141012
fifty three!
Church day today but I'm afraid the experience wasn't as good as it could be; sniffling almost every couple of minutes, coughing uncontrollably, dry eyes and fatigue... =[
But nevertheless, I still managed to grab a few crucial points today.
The sermon was on Luke 19:11-27 - [Who is the King?]
It was a parable about a master and ten of his servants.
The master was to be on a temporary leave to inherit a kingdom and the master left the servants each with 1 mina [4 months worth of wages back then]. The servants were then told to 'engage in business until [he] comes." In other words, the master will return in due time (not knowing when) and when he does, he's sure to ask for an account for what the servants have done with their mina(s).
The master was to be on a temporary leave to inherit a kingdom and the master left the servants each with 1 mina [4 months worth of wages back then]. The servants were then told to 'engage in business until [he] comes." In other words, the master will return in due time (not knowing when) and when he does, he's sure to ask for an account for what the servants have done with their mina(s).
When the master did return...
1st servant - used the 1 mina to make 10 more.
2nd servant - used the 1 mina to make 5 more.
The master was so pleased with these two servants that he said "you have been faithful in a very little" and he gave these two servants 10 and 5 kingdoms (respectively), to have authority over.
The 3rd servant however, stored the 1 mina he was given in his own handkerchief and had said that because he was so afraid of his "severe" master, he kept it laid away.
The master was so disappointed at this servant that he took the mina away from him and gave it to the 1st servant who had 10.
The 3rd servant didn't even store the mina at a bank where the master could have then collected interest, but instead he hid away what his master gave only to return it upon the master's coming.
In this parable, the mina is a representation of all the things God has blessed us with - money, abilities, time, friends, His word, health... and the list goes on.
God has entrusted you all with one or more mina(s) in your life...
Some have been blessed with a beautiful smile to welcome those to church.
Others have been blessed with a car and the ability to drive to serve those who can't.
Others have been blessed with talents for music or leadership or encouragement to spur the body of Christ.
Others blessed with health and time to serve in extraordinary ways that the busy ones cannot.
Others blessed with friends and fellow brothers + sisters in Christ can love and serve one another in selfless ways.
Whatever it is you choose to do with your life, your talents, your material blessings... When the Master whom we call Jesus returns (and he will), all will have to give an account of their lives and all will be revealed as to how we have invested our mina(s).
If Jesus is your King, then you would not hold back when investing what God has given to you towards the work of His Kingdom.
Or is money, talents, looks, materialistic gifts your king?
If you are a youth leader, stand strong - your efforts, time and leadership for the glory of God and the raising of the next generation of faithful young men + women will not be wasted.
If you are a University student with a lot of spare time, a driver's license and even disposable income, challenge yourself - drive over to a friend's house and have a 5 minute chat on how they're going, who knows, that 5 minutes and perhaps another 5 spent in prayer may have helped encourage him/her to get through an otherwise difficult time they may be going through.
Furthermore, don't underestimate the blessing of nature and quietness in a group setting. I've done this several times - drive to a beach somewhere at night, bring a guitar, pray, share and sing your hearts out. If I could drive again to Dee Why or my little spot called Clifftop with a few BaSIC's of mine, I would... In the quietness and stillness of the moment, your soul and mind will begin to reveal the inner longings.
If you are a youth leader with a lot of spare time and talents in the kitchen... Take advantage of the HSC right now.. Go out to Coles, buy some snacks or baking goods and bake some encouragement treats for your students! (For child protection sake, it's better that you let the parents know first). The HSC can be a stressful time, but a study encouragement snack can do wonders.
... And if you are a student on exchange like me, who has a lot of spare time, a lot of freedom and a lot of opportunities to grow... Don't do what I've been doing and just stay indoors spending what could be a whole day on pointless internet documentaries and what-not...
Read the Bible, read a Christian book, meet new people, experience new things and exercise independence through dependence on God.
It's rather bad that I'm beginning to lose sight of the valuable lessons God wants to teach me whilst being here because I often spend my days doing pointless things... But I am very glad for small group, Darryl and Matt have begun circulating prayer e-mails and accountability points among the group and we are organising weekly meet-ups to check up on each other.
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Dinner.
HAHA. Yumm...
Spent $5 today! Good effort!
Spendings for this half month - $260
Chicken Katsu top left, Bibimbap top right. My Gimbab and Lyna's Ddeokbokki wasn't shot. =[.
Looked good... $4.
On another note... I had to unclog the bathroom drain tonight... There was a buildup of hair that no one wanted to extract, so our bathroom kept flooding... It's been going on for a few weeks now and I thought... 'what the heck, I'll do it...'.
Sometimes, when you need something done properly, it's best you do it yourself.
Thankful: I am getting a lot better although still trying to jump over the last recovery stage hurdle.. Blocked nose, dry eyes and coughs..
Prayerful: Exam week this week + another week of classes. Praying also for the HSC students who will be starting very soon.
Dangers: Laziness in comfort and non-action due to compromise.
