"I will be an encircling wall of fire for it—oracle of the LORD—and I will be the glory in its midst.” (Zechariah 2: 9 NABRE)
If God is for you, who can be against you?. If God surrounds you with an impregnable firewall, who can touch you?
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
on your own intelligence do not rely;
In all your ways be mindful of him,
and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3: 5 - 6)
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Friday, September 27, 2013
The "waiting" words meet the "owner"
"Now be strong, Zerubbabel—oracle of the LORD—
be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, high priest,
Be strong, all you people of the land—oracle of the LORD—
and work! For I am with you—oracle of the LORD of hosts.
This is the commitment I made to you
when you came out of Egypt.
My spirit remains in your midst;
do not fear!" (Haggai 2: 4 - 5)
The above word of God caused me excitement when I heard it a couple of times this morning. I remembered what Pope Benedict XVI wrote in his book, JESUS OF NAZARETH - The Infancy Narrative. He wrote:
Are you waiting for the Lord to speak to you about something? Maybe your purpose in life? Know for certain that there is a word of God for you. This word is your "waiting" word. It is waiting for the right time to manifest itself. A Chinese proverb says: "When the student is ready, the teacher appears." Are you ready for your "waiting" words? Are you getting ready? The word of God says:
"Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us." (Romans 5:5)
When the "owner" is ready, the "waiting" words will appear.
be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, high priest,
Be strong, all you people of the land—oracle of the LORD—
and work! For I am with you—oracle of the LORD of hosts.
This is the commitment I made to you
when you came out of Egypt.
My spirit remains in your midst;
do not fear!" (Haggai 2: 4 - 5)
The above word of God caused me excitement when I heard it a couple of times this morning. I remembered what Pope Benedict XVI wrote in his book, JESUS OF NAZARETH - The Infancy Narrative. He wrote:
"One of the characteristics of early Christian narrative is that it provides these "waiting" words with their "owner." This connection between the "waiting" word and the recognition of its "owner," now that he has appeared, has given rise to the typically Christian approach to exegesis, which is new and yet remains utterly faithful to the original words of Scripture."Is Haggai 2: 4 - 5 the words I have been waiting for since 1208? Am I the owner of this rhema? Or am I still waiting for something else?
Are you waiting for the Lord to speak to you about something? Maybe your purpose in life? Know for certain that there is a word of God for you. This word is your "waiting" word. It is waiting for the right time to manifest itself. A Chinese proverb says: "When the student is ready, the teacher appears." Are you ready for your "waiting" words? Are you getting ready? The word of God says:
"Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us." (Romans 5:5)
When the "owner" is ready, the "waiting" words will appear.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Build My House
"Go up into the hill country;
bring timber, and build the house
that I may be pleased with it,
and that I may be glorified, says the LORD." (Haggai 1: 8)
How do we contribute to building God's Church?
"Bring the whole tithe
into the storehouse,
That there may be food in my house.
Put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts,
And see if I do not open the floodgates of heaven for you,
and pour down upon you blessing without measure!" (Malachi 3: 10)
Our tithe of time, talent and treasure is one way of making our contribution to the building of the kingdom.
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides." (Matthew 6: 33)
When the kingdom of God becomes our Number 1 priority in life, our contribution and our stake in the Enterprise become enhanced. The sin of the Israelites in Haggai 1: 8 is that they delayed the completion of God's Temple till they finish their homes, thus making God's kingdom a secondary priority.
bring timber, and build the house
that I may be pleased with it,
and that I may be glorified, says the LORD." (Haggai 1: 8)
How do we contribute to building God's Church?
"Bring the whole tithe
into the storehouse,
That there may be food in my house.
Put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts,
And see if I do not open the floodgates of heaven for you,
and pour down upon you blessing without measure!" (Malachi 3: 10)
Our tithe of time, talent and treasure is one way of making our contribution to the building of the kingdom.
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides." (Matthew 6: 33)
When the kingdom of God becomes our Number 1 priority in life, our contribution and our stake in the Enterprise become enhanced. The sin of the Israelites in Haggai 1: 8 is that they delayed the completion of God's Temple till they finish their homes, thus making God's kingdom a secondary priority.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Jesus is the Good News!
