Missing Paris

Paris me manque.

After much reflection, I realized why I missed Paris so much. Paris is my escape fantasy. For me, it's a place of no stress, no work, no worries, and no responsibilities. I can do whatever I choose.

So a lot of my sentiments stem from childishness and selfishness.

God is the one who gives me strength. He is the one who gives me freedom. Do I trust this truth?

Appearance of godliness

2 Timothy 3:1-5
"But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people."

We do a lot of church activity, a lot of religious duties but in our hearts, we are still living to please ourselves, living the lives that we desire, because we do not know the power of the Gospel that can change our hearts. Part of it might be our proud hard hearts thinking.. "oh but can God really change me?" Part of it might be us not really wanting to change. We don't want to give up the things we are living for and live a life of obedience to God.

And by denying the power of the gospel, we cheapen the cross.