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."
Friends have gone. I have met new friends. I've been overseas several times. I can see the end of my PhD. And I have to start thinking about a future. I've been through life/death situations, I have been left homeless in a foreign country, I have met people and have been betrayed. I've seen an endless galaxy of stars in a desert sky, the glorious mountain ranges and have felt all that much smaller. And those are just the big things, after all the things that I've been through over the past year, how can I not change?
I have loved, lost and forgiven. It never ceases to amaze me how far I have come. How selfish I was and how unlovable I still am. YET. Even before these changes began, and even before I was born, and incredible love story was written...
If you are still single, or if you are still finding out about your love story, why not start with the ultimate love story?
It's a story about sacrifice, patience and... grace.
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.
I heard on HK radio a lady being roasted alive by listeners because she had made a particular post on facebook. It was along the lines of "If you aren't going to contribute $500HK, don't bother attending the wedding banquet". People on the radio were voicing their disgust at such a statement saying that this person is rude and is only concerned with money. My thoughts after this review... The five year engagement (2012) Movie summary: The five year engagement follows the journey of a man and women as they become engaged to when they finally marry more than 5 years later. The movie shows how life may get in the way of wedding planning. And the couple finally discovers whats truly important in a wedding.
My thoughts: I didn't like it. The movie kept me entertained on the plane but it was long and dragged on. I knew they were going to get together and I wanted to scream- it's just a ceremony! But I was on a plane in the middle of the night and it was highly inappropriate to wake people up for that silly comment. It was a ridiculous plot and the actors were less than convincing.
Yet, as absurd as it sounds, a "wedding" (not talking about marriage here) is a big ordeal. As my friends are slowly pairing off I have noticed that massive amounts of effort, time and money that is required to make one single day "perfect". It is as if... as long as the wedding day goes well, they will live happily ever after.
And then we hear of this facebook debacle. Weddings are soooo expensive. Here in Australia, the average cost for the banquet far outweighs the gifts/money gifts people give. Who knew the per head cost of a 3 course meal is upwards of $100 a head? And that excludes little things, and the costs of little things add up. At the end of the day, the wedding ceremony is announcing to the world that a couple are married. And the banquet is a celebration. In accordance with Asian custom it is ideal for everyone to be invited. BUT you might end up sharing this meal with very very very distant relatives and having to fork out extra money to fund their meals. While I would one day like to share my happiness with as many people as possible, it really is a matter of personal choice: I believe the couple should be able to invite who they chose. The lady in the middle of this debate- I totally support her right of free speech. She can choose to invite whoever she wants.
We, as gentiles, as so fortunate. We were invited to the banquet even though we were not part of the chosen people. BUT we must first be chosen by Jesus to be guests.
Matthew 22
New International Version (NIV)
The Parable of the Wedding Banquet
22 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying:2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.
4 “Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ 5 “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business.6 The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them.7 The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come.9 So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes.12 He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless. 13 “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
Some describe God as an elephant, we each feel a different part of God. In the darkness, I can feel a soft ear- my God listens, while others may feel the magnificent strength of the elephant's legs - my God is strong. But My God isn't like an elephant. Because an Elephant never forgets.
But our God chooses to forget our sins. It's a choice. We can also choose forgiveness just as God has forgiven us.
1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness."
Isaiah 43:25
New International Version (NIV)
25 “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.
Artist: Tenth Avenue North
Song: Losing
Tabbed by: Manthony
09.08.12
TUNING: Open E tuning >> E B E Ab B E
CHORD DIAGRAM
-------------------------------------------------------------
E E7Msus4/AE6/F#E/A
0 0 0 0 0 0 5 5 7 7 0 0 2 2 2 0 0 0 5 5 5 0 0 0
E6add9/BE7M/G#
7 7 9 0 0 0 4 4 4 0 0 0
-------------------------------------------------------------
Intro (harmonics) //
E||----------------------||
B||----------------------||
G||----------<5>---------|| REPEAT
D||------<5>---<5>-<5>---||
A||----<5>-------<5>-----||
E||--<5>---<5>-----------||
Verse:
E
I can't believe what she said
I can't believe what he did
E7Msus4/A
Oh, don't they know it's wrong
Don't they know it's wrong
E
Well maybe there's something I missed
But how could they treat me like this
E7Msus4/A
It's wearing out my heart
The way they disregard
...........................................................
