Entirety

If we only have mind, we would be mere intellect.
If we only have eyes, we would only be able to see.
If we only have ears, we would only be able to hear.
If we only have feet, we would only be able to walk the steps.
If we only have mouth, we would only be able to utter meaningless words.
If we only have hands, we would only be able to do the work without regards.

Every part is needed to accomplish the work God has entrusted to us.

Don't lose your usefulness...

As I was about to throw out the head of my electric toothbrush, due to normal wear and tear, I realized that I did not have proper replacement for it. Given the circumstances, it was decided that the worn head of the toothbrush was still useful...

...am I still useful to God? How close am I to being let go for my lack of unfaithfulness and actions?

Don't lose your faithfulness to God.

That is all that matters.

Love

While I was driving, I heard on the radio this new concept of love --

Every person in this world loves themselves. Sometimes, they love themselves so much that they feel they don't deserve what's happening to them but rather, they deserve something better. They love themselves so much that when they don't get what they think they deserve, they feel as if the world is not cooperating with them and hence, they harbor discontentment, hatred, and to the extreme, commit suicide.

Everyone loves themselves. Whatever the outcome - hatred, narcissism, committing suicide, caring for others - it is still an expression of love.

Anyway, we need to love others as we love ourselves (Mt. 19:19, 22:39; Gal 5:14, etc) and we all know we love ourselves a lot. Selfless love. The ultimate example displayed to us by Jesus Christ. Being able to cast his own personal feelings aside and have the courage and strength to do what is necessary for the good of everyone else. To love even when no one notices. To love when no one else is reciprocating. To love for the sake of love.

Simply amazing.

I'm still learning.

Unity Among Churches

During the weekend, I went to Elizabeth church for Spiritual Cultivation. It was my first time back since over a year or so. While I was back there, one of the r.e. students came up to me and asked me what I was doing there and labeled me as Hillsborian. Haha. Thought about that for a bit, then disregarded and went on throughout the rest of the day.

Later on today, I was talking online with that same r.e. student and she called me that again. To which I responded by saying there should be no distinction between churches. We're all one body -- tjc-er. Then jokingly, the student, responded saying that (their current church)-ian, is different and cooler.

Different and cooler, huh? 1 Cor. 1:12-13 came to mind.

Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

If this is the way the kids are thinking these days, then I think we have failed as r.e. teachers. As their brothers and sisters in Christ. As examples for the younger generation. Often, in the classroom, we would emphasize on love, unity, patience, obedience, etc among men, but more emphasizes on God. But if even in this minute situation, they're making distinction among their own brothers and sisters in Christ because of worship location. Then I fear they already have the wrong mentality.

I remember when the church first branched out, there were disharmony among the councils of both church over something as insignificant as A/V and now, if the younger generation are also having this mentality (hopefully not), then we have not improved and our relationship, as the entire body, have not strive to become closer to God.

It just seems like a lot of people are forgetting we are one body. Our Father died for ALL of us. Location should not matter, but that doesn't seem the case.



It is I, Lord. I'm the one that sent you to the cross

Art of Giving

Today, we try to find consistency in this world by finding good friends that we can trust and rely on. We may find some that will be there for us most of the time, but never always. Friends, no matter how close and reliable, are like the seasons. You can always go to them in times of spring and summer. Possibly autumn. But when they are in their winter, you will need to step up and be there for them.

What happens when both of you are in your winters? Then you can only rely on God. He is our rock and fortress (Ps. 18:2, 62:2) and because He is our rock and fortress in which we take refuge, we will not be shaken. For only in Him, is our constant in our life. While all things may change around us, we can count on Him to stay the same.

Today's chinese new years. Happy Chinese new year! As tradition goes, I got my red envelopes from my family. Funny thing about giving. The amount that I received from my family members were the same amount that I gave to each of them. No monetary gains in the end, but it's the thought of giving that counts. Family <3

On another thought, YAF kickoff fellowship was fun this weekend. Thank God for the blessed brothers and sisters' in Christ

Complaints

I would definitely say I'm a complainer. Why? Aside from all the obvious reasons as to one would complain, I would also complain for the sake of complaining. If I were to stop, it would mean that my life is perfect. Completely smooth. Everything that is happening is satisfactory. That can't be right. Nothing is ever that perfect. That's why I complain.

I guess you can say I'm ungrateful. Perhaps you can call me selfish. I want what other's have. Only if it's better than what I possess at the moment. Gosh, I'm a jerk.

I don't even know why this thought has been in my mind recently. Maybe to figure out when it is okay to complain. There must be times when it is okay. Think about it.

This is where I should learn how to be complacent. Funny - I always warned myself of complacency (in regards to spiritual life, chores, life!).

I went skiing and snowboarding this weekend. This person thought I was under eighteen there. 18! I must be boyishly handsome. jk! My entire body is really sore. But it was fun. Bonding + fellowship = awesome.

