to you, Lord

Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I've been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer you my life

Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I've been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer you my life
Lord I offer you my life

Sing a New Song

Prism |<>| Therefore, Consider This Pure Joy...

What joy a parent feels the first time the child recognizes the sound of his/her voice. Coming home and the child shouting with glee.

What joy I felt with a friend skipping along the corridors of school, long after the bell is rung, no other student left, the sun setting on the top most floor and us just giggling at the sounds our shoes make on the concrete floor...giddy, giddy, giddy up!

What joy we feel receiving the first trophy, having the love we have returned, when our hopes turn into reality...

What joy in a quiet morning with a dense fog settled over the valley or looking up to a star filled night and gazing into the velvet black blanket speckled with sparkling stones and feeling the vastness of the universe...

Memories in a bubble, we draw out at times to remind us of the good times.
Think -- have you ever considered the possibility that there a joy more permanent that we do not need to draw out but is always there like a steady hum, reverberating in our hearts as we go through our daily tasks?

Is joy beyond moments, beyond single occurrences possible? Can joy that is not a memory but a constant truth, ever present be possible?

Is this pure joy possible? Joy that brings peace, peace that brings joy...in the stilness of hearts, joy bourne out of renewal, joy bourne out of thanksgiving, joy bourne out of the knowledge that there is greater, much greater happiness for us for everlasting...

Consider this...friends, meditate on the Word of God it is fresh and sharp. Joy is not pure emotion. Joy is a decision and a state of consciousness. A result of the renewal of our outlook, the transformation of our thinking. Where the focus and center of our thinking is filled with Jesus Christ, there is nothing on this earth that can take away the knowledge that He loves us, fully, unconditionally.

Pure joy from being loved overwhelmingly, knowing that the Creator of the universe's only purpose is to love us, to make us happy, and to bring His most beloved creation back to Him in glory.

Pure joy to see Him face to face. O, to see Him smile upon me! To know that He is...
Pure joy is beyond moments, beyond emotions -- it is the unity we have with the loving, living God. And no one, no powers on earth, heaven or hell can take it away once we receive this precious gift.

Lord Jesus, renew me...I am empty, searching, longing for the kind of joy only You can give. Lord, please come into my life and take away all my pain, all the darkness in my life. Be my Savior, transform me and fill me with the love, hope, and joy You have promised. I surrender to you my self, mold my heart, mold my mind -- I want to experience all the best that You have planned for me. Thank you, Jesus. This I pray in Your most Holy name, Amen.

SMS: Hw r u doin?

Sometimes I walk...
Sometimes I run...
Sometimes I stand still...
My eyes ever on the Lord!

Praise God

Perfect Combination

Right words, wrong person
Wrong words, right person
Right words, right person, wrong time

Hearts are hardened

Same words, different person
Different words, same person
Different time, different place, different person

With the right combination

Eyes open
People heal
Lives transform

Click...click...click.

Definition of Terms

Lectio Divina

• "Be still and know that I am God" (Ps 46:10)
• Literally means divine reading or holy reading
• A method of prayer and scriptural reading used by early Christians to enter into a deep communication with the Triune God
• Opening the eyes and ears of our hearts to listen to the "still small voice of God" (1 Kings 19:12)

Process of Lectio Divina

• Read - select appropriate text from Scripture and read aloud, slowly; just listen to the words
• Reflect - read aloud a second time and ask yourself, "How does this passage relate to my life, past and present?"
• Respond - read aloud a third time and ask, "What is God inviting me to do? What is God asking me to act on?"
• Rest - read aloud a fourth and last time and just listen and enjoy being in the presence of God

Prism |<>| God's Surprises

I am amazed at the ways of God. How He loves to surprise His beloved children! :-) He delights us constantly. An unexpected rainbow when we glance up, a really cute puppy chasing after butterflies, an adorable toddler with curly red hair going down the slide backwards, a lone old man playing sweet music on a chinese string instrument in the quietness of a park.

He placed each of the billion stars in heaven at their exact place, and He knows each of them by name. He has known us even before we were formed in our mother's womb. And He knows what makes us happy and what are the innermost desires of our heart before we even think about it. What have been the surprises He has given you? Did you like it? Did you expect you would like it?

