If you’re about to loose everything, will you still trust and praise God?
When I met Jesus — for who he really is — 10 years ago, one of my battle cry was “Jesus is enough”. He is enough to give comfort, joy, eternal security. He is enough when we feel inadequate. He is enough when life seems to fall apart. He is enough even if you’ll loose everything.
Matt Chandler is a very popular pastor in the US. He leads a successful church, The Village Church, that ministers to thousands of people. He is a well-known speaker in conferences. And, with his words, it seems that at 35 years old, God has given him victory after victory in this life.
Not until the morning of Thanksgiving day. He had a seizure and was rushed to the hospital. They found a tumor in his frontal lobe and has undergone surgery last Friday. He recorded this video before this operation.
If you’re about to loose everything, is Jesus enough? Watch this video and be encouraged — or even be led into repentance for trusting on what you have even knowing that Jesus should be enough in our lives.
Christmas has always been traditionally the fondest, most anticipated and busiest time of the year. And this is also the most misinterpreted holiday of the year.
So how should we spend the Christmas season. Let’s go back to basics. A note from LifeChurch.tv’s Facebook account:
Christmas has become, for many of us, a season of eating, shopping, hosting and spending. We run ourselves ragged in an effort to please the people around us and make everyone get along long enough for all of the holiday pictures to be taken. It’s exhausting and it’s all a bunch of focus on the things that Christmas was never meant to be. We’re not gonna take it anymore. We’re going to make this year different.
This year, (let’s go) back to the basics. This year Christmas (should) be about worship, giving, and love. Those are the things that the first Christmas was all about. When Jesus was born he was a gift from the creator. He was the symbol of God’s love for us. These two realizations caused the shepherds who first visited him to worship in awe of the wonderful miracle of the Messiah.
So as we head into the holiday, let’s conspire to change Christmas. Let’s leave behind the stress and spending and trade them in for worship, giving and love.
Then rest in his arms and say, “Yet not my will Lord, but yours.” At the end of the day, God knows exactly what we need. We may not understand what’s happening. But God is still God. He is sovereign.
In the midst of these storms, may we find peace in the one who is immovable, certain and strong – Jesus Christ.
Lord, most of us are now business as usual. We’re back to work, back to our normal routine. But some of our fellowmen are still trapped in their roofs hungry, wet, depressed.
I’m praying for them, Lord. Please give them emotional and physical strength to hold on and keep their hopes alive. We know that help is coming. It may be taking long, but it is coming. Please whisper this to their hearts. Embrace them with your love at this very moment.
I’m praying for us — for us that are safe, spared from the disaster. Move our hearts from just having pity to real compassion. Convict us to DO something, not just SAY something. Allow us to realize that we are your hands and your feet. Give us the burden, a genuine burden to love.
We are not sure yet, Lord, of what you are telling us because of this tragedy. I’m sure in due time, you will reveal this to us. Whatever it is, may it draw us closer to you. May it become an avenue of self evaluation. May this become a way for us to consider a relationship with you that may have been lost in the past, or even inexistent in the first place.
Be our guide. Be our strength. Be our God. We love you Jesus. Let your children here in the Philippines shout that out loud!
The United States of America is in recession. Big companies filing bankruptcy. The latest was General Motors, the biggest car manufacturer in the country. Here in the Philippines, top CEOs project that 2009 will be the year for the country’s own recession. Should you be concerned?
If you’re an employee, or a student, or a housewife, thinking that this problem is just for the country’s economists or the businessmen to solve and you think you should not be concerned, think again.
If you’re an entrepreneur, you have a reason to be concerned. You may experience decrease in orders, or projects, because your clients will tighten belt and reduce spending. In effect, you will have nothing to pay for your overhead and, worse, you may close shop.
If you’re an employee, you have a reason to be concerned. You might loose your job tomorrow because your company may downsize or eventually close shop.
If you’re a student, you have a reason to be concerned because your dad can loose his job because of the downsizing. Who will pay your tuition, or the broadband internet you’re using to access your Multiply and Friendster account?
If you’re a housewife (or houseband), your have a reason to be concerned. If your working spouse looses his/her job, who will pay the rent and the bills?
If you plan to go abroad, good luck! You may loose your job just months after that company abroad starts purging employees and prioritizing their own citizen.
Recession is everyone’s problem. We all have a reason to be concerned.
In fearful times like this, the only way to live out of the fear is trust. Trust that God will lead you in every single day. In every twist and turn. In every disappointing hour. Jesus, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, will inspire you to do exactly what is needed for the moment. This is the best time to come closer to him. To have that personal relationship become even more personal and intimate. Because the more closer to him we become, the clearer we hear his instructions in times of recession.
God, you caught our attention. Now, what do you want to tell us?
Arnold Gamboa. Jesus' follower. Joyce' lover. Johann's and Arwen's playmate. Team Sparrow leader. LifeChurch Makati's servant. Know more about this blog here.