Lesson learned: I'm a weak sauce.

Beauty of the Snow

It was really gloomy when I woke up. The sky was gray, sun wasn't out, and it wasn't even 7 yet, but snowing. Boo to waking up to early. When I left the house this morning for work, I kept looking around, mesmerized by the snow around me. I love it when it snows. I love it even more when it's dry snow. Especially when the wind blows it and scatters it all over the place.

God's creation is really beautiful. It is all around us but we are so used to it that we're taking everything for granted...as did the Israelites when they were in the desert for 40 years. They were accustomed to the manna that was provided for them. The pillar of fire by night and pillar of cloud by day.

Look around us. We're becoming like the Israelites more and more. We need to appreciate the wonderful creation around us. Everything is good. Of course it's good. Everything is created by God - our Father. This is MY Father's world. He only provides the best for us. My Father's world...

Then reality hit and I realized I needed to shovel the snow off the car and warm up the car so I wouldn't be late for work.

Friendship

As I was sitting in my room making a friendship bracelet, I started remembering all the friends and acquaintances that I've made in the past. How we said we would always be good friends and would always be there for each other no matter what happened. Halfway through making the bracelet (for those of you that knows me, I'm REALLY bad at mixing and matching colors), I couldn't help but notice how ugly the bracelet was. It really was ugly. I digress.

I have to admit, I'm not really good at keeping in touch (so the friends that I have at the present time; I cherish you). So it's partly my fault for losing contact with old friends. I'm also not that humble, so I'll have to say it's partly their fault for not keeping in touch with me as well (: But I digress again. Honestly, it takes a lot of effort to keep in touch. You need to go out of your way and exert energy and effort to stay in touch. I guess that's how it is with our spiritual life also. We know we need to stay close to God, no matter where we are, but we do not want to go out of our comfort zone and exert energy and effort. We would rather watch television, go online, play games, chat with friends, etc. rather than to kneel down for merely 20 minutes to pray to God, spend a few minutes to read the Bible, and to stay cultivated.

No matter how hard we try to please our friends, it will only be temporary. Things will never last, no matter how good of a friend you are to each other. But when you try to please God, He will remember for ages to come. He will remember and reciprocate. He is the only constant thing in life. We all know that. So pursue what matters.

I need to learn how to mix and match colors better. Definitely.

Darkness of the Night

Last night, as I laid down on my bed before going to sleep, I couldn't help but notice how dark my room was. There were no night lights, curtains were closed, nor were there any light seeping in from under the doorway. Soon after I laid down, my eyes adjusted and I was accustomed to the darkness that surrounded me. Abruptly, the moon light beamed through the cracks from the curtains onto my eyes. I couldn't help but squint and shift away from the light, as would anyone else in that situation when trying to rest.

From that experience, it dawned to me how quickly we adjust to the darkness around us. When we walk into a room that is completely dark, it will take us no more than a minute or two for us to adjust. Once we've adjusted, we can move around freely as if we were in the dark. But when the lights suddenly turn on, we will be blinded by its brightness and freeze in order to readjust our eyes.

Similarly, in our spiritual life, we will also get used to the darkness that is in this world. No matter the situation, we will always be surrounded by the darkness. Even after returning from spiritual convocations, seminars, or any church cultivations, we will have to face the darkness in this world. Once in darkness, if we do not keep a pure and holy life (praying daily, reading the bible, keeping God's commandments), we will become used to the darkness around us and think of it as a norm. We must not forget, we "are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God" and he has called us "out of darkness into this wonderful light" (1 Pet 2:9). Therefore, we must keep a close watch of ourselves and not be consumed by the darkness. Once we're consumed, we will not know what we are doing, spiritually speaking, since the darkness will have blinded us by then (cc. 1 Jn 2:11).

If you find yourself living in the dark, it is not too late to back out. Just turn away and draw yourself back to God. It will not be easy, but it is not impossible. When we turn back to God, we may feel ashamed and it may feel uncomfortable, since we are used to our old life style. But know that that is the right path. And while things may feel peculiar when we've turned back, it is only because we have been in the darkness for far too long and when we approach God, there is no darkness in Him (1 Jn 1:5).

Stop waiting! Don't become complacent in the cold of the dark and draw into the warmth of the light!

Happy Birthday grandma minus 7 days

Went with the family to New York today to celebrate my grandma's birthday. She turned 80. Wow. It never really hit me how old she's become. Actually, how old all of us are becoming. The last time I recalled life passing by so quickly was high school graduation. I was probably a little dramatic then, thinking things will never be the same afterwards. We're all leaving to different states for different colleges, how could things stay the same? But it wasn't so bad. I guess things aren't that much different from before but life is still changing too quickly. I wish things were as they were back in childhood. Not completely the same, since over the past few years, friendships have been strengthened, new friends were made, memories were created.

We're always afraid of changes, but they don't turn out to be so bad after all.