Devotional Time with God

What problem in my life has caused the greatest growth in me?

The Purpose Driven Life, p. 200

Searching through my memories, I can only come up with the unemployment experience as the defining moment of my life. But one incident is not enough to keep me growing. I know God has let many of life problems happen to me so that he may test my patience. I know this because the bible said in Romans 5:3-4 (NIV)

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

I recalled what happened in Feb 2005 when we tried to move to Orange County from San Diego. We had difficulties with the title companies, not responding quick enough to close escrow. Yantie was pregnant and very irritable. My real estate agent had his hands tied. We were at the mercy of the people who process the escrow paperwork. I remembered going to one of the title company in Aliso Viejo and my car’s MP3 player it was playing Jars of Clay‘s song “I’m in the Way“:

you sit and stare out at the sky
and think of ways to fake a smile
but life is never what it seems
sometimes it only takes a while

i’m in the way of fallin’ down
i won’t let you go that far now
i’m in the way of fallin’ down
i won’t let you go that far now

i won’t let you go

you think that hope was left behind
i picked it up a mile ago
i am running close behind
so don’t give up and don’t let go

God always catches me when I’m falling down. He’s always there when I’m trouble. The song lifted my spirits and reminded me that God would never let me down.

I managed to close escrow on both houses at the same time. My realtor said this was a very rare occasion that I could sell and buy at the same time. It was a timing that could only be achieved by God’s grace.

Now I look forward to my next problem, as it will serve a purpose. God’s will be done on me.

How can I help cultivate today the characteristics of real community in my small group and my church?

The Purpose Driven Life, p. 151

Developing a fellowship does take a whole lot of time and effort. Two people, or a group, do not know each other if they hardly spend any time together. I certainly can see this clearly as I have all sorts of shallow relationships with my co-workers, extended family, distant friends, and sometimes other church members. I need to be in constant touch with each other to get anywhere close. One of the goal of writing my blogs is to let everyone know how I am doing. But my blog is limited since it is a one-way street. I need to know what others are doing, by either comments or reading their own blogs. That’s not easy to encourage. It’s difficult enough to get them to read their emails, let alone blog!

Online relationship is a tough one to establish. I have to reach out in other ways, and mostly it means by physically meeting them. Face to face conversation is almost a lost skill these days, especially for a shy person like me. With God’s help, I will overcome this. I will focus on God to love my neighbours.

The 9 characteristics that I must follow are outlined in the book by Pastor Rick:

• Authenticity: I will share my true feelings
• Mutuality: I will encourage each other
• Sympathy: I will support each other
• Mercy: I will forgive
• Honesty: I will speak the truth in love
• Humility: I will admit my weakness
• Courtesy: I will respect my differences with others
• Confidentiality: I will not gossip
• Frequency: I will make the group as a priority

Verse to remember 1 John 3:16 (NIV)

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.