Seasons of Change [12/16/2013]

Thinking back to my past used to be painful and embarrassing for me. I was a very different person before I met Christ and as I look back, I'm amazed at how much God has changed me. I'm amazed only because it's something I never could have accomplished on my own, no matter how hard I tried.

Thinking back to my past now isn't as painful for me (although I still shudder at the thought at times) because I can now see a certain joy and blessing through my past and my present - a joy that is only visible because of the works of my creator and saviour.

I really enjoy 2 Corinthians 5:17:
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is made a new creation: The old is gone, the new has come!"

God promises us that after we accept Christ into our life and earn salvation, it is not the end of the road. Instead, he begins to lead us through the process of sanctification - to become more like him every day we live on this earth. I was reading an article and it said that hagiasmos means sanctification in Greek, and it is the same as hagios, which is the Greek word for holy. Therefore, to be sanctified means to be made more holy!

Brothers and sisters, we are all going through this process of sanctification. God is working in all of our hearts so that we may become more like Him! As we continue to pursue Christ, we become more and more like Christ, but this doesn't come without a few aches and pains.

Last night, I was reading "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis, and I came across this wonderful parable (that he got from George MacDonald) of how it is when God is working in him to become more like Christ.

"Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently he starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself."

When God works in us, it is not always easy and very often it is painful, but He is building us to become something greater and much more beautiful - He is changing us into the masterpiece he intended for us to be. So I want to encourage you to hold on tightly to the Lord through the aches and the pains you feel as he is working on you. It isn't always easy and it may feel like you have been abandoned, or life is really difficult to handle, but trust in the Lord because he is always working on you. He never stops.

On that note, don't forget to trust in the Lord when you fall and stumble. Our God is a forgiving, merciful and loving God. When you make mistakes - which you most likely will - God is waiting there right beside you to help you back up. As I write this I think of King David, a man who was always after God's own heart, but who made mistakes on several different occasions. It is David's softened heart towards the Lord that really speaks to me. When he is rebuked by Nathan (2 Samuel 12:7) his immediate response is to repent for his sins and then he humbly accepts the discipline of the Lord (2 Samuel 12:20).

I desire for my heart to be as soft towards the Lord just like King David. I desire to have a heart that is soft enough for God to mould with ease so that daily, I become more and more like Him.

I trust that we are always changing for God is always working, and as a body, we really need to work together in encouraging one another. If people hadn't accepted that I was changing, it would have been much more difficult for me to change. I was a certain way for a very long time, and if people hadn't let go of that idea of me, I would have been so discouraged. In the same way, there are people in our lives that we have known for such a long time and because we believe we know them so well, we have a difficult time realizing they are changing and being made new. But we must open our eyes and see how God is working! And encourage our brothers and sisters by taking note of how God is changing them!

It isn't always easy, but I believe we can do this! We can support one another and encourage one another to become more like Christ! So let's continue to walk down this path together. Let's encourage each other to hold on tightly to our Saviour, let's help each other up when we stumble, and let's grow together as one body!

With love,

kjoosaurus.

Parts of a Whole [5/16/12]

Hello to all of God's beautiful children!

Was your day filled with many blessings? Of course it was! Every single day is a blessing hehe :) I had a fabulous day! I was able to hang out with a friend from Ottawa, and it was plenty of fun! I really, really miss everybody from my church in Ottawa. I wish you could all visit me! I'm praying it will happen one day!

Well, today, I wanted to talk a little about something I learned last night. I was at Soultrek (the youth group at my church) and a friend of mine was preaching. His message was great! He talked about the body of Christ, and how we make up the body while Jesus makes up the head.

1 Corinthians 12:12

¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body,so it is with Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free —and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.¹⁴ Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

¹⁵ Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?¹⁸ But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. ¹⁹ If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” ²² On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³ and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴ while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵ so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

We, as the church, make up the body. Every single one of us has a certain part, and we must do our part to help the body function! God calls each one of us to play a certain role for Him. Oftentimes, I find we know what He wants us to do, but we do not wish to follow through with it! Why do we do this? Sometimes, there are different pressures in our lives. Sometimes, we're too scared to do it. There are many, many reasons that may prevent us from completing the role God has given us, but we shouldn't let our doubts and fears overcome us! 

When we do not do our part, the rest of the body cannot function properly! I really love how well this is written. It is 100% relatable to our human bodies. If our eyes do not do its job, then the rest of our body struggles. If our hands do not work, then the rest of our body struggles. It is the same with the spiritual body! When God calls us to do our part, we must do our part! 

There is not a single part of a body that can do every single part. A part is a part, but all of the parts together makes a whole! 

Corinthians 12:27-30

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. ²⁸ And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues^[d]? Do all interpret? ³¹ Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.

Each one of us has a different gift that we must use for the work of the Lord! But, none of us has all of these gifts. We all work together, and together, we make one body! I hope you will seek to do his work. I hope you will pray and ask God what it is He wants you to do. Ask Him to USE you! Ask Him to help you do your part! Some of us know exactly what he wants us to do while others are not as certain. Right now, I know I'm supposed to be writing this blog. I know God will continue to use us in more and more ways! 

So, what are you doing to serve God? What could you change in your life to serve Him better? Do you think you are doing your part right now? 

I personally know I'm not doing enough... There is so much more I should be doing, but I feel scared to do it! Slowly, God is breaking down these walls of fear, and I feel closer and closer to doing my part. May he break down your walls of fear! May he cast away any doubts you may have. Let us praise him through the storm! :) 

Here's the song I listened to today: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxvAaq9q5Kw

Well, goodnight to all of God's children! May all of your dreams be from Him! :) 

- kjoosaurus out!