軍事比喻來介紹大聖經 Introducing the Bible using a Military Theme

想像一個偉大的戰士,他以仁慈和正義統治著他的居民,而且每個公民都忠於他。

Imagine a great warrior who rules over his inhabitants with mercy and justice and whose every citizen is faithful and loyal to him.


這個偉大的戰士名為「愛」,他與每個公民都有親密的關係。此外,「愛」選擇把自己的王權賦予他的公民,然後讓他們照顧和保護他的王國。公民統治的整個土地都享有和平與繁榮。

This great warrior's name is Love and he has an intimate, personal relationship with each of his subjects. Furthermore, Love chooses to impart his full kingly authority over the land to his subjects and then charges them to care for and protect his kingdom. The whole land which is subject to these citizens enjoys peace and prosperity.


但是隨後發生了意外(因為它從未在這個王國發生過):來自異國的敵人秘密的入侵,並透過欺騙手段推翻了這些公民的權威,說服他們放棄自己的權力,把權力給了敵人。

But then the unthinkable happens (unthinkable because it has never happened in this kingdom before): an enemy from a foreign land invades on a stealth mission and overthrows the authority of these citizens through a deceit tactic, essentially tricking them into abandoning their authority to their enemy.


當敵人剝奪了公民應有統治權時,原本一個和平的王國突然陷入了詛咒,從公民不再重視「愛」開始,且被敵人洗腦了。他們開始彼此打架,用自己的力量摧毀而不是祝福。

As the rightful rule over the land is stolen away by the enemy, the kingdom which had never experienced anything but peace is suddenly plunged into a curse since the citizens no longer focus on Love, but are instead tainted by the enemy to such an extent that they turn on each other and use their strength to destroy rather than to bless.


面對這樣的狀況,「愛」很難過,同時,他說他的敵人會被消滅,但不會立刻發生,而是在將來的某個時候透過與他的公民的合作而被消滅。這讓他的公民帶來希望的曙光,但是隨著土地和公民的心越來越黑暗,這希望的預言開始消失。實際上,這片土地變得如此黑暗,只剩一個家庭忠心於「愛」。

Love is so extremely distressed about this situation that he proclaims then and there that the enemy will be destroyed, not immediately, but sometime in the future through his co-labor with his citizens. This sparks a small light of hope within his citizens, but as the land and people's hearts grow darker and darker, this prophecy of hope begins to fade. In fact, the land becomes so dark that only a single family remains loyal to Love.


偉大的戰士別無選擇。如果他在這一刻不干預,將不再有希望的痕跡。在一場混亂和動蕩的大戰中,「愛」殺死了那土地的居民,因此只有忠於他的那個家庭仍然活著。這是一個偉大的重置,是重新開始的機會。但是,黑暗依然存在在這個家中,雖然地球已經清除了威脅其生存的污漬,但黑暗仍然籠罩著光明。

The great warrior has no choice. If he doesn't intervene in this moment, there will no longer be a trace of hope left. In a great battle of chaos and turmoil, Love slaughters the inhabitants of the land so that only that single family which was loyal to him remains alive. It is the great reset, the chance to start again. But even the darkness in this family lingers on, and though the earth was removed of the stains that threatened its existence, darkness still prevails over light.


可是,「愛」對這一切都不是不可預見的,他用了一個敵人看不到的簡單且精確地行動來完成計畫的下一步。他選擇一個人,並要求他跟隨「愛」的方式。透過這個人,一個家庭,乃至整個民族被確立為抵抗周圍國家黑暗的盟軍基地。「愛」本人就是透過這個盟軍基地進入故事的,雖然沒有很大的犧牲和死亡威脅。

None of this was unforeseen to Love, though, who makes his next move in such simplicity and precision that the enemy can't see it coming. He chooses a single man and calls him to follow in the ways of Love. Through that man, a family and ultimately an entire nation of people are established as an ally base against the darkness of the nations around it. It is through this ally base that Love himself steps into the story, though not without great sacrifice and the threat of death.


「愛」在他的公民中間行走,但他的公民無法認出他。他們絆倒在絆腳石上,是因為他們認為這位偉大的戰士會像殘酷而支配優勢的敵人的戰士一樣。相反地,「愛」對貧窮和軟弱的人仁慈,但對未能幫助社會底層的那些被尊敬的精英公民卻是嚴酷的。最後,敵人說服了「愛」的公民出賣他們的國王並殺他。

Love walks among his people, but his people can't recognize him. They stumble over a stumbling block because they assumed the great warrior would be like the enemy's warriors who majored in brutality and dominance. In contrast, Love is merciful on the poor and weak, yet harsh on the respected elite of his own citizens who fail to help the lowest of society. In the end, the enemy convinces Love's own people to betray their king and murder him.


但這並不是「愛」所無法預料的。事實上,這全是他的計劃。由於「愛」自己的公民活在戰俘中,不一定是敵人的戰俘,而是他們內部的黑暗的戰俘,所以他們無法跟隨「愛」的方式。即使「愛」從敵人手中奪回的土地的權威並將其歸還給他的公民,黑暗仍然會佔上風。統治著他的公民的這種黑暗需要先被恢復才這土地可以被治癒。

But this too, was not unforeseen by Love. In fact, it was all according to his plan. Since Love's own citizens were living as prisoners of war, not necessarily to the enemy, but to the darkness within them, they were unable to follow the ways of Love. Even if Love took back the authority to rule the land from the enemy and restored it to his citizens, darkness would still prevail. This darkness ruling the hearts of his citizens needed to be restored before the land could be healed.


前提,這些變成戰俘的當值士兵並不無辜。他們是叛國者,應該受到最嚴厲的懲罰。敵人從一開始就知道這一點,並以此作為對付偉大戰士的槓桿。「愛」的公民犯下的戰爭罪行必須償債,而只有「愛」本人才有資格付出正義的代價。那正是他會做的。

It must be noted that these prisoners of war were not innocent soldiers taken in duty. They were treasonous renegades who deserved the worst punishment that could be offered. The enemy knew this from the beginning and used it as leverage against the great warrior. A debt had to be paid for the war crimes committed by Love's citizens, and only Love himself could be worthy to pay the price that justice demanded. And that's exactly what he would do.


為消滅他公民內心黑暗而犧牲,「愛」甘願地變成了居住在他們身上的黑暗,讓他們可以成為他愛的光明。這位偉大的戰士憑著自己的意志,陷入死亡的深淵,使他的公民的債務被免除,但他並沒有就此止步。

As a sacrifice to eradicate the darkness within the hearts of his subjects, Love willingly became the darkness that inhabited them so that they could become the light of his love. Of his own volition, the great warrior descends into the depths of death to even out the accounts of his people, but he doesn't stop there.


這位用了自己的生命來換取戰俘的偉大的戰士有著完美的人生,沒有理由讓他死。讓偉大戰士犧牲的敵人竭盡全力將「愛」牢牢地關在死亡的束縛中,但即使是最黑暗的邪惡也沒辦法阻止「愛」無辜生命的力量。

The great warrior who gives his life in exchange for the prisoners of war had lived a perfect life and there was no reason for him to die. The enemy who agreed to sacrifice the great warrior tries with all his might to imprison Love in the bonds of death, but the power of an innocent life is too great even for the darkest evil.


作為戰爭的重大轉折點,「愛」以謙虛的勝利從墳墓中升起,戰勝了奴役他的公民的黑暗。 一旦敵人的力量被擊敗,「愛」就能夠用他的愛之光交換其公民心中的黑暗。 對於所有選擇進行這種偉大交換,他們的黑暗被籠罩在「愛」犧牲的永恆迴響中,他的公民給給予新的心來跟隨「愛」的方式,並作為士兵來戰勝被擊敗的黑暗 。

As the great turning point in the war, Love rises from the grave in a humble triumph over the darkness that enslaves his people. Once the power of the enemy is defeated, Love is able to exchange the darkness in the hearts of his citizens for the light of his love. For all who choose to engage in this great exchange, their darkness is slain in the eternal echo of Love's sacrifice that would ring throughout eternity, and his citizens are given a new heart to follow the ways of Love and fight as soldiers against the defeated darkness.


許多人拒絕這位偉大戰士的犧牲,但許多其他人接受了他的犧牲,將他們的黑暗換成光明,並再次獲得了以憐憫和正義統治該國的權力。 然後他們出去宣告跟建立新的王國,這個新王國首先在人心中統治,然後繼續祝福所有創造物,並有盡可能多的人接受它能夠成為「愛」王國的新公民。

Multitudes reject this great warrior's sacrifice, but multitudes of others accept it, exchanging their darkness for light and receiving again the authority to rule over the land with mercy and justice. Then they go out to proclaim the new kingdom that begins by ruling in the hearts of men and then proceeds to bless all of creation, and as many as accept it become new citizens of Love's kingdom.


這是聖經的故事,我們歷史的故事,以及我們人生的目的。 有一天,「愛」的王國將被完全恢復,他的勝利將吞噬死亡。 在那之前,我們像「愛」的好士兵一樣奮戰,始終相信為我們而死和復活的國王將有一天再來,讓一切都變好。

This is the story of the Bible, the story of our history, and the purpose of each of our lives. One day, the kingdom of Love will be restored in full and death will be swallowed up in his victory. Until then, we fight like good soldiers of Love, always believing that the king who died and rose for us will return again one day to make all things right.


