Letting go 2010...is it Taking hold 2011?

Reading Isaac's blog has prompted me to write again...somehow i just 'forgot' about blogging the last few months...indeed i want to remember what God has done for me in my life lest i forget the goodness of God in my life, lest i forget all the lessons He has taught me...i want to remember God and all of His love and goodness in my life.

This blog started with the journey to missions..and even though theological training didn't seemed to be part of God's plan at this point...the journey of missions continues...it will never stop till i cease to breathe...so this blog shall continue to document the wonderous works of God in my life...



It felt blissful when I sat at West Coast Park on the last day of 2010 to spend time alone...alone to reflect on 2010...to talk to God...to reflect what God has done in my life in 2010 and what He has taught me. One thing that stood out when I think about all the major happenings during 2010: Letting go...

I realised that God has been teaching me to let go in 2010. Letting go of my desire to escape and go into biblical studies, letting go of him that i shouldn't hold on to anymore, letting go of what i want and where i want to go.

Realising this 'trend' of letting go in 2010...it makes me wonder God has in mind for 2011? Is it more 'letting go'? or is it 'taking hold'? :) well, i'm excited at what He has in store...and whatever it is, i'm trusting Him and obeying Him...be it letting go or taking hold.

At the same time, I was reading Psalm 1 and felt led to read the Beautitudes in Matthew 5, as i was seeking to hear from God.

Matthew 5
The Sermon on the Mount
1Seeing the crowds,(A) he went up on the mountain, and when he(B) sat down, his disciples came to him.
The Beatitudes
2And(C) he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
3(D) "Blessed are(E) the poor in spirit, for(F) theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4"Blessed are(G) those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

5"Blessed are the(H) meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

6"Blessed are those who hunger and(I) thirst(J) for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

7"Blessed are(K) the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

8"Blessed are(L) the pure in heart, for(M) they shall see God.

9"Blessed are(N) the peacemakers, for(O) they shall be called(P) sons[a] of God.

10(Q) "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for(R) theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11(S) "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely(T) on my account. 12(U) Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for(V) so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Salt and Light
13"You are the salt of the earth,(W) but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
14(X) "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15(Y) Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so(Z) that they may see your good works and(AA) give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

One thing struck me as i read the Beautitudes. There is such a contrast of things between the part before the comma (,) and the part after the comma (,) if you view it in the world's terms. From the worldly pt. of view, it will be a laughing stock. For how can one inherit the earth if one is meek? Doesn't the strong and mighty inherit the earth instead?

But not so, in God's economy of things. This reminds me about hearing this from Pastor Kay Kiong if i remembered correctly, that God's economy of things are different from the world's economy of things. So when God allows things that didn't seemed right or logical in this sense of the world, it probably make sense to consider and discern if this is God's workings indeed.

Isaiah 55: 8-9
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Another reminder was from verse 13 and 14. To remind myself that I AM the salt of the earth..I AM the light of the world. It's my identity. God did not say 'be' salt of the earth, nor did He say 'be' the light of the world. But "YOU ARE the salt of the earth...YOU ARE the light of the world"...hence did i live up to who i am? This is what i am going to live out in 2011. Not 'to be' but I already am when God says so. So...JUST DO IT!