Challenges in Christian Life

Today, I learned that the biggest challenge we have is not the devil. After all, we're called to victory through Christ who gives us strength. I realized through our Pastor that the greatest challenge is to obey the WORD of GOD even through the challenging times. 

You would argue why and how can that be? Firstly, our carnal nature is naturally opposite to what GOD wants us to do. Secondly, it's called a test and a challenge precisely because they're not easy.

Thankfully, even throughout the challenge HE remains to be on his throne. He enables us to soar on wings like eagles. His only desire is to let the glory of GOD be manifested in our lives.

Check out this song from Hillsong that captures this message rightfully.

God Is Able | Hillsong Live (FULL Version) w/ Lyrics

God Is Able | Hillsong Live (FULL Version)

God Is Able | Hillsong Live LYRICS

VERSE 1:

God is able
He will never fail
He is almighty God
Greater than all we seek
Greater than all we ask
He has done great things

CHORUS:

Lifted up
Defeated the grave
Raised to life
Our God is able
In His name we overcome
For the Lord
Our God is able

No Reason To Hide Hillsong United Video, Lyrics

NO REASON TO HIDE

HILLSONG UNITED

VIDEO

No Reason To Hide by Hillsong United lyrics

Truest, Most Real and Amazing Love of All

This is supposed to be my entry to Testify to Love: Get a chance to win Avalon’s “The Greatest Hits” at my friend's blog: Gannsdeen.com.


Sadly it's late now. I wasn't able to read the part where he says the deadline in Nov. 30th and today is unfortunately December 1st. Now, I'm sure all of you are now shouting and asking why I didn't do it before the deadline. To answer that, I didn't notice and I forgot. LOL! Enough of that, here's my post:


My post is all about the Love that every man is dying to have. It's more than a feeling or anything else. It can't be faked, in fact it's THE most real thing. A lot of us have run from there to here, from hurt to more hurt, from failed expectations to more failed expectations. It's almost a hopeless cycle.


I had a conversation with a friend who just broke up with his boyfriend. This friend of mine is a "HE" as well, making their relationship a homosexual one. If 10 years ago, this kind of relationship is a taboo. At this time though, it has become a "normal" thing especially that I'm working in a call center. (Disclaimer: I don't agree to this kind of relationship but I respect my friends who are engaged in it). So back to my conversation with him. I asked him, what really happened? Why did they break up after more than a year? He answered (hesitantly) it's because he no longer understands what his partner really wants and that he now had grown tired meeting the needs of the other while expecting his own needs be met as well. Actually, most of the relationships we see right now is of this nature. You agree or not. Everyone engages in a relationship because they need something from the other person. It maybe financial needs, emotional support, or just having someone to lean on. Don't take me wrong, these are why there are relationships. For our needs to be met. But when these "meeting of our needs" become the center of the relationship then that's when it crumbles. When each one starts to take and expect instead of freely giving without expecting in return, that's when relationships end.

Love, I've explained to him must be selfless. For relationships to work, one must be willing to give and give and just give. With this he replied, "Isn't that unfair?". Of course it is. That's what love really is. Even if the other one doesn't give back, it just continues to love no matter what. This kind of love is seldom found. Especially when people who are looking for it doesn't have it in the first place?

Where is this Love then?

It's in the Father, the GOD who created everything including love and the ability to love.

Here's what the Bible says from The Message version:

But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him. Rom. 5:8

And John 3:16 from The Message version still:

"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

Now we were of no use whatever to him, but He still chose to love us. And he continues to love us no matter what. I mean, REALLY! It doesn't matter what you have done or what you are going to do, He'll continue to LOVE us.

When each partner has this Love then that's when relationships grow! Why? They're already filled with God's love that they just overflow without anymore taking.

Here's a song from Hillsong that would always tell me how Real, How TRUE and How Amazing God's Love is:

So You Would Come by Hillsong

God Bless you more and more!

Let Christ Be Revealed | You'll Come by Hillsong United | MM

Here's a song from Hillsong United that has touched my heart so deep.

The message I received while listening to this song (and singing) is found in the bridge part.

"Chains be broken

Lives be healed

Eyes be opened

Christ is revealed"

It just reminds us that it takes for us to be set free or a better way of saying it is it takes for us to know that we've been set free! It takes for our lives to be healed from anger, hatred, disappointments and sin. It takes for us to open our eyes to understand what God has been doing and His purposes instead of focusing on the NOW!

Because by doing so, Christ is REVEALED through our lives!

Listen to the song and share to us what God has spoken through this song.

You'll Come by Hillsong United

(Hosea 6) Brooke Fraser 2007

Verse 1

I have decided I have resolved

To wait upon you Lord

My rock and redeemer shield, and reward

I'll wait upon you Lord

Prechorus

As surely as the sun will rise

You'll come to us

As certain as the dawn appears

Chorus

You'll come let your glory fall

As you respond to us

Spirit Rain, flood into our thirsty hearts again

You'll come.

Verse 2

We are not shaken we are not moved

We wait upon you Lord

Mighty deliverer triumph and truth

We wait upon you Lord

As surely as the sun will rise you'll come to us

Certain as your word endures.

CHORUS

Bridge

Chains be broken

Lives be healed

Eyes be opened

Christ is revealed

Lyrics: 6lyrics

I Will Go Where You Want Me To Go

This is in connection to my last devotion about Tweeting the Gospel: Spread God's Word.

