..::*+ Small Talk +*::..
Seriously, after Beauty and the Beast, I think Tangled is the next Disney cartoon that I like. Congrats to Disney for the successful 10th princess story in 50 years and to Many Moore for outstanding voice for Rapunzel. I love this song; it’s called “I See The Light”, sung by Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi. It became my favorite worldy song since 2 days ago. I’m thinking of covering it, but maybe I need a girl to do duet with me.
I See the Light–Mandy Moore & Zachary Levi
I See the Light – Mandy Moore & Zachary Levi
[Rapunzel.Verse1]
All those days watching from the windows
All those years outside looking in
All that time never even knowing
Just how blind I’ve been
[Rapunzel.Verse2]
Now I’m here, blinking in the starlight
Now I’m here, suddenly I see
Standing here, it’s all so clear
I’m where I’m meant to be
[Chorus]
And at last I see the light
And it’s like the fog has lifted
And at last I see the light
And it’s like the sky is new
And it’s warm and real and bright
And the world has somehow shifted
All at once everything looks different
Now that I see you
[Eugene.Verse1]
All those days chasing down a daydream
All those years living in a blur
All that time never truly seeing
Things the way they were
[Eugene.Verse2]
Now she’s here shining in the starlight
Now she’s here, suddenly I know
If she’s here it’s crystal clear
I’m where I’m meant to go
**
Okay that’s more like a “big talk” than “small talk”.
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Okay some of you might know that I’ve been saying how God “slapped” me, in a way, before, during and after Das Festival. It’s an annual church camp organized by Hope Germany and this year the topic was based on Romans 8:14
“… because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”
Romans 8:14 NIV
For me, what I picked up the most from Paul the apostle’s letter to Romans was that we are to constantly check ourselves what is the driving force in our lives. It usually can be anything and it differs from a person to another. But the fundamental principle is this: All else will fade other than God’s faithfulness to us. Therefore, it is always the best choice for us to have this driving force, powered by (Spirit of) God, for God, and to God. As we all long to live to be righteous, God made it clear by saying
“For in the Gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written (in Hab. 2:4): ‘The righteous will live by faith.’”
Romans 1:17 NIV, Parenthesis mine
Are we living by faith into our God, whose name is worthy to be praise forever and ever more? Or are we still being indulged with the sinful nature of the world?
1. Don’t judge others
I do believe God has the power to change a situation 180° in a blink of eye, the question is only about if He is willing to, because if He does, will the people involved give Him credits and glory, or will they just be happy with the change? In other words, God tests our heart and through the test He wants us to know our heart. Therefore most of the time God changes people through time. Where am I getting at? I really thankful to God, for He has shown me mercy, by putting me in Germany, to learn to grow spiritually, and He has placed people, the people in the house church around me for that very own reason. A month ago God started to work in my by putting me into a situation where I have to explain some of my actions, and was rebuked by one of the members that I was being judgmental against other people. In short, I label, tag and judge people according to what I’ve seen what they have done.
I had a thought in mind, that I want to only really befriend with people whose intelligence are higher than me. I kind of like looked down on and didn’t want to mix with people who I judged as less smart than me, because I think it is just another waste-of-time thing, neither does it help in my personal growth. But I was convicted by Holy Spirit through verses in Romans.
“You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.”
Romans 2:1 NIV
and
“Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his (or here) own master he stands or falls. And He will stand, for the Lord is able to make him (or her) stand.
Romans 14:4 NIV, Parenthesis mine
On top of that, I was confronted with verse from Romans 12:16. I shouldn’t look down on other people and only befriend with those I think worthy to befriend with. Instead, I should be willing to associate to different people without any discriminations.
“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.”
Romans 12:16 NIV
It was so intense and real, for God didn’t just throw me with the verses; He first reveal my problem through other people and then through series of events and Bible verses. I asked for prayer from Jia Uei and asked for forgiveness from the people whom I have judged. I pray that I will not repeat the same problem, for Christ Jesus Himself didn’t look down on other people, nor did He judge others in His own human form. And we are called to be Christ-like.
2. Repent, so that God can work in me
For the past 3 years, my prayer never differs from “Thy Will be done”. Matthew 6:9-13 has been my daily prayer:
“Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us away from the evil ones.”
