tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13586401079380728082024-03-13T08:20:28.486+08:00Live With PassionPassionate about the life He made for you...Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01692297152116303057noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1358640107938072808.post-41607704354874277582017-07-14T03:32:00.001+08:002017-07-14T03:32:26.736+08:00Back in those days in matriculation where I started to think of becoming a DOC<i>I always told people I decided to take medicine when I was in matriculation, the reason being that I watched Grey's Anatomy during free time in the hostel, and I found that saving lives is a cool thing to do. And today while I was clearing my laptop, I'm shocked to find things I written back in those days. I remember during my final year in medical school, which was not long ago, I told my friend I had a thing for paediatrics, perhaps a paediatrics surgeon...and I am real shocked to find that I wrote the same thing 7 years ago which I already forgotten...is God trying to tell me something? I dont know...and mind you at that time I was a physical science student, and it was a 180 degree turn when I change my ambition from being a geologist to becoming a doct</i><br />
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<i>p.s do not laugh at my silly English and stories</i><br />
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[This is it.] written on 1/24/2010<br />
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Honestly, I don't like kids. I FIND nothing we called innocent in them, they make noise, they are a mean art and their affinity to cunning is despicable. I wouldn't say any word about imbecile, in fact, we shouldn't use that term on any normal human as well as yourself for some awkward, annoying situation. This is cruel and plus, I also would never use that on kids I dislike. They are not mental retarded, they are hyperactive which oppose an aloof person like me. Literally, Rachel is a passive person.<br />
However, Lord Jesus Christ loves children. He even said anybody who can do like a child gets to enter the kingdom of God. Don't misunderstand but we are not trying to act immature like a kid, but they have pure and clean heart, we hardly find evil in a kid either, none.<br />
But, I like babies. Not to say they are cute, but I have a rush in heart to hug a baby, close to my chest and tell the little angel that he/she is not alone and I love him/her. I once considered to be a pediatric surgeon, but it's hard for me to see kids fight for life, and sometimes they are miraculously tougher than any adult until we can no more labeling them as mischievous, immature and non-sense. And I wouldn't be able to grab a scalpel and cut them open.<br />
I'm still proud with myself that started at 5, I'm already capable of drinking and 5 tins of beers still can't beat me down. But strangely, on that wedding dinner I attended before got on the Konsortium that brought me back to where I belong to, my "lovely" college~, I didn't drink. I was not going to drive a bus after an hour and a half, instead I was the one who will lay down on the passenger cushion and sleep, but still, I didn't drink, even a drop. I drank mineral water at the whole dinner including the part where we stood up and shouted "Yum Sheng" (cheers)!!!<br />
It's sounded like I'm awake and aware of what myself is doing that I should take care of myself first before I go and take care of others. It feels that I am quite firm with myself now to be a doctor. And the vision seems clearer than ever. I would like to dispatch my love to the needy, to those who are in want, to those who can have a better life if we save them by our medical knowledge and of course, I wouldn't forget to pray for them and have them hearing gospel or to say, knowing that God loves them too.<br />
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<i>of course during the process, I had doubts too...</i><br />
[Dream~] written on 2/28/2010<br />
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No more rush to be a surgeon, perhaps it's just an instant passion.<br />
I find doctor is good, but that's just not for me. I felt quite ashamed of myself of not being as hardworking as the Life Stream students. Looking at them, I saw a group of future good doctors, and I'm just not one of them. Even before, they had known to their friendly smile which I'm sure, these would be just fine to the patients.<br />
Then, what about Rachel now?<br />
She is just another indecisive person.<br />
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[No Subject Today~] written on 3/5/2010<br />
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Well, coming to the main point, I had been ill for three days. But I'm getting better. The nasal congestion and coughing are subsiding. And I had an unexpected experience in the hospital. There's a Klinik Ibu dan Anak(pediatric unit). And I saw a mother carrying her child so delicate that she's holding the little angel carefully.<br />
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<i><br /></i>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01692297152116303057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1358640107938072808.post-12907625084978123642017-07-11T23:32:00.000+08:002017-07-11T23:36:02.458+08:00Translation of Malachi (I tried my best)<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i>I remember during a semester break, I was asked by a Pastor to help translate the Malachi chapter in the Bible into Bahasa version. I knew that there was a Bahasa copy of Bible and I couldnt remember the reason given in doing so. I just remembered I was not thinking straight when I promised to do it. Eventually I managed to finish one chapter by God's grace. During the time, I only knew I had finished squeezing my brain juice. Each word when being translated must be carefully studied as not to sway away from its original version. So yes, this is Rachel Kho's version of translation. Please do correct me if there is any mistake. Keeping this here as a memory :)</i></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bab 1 Kata
Pengantar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1:1 [Inilah pesan
TUHAN kepada </span><u><span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Maleakhi</span></u><span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> untuk umat <u>Israel</u>.]</span><span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Firman Tuhan
(<u>Yehuwa</u>, Tuhan umat <u>Israel</u>), dengan perantaraan nabi </span><span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Maleakhi<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="MS" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a></span><span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">, kepada <u>Israel</u>(umat <u>Israel</u>, iaitu keturunan<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="MS" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
<u>Yakub</u>) Tuhan memanggil mereka sebagai bangsa-Nya, orang-orang
pilihan-Nya, anak-Nya, anak sulung-Nya<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="MS" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>,
umat-Nya serta milik pusaka-Nya<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="MS" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Firman Tuhan
bukan di dalam khayalan, tetapi nabi diamanahkan secara langsung untuk
menyampaikan pesanan Tuhan, oleh itu kesemuanya 55 ayat yang terdapat dalam
buku <u>Maleakhi</u> merupakan kata-kata <u>Yehuwa</u> kecuali ayat-ayat yang
diuraikan oleh nabi dengan kata-kata sendiri dalam menyampaikan pesanan, oleh
itu buku tersebut dikatakan sebagai percakapan <u>Yehuwa</u>. Pesanan-Nya amat
mendesak dan keras kerana gaya hidup umat <u>Israel</u> yang rusak pada masa
itu iaitu sebelum Perjanjian Lama berakhir.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pesanan
dalam buku <u>Maleakhi</u> disampaikan kepada umat <u>Israel</u> dalam
Perjanjian Lama.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ia juga
disampaikan kepada umat <u>Israel</u> dalam Perjanjian Baru, iaitu mereka pada
hari ini yang bergantung kepada kasih karunia menyelamat <u>Kristus Yesus</u>,
yang dibenarkan karena iman, yang dipimpin oleh Roh Tuhan, mereka yang
merupakan anak Tuhan<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="MS" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>,
umat <u>Israel</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sebenarnya,
pesanan Tuhan yang dicatatkan dengan perantaraan nabi adalah peringatan untuk
gaya hidup kita hari ini. Pesanan-Nya dapat dibaca dengan mudah, pasti dan
benar<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="MS" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
serta semuanya bermanfaat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1:2-3 [</span><span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">TUHAN berkata kepada umat-Nya, "Aku mengasihi
kamu." Tetapi mereka menjawab, "Bagaimana TUHAN mengasihi kami?"
TUHAN menjawab, "Bukankah <u>Esau</u> abang <u>Yakub</u>? Tetapi <u>Yakub</u>
Kukasihi, sedangkan <u>Esau</u> Kubenci. Daerah berbukit <u>Esau</u> sudah
Kuhancurkan, dan tanahnya Kuserahkan kepada binatang-binatang buas di padang
gurun."]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Buku ini menyatakan tujuh keperibadian Tuhan sendiri, iaitu keperibadian-Nya
yang berlimpah melalui tujuh penghinaan<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="MS" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
umat <u>Israel</u> terhadap Tuhan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Penghinaan pertama [Bagaimana TUHAN mengasihi kami?]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Keperibadian pertama Tuhan ialah [Kasih]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nabi <u>Maleakhi</u> menyebut tentang keperibadian Tuhan ini dahulu untuk
mengingatkan kita bahawa manusia dijadikan<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftn8" name="_ftnref8" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="MS" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
menurut gambar dan rupa Tuhan, maka kasih juga merupakan keperibadian pertama
kita(1 Korintus 13:1-8; 13:13).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Refleksi: Adakah kita sering kali menghina(berdosa terhadap) Tuhan?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Penyair mengajar kita supaya menyimpan ajaran Tuhan di dalam hati agar
jangan berdosa terhadap Tuhan(Mazmur</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> 119:11).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tuhan mencintai leluhur<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftn9" name="_ftnref9" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="MS" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">[9]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> <u>Israel</u>,
Dia hanya mencintai umat <u>Israel</u>, dari segala bangsa di atas bumi,
merekalah yang dipilih untuk menjadi umat yang kudus bagi Tuhan<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftn10" name="_ftnref10" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="MS" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">[10]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>, Tuhan
memanggil umat Israel supaya memegang janji dan berpegang pada perintah, yakni
ketetapan dan peraturan, maka Tuhan akan memberkati mereka yang dikasihi-Nya<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftn11" name="_ftnref11" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="MS" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">[11]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Umat <u>Israel</u> dalam Perjanjian Lama sering tidak taat dan membantah
Tuhan<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftn12" name="_ftnref12" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="MS" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">[12]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>,
nabi <u>Yesaya</u> menyatakan bagaimana mereka membantah, meninggalkan <u>Yehuwa</u>,
menista Tuhan dan berpaling membelakangi Dia; mereka sering dihukum oleh Tuhan
namun masih berdosa<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftn13" name="_ftnref13" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="MS" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">[13]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ayat mengatakan bahawa apabila mereka dihukum atas dosa mereka, mereka
sanggup menghina Tuhan dengan mengata tiada sesekali Tuhan pernah mengasihi mereka,
bermakna mereka tidak pernah lihat apa-apa kelakuan Tuhan yang menunjukkan
kasih sayang terhadap mereka.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Refleksi: Sebagai anak Tuhan dalam Perjanjian Baru pada hari ini, adakah
kita benar-benar memahami kasih Tuhan? Tuhan <u>Yesus</u> telah tahan menderita
di kayu salib dan juga menanggung bantahan yang sehebat itu terhadap diri-Nya
dari pihak orang-orang berdosa(Ibrani 12:2-3), namun tidak pernah Tuhan menolak
umat-Nya(Roma 11:1), tetapi telah mati untuk menebus pelanggaran-pelanggaran
yang mereka lakukan(Ibrani 9:15). Tidakkah ini merupakan kasih Tuhan terhadap
umat Israel(umat Tuhan) dalam Perjanjian Baru dan Lama?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tuhan menekankan bahawa meskipun <u>Esau</u> merupakan abang, <u>Yakub</u>
merupakan adik<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftn14" name="_ftnref14" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="MS" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">[14]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>,
tetapi <u>Yakub</u> Dia kasihi, sedangkan <u>Esau</u> Dia benci. Ini adalah kedaulatan
Dia, namun jangan sesekali kita mengabaikan bahawa Tuhan kita merupakan Tuhan
yang adil, keadilan dan hukum adalah dasar kerajaan Dia<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftn15" name="_ftnref15" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="MS" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">[15]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>,
bermakna Tuhan duduk di atas takhta-Nya dan mengadili kerajaan sorga-Nya dengan
adil. Oleh itu, adalah sebabnya di sebaliknya apabila Tuhan cenderung kepada <u>Yakub</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nama <u>Yakub</u> membawa maksud memegang<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftn16" name="_ftnref16" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="MS" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">[16]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>.
Dia memegang hak kesulungan apabila ada kesempatan<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftn17" name="_ftnref17" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="MS" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">[17]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>,
memegang janji Tuhan<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftn18" name="_ftnref18" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="MS" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">[18]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
dan juga memegang berkat Tuhan<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftn19" name="_ftnref19" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="MS" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">[19]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>.
Tidak hairanlah Tuhan cenderung kepadanya, memberi nama baru kepadanya,
menamakannya sebagai <u>Israel</u>(Putera- Putera Kerajaan Sorga). Sebaliknya,
bagi <u>Esau</u>, Tuhan hanya memberi dia satu kritikan, iaitu, [Demikianlah <u>Esau</u>
meremehkan(berbanding dengan <u>Yakub</u> yang memegang) haknya sebagai anak
sulung] (Kejadian 25:34; Ibrani 12:16)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Refleksi: Sebagai umat <u>Israel</u> pada hari ini, melalui pesanan ini,
kita harus berfikir, sebagai <u>Kristus</u> pada hari ini, adakah kita
benar-benar memegang(menggenggam rapat) hak sebagai anak Tuhan(Yohanes 1:12),
memegang janji untuk hidup sejati dan kekal(1 Yohanes 2:25), memegang berkat
untuk hidup ini(Ulangan 28:1-14) dan demikianlah mendapat kasih Tuhan Bapa?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tuhan kata: [benci <u>Esau</u>], bermakna benci keluarga <u>Esau </u>(keturunannya),
sudah tentulah ada sebabnya. Dalam sejarah, kita boleh bandingkan cara melayani
saudara-saudara oleh keluarga <u>Esau</u> dan keluarga <u>Yakub</u> dan
seterusnya mendapat tahu sebabnya. Semasa bangsa <u>Israel</u> keluar dari <u>Mesir</u>
dan melalui daerah keluarga <u>Esau</u> untuk memasuki tanah yang dijanjikan,
mereka bersikap cermat dan hormat kepada saudara mereka(Ulangan 2:4-6), namun
bangsa <u>Edom</u>, yakni keluarga <u>Esau</u>(Kejadian 25:30) tidak izinkan
laluan<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftn20" name="_ftnref20" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="MS" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">[20]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>.
Tuhan memesan kepada <u>Israel</u> supaya jangan menganggap keji orang <u>Edom</u>(Ulangan
23:7), namun orang <u>Edom</u> berlaku kejam terhadap saudara-saudara mereka.
Apabila musuh mengangkat semua kekayaan keluarga <u>Yakub</u>, orang <u>Edom</u>
senang atas nasib sial dan bergembira pada hari saudara mereka binasa serta
merenggut kekayaannya pada hari sialnya, nabi <u>Obaja</u> telah menyatakan
lapan [kekerasan] orang <u>Edom</u> terhadap keluarga <u>Yakub</u> semasa
mengumunkan dosa mereka(Obaja 10-14). Akhirnya Tuhan menyerang dengan serbuan
orang asing<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftn21" name="_ftnref21" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="MS" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">[21]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
dan menjadikan tanah <u>Esau</u> sunyi-sepi<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftn22" name="_ftnref22" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="MS" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">[22]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>,
yakni pergunungan <u>Seir</u> yang pernah Tuhan berikan kepada keluarga <u>Esau</u>(Ulangan
2:5)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1:4 [Andaikata
keturunan <u>Esau</u>, orang-orang <u>Edom</u> itu berkata, "Kota-kota
kami sudah dihancurkan, tapi kami akan membangunnya kembali," maka TUHAN
akan menjawab, "Mereka boleh membangun kembali, tetapi Aku akan
merobohkannya. Mereka akan disebut 'Negeri durhaka' dan 'Bangsa yang kena murka
TUHAN untuk selama-lamanya.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">”]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tanah <u>Edom</u> sering diserbu dan dihancurkan, namun orang <u>Edom</u>
berkali-kali membangunnya kembali akibat keangkuhan mereka<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftn23" name="_ftnref23" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="MS" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">[23]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>,
pengetepian dosa mereka serta berkali-kali berdosa. Tuhan sendiri mengira dosa
mereka terhadap saudara mereka dan mengumunkan hukumannya<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftn24" name="_ftnref24" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="MS" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">[24]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>: oleh
itu, bagaimana mereka membangun kembali, Tuhan akan merobohkannya juga, milikan
mereka umpama pencuri datang pada malam hari dan mengambil semuanya, juga
umpama pemetik buah anggur tidak akan meninggalkan sisa-sisa
pemetikannya(Yeremia 49:9; Obaja 5-6).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bermulanya dari <u>Adam</u>, manusia tidak setia melakukan perintah Tuhan,
maka terkutuklah tanah disebabkan dosa yang dilakukan oleh manusia<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftn25" name="_ftnref25" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="MS" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">[25]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>.
