Common bond

We've said tonight (at CG) that we want to be honest with each other. And I love how everyone has one goal in mind- that we get closer. And honestly, it has been on my mind for quite a while.

I'll be the first to admit that I was/am still a bit scared. I was thrust into this situation with limited experience with all of this. I know I haven't been putting my best efforts forward to get to know you girls. And it's really not an issue of not caring...I think my issue is trying to figure out how to show that I care. And I think I've been failing miserably. I'm not a warm and fuzzy person, I don't do well speaking on the phone. I generally am quite reserved. These are all great excuses, that I have believing for the longest time.

What I do know is that each and everyone of you are so unique and so inspiring to me. Like Krystle said- when you guys are at your best, I definitely see Jesus. And when you're at your worst, you're still our girls. And we'll be right there with you.

I still question why I am where I am most of the time. But you know what? I'm here.

It's time to stop, it's time to turn around. It's time to let go of whatever's been holding me back from forming great relationships. It's stopped me for long enough.

And I hope that we do get closer. Because we do have a common bond- Jesus. And I hope we can DO LIFE together. Life is always better when you've got others believing in you, and cheering you on, and will be there to pick you up, dust you off and send you back in the battle after you've fallen.

We can't achieve this in a week, or even 3 months. But let's start trying. Meet up with someone in connect who you don't really know.. or give them a call.

They just might surprise you : ).

Reasons in the Seasons

I want to put an interesting question out to all of you.

Why do you believe in God?

No, I'm not talking about your testimony. But the reason why you believe what you believe, what is the evidence of God in your life that reaffirms and keeps your faith strong. Something in this world you can see God's fingerprint in.

For me, it came from a fascinating documentary I watched a long time ago on TV about the human anatomy. They explained all the different microscopical elements in the human body, the cell, the atom etc. And the smaller, and more magnified they went, the more mysterious and unexplainable things became as our human technology had a limited reach. It discussed things like the String theory, evolution, etc. They also described how certain cells worked, and going smaller still into the cell etc (I can't remember the specifics) and how perfectly each minute 'gear' of the entity has to work to be able to operate. Each and every part working in perfect harmony.

How can all of that happen out of a chance explosion, or a chance evolution? It doesn't make sense! A highly researched and intelligent documentary posed more questions than answered them. These tiny designs are far too perfect for probabilities and luck. But in my eyes, evidence of a Master Creator.

Not to mention the unexplainable mysteries of what lies beyond what our technology can reach. Only speculation and guesswork attempts to fill the gaps, where God rightfully reigns.

To me, this is evidence of God's existence, His flawless design flaunted through our every breath, and what I know to be truth.

What's yours?

Little Victories

This year hasn't been an easy one for me, and it seems like just when one bump in the road is crossed, another bigger one is right there after it waiting to trip me up.

There are still a lot of big battles going on, and even though the full and complete victory is not won yet, I must not forget the little victories that God has helped me win along the way.

We need to not let our 'giant' problems eclipse all the good that our giant God is doing.

Yes, the restoration or healing or salvation is not 100% complete, but maybe 50% already is? Even 5% progress is something to give thanks for.

Yes, the battle is not won, but we're well on the way.

K

Study...then do.

'There's no end to the publishing of books, and constant study wears you out so you're no good for anything else. The final word is this: Fear God. Do what He tells you.' (Ecclesiastes 12.12-13)

'You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you'll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. There Scriptures are all about me! And here I am, standing right before you, and you aren't willing to receive from me the life you say you want' (Jesus speaking, John 5.39-40 Message version).

Many things are easier said (or read) than done. We read that we should love God, and love others. But it's not easy! We can listen to many sermons and read many books about relationships and God, but it's useless unless we put it into practice.

In our everyday lives, there are opportunities to love others (especially our own family or people we come in contact with daily/weekly). However, we can held back by our laziness, ignorance or insecurities, and not be a loving person as a result. To love others, we need to receive Jesus first of all. Then everyday after that, to depend on Him to fill our hearts with His love, since God is the source and inspiration.

