Dating, at God's will.

For these recent years, many people have approached me to inquire whether I have court/date/“pak-toh” before. The answer is no. Then people will start probing the criteria of me choosing my life-partner or trying to match-make me with someone else (for fun) or ask me to change Church for ”better chances” to get to know people who are about the same age as me.

Waiting for the right one is always hard for most of us, especially in this world that progresses so rapidly. Many of my peers have chosen what they seem best but might not be in sync with God’s will. If you are courting someone, would not you intent to marry that person? If so, why should we court someone whom we do not want to marry? Some years ago, I read a book by Debby Jones & Jackie Kendall entitled “Lady in Waiting”. Until today, if I face with doubts or tests pertaining to boy-girl relationship (BGR), I’ll re-read this book. There’s also “I kissed dating goodbye” and many other good books in libraries or Christian bookstores. I suggest those of you who are also struggling with these issues to grab one of these books and let God speak to you!

When comes to the topic of BGR, some of us might just shy away. However, I find that it is essential for me to share how I go through these years of peer pressure and temptations. I must say that all these are real and we have to rely on God’s word and strength to resist the culture, peer pressure and temptation that meet us daily.

From childhood till adulthood, I have lots of crushes on someone and vice versa. Ever since I came to the Lord, I have determined to please God and thus I’ll pray to God every time I face such peer pressure and the attractive someone. Sometimes I would just awake from cold sweat after having a dream of that person and there I quickly grab the Bible or the BGR book that I used to read. Then, I will enquire of the Lord, whether he’s the right one or shall I wait for the right one still…Seriously, many years have passed and I am still waiting for the right one while busy serving at Church with no regrets :)

I did have questions, for example, what if my right one did not come (in view that I have gotten older and older each year ;P)? If indeed God wants me to remain single for the rest of my life, may God give me the courage and I respond like Mary (Luke 1:38, New King James Version) –

Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word. I still trust that God has a plan for me, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give me a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11, New King James Version)

It is also amazing how God want to keep me from sinning against Him! Just lately the test came again and God has so graciously forewarn me even before I was and still being tested. God’s word is very clear in Joshua 23:11-13 (New King James Version)

Therefore take careful heed to yourselves, that you love the Lord your God. Or else, if indeed you do go back, and cling to the remnant of these nations (people who are not believer of our God) – these that remain among you – and make marriages with them, and go in to them and they to you….. But they shall be snares and traps to you, and scourges on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land which the Lord your God has given you.

Seeing the impact of Christian unequally yoked with non-believer, I am sure you would not want to be one of them! I encourage you to ponder and bring it to God even before you step into any BGR. Fret not, God is forever faithful and He will not short-change us. :)

- Yit Mun

Images taken from:
http://datingsitesnz.net/
http://myreverence.wordpress.com/2010/01/30/i-kissed-dating-goodbye/
http://americanvision.org/4068/the-time-is-short/

Camp to me

While I must comment that the committee and the camp commanders did a good job on the camp, on the more serious note, I think it is important on certain things that must be shared in the camp.

A sister shared during one of the discussion sessions regarding the camp and it really caught me off guard because her point really didn’t occur to me at all but it was really important. The point was :

“Did you had an aim when you go to the camp?”

I confessed that I went there not knowing what to aim for or expect, I just went because to me it was second nature that Youth work is my priority. Although that thought in itself is alright but having that thought alone does not suffice God’s work to be fully realized in my faith at the camp.

I did my homework of studying the hermeneutics(science & historical research) of the epistle of Hebrew and even read up commentaries of it, but all that was just preparation. It wasn’t an aim to work out something and to ensure that objective is reached.

What made it worse, I did not pray of what God would want me to do whilst in the camp, rather I was praying for things I had in mind for the camp. Again, while the thought of that is not to say “wrong” per se, I believe it is not the right approach for something as important as camp. Many people placed in loads of effort and costs to make it happen, is it really alright to just go there without seeking the Lord’s will?

If God told me to reach out to a certain specific person, I would have placed in my top of priority to that person rather over the things that I “felt” like doing during the entire period of camp. If God told me to support and encourage the committee before, during and after the camp, my priority would’ve been placed on that. Even If God told me to simply ensure that my faith needed to heed the message that was spoken by Mr.Andrew, I would’ve gave my utmost best in listening, digesting and reflecting upon the sessions he spoke.

Problem is, none of them were achieved, I just went with the flow.

Of course plenty of beautiful bonds were made with the younger youth and learning some new things like I can’t teach (I really can’t). It is still an irony that God’s will may not be done ultimately due to lack of listening.

You may or may not agree with me but I hope it is something you would consider upon the next camp you go, did you go because you knew what God has in mind for you there, or you go because of every other reason except for that reason?

If you felt happy because you had fun in the camp but came back learning nothing about the word of God and deciding to apply it in your life, then that aim in itself has defeated the whole purpose of organizing the camp in the first place. But if you did, fret not, there’s always the next camp and I hope that I too, will learn to come humbly in seeking God’s will and not taking each of these privileges to learn God’s word in such comfort lightly again!

Ephesians 5, 15-17

“Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.”

- Gary Heng

Images are taken from :

http://bijuachan.webs.com/links.htm
http://www.wishfulthinking.co.uk/2006/04/24/creative-flow/