life lessons.. still tough..

Its been a tough but humbling week. Can't share more details but suffice to say that God is teaching me to "wash one another's feet", even when they don't want it washed!

Whatever happened this week highlighted to me the extent of Jesus' love for us, that while we were still sinners, his enemies, when we didn't want him in our lives... he served and died for us.

I can't say that I've totally come out of what upset me recently, but I know I've moved on a little bit. It'd be a long journey but may God continue to lead me step by step!

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Otherwise...

I'm very happy with the grades for my first two assignments! Praise God!

Currently working on an essay: "Should Christians be Green?"... (ooo that's the colour of my blog background too.. haha..)... anyway feel like I'm losing momentum already.. I reckon having to write one essay a week is a wee bit too much for me! And I'm just taking the normal load of 4 units! Ah!

Jonathan & Soong Leng will be away later part of the week. Will be inviting some girls over for a small dinner gathering.. pray that I don't burn my cooking!

life lessons.. tough...

Patience & humility.. I reckon that's what God is trying to teach me now.. cos I'm rather frustrated & annoyed by something that happened.. God help me!

discipline - to stop working!

My eyes feel like they're about to pop out soon. Its almost 1 am and I'm rushing for my next book review due on Thursday. Why the rush when there's another 3 days to work on it? Because there are more assignments to conquer! Not to mention having to prepare for the returnees' workshop held next week and meeting up with Elaine on Tuesday for discipleship! And a full day at college on Wednesday!

Oh for the life of my eyes I think I just need to hit the sack now. One just needs to learn how to "give up" when its appropriate to!

So here's to all you hard workers who don't know when to stop working - Stop when your body tells you to! (Not to mention when your wife/friend/family tells you to too!)

Prayer.. do I really believe in its power?

My Bible reading today is from Luke 7:1-10, the story about the centurion whose faith surprised Jesus. He believed that Jesus could heal his servant who was dying, even without stepping foot into his house. "...say the word, and my servant will be healed."

Essentially, this man believed that Jesus was a man of authority - authority over even sickness & death. Jesus in turn was "amazed at him... he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel."

I was challenged by this story -

1. Jesus had the authority & power to act.
2. It showed me the kind of faith the centurion had.
3. (Putting 1 & 2 together), it showed me the kind of faith I had, or lack thereof, that Jesus had the authority & power to act!

Reflecting on my own prayer life lately - although I have been praying and having regular prayer times... and yes, I do have some quality time with God during those times.. but.. I realised, that something was still amiss. I know I should pray, and I have been praying.. but was I really convinced that God was going to work through those prayers? Or was I praying because I knew it was the right thing to do, and that God may work through them?

To illustrate one of my recent struggles: Say I'm following up with one of the girls. Now my preference would be to meet up every week if possible - and the thought of meeting up a fortnight causes me to be a little uneasy. I have difficulty trusting that they will be alright during the two weeks that we don't meet... Although I pray for them, I have difficulty just letting go & trusting that God will continue to work in them in the meantime... In a sense, I pray but I don't know whether I could really trust that things will go well??

Quite arrogant isn't it? To think that I'm the one making the difference & not merely the tool in which God uses?!

So its quite a knife in the heart.. but this quote from the Encounter with God materials was really helpful in putting the finger on my issue:

Faith must be based on an understanding of Jesus' authority if it is to have any meaning. Are our prayers based on the vague conviction that God, acting in and through Jesus, might be able to do something, or are they based on the conviction that we are coming to the King of the Universe who has ultimate authority over all things? This is not to say that we will always get what we ask, for God has authority over us too, but it is to say that we can afford to come and make our requests in the total conviction that he has the power to act.

.... So what's going to change? Now I can pray with more confidence, not in my own feeble prayers... but in the God who has the power and authority to answer them!

Amazing Generosity....!

Just found out that someone anonymously donated AUD$2000 to my work here in OCF!

Wow..! Praise God!

If you are the one, could you just please drop me a line so that I can personally thank you? You cannot imagine how grateful I am!

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!

And yes, THANK YOU to ALL OF YOU who have pledged and contributed diligently to my needs here too! No amount is too small in God's eyes, and in mine too! Really really appreciate the sacrifices that you have made too so that I may have this privilege to serve in OCF WA.

And THANK YOU to all who have diligently PRAYed for me too. God is taking good care of me, and I know He will continue to equip and empower me for His work!

All Praise and Glory to God my Provider!

prayer meet..

Praise God! I can finally put the book review aside. My lecturer is happy with it! Phew!!
Now... to the next assignment on the book of Jeremiah... Here we go again!!

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Had an enjoyable time at the Murdoch prayer meet just now. It was a potbless dinner, but I only joined them for the prayer part. Always encouraging to carry each others' burdens. Pray that this prayer meeting will grow!

done done done..?

Finally my book review is done! Thank God!! Cross my fingers that it meets the requirement! Going to show it to my lecturer later... Argh!!! I don't want to rework it!!!

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On a more interesting note, I just finished my mentoring course last night. Its been an awesome 6 weeks learning about the different skills in this area. I really appreciate the times when we're "forced" to mentor one another during the course, getting feedback and observing how others do it. I'm really encouraged to see myself grow in using those relational skills as well, though I still need lots of practice! Well I suppose its just like driving a car. You need to do it to learn it! So I'll just have to do it! So who wants to sign up as my guinea pig? =P

finish line in sight!

Almost there.. almost there.. just need another 400 words.. someone give me some inspiration with this book review!!

Eek..!!

Sunday service

Good sermon today by Graham - Psalm 8, my favourite Psalm! Good reminder of our significance to the Creator of the universe, despite how small we may feel! We are indeed greatly loved!

1 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
above the heavens.

2 From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.

3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,

4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?

5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:

7 all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,

8 the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.

9 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!