How the Least becomes Greater than the Greatest

Matthew 11:11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.


Imagine a servant fanning a king in his palace in the heat of summer. The king is the greatest in the kingdom, but according to Jesus, the greatest is one who serves.


All of a sudden the first becomes the last because the king doesn't serve anyone. That servant fanning the king becomes the greatest since he serves the king himself, but the lowest servants who aren't even worthy to serve the king become greater than he.


Perhaps that's why Jesus said John the Baptist is the greatest, but the least in the kingdom is greater than he.


Teaching and Parenting Philosophy

In any house or classroom, there are essential values that must be maintained in order for masters to bring maturity to their pupils.


The first value is honesty or integrity.


The rules must be followed and enforced. Good rules that are not enforced consistently and fairly will nullify any good intended. When there is consistency based on these pre-determined rules, trust is built, which ultimately leads to good relationships between master and pupil, and pupil and pupil.


The second value is proper acceptance.


There must be respect for each other, along with acceptance in the differences between levels of growth and personality within a framework of correct behavior. Improper behavior must not be accepted, for it will produce the opposite result intended. Proper acceptance to err and try again builds confidence, which ultimately leads to good relationships between master and pupil, and pupil and pupil.


The third value is tangible rewards for good behavior and effort.


Masters must tell the pupils why the rules and values prescribed are beneficial and right. Effort toward the goals of these rules and values must be encouraged through tangible rewards. At the same time, the master must never reward improper behavior, for it would encourage the opposite of what is intended. Tangible rewards for good behavior and effort produce motivation, which ultimately leads to good relationships between master and pupil, and pupil and pupil.


As you have noticed, the end goal of all three values is good relationships. That is because good relationships allow learning to flourish. Poor relationships hinder learning. Therefore, there are three action steps to take to ensure a positive home or classroom conductive to producing maturity in pupils.


1. Clearly explain, demonstrate, and expect the essential values.

2. Immediately punish the following: dishonesty, bullying, and apathy.

3. Maintain an agreement with superiors, if any, regarding these essential values (i.e. parents, co-teachers, spouses, supervisors).


The first value, honesty, precedes proper acceptance and the giving and receiving of meaningful rewards, ultimately creating an atmosphere of good relationships with the goal of producing maturity in pupils likened to that of their masters.


Concordantly, the proper place to start in creating an environment conducive to producing maturity is in outlining clear rules and expectations, and cultivating a culture of honesty and integrity toward them.


The Paths of Zorin Lcenk (A Novel Snapshot)

 "She's always been a fighter, but even this is too much for her."


Kailey squeezed her fist around her bundled up sleeve. She had to remember this was her father speaking, not her enemy. "Don't say that. That's not what I came to hear."


Her father's eyes lost any trace of light, as if comprehension had completely forsaken him. "I'm sorry, Kailey."


She had only ever seen that expression on her father once before, when he had feared the worst, and at that time, the worst had come. But that enemy was eventually defeated, although several generations later. "No... it's not over yet."


Her father shook his head soberly. "Let her go, Kailey."


Her hand tightened. It was her father's stubbornness. She could never win when he got that way about something, but she knew there was always a reason for it. "There's something you're not telling me..."


"Just her go, Kailey!"


An image of her mother flashed through her mind. A phrase came and went, too quickly to be remembered. Her mother had known... and her father knew now. "She hasn't lost yet, has she?"


Her father's features melted into serenity. She knew what that new expression was... acceptance. He already knew what was going to happen and there was no fear about any of it.


"She's ready to go, Kailey. Let her have what she wants."


Even knowing that her father had a higher perspective couldn't alleviate the anger within her. If it wasn't too late, she refused to give up. "I can't!"


Her father's next word came out quick and fierce, pleading with her daughter. "Why?"


"Because I need her..."


Silence. Her own words sunk in. Emotions sprang out of them like young sprouts from the soil of her heart. It was her own fear holding her back. It was the lack of fear driving her father forward.


"I know... I know. But you'll find your way, just like she has."


...


"Look at me, Kailey. You're a fighter. It's in you. She's in you. Trust me... You'll find your way. And when you do, you'll lead a generation in your wake. You're going to walk in the paths of Zorin Lcenk. She's given you everything she has. That's why you have to let her go..."


Now it was her turn to ask the question. "Why?"


Her father smiled with such genuineness that there could be no doubts as to his motives. His words would be the force driving her into her destiny. "Because it's your time now."


For the atheists

Some people feel quite safe behind the label of atheist. They look quite smug feeling enlightened with their truth, looking down on the church and pointing out all her flaws and so-called contradictions.

They're so quick to point out the corruption of the church, using words such as Inquisition, Crusades, and Salem witch trials.

They are very comfortable pointing the finger at others as they enjoy the luxury purchased by the blood of the faithful.

They dabble in a little philosophy, a little science, and a new anti-religious title and think that they somehow found freedom.

They're like the audience of the magician, unable to see the chains binding them with fears and powerlessness. They're blind to a truth so obvious it might be considered funny to a child.


And this is the truth, my friend:

Everyone must worship.

Everyone bows before someone or something, a spiritual Being or an intellectual ascent, but everyone pays homage with a life of sacrifice.

As Jesus said, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.


So what about you, my atheist friend?

What do you worship?

What have you given your life to, spent all your time, effort, and money on?

Who is your god?

And most importantly, is that god worthy of your homage?


I know, you just can't believe. And you wonder how I ever could, how anyone ever could.

I never could either, though.

Not until He came.

That changed everything in an instant.


No longer was I bound to worship myself in a meaningless existence where I only hurt others and myself, despite my best efforts not to. Someone greater than myself was there and I had no words in the presence of His beauty. If I could convince you of everything I believe, I would spend a lifetime arguing and writing to do just that, but my words would never be enough to let you glimpse just a faint glimmer of His glory.


Trust me when I say that you have to see Him for yourself. His beauty is unparalleled, His mercy thick in richness. His revelations are so simple that a child could understand them and yet countless pages and scrolls have been written trying to comprehend them.


He is not foreign, nor distant, yet of His vastness and wisdom there is no end.

He is my Provision, my Healer, and my Victory.

He never failed me, not even once.

He is a Father to my orphan heart, a Shepherd to my lost soul, and a Light to my dark path.


His name... IS.


I've known life without Him and I've known life with Him, and I'd rather lose everything, even my own life, if I have to live just one day without Him.


He is the Pearl of great price that I sold everything to get.

And what could I offer for the gift of just knowing Him?

What have I that could ever be worthy enough for Him?


In my desperation and hopelessness, He saw my condition and He made the first move.

He always makes the first move.

Then He waits.


And I stared in disbelief and wonder as He came, born in a manger to an ordinary family obscured in poverty. And that's how He came. Oh the wonders of His life, the wealth of the stories He left behind. And the climax, no one could have expected.


Death. Pain. Heart break.


I know you're in a hurry, so you probably just read over those words as if you understood why they meant, but you have no idea what they were actually describing.


The Author of life, the Creator of paradise, and the pursuing Lover tasted the consequences of sin, rebellion, and hatred, yet there was never any darkness in Him, nor will there ever be.


The Son of God needed a tomb.

It should never be, unless by choice.

He chose to die. He chose to love. And He chose to live.


The tomb is empty, my friend, just go to Jerusalem and see it for yourself.


Are there atheists in this world?

Yes, but not without acknowledging God, for atheist means one who believes there is no God. They can only define themselves in relation to Him, since even a child could come to the conclusion that He either exists or He doesn't.


You choose either way.


But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.


Welcome to the Desert

 We live in the deserts...


Mystics veiled in misunderstanding...


Cursed by the world and plagued by demons...


Accused of retreating and accused of unrestrained optimism...


Believing in the goodness of God to protect us in all circumstances.


We go without food and sleep, comforts and pleasure...


Making our home in the wilderness of hardships...


And yet our God stands above all...


Greater than a multitude of demons...


Making the most severe of tests seem like a light affliction.


We're the ascetics, beating our bodies into submission...


Living isolated and alienated...


In constant distress, yet filled with peace and joy...


Willingly bearing our cross in meekness and patience...


All for the privilege of being worthy to suffer for the Lord Jesus Christ.


We are mystics to this world...


Having forsaken everything to follow Him...


Alone in the wilderness, and yet never alone...


For He meets us in a parched and wary land...


Welcoming us to the abundant life of the desert.


The Dragon Slayer

 The most respected job one can have nowadays is to be a dragon trainer.


Flying reptilian beasts follow them around everywhere they go, whispering dark secrets in their ears.


Anyone without a dragon of their own is mocked as destitute and incomplete.


It's as if hearing those secrets and possessing the mystical elements they promise is something to aspire after.


The world somehow came to believe that finding a dragon was tantamount to finding your destiny.


They limited all their problems to a single solution of golden eyes and forked tongues.


Because of it, everyone wants to be the greatest dragon trainer the world has ever seen, which means controlling your dragon so completely that it becomes a part of your very soul.


