February Newsletter: One Thing Remains

Recently, after a messy conflict with a pastor at a local church here in Keelung,

a lot of doubts and fights within my flesh and spirit just rose up.

Being salt & light in the world is not easy.

Jesus said we “are” salt & light to the world because we follow him, he didn’t say we “should be” or we “will be”, but he said we “are” simply because we follow him.

Following Jesus is such a simple but not-easy-thing, because we always have to fight against ourselves, our will, our flesh, our selfish desires and all sort of the dirty & messy stuff I don’t even have to name it.

Your know it, there is nothing good within human nature, our hearts are darker than we ever knew or could imagine, but what really gives me hope is that, Jesus didn’t command us to be “good people”, or even try to act like good, because he knows there is nothing he can expect from us, because we are fallen beings, he will never ask us to be perfect or strive for anything for his sake like how the world commands us to do daily.

He simply just ask us to give him our hearts, every portion of our hearts, without reservation, without any fear, we might be crying, tearing, unwillingly, slowly stretching out our hands, handing ourselves over to him slowly, but it is okay, because he knows we need his healing anyway, and he knows only the love from heavenly father can satisfy our souls.

He knows it anyway.

We no longer need to pretend there is something or anything good within us.

What a grace.

What a piece of powerful good news.

We no longer need to carry our own burdens anymore because his salvational grace has set us free.

That’s why we can live so FREELY.

Not by our own will or power or demand try to soar into sky, all we need to do is just to close our eyes, and he will lift us up into the sky supernaturally.

That’s the power of God.

That’s the love of God.

When I felt like really depressed and dragged down by the pattern & darkness & weight of the decaying worldly life, I know I am not home yet, because I am a citizen of heaven, however, I am placed here on earth with each of my breath sustains by the mercy of grace with a CALLING. It is not by accident that I am here even though the days are evil.

Anyway,

What I am trying to say is, I really wanted to cry out loud and break down before God, to him alone last night after work. I felt I could not contain the depressing feelings inside of me anymore.

I went to the jogging field I went every morning, and before I landed there, I thought I was just ganna bowing and crying there.

But the fact is, there is a running activity there last night under the pouring rain. These people are running 5K meters last night under the pouring rain!!!

I was so so so encouraged even just by watching them, I felt my heartbeat again, I felt the strengths coming out from my belly, and I see how powerful each life could be if we really allow ourselves to “live life to the fullest”.

The fight the difficulties I faced/facing now are really just small pieces of cake, but my emotion, the depression and fear are the real thing that preventing me from seeing the glory or experience the light.

Really thank God for he reminds me: “You will never know how much I love you.” last night while inhaling the energy and liveliness at the field.

My vision for 2015:

Continuing Toward Our Goal

Philippians 3:12-14 Expanded Bible (EXB)

Philippians 3:13 Instead I am single-minded. Forgetting the things that are behind and he who runs a race, must never stop short of the end, but press forwards as fast. Keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called me to the life above through Christ Jesus.

Jesus Christ is the one and only thing that remains:

Higher than the mountains that I face Stronger than the power of the grave Constant through the trial and the change One thing… Remains [repeat] [Chorus:] Your love never fails, never gives up Never runs out on me [3x] On and on and on and on it goes It overwhelms and satisfies my soul And I never, ever, have to be afraid One thing remains [Bridge:] In death, In life, I’m confident and covered by the power of Your great love My debt is paid, there’s nothing that can separate my heart from Your great love...