LOOKING BACK AT 2016

Last week, I got to sit down with a 90 year old man who is eagerly waiting for his day to meet with the Lord Jesus Christ. He didn't talk much; he was a bit too tired to and he wanted to go rest even if it was in the middle of the day. However, the few moments I spent with him are still etched in my mind.

 

There is one question that really struck me though... "Did you ever imagine, in all you life, that you would be here right now?" (I'm just paraphrasing his words)

And even if we were talking about my relationship with his granddaughter, it's a question that covered much more that that... For me, it reminded me of every moment of 2016 and how God has been so faithful to see me through from the very first day till now, counting down hours to the end of it.

I started this year two months into my new job working with Teens and I really didn't know what 2016 had in store for me. But as I sit here writing this, I can't help but remember the prayer I made just over 9 years ago asking God to allow me to serve him and he finally gave me the chance... I am living that prayer now.

It's over 3 years since I graduated from university and if at that time you asked me to define success 3 years after leaving campus, I'd tell you it would be working in a big construction firm (construction is my field of training), earning a 6 figure salary and living a lavish lifestyle.

Having worked in full time ministry for an entire year has turned my definition of success up side down.

I'd say this has been my most successful year in employment; not because I am earning a 6 figure salary and living a lavish lifestyle... But because I am living God's purpose in my life. I have seen God work in the lives of young people this year, I've seen Him using me to reach out and I have seen His faithfulness.

So back to the story of meeting someone's grandad last week... As he asked that question, I couldn't help but think how my relationship has been this year... From getting down on one knee and her saying yes, to introducing families and finally getting parental blessing to marry her... Who would have thought!!!

2016 has been a year of seeing God's favour, He has been my provision, He has been my comfort, He has been my assurance. I could never have imagined my year going this way... But it did and it was all Him!!!

For me, this has been a year of God fulfilling promises He has given in His word.

"For we live by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7

I have not lived my life this year with a definite idea of how things would actually end, but God has taken control of things and I can only sit back and be amazed at how perfect He is in His ways. I just can't help think what kind of a mess of my life I would have created had I not trusted Him  enough.

How often do we think we have everything under control and we end up getting things all wrong, messing up God's perfect plans? This year has been a reminder that I am the worst at running my own life.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

The beauty of life is that we have absolutely no idea how our lives will be, what tomorrow holds, and worse of how much time we have on our hands. This could just as well be my last day and what really matters is that I've places my life in the one who's got it all in His plans.

As we get to the last moments of 2016, I am reminded that His will for me is good, pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:2) I'd be a fool to think that I know it all. At this rate, I just can't wait to see the miracles He has in store for 2017.

As we get to 2017, may this testimony be a reminder that we are God's workmanship, created to live according to His will and to find joy in living our lives in Him who's got our backs.

Have a prosperous 2017, won't you?

DO YOU REALLY NEED JESUS???

 

I loved my years in Campus and I sometimes sit and reminisce over those days… Most of all because I had the freedom to make my own choices, I’d create as much free time as I could and I’d make use of every free time that came my way. 

It was almost as if I was detached from the rest of the world and I lived in a bit of oblivion in regards to my future, my past and really about my own needs. Whenever I ran out of money, I only needed to talk to my folks and they’d send me whatever I needed.

I’m sure I was not the only one that lived this way. I saw the way my friends lived… at times a little more extravagant than I lived, but in somewhat the same mindset as mine… Enjoy Life!!! You only live once, right??

I heard many of them confess that they would not change their lifestyles for anything… And I guess hearing such statements and seeing them live exactly that way is what drove me to write You Only Live Once. 

The truth is, so many of us young people are so willing to make the decision of living in sin and finding comfort in our sinful ways. 

“Health and wholeness bring responsibility and effort that some who are physically, emotionally or spiritually exhausted may choose to avoid.”

More than once, I have heard people say that life in Christ is too much for them… Or get to hear some people who say that dating a Christian is boring. From what I get… Being a Christian is high maintenance. It goes beyond just the decision to get saved and moves on to upholding the faith… and it hits that that is just too hard to do; so let’s just live in sin!

If Christ came to you today and asked you a simple question… “Do you want to get well?” What would your answer be???

There was this guy who had lived for 38 years in paralysis (John 5:1-9) who was asked the very same question by Christ… and he simply blabbered when asked that question. After 38 years in sickness, he was no longer sure he wanted health. 

Are you so lost in your sin that you no longer know if you want salvation??? Are you like this man who had grown so accustomed to his inabilities that they started to seem normal to him?? Does it seem like your sinful ways are quite fine and you can continue living in sin??

In as much as this man was not sure he needed healing, Christ was sure that he needed to heal him. Just like for this man, Christ also knows you need salvation, Christ knows that your decision to enjoy the pleasures of your youth and live in sin needs to change and He is ready and waiting for you to come to him and experience a new life. 

