My Personal Revival

Not for the Faint of Faith

2009-11-21T01:23:00.003-05:00

You know when you see those warning signs and labels, you need to consider the dangers involved.

"Please consult a physician before attempting"
"May cause injury or even death"

Why aren't there any warnings for activities that may hinder your faith? Like when you're surfing the web and you reach a site that isn't wholesome, it should have a disclaimer.

"Warning! May cause you to stumble"
"Please consult your pastor before proceeding"
"Not for the faint of faith"

Sometimes we fall into the subtle traps of what the world has to offer. It seems so easy to fall into a lukewarm attitude with God that you make excuses for what others do.

I think its time to be held accountable for your actions. We should also feel the same accountability when we see our fellow brother or sister in Christ suffer the same dangers.

Looks like I need to equip myself the best way I know how. Studying scriptures and living out God's word. This isn't going to be easy.

"Prolonged exposure to God's Word will lead to conviction, rebuke and correction but will ultimately end up with atonement, grace and salvation."

Do You LOVE God?

2009-11-18T00:16:00.002-05:00

I got a serving of humble pie this Sunday.

It started with the verse found in 1 Corinthians 16:22
"If anyone does not love the Lord - a curse be upon him."

Pastor Edsel faced the congregation, a look of seriousness on his face and asked, "Do you LOVE God?"

I responded in my mind. "Of course I love God. I'm actively participating in His ministry." But the following statement pierced my heart with so much accuracy it was hard to breath. "Do you make sacrifices to ensure you get to church on time?"

The Lord had spoken through Pastor Edsel right to me.

Had I truly loved God, would I have come late? Although I wasn't the only one who was late, I felt as if I was standing in the front of the congregation getting lectured for my tardiness.

God has made so much sacrifices for me that the fact that I can't even make it to church on time definitely hits me where it counts.

"Lord, please give me the strength to keep my eyes on you as a servant willing to do his Master's will."

Too Preachy??

2009-11-11T23:22:00.002-05:00

Seems that I have lost my way with this blog.

Instead of it documenting my personal revival, I find that I'm "preaching" too much. Perhaps if I realign my focus I can achieve a blog worthy of sharing and most importantly, reading.

For the remainder of the year I'll focus on MY walk with the Lord and extract any insights from there as opposed to just repeating what I hear from sermons and what not.

A revival for my personal revival. That sounds about right.

Message Recap - When the Brook Runs Dry

2009-10-19T22:11:00.002-04:00

Yesterday's message was an insightful one as it looked at a man named Elijah.

1 Kings 17:1 -7 gave us an insight on the kind of preparation that God will put his servants through to train them for greater things.

The first impression of Elijah in the text is that he was a man who served God and God alone. His proclamation of his living God and the coming drought to an evil King showed just what type of moxie Elijah really had. Upon announcing the news of things to come, Elijah was then led, by God, to a ravine in Kerith - just off the Jordan.

Here at the ravine he was fed by ravens and the nearby brook. Everything was going well until the brook eventually ran dry (v7).

The question came up - What do we do when the brook runs dry? Do we blame God for taking away what he has given us? Do we look for alternate ways to fulfill our needs, using our own strengths?

God told Elijah to go and stay at the Kerith Ravine, and he did. God said he would provide for him a brook for water and ravens to bring food, and He did. Then God took the water away.

I've learned from Pastor Chuck Swindoll of the 4 areas of resistance that hinder a man or woman from living a godly life. Here they are:

Pride
Fear
Resentment
Habit

In order for us to truly serve God the way He wants us to, we must first release these areas of resistance. God helps by providing training. He breaks through our pride by removing us from the limelight. By taking us away from the center stage, we have no reason to be proud. He tackles our fear with removal of status. If we are afraid to lose something, He will take it. Then comes resentment. Our training there would be the removal of rights. God shows us that nothing is truly ours. Everything comes from Him. He provides all that we need. The hardest area of resistance - habit. We are creatures of habit. Having a routine helps us cope with the unknown - but it also hinders growth in the Lord. He helps us change by renewing the inner man.

There isn't a man who is used by God greatly who first wasn't hurt deeply. There will come a time when our brook will run dry. God isn't punishing us, he hasn't forgetten us, rather, he has taken us under His wing and is training us for His work.

Where are you in your Christian walk? Are you feeling the deep hurt of a dried up brook? Rejoice, for God is closer to you now more than ever. He is preparing you for some great work.

Message Recap - Give Thanks

2009-10-13T10:38:00.002-04:00

Well, it was Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada and millions of people are taking the time to give thanks for the many blessings they received in the past year.

This week's message recap is found in Psalms 107. The very heart of the message is in the very first line:

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

There are so many things that we should be thankful for. Nothing says it better than the psalmist when he says, "give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!". But to add on, "For His mercy endures forever" as an additional reason to give thanks for is just icing on the cake.