They refuse to admit the impossibility of it all, for it stands beyond reason to believe that a dragon would begin taking orders from a human.


The truth is, it's not dragons that are being trained, but it's people who are being trained.


It was all a deception from the start to cover up the truth:


There are no dragon trainers, there are only people trainers.


Dragons spread their secrets to convince the world that humans are getting the benefit of the relationship, but I know what's really going on.


Darkness is spreading over the hearts of each "dragon trainer" like an internal sickness only now being revealed externally for what it truly is.


That's why I decided from the very beginning that I'll never be a dragon trainer.


In fact, I'm just the opposite.


I'm a dragon slayer, born for this very purpose:


To disarm every dragon of their teeth and ban them from this realm.


But more importantly, I'm going to set my people free.


Dragons may rule the hearts of men now, but soon, very soon, I'm going to slay the beast so that the world will know the truth.


After that, it will be up to each individual as to what fate they will choose.


As for me, I've already chosen:


I'm a dragon slayer.

Where's My Gold (Icebreakers, Social Games, Addictive Games)

 The King must find both pieces of gold to win the game.


2 teams: Red and Black.


Characters:

Narrator- gives out and hides gold

Jacks- give (revealed) gold to another player (not him or herself)

Queens- change any 2 player cards (does not affect gold)

Kings- steal (revealed) gold from another player

Aces- tell the narrator to hide 1 (revealed) gold (and see where it is hidden)

Jokers (optional)- skip 1 player 1 round


How to play:

1. Using a deck of cards, pass out an equal number of red and black cards to each player (only Jacks through Aces, with optional Jokers).


2. Everyone closes their eyes as the Narrator gives gold (coins) to 2 different players.


3. Choose a starting player and move clockwise in a circle, each character performing 1 of the following 3 actions:

a. Guess who has the gold (if correct, that player must reveal their gold by putting it in front of them).

b. Reveal your own gold (by putting it in front of you).

c. Ability (with the exception of Queens, there must be a revealed gold in front of a player for the characters to perform their ability).


4. The game ends when one of the Kings has both pieces of gold.


After Dusk: Our Greatest Battle

When I was in high school, the Lord of the Rings movies were coming out.


They were appealing for several reasons, the greatest of which was the epic battle between good and evil.


It was easy to put myself in the story, becoming one of the elves with skills harnessed to exact accuracy and precision.


I imagined the real world being like this.


What if there were really orcs fashioned by pure evil with the intent to destroy the pure and innocent?


It would be absolutely right to draw up our swords, war hammers, and bows and destroy them until not a single one remained.


I imagined how fun life would be if we were engaged in such a battle that was clearly good against evil, requiring us to band together to protect everything good in the world.


I longed for it, but I knew it would never be a reality...


Until it was.


In fact, there really are beings in this world that are pure evil, fashioned from pride, and ill bent to destroy everything good in this world.


They are fallen angels, intelligent spirits that were in a war with their Creator before our world existed.


And since we were created in the image of our God, we have entered that battle, but not all of us are on the winning side.


In fact, the Bible teaches that because of Adam and Eve's sin, all of us are born in enemy territory.


We were born as captives of evil, hurting each other and hurting ourselves until our life passed from us like wisps of smoke.


That was until the light broke forth into the earth as the man Jesus Christ, born of a virgin by the power of the Holy Spirit of God Himself.


Jesus Christ, the Word of God through whom all of creation was fashioned and knit together.


Jesus was the first human since Adam and Eve that wasn't born in enemy territory, a natural target for the fallen angels.


And so a new battle began.


Temptations, gossip, insults, accusations, hatred, denial, mockery, scoffing, betrayal, beatings, torture, crucifixion, and death.


Jesus fought for us. He represented us. He became like us.


And ultimately, he became the very sin we could never get free from.


The darkest hour of human history had come.


Jesus died.


The fallen angels extinguished the last light of dusk.


All hope was gone.


But of course, it was only death.


And though sin could never survive the blows of death against it, Jesus could never be held by its sting.


So he rose, no longer bound with our sin, but pure and spotless again, representing our freedom from the bondage of our enemy.


Jesus came to set us free.


Then he gave us a sword, the Word of God.


And he commissioned us to go into all the world and proclaim the freedom from our bondage to evil, and to slay every fallen angel that gets in our way.


My deep longing for virtuous battle was true all along.


Every human being is born into a battle.


The question is...


Which side are you on?

Where you live Matters

Have you ever wondered why the same group of people can listen to the same teaching and some people are inspired to change while others can't see any benefit to it at all?

There are two ways to live: in the flesh or in the Spirit.

The flesh is our natural, human, animalistic desires.

The Spirit is the breath of God, God Himself.

Only when someone is born again can they live in the Spirit, for only then can the Spirit take residence in them.

But everyone has the capability to live in the flesh; it is, after all, how we were born.

Some people think that sin is enjoyable and pleasurable; they think that is a fact for everyone.

But that's not true.

Sin is only enjoyable to the flesh, and your flesh loves it, can't get enough of it, even believes that sin fulfills its very purpose in life.

"I was born this way."

Yes, your flesh was born to enjoy and take pleasure in sin.

But the Spirit of God hates sin, despises sin, and finds it absolutely despicable in every way.

If anyone lives in the flesh, he or she will enjoy sin, but if anyone lives in the Spirit, he or she will find sin repulsive.

The same is true if you try to listen to a teaching from the Word of God in the flesh.

You will not understand it, you will find it useless and boring, and even try to block your ears from hearing it.

But if you listen in the Spirit, you will find the living waters of eternal life, the essence of God Himself.

That's why Jesus said, he who has ears to hear, let him hear.

If you listen with ears of flesh, you will never receive anything beneficial or life-giving from the words of Christ.

But if you listen with spiritual ears, in the Spirit, the words of Christ will become in you a spring of living water welling up to eternal life.

What you receive depends on where you live.

And there's only one way to change residency:

You must be born again.

He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Love is

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels,

but have not love,

I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

And if I have prophetic powers,

and understand all mysteries and all knowledge,

and if I have all faith, so as to move mountains,

but have not love,

I am nothing.

If I give away all I have,

and if I deliver up my body to be burned,

but have not love,

I gain nothing.

Love is patient and kind;

love does not envy or boast;

it is not arrogant or rude.

It does not insist on its own way;

it is not irritable or resentful;

it does not rejoice at wrongdoing,

but rejoices with the truth.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends.

As for prophecies, they will pass away;

as for tongues, they will cease;

as for knowledge, it will pass away.

For we know in part and we prophecy in part,

but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.

When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face.

Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three;

but the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13

“Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

HUNT (Icebreakers, Social Games, Addictive Games)

There are 4 teams:

1
Tyrannosaurus Rex
    Move 1 space backwards or
    Move another character 1 space forwards or
    Eat 1 character immediately to the left or right (but cannot eat Brachiosaurus or the Island)

Win: 1 Velociraptor and 1 Brachiosaurus are eliminated

2
Velociraptor (2)
    Move 2 spaces backwards or
    Move 1 space backwards and the other Velociraptor moves 1 space forwards or
    Eat 1 character when: there are 1 or 2 characters between 2 Velociraptors (but cannot eat the Island)

Win: 1 Brachiosaurus and 1 Pterodactyl are eliminated

3
Hunter +1 bullet to start with
    Shoot any character (besides the Island) with a bullet, but if that character is not to the immediate left or right of the Hunter, the Hunter must play paper, scissors, stone with that character (if the Hunter wins, that character is out of the game, but if the Hunter loses, the Hunter is out of the game) or
    Use a bullet to shoot a character when being eaten (must play paper, scissors, stone... if the Hunter wins, that character is out of the game... if the Hunter loses, the Hunter is out of the game... this ability does not work if the Island is eating the Hunter) or
    Reload (gain 1 bullet)

Brachiosaurus
    Move the Hunter 1 space backwards or forwards or
    Ask for the Hunter's help if eaten (if the Hunter has 1 bullet, the Hunter can play paper, scissors, stone with 1 of the characters eating the Brachiosaurus... if the Hunter wins, that character is out of the game, but if the Hunter loses, the Hunter is out of the game... this ability does not work if the Island eats Brachiosaurus) or
    Eat 2 characters immediately to the left and right (must eat both of them unless 1 of them is the island, in which case only 1 character is eaten)

Pterodactyl
    Change the direction of play or
    Every character changes places (except the Island) or
    Eat Compsognathus if immediately to the left or right

Win: 1 Tyrannosaurus Rex and 1 Velociraptor are eliminated

4
Compsognathus
    Skip the next character or
    Change places with anyone except the character immediately to the left or right or
    Take 1 bullet from the Hunter

Win: 1 Hunter and 1 Mystery Character (chosen at the beginning of the game) are eliminated

?
Island
    Bring 1 character back into the game or
    Choose which character plays next or
    Eat any character anywhere (unless it causes the game to end)
* Note the Island can never be moved or eaten

The Island cannot win or lose

How to play:

Use cards to assign characters and pass them out to the players. Give the Hunter a coin to symbolize 1 bullet. Tell Compsognathus the mystery character that must be eliminated for it to win.