Orang <u>Edom</u> juga begitu, malahan keturunan mereka juga Tuhan membenci. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mengapakah Tuhan marah terhadap orang <u>Edom</u> untuk selama-lamanya?
Penyair pernah berkata, Tuhan tidak menghardik terus-menerus, dan tidak marah
untuk selama-lamanya<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftn26" name="_ftnref26" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="MS" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">[26]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>.
Lalu kita perlu menyelidiki secara mendalamnya cara keluarga <u>Esau</u>
melayani keluarga <u>Yakub</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Selain daripada dosa-dosa orang <u>Edom</u> yang dinyatakan oleh nabi di
atas, keluarga <u>Edom</u> terus-menerus melakukan perbuatan jahat yang lagi
besar terhadap keluarga <u>Israel</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Doeg</span></u><span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
membantu <u>Saul</u> untuk memburu <u>Daud</u>(1 Samuel 22:9-22); jikalau orang
<u>Edom</u> berjaya membunuh <u>Daud</u>, maka keturunan <u>Daud</u>, Tuhan <u>Yesus</u>(Wahyu
22:16) tidak akan muncul dalam Perjanjian Baru.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">40 tahun sebelum Kristus, orang <u>Roma</u> melantik <u>Herodes Agung</u>
sebagai raja <u>Yudea</u>, iaitu orang <u>Edom</u>(ataupun orang <u>Idumaea</u>
dalam Perjanjian Baru) dan menurut kepada catatan kitab, merupakan orang yang
hendak membunuh Tuhan <u>Yesus</u> yang lahir di bumi(Matius 2:1-18).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Anak <u>Herodes Agung</u>(orang <u>Edom</u>), <u>Antipas</u> telah membunuh
perintis <u>Tuhan Yesus</u>, iaitu <u>Yohanes</u> Pembaptis(Matius 14:1-12).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Raja Herodes Agrippa I</span></u><span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> menekan anggota-anggota jemaat, membunuh <u>Yakobus</u>
dan memasukkan <u>Petrus</u> ke dalam penjara(Kisah Para Rasul 12:1-4).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Soalan: Mengapakah bangsa pilihan Tuhan diburu oleh saudara dalam sejarah?
Mengapakah orang <u>Edom</u> ingin membunuh penyelamat<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftn27" name="_ftnref27" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="MS" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">[27]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> yang
dinyatakan dalam nubuat nabi? Mengapakah mereka ingin menekan anggota-anggota
jemaat Tuhan? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jawapannya:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Merupakan suatu
peperangan yang seram di dunia roh(Wahyu 12:7);<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mengenai (darah
Anak Domba);<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Merupakan asal
kejayaan anak Tuhan(Wahyu 12:11);<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Syaitan</span><span style="background: rgb(249 , 249 , 249); font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">/Naga </span><span lang="MS" style="background: rgb(249 , 249 , 249); font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">dengan maksud menelan anak laki-laki
iaitu Tuhan Yesus yang dilahirkan di bumi(Wahyu 12:4-5);<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="background: rgb(249 , 249 , 249); font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Ia memburu umat Tuhan dalam Perjanjian Lama(wanita</span><span style="background: rgb(249 , 249 , 249); font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">/<u>Israel</u>(</span><span lang="MS" style="background: rgb(249 , 249 , 249); font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Wahyu 12:6)), anak Tuhan
dalam Perjanjian Baru(Wahyu 12:17);<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="background: rgb(249 , 249 , 249); font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Ia ingin menghapuskan penyelamatan manusia oleh salib.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="background: rgb(249 , 249 , 249); font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Perhatian: <u>Yehuwa</u> Tuhan merupakan Tuhan yang rasional;
semasa Dia menjalankan kedaulatan-Nya, adalah sebab-sebabnya. Jika tidak,
mengapakah kita perlu mengendahkan penghakiman Tuhan; mengapakah orang benar
perlu ada kebenaran dan orang jahat perlu diadili</span><span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">? Jikalau kasih Tuhan tidak rasional, mengapakah <u>Yakub</u>
perlu memegang rapat hak kesulungan dan penganut <u>Kristus</u> hari ini perlu
memegang rapat hak sebagai anak Tuhan?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1:5 [Bangsa Israel
akan melihatnya sendiri, dan berkata, "Sungguh besarlah TUHAN;
kekuasaan-Nya sampai di luar tanah <u>Israel</u>!"]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span lang="MS" style="background: rgb(249 , 249 , 249); font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Yakub</span></u><span lang="MS" style="background: rgb(249 , 249 , 249); font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> mendapat hak kesulungun
dan mewarisi perjanjian Tuhan dengan <u>Abraham</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="background: rgb(249 , 249 , 249); font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Kriteria perjanjian Tuhan adalah <u>Abraham</u>
perlu hidup di hadapan Tuhan dengan tidak bercela dan perjanjian ini diwarisi
oleh keturunannya. Segala berkat dalam perjanjian memerlukan dua pihak untuk
menunaikan syarat; pihak pertama, <u>Yehuwa</u> akan menjadi Tuhan <u>Abraham</u>
dan Tuhan keturunannya(Kejadian 17:1-2, 7), pihak kedua, <u>Abraham</u> dan
keturunannya akan mentaati Tuhan dan melakukan apa yang baik dan adil(Kejadian
18:19). Perjanjian ini bermula dari <u>Abraham</u>, sampai kepada <u>Ishak</u><a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftn28" name="_ftnref28" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="MS" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">[28]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
dan seterusnya diwarisi oleh <u>Yakub</u><a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftn29" name="_ftnref29" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="MS" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">[29]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>.
Disebabkan perjanjian ini hanya dimiliki oleh keluarga <u>Yakub</u> dan juga
hanya dimiliki oleh <u>Israel</u>; selepas ini Tuhan menamakan <u>Yakub</u>
nama baru <u>Israel</u>, <u>Israel</u> membawa maksud Putera Kerajaan Sorga.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="background: rgb(249 , 249 , 249); font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Perhatian: Orang yang milik <u>Kristus</u> dalam
Perjanjian Baru pada hari ini juga adalah keturunan <u>Abraham</u>(Galatia
3:29); sebab dia ialah bapa banyak bangsa yang berharap(Roma 4:18);
keturunannya mewarisi perjanjian Tuhan, umat <u>Israel</u> dalam Perjanjian
Baru adalah mereka yang memegang rapat hak sebagai anak Tuhan [Putera Kerajaan
Sorga].<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span lang="MS" style="background: rgb(249 , 249 , 249); font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Yehuwa</span></u><span lang="MS" style="background: rgb(249 , 249 , 249); font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> adalah Tuhan, Dia berada
di segala tempat, sudah tentulah juga berada di luar tanah <u>Israel</u>. Ayat
ini merupakan ubuat, menyatakan bahawa perjanjian antara Dia dengan <u>Israel</u>
akan melampaui umat <u>Israel</u> dalam Perjanjian Lama dan menjangkau umat <u>Israel</u>
dalam Perjanjian Baru; bangsa-bangsa [di luar tanah <u>Israel</u>] yang
mendapat penyelamatan <u>Yehuwa</u> akan berkata, “Sungguh besarlah Tuhan!<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftn30" name="_ftnref30" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="MS" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">[30]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="background: rgb(249 , 249 , 249); font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Hal ini akan berlaku pada masa depan
yang terdekat, malah umat <u>Israel</u> akan lihat sendiri dan berkhotbah
tentangnya. Disebabkan buku <u>Maleakhi</u> merupakan pesanan nabi terakhir
dalam Perjanjian Lama, keluarga <u>Israel</u> akan transit ke Perjanjian Baru
dan menyambut kedatangan Perjanjian Baru(Utusan yang mengumunkan perjanjian<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftn31" name="_ftnref31" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="MS" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">[31]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>)
yang mereka kagumi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="background: rgb(249 , 249 , 249); font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Ubuat telah dicapai dalam Perjanjian Baru
pada hari ini.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="MS" style="background: rgb(249 , 249 , 249); font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Tidakkah <u>Israel</u> pada hari ini
lihat dengan mata sendiri Khabar Baik Tuhan Yesus di luar tanah</span><span lang="MS" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">? Tidakkah nama Tuhan <u>Yesus</u> diagungkan oleh
bangsa-bangsa?<span style="background: rgb(249, 249, 249);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> <span lang="EN-US">Malaekhi=Utusan-Ku<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> <span lang="EN-US">Kejadian 32:26-27<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> <span lang="EN-US">Keluaran 4:21-22<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> <span lang="EN-US">Yesaya 19:25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> <span lang="EN-US">Roma 3:24; 8:14; 9:4-8<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> <span lang="EN-US">Habakuk 2:2,3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftnref8" name="_ftn8" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> <span lang="EN-US">Kejadian 1:26<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Desktop%20File/Malachi%20Translation/Maleakhi%20Bab%20Satu.docx#_ftnref22" name="_ftn22" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[22]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> <span lang="EN-US">Yesaya 34:5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01692297152116303057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1358640107938072808.post-62262570791953741652017-07-10T04:48:00.002+08:002017-07-10T04:48:31.532+08:00Trust<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-line-height-alt: 11.6pt;">
While clearing up files in my computer, I found a welcome note which I had written for my university Christian Fellowship's Camp. At that time, I was the President of the camp and the theme chosen was Trust. Thought of sharing my thought here as the note reminds me again the beauty of Trust in Him! Today when I shared this note, I was already graduated from the university after seven years of pursuing my studies where I would share the story another day. He is indeed faithful!</div>
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Shalom! :)<o:p></o:p></div>
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On behalf of
the Christian Fellowship of USMKK, I would love to extend a warm welcome to all
participants of CF Family Camp 2013!<o:p></o:p></div>
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The theme
given for this year's CF Family Camp is ‘Trust’. I think it’s an amazing word.
Maybe it is also an attractive word that explains why you are here today. Isn’t
it a word that draws you and me to Him in the first place? We put our trust in
Him because we know in Him we had the hope and the peace that we would never
had before we knew Him. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Ironically,
sometimes the person we said we put in our trust the most has always became the
last option when situation arises. We tend to call upon Him after we run out of
solutions. We always have this desire to handle and fix things up ourselves but
the result always tells us it won’t work. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I think trust
is something that we need to exercise on. Just want to share a tip here; the
more you know Him, the more you put your trust in Him. And I know my trust in
Him is still wavering too. There is just once when I was too overwhelmed with
things happened around me and I didn’t know how to trust anymore and so I cried
out to Him. And here is how my beloved Father God replied me (through a Christian blog I happened to read), “<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Weeping will last through some dark, awful nights-and
in that darkness you will soon hear me whispering, “I am with you. I cannot
tell you why right now, but one day it will all make sense…Hold fast. Let me
embrace you in your hour of pain.” Then I know there is no one deserved more of
my trust than Him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">I pray that through this camp, you and I could learn
how to put our absolute trust in Him and may God touch each and every one of us
in His amazing ways. I also hope all of us would have a good fellowship
together during this camp as the Lord commands, “Love one another.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Lastly, one question for you to ponder, “Can you trust
Jesus Christ where your common sense cannot trust Him?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">With love,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Rachel Kho<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">President of CF Family Camp 2013<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1WQ-P36FXII/WWKWeur7ZWI/AAAAAAAABx0/WHoQxI2yWW4FUrwxajNVg_NSDT-dPYViQCLcBGAs/s1600/jordan_r02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="890" height="261" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1WQ-P36FXII/WWKWeur7ZWI/AAAAAAAABx0/WHoQxI2yWW4FUrwxajNVg_NSDT-dPYViQCLcBGAs/s400/jordan_r02.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jordan river, taken from Looklex Encyclopedia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01692297152116303057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1358640107938072808.post-78754976728157167572017-07-10T04:37:00.001+08:002017-07-10T04:38:47.938+08:00爱<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 宋体; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">有一种东西可能比金还宝贵,因为它看不见,摸不着,可是每个人都想要得到它。最重要的是,凡出现在“福布斯”杂志里的每一个人,没有一个能够用金钱把它换回来。没错,它就是在文学方面让你联想到莎士比亚,在电影方面让你联想到《铁达尼号》,在人文方面让你联想到特蕾莎修女的“爱”。</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体; font-size: large; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 宋体; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 宋体; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">那么身为一名基督徒的我,如果你问我什么是“爱”,我便看见眼前有一位遍体鳞伤,鲜血淋漓的</span><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 宋体; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">男子</span><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 宋体; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">赤裸着上身,满身鞭痕,背着十字架,慢慢的走向“各各他”山,沿途中有很多人嘲笑他的愚笨,向他吐唾沫,扔石子。没有人理解他。但是他默默的走到“各各他”山,在那些讨厌他的群众欢呼之下,成就了历史上最伟大的一件事迹,就是为着世人的罪被钉在十字架上。在人们完全不理解的情况下,耶稣基督表现了他的“爱”。</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 宋体; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“爱”是非笔墨所能形容的。它包含着太多意思了,但是无论是谁在给予爱或者是谁在接受爱,我们都能够明白那是一份爱。它是不需要我们受什么高等教育,满怀知识才能够理解的东西。爱只能通过行动来表现。它每一天都在影响着世界上的每一个人。有爱的地方就有幸福,没有爱的地方就有痛苦,所以它的存在可以改变一个环境。从前人们打战可能基于某些冲突,但是上阵的士兵们都是因为爱国,爱家才愿意牺牲性命保家卫国。如果人体会不到什么是爱,那么他可能已经失去了灵魂。因为我们内心似乎有一个很深的空洞,需要“爱”来填补。我们对“爱”充满了好奇。每一天,我们都在寻思,琢磨这个奇妙的东西。</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 宋体; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">我们还是比较写意的来谈谈“爱”吧。若你现在走到街道上问人什么是“爱”,我们或许会得到不同的答案。热恋的情侣会觉得爱很窝心,</span><span lang="ZH-CN"> </span><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 宋体; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">刚刚失恋的会觉得爱是一种背叛,而由始至终形单影只的可能不怎么相信爱。至于抱着初生婴孩的妈妈,“爱”已经写在她的脸上了。</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 宋体; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">你可能会问,“爱在哪里呢?我看不到。”早晨,我们出门前会给母亲一个拥抱。走在街上,我们帮忙牵老婆婆过马路。在巴士上,我们离开座位,好让迎面而来的孕妇可以有地方坐。在学校,我们帮老师拿重重的公事包。有一位同学忘了带课本,我们就微笑的向他说,“来,我们一起看。”哇,我形容得还真完美,可能看到这里的你觉得有些不可思议。但是,难道你不觉得,每一天,“爱”都在等待着你我见证它的存在。</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 宋体; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">如果我们错误的认识爱。那么爱会由无私变得自私。人的爱</span><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 宋体; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">会</span><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 宋体; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">由给予变成占有,甚至到一种地步,“爱你爱到杀死你”。每一天打开报章,我们都会看到这些负面新闻,“为情自杀</span><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 宋体; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">”,“少女离家出走与男友私奔”,“离婚男抱着孩子跳楼”,“因嫉恨杀害第三者”等等。这不尽让我们叹息,“问世间,爱为何物?”</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 宋体; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 宋体; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">其实,“爱”不只是看到心仪女生或男生时候那种小鹿乱撞的感觉。“爱”不只是搂搂抱抱或者每一天出去约会而已。“爱”不只是好像周星驰在《大话西游》说的,“如果非要在这份爱上加上一个期限,我希望是。。。一万年!”“爱”可能会认真的问</span><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 宋体; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">回</span><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 宋体; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">你,“为什么你要限定我呢?”无可否认的,这种情侣的“爱”会是很美丽的东西,不然莎士比亚也不会创造了罗密欧和茱丽叶,而我们中华的传统也不会出现这么感人的梁山伯与祝英台的爱情故事。其实,如果你认真的去认识“爱”,你会发现更多的奇迹。</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 宋体; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">容我引用圣经对于“爱</span><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 宋体; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">”的诠释作为结束,“</span><span lang="ZH-CN" style="background: white; color: #111111; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="ZH-CN" style="background: white; color: #111111;">爱是恒久忍耐,又有恩慈;爱是不嫉妒,爱是不自夸,不张狂,</span><span lang="ZH-CN" style="background: white; color: #111111; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> </span><span lang="ZH-CN" style="background: white; color: #111111;">不做害羞的事,不求自己的益处,不轻易发怒,不计算人的恶,不喜欢不义,只喜欢真理;</span><span lang="ZH-CN" style="background: white; color: #111111; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> </span><span lang="ZH-CN" style="background: white; color: #111111;">凡事包容,凡事相信,凡事盼望,凡事忍耐;</span><span lang="ZH-CN" style="background: white; color: #111111; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> </span><span lang="ZH-CN" style="background: white; color: #111111;">爱是永不止息</span><span lang="ZH-CN" style="background: white; color: #111111;">。”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #111111;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01692297152116303057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1358640107938072808.post-12092618496551644052016-03-23T18:21:00.001+08:002016-03-23T18:34:22.468+08:00But GOD Chose the Foolish Things of the World to,...<span style="font-size: large;">If some of you have noticed, recently I was playing this game called Crisis Action, a kind of first person shooting (FPS) game where you joined a team either Alliance or Rebels and fight the opposite team by shooting them to dead.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The thing I observed from the game was, its like a mini-world reflective of the real world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">At first, I really played badly, everyone hated me, voted to boot me out of the room because I was the culprit that the team lose. My bad performance, my death dragged down their scores. They called these people 'Noob'! They called you names you didnt want to hear and even use vulgar words to the extreme. And those who played better, they would said they felt so boring to kill us off.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And then as I practised more and more, to my surprise, most of the time I became the best players of the whole room (comprised of 8 players). And people started to praise me, "rey power! rey pro! hebat rey!" [rey is my nickname in the game]</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And I realized one thing, we human always tend to look up to people who done better than us, those who working out more than us (looked muscular or fit), those who are more successful (earning more money and expanding their business), those who are smarter (knowing everything we don't). And I want to say there is nothing wrong about this or is it? But the thing is, apart from looking up to these people (or to say becoming inferior towards them), we find the sense of security by oppressing those who are weaker, worst than us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was talking to this good friend, who advised me with a good intention. He said if you wanted to blend in the group, if you wanted respect, you have to outdone everyone. Because this is basically how the whole group feeling now. Those who done better, the group was giving way to them. Those who done worst, people shut them off.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And to the world, this is totally the right thing to do. This is how we survive. The leopard runs faster, so it gets to prey on a gazelle. But guys, if you think this is the right thing to do, look up on the better, oppress the weaker, and if this is the voice we follow, may I ask you this question, what can Nick Vujicic do? If Nick Vujicic was confined to this world's rule, what can he do? He doesn't have any limbs, to the world, maybe he deserved to be executed, to be diminished from this system.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But God says otherwise. And in Christianity there is this thing called 'GRACE'. Grace is something people who doesn't know God, doesn't know love that couldn't understand. They will forever be unforgiving towards the weaker, the worst. They are the realist who think, strength is the key to survival. They wanted to be in control.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But God says otherwise.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">1 Corinthians 1:26-31 mentioned,</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: lime; font-size: large;"><span class="text 1Cor-1-26" id="en-NIV-28390" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">26 </span>Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28390BB" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28390BB" title="See cross-reference BB">BB</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><b>Not many of you were wise<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28390BC" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28390BC" title="See cross-reference BC">BC</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> by human standards</b>; not many were<b> influential</b>; not many were of <b>noble birth</b>.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text 1Cor-1-27" id="en-NIV-28391" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">27 </span>But God <b>chose<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28391BD" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28391BD" title="See cross-reference BD">BD</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> the foolish things of the world to shame the wise;</b> God <b>chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong</b>.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text 1Cor-1-28" id="en-NIV-28392" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">28 </span>God <b>chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28392BF" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28392BF" title="See cross-reference BF">BF</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>—to nullify the things that are,</b></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><b> </b></span><span class="text 1Cor-1-29" id="en-NIV-28393" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><b><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">29 </span>so that no one may boast before him</b>.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28393BG" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28393BG" title="See cross-reference BG">BG</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text 1Cor-1-30" id="en-NIV-28394" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">30 </span>It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28394BH" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28394BH" title="See cross-reference BH">BH</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28394BI" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28394BI" title="See cross-reference BI">BI</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> holiness<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28394BJ" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28394BJ" title="See cross-reference BJ">BJ</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> and redemption.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28394BK" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28394BK" title="See cross-reference BK">BK</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text 1Cor-1-31" id="en-NIV-28395" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">31 </span>Therefore, as it is written: “<b>Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.</b>”</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 22px;">He chose Moses who was not very good with words to lead the Israelites out of Egypt (Exodus 2:1-24);</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He chose a kid named David to fight the giant Goliath (1 Samuel 17);</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">He chose a group of fisherman to become His disciples </span></span><br />
