Cast ALL your Cares

When my faith shall be sight

"And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful."
Revelations 21:2-5

The Heart...

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?

I, Jehovah, search the heart, test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.

Jeremiah 17:9,10

Enoch

When i woke up yesterday morning, i asked God, "Lord, since you seem to know everything, and you can tell the future, is today going to be another day when i stray away from you?"

Hard as it was, i got myself up and read my Bible, to get some 'Bread of Life' from heaven :) and prepare myself for the day [i was trying to finish Habakkuk]. So the day went by... temptations they 'come-and-go'. But that night before i fell asleep, i thanked Him for walking with me through the day; would not have made it through with my own power.

This morning i asked Him again, "How about today, Lord? Will i break your heart today and then come running back to you?"

.........

"And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:

And Enoch walked with God: and he was not seen again; for God took him."

Genesis 5: 23,24

Dating Around

For the past 2 years at Andrews, i've been a part of the filipino/indonesian youth. We meet for vespers/fellowship every friday night, (sometimes) go to the 2nd service together, and do some activities for sabbath afternoons. I've always wanted to be part of a group and be active, so i wont be idle on friday nights and sabbath afternoons (because that'd be a dangerous thing my friend =P).

Two friday nights ago during vespers, as we continued our Bible study on 'Discipleship', i learned something. it's not something new, but somehow it just hit me in a different way. So i want to share this with you. =)

"If someone calls you from across the street they expect that you will commit your attention to them. If someone calls you on the phone they expect that you will commit your time to them. If a very special someone asks you to marry them, they are hoping that you will agree to commit your life to them."

The author of the lesson continued on, listing the progressive stages of commitment:

1. Friendship (group fun & games)

2. Casual dating (group dates)

3. Special dating

4. Steady dating/courting

5. Engaged to be engaged

6. Engagement

7. Marriage

(that was his version of course. hehe)

The more we trust and/or love someone, the greater commitment we are willing to make to them.

..........

I think that's my problem. I have a big time issue on commitment. When i look at my relationship with God, i see myself going back and forth. In finding pleasure in sin and kneeling on my knees for forgiveness when i feel miserable..... As if i'm 'dating around' and my allegiance is never sure.

God wants us to walk with Him. To commit to Him fully like we would to our spouse.

"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." I John 2:1

this one in Hebrews is one my favorite verse...

"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:15,16

As we continue our walk with Him, let's not put in vain the sacrifice that our Savior has made on that cross. That when we find ourselves in 'spiritual darkness' we don't be discouraged, and linger any longer in the slums of sin, but know [with full confidence] that we can come boldly unto the throne of grace, and continue our 'upward course' with Him once more.

(Oh man i think this song goes along so well with the verse... =)