John 13: 3Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going.34So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.35Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
The intense part of Jesus's ministry. I can almost feel his sadness, doubts (if I can call it that), anguish and pain of his impending death. At this part of his life, he must surely say what is close to his heart, the ministry, his church as we can see here. Throughout our Christian life, we're trying always to show people or god if we're a true disciple, that thought lingering, spinning in our heads constantly, wondering if we've done enough, serve enough. It never end. But here, god taught us the answer to all that question, "love one another, others will know you're my disciple". I could almost imagine him saying it to me this afternoon as I meditate on his words. "love one another zhiwei". This is what god want of us, not glamorous church services, not charismatic singing, not well-planned bible talk, not even how much you give, not a flamboyant church leader. All he wants is simple but surprising difficult, love one another and the world will know, reverberating in my mind over and over today.
John13: 36 Simon Peter asked, “Lord, where are you going?” And Jesus replied, “You can’t go with me now, but you will follow me later.”
37 “But why can’t I come now, Lord?” he asked. “I’m ready to die for you.”
38 Jesus answered, “Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter—before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.
Simon Peter! the ROCK! Imagine Jesus calling you that, I will die for a pet name like that from my Lord. I can almost feel the power, that conviction coming out of Peter's mouth, rather.. this heart here that overflows from his love, admiration of Jesus. I'm willing to die!!
We often laugh at this story I thought, maybe go through it one too many time to be inspired or convicted. Today the spirit prompted me and I took one hard look at myself. Are you ready to die for god?
We all know Peter failed at FIRST, but that's not the point. The point is he said it with so much gusto and gut and bravery and most of all convicted. We'll failed sometimes to do what is we promised, just like Peter but as long as it's true, we'll learn from it and achieve it in the end. Maybe it will take just a second time to make it happen and we know Peter did.
Life can be so comfortable that I doubt if I can say it with as much o mph and power.. so I'm asking myself if I'm ready to die for Jesus today.. if not why?
| dew fought for sanity @ 10:44 PM|
>> and the world kept spinning |
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Wednesday, May 09, 2007
-Down To The River To Pray - very inspiring-
"Down To The River To Pray"
As i went down to the river to pray Studyin about that good ol' way and who shall wear the starry crown? Good Lord show me the way!
O sisters let's go down Lets go down, Come on down O sisters lets go down Down in the river to pray
As I went down in the river to pray Studyin about that good ol way And who shall wear the robe & crown Good Lord show me the way
O brothers lets go down Let's go down, Come on down O brothers lets go down Down in the river to pray
As I went down in the river to pray Studyin about that good ol way And who shall wear the starry crown? Good lord show me the way
O fathers lets go down Let's go down, Come on down O fathers lets go down Down in the river to pray
As I went down in the river to pray studying about that good ol way And who shall wear th robe and crown Good Lord show me the way
O mothers lets go down Come on down, don't you wanna go down? O Mothers lets go down Down in the river to pray
As I went down in the river to pray Studin about that good ol' way And who shall wear the starry crown? Good Lord show me the way
O sinners lets go down Lets go down, come on down O sinners lets go down Down in the river to pray
As I went down in the river to pray Studyin about that good ol way And who shall wear the Robe and crown? Good Lord show me the way
| dew fought for sanity @ 11:41 PM|
>> and the world kept spinning |
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Tuesday, May 08, 2007
-John 11-
John 11
33-34When Jesus saw her sobbing and the Jews with her sobbing, a deep anger welled up within him. He said, "Where did you put him?"
(Jesus was angry.. how many times you get to see him angry? I can't remember much.. maybe just the temple clearing. Was wondering how come god did angry. When I get angry, is for the smallest for things.. people don't respect me, people are not attending to my needs, all about me but jesus is angry about death.. Angry that everyone has to lose to this sin at the end of the road, sometimes.. it's not the end.. sometimes middle like lazarus, sometimes death claim them even when they just started. but not anymore he thought.)
34-35"Master, come and see," they said. Now Jesus wept.
(Jesus cried, change from anger to weeping in matters of seconds.. why?)
36The Jews said, "Look how deeply he loved him."
(Jesus's love is noticable, I believe love is.. )
37Others among them said, "Well, if he loved him so much, why didn't he do something to keep him from dying? After all, he opened the eyes of a blind man."
(but still.. pepole will say things.. it doesn't matter, all that's important is that someone knows your love. people will always! have things to say. Jesus didn't give a flip)
38-39Then Jesus, the anger again welling up within him, arrived at the tomb. It was a simple cave in the hillside with a slab of stone laid against it. Jesus said, "Remove the stone."
(oh no.. he's not angry with the guys. Not anymore, you're not going to be taking anymore of my children. Jesus fiercely determined now.)
The sister of the dead man, Martha, said, "Master, by this time there's a stench. He's been dead four days!"
40Jesus looked her in the eye. "Didn't I tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"
(that's cool.. god look at us in the eyes. :) he speaks right inside your heart. Do you believe? do you love me? do you believe if you trust me with your life you will see the glory of god. So many times, we're scared of losing control. scare my job don't pay enough, scare i'm gonna end up like everyone else, lifeless.. without a goal and dream..)
41-42Then, to the others, "Go ahead, take away the stone." (what stone is blocking you! What is stoping the ultimate miracle from happening in your life? what's the stone? Go ahead, take it away.. I think is my big pride.)
They removed the stone. Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and prayed, "Father, I'm grateful that you have listened to me. I know you always do listen, but on account of this crowd standing here I've spoken so that they might believe that you sent me."
(At crunch time.. at the peak of Jesu's ministry, as he attempts his biggest miracles to date.
Ar.. this must be different he thinks.. this is not making the lame man walk, not chasing a ghost out, not stopping someone from bleeding, not making someone sick heals, it's not even in the same league of making someone see. I got to use my biggest weapon. :) Praying. Let me pray and ask god.
WAH prayer is god choosen weapon! :))
43-44Then he shouted, "Lazarus, come out!" And he came out, a cadaver, wrapped from head to toe, and with a kerchief over his face.
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