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(Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-34; Luke 5:1-11)<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 22px;">;</span></h2>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 22px;">and He sat down in the house of a despised tax collector Matthew, to eat with him (Matthew 9:10).</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And do you know how the Israelites won the battle in Jericho? They just need to obey God by marching around the wall of the Jericho for seven days, and on the seventh day, the wall of the city collapsed and the army marched in and took over the city.</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5l1d1EjyYmk/VvJrySMGrjI/AAAAAAAABaE/Lu3lvdKbGo8dyHo3znjA2jRrJWbf43NLw/s1600/wall%2Bof%2Bjericho.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5l1d1EjyYmk/VvJrySMGrjI/AAAAAAAABaE/Lu3lvdKbGo8dyHo3znjA2jRrJWbf43NLw/s640/wall%2Bof%2Bjericho.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">This is the difference between God and the world. When He sees the lowly, the weak, He encourages them with love. He uses nobodies. The world would have eliminated the nobodies.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And so in Christianity, its not about how much we had done, or who we are. Its about how much God had done or who He is.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And it doesn't mean Christian can get by the days without doing anything, in fact God called us to run the race, but for a different purpose than the world, </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: cyan; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>1 Corinthians 9:25 says,</b></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>So oppresing the weak is certainly not a thing for us to do, not if you claim to be following a gracious God. </b></span></span><br />
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A parable from Jesus to end this,<br />
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<h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.55em; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px;">
<span class="text Matt-20-1" id="en-NIV-23794" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: magenta; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: yellow;">The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard</span></span></h3>
<div class="chapter-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span class="text Matt-20-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="chapternum" style="bottom: -0.1em; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; left: 0px; line-height: 0.8em; position: relative;">20 </span><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">“For the kingdom of heaven is like<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-23794A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-23794A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-23794B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-23794B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span></span> <span class="text Matt-20-2" id="en-NIV-23795" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">2 </span>He agreed to pay them a denarius<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NIV-23795a" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NIV-23795a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+20#fen-NIV-23795a" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</span> for the day and sent them into his vineyard.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span class="text Matt-20-3" id="en-NIV-23796" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">3 </span>“About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing.</span> <span class="text Matt-20-4" id="en-NIV-23797" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">4 </span>He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’</span> <span class="text Matt-20-5" id="en-NIV-23798" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">5 </span>So they went.</span></div>
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<span class="text Matt-20-5" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing.</span> <span class="text Matt-20-6" id="en-NIV-23799" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">6 </span>About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span class="text Matt-20-7" id="en-NIV-23800" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">7 </span>“‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.</span></div>
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<span class="text Matt-20-7" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span class="text Matt-20-8" id="en-NIV-23801" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">8 </span>“When evening came,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-23801C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-23801C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span class="text Matt-20-9" id="en-NIV-23802" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">9 </span>“The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius.</span> <span class="text Matt-20-10" id="en-NIV-23803" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">10 </span>So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius.</span> <span class="text Matt-20-11" id="en-NIV-23804" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">11 </span>When they received it, they began to grumble<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-23804D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-23804D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> against the landowner.</span> <span class="text Matt-20-12" id="en-NIV-23805" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">12 </span>‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-23805E" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-23805E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> of the day.’</span></div>
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<span class="text Matt-20-13" id="en-NIV-23806" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">13 </span>“But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-23806F" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-23806F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius?</span> <span class="text Matt-20-14" id="en-NIV-23807" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">14 </span>Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you.</span> <span class="text Matt-20-15" id="en-NIV-23808" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">15 </span>Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-23808G" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-23808G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Matt-20-16" id="en-NIV-23809" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">16 </span>“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”</span></div>
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Ahh, and one more thing they had done in Crisis Action, if they were unable to win the battle, they used cheat. And cheat had been justified in many ways as winning is more important :/<br />
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<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01692297152116303057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1358640107938072808.post-51103581292044274262016-03-19T18:42:00.003+08:002016-03-19T18:42:25.620+08:00Trials are good<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t9VXyYPPC6A/Vu0s64gGnJI/AAAAAAAABZo/c7nhboWDINYvexELkvZTKEg7pAbTK8Juw/s1600/Malaysian-palm-oil-plantation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t9VXyYPPC6A/Vu0s64gGnJI/AAAAAAAABZo/c7nhboWDINYvexELkvZTKEg7pAbTK8Juw/s640/Malaysian-palm-oil-plantation.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. [James Chapter 1]</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I still remember years ago, when I looked at the verses, they reassureed me and gave me hope that the trials of many kinds I'm facing are to produce perseverance from testing my faith. I remembered our condition were so bad that after I failed my exam and went back home, I have to help out with picking up palm fruits everyday(we help to collect those palm fruits on the ground and sold it to owner). I remembered those days are fruitful days. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Everyday, I squatted down at the oil palm plantation, picking up fruits while letting the work numbed my pain of failing the exam, failing my family, failing myself. The future was uncertain at first. In a way, I reflected alot myself inside the plantation. Sometimes we went separately to different places, so I was alone, in a quiet environment, and I make use of the solitude to talk to God, to repent. Sometimes it was scorching hot, I sweat so much. But I was satisfied. Especially when I accidentally discover a bunch of palm fruits, chilly red in colour, big and juciy, screaming at me, "Come pick me up!". Then sometimes when it was so hot, suddenly there's a breeze coming by just to cool me down. And I would say, "God, thank you."</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">God was so near then. And I'm so close to Him, unwilling to let go. I remembered when I found Him at the time, its the time I discover Abba the Father after 2 years becoming a believer. I spent days and nights, reading the Bible, reading Christian books. I woke up to worship, to prayer, to devotion. The first thing I asked in a day was, 'What does He want me to do today?' That's the time when I get the strongest calling of studying medical, but now that calling slowly faded away.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">James was right. Trials of many kinds was good for me. Certainly. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">But somehow, as time goes by, things are getting a little bit comfortable until I am having less and less prayer request. So I'm turning from a person in verse2-5 into that person in verse 6-8.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The God I once called Father becomes a total stranger to me. I couldn't hear His voice and I couldn't see His face. "Jesus, I love you, " I said, with my lips, but not my heart. Thousand of times, I repented, but then I fell back to idolatry, to the pleasure of world that ruined my relationship with God. The bridegroom that I once committed to, once promised to love forever, now I had committed an affair in front of Him. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was like the prodigal Son. I wanted to decide on my own for my life. And then I realized that it doesn't work at all. Life becomes messed up when I take on control myself. And I started to miss the days that my condition was so bad that I had to rely on God. And I realized that they weren't bad at all, they were blessing. Because, the more comfortable I am, the further I am away from God.</span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01692297152116303057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1358640107938072808.post-72045080062384668162015-04-23T15:23:00.001+08:002015-04-23T15:25:59.260+08:00Hurt and Forgiveness<img src="http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2013/019/4/7/words_hurt_by_kyllerkyle-d5rzxt2.jpg" height="462" width="640" /><br />
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Today God brought so much peace to my heart, that He prompted me with this question, "Why aren't you letting go of the hurt?"<br />
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Hurt had since been my company when I began to understand people's speech or action to me.<br />
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And all these years, how I deal with hurt was to try as much as possible to forget it by indulging in those things that I shouldn't be. These things had been driving me away from God, His voice had become softer in my ears, His Word were blurry in my mind and the throne in my heart was given to something else.<br />
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The hurt since my childhood until today, were made by no more than family I loved and trusted, friends I cherished and even church I looked upon to. And I realized that by pretending to be strong, that what they had done wasn't a big deal at all or simply pass it away by a humour weren't helping.<br />
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And God is telling me, "Rachel, you are not being yourself, the one I had created."<br />
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<img src="http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2014/037/c/f/you_are_never_alone_with_jesus_christ_by_myjavier007-d75com1.png" height="480" width="640" /><br />
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And I argued with God, "These people that I had loved and trusted so much, why would they hurt me with abusive words, lies and even betrayal? How could they have done all these to me? And most importantly, why aren't they feeling sorry for what they had done? All I ask was just a simple word, a sincere apologizy."<br />
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Then I realized, I realized Jesus Christ was hurt far more than me, the hurt that He bore, the betrayal by His beloved disciple, shamed, beaten and crucified by the very own people that He loved, and He came to teach me this very lesson, that only by forgiveness, the love that found in this forgiveness could cover over a multitude of sins, and this love had also broke down the wall between God and us, and God so loved us that He had sacrified Jesus Christ in order to be reconciled with us.<br />
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And as I cried out on the hurt I had been felt all these years, I was hugged by God's very own nail-pierced hands, telling me that, "I am here with you."<br />
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Then it reminded me, God waited long enough than me for the people He loved to feel sorry and who am I to be in position of choosing not to forgive, to hate and to judge.<br />
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And I just want to said this to all who had been felt hurt and was exhausted of keeping this away from people by wearing a mask, though you may look strong outwardly, you inner is broken and it can only be healed by Jesus Christ who had once broken for us.<br />
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<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01692297152116303057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1358640107938072808.post-18145648209760164212014-10-12T03:58:00.000+08:002014-10-13T17:47:24.109+08:00Psalm 37 and 73A friend of mine(a non-Christian), during the meal, claimed that some of the friends which both of us know, were being very ingenuine and pretending. They were Christians.<br />
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Surprisingly, I wasn't defending these friends but instead I agreed with what the friend had said. I'm still wasn't sure what was right to do then but certainly one of it was not defending them. I need to let my friend know that I viewed Christian and Christ differently. Most of the Christian would avoid this topic, because they were afraid of being thought as if they were judging their brothers and sisters and it would bring shame to the Lord's name. But the question is, can Lord ever be let down by people? And second question, does He even recognize these people to be representative of Him in their words and actions?<br />
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What I would like to share here tonight was, what can we do when we are hurt by people especially Christians? Those whom you called brothers and sisters in the church, whom hold your hand and claimed that nothing can separate the fellowship between you and him/her, could come out from the church and stab you in the back. Allow me to be bold in saying this, the blood stained in their hands were both Jesus' and yours. They nailed Jesus yet again on the cross when they reacted selfishly to you, and they could make your heart bleed with as simple as one word using their twisted tongues. (<b>Hebrew 6:6</b> and <b>Proverbs 18:21</b>)<br />
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Just as <b>2 Corinthians 1:3-4 had said,</b> "Praise be to the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all
comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort
those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God."<br />
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My mother was once having struggles in relationship with family of her sides and also some people from the church. But Psalm 37 and 73 brought light into the midst of disappointment. The number is easy to remember 37 and 73, she told me, the verses which she wanted me to read when I shared my story of struggles to her. King David happened to have similar problems as us but what he did next was...marvelous, he turned to God, and God had made him to understand that if God had become the most important person in your life, all these wave-and-go persons, things they done to you wasn't a big deal at all. In fact, Nick Vujicic had also experienced God's grace which later he was called to bring comfort to so many people with his presence, talk and also written books.<br />
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<h3>
<span class="text Ps-37-1" id="en-NIV-14452">Psalm 37<sup class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NIV-14452a" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NIV-14452a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+37#fen-NIV-14452a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup></span></h3>
<h4>
<span class="text Ps-37-1">Of David.</span></h4>
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<span class="text Ps-37-1"><sup class="versenum">1 </sup><span style="color: red;">Do not fret</span> because of those who are evil</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-1">or be envious of those who do wrong;</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-37-2" id="en-NIV-14453"><sup class="versenum">2 </sup>for <span style="color: red;">like the grass they will soon wither,</span></span><span style="color: red;"><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-2">like green plants they will soon die away.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-37-3" id="en-NIV-14454"><sup class="versenum">3<span style="color: red;"> </span></sup><span style="color: red;">Trust in the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> and do good</span>;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-3">dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-37-4" id="en-NIV-14455"><sup class="versenum">4 </sup>Take delight in the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-4">and he will give you the desires of your heart.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-37-5" id="en-NIV-14456"><sup class="versenum">5 </sup><span style="color: red;">Commit your way to the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>;</span></span><span style="color: red;"><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-5">trust in him and he will do this:</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-37-6" id="en-NIV-14457"><sup class="versenum">6 </sup>He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-6">your vindication like the noonday sun.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-37-7" id="en-NIV-14458"><sup class="versenum">7 </sup>Be still before the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-7">and wait patiently for him;</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-37-7">do not fret when people succeed in their ways,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-7">when they carry out their wicked schemes.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-37-8" id="en-NIV-14459"><sup class="versenum">8 </sup>Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span style="color: red;"><span class="text Ps-37-8">do not fret—it leads only to evil.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-37-9" id="en-NIV-14460"><sup class="versenum">9 </sup>For those who are evil will be destroyed,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-9">but those who hope in the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> will inherit the land.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-37-10" id="en-NIV-14461"><sup class="versenum">10 </sup>A little while, and the wicked will be no more;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-10">though you look for them, they will not be found.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-37-11" id="en-NIV-14462"><sup class="versenum">11 </sup>But the meek will inherit the land</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-11">and enjoy peace and prosperity.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-37-12" id="en-NIV-14463"><sup class="versenum">12 </sup>The wicked plot against the righteous</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-12">and gnash their teeth at them;</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-37-13" id="en-NIV-14464"><sup class="versenum">13 </sup>but <span style="color: red;">the Lord laughs at the wicked,</span></span><span style="color: red;"><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-13">for he knows their day is coming.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-37-14" id="en-NIV-14465"><sup class="versenum">14 </sup>The wicked draw the sword</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-14">and bend the bow</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-37-14">to bring down the poor and needy,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-14">to slay those whose ways are upright.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-37-15" id="en-NIV-14466"><sup class="versenum">15 </sup>But their swords will pierce their own hearts,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-15">and their bows will be broken.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-37-16" id="en-NIV-14467"><sup class="versenum">16 </sup>Better the little that the righteous have</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-16">than the wealth of many wicked;</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-37-17" id="en-NIV-14468"><sup class="versenum">17 </sup>for the power of the wicked will be broken,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-17">but the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> upholds the righteous.