It's always for my good

I've heard that many times. Sometimes it's like a cheap justification for hurting someone. 

When I was small, and negative comparisons that worked against me came, there was always a justification for it.

"I said that so that you will push yourself harder and excel better"

Well it didn't.

Today I still hear the same words. 

"I said this (or that) so you'll wake up"

Is life just going to be a sum of hurtful words, so that I'll excel or wake up?

More Christians persecuted...

This is just another solemn reminder of what others in the same faith are facing. And news like these never fail to make me wonder how Singaporean Christians would stand under persecution. We're so easily swayed by the opinions of others and easily blinded by material wealth. Seems like many Christians in this country are denied every thing we complain of not having even though we have in abundance, because of their faith. Sure, there's no comparison. We all live in different circumstances. But we're called to the same faith and beliefs and the same standard of holiness.

The Fanciful Cup

For the fact that so many cafes have been springing up, I haven't visited any that often. Of course, there's always time out of a busy life and season to enjoy a little fanciful cup with special people!

A New Life

I've just realised the significance behind all that I've been learning in recent weeks. It's a single truth that was repeated from random readings, BSF study and sermons. 

It's quite hard to put it all in concrete words but I think the essence of it is God telling me that my existence is founded on Him. My life, my significance, purpose and whatever that defines me comes from Him. 

I am defined by the faith that is in Him, by the grace that was freely given to me. My existence is not founded upon my deeds, my weekly Christian commitments or my service. Rather, it is from the fact that I am redeemed. 

Galatians 2:20 was a highlight for me because the only reason for existence is for Christ. Any trace of living for myself just mean that that specific area has not be crucified. 

Do I want to be defined by my living and works or shall I be defined by Christ who came and gave his life for me.

And what would this mean? The only important thing then becomes Christ. Everything else does not matter anymore. Be it career, choice of marriage or single hood, ministry, or whatever aspect of life just doesn't seem significant anymore. And as Christ is the only definition left of my life, everything else is done is to ensure that Christ remains as the only definition.

Isaiah 14 God is good and is in control

Just recently met a friend whom I knew way back in church when I was still a youth. She had been through some event that caused her to become somewhat withdrawn and mental. I remembered how she seemed to have disappeared one day and was never contacted or had any follow up. Her visit reminded me of the people that formed the youth ministry when I was a youth. They filled my Sundays and shaped my spiritual life. But today, a good three quarters of them are no longer with us. Some even fell away and decided to abandon their worship. It is discouraging and I wondered about God's involvement in this. 

Genesis 37-38 assured me that God uses all events to his glory. Isaiah 14 kind of backed this point up. The Lord rescued Israel from their captors and in the same way The Lord delivers his people from their misery. 

It is amazing how God works even to our smallest needs and details. While fretting over the next space to rent for work, God reveals a place to us in Arab street, a place that have been crossing my mind except I've always been deterred by it because of the high rent. Someone is letting for a much lower price and in the exact same period that we'll need to move. Even if it doesn't work out in the end, this is proof that God surely knows our desires and needs and provides accordingly. How wonderful.

Psalms 46

Psalms 46:10

Be still, and know that I am God;

This psalm took a whole new meaning for me this morning. In my first observance, God takes all the action but I need only to be still and not fight with Him to take action. While God fights the wars out there, I only need to be still. 

This psalm is ultimately chiding me for being a control freak. There is over reliance on my ability and foresight against God's ability and plans. While asking Him to lead the way, I too make certain actions to fulfill a destiny that I myself want. God may have had a different destiny in mind or a different way he wants to lead me to the destiny.

Difficult as it will be, I will listen and obey rather than push a way that is my own.

A burden for God

I can imagine how grieving it is to God when he saw how Israel turn away from Him. It is infinitely many times more than the burden we have for our loved ones. 

The only possible thing we can do within the power given to us is pray. 

A key lesson from Genesis 24

I think no other lesson stood out as much as the one on Genesis 24 for most of us. It is very interesting how from Abraham's chief servant, some key principles of how we should seek God's will are drawn.

1. God's will is confirmed by right circumstances, backed up by scripture and receiving peace from God. Without one of these 3, it's good to halt and consider before taking another step into that decision.

2. When God reveals his will, the believe must take the step in faith and enter the door God has opened. It isn't quite right if one asks God for a direction and refuse to take it afterwards.

Short-sightedness

I think it's probably one of mankind's greatest weaknesses perhaps coupled with greed and the unending desire for more.

In order to meet the demands of food such as tuna and even sharks fin, the ocean is seeing a steep decline in certain species of fish due to over-fishing. The chicken farms are overcrowded and scientists are working on cloning food. Yet, half of the world's food is wasted. Because it is mandatory for supermarket shelves to be filled to the brim. Because we need 5 brands of the same product so as to have the illusion of choice. More likely than not, these brands are under the same corporation. In order to meet great demands of other products, we've resorted to mass production of low-quality goods made by millions of factory workers who earn barely a few dollars a month. To keep prices low, we pay little for labour and materials. Low-quality production have decreased the life span of products significantly leading to more waste that harm the environment.

In order to feed the wants of the rising first world population today, we compromise the environment, the quality of our food, the ecosystems of tomorrow.

In order to meet economic standards and GDP, we increase our population in a small country, forgetting that in the long run, our transport systems and housing are unable to accommodate the population. We increase the prices of housing but keep salaries low so that the country's profit margin is always high. But the long term effect is a record low birth rate and an unhappy population. The more severe long-term effect is the exploitation of low-wage workers in order to meet a profit margin.

The world, governments, large corporations, people, have placed profitability over sustainability and human rights. And today we experience the effect it has on human-kind, the effect of short-sighted decisions.

The mark of true leadership

Soon, in about a week, BSF will be starting and this time I won't be attending as just a member but a group leader. It is a privilege always to be called a leader. But leader is always spelt S-E-R-V-A-N-T. And that was a reminder to me this morning - that leadership is not about power or privilege but of humble service to others.

Just like Jesus who said in Mark 15:45 that the "Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve..."