"... the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness." Romans 12:8
I was reading this verse this morning for my quiet time. Passage was speaking about how we need to use our gifts that have been given to us. It caught me by surprise that those who have been given the gift of mercy should do so cheerfully.
As I reflected, I realized how I've been quite bored, tired and burdened by the acts of mercy that I need to do at work and beyond official work. There are days when I don't feel like going to work. There are days I've been overwhelmed by the demands of social work and also life in general.
As I read the verse, I wondered how I can be cheerful when usually doing acts of mercy, or showing mercy involves seeing and feeling burdened for brokenness and the broken. It most often gets me down, more than it uplifts me.
But the preceding verses starting from Romans 1 all the way to 12 speaks about all that we have in Christ. It's because I have received much grace and mercy that I can have joy in who I am in relation to God. And I can delight in knowing I am known and loved by God because of His great love and mercy He first gave to me.
Grace and strength for today.
“Safe?”.... Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.- The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Sunday, January 6, 2013
1 new year, 1 resolution
Happy 2013!
I'm excited for the year ahead, mainly because of some of the projects and training courses I will be going for at my work. At the workplace, things have pretty much settled down and I'm coping better with the high workload and tasks at hand.
Today's been a good day and I have much to be thankful for. Firstly, the financial relief assistance at church has been publicised today, after more than half a year of planning by our team. It's amazing to see how God brought our team together and how we have worked together to make this possible. Of course, we can plant the seed and water it, but only God can make it grow. Now it is executing our plans and trusting that God will use the work of our hands for His ministry. I'm excited.
Secondly, one of my youths said that she will continue to serve in our youth committee to plan programmes and serve during youth services. Initially, she said she couldn't continue serving because of some personal reasons, but now she is able to. For this, I'm also thankful. I was praying to trust God for whatever the outcome, whether she's going to serve, or not going to serve in the committee. It's always easy to think that we are more spiritual when we serve in a committee (because it means we get to serve in a greater capacity) or we can grow more spiritually if we do, but I don't think this is necessary or sufficient. We can serve God and others wherever we are, what matters is that we reflect Christ and abide in Christ each day. We don't serve to get approval from God or of others. But I'm happy she can continue to serve alongside us in such close proximity, because she is a good friend and sister of mine too.
Thirdly, I managed to catch up with some friends lately. Thankful that I can catch up with them and find out how they're doing, and hearing from them their sharing about their lives. Really hope to treasure these friendships more. :)
And lastly, I have 1 new year resolution. Only 1, so that I can remember. I've never remembered my new year resolutions, because I used to set too many that by the end of the year, I can't even find that notebook which I wrote those resolutions down. This year, I hope to treat people with unconditional love of Christ. This means that I have to continue to read God's Word and meditate on it, that I may know Jesus more and grow to be like Him. And this means to pray that God will help me see others as He sees them, accepting them not based on who they are or what they can or cannot do, but even dying for them while they are so unworthy. It's really impossible to love the unlovable or people who are uncool (in my definition) on my own, but only possible when I am transformed by the gospel. I really this will be so more and more, then I will be living my impossible dream.
Thank God for 2012, looking forward to the year ahead.
I'm excited for the year ahead, mainly because of some of the projects and training courses I will be going for at my work. At the workplace, things have pretty much settled down and I'm coping better with the high workload and tasks at hand.
Today's been a good day and I have much to be thankful for. Firstly, the financial relief assistance at church has been publicised today, after more than half a year of planning by our team. It's amazing to see how God brought our team together and how we have worked together to make this possible. Of course, we can plant the seed and water it, but only God can make it grow. Now it is executing our plans and trusting that God will use the work of our hands for His ministry. I'm excited.
Secondly, one of my youths said that she will continue to serve in our youth committee to plan programmes and serve during youth services. Initially, she said she couldn't continue serving because of some personal reasons, but now she is able to. For this, I'm also thankful. I was praying to trust God for whatever the outcome, whether she's going to serve, or not going to serve in the committee. It's always easy to think that we are more spiritual when we serve in a committee (because it means we get to serve in a greater capacity) or we can grow more spiritually if we do, but I don't think this is necessary or sufficient. We can serve God and others wherever we are, what matters is that we reflect Christ and abide in Christ each day. We don't serve to get approval from God or of others. But I'm happy she can continue to serve alongside us in such close proximity, because she is a good friend and sister of mine too.
Thirdly, I managed to catch up with some friends lately. Thankful that I can catch up with them and find out how they're doing, and hearing from them their sharing about their lives. Really hope to treasure these friendships more. :)
And lastly, I have 1 new year resolution. Only 1, so that I can remember. I've never remembered my new year resolutions, because I used to set too many that by the end of the year, I can't even find that notebook which I wrote those resolutions down. This year, I hope to treat people with unconditional love of Christ. This means that I have to continue to read God's Word and meditate on it, that I may know Jesus more and grow to be like Him. And this means to pray that God will help me see others as He sees them, accepting them not based on who they are or what they can or cannot do, but even dying for them while they are so unworthy. It's really impossible to love the unlovable or people who are uncool (in my definition) on my own, but only possible when I am transformed by the gospel. I really this will be so more and more, then I will be living my impossible dream.
Thank God for 2012, looking forward to the year ahead.
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