A God who's mercy never ends is something we all can be thankful for. When we're down and out, he's there. When we are at our highest moments, he's there.

So, what have you given thanks for this year?

Memory Verse (Week 25)

2009-06-24T17:24:00.000-04:00

I don't know about you, but I'm struggling with keeping up with my Memory Verses. At the end of this month, I will recap all the memory verses that we had so far.

This week's memory verse is 1 John 5:14:
" This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us."

Let's be confident that our prayers will not fall on deaf ears. When we are at our most lowest moment in our lives to when we want to shout His praise, he will hear us and answer us accordingly.

Not sure if He knows who you are? He knows. The question is, do you know him?

A Father's Duty

2009-06-22T21:55:00.002-04:00

The responsibility thrusted upon you as a parent can seem quite daunting. Particularly when it's your first child and you know nothing about the subject of parenthood.

This week's message recap was a great one as it touched upon a subject that was very new to me. Fatherhood. Of course, since it was officially Father's Day it was an expected message, but since it was the first time I celebrated Father's day it seemed all the more important to me.

Pastor Edsel talked about the Father's Duty in the family. He pulled the message from Ephesians 5: 15 - 33.

15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

21Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives and Husbands

22Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing[a] her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30for we are members of his body. 31"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."[b] 32This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Pastor rounded out the father's duty with these 5 P's:

A father must be PROTECTIVE
A father must be a PROVIDER
A father must be a POINT MAN
A father must be a PRIEST to the family
A father must be a PRINCE of God

In this day and age of political correctness, it may be a sensitive subject -- but to a world that needs to have strong family values, nothing takes away the importance of a faithful father to the Lord.

You may be a father. You may be a good protector, provider and even point man for your family. But are you the priest of the family? Do you ensure the faith of your children are accounted for? If you are a true Prince of God, you will make sure that you do not overlook the eternal destination of your wife and children. It's your duty.

Prepared for Battle

2009-06-15T23:33:00.002-04:00

Last week's message was about looking to the Lord to lead you to the rock that will uplift an overwhelmed spirit. Yesterday's message helped remind me that Christians stepped onto the battlefield prepared for battle.

The background Scripture can be found in Ephesians 6:10-18.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

A few thing to take note when doing battle for the Lord:
- Know your enemy
- Know your weapons
- Pray without ceasing

Although it may seem that we are facing a losing battle, let us remember that the armor that God provides was made from God. Learning to utilize the equipment is key in being victorious over our current trials and tribulations. Finally, an attitude of unceasing prayer will continue to maintain our armor, making sure that it'll always fit like new.

There is a caveat. This armor is only for the children of God. Are you one of his or are you going to battle with armor made from your own efforts. Are you sure you want to go down fighting that way?

Is Your Heart Overwhelmed?

2009-06-08T20:53:00.003-04:00

Have you ever been so stressed with life that you felt like you were drowning? No matter how hard you try you barely manage to stay afloat. Splashing about, raising your head above water just enough to catch a breath of air.

During these times of a severe financial downturn, we hear of people sinking further and further into a downward spiral. Yesterday's message gave us some insight on where to turn for refuge.

The message was taken from Psalm 61: 1-8:

Hear my cry, O God;
listen to my prayer.
From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the foe.
I long to dwell in your tent forever
and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.
Selah
For you have heard my vows, O God;
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
Increase the days of the king's life,
his years for many generations.
May he be enthroned in God's presence forever;
appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him.
Then will I ever sing praise to your name
and fulfill my vows day after day.

There are times when I feel so overwhelmed with my life. I have a demanding job, a 5 month old son who constantly need attention and a church that is growing (both in spirit and numbers). I sometimes wonder if I'll be able to make it to the end of the week, but faithfully and lovingly, the Lord has given me the strength I need to continue.

Where are you? Are you overwhelmed? Think that you can't take it for one more day?? Ask the Lord to lead you to the rock that is higher than you. Once you have received the Lord's help, you will be singing praises to His name day after day.

Memory Verse (Week 22)

2009-06-03T22:30:00.003-04:00

It's long overdue, but there is not denying it - It's Memory Verse Time!

This week's memory verse is found in 1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

The comfort in knowing that no matter how tough a day your having is this, God knows what your limit is and there is no way that he will push you beyond what you can handle. The catch is that we must look to him to provide the strength to weather the storm.

Are you seeing some tough times? Is this financial downturn got you feeling depressed? Recite this memory verse regularly and you will be able to hold onto this

Are you ready?

2009-06-01T22:12:00.002-04:00

The message on Sunday was a refreshing one. Pastor Edsel talked about the resurrection of Christians by Jesus.