Differences

How do you love those who seem to be so different from you?

I've found that there have been many instances where I have found it really hard to like, let alone love people who I don't quite understand.

You don't quite get where they're coming from, and struggle to come up with a motive that would explain why they did what they did... whether what they said was meant for malice, or if it's just their normal language- how they speak everyday.

But I can unashamedly admit that I think the world would be an immensely boring place if everyone turned out like me, thought like me, or acted like me.

I guess it's the process of actually getting to know the person that's important. Anyone can love somebody who is lovable. We are also here for the down and out, the lonely, the widows, the orphans. The ones who might be difficult to deal with. The people who seem unlovable.

And I think that that is what I have to constantly remind myself. God came for all. The church is for all. Therefore I must not be selective in who I like, and essentially- who I love as well.

Daylight

'Oh, how sweet the light of day,
And how wonderful to live in the sunshine!
Even if you live a long time, don't take a single day for granted.
Take delight in each light-filled hour,
Remembering that there will also be many dark days
And that most of what comes your way is smoke'
Ecclesiastes 11.7-8

Today I read a few chapters of Ecclessiastes. This book emphasises the shortness and frailty of human life. One of the lessons of Ecclessiastes is to enjoy life while it lasts and appreciate each day you've been given, realising that our time is limited.

Although the tone of the book can be quite pessimistic, we don't have to be disheartened about our relatively short life here on earth, because we know that we have Eternity to live. With that in mind, we should live with Eternity in perspective.

So enjoy the sunshine (I know I do!)...summer is approaching :)

Appreciate the good days, and know that God is with you through the 'bad' ones.

Realise that you're on Earth for a greater purpose than mere enjoyment. Live and speak in a way that shows that we have hope in Jesus, so that others who don't know Him will want to. Life is to be enjoyed, but we should also use this gift given by God for God.

The Important Things

In Mark 12:30-31, we're told the most important things are loving God and loving people.

But, we seem to spend a lot more time caught up in other things... eg. loving ourselves/being selfish, entertaining ourselves, procrastinating, stressing, etc etc..

We gotta keep the main thing the main thing.

We cannot let our own worrying and self-concern become the main thing. 

And conversely, there's nothing wrong with treating ourselves well and having fun, or affording ourselves leisure and chillax time, but we cannot let our own enjoyment or comfort become the main thing.


In fact, I've found that the real fun and true joy comes from choosing to please, and therefore love, God first. After all, it's what we were created to do.. :)


K

Positioning

There is definitely a theme running through these posts... and I kind of feel that it's pretty relevant for this season.

We just found out recently that our neighbour's daughter who live right next to us, is having a lot of health issues. We've never really gotten to know them very well, but we knew they were Christian, and we'd exchanged a few conversations. But do we REALLY know them? I guess not.

And in their time of need right now, I'd say that we're not fully positioned to help. Sure, we could babysit from time to time, pray, and bring over some food. But I don't know... I just feel like we could have done more if the relationship had been more fully formed beforehand?

I feel helpless, and that there's nothing much we can do: our words of comfort probably wouldn't hold as much weight as someone who has had more of an influence in their lives. We're almost strangers to them.

So I guess what I'm saying is... I've been challenged to get to know people. To get to know my neighbours. Because one day, they might need help, and I want to be in a position that says: "I'm right there with you, we'll get through this together. "

Because everyone needs a neighbour.

Greatest instructions

Wow! Seems like we're on a theme here. "Love your neighbour", something I also want to touch on.


Jesus gave us 2 commandments he said were the most important:

Love your God
Love your neighbour as yourself

Pretty simple isn't it? And I think one is tethered to the other. In loving and prioritising God, we learn to be more like Him as we spend more time in His presence. Then in turn we begin to learn to love others as we reflect Him.

So make like a mirror and start reflecting!

Loving people you don't like

Recently, I've been thinking about people that might not like me. I haven't confirmed the truth about this because it would be weird to go up to someone who you think doesn't like you and ask, "Why don't you like me? What have I ever done to you?"...because they might just think I'm crazy and it would be an awkward moment. Or they could say, "Actually, I liked you...but now that you brought it up, I don't like you anymore".

