Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Before I enter seminary years ago, I often find myself asking, "How is God going to provide for my finances when I quit my job and be a full-time student? ... How is my life going to be sustained by the minimal support that I'm getting? ... How is God going to see me through the years of studies - physically, mentally, spiritually, socially, etc?"
I've heard of many testimonies about how God provided and supply when one respond in faith and obedience to His call. But it was difficult for me to understand how what they had experienced could be true for me.
Now, at the end of the 2 years from when I quitted from my job and became a full-time student again, I can only stand to testify that all my worries are truly unfounded. God is a God who not only supplies, but a God who provided all that I needed and saw me through these few years of seminary life.
God supplied all my needs - yes, and I echoed a loud "amen" to Philippians 4:19 which reads, "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." It's amazing how God supplies and provides - through the church, through friends, through family members. I remember one occasion that a ministry staff passed an envelope to me and said, "someone wanted me to give this to you but the person would like to remain anonymous". I opened the envelope and found some cash, of which I was really thankful for in those moments of need. God did not simply just supply finances, he also watched over my household, such that I can concentrate on my studies and not worry over family members falling ill, etc.
Going back to become a full-time student after so many years also left me worried about the ability to cope with the demands of studies, manage and balance my time, etc. Yet God again proved Himself so faithful as He constantly reminds me of 2 Corinthians 12:9a "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." " What a testimony even as I stand before Him now to give thanks for all that He has done all these years. I often wonder how I can complete the readings ... the assignments ... how I can have creative ideas for presentation ... preaching assignment ... planning for chapel, etc - yet God again proved Himself so faithful in seeing me through all these tasks, providing me with His wisdom and seeing me through stressful moments by His gentle guiding hand and grace.
Well, these 2 lessons aren't the only ones I've learnt. The most important one is the one which I believed echoes the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him."
I've often thought that the people I'll learn the most from are those who are intelligent, brilliant, smart, knowledgable, etc - but I'm proven wrong!! In fact, the people I've learnt the most from, and humbled by, are those which Paul has written - the foolish things, the weak things, the lowly things (to be used figuratively and metaphorically). Through a couple of my classmates, I've learnt to be humble as I see them plodding on slowly and patiently - they might not be the brightest in the class, but their humbility to learn and to be corrected just puts me to shame - in contrast to my sometimes pride and arrogance in thinking that "I know a lot".
I'm also encouraged by some classmates who are courageous enough to explore, ask the most simplest and innocent questions - well, maybe those are the ones they are struggling with, but in actual fact, it takes a great deal of courage to ask those questions, and sometimes risk appearing like a fool. Yet through their courage I've learnt the simplicity of faith and childlike innocence as we seek the Lord.
Looking back, I'm simply just filled with amazement and thanksgiving. What can I say except to echo the words of the song "my tribute" .... "How can I say thanks, for the things You have done for me." ... and truly to God alone be the glory!! Praise the Lord!!
Before I enter seminary years ago, I often find myself asking, "How is God going to provide for my finances when I quit my job and be a full-time student? ... How is my life going to be sustained by the minimal support that I'm getting? ... How is God going to see me through the years of studies - physically, mentally, spiritually, socially, etc?"
I've heard of many testimonies about how God provided and supply when one respond in faith and obedience to His call. But it was difficult for me to understand how what they had experienced could be true for me.
Now, at the end of the 2 years from when I quitted from my job and became a full-time student again, I can only stand to testify that all my worries are truly unfounded. God is a God who not only supplies, but a God who provided all that I needed and saw me through these few years of seminary life.
God supplied all my needs - yes, and I echoed a loud "amen" to Philippians 4:19 which reads, "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." It's amazing how God supplies and provides - through the church, through friends, through family members. I remember one occasion that a ministry staff passed an envelope to me and said, "someone wanted me to give this to you but the person would like to remain anonymous". I opened the envelope and found some cash, of which I was really thankful for in those moments of need. God did not simply just supply finances, he also watched over my household, such that I can concentrate on my studies and not worry over family members falling ill, etc.
Going back to become a full-time student after so many years also left me worried about the ability to cope with the demands of studies, manage and balance my time, etc. Yet God again proved Himself so faithful as He constantly reminds me of 2 Corinthians 12:9a "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." " What a testimony even as I stand before Him now to give thanks for all that He has done all these years. I often wonder how I can complete the readings ... the assignments ... how I can have creative ideas for presentation ... preaching assignment ... planning for chapel, etc - yet God again proved Himself so faithful in seeing me through all these tasks, providing me with His wisdom and seeing me through stressful moments by His gentle guiding hand and grace.
Well, these 2 lessons aren't the only ones I've learnt. The most important one is the one which I believed echoes the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him."
I've often thought that the people I'll learn the most from are those who are intelligent, brilliant, smart, knowledgable, etc - but I'm proven wrong!! In fact, the people I've learnt the most from, and humbled by, are those which Paul has written - the foolish things, the weak things, the lowly things (to be used figuratively and metaphorically). Through a couple of my classmates, I've learnt to be humble as I see them plodding on slowly and patiently - they might not be the brightest in the class, but their humbility to learn and to be corrected just puts me to shame - in contrast to my sometimes pride and arrogance in thinking that "I know a lot".
I'm also encouraged by some classmates who are courageous enough to explore, ask the most simplest and innocent questions - well, maybe those are the ones they are struggling with, but in actual fact, it takes a great deal of courage to ask those questions, and sometimes risk appearing like a fool. Yet through their courage I've learnt the simplicity of faith and childlike innocence as we seek the Lord.
Looking back, I'm simply just filled with amazement and thanksgiving. What can I say except to echo the words of the song "my tribute" .... "How can I say thanks, for the things You have done for me." ... and truly to God alone be the glory!! Praise the Lord!!
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