My Life, Your Story.

1) Believe & Trust

Realized that it's so important that someone whom you look up to actually believes in you. The strength that comes from this realization can be very great sometimes. Same thing. It might crush that person when that belief is gone.. when the realization that that someone doesn't believe in him anymore. So don't be that someone who crushes people's hearts.

Yes it's true that we should always encourage people to look to God for strength etc. But at times, we're all still human.. imperfect.. all still learning to lean on more to God.. still need that encouragement, emotional support and people who BELIEVES in them. If we can't even be there for people, u think we can be a good testimony to God?

Inviting people to cg & service and then brush off all responsibilities and telling yourself "let God do the rest" is seriously enough? People look to us to see who God really is. We are not known by our "titles". We are known by our actions.

2) Critical Heart vs Pure Heart

I had a critical heart in the past. A judgemental heart. I often like to judge people & jump into stupid conclusions before i find out more about them.. I placed my own faith level and those haughty eyes of mine onto others, and when that someone can't meet my level of expection, he/she will have that (false) perceived image in my eyes. How wrong was I! Jesus reminded me that i'm also imperfect & thus who am i to judge.. He humbled me by showing me so much good things & talents in others.. He taught me not to force my thinking onto others bcoz He created us differently & we each have a unique & great future in Him, each taking different paths.. He scolded me on why am I judging others, when i myself was seeing through my own tainted windows..

Yeap the story of tainted windows - an email I once came across. To summarize, it talks about this wife who often complains to her husband many days of the dirty clothes her neighbour always dry across the streets. Until one day, she realizes that it's not that the neighbour does not clean her clothes well, but rather the wife's windows are actually dirty, and needed to be clean up instead, in order to let her see that her neighbour's clothes are actually clean.

Often we are like the wife, who often judges & criticises others, without realizing we are seeing through our dirty windows, & it's us who needs to be "cleaned up" first.

People can sense between a critical heart & a pure heart. A heart that criticises & bear grudges, & a heart that loves & is always giving grace to others' mistakes. Nobody would like to be around a critical heart, despite how "fun" he may seem. But for a pure heart, people will be willing to stand by him no matter what happens. =)

& it's only out of a pure heart, that can touch lives.. and bear fruits.

3) Serving God

Had a really good 1-on-1 chat over dinner with Wan Ee (my new cell group leader) couple of days ago, and it got me thinking about me serving God.. The interesting thing is she started by asking whether Andy & I have ever thought of serving more in cg ministry, as she finds me & Andy has the heart & "potential" for improving people's lives! I was really encouraged. It was when i mentioned that i actually have experiences in helping out in cg b4, that she showed the "oh.. no wonder" face. Haha. Anyway so she started to be more interested in this area of my life, & we went deeper to talk about it.

Started to share with her some past experiences & current tots I have. & i even surprised myself with some of the things i said.. amazingly it became a lesson of understanding myself better haha. Started to reveal to her probably because of my past failures in my insurance job, ministry & lack of faith (twice) to attend SOT for eg. made me lose a lot of confidence even without me realizing it.

From my past inspiration to be a cgl, i wondered aloud now do i have the capacity & heart to be one.. & worst, are my intentions right in the very 1st place? Before I can give myself concrete answers to these, I'll nvr would want to rise up in this area. & there're soooo many ways that I can serve too.. Andy opened up my mind alot in this area actually.. That serving God is not just about cg. Going for missions, signing up for voluntary work (even if it's non-christian based) etc... so many.. ultimately it's about the intentions behind. For now, I just want to increase my love for God & for people, building friendships that edifies one another, helping people when they need help, be a good daughter to my parents, be the best encourager & helper to Andy, putting in the best in my work.. Seriously i don't crave for anything more than these, for now.

But wells, let's see how God's going to lead me.. i guess it's going to be progressive.. that He will slowly reveal what He has instored for me, and motivating me to stretch & grow.. enlarging me to take on even greater things in life in future..!! I believe! But for now.. hmm. Focus on the basics and the right things first.