Who Would Think So?

Got to hear some traditional English accent from one of the directors of our partnership organization :) Quite interesting to hear about the different cultures.

After that conference call, the things that we would be doing overseas seems to be very challenging. Not the sharing the Gospel part, cause I trust that God will take charge of that. The challenging thing is...who would think that 1st world countries are much more extreme in being anti-Chrisitanity.

People say that it's hard for adults to believe in the Gospel, maybe that's true. The more you know, the more you think you know, the harder it is, because you would come into things with various assumptions, schema and stereotypes. This reminded me of having child-like faith:

^"People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them." Mark 10:13-16

It was a very good reflection of what my faith is to me personally. Many challenges ahead...but I'll be keeping this in mind - before doing anything, we shall devote ourselves in prayer, be watchful and thankful (from Colossians 4:2).

Attitude Check

A great reminder from God during reflection today - an attitude check.

It's amazing to see God's work when all four of us ladies sit together sharing and praying during our missions team meeting. There might be different things that we all struggle through, and have learned in the past week, what really strikes is the fact that there was a central theme within all of our stories.

God is good! He knows clearly what everyone of us needs. Whether it is challenges, faith, trust, reconciliation, forgive, it all goes back to His love. His love, is what we show to others as Christians. His love, is essentially the underlying intention of the Gospel.

Anyway...too much talk, been digressing a few times, I think it's time to rest :P

Pray For the Nations

One year ago yesterday was Japan's 2011 earthquake.

Last week, there has been the Kony 2012 video that was circulating around on facebook and on other internet sites. Surprisingly, within 48 hours, this video even brought on a debate in our leadership class last Thursday. In the beginning of this debate, there clearly was two arguments presented on two different platforms. As a debator, you know that nothing is a debate unless you bring them on equal levels, yet at the same time when you do so, you will find that the thing that you are arguing about does not seem to exist, it's merely just a different point of view coming into contact. (Anyway, enough debate talk). So originally I did not want to add my opinions into the debate...but...sadly enough, you'll see me heat up, steaming in my chair. In the end, I couldn't refrain on adding myself into the debate to sum it up in a way (yet I did present my stance on this video after reading a lot on it).

The issue that comes along is not what Kony 2012 has brought to the Western world. The issue is people's indifference about injustice in the world in general. It may be true that circulating the video would help capture Kony, how about the aftermath? Note that I'm not saying that the video did not serve it's purpose in marketing this issue. I'm strictly talking about people's mentality and indifference in general. Kony 2012 seems to be the daily news that we talk about. A few days, the whole talk, the whole debate, the whole act of circulation in a way halted. Did people's "passion" on this topic died? How many of the people furiously talking about it still care?

I'm not saying this merely to condemn people, neither do I have this intention, cause this very blog post is written as a reminder for myself. I need to remind myself to pray for different nations around the world, pray for those who are living in injustice.

• Japan's earthquake in 2011
• Haiti's earthquake in 2010
• Sichuan's earthquake in 2008
• Kony 2012 - Children's army in Uganda
• Human trafficking in Cambodia
• ....

The list goes on an on...these are the only few that popped up in my mind when I'm typing this.  I'm sure there's a lot more going on out there in the world that I'm not aware of.

I know my efforts as one individual is limited, yet I believe and trust in God's power. I might not be the one that's called to actively so something, I can still pray for the people there and the people working there to help restore :)

Support...Groups(?!)

In Mathew 7:24-25 Jesus said, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the storm rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because is had its foundation on the rock.”

This is the very support that I seek first for. I want to be standing on solid rock, something that is never changing. Your house is not just you. The house that is being built is something more, it is the place where you store everything that you have. In this house, you may have clutter. Once in a while you need to clear it up, throw out some old memories and put them in the past.

Think of a traveler with their backpack. During a 3 months trip, they may have bought more items along the way, that weighs down their pack. On the other hand, they may have taken in more emotional experiences. And yes, these will weigh them down too.

Constantly been bombarded with the concept of support group this semester, either people tell me that I need a support group, or that other people complain to me that they don't have a support group. Truly enough, we do need tangible support groups, yet who do we actually go to when we need support? Do we go back to God? And does our support group go back to Biblical wisdom and/or direct you back to God?

God makes no mistakes. He doesn't put people in my life for no reason and take them away for no reason. One thing that I've been learning this year is that my ultimate support comes from Christ. There may be people around thinking / wanting to be a support to me. Maybe sometimes it's not them not being loving, it's really me that I don't receive love in that way. The people who are still around me supporting me always directs me back to God. Countless rants, and I still end up on my knees praying to God. Countless tears, and I still end up being immersed in the presence of God.

Maybe that's the support group that I need. One that directs me back to God and prays for me. Thank you for those who have made this year's tears and pain worth it :) You know who you are, no need to say much!

A sister wrote this to me, and it's so true: It's my blessing to have such an awesome (tho God is more awesome) sister <3

Unexpected

So unprepared, yet so amazed!

Today, my friend ML asked me about Christianity on the way home. Very unexpected! It was out of no where because I never thought she would ask. She was always my top 1, a person that I would want to share the Gospel with, and today I finally got the opportunity.

Have yet to had a chance to share my testimony cause the walk home was really short. I shared the Gospel with her and she told me she wanted to know more. I invited her for a meet up just to talk about things :) for me to share my testimony and to answer some of her questions.

Praise God :D