Start with Compsognathus.

Move clockwise according to the chairs.

If a character is eliminated, that empty chair still counts when moving characters, but it does not count when eating other characters.

For example, a character can move into an empty chair next to it without affecting other characters, but if there is an open space between Tyrannosaurus Rex and Compsognathus, Compsognathus can still be eaten.

The Island can choose where a character sits when bringing a character back in the game.

Continue play until team 1-3 wins. Then reveal the objectives of Compsognathus (if it is still in the game). If its objectives were met, Compsognathus is the winner. If not, then whoever met their objectives is the winner.

Inner Healing Freedom Declarations

I refuse to be the object of your worship anymore.

I refuse to be blamed for your misplaced faith.

I refuse to let the scars you gave me affect my future relationships.

I refuse to be manipulated into forced affection.

I refuse to cower in fear in the midst of anger.

I refuse to wake up covered in sweat because of night terrors.

I refuse to prove myself strong when I never needed to.

I refuse to transfer your abuses onto the people around me.

I refuse to deny the healing that God longs to give me.

I refuse to be a victim.

I choose to be a victor.

I choose to accept the healing that God longs to give me.

I choose to believe the best about the people around me.

I choose to be strong in the power of His might.

I choose to wake up with revelations of His love.

I choose to walk in His perfect love that casts out all fear.

I choose to show affection to God first and allow Him to show affection through me.

I choose to maintain healthy relationships with clear boundaries.

I choose to be free from abuses and regrets in my past.

I choose to declare that to God alone belongs all worship, praise and adoration.

Are you Ready to Unplug?

Over 20 years ago, The Matrix unknowingly foretold of a synthetic world that the entire population of the planet would become a part of.

Now we can say of a whole generation that they "know something... that there's something wrong with the world..."

"Do you know what I'm talking about?"

Social Media.

"Do you want to know what it is?"

Social media is constantly at your fingertips. It exists all around you and you are always connected to it.

"It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth."

"What truth?"

"That you are a slave" to social media, "a prison that you cannot smell, or taste, or touch. A prison for your mind."

Social media exists to keep us addicted to the system so that it can change a human being into capital.

But you have a choice.

Two Pills.

If you choose the blue pill, you stay logged on to your social media accounts and live in a reality created to keep you under their influence.

If you choose the red pill, you unplug from all social media and you see the real world clearly for the first time.

"Remember. All I'm offering is the truth. Nothing more."

Dominion Game Adapted for the Classroom

Players- 2-4

Playing time- 20-40 minutes

Type- Card Building

Age- 8+

Need- 2 decks of cards

Object- Gain the most points

Learning time- 15 minutes

Ability Cards:

A: draw 2 cards from your deck (show this card to defend against card 4) [cost = $2]

2: +1 action and discard any number of cards, then draw the same number of cards [cost = $2]

3: +1 buy, +$2 [cost = $3]

4: +$2 and limit other players to only 3 cards each  [cost = $4]

5: replace $1 for $2, or $2 for $3  [cost = $5]

6: +1 card, +1 action, +1 buy, +$1  [cost = $5]

Money Cards:

7: $0 [cost = $0]

8: $1  [cost = $0]

9 & 10: $2  [cost = $3]

J & Q: $3  [cost = $6]

Point Card:

K: 1 point  [cost = $8]

Set-up:

Separate cards into stacks according to ability and monetary value.

Give each player 2 $0 [7], 2 $1 [8] and 1 $2 [9 or 10]. For example: 7-7-8-8-9 or 7-7-8-8-10.

Each player has a draw pile and a discard pile.

Draw 5 cards.

How to play:

Each turn you may use 1 ability and 1 buy.

Abilities include cards A through 6.

You make purchases with cards 8 through Q.

7 has no value. K only has value after you finish the game.

After using an ability and a buy (though you do not have to), discard all cards in your hand into your discard pile. Then draw five cards from your deck. If your deck is empty, shuffle your discard pile and restock.

How to win:

After the last point card (K) is purchased, all players count their points.

The player with the most points is the winner.

If there is a tie, the player with the fewest amount of turns wins.

If there is still a tie, the player with the most $3 wins (followed by $2 and $1, until a winner is found).

Midnight

Exodus 11:4 So Moses said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘About midnight I will go out in the midst of Egypt... (emphasis mine)

Exodus 12:29 At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt... (emphasis mine)

Moses famous words, "Let my people go" (Exodus 5:1), were backed up by God in the ten plagues of Egypt. But have you noticed the timing of the final plague that set the Israelites free?

Midnight is the hour of your freedom!

Judges 16:1-3

1 Samson went to Gaza, and there he saw a prostitute, and he went in to her.

2 The Gazites were told, “Samson has come here.” And they surrounded the place and set an ambush for him all night at the gate of the city. They kept quiet all night, saying, “Let us wait till the light of the morning; then we will kill him.”

3 But Samson lay till midnight, and at midnight he arose and took hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two posts, and pulled them up, bar and all, and put them on his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that is in front of Hebron. (emphasis mine)

Samson had a special anointing of the Spirit of God to do feats of supernatural strength, but he also had many weaknesses, one of which included giving in to sexual temptation. Even in the midst of his weakness, Samson had the intuition to arise at midnight and flee from the ambush waiting for him.

Midnight is the hour of your deliverance!

Ruth 3:8 At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! (emphasis mine)

When Ruth required a redeemer to provide her with a husband and family, Boaz declared (even though there was another redeemer nearer than him), "But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the Lord lives, I will redeem you" (Ruth 3:13).

Midnight is the hour of your redemption!

1 Kings 3:20 And she arose at midnight and took my son from beside me, while your servant slept, and laid him at her breast, and laid her dead son at my breast. (emphasis mine)

Job 34:20 In a moment they die; at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no human hand. (emphasis mine)

Psalm 119:62 At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous rules. (emphasis mine)

Matthew 25:6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ (emphasis mine)

Mark 13:35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. (emphasis mine)

Here is a warning and the antidote. A son was stolen and life passed away at midnight, but so did the Psalmist rise to praise God at midnight. In Jesus' parable, five wise virgins were ready with flasks of oil for their lamps (Matthew 25:4) when the cry of the bridegroom came.

But the five foolish virgins were unprepared, needing to buy more oil, and when they sought entry to the marriage feast, the door was shut (Matthew 25:9-10). Midnight is an hour of revelation, revealing who the wise are and who the foolish are.

Midnight is the hour of your intimacy with the Lord!

Luke 11:5 And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves...

8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. (emphasis mine)

Jesus told this parable to reveal the truth of asking and receiving (Luke 11:10). It was not any reciprocal relationship that caused the man to receive what he needed, but it was his imprudence, or shameless annoying persistence.

Midnight is the hour of your manifestation!

Acts 16:25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,

26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. (emphasis mine)

Even as prisoners, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, which not only caused their bonds to be broken, but also everyone who was in the prison with them!

Midnight is the hour of your breakthrough!

Acts 20:7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. (emphasis mine)

Because of Paul's prolonged speech, Eutychus sank into a deep sleep and fell down from the third story, which caused his death (Acts 20:9). But at that moment where one may conclude that Job 34:20 just came to pass, Paul said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him" (Acts 20:10).

The room they were in had many lamps (Acts 20:8). Paul was prepared, filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit, and he declared that midnight would not be the hour of death.

Midnight is the hour of your healing!

Acts 27:27 When the fourteenth night had come, as we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land. (emphasis mine)

After fourteen days without food (Acts 27:33), the sailors would have been exhausted and quite possibly experiencing emotions of discouragement, hopelessness and depression. But as it turned out, their suspicion was correct and they were all brought safely to land (Acts 27:44).

Midnight is the hour of your encouragement!

Midnight literally means the middle of the night, or the darkest part of the night. It's in that hour that you can experience your freedom, deliverance, redemption, intimacy with the Lord, manifestation, breakthrough, healing and encouragement!

All scriptures taken from: The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Get Angry! 發怒!

2 Samuel 22:7-8 “In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I called. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry came to his ears.

“Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations of the heavens trembled and quaked, because he was angry.

撒母耳記下 22:7-8「我在苦難中呼求耶和華, 向我的上帝求助, 祂從殿中垂聽我的呼求, 我的聲音達到祂耳中。

「祂一發怒,大地震動, 穹蒼的根基搖晃。

David relied on God to save him from his enemies, which is even more apparent in the various psalms that show David's struggle in the midst of difficulty. It was as if God was waiting for a man like David to demonstrate the faith of simple dependance before he acted on behalf of Israel.

大衛一直依靠上帝來脫離他的敵人。詩篇表明大衛在困難中的掙扎更明顯。彷彿上帝需要先等一個人像大衛表現出單純依賴的信念才可以拯救以色列。

There is a popular story about a middle eastern street thief who became a prince dressed in splendid clothes with an array of servants and possessions. Of course, it was only through a magical lamp with a genie inside that this thief could be transformed into a new person.