The scripture he talked about is in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

The Coming of the Lord
Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.

We have hope that after we pass on we will be reunited with our Lord and Saviour. There is no reincarnation, there is no purgatory - God will bring back with Jesus all the Christians who have died. There is no need for sorrow, our final destination is with God in heaven.

Are you sharing in the same hope as I am in life. Are you toiling away without any knowledge of where you will go at the end of it all?

You've worked so hard here in this life. Why don't you work for your afterlife instead. Not sure how? Ask me now.

Guess who's back!

2009-05-31T00:21:00.003-04:00

Well, I'm back from my family vacation from the east and I finally had time to check in...

Not sure if anyone really missed my blogs, but it doesn't matter because I'm doing this for a higher cause.

My trip to the east coast was fun but it made me think about a lot of things along the way. I came across a sign at a Church in Boston that read, "Are Christians brainwashed?" It was the topic of the message that was going to be preached that Sunday. It seems that many people seem to just shrug off the Christian Faith as a crutch. Depending on a higher being to relieve the pressure of responsibility.

In the next few weeks, I'm going to talk more about the reality of God and the Truth in our Christian Faith. Please pray for me as I challenge myself to dig deeper into my faith and hopefully share my views.

Thank you Lord for a relaxing week in which I was able to enjoy your beautiful creation.

Let's get blogging!

Memory Verse (Week 19)

2009-05-12T11:07:00.002-04:00

Today's Memory Verse has been one of my challenges as a younger Christian.

John 15: 4-5
"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit: apart from me you can do nothing"

From a very young age I have striven to become independent. I wanted to do everything on my own and for the most part I was. As a teenager, I started to get good at the things I really put my mind to and I started to feel very confident in myself. Once I received the Lord as my personal Lord and Savior, depending on somebody other than me proved to be more than difficult. As I started to mature (although I still have a long way to go), I can see the need for my dependence on God. I depend on him to be the source of my knowledge, my strength and my guidance to where I should go.

Just like a branch depends on the main vine for food and nutrients, we should also depend on our God, the Provider, for all our needs. Who do you depend on? Where do you draw your source of strength from? Is it from another branch, disconnected from the main vine? Trust in the Him and you will bear more fruit than if you were to go alone.

Motherly Instruction at it's best

2009-05-11T08:55:00.004-04:00

Yesterday's Mother's Day message was a good one. Normally, we hear about messages of Mary, or of Sarah or even Eve. Mother's that stick out and who are easily recognized. This Sunday, Pastor Ed talked about Eunice. Who?

Eunice was the mother of Timothy. Timothy was the disciple who journeyed with Paul. What made Eunice so special? For starters she was a Jewish Christian. A believer of Jewish descent. To make matters more complicated she married a non-believing Greek man. With history like that, it is a wonder that she still managed to mother a faithful and devoted Christian Disciple.

We see from 2 Timothy 3 how Paul comments on Timothy's upbringing and how it played a crucial role in who Timothy is at that time.

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, ¹⁵and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

We are told that what we do today will echo in the future. How we rear our children will dictate how our future generation will lead the country.

I salute all mothers out there who, regardless of what is going on in their life, continue to raise their child learning God, and ensuring that they grow up guided by the Lord.

What Would You Do?

2009-05-08T07:39:00.002-04:00

I recently received an email regarding a story of a church just about to start its service.Two masked men with fully automatic assault rifles rushed in and ran to the front of the church. They shouted, "Anyone who doesn't denounce their God as Lord and Saviour will be shot in the head!" Some of the people ran out of the church screaming. A few people along with the Pastor stayed, not budging an inch.

The men then removed their masks, faced the Pastor and said, "Okay, Pastor, I've weeded out the people who didn't want to be here. The service can begin."

Your first impression is probably the same as mine. We must be ready to die for our Saviour. But let's take a closer look at the implications involved with this method of "weeding out".

Many of us go to church because we want to worship Him. We sing praises to our wonderful Counselor, our Saviour. But there are people who haven't found Christ yet and were either invited by a fellow Christian or they go because their family is going. If we were to think that church is only for Christians, we will face great difficulty in reaching out to the world.

Where do you stand? Would you be the first to run out that door on the first sign of testing? Would you be standing your ground for Him? Trust in the Lord for he will give you the strength you need to be strong.

Memory Verse (Week 18)

2009-05-06T08:42:00.002-04:00

This week's Memory Verse is found in John 14:21

"Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

As children, we are told to obey our parents. Sometimes they can be the most difficult thing for us to do. We don't see the bigger picture - our parents know what's good for us and instruct us out of love.

As adults, we are left to use what we learned from our parents to survive and thrive - physically. But spiritually, we need to have the guidance of our Heavenly Father to lead us and mold us into a new creation. When we obey His commands for us, he will reveal himself to us.

