3:16 – The Numbers of Hope

A twenty-six word parade of hope: beginning with God, ending with life, and urging us to do the same. Brief enough to write on a napkin or memorize in a moment, yet solid enough to weather 2000 years of storms and questions.

If you know nothing of the Bible, start here. If you know everything in the Bible, return here. We all need the reminder. The heart of the human problem is the heart of the human. And God’s treatment is prescribed in John 3:16.

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Adapted from 3:16 The Numbers of Hope by MAX LUCADO

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John 14:15 - If you love me, you will obey what I command.
John 15:14 - You are my friends if you do what I command.

John 14:15 = John 15:14
'Obey' what He command = 'Do' what He command = Loving Him and being friends with Him and of course, much more into this etermal relationship that have yet to be explored.

Immanuel.

My heart calls

I want Your way
But why am I establishing my own
I want Your will
But why am I not following it
My spirit is thirsty
My testimony for You is dry
Oh water my spirit with Your words
Quench my testimony with You love
For I say not my will
But may Your will be done

Give me the courage to overcome
Perseverance to withstand
Understanding to know
Faith to believe
And wisdom to choose
For all I want is Your plan
This is what I want
This is what I need
This is what is can’t live without

Hold me close
And hug me tight
For the warmth that no one can give
Bless me abundant
Anoint me richly
For these are my basic necessities

Line my heart up with Yours
Let me follow closely behind You
For You are the way, truth and life

Thank You Father
You are the one and only
You deserve all and all through eternity

Your child
Eugene

Some points to reflect on..

1. Knowing about God is different from knowing God.

2. Do you realize that God never told men to do something they could do on their own?

3. Don't reduce God to what you can do and then ask Him to bless you.


Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
(Matthew 7:7)

Christmas

December is always my favourite month of the year not only because its the last month of the year but also it summaries what I have done throughout the year. A great month for reflections and evaluation of what we have gone through for the past 11 months. Those happy and sad moments captured in your mind somehow stays as part of your memory for a particular period till it is being replaced by other thoughts be it happy or sad ones. Resolutions every year are vague for me as accomplishments made seems so little. Perhaps that 'little' would have made Him happy and it would be enough for me to be satisfied and therefore bringing all the glory to Him.

December is a month for thanks-giving and celebrations even for those who are not Christians. It is one of the few festive seasons which is recognized internationally and thus making it a very unique festival.

It is also a special month for Christians as it signifies the birth month of Christ. Especially the day itself on the 25th. I always have this visuals since young, and that is to sit by the Christmas tree with all my love ones, praying together and thanking God before unwrapping each presents under the Christmas tree, listening to Silent Night on the eve of Christmas while counting down to the actual Christmas day. What a wonderful sight!

Dim orange light surround the environment accompanied by the colourful lights flashing from the Christmas tree bring warmth like never before. A visual I longed to become a reality. Spending Christmas with your love ones seems like a dream that has yet come true for me.

As time goes by, the presents I always wanted each year has been changing gradually, from material to spiritual. Perhaps that's the wonderful part about Time. It changes people - drawing them closer to the Heavenly Father. Your love attracts me and I pray that my love for You would attract others to You as well.

Christmas is not about materialistic presents, fanciful decoration, santa clause nor the christmas tree. Its all about You coming to this world. A day to celebrate Jesus' arrival to the world two thousand years ago. Just like how we celebrate our birthday which are always with respect to the year Jesus' was born (1 A.D). Its amazing.

I say not my will but may Your will be done in my life... Amen