Theos

Pastor Joel said ... 

The word “enthusiasm” comes from the Greek word “entheos.” “Theos” is God. 

When you’re enthusiastic, it simply means you are full of God. When you get up in the morning excited about your future, recognizing that day is a gift and go out with a spring in your step, pursuing your goals, passionate about life, then God will breathe in your direction.

Studies tell us that people who are enthusiastic get better breaks. They’re promoted more often. That’s not a coincidence. When you’re full of passion, you have the favor of God.

Remember, God didn’t breathe His life into us to drag through the day. He didn’t create us in His image, crown us with His favor, equip us with His power to just go through the motions of life. 

You may have had some setbacks, the wind may have been taken out of your sail, but this is a new day ! 

你們必歡歡喜喜而出來，平平安安蒙引導（賽55：12）

Light

When darkness overtakes the godly, light will come bursting in."

(Psalm 112:4, NIV)

Pastor Joel said ... 

Anytime you are going through difficult, dark times, know that God already has a plan to bring you through to victory. 

When you call on His name, when you surrender your circumstances to Him, that’s when His light will come forth through the darkness. 

Notice, it’s not going to trickle in, it’s not going to just barely get there. No, like a flood, like the breaking forth of waters, it’s going to come bursting in!

I believe it means that suddenly, you’re going to get well. Suddenly, you will meet the right person. Suddenly, you’re able to pay your house off. Our attitude should be, “My child may be off course, making poor decisions, but I’m expecting a flood of God’s mercy to bring him back.” Or, “My house has been on the market for a year and still hasn’t sold, but I’m expecting a flood of favor to cause it to stand out and sell.”

In the midst of that difficulty, don’t get discouraged. You’re in a prime position to see a flood of God’s goodness. 

Keep praising Him. Keep thanking Him and stay in faith because His light will break through the darkness!

Don't Forget

Thank Father God !  Praise be your name !

8:7 因為耶和華─你　神領你進入美地，那地有河，有泉，有源，從山谷中流出水來。
8:8 那地有小麥、大麥、葡萄樹、無花果樹、石榴樹、橄欖樹，和蜜。
8:9 你在那地不缺食物，一無所缺。那地的石頭是鐵，山內可以挖銅。
8:10 你吃得飽足，就要稱頌耶和華─你的　神，因他將那美地賜給你了。」
8:11 「你要謹慎，免得忘記耶和華─你的　神，不守他的誡命、典章、律例，就是我今日所吩咐你的；
8:12 恐怕你吃得飽足，建造美好的房屋居住，
8:13 你的牛羊加多，你的金銀增添，並你所有的全都加增，
8:14 你就心高氣傲，忘記耶和華─你的　神，就是將你從埃及地為奴之家領出來的，
8:15 引你經過那大而可怕的曠野，那裡有火蛇、蠍子、乾旱無水之地。他曾為你使水從堅硬的磐石中流出來，
8:16 又在曠野將你列祖所不認識的嗎哪賜給你吃，是要苦煉你，試驗你，叫你終久享福；
8:17 恐怕你心裡說：『這貨財是我力量、我能力得來的。』
8:18 你要記念耶和華─你的　神，因為得貨財的力量是他給你的，為要堅定他向你列祖起誓所立的約，像今日一樣。

Doing

Pastor Joel said ... 

Some of the things you may be praying about, if God were to remove them right now, you wouldn’t be prepared for where He is taking you. You’ve got to let God do the work in you. 

In other words, be kind to the people who are not treating you right. Keep being your best even though you’re not getting the credit. Have a good attitude even though you’re in an apartment and all your friends are in a nice house. Pass those tests.

Paul prayed in Colossians 3 that the people would have the strength to endure whatever came their way. 

He didn’t pray that God would deliver them instantly or remove the difficulty. He prayed that they would have the strength to go through it with a good attitude. Paul understood this principle that God uses the tough times to get us prepared for the next level.

因 為 你 們 立 志 行 事 、 都 是 　 神 在 你 們 心 裡 運 行 、 為 要 成 就 他 的 美 意 。腓立比書2：13

Love vs Fear

Pastor Joel said ... 

Scripture tells us that God is love. He is perfect, and His love is perfect. 

There is nothing you can do to make God love you more and nothing you can do to make Him love you any less. 

His love toward you is steadfast; it’s unchanging. His arms are always stretched out toward you, and He is always ready for you to come to Him.

God’s not mad at you; He’s madly in love with you! It doesn’t matter what you’ve done or where you’ve come from, God’s arms are open to you. He’s longing to show you His goodness and grace. It’s His kindness that leads us to repent and change our ways.

Open your heart to Him today and receive His perfect love. Let it drive fear out of your life and make you new. Let His love wash over you and build confidence in you. Because of His great love, we can boldly come to Him and receive the mercy and blessings He has in store.

Press Forward

Pastor Joel said ... 

God is constantly calling us to higher places in Him. He wants us to know Him more. He wants us to know His ways, walk in His ways, and experience His victory.

The apostle Paul said in Philippians that he was pressing on toward the goal of Christ’s calling. 

How did he press forward? In verse 13 he says, “One thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.” 

See, in order to press forward, we have to let go of the weight of the past. We let go by forgiving and choosing not to dwell on things that can hold us back. We have to lighten our load, so to speak, so that we can rise higher in the things God has for us.

Sometimes, we need to let go of the good as well as the bad. “Good” can be the very thing that keeps you from “great.” 

Let go of the past, forgive, and press forward and upward to the prize of the high calling of Jesus Christ!

我 只 有 一 件 事 就 是 忘 記 背 後 努 力 面 前

向 著 標 竿 直 跑 要 得 　 神 在 基 督 耶 穌 裡 從 上 面 召 我 來 得 的 獎 賞 。

Transform

Pastor Joel said ... 

The word “transform” in the original Bible language is metamorpho. It’s where we get our word “metamorphosis.” 

When a caterpillar changes from a lowly worm into a beautiful butterfly, it is called a metamorphosis.

The caterpillar starts out as possibly one of the most unattractive insects. It’s very plain, nothing special about it. 

But God destined the caterpillar to go through a transformation. It goes from being one of the most ordinary creatures to one of the most beautiful. It no longer has to crawl on the ground — it is transformed into a beautiful butterfly.

today that as you meditate on the Word, as you pray and worship and surrender every area of your life to God, He is doing a work in you. 

He is transforming you from the inside out. Trust Him and stay in the process knowing that He has great things in store for your future.