Pre-Chorus:
E||----------------------||
B||----------------------||
G||----------<7>---------|| *ONCE (HERE)
D||------<7>---<7>-<7>---||
A||----<7>-------<7>-----||
E||--<7>---<7>-----------||
E6/F#
This is love
E||----------------------||
B||----------------------||
G||----------<5>---------|| REPEAT
D||------<5>---<5>-<5>---||
A||----<5>-------<5>-----||
E||--<5>---<5>-----------||
E/A
this is hate...
E
We all have a choice to make
...........................................................
Chorus:
E6add9/BE7M/G# E7Msus4/A
Oh, Father wont You forgive them
E
They don't know what they've been doin' (oh no)
E6add9/BE7M/G# E7Msus4/A
Oh Father, give me grace to forgive them
E
Cause I feel like the one losin'
...........................................................
E
Well it's only the dead that can live
But still I wrestle with this
E7Msus4/A
To lose the pain that's mine
Seventy times seven times
E
Cause Lord it doesn't feel right
For me to turn a blind eye
E7Msus4/A
Though I guess it's not that much
When I think of what You've done.
...........................................................
Pre-Chorus:
E||----------------------||
B||----------------------||
G||----------<7>---------|| *ONCE (HERE)
D||------<7>---<7>-<7>---||
A||----<7>-------<7>-----||
E||--<7>---<7>-----------||
E6/F#
This is love
E||----------------------||
B||----------------------||
G||----------<5>---------|| REPEAT
D||------<5>---<5>-<5>---||
A||----<5>-------<5>-----||
E||--<5>---<5>-----------||
E/A
this is hate...
E
We all have a choice to make
...........................................................
Chorus:
E6add9/BE7M/G# E7Msus4/A
Oh, Father wont You forgive them
E
They don't know what they've been doin' (oh no)
E6add9/BE7M/G# E7Msus4/A
Oh Father, give me grace to forgive them
E
Cause I feel like the one losin'
...........................................................
Bridge:
Why do we think that our hate's gonna break
A hard heart
We're rippin arms over wars that don't need to be fought
Cause pride wont let us lay our weapons on the ground
We build our bridges up but it's just to burn them down
We think our pain is own apologies and get
them to stop
Well truth be told it doesn't matter if their sorry or not
Cause freedom comes when we surrender to the sound
Of Your mercy and Your grace, Father, send Your angels down
...........................................................
Chorus:
E6add9/BE7M/G# E7Msus4/A
Oh, Father wont You forgive them
E
They don't know what they've been doin' (oh no)
E6add9/BE7M/G# E7Msus4/A
Oh Father, give me grace to forgive them
E
Cause I feel like the one losin'
Movie summary: Hop is a story of successorship. All he wanted to do was become a drummer but he was the next in line to become the Easter rabbit. So he escapes his magical world and ends up under the care of a young man looking for a future. Both the rabbit and the man find their future paths while a menacing chick tries to take over the magical kingdom.
My thoughts: Hop is a cute animation that families can enjoy together. Not the best movie I have seen but the fact that the villan is a chubby little chicken is worth a laugh in itself. Although the characters are make-believe, there are elements that I can clearly relate to in my own life.
When I was at the end of high school I was struggling with a decision. What did I want to be. What did I want to do? Where did I want to go? I made a lot of decisions which seemed right to me at the time. I made a bunch of applications. I put myself out there. I worked up to 3 jobs at any time. I was building a future for myself. I was drive by a big capital I. Even if I prayed about my future, I was praying that God would give me success in my applications- to get what I want.
Now, some 10 years after graduating from high school, I again am thinking about my future. This time with a PhD under my belt and a lot older. I believe that I am a lot wiser than I was 10 years ago. And this time, as I am making decisions about what I am going to do, where I should go/stay, who I am going to be, I am different. It's no longer, if God is willing, let me do this or that, but a simple- Show me the way and I will go. And this change of heart is not because I am without options or freedom, but simply because God has shown me that surrendering my life to him is the wisest decision.
