God’s Beautiful City

I am determined to see
God’s beautiful city,
Where the light is shining so pretty.

Do you know that Jesus is this light
Which shineth so bright?

Oh yes, believe in His might
And see how He will execute
The darkness of the night.

—Kirsché

Oh Lord, I give my will over to you, thus causing my death. Your Word says, though, that when I do this, I shall live. I’m standing on your Word. I’m expecting to see the growth of Your seed in me as I die.

One reason CI exists is to counter the situations presented in the essay below. Knowing that it cannot impact everyone, CI endeavors to help indirectly by equipping others to battle the plight of those caught up in Life!. Using the premise of 2Timothy 2:2, equipping others to go and pass on what they’ve been taught, CI is determined to make a difference in others’ lives, particularly in their coming to know Jesus. So, here it is.

Life!

Life’s Ponder

Jesus, have you forgotten all about me?
I ask him with a single plea!

He answers with a smile,
From the heaven’s sky.

A touch of wind touched my cheek.
In that instant I knew why.

He is always around.
Perhaps I had forgotten all about Him.

—Kirsché

DISCIPLESHIP

Discipleship is not merely knowledge. There is a knowledge component, but it is primarily patterns and processes to practice and pass on. This means that as much is taught by example as by content. The methods and principles of Bible study, the patterns of prayer life and worship, and the encouragement, fellowship, support and equipping of the Body are all being learned as the leaders model. An attitude of servanthood, humility, urgency, faith, passion for extending God’s Kingdom, and love for fellow believers and the lost on the part of the leaders are also vital aspects of this approach. These aspects of discipleship are caught more than taught. (http://wsaresourcesite.org)

A pair of dove made a nest in our backyard. I watched as the mother bird and the father bird watched over the nest, and the mother bird lay on the egg. One morning I saw that the eggs had hatched, a two baby dove were there. In a couple of days, a crow came by and snatched one of the baby birds. I thought it had taken both, but in the evening, the other baby bird was perched on the fence with its mother.

Then, I began noticing the most fascinating thing over the next few days as I observed the mother bird care for its little one. The mother bird would mimic actions, and then expect the little one to follow. When it taught the little dove to fly, the mother dove would flap its wings while still on the ground. When the little one didn’t do what it was showing it to do, it would peck it. The little one then began flapping its wings. It elevated a bit off the ground. The mother dove would then fly to a spot. The little dove flew awkwardly, but it reached the spot where the mother dove was.

I began reflecting on the tremendous learning experience. The little dove learned by doing. I reflected on my life. I had learned so much from my parents and older siblings just by observing.
I have now realized that discipleship is about modeling for the disciple. Just giving him bible studies is not enough. His learning comes from watching me.

Being

As I awoke one morn’,
With my soul all tattered and torn,
I asked you, Lord, Why me?
Have I not followed thee?
My Lord answered me:

“Hush child, be still,
You are in my will.
Take more time to pray,
This will set your soul free.”

Then I realized that one morn’,
This is the way my soul was meant to be
So that I will continuously seek thee.

—Kirsché

My Way!

There have been times in which I have encountered fog, snow, blinding rain, sunshine and darkness. One would think that these elements and conditions have created my way. One would think that because of them, one needed to take detours or even be stifled. This is true. However, the way about which I am writing is the one in which these elements or conditions are not obstacles in my path. Rather, they are the molders of my heart, which in turn shape my way. My heart can be either of God or evil. Because of the many devices, or ways, where a man can turn, his way can become broad. Very many things will seem to be right. Because of one’s inherent nature to want to be a pleaser of oneself, the way taken is often centered on pleasing self.

