I just arrived at Ngee Ann City Coffee Bean. While ordering my usual Ultimate Ice Blended, two staff who know me after being a regular customer here spoke to me and asked how come I have not visited the joint for more than a week already. I told them I was busy with stuff. Like old friends, they updated me on one of their colleagues having just been promoted to the rank of a supervisor. I am happy to hear about the promotion because that staff, by the name of Boon, is really friendly and his customer service standard is considered excellent! As he is off today, I asked his two colleagues to convey my congratulations to him the next time he is on duty. :)
I had lunch with a dear sister-in-Christ earlier at Miss Clarity Cafe. I missed their chicken leg with mushroom sauce and potatoes a lot and am satisfied now that I have consumed it. Praise the Lord! I decided to come here to spend some time reading the Bible and also to write this blog. My sister had to meet her boyfriend after the meal so we went on our separate ways. I was thinking of preparing for the praise and worship session but decided I shall do it tomorrow in the church office before the worship team rehearsal.
I was awake early in the morning. I could not sleep basically. I went online to check my emails and I was surprised to receive a note from a certain individual who shared with me about the struggles he is facing in his life currently. One phrase in the email caught my attention and I would like to share a bit of my thoughts on it. I have sought permission from this brother-in-Christ to write on this topic.
The phrase was "How I wish I can turn back time and change some things of the past." My question is "Do we really wish to turn back time?" What makes us think that if we could turn back time and change some things that the outcome would be better? What happens if they are worst than what we are currently going through now? Where is God in this thought that we are having now?
I asked the above questions because there were several times in my life that I wanted things to be different if I could just turn back the clock:-
1) I wished I was born in a different family; If that is not possible, I wished I could have a different mum;
2) I wished I was less rebellious;
3) I wished I was more studious;
4) I wished my character would have been more attractive;
5) I wished I could have exercised more and be less horizontally challenged;
6) I wished I was not sick;
7) I wished there were less failures in my life as in studies, relationships and other pursuits;
8) I wished I was more confident.
9) I even wished, at one point, I could have served less in church so that I have more time to socialise outside of church. Can you believe that?
We all know we cannot turn back time; we all know what is in the past stays in the past. But there are a few things we know we can do in the present:-
a) Give thanks to God for the unpleasant things that had happened in our lives. Tough but by giving thanks, we are basically telling God and ourselves that there is a reason for what had happened and by reflecting, perhaps we can cherish the lessons we have learnt and see how these encounters can build our character and make us to be a better and stronger person. Ultimately, by giving thanks, we are acknowledging God's will being done in our lives - that we trust Him enough to let our lives' journey mould us to be the kind of person He wants us to be;
b) To press on ahead and let God help us in what we can do now. The past we cannot control but we can stir the present and with God's help, we can move ahead and try not to commit the same mistake that had happened before.
c) To help each other in the healing of emotions and to press on in what is ahead to win the prize that God has called us heavenward. Pressing ahead brings us closer to heaven; trying to go back to the past simply brings us further away from where God wants us to be.
Having written the above-mentioned, I have to say I am glad to have gone through this pilgrim's journey thus far. When I was going through it, of course I found them a drag but now I shall go through what God wants me to experience with a positive attitude because He knows what is best for me. I also know He will not allow anything to harm me in the course of the lessons He is teaching me.
In the nine "I wished" I wrote earlier, let me share what I have learnt so far:-
1) Though my family was in constant quarrels in the past and mum used to abuse me a lot physically, I now thank God for giving them to me. All these unpleasantness have caused us to learn about our flaws and shortcomings and now we see our wrongs. We are constantly overcoming them and we are beginning to see the inner beauty of one another at home. It reminds me also that my family members are humans. The best part is my parents and grandma have God to help them now. Though my brother is still a non-believer, I believe God is also teaching him and helping him.
2) Being rebellious was wrong because I wanted to irk my mum for the pressures she put me through. I have learnt and she has learnt from this as well. The lessons taught I now use them to help others who are going through the same struggle.
3) When God opened opportunities and alternative routes to allow me to continue with my studies, I learnt to cherish them. I learnt to be studious over time (because I am grateful for the avenues He provided for me) and the fruit of my labour paid off. I thank God for what He has given me especially the qualifications I now have. All glory be to Him!
