take heed

something I always forget

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

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Lesson from a Cocoon

I stumbled upon this meaningful article from here

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, and it could go no further. So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly. What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If God allowed us to go through our lives without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. We could never fly!

I asked for Strength……… And God gave me Difficulties to make me strong.

I asked for Wisdom……… And God gave me Problems to solve.

I asked for Prosperity………And God gave me Brain and Brawn to work.

I asked for Courage……… And God gave me Danger to overcome.

I asked for Love……… And God gave me Troubled people to help.

I asked for Favors……… And God gave me Opportunities.

I received nothing I wanted …….. I received everything I needed!

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learning and changing

I'm sure we've all failed in many areas of our lives...no matter how good we think we are, there will be certain areas we all fail in...


for example, you be very efficient and self-sufficient...but you can fail to love...it is really an easy word to say-love...but the hardest thing to do...we all can love our friends...but God asks us to go one step higher - love your enemies..


anyway, back to this topic or learning and changing..


I know the theory but I lack practical practice...


These past few weeks, I've heard and read the best sermons(wisdom , teaching, rebuke , correction, encouragement , etc )


But the problem is me...I sometimes think I have learned or can learn...I make new resolutions..and I fail them so quickly...
Yes, wisdom and discipline is important
But at the moment, if you remove God out of the equation and give me tonnes of wisdom, I will still fail..you, will still fail..


Week after week I thought it'll be better...but things got worse...


Then, I finally concluded that learning and changing, isn't always like Cinderella's fairy-godmother's waving of the magic wand...
I can look at the mirror, and then forget how i look...forget what I need to do to change..


God has been faithful, week after week I get those messages which speak to my heart...messages from people who have lived them out...


Seriously, we've all been disappointed by Christians, whether they're pastors, leaders, counselors or just a fellow member...
At times, i just get so fed up with them and myself in particular....


Is there hope for people like us..people who talk and don't do most of the time?


YES, there is...coz we rely on God's grace...His Strength is made perfect, when we are weak.


I sound like a good Christian at times...but only I know how I've lived my life...it has not been up to God's standards...but this has proven why we can't rely on our own endeavors..or own strength...


I'm glad God has not given up on me although I felt like giving up...
Even just last night, I went to church because I was serving, because I had to...
But God changed things...he made all things work together for good...


If you are still reading up until now and if you are a Christian (hehe ;p ), then remember one thing.
Never stop going to church, never stop "feeding" on Christian stuff...


Have you ever come to a point that the sermons have gone stale? "i've heard that before?" "same old thing"
Oh you are wrong..I was wrong...
Yes, many many many times the sermons are boring and repetitive...but if you don't give up on "feeding" on them, you taste some nice ones which will help you in your life...


If you've not gone to church for so long , or , go but don't feel anything...just ask God to do something
...say something!
I prayed...i forgot about it...but these few weeks..i tasted and was satisfied...
Yup, I still failed...but those words are already deposited in my heart...


It's still up to me to learn and change..but I know I can't do it alone...

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why? part 2

IF it weren't for my mom, maybe I would have skipped church or gone late due to the World Cup match at 2.30am..

I thought I was going to sleep despite sitting at the 3rd row from the front. But no...

A few things the preacher spoke which pierced into my heart..."Why do troubles keep on happening? It can be that God wants our attention"
I can't remember the exact words but that's how I remember it...

True enough...I may "know" or read or listen to God's Word, but I find it hard to really apply them...I find it hard to seek God.

In our own self sufficiency, we decide to do it our way or by ourselves...

God may not answer they way we want Him to...It's always easy to tell others that God knows best...when it comes to your turn, you may end up lost or disillusioned...

When I think carefully, bad times reveal in us that there's so much pride, "self", love of the world and it's pleasures, lust, covetousness...etc

I end this post knowing that blogging about this won't make any change happen..it's a first step to think about these things..the next step is to trust God and do...persevere...

I can't say I will do it immediately or never do it...

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why?

 I'm sure all of us ask God why...

Recent and present hard times have just reminded me bad times, tough times or whatever we call it has many purposes.

One thing it highlighted for me is who I really am. How do I react? What evils are inside? What's my stand?

We wouldn't know until tested. Then, it's up to us to humbly learn or proudly deny it..

Easier said than done...but it can be done.

Ouch.........

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"faith" to go on

After weeks and weeks of stressful work and "meaningless life", I really needed help from above...

To add the the problem. my sleep hasn't been really satisfying . That tight chest/block nose which affects my sleep and breathing has come back for the past few weeks...
Football stamina was also affected by this....

I was pushed to the edge..I had to choose to be fed up and do whatever I wanted..or fear God, who could  destroy both body and soul....

Hell is not sufficient to draw us to God, it's the relationship...it's about who He is..
But at these points in my life..that joy or peace didn't stand out..it was the fear that going against God was going to cost my life!
I had to choose again...I wanted to jump off the fence, but somehow, the comfort of sitting on it held me...
I know had to choose...no special feelings...I just know...but it's just not easy, one day I can choose this, the other day, I forget about it...

I've never listened to so much of sermons in one week...June 1st,4th,5th,6th in church.....in addition to the John Piper sermons I've listened many times while working...(btw, my job is kinda mundane most of the time, thus I had to listen sermons or music from time to time)

The main issue is this, after listening, DO!!!!!!! faith isn't a feeling rite?

It's like exercise...many people know they need it, but most don't do it...

So, last nite..I finally took out a new journal and started planning and jotting down what i needed to remember and do.....Have you ever failed so many times until you don't wanna try again? I've had a few journals...not really successful...

No special feelings, just faith to go on.

back to work..

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