So basically this six week course ask us to ask ourselves this.
Are we a fan or a follower of Christ?
1st and 2nd session has just been over and there's been some struggle to define things.
One thing this course is, it's a definite eye opener.
If only mouth can open up, talk about a time to be tongue tied. >.<
Fan or Follower? Restoration
Define The Relationship with God. Luke 9: 18-25
A personal challenge has been the question of "When have you been most alive?", and my first answer was "Rollercoaster" but people who shared were talking bout serving others and it just didn't seem appropriate.
And by the time I thought about my time in Aussie, it was too late.
Looking up the leader's material online, I found that we've not been read the whole thing.
The question in details ask for 2 answers, one when it satisfied our own desires and one when it was about others. So, I did get to both parts. Like a tortoise. >.<
I'm still coming to terms on how do we reach this state of simplifying a relationship to those 2 words alone. And maybe right now, all I want is to be restored.
7-days Journal
This in itself wasn't just a ponder once daily thing. But each day, there was 3 or 4 parts.
It really asked us to scrutinized every minute or hour of our day. Even our lunch hour.
Like, what are your thoughts while you drive or commute to work?
Or what does your alcohol/food intake speaks about Jesus?
And sometimes, these are the hardest questions to answer.
Because there are bound to be things that we do in auto pilot mode.
There are things you do to satisfy yourself.
And there are things you do hoping He'd be pleased.
Follow Me: Redemption
There was this story about a little girl staining the couch and keeping it a secret from the parents.
And she burst out crying in guilt when the parents found out and gathered the children to find the culprit.
She felt so guilty that she asked the question "Do you still love me?" when it all came out, and her mum says yes. And that day onwards, she would show visitors the couch with the stain as it now represents being loved.
Looking beyond the stain, that's what His love is doing.
There was this explanation in the video, about Greek words to explain our now translated word 'Lord' and the explanation goes that it can only belong together in an owner-slave relationship. But then the video also said how being a slave to Him frees us.
And studying on that topic;
3 different books all speaking of the same moment. Matthew 9:9-12, Luke 5:27-32 and Mark 2:14-17
This in itself was mind blowing to read from The Message Bible.
The last verse had so many different words to describe the same situation.
Inviting outsiders (Matthew),
the sin sick (Mark),
an invitation to a changed life, changed inside and out (Luke).
Personal challenge was "Is there any stains that's still keeping you from Him?"
Often times, it's hard to let go.
Because where there was regret, maybe there had been good times as well.
And maybe we think the pain is worth it.
If we could just bring it all to Him. And let Him take away the pain.
Redemption by grace, by His blood...
*This post was rushed towards the end, have a workshop to head to!*