 有一個關於中東小偷的故事,這個小偷變成了王子,穿著華麗的衣服而他有許多僕人和財物。當然這個小偷才能變成一個新的人是通過魔法燈帶有的精靈。

There was a stipulation, though, that the thief had to meet before the genie could help him. He had to rub the lamp first, then the genie would do anything he asked. But while the boy was tied up at the bottom of the ocean with no way of rubbing the lamp, the thief with unlimited power within his fingertips was absolutely helpless.

但是小偷需要先成就一個規定才精靈能夠幫助他。他必須先擦魔法燈,然後精靈才能按照他的要求做任何事情。但是,當這個男孩被綁在海底而無法擦燈的時候,指尖內無窮無盡的小偷絕對是無奈的。

Many times we wonder why God doesn't intercede more in human history. Actually, God had given authority over the earth to men, telling them to rule over it. When satan came tempting Eve, he wanted more than to see two humans lose connection with God. He wanted to seize their authority, gaining god-like power over creation.

許多時候,我們想知道為什麼上帝在人類歷史上沒有更多地動手。實際上,上帝已將地球上的權柄賜給了人類,告訴他們統治地球。當撒旦來試探夏娃時,他不僅僅希望看到兩個人與上帝失去聯繫。他想抓住他們的權威,在創造上獲得上帝般的力量。

In fact, the scripture calls satan the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2) and the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). That's why the real battle was never between God and satan, but between man and satan. And David, as a type of the Messiah, had the opportunity to defeat our enemy, just like every other Davidic king after him.

實際上,聖經稱撒旦為空中之王(以弗所書 2:2)和這個世界的神(哥林多後書 4:4)。這就是為什麼真正的戰鬥永遠不在上帝與撒旦之間,而是在人與撒旦之間。大衛作為彌賽亞的一種代表也有機會擊敗撒旦,就像跟隨他的每一個後裔王一樣。

Unfortunately, each and every king failed, and death swallowed them up just as it did Adam and Eve. That was until Jesus came, the Son of Man, of the lineage of David, and defeated satan once and for all by paying the penalty of sin through his crucifixion and proclaiming victory over death through his resurrection. Finally, the authority over the earth was restored to men in the person of Jesus the Messiah.

不幸的是,每一個國王都失敗了,死亡像亞當和夏娃一樣吞噬了他們。直到耶穌來臨、就是大衛家族的人子,並通過釘十字架而支付了罪孽的懲罰,並通過他的複活勝過死亡,一勞永逸地擊敗了撒旦。最終,以彌賽亞耶穌的身份恢復了人類的統治權。

When we are born again, we are seated with Christ in the heavenliness (Ephesians 2:6) and we share in his inheritance (Ephesians 1:11), including his authority (Matthew 28:18-20). That's why whatever we ask in Jesus' name, he will do it, because in Christ, we have all authority in heaven and on earth.

 當我們重生時,我們在天上與基督同坐(以弗所書 2:6),我們得了他的產業(以弗所書 1:11),包括他的權柄(馬太福音 28:18-20)。這就是為什麼無論我們奉耶穌的名提出要求,他都會為我們成就它,因為在基督裡,我們擁有天上地下的所有權威。

But it is vital that we remain in Christ, which means constantly listening to the voice of the Father and having our eyes fixed on his Son (Hebrews 12:2), just as Jesus said: "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise (John 5:19)."

但是至關重要的是,我們要留在基督裡,這意味著我們要不斷地聆聽天父的聲音,並註視著他的兒子(希伯來書 12:2),正如耶穌所說的:「我實實在在地告訴你們,子憑自己什麼都不能做,唯有看見父做什麼,子才做什麼。無論父做什麼,子也照樣做(約翰福音5:19)。」

As we abide in Christ, we are constantly walking in the will of God and we have the right to enforce God's will in the circumstances and spiritual forces around us.

當我們遵守基督時,我們一直在遵循上帝的旨意,在我們周圍的環境和屬靈中我們有權柄來執行上帝的旨意。

Before we look at some examples of this, let's first make it clear that unlike the Old Testament times, we are not wrestling against people, but against rulers, authorities, cosmic powers and spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12).

在我們看一些例子之前,首先要弄清楚,與舊約時代不同,我們不是在與人爭戰,而是在這黑暗世界執政的、掌權的、管轄的和天上屬靈的邪惡勢力爭戰(以弗所書 6:12)。

We have an enemy and we must be angry with every form of evil that manifests in and around us (Ephesians 4:26). From the scriptures, here are three examples of how we can use our authority to demand deliverance and freedom from our enemy:

我們有一個敵人,而且我們必須對我們周圍顯現的各種邪惡形式感到憤怒(以弗所書 4:26)。我們來看看三個從經文上的例子說明怎麼可以使用我們都權柄來脫離屬靈敵人的綑綁、被釋放和得自由:

1) Be angry at sickness and death.

1)對疾病和死亡生氣。

1 Kings 17:17-22 After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill. And his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. And she said to Elijah, “What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance and to cause the death of my son!” And he said to her, “Give me your son.”

And he took him from her arms and carried him up into the upper chamber where he lodged, and laid him on his own bed. And he cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by killing her son?”

Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, let this child's life come into him again.” And the Lord listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived.

列王紀上 17:17-22 後來,婦人的兒子病了,病情越來越重,最後死了。婦人對以利亞說:「上帝的僕人啊,我跟你有什麼關係?你到我這裡來是要讓上帝想起我的罪,取我兒子的性命嗎?」以利亞對婦人說:「把你兒子交給我。」

隨後,他從婦人懷中接過孩子,抱到樓上自己的房間,放在床上。他向耶和華呼求道:「我的上帝耶和華啊,我寄居在這寡婦家裡,你為什麼降禍給她,奪去她兒子的性命呢?」

他三次伏在孩子身上,求告耶和華說:「我的上帝耶和華啊,求你讓這孩子活過來吧。」耶和華聽了以利亞的祈求,孩子就活過來了。

The first scripture is about Elijah raising the widow's son. This miracle was preceded by another miracle of supernatural provision in the multiplying of a jar of flour and a jug of oil. But then after this amazing miracle, the son of this widow became ill and there was no breath left in him. The woman, probably in her distress, blamed Elijah for his death.

第一篇經文是關於以利亞使寡婦的兒子復活。這個奇蹟之前有另一個超自然供應的奇蹟,那就是一罐麵粉和一壺油的繁殖。這個驚人的奇蹟之後,這個寡婦的兒子生病了而且停止呼吸。那個女人可能在痛苦中,把小孩的死歸咎於以利亞。

How did she believe Elijah caused the death of her son? This is quite interesting. She accused him of bringing her sin to remembrance. The scripture does not name this sin, but it is clear she connected sin and death together, as does Romans 6:23 and James 1:15. Since sickness was the obvious physical cause, we can also connect sin, sickness and death together, though it is not necessarily personal sin that causes sickness (see James 5:15).

她為什麼相信以利亞造成兒子的死亡?這很有趣。她指責他讓她的罪被想起。聖經沒有說出這種罪是什麼,但很明顯,她將罪與死聯繫在一起,羅馬書 6:23 和雅各書 1:15 也是如此。由於這疾病是這小孩死亡的原因,因此我們也可以將犯罪、疾病和死亡聯繫在一起,儘管不一定是個人的最造成疾病(雅各書 5:15)。

However, all human sickness and disease is rooted in sin, whether your own personal sin or an inherited sin nature going all the way back to Adam and Eve.

然而,所有人類疾病都源於罪惡,無論您個人的罪惡還是從亞當和夏娃繼承的罪惡的本性。

Knowing this to be true from the scripture, the most effective cure for sickness and disease must deal with our sin. That's why Isaiah 53:5 declares we are forgiven and healed through the sacrifice of the Messiah. Jesus is our answer for sin and sickness, often called the double cure by the early Pentecostals of the 20th century.

因此,最有效的疾病療法必須處理我們的罪。這就是為什麼以賽亞書 53:5 宣布我們因彌賽亞的犧牲而被寬恕並得醫治了。耶穌是我們對罪惡和疾病的答案,在20世紀早期的五旬節派經常被稱為雙重治愈。

When sickness or death tries to come against us or our family, we have a right to get angry and enforce God's will of abundant life (John 10:10). Note we are never forcing God to do anything, but we are obeying the commands of Jesus to heal the sick and raise the dead (Matthew 10:8), which are included in the “everything” Jesus commanded us to observe in the great commission (Matthew 28:18-20).

當疾病或死亡試圖對我們或我們的家人不利時,我們有權柄發怒並執行上帝豐富生命的旨意(約翰福音 10:10)。請注意,我們從不強迫上帝做任何事情,但是我們服從耶穌的命令來醫治病人並使死人復活(馬太福音 10:8),這是耶穌命令我們在大使命中要遵守的一切(馬太福音  28:18-20)。

God listened to the voice of Elijah and the boy was revived. How much more do we know that God listens to us and will also give life to our mortal flesh through the Holy Spirit today (1 John 5:15, Romans 8:11)! Amen!

上帝聽了以利亞的呼求,男孩復活了。今天,我們能夠更相信上帝在聽我們的呼求,並且通過聖靈賜給我們的身體生命(約翰一書 5:15,羅馬書 8:11)!阿們!