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-37-18" id="en-NIV-14469"><sup class="versenum">18 </sup>The blameless spend their days under the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>’s care,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-18">and their inheritance will endure forever.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-37-19" id="en-NIV-14470"><sup class="versenum">19 </sup>In times of disaster they will not wither;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-19">in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-37-20" id="en-NIV-14471"><sup class="versenum">20 </sup>But the wicked will perish:</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-20">Though the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-20">they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-37-21" id="en-NIV-14472"><sup class="versenum">21 </sup>The wicked borrow and do not repay,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-21">but the righteous give generously;</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-37-22" id="en-NIV-14473"><sup class="versenum">22 </sup>those the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> blesses will inherit the land,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-22">but those he curses will be destroyed.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-37-23" id="en-NIV-14474"><sup class="versenum">23 </sup>The <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> makes firm the steps</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-23">of the one who delights in him;</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-37-24" id="en-NIV-14475"><sup class="versenum">24 </sup>though he may stumble, he will not fall,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-24">for the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> upholds him with his hand.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-37-25" id="en-NIV-14476"><sup class="versenum">25 </sup>I was young and now I am old,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-25">yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-25">or their children begging bread.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-37-26" id="en-NIV-14477"><sup class="versenum">26 </sup>They are always generous and lend freely;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-26">their children will be a blessing.<sup class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NIV-14477b" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NIV-14477b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+37#fen-NIV-14477b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</sup></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-37-27" id="en-NIV-14478"><sup class="versenum">27 </sup>Turn from evil and do good;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-27">then you will dwell in the land forever.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-37-28" id="en-NIV-14479"><sup class="versenum">28 </sup>For the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> loves the just</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-28">and will not forsake his faithful ones.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-37-28">Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed<sup class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NIV-14479c" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NIV-14479c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+37#fen-NIV-14479c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]</sup>;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-28">the offspring of the wicked will perish.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-37-29" id="en-NIV-14480"><sup class="versenum">29 </sup>The righteous will inherit the land</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-29">and dwell in it forever.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-37-30" id="en-NIV-14481"><sup class="versenum">30 </sup>The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-30">and their tongues speak what is just.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-37-31" id="en-NIV-14482"><sup class="versenum">31 </sup>The law of their God is in their hearts;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-31">their feet do not slip.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-37-32" id="en-NIV-14483"><sup class="versenum">32 </sup>The wicked lie in wait for the righteous,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-32">intent on putting them to death;</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-37-33" id="en-NIV-14484"><sup class="versenum">33 </sup>but the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> will not leave them in the power of the wicked</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-33">or let them be condemned when brought to trial.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-37-34" id="en-NIV-14485"><sup class="versenum">34 </sup>Hope in the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-34">and keep his way.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-37-34">He will exalt you to inherit the land;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-34">when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-37-35" id="en-NIV-14486"><sup class="versenum">35 </sup><span style="color: red;">I have seen a wicked and ruthless man</span></span><span style="color: red;"><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-35">flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-37-36" id="en-NIV-14487"><sup class="versenum">36 </sup>but he soon passed away and was no more;</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-36">though I looked for him, he could not be found.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-37-37" id="en-NIV-14488"><sup class="versenum">37 </sup>Consider the blameless, observe the upright;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-37">a future awaits those who seek peace.<sup class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NIV-14488d" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NIV-14488d" title="See footnote d">d</a>]">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+37#fen-NIV-14488d" title="See footnote d">d</a>]</sup></span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-37-38" id="en-NIV-14489"><sup class="versenum">38 </sup>But all sinners will be destroyed;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-38">there will be no future<sup class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NIV-14489e" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NIV-14489e" title="See footnote e">e</a>]">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+37#fen-NIV-14489e" title="See footnote e">e</a>]</sup> for the wicked.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-37-39" id="en-NIV-14490"><sup class="versenum">39 </sup>The salvation of the righteous comes from the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-39">he is their stronghold in time of trouble.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-37-40" id="en-NIV-14491"><sup class="versenum">40 </sup><span style="color: red;">The <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> helps them and delivers them;</span></span><span style="color: red;"><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-40">he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-40">because they take refuge in him.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-37-40"><span style="color: black;">I felt the key of Psalm37 is to acknowledge that God is there. David had known this. And thus he said in the Psalm, do not fret for the evil will soon wither like the grass. He warned that if we are angry, it may lead us to evil. It's true that sometimes we would find ways to commit vengence in the same way these wicked people had done. But what had make us to be different from them? Again, in this Psalm, David said, turn from evil and do good. If we acknowledge that God will handle these wicked people, we actually acknowledge His right as Judge. Our righteousness doesn't come from the world, it comes from God. Our God who looks at our hearts instead of appearance (1st Samuel 16:7) will see that we take delight in Him and thus gives us what our hearts desire. No matter how much praise you received from the world, how much success you achieved, eventually you come back to God, you come back to His judgement and by the time you stand before Him, you answer to Him what had you done all these while, that's why people who were afraid of this day, were reluctant to accept that He is there. Some thought otherwise and thought what they had been doing would be easily forgiven, which Jesus would said to them eventually like the verse in Matthew 7:22.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-37-40"><span style="color: black;">And <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2073">Psalm 73</a> talks about a man who was angry with God for he had mistaken that God doesn't care about all these issues as he sees the wicked still living happily(<span style="color: red;">but not ever after</span>).</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-37-40"><span style="color: black;">But then this angry guy calmed down and said, </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-37-40"><span style="color: black;">16 </span></span></span></span><span style="color: red;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-37-40"><span style="color: black;"><span class="text Ps-73-16" id="en-NIV-15037">When I tried to understand all this,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-73-16">it troubled me deeply</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-73-17" id="en-NIV-15038"><sup class="versenum">17 </sup>till I entered the sanctuary of God;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-73-17">then I understood their final destiny.</span></span> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-37-40"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-37-40"><span style="color: black;">He realized his mistake of misunderstanding God as he now knew that God will eventually pay back for what those people had done. And so he repented.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-73-21" id="en-NIV-15042">21When my heart was grieved</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-73-21">and my spirit embittered,</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-73-22" id="en-NIV-15043"><sup class="versenum">22 </sup>I was senseless and ignorant;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-73-22">I was a brute beast before you.</span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-73-22">Question is, wasn't God is forgiving? God is forgiving all the time. But do these people repent of what they had done? Acts 3:19 says this: </span></span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-73-22"><span class="text Acts-3-19" id="en-NIV-27016"><sup class="versenum">19 </sup>Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,...</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-73-22"><span class="text Acts-3-19" id="en-NIV-27016">Our God wasn't ignorant, in fact He is </span></span></span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-73-22"><span class="text Acts-3-19" id="en-NIV-27016"><span itemprop="articleBody">a God who has lived on this earth and
endured trauma, temptation, bereavement, torture, hunger, thirst,
persecution and even execution. The cross of Christ can be regarded as
the ultimate manifestation of God’s justice. </span></span></span></span><span itemprop="articleBody">When asked how much God cares about the
problem of evil and suffering, He can point to the cross
and say, “That much.” Christ experienced rejection from God, saying, “My
God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” He experienced the same
suffering as many people do today who are feeling isolated from God’s
favor and love. (gotquestions.org)</span></div>
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<span itemprop="articleBody">When I read Psalm 37, it was as if God is talking to me using the psalm David written. And Psalm 73 brought me to repentance of being angry with God all these time.</span></div>
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<span itemprop="articleBody">Those wicked who wasn't repenting, who would soon wither like grass, shouldn't be in your way. Ask this same question from Galactians 5:7,</span></div>
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<span itemprop="articleBody"><span class="text Gal-5-7" id="en-NIV-29170">"You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?"</span> </span></div>
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<span itemprop="articleBody">No one should be. And beware of not to be tempted to do the same as them but remember that God will bless those who honor Him with their actions and words.</span></div>
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<span itemprop="articleBody">Lastly, let me end with this parable,</span></div>
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<span class="text Matt-13-24" id="en-ESV-23563">The Parable of the Weeds</span></h3>
<span class="text Matt-13-24"><sup class="versenum">24 </sup>He put another parable before them, saying, <span class="woj">“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field,</span></span> <span class="text Matt-13-25" id="en-ESV-23564"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">25 </sup>but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds<sup class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-ESV-23564a" data-link="[<a href="#fen-ESV-23564a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+13%3A24-30&version=ESV#fen-ESV-23564a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> among the wheat and went away.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-13-26" id="en-ESV-23565"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">26 </sup>So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-13-27" id="en-ESV-23566"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">27 </sup>And the servants<sup class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-ESV-23566b" data-link="[<a href="#fen-ESV-23566b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+13%3A24-30&version=ESV#fen-ESV-23566b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</sup>
of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not
sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’</span></span> <span class="text Matt-13-28" id="en-ESV-23567"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">28 </sup>He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’</span></span> <span class="text Matt-13-29" id="en-ESV-23568"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">29 </sup>But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-13-30" id="en-ESV-23569"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">30 </sup>Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”</span></span><br />
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<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01692297152116303057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1358640107938072808.post-41074314969981278742014-05-24T01:26:00.002+08:002014-05-24T01:29:22.728+08:00Before I knew God<div>
At some point of our lives, we found Him. Whether you are already born into a Christian family and you went to your church's kindergarten, you had known all the animals that went into Noah's ark, or you found this Christian roomate in your campus who had been telling you about Jesus, and her act of kindness moved you to want to know this Nazarens more, or there is this Christian boss in your workplace who is considerate whenever you said you need to take a leave for some reasons and he asked of his Christian employees to pray together every morning before they start working, and that makes you wonder, or its just one typical Sunday, where you're on your way to nowhere, thinking about all the problems you had and you wonder what life is and you passed this church where you hear their singing, "Jesus is all the world to me,..."</div>
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At some point of our lives, we found Him.</div>
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But the Bible said, its not that we found Him, but He found us.</div>
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And I always had this question with me. Before I know Christ, did He know me? Is He there with me, when I was not even a Christian?</div>
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And I think the answer is yes. He watched over me. He knew my every move and every step. He is the One who formed me when I was in my mother's womb. Embryology, until now is still a mystery, and those stories that we discovered about fetus, they happened in an amazing way. There's no way this can be occurred by chance. There's no way you are going to tell, life which is such an amazing noun, was created by an explosion.</div>
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Before I knew God, at such young age of 11, because of the problem and stress I faced, I already started to have thoughts of giving up my life. Thinking back now, I knew God was there with me. He sent me an angel, which is surprisingly a dog, one day coming to our house as a puppy and ever since became my best friend. I named the dog Coco and I played with Coco everyday. Whenever something bothers me, I would tell Coco. Without my knowing, the depression inside me slowly faded away. And surprisingly, I managed to get a good result and when I proceeded to secondary school, I became motivated to study. And before that, I thought I was going to stop going to school.</div>
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And today if you tell me that science said pet is good to help with warding off depression. I would said that is true. But who know that during that time? Does my parents know that and buy me a puppy? Or do I know that and purposely search for a puppy on street? But God knows that and Coco came because God sent it as a messenger of Love.</div>
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And now that I know the Father who is always care for me. Sometimes, when hard times hit us and blinded us and made us think that God doesn't care nor He was not there, think of the blessings He had given you. Count the blessings one by one. And you will realized that He is always faithful and true who never forsake us. The dark time where you cried and think you're alone, He is there with you. The victorious times where you got up the stage to receive the award, He is there to cheer for you.</div>
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Because life isnt about what you had done for Him, its about your transformation in Christ as you walked this journey with Him.</div>
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Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01692297152116303057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1358640107938072808.post-54549746082571809692014-01-06T23:39:00.000+08:002014-01-06T23:39:41.916+08:00The Small Things and The Heart<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lyXz9ER6KRk/UsrMXsdIKJI/AAAAAAAAA9U/ALII6Il_SBo/s1600/woman+anointed+Jesus+feet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lyXz9ER6KRk/UsrMXsdIKJI/AAAAAAAAA9U/ALII6Il_SBo/s1600/woman+anointed+Jesus+feet.jpg" height="255" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I remembered when I first became Christian, I wrote a song for God. My mother was so happy about it that one day when the pastor and his wife came to visit us, she forced me to sing it before them . Sadly, the pastor wasn't really impressed by it. He said a few nice words about it but he went on to another topic of conversation. And so I kept the song in the "drawer". Until now, I couldn't remember what I had written.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was a long time since I came back to blog again. And I always do not know what to write. But today the reminder of this event made me want to blog again. Because if this song was to be written today, I wouldn't toss it aside anymore. Because I had known the One I am trying to worship and please with is my God.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Of course, back then, I was writing the song for God also. But I was inclined to take what people thought of me as what God would think of me. I believe many of us as a Christian today, we still seek approval from people. And sometimes we think God would accept us just like the way people would accept us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So when people look down on the small things we've done for God, we tend to think God has the same feeling as well. We tend to think saying good morning to a lecturer or giving a smile to an office staff wasn't a big thing, wasn't big enough to impress God. It had to be some revival of some places after we prayed or after we went there for a mission, THAT, THAT was going to IMPRESS God.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But God never look down on small things. If God were to do that, Jesus Christ would have laughed at the boy who brought Him five loaves and two fishes and said, "Oh boy, how naive you are, how are these going to feed the five thousands?" That's exactly what we always think of ourselves when we think the gifts we brought to altar was too little compared to what were being brought by others. But remember, God always multiply what we had just as Jesus fed the five thousands with five loaves and two fishes(John 6:1-14).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One of the characters of God that attracted me, amazed me and wonderstruck me was He told us Himself, "I am not like man, I do not look at the appearance, I look at the heart."(1st Samuel 16:17)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's the heart that matters. Today if you think the things you were doing for Him was too little, inspect your heart and see whether the only reason you do it was for Him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If God were to look at the appearance, He wouldn't pick a fisherman to be His disciple and do mighty works for Him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If God were to look at the appearance, He wouldn't humble an educated, high ranked Pharisee who threw away all that he had and said that the only gain he wants is Christ(Philippians 3).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If God were to look at the appearance, He wouldn't incarnate Himself into a carpenter's family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So do not expect from God like what you would expect from a man.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dreams to do big thing for Him, but at the same time do not look down on the small things you've done.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lastly, I would like to end with this verse;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." (Matthew 26:6-13)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.1875px;">This is what Jesus Christ had said of a sinful woman who had wiped His feet with her hair and perfume she brought.</span></span><br />
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<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01692297152116303057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1358640107938072808.post-9279075515950472642013-11-05T01:11:00.001+08:002013-11-05T01:25:59.346+08:00Christian's Love for Friend?<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">How does a friend love another
friend? To be honest, I was actually stuck with this idea for quite a few
years. Because I would like to think about it in a Christian’s perspective. And
it seems that I can’t find the appropriate answer even though I had my own speculation.
