I love beaches and sunsets.
Committee retreat was in Raumati again, and this is probably our last and yet most productive retreat ever as a committee! Lots of things got done, and people took up challenges (yaay Jerm!) and we gave Karen a huge surprise! Her birthday is coming up soon, so we figured that we'll give her a birthday surprise during retreat. I actually have it on video but I'm guessing she'll chop me up to 180 pieces if I show it here. LOL!
Retreats have always been intense because all of us will be grinding our brains to do lots of planning. But at the same time it has always been enjoyable. All 5 of us have different lives, and sometimes it is hard to find times that coincide so that we can bond together. So lots of bonding do happen during retreats.
Raumati is beautiful as always. I haven't been visiting beaches much this year, mainly because of the lack of time. So it was really good to be at Raumati again.
If I can put one touch of rosy sunset into the life of any man or woman, I shall feel that I have worked with God - Chesterton-
Such is the nature of the work of God: to bring beautiful sunsets into the lives of people. And He does His work in partner with us.
Lord, help me to be more in love with You.
One of the things that I enjoy doing in ICF is leading one of the Discovering Jesus Groups. We're going to finish the series on the book of Mark, and hopefully the girls in my group will be interested to continue studying the Bible.
Mark 10:27 -> With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.
The Rich Young Man.
This verse is often use to portray that God is infinite; that He can do all things. By looking at it in the context of the story of the rich young man, of which the verse is part of, I've learned something new. God can do anything; this includes enabling us to endure things that we cannot endure if we rely only on our own strength.
The rich man will not be able to give up his riches by his own strength, not that he is a bad guy, or that he is greedy, he is just human. And being human, we put our faith in things that are tangible to the naked eye. It could have been anything other than wealth: careers, spouses, families, friends etc. We place our securities in these things. It's normal. That's what being human is about. But when one looks at the security offered by God, portrayed by His unconditional love, all the tangible securities of the world pales in comparison to His empathy. He is never changing. He loves. And He loves for eternity. It is not cheaply given, nor can it be taken away. But sometimes it is just so hard to have faith in such love. As beautiful as it is, it is not tangible. I can't see Him, hold Him or touch Him. I pray to Him, but He doesn't answer in an audible voice as another human being would. But I know that He is real. I see it in the beauty of this world, in everything that is good in humanity, in the love that I see amongst people. I feel Him in my heart when He convicts me of my sins. Hannah Hurnard once wrote that the love between a husband and a wife is but a tiny reflection of the love of Christ for us. I guess being in love with someone is one of the ways that God tangibly shows that He loves us.
I know I can't do it by my own strength. So God, help me to be more in love with You.
