20-22 Covid-19 Daily Reflections

  Here is the story. It is about a young couple who were madly in love. Both of them came from the same community and upright families. Their parents knew one another. Some might say that their parents arranged their coming marriage. All was going well, and they both had been taking and planning for their wedding day. Families from both sides were excited. It should be a great wedding day. The young man got up early one morning just a few months before the wedding to go to work. He had a good day. It was early winter but the air was fresh. He could not stop thinking about his fiancee, so he was thrilled to get a phone call from her. " Hi, Mary! I am so happy that you call. How are you, and how was your day?" he greeted her. "Hi Joesph, we need to talk. It is important.", she replied. Has surprised her tone of voice, but he thought she might just be preoccupied with the many details of the wedding. He agreed that they should meet at their favourite coffee...

  This prophecy is about the birth of Jesus. “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means God with us).  (Matthew 1:21) What does "God with us" mean practically? He reveals himself to us in creation. Sometimes I go on a hike and encounter incredible views of nature. I know that not too many people get a chance to see these views. The beauty of God in nature affirms to me that He is with us. God is with us in our prayer. I am not talking about the religious practice of praying alone. It is about having an ongoing communion with God regardless of where we are. It can happen when we are still in a public park. It can happen when we care for someone who is sick. It can happen when we listen to music. God is with us in our redemption. The more we are free to acknowledge our brokenness, the more we experience the presence of God. He longs for us to experience the oneness with Him. The redemption of the world is w...

  Many cities have Candy Cane Lanes. Some of them are magnificent displays of lights. Some others have Special Christmas Light displays. We went to one last year in a small suburb of Calgary, and it was quite a pleasant surprise. Our neighborhood has been lit up with lights as well. There are many references to light in the Bible. The first one is from the star that guided the Wise Men to find Jesus's place of birth in Bethlehem -  (Matthew 2: 9) . The light provided direction, encouraged obedience, and gave insight into the unknown. John 8: 12  also helps us understand the correlation between light and Jesus. "Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." The contrast between light and darkness has become very clear in our time. Societies have thrown away many good things. Perverse practice and teaching have become acceptable in the absence of morality. More than ever ...

Christmas Tree is the central piece of Christmas decorations in any family living room at this time of the year. We decorate our tree with ornaments and then leave gifts under it. It shines with beautiful lights and colors. We usually place an angel or a star on top of the tree. Most Christmas trees are pine. There are many traditions and cultural significance when it comes to pine trees. Let us look at some. Greeks: gifts were left under the tree as sacrifices to the gods. Offering our life as a living sacrifice is a biblical concept. Would we leave our lives as gifts under the tree this year? Romans 12: 1-2 "I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans: pine tre...

Christmas wreaths are essential in many homes' Christmas decorations. Some families hang a wreath out in front of the main entrance as a welcoming gesture during the holiday. Hospitality is a gift from God. When we welcome one another, we do that in the presence of God. Christmas wreaths also have many other symbolic meanings. Its circle represents the unity of the Church of God, where its center is Chris Himself. The Church might have gone through the ups and downs historically, but she will stay strong when she maintains the same relationship with Jesus as her redeemer. Some people say the Christmas wreath represents the crown of thorns that Jesus wore before His crucifixion. The invitation that God has for us is a costly one. So when we think about Christmas, we should also consider Easter. The wreath also reveals the completeness of life. The beginning of life and the end of life seem to intertwine. Basically, life keeps going. When Jesus came into the world, He fulfilled that ...

Christmas ornaments come in many shapes and forms. Some of them have biblical themes. Some have some life meanings. Some are just outright silly. Many years ago, I made some glass Christmas ornaments with pictures of my children in them as a way to express my love for them. Most Christmas trees have an angel ornament. It is our way to remember what the angels proclaimed at the birth of Jesus: “This very day in David's town your saviour was born – Christ the Lord!” -  (Luke 2: 11) . It was a life-changing message for humanity delivered to a whole bunch of shepherds. Heart shape ornaments are also popular. It reminds us that Christmas reveals the true loving heart of God to a suffering world. God's love is outrageous and sacrificial. It is also about our hearts. They need to be restored and embraced. They also need to be transformed and guided. Some people also consider birds as their favorite ornaments. They are about freedom and community. They represent life and co...

  This slide is from a presentation of one of my nieces. She is very involved in helping businesswomen to participate in a sustainable economy. It is interesting to see the three verbs she uses to dig further into the meaning of to sustain. Let us consider these verbs within the context of the Christian faith. Regeneration: John 6:63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life." Titus 3:5 "He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit." God renews us daily as His Spirit continues to work within us. God is about life, and we are the benefactors of His work. He restores our brokenness. He grants us purpose and hope in regeneration. Regrow: James 1: 18 "In the exercise of His will, He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first...