Peak years...

If we're thinking and acting “less”, unknowingly or consciously, than our real identity or whoever we are now, then there must be something wrong. These words suddenly dawned on me and made me paused for awhile.

For few weeks now, the words of Ptr. Yang Tuck Yoong of Cornerstone Church were echoing in my head. “Don't retire but refire! There's no glory at the beginning, it's found when the race is finished. We don't judge success at half the race... The years are ahead us and the peak is yet to come.”

Many among us think that our journey is like climbing a mountain. After we've reached the peak, we start to step down and end the journey below... And sadly, this mind setting has muddled our anticipation. We tend to expect less when we think we've already reached our peak. So, sometimes we have the propensity to look back and wish if we could just return to those “glorious” days...

But contrary to what many think, Ptr.Yoong said that, “We should end at the peak of our mountain!” Because, we know it fully that we are called to run the race from glory to glory. So, wherever our feet are standing now, that should be our “peak” otherwise, if we think less than that, we will act less… and expect less.

If we are now thinking or acting less than what we have already gained/established/achieved or been thru, then this is a call to pause for awhile and realign. It needs our conscious effort every time we take one step or we might trip-off from where we are standing and worse, fall off.

But, if we really believe in our hearts that we are just standing at exactly where God has called us to be, then we are only left with one option and that is, to move up because we know and we know that there must be greater things still awaiting for us, more glorious than the latter.

So, if we can still hear our heart is beating then, we have not reached the top yet. We haven’t tasted our finest day yet. Let’s keep our eyes focus on the AUTHOR and FINISHER of our faith because our optimum is still awaiting us.

Eternal Crowns

When God promised us something, we know that He will surely accomplish it. But, He never hands us over the blueprint of the exact plan He has on mind. We know that we will reach the Promised Land when He said so but most of the times, we are clueless on what are the exact atrociously-painful situations that we have to go through. We know the beginning and the end but we don't know the details 'in between'. Right, we anticipate trials but we can never really make a very precise decision unless we are at that situation (Does “cross the bridge when you get there” advice ring a bell?).

When you receive a word from GOD, I’m pretty sure you will be thrilled and energized. It's in the beginning where you will hear all the "Hallelujah" and "Praise the Lord". The excitement is so high. The faith is so BIG. How much more during the triumphant days (end)? All the praises you can utter!

But what about during the “in between”? It's during these times that you can hear all the possible venomous doubts that the enemy can whisper. Can I really make it? Did I really hear God when He said go? What if I’m wrong? What if I should have done the other way instead? All these mind boggling "what if(s)" happen here. The “in between” is the toughest and most crucial part because breakdown may happen here but your choices and actions during these times will determine if you will make it to your promised land - something that the Israelites did not understand.

The Israelites knew that they were on their journey to their promised land but they were not informed (not even Moses) that they had to wait for 40 long years. Probably all types of whining and complaining were uttered when they can’t seem to see what have been promised to them. Pile up every concern that they had plus factor-in the agony of waiting – is a situation that probably most of us can relate with. The ending of the story may be the same or could also be different but that’s up to the choices that we will make. Our actions will dictate the ending of our story. Wonder why some Israelites didn’t reach their promised land? I bet you know the answer!

When I heard God audibly say (just few months old as a believer), “I have appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give it to you. (John 15:16)", my heart rejoiced and I was so empowered! But, He didn't give me a complete list of all the heart-breaking experiences that I have to run through. He didn't say that I will struggle for my tuition fees nor mentioned that for many days I will get starved. He did not tell me about my dad… or mom will be… or kuya will face these… or ate will have... or our bunso is… and all other bloody stuffs… But most importantly (with a deep sigh), God “purposively failed” to warn me that most of these excruciating things will happen at the same time...

No doubt, the “in between-process” is the most vital stage because it’s in here where we are molded and transformed into His likeness. And it is here where we can get our crowns.

“but we do it to get a crown that will last forever…” 1 Cor 9:25

Crown symbolizes kingship but you can only be a king if you are conquering a territory. What territories or areas of your life that you want to conquer? And what are the crowns that you now have or still want to acquire? Crown of generosity? Crown of perseverance? Crown of loving-kindness? You name them and grab hold of them for the enemy wants to take them away from you.

“I am coming soon! Hold on to what you have so that no one takes your crown.” Revelation 3:11 (emphasis added)

I have not come to the most essential part yet. Flip your Bible to Revelation 4:9-11

“Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne…” (emphasis added)

Let me put a stress on “They lay their crowns before the throne…” Granted, we will be saved since we have accepted CHRIST as our Lord and Saviour but if that’s God only intention then He should have omitted the “in-between-process” and has already taken us up with HIM right after we have accepted CHRIST. If that’s the case then all that we can say when we meet HIM is, “Thank You Lord for saving me.” But that’s not it. All these battles that we’re fighting for are for HIM. If we’re surpassing all these just for our own satisfaction then I guess, we will not really have that drive to finish the race but if we’re pressing on because of our love for HIM, then all these are crowns are indeed worth fighting for. How encouraging to know that when the appointed day will come, we will not only thank and praise HIM for saving us, but also offer HIM all the crowns that we steadfastly hold on.

“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself” Revelation 9:11-12

As a final note, I would lie if I will say that I never questioned His promises because I honestly did.... In fact, more than once especially on family matters. There are also times that I tend to go back to my comfort zone instead but I know that in every place that I will enter in, there is always a corresponding place that I have to go out from or leave behind.

With all these words, I’m only left with this question, how many crowns will I be offering to Jesus on that appointed day?

Sweetly Broken (title from Jeremy Riddle's song)

Questions are popping up on my mind now that I just feel like releasing them. I guess you will agree with me when I say that some answers to our questions are inevitable but not convincing or encouraging at all – they are like salt in your wounds. But, well, salt is used for purifying, are we not suppose to rejoice then? Arghh…

I must say, my previous weeks have been very tough (and still getting tougher…) that I just want to disappear for awhile… I’ve asked a lot of things lately but I’ve received the otherwise.

I long to hide and rest but I’m being pushed to come out and run…
I yearn for something but I’m asked to wait.
I’m begging for a helping hand but they even broke my leg.
I wish for a lighter load but I was given more challenges.
I want to shout and yet GOD is asking me to stay calm and quiet.

So, anyone who can give me a very gratifying answer? I bet most of us would say, that includes me (and because there’s no other way), “Trust and rest in HIS arms.” BUT, trusting and resting are not as easy as we thought. It requires a willful mind, heart and soul to totally lay down everything and remove any shadow of doubts. I’ve heard a lot of well known writers/pastors/missionaries who took time (some years) for them to totally grasp how to really rest in the midst of the storm. I believe it’s because the limited mind can’t easily chew something like that. Touch their family and surely, many would be shaken. Throw some more personal/emotional/work concerns and definitely, some would draw back.

My question still remains, are we not supposed to rejoice then? I believe no one can really lay down any crystal clear answers but as most of us know that still, GOD has His own ways of getting our attention. He wants us to get out from our “physical state” and step into HIS “spiritual realm”. Right, our understanding is very limited that’s why He’s asking us to let go of that “limited understanding” and embrace HIS “eternal grace”. I admit rejoicing is very hard during the hard-hitting trials but at the end of it, I’m certain that we will surely rejoice as long as we stay in HIS guidance – that, I’m very certain...