A Glimpse of Heaven

The White Mountain from charles on Vimeo.

"The heavens never cease to fascinate. Who in the right mind would not fall in love with something so beautiful." -Douglas

The Gift of Forgiveness

"Although Jesus carved the law in eternal stone and etched Babylon's curse on cedar walls, He writes our sins in dust ---dust that vanish, erased by the breath of His love and forgiveness." -Anonymous (an excerpt from Isaiah 44:22)

Have you ever been into that point in your life when you feel so filthy, so sinful, so ragged that you just have no options left but to cry out to God for His mercy? Oh, how grateful you were when you felt His instant forgiveness! You immediately feel a shift in your mood, and you feel a strange warm sensation engulfing your soul. The feeling is the most incredible thing that you've ever felt. It almost feels ecstatic. 'Tis a feeling you never ever would have experienced in your wandering in this lonely world.

God's mercy. It is a mercy like no other. No one but His Son Jesus was the only one who had ever forgiven as such here on earth. Amidst all the mockery and shame He had experienced while in the pit of His sorrow before His death, He asked His Father for the forgiveness those people never deserved ---the very people who caused His suffering and death.

I myself never deserved God's forgiveness. Oftentimes, I question God the same questions that have been boggling me ever since: 'Why?' 'Why does He forgive so easily?' 'Why does He love me so?' Yet God answers me by the same answer, "I just do."

I often look at how it must have been for God. I have been sinning the same sins that I have been confessing yet I never have reached the point of repentance that I wanted. I sometimes tell God, "Father, how can I ever fight the devil when he had been here since the beginning of the world and have already mastered the weakness of the human flesh? How can I be pure if I am naturally unclean?" Yet with every stumble and fall, He never fails to lift me up and receive me again and again and again and again....and again. He never fails to let me feel very welcome in His arms; to let me feel the same warmth that He had let me feel when I first received Him to my self. 

Would God ever be tired of my sins? Would he ever get tired of me? In the world's point of view as what it views "the natural supposed-to-be way", the answer would be a "Yes" but fortunately, my God is not a worldly God. He is a God like no other. He is the God that I will serve forever. Yes, He is very mysterious in all His ways but I just love Him just the way He is.

In all my past sinnings and my future ones, I made a promise with Him. I told Him that however sinful and filthy I may have become or even if the door of heaven closes from me, I will always come back to Him and never cease in praising His holy name.

"Fearless"

In my university, we devote a week per semester wherein we have shortened class periods and we just go into our university church, sit down and hear God's words spoken by chosen students. We call it, the ever so blessed "Week of Prayer".

"Fear not, For I AM with you."

We just had our week of prayer last week and there is no doubt that everyone was inspired and touched by God's words. The theme of our Week of Prayer for this semester is "FEARLESS". It talks about becoming fearless in the arms of Jesus. I just want to share our theme song composed by one of our ever so talented Music student which name I don't know.

Be inspired just like how I am every time I sing this song.

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"Fearless"

I.

All around the world 

Are wickedness and trouble

Hopelessness and fear 

Are in the hearts of people

These are Satan's wiles

To cause my life to stumble

But in Christ I put my trust,

There's no need to tremble!

Chorus:

I am FEARLESS!

Because my whole life is in Jesus

I am FEARLESS!

Because it's Christ who lives in me

As I unfold into His breast

There within His arms to rest

I am FEARLESS

Because He lives in me..

II.

Nothing of this world

Had caused my Christ to stumble

Every grief and pain

He endured for my salvation

Soon He will return

And bring me up to heaven

Where all tears and fears are gone,

There, forever singing!


(Chorus)


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"If God is with us, who can be against us?"

"Hold Fast 'til I Come!"

"Behold I come quickly, Hold fast 'til I come!"

A lot of atheists lost their "childhood belief" about someone supernatural, loving and good called God merely because they just can't see Him like what they perceive Him to be. They say, "If there IS or WAS a loving, kind and gentle God, how come the world which is His own creation, behaves in the way contrary to His personality?". Look around. You can barely see smiles from people. It almost seems like all is burdened by life itself one way or another.

Personally, I think living has become a burden. This world has a LOT to offer, yes. But in all these enticing opportunities and pleasures, it all just come to an abrupt end -- a bitter end -- the drowning of the soul. I have come to realize that everything in the world drags a human to its downfall and from that moment, I understood and knew that this is not the world I want to live in.

I take my refuge into the promises of my Savior. He created the world with beauty, splendor and magnificence that reflects His own glory. Yet, because of the dawn of sin, all had perished and lost its beauty. Death and Fear invaded the world. The once peaceful place of man's refuge has now become a place of burden and sorrow.

Yet because of the goodness of the all-knowing God, He devised a plan of salvation even before the fall of men. Without any second thought, He chose to die in behalf of His children. To suffer and let us live. With His death comes not the end of this prophecy but it merely starts the unfolding of His grace. He promised to take us home to where we belong -- there WITH HIM in the glorious place of paradise!

Like the lyrics of a song, Jesus says:

I.

"Sweet promise is given to all who believe.

Behold I come quickly mine own to receive!

Hold fast 'til I come, the danger is great

Sleep not as do others, be watchful and wait!"

Chorus:

"Hold fast 'til I come", sweet promise of heaven

"The Kingdom restored to you shall be given.

Come enter My joy, sit down on My throne,

Bright crowns are in waiting, Hold fast 'til I come!"

Oh who would ever want to live in this world? Who would ever want to suffer more? I am already tired. I want to rest from this heavy burden and finally see my Savior face to face. Oh who would never compromise this world for the life above! In that beautiful place, there will be singing and praising, no more crying and no more pain. In that place, there is no more night, no more shadow of gloom. Oh what a beautiful place indeed! I am very excited to leave this temporary home of mine (the world) and be up there where I belong. I am already homesick! Oh Jesus, come soon! COME VERY SOON!