Unanswered Prayers

I recently read an article by Anne Cetas entitled "Unanswered":-

"One of my biggest struggles is unanswered prayer. May be you can relate. You ask God to rescue a friend from addiction, to grant salvation to a loved one, to heal a sick child, to mend a relationship. All these things you think must be God's will. For years you pray. Yet you hear nothing back from Him and you see no results.

You remind the Lord that He's powerful and that your request is a good thing. You plead. You wait. You doubt- maybe He doesn't hear you, or maybe He isn't so powerful after all. You stop asking- for days and months. You feel guilty about doubting. You remember that God wants you to take your needs to Him, and you tell Him your requests again.

We may sometimes feel we're like the persistent widow in Jesus' parable recorded in Luke (Chapter 18) of the Bible. She keeps coming to the judge, badgering him and trying to wear him down so he'll give in. Yet we know that God is kinder and more powerful than the judge in the parable. We trust Him for He is good and wise and sovereign. We remember that Jesus said we "always ought to pray nad not lose heart"

So we ask Him, "summon Your power, O God; show us Your strength , as You have done before" (Psalm  68:28). Then we trust Him... and wait"

Delay is not denial, so keep praying and not lose heart. This also personally reminds me of my dear friend who was suffering colon cancer for 4 years before he went home to be with the Lord. The friend is none other than Terry Gallagher which I have mentioned several times throughout my blog, Terry is definitely to be included as in Hebrews 11: 13 &16 " All these people were still living in faith when they died...they were longing for a better country- a heavenly one. There God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepare a city for them"

Therefore my friends, please never lose heart in seeking God's answer. At the end of the day, we live in faith that our hope will be fulfilled by the Almighty who delivered the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, who perform miraculous wonders that no one else is or will ever be able to perform other than Him alone.

Faith is a journey and not a destination. If we know every single thing that will happen in the future, then we would not need any faith in our lives.

Some atheist are so sure and convinced that God does not exist but they themselves are not even sure of their own future.

God bless us all.

Joshua

Human love may fail but God's love never will.

Not everyone relationship, no matter how much love you put into it will guarantee a happy ending BUT through God's love for us, there's no doubt that there will be a happy ending. No matter how much the Devil wants to see God's death and destruction, Love will always prevail no matter how dark evil can be.

If you have experience God's love, its never a unsuitable time to "pass it on"

Joshua

Time to move on?

Question:

I got a question from a friend recently asking when is a good time to move on from a failed relationship? When to give up?

Answer:

It will be time to move on when you're thinking about the relationship too much and it's not getting anywhere.

Post-answer comment:

I guess at the end of the day, anykind of relationships whether a special life-partner relationship to a friendship or even a pet-human relationship, it will always take two sides to maintain a healthy and happy relationship.

Except for a relationship with God, others will always have a chance to let you down but I am thankful that I am blessed with friends for nearly a decade that couldn't offer anymore genuine heartfelt friendships that one can ever ask for, for that thank you for being you, my friends and praise the Lord for all of you!

So it is your time to move on from something/ someone that bitters your soul? Wish them well in the heart and move on with your head held high because God still loves you.

Joshua

Blessed Christmas & Happy New Year

Blessed Christmas & Happy New Year

The above picture is my Christmas Tree 2011.

Want to wish everyone a safe, joyous and peaceful Christmas and a Happy New Year. May each home and heart be filled with the warmth love of God, family and friends.

Joshua





Christmas time is near

Christmas, a time where we all should focus on things that truly matters in life...
May your Christmas, be like the joy of the angels proclaiming the first Christmas Day.

May your Christmas, be like the faith of the wise men as they journeyed to where Jesus lay.

May your Christmas, be like the the awe of the shepherds as they followed a voice from above.

May your Christmas, be like the blessing of Christmas and always the gift of His love.

At the joyful season, wishing you a life made beautiful through the blessing of His love.

May your home be filled with the warmth love of God, family and friends forever and always...

God bless us all during this holy and joyous season...
Joshua

There's a place for us...

I am a great Chronicles of Narnia fan, eventhough the writer never claims direct link to Christianity but the plots and the messages in the magical land of Narnia is nothing less for those who only believe...When I learn of the lyrics of this song, adapted from the movie "Chronicles of Narnia : The Voyage of the Dawn Treader", I couldn't hold back my tears. There are so many instances in life I felt like giving up and don't fit it...but this song reassures me that there's us place for us :)... Enjoy the song and words...

God bless us all...

Joshua

Come to Jesus

Come to Jesus.

Taking a break for exams. Back in early May 2010.

God bless us all.

Joshua

Psalm 23

Picture taken during one of my farm visit The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

He leads me beside quiet waters,

He restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake,

Eventhough I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

Your rod and your staff; they comfort me.

You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

~Psalm 23~

Christmas Tree

My room and Christmas tree for Christmas 2008. The Christmas tree has its history back to the pagan tree worship, usually the Oak tree in Europe (German) centuries ago. Now, the Christmas tree is one of the most popular traditions that is related to Christmas.

An angel or a star is usually placed on top of the tree to symbolizes the angel of heavenly hosts or the Star of Bethelehem.

The tradition of setting up a Christmas tree can be traced back into 16th Century Germany. It's most widely accepted origin begins with Boniface, a patron saint and missionary to Germany. The missionary halted a pagan tree worship when a child was to be sacrificed to an Oak tree. Boniface, destroyed the tree and days later a small fir (evergreen) tree sprang up from the debris where the destroyed oak tree was. Boniface declared: "This humble tree's wood is used to build your homes: let Christ be at the centre of your households. Its leaves remain evergreen in the darkest days: let Christ be your constant light. Its boughs reach out to embrace and its top points to heaven: let Christ be your Comfort and Guide."

S0, the fir and the pine trees (evergreens) are most often used as Christmas trees. To some, Christmas tree also symbolizes the beauty of thre Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden or the beauty of the cross after the resurrection of Christ.

While there are numerous theories on the origin of this tradition, and some even dismissed the tradition as unecessary and heretic. However, I am not going to debate whether or not a person should or should not set up a Christmas tree.

That's all for this blog.

Joshua