Playing Our Part

Today has been fantastic! My house mate Jonathan delivered his first baby (he's a medical student); I met up with some good friends; listened to an awesome lecture on African Economics and did my fare share of study. That means free time to blog - WOOT!

I was reading Matthew 7:7-8 one day, it says "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

What hit me was not the asking, but rather the seeking and knocking part. I realized a lot of times we ask God for something but really don't set about looking for a solution or knocking on the doors. Sometimes we just wait and expect things fall onto our laps. I believe in the natural and the supernatural right? God does His part and He WILL perform miracles but I think we also need to do out part in the natural. We need to do the seeking and knocking as well.

My housemates and I (4 of us) are currently looking for a house to move in to next year. Now, imagine us going "God, please give us a place to stay!" and then just wait for a house to miraculously find us! We're praying (believe me =D) but we're looking online for the house, we're asking around, we're going to go for the inspections and we're talking to people - we're putting in the action.

Maybe we should start to include "Lord, teach me how to help me friend" in our prayers instead of just "Lord, help my friend". Let's learn to take action and partner with God in this journey. God is good and He will not disappoint us, but i was just reminded how important it for us not to be lazy too.

JC.

Pointing Up!

I've been wanting to write about this for a while. It sort of dawned upon me one day, the fact that we are like arrows. Actually, we really are aren't we?

The lifestyle we make us like arrows that point at some direction doesn't or at something doesn't it? Okay, I'm rambling on but bear with me. =). I think what we say, how we react to things, the things we do and don't do rotates our life arrow and where it points to. For example when I think of Martin Luther King, his life arrow seems to be pointing at the under-privileged blacks of America; when I think of of Mother Teresa, her life arrow seems to be pointing to God, hope and the needy in India; when I think of David Beckham, his life arrow seems to be pointing at fame, hairstyles and soccer. It's just illustration, I don't really know either one of them well enough to be making valid statements like that.

But imagine ourselves - regardless of our job, physical appearance, social status, abilities, achievements, living as walking arrows that point to a Creator. In all we do and say and act just pointing to hope that lies in Jesus! That would be awesome wouldn't it.

Are we pointing to God? Are we pointing the hopeless to the Hope? Are we pointing the sick to the Healer? Are we pointing the lost to the Purpose? Are we pointing the confused to the Way? Are we pointing the lifeless to the Life?

How obvious are our arrows? Are they tiny or are the so big you could see them from a distance? Do people have to spend a week with us to find out or just a day?

OR, are we pointing to the world? Are we pointing to ourselves? Are we pointing to other solutions?

Don't know bout you but I desperately want to be pointing up. There's enough of us pointing everywhere else already. =).

Me, Myself and (fill in the blank)

We live in a world where most of us are wired to think of me, me me & me. Oh no, I feel so bored! I feel tired! Doesn't anyone care about how I feel? Don't I matter? What about me? Me? ME?

Honestly, whenever I find myself falling into that sort of attitude I realize I am the most miserable person around. It's not because I am miserable, it's just because my thinking has made me think I am. And why? Because the focus is on me. Now, what's the problem with that? Ok Ok. Hear me out. Let me try to make some sense of this.

Jesus was asked how we were to inherit eternal life. His reply, "You shall love the Lord you God with all you heart, soul, strength & mind." Then He continues, "To love you neighbor as yourself." Love God and the people around us. It doesn't say love yourself and live, we are told to direct our love to others.

In Mark 8:35 it says, "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me & for the gospel will save it."

I think what I've learned and the point that I getting at here is that when we start living out of sincere, action-filled love for God and for others around us we finally start to..well - live. This is what I've noticed, one of the best ways to get over our self pity is actually to give our love and help to someone else. It's as if we were made to function that way, and when we start functioning in a self-centered way we don't feel like we're fulfilled. I realize it in so many scenarios. Maybe that's why so many of the rich & famous are not happy despite riches and indulgences. Maybe that's why some of them be come philanthropists after - to live more like what we're made for - God and each other. You know how it feels so much better & fulfilling to give than to receive? Cause it's about another person being blessed, about being able to sow into someone's life!

The best way to help your problem is to help someone else.

See, it makes sense! The Bible makes sense on this one! It's the way a Creator has made us! That's how He is like - He gave His life for us to live!

JC.

Here comes the Bride

Think I've been MIA for a few days. Studies are all i'm thinkin about at the moment. It's bummer i know. But it'll be over soon and I can't wait! There's no rainbow without the storm right?

This blog post by Perry Noble..
Just amazing! Read it. It's for all us self-pitying/complaining/moaning/groaning ppl. THERE"S A BIGGER PICTURE! Time to size up!


Love,
JC.

The Author

A bud of mine told me recently that he was praying this prayer, or a prayer along these lines, "God, You're the Author of my life. God, You're the Author of my Love life." (you know who you are, thanks.)

He is the author of our love life. Yes, and by that i mean relationships. =).

God has the world in His hands. Being our Father, He knows how you and me feel. For those of us struggling with singlehood or with a decision, He is really the best Advisor/Counsellor. See, this is what happens. The minute we start to making drastic decisions based on emotions (and who hasn't been guilty of that!), things start to get messy. And I understand that everyone makes mistakes and everyone can learn from them.