"This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1: 15)
St Irenaeus wrote: “The glory of God is man fully alive.” Jesus Christ is that Man who is fully alive. He shows us the potential for every man and woman. His coming ushers in the kingdom of God. The kingdom is here and now. It is here in the Church. The kingdom is also here and yet to come. It is yet to come in its fullness when Jesus Christ returns in the parousia.
To believe in Jesus and believe in the Gospel is one and the same thing. With the heart, we believe in Him. With our mouth, we confess the truth about Jesus. Salvation comes from belief and confession.
Believe in Jesus!Jesus is the Good News that brings joy to the heart. He is the first and principal cause of our pardon and peace. He is the source of authority and power that we need everyday in our life. He is the Alpha and Omega and therefore the source of our purpose in life. Jesus promises us His constant presence. He is our only and effective protection and provision for everything we need in life.
Jesus is the Good News!
The Good News is Jesus.
St Irenaeus wrote: “The glory of God is man fully alive.” Jesus Christ is that Man who is fully alive. He shows us the potential for every man and woman. His coming ushers in the kingdom of God. The kingdom is here and now. It is here in the Church. The kingdom is also here and yet to come. It is yet to come in its fullness when Jesus Christ returns in the parousia.
To believe in Jesus and believe in the Gospel is one and the same thing. With the heart, we believe in Him. With our mouth, we confess the truth about Jesus. Salvation comes from belief and confession.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
My mother, my brothers and sisters
"He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.” (Luke 8: 21)
Lord Jesus, I want to hear your word and act on it. Grant me the grace. I desire to build my life on the rock of your word. Help me.
“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock." (Matthew 7: 24)
Lord Jesus, I want to hear your word and act on it. Grant me the grace. I desire to build my life on the rock of your word. Help me.
“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock." (Matthew 7: 24)
Monday, September 23, 2013
Jesus is the Light that guides you
"Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father." (Matthew 5: 16)
What is this light? How does it shine before others?
This light is simply the light from the Gospel. The Gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ preached and taught His disciples. This light in the mind of Christians transforms how Christians see and relate to the most important questions in life. Some of these questions are:
The Gospel of Jesus Christ provides answers (lights) to all the above questions and more. When we navigate our daily lives with the lights provided by Jesus, who is the Light of the World, we are balanced and always joyful. Our attitude seeps into our behavior and work. People around us notice the difference and magnify our Father in Heaven.
What is this light? How does it shine before others?
This light is simply the light from the Gospel. The Gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ preached and taught His disciples. This light in the mind of Christians transforms how Christians see and relate to the most important questions in life. Some of these questions are:
- Who is God?
- Who is man?
- What is the purpose of the world?
- What is the purpose of life?
- Why ill-health? Why no money, job or food?
- What does the future hold for me?
The Gospel of Jesus Christ provides answers (lights) to all the above questions and more. When we navigate our daily lives with the lights provided by Jesus, who is the Light of the World, we are balanced and always joyful. Our attitude seeps into our behavior and work. People around us notice the difference and magnify our Father in Heaven.
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Pray for our leaders
"First of all, then, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone,
for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity." (1 Timothy 2: 1 - 2)
All power and authority come from God. In God's mysterious plan,He shares this authority with whomever He wants. He puts sons and daughters under the authority of their parents. He puts nations under the authority of leaders He appoints.
It is God's command and pleasure that we pray for our leaders whether they are believers or not. Why? Because God has given them the power to influence critical outcomes in our lives. For example, "that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity." When we reflect on the gruesome savagery of the Second World War, we see the wisdom of God's word. Instead of crying, "Why did God not prevent it?", we learn from the word of God and history and make it a habit to pray for our leaders everyday. That way, we contribute our quota to world peace.
for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity." (1 Timothy 2: 1 - 2)
All power and authority come from God. In God's mysterious plan,He shares this authority with whomever He wants. He puts sons and daughters under the authority of their parents. He puts nations under the authority of leaders He appoints.
It is God's command and pleasure that we pray for our leaders whether they are believers or not. Why? Because God has given them the power to influence critical outcomes in our lives. For example, "that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity." When we reflect on the gruesome savagery of the Second World War, we see the wisdom of God's word. Instead of crying, "Why did God not prevent it?", we learn from the word of God and history and make it a habit to pray for our leaders everyday. That way, we contribute our quota to world peace.
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