Matthew 17:20. He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
This is the testimony sharing we had at youth fellowship on Saturday night. Please excuse the poor English translation.
Summary: This girl was the top of her class and tried to get the approval of her parents and others by being the best in everything- in school, in relationships, in looks, etc. She was able to feel successful throughout her primary and secondary school life. Then she started to notice that those around her were really pretty and she felt inadequate. She started to get symptoms of bulimia nervosa and insomnia but then it just kept getting worse. The frequency of her episodes got much more frequent and uncontrollable.
Even when she got into university, she tried to be the best and was in many different committees. It was at this time she was being pursued by several boys. But they grew tired of waiting for her and this left her devastated. Can love be eternal?
One day in class, she saw that one of her peers had a bible. She was laughing at him, mocking him, but he invited her to his bible study anyway. When she went, listened, and prayed. She wept. She felt like she was a sinner- the first time this had entered her mind.
The second part of the testimony shows the changes in her life. How God has used her to reach out to others.
My thoughts: Watching this in a dark room, surrounded by people who knew me was a bit difficult. The girl's history is not unlike my own. For the longest time I had a deep need to seek approval of others. And I too have accumulated many many folders worth of worthless paper. Certificates, awards that were used to boost my worthiness.
I too tried to fill the void in my life with friendships, material possessions, leadership positions, relationships. And this was after having grown up in a family of Christians! Alas, it took me quite a while to turn away from that line of thought. I'm not perfect now... but I know God isn't done with me yet!
If you or anyone you know suffers from Bulimia Nervosa, please see this website for details:
I had a look at what I was thankful for last year. Indeed I am still thankful for those things.
I am thankful for these things today- always
- My God who constantly provides for my every need
- My mother who has provided me with a servant attitude to love
- My brothers and sisters in Christ who have given their encouragement
- My friends who cope with my quirkiness.
- My students for your acceptance and respect
- The strangers who have given me hope.
Happy thanksgiving everyone!
Psalm 107:1 "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever."
My top 10 christian songs for thanksgiving 2012 - in no particular order.
1. All of creation- MercyMe
This is a song I can really shout out to. Of all the natural spectacles I've seen this year, I can't help but feel blessed by the creator.
To be honest, this is the first time I've heard this song in english, mostly we sing it in chinese. But no matter what language we sing, let us give praise!
One of my love languages is physical touch and really, when I really get into worshiping God, how can I stop but praise with my whole body? I absolutely love this song and dance! Get your worship on!
Everytime I run to this particular place, I think of this song. Sometimes we get so busy being Martha and expectations, plans- with the many service duties at church and fellowship. But all we need to remember we just have to be present- we just have to be here to worship!
In the old testament we see some awesome signs of God's existence. He split the sea in half to let his people walk through on dry ground, he created the heavens and earth, he provided his servants with safety in the den of lions. In the old testament he sent his spirit to visit his people - give them guidance, provide them with help, reveal to them visions.
BUT now, we are so lucky. His spirit not only visits us- it lives in us. This amazing God who brings the dead to live dwells in us. So how can we say we can't conquer the problems in front of us?
How can we say we can't finish before the deadline? How can we say we can't repair this relationship? How can we say we are lonely and am unloved?
So instead of giving up, remember that he is the I AM. This song was a great inspiration to me today. Although I am constantly chasing deadlines, making mistakes and disappointing people, it's not all lost. I am full of hope!
I’ve been the one To shake with fear And wonder if You’re even here
I’ve been the one To doubt Your love I’ve told myself You’re not enough
I’ve been the one To try and say I’ll overcome By my own strength
I’ve been the one To fall apart And start to question Who You are
You’re the one who conquers giants You’re the one who calls out kings You shut the mouths of lions You tell the dead to breathe You’re the one who walks through fire You take the orphan’s hand You are the one Messiah You are I am
I’ve been the one Held down in chains Beneath the weight Of all my shame
I’ve been the one To believe That where I am You cannot reach
You’re the one who conquers giants You’re the one who calls out kings You shut the mouths of lions You tell the dead to breathe You’re the one who walks through fire You take the orphan’s hand You are the one Messiah You are I am You are I am
The veil is torn And now I live With the spirit inside The same one The very same one Who brought the son Back to life
Hallelujah, He lives in me Hallelujah, He lives in me Hallelujah, He lives in me Hallelujah, He lives in me
You’re the one who conquers giants You’re the one who calls out kings You shut the mouths of lions You tell the dead to breathe You’re the one who walks through fire You take the orphan’s hand You are the one Messiah You are I am (Hallelujah, He lives in me) You are I am (Hallelujah, He lives in me)
There are so many dumb ways to die. It's a catchy tune. But it comes with a stern warning. In this case, Melbourne Metro did really well in gaining attention to rail safety. I shared the video. But after replaying the clip a few times, the seriousness of the message faded.
In the same way, some of us might have been capture entirely when we first heard the message of John 3:16. But as we repeated the message over time, we may have lost the seriousness of the warning. Indeed, if we don't believe in Jesus- we will PERISH. What a scary thought. Shouldn't you want to share this message too? But I hope this message never loses power.