And it’s somehow amazing that as I went to bed just now, somehow there is an
answer lingering at the edge of my mind and whispering to me and making me
wanting to wake up and here I am, writing it down.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">A more accurate title, how does
a Christian love a friend? First, I had doubts for years because I see
different ways of showing love by different people. And I </span><span style="line-height: 27px;">couldn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> help but to
feel uneasy with some of the action. It actually broke my heart to see people compromise
God for friend. They had put friend prior to God. And the reason they gave me
is that it could be one of the ways to bring their friends to God? Examples,
people chose to attend a friend’s event rather than going to worship God,
people agreed with things that friend said or done which were actually hated by
God and people are tolerable with small sins such as signing attendance for
friend after being asked to.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">One thing I need to explain
here. If you love your friend more than God, chances are this love is going to
fade anytime. This is because this love might have been based on something,
like values. So if this friend can’t maintain the standard of the values you
had for him/her, this love is going to end anytime soon. Why, because you can’t
love if you didn’t love God. We love because God first loves us and God is
love. So if we are far away from God(Love), how can we possibly be able to
love? Sounds logic to me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">Christians are not anti-social freaks. Jesus had friends
too, in fact He wept the moment His best friend, Lazarus died and He had dinner
with Matthew who is a tax collector where no one wants to make friend with. And
His love for all these friends including you and me is genuine that this verse
had been proven by His sacrifice on cross for our sins: “</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;">Greater love has
no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends”.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">But do we treat our friends in such a
way that we had become the salt and the light to them? Or do our actions
pointed people to a darker way, to a journey where God is better off, where God
is not important in our lives so do in theirs?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Let us ponder over this
tonight to see if any words we had spoken or actions we had taken that actually
representing Jesus Christ badly, more importantly if these words and actions
had actually broken our Father’s heart. As I was writing this down, I was
reflecting it on myself too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Ask this question again, do we
love our friends? If it is so, what can be more important than introducing Jesus
Christ to them? (I know it needs time)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Ask this rather more important
question again, do we love God? If it is so, what can be more important than
bringing yourself to Him first before you try to bring anyone else to Him?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">If you do not think of God as
love, ask again, what brings you to church in the first place? Is it a Sunday’s
routine? Is it because you are born in a Christian’s family? Is it because it
seems to be cheerful and merry to sing songs in church? Anyway, I was simply
guessing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">But I do hope we all know the
reason why we came. It is the most exciting moment ever when it comes to
worship God and it would be absurd if any of us chooses other things over this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">So do invite, invite them in a
way that they come because they see Jesus Christ in you, not that it’s just another
way to please a friend.</span></div>
</span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01692297152116303057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1358640107938072808.post-16860621370267258162013-04-01T11:48:00.002+08:002013-10-16T20:58:51.884+08:00聆听好久没写了,特别想在这个时候写下这个感觉。我在这一刻有感而发。在我的人生经历当中(虽然只是区区的二十年)我得到了一个结论(so far)。<br />
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这个结论就是,<br />
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【唯有上帝才是最了解你和我】。<br />
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误会是在人际关系中常见的。甚至,我们有可能会误会我们自己。上帝创造我们是看为美丽的,但我们误以为自己是丑陋的。每一天世界都不断的在教导我们。从小大人口中,学校和媒体以帮我们列出了一系列可以让我们自我感觉良好的人生目标,“我要成为最棒的,最有型的,最有气质的,最有时尚品味的,。。。” 但是,我们发觉“人比人,气死人”,这种竞争好像是无止境的,而这种【想要成为最好的】虚空好像永远无法被满足。<br />
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没有人能够比上帝更加了解我们。如果,我们能够以上帝的眼睛来看我们自己,就好像大卫说的,“我受造奇妙可畏,。。。”的话,那么我想世界上再也没有我们不能够做得到的事,至少你再也不会让别人包括你至亲的人告诉你,你不能做什么。这就是为什么我想Nick Vujicic,一位天生没有手脚却信靠主的人,可以得出这样一个结论,那就是,Limitless(无限制)。而这种“无限制”只能够发生在愿意转移目标的人,而这个新目标正是我们被造的目的,(准备好了吗?),那就是,【为主的荣耀而活】。<br />
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为什么上帝不愿意我们论断自己的弟兄姐妹呢?因为我们没有真正的了解他们。其实,我们根本没有这个能力。试问谁能够进入到另一个人的心而体会到他的感受呢?就算是体会到了,有谁能够放弃可以控告另一个人的机会呢?唯有爱我们的神,藉着耶稣基督为我们的牺牲,才能够不计较我们的过犯。所以若你看到一位弟兄或姐妹,他的行为让你觉得不舒服,我想告诉你,不要这么快下定论,因为你不知道在他心里的痛苦,挣扎,纠结。。。。。。上帝感受到了,而他最盼望的是,不是我们走上前去控告,丢石头,重演法利赛人的那一幕,而是去聆听。<br />
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所以,今天我真正要讲的是聆听。(终于进入正题)<br />
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聆听是一件很奇妙的经历。不是每一个人都愿意来找你聆听他们的故事的。所以你要珍惜这种千载难逢的机会。<br />
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我相信聆听是一门很难的学问。因为当人家还没说到两句,你可能已经接上十句了。<br />
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聆听的功课是上帝让我看到的一件神迹。我不是说那种让你惊讶不已,超乎自然的神迹。我称这为神迹,是因为通过此事,我的人生观又再一次的改变。<br />
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我发现到当我们自以为是的时候,我们很难去聆听。所以我们靠着别人的说长话短,某某人的打扮,衣着,家庭,背景,成绩,行为先入为主的去认识一个人。所以那个人在我们的脑海里已有某些我们自己写下的特征。<br />
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但是如果你选择聆听,选择不理别人的批判,选择自己尝试来认识他/她,这个世界就会少了许多误会造成而挽回不了的遗憾。<br />
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我发觉通过聆听,我眼前的人已不是我想象中的人。尤其是在弟兄姐妹当中,若我们愿意花时间去真正了解每一个人,我们可能很快的就能够很合拍的去做神的工。<br />
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我记得,有人教过我,面对外人时要说七分话,三分留给自己,不知道你有听过否?这宛如是一种很有智慧的人生道理。但是我告诉你,在这一刻如果你有神与你同在的话,你就没有什么好失去的(Nothing to Lose)。一个跟你第一次说话的人,可以从此就把你当成知己,那是因为他感觉得到你在说话的时候,你将你的心掏了出来。<br />
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所以,特蕾莎修女有一句说的是,“诚实和坦率使你容易受到欺骗和伤害,不管怎样,还是要诚实与坦率。” 小孩之所以看起来像天使,特别容易亲近,对我们没有威胁性,是因为他们“真”。<br />
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有一部电影,叫做《The Blind Side》,白人妇女坐下来聆听了一个黑人男孩的心声,之后她在没有计较种族分别的情况下,收养了这个家庭有问题的男孩,给了男孩一个正常,健康的家庭,也改写了他的一生。而这部电影所拍的是一个真实故事。我相信上帝会赐给我们智慧去行他在我们心里所号召要去实行的事。没有什么比让上帝做我们的导航者来得更有趣的人生了。<br />
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p.s聆听这种过程是勉强不来的,不是说我叫你“Listen, Listen, Listen”,你就会聆听。Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01692297152116303057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1358640107938072808.post-78165890012532353192013-01-21T02:16:00.005+08:002013-01-21T02:16:41.005+08:00回家父亲牵着女儿的手,说,“走,我们回家吧!"<br />
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在路上,她翩翩起舞。Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01692297152116303057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1358640107938072808.post-25392198306122625982012-11-11T01:41:00.000+08:002012-11-11T01:50:35.407+08:00Dedicated to my Grandfather<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As I was in front of my computer screen, I couldn't really think of a word. I guessed I hadn't been able to comprehend the fact that someone I knew, someone that once had been so close to me is gone. Gone in a sense that you couldn't wake up one day and thought that you can have breakfast with him or invite him to your graduation ceremony or let him see what you do for your job or at least behave in a way that he wouldn't have to be worried for you anymore.<br />
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I was told by my father, that perhaps grandfather could hang in there for so long because he was waiting for me to come and say the last goodbye. And as I walked through the door of ICU ward and I saw him, supported by all these life machine, there was a hole on his leg where the bone was visible(according to my mother), most of his hair were shed off, he was many years older than the person few months ago. And I couldn't stop crying. I didn't know what were the last conversation we could have. My grandfather wasn't able to talk very much. All he was doing was giving response, yes or no. And I thought that at least, at least I made it, I made it to see him for the last time. And I said, "Grandpa, I had decided to try my best in doing my studies and hoping that I will be a doctor one day." "Good." That was all I heard but it was a word that reminded me of all the advice from my grandfather last time which he had been wishing to impact my life, to see me grow into a disciplined person. And all these happened on the day before he passed away.</div>
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During the years I stayed with my grandparents, I was rarely beaten by him because grandfather was hoping to reason with me about every situation instead of teaching me a lesson with just a stick and some cries. Yet in the last normal conversation I had with my grandfather, it was a confused grandchild in a depressed manner and a grandfather who was wishing very much from his heart that he could see me walking in the right path.</div>
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Grandfather was a person of strong will. He chose to drop out of school and worked for the living of his two parents and 12 other siblings. At the age of 12, he was already fishing the crabs to earn money. He told me that during the last time when their family was so poor, he had to hang the salted fish on the dinner table and by looking at the fish without eating it to finish his rice. Because of the story in his past, that he had been looked down by people even when he was buying groceries where people would ask first whether he had brought money with him, these pasts had molded my grandfather into a person which with very strong determination and he was able to make a good living for himself and his family today.</div>
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And so, he chose to go on with the surgery even when the doctor had been telling that the survival rate is not high. And while he was on the bed, kept alive by the machine, he still tried to move and exercise his injured leg, never gave up a hope of life!</div>
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I do not know about the feeling of the young people out there. But I need to say this, no matter what kind of difficulties that come to us, we could either let them beat us down or we let them making us stronger. And many times, our young people chose to end their lives, leaving behind confused and depressed parents yet not knowing that on the other side of the world, people were not giving up till the last breath.</div>
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In a world flooded with all kinds of social networks, communication had been made so easy and yet so simplified. Often we thought we could always get back to a person when we have time later. But things do not happen according to our plans. And we do not seek to love a person only after he/she is gone. Therefore, may you appreciate the time to be with your family and loved ones now.</div>
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And what I had been written here today couldn't measure up a portion what I had felt for my grandfather. I felt thankful for being loved by him, I felt thankful for having him in my life.</div>
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And it was raining when my grandfather passed away. And I was wondering why every time someone I know is gone, it will rain. And it reminded me of Jesus Christ crying when Lazarus was dead. And it reminded me that God loves every soul and He understand how I feel and also how every other person feel when they lost their family. And most important of all, He loves us so much that He is willing to give up His Son to save us. (John 3:16)</div>
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Grandpa, may you rest in peace.</div>
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Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01692297152116303057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1358640107938072808.post-52819645373429183772012-09-23T01:34:00.000+08:002012-09-23T01:45:20.005+08:00Called To Be Different<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oLFOlyeSIU4/UF30yNWnYuI/AAAAAAAAA54/sw1gURleuHw/s1600/portrait_of_man_wearing_cross_bld014569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oLFOlyeSIU4/UF30yNWnYuI/AAAAAAAAA54/sw1gURleuHw/s320/portrait_of_man_wearing_cross_bld014569.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Your actions represent more than you.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Recently I discovered this page by a Pastor named Jarrid Wilson and I'm very blessed by his posts on</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/JarridWilson" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> facebook</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and also his </span><a href="http://jarridwilson.com/" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">blog</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There is one particular post that I think, God had been using it through him to remind many of us Christians including myself about how we should really live like a child of God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But before the post, there is one status in his facebook that could be the opening of what I'm going to share today.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"If you claim to be a Christ follower, remember that your actions represent more than just YOU. Don't reflect an image contrary to Jesus."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;">-Jarrid Wilson</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Let's see if there's any familiar situation here;</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">1. One morning you are reading Bible in a coffee shop, then people start flooding in, some see you with the Bible and start giving you that strange look. Well now, the Satan can easily use insecurity to attack you. You will start to have thoughts like this, 'Maybe I should have find a more secluded place. Maybe I should have put my Bible back in my bag. Maybe I should have read the verses on my phone.' You have all these thoughts simply you had been taught by the world that reading a Bible in a public place is something abnormal. (This is some gist from Jarrid's post)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">2. You might have some gathering with your non-believer friends. Then, they plan to watch a movie. The title is 'Hangover', a movie displaying a lot of sex messages together with a lot of f' words. You are going to refuse, but then you think this might just annoy your friend for acting "holy".</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">3. Your lecturer is trying to display some sex or idol worshiping videos in the lecture as for understanding the topic according to him/her. Can you decide to leave the class?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">4. Your friends is inviting you to their religious events. You have decided to go simply for the reason you thought it would be easier for you to invite them to Christian event next time.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">The fourth one is a real struggle to some of the friends. But to be honest, this is simply a lie from the Satan. By going to your friend's religious events aren't going to help him/her to know better about the gospel instead this action just prove that you are agreed with the concept, 'Every religion is the same, you worship yours, I worship mine and then we all go to heaven together.'</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">5. This fifth one had happened to me. There is a time where I decided to stop blogging about Christianity simply because I had bought the lie that I didn't deserve to do so and this would offend my friends, let it be Christian or non-Christian.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Actually this evening I just went to the prayer meeting. And then some issues were brought up. In the middle of the sharing conversation, a brother kindly told us that he was asked by his friends to clarify some facts for his friend's religion. It might be as if this brother was of good intention, not wanting his friends to have any bad impression on Christians. But we can actually refuse that, in fact we must! If we did helped clarifying certain facts about other religion, we are representing a stand against the Bible. We might answer nicely to our friends, 'If anyone has any doubt with your religion, I hope you confront them yourself.'</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">It's time we take a stand and set ourselves apart rather than giving people a blur lens to see Christians and wonder if every road leads to Roman.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Some of our non-believer friends would feel very disturbed with the fact that only Christians can go to Heaven and the rest not. Questions would be raised.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I think the best we could do is by telling them, 'My friend, we do not define it this way. First of all, do you think you are able not to commit even a single sin in your lifetime? If you die tomorrow, do you have enough confidence to pass the judgment of God? This is the time when grace come in, that Jesus actually die on the cross to bear our sin and shame. A sinless man die for a friend to wash away his sins. How good is that?! That is why Christian are not saved by religion, but by grace and through faith. And because of love, God is offering us to be together with Him in the Heaven despite all the dirt in our life. Because in Christ, we are made new!'</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Well, if any Christian would have tell the gospel in this way, 'It's because we get to go to Heaven and you're not.' I would doubt his understanding of his belief. Let's say if, I say if, there is another religion offering ticket to Heaven yet allowing the believer to do all kinds of sins, would he switch?</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">We should know that we are attracted to Christ not merely by His salvation, His promise to let us dwell in the Heaven but the love that the Father have for us fulfill our purpose to be created. We are created to enjoy His presence.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">In fact, through gospel we do not bring a person to a secure place in Heaven, instead we are bringing him/her to their Creator who had longed to be with them long time ago.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I think if we are to wear a cross around our neck, we have to made the symbol before our chest real in our lives. To be honest, there are many times I stumbled to join in the gossips or discussion about the latest movie or song which do not glorify God at all. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I was ashamed of myself and disappointed too when Christians were so attracted to the hot new worldly event, that they talked more about it than Jesus.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">The recent Oppa Gangnam style was a hit. But how many of us would think that this is actually a meaningless video which might taken our eyes from Jesus and our time from God's words?</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I think our words and our actions matter every day. The moment you claimed yourself as a Christ follower, you are starting roles as representative and ambassador of Christ.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">People might just call you Jesus Freak. But how God sees you and how you please God is your life goal not the other way.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Beware of those actions that you thought it would be leaving a good impression on people but a wrong interpretation of Christ.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Lastly, let this verse encourage you and me to live out a life that glorify our God's name.</span></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Do not conform</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b> </b></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">to the pattern of this world,</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b> </b></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">—his good, pleasing</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b> </b></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">and perfect will. -Romans 12:2</span></span></i><br />