          “… Get up, pick your mat and walk” John 5:8

Jesus gave him this very simple instruction and that was the changing point in his life. And it is as simple as that for us as well… 

1.    Get up

This is simply a call to obey… to leave our sinful ways and make a deliberate decision to follow Him.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 6:23

2.    Pick up your mat

This man had always had to depend on other people to help him… But he now had God on his side. 

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”…” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Salvation calls for us to depend on God’s strength to sustain our survival. The more you rely on your own strength (or lack of it), the more you end up getting away from Christ.

3.    Walk

This was a call to get away from the life he lived and seek a new life in salvation. 

“Flee from evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace along with those who call on the name of the Lord out of a pure heart.” 2 Timothy 2:22

 

If we continue to surround ourselves in sinful ways, we’ll end up slipping back there… so we simply need to move away from sin and pursue righteousness. 

Are you like this man who was so lost in his sickness that he began to see it as if life in sin and weakness is just fine??

It is not just fine to live in sin… It is not just fine to keep getting further and further away from God. Today God is calling you to make a simple decision to “Get up, pick up your mat and walk.”

LETTER TO MY UNBORN CHILD

I sat down a while back and the thought of having a child was really exciting... I know I am still quite ways off from seeing that happen. However, I could not help but think how I would love my child to know Christ and experience the joy of being in Christ. 

I could not help take a while to pen down the little I have on my mind...

To my dear child, 

I begin this letter by referring to you as my child because I'm still not married to your mother, and I have no idea if you are a boy or a girl… I do not even know when you will receive this letter and read it as I pour my heart out to you. 

I bet you are wondering the reason I am writing this to you… I simply do not want you to end up taking the same paths that I took and making the same mistakes that I made. Let me be an example to you on how not to live your life. 

The first truth I want to present to you is that you have been born into a world of darkness. My dear child, the truth is, you are getting into a world that is full of sin, and you are born into sinful nature. I have been there, and I have lived in sin. I do not say it with any sort of pride, but I have to say it so that you can realize the reality of the world that you are living in. 

My dear child, please know that even with the darkness that fills the world, we have hope, and that is the hope that I found a long time after I had lived my life in darkness. That hope is in a living God who made the ultimate sacrifice to die on our behalf and take on the burden of sin. 

Can you imagine a God who chose to be punished for sins that have not yet been committed? A God who let go of His majesty and immortality and took on mortality for the sake of a people who rejected Him and choose to remain in darkness... That is the kind of love and hope that we have in Him. 

All these truths are scriptural… and I pray that a time will come, and I hope it is soon, that you will study the word of God and see these truths for yourself. 

“The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” John 1:5

My child, I urge you at this early point of your life, to embrace the light, embrace the love of Jesus Christ who took on flesh for our sake. May you not be like me who waited too long to walk in the light. You will soon realize that not everyone around you walks in the light. Even the scriptures say that many have decided to remain in darkness. 

I sincerely beg you from the bottom of my heart… get away from the darkness; it will only bring you pain and eternal damnation, while in the light you have eternal life through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice. 

Nothing beats living in the light; nothing beats knowing that you are loved and that all your sins are forgiven. 

The second truth I would like you to know is the reason why you are alive. 

I can bet you that so many people in this world have asked themselves this question so many times… why on earth am I alive??? Now, before you get to the point of asking yourself that, may I take the time to volunteer the answer to you? 

"Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind." John 1:3-4

I would love for you to begin your life knowing that your mother and I love you very much... but there is a love that exceeds the love that we'll have for you, and that is the love of God. 

You see, the reason you were born was not a decision made between your mother and I... It was based on a more supreme vision than that; it was through God that you have found the breath of life. The only way you will know why you exist is if you find Him. 

I can assure you that many of the people around you right now do not really know why they live... but, my dear child, if you begin your life with knowledge that you were created for a purpose, it will get hard for you to lose your way. If you keep your eyes on the target, you will always know which way to go. 

The third and final thing I have for you right now is that whenever you get lost, you will always find your way back. 

This is very much related to the other two truths I have told you about... The light that is there in the darkness and the one who created you for His glory is only a prayer away. 

Now please know that your mother and I will always be ready to help you find the way... But you will probably get to a point where we'll not always be there. And when you will feel weakest, when you will be at the end of your road... That is the point when His will start, that is when He will swing into action and be your superhero. 

"But he said to me 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore i will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." 2 Cor 12:9

As you take each and every day of your life, I hope and pray each and every day that these truths will be a guide in letting you experience the goodness of our creator. 

As I said, I am writing this way before your birth, and I can attest to this wonderful God that I write about and He is the hope and trust that I live by. So may my weaknesses, my faults, my ignorance to God's will, my sin... may it all serve as an example to you on the best decisions that you can ever make in your life... Life in Jesus Christ

I love you very much my child.

Written by a father to be, with the hope of seeing a redeemed generation.