The last two months were ugly for me, spiritually. I unintentionally withdrew myself from God as I spent less and less devotional time with Him and did not obey His command/reminder. The one thing I struggled the most was about loving someone.
I used to think that I cared about this person X a lot that I always got sad when X did not do the right things, in my opinion. Over time, I learned that nothing I do or say could make any difference to X's way of thinking and actions, I felt so undermined and desperate. I then learned to numb the pain by keep telling myself that X was just a 'neighbor buddy' or a 'friend I just met once', thus I should not care too much (or practically speaking: ignore). After a while, this worked.
My little heart kept telling me that I was a bad person and that God wants me to restore the relationship. But I never wanted to return. Not ever. The past hurts, and I am ready to live for myself.
Last week, as I was talking to my mom about this problem, she gently reminded me:
"If you love someone, why do you want him/her to be like you? or to do what you do? You should love them as they are, and even if they do not reply (love) you back."
Her last remark was, "Think of what Jesus would do. Doesn't He always love you even though many times you don't remember Him or disobey Him?"
I got so sad. All these times I have been suppressing the very spirit God has put in my heart, that told me I need to change, I need to change. I know my love is superficial. I am always eager to share my love with others, but at some point, I want to be recognized, to be loved back. How selfish. And this God's very words have to come from my mom, who is not a believer. How good of salt and light have I been!
C.S. Lewis in his book "Mere Christianity" says that loving our enemy does not mean we have to love their bad actions, as we still love ourselves regardless of our bad actions. In the journey, we depend on God and are full of hope that we keep improving (being a better person). Similarly, we should help our enemies to depend on God, and we should be full of hope that they will change and be better people. This is what it means to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.
On a side note: I take 'enemy' as not only the people we consider harmful (such as terrorists, robbers) but also those who we hate in our daily life (such as irritating colleagues).
Last week I fasted. I really want to kill my pride and change my attitude towards X. I want to care, but not ask to be cared back. I will try to fix this relationship and be a better person.
Will you?
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Worship that pleases God
Friends, I'm posting this devotional material I got from CCBC that taught me a lot. May you be blessed as I am!
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God wants all of us!! He doesn’t want a part of us. He asks for all our hearts, our
souls, our minds, and our strength. And He is not interested in half-hearted
commitment or partial obedience. God desires a full devotion of us, not little bits
of our life. That is what God calls worship.
Today many equate worship with being emotionally moved by sound of music,
but that is not the same. Real worship takes place when our spirit responds to
God, and not to some musical tone. It is always good that we can praises God
with our voice and musical instruments, but that alone is not enough.
The best style of worship is the one that most authentically reflects our love for
God. He is pleased when our worship is thoughtful. But if our worship is
mindless, it is meaningless. No matter how long we sing unto the Lord or how
beautiful we sing to Him, but if we don’t respond with our spirit, it is
meaningless. And Jesus called that thoughtless worship “vain
repetitions” (Matthew 6:7).
Another thing we must know about worship that pleases the Lord: God is
pleased when our worship is practical. The of book of Romans 11:1-2 explains
about our true act of worship. It says, “Offer your body as living sacrifice...”
Now, why does God want our body? Why He doesn’t say “Offer your spirit”? It
is because without our body we can’t do anything on this planet! In eternity we
will receive new, improved, upgraded body, but while we’re on earth, God says,
“Give me what you’ve go!” God is just being practical about worship..
In worship we are to “offer” our bodies as living sacrifices. People say, “I can’t
make it to the prayer, but I’ll be with you in spirit”. Do you know what that
means? It means nothing. It’s meaningless. As long as we’re on earth, our spirit
can only be where our body is. If our body isn’t there, neither are we.
Friends, a real worship is costly. David knew this and said, “I will not offer the
Lord my God sacrifices that have cost me nothing”.
True worship always takes effort and energy. It is not always convenient and
sometimes it requires a willing sacrifice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
God wants all of us!! He doesn’t want a part of us. He asks for all our hearts, our
souls, our minds, and our strength. And He is not interested in half-hearted
commitment or partial obedience. God desires a full devotion of us, not little bits
of our life. That is what God calls worship.
Today many equate worship with being emotionally moved by sound of music,
but that is not the same. Real worship takes place when our spirit responds to
God, and not to some musical tone. It is always good that we can praises God
with our voice and musical instruments, but that alone is not enough.
The best style of worship is the one that most authentically reflects our love for
God. He is pleased when our worship is thoughtful. But if our worship is
mindless, it is meaningless. No matter how long we sing unto the Lord or how
beautiful we sing to Him, but if we don’t respond with our spirit, it is
meaningless. And Jesus called that thoughtless worship “vain
repetitions” (Matthew 6:7).
Another thing we must know about worship that pleases the Lord: God is
pleased when our worship is practical. The of book of Romans 11:1-2 explains
about our true act of worship. It says, “Offer your body as living sacrifice...”
Now, why does God want our body? Why He doesn’t say “Offer your spirit”? It
is because without our body we can’t do anything on this planet! In eternity we
will receive new, improved, upgraded body, but while we’re on earth, God says,
“Give me what you’ve go!” God is just being practical about worship..
In worship we are to “offer” our bodies as living sacrifices. People say, “I can’t
make it to the prayer, but I’ll be with you in spirit”. Do you know what that
means? It means nothing. It’s meaningless. As long as we’re on earth, our spirit
can only be where our body is. If our body isn’t there, neither are we.
Friends, a real worship is costly. David knew this and said, “I will not offer the
Lord my God sacrifices that have cost me nothing”.
True worship always takes effort and energy. It is not always convenient and
sometimes it requires a willing sacrifice.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Shadow Mission
A shadow mission is something that is deeply important to us but that leads us away from God’s purposes for our lives since shadow mission is fueled with our pride and past wound. It’s typically just a few degrees off from God's will, but those few degrees is leading us straight to hell.
There is no Jesus in our shadow mission. Beneath our mission for God lies our shadow mission. All Christians have one. Some give in to it, some about to and some don’t, but it lurks beneath the surface nonetheless.
As I listened to John Ortberg teaching this evening, I wonder about what is my shadow mission. I think I know what it is, but was afraid to admit it. John took us through the book of Esther, where Queen Esther has a shadow mission. In the previous chapter, King Xerxes' chief of staff, Haman because of his hatred for Mordecai, Queen Esther's uncle, plot to destroy the Jews. But Esther was afraid to challenge the King to save her people since Queen Esther is a Jew.
This is what she said to Mordecai, "All the king's officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that he be put to death. The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold scepter to him and spare his life. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king."
Mordecai sent back this answer: "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"
1. What is your shadow mission in life?
What sinister things that will take you out of your genuine mission?
Find out what it is and pray that God will keep you away from it. Share it with your trusted friends so they can hold you accountable for it.
2. Did God put you in royal position right now or where you are right now for a reason?
3. Who is Mordecai in your life?
Do you have someone in your life who love you enough to challenge you when you are drifting from God's will?
We need more Mordecai in our life. Somebody that will challenge us and hold us accountable.
How many time churches and organizations got destroyed because of scandals because we are afraid to challenge someone.
How many time the name of Jesus Christ got dragged through the mud because we are afraid to challenge someone...
There is no Jesus in our shadow mission. Beneath our mission for God lies our shadow mission. All Christians have one. Some give in to it, some about to and some don’t, but it lurks beneath the surface nonetheless.
As I listened to John Ortberg teaching this evening, I wonder about what is my shadow mission. I think I know what it is, but was afraid to admit it. John took us through the book of Esther, where Queen Esther has a shadow mission. In the previous chapter, King Xerxes' chief of staff, Haman because of his hatred for Mordecai, Queen Esther's uncle, plot to destroy the Jews. But Esther was afraid to challenge the King to save her people since Queen Esther is a Jew.
This is what she said to Mordecai, "All the king's officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that he be put to death. The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold scepter to him and spare his life. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king."
Mordecai sent back this answer: "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"
Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."
If you continued to read the book of Esther, Esther saved her people from destruction, Haman was hanged for his hatred and Mordecai became the King's chief of staff.
Esther's shadow mission was life of comfort and security and her genuine mission was to save the Jew so our Lord Jesus can be born.
1. What is your shadow mission in life?
What sinister things that will take you out of your genuine mission?
Find out what it is and pray that God will keep you away from it. Share it with your trusted friends so they can hold you accountable for it.
2. Did God put you in royal position right now or where you are right now for a reason?
3. Who is Mordecai in your life?
Do you have someone in your life who love you enough to challenge you when you are drifting from God's will?
We need more Mordecai in our life. Somebody that will challenge us and hold us accountable.
How many time churches and organizations got destroyed because of scandals because we are afraid to challenge someone.
How many time the name of Jesus Christ got dragged through the mud because we are afraid to challenge someone...
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Second Chance(s)
Sebagai manusia, tentunya kita tidak pernah luput dari kesalahan, baik yang disengaja maupun yang tak disengaja. Kita sebagai anak-anak Tuhan sudah sepantasnya selalu mencoba membuat Bapa kita tersenyum bangga. Kita berusaha sebaik-baiknya untuk selalu menyenangkan Dia dengan tidak jatuh dalam dosa.
Beberapa minggu terakhir ini, saya menemukan diri saya berjanji pada diri sendiri dan Tuhan bahwa saya ingin menjadi orang yang lebih baik. Saya janji tidak ngegosip di kantor, tidak menjelek-jelekkan orang lain, rajn bangun lebih pagi buat quiet time, tidak memakai uang untuk shopping melainkan untuk charity, selalu bersyukur apapun situasi dan kondisi saya, tidak egois memikirkan diri sendiri, lebih peka terhadap persoalan orang lain, dan pengontrolan diri yang maha dashyat!
Dan manusia memang makhluk yang sungguh menyebalkan, bukan?
Satu hari saya sukses tidak ngegosip, pastinya Tuhan tepuk tangan diatas sana - turut merayakan, turut bergembira, YAY! - only to find out that keesokan harinya, si A dari kantor sebelah bilang, "Ugh! Don't you just hate that annoying lady in accounting?" - yang lantas disambut dengan penuh semangat oleh saya, "Oh dude. Don't get me started on that one!" yang lantas berlanjut menjadi 10 minutes of character assassination.
Tuhan pun menundukkan kepala, bermuram durja.
"I was so good yesterday," saya membatin.
"What happened today?"
Today... is another day, Nit.
Today is another story.
Dengan amat mudah kita bisa terperosok dalam dosa dan dengan malas kita bisa bilang bahwa kita tidak perlu repot-repot keluar dari lubang ini. "Untuk apa? Nantinya pasti saya juga jatuh lagi. Daripada sakit jatuh berulang-ulang, mendingan saya diam dan tinggal disini saja. Bukankah ini hal yang sangat masuk di akal? Kalau sudah berada dalam lubang dosa, bagaimana kita bisa 'jatuh' lagi ke dalam dosa?"
Kita tahu bahwa pengampunan Tuhan baru setiap pagi. Setiap hari kita diberikan kesempatan kedua, untuk redeem ourselves - untuk bangkit lagi, berubah menjadi lebih baik. Mungkin kita berhasil dengan gemilang, mungkin juga kita gagal total. Tapi percayalah, Tuhan tidak melihat berhasil atau tidaknya usaha kita tersebut. Tuhan melihat hati kita, kemauan kita. Apakah kita senantiasa berkeinginan untuk menyenangkan Dia? Apakah kita berusaha dengan seluruh badan, pikiran, dan jiwa kita untuk melakukan kehendakNya? Apakah kita menerima dan menggunakan kasihNya yang selalu baru setiap hari untuk bertumbuh semakin dekat denganNya?
Seberapa sering sih kita manusia memberikan kesempatan kedua terhadap orang yang telah menyakiti kita? Si A pernah bohong, si B tukang maling, si C tukang tipu. Adalah bodoh jika setelah kita mengetahui fakta ini, kita langsung percaya semua perkataan A, meninggalkan B di rumah kita sendirian, dan meminjamkan uang kepada C. Tidak, kita tidak mau lagi disakiti. No second chance for them; absolute NO NO!
Lantas, apa Tuhan bodoh? Apa Tuhan bodoh memberikan kita kesempatan kedua setelah beracap kali kita mengecewakan Dia? (yang, by the way, bukan hanya sekali saja lho... mungkin lebih tepat kalau dibilang Tuhan memberikan kita kesempatan ke lima-belas-milyar kalinya untuk memperbaiki diri).
AnugerahNya baru setiap pagi. Kesempatan kedua itu datang ketika kita membuka mata setiap pagi. Dan Tuhan tidak bodoh memberikan kita kesempatan kedua tersebut walau sudah berulang kali kita mengecewakan Dia. Dia memberikannya karena cintaNya yang teramat besar kepada kita semua.
Bukankah itu pengorbanan yang paling berarti? Cinta tak bersyarat, this thing called "unconditional love"? Yang menjadi alasan mengapa Yesus Kristus mati di kayu salib untuk saya, kamu, dan mereka.
Beberapa minggu terakhir ini, saya menemukan diri saya berjanji pada diri sendiri dan Tuhan bahwa saya ingin menjadi orang yang lebih baik. Saya janji tidak ngegosip di kantor, tidak menjelek-jelekkan orang lain, rajn bangun lebih pagi buat quiet time, tidak memakai uang untuk shopping melainkan untuk charity, selalu bersyukur apapun situasi dan kondisi saya, tidak egois memikirkan diri sendiri, lebih peka terhadap persoalan orang lain, dan pengontrolan diri yang maha dashyat!
Dan manusia memang makhluk yang sungguh menyebalkan, bukan?
Satu hari saya sukses tidak ngegosip, pastinya Tuhan tepuk tangan diatas sana - turut merayakan, turut bergembira, YAY! - only to find out that keesokan harinya, si A dari kantor sebelah bilang, "Ugh! Don't you just hate that annoying lady in accounting?" - yang lantas disambut dengan penuh semangat oleh saya, "Oh dude. Don't get me started on that one!" yang lantas berlanjut menjadi 10 minutes of character assassination.
Tuhan pun menundukkan kepala, bermuram durja.
"I was so good yesterday," saya membatin.
"What happened today?"
Today... is another day, Nit.
Today is another story.
Dengan amat mudah kita bisa terperosok dalam dosa dan dengan malas kita bisa bilang bahwa kita tidak perlu repot-repot keluar dari lubang ini. "Untuk apa? Nantinya pasti saya juga jatuh lagi. Daripada sakit jatuh berulang-ulang, mendingan saya diam dan tinggal disini saja. Bukankah ini hal yang sangat masuk di akal? Kalau sudah berada dalam lubang dosa, bagaimana kita bisa 'jatuh' lagi ke dalam dosa?"
Kita tahu bahwa pengampunan Tuhan baru setiap pagi. Setiap hari kita diberikan kesempatan kedua, untuk redeem ourselves - untuk bangkit lagi, berubah menjadi lebih baik. Mungkin kita berhasil dengan gemilang, mungkin juga kita gagal total. Tapi percayalah, Tuhan tidak melihat berhasil atau tidaknya usaha kita tersebut. Tuhan melihat hati kita, kemauan kita. Apakah kita senantiasa berkeinginan untuk menyenangkan Dia? Apakah kita berusaha dengan seluruh badan, pikiran, dan jiwa kita untuk melakukan kehendakNya? Apakah kita menerima dan menggunakan kasihNya yang selalu baru setiap hari untuk bertumbuh semakin dekat denganNya?
Seberapa sering sih kita manusia memberikan kesempatan kedua terhadap orang yang telah menyakiti kita? Si A pernah bohong, si B tukang maling, si C tukang tipu. Adalah bodoh jika setelah kita mengetahui fakta ini, kita langsung percaya semua perkataan A, meninggalkan B di rumah kita sendirian, dan meminjamkan uang kepada C. Tidak, kita tidak mau lagi disakiti. No second chance for them; absolute NO NO!
Lantas, apa Tuhan bodoh? Apa Tuhan bodoh memberikan kita kesempatan kedua setelah beracap kali kita mengecewakan Dia? (yang, by the way, bukan hanya sekali saja lho... mungkin lebih tepat kalau dibilang Tuhan memberikan kita kesempatan ke lima-belas-milyar kalinya untuk memperbaiki diri).
AnugerahNya baru setiap pagi. Kesempatan kedua itu datang ketika kita membuka mata setiap pagi. Dan Tuhan tidak bodoh memberikan kita kesempatan kedua tersebut walau sudah berulang kali kita mengecewakan Dia. Dia memberikannya karena cintaNya yang teramat besar kepada kita semua.
Bukankah itu pengorbanan yang paling berarti? Cinta tak bersyarat, this thing called "unconditional love"? Yang menjadi alasan mengapa Yesus Kristus mati di kayu salib untuk saya, kamu, dan mereka.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
May the Wind Be Always at Your Back
Siung, Sinta, Renny, Chris, Jenny, Hady, Yuli and me completed our 5K Run/3K Walk this morning. It was a moving experience as we saw the numbers the people supporting this program.
In developing countries, 6 million children die each year, mostly from hunger-related causes. You can help give these children hope for a future. Their families are living on less than $1.00 a day. Every $30 raised in donations supports a child for one month with $360 supporting a child for one year.
Our race is over but you can still help fight this hunger battle by donating to:
http://www.firstgiving.com/
and look for Siung, Sinta, Renny, Chris, Jenny and Robert fundraising page.
Thank you for friends that have supported this ministry, thank you all for your generous giving.
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6: 9)
In developing countries, 6 million children die each year, mostly from hunger-related causes. You can help give these children hope for a future. Their families are living on less than $1.00 a day. Every $30 raised in donations supports a child for one month with $360 supporting a child for one year.
Our race is over but you can still help fight this hunger battle by donating to:
http://www.firstgiving.com/
and look for Siung, Sinta, Renny, Chris, Jenny and Robert fundraising page.
