Austin Chinese Church

Jacob's meeting with Esau was filled with fear and caution. But, Jacob's meeting with God was one of preparation and prevailing. When we meet God face to face, we are able to live out our calling faithfully.

When things don't go our way or our desires are not met, it is interesting how we respond. Some will pray and seek God's wisdom and power. In addition, some will work hard to resolve the issue, no matter how difficult it may be, or how much time it may take. Others withdraw because the thought of conflict and solving issues (especially in relationships) is too much to handle. Others may try to manipulate or even take advantage of others by using deception. Is this worth it? How many of us do this? What does God want us to do in order to live in truth and integrity in a world where these values may not be held as tightly?

When we are the final decision makers, life dysfunction ensues. Hope can only be found when we submit to God's wisdom and lordship.

Life can be quite messy due to many of our life choices. But, when God is with us, he is there for us even when we are drowning in life's chaos.

We will go through times in life where we feel neglected or alone, but the story of Jacob moving to Paddan-aram is a reminder and confirmation that we are never alone. God's covenant of old in the dream of Jacob's ladder is forever fulfilled in the connection that we have through Christ. Because of Jesus, we are never alone, no matter the highs and lows that we encounter in life.

On the surface, Genesis 27 is a story about Jacob deceiving both his father Isaac and his brother Esau in order to gain a blessing. When we look deeper, we find that it is really a story of how our sovereign God works out His plans even through the poor choices of sinful and broken people. This story offers us hope that in spite of how sinful and broken our world is, our God still sits on His throne. And even in the midst of our own brokenness, this God that we worship indeed is with us, not because of who we are or what we have done, but because of who He is and what He has done.

In Genesis 26 we learn of two happenings when God tells us that he is with us. We no longer have to live in fear. We also will experience God's blessings in our lives. Let's claim this in faith this year as we grow in understanding what it means when God is with us.

With the beginning of a new year, a key aspect to our spiritual growth is to know what we truly love and are passionate for. To grow in worship, community and mission will entail a faith that is committed to the will of God alone as we abide in him forever.

Many times we are reticent to share our "real life stories" because we don't want to bother others, or because we are shy, or because we are fearful of what others might think of us AFTER they have heard our stories. The number of reasons/excuses NOT to share goes on and on. In today's passage, we see a complete stranger, whose life was deeply touched by the words of another stranger, which caused her to run back to her town to tell everyone she knew. The results were life-changing.

Some of my favorite videos are watching military individuals secretly arrive back home to surprise their loved ones. I can't help but cry in joy when families and friends are reunited. Such joy is evident when John the Baptist first meets Jesus. In joy John testifies to the significance of Jesus' arrival as life-transforming not just for the present, but for eternity.