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Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01692297152116303057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1358640107938072808.post-78341436440262021332012-08-14T16:40:00.002+08:002012-08-17T04:10:06.444+08:00Why The World Has to Imagine?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTrDbikc5c5ZKMnRuVgs2U7Zn-kefZVjipCxLd5iAGzCGQCgMxhxg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTrDbikc5c5ZKMnRuVgs2U7Zn-kefZVjipCxLd5iAGzCGQCgMxhxg" /></a></div>
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The part which attracted my attention, of this closing ceremony of Olympics in London was when late John Lennon appeared on the screen singing his song, 'Imagine'.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">John Lennon had started his song with this,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Imagine there's no heaven</span><br style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">It's easy if you try</span><br style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">No hell below us</span><br style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Above us only sky</span><br style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Imagine all the people living for today</span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">John Lennon was a man who search for the truth. His failure of finding the truth made him come out with the song 'God' which said the only person he would want to believe was himself.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Is it really so? In fact John Lennon was so proud at a moment that he said, 'Beatles is bigger than God.' Later, he explained that he simply means their music might have affected the youth more than Christ. This might have been true at the moment and if we see the phenomenon going on even nowadays, young people are more interested in the entertainment than Christ and you might be shocked to see those group includes children from Christian family.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Later on, John regretted what he said, at a time when he was tired of his addiction to drug, he had asked help from one of the most influential evangelists, Oral Roberts by writing to him, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">"</span>The point is this, I want happiness. I don't want to keep on with drugs. Paul told me once, 'You made fun of me for taking drugs, but you will regret it in the end.' Explain to me what Christianity can do for me. Is it phoney? Can He love me? I want out of hell."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Oral Roberts sent him a long response, giving him a copy of his book Miracle of Seed Faith and a detailed explanation of God’s love for him. In the second letter, Roberts said, (excerpts)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #231f20; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.33333396911621px;">I thank God that you see this, John, and finally regret thinking any man or group could be more popular than Jesus. Jesus is the only reality. It is Jesus who said "I am the way, the truth, and the life." </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.33333396911621px;"><span style="color: red;">So, you see, your statement that because of your hard background you've never wanted to face reality</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.33333396911621px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.33333396911621px;"><span style="color: red;">is actually really saying you've never wanted to face our loving Lord.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #231f20; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.33333396911621px;"> What I want to say, as I tried to say in my other letter, is that</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.33333396911621px;"><span style="color: red;"> <u>Jesus, the true reality, is not hard to face.</u></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #231f20; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.33333396911621px;"><u> </u>He said, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.33333396911621px;"><span style="color: orange;">"Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. … For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #231f20; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.33333396911621px;">You said, John, that you take drugs because reality frightens you. Remember as you open your life to Jesus, He will take all the fear away and give you peace. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.33333396911621px;"><span style="color: orange;">Peace that passes all understanding.</span></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #231f20; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.33333396911621px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Surprisingly, I should say, Imagine is a song with a really important message. It was a expression from the world that it hates religion, country and materialism because these three things had caused pain to so many people. John Lennon wish to imagine that there is this perfect idea, where these three things are gone from the world, and the world is once again in peace because people love each other and are united. And he do realized that this is just a dream but he thought if everyone shared this one similar dream, it might come true.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #231f20; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.33333396911621px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He might go with a good starting point, but he didn't know that Jesus think rather the same at the idea of people loving each other. It is actually possible for people to love each other with them acknowledged that they are first loved by Christ. And isn't that religion, country and even materialism aren't something that God want for the world? Of course as Christian, we believe there are heaven and hell, we go to church every Sunday, we obey the ten commandments but for the sake of what reason, we are doing these in our lives? What does God really want us to have in mind when we are living our life by prayer and reading Bible? Do we think of Him or just ourselves feeling good for being 'holy'?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #231f20; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.33333396911621px;">This makes me kind of wonder myself, am I living in a religion or in a relationship with Christ? Does Jesus ever attempt to make this whole thing a religion and make his people religious? If we look at the book of Gospel, w</span>hether it was healing on the Sabbath (a major taboo in religious circles), dining with sinners or preaching messages of love and forgiveness, Christ didn't always please the religious establishment of His day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My question was the world has expressed its hurt today(if it isn't, there wouldn't be so much people responded to Beatles' songs and to other artists) and what can Christians do about this, in what way can we tell the world Jesus is the answer to all these pain?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think one of the reason that people's heart refuse the knock of Christ was they refused to accept the reality. They refused to accept that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. In fact, they doesn't want to admit that the world is sick, they want to be on their own, they want to revive the world themselves. But that could never be done.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In fact, how have we presented Christ to the world, is there any misrepresentation? The moment we couldn't hide our expression when we see a tattoo guy walking into church, the moment we refused to help a widow because she is not a Christian, the moment the rich and poor Christians separate themselves into group, the moment where we all became the priest who passed by on the other side when seeing a man half-dead on the road, after being robbed...... Would it be this attitude that incurred the doubt of people on God's love?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">I think we are victim of our own imperfection and self-reflection has to be made time to time because there is a reason Christian became uptight and hypocrite in world's eyes. </span>But, as the apostle John noted, a key to becoming effective in reaching the lost is this prayer: “He must become greater; I must become less" (John 3:30, NIV).</span></div>
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resources: <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.cbn.com/entertainment/Books/carey_john_lennon.aspx">John Lennon: One of Jesus' "Biggest Fans"</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #231f20; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1em;"><a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/januaryweb-only/001-22.0.html">John Lennon's Born-Again Phase</a></span></div>
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Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01692297152116303057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1358640107938072808.post-44857223546310381282012-08-09T01:53:00.001+08:002012-08-17T04:47:00.537+08:00The Dark Knight Rises in this World<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRmD0sXGzdfKmoXUZFt_JpF8e-BXtAYE4w7x83IRkXfgVafhT-Anw" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRmD0sXGzdfKmoXUZFt_JpF8e-BXtAYE4w7x83IRkXfgVafhT-Anw" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In this August, cinema was flooded with piles of new films and most of them are good makings which guaranteed high box office.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I had brought my brother to these three movies, The Amazing Spiderman, Total recall and the newest and maybe last Batman movie by Christopher Nolan with a super cool name, Batman: The Dark Knight Rises.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The dialogue, the acting, the actions, narration, story lines was almost perfect to a person like me who was serious in choosing movies. Surprisingly, I was the rare type of Batman 3 audience who didn't really watch Batman 1 and 2.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was sure unique in its own ways. I remembered I used to watch the Batman Animations, it was always villains like Joker, Riddle or Penguin who plan another chaos while the officers couldn't handle but Bat had to come and stop it. But for Christopher Nolan's Batman, the people of the city actually joined in the villain and it was a big riot. The Gotham city has presented various kind of evil reflected in various walks of life. I nodded when Bruce Wayne in the movie said, "The charity dinner are for the purpose of feeding those rich wives' ego." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At the beginning, story circles around Bane who started his plan by first trapping all the police forces underground and then he began to release the prisoners and roamed the city with all his followers. Those who are once opposed, poor in background rose up to have trials with the rich in sentencing court. It was finally them who get to be the judge. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Batman was defeated by Bane and was locked in an underground prison which he had to climb up high walls to make the escape. And during this time when evil is everywhere, the city was hopeless because it had lost its saviour.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Eventually Batman managed to make his way out and come back to stop everything including sending away the nuclear bomb which is about to blow up the whole city.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Batman was never back off even when his servant, Alfred and Catwoman had been advising him that it was not worth to trade his life just to save the city. But Batman won't give in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the contrary, the children who are running for their lives from the city was stopped by the police force from crossing the bridge. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I remembered when Blake asked Batman why he had to put on his mask, he simply answered, 'Anyone could be Batman, anyone could be the hero.'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There's a question here, does Christopher Nolan's Gotham city actually give the picture of our own world? The rich was wasting their resources but the poor had to die of trying to survive. The world was in rage, hopeless and would want a massacre to stop the corruption.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I remembered when the world was so corrupted back then, God did put a massacre to end it. In fact, Noah's ark story was never about how beautiful is the ship or how cute the animals like it shall be the story for children. It was in fact the scariest moment in human history when water engulfed the souls of millions, trillions from the whole universe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Does massacre a need in time now? Or a Saviour who would bring hope?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus Christ, the Messiah said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. <span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 20.981481552124023px; text-align: justify;">Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 20.981481552124023px; text-align: justify;">And He meant it to everyone regardless you are rich or poor in materials or soul.</span></span></div>
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Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01692297152116303057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1358640107938072808.post-20595157579136679632012-07-05T04:59:00.000+08:002013-11-05T01:35:52.116+08:00Faithfulness of God<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DDy7KeZytLY/T_Stg1YPuQI/AAAAAAAAA5k/KcdeInnJO3A/s1600/tumblr_m3fmo8zgF61rr66jdo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DDy7KeZytLY/T_Stg1YPuQI/AAAAAAAAA5k/KcdeInnJO3A/s320/tumblr_m3fmo8zgF61rr66jdo1_500.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taken from God's grace daily inspiration</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I don't think optimism works for those who loves God. I'm not gonna pretend to be happy because if there's something bothered me, I had to cry out to my Father.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When I was little, one day, I planned to escape from home. But the running away wasn't successful. I wasn't taking away clothes or money or anything because I started running by the time I was punished to stand outside the gate again. With whipping scars all over my body, I was kind of a display in the neighbourhood. Sadly, no one has ever said a word for me, in fact, neighbours hardly talk to each other.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I ran as far as I could and I found everybody on the street were looking at me. I was 11 years old at that time and I was so scared that someone would abducted me or find out what I was doing. But when I looked down, I found out why I caught people's attention. Because I wore a short that day and scars were all over my legs. I felt uncomfortable being looked at and so I risked coming back home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And here is how I should describe my feeling, I was so depressed that I asked the 'gods' to make me into dog in the next life because being beaten by human and having to search food in garbage is a lot better than my life now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">All I ever know is that my parents hated me very much. I was punished almost everyday. I lost interest in my study. All I ever doing coming back from school was to hide myself in room and talk to my toys. One day, a stray dog came to me and we became best friend and ever since, my time was only spent to hang out with my new friend.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But something changed me. I got interest in school and learning and all that. And all of a sudden, from a student at the bottom of my class, my academic results advanced by leaps and bounds. And then surprisingly I got straight As in my UPSR exam. I remembered my teacher who didn't like me very much smiled at me and gave me a pat on my shoulder and said, 'Good job!' I think every teacher consider student with good results are kind and obedient child which the lousy one will never measure up but I can tell that is not true at all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I wasn't sure if that was a good news either. Because I'm going to tell you from that day on, I was living for only one thing: EXPECTATION.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I had been using my grades to trade for my parents and my grandparents' love and also my siblings and my friends' respect. I was confused but I accepted the teaching that Love and Respect must be earned. And so, good results was all I pursued. I missed all the high school fun because I seldom joined any sports or made any best friend. I remembered one frightening experience when my parents are discussing to cut me from school and made me start working before they discovered that somehow I could be bright.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And so all the years in high school, I never took easy with myself. But all I ever gained was betrayal from teacher and friends. The teacher I used to pour all my heart into doing her assignment, reading extra apart from what she required just because I loved the subject she was teaching. But she cut me out of a competition without any reasonable excuses. The trust I put in her crushed that day. The trust I put in my friends turned into bubbles. Then they said something hurtful, they wanted me to contribute ideas but they won't give me any position or credits. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Then, one day after I quarreled with my family, my mother took a chair from my writing desk and hit me until I bled. I wasn't avoiding like I used to because I was so hurt that I simply wished she would have killed me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To make peace with her conscience, my mother said that I was mentally-illed and she had no choice but to beat me like that. So, she forced me to see psychiatrist and took those pills. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, what hurts me was not the hitting or violence but the fact that she didn't feel sorry at all beating me like that. Then, I started to hate studies and I always came up with tons of excuses to bail myself out from school.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">During that time, she had been to church several times with my brother. And together with the fact that one of the friends who betrayed me was a Christian and another Christian friend had been teasing ever since, I could hardly accept Christian faith at all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But strangely, when I sang the song about the precious blood on cross when I attended the Youth Fellowship, I was comforted by the peace that came to me and transcended all understandings. And I could never understand why He would die for my sins because my life experience told me there is no true love. But He just showed me true love is here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I used to be so lonely that my parents, my siblings, my grandparents, my teachers and my friends abandoned me. But for now, I discovered that if I had something bothering me, I have someone to trust, to hope and to tell how I feel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">However, things that had been happening freak me out. The failure of test that happened in my first year of university challenge my security. I started to feel insecure because I hadn't shaken the habit of living up to expectation. So now I thought God's love should be traded with my success too. I had this guilt that my failure had shamed my God. Then I felt insecure for fearing that my parents, my siblings, my friends would abandon me once again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Believe me or not, during the four months of dealing with failure, I had never been so close to God. And I know this regularly happen to people. God is always the last option when we found no one else can help. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When time has come which I believed I was recovered, I was crushed for the second time. I had a foot fracture during the year I was repeating and starting to do well and once again I had to delay my studies. That is the most confusing time. I was so ashamed to tell people what had happened. And I backslided by doing all the things I knew God wouldn't like me to do. I couldn't tell but it seemed each day, I was expressing my anger to everybody. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Time goes by and I started to come to my senses. Deep inside me I knew, I can't be separated from Him. I wanted Him back! Even tough my enemies were threatening me each day, I crossed my fingers and cried out to Him. And what is so unfathomable is the fact that He never left me at all and He didn't reject me when I wanted to be back to my Lord.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I knew fear, sin, anger, hatred, doubts, addiction will find their way to get back to me. But His presence with me have given me the strength.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I would like to share a letter I wrote to God in times of fear.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Dear Lord,</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm scared. I'm scared.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Waiting makes me scared.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">'No answer' makes me scared.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">'Failure' makes me scared.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Loneliness makes me scared.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The way people looking at me makes me scared.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My parents make me scared.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My sister makes me scared.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Knowing 'I can't' makes me scared.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Unknown future makes me scared.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Life is scary!</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Help me please!!!</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rachel.</span></blockquote>
