Paddle Power

With a hard bang of the door and a cholocate chip cookie in my mouth, I shuffled my legs as fast as possible, trying to be careful not to make too loud a noise for the early quiet hour in my apartment, to where my bicycle was parked. I walked towards my bike, instinctively grabbed the key and unlocked the cable lock. I hopped on it and paddled...hard...for I knew I was going to be late for work.

The sun was already high for 8 o'clock in the morning and my sweat broke. Though a bit out of breath, I refused to stop paddling. A minute passed, a lotto lady, out of nowhere, on her bicycle, cruised by...faster than I could ever catch...Then a white guy on his mountain bike flashed by...left me wondering whether I was too slow or they were too fast for a rush hour like this.

It hit me...though the world is moving fast and passing by like a comet falling from the sky, Jesus is at the same pace as I am. He is here...present...with me...always. While I was biking, He was there doing the same thing.

Isn't it a bit out of place to imagine that such Creator would humble Himself to be doing some petty businesses with us when He has the whole universe to tend to?

Yet...it's true. God, the Creator of the universe, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the magnificent, omnipotent Savior, whispers to our ears everyday, "I am with you...to the end of the age".

The question is, "Are we ever with Him? Are we ever present before God?" Caught up in the swirl of life and the checking of to-do lists, our focus is only at the task but not at the One who's given those tasks to us. We're obsessed and consumed by the momentary worldly success/ failure when Eternity has entered into our worlds and offered the everlasting fulfillment - His presence with us, individuals. God is our all in all.

The Lord spoke to the Israelites through His prophet, Isaiah, "But you, O Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend, I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.  So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

He cares for us so much that He has sealed us with the promise of the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13-14 says, "It's in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what's coming, a reminder that we'll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life" (The Message)

We are "signed"..."sealed"...and..."delivered".

Thus, our goal is heavenward...

Unto a praising and glorious life...

Unto eternity...

It's not a bad thing to set up goals in life but don't let them take you out of His path and His everlasting possession.

Focus on God.

Engrossed in His love.

Be ever present to Him.

"God knows where we are. Sometimes we forget this. Sometimes we even feel that God has forgotten us. He hasn't. God knows exactly where we are. So when you are afflicted with those forsaken feelings, when you are on the verge of throwing a pity party, thanks to those desparing thoughts, go back to the Word of God. God says, 'I know where you are.'" - Charles R. Swindoll

Grace like Rain

It was 1:30 in the afternoon. The sun was blazing over the bald hills. My throat parched and longed for some refreshing water.

Then from afar, I heard slow rumbling sound and dark clouds hovering over the sky...The sign of rain...I quietly rejoiced in my soul...and marveled with the birds and trees...for our hearts knew that the smoke-filled air would be washed away...and...replaced with a new fresh breath.

Drip-drops falling down...and not a minute had passed...came a curtain of silver glass all over the once-dry mountain lands. I gazed out the window...longing to splash my bare legs with heavy dew over the grasstops and throwing myself in the muddy streams...

Shower from heaven poured down to cleanse the blotches of disgrace...the stains of life.

Blood from sinless Savior soaked through the Golgotha's ground to set free the imprisoned souls...and washed us white as snow...

Love...everlasting...even when Your flesh was torn in pieces...

Grace...undeserving...even when You were pulled and dragged across the hills...

Jesus...tortured...crucified...died...

The world became silent as "It is done" echoed...

Veils torn...Hope shattered...

Savior...no more...

Shaft of sunlight on Sabbath morning...

Sobbing through tears when discovered
Only the empty tomb and strips of linen...

With faces to the ground, the angels said...

"He is not here...He has risen."

Hallelujah to our risen Lord and King, Jesus Christ.

"He told them, this is what is written: 'The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are the witnesses of these things." Luke 24:46-48