But i guess what I'm really getting at is not that. It's the fact that we actually trust in our Father to know that He is control of the area of relationships too. He can see what we cannot see and He has the utmost best-est best plan in store for us. That's my Dad, that's the God that the Bible tells me. Don't know about you, but I think emotions can really muck us up if they're not seen in the proper light. So when it seems that there's a switched on blender going nuts inside our head and heart, it is times like these that we really need to get our eyes of our situation and onto Him, the Author of our love life (Okay, this is getting a bit too sappy even for me). Times like these, we need to trust and believe that ALL things work our for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose! We need to KNOW and BELIEVE and WALK in that belief. We have to, because He has got to be real even in these situations! In fact, I would say times like these would really test how much we actually take God's Words as the truth.

Let Him write the story, let Him put the pieces together, trust Him enough to do it. At the end, we'll have stories that is not just about us, but really about a faithful God who never ever fails. Let Him write the story, I'm sure He has the better endings. ;)

On that note here is something fun/informative for the single dudes by Perry Noble. And this is for the single ladies.

JC.

More.

More. That word..it holds so much. It carries excitement, expectancy, possibility, hope.

Have you ever wondered whether your life could be more than what it is today? Okay, I'm going to be really honest here. I've thought to myself many times over about how different my life would be had I taken hold of opportunities that come my way. God is in control of everything, I know that for a fact. He's so faithful and powerful, there's no way He's out of control (despite what popular opinion is). I choose to believe that. But I can't help but think I've missed many an opportunity in the past where's He's allowed me to tap into that more.

The beautiful thing is that He is able to see what we cannot at the moment. He knows our capabilities, He knows our full potential. And that includes non-Christians by the way (just in case we think we're that special). So, to realize that potential we've so got to tap into Him right? God doesn't see us the way our parents, our siblings or even our friends see us. He sees past the weaknesses and focuses on our potential. I mean, when he called James and John to drop their nets and follow Him; when he asked Matthew to follow Him - He saw their potential. To everyone of us humaniods, they were just a couple of fishermen and a tax collector. But! They followed Jesus and see where He took them? More. From fishermen and tax collector to apostles and writers of New Testament books. Now, they are forever remembered by Bible readers! More.

Our God brings hope. Jesus saw enough in you and me, enough value in us worth dying for. He saw a potential in a life that could be lived out abundantly by following Him, he saw the possibility in us we couldn't see! My Pastor Ps. Matt says this a lot, "To Him we are not worthless, we are priceless." He did not come to give us value, He came to show us how valuable we are.

Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you....plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I need to so live in this. If not I'll be less of a blessing of what I could've been. Maybe God made me to be more?

Food for thought right there.

JC.

Mercy & Truth (Love and Faithfulness)

Proverbs 3:3

Let love(mercy) and faithfulness(truth) never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.

This verse says soooo much about the things we (or maybe it's just me) lack today. If only we could love more generously, and be more faithful in every sense of the word. If only we could be more merciful, and really love and seek after truth, clinging on to it no matter what. I feel life needs these elements so desperately. Sheesh, there's a whole lot of reflecting left to do. =)

Back to study Finance.

love (haha, talk about application),
JC.

Album Launch 2008

Planetshakers had their Album Launch today! "All For Love" 2008 is finally out! Bought myself a copy in no time.

It's so true though. The only reason Jesus paid the price was because of love. John 3:16 - For God so loved the world.

The world's messed up. There's poverty, disease, circumstances... It's filled with people like you and me, ordinary people like you and me. There are the proud ones, the kind ones, the poor ones, the rich ones, the hurting ones, the popular ones, the sick ones, the ignorant ones, the greedy ones, the kind ones...(u get the point). Well, i always catch myself complaining or criticizing people and places alike. Now, this is what blows me away, God loves every single one of us. Yes, that's includes the people we criticize; yes, that includes the people we think didn't deserve to live; yes, that includes people like you and me.

But He so loved us.. He loved us to death. Help me out here, but I'm guilty of diluting God's love for us a lot of the time. In fact, most of the time it doesn't make much sense. But i mean, just the thought of a Savior that came to rescue - it carries such a weight of hope.

That's right, He loved/loves/will love you and me that same wherever and whenever. There's no condemnation but rather a Way that is presented. And it was because of love - the single most powerful driving force found human beings.

JC.

In His shoes

Just came back from a friend's Birthday. Happy 19th Bernie! It was a pot luck, me and Jia Ren (ma housemate) did our part of course. Wicked Wings to the rescue!

Been studying a lecture and a half of Developmental Psych. Can't take those theories any longer!! Well, guess longevity isn't their issue anyway. They've been around for ages. Had Urban Life today. 8 people came along and we had lunch at Universal Pizza ( pizza place down Lygon St). Then we headed over to the park for the quickest UL ever! Well, I shared about honoring God throughout this exam periods, as in to still give Him absolutely number one priority. I thought it was well received. Believing the Holy Spirit spoke to each individual appropriately, =).

Just really got me thinking - our relationship with God. I was using the illustration of parent and child during the message. Let's just be the parent for a minute....Imagine our child being to occupied with life to drop a "hey, dad how are you?" or "You wanna go hang out somewhere?" I mean, being too busy to hang out? That's just not cool. I'm so guilty of that at times. Show of hands if u can relate to this..

Just a thought (and I remember talking to a friend about this before), isn't it crazy how He created the institution of a family to help us to be in His shoes? I mean, to feel like a Father is to feel like Him. Love between husband and wife reveals that passion, that selflessness, that honesty.

If only we could understand how it feels, if only we could put ourselves into His shoes more often. It would help us understand a lot more of His heartbeat wouldn't it? It would probably make a lot of things easier too. Just a thought.

Blogging is worth it (trying to feed myself some positive reinforcement). =).