Here is how God replies me:<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Weeping will last through some dark, awful nights-and in that darkness you will soon hear me whispering, “I am with you. I cannot tell you why right now, but one day it will all make sense…Hold fast. Let me embrace you in your hour of pain.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Then I remembered a man's life stories thousand of years ago, he never gave up on God when,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the brothers he trusted sold him to slave trader,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">his Master's wife put him to jail with something he had never done,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the prisoner he once helped had forgotten him,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">even tough it seemed he had to deal with a lot, he believed in the dreams God had given him and all he did was simply trusting. <a href="http://christianity.about.com/od/oldtestamentpeople/a/Joseph-In-The-Bible.htm">Read more...</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The true meaning of trust is to surrender completely even tough at times we don't understand, we believe He prepares the best for us. And without trust, I can hardly tell if I have relationship with God.</span><br />
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When I say I am a Christian<span id="more-3002"></span><br />
I am not shouting I’m clean living<br />
I’m whispering I was lost<br />
Now I’m found and forgiven</div>
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When I say I am a Christian<br />
I don’t speak of this with pride<br />
I’m confessing that I stumble<br />
and need Christ to be my guide</div>
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When I say I am a Christian<br />
I am not trying to be strong<br />
I’m professing that I’m weak<br />
and need His strength to carry on</div>
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When I say I am a Christian<br />
I’m not bragging of success<br />
I’m admitting I have failed<br />
and need God to clean my mess</div>
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When I say I am a Christian<br />
I am not claiming to be perfect<br />
My flaws are far too visible<br />
But, God believes I am worth it</div>
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When I say I am a Christian<br />
I still feel the sting of pain<br />
I have my shares of heartaches<br />
So I call upon His name</div>
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When I say I am a Christian<br />
I ‘m not holier than thou<br />
I’m just a simple sinner<br />
Who received God’s good grace, somehow. </div>
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-Carol Wimmer</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px;">For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:5</span>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/r_GNVWAo1pY" width="420"></iframe>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01692297152116303057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1358640107938072808.post-62250008421290218352012-03-07T01:02:00.005+08:002013-11-05T01:38:22.742+08:00Lose and Preserve<div>
<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><i>Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. -Luke 17:33</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal;">That's a horrible world out there. And inside.</span><br />
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Each day we battle with thousands, millions of decisions where we want to live without God. Skipping a prayer meeting because can't miss the party those cool guys throw out. Decided not to come to church as Saturday night is gonna be ladies night! </div>
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To be more precise, we wake up and have that anticipation to tell ourselves or to have this done: I want to live on my own!</div>
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One living example that I see. A bunch of kids who joined the youth service; they never missed one service, they learned the instrument with commitment and played during worship, they still show up even though it's time for Bible study, they helped out all the time during Christmas, they enjoyed so much to meet new friends and care for those newcomers, they share their happiness with people for being in the church,......</div>
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but once it came to the decision 'I wanna give my life to Christ,' they stopped at the door of gospel and hesitate, juggling a while whether they should really knock.</div>
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Because common sense makes us think, once we knock, we are gonna be Christ's slave forever and there are so many things that I haven't done which I really wanna do. Maybe a little while later.</div>
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So, they decided to wait. Till the day where they are free for Christ because their schedules are packed now.</div>
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So, they took off, really on their own, to different places and slowly, they lost the very remaining fire and Jesus is yet another name to be clicked 'like' on the fb but without any really intimate connection. Church is a place to hang out during Christmas. The rest of the days, work, bf/gf, traveling and whatever plans they squeezed from their mind just to make their lives look fulfilled. But inside there is just emptiness and never fulfilled.</div>
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Because we all believe in the LIE that we can live a better life out of ourselves but ah ah, not with God.</div>
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We are somehow like the Prodigal Son, we can't wait to venture the world, so we asked some permission from our DAD, sort of and we flew away.</div>
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But we made a little different promise that we will always come back. However, we didn't.</div>
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There are so many beautiful things that blurred our sight that we no longer put it on Jesus.</div>
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The Father of Lies is telling us that you sure gonna feel better if you eat that apple.</div>
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And we bought that, all the time.</div>
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Let me tell you this. I am one of these people. Everyone is so capable of being beaten to the ground.</div>
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But Grace lifts us up to the platform and give us the free chance to make choice again and battle on. It has to be cried out for.</div>
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I believe there is Heaven and Hell. </div>
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Yet I also believe that each day we get to choose to enter Heaven or Hell.</div>
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For as [a man] thinks within himself, so he is. -Proverbs 23:7</div>
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There is a freewill to make choice. Whether I'm gonna be with God today or I'm gonna not be. And the result is Heaven or Hell.</div>
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This choice is somehow called attitude as regarded by people. How you respond to the situation is always more important that the situation itself.</div>
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Some people were too indulged in the pleasure of sins as if there is a warm bed in the valley.</div>
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Some were ashamed away.</div>
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That's the opposite. Where the Truth is, His strength is always perfected in our weakness. The bad choices should always bring us closer to Him but not making us to shrink away.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">In Narnia 2, C.S Lewis wrote, Aslan said to Prince Caspian, 'When you said you are not ready, then you are.'</span><br />
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'Commit' perhaps is a BIG word. But you surely don't want to miss the BIG LIFE behind the word.</div>
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Giving our lives to Christ is not the time when we lose our freedom but it's time when Christ set us free so we cried out 'ABBA, Father'.</div>
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Giving our lives to Christ is not when we lose ourselves but we found ourselves.</div>
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<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><i>Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. -Luke 17:33</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">That's a horrible world out there!</span></div>
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You need God!</div>
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Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01692297152116303057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1358640107938072808.post-54005898986925971102012-01-05T02:14:00.004+08:002012-01-05T02:38:59.495+08:00My strength comes from just one placeJust found a blog draft long forgotten inside my laptop, thought I should be sharing it.<div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Every morning we woke up to news, to gathering people planned to have their voice be heard, to more murders and abuses, to frequent disasters that took away lives and properties, to the starving and sick babies in a place far from your touch, to a young man who just chose to end his life after being accused of molesting a girl.<br /><br />People are frustrated with the way they live, the way people controlled them and the way life controlled them. It seemed hope is the least thing of expectant and faith is cheaper than bread.<br /><br />I had been trying to figure out for several days on how should I view all these as a Christian, but not a concerning citizen or a frustrating young people. How should I approach all these desperation alongside with people in a way that God would want me to be?<br /><br />Should I support? Or stand aside? Or wait for Him? Can I send them gospel when they are asking me of money?<br /><br />And as the question bothered me as well as other questions in my life, God taught me a valuable lesson that answered all.<br /><br />I always thought I was a Christian in control with my own effort and strength. When I read about the LORD is my strength, it only sounds like an effect to me when I cried for help and when I felt that I am weak. But when things just go on smoothly, I still bow down to the verse with humility and unawarely believe that whenever I was doing something with my own strength, it was the strength from the LORD!<br /><br />Horribly, it brought about the adverse effect that when I struggled on something, when I failed, when I lost control, God is the first one my mind is trying to blame. This act would just reject the whole Bible and Truth when promises of victories from God are wiped off my heart. Yet, I didn't realize it, it was like a vicious cycle where I feel the strength and not feel the strength.<br /><br />There is a movie called Green Lantern recently which the character gained power from a ring. This movie just illustrated many of us, Christians who believe there are times we put on the ring and have power and there are times we just drop the ring somewhere and lost it, so we have to find the ring again.<br /><br />No! But the Bible doesn't promise the strength is to be feel but it is there! It exists all the time with me. Because the strength is the LORD! LORD exists there all the time with me. He never left for lunch time or whatsoever the reason you could think of. Realistically, many Christians misunderstood that God left us in the time we are most hopeless, in the time we sinned and in the time we failed. This is just the polar opposite of the Truth!<br /><br /><b>“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (</b><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matthew%2011.28"><b>Matthew 11:28</b></a><b>)<br /><br />“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (</b><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20John%201.9"><b>1 John 1:9</b></a><b>)<br /><br />Jeremiah 29:11 </b><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="75" preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas> <v:path extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> <o:lock ext="edit" aspectratio="t"> </o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="NIV" style="width:15pt;height:9pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.gif" title="NIV"> </v:imagedata></v:shape><b>For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.</b><br /><br />One of the examples is me. I feel vivdly the emptiness inside me when I gripped on the past and believe there's no turn back. I was so disappointed with myself that I think everything is over. There's no way God is going to forgive me because this is different, this sin is different, this time is different. (Beware, this is lie) But does the Bible says any difference?<br /><br />And God is just amazing!!!<br /><br />I remembered so vividly too on how He work in my life in present, in the future and ETERNALLY.<br /><br />Last week, He brought me a chinese praise song, called the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OilF-CYJWcA&feature=share">Rainbow's promise</a>. He reminded me that His promise with me is eternal and the rainbow is a mark for it. It doesn't change even if I failed, I sinned or I ran away. The promise is there. The plan is there. He is there for the prodigal to come back. Running away doesn't just make the promise gone. And in the movie, the guy tells a very special quote, 'Rainbow is actually a circle. Half on the earth and half in the Heaven. When we finished our mission on the earth, we will go back to Heaven to meet with the person we loved.'<br /><br />And the next day in church on Sunday morning, the Pastor preached about Luke 5:1-11 and as I'm blogging about it, God reveals more to me.<br /><b><sup>3</sup> He(Lord Jesus) got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore.</b><br />When God told us to do something which is inside our comfort zone( a little from shore), we always feel good to do it. Indeed if we completed the task, we feel so much more contented and glad that we managed to serve Him. Because it is inside the comfort zone, you feel secure to do it for the LORD. You can do the thing asked without RISK(you're in control, with your own effort and strength, which the strength from the LORD is too risky to rely on because it is unseen).<br /><br /><b><sup>4</sup> When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”</b><br />Now you see what Simon reacted next when he was asked to go deeper.<br /><br /><b><sup>5</sup> Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” </b><br />Simon listened to the LORD but the fact that last night he hasn't caught anything made him to feel risky to rely upon the LORD. Even tough our mindset for the LORD is the Almighty and Omnibenovelent but when it comes to rely upon Him, not many of us could practice this mindset into life, where we think if we couldn't do it, how could it be when God wants us to do it. We are afraid to seek strength from God, it is not comfortable at all(If I go deeper to Him, search deeper for Him, I might have to let go the ordinary and comfortable I have, I just want to be ordinary, I am too afraid to be victorious)!<br /><br /><b><sup>6</sup> When they had done so, they caught such a <span style="color:red">large number of fish</span> that their nets began to break. <sup>7</sup> So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they <span style="color:red">began to sink.</span> </b><br />See what God just did!<br /><br /><b><sup>8</sup> When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”<br /></b>You see, we are afraid of His blessings because we think we don't deserve it. And we often think when God call us to do something, we are too afraid that we are not able repay such large number of fish. We always think that GOD is waiting for us to repay. (Better give me a small number of fish, because I don't know what shall I do to repay when you just give me such large number of fish, I am just a sinful man! I don't deserve it!)<br /><br /><b><sup>9</sup> For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, <sup>10</sup> and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “<span style="color:red">Don’t be afraid</span>; from now on you will <span style="color:red">fish for people.</span>”<br /></b>Do not be afraid. God wants to show Simon Peter that as you put into deep water, I gave you a large number of fish. And now I have a greater plan for you, <span style="color:red">fish for people</span>. Just like previously, my promise never changed. I am there for you as well, making sure you will get large number of people.<br /><br /><b>11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>My strength comes from just one place, that is belonged to Jesus. </i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>-Kim Walker(during worshipping with the song 'You are my Passion')</i></b></p></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01692297152116303057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1358640107938072808.post-78368627740518509132011-12-28T22:40:00.002+08:002011-12-28T23:22:23.202+08:00FakersI guess in our lives, we met a lot of fakers. Almost everywhere, even in church. <div><br /></div><div>During school days, when you asked you friends how had they prepared for the test, they would most probably said, 'Nah, I haven't read anything.'</div><div><br /></div><div>And I know well that you and I despised these kinds of fakers because we always think relationship is ought to be honest and true after all.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is something I heard from the movie 'To save a life' during CF just now, a youth pastor was telling the youth, 'Church is a place where you should be who you really are but not coming to pretend that you got all well.'</div><div><br /></div><div>But most of us carried this feeling to church, to CF, to any meeting with brothers and sisters so that we looked fine to them and then we went back to another miserable week.</div><div><br /></div><div>And I thank God that because of the LOVE He had showered upon me for the years I had been with Him, I realized that hating the fakers won't help them at all.</div><div><br /></div><div>Frankly, before I met Christ, I would give you the same answer, 'Nah, I haven't read anything' if you would ask me.