4) My character is still being moulded by God and it will be so till I die. I can never be 100% attractive to others because of the flaws, weaknesses and shortcomings that I still struggle with. It is my prayer that the people around me will see the beauty that God has also created in me. I am still "Work In Progress" as I had written before. In saying this, I am also learning to accept other people's beauty and ugliness.
5) There were many times I wished I could have been a thinner person because I feel that people are more attracted to this kind of build but I am not too bothered by it anymore. I want people to accept me for what and who I am and if ever I want to lose those few pounds, it would be for my health sake and nothing else. Of course I have hit a snag in this due to my knee injury. I hope I can be well soon to carry on where I left off.
6) Then I wished I was healthier. Well, now indeed I am better physically. It was a painful process when I was suffering from my kidney ailment but having gone through pain for a period of time, having them taken away now allows me to appreciate life better. The lessons I have learnt from this are invaluable and I will use them to bless others who are going through certain health problems currently. One of them is mum.
7) Failures I have experienced allow me to cherish successes more. It also reminded me that sometimes having to take the longer route to reach the same destination is okay because I can learn more in that journey and to understand better why they happened. Thanks be to God!
8) Being confident was never my strength and I am still struggling with this. I am still learning about it but I now know one thing - when I do not have confidence in myself, I find it in the Lord who reminds me constantly that He is my refuge and strength, an everpresent help in times of need (Psalm 46:1).
9) This wish I had was a stupid one because then I thought I could have used the time to socialise and know other people more and maybe can find my life-partner in the course of it. Now I know nothing beats serving the Lord and making a difference in other people's lives. If He so knows my desire to share my life with someone and if it is His will, He will give me the lady whom I love and cherish a lot.
Well, I am sure long-winded but I shall not be apologetic here because these are the goodness of the Lord that I want to testify. I am not boasting about the above-mentioned. May the Lord deal with me if I had that motive - I want to remind us and myself included that it is important to press forward and not look back - it is the future that we can change and let us help one another in this. Of course, let us not forget about God. :) Wait! Please do not get me wrong that it is wrong to look back. It is perfectly fine to do so but it should not and must not affect us.
Let us continue to fight the good fight, press on to finish the race and keep the faith!
I shall end here. Again, thanks and glory be to God!
"Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." 2 Timothy 4:7-8
I had lunch with a dear sister-in-Christ earlier at Miss Clarity Cafe. I missed their chicken leg with mushroom sauce and potatoes a lot and am satisfied now that I have consumed it. Praise the Lord! I decided to come here to spend some time reading the Bible and also to write this blog. My sister had to meet her boyfriend after the meal so we went on our separate ways. I was thinking of preparing for the praise and worship session but decided I shall do it tomorrow in the church office before the worship team rehearsal.
I was awake early in the morning. I could not sleep basically. I went online to check my emails and I was surprised to receive a note from a certain individual who shared with me about the struggles he is facing in his life currently. One phrase in the email caught my attention and I would like to share a bit of my thoughts on it. I have sought permission from this brother-in-Christ to write on this topic.
The phrase was "How I wish I can turn back time and change some things of the past." My question is "Do we really wish to turn back time?" What makes us think that if we could turn back time and change some things that the outcome would be better? What happens if they are worst than what we are currently going through now? Where is God in this thought that we are having now?
I asked the above questions because there were several times in my life that I wanted things to be different if I could just turn back the clock:-
1) I wished I was born in a different family; If that is not possible, I wished I could have a different mum;
2) I wished I was less rebellious;
3) I wished I was more studious;
4) I wished my character would have been more attractive;
5) I wished I could have exercised more and be less horizontally challenged;
6) I wished I was not sick;
7) I wished there were less failures in my life as in studies, relationships and other pursuits;
8) I wished I was more confident.
9) I even wished, at one point, I could have served less in church so that I have more time to socialise outside of church. Can you believe that?