Matthew 6:9-13 NIV
Somehow I was quite troubled by the fact that God hasn’t been using me well. At least I haven’t know what are His will for me. I know He would definitely show it to me as He promised in Jeremiah 29:11. Sometimes I did get impatient. But as I was reading Romans in the train, Holy Spirit confronted me:
Qi Hao, Qi Hao, how am I supposed to work in you, for your stubbornness and unrepentant heart blocks every signal from all channels I intended for you?
True enough, a lot of people, including me, have been complaining about how God doesn’t do what He promised His people. We indirectly put the blame on God and make excuses by saying God has His own timing and we should wait. Yes, God definitely has His own timing, but I guess God is not the God who lets us wait for nothing. He make us wait for Him, to test our heart, to teach us how to be faithful, but of all, He doesn’t think we are ready to receive what He has for us. God doesn’t want us to wait passively, but while waiting for Him, we make ourselves ready.
He says,
“But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God (said in Proverbs 24:12) ‘will give to each person according to what he has done.’ To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, He will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking, and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.”
Romans 2:5-8 NIV
“therefore, I urge you, brothers, (Qi Hao), in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer in the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Romans 12:1-2 NIV, Parenthesis mine
And to be real krass:
“Those controlled by sinful nature cannot please God.”
Romans 8:8 NIV
3. fear of God
To fear God – that is another prayer that I lately prayed for. I find that I don’t fear God, unlike those people in the Old Testaments. My stand was that God supposed to be our friend and He definitely seemed to be much friendlier in the New Testaments.
“There is no fear of God before their eyes”
Romans 3:8 NIV
On that subtopic, Paul mentioned about no one is righteous. A little look up in other verses I found that actually we are called to fear Him:
Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
1. Peter 2:17, Underline/bold mine
“Great and marvelous are Your deeds,
Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are Your ways,
Kings of the ages.
Who will not fear You, O Lord,
and bring glory to Your name?
For You alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship before You,
for Your righteous acts have been revealed.”
Revelation 15:3b-4 NIV, Underline/Bold mine
I want to learn to fear Him, the King of all kings, Lord of all lords, and the creator of the world.
4. Submit to authority
I must confess that it is hard for me to bow down and submit to someone who is near of my age, or someone whom I much consider as friends. So in the midst of transition of “throne” within our house church, I find myself to pay less respect to the leaders. And for that, I “earned” myself a slap from God.
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exists have been established by God.”
Romans 13:1 NIV
okay to put it a little bit more krass:
“He (They) is (are) God’s servant(-s), an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoers.”
Romans 13:4b NIV, parenthesis mine
I will pray for them, our new leaders. And I will pray for myself, pray that God will correct my heart and show respect to these God-appointed people.
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Hold On – 33 Miles
[Verse1]
I’ve been there a thousand times,
I’ve felt the rain like a thousand knives.
And it hurts,
I know it hurts.
I’ve been there like a fighting plane,
Trying fly my way through the hurricane.
And it’s hard,
I know it’s hard.
[Pre-Chorus1]
Don’t be afraid,
You’ll make it through,
Just call out to me and I’ll come running to you.
[Chorus]
Hold on, hold on!
When the current pulls you under,
and your hearts beats like thunder.
Just give me your hand,
And hold on, hold on!
Until the storm is over,
And I’ll be fighting for you,
Just give me your hand and,
Hold on!
[Verse 2]
I’ll give you hope, I’ll give you faith.
And if it’s dark, I’ll like the way,
For you, for you.
By your side until the end,
Until you’re standing tall again,
I’m here, I’ll always be here.
[Pre-Chorus2]
And if the tide, sweeps you out to sea,
When your strength is gone, and it’s hard to believe.
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enough to chew for quite a long time. But I pray to You, Father, as You have reveal all these things to me, I pray that You will teach me to learn all these lessons in me. I pray that Father, You will change my heart and to allow You to be the driving force of my life. I pray that Father, I will not be stubborn in my head, but to let go the anchor that binds me down, and let You to be the wind and guide my path in accordance to Your will that You have for me. Father I know that You have plans for me and Lord, I know I have not been given to things I don’t deserve, because I am not ready for them. Father, I want to pray to You, to give me lessons and the desires to be ready for You. For You alone knows the past, current and the future. Draw me close to You, Father, and never let me go, because You’re all I want and You’re all I ever needed.
In Jesus’s name I ask and pray,
Amen.