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, maybe you do not feel honesty from the person telling you this, but don't you ever want to have a guess that maybe this person talking to you right now is faking because he/she just doesn't have enough confidence to tell you the truth.</div><div><br /></div><div>Fakers are but a group of people lacking of love and is earning love from people by hiding who they are because they too are ashamed of themselves.</div><div><br /></div><div>And the part you see in me isn't the me being religious. No, Jesus is not a religion to me. He is a friend.</div><div><br /></div><div>I got a friend who always telling me in a sarcastic manner that I am religious.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now if I'm telling you that if I am still following the law and I would try to accomplish by obeying the law, then I'm dead!</div><div><br /></div><div>Because it's IMPOSSIBLE!</div><div><br /></div><div>It's impossible that you can follow the law to a standard where you can make right with God.</div><div><br /></div><div>The part of my life you see in me, loving my God, putting my God first, avoiding things that would offend my God is actually given by Jesus Christ Himself.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm saved by Grace, not by law. Law is just telling me what mistakes I made.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sometimes I would make mistake. But God is merciful. He allowed space for failure. But as fast as I can, I turn back to Him and He would hold my hand again like a Father, guiding me towards the right path.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, if you see a faker today, you should feel how insecure is it inside of him/her, it is to a degree that he/she has to deny his/her own self worthiness.</div><div><br /></div><div>God doesn't make us to feel unworthy.</div><div><br /></div><div>We are fearfully and wonderfully made.</div><div><br /></div><div>Only His LOVE can give us the true security, not the person we try to please, not the person we try to earn approval from, not the public we have to purposely behave towards, not the fame, the money, the status or a bunch of friends that would show up only if you can do them any good.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you see people faking today, remember how Jesus had came to die for you and them.</div><div><br /></div><div>From my experience, I guess the biggest hindrance for us to reach out is our inability to accept people weakness and to replace judgment with love.</div><div><br /></div><div>The most striking question I got from the movie today, 'Who had you judged today?'.</div><div><br /></div><div>Do we really have to squeeze in so much to the world culture that we start to develop our attitude, our speaking manner, our socializing skill based on what the magazine, TV, vampire diary and gossip girl told us?</div><div><br /></div><div>Do we have to XOXO when gossip girl is doing XOXO?</div><div><br /></div><div>Do we have to shout fighting fighting when korean pop stars are doing the same thing?</div><div><br /></div><div>It's not like the whole world is faking but we are not.</div><div><br /></div><div>But Jesus Christ can give you the freedom from all these things.</div><div><br /></div><div>You just have to let the light meets the dark.</div><div><br /></div><div>I guess this song will help you know more about it:)this is not the whole Christian thing after all, this is about finding who you really are, the one God created you to be.</div><div><br /></div><div><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BFUHrXfuNU4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01692297152116303057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1358640107938072808.post-78356537385833685462011-11-10T20:08:00.005+08:002011-11-12T01:12:12.621+08:00Beauty<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Roqf3PzCS_4/Tr1XHTntP0I/AAAAAAAAA40/1ynzCFjw4XY/s1600/lead-free-lipstick2-lg.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Roqf3PzCS_4/Tr1XHTntP0I/AAAAAAAAA40/1ynzCFjw4XY/s320/lead-free-lipstick2-lg.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673786888594210626" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u><br /></u></span></div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 19, 32); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; background-color: rgb(249, 253, 255); "><i>Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. -John 15:4</i></span></div><div><br /></div>2 days ago, I saw on TV that London is having an exhibition of almost all Da Vinci's paintings. Different country were sending in his works just so that all his works can be shown at the same time. There are so many fans of him and one of his fan looked so excited when being interviewed. From there, I found out that Da Vinci was an impatient man. Most of his works were unfinished but he was good at drawing woman, in detail of their expressions.<div><br /></div><div>I guess the beauty behind all these, why do people admire Da Vinci and also many other painters weren't just about their arts, but is how all these brilliant minds can maneuver their hands to paint out such beautiful picture...how they turn a blank paper into something beautiful or more precisely, perhaps we envy of their ability to see something beautiful each time out of a blank paper.</div><div><br /></div><div>There is a time where I once struggled on the word 'holy'. I always wonder what is this mean? What are the measurement or standard to define 'holy'? How shall we judge if a person is 'holy'? 'Holy' saints, why are they 'holy'?</div><div><br /></div><div>I was lost. I didn't know how to live up to my Father's expectation. Not that I'm knowing that God doesn't expect out of us.</div><div><br /></div><div>And so I trained myself. I woke up at 5 every morning to pray. I remained silent when people were arguing. I only listened to Christian music. I stopped watching any movie. I worked very hard on the study. I forced myself to bear with it when people tried to pick a fight. I prayed before I slept. I spent time on the Words.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was actually satisfied with what I had done.</div><div><br /></div><div>But deep down in myself, I know that I wasn't being me. I was forcing some behavioral change in myself in order to please God. Then I was tired, I collapsed only to find that this is just a temporal change.</div><div><br /></div><div>There is a saying that goes, 'Beauty lies in the eyes of beholder.'</div><div><br /></div><div>After reading the novel 'The Shack', I found an answer to my question. </div><div><br /></div><div>God doesn't expect me. He knows me. He knows me well, that He doesn't have to expect me.</div><div><br /></div><div>All of us is like the blank paper, where we see nothing outside but God sees a lot of beauty in us.</div><div><br /></div><div>I agree to those who said God is the best painter. Because He sees us lovely and holy. Holy is not the requirement. It is already what He had seen in us.</div><div><br /></div><div>I just have to be myself. Because I'm no more under the Law. </div><div><br /></div><div>You may wonder, what if things fall apart?</div><div><br /></div><div>I just need to have the trust in Him.</div><div><br /></div><div>God doesn't want me to set up some hierarchy or pyramid and put Him on the top just like that. </div><div><br /></div><div>He wants every piece of me, everyday. </div><div><br /></div><div>I just hope I can see things like Him, not the outward appearance but the inner heart.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our souls are like a garden, together with the Holy Spirit, we are working on the garden everyday.</div><div><br /></div><div>I can't explain, I only know that it needs obedience, submission and most of all LOVE. </div><div><br /></div><div>You will feel differently when you see the world with His gracious eyes:)</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; background-color: rgb(53, 69, 110); ">Words can never say the way He says my name</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; background-color: rgb(53, 69, 110); ">He calls me lovely</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; background-color: rgb(53, 69, 110); ">No one ever sees the way He looks at me </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; background-color: rgb(53, 69, 110); ">He sees me holy</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>-Sing My Love by Jesus Culture</div><div><br /></div><div><i><b>P.s Romans 12 can be a good starting point.</b></i><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01692297152116303057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1358640107938072808.post-60487466706024981992011-11-05T13:35:00.004+08:002011-11-12T01:57:21.884+08:00Reality is ODD.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RRRo_mobFuw/TrTVUhRNJpI/AAAAAAAAA4M/3CKTKVyDv6Y/s1600/REALITY%2BIS%2BODD.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 161px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RRRo_mobFuw/TrTVUhRNJpI/AAAAAAAAA4M/3CKTKVyDv6Y/s320/REALITY%2BIS%2BODD.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671392379270932114" /></a><br />After all, real things are not simple. Reality is usually very odd. "It's not neat, not obvious, not what you expect...this is one of the reason why I believe Christianity. It is a religion you could not have guessed." -C.S LEWIS.<div><br /></div><div>Last CF, our speaker Michael William talked about trinity. And he quoted Lewis just to tell us that reality is not simple, it cannot be made simple, one of the example is trinity. If we find trinity hard to understand, it doesn't mean it is not existing. And if we think we know God good enough, this is hilarious cuz a thing being created can never fully understand their Creator. No man can stand up and claim this is the God we believe in as described in his own human ways and thinks that they are right. Then, how shall we know who we believe in? Piece of cake. We look into the Bible. Because that's the Truth. But God is a lot more than that, He is too supreme and only those who seek Him with their hearts that God would reveal to them.</div><div><br /></div><div>When I first heard this quote, I found it related to myself. I was so encouraged with this quote cuz when people were wondering why I failed my exam[even if myself], I couldn't find a word for it. But now this thing doesn't really bothering me anymore, cuz reality is odd, and I started to forgive those who misunderstand me cuz they didn't know the reality. </div><div><br /></div><div>And through what I had experienced, I found that God taught me a very important lesson[of course, there are many lessons that come together during the time], He asked me not to judge. I felt sorry because sometimes I couldn't but to judge people. But now that I found everyone around could have been judging me for my failure without knowing the story behind or the reality, I know that I might be just one of them when I looked to another person's mistakes.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another thing is, God is so superior, of course we admit that and we sing about that but when a situation came, do we usually stick back to what we believe? Whether good things or bad things happen, God is always in control. There's a funny quote on fb that says, God might have 3 kinds of answers to your prayer, 1. Yes. 2. Not Yet. 3. I have better in my mind. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, whether it's sickness or failure or trauma or tragedy......or let us quote back from Paul...</div><div><br /></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; background-color: rgb(249, 253, 255); ">Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; background-color: rgb(249, 253, 255); ">As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; background-color: rgb(249, 253, 255); ">No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.</span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; background-color: rgb(249, 253, 255); ">For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; background-color: rgb(249, 253, 255); ">neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.- Romans 8</span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 19, 32); font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; background-color: rgb(249, 253, 255); "><br /></span></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 21px; font-size: medium; ">And bad things will happen to good people. So, reality is odd and it's not of what you can expect. You don't expect Christians to be rich, healthy and not dying. In fact, Christians have to die everyday, to their sins. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">Same to the failure I once had. Friends are somehow sad for what had happened. But Praise the LORD that Father of all loving had turned evil into good. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">This came to me when I reached here, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: small; ">And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is </span><em style="font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: small; ">made perfect in weakness</em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: small; ">.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 19, 32); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; background-color: rgb(249, 253, 255); "><i><b>And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.- Philippians 4:7</b></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 19, 32); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; background-color: rgb(249, 253, 255); "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">My testimony is much related to the Forgotten God. I'm waiting on Him to make me tell.</span></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01692297152116303057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1358640107938072808.post-1481491094397566662011-10-23T15:33:00.004+08:002011-10-23T15:57:35.624+08:00PASSION<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L1MbAIiTlD4/TqPI6YlFrII/AAAAAAAAA3U/RcDXVEEKyZk/s1600/Nick%2BVujicic.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L1MbAIiTlD4/TqPI6YlFrII/AAAAAAAAA3U/RcDXVEEKyZk/s320/Nick%2BVujicic.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666593661518195842" /></a><br />One thing I didn't like about blogging was often I found my posts at different time were contradicting. This was actually bothering me for quite some time where I decided to give up blogging for readers would find me a rather unstable person. My stands were not stable.<div><br /></div><div>End up, I discovered that this is actually a good thing, it means that I am constantly growing and changing my perspectives.<div><br /></div><div>Or to say, if I am willing to be committed to this relationship with God, He will constantly bring me from one place to another place, like a teacher, teaching His daughter new things everyday.</div><div><br /></div><div>If we tried to act smart, we would remain in the same place and God wouldn't move. Because at the time we felt so proud about what we knew, it was hard for us to accept something that would freak us out yet that is supernaturally true.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is why Jesus said, '<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="woj">“I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-23486" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">26</sup> Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do..." -Matthew 11:25</span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="woj"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="woj">I used to be so sensitive to people around that I chose to be silent rather than saying something wrong. I chose to give up blogging because I dare not to have any defect in my writing. I was so indecisive in making choice for fearing any choice would be a regret. I hardly cracked a joke as I was afraid that the situation would turn silent rather than to laughter.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">After all I found these were unhealthy feeling. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Believe it or not, life's worth making mistakes. If we seek to be perfect in all things, this is not a life anymore.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Just as if we seek to be smiling all days but prohibiting ourselves from crying and feeling angry, then we are not human anymore.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Live life and live with passion. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">If we are not passionate at all about what we are going to do but instead always stick to low-risk choices that would make us sound and safe, then you are BORING!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Don't weigh the benefits and harmful effects when we are doing things.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Do the things we love, Love the things we do!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Be BOLD, Be PASSIONATE, Be THANKFUL, Be LOVING!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">His Grace is sufficient for us after all.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">PASSION</span> IN ANCIENT GREEK MEANS <span class="Apple-style-span">TO SUFFER!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">So, are you ready?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01692297152116303057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1358640107938072808.post-78551701616172978052011-10-07T22:13:00.006+08:002011-10-07T22:55:26.072+08:00inside the water...<div style="text-align: center;">(Today, I awkwardly put on swim suit for the first time of my life and together with my gut, I soaked myself into the water...)</div><div><br /></div>The feeling being inside the water is so different......<div><br /></div><div>As I (I was taught to) took a deep breath using my mouth(hooo) and immersed my head into the water, I see a different world, a different dimension(through my goggle), with the light shine into the water(I only get to see this a lot in movies) and that is so beautiful...</div><div><br /></div><div>Instant peace came when the voice from the outside world is filtered...</div><div><br /></div><div>(They told me to relax)</div><div><br /></div><div>And so I let go everything...I wasn't using any force...and then amazingly, I felt a force was lifting me up...and I was floating...I was floating...</div><div><br /></div><div>This made me to come to think of God...</div><div><br /></div><div>God asked us to let go every burdens and took up His yoke. But how many of us has actually listened?</div><div><br /></div><div>When we are trying to depend on ourselves, just like for the first time before I was taught, I tried to kick my legs so that my body could float, but I couldn't and I sank and then I started to be panic...</div><div><br /></div><div>When I tried for the second time, and for this time, I was completely surrendered to the water, letting the flow to bring me where to be, and surprisingly I found myself being lifted up...</div><div><div><br /></div><div>And that is just so peaceful, when I finally let go...and I managed to see another dimension of things through the water, like which the problems we often made big by our own pessimism...</div></div><div><br /></div><div>The feeling inside the water is so good, now I know why <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethany_Hamilton">Bethany Hamilton</a> would love the water so much...</div><div><br /></div><div>just wanna end with Psalm 131 here...</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><h4>Psalm 131</h4><b>A song of ascents. Of David.</b><p> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-16150" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">1</sup> My heart is not proud, LORD,<br /> my eyes are not haughty;<br />I do not concern myself with great matters<br /> or things too wonderful for me.<br /><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-16151" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">2</sup> But I have calmed and quieted myself,<br /> I am like a weaned child with its mother;<br /> like a weaned child I am content.</p><p> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-16152" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">3</sup> Israel, put your hope in the LORD<br /> both now and forevermore.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WhpdPphIkoM/To8Rf46ruEI/AAAAAAAAA3I/gjyWiywcFvU/s320/4.jpg" /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></span></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01692297152116303057noreply@blogger.com0