But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-NIV)

Father, I pray as I abide in You, I will grow and bear Your fruit. Shape me, Lord. Mold me so that I can shine for You alone.

[Being Vulnerable]

I came across this quote last week and I keep on pondering on what it meant......until God reveals it to me when i was reading "Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire" by Jim Cymbala

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.” CS Lewis

We must choose to be vulnerable- to love- because the brilliance of Christ will shine better through it. "Charles Spurgeon once said that when a jeweler shows his best diamonds, he sets them against a black velvet backdrop. The contrast of the jewels against the dark velvet bring out the luster. In the same way, God does His most stunning work where things seem hopeless. Wherever there is pain, suffering, and desperation, Jesus is." Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire p. 78

>>Nothing compares to God

For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39 AMP

Reading the passage, I am once again astonished on how grand and amazing God's love for me.

God’s loving kindness is the consistent, ever-faithful, relentless, constantly pursuing, lavish, extravagant, unrestrained, one-way love of God.

When I understand this- It gives me great comfort, knowing that I can trust God- I can completely rely on Him since He always has the best of me in mind.

A teaching that gives affirmation of God’s choice of and affection for us.
http://www.marshillchurch.org/media/doctrine/covenant-god-pursues

We love because He first loved us. (1John4:19)

-Counting my blessings-

Yesterday I got to spend the whole days with my mom.
It's been a while since I had my "dating" time with mom....
We went shopping and restaurant hopping in Chinatown.
I helped making-over her.....treat her to her favorite restaurant.....
and we chatted over many issues....
Feels nice^^

It makes me realize how blessed I am.....
During my quiet time last night, God reminded me my lists of prayers/petitions that I had 2 years ago when I reached my big 25 birthday :P
At that time, I was learning to view God as my Father..... and me being a spoiled and clingy daughter, I gave Him a long list of birthday gifts that I requested from Him on my 25th birthday.
Yesterday, I got to re-visited those lists again....
I am just left amazed on how God works in my life.

I am counting my blessings..........
I am very happy to have the whole family (my parents and my brother) here to celebrate my birthday this year.
I am excited to see more breakthroughs happening in my life.
This is the "kairos" =)

I am thankful and I am counting my blessings....

*Making Choices*

Recently, I was talking to a friend about the choices that just open up in our lives and how that affects our original plan....

She was afraid that the new choice or the new open door (choice B), might be a test of faith from God- to see on how strong we want the original plan to happen (choice A).

She was thinking what if choosing choice B eventually fail and we will regret it.

She forgot that the same risk is there for choice A although choice A looks safer...

I was reminded of a care group discussion that was led by my pastor's wife as she titles it "GPS: God Positioning System"- She was trying to answer our most common questions and fear: "What's God's will in my life?" "What if I don't make it?"

She was saying that like a GPS in the car, God is graceful enough that He allows u-turn if we got misrouted from His plan. However, in order for us to discern God's will- we need to start taking steps.... (like a GPS, you have to begin driving for it to function)

As long as we listened and aligned ourselves to the GPS, we will make it there (the path that God set for us) Some might take longer, but we'll get there :)

Along the years, I admit that have made several choices of which I regret. However, because of those choices/moments, I learn to understand God's grace and His redemption better. I realize that nothing can separate me from His love. I just need to offer up my hands quickly if I fall, and He'll be ready to help me getting back up.

I am making steps of faith as I make my choices and I pray for His will be done in my life as I put my trust in Him.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord, lean not on your own understanding. In all of your ways, acknowledge Him, He'll make your paths straight.

Pursuit

To have found God and still to pursue Him is the soul’s paradox of love,
scorned indeed by the too-easily-satisfied religionist,
but justified in happy experience by the children of the burning heart.
~ AW Tozer

another still small voice of God...

I am reminded of another occassion when God speaks in a still small voice... it happened when i was in the gym.
I shared this while back to the music team.
I was in one of the core strength and conditioning class... and the class was hard -.-"" At that time, they were doing lots of push ups which i am not good at, so i kinda cheated. i didnt put my 100% effort to accomplish all the exercises. but then, there was this still small voice, " who are you fooling?"
I paused.
I realized I was just fooling myself. I dont go to gym for the sake of the trainer...or others... but for my own benefit. I will not going anywhere with my goals in being fit and losing weight if i keep on cheating like that.

After gym, when i was in the bus on my way home... God spoke again. He reminded me of my Christian walk with Him, on how i can fool some people sometimes, but still at the end, i am just fooling myself. i can do all the ministry to pretend that my relationship with God is fine (even song leading and lead Care Group discussion)... despite of my absent prayer life & quiet time. God reminds me for the "REAL" thing - He only wants to talk to me- have relationship with me [Martha & Mary story in Luke] rather than me busy serving and busy covering my weaknesses.

Later that night, I just came to Him to ask for His forgiveness and for Him to restore my passion for Him again...