Honestly, I try to see the good in other people and I hope that others try to see whatever good there is in me. I know that I'm far from being the perfect person. God loves me and likes me, I have a family and I know who my true friends are, so it doesn't matter so much to me.

I made a list of stuff that I don't like about some people (I'm sure you can relate!)

- Proud actions: you know those people, who bump into you, and don't say sorry; those who look at you and don't say hello or smile; those who greet the person next to you, but totally ignore you; those who think they are the centre of the universe, people who think they are right all the time, even if they are.

- Deception: I absolutely hate this one; people talking about me behind my back; saying one thing to my face and another to someone else...please, insult me to my face because then I can at least cry about it before I fall asleep at night if it is true, or have the pleasure of rebuke you if it's not.

- Rudeness: this doesn't need explaining.

- Stinkyness: When people smell bad (this is not as serious as the others...or is it?).

I can't think of anything else. Those are the main things. They are the things I tend to avoid doing myself because I know how much I dislike it in others. 

After identifying those things that I find so repulsive in people, it is important for me to remember that God loves them. He might even like them. After all, He created them. 

Liking someone isn't a choice that you can make. Somethings are just repulsive to some people. But loving people is a choice and series of actions. 

For example, there have been times when young students have farted in their piano lessons. Now, just because I don't like the smell, doesn't mean I stop teaching them. I accept them for who they are, farts and all.

Okay, maybe that wasn't the best example. How about...

Giving a birthday present to a girl who doesn't like you (or who you may suspect doesn't like you)? 

Praying for someone who has hurt you in the past?

Believing in the potential of someone to become your friend?

Funnily, I wasn't really planning to write about loving your neighbour...but this kind of relates if you don't like your neighbour (or if you suspect that your neighbour doesn't like you).

In the neighbourhood...

Lately, this has been on my mind: We need to be better neighbours.

Mark 12 commands us to love our neighbours as ourselves, second only to loving God, so it's clearly something we need to practise and get good at.

I think we can all be good neighbours - we don't need to have lots in common with them, we don't need to be super talkative people who have all the right words to say. Sometimes, as I am finding more and more, all we need to do is take that one 'small step'.

For our physical neighbours, maybe that's just leaving a Christmas card in their mailbox.

For our workmates, maybe that's just slipping them a chocolate egg at Easter time.

And for our church family, maybe that's just saying hello to the uncle that you always see but never talk to.

You do not need to be a friend to be a neighbour. But often, if you're a good neighbour, friendship will naturally follow. Or, at the least, respect. And praise God for the opportunities that come with it.

Who knows? You could be entertaining an angel (Hebrews 13:2).


K

All in

"If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men."- 1 Corinthians 15:19

In Paul's time being Christian wasn't a glamorous thing. It brought them persecution, ridicule, and even caused them to be ostracised from their families. Life was harder for them. But they dealt with it in hope, because they knew that there was more to life than what we live on earth. Because they had their trust in God.

I guess the question is then, hypothetically- What would we lose if Christ turns out not to be real?

Would we lose much at all? Or would life still go on as usual?

In the verse Paul says that if that were to be true- if what they had pinned their hope on, had dedicated their life to turned out to be only for "this life", a life of suffering for Christ, the work of spreading the Gospel, that they "are to be pitied more than all men." They had put all their eggs in one basket.

They lived radical lives. They put their TOTAL trust in him.

If that were so, they would pretty much be left with close to nothing.

I guess that scares me, yet inspires me at the same time.

It's kinda like going all in in a poker game. You could lose everything, or you could gain everything.

I want to live that kind of life. To have the kind of faith that says playing it safe is not an option for me. That like Paul, if he did turn out to be false... that I would be pitied because my life was all about Him. And I could say that I was ALL IN.

Fathers, Changing.

No doubt, this month has been one of change, new experience and discomfort. New job, new family member, new friends, new opportunities, lost opportunities.

