Author: poporetto

TAT His Eye Is On The Sparrow

I sing this hymn again and again with my wife, such a great encouragement when you feel lost and nothing is going the right way. When the future looks bleak, and the present looks disappointing, trust in God, for He knows you and is in control over everything :)

“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
(Matthew 10:26-31 ESV)

This christian comic strip is based on a beautiful song by Civilla D. Martin’s gospel hymn :)
Her inspiration behind the lyric was beautiful too:

Early in the spring of 1905, my husband and I were sojourning in Elmira, New York. We contracted a deep friendship for a couple by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle—true saints of God. Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for nigh twenty years. Her husband was an incurable cripple who had to propel himself to and from his business in a wheel chair. Despite their afflictions, they lived happy Christian lives, bringing inspiration and comfort to all who knew them. One day while we were visiting with the Doolittles, my husband commented on their bright hopefulness and asked them for the secret of it. Mrs. Doolittle’s reply was simple: “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.” The beauty of this simple expression of boundless faith gripped the hearts and fired the imagination of Dr. Martin and me. The hymn “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” was the outcome of that experience.
— Civilla Martin

Sing the hymn, it’s beautiful and really tells us how great and loving our God is!

Why should I feel discouraged and why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart be lonely and long for heaven and home?
When Jesus is my portion, a constant Friend is He,
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.

I sing because I’m happy;
I sing because I’m free;
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me.

Let not your heart be troubled; these tender words I hear;
And resting on his goodness I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.

I sing because I’m happy;
I sing because I’m free;
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me.

Whenever I am tempted; whenever clouds arise;
When songs give place to sighing; when hope within me dies;
I draw the closer to Him; from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.

I sing because I’m happy;
I sing because I’m free;
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me.

TAT Sinless

This is based on the quote from one of my favourite writer Max Lucado,
“God changes us day by day. We’ll never be sinless but we will be sin less.” How true is that? Especially knowing how we’re bound to fail due to our sinful weaknesses. All we can do is just to rely on God grace, and while we still breathe in this weak body, let’s be diligent in chasing after godliness :)

This is why the fact that we’re already saved for good by Jesus helps us to know that we’re save even though we struggle. Let’s keep the good fight guys, a fight to sin less for God’s glory :)

Hopefully one day we can say it like what Paul said

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
(2 Timothy 4:7-8 ESV)

 

Original quote of Max Lucado

TAT Faith In Humanity

I have lost all faith in Humanity!!!

For why should we set our faith on things that will fade anyway? When things are not going according to what we thought we are, a progressive, intelligent and humane society, why should we be surprised? After all the word of God has correctly showed us that we as human will definitely fail because of our sinfulness, so all we can do is to trust God and rely on him.

I put my faith in the One that forgave my sins and promised me salvation, how about you? :)

I think 1 Peter perfectly explains how to live in the last days!

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

(1 Peter 5:6-10 ESV)

Trump Triumphant

So I guess America now has their new President eh? It’s a shock and I don’t think anyone guessed it, this morning I woke up and read New York Times thinking that Hillary will be elected as president after all. But lo and behold, as the quick count result pouring in, state by state succumbed to Trump’s victory. And slowly I can see the reaction of despair from people around me. And now as you scroll in any social media, america, no, not only americans, the whole world is complaining. Complaining about the fact the americans has chosen Trump and why they did let it happen.

But think about it, do you need to complain that bad?
Now that he’s elected, what else can you do? And what good can complains bring?
And honestly with a lot of political unrest everywhere across the world lately, like Indonesia, South Korea, Hong Kong, it only strengthen my faith in Christ. There will never be a perfect leader, and though I know in Trump’s case he’ll be far away from perfect, but no matter what, you will never find a perfect leader. And all we can do now is pray, pray that Trump will have a side of humanity. Pray that he will lead with compassion. Pray that God will work not only in his small heart, but also in the people around him. Pence! ah Pence, pray for Pence, after all he’s the 2ic in this Trumphant government right? Pray that the great wall won’t happen, pray that there unnecessary war happening.

Gosh, you know what, Trump actually makes me more prayerful, more than ever!

TAT Trump Triumphant

Hillary is just a memory, and now Trump is Triumphant, now that he’s the President-elect, we can only pray. I should thank Trump though, he makes me more prayerful! Hopefully not only today. :P

Instead of complaining, let’s pray for his future government, for people around him, to make wise decision. Let’s realise that there will never be a perfect leader other than Jesus, so cast our hope on someone above, not on our earthly leader :)

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

(Matthew 6:25-34 ESV)

Changing format

I’m trying to work out the best format for comic strip. Since I’m an avid mobile reader and also I have always been influenced by japanese culture, I always believe that comic strip should be read vertically, however western comic strip are read horizontally, vertically, and horizontally again, making a “Z” movement. I started posting some of my comic to instagram, therefore I had to make it a 4:3 ratio ;—; which means I need to restructure my comic to the western layout. What do you guys think? Which one is better? Here is a sample from “Cool Christian” Comic layout

Comic of Cool Christian