John 3:16
New International Version (NIV)
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
You can actually download the song for free: http://soundcloud.com/tangerinekitty/tangerine-kitty-dumb-ways-to
Dumb ways to die lyrics: http://tamarindtoffee.tumblr.com/post/35896464269/dumb-ways-to-die-lyrics-youtube-viral
Set fire to your hair
Poke a stick at a grizzly bear
Eat medicine that’s out of date
Use your private parts as Piranha bait
Dumb ways to die
so many dumb ways to die
Dumb ways to die-ie-ie
so many dumb ways to die
Get your toast out with a fork
Do your own electrical work
Teach your self how to fly
Eat a two week old unrefridgerated pie
Dumb ways to die
so many dumb ways to die
Dumb ways to die-ie-ie
so many dumb ways to die
Invite a psycho killer inside
scratch a drug dealer’s brand new ride
take your helmet off in outer space
use a clothes dryer as hiding place
Dumb ways to die
so many dumb ways to die
Dumb ways to die-ie-ie
so many dumb ways to die
keep a rattle snake as a pet
sell both your kidneys on the internet
eat a tube of super glue
i wonder what’s this red button do
Dumb ways to die
so many dumb ways to die
Dumb ways to die-ie-ie
so many dumb ways to die
dress up like a moose during hunting season
disturb a nest of wasp for no good reason
stand on the edge of a train station platform
drive around the boom gates at a level crossing
run across the tracks between the platforms
they may not rhyme, but they are quite possibly
Dumb ways to die
so many dumb ways to die
Dumb ways to die-ie-ie
so many dumb ways to die
I love giving gifts, and I am guilty of probably filling other people's rooms full of JUNK. As the season for Christmas parties and gift giving begins, have you considered a more meaningful and useful gift this year?
While we are dealing with first world problems of not knowing what to wear, kids overseas are dying from preventable diseases. [This blog entry is not sponsored]
I have a a friend who is doing some mission work in Africa at the moment. The job isn't easy, while she is helping children, she has had to deal with serious safety concerns involving guns, animals, etc.
How hard can it be to replace some of your gifts with these?
This week's free song from Klove is kicking and screaming. http://www.klove.com/music/artists/third-day/songs/kicking-and-screaming-lyrics.aspx I have to admit that it's the first time I've heard this song and I had read the lyrics before I had heard it. If it wasn't on a christian radio station, you can mistake it for any old love song. I have been hit with wave after wave of bad news recently. My favourite couples breaking up, people who have strong relationships with God falling, fall outs with best friends. I wonder what inspired the band to write the song "kicking and screaming". What is the meaning behind it? I've recently seen a wedding sand ceremony. During a wedding ceremony, the husband and wife pour into a new jar two different jars of sand. Together they become one, and it is impossible to separate. In the same way, when we choose to follow Jesus, let us cling onto him for better or worse, richer for poorer, sickness and health... and if anything tries to keep me away from God? well, they better drag me away kicking and screaming :P
Matthew 19
New International Version (NIV) 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Kicking and screaming What if I told you that I love you What if I showed you just how much I would do anything to hold you Give everything to prove my love
(Chorus) Yeah, no one can keep me from your side Yeah, but if they ever even try They'd have to drag me away kicking and screaming They'd have to drag me away kicking and screaming
And if you said you didn't want me Kept me away, you said we were through You don't know just how ready and willing To do everything that I can to convince you
Chorus
I'd go anywhere As long as you are there You know I'd do anything As long as you're with me I would fight for you If you want me to I will not lie to you Give my life for you
They'd have to drag me away kicking and screaming They'd have to drag me away kicking and screaming
It's a funny thing to hear a therapist say. Sometimes I just don't know how to comfort someone. All I want to say is that everything is going to be ok. I want to give them a hug. But we can't do either.
Since coming back from the states, I have felt smashed. All the things I thought I was good at, gifted at, that used to come easy- for some reason is now a mess. I've been hiding the sense of feeling almost defeated and the hole just getting deeper and deeper. But I am not at the end of the road.
Friends, families, strangers come to me seeking answers, comfort. They want me to say that it will be ok. There is some simple solution to fix their present problems.
Will prayer automatically write your assignment? fix your relationship? heal your hurts and pains? automatically heal your sickness? I am 100% sure God can do it if he wills it. But instead, have you stopped to consider that even in the darkest moments, God is still there?
No matter what you are going through at the moment- whether it's a good or bad season, whether its night or day, God is there. Faith is just that-
Somedays I'm feelin' like I
Can't win, can't get it right and it
Don't matter how hard I try
Today is not my day
When it feels like I'm going crazy
And it looks like nothings changing
Come sun come rainy day
You are still the same
CHORUS
In the dark, in the light
In the morning and night
In the good, in the hurt
In the places I hide
When I rise, when I fall
You'll be there through it all
At the start, at the end
In the center of the center of it
Some nights I lay awake and I
Can't push these thoughts away
I'm worried where I'm gonna go
Where I'm gonna be are You gonna be there for me
When it feels like the doors are closing
Gotta trust that You're doing something
Come sun come rainy day
You are all I need
There will be days I will forget
Everything You've done for me
But when I go back there again
I'm reminded
In the dark, in the light
In the morning and night
The center of it all, the center of it
In the loss, in the win
In the beauty and the sin
At the start, at the end
In the center of the center of it
