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"Unless our core values are transformed, nothing is really changed." - Edmund Chan

I know it's late... but somehow I've been nudged many times to write this entry... and I intend to keep it real short not because of time constraints... but just to make it succinct.

That the mark of Christianity is that of a transformed life.

A life that shines for Jesus... a life with a testimony that is consistent, at home, in school, at work, when alone.

And that transformation usually doesn't occur overnight. It is a constant journey of getting to know Jesus more and more each day... and letting the truth of His Words transform us from the inside out.

Sure, there'll be many struggles and setbacks. The evil one lurks around always, always ready to stumble, to deceive, to discourage.

But be reminded that it is not in the life transformed that qualifies us in this journey... but it is in His faithfulness in seeing our desire to know Him that leads us to our lives transformed... for His praise and glory.

"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Of all the people whom I know are believers in my workplace, the testimonies I hear of are varied. I'm just thankful that my boss is one who shines quietly simply by the way he cares and the way he does his work responsibly. There are those who openly profess... but the testimonies I hear don't exactly match up. Then again, it isn't up to me to cast any stone of any kind... for the Lord knows better than anyone else.

But it does cause me to be more appreciative of how I'd been brought up the past seven years as a disciple, to know that it is only in His life changing Word that we may get to know Him for who He is, and it is only in knowing Him that we will know how to live for His glory and praise.

Let my life be like a love song... to Your heart.

Pa... I know I can't but You can. As much as it can be, let the way I live be a testimony unto Your name. Let it be so that there will be no discrepancies in the way I communicate, with You, with my family, friends, colleagues and students, with no secret agendas to benefit self, but that in all things I may be able to see through Your eyes... and act accordingly.

The greatest message ever told was in silence.

It lasted 6 hours... one Friday.

On a Cross.

That of love.

5: You know bro, the question you randomly asked me, that sometimes you really wondered why you actually believed in Christ in the first place? It's a question that comes back to me too from time to time... and seriously, my only reply to you is the word that I messaged.

Grace.

2 CORINTHIANS 4:1-18

Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

It is not the mortal age of a being that determines the level spiritual maturity and intimacy with God. It is the desperation of the soul, oft quiet than loud, the cry of the heart that connects one's heart to His.