In this post, I'll bring the devotion a little deeper.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. [Matt. 16:24 (NIV)]

The verse above brings it to a more personal level. Yes, we are to spread the gospel. We are to tell the people the GOOD NEWS. I'm sure we are able to easily do this when nothing is at stake. We can easily obey when no compromise from our end is necessary or needed.

But here's the question:

Will you still Go and Make Disciples when you are asked to actually DENY yourself?

...when you're asked to say no to the usual stuff we have been so used to doing?

...when you're asked to let go of that cigarette stick and that bottle of beer?

...when you're asked to consider other's interest above your own?

...when you're asked to even resign from your Job and let go of something very important according to God's will?

...when you're asked to let go even your very own family?

Now that's the real story.

Christian life is not easy. It takes commitment and perseverance. It takes a 180 degrees turn from the usual life you've lived to the life God has given you to live. It takes you to forget even your own desires and wants to obey God's WILL!

Yes, it's radical. But just as Christ has carried the cross, we are to also carry the same cross in order for us to follow him.

How have you been following Jesus your Lord? Do you opt to follow HIM the easy way (own way), or the better way God had set for us to follow?

Here's a video from Hillsong United which will reinforce the topic at hand. I included the lyrics for better "absorption".

My prayer is for you to be blessed with it and for you to be challenged even more to obey Him in any and every way possible.

I WILL GO by Hillsong United Video, Lyrics

I have found myself in You, the purpose for my life
I discover who I am, as Your spirit touches mine
Every step I take, every move I make
You are by my side
And I will be strong, my strength is in you

I will go where You want me to go
I will do what You want me to do
Yes I will go where You want me to go
I will be who You want me to be

Anything for You
When You ask me I will go
You show the way before me
In Your word I find the truth
You lead me on this journey

Those who trust in you, ever praising You
Will find their strength renewd
I'm gonna make itm, make it happen

God Bless you More!

Published by Your Daily Word

Desert Song by Hillsong United Video and Lyrics

When we had our Sunday fellowship a while ago, there was no electricity. And Imagine a worship service with no electricity. That just means, no band, no microphone, no light and most unfortunately no AIRCON on a Hot Summer Day! That was indeed one sweaty sunday! Nevertheless, the worship service continued. After all, we didn't go there for those things. We went there to worship and serve the Lord Jesus Christ! And that's exactly what we did! No band, no aircon, no anything just God's presence dwelling in the praises of His people. That was indeed on meaningful and blessed service!

One of the things I'm so blessed with aside from the very powerful Word of God delivered to us by our Pastor in which I plan to share here as well is the song that we sang during the Praise and Worship. It's called "Desert Song" by Hillsong United. It was my first time to hear that song and I thought that was new but I was corrected by seatmate. I'm not sure when it was released but as per my seatmate, she heard the song a long time ago. Whew! Oh well. Here's the song that I'd want you to listen to.

It's all about God being God in any and every season of our lives. It's all about our God being faithful in providing and giving us victory when we're in need, when we're in a battle and when we are in desert and all that's within us is dry.

If you can't view the video, you may click here: Desert Song

Desert Song by Hillsong lyrics
Verse 1:
This is my prayer in the desert
And all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in the hunger in me
My God is a God who provides

Verse 2:
And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flames

Chorus:
And I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon forged against me shall remain

I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

Verse 3:
And this is my prayer in the battle
And triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand

Bridge:
All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

Verse 4:
This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be empited again
The seed I've recieved I will sow

God Bless you!

Here are some Music Videos you can also listen to:

HE IS MIGHTY TO SAVE US

DON'T BE ANXIOUS | MY LIFE IS IN YOUR HANDS

JESUS: YOU ARE MY BESTFRIEND

LAUGHING WITH BY REGINA SPEKTOR

Jesus: You are my bestfriend!

Here's one song from Hillsong that I have been personally blessed with. It just sends out the message that Jesus is our Bestfriend and NOTHING will change that. Which is soooo true.

The Bible says:

Romans 8:38-39 (New King James Version)

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


See, absolutely nothing can take us away from HIS love.

And when he's your bestfriend, you share everything to him, right? You tell him your secrets, successes and yes problems and struggles. A bestfriend would always want to listen.

The question is, would you like to accept his friendship? He's just waiting for you.

Best Friend by Hillsong (Marty Sampson)

Have you heard of the one called Savior?
Have you heard of His perfect love,
Have you heard of the one in heaven,
Have you heard how He gave His son'
Cause I found this love,
I believe in the Son. Show me Your way.

I believe in the One called Savior,
I believe He's the risen One,
I believe I'll live forever,
I believe that my king will come,
Cause I found this love,
I believe in the Son. Show me Your way.

Chorus:
Jesus, you are my best friend,
And you will always be,
And nothing will ever change that,
Jesus, you are my best friend,
And you will always be,
And nothing will ever change that.

Bridge:
Nothing will ever change that,
Nothing will ever change that,
Nothing will ever change that,
Nothing will ever change that.

We're All In This Together

I first saw this video late last year. When I watched it again, it once has moved and reminded me that always, always and always we're each other's keepers.

Let's not just "keep" the brothers and sisters in the family of God or those who are members of our church but most importantly those who are not of the fold yet knowing Jesus came to seek and save those who are lost.

The message is clear: we're all in this together. We're all facing the same enemy. We're all in the same war.

Watch and "chew" this video and be changed: