My Day In A Collage And A Song

Savior (Steven Curtis Chapman)

Well, who is this angry man I see

In the mirror looking back at me?

It’s a man who’s tired, a man who’s weak

And it’s a man who needs a Savior
And who is this fearful little child

Crying out for home, lost in the wild?

With a lonely heart that’s fading fast

It’s a child who needs a Savior

A child who needs a Savior
And what is this longing in my soul

That I get so scared and angry?

I need more than just a little help

I need someone who will save me

Come and save me

I need someone to save me

Who will save me? Come and save me
And who is this one nailed to a cross

Who would rather die than leave us lost?

He’s come to rescue us, come to set us free

Hallelujah, hallelujah

It is Christ the Lord…our Savior

Hatred For Self

I've heard this said by Dr Robin Smith a lot on the Oprah show. Dr Robin Smith is a renowned psychologist on the show. When drug abusers, people with extremely low self esteem or morbidly obese people are interviewed on the show, Dr Smith often proposes Hatred For Self as the root cause.

I've always thought what it's really like being in their shoes. How can someone hate himself? Why do they hate themselves? It's somewhat an ironical concept in a self-centred and selfish world.

I heard this again yesterday during Alan's sermon in the tertiary service.

Here's a copy of my notes:

How To Experience God's Transforming Power
1 Timothy 1:12-17

Alan Tea

1. Realize that God thinks the best of us.(v12)
-"the worst of sinners"
-God thinks the best of us, despite what we think about ourself
-1 Cor 1:26-30, Ps 139:13-16
-there are some whose survival is based on self praise, their confidence derived from the opinions of others on them
-sometimes things are meant for the HIGHER good

2. Accept that God wipes away our past.(v13)
-hardened criminals have died inside, they've lost the sense of guilt, chosen to ignore their conscience
-are we like that? Hardened? Chosen to ignore the Spirit?
-Isaiah 61:10, Lamentations 3:22-23
-if today you can accept that God has forgiven you, then you can start to accept yourself. If you find that you hate what you see inside, then you may not have accepted the fact that God has forgiven you
-Mat 19:19, you cannot love others like yourself if you don't love yourself to start with

3. Receive every good thing that God wants to give us.(v14)




It's funny, sometimes as Christians that we have not accepted the fact.

Being An Overseer

1 Peter

5:2 Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve;

5:3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

5:5 Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
"God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble."†

5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

"not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be" Interesting... Who would willingly step up to this? Either someone who doesn't know what it takes or someone who considered the fruit worth all the heart break.

Truth is, we'll definitely get there.

"There" meaning:

Ephesians

4:13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

4:14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.

Question is, do I want to be involved in the process? Do I consider the benefits worth all the trouble?

5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

Food for thought...