When one’s way is not constricted by parents, school or other social institutions, one’s way can become very broad. On broad ways there are many avenues to seek to satisfy oneself. Much of it is experimental, but the experiments become a looming and continual reality. Unfortunately, these ways are completely contrary to anything that is spiritual, thus, deterring a person away from God. The reason for this widening gap between God’s way and ways of fleshly mortals is that when man seeks his own way, his desires will take him to the things of death. These things are embedded in the flesh. They are partying, alcohol and drugs, street life, pride, lust, covetousness, greed, condescendingness, sex, lying and deceit. When one’s way is established on any of these, he cannot be of God. Interestingly, these fleshly ways usually exist together—one does not have just one of them.

One’s heart establishes one’s way. The heart can be deceptive to lead one down the wrong way. Once a person has accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, Jesus comes into the person’s heart. A person can establish his heart by relying on God’s Word and evaluating his heart according to the Word.

One’s way can be summarized easily: it is either of God or of sin. I have chosen God for my Way.

Principles to Live By

• Ensure that every aspect of your life is aligned with the Word of God.

• Bow down to God for shaping all aspects of your life

• Do not think about maintaining well-being; God is responsible for that.

• The mind, if left unfettered, will introduce sin and deception.

• Have faith in God for everything.

• Pray before every action.

• Don’t imagine outcomes of actions. If the actions are in God’s will, the outcomes, no matter what they are and how they feel, are for the best.

• Remember that one’s desires, if not shaped by God’s Word and prayer, are to take one away from God.

• Die to one’s self and will.

• Find contentment in whatever state you’re in.

• Go out of your way to love your neighbor.

• Live moment by moment.

• Let humility be your garment.

The Race

As I run this race to the finish line where you wait, Lord, I must know your will. I need to know the difference between the things I should be doing and the things that are distractions. These distractions either become weight or lead me off course.

Right now, O Lord, I request that you highlight the path where I should be going to get to the finish line. Not only close the paths that can lead me astray but also remove them from my sight and mind. Give me the desire to run a steady straight course. Let me totally focus on the race that is before me; not turning to the left or right.

Living in this world can often feel despairing. Life is based on what we have experienced, heard or seen. To know if we are on the “right” track depends on the image of the world we have formed.

In thinking about life, I know that happiness is something that’s abstract. Who is to say what can make a person happy? The problem that people most often encounter in their pursuit of happiness is that they seek and do things solely because of tradition. Unfortunately, tradition may not be truth. There could be a better way to find what one is looking for.

When one looks at life and ponders:
What is it all about?
Why am I here?
What’s my purpose?
How can I discover meaning?
God has presented us with an answer in his Word: the above verse.

The purpose for living is to fear God and keep his commandments. By learning his Word and submitting ourselves to it, we can find the true meaning of life. We might often ask ourselves questions based on feelings of being human. We search for our destiny based on what society offers. We follow the paths given to us. Or, we are now down a road by which we have only reacted.

As we travel this path of life, we may sometimes feel clueless, although we have treasures of knowledge by society’s standards. We also may have acquired “things” to show that “we have what it takes” in this society, yet, we can feel empty.

In searching out the solution to rid ourselves of unwanted feelings, we can turn to the Word of God. In this case, when we ponder “what’s up with life?” we have this specific verse to give us direction. We know that when we turn our anxieties over to God, we are assured that he will take care of them. Our anxiety for life’s questions dissipates as we reverence God and seek diligently to keep his commandments. In the midst of our pondering, we discover that God’s Word is the answer to life’s most profound questions.

What are you expecting from God today?

Because you diligently seek him, you can expect Him to reward you constantly.

As a child expects good things from his parents on Christmas morning, so is the expectation that we can have on God. We are his children. We can look forward daily to the rewards that God is ready to provide us.

Although He is ready, we must allow him to do so with our faith. As the Scripture states, our faith is the essence of pleasing God. Our faith directs our behaviors, thoughts and expectations.

Now, look to God today and expect good things. He is able not only to meet your expectations but also to exceed them. The starting point is to have expectations. Know that God is not limited. He can “trouble the water”1 for only you. You must only have faith to get in. So, expect something from God today, and seek Him diligently.

1See John 5:2-8.