We feel love when we receive things that we don't expect nor deserve. The gift becomes more special. God doesn't have to shower us with surprises but because He loves us, He does. The greatest surprise He gave was unveiled 2,000 years ago. God's gift of His sending His Son, Jesus, just overwhelms me...because of how He planned it for centuries, that in every event and circumstance we see His deliberate timing & purpose. His plan for the surprise unfolding perfectly. To think of the effort, the patience, the planning...

This is the kind of lover that each of us always dreams of having...the love story that each of us wishes we have. The happiest thing is, we do have this lover and this is our love story! And it is, indeed, a privilege to be in a love relationship with a God full of surprises :-)

What a privilege to know You
Like I know You
To be loved like You love me
What an honor to worship, truly worship
From this heart that You have freed
From the rising of the sun
To the setting of the same
Every day, every day with You, Lord
Every day is sweeter than the day before
(from Sweeter, by Lakewood)

What a wonderful, wonderful, beautiful God we have. Thank you, Lord, for loving each of us in Your way.

Prism |<>| Is It Ever Simple?

God asks from us simple things...but the things He asks for are not easy -- they are impossible.

Christians are not exempt from temptation, trials, disasters, disappointments nor problems. In this, we are the same as the entire human race. But in the face of all difficulty and struggles, Christians are asked to keep trusting, keep loving with all our hearts, minds, and souls.

Love our God, love our neighbors, and love even our enemies. Contrary to our human nature of self centeredness, we are called to express love, charity outwards. Is this easy to do 24/7, towards each and every person on this earth?

Giving, giving, giving until we have no more to give. Smiling, smiling, smiling even if there seems nothing to smile about. Thanking, thanking, thanking God for every blessing, trial, and disappointment.

Christianity gives people the proper perspective. We Christians know our place -- humbled on the ground with our faces raised in anticipation towards our loving and faithful Father.

Stupidity? Blind faith? NO. We know exactly WHO we have faith in! We know exactly how God showers blessings and delivers on His promises again and again and again to those who believe in Him. We know that our God does the impossible to give the best to His children. We know that our God is the only reason why and how we ourselves can accomplish the impossible.

To Christians, be reminded -- the Israelites and Joshua had to step into the moving waters of River Jordan to cross it before it dried up 40 minutes later. Remember the times we took the first step and how faithful the Lord has been. It's never easy, but the Lord makes our paths straight.

To not yet Christians, I pray that you would see the wonders of the living God and know it is Him knocking on the door of your heart. That longing, searching, wandering...fill it with Jesus.

The Lord bless you all and may His grace and love be with you.

Definition of Terms

prism (prĭz'm) n. A transparent body of this form, often of glass and usually with triangular ends, used for separating white light passed through it into a spectrum or for reflecting beams of light.

Metaphorically, a prism can refer to anything that is used to look at the world differently. Like rose-colored glasses, for instance. Or Christian spectacles in this case. :-)

Your Love is Better than Life

Your love is better than life
How could I tell the world about You

O Jesus, if I could be...
Like the trees that always
    lift their arms up to praise You
Like the grass that each day
    kneel and give You glory
Like the birds that forever
    sing sweet songs to thank You

For Your love is better than Life!

Sing a New Song

when words and images come together...isn't it wonderful?

Definition of Terms

Worship

• quickening of conscience
• nourishment of the mind
• purification of imagination
• opening of the heart
• submission of will

Wait upon the Lord

• commune - focus turned intensely on God
• quietly trusting
• expecting and anticipating

As I Wait Upon the Lord

How do broken pieces fit
Together to be whole?
How does a reckless child
Return to his own home?

How could everyday be
A sweet song of joy?
How could every trial be
A blessing to make me strong?

(Chorus)
As I wait upon the Lord
Through His amazing love
My heart sings
My Lord restores my soul

As I wait upon the Lord
Because of His faithfulness
He finds me
And carries me back home

(Bridge)
You give me life
You give me peace
I praise Your faithfulness
I sing of Your mercy, Sovereign King!

You give me love
You give me joy
I praise Your faithfulness
I sing of Your glory, Lord, Jesus!
P3 available, by request (I don't know how to upload it)