Faith Journey Blog

Inspired by Sunnybrook Community Church ’s Christmas Message (2024) Sunnybrook Christmas Message - Bach in G# (YouTube) John 3:16–17 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”   Think of a beautiful piece of music that stirs your soul. Now imagine it being played completely out of tune by someone who doesn’t know the instrument. You’d cringe—but you wouldn’t blame the music. You’d still know that something deeper and more beautiful exists behind the broken performance. That’s how many people experience Christianity. The Gospel is beautiful—but we’ve often played it poorly.

We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them —1 John 5:18 (NIV) We’ve all had that moment - cornered by a relentless salesperson. Maybe it was a used car lot where someone promised you the “deal of a lifetime,” or a timeshare rep who just wouldn’t take no for an answer. They were persuasive, persistent, and just manipulative enough to make you question your resolve. That’s exactly how the enemy works. Satan doesn’t often show up in dramatic fashion. Instead, he slips into our thoughts like a pushy salesman, offering us lies wrapped in truth:  “You’ll be happier if you just take this path…” “God must be holding out on you…” “One compromise isn’t a big deal…”  He can’t make us sign anything, but he’ll pressure us until we cave—unless we remember: we don’t have to do it alone. The Holy Spirit is our constant counselor, whispering truth when the enemy’s tactics grow loud. He reminds us who ...

In our journey of faith, we often struggle between two identities—the False-Self, driven by fear, pride, and self-preservation, and the True-Self, shaped by love, humility, and God’s purpose for us. Scripture teaches that sin creates a chasm between us and God, one that we cannot bridge on our own. But through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, we are invited to step out of the old self and into the new, living as the people God created us to be. 1. The Chasm: Our Sinful Nature vs. Our True Identity in Christ The False-Self aligns with the "natural man" and represents the self-centered, ego-driven nature that leads to separation from God. Romans 3:23 – "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Isaiah 59:2 – "But your iniquities have separated you from your God." 2. Christ as the Bridge Over the Chasm Christ's death and resurrection reconcile us to God, transforming us from the old (False-Self) to the new (True-Self). John 14:6 – "I a...

Father, Thank You for drawing me deeper into apprenticeship with Jesus. I don’t want to settle for a surface-level faith. I want to truly be with Jesus, become like Him, and do as He did. Teach me to test the spirits with wisdom and discernment, not just in what I hear, but in how I live. Help me recognize what is true and reject what pulls me away from You. Lord, I confess that at times I’ve followed You haphazardly, without intentionality. But I want to change that. Shape my heart and mind so that my daily life reflects You. Guide me as I dive into Scripture, as I journal, and as I seek to understand why Jesus did what He did. May Your Word be the foundation I build my life on. Give me the courage to speak up in conversations, to gently redirect when things drift from Your truth, and to seek out others who share a deep desire to follow You. Help me to lead with humility, grace, and love, always pointing back to You. Jesus, You are my Rabbi, my Teacher, my Savior. I want to follow You...

Jesus’ character and teachings, as emphasized in Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer , reveals the depth of His love, humility, and devotion to God’s will. Each trait is not just an example but an invitation to live as His apprentices, transforming our hearts and actions to reflect His way of life. Father, Thank You for sending Jesus to show us the way to live. Help us to keep His character at the center of our hearts and His teachings as the guide for our lives. Fill us with His love, that we may love others selflessly. Shape us in His humility, that we may serve rather than seek status. Teach us His compassion, that we may see others as He sees them. Holy Spirit, lead us to walk as Jesus walked - trusting the Father, living simply, forgiving freely, and speaking truth with boldness and grace. Keep our hearts at rest in Him, finding joy in His presence and peace in His ways. Make us more like Jesus today than we were yesterday. Let our lives reflect His light. Amen Love Matthew...

Author Unknown A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the packed room, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?" Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you - but first, let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the 20 dollar note up. He then asked, "Who still wants it?" Still the hands were up in the air. "Well," he replied, "what if I do this?" He dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. "Now, who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air. "My friends, you have all learned a valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we a...

‭‭1 John‬ ‭2‬:‭27‬-‭28  As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.  And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. ‬  Living a life that honors Jesus doesn’t mean living in perfection, but it does mean living in pursuit of Him. It means surrendering our hearts, our struggles, and our desires to Him daily. We won’t always get it right, but a life that honors Him is one that seeks Him, loves Him, and strives to reflect Him in all we do. Lord God my Father and Savior, Thank You for Your love, grace, and the gift of salvation through Jesus. I want to live a life that honors You, not out of fear, but out of love and gratitude for all You’ve done. Help me to abide in You daily, to grow in faith, and to ...