We all know we cannot turn back time; we all know what is in the past stays in the past. But there are a few things we know we can do in the present:-
a) Give thanks to God for the unpleasant things that had happened in our lives. Tough but by giving thanks, we are basically telling God and ourselves that there is a reason for what had happened and by reflecting, perhaps we can cherish the lessons we have learnt and see how these encounters can build our character and make us to be a better and stronger person. Ultimately, by giving thanks, we are acknowledging God's will being done in our lives - that we trust Him enough to let our lives' journey mould us to be the kind of person He wants us to be;
b) To press on ahead and let God help us in what we can do now. The past we cannot control but we can stir the present and with God's help, we can move ahead and try not to commit the same mistake that had happened before.
c) To help each other in the healing of emotions and to press on in what is ahead to win the prize that God has called us heavenward. Pressing ahead brings us closer to heaven; trying to go back to the past simply brings us further away from where God wants us to be.
Having written the above-mentioned, I have to say I am glad to have gone through this pilgrim's journey thus far. When I was going through it, of course I found them a drag but now I shall go through what God wants me to experience with a positive attitude because He knows what is best for me. I also know He will not allow anything to harm me in the course of the lessons He is teaching me.
In the nine "I wished" I wrote earlier, let me share what I have learnt so far:-
1) Though my family was in constant quarrels in the past and mum used to abuse me a lot physically, I now thank God for giving them to me. All these unpleasantness have caused us to learn about our flaws and shortcomings and now we see our wrongs. We are constantly overcoming them and we are beginning to see the inner beauty of one another at home. It reminds me also that my family members are humans. The best part is my parents and grandma have God to help them now. Though my brother is still a non-believer, I believe God is also teaching him and helping him.
2) Being rebellious was wrong because I wanted to irk my mum for the pressures she put me through. I have learnt and she has learnt from this as well. The lessons taught I now use them to help others who are going through the same struggle.
3) When God opened opportunities and alternative routes to allow me to continue with my studies, I learnt to cherish them. I learnt to be studious over time (because I am grateful for the avenues He provided for me) and the fruit of my labour paid off. I thank God for what He has given me especially the qualifications I now have. All glory be to Him!
4) My character is still being moulded by God and it will be so till I die. I can never be 100% attractive to others because of the flaws, weaknesses and shortcomings that I still struggle with. It is my prayer that the people around me will see the beauty that God has also created in me. I am still "Work In Progress" as I had written before. In saying this, I am also learning to accept other people's beauty and ugliness.
5) There were many times I wished I could have been a thinner person because I feel that people are more attracted to this kind of build but I am not too bothered by it anymore. I want people to accept me for what and who I am and if ever I want to lose those few pounds, it would be for my health sake and nothing else. Of course I have hit a snag in this due to my knee injury. I hope I can be well soon to carry on where I left off.
6) Then I wished I was healthier. Well, now indeed I am better physically. It was a painful process when I was suffering from my kidney ailment but having gone through pain for a period of time, having them taken away now allows me to appreciate life better. The lessons I have learnt from this are invaluable and I will use them to bless others who are going through certain health problems currently. One of them is mum.
7) Failures I have experienced allow me to cherish successes more. It also reminded me that sometimes having to take the longer route to reach the same destination is okay because I can learn more in that journey and to understand better why they happened. Thanks be to God!
8) Being confident was never my strength and I am still struggling with this. I am still learning about it but I now know one thing - when I do not have confidence in myself, I find it in the Lord who reminds me constantly that He is my refuge and strength, an everpresent help in times of need (Psalm 46:1).
9) This wish I had was a stupid one because then I thought I could have used the time to socialise and know other people more and maybe can find my life-partner in the course of it. Now I know nothing beats serving the Lord and making a difference in other people's lives. If He so knows my desire to share my life with someone and if it is His will, He will give me the lady whom I love and cherish a lot.
Well, I am sure long-winded but I shall not be apologetic here because these are the goodness of the Lord that I want to testify. I am not boasting about the above-mentioned. May the Lord deal with me if I had that motive - I want to remind us and myself included that it is important to press forward and not look back - it is the future that we can change and let us help one another in this. Of course, let us not forget about God. :) Wait! Please do not get me wrong that it is wrong to look back. It is perfectly fine to do so but it should not and must not affect us.
Let us continue to fight the good fight, press on to finish the race and keep the faith!
I shall end here. Again, thanks and glory be to God!
"Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." 2 Timothy 4:7-8
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