As I watch the fires destroy LA my heart breaks and I feel so powerless to help. Through my church I was able to donate some items but I still felt like I was doing nothing.
Until I saw all the items the church had collected from the community. It was inspiring to see people come together and help. And it served as a reminder that it’s not about me and it was never about my impact. It was all about God’s power through the community. It’s only through God that in less than 24 hours after the church asked for help, so many items were donated. The impact of God through His people is powerful.
I share this as encouragement for those who are thinking about helping the victims of the LA fires. Whatever you can do will make a difference because God is at work and it will not go to waste.
Isaiah 53:5- But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5 is one of my favorite Bible verses and one I like to reflect on during the Easter season. It serves as a great reminder of my need of a savior and God’s love for me.
This verse really humbles me with a reminder that it is ME and MY SIN that nailed Jesus to the cross. I’m the reason that Jesus had to die. I’m imperfect and in need of a savior. I cannot save myself and this is hard for me to accept as someone who wants to be independent and not reliant on others. But I am always reminded how human I am and how much I need Jesus.
But Jesus WANTS to be there for me and to be my savior. So this verse also reminds me of God’s great love for me. He loves me despite my sin. He loves me so much that He sacrificed His son so that I may have eternal life with Him. His love and mercy silence me in amazement because I am so not worthy. But God views me as worthy and deserving of peace.
Going forward I need to do better at reflecting on God’s sacrifice for me and use it as a reminder to be grateful, that Jesus is there for me and that God loves me so much.
Like everyone on earth, I am on TikTok. One of the creators of the app that I follow is Ju & Chan. This is a power couple that bless everyone with their funny videos of their lives together.
They have been very open publicly about their struggle of getting pregnant and have suffered a couple of miscarriages. Yesterday I saw their video announcing that they are pregnant! The music of the video is the song Promises.
I have this song on my Spotify worship playlist, but it hit me extra hard yesterday and I have been listening to it ever since watching the TikTok video. As I shared previously, since Christmas I have really been thinking about God’s promises and how He always fulfills them; they always come to past. This song poetically puts that message to music.
At the end of this post I have shared the complete lyrics of the song, but here are the lines that really speak to me:
Time and time again/You have proven/You’ll do just what You said
Though the storms may come and the winds may blow/I’ll remain steadfast
And let my heart learn, when You speak a word/It will come to pass
Great is Your faithfulness to me
Your history can prove/There’s nothing You can’t do
I put my faith in Jesus/My anchor to the ground
He’ll never let me down
No matter the season or how bad the storm is, God remains the same. He is unchanging. He will never let you down and He ALWAYS keeps His promises.
When I feel weak, I will remain steadfast in the unchanging nature of God and meditate on all the promises He has kept and will fulfill.
Promises (full song lyrics)
Faithful through the ages
God of Abraham You’re the God of covenant And of faithful promises Time and time again You have proven You’ll do just what You said
Though the storms may come and the winds may blow I’ll remain steadfast And let my heart learn, when You speak a word It will come to pass
Great is Your faithfulness to me Great is Your faithfulness to me From the rising sun to the setting same I will praise Your name Great is Your faithfulness to me
When the seasons change You remain the same
God from age to age Though the earth may pass away Your word remains the same, yeah Your history can prove There’s nothing You can’t do You’re faithful and true
Though the storms may come and the winds may blow I’ll remain steadfast And let my heart learn, when You speak a word It will come to pass
Great is Your faithfulness to me, oh Great is Your faithfulness From the rising sun From the rising sun to the setting same (I will praise Your name) I will praise Your name (oh, praise Your name) Great is Your faithfulness to me, yeah, yeah (oh, oh)
Your faithfulness, it never runs out (yeah) It never runs out Oh-oh, Your faithfulness Oh, it never runs out (it never runs out) It never runs out (it never runs out)
I put my faith in Jesus My anchor to the ground My hope and firm foundation He’ll never let me down, no I put my faith in Jesus My anchor to the ground (my hope and firm foundation) He’s my hope and firm foundation (He’ll never let me down) He’ll never let me down, oh, I put (oh) I put my trust (faith) in Jesus (yes, I do) My anchor to the ground My hope and firm foundation (my hope and firm foundation) He’ll never let me down (He’ll never let me down) Never let me down I put my faith in Jesus (I put my faith in Jesus) My anchor to the ground (my anchor to the ground), oh He’s my hope, my only hope, my only hope (my hope and firm foundation) He’ll never let me down (He’ll never let me down) He’ll never let me down (Your faithful)
