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Lo, and Behold
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Happy birthday Felicia! :) It was really heartwarming to see how all of you are celebrating the special day today, and how all of you are growing together in the same faith. But I can't.
"It will impact you spiritually. If the guy is not a believer, you can stop right there. You have no business yoking a redeemed soul with an unregenerate one, even if he seems open to change. Christ has bought you with a price and it is not an option to give away that blood bought heart to someone who doesn’t know and love your Lord. It will cripple your spiritual development, open up a host of temptations, stifle your prayer life, make regular church going difficult, and cause massive parenting conflict if you have children.
If the guy is a believer, is he a strong one? Will he lead you in prayer, Bible reading, family devotions, and public worship? Or will you be on your own? Is he going to make spiritual growth a priority or do other things come first? Is he going to ask you how it’s going with your soul so he can help you grow in holiness and love for Christ, or will he leave that to your pastor? Is he going to lead the children in this, or will you have to spearhead that? In church, is he going to help the kids sit well, pray, find the hymn, or will you be the one pointing out what is happening next and helping the family keep up? Many women have married spiritually immature men, thinking that it wasn’t a big issue, or that the man would change, and they were wrong. They bear the scars.
The health of your eternity is at stake. Think carefully."
It kills me a little every time when I am all alone. The amount of dissonance is overwhelming, I swear. But I couldn't find a good reason to change my faith or my love. Or rather, I have no courage to. And while I keep praying for an answer, the truth is I already have one. But I do not have the courage to do it. Because I still believe that there must be a way out of this, a better way than this.
But this is the first time that I feel so weak. And so certain that there is no other way to.
So it is either eternal, or eternal suffering.
And I've always try to convince myself: that if I can't save my loved ones here in this lifetime, it is selfish for me to leave them in eternal suffering as well and I can't bear the thought to.
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8:45 AM
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Friday, March 2, 2012
Had a great time doing quarterly review and catching up last night with sunday school class.
Teacher Chen Kee warned us about not falling into the guilt-trap for not reading His Word, and to consistently be conscious about Him being the center of our lives. And the challenge is: if He is number one in your life, why can't you set aside time to even read and understand what He want to tell us?
Two days ago, there was this lady who came to share the gospel and so we had a chat. She told me this analogy about how the bible is like a letter from our father, and we are like a child studying overseas. True enough that when academics rigour builds up, we might not have enough time to even sleep. But does that mean that you will not read the letters from your father? If you do not read the letters, how would you know what your father wants to tell you?
Hence, for this quarter, my goal is to continue to cultivate this good ground in my heart for the Holy Spirit and wisdom to grow in me. To be honest, I'm quite happy when some people say I have the 'Christian feel and behaviour'. But that is just how the world views me. What is more important is how God view me and if I can truly honour and please Him.
So just to end off this post,
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9:11 PM
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Wednesday, January 18, 2012
I know I've not been updating this space recently, but I'll soon, probably during the CNY period (:
meanwhile, just want to share this song which I saw from Grace's facebook!
May God continue to bless us each.
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5:23 PM
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Youth Conference 2011
Friday, December 9, 2011
A great week at youth conference this week!
I am really great that i attended this camp and managed to learn so much about God's Word.
And here's the summary of the messages shared by Pastor Charlie and Teacher Jane (:
Fullness of God
Significant goals:
- Discovery of God
- Discovery of the revealed will of God
- Discovery of the revelation of God concerning the Church
- Discerning God's plans for us to fit into His will
- Determination to walk worthy of God's revealed will
- Dynamism of faith and life
- Directions for life
Fullness of His plans
God has plans, which He reveal and fulfill in the fullness of time, and His plans are centered around Christ and the Church.
"that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth - in Him." (Ephesians 1:10)
For instance, God revealed that "I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing" for Israel. (Genesis 12:2)
In Christ, we witness that everything is possible. Although Jesus was poor, insignificant, uneducated and had to go through so much hardship, Jesus still managed to overcome all these trials and obstacles and saved us all, and to be sited at the right hand of our Father in heaven. We must learn from Christ the power to press on, to "unleash" all our potentials by being and believing in Christ.
What does it mean to be "in Christ"?
It refers to being sure that you are saved, and that you have access to our Heavenly Father personally.
To fully understand the fullness of God's blessings for us.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the praise of glory of His grave, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace... In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory." (Ephesians 1:3-7 and 11-12)
Chosen in love. Contrast that with the idea of survivor of the fittest in the worldly place.
Predestined. Understand the predestined of God's plan and how we can fit in to it.
Redemption. By the riches of God's Grace, unto one who is full of sins.
What about the Holy Spirit?
"In Him you also trusted, after your heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory." (Ephesians 1:13-14)
How do we understand God's plan?
There is no other way than through reading the scriptures and praying. The knowledge of Him serves as our foundation. On this foundation, we have to pray, pray sincerely and earnestly. Pray for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation of His plans and how we fit it. Pray for enlightenment of our purpose of life. Pray for the power of God.
"Do not cease to give thanks for you; in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him." (Ephesians 1:17)
And all this is just for one evening devotion by Pastor Charlie.
Really excited as I typed this, but my powerless eyes are starting to get really weary.
I shall continue in the next post about the fullness of God's Grace and Glory.
p.s. That first night I couldn't find the strength and will to consecrate to You, my Heavenly Father. And I felt so shaken, so terrified. But Lord, I thank You for being there for me. I will never forget Psalm 62, to trust You at all times.
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1:25 AM
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