SCRIPTURE:
But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."  " 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:22-24 NIV)

Observations:
I asked myself what was the interaction between the boy's father and Jesus?
Boy's father: "But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."
Jesus: "'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
Boy's father: Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

Interpretations:
I asked myself what is the significance of the interaction between the boy's father and Jesus?
I found it very significant that the boy's father says to Jesus 'But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us' because the boy's father already experienced that the 9 disciples that were there could not do anything to let the demon go that was tormenting the boy. Now, in his doubts he projects that on to Jesus too but he does not completely give up. He is in doubt but still has little faith to believe and asks Jesus to take pity on them and help them. He also reminds Jesus that he does believe and to help him overcome his unbelief by healing his child. In the last devotional, I learned that the boy was completely healed by Jesus as Jesus kept to the promise He gave the boy's father: "Everything is possible for him who believes."

Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life. While I am waiting and waiting and nothing seems to happen, it can be easy to start having doubts and wonder if things will ever change. But, I learned 'everything is possible for him who believes' and I should take my doubts to the Lord and ask the Lord for help to help me overcome my unbelief. It is still a proactive stand where I pursue my dreams, etc even in my doubts leaving the results in the Lord's Helping Hands!

HOW GOSPEL GIVES ME TESTIMONY REGARDING B.E.L.E.I.V.E:
Yesterday at Living Acts, Bryan Baird led us in one of the Bible discussions on Luke 24:44-49. Later, he asked us if we have any stories about the Lord asking us to wait and wait in a particular area just as the Lord told the disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit to come upon them. I was reminded of the story of Naaman, the Syrian who had leprosy and was asked to dip in the river 7 times before he could be healed. When he dipped the first, second, third, etc and nothing happened, his mind could have definitely been filled with doubt about how the water could make him be healed since he already dipped 3 times and he was in the same position he was when he started. That happened the 6th time too probably with no change. But he did not give up and in obedience he dipped the 7th time and was healed completely in the water.

In the same way, the boy's father had doubts when each of the 9 disciples could not heal his boy and he could have left but in his doubts, he asked Jesus if Jesus could heal the boy. Jesus did heal the boy after saying, "Everything is possible to Him who believes"

Yesterday's small group Bible study mentioned in Tim Keller's Gospel Christianity, chapter 9 was very encouraging because it made me share about my own experiences and also reminded me of the song by John Waller called 'While I am Waiting'.

I shared with Bryan, Lyd, Kristen, Josh, Edwin, Marie, Vicki, Jiaokim, Rachel, Jeremy, and Liz about student ministry and how I feel that this is where the Lord Jesus wants me to be at but still don't see the opportunity coming and how I need to keep waiting, waiting, and waiting on the Lord. If this is what the Lord Jesus wants for me, He will make it happen. I cannot give up until I don't feel that anymore. Even if I have little faith regarding student ministry happening in my life, I need to hold on to that hope and wait on the Lord. When I say student ministry, I mean lead Bible discussions for students, praying with them, counseling them, discipling them, doing evangelism, and outreach with them, etc.

Sometimes it does get very discouraging but I thank the Lord He is in control. As the song goes, "Long to know you for only you can satisfy, long to touch you for only you can heal my life, heal my life...."

Friend, there are might be areas in your life you keep waiting and not answer has not come yet. Do not give up but keep waiting on the Lord especially if the Lord Jesus has given you a word, a sign, etc to make you believe it will happen no matter how small that faith is, for the Lord will take care of the rest in His timing.

I ask you now dear friend, when do you believe in life?
Dear friend, it is easy to believe when everything is going our way and we are able to see things to our liking. But life is not always like that. A lot of times we will not know what will happen and what can happen. We will be given hope but not be shown when and how that hope will be manifested in our dreams. But this you and I can know that when we are in the loving Arms of our Lord and Savior, no matter how long we wait, it will not be for waste. In faith, no matter what path we take, it will not be for waste for the Lord Jesus can redeem even time.

So, friend, you should not only believe in life when things go your way but always believe in the Lord Jesus Christ whether you are seeing results or not right away because in Him is life and the results will be manifested as you wait upon Him. Just as Naaman was healed after dipping 7 times and the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit on the 50th day as they stayed in Jerusalem, you too can have the answer the Lord has put upon your heart in His timing if you believe and do not give up. Yes, you can friend.

But for any of this to happen, you have to first and foremost believe who Jesus is and what He came to do. Jesus is God, the Creator of the Universe who came as God-incarnate to set you and me free from the bondage of sin and death. Jesus died the death we should have died and paid the ransom to set us free from Satan's dominion so we can have Eternal Life.

"To all who believed Him, He gave them right to become children of God!" (John 1:12)

Believing in Jesus and what He has done for you will change your life around His way. Jesus died on the cross and came back to life to save and 50 days later poured out His Holy Spirit upon the believers who now had the Comforter and Counselor living in them. This same Jesus offers the Holy Spirit to you and me friend. Yes, He does.

You can come as you are and receive what Jesus has to offer. Friend, you may have doubts and be disappointed when things don't seem to go your way but remember in Christ no good thing will He withhold from those He loves.

That includes you and me friend. We do not have to be alone. In our doubts and fears, we can come to Him and He will help us in our unbelief. Yes, He will friend because He loves you so much and has decided to save you by His wonderful grace. It is not anything you or I do but it is for the grace of the Lord that we are saved and redeemed. That is exciting to know friend.

No matter, how far you have gone you are never far from the Lord. He will reach you where you are at. Jennifer from Asian-InterVarsity shared with me about how they had a Bible discussion on Luke 15 about the coin, sheep, and prodigal Son. In that story, we see the love of the Father towards the lost. The Father waited for the lost son to return home. When he returned home, there was a feast and celebration.

