Thoughts of the week (20 to 26 May)
Monday, May. 27, 2002 - 1:51 p.m.
Dearie Diary,
Many things had happened for the past week. Most of those that are worth mentioning in this dairy happen in the late week. Some had stirred my heart, some had brought me joy, some irritated me and some had inspired me.
I was reading one of my favourite diaries in the early week. He was writing about him finally creating history by cooking a meal for his family. He wanted to learn how to cook a proper meal in his holidays last year. However, he did not manage to learn cooking last year. This year, he did it and he won praises from his mum. Well done, Andrew! This is something that inspired me.
I too had wanted to learn how to cook, somehow I failed in my first try. I think his success came in his first try since he did not mentioned that he had tried to cook before. Anyway, I know why I fail after reading his diary. Ha ha… He followed a recipe while I followed what I observed my mother did. I thought it was easy when I see my mum cook. So I tried and failed. Now I realize that it seem easy because my mum knows how much ingredients to put in. The timing is important too. I did not realize this as I am idiot to cooking. Ha ha… Maybe I need the Idiot’s Guide. Later in the week, I SMS Andrew and told him that I will try again and by June 2003 I hope to see success. He thought that that was too long. What he meant is that I should tell myself that I will see success by an earlier time. I still decided that my “deadline” to be June 2003.
On Friday, my cell meeting was held in Evan’s house. We had never held one in her house. Though only 4 of us were present for the meeting, we broke a record. We ended the meeting at 11pm. It was the longest meeting as far as I can remember. We discuss the sermon that was preached on the 19 May. The discussion had stirred my heart more than when I first heard the sermon on 19 May. It was about the suffering Jesus went through when He was on earth. Pastor uses the acronym PAINS to help us remember.
P – Physical Pain
A – Abandoned
I – Injustice
N – eNdure mockery
S – Sorrow and Shame
If we think through carefully, the above kinds of suffering is all that we may go through in our life. Our Lord, Jesus Christ had been through ALL OF THEM too. So no way can we accuse God of not understanding the suffering we went through.
When I first heard the sermon, a video was shown to us how Jesus was tortured. I was touched when I saw the video. Someone whom I do not know before I knew Christ (Jesus was His name) is so willing to die for me. He died for my sins because of His love for me. For us humans, to die for someone who loved us is already so difficult. What more can I say when I found out that Jesus died for me when I do not love Him before I was a Christian. Indeed no one can fathom the depth of His of love for us.
The sermon ended with a question that till now I still don’t know what to say. The Lord says, “I had already done all I could to love you, what are you going to do for Me?” Dear Lord, I really don’t know what I can do for You. I pray that by going to the community service trip to China, I will be able to glorify Your name and please You. I pray that by going into the Celebration Kids (CK) ministry, I can bless the children’s life and please You. Lord, may You see my desire to serve You. I do not see what I do as a sacrifice for You, but something more like a thanksgiving gift for You. Lord, show me what You want me to do for You. Thank You.
Yesterday sermon was something that stirred my heart too. It was about suffering too. But this week, pastor touched on the 3 reasons why we go through suffering in our life. The first reason is that there are people in the world who would go all out to do things that can satisfy their lust. It is these people who caught us as victims. The second reason is that it is because of our own sin. An example I could think of if that when one cheat in an examination (that is a sin), he had to go through the punishment (and that is kind of a suffering). The above two reasons are however not primary reasons. The third and primary reason is that God wants to test our hearts.
Another thing that pastor touch on is the 6 reasons why God allows suffering for us. To me, it seems to be the benefits of suffering. So I guess God allow us to suffer because He knew the benefits of suffering. Again Pastor uses an acronym HIGHER.
H – gives HOPE
I – IMPROVE ourselves
G – GLORIFY God’s name
H – bring HAPPINESS
E – learn ENDURANCE
R – heavenly and earthly REWARDS
The point that impacted me most is the R. Rewards. Pastor quoted a verse (I cannot remember which verse though) in the bible that clearly tell us that, “In order to get a share of the heavenly rewards, you have to share the suffering too”. I do want a share in the rewards, who would not want it? For the suffering, I can say now that I am willingly to suffer got Christ. But I do not know when the suffering comes, will I be able to accept it? One of the kings that was mentioned in the bible once said, “I will not give to God something that cost me nothing.” Will I have this mentality forever? Do I have this mentality in the first place? I think I have it now…
Well, enough is said about things that inspired me and things that stirred my heart. Well, as for something that brings joy to my heart, it was actually the barbeque (BBQ) that happens last night. I was really happy that 2 of my god-sisters who are non-believers came to the BBQ to get to know the young adults in my church. I was even more glad that they said that the BBQ was OK. For one of my god-sister (Li Ting) last night was actually her second time that she came for my church activities. The first one was actually the Easter celebration. Thank God that she is always so available and ‘on’. As for the other sister (Shuying), I hope that her first time coming to my church activities is NOT her last time.
Yesterday, someone irritate me when he took a candid shot of me with his camera. I was eating something in the BBQ and according to him I open my mouth. Oh, I wander how the photo turns out… Well, I was not angry with him, just irritated. Ha ha… By the way, he was the boyfriend of my best church friend. I better not mention their name as my best friend is a shy girl.
What a GREAT week! Thank God! How’s your past week? I hope that it was great too.
-Shu Ling-
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