June 26th, 2021: Heatwave


The heatwave is on its way. We are preparing for one of the highest temperatures we have ever experienced in Alberta. More AC units are on sale both in-store and online. The temperature could reach 38°C or 100°F next Wednesday.


When I was in Vietnam, the temperature could go even higher than that, plus humidity. We rode our bikes to school in that heat, and sometimes we needed to find refuge in a tree shade. The temperature was a bit cooler and more comfortable.

The weather is not the only thing that is heating up. It appears as if our society has reached a boiling point on many fronts: a good number of resignations from various police forces in the US, the increase in violence and hostility in different school board meetings concerning Critical Race Theory, the great distrust toward health authority and experts, the indifference towards vaccination, the increase in the number of young people suffer from mental illness and more.

How can we be like a tree that provides refuge for many people impacted by the heat?

Rest in God and know that He is our foundation when we are going through a tumultuous time.

"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" - (Psalm 27: 12)

Don't be afraid and depend on God for His help when we experience uncertainty.

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."- (Isaiah 41: 10)

Be prayerful and learn to give thanks even though life can be hard at times. Protect our hearts by knowing God's heart. Be at peace with God and others.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - (Philippians 4: 6-7)

The heatwave might be over in about a week. However, the societal heatwave will continue to heat up. We need to have a healing presence that brings comfort, restoration, and peace.

Popular posts from this blog

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

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

Oct 1st, 2022: Be With Those Who Suffer

Image
  Listening to a young woman who shared her experience of being raped repeatedly by a family member for over four years as a teenager made my heart ache. The man who did that was a leader of a church. He was imprisoned for seven months and released. He was her stepfather. Her mother chose to pick him over her after his release. Her life has changed forever. She had to go to a foster home. Her foster parents helped her with her restoration and her faith in God. Her supervisor at work asked me to see her because someone at work was inappropriate toward her. That triggered many emotions within her. I did not expect the story I heard from her. The meeting took longer than I thought, and it was toward the end of the day. She kept talking about her anger and the pain she felt when men treated her like a subject. I knew that the best I could do was to listen. She told me she had not been able to tell anyone as much as with me. God reminded me of the true calling of being a pas...
Read more