But I want to everyone to remember, that in the midst of change, GOD IS CONSTANT. We need to fix our eyes on Him, not on the fleeting things around us.

Since Father's Day has just passed I thought I'd write about something that always comes to heart during this time for me.

Since I don't have an earthly Father, Father's day has always been a little bittersweet for me. I get a little jealous when people talk about the gifts they are able to give their dads, the silly little things, or being able to ask my dad to buy me a pretty dress I want. Even for the bigger things, like life advise. Why can't I have that too?

But even with those questions, I have to remember that I have the best Dad ever. God! God is my Daddy in Heaven. Nothing will separate me from His love. Cause I'm His little girl. We're all His little girls, His princesses. He's watching over us with loving eyes. He's there for us when we' need advise, when we need life guidance, or when we're hoping to snap up that awesome dress for a good price. He LOVES us, SO much.

HE LOVES YOU! :) 

Sometimes I forget this.

But when remember, I feel so uplifted! :D

Love you guys (:


ALSO. I was going to post up a link to our blog sometime this week, I hope that's okay with everyone?? If there are any objections, let me know!!

What do we know?

"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so" - Mark Twain.

This year, I've been doing some reading on nutrition and health, which has been one of the factors that led to me becoming vegan. Previously, I thought meat, eggs and dairy was healthy in moderation. And probably that's what many people still think. That it's harmless; a good source of protein, iron and other stuff that makes you strong.

One of the books I'm reading is the China Study, the most impressive and comprehensive scientific study on human nutrition ever done, and the startling results of the experiments. One of the findings includes animal product consumption being linked to the likelyhood of getting liver (and other) cancer...much like smoking is linked to lung cancer. In the book, there are many other studies showing the harm done to the human body by consuming animal protein, but you'll just have to read the book to understand (by the way, I highly recommend the book - The China Study by T. Colin Campbell, PhD and M. Thomas Campbell, M.D). It's not only scientific, it's presented in a way that is easy to understand, and an engaging read. If I had known this before, I might have changed diet sooner. Now, I'm so aware of how unhealthy it is, I don't even want to give chocolate to people anymore because I'll feel a little guilty of contributing to cancer! (and baby calves being deprived of their mother's milk and fed formula instead).

I think that we should always be willing to learn, and willing to change. We cannot know it all, all at once. Learning is lifelong, and the motivation to change is often knowledge multiplied by need. When people feel that they don't need to change, knowing what they should be doing isn't going to produce any change in them. Likewise, we cannot change if we don't have the knowledge to do so.

When we read God's Word, we gain knowledge and wisdom that we can apply to our lives. It's truly life-changing. I'm currently reading through both Leviticus and Proverbs in the Bible. Proverbs is full of observations and tips for living in a way that honours God, and produces blessing. Go against God's laws, and in some way you'll suffer. But obey and fear God, and you will have His favour on you.

Where Are You?

Ps Robert Fergusson preached last Sunday about being in search of Jesus, and said something I thought was quite profound:

"We have no right to complain about the absence of God, because we are a great deal more absent than He ever is."

Often when something bad happens, either to us or to someone we love, our tendency is to question where God is and why He isn't doing something to fix it.


Sometimes, I've found myself so consumed by the weight or the thought of a problem that it's hard to see anything but the problem, let alone something often 'invisible' like God working on the problem. I've been distracted, and hence absent to His presence.

Even when something bad isn't happening, I've been busy with too many things and tasks that I didn't answer His knock on my door. No excuse to be had there.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:9

I pray for all of us that in both good times and bad, we remember God doesn't always work and think the way we expect or the way we do. He is not absent from us, but perhaps..hiding for a little while. As Ps Robert put it, it's a bit like hide and seek - He wants us to seek Him. And I guess if He's not hiding, it can make us quite forgetful to do the seeking part.

I don't know why bad things happen to good people. I don't know why we are sometimes made to endure suffering and trials and pain. I don't know why He hides sometimes.

But He promises to not forsake us. Ever.

All I know is that You are good.


K