"You are not shaped so much by your environment as you are by your perception of your environment. Life’s events don’t determine who you are; God determines who you are, and your interpretation of life’s events determines how well you will handle the pressures of life. In reality, we have very little control over our emotions, but we do have control over our thoughts, and our thoughts determine our feelings and our responses. That’s why it is so important that you fill your mind with the knowledge of God and His Word. You need to see life from God’s perspective and respond accordingly."
insightful; important yet oft forgotten (:Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
my favourite prayer (:
in our lives, challenges abound. they come in the form of antagonistic people, unforeseen events, or just seemingly insurmountable odds. yet there's a well-known prayer i really like, because it puts everything so complicated into perspective - i think it's called the serenity prayer:
- God grant me the serenity
- To accept the things I cannot change;
- Courage to change the things I can;
- And wisdom to know the difference.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
living for the kingdom of God
everyone looks out for themselves to some extent, and i guess that's no one to blame because it's simply survival instinct. only a fool says that he doesn't have to take care of himself. but i think it's a different case altogether when a person decides to live for himself, because that's just foolishness of another sort.
if we are conscious of the fact that our lives are going to come to an end someday, surely it's obvious that to live for this life is vanity (think Ecclesiastes). even animals know better than to forget about reproduction and ensure continuity of their own species after they die. but to put the purpose of living to a stricter test, i think it doesn't pay to live for something temporal - which includes most of the things we have, know and see in this world - when there's something eternal to live for (think Ecclesiastes again).
so that naturally brings us to the question of what's possibly eternal in this ever-changing world. as a christian, my answer can only be the kingdom of God (Mark 8:34-9:1). it's far beyond my ability to define what living for the kingdom of God is, but God gives us guidance in His word and through His Spirit. (:
if we are conscious of the fact that our lives are going to come to an end someday, surely it's obvious that to live for this life is vanity (think Ecclesiastes). even animals know better than to forget about reproduction and ensure continuity of their own species after they die. but to put the purpose of living to a stricter test, i think it doesn't pay to live for something temporal - which includes most of the things we have, know and see in this world - when there's something eternal to live for (think Ecclesiastes again).
so that naturally brings us to the question of what's possibly eternal in this ever-changing world. as a christian, my answer can only be the kingdom of God (Mark 8:34-9:1). it's far beyond my ability to define what living for the kingdom of God is, but God gives us guidance in His word and through His Spirit. (:
Monday, September 21, 2009
introspection long overdue.
yesterday's cell group outreach to sentosa was phenomenal. it wasn't so much because of the games we played or the silly things we did, but simply because of the people who were around. i just want to say thanks to everyone, it wouldn't have been the same without any of you. i think i've said this before, but indeed, i'm always glad to be in the company of e222 because i know i can be who i am and still be acknowledged and appreciated for it... i wonder whether there can ever be any group of people more full of the love of God. (:
i'm not sure if i went overboard yesterday. while there's no absolute right or wrong i can take reference to, there's always an ideal i think i can aspire to achieve. and that ideal for me, is remaining fully connected to people even when focusing on a task at hand. as a person i'm more task-oriented than people-oriented, so when i've got my sights on something, more often than not i tend to have eyes only for it and nothing else. once that happens, i find it hard to see things from other perspectives but mine alone and can become too imposing on others. but i understand to everything there is an balance that can be struck, and to simply cite natural disposition as a reason to dismiss responsibility for controversial behaviour is purely pride, arrogance and laziness on my part. so with regards to certain things i did, i admit that i was insensitive and even selfish, and admit that it's not worth offending people and risking relationships when what's at stake isn't all too important.
having said all that, i don't think most issues are as clear-cut and on any single issue, there could be a myriad of opinions from one extreme to the other. if it really comes down to that only one can be listened to, two choices seem most obvious - my opinion and God's. the hard part is when the two differ, and laying aside my pride and my own opinion has to be done.