Jeremiah 29:11
New International Version (NIV)
11 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. 耶 利 米 書 29:11
Although my knee is still in pain, I have to begin somewhere so in the last week, I have undergone hydrotherapy and done short walks. In the same way, after the destruction of the storm, New York (and beyond) will start to salvage what they have and rebuild. It will take a lot of hard work and resources, but we are never going to stop.
Hillsong Cornerstone.
I love this compilation. I was recently in New York's hillsong service where they were also singing songs from this album. I hope others can also be inspired by the music to give glory to our father :)
Please keep praying for the recovery efforts in NY and beyond.
Title: Running
Album: Cornerstone (2012)
Band: Hillsong LIVE
Email: jadynjack@hotmail.com
Intro:
B/// E/// G#m///// E/
E--14--11--14--11---------14--11--14--11--------|
B------------------14--12-----------------------|
G----------------------------------------11--13-|
D-----------------------------------------------|
A-----------------------------------------------| x2
E-----------------------------------------------|
Verse:
BE
Ready at the line looking out
G#mE
Looking out all thats ahead
BE
When every heart confesses your name
G#mE
Where pressing on towards that day
Pre-Chorus:
BE
We're never gonna stop
G#mE
We're never gonna stop
Verse 2: (Same Chords)
Letting go of every mistake
Throwing off the chains of restraint
All that will remain, a passion for your name
Burning as we run this race
Pre-Chorus
Chorus:
BE
We are Running,
G#mE
Chasing after all that you are
BE
We are Running
G#mE
Because all that you are is all that we want now.
Verse 3:
Every stride is taken in faith
Every step compelled by your grace
We're taking up our cross, no matter what the cost
We give it all to go your way
Pre- Chorus
Chorus
Interlude:
C#m///E///B///F#///
Bridge: (Same Chords as Interlude)
Onwards we draw towards your light
Desperately seek to know you more and more
Further we look beyond ourselves
To your love, to your love
x2
Chorus
This week's klove free song is Don't give up (calling glory). A week ago today I landed in New York. And as I left, I had great memories of riding through the subways and exploring this huge city. But now, a week later, it lies until a thin blanket of water and darkness. Those who are homeless, those who are struggling, don't give up. Especially through this storm.
I want to share with you a testimony set to this song. I cried for most of it. I too have had things that have made me prideful. And I am glad God took away things in my life so that I could really truly rely on him.
I need to constantly keep myself in check, I don't want God to take such extreme measures to get me to realise that he is sovereign over everything. But I am a foolish person.
I hope that you will never give up. Sometimes the lord gives and sometimes the lord takes away. But in everything, do it for his glory!
This time your heart said it's had enough Sick and tired of everything that's so messed up You don't wanna move on just playing games Praying hard somehow that your life will change When you feel like you don't know what to do Stuck inside this maze you can't go through
(Chorus) Don't give up Help is surely on its way And don't give up And the dark is breaking in today And just keep on moving through these storms And soon enough you'll find the door Just don't give up Oh, and don't give up
These walls around you are caving in And your life seems like it is wearing thin And your hope is drowning in despair It looks like you're not going anywhere Step inside this heart and then you'll see Such a love that is so amazing
Movie summary: Brave follows the story of a young princess as she battles tradition. She struggles to accept that her future will be arranged by her mother- her marriage and the way she is to act. Following mystical creatures, she finds a witch who casts a spell changing her mother. As always, the spell backfires, and she finds that she has turn her mother (and 3 younger brothers) into bears. As her father and the rest of her kingdom try to kill the bear, she struggles to save her mother and their relationship.
My thoughts: I'm not sure I would recommend this film to young children as it contains elements of violence and issues to do with magic. I'm not sure teaching kids about spells that can turn their parents into animals really sell for me. Nevertheless, there are quite distinctive morals in this story- it's all about forgiveness. Both mother and daughter learn to understand, accept and forgive each other's behaviours. And in doing so, learn how to love.
Today's sermon was about how to be a more loving person. And besides learning that love is a choice, a sacrifice, love is also about forgiveness and acceptance.
It's a lesson that I am learning. Through this overseas trip, I have learned to forgive more. But I'm not 100% there yet. Even as I happened across a box of old memories, I found that I am still a long way from forgetting- but now, through understanding, I don't think I hold a grudge anymore.
If you are still single, or if you are still finding out about your love story, why not start with the ultimate love story?
