Thank God for today! :)

Accompanied Peter to Tan Tock Seng Hospital for his physio for his broken leg. And it was a God-given opportunity to learn more things. Thank God for his pushing me to think ahead and anticipate his needs, so that I can learn to meet others' needs better in future.

Realised that I've become more sensitive to people's feelings, but am still very weak in identifying with people's needs.

I did some things that bordered on the hilarious, like helping Peter climb down the stairs, holding one of his crutches so that he could hold the railing... and then when he'd just finished descending the steps, I absent-mindedly walked off with his precious crutch, leaving him to hop after me with his other crutch. Poor Peter... :P

Was initially quite upset again, when I realised this, 'cos very tired of this weakness. But Peter reminded me that since I had prayed to God to help me grow, God allowed this experience to happen, so that He can show me clearly my weaknesses in this area, so that I can learn from it. And besides, God's grace was clearly here - it was Peter, and not someone else less understanding or gracious, who noticed my lack of understanding his needs (especially since he had a broken leg), so since he's my mentor, he can feedback to me more clearly, especially since he knows me so well, including my weaknesses.

Yup, God is so good! :D

So, after that, we discussed, and he advised me to learn from others how they anticipate and meet others' needs - to observe. He also reminded me that God spoke to me through that experience, so that I can learn - it's just that I wasn't expecting Him to speak through that experience...

"Don't box God in - He can speak through many, many ways, not only those ways that you expect Him to speak."

And, do expect God to speak to you, but don't expect Him to speak to you through only a few "preset" ways.

'Cos God's ways are not like our ways, and His thoughts aren't like ours - his ways and thoughts are much higher than ours!

Asked him how to know whether God's speaking to me through a situation and how can I know that whether my interpretation of a situation is correct... Peter reminded me that the first basic principle for making sense of a situation to understand God's will is very simple - does my understanding contradict the Bible or not?

Yup... one thing for sure: we can know that in every situation, whether good or bad, joyful or tragic - in all things He really does work for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. =)

Amen!

So my spirit was lifted up again after thinking through that. Realised that I still haven't responded in a mature way when I go through experiences that show my weaknesses... I need to remember that this is part of God's love - tough love - that He allows these experiences to show clearly what my weaknesses are.

I have some weaknesses that really, really bug me and others a lot - some are so ... irritating and I wish I didn't have them.

But I was reading through the teaching on self-acceptance in Christian Living 2, that actually, God's power can be shown all the more through our weaknesses, and His grace is sufficient for us.

Seriously, I have these weaknesses - so what? These weaknesses will take years, even my whole life, to overcome - so what?

Plan systematically, plan for progress, and set milestones in overcoming these problems, and PRAY to God to help me grow - keep praying, for He rewards those who earnestly seek Him! And He WILL provide powerfully for me in overcoming these weaknesses, so that through these weaknesses of mine, when I overcome them, everyone can see that it is not by my own strength alone, but it is CLEARLY with God's help that I have overcome! =D And so, His power will be made perfect in my weaknesses. For when I am weak, then I am strong. And all the glory goes to Jesus! =)

*******
Had also a wonderful time with some of the bros and sisters today, jogging with them through Kent Ridge Park, very lovely place. =)

Then we ate dinner at Clementi. Marcus, Swee, Huanyan, Guanrui and I ate together, and hee, thank God for them, it was a great time with them. Haven't laughed so hard in ages... was dizzy with laughter. Oh God, Swee, HY and Ah Rui can come up with the craziest jokes... three really are better than one... And was also a very edifying time at the same time too... =)

But also a wonderful time learning to observe them, how they interact with each other. Realise there's a lot of things I can learn from my dear brothers, especially how they make conversation socially...

Realise I also still tend to stick to my old ways of interacting with others, but learnt a lot from watching how Marcus socialises with the others - can learn a LOT from this bro! 'cos think we have similar personalities, both of us being introverted, but Marcus is able to adapt so much better. Really need to learn from him more. =)

Yup, exciting times, these days, learning and learning... still so much to learn, a lifetime to learn, and learn some more! But what a joy it truly is to learn! :D Ask God to teach you, and He WILL teach you and lead you into all truth...

Thank God! :D