rediscovering our relationship with God
Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I, that the bright and morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart
Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours
Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
and watch me rise again
Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me
Whom shall I fear
Whom shall I fear
I am yours
musings of our walk
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Going through the motions
ANZAC Day has been turning into ANZAC week for me as a cadet, being at four services, I am thoroughly sick of my uniform and smelling like rosemary =T but anyway, the point I want to make is, by being at all these services you'd expect me to have gained a deeper insight into what ANZAC means for us as Australians. But I haven't really been struck by the sense of sacrifice, mate-ship and courage I keep hearing about. Somehow this year ANZAC Day hasn't touched me like it used to. In fact, the opposite has happened, in that, however hard I try, I have mainly been focusing on the pain it is to iron and polish and prepare for parades, the ache in my arm or feet or whatever, and not really on why I'm doing this.
Why am I saying all this? Well I think God's using this as an analogy for our Christian lives (yay our God loves analogies =P). We can be totally 'devout'. Go to every single Christian event, say the right things, go through the motions of what it's like to follow Christ. But is that enough? There is such a danger of thinking: I read my Bible, I go to Church and ISCF, I answer the questions at FOCUS, I say grace at meals, ergo I'm a good Christian and I'll get my eternal reward. But Jesus says to people who think like that 'I don't know you!' (see Matt 25).
It's not enough to go through the motions. Jesus says we have to give up our lives for Him, and only then will we find our true lives. Luke 9:24
Challenging, but let's keep reminding one another not to just go through the motions. Let's not act a part. Let's live LIFE!
posted by Lil at 12:58 PM
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
your grace is enough
KYCK' 10 was really amazing, and it was just 3 days jampacked of stuff (6 talks, seminar, and lots of in between time for bonding/small group bible study) and i think God really spoke to me and challenged me over the past weekend. the following is basically a summary of what i've learnt (and i've also blogged about it in my other blog. so some stuff kind of overlaps, hahaha)
like lil said in her previous post, i learnt at KYCK that life is so fleeting, that to pursue gain in this life becomes meaningless (gain in terms of results, wealth, fame, reputation etc)
the thing is, God
has created life to be like this - hebel, fleeting, gone in the blink of an eye, and He in Genesis He says that what He has created is good. and well, if God says something is good, then it is definitely good. and the speaker put it in quite a blunt way, but it was piercing for me and i found it very helpful. in the end, to chase worldly things becomes a sin, and it's missing how designed life to work. it's out of sync, because life is
supposed to be fleeting, so then we'll focus on God instead because everything from Him is eternal and everlasting.
and i learnt that to live in sync with God is to listen to Him, trust Him, and let Him shape my life, and also to thank more than i ask, because this removes the focus from seeking gain, and helps me focus on what i have received and the gifts that God has given me, none of which i deserve.
it's quite funny if you really stop and consider that if we try to live to gain, it does become very stressful and we're always scared of failing and in the end it just defeats the purpose, because it all results in nothing when we die. however, by focusing on God we are filled with Godly joy and we focus on the gifts that we have received from God and so yeah, it's a much more fulfilling life than seeking gain, which is contrary to what society says ie you work to get results and then you feel very accomplished etc.
another thing: laziness and procrastination is inherently sinful. i learnt that i need to live life with a sense of urgency, to actively and practically trust Jesus, to truly live, to sow and plant seeds.
failure becomes insignificant because i'm not living for gain. i'm living a life of trusting Jesus. so what does it mean if i do fail? even if i succeed, what do i ultimately gain? so i won't be afraid of trying, i will take more risks, and i don't have to be sure of success before i try something new. really, live life, when i am young, and i have the opportunities.
at KYCK, i was challenged to step out of my comfort zone. and maybe that means dropping down to 10 units, doing pharmacy in uni, and taking the initiative to rebuild my relationship with my parents. i want to become more thankful, to increasingly live life
for God and use my life as a testimony that i have an eternal hope as a Christian, and so i can give up this life for Him ^^
posted by [[ëlãiñë]] at 9:19 PM
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
summit #65
posted by [[ëlãiñë]] at 5:51 PM
Monday, April 12, 2010
**KYCK SPOILER ALERT**
Let's just say KYCK10 was PHENOMENAL.
