Dec 4th, 2020: Christmas Blessing - God is With Us

 Joseph mary and baby jesus Royalty Free Vector Image

Many years ago, Jewish leaders didn't expect that the Messiah would come into the world as a baby, born in an assuming manger in Bethlehem. They would not believe that the Messiah would die by being crucified. It was an ugly death, the death of a criminal. It was an incomprehensible event although many prophets foretold that in their Scriptures many years before Jesus was born.

Usually, when we see a baby, we would not think that he (she) would be the one who protects us. No one in the right mind would think that, and yet, that was what happened. It was unthinkable to the mindset of many people. There was no human power in that. That is when we learn how the foolishness of God overcomes the wickedness of this world. The power of redemption is the one that restores our personal relationship with God. It is not about dominating the outside world. It is more about transforming our inner life so that we can have a positive impact on others.

It is not that easy to deal with the temptation of going after the power of this world while thinking that we are about God's business. We want to have control of this world. We are confused between seeking God's power in the world and establishing our own. Throughout human history and the history of the church, the church has been the author of many tragic events. All have been done in the name of God.

Let us go back to the beginning of God's revelation to the world by sending Jesus to be one among us. He identifies Himself with the poor, the sick, the misunderstood, the oppressed, and the lost. Let us continue to do so as we reflect on the gifts of God during this Christmas Season.

Isaiah 9:6-7

"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and for evermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this."

Popular posts from this blog

Sept 4th, 2024: Praying in Images

Image
It has been a rough few days. Living in immense pain does not allow us much energy to think about anything. I ended up praying in images, and not many words came out of my mouth. Most of the images were of people I know. God knew that I was praying for them as their faces came to my mind. I did not need to mention the circumstances or situations of their lives—He knows. My heart was at peace as I ended my days with these images. He will take care of my body, and I know this because I was able to get some sleep. Tomorrow is in His hands.
Read more

Aug 31st, 2024: Confession

Image
Dealing with pain sometimes affects our ability and flexibility. A physiotherapist friend gave me a set of home exercises to help with that. They are simple yet intense at the same time. Dealing with our human brokenness sometimes affects our ability to see and hear God. Our commitment to spiritual disciplines must be at the core of our relationship with God. One of the disciplines I have been trying to embrace more fully is confession. It’s not just about recognizing where we have gone wrong; it’s about how we have chosen to live our lives independently from God. It’s about whether we truly want God to be part of our lives. The absence of meaningful confession will damage our freedom to experience intimacy with God. "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy." - Proverbs 28:13
Read more

May 18th, 2020: Why Forgiveness?

Image
  A young man called me last night and he was tormented by his relationship with his mother. It is not because she was a horrible mom. It was unresolved grief that is caused by his dad's suicide a few years ago. Emotionally, he blames parents for his father's death although he knows intellectually that it is not right. I knew the father a bit because his mother and her family came to see me for help when they first arrived in Canada. He was a brilliant physician and who was quite loved by people of a small northern town in Alberta. He was awkward in some ways and very uncomfortable in social conversations. This young man has had many conversations with me ever since the suicide. His father's death has been a major topic of our time together. Most of our conversation yesterday was about forgiveness. We were talking about forgiving people who never ask or haven't got a chance to ask us to forgive them. The question is whether we can forgive without being asked. His father...
Read more