Being the Cause of Thanksgiving

As we are nearing the Thanksgiving holiday, it is a good time to reflect on the many things you can give thanks to: for your health, for being able to live in a house, for having things to eat, for having great families and friends, getting good grades at school & etc. But besides giving thanks about other things, are you a person that other people would give thanks to?

One of the obvious ways to do this is to help a person on the street who has no place to live. When I see them, I just feel sorry and say “God, please bless them,” in my heart. But...

You say, "Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well" but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?
James 2:16

One day I was walking back home from school, it was around 7 PM and it was so dark. People were getting off at the Caltrain station and wanted to go home. As I walked among these people, I saw one man who went from person to person, asking something, but got rejected. As I neared him, I thought he would ask me, but he didn’t. So I just continued walking. But the Holy Spirit told me to wait and turn around. I watched how the man asked other people, and they all shook their head and kept walking faster. In the end, he looked frustrated and depressed. And like I expected, the Holy Spirit told me to go back and approach him. So I did.

“Excuse me,” I said as he quickly turned around in shock. “Do you need something?”

He looked so astonished that someone was actually approaching him instead of him being the one to approach people. “Yeah, I just missed my train and I don’t have money to buy a new ticket,” he answered.

“How much do you need?”

“Just one dollar would be fine.”

I was confused. I saw so many people neglecting him and telling him that they were unable to help. But all he needed was just one dollar, that’s four quarters that many people don’t really use anyway. But apparently we live in a society where even one dollar is too much to give or they are simply unwilling to help.

I reached into my wallet and gave him four quarters. His face immediately lit up and he said “Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.” I simply smiled and wanted to walk back. Even so, he kept looking back and thanked me again. Then he proceeded to buy his ticket.

A small action as simple as giving out one dollar is able to make a huge difference in someone else’s life. For us it may seem like some unwanted spare change, to others it might be the greatest gift they could ever ask for. In the end when he said “thank you” I could tell that he was genuinely saying it with all his heart.

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
Matthew 5:16

Start living in a way that can make other people happy. You wouldn’t want to be the cause of their sadness or anger right? So in this month of Thanksgiving, lets be the cause of thanksgiving to others.

Being an Excellent Follower

What if tomorrow is the second coming of Christ?

Romans 13:12 “Each of us must give an account to God for what we do.”

You may say “I always go to church every Sunday, I pray to you, I read the Bible. Uuhm… I have a Christian cross necklace! If you look at my Facebook religion status, it says Christian or Jesus follower.” It’s good that you have the boldness to show to the world that you’re a Christian. But still, “What have you done for Me?”

1. Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

We want to show that we are a follower, but what else are we showing? Are you putting angry Facebook status filled with complaints? Are you talking using rough languages and cursing all the time? Are you partying, clubbing and drinking? Do you procrastinate with your work and cheat on exams?

Action speaks louder than words. There are many unbelievers or new believers who don’t know anything. They will look to the mature believers for examples. So be a good example unto others.

2. Luke 9:23 “Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”

We are called Christians because we are little Christ. When you do something, just think “Is this what Jesus would do?”

When you have an appointment, would you delay and be late or come on time?

If Jesus had a meeting, would He be late?
The Bible says that God’s timing is perfect, He’s never too late.

The verse also talks about carrying the cross daily. The cross symbolizes Christ’ suffering. A journey will God will include some sacrifices and suffering we need to make for Him. When we follow Christ, we let go of our own desires, and let His will be done.

3. Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men”

My sister used a lot of utensils and pans without cleaning it because she was busy with school. When I saw all the mess and dirt that she did not clean, I started yelling at her and told her to clean it up.

God spoke to me. “Your sister is having such a hard time with her studies. Why can’t you help her to clean it up?”
If it was Jesus who used the kitchen, I would’ve gladly cleaned everything up for Him with joy. Why can’t I do the same for my sister?

I got so immersed with doing the “religious” stuff that I forgot to abide in the simple things.

A good servant of God = a good servant of people.

4. Matthew 7:22-23 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Many people view Christianity as some rules of do’s and dont’s. Many people know the rules, but they don’t know God’s heart and have no relationship.

Go to church – but is it to meet up with friends or to seek Him?
Ministering – is it to look cool in to others or is it to serve God?
Reading the Bible – because you have to, or because you want to know more about Him?
Come to Caregroup, because that is the place where you can grow in Him.
Attend prayer meetings, cause He doesn’t want you to think only of yourself, but to pray for others.

Abide these rules not because they are rules, but because this is what would make our heavenly Father happy. If you really love God, the willingness to please Him will come automatically.


Many people think that being a follower is hard. It comes with a lot of sacrifices. He will interfere with your life and tell you to do things you don’t want to. But...


The rabbit with small leaves are Christians - thinking they have no happiness because of many sacrifices they make. The other one are people who do things to make them happy instead of God. The one with the greater reward in the end are those who did God's will.

Sometimes we still fall into sin. I did too.

I prayed to God and I said “Lord, if human were toys, then I would be a broken toy right now. I’m just some trash that has no use to you. You should just throw me away!”
But God told me “Even though you are a broken toy, I would still accept you and fix you, and renew you again.”

At moments when we feel so disgusted and so worthless, our God still has high hopes for us. He never gives up on us. To Him, we are still valuable; His sons and daughters that no one else can replace. He is ready to accept you when you want to return to Him.


So back again to the question, “What have you done for me?”

I used to ask Him “Lord, if I died right now, would I get to Heaven?” Instead of saying yes or no, He said “Instead of worrying about that, why don’t you start living your life in a way that will ensure that you will get to Heaven?”

So if we continue to abide in Him, do His will instead of ours, make Him happy, and make sacrifices for Him… I believe that in the end He will say:

“Well done, good and faithful servant. Come and share in your masters’ happiness.”