We looked at 'Life Under the Sun' from Ecclesiastes, and there was so much I got out of the 6 talks, seminar, discussion groups, prayer, worship music, bonding time, every second of KYCK. It was the most productive way I could ever think of to spend a weekend for sure!
Anyway, so I won't even try to summarise everything that touched my heart, but one thing I want to share, that might help you all understand Ecclesiastes better is that 'meaningless' isn't really what we think of as the word. The Hebrew for it is 'hebel' (pronounced hevelle) and in other places it is used to mean 'like a breath'. Everything in life is fleeting and nothing we do is lasting. It can seem quite depressing thinking we all die and we'll all be forgotten and nothing will be gained. The Teacher in Ecclesiastes realises that it's all hebel - the sun rises, and sets, rises and sets... but instead of getting down about the monotony and temporary-ness of everything, we can whack away all these worldly desires to control and gain and impact (because our efforts will be futile) and set our perspective straight, knowing that the only thing that is permanent, all-powerful and our only hope, is in Jesus.
The Teacher finishes by telling us again. Life is meaningless, hebel. Remember our Creator, and LIVE LIFE. We can find it as a comfort to know that life is hebel, a chasing after the wind. Exams, troubles, trials, popularity, possessions, all these things are hebel. Fleeting. Like a breath.
God isn't.
posted by Lil at 11:23 AM
Thursday, April 8, 2010
summit #64
summits will now be posted on blog as well =]
hope you all like the blog! ^^
all suggestions/comments are welcome in the "our discussion" section ^^
posted by [[ëlãiñë]] at 1:14 PM
Mantra
Recently I've been struggling with the whole JOY thing. Sure Philippians 4:4 says to rejoice ALWAYS, but if you're anything like me, it's kinda hard to maintain a bubbly happy attitude ALL the time. It's so easy to lose sight of the whole scheme of things and focus on the monotony of our daily routines: get up, procrastinate, eat, sleep.
But I've been clinging onto the mantra Fact-Faith-Feelings. Fact. Faith. Feelings. Every time I repeat it to myself God reminds me that IT IS FINISHED. That is a fact. Jesus has died and risen, and nothing will change this overwhelming knowledge of God's love. Love that surpasses understanding (Eph 3:19). And when we put our faith in this, it doesn't matter anymore that we FEEL down or indifferent or worried. By consciously directing our faith in response to the immovable facts in the Bible, we can know God will fix up our feelings. He'll support us. He'll strengthen us. He'll bless us with a peace that transcends understanding (Phil 4:7)
So yes happiness is different from joy. Joy isn't just an emotion, it's a way of life. Our joy is in the Lord. Today, I call everyone to try out my mantra. Fact-Faith-Feelings. And REJOICE!
Because OUR GOD REIGNS.
God bless.
posted by Lil at 9:14 AM
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
the first post
i'm so excited that we're taking this further step in fulfilling lil's vision in summit: a grade united together under love
hopefully, this blog will be a platform for discussions, where we're free to share our thoughts and where no question is stupid or hostile, but really ALL are welcome to voice their opinions and talk through any doubts or uncertainties
recently i read this really interesting online article (i've linked it under the resources page, go check it out if you have the time ^^) about a verse in the bible - Hosea 6:6
it was a really huge reminder for me that in everything i do, it is to honour my relationship with God, and it's not out of a desire to seem righteous in the eyes of men, but because i
love God and i want to do this for
Him =]
haha, this shall be a short first post XP but yup, can't wait for the official opening where this becomes to open to the whole ruse 2010 cohort ^^
posted by [[ëlãiñë]] at 10:12 PM