2) Be angry at circumstances that hinder us from following God's will.

2)對阻擋我們遵守上帝旨意的情況生氣。

Mark 11:12-14 On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.

馬可福音 11:12-14 第二天,他們離開伯大尼後,耶穌餓了。祂遠遠看見有一棵枝葉茂盛的無花果樹,就走過去找果子吃。到了樹下,卻什麼也找不到,只有滿樹的葉子,因為當時不是收無花果的季節。祂對那棵樹說:「願無人再吃你的果子!」祂的門徒都聽見了這句話。

I love this example from scripture because it describes a seemingly inconsequential circumstance. Jesus was hungry. He wanted to eat a fig. Doesn't that make you want to buy a fig? Well, there was a problem. It wasn't the season for figs.

我喜歡這個經文的例子,因為它描述了一個看似無關緊要的情況。耶穌餓了。他想吃無花果。這不是讓您想要購買無花果嗎?但是有一個問題。這不是無花果的季節。

In Taiwan, my favorite fruit season is mango season. Any other time of the year, it is very difficult to get fresh mangoes. Because of this, I never expect to see mangoes during the winter. But perhaps
Jesus had an expectation that the fig tree should be producing figs for him.

在台灣,我最喜歡的水果季節是芒果季節。一年中的其他時間,很難買到新鮮的芒果。因此,我從沒想到過冬天會買到芒果。但是也許耶穌期望無花果樹能為他生產無花果。

Jesus didn't get to eat a fig that day. The circumstances prevented the Son of God from getting something, but the most important thing I want to show you is how he responded. He cursed that fig tree, declaring it would never fulfill its intended purpose ever again.

那天耶穌沒辦法吃無花果。這種情況阻止了上帝的兒子得到一個東西,但是我想向你展示的最重要的事情是他的反應。他詛咒那棵無花果樹,宣布它永遠不會再實現其預定的目的。

And that's exactly what a curse is. It is denying someone or something from fulfilling its purpose.

這正是詛咒。它否認某人或某事實現其目的。

And here's my point. If Jesus cursed the seemingly inconsequential fig tree because it did not produce a fig for him, then we can curse any situation that comes against us, though we should never curse human beings made in the image of God.

這就是我的意思。 如果耶穌詛咒看似無關緊要的無花果樹,因為它沒有為他造出無花果,那麼我們可以詛咒任何不利於我們的情況,但是我們當然絕不詛咒照著上帝的形像造的人。

So what can we curse?

那麼我們能詛咒什麼呢?

Well, those circumstances, whether they be big or small, that get in our way when we are living out God's will to be conformed into the image of his Son (Romans 8:29). We should get angry at these situations and declare that they will not make us stumble, but we will receive all that God has intended for us. Amen!

就是那些阻擋我們活出神的旨意、順應祂兒子的形像的情況(羅馬書 8:29)。我們應該對這些情況感到生氣,並宣布它們不會使我們絆倒,但我們會得到上帝給我們的一切祝福。阿們!

3) Be angry at spiritual oppression from evil spirits.

3)對邪靈跟屬靈的壓迫感到生氣。

Acts 16:16-18 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.

使徒行傳 16:16-18 一天,我們又去河邊那個禱告的地方,途中遇到一個被巫鬼附身的女奴。她用占卜為她的主人們賺了不少錢。她跟著保羅和我們大喊大叫:「這些人是至高上帝的奴僕,是來向你們宣講得救之道的。」一連幾天,她都這樣喊叫。保羅不勝其煩,就轉過身來斥責那鬼:「我奉耶穌基督的名命令你從她身上出來!」那鬼立刻從她身上出去了。

Finally, let's take a look at how Paul dealt with spiritual oppression in an individual. First of all, we can see that this slave girl was declaring positive things over Paul, even things that were true! But Paul was not pleased with the situation. In fact, he was greatly annoyed.

最後,讓我們看一下保羅如何處理一個人被邪靈壓迫的情況。首先,我們可以看到這個奴隸女孩向保羅宣揚了積極的一面,甚至是真實的!但是保羅對這種情況不滿意。實際上,他非常生氣。

And that is how the enemy often works. It is those seemingly positive praises with underlying ulterior motives that are the most harmful.

這就是敵人經常試探我們的方式。那些帶看起來很正面的讚美但是有負面的動機才是最有害的。

Because the situation involved another human being, Paul did not use violence to apprehend her or get her to stop. That would be using his flesh to solve the problem. Instead, Paul addressed the spirit directly, commanding it to come out of her in the name of Jesus Christ.

因為情況有另一個人,所以保羅沒有動手逮捕或阻止她。那會是用他自己的努力解決問題。保羅轉而直接向邪靈講話,奉耶穌基督的名命令那個邪靈從她身上出來。

This is an extreme case involving a history of fortune-telling, slavery and oppression, but there are often spiritual influences involved in the words of those around us. We do not have to allow those words to paralyze us. We can pull down arguments and every high thing that is against the knowledge of God and bring thoughts into obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

這是一個極端的情況,涉及算命,奴役和壓迫的歷史,但我們周圍的人的話語常常涉及屬靈影響。我們不必讓這些話使我們癱瘓。我們可以摧毀堅固的營壘,擊破一切的謬論和阻礙人們認識上帝的驕傲言論,奪回被擄去的心思意念,使其順服基督(哥林多後書 10:3-5)。

We must listen to the Holy Spirit in these situations, whether out loud or in our thoughts. We should get angry at the spiritual influences behind negative words and condemn them right away. Then we must declare the truth which is directly opposite to the words just spoken to us.

在這種情況下,我們必須傾聽聖靈,無論是說出來還是在我們的思想中,我們都必須對負面話背後的屬靈影響感到生氣,並立即予以譴責這些話。然後,我們必須宣告與剛才所說的話正好相反的真理。

For example, if someone says you are stupid, you can respond (verbally or in your head) that you have the mind of Christ and wisdom from God (1 Corinthians 2:16).

例如,如果有人說你很愚蠢,您可以(口頭上或頭腦裡)回應說你有基督的思想和來自上帝的智慧(哥林多前書 2:16)。

Though there are many things that we need to be angry at, here are three we can start with:

雖然我們需要對於很多事情生氣,我們可以從以下三個方面開始:

1) Be angry at sickness and death.

1)對疾病和死亡生氣。

2) Be angry at circumstances that hinder us from following God's will.

2)對阻擋我們遵守上帝旨意的情況生氣。

3) Be angry at spiritual oppression from evil spirits.

3)對邪靈跟屬靈的壓迫感到生氣。

Investigator #Werewolf Alternative #no lying no deceiving no killing

4 teams represented by card suits (hearts, diamonds, spades, clubs).

Roles:

# hearts- can change any 2 cards (but cannot look at them)

# diamonds- can change any 2 cards (but cannot look at them)

King of hearts- can see 2 cards (but not their own card)

King of diamonds- can see 2 cards (but not their own card)

# spades- can see their own card

King of spades- their role is revealed for all to see after the night phase

King of clubs- their role is always revealed for all to see and they are awake during the night phase; can silence 1 person for the entire game

How to play:

1. Pass out cards to each player and let them look at their identity (the king of clubs is revealed). If you have more than 7 players, add in more # hearts, diamonds or spades.

Night Phase:

2. Players close their eyes and the narrator tells characters to wake up 1 by 1 in the order of roles listed above (king of spades and king of clubs do not wake up).

*Note that if there are multiples of the same role, they will know who they are, but by the end of the night phase, their roles could change.

3. The narrator flips over the king of spades at the end of the night phase.

Day Phase:

4. Everyone opens their eyes, but they cannot look at their card.

5. The king of clubs chooses 1 person to silence.

6. Each person may or may not have a new identity, which they will try to piece together by surveying other players. Note that you may not lie or deceive other players in this game, but you can be selective about the information you give.

7. Vote who the king of hearts and king of diamonds are.

Objectives to win:

The heart team has to guess who the king of diamonds is.

The diamond team has to guess who the king of hearts is.

The spade team has to guess both the king of diamonds and the king of hearts.

The club team has to ensure neither the king of hearts or king of diamonds are guessed.

End of the game:

After all the players have finished speaking, it is time to vote.

First, players vote who they believe the king of hearts is.

Next, players vote who they believe the king of diamonds is.

The narrator takes those 2 cards and allows everyone to see their own card.

Then the narrator reveals those 2 cards.

If either 1 of those cards is the king of hearts, the diamond team wins.

If either 1 of those cards is the king of diamonds, the heart team wins.

If 1 of those cards is the king of hearts and the other is the king of diamonds, the spade team wins.

If neither card is the king of hearts or king of diamonds, the club team wins.

"F*** COVID-19"

These are the words I saw spray painted against the side of a ramp in the skate park.

You may call it art or expression, but either way, it is the cry of a young generation who longs for their freedom.

I wonder what kind of emotions accompanied this graffiti.

Anger.

Frustration.

Hopelessness.

Excitement.

No matter how many times humans have been taken captive, they will eventually find a way to be free, whether that includes physical freedom, emotional freedom or spiritual freedom.

I believe everyone longs for freedom, but very few experience true freedom.

