Surgery...

I wrote this to some of my friends to encourage them to spend time reading God's word and seeking His face, then they told me very encouraging, so I decided to share wif u all...

I started reading Isaiah since beginning of the year, and I have been reading.. by the end of Jan I finished reading Isaiah so i began to read Jeremiah. Frankly speaking i dun really like this book because it was all about rebuking, and how God wanna make sure all the Israelite learn their lesson because they run away from God..I mean, it's the beginning of the year, how to get encouragement and hope from such a book? I suppose the book of Acts, Nehemiah or many other books wld be a better choice.. but, i read on anyway...

But I thank God for helping me to read on because when i finally reach chapter 29:11, it suddenly struck me, the most common and encouraging verse: for i know the plans i have for u, declares the Lord, plans to prosper u not to harm u, and u call on me and seek me and i will listen. you shall seek and find me and when u seek me with all ur heart (juz quote according to my memory, so not very accurate...) is written right after all the rebuking!

It blew my mind, i suddenly realized that bad things happened in our lives were not juz consequences of our mistakes or sins but it was also God's plan to turn us into a better person...

let me give u an illustration: say a person has broken legs, definitely the person cannot walk. in order to help the person to walk, he must be bandaged, mayb put some wooden planks to support.. then we give crutches to the person, so that he can walk better.. but do we stop there? No, the next thing is to deal with the fractured bones, so we need to cut the leg open and put metal piece inside so that the bone can be healed, then after sometimes we remove the metal piece so that the person is whole again.. the whole process is really painful but it was good for the person because after the whole process, he can walk again.

This is how i see it, many of times God bandaged us by giving us direct blessings, direct encouragements so that we feel better, through people's care and help, it serves as crutches to help us to walk, but through tough times and tribulations, God cut it open and put the metal piece. We often feel the pain and we probably resist them, juz like our body react to foreign substance. but it was for our good, and finally God still need to remove the metal piece (more trials, more tough times) so that we are whole again...

For almost one thousand year the Israelite always struggle in idolatry, they seemed not able to get away with it.. On one hand, they provoked God which was one of the cause of the captivity but on the other hand, it was also God's plan to help them to be free from idolatry! though the captivity was sad, and painful but that 70 yrs really turn the whole nation ard.. since then, no Israelite dare to turn to idolatry... it was God's plan to help them to be whole again!

Guys, dun be afraid of tough times, dun feel threaten because situation not in favor but believe God is orchestrating a beautiful symphony in ur life!

my conclusion... "then u will seek and find me".. even in toughest situation, it was God who allowed and use it for u to seek and experience His great and mighty power! So, do ur TAWG... and let God show u His will...