Is this really just the way life is?

Life moves on, and people grow apart, is that really all there is to it?

How do friendships which seemed to be so strong suddenly become so distant?

In the end a friendship dies when someone decides not to work at it.
Relationships actually COST something. It costs time, effort, love, patience, forgiveness, humility etc...

I like how Ian put it, a relationship is worth how much the person in the relationship values it at. How much you put into a relationship show how much you value it, and, ultimately, how much you will get out of it.

Jesus valuated His relationship with us as worth His glory in heaven, life on Earth and death on the Cross, how much do you value Him and the people around you?

Reflections

Perhaps we learn as we live. So even as new things have arisen in my life, GREAT things, I've learnt heaps in the past week and a half or so.

I've learnt where my priorities lie.
I've learnt more what it means to love.
I've learnt to be more available.
I've learnt that NOTHING should matter more than my walk with God.
I've learnt that if you do put God first, He WILL let Himself be found by you.
I've learnt beyond setting priorities to set your first few or so WAY higher than the rest.
I've learnt that God DOES hear my prayer, and DOES work in miraculous ways, often where and when I do not see.
I've learnt that I am extremely blessed, and to appreciate the people in my life more.
I've learnt to commit people to God and trust in Him.

That's just part of it, not all of which I can share. In a sentence: Keep on moving, keep on living, keep on doing what is right. You WILL grow. =D

Psa 121:1-2

PS 121:1 I lift up my eyes to the hills--
where does my help come from?

PS 121:2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 things to learn

1) Lift -

In the circumstances of life you need to learn to LIFT your eyes. To look past the circumstances, because as Jesus put it, we will ALWAYS have the poor, which means that situations and challenges will ALWAYS be with us. There will ALWAYS be needs! Where will you look at?

2) Choose -

Where DOES your help come from? In Israel, you could look to Mount Zion, where God revealed Himself, or you could look to any other high place where altars were set up to idols. In the circumstances of your life, Who or what, will you look to for help? Will you turn to God, or will you turn to other gods like money or even friends?

What will you choose?

3) Remember -

Do you remember who God is? He ISN'T some mamby pamby God (Louie Giglio), He IS the maker of heaven and Earth. When you look to Him, remember all that He has already done, and NOT just in your life! Remember the testimonies and promises from His Word and in the lives of others before and around you!

PS 121:3 He will not let your foot slip--
he who watches over you will not slumber;

HE WILL WATCH OVER YOU!

Your life is not your own

So i accidentally cut myself this morning, and the comment came unbidden: "Hey, careful lah k? You're not living for yourself only anymore."

And it hit my cold. I'm NOT, and never WAS living for myself since the day I accepted Christ. And yet, I hadn't. I hadn't thought as much as I should if God would be happy with what I was doing. I didn't consider much whether Jesus approved of my actions. I never gave thought to the fact that when I hurt myself, He hurt too.

To no longer live for yourself means to start caring more and more and more what Whoever you are living for thinks and not so much what you yourself think about it. It means to die to self and live for Christ.

Take over Lord, teach me to love You more...

Sooooo...

It's been a crazy as week, with ups and downs, heaps of them, and tomorrow well, tomorrow will be interesting.

And yet through it all, Dad keeps shouting "I'M BIGGER THAN ALL THIS! I AM FAITHFUL!" And so I have a choice:

Believe in an absolutely amazing loving God, or believe the lies of the enemy.

I'll CHOOSE to trust you Father, come what may, no matter what transpires tomorrow, or the day after, or the day after that.

YOU ARE FAITHFUL!

NOW who says walking with God is not exciting?

*raises hands* Self admittedly I did, but Dad's just been doing amazing things in the past week or so.

Things I have learnt/understood more:

God IS powerful, and we DO have authority in Christ

There IS a spiritual battle going on, and it DOES have real effect in life on Earth

I can and DO hear from God, and that IS a blessing to others =D

You CAN forgive the "unforgivable", in fact you HAVE to, even if that person has caused grievous hurt to someone whom you love deeply. You hate the sin not the sinner, and regardless, God/Jesus forgave YOU even though you didn't deserve it. YES, you don't do this by your own strength, but through Christ you can! Why let the enemy steal your joy?