There's one simple message in the old testament. God loves us (or Israel, or people who are part of the Kingdom). History acts as the best proof of it, but yet we like to make the Bible into some complicated literature and we pry into every single detail of it.
But there's just 1 single message.
In my own history, I hope it reflects God's faithfulness. Some small portion of the huge blessings I've had, just as a reminder.
1. Blessings of such a happy childhood.
2. Numerous prayers answered
3. People
4. Comfort (every aspect)
I don't want to go on, it makes me cringe. But I'm sure when people look at my life, they won't relate it to Edom's description of "the God-cursed tribe!"
Verse 5 (the message) "Yes, take a good look. Then you'll see how faithfully I've loved you and you'll want even more, saying 'May God be even greater, beyond the borders of Israel!'"
A song line came into my head as I was praying. The one that we sang today "I want to be a light that shines Your name".
Malachi 1:1-5 - A reminder of God's message of love
0 commentsZechariah 11:4-17 - Breaking the Beautiful Covenant
0 comments"Why is it God so often breaks our hearts?
"Well, sometimes He does it to increase our faith. That's the way He stretches us. But there's another reason, I think, why our hearts get broken... Usually, what breaks is what's brittle."
God broke the beautiful covenant He had with His people when He got tired of them. Scary thought.
But the scarier thought was the getting rid of the corrupt shepherds.
Zechariah 4:4-10 - Interested in People
0 comments"You're interested in religion. I'm interested in people."
It's such a fine line, I know there's definitely parts of me which are more interested in the religion than the people. Like when I do youth ministry, there are people who I'm interested in, and of course there are those who I'm not. But what drives me to continue to serve the ones who I know I'm not genuinely interested in? Must be the religious part of it. It's habit to ask them how school is, and ask them about assessments and exams near the middle and end of the year, and buy them food, and play with them. Just a habit.
Other cool parts of religion that I like is probably the company, the fun and the atmosphere. I am actually having too much fun, maybe it's all a distraction.
Safety Bubble
0 commentsOn Tuesday we watched one of the best, wittiest films in history together, Love Actually. I was surprised that a couple of us actually hasn't seen it before. It was however, my 50th time or something.
Juliet: But... you never talk to me. You always talk to Peter. You don't like me!
My favourite character, Mark: (skip a line) It's a... self-preservation thing, you see.
Everyone has a different sized personal bubble. And I'm sure they're all justified. Needy people might have a small one, because they feel lonely. Secretive people might have a large one, because they feel ashamed of something. And of course, it largely also depends on personality.
Then comes the most beautiful part of the process. When someone invites you into their bubble, to find out about them more intimately. Don't get me wrong, this is nothing romantic, I'm just talking about the beginning of a true friendship. But there's a catch. Once you enter into their personal space, they are automatically entered into your bubble as well.
My safety bubble is ginormous. I don't know where I got that from, maybe because I'm une fille unique. But that means every time I go out of my way to get to know people, much before I'm even in close proximity to their bubble, they're actually already IN mine.
We were once in each other's safety bubbles. Well to me we were. Now, not so much. I'm sure we both agree. Well, thanks for the invitation again. But I'm scared to walk in, scared of what I might find, what I might see. Because, after all, it is a brand new bubble since the last time I was in there. Or, actually, it would be more accurate if I rephrased it to - But I'm scared to walk in, scared of what you might find, what you might see. Désolée. It's a self-preservation thing, you see.
Zechariah 2 - The proactive nature of God
8 commentsSo Zechariah started with this detailed vision in the book.
It kind of talks about how God wanted to pursue His people so bad, that He's willing to move into their neighbourhoods, which He did through Jesus.
It's cool how I just read Romans 8:28-39 with my Devotional group, and it talks about how nothing will separate us from the love of God. He sent His only son, to move into our neighbourhood. What won't He do for us? There's nowhere to hide from His presence. Because He actively seeks to be with us.
Zechariah
1 commentsDevotions on the book of Zechariah
Zechariah 2 - The proactive nature of God
Zechariah 7:4-10 - Interested in people
Zechariah 11:4-17 - Breaking the beautiful covenant
Haggai 2:1-9 - Handing out wholeness and holiness
0 commentsWe must "get to work". The amount of times this was said in The Message... it's actually an urgent matter.
Through the building up of His house, we will receive the giving of wholeness and holiness. But I'd like to think that might come through the process of building up of His house.
Haggai
0 commentsDevotions on the book of Haggai
Haggai 1:3-11 - Turnaround Needed
Haggai 2:1-9 - Handing out wholeness and holiness
Person in Denial
0 commentsA couple weeks back someone claimed that I'm a person in denial. Of course, I denied that claim. I'm not in denial, I'm just misunderstood.
But I saw something funny yesterday which made me wonder, perhaps sometimes other people think I'm equally as funny.
So once upon a time in the library, sat a soft spoken guy not much younger/older than me. I think he was reading a textbook of some sort. Three little primary kiddies were with him, I think they must've been his little cousins or close family friends, and one of them asked, "Why are you so nerdy? There's no pictures in that book!" The guy replied, "Not a nerd."
A while later, he was checking his phone and all the kids started teasing, "oooh, who are you messaging? Ooooh! Your girlfriend? You have a girlfriend!" And the guy straight away put away his phone and said, "don't have a girlfriend"
The library is now starting to get a little more crowded and noisy. A kid said, "Justin (fake name, because I forgot that person's name) wants to buy hot chips!" The guy goes, "I hate chips." And a kid says, "But! You lurrrrrrrrve us!" All three kids started laughing hysterically with their bodies on the table but at the same time trying to be quiet in the library. Meanwhile the guy just calmly says, "No, I don't." After more nagging by the kids, I think he gave in, and asked me to mind their things for them on the table.
A very long while past, they came back and the kids were high on life, but I think the guy just wanted to study. Even I was getting a bit distracted by the kids, and suddenly the guy says, "hey shush" to the kids. One of the girls was like, "so mean!" And the guy goes, "How am I mean? I'm never mean." A kid says something like, "You told us to shut up." "No, I said shush." "But that's still mean!" "I just bought you chips, I'm nice." "That was only because you luuurrrrve us!" "No" But the kids were laughing hysterically on the table again.
Then I left for dinner before basketball.
During all of these events, I had to try and not laugh and concentrate on my French.
Maybe some people just like to argue with others, but those would've been the exact answers of mine if I were in that situation too.
Haggai 1:3-11 - Turnaround Needed
1 commentsWe spend so much time and effort trying to plan for our lives. I need to do well academically to sustain a stable income, which means I'll have a comfortable life in the future. I also need to train my fitness so that later on, I won't be sick as easily, and I'll live a healthier life for longer. I need to be nice to people otherwise our lives would be quite difficult later on seeing them everyday but they hate you.
While the house of God has members reaching 300, not many of us are wholeheartedly building it. Our homes become more glamourous, but how's God's house like? I actually don't think our church is all that bad, I quite enjoy our group cleaning sessions. And I remember how we used to all work together to fundraise for the church, everyone donating their furnitures in and things like that.
But looking at our offering sometimes seems so ridiculous. Help us to have a turnaround in our attitude. Don't let stinginess consume us, because otherwise we'd be serving ourselves or money already.