Stay at home restrictions may be a kind of captivity for some, but getting to go wherever you want is not true freedom.

The apostle Paul said it is for freedom that Christ set us free.

Jesus told us we will know the truth, and the truth will set us free.

To put this in perspective, Jesus was saying this at a time when the Jewish people were under captivity by the Roman Empire.

Jesus didn't define freedom according to your physical situation, but according to the truth that you know.

"What is truth?" Pilate asked Jesus.

Jesus didn't need to answer with words.

He is the answer.

Jesus is truth.

Jesus sets us free and no matter what restrictions man uses to take us captive, we can never lose our freedom when we know the truth.

Here it is.

We are no longer citizens of this age, but we have been bought with a price.

The price?

The infinitely precious sacrifice of Jesus on the cross of calvary.

The product?

Brand new identities.

We are no longer the captives we once were, but we were set free and seated with Christ in heaven.

Our new address denies the power of any earthly captivity and ensures our eternal inheritance with our Lord.

But this freedom only benefits us when we believe it.

When captivity threatens to confine and contain you in this life, you must reach out your faith and take hold of the words of Christ.

"In this world you will have tribulation, but take heart. I have overcome the world."

Like David (2 Samuel 8)

How did David rise to greatness?

There was much war, of course, but the strategy behind his conquest brought peace beyond his generation.

First, he defeated the Philistines, one of the greatest enemies at that time (as can be seen from the story of David vs. Goliath). Then he took Metheg-ammah out of their hand, arguably the chief city of the Philistines. This was the first of a series of victories.

He defeated Moab next, sparing a third of them, causing them to become his servants. Then he defeated the king of Zobah who was seeking a key victory at the river Euphrates. This not only gave David peace to the north, but it also gained an ally in Toi.

Unlike Moab, David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus (Zobah) to gain a steady tribute, which was multiplied from the gifts from Toi. He also took tribute from Edom, the Ammonites and Amalek which surrounded Israel at that time.

Finally, David made a name for himself by defeating the Edomites in the Valley of Salt and all the Edomites became his servants through the garrisons he put there. The scripture says the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.

David started his conquests out with a great victory, paralyzing his (arguably) greatest enemy by stealing their key city. Then he showed mercy to a near neighbor who was not as strong, gaining servants. Next he defeated another neighbor to the north to gain a distant ally who wouldn't be a threat in the future (in that time, near neighbors were always the biggest threats).

Last, David made a name for himself with a strong victory. David still had to fight after this, but the hardest victories were over. He went from being surrounded with enemies to having a steady stream of tribute from neighboring servants. And the same can be true of us today.

You may be surrounded by enemies on all sides, but like David, you can prevail with a similar strategy, but don't miss David's key component. "And the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went." When you are walking in the will of God, it is the Lord who gives you the victory, not your clever strategy or mighty strength.

Here are my own thoughts on how we can apply David's strategy in our own lives:

The Philistines represent that long nagging sin which never seems to go away. You gain victories over it at times, but it also defeats you at times. You cannot gain victory over fighting harder, but you must uproot the problem by crucifying your flesh and resting in the Lord.

Moab represents that problem which can be redeemed to your benefit. It is like a demotion at work that allows you to seek a new opportunity. The end is greater than the beginning!

Zobah represents that problem which is a key obstacle toward a greater break-through. It is like graduating from that difficult program with a new certificate that positions you for promotion.

Edom represents that problem which increases your spiritual maturity. After you gain victory over character deficiencies through the revelation of your identity in Christ, you make a name for yourself amongst the enemy.

Praise God for his great wisdom which he lavishes upon us! Praise God that he gives us the victory and that ultimate victory was won at the cross of calvary. Hallelujah!

Food Cycle (Icebreakers, Social Games, Simple Strategy Games)

There are 3 teams:

PREDATORS: Lion and 2 Cubs

PREY: Rabbit and 2 Mice

COMPOST: Earthworm, Grass and Soil

How to score:

Everyone sits in a circle with their character card showing (see below).

In the following order, each character can change seats with 1 player.

(Lion Rabbit Earthworm Cub Mouse Grass/Soil Cub Mouse Grass/Soil)

Make the following seating arrangements to score a point:

PREDATORS:

Lion --> Rabbit --> Mouse

PREY:

Rabbit --> Grass --> Earthworm/Soil

COMPOST:

Earthworm --> Lion --> Cub

Playing order:

If the Predator team scores a point, then either the Rabbit or Earthworm goes next, depending on who finds a new seat faster.

If the Prey team scores a point, then either the Grass or Lion goes next, depending on who finds a new seat faster.

If the Compost team scores a point, then either the Lion or Rabbit goes next, depending on who finds a new seat faster.

How to win:

Record points. The most points wins!

Nightmares? Not in my house

For every child who never learned to overcome the monster under the bed...

Many children seek comfort from this irrational fear by asking their parents to look under their bed.

And after the parents affirm there is no one there, they ask again to make sure.

The parent rarely tells them the truth in this situation. They rarely say that the monster is very real and its name is fear.

When a global pandemic hits the earth like we've never seen it before (and it won't be the last or the worst), adults turn into that quivering child again.

"Just tell me it's gone, please..."

"Tell me there's nothing to worry about."

"Tell me it's all going to be okay."

A sweet comfort may ease the child for the night, but unless they learn how to wield the weapons to overcome their fear, that monster will always come back.

One of the most remarkable stories in the gospels is when the storm suddenly arose on the Sea of Galilee and threatened to sink the boat the disciples were on.

Those twelve men were afraid for their lives and they cried out to Jesus for help.

They were those children, whimpering under the very real presence of a fear gripping their chests like it had claws of steel.

In that moment, they forgot their past encounters with Jesus. Every time they believed it was going to be okay in the past made no difference in that situation.

The monster is very real and if it's not dealt with, it will always come back, like a bitter bully looking for satisfaction in scaring the weak.

And of course, the answer is so obvious that most of us miss it.

Love is greater than fear.

It's not your love I'm talking about, nor is it the love of another person.

It's Papa's love.

Jesus understood this truth in such a perfect way that he was actually going to sleep through the storm entirely.

It was as if the monster was looming over his bed and crashing upon him, but there was perfect peace in believing. No matter how close the monster came, he refused to give it even a fraction of his time.

Papa was there, pouring out his love in a constant relationship that made it impossible for the severest of emergencies to take away even one night's sleep from Jesus.

So when the disciples woke him in a panic, it was the most natural thing in the world for Jesus to declare without any hint of fear, "Peace! Be still!"

And there was peace.

But then the questions were asked to the disciples. "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?"

Was faith part of the weapon of our warfare that Jesus was training us to wield, the shield of faith to quench every fiery dart of the enemy?

And if so, then surely he was also training us to equip the full armor of God, from the sword of the Spirit, the helmet of salvation and the shoes shod with peace to the breastplate of righteousness and the belt of truth. These all work together like a well-oiled system to crush the monster of fear.

Think about the story again. Jesus had faith to sleep through the storm. He knew the truth and stood up to the storm with the authority of righteousness. He brought salvation to the disciples with the outward manifestation of his inner reality: peace.

Jesus fought our battle, but he also showed us how to fight. He showed us how wearing the armor Papa provided for us is as simple as believing. He demonstrated how to fight and more importantly, how to win.

So the next time there's a monster under your child's bed, check your armor. You fight for your child. The fear is very much real, but it messed with the wrong child. This child is loved by the Father, and mothers and fathers are going to cast it out with the truth of Papa's perfect love.

Only believe, Jesus said in the face of dire circumstances (see the story of Jairus).

And then those moms and dads are going to teach that child how to fight. They're going to equip them with the full armor of God and the next time the monster comes back, it won't find a whimpering victim. It will find a sleeping child resting in the supernatural peace that only comes from the Father of lights.

Remember, there is no darkness in him.

How our Political Economics got Crushed between a Rock and a Hard Place

Free market capitalism is statistically one of the fastest growing economic methods.

The reason is simple: intense competition encourages innovation and new creative ideas.

However, there is a dark side to any system without checks and balances.

For today's modern manufacturing world, something is always at stake, such as international peace, personal freedoms or environmental protection.

Here's the difficulty: capitalism requires that ever-increasing growth to compete in a world market and yet the more forced growth, the more one of those other things will take a hit.

Much politics is trying to nullify one of these consequences.

Either they will push for more regulations on states or corporations in hopes of securing peace, freedoms or a cleaner planet...

Or they will see regulations as the main hinderance to economic growth.

Both angles are true and right, but it's so very hard to agree on where to draw the line on either side.

I believe it will benefit both sides to consider the problem from the other angle.

Yes, we are under pressure to grow the economy under this system, but there is always a cost to rapid growth.

And yes, we must intentionally pursue positive international relations, internal freedoms and protection for our planet, but we must also come to realize that global pressures under the current system make that increasingly difficult.

Are you willing to lose political and economic positions of power in the world to see the results you want?

Are you willing to gain the whole world at the cost of people's lives?

These are the hard questions we must ask before making any decision in the political realm.

However, I do applaud those who are willing to take a stand for moral issues regardless of the challenges.