Let's take the time to learn what our Father is commanding us to do, not because we have to but because we want to.

Memory Verse (Week 17)

2009-04-30T23:44:00.002-04:00

We have been blessed with a shorter memory verse this week.

This week's memory verse is 2 Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

When I moved cities and started life in a new school, I felt as if I had my slate wiped clean. Nobody knew all the foolishness that I did in my previous school, so I had a fresh start. It was refreshing to know that nobody can and will judge me based on my past lifestyle.

Have you ever wished that you had your slate wiped clean? Are you embarrassed, ashamed of who you were before? When you come to know Christ, you become a new creation! Your past life has been forgotten and your new life in Christ is ready to begin.

Are you ready for a life changing moment in your life? Take Him into your heart.

Memory Verse (Week 16)

2009-04-25T23:54:00.003-04:00

I'll be honest with you all, I did not get to memorize last week's verse. It was quite the doozy. To compound the workload, this week's verse isn't much shorter.

This week's Memory Verse is Romans 8:38 - 39:

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

We hear of the two certainties in life: Death and Taxes. But in this week's memory verse, we have another certainty in life to add - the inseparable love of Christ Jesus to those who received him as Lord and Savior. As I dreadfully do the taxes, I can smile knowing that even though I'm doing one of the "certainties" in life I will not be limited to just those two.

Who's loving you right now?

Weekly Memory Verse (Week 15)

2009-04-16T10:00:00.002-04:00

I was feeling pretty good when my verse memorizing up until I saw this week's memory verse.

1 Peter 1:3-5
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade - kept in heaven heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time."

This will definitely be a challenge for me to get this memorized. The content of the verse however is something to hold dear since it describes the permanence of our inheritance awaiting for us in heaven. The stresses and trials that we receive here on earth on account of our Lord Jesus Christ will all fade away when we receive "an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade". What elates me even more is that we are "shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation".

Let us be confident this week that we will be able to handle whatever comes our way. Let us also be excited in knowing that our toils here on earth for the Lord will not go unrewarded.

Happy Memorizing!

Goodbye Uncle, we'll miss you.

2009-04-14T23:02:00.003-04:00

My uncle's funeral was today. I was asked to say a few words for my uncle and it was one of the most difficult things to do. My uncle was known to be the most generous person you could meet. He'd give you the shirt off his back if you'd ask.

One of the things that I decided to comment about was the legacy that we leave here on this earth. Our legacy is created by the impressions we leave on the people we interact with on a daily basis. My uncle's legacy was that of selflessness, generousity and servanthood.

What legacy are you leaving behind? Would people see Christ's love in your life? We must remember that Christ had lived an exemplary life that we must strive to mimic.

Memory Verse (Week 14)

2009-04-10T23:13:00.005-04:00

Well, it's memory verse time again and this week's verse is one that ties in well with Easter.

"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live even if he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." John 11: 25-26

This week's memory verse is bittersweet for me. My uncle passed away this week and I never had the chance to share my faith with him. I failed to let him know that Jesus paid the price for our salvation. And because he died for us we can live - eternally.

This Easter, let's not waste any opportunity to share our faith with those who don't have Christ in their heart. Don't let the Lord die in vain.

My Weekly Memory Verse (Week 13)

2009-04-03T23:35:00.000-04:00

My church has decided to challenge its congregation to memorize a bible verse every week for the whole year. This has always been one of my biggest weaknesses but with my new zeal for the Lord, I have decided to try again.

This week's memory verse is:
"My sheep listen to my voice. I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they shall not perish. No one can snatch them from my hand. My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all, no one can snatch them from His hand" John 10: 27-29

What an assurance of my salvation! To know that Christ has me safely in His hand and His Father's hand is a testament to our worth in God's eyes. Afterall, we were bought at a high cost - the blood of Jesus, God's only begotten Son.

Have you accepted God's gift of salvation? It's not too late. Not sure how? Give me a shout.

Springtime - A time of Renewal and Rebirth

2009-04-03T09:49:00.000-04:00

Springtime is here and it’s the season of rebirth. The trees are coming back to life, the animals are out of hibernation and so it would seem fitting that the Lord has given me a sense of renewal in my spiritual walk.

^"16I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, ¹⁷that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, ¹⁸having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might" Ephesians 1: 16-19

Last week I started to read Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus. I read the letter daily until it hit me - my prayer life is lacking. In order for me to grow with God, I'll need to talk with Him. My biggest problem has always been, “how.” Paul has reminded me on the importance of asking the Lord for "wisdom and revelation to know Him better." It is only through God’s revelation and wisdom that I can truly know Him better.

Lord, I pray that I may come to know you better through your powerful wisdom and revelation. May I come closer to you through this time of personal revival.