Sunday, November 15, 2009
Humility
A important lesson of humility is put forth to me. I learned to work and connect with other people. I need to constantly keep myself on the same page with others around me even though we may not totally understand each other immediately. A good relationship take times to build and maintain. Always explore and see other people's strength, and focus on what i need to improve.
Hard Times & True Friends
Hard times let me found my true friends who stick with me throughout. I am blessed to have such a friend. I am still thinking about how to repay him=).
God really opens my eyes this year. He taught me this same lesson beyond my personal life. True faithful servants stick with a given serving position through hard times and bad times. My fellowship mentor, David Gor Gor, showed me this. Difficult moments are times that test our loyalty and show our true hearts.
David really is a good matching name for my mentor, standing tall and still against Goliath the giant. This will be my first major lesson in courage and steadfastness in life. To be an effective leader, this is a must-have. May God continue to open my eyes. Let me seize this courage and stand strong for my Jesus.
God really opens my eyes this year. He taught me this same lesson beyond my personal life. True faithful servants stick with a given serving position through hard times and bad times. My fellowship mentor, David Gor Gor, showed me this. Difficult moments are times that test our loyalty and show our true hearts.
David really is a good matching name for my mentor, standing tall and still against Goliath the giant. This will be my first major lesson in courage and steadfastness in life. To be an effective leader, this is a must-have. May God continue to open my eyes. Let me seize this courage and stand strong for my Jesus.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
深 + 心 = SUM
Today is an all-day retreat at David Gor Gor's house. Thanks God for guiding us in our discussion. It wasn't easy for me to lead any effort. I felt a lot of alienation, especially with several new comers joining us. Thanks God for having David Gor Gor as our mentor. I learnt so much today from him, stepping up with strength and, at the same time, gentleness. He treats us with a lot of kindness and gives us the right amount of help.
Today, we studied John 12:3-8 for devotion:
馬 利 亞 就 拿 著 一 斤 極 貴 的 真 哪 噠 香 膏 、 抹 耶 穌 的 腳 、 又 用 自 己 頭 髮 去 擦 ． 屋 裡 就 滿 了 膏 的 香 氣 。 有 一 個 門 徒 、 就 是 那 將 要 賣 耶 穌 的 加 略 人 猶 大 、 說 、 這 香 膏 為 甚 麼 不 賣 三 十 兩 銀 子 賙 濟 窮 人 呢 。 他 說 這 話 、 並 不 是 掛 念 窮 人 、 乃 因 他 是 個 賊 、 又 帶 著 錢 囊 、 常 取 其 中 所 存 的 。 耶 穌 說 、 由 他 罷 、 他 是 為 我 安 葬 之 日 存 留 的 。 因 為 常 有 窮 人 和 你 們 同 在 ． 只 是 你 們 不 常 有 我 。
It reminds us of our attitude in serving. Am I giving my best to the Lord? or am I stealing from the Lord? God knows how much we put forth for Him, and how much we leave for ourselves.
Prayer time was a renewing and reviving experience for me. I could feel that the Spirit's healing and strengthening power working through me. Through these last couple years of serving, i unnoticeably caught many wounds and hurts here and there. It was until that moment, while i was praying, that i gained more understanding of how real God's power is.
We set our yearly theme to be 深 + 心 = SUM. Of course, we will move forward and act in line with this for the coming year. I hope that we will truly understand the meaning of the theme.
Today, we studied John 12:3-8 for devotion:
馬 利 亞 就 拿 著 一 斤 極 貴 的 真 哪 噠 香 膏 、 抹 耶 穌 的 腳 、 又 用 自 己 頭 髮 去 擦 ． 屋 裡 就 滿 了 膏 的 香 氣 。 有 一 個 門 徒 、 就 是 那 將 要 賣 耶 穌 的 加 略 人 猶 大 、 說 、 這 香 膏 為 甚 麼 不 賣 三 十 兩 銀 子 賙 濟 窮 人 呢 。 他 說 這 話 、 並 不 是 掛 念 窮 人 、 乃 因 他 是 個 賊 、 又 帶 著 錢 囊 、 常 取 其 中 所 存 的 。 耶 穌 說 、 由 他 罷 、 他 是 為 我 安 葬 之 日 存 留 的 。 因 為 常 有 窮 人 和 你 們 同 在 ． 只 是 你 們 不 常 有 我 。
It reminds us of our attitude in serving. Am I giving my best to the Lord? or am I stealing from the Lord? God knows how much we put forth for Him, and how much we leave for ourselves.
Prayer time was a renewing and reviving experience for me. I could feel that the Spirit's healing and strengthening power working through me. Through these last couple years of serving, i unnoticeably caught many wounds and hurts here and there. It was until that moment, while i was praying, that i gained more understanding of how real God's power is.
