During Campus Challenge back in May, i was asked in my small group the question why was i there at CC? And my answer to them was a classic "i don't know ". Since Campus Challenge was for university student ministry, and i've just finished university, technically alot of these things that they talk about - the fellowship, the outreach on campus - don't really apply to me anymore. So i really had no clue what i was doing there other than leading worship.

I'm only blogging about this now because i have a conclusion to the story.

Althought the messages or the workshops didn't really knock my socks off or anything, Campus Challenge was fun, met alot of nice people, worship was awesome. The best part of it was that i was able to get a confirmation from God, that EVERYTHING will be ok.  

You see, my average through university has been pretty bad, not the asian bad, but bad bad. so i knew going into my last year that my averages in my 4 principle courses would have to be a certain grades, or else i won't meet the minimum requirement in order to graduate. The possibility of not graduating has been a HUGE burden on my boney shoulders. On top of that, i haven't been able to find a job, didn't really apply anywhere else other than working for CBSA, which i had been doing for the past two summers. So i've been bumming at home, with no money to spend, just wasting my life away. (i'm sure alot of people would love to just bum at home and waste their time away, but trust me, it's really not fun.)

Anyhow, on the last day of CC, when i was praying with Ivan from Queens, the "everything will be ok" line came out of nowhere. i didn't expect myself to say it, but it was completely God led? Somehow i just said those words and caught myself off guard. So we prayed, and when i got home later that day, i emailed my academic counselor again just to make sure i could graduate. Tuesday afternoon i got a reply back saying that i indeed could graduate. WHAT A RELIEF! PTL!!!!

Anyhow with that out of the way, to make a long story short, i've signed my contract to work with CBSA on a full time basis, so i actually have a full time job now, earning a pretty decent salary.

The point of the story IS - God's in control, and that EVERYTHING will be ok.

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." - Matthew 6:33

umm..so much to write about..

i was just reflecting on the idea of "grace" this morning on my way to church, and an illustration came into mind.

This happened a few months ago at my church in london - Glad Tidings Assembly www.gtalondon.org. I pull into the church driveway toward the church parking lot, and they had their teens fellowship outside washing cars as their act of kindness. Since i just drove back from toronto, the front of my car is COVERED with bugs that i've crushed along the highway. so before i turn into the parking lot, a teenager from the fellowship stopped me and asked if i wanted a free car wash, and the first thing that went through my mind was, "oh man, i don't want them to see the front of my car, it's covered with bugs and all the grossness along with it." so even tho it was free and i'm sure they wouldn't mind scrubbing the bugs off, i kindly decline their offer  for the wash, i parked the car and went in for service.

now thinking about this whole free car wash incident, i realized the similarity between the car wash and us accepting God's grace for us.

Grace is a favour that was bestowed upon a person that they do not deserve, like the car wash, it was freely offered to me, however because of the filth that covered the car, i turned down an opportunity to have the car cleansed from the dirt that covered it. How many times have we turned down God's grace, God's forgiveness - which was freely given to us - because of the filth in our lives? I've experienced many times when my guilt has kept me from freely receive what God has instored for me because of the sins in my life, thinking i cannot come to God.

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace." - Ephesians 1:7

It's important to always remember that no car is filthy to wash, because Christ has died, once and for all, and that His grace is sufficient.

hey! it's been over a year that i've blogged  i guess blogging is just not my thing...but here it goes anyways.

I was reading my friend's blog yesterday..about her devotion and what God is teaching her...and i realized... that i'm a wreck. It's easy to pretend to be spiritually mature, it's easy to put on the good christian face, but to have something solid inside, to be consistent with your spiritual growth is totally different.

this feeling of inadequacy was kinda overwhelming..all these talk about being the man that i MUST be, and i realized that i'm not even close to being that. i can't even lead myself properly, let alone leading someone else..

so i hopped into bed, and opened my bible..so how it opened at Philippians, and started reading...and chapter 1 verse 6 it says "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

now isn't it awesome that God who started a good work in me, will also carry it to completion?

simple? yes...but these simple truths are the very things that remind us the goodness of God...sooooo with that said..it's time for me to grow up!

Isn't it weird that God say things you need to hear just when you need to hear it?

I've been so stressed out with all kinds of things this past month...when i finally realized how much i have to do and how deep of a hole i've digged myself into...my mind..my soul had been running at a hundred miles per hour ...non-stop...stressing over things i need to do...

then God comes in with a breath of fresh air and says in Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and i will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for i am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

thank you Jesus..for giving me rest....

Matthew 7:24-27

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

looking back at these few weeks, no..not only these few weeks, but my whole life...i've realized that...my house...is built on sand. Now i've grew up in a church..i have knowledge of what i'm suppose to do...yet...i don't put them into practice with consistency...no wonder when that my Christian walk has never stopped being a rollercoaster ride. Whenever the storms of life hits, my house would come crashing down.

I think it's time for me to build my house on a solid foundation...