Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16;
Luke 12:32-40 ;
The
above are the verses read during Sunday (8/11) service. They might not
be in-line with the content of preaching but I think it is good to just
write it down as a reminder of God's goodness and ability. He is our
sovereign God, who is able to demand our lives anytime. Be ready, for
the master, our Lord will come at an unexpected time.
This
is my first post on this new blog I have. This inspiration comes from
people I met in church and my family. My mother shared her experience
about her reflecting on her actions on how devoted is she to God. And
she realized the attitude we need to have to serve God. She felt guilty
and ashamed as people might judge us Christians through her actions. But
Pastor told us it is okay for us to measure ourselves from time to
time. And so I have decided to start spreading some of the things I've
learned from hearing God's words.
A mother of friends
of mine, Katherine told me that my prayers encouraged her on praying for
the world. This is a big push for me to start writing here. I feel like
it is God's calling to me for spreading His words to the world. I pray
that this first step I made will work out.
The piano
background means my love for playing the piano and sing songs of praise.
I'm part of the worship team in my church. My pastor's wife, who is
also a pastor, was the one to get me on stage to sing for the first time
what out of the blue. After that, I was assigned to be the pianist
during home fellowships and youth sessions. Now I'm one of the leaders
in the youth ministry. I went to our church's Wednesday devotions to
pray together with the rest of the members too. I think this is another
calling for me to play beautiful music and spread God's words.
Now to the main point
This post is devoted to the International Youths' Day.
There
are things which youths need to watch out for - relationship with God,
relationship with family, relationship with friends, your life partner.
Remember
your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble
come, and the years approach when you will say "I find no pleasure in
them"-
Ecclesiastes 12:1 (NIV)
We
tend to be more rebellious in this stage of our lives. Sometimes I
myself felt guilty for not fully paying attention to the preachings on
Sundays. There are so many distractions nowadays with the rising
advancement of technology.
Our parents often nagged at
us to put our phones down or look away from the screen for awhile.
Parents out there, these are as entertaining as those days when you Baby
Boomers and Generation X, are playing in the fields. I guess you would
continue if there are 24-hours of light provided. *teehee*
Hear
this parents, we actually know what we are doing. I think you know that
too. However we are just too stubborn to listen to that voice at the
back of our heads. There are times when we lose control, parents are the
one calling us back. Those are also the times when we find ourselves
wrong but find it hard to admit. It is because we know what we are
doing, we think parents are whiny.
Nevertheless, we as
teenagers shouldn't totally put the blame on our guardians. We have our
faults too. There is just no way our parents will compromise with us all
the time. I know, in our hearts, we acknowledge how much our parents
have done for us. I know we didn't mean to harm them when we said
something hurtful. But youths, be humble and just admit you are wrong
when you are wrong although it is difficult. Even small actions like
ignoring your parents or not being happy will make your parents feel sad
and sometimes I don't even know what to do about it. :)
The
friends you are with are equally important as you spend more time in
institutions than at home. This is also why parents tend to kind of push
us to get into a good school. Of course there are also unwanted
influences in good schools, but the possibility is a little lower.
Please youths, do aware of the friends you are with. I have went through
tough times of getting into troubles like fights and playing gangster
during my second year in middle school. I was just blessed to get a
chance to transfer to a religious high school that was recently built
around my residential area
No
doubt it is better to have friends who can encourage you rather than
giving negative energy to you. I have a close friend who sees things on
the dark side most of the time. She isn't happy with her family and how
her life turns out. She feels miserable. I wanted to help her out of her
misery but I was overconfident so I got dragged into her negative hole.
In my second year of high school, I was very repulsive towards my
parents. I felt like their decisions were all going against me. I
finally overcame because I accepted the fact that their decisions are
what I should do. Oh just fyi, I was a Buddhist believer by then. I
didn't know God is working in me. I only came to Christ when I was in my
last year of high school, and then got baptized last year on Christmas
Day. :)
Last
but not least, choosing your life partner is really REALLY important
people. You don't want to end up with the wrong person who will be with
you forever. Christians believe that once partners vowed their love,
they will be bound to each other forever. There are couples who married
early. Well yes you can do that but have in mind that divorce is the
last resort. Couples in love tend to be blinded by love. Young people,
do remember this and carve it in your minds:
the partner you chose is not going to change to your liking. Even if he or she did, it is just a bonus point. Think
thrice before you commit yourself to this partner. Are you ready to
live with this character, personality and attitude? Are you able to jump
over hurdles with this partner? Are your views of life too different
that it will affect the lives of both of you?
This story is shared by my pastor:
There are
two people who knew each other through Christian conference. A bachelor
and a married woman. One day this bachelor walked over to the married
woman and said, "I hear God speaking to me, that you will leave your
husband and marry me". The married woman was shocked but then she
stopped and thought about it. "No that's not true. I never hear God
telling me this," she replied and walked off.
If you were the married woman (or exchange the gender), how will you react? Are you ready for all these?
We are the
rising generations that will take over the place. It is also up to us to
bring up this world or let it stay wretched. Little efforts like taking
of your relationship with God, family, friends and choosing your life
partner are the steps you can take to make this a better world.
Lord I pray
that you will guide us youths that will take over this place. O Lord
please do use us as your instruments to make this world a better place.
We pray that there will be more and more people to come to know you God.
We also pray that people will come back to you and revive the flame of
passion for you Father Lord. We pray that the churches around the world
that were closed down will be opened again. We commit this day to you
Father that you will work through us Lord. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
:)
