Sunday, November 29, 2009
The need is not the call
The need is not the call.
We must go where God sends us, speak what He gives us to speak, hear His voice and obey it- this is our best protection from burnout. It will also guide us to the very best strategy for accomplishing His mission.
For everything a man does to follow the call of God, there are ten things he does not do. We cannot do everything. We must focus on the call and not simply the needs.
-Reinhard Bonnke
g3
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Caught up in things of the flesh
I know by writing this post that I may hit a nerve. But please let me clarify that I have nothing against anyone; rather, it is things about me that God is revealing to me more and more about. I want to share as I can feel the weight of this conviction so heavily on my heart right now.
It is the exam period now; everyone is studying and stressing over exam, so am I. I remember complaining to my coursemates and housemate about how this is so hard, that this is all too stressful, and that there is just too much to do.
This is the problem.
I look around and I see complaints, hopelessness, despair, fear. I see people caught up in themselves. I see people neglecting others because they are too busy to care. I see people leaving behind the weak to join the strong so they can be 'stronger'. I see people receiving and keeping and forgetting to give during this crucial period.
I see Christians putting others aside during stressful moments with a preconceived idea to catch up with them after, offering fear instead of hope, and indirectly/unknowingly pulling others down instead of pushing them up.
I see ME, and tonight, the eyes of my heart have been opened to allow me to see truly how real and ugly this part of me is. Yet, He still accepts and loves unconditionally.
This part of me focuses most of the attention on me and my assignments and my exam and my difficulties. This 'me' passes off many opportunities to be there for others because there is simply too much on my plate, choose to turn my face away from the Holy spirit and closed my ears to its voice, let go of responsibilities as a Christian, and stray away from God. I chose myself and my desires and my sins over God and people.
This 'me' play it safe, I do what it takes just to get me through as a Christian. I take the easy way instead of the right way. I realise I send encouraging smses when I feel I'm okay but not when I'm busy or down. I succumb to complaining and feeling miserable instead of declaring God's victory through His word.
I'm not saying that feeling stressed, helpless and low is a problem. We are humans who are made to feel. What becomes a problem is what we do with the emotions. Do we allow the emotions to fester, or do we hand them over to God, and hold onto His words?
And I think to myself, what image of a Christian do I portray? If I believe in God, and I act/feel the same way as other people who do not have God, what does that say about God? If I can't portray God's love and hope during a normal student's life moments, how can I then expect God to give me the bigger things in life?
And this is what my friends are given an opportunity to say, "Where is this God you believe in? How do you expect me to believe that your God cares, provides, gives peace and saves His people when you don't even show that in your attitude and speech and actions".
A verdict is reached in court after an examination of testimonials and evidences. If I am to be called to stand in court for my Christian faith in the student life arena, I will be found guilty. My case lacks both testimonials (speech, attitude) and evidences (actions, witness).
You see, people naturally assume position as the jury. If they do not see the witness and evidence, they are not convinced and find it hard to believe. Most do not get a chance to see how we behave in church, how we treat cell members etc. They are more likely to look at how we live our lives, not how well we carry out our religious activities.
There is a difference. I can see it in one of my friend who practiced what she preached; She encouraged me through phone calls even though we are miles apart and even when I did not do the same for her. She could have chosen to tell me how miserable her life is. Instead, she told me it's hard but she believes that God will bring her through it. She offered me comfort, and strengthened me when I needed it.
I long to show the same to others. To be a pillar of comfort, and be the light that shines through the darkness. To offer God's words of encouragement and mean every word. To offer my burden, regret, despair, worry, and fear to God. To know the lines between sharing and complaining.
It's time for me to change this aspect of my student life with His help. My prayer is that we be one body that glorifies Christ through our actions, speech, and life. That together, as His people, we can reflect something of what He is like- that the world can look at us and say, 'So this is what God is like!'
That "we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit" 2 Corinthians 3:18
g3
It is the exam period now; everyone is studying and stressing over exam, so am I. I remember complaining to my coursemates and housemate about how this is so hard, that this is all too stressful, and that there is just too much to do.
This is the problem.
I look around and I see complaints, hopelessness, despair, fear. I see people caught up in themselves. I see people neglecting others because they are too busy to care. I see people leaving behind the weak to join the strong so they can be 'stronger'. I see people receiving and keeping and forgetting to give during this crucial period.
I see Christians putting others aside during stressful moments with a preconceived idea to catch up with them after, offering fear instead of hope, and indirectly/unknowingly pulling others down instead of pushing them up.
I see ME, and tonight, the eyes of my heart have been opened to allow me to see truly how real and ugly this part of me is. Yet, He still accepts and loves unconditionally.
This part of me focuses most of the attention on me and my assignments and my exam and my difficulties. This 'me' passes off many opportunities to be there for others because there is simply too much on my plate, choose to turn my face away from the Holy spirit and closed my ears to its voice, let go of responsibilities as a Christian, and stray away from God. I chose myself and my desires and my sins over God and people.
This 'me' play it safe, I do what it takes just to get me through as a Christian. I take the easy way instead of the right way. I realise I send encouraging smses when I feel I'm okay but not when I'm busy or down. I succumb to complaining and feeling miserable instead of declaring God's victory through His word.
I'm not saying that feeling stressed, helpless and low is a problem. We are humans who are made to feel. What becomes a problem is what we do with the emotions. Do we allow the emotions to fester, or do we hand them over to God, and hold onto His words?
And I think to myself, what image of a Christian do I portray? If I believe in God, and I act/feel the same way as other people who do not have God, what does that say about God? If I can't portray God's love and hope during a normal student's life moments, how can I then expect God to give me the bigger things in life?
And this is what my friends are given an opportunity to say, "Where is this God you believe in? How do you expect me to believe that your God cares, provides, gives peace and saves His people when you don't even show that in your attitude and speech and actions".
A verdict is reached in court after an examination of testimonials and evidences. If I am to be called to stand in court for my Christian faith in the student life arena, I will be found guilty. My case lacks both testimonials (speech, attitude) and evidences (actions, witness).
You see, people naturally assume position as the jury. If they do not see the witness and evidence, they are not convinced and find it hard to believe. Most do not get a chance to see how we behave in church, how we treat cell members etc. They are more likely to look at how we live our lives, not how well we carry out our religious activities.
There is a difference. I can see it in one of my friend who practiced what she preached; She encouraged me through phone calls even though we are miles apart and even when I did not do the same for her. She could have chosen to tell me how miserable her life is. Instead, she told me it's hard but she believes that God will bring her through it. She offered me comfort, and strengthened me when I needed it.
I long to show the same to others. To be a pillar of comfort, and be the light that shines through the darkness. To offer God's words of encouragement and mean every word. To offer my burden, regret, despair, worry, and fear to God. To know the lines between sharing and complaining.
It's time for me to change this aspect of my student life with His help. My prayer is that we be one body that glorifies Christ through our actions, speech, and life. That together, as His people, we can reflect something of what He is like- that the world can look at us and say, 'So this is what God is like!'
That "we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit" 2 Corinthians 3:18
g3
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