Jiali's back in Singapore

Ever since I have reached Germany, my mum has been faithfully summarizing the sermons in FCBC for me every Sunday.

I told myself, if I have girls next time that go for exchange, that is what I want to do for them too. because 1) it keeps them in touch with what is happening in church (which in this span of 6 months, those emails helped) 2) it helps them in their spiritual growth

and so since Mum came back from the states this week and did not manage to go to church, I decided to summarize this for her.

and so I decided to put it up on my blog too because I know Elaine reads this :)

Pastor talked about Daniel 4: Standing Tall in Turbulent Times: God and God Alone

We tend to be very proud people. But if you are proud, God is able to humble you. Humility has no form, it is not about what you say. but it is about recognizing God and God alone governs.

inferiority complex is also pride.

Many times, we think that our own drive for life can make things happen. We are often very wrong. PRIDE is very much Idolatry. If we do not recognize God is in control, then we will not know humility

We must be humble because
1) God alone governs- He alone is in control
2) God alone is gracious- He alone is compassionate.

Why is God against pride? So that when we humble ourselves, we can enjoy the grace of God.

1 Peter 5:5 ... God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Refering to Daniel 4, why did God give the vision to the evil King? and not to a holy prophet? Because God was also reaching out to the evil king. God loves the evil king too. (a side note: King Nebuchadnezzar was also the king who built one of the ancient wonders in the world- The hanging gardens of babylon)

and only until the King recognizes that God and God alone reigns, he was able to enjoy God's fullness and blessings.

³⁴ At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.
His dominion is an eternal dominion;
his kingdom endures from generation to generation.

³⁵ All the peoples of the earth
are regarded as nothing.
He does as he pleases
with the powers of heaven
and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand
or say to him: "What have you done?"

³⁶ At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. ³⁷ Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

this sermon, is simple, yet profound. hope it blesses my readers! :)

Surrender.

my emotions, fears and thoughts.

I fear too much about how people and leaders think about me.
I am afraid of being left out.

Submission, is still a hard word to chew.

hahaha :) to a person i miss very much.



I hope all these photos don't scare my blog readers off.

heee.

Sometimes, we like to bargain with God

" God, if i do this and this, would you give me good results?"
"God. if i do this and this, would you give me a good husband?"

often. I know this is wrong. But subconsciously, i do it. I try to be good, do my quiet time, so at the end of the day, i know God will honour me and bless me.

but recently i realised that by having this kind of mindset, i am yearning for more of God's blessings than God in my life.

and how can we ever bargain with God, if our life was exchanged with blood.

But now this is the word of the Lord, the word of your creator, O Jacob, of him who fashioned you, Israel: Have no fear: for I have paid your ransom; I have called you by name and you are my own.

haha hello all to counterpart and everyone,
d
thank you for all your comforting comments but i have a good news to share!

My mum wrote a letter on my behalf to NUS, telling them that I am very sad (is true). and so they helped me send a second appeal and THANK GOD, i got back the money! this is really something to celebrate about! it is a miracle really!! YAYS

There are things that I learnt through this incident

1) We cannot take things for granted.
it is not about the money. but we cannot take things that God has bless us with for granted. We cannot take His grace for granted

2) There are many more things, like life and love and health and your love one, that money cannot buy. that's what my taiwan friend told us. that the real things in life that money can't buy, are the most precious things in life. and i want to thank God especially for my mummy who helped me so much!

and some other important key takeaways from this exchange

contentment is very important. I think i am often so uncontented with what I have, and always comparing the experiences of others to what I have. and often i can become so miserable, only seeing the things that I don't have.

But when I really look back at all the experiences that I have, I realised that there is actually NO ROOM for comparison. and taking it for granted yet again, i am actually so blessed and loved by God, family and friends.

and now i am going home soon. BOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

and still..

I have many lingering thoughts.

through Auckland and exchange, I realise there is one way to be popular.

Drinking and partying. people get very friendly when they party. They will get many friends and be the envy of many.

Sometimes I wonder why i have so little "ang moh" friends on exchange. is it because I didn't try hard enough? and that I should be sociable since the world is like that. because if i don't, i might lose out on many things.

then again a soft voice comes to me again and again. that I am loved for who I am. and He is proud of me. and that people may not understand, but its okay, He sees it.