We set our yearly theme to be 深 + 心 = SUM. Of course, we will move forward and act in line with this for the coming year. I hope that we will truly understand the meaning of the theme.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Ephesians 4:1-3
- 既 然 蒙 召 、 行 事 為 人 就 當 與 蒙 召 的 恩 相 稱 ．
- 凡 事 謙 虛 、
- 溫 柔 、
- 忍 耐 、
- 用 愛 心 互 相 寬 容 、
- 用 和 平 彼 此 聯 絡 、
- 竭 力 保 守 聖 靈 所 賜 合 而 為 一 的 心 。
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Job 6-9
Job understood his friend Eliphaz's comments. Taking from Job's reply, Eliphaz was basically telling Job not to take his own misfortune lightly because the Lord did these for a reason. His comment almost meant to criticize Job for not knowing the Lord. This seems somewhat familiar in my experience. We often try to "teach" people more about God, but without knowing the other person's situation. It does more damage than good.
Job of course didn't take his relationship with God lightly. Job knows what he believes in and is very firm in his faith. At the same time in being righteous, he also shows humanility in his reply. His words show what a sensible man he is. How often do we see men taking tough things without thinking about or feeling them. Men, or people in general, are sometimes conditioned to be mindless about their surroundings.
I notice that Job expresses his feelings without sinning against God. There is a boundary that he allows his words to go so far. Often time, we transgress this bound whether being conscious or ignorant about it. It is his knowledge and close relationship about God that enables him to set this boundary. He speaks of facts and truths about God. In facing these unknown mischiefs, he has this knowledge to rely on to sustain his faith.
Job of course didn't take his relationship with God lightly. Job knows what he believes in and is very firm in his faith. At the same time in being righteous, he also shows humanility in his reply. His words show what a sensible man he is. How often do we see men taking tough things without thinking about or feeling them. Men, or people in general, are sometimes conditioned to be mindless about their surroundings.
I notice that Job expresses his feelings without sinning against God. There is a boundary that he allows his words to go so far. Often time, we transgress this bound whether being conscious or ignorant about it. It is his knowledge and close relationship about God that enables him to set this boundary. He speaks of facts and truths about God. In facing these unknown mischiefs, he has this knowledge to rely on to sustain his faith.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Job 1-5
I never knew Job is right after Noah. Great legends alike, "he was the greatest man among all the people of the East...blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil" (1:3-8). Job's precautionary prayer for his children really shows his far-seeing vision as a father. Even with 7 sons and 3 daughters, they have such tight family bonding.
Good times were short-lived, as Satan had a series of wicked torment for my man Job. First gone were his possessions (oxen, donkeys, sheep, and camels) and all his children. Instead of getting angry or blaming anyone or anything, Job torn his clothes (surprise! surprise!). Wasn't trying to self destruct. He gave God true ownership of everything he "had": "Naked I came from my mothers' womb, and naked i will depart...the name of the Lord be praised".
Satan had more in store for him, giving Job painful sores on his whole body. Job's three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, came by to stay with their friend through this dreadful time. They were definitely true friends. These grown men cried when they saw their friend's unrecognizable countenance, sitting with him 7 days and nights without a word.
In ch.3, Job did some serious cursing, not on others, but himself for his mischiefs: "may it [the day of his birth] not be included among the days of the year nor be enter in any of the months". Yeah, that means something very different than a holiday. It's great that he didn't offend God in his words but why did he put the blame on himself? What did he see as being the problem?
People usually think and act abnormally during disastrous time, but I also believe that his thoughts and words being recorded on the bible means God wants to show us some insights. But i am not sure i understand them yet.
In ch.4 and 5, his friend Eliphaz spitted out a long trunk of random things (that means i didn't understand). Basically, God is just and He can save people from any calamities. I don't even know if he knows what he is talking about. Was it supposed to be soothe? or trying to divert Job's attention by confusing the heck out of him? I like how he ended his long babbling with: "We have examined this, and it is true. So hear it and apply it to yourself". Nice, why didn't he just spank Job with a stick. That's the same effect he was going for.
Btw, I feel that their "conversations" were very formal as if there was a minimal sentence count (i.e. you have to speak more than 10 sentences with opening, evidence, and conclusion). I wonder if I or anyone ever sound like that, and is that a good thing or not?
Good times were short-lived, as Satan had a series of wicked torment for my man Job. First gone were his possessions (oxen, donkeys, sheep, and camels) and all his children. Instead of getting angry or blaming anyone or anything, Job torn his clothes (surprise! surprise!). Wasn't trying to self destruct. He gave God true ownership of everything he "had": "Naked I came from my mothers' womb, and naked i will depart...the name of the Lord be praised".
