How's everyone? Hope everything is going well :) Anyway all you internet-happening people, i know i've been a really quiet netizen.. But secretly spying on all of you! haha :P Ah so I decided to contribute my little piece here.
So remember the talk we had as a whole YF on "Love & Life"? The one where Josh & I threw out so many sweets! Haha.. I know, solid topic la. So chim, so deep.. But really made you think didn't it?
So if I asked any of you what you think the biggest problem is now or will be in society at large, what do you think it is? Let‘s just take the working world or school life for example.. Any guesses? Well I think it's human management. Think so too? In simple words, it's human relations, public relations, people to people relationships: Staff retention problem, family problem, boss-staff, teachers/parent- child, BGR, friendship.. you name it, bingo! You'll definitely strike on something. Hey, even the big problem bosses are facing nowadays is how to relate with their staff (hiring, keeping them happy, loyal, hardworking, effective etc)..
So the msg Pst preached: 建立美好的关系 (Building great r/s)- whoa, the real and practical God giving us the 101 on relationships! I'm sure God spoke to all of us, one way or another. Remember one (and probably most impactful) point Pst mentioned?
"Love is NOT an emotion, 爱不是情感“
Major shock, no? Love is not an emotion, but only that it can produce emotions? Wah, bluff who? What happened to all the TV theory where *ahem* "His gaze fell upon her. A smile broke across his face, eyes sparkling in delight. It was the perfect moment, the moment any girl could ever hope for- the night was young, with the breeze gently caressing her hair. They sat there in front of the open sea with their backs and faces pink and patched, sunburnt from spending the entire day out fishing. The fire danced away in the night. The marshmellows she was roasting had never tasted so blissfully sweet. Then, at that moment, he threw his back down on her lap and lifted his eyes to meet hers. Their gaze interlocked. How could what felt so right be so wrong? She knew for sure was in love..."
But is that true love?
Words + Actions = True Love 言语 + 行动 = 诚实 真爱
And if so, it means we can't simply "fall" in love. We make a choice to, and our words and actions speak the most of it. Act first, and the feeling will come later. Don't feel like it but still loving is indeed the highest form of love.
--
So this week, I went on "Operation Love" mode. A simple task I challenged myself to which ended up being REALLY trying..
"Do everything in love.. 凡你们所作的，都要凭爱心而作。。"
You know, it really does make a difference in they way you speak (言语) and how you act (行动) if you consciously keep this in your mind. And when the bible says EVERYTHING, it means EVERYTHING.
I tried my best not to feel the usual frustration or did the pressing the lift's button a thousand times because it took forever to come and I was late. I told myself to smile at the Aunties who were blocking the escalator such that I couldn't walk down in the MRT station instead of the usual loudly announcing my presence by heavily thumping down the escalator and the fake dry cough. I consciously reminded myself to close my parent's door tight so the cat wouldn't creep in and meow away in the middle of the night and disturb my parent's sleep. I went on MSN and sincerely replied everyone who talked to me, even chatted up some to catch up with them. I had supper with an old friend and happily waited with him for his bus despite being tired from work. I thought it would be a lovely treat to buy mummy muffins and white lilies because I knew it would make her smile in her hectic classes. I did my best to stop myself from immediately putting down my college's idea or passing it off as lame in my mind without sincerely thinking about it. I tried to endure and almost enjoy the rush hour MRT jam with no complaints, no spiteful thoughts or frustration.
So many small, little, practical aspects that I could apply it to, I realised.. And I did all these with a sincere heart, which is real in true love. (诚心) And when you begin to live in this love, I realised God will open your eyes to His goodness and grace in your life.. So much to be thankful for, so much to praise God for, so much to see God personally actively involved in.
Ever said something knowing it would make your friend look silly and make you feel selfishly good? Ever claimed you didn't study at all for the test but scored so well, only making your friend feel worse about herself? Ever commented on someone's pimple in front of others knowing he was so self-conscious about it already? Ever wore something knowing it would make you look so good but your friend shabby but you couldn't give a hoot about that? Ever shot someone a reply without even considering how that person would have felt or how long that person must have waited? Guilty, I'm guilty of it all..
So how has your week been? How has the message impacted you? Anyone tried "Operation Love" before? Tell me! I want to know too..
"Do everything in love..." "..love because He first loved us.." "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us..." 凡我们所作的，都要凭爱心而作。。因为神先爱我们。。这心我们也知道也信。
Youth service 2pm to 4pm
6001 Beach Road
Golden Theatre
5th Floor
Youth Fellowship 4.30pm to 6.30pm
6001 Beach Road
Golden Mile Tower
16th Floor
English/Chinese service 7.30pm to 9.30pm
6001 Beach Road
Golden Theatre 5th Floor
shine Your light
For this is what the high
and lofty One says –
“I live in a high and
holy place,but also
with him who is contrite
and lowly in spirit,
to revive the spirit
of the lowly and to
revive the heart of the
contrite.”
-Isaiah 57:15
Be Humble and Obedient
Your truth
"Don't let anyone look
down on you because
you are young, but set
an example in speech,
in life, in love, in faith
and in purity"
-1 Timothy 4:12
