“Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” –Luke 12:7b (NIV)

By their own merits sparrows are actually quite insignificant. They cannot boast of the size and strength of a mighty eagle for example because they are small and weak by comparison. Neither can the sparrow boast of being symbols of power and prestige because unlike the eagle, sparrows do not adorn the flags and emblems of nations. A sparrow can not even take pride in its own rarity because they are so numerous and common, and can be found in many parts of world.  Yet despite these qualities that the sparrow seemingly has going against it, God still loves and cares for them. Being His precious creations He sustains and provides for each and every one them; His eyes never leaving them for a moment in His unfailing love.

Sometimes we may feel like sparrows. Comparing ourselves to those who seem to have it all in terms of wealth and reputation, it is human tendency to become insecure. Seeing ourselves as begin merely ordinary and insignificant, we wonder if anyone cares about our joys and struggles. We long to be noticed and loved, and when we do not feel these things, loneliness and misery are the result. But the truth is no matter how small or inconsequential we feel, we are loved by the Creator of the Universe himself. We are not only God’s creations, but bearers of His image like how a child bears the imprints of his parents.  In the eyes of Christ we are worth far more than anything we can imagine and He wants to be in relationship with us so that He will fulfil the great plans He has in store for us. When we have allowed His Spirit to enter our hearts and redeem us from our sinful nature which separated us from Him, we will know what it means to rest in His love as we submit ourselves to Him. In doing this Christ will prove His love to us as He takes our lives and transforms them into testaments to His faithfulness; showing the world that no one is insignificant to Him and drawing others into the hope which only comes from knowing Him.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

“I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help. I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness from the great assembly.” –Psalm 40:10 (NIV)

Does a volcano ever hold back when it erupts? We would be hard-pressed to convince ourselves that it does. I have seen footage of major volcanic eruptions and I do not believe it to be a stretch to say that volcanoes are not of the self-conscious sort. On the contrary, a volcano is not afraid to allow the magma it has stored beneath its rocky surface to be expelled into the sky and into the surrounding area. It does not say to itself that perhaps it should hold back a little and practice some self-control. Rather, it allows its lava to overflow from within and to freely pour itself over the landscape. Granted a volcanic eruption is devastating and never pleasant. But there is much to learn from its boldness.

We as humans are so unlike volcanoes. Too often we keep things to ourselves and shy away from expressing what God has done and is doing in our lives. Perhaps we fear of becoming an eyesore to others if we show His love and tell of his righteousness, and thus we resign ourselves to going with the crowd; making sure that no one knows of the work which Christ is doing within us. But when we do this, we deprive ourselves of the chance to grow in our faith and see God at work in the lives of others. When we have allowed Christ to enter our hearts and seek to abide with Him, He will cause His love and righteousness to overflow from within us. As Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:7 “…God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love…”  His Spirit will embolden us to show His love to others, tell them of His righteousness with our lives, and speak of His faithfulness to us. Unlike a volcano, the overflow that will come from within us when we allow Christ’s Spirit to carry out His work will not destroy. Instead, it will only bring healing and life to all as He is made manifest in our words and actions.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

“I love the house where you live, O Lord, the place where your glory dwells.” -Psalm 26:8 (NIV)

What is a home? We often use it interchangeably with the word” house”. However, the two words have quite different connotations. A house is a building in which we are assured a place to rest and are protected from the elements. I have seen many beautiful houses which would be wonderful to live in. But a home is what gives a house life. A home consists of the people who make a house worth coming back to. When we are surrounded by the unconditional love of family, we find our sense of belonging and comfort and this gives us the strength and joy to endure all sorts of hardships. I know that even if – found myself “houseless” I will never be “homeless” as long as the love of my wonderful family continues to bring warmth to my soul.

Yet not even the bonds of family can claim to be unbreakable for all of us are fallen and mortal. If sin will not break our family ties, then death certainly will. When faced with total loneliness, where can we find that sense of belonging which we seek to regain? The wonderful truth is that in Christ we will always have a home. His love knows no bounds and it will never fade away for He is eternal. When we have allowed Christ to enter our hearts and carry out His restorative work in our lives we are adopted into His family. Through this adoption we become His precious sons and daughters; joining our brothers and sisters around the world who acknowledge Him as their Father. Immersed in His love we will find a home that can never be taken away from us; making His love tangible to us as He proves His faithfulness when we surrender our lives to Him. Knowing that we forever belong to Him, we will have the strength to overcome anything resting in the knowledge that we are loved and find our sanctuary in the Creator of the Universe who watches over and cares for us.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

“In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.” –Exodus 15:13 (NIV)

Children are immensely carefree. I remember my childhood being full of wonderful memories where I would be running and playing without a care in the world. Worry is almost absent from a child in large part because of total dependence on their parents. This also makes them extremely trusting. A child does not question where his next meal comes from, nor does he have any doubts when he goes out with his parents. He knows that because his mother and father care for him deeply that they will watch over him and provide for his needs. With the assurance of knowing that the loving gaze of his parents will always be behind him, the child is able to walk confidently and without fear unquestioning in his parent’s love to guide and protect him without fail.

