Hope, Faith & Love

' The  Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. ' Jeremiah 31:3 https://my.bible.com/bible/111/JER.31.3 Reflecting over recent times and my own faith journey; I am not sure about you but I go through seasons where I am serious about my faith and then there are times where I would struggle to pray. I am not going to say everything is rosy and I am always on a high about faith. Seriously there are days, looking back in hindsight, that I deserve a good smack over the head. So how did I get to the place I am now, where a day without prayer just doesn't feel right. It is like going for a day without talking to your partner, it just hurts. Honesty I don't know but one thing I have realised. As people, we want to change people. We want to influence and get them to change their views or habits, for the good and otherwise. I like to say that the motive is always love or for their benefit, but ...

' A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, ' ~ Proverbs 1:5 ~ https://my.bible.com/bible/100/PRO.1.5 In the age where everyone has an opinion about everything - some speak from experience. Some speak from knowledge and then there are others who just speak.  Either way, the phenomenal growth of social media over the last decade has given voice to anyone who has a mobile phone or internet access. For myself, there is almost a weariness of social media; I long for proper face-to-face communication, sitting down with a friend and actually laugh instead of "LOL"! The art of listening to others, respecting what is being said, and reflecting on it seems to be a lost art. But people and communities are found on interaction and communication, without the need to be the loudest voice in the room. To be able to sit with someone to listen, talk, and gain understanding, not just knowledge. To be able to work and reflect...

As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God? ~ Psalms 42:1-2 ~ As I grew and go through stages of life, if I am honest, I have always longed for something - a life partner, money, clothes, love, stability and the list goes on. I am not sure if there is a single person who does not longing for things. In recent times, that longing hasn't disappeared. No, I haven't become "super holy" at the point of enlightenment, those dreams and hopes are still there. Rather it is coming to the realisation what is it that I really value. For me, it is the completeness as a person. That can't be done by myself, but I need the presence of the One who calls me to being - God. There has been a deep longing, moaning for His Presence. A soul that desires to reach that relationship with His Majesty; walking in step with Him, to hear His Voice just as Peter did. For me, the c...

' “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace . I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” '  Matthew 11:28-30 https://my.bible.com/bible/97/MAT.11.28-30   Over the last 5 or 6 years has been some of the most difficult times in my life, but somehow I am still here. It has taken it's toll on the mental, physical and spiritual level and often found myself asking the question, "why?" Well, there weren't any answers to that. And just as many times, I have asked myself what I can do to find my way back into God's good grace again.  I tried everything - I mean everything and I am pretty sure somewhere in the midst of that I tried to blackmail God. You know, "if you don't show up God, I am going...

LOSING MY RELIGION John 14:6: "I am the  way , and the truth, and the  life ; no one comes to the Father except through me." Listening to an old song from REM of the same title, it had me reflecting about my faith and life with Jesus. Recent times have been some of the toughest and most confusing times of my life – my foundation, things I thought I knew, relationships and faith were shaken and challenged time after time.  My thoughts of situation (real or perceived), circumstances and other things had me struggling to grasp onto anything to keep myself from sinking. I struggled to find the voice to worship, praise or prayer. I was even struggling to find my own identity, what I like and dislike; trying to make sense of it all. Nothing really made sense. The Bible verses I had learnt, thought I understood didn't feel the same; it is funny how things seems to be different when you are looking in from the outside in comparison to bei...

Bless the  Lord , O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: (Psalms 103:2) The goodness and timing of God still amazes me after all these years. The trip came during one of those times in life where nothing seems to line up; stress and discontentment personally and work, things have been so busy and things were a bit chaotic. Therefore, I was not ready for this trip. I have barely planned, have not really thought about accommodation until the last minute and didn’t have time to look forward to the trip itself but God is good. I had the opportunity to attended two wedding receptions – it is amazing to see and hear how both couples’ stories and the love they have for each other. Having known both couples over the years; seen the struggles, highs and lows in their lives, God has been faithful as they continue to abide in Him. It was also wonderful to see a friend get water baptized and hear of her journey with Jesus. How excited she was as she steps throug...

23  Let us hold unswervingly to the hope  we profess,  for he who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 11:23) God is an amazing with his relentless pursue of us, how His love for us never tires. This thought had me reflecting on my response to His pursue of me. Don't get me wrong, I am always amaze and thankful for His constant and consistent love for me but if I don't response, it is a warm and fuzzy feeling. Recently on my tip to Krabi, Thailand, want of the things I wanted to do was to hike Tab Kak Hang Nak trail / Khao Ngon Nak in Tubkaek National Park. It didn't seem too bad, about 4km and 565 metres about sea level. But I was wrong, the humidity, heat, terrain and topping it off, I was unwell - made this hike much harder. There were so many times on the trail, I thought to myself; "Why am I doing this?", "This is too hard...", "I can't go on.." Feeling almost spent but somehow I found the energy and will to push on to the ...