Satan had more in store for him, giving Job painful sores on his whole body. Job's three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, came by to stay with their friend through this dreadful time. They were definitely true friends. These grown men cried when they saw their friend's unrecognizable countenance, sitting with him 7 days and nights without a word.
In ch.3, Job did some serious cursing, not on others, but himself for his mischiefs: "may it [the day of his birth] not be included among the days of the year nor be enter in any of the months". Yeah, that means something very different than a holiday. It's great that he didn't offend God in his words but why did he put the blame on himself? What did he see as being the problem?
People usually think and act abnormally during disastrous time, but I also believe that his thoughts and words being recorded on the bible means God wants to show us some insights. But i am not sure i understand them yet.
In ch.4 and 5, his friend Eliphaz spitted out a long trunk of random things (that means i didn't understand). Basically, God is just and He can save people from any calamities. I don't even know if he knows what he is talking about. Was it supposed to be soothe? or trying to divert Job's attention by confusing the heck out of him? I like how he ended his long babbling with: "We have examined this, and it is true. So hear it and apply it to yourself". Nice, why didn't he just spank Job with a stick. That's the same effect he was going for.
Btw, I feel that their "conversations" were very formal as if there was a minimal sentence count (i.e. you have to speak more than 10 sentences with opening, evidence, and conclusion). I wonder if I or anyone ever sound like that, and is that a good thing or not?
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Genesis 8-11
It took about a year for the water to dry up (right on Noah's 601 b-day!). Noah and his family stayed on the ark the whole time. The term "boarding school" comes to my mind when i try picture Noah's three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And it's a real treat if you are on those people who are into cruise trips. You have the whole zoo on board with you.
Where did Noah get all his food? Fishing is a possibility... Cooking and starting a fire on a wooden ark isn't a great idea either. It must have been a strange time and very different lifestyle.
Afterward, God was merciful and made a covenant with the earth that He would not treat us with a "cruise trip" like this ever again. He made rainbow as a sign of this everlasting covenant.
God told Noah that he can have a chinese-style diet: "everything that lives and moves with be food..." (9:3) but he should make sure that it's clean before eating it: "... you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it" (9:4). God also set some expectations about being fruitful and people accounting. That's like the world's first HR apartment. Anyway, the point is every man is made "in the image of God" (9:6).
There was a little incident Noah had with his sons, which i didn't quite understand. Ham saw his father drunk and laying naked in his tent. For unknown motivation, he went out and told his brothers, Shem and Japtheth, who were kind enough to bring his father some clothing to cover him. Afterward, Noah was pretty mad and cursed, not Ham, but Canaan (Ham's son).
Chapter 10 is pretty much accounting of offsprings. The tower of Babel happened in the first half of Ch. 11. After reading the words closely, i found that i didn't understand God's reason for striking the tower, He said: "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them" (11:6). I think He was speaking of our "super" ego, or arrogance.
Chapter 11 went on and did more accounting, which also included the age when people gave birth. It seems like after Shem everyone was having baby early, like in their 30s. Before that the parenthood age was around 100. It gets younger too. Nahor, the 7th generation descendants of Shem, was the first to break 30, having kids at 29. Abram was the grandson of Nahor.
Where did Noah get all his food? Fishing is a possibility... Cooking and starting a fire on a wooden ark isn't a great idea either. It must have been a strange time and very different lifestyle.
Afterward, God was merciful and made a covenant with the earth that He would not treat us with a "cruise trip" like this ever again. He made rainbow as a sign of this everlasting covenant.
God told Noah that he can have a chinese-style diet: "everything that lives and moves with be food..." (9:3) but he should make sure that it's clean before eating it: "... you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it" (9:4). God also set some expectations about being fruitful and people accounting. That's like the world's first HR apartment. Anyway, the point is every man is made "in the image of God" (9:6).
There was a little incident Noah had with his sons, which i didn't quite understand. Ham saw his father drunk and laying naked in his tent. For unknown motivation, he went out and told his brothers, Shem and Japtheth, who were kind enough to bring his father some clothing to cover him. Afterward, Noah was pretty mad and cursed, not Ham, but Canaan (Ham's son).
Chapter 10 is pretty much accounting of offsprings. The tower of Babel happened in the first half of Ch. 11. After reading the words closely, i found that i didn't understand God's reason for striking the tower, He said: "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them" (11:6). I think He was speaking of our "super" ego, or arrogance.
Chapter 11 went on and did more accounting, which also included the age when people gave birth. It seems like after Shem everyone was having baby early, like in their 30s. Before that the parenthood age was around 100. It gets younger too. Nahor, the 7th generation descendants of Shem, was the first to break 30, having kids at 29. Abram was the grandson of Nahor.
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