i'm not sure if i went overboard yesterday. while there's no absolute right or wrong i can take reference to, there's always an ideal i think i can aspire to achieve. and that ideal for me, is remaining fully connected to people even when focusing on a task at hand. as a person i'm more task-oriented than people-oriented, so when i've got my sights on something, more often than not i tend to have eyes only for it and nothing else. once that happens, i find it hard to see things from other perspectives but mine alone and can become too imposing on others. but i understand to everything there is an balance that can be struck, and to simply cite natural disposition as a reason to dismiss responsibility for controversial behaviour is purely pride, arrogance and laziness on my part. so with regards to certain things i did, i admit that i was insensitive and even selfish, and admit that it's not worth offending people and risking relationships when what's at stake isn't all too important.
having said all that, i don't think most issues are as clear-cut and on any single issue, there could be a myriad of opinions from one extreme to the other. if it really comes down to that only one can be listened to, two choices seem most obvious - my opinion and God's. the hard part is when the two differ, and laying aside my pride and my own opinion has to be done.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
on a rainy rainy rainy sunday...
i feel melancholic. rain never fails to make me feel melancholic, and it's been pouring for 5 hours straight ever since i woke up. perhaps the monsoon season is arriving - el nino i think. nevertheless, it created a great environment for quiet time coupled with corrinne may's songs. after a spiritually draining week, which wasn't helped by the fact i couldn't attend service, the presence of God was awesome... it more than made up for the frustrations i'm feeling. and truly, being able to commune with God, to have Someone almighty who understands your troubles and carries your burdens is the greatest privilege that can be accorded. and oh, in fact He wants to do so... you just have to let Him. (:
i'll just share something God spoke to me about: the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand. there are so many times when we feel that we don't have much to offer God, and even more so when we're stuck in situations out of our control. and we ask God: "what can i give? how can i give? my life's such a mess!" it's only human to feel at a loss or sometimes painful frustrations because we can be helpless trying to get ourselves out of bondage from within or without. then it's also natural to be so obsessed with the problems in our life, instead knocking on the God's door to seek and find Him with all our heart. but when we are found in His presence, we'll hear from Him: "I'll take what little you have, and make it much." won't we trust God, and walk with Him? there's all that angst to lose, and a life of victory to gain.
i'll just share something God spoke to me about: the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand. there are so many times when we feel that we don't have much to offer God, and even more so when we're stuck in situations out of our control. and we ask God: "what can i give? how can i give? my life's such a mess!" it's only human to feel at a loss or sometimes painful frustrations because we can be helpless trying to get ourselves out of bondage from within or without. then it's also natural to be so obsessed with the problems in our life, instead knocking on the God's door to seek and find Him with all our heart. but when we are found in His presence, we'll hear from Him: "I'll take what little you have, and make it much." won't we trust God, and walk with Him? there's all that angst to lose, and a life of victory to gain.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
i wish...
the weekend always feels like a dream to me. it's the time of the week when i'll be with people i love and can hang around with, throw aside all my reservations and be who i really am. it's the time of the week when i'm involved in things i actually like to do... yet like all dreams, they pass quickly, almost fleetingly.
weekdays are a drag, and every day seems so long that i'm always taking note of how long more it is to dismissal. i wish the days do end a lot faster, so i can go home to rest, interact online with friends and do some quiet time. or maybe go for bible study or a driving lesson (though i've more or less completed them). most of the time, i come home very drained that i can't even find much energy to exercise. if not for weekends, i could go insane.
and tomorrow is the start of a new week. but indeed, let His joy be my strength! on weekends, i love His presence. on weekdays, i desperately need His presence.
weekdays are a drag, and every day seems so long that i'm always taking note of how long more it is to dismissal. i wish the days do end a lot faster, so i can go home to rest, interact online with friends and do some quiet time. or maybe go for bible study or a driving lesson (though i've more or less completed them). most of the time, i come home very drained that i can't even find much energy to exercise. if not for weekends, i could go insane.
and tomorrow is the start of a new week. but indeed, let His joy be my strength! on weekends, i love His presence. on weekdays, i desperately need His presence.
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