Great is Your faithfulness to me (faithfulness, oh, great) Great is Your faithfulness to me (from the rising sun) From the rising sun to the setting same I will praise Your name In every season, great is Your faithfulness to me
Say, I put my faith I put my faith in Jesus My anchor to the ground (He’s my hope) My hope and firm foundation (and He’ll never let me down) He’ll never let me down (I put my faith) I put my faith in Jesus (my anchor) My anchor to the ground (He’s my hope) My hope and firm foundation (never let me down) He’ll never let me down (come on sing it loud) Say, I put my faith I put my faith in Jesus (my anchor to the ground) My anchor to the ground (my hope and) My hope and firm foundation (never let me down, He’ll never) He’ll never let me down (never let me) I put my faith in Jesus (I put my faith in Jesus) My anchor to the ground (my anchor to the ground) He’s my hope and firm foundation My hope and firm foundation He’ll never let me down (He’ll never let me down) No, He’ll never let me down (He’ll never let me down)
Great is, great (oh, still great) Great is Your faithfulness to me In every season, great is Your faithfulness to me (great is Your faithfulness) From the rising sun From the rising sun to the setting same (hey) I will praise Your name From the rising sun From the rising sun to the setting same (hey) I will praise Your name From the rising sun From the rising sun to the setting same (let it go up and let it go down) I will praise Your name (I’ll still bless You, I’ll still praise You)
From the rising sun to the setting same (let it go up and let it go down) I will praise Your name (and I’ll still bless You, I’ll still praise You) From the rising sun to the setting same (let it go up and let it go down) I will praise Your name (and I’ll still bless You, I’ll still bless You) From the rising sun to the setting same (and I’ll still bless You, I’ll still bless You) I will praise Your name (I’ll still bless You)
Great is Great is Your faithfulness to me (I’ll still bless You) Great is Your faithfulness to me (I’ll still bless You) From the rising sun (I’ll still bless you) From the rising sun to the setting same (I’ll still bless You) I will praise Your name (I’ll still bless You) Great is Your faithfulness to me (I’ll still bless You)
Yes, I’ll still bless You In the middle of the storm, in the middle of my trial I’ll still bless You In the middle of the road, when I don’t know where to go I’ll still bless You (yeah) In the middle of my storm, in the middle of my trial I’ll still bless You (yeah) When I’m in the middle of the road and I don’t know which way to go I’ll still (I’ll still bless You) I’ll still bless You I’ll still bless You, oh (I’ll still bless You) I’ve got a reason to bless You, yeah I’ve got a reason to bless You (I’ll still bless You) I’ve got a reason to bless Your name You’ve been faithful, You’ve been faithful (I’ll still bless You) You’ve been so good to me, You’ve been so good Come on just lift up your praise Just lift up your worship to him You’ve been so good, you’ve been so good Let this, oh, this body be filled with Your praise Be filled with Your praise (we bless Your name, we bless Your name) We bless Your name, oh-oh-oh I’ll still bless You, oh-oh-oh I’ll still bless You, oh-oh-oh I’ll still bless You, oh-oh-oh I’ll still bless You Great is Your faithfulness
Great is Your faithfulness to me (great is) Great is Your faithfulness to me (from the rising sun) From the rising sun to the setting same I will praise Your name (from the rising sun) From the rising sun to the setting same (oh my God) I will praise Your name (from the rising sun) From the rising sun to the setting same (yeah) I will praise Your name (great is) Great is Your faithfulness to me
It is that time of year again: it’s cold outside, feel good decorations and music surround everyone and the year begins to wind down.
As Christians, this time of year offers a special meaning: the celebration of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.
As I reflect, this Christmas holds a specific reminder for me: God keeps His promises.
This past year was a huge challenge for me as I struggled with my mental health. One thing I held on to to get me through the tough times was the reminder of God’s promises: He hears me; He will deliver me and He will not abandon me.
This Christmas I am focusing on the promises the birth of Jesus fulfilled: God’s promise to His people that they will always have a king on the throne and that king will come from the line of David.
Throughout the Old Testament, God kept reminding the people of these promises. In the end it took thousands of years to be fulfilled, but when you read the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1 you see that God kept His promise. And as believers, we know that Jesus is the Son of God and reigns for all eternity. Another promise kept.
Though it may feel like we are forgotten, God NEVER fails and His timing is always perfect.
As this year winds to an end and a new year begins, I am going to focus more on the promise that God ALWAYS keeps His promises.
CE's Faith Journey 