We need these voices.

And no matter what kind of political system you live under, your voice can make a difference.

Assemble (Icebreakers, Social Games, Addictive Games)

Assemble your team to win.

What you need: 1 deck of cards and coins.

Choose to play with 2, 3 or 4 teams (depending on how many people you have).

Card suits are teams: Hearts, Spades, Diamonds, Clubs.

Card values are identities: Aces, Jacks, Kings, Queens.

Note you can remove some identities depending on how many players you have or you can place extra cards face down, but make sure they are not Aces (shuffle them out first before adding Aces). During the game, only Aces can interact with anonymous cards.



Identities
Detectives (aces) can see 1 person's card.

Teachers (jacks) can silence 1 person 1 turn.

Scientists (kings) can stop 1 person from performing an action 1 turn.

Artists (queens) apply any power enacted on them to that other person. They may also use another person's action, but the same effects they perform on others apply to them as well.

Set up
Each person gets a card face down.

How to play
Moving clockwise, each person gets a chance to talk and do an action.

Talk
You must tell the truth.
You may tell us what team you are on or what team you are not on.
For example: I am not a heart.

Action
Detectives may choose whether or not to tell everyone someone's identity or they can tell us what team that person is not on.

Teachers place a coin heads up on the card of the person they silence. That coin is removed after that next person's turn.

Scientists place a coin tails up on the card of the person they stop. That coin is removed after that person's next turn.

Artists are like mirrors. Whatever you do to them will be done to you. Whatever they do to you will be done to them. On their turn, they can choose 1 person to perform an action on. That person will then reveal their identity and both players are affected by the action.

How to win
Guess all the players on your team during your turn. After guessing, you will reveal your card. Then everyone on your team must raise their hand. If you are correct, you are the winner. If you are wrong, your entire team is out of the game.

Eliminating other teams
If you know all the players on another team, you may guess who they are during your turn. If any of those players denies your assumption, then your entire team is out of the game. If you are correct, then the entire team you guessed correctly is out of the game.

The Detective (ESL Game)

This game requires a bit of thinking on the teacher, but it is a great way to play an interactive game and learn English simultaneously.

Create 2 categories. For example: things with 4 legs and things with 2 legs.

Then add a random word that doesn't fit either category, which is the detective.

Each student gets a piece of paper with a word written on it, but they cannot look at their word.

It might look like this:

lion, table, penguin, kangaroo, chair, ostrich, hippopotamus, gibbon, ant

4 students are in the 4 legs category and 4 students are in the 2 legs category.

The detective (ant) is alone.

The 1st student begins by looking at the card of the 2nd student and making a 1 sentence description of the word.

The 1st student is not allowed to tell anyone what the word is.

The 2nd student can guess what their word is and the 1st student will tell them if they are right or wrong.

Moving clockwise, the 2nd student will do the same for the 3rd students and so on.

Whoever can guess the 2 categories and the detective is the winner.

How He Loves Us

If there is such a thing called true love, I believe I have felt it before, but only once. It was that love at first sight kind of love. Not counting elementary school, I've only had one girlfriend in my life, but that was a totally different situation. That was a choice to love, but without her making the choice back, that love couldn't last.

But the true love I felt, if there is such a thing, wasn't a choice. It just was. She was it. The one. I dreamed about her and wrote love poems about her, but I felt we were worlds apart. She was fashionable and popular and wildly outgoing, but I was introverted, geeky and just plain. How could a girl like that ever take notice of me?

But I had some leverage. We both had a mutual friend, and that friend agreed to give us opportunities to hang out at parties and random get togethers. The more I was around her, the more I longed to be with her. One time she started sharing about her interest in the then recent novel series The Hunger Games, and she allowed me to borrow the books. It was for that reason that I started my new career writing novels.

If you've never read the series, all I will say is there is a girl who is in love with a boy she grew up with, but she never realized there was another boy who loved here even more. This second boy sacrificed everything for this girl, but she never seemed to notice who he really was.

I was that second boy. I just wanted her to notice me for who I was, unable to be the boy she seemed to desire. But then the first boy appeared in her life. It was another mutual friend who started coming to our parties, and without me realizing it, they were falling in love right in front of my eyes.

The time I really noticed it was when we were on a bus together. There were not enough seats, so some people had to stand up. That girl was one of those people, along with the boy who was stealing her away from me. They were standing in the middle of the bus, pushing each other back and forth. The girl was nearly falling over each time and all I wanted to do was protect her, so I stood behind her, unable to get her attention, but at least if she fell, I could catch her.

She never fell.

The entire bus ride, they were laughing and flirting, falling for each other as I stood behind her, neglected and unseen. I couldn't become the person she longed for. She wanted someone who was successful financially and confident socially. I was willing to give everything for Jesus and never knew how to say the right thing. I was his opposite in many ways, and though I would have done absolutely anything for that girl, she didn't know.

So I told her the truth. My feelings were so strong and I knew I was running out of time, so I shared everything I felt and then waited as she considered my words. Those days were agonizing, having to wait for her reply, but finally it came. She called me. Hearing her voice made me come alive.

I loved her.

And then she told me her decision. She loved the other boy. She didn't love me. I was crushed. I never knew how painful emotions could be until that moment.

Have you been there?

I've learned that no matter if it's true love or a choice to love, I have no power over another person's desire or choice to love me back. In both cases, they weren't willing, even though I was willing to love them.

I believe God's love for us is both true and a choice. He is wildly jealous for us and though we rejected him, he still chose to send his Son to purchase us back from sin and darkness. Just as we've been heart broken, I believe God has been, too.

Jesus felt the same things I did when his people rejected him. And he felt the same thing when we rejected him, too. And yet he still offers forgiveness. He is still willing to love us. He is still waiting for us to respond with the same choice.

Will we receive his acceptance and forgiveness?

Will we love him back?

Hope Transmitter (A Dream)

"What if something happens to you?"

I knew the underlying implications in his words. I was a walking timb bomb waiting to go off. It was only a matter of time.

I answered with the first blunt words that came to my head. Honestly, it could really do a lot of damage.

"Then one day I won't be here, and you'll look back and say, Why didn't I love him?"

He looked back in the rearview mirror, his face molding before my eyes like I had dealt him a lethal blow. Then the pain came, manifesting in those tears that I can only describe as precious.

I felt the emotions. It sucked all the life from me. How could a few words cause such a reaction? It was like each one was a potent ingredient in some scientist's concoction.

"From the time we were small..." I continued, trailing off in my own head.

Our wounds went so deep. Was it possible to redeem a relationship this broken?

Though the obvious answer was no, I felt a small prick of hope coming from some external source. But who?

Who could be transmitting such unthinkable hope when the wounds ran this deep?

3 Essentials to Overcome Depression

Grace
We must always come back to the grace of God. This is the truth. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. We enter into relationship with the living God through faith in what Jesus did for us on the cross and through his resurrection. We can truly love because God first loved us. There was nothing we did to receive his love and mercy and nothing we can do to nullify it except a blatant refusal to accept it.

If you are in Christ, you are a new creation, completely new! Your spirit is brand new and communicates with God who is Sprit through the Holy Spirit. Spirit connected with Spirit. The Father one with the Son, Christ in us and us in him. This is your identity. You are seated with Christ in heaven and Christ indwells you through the Holy Spirit.

When the Father sees you, he sees his Son because Jesus is the Son of God and like a seed that produces after its kind, Jesus produced many sons of God by dying as a seed and resurrecting on the third day. You are no longer a sinner. You are a son of God through the grace of God.

Renewal
The Apostle Paul reminded us not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. Our spirit is born again, completely new, but our old ways of thinking still infect our thoughts. This is the war between living according to the flesh or according to the Spirit.

When we speak in heavenly languages, the Spirit is groaning within us, connecting with the Father in intimate relationship. It is through our spirit, in connection with the Holy Spirit, that we receive revelation from the Father of who he really is and who we are in Christ. We must think his thoughts which come from the Word of God.

Jesus is the Word, and when we meditate on the scriptures through faith, we are in perfect connection with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Spirit within us leads us into all truth in the Word to the glory of the Father. This process, which can take a lifetime, transforms us into the people God created us to be. The result is the overabundance of the fruit of the Spirit in our life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.

Faith
While our spirit is perfect and our mind is being renewed, there are many physical things that we long for in this life, such as healing in our body, financial provision and intimate relationships with others. This is the time to stand on the promises of God in scripture and put action to our faith. Faith without works is dead, so let us put our faith into practice and expect to see God's promises come to pass in our life.

Before the foundation of the world, God already prepared the good works for us to walk in. This includes our job and financial provision. God is our provider and healer. The finished work of the cross paid for everything we will ever need in this life and the next. No matter what you need, remember who your Father is. He created the heavens and the earth and he has already provided everything you need.

Now it is our time to engage our faith in him and take what he has provided. Jesus taught us not to be afraid, but only believe. He is faithful and true. Trust him in both tangible and intangible promises, and in the process of receiving from God, refuse to be discouraged. Whenever the temptation to doubt or faint comes, that is the most critical time to continue to believe him despite the circumstances. Do not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time, you will reap the harvest if you do not faint.