Isaiah 64-66

"As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before me," declares the LORD, "so will your name and descendants endure. From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me," says the LORD.
"And they will go out and look upon the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me; their worm will not die, not will their fire be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind."

Every time I read about Jesus' second coming and the day of judgment, it makes me examine my life. I realize how privileged I am to be saved and to know that I will dwell with God for all eternity. I, also, realize how I forget in my day to day life of that reality. I forget that there will be a day of judgment, which makes me realize my lack of compassion for those around me who don't know Jesus.

May we be reminded this day to live with the knowledge is that Jesus is indeed coming again. And may our lives reflect that knowledge.

Luke 19-21

Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties for life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.

Jesus is talking about the end of times. It says be careful not to "be weighed down with the anxieties of life" but pray. I know I've been struggling with praying. Especially, now that we are working, it's so easy to neglect prayer. However, we know how important it is to pray. Let us pray and lift up all our anxities to God.

Also, this passage made me think about what it will be like to stand before Jesus. I always thought it would be so wonderful to see him face to face, but am I really ready to face him? Would he call me "good and faithful servant" after examining my life?

Let us live every day in fear of God praying and lifting our needs to him. Also, remember to live to please him with everything we do and say :)

Isaiah 59-61

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion–to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor...

I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.

As I was praying this morning, God asked me how much do I love the people he has put in my life?

I noticed in the last few weeks that my struggle in seeking God totally had an effect in your walk with God. If I really love you and care for you as my sister in Christ, the best way for me to show my love is to seek the Lord with all my heart and to pray for you. I realized that when I choose to do my own thing instead following the Lord, I am not the only one effected.

The above scripture talks about our calling as the children of God to have love and compassion to the people in our lives by sharing God's love. But the ability to love is not in us. I've experienced over and over again how selfish I am and many times I seem to live just to meet my own needs. The great thing is that God is very aware of that. That's why he "has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness" so God can work through me.

It's so great that God can use even someone like me to "make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations." Praise God:)

Luke 15-18

"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him."

We are very familiar with this story of the lost son. And we have heard sermons on this passage more than once.

I've been feeling very inadequate these days. Whenever I miss praise team practice, service, sunday school, TLC, etc. I feel so bad and ashamed because I am being so irresponsible. So I avoid talking to people. (I know I worry them by doing so..) Whether it was due to illness or other reasons, I feel so unworthy before God and men. However, reading this passage reminds me of God's compassion.

God knows me. God knows you. His salvation, forgiveness of sins, eternal life.. has nothing to do with us. He has given them to us for free. And he knows what we are going through - how sometimes we enjoy sin more than him - yet he has compassion on us. Let us examine our hearts. If we have been away from God and his word, let us return to him. He wants to hear from us.