Tag: Christmas

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Faith, hope, love – these virtues last forever and should be our pursuit. We should always guard our hearts and never let the traps of life strip away our faith and our hope, which makes us forget to love as we struggle to find a new starting point. We should never let bitterness and fear lead us astray from our quest. To walk in faith, to reach our hopes, and grow big love – these are the three principles that allow us to live joyfully even in the midst of suffering. Life is too short to worry or hate. We need fill our hearts with love and to serve others with love. Are we and our community known for our faith, hope and love?

“And now these three remain: faith, hope, love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthian 13:13

Faith leads us to know the heart of God and guides us to trust in His ways which is always higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). We need to come to a point where we can say “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1) or like Job “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:31). Surely, the Giver (God) is more important than the gifts blessings in life). Faith leads us to know the heart of God, not to seek more comfort for ourselves. Faith is what helps us to step out of our comfort zone into the great unknown filled with adventures and trust His plan.

Hope is the fuel that keeps our faith alive in our quest for love. Love is the result of our faith and hope. Love is the goal. It gives us the power to be of true service to other. But what exactly is love? The definition of love is best summed up in 1 Cor 13:4-8.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.” 1 Cor 13:4-8

Replace the word “love” in the verse with a person’s name (or yours), and you can see if that person has qualities of real, unconditional love. Finding faith, hope and love for ourselves is not the end, it can be the beginning for others who are in broken places. Depression, divorce, addiction, diseases are all part of the world we live in and in which we are called to be ambassadors of love. Show kindness and belief in someone who needs comfort and lead them to belief there is still good in the world and spread the love.

In our work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope, we will produce the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23).

Further reading: Ninth day of Christmas – Fruits of the Spirit

#thirddayofchristmas #christmas #12daysofchristmas

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The Great Big Story of Creation, Fall, Redemption and Restoration

The Old Testament describes the creation of Earth and all living things, and the fall of mankind. The New Testament tells the redemption story where the Saviour provides the way for mankind to return to fellowship with the Creator once again, and ultimately a new Creation where everything is made right.

In the Old Testament, the stories were told through prophets (language: Hebrew and Aramaic) starting from Creation to -400 B.C. In the New Testament, the stories unfold with the Saviour in human form as the main character (language: Ancient Greek) between 0 -100 A.D.

#12daysofchristmas #seconddayofchristmas #christmas #speaklife #inspiration #faith #hope #love

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The 12 Days of Christmas starts on the 25th of December (the birth of Christ) and culminates on the 6th of January with Three Kings Day/Epiphany, the day when the Three Magi/ Wise Men found the savior in the manger.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

On the First Day of Christmas, my true love (God) gave to me a Partridge in a Pear Tree (Jesus). The partridge is the only bird that will sacrifice itself to protect its young. Jesus came for the salvation of mankind from our ways. Most men have lost their way or have become enslaved/in chains to the various traps of life. The Saviour said that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He came to set the captives free that they may be free to live their very best life.

“I am the way and the truth and the life.” John 14:6

In the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-8), the sower scattered seeds to the soil, but it only bears fruits in good soil. The seed represents the Christmas message and the soil represents the condition of our hearts. What type of soil are we? What condition is our hearts? This will determine if we will have a change of heart and live an altered life like Ebenezer Scrooge of A Christmas Carol so that we may be truly free indeed.

#12daysofchristmas #firstdayofchristmas #christmas #speaklife #inspiration #faith #hope #love

Further reading: Parable of the Sower (link)

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The True Meaning of Christmas

“Money-making is but a drop in the ocean of our business. Mankind, common welfare, charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence are our real business.”

Christmas is a time for good cheer, charity and goodwill towards society as portrayed in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. It is a reminder not to live a life of misery, of being a slave to money and status and other things deemed as success in the eyes of men. Instead, we should fix our eyes on the eternal and do good to others and make their lives better. Money-making is but a drop in the ocean of our business. Mankind, common welfare, charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence are our real business. There is no greater joy than to give to others. That is the true meaning of success.

#12daysofchristmas #christmas #speaklife #inspiration #faith #hope #love