Went for Bible study group today @ Uncle Gerald's place.

Today's topic was part 2 to hindrances to our service. Looking at Jeremiah 1:4, 6:16-19, 12:5-6.
We looked at specific instances where God chose Jeremiah to be a prophet, how the people responded and Jeremiah's lamentations(NOT about why no hot water, why suddenly rain that kind of thing lo..), and how still, at the end of the day, Jeremiah stay focused on God.
I had a tough time capturing all that everyone said. All I can remember at the end of the day is to persevere for the sake of God's kingdom. To be obedient to His instructions and trust in His calling. Sound simple yea, i've always been talking about this same two things, trust and obey. But.. this has never been easy for a rebel like me heh.
During the lesson I thought about how Jeremiah was also an ordinary person, not any braver or gifted than anyone of us today. He was a youth when called to be a prophet(I think I saw this.. correct me if im wrong!). Zhen Long was saying.. 'Can you imagine a person called to be prophet and also told that the people that he has to talk to will not listen?' How 'encouraging' I thought.. and God told Jeremiah that.. the people will not listen to him. Still, Jeremiah did what was pleasing to God. Obey. If I were him, I'll probably just take my bag and leave. Who wants to do such a unsatisfying job!? The lesson I took home today was to believe that God does what he pleases, of cos with a greater purpose that I do not see it (most of the time). Of Cos Jeremiah went through his struggles being a prophet to such difficult lot and complained. Yet Jeremiah knows that God will vindicate the righteous and to the unrighteous gives their due punishment in His own time. God is a righteous God.

" "If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, Then how can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, in which you trusted, they wearied you, Then how will you do in the floodplain(*thickets) of the Jordan? For even your brothers, the house of your father, Even they have dealt treacherously with you;" " Jer 12: 5-6a

The way that Zhen Long and the rest talks about the Bible made me realised how little I know about God's story. The way He choses His people, the way these people are moulded.. etc I know nuts about them! Must read and study liao la.. Jer..1 Tim.. DISCIPLINE!!PASSION!!

Ultimately this whole lesson leads us to the conclusion that we should all persevere in our ministry and service to God. No matter how difficult the situation is, no matter the results, if this is the area that God has called us to serve, give wholeheartedly, cos He has given us the privilege to do so.(Called from millions to serve the Creator leh! :D)

After 600 tries of Thomas Edison's experiments, his student gave up.But Thomas Edison told his student, they had discovered 600 different how NOT to make light, instead of having 600 failures. Wow! What perspective!
So Should I also put it this way : Christians have discovered millions of ways to overcome their challenges(and growing strong by God's grace) than have met thousands of sufferings and persecutions. God help us to see things in YOUR perspective!

We went on to talk about knowing when to move on to another ministry or to stay on. God has placed leaders in our lives to guide us. There are situations that we face forces us to stay in the same ministry. Just as how God has called Jeremiah and given him a task to do, Jeremiah would probably stop doing it until God says stop. Likewise, to Zhen Long, what govern his stay or go is the one who has appointed him and assigned duties to him. His leaders. Of cos the one leading the leaders would be God Himself la.
I guess, along with prayers and a close walk with God, seeking after his heart will lead us to where He truly wants us to be. At the end of the day, Christianity is still talking about this relationship with God and his glory.

How bout how do we know if this is the area that God wants us to go into? God has also given us gifts/talents, some things we are good at, some things we are not. Its a matter how we can render the little that we know to Him best in our gifted areas. what about our passion leh? If no desires how? Explore more? (I've yet to ask these questions..I guess there's no clear cut answers to this anyway..har)

Well, there's too much things on my mind.. they are all in a mess somehow. I just want to thank God today that MY MOTHER DIDNT NAG AT ME FOR GOING TO BS!!:) ok. she did la for a while den I prayed... for her to just stop nagging/scolding. heh I know its not really the right thing to pray la but well... I did and she stopped!! was quite surprised.. har I also prayed that she'll not be angry about it la.. she nag and scold means she angry ma right.. hope she doesnt get too agitated and pls pray that she'll even want to know what I'm doing in church!! hee

KM told me that I should just tell my mother that im going for BS and trust that God will guide lo. True enough.God led, God blessed :) It reminds me of this quote thing that Dora wrote on my notebook during our sec 4 days.