Thank you for friends that have supported this ministry, thank you all for your generous giving.
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6: 9)
Friday, May 16, 2008
Harvest Worship
The worship team at my church, Harvest Bible Chapel, is going to have a worship recording event on June 4, 2008. It will be just like a regular concert, except it is recorded live. Their songs are great, and it is free for us to attend, so.. consider it!
Harvest Live is an interactive concert and worship event at the Elgin Campus on Wednesday night, June 4, 2008. Featuring Harvest worship leaders Andi Rozier, Josh Caterer, Lindsay McCaul, Meredith Andrews, Luke MacDonald, Steve Busch, (HBC Michigan) and Josh Seller (HBC Oakville, Canada). Go online at harvestliveworship.org to learn some of the new songs and for more information.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Harvest Live is an interactive concert and worship event at the Elgin Campus on Wednesday night, June 4, 2008. Featuring Harvest worship leaders Andi Rozier, Josh Caterer, Lindsay McCaul, Meredith Andrews, Luke MacDonald, Steve Busch, (HBC Michigan) and Josh Seller (HBC Oakville, Canada). Go online at harvestliveworship.org to learn some of the new songs and for more information.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
The Necklace
A couple of weeks ago, when we learned about giving back our resources to God, I remember a story I read years ago about a little girl and a necklace. I am not sure who originally wrote the story or where it came from, but I found it online at: http://akpbible.blogspot.com/2004/11/necklace.html.
Here is the story from that blog.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The cheerful little girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them; a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box.
"Oh mommy, please mommy. Can I have them ? Please mommy, please ?" Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl’s upturned face.
"A dollar ninety-five. That’s almost $2.00. If you really want them, I’ll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday is only week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma." As soon as Jenny got home; she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner; she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday her Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace. Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up.
She wore them everywhere; Sunday school; kindergarten; even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet; they might turn her neck green. Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed; he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night as he finished the story, he asked Jenny;
"Do you love me?"
"Oh yes daddy. You know that I love you."
"Then give me your pearls."
"Oh daddy not my pearls. But you can have Princess; the white horse from my collection; the one with pink tail. Remember daddy? The one you gave me. She’s my very favorite."
"That’s okay; Honey; daddy loves you. Good night."
And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.
About a week later; after the story time, Jenny’s daddy asked again; "Do you love me?"
"Daddy, you know I love you."
"Then give me your pearls."
"Oh Daddy not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper."
"That’s okay. Sleep well. God bless you little one. Daddy loves you."
And as always; he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.
A few nights later when her daddy came in Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed. As he came close he noticed her chin was trebling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek.
"What is it Jenny? What’s the matter?"
Jenny didn’t say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver she finally said; "Here daddy this is for you."
With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny’s daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime store necklace; and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny. He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her the genuine treasure.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
God bless!
Here is the story from that blog.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The cheerful little girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them; a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box.
"Oh mommy, please mommy. Can I have them ? Please mommy, please ?" Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl’s upturned face.
"A dollar ninety-five. That’s almost $2.00. If you really want them, I’ll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday is only week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma." As soon as Jenny got home; she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner; she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday her Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace. Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up.
She wore them everywhere; Sunday school; kindergarten; even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet; they might turn her neck green. Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed; he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night as he finished the story, he asked Jenny;
"Do you love me?"
"Oh yes daddy. You know that I love you."
"Then give me your pearls."
"Oh daddy not my pearls. But you can have Princess; the white horse from my collection; the one with pink tail. Remember daddy? The one you gave me. She’s my very favorite."
"That’s okay; Honey; daddy loves you. Good night."
And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.
About a week later; after the story time, Jenny’s daddy asked again; "Do you love me?"
"Daddy, you know I love you."
"Then give me your pearls."
"Oh Daddy not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper."
"That’s okay. Sleep well. God bless you little one. Daddy loves you."
And as always; he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.
A few nights later when her daddy came in Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed. As he came close he noticed her chin was trebling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek.
"What is it Jenny? What’s the matter?"
Jenny didn’t say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver she finally said; "Here daddy this is for you."
With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny’s daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime store necklace; and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny. He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her the genuine treasure.
| So it is with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so that he can give us beautiful treasures. Are you holding onto things that God wants you to let go off? Are you holding on to harmful or unnecessary relationships; habits and activities that you have come so attached to that it seems impossible to let go? Sometimes it is so hard to see what is in the other hand but do believe this one thing ..... God will never take away something without giving you something better in its place. |
God bless!
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