The lost son had to believe even little bit that the father may receive him to go back even in his doubts. What he expected and what he got were totally different. He expected to be a slave in his father's household after leaving him and going his own way but the Father put on him the best robe and gave a feast.

It is not for anything good the son had done for he had not done anything good but squandered his life away but GOD IN HIS INFINITE GRACE AND MERCY showered upon him, His love.

That is how Jesus looks at you friend. No matter what bad things you have done or how far you think you have gone away from the Lord, to the Lord you are never far enough. He will reach you where you are at all because of His infinite grace, so come as you are and believe in the Lord as the song goes, "Our God is Mighty to Save, forever Author of Salvation, Savior He can move the mountains. My God is Mighty to Save, He rose and conquered the grave. Shine your light and let the world see, singing glory of the risen King."

Jesus did all this for you because He loves you enough to save you from your sin when you come as you are and receive the redemption He offers. When you do that, you can also believe that He will take care of your life no matter what is happening around you!

May you come to know believing everyday Lord ignites eternal victory excitingly!

"Believing Everyday Lord Ignites Eternal Victory Excitingly! (B.E.L.I.E.V.E)"/"When do you B.E.L.I.E.V.E in life?"

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for everything you do for us and believing in you everyday ignites eternal victory excitingly. Thank you Lord that is possible for us because of what you have done for us at the cross of Calvary. While we wait on you Oh Lord we pray that we will never give up but be comforted by you. Help us in our unbelief Oh Lord when we wonder and think, will things ever change. Forgive us Oh Lord. And thanks so much for dying for our sin and coming back to life to save us. It is because we are saved in you Oh Lord that we can find Eternal life and hope. We thank you that no good thing will you withhold from those you love. It means a lot to me Lord. Thank you for your love and grace showered upon my life. You are always there. I pray Oh Lord for the one who is in doubt that you would reach them where they are at as you reached the boy's father. Thank you so much Jesus. Thank you for hearing and answering. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Lord Jesus, You are my all in all. You are my Prince of Peace, Rock, Savior, and Friend. You are my Holy Father guiding me through to live a life of righteousness, holy righteousness. Oh God, I need you more than ever. I need to feel your hands around me holding me tight. I need your love to surround me so that you can glow in my life. Help me please Jesus. I desire in your presence. Thank you for guiding me to live a life of righteousness. Oh God you love me more than ever. You hear my voice when I cry out to you. When I seek your face, you fill me up. You are my all in all. Thank you Jesus so much for your help no matter what I face, your grace is available and you take my case. Thank you for hearing us and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN! (Most of the prayer is from a vineyard song called “All in All”)

You don't have to be locked away anymore for Christ is here to free you and give you peace to LIVE out your actions.

How do you look at GODISNOWHERE?

One of my pastors, Pastor Hugo SHARED this example one Sunday at the RESURRECTION DAY SERVICE in the combined worship service of Pittsburgh Chinese Church-Oakland & Oakland International Fellowship:

If you look at it as GOD IS NO WHERE, you will still be lost in your sin and be in bondage locked away in your sins and problems finding no peace.

But  as my pastor spoke to the congregation and spoke to me, I am here to tell you that GOD IS NOW HERE.

Yes, friend God is aLIVE and wants to bring a transformation in your life through the GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ for He paid the penalty on the cross to rescue you and me and came back to life to save us and LIVE with us.

Yes, friend that is exciting to know that we can experience HIS SAVING GRACE & LIVING GRACE.

When we mess up, we can go to Jesus with our shortcomings and He will forgive us and RESTORE us to Him and we will find peace in Him.

^"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23, NIV)

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:7-9, NIV)

Friend, we need Jesus because we have been separated from God due to our sin. Because of our sin, Jesus had to pay the price to become our bridge so we can reach God now not of our own good works but because of the finished work of Christ, the Lord on the cross.

"For it is by GRACE you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV)

Come to Jesus as you are and pray this prayer to accept Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior. He will transform your life around! Praise the Lord! You don't have to have all the answers! You can come as you are!

If you want to be a soldier in the Lord's army, you can become it right now. Now is the time of Salvation! You do not have to wait but can pray this prayer and give your life to Christ to serve Him daily! There is no draft but coming to Christ is voluntary. He loves you so much and wants you to come to Him! He will take care of you, guiding you and leading you!

PRAYER:
Dear Jesus, I love you. Thank you for loving me so much and thank you for choosing the cross to die for me. You became the Son of Man and lived here on earth. Then you humbled yourself and became obedient to death-even death on the cross. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sin. You died on the cross so that I can be covered in your blood and cleansed by your blood as I acknowledge that I need you and cannot enter Heaven without you being my pathway. So, Jesus I confess all my sins to you and all the ways I have tried to get into Heaven when you already provided the means and the Way. Thank you for all that you have done for me. "The cross is the place, a wonderful place where accused and condemned find mercy and grace. Thank you Jesus, it is at the cross where the wrongs we have done and the wrongs done to us were nailed at the cross. Thank you Jesus, at the cross you died for our sins and at the cross you gave your life for us." I thank you for that and thank you for coming back to life to save us. Thank you Jesus for being there for me! Thank you for loving me. I love you Jesus! Please take me as I am and make my life into something that you will be proud of. I surrender my life to you and need your help to live for you. I am forever grateful for what you have done for me and I can never repay you. I want to live for you and need your help. Help me Jesus please. I thank you Jesus for saving me! Thank you for hearing my prayer and answering me. Whatever your will give me the willingness and strength to bear it. Thank you Jesus! I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior! In Your Name I Pray precious Jesus! Amen!