There is a reason as to why Jesus said that we much approach Him with the faith of a child. It means to completely surrender ourselves to Him and trust in His love. However, too often we are afraid to give ourselves entirely to Him. Perhaps we have been let down by man many times before and we equate God with that same fallibility. But if we allow our experiences with fallen man to cloud our perception of God’s love and faithfulness, we deprive ourselves from experiencing the blessings which come from abiding in Christ. We can trust God for He is perfect in His love and goodness. In Him there is no evil and He therefore can never break His word. When we have allowed Christ to enter our hearts and carry out His work in our lives, we will know how great His love is for us. Constantly choosing to entrust every area of our lives to Him, we will be able to walk with the carefree attitude of a child as we bask in the joy knowing that God in His never-failing love will always prove Himself faithful according to His perfect will and timing.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

“The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.” –Exodus 15:2 (NIV)

I once remember coming across an interesting account of a group of Christians in ancient Rome. Persecuted for their faith in Christ they were in chains and were being led to the coliseum to be ripped apart by wild animals. But what struck the people observing this procession was that the Christians were singing and celebrating! Where there would normally be weeping and mourning, there was joy and a confident expectation of a glorious hope. The sight struck people both as odd and as admirable that these children of Christ would have such boldness in the face of death. It has been proven that part of the reason that Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire was the witness of these Christians under persecution; causing many to seek to learn more about Christ and accept Him as Lord.

How often do we have the same attitude in the face of suffering? When confronted by adverse circumstances, the song in our hearts is usually one of despair rather than hope and joy. Feeling crushed under the weight of our trials we feel helpless and weak. Such feelings then give way to hopelessness and we succumb to a defeatist attitude which tells us that victory will forever elude us. However there is hope in the Lord of the Universe; who stand omnipotent over all. When we have allowed Christ to enter our hearts and work in our lives, he will strengthen us by His Spirit. In leaning on Him and allowing ourselves to be rooted in His Word, we will find that strength and boldness which only comes from knowing that He works all things together for His perfect plan for us. Resting in Him we will be able to sing boldly, even in the direst of circumstances, for as Romans 8:37 says, “…we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Christ has overcome sin and death through His own death and resurrection. As His children who have become like Him in His death and resurrection, we have a strength derived from the eternal hope of being made one with Him.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

“‘Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.’” –Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

I remember the first time that I had to leave home and be away from my parents. As part of an elementary school trip I would be away for one whole week at an outdoor camp. Though I was looking forward to the exciting adventures that were to be had, I was also nervous and afraid. A child’s imagination often runs wild and knowing that I would be spending the week in a heavily forested area, there was the fear of the dangers that could be lurking in the woods. But before I left my father recited this verse to me and it brought me so much comfort and joy. Knowing that the all-powerful God who created the Heavens and the Earth was going to be by my side was a huge confidence boost. Even to this day when I feel that I am stepping into the unknown, this verse comes back to me reminding me that God is with me wherever I go.

Situations will come along our path that make us quake in fear. Uncertainty grips our minds and our hearts sink with despair. We wonder how we will ever pull through these situations in one piece. In desperation we cry out for strength and the wisdom to navigate through the storms which we find ourselves sailing into. However, there is hope! No other navigator will suffice expect for Christ Himself. When we have allowed Him to enter our hearts, He will strengthen us in our hour of need. By staying in tune with His Spirit He will guide our steps towards the fulfilment of His perfect plan for our lives. With Him as our Captain, we will have nothing to fear resting in the assurance found in Romans 8:31 that “If God is for us, who can be against us?”. We will be able to stand fearless before our situations and circumstances knowing that it is God who gives us victory and who in His omnipotence will work all things together for good.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

“…weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” –Psalm 30:5 (NIV)

Today as I was walking downtown, I saw an interesting quote by Rabindranath Tagore posted on a church billboard. Being the huge fan that I am of the Indian poet, I had to stop and take a picture. His quote displayed on the billboard was, “Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark”. It got me thinking of my own faith journey and how God has brought me out of those dark moments in my own life. Though initially I may feel discouraged and distraught when trials come along my path, the moment I take my fears and concerns to Him while spending time in His Word, I feel at peace and strengthened in the promise that He will turn my mourning into dancing. By the faith which He perfects in me I am able to feel the light though darkness may be around me.

Sometimes we may feel overwhelmed by circumstances around us. We look at ourselves and the struggles we face thinking how will we ever get the strength to endure them. No matter how hard we try, we cannot shake that feeling of hopelessness and despair; becoming weak under the weight of our situations. But Christ came into this world to bring hope and life. When we have allowed Him to enter our hearts and permit Him to work in our lives, we will experience first hand His faithfulness. Resting in the promises found in His Word, He will give us strength in the hope that though sorrow may plague us, they are not permanent. He is always working towards the fulfilment of His perfect plan for our lives and by His love and omnipotence He will turn our weeping into rejoicing. Making that decision to trust in Him is the best choice which we can make and when we have done this He will strengthen our faith so that though the clouds of darkness surround us, we will feel His light; walking boldly in the hope we have through Him.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.