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in the garden of gathsemane, Jesus told the 12 disciples to “watch and pray”. what’s there to watch and pray about?
Jesus wanted them to watch and pray against:
- misunderstanding of what was to happen
- terrific of what was to happen
the last journey of Jesus was all a set up so that Jesus could teach the disciples how to represent Him.
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1 now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 2 and supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of judas iscariot, simon’s son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 after that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 then He came to simon peter. and peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” 7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” – john 13:1-7
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question: was Jesus serving or leading the disciples?
answer: He was leading by serving.
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- servanthood is an identity
- leadership is an activity
- i’m a servant, with opportunities given by God to lead!
- it is different from a leader called to serve!
- every man can withstand adversities. but his character is tested when power is given to him.
let’s be servants who lead, remembering always, that power is first bestowed by God!
in its early days, dallas theological seminary was in critical need of $10,000 to keep the work going. during a prayer meeting, renowned bible teacher harry ironside, a lecturer at the school, prayed, “Lord, you own the cattle on a thousand hills. please sell some of those cattle to help us meet this need.”
shortly after the prayer meeting, a check for $10,000 arrived at the school, sent days earlier by a friend who had no idea of the urgent need of ironside’s prayer. the man simply said the money came from the sale of some of his cattle!
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10 for every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. 15 call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” 23 Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.” – ps 50
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i asked God for strength that i might achieve
i was made weak that i might learn humbly to obey
i asked God for health that i might do greater things
i was given infirmity that i might do better things
i asked for riches that i might be happy
i was given poverty that i might be wise
i asked for power that i might have the praise of men
i was given weakness that i might feel the need of God
i asked for all things that i might enjoy life
i was given life that i might enjoy all things
i got nothing that i asked for- but everything i had hoped for…
almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered
i am among all men most richly blessed
-an unknown confederate soldier
it’s midnight now and i’m still approximately 1000 words from completing my assignment. i’ve been working on it the whole day and feeling rather exhasted. i think i’ll retire for the night after this and continue my assignment during lunch tomorrow.
anyway, i have this sudden, overwhelming feeling that no one should ever be deprieved of their education, no matter how much financial difficulty the student or the family is facing. a proper education will give the student a much better opportunity to fetch more money, bring bread home, a better self- estem and ultimately a better life and future.
i’m more determine than ever before that i need to go to the poverty areas to build school and teach those unfortunate children.
if you happen to be a student reading my blog.. do fight for your studies.. for a better future..
last november, together with sab, we abstain from meat during weekdays for a period of like 5 weeks, for our christmas breakthrough.
after christmas, i took a short break and continued meatless till mid february, taking short breaks during lunar new year.
i remember it was kind of difficult for me as i couldnt eat bak gua and my favourite ham-and-cheese sandwich until the weekends.
my sacrifice paid off both both spiritually and physically.
recently, God reminded me of those days..
so, i started going liquid last week and God told me 2 areas to focus on. i’ll continue going liquid 3 days a week till lunar new year and i’m excited about the breakthrough God will bring into my life.
i bought this a while ago when it was selling at a promotional price. it taste better any most of the lippies i’ve tried. it gives a very smooth and shinny effect which i love. i bought a second tube the next day since it was cheap and nice. but my sensitive lips start to chip and peel so badly that it bled when i pursed my lips.
i’ve now switched back to the humble vaseline petroleum jelly.
in my opinion, qv lippies is the best, since it comes with spf. some budget beauty stores sell it at less than $5 per tube, which is a very good bargain.
i’ve got my miracle lotion! smells so nice and happy!
this is my primary school friend, traslin. we used to play silly games in the school bus. we’ve lost contact for a good 10 years or so. she “found” me while browsing my colleague’s boyfriend’s friendster and chance upon our holiday photo.
it’s amazing how technology and social network can connect people.
it’s a wonder she recognise me in the first place with all the changes in the last 10 years. she resembles her mom. by the way, she’s a mom to a super cute son!
this is such a small world indeed.
my poly friend claris has a colleague who was my secondary school mate. i wonder how i came into their picture.. i never met nor spoke to him since we’ve graduated from secondary school.
what a small small world.
this is my marketing research 200 unit controller/ visiting lecturer.
he’s one of the best visiting lecturers so far. he speaks loudly, clearly, makes a boring module interesting and best of all, he gives explicit exam tips. haahaa
if only he’s the local lecturer as well.
one day an expert in time management was speaking to a group business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration those students will never forget. as he stood in front of the group of high powered over achievers he said, “okay, time for a quiz.”
then he pulled out a one-gallon, wide mouthed mason jar and set it on the table in front of him. then he produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar.
when the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, “is this jar full?”
everyone in the class said, “yes.”
then he said, “really?” he reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. then he dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the space between the big rocks. then he asked the group once more, “is the jar full?”
by this time the class was on to him. “probably not,” one of them answered.
“good!” he replied. he reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. he started dumping the sand in the jar and it went into all of the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. once more he asked the question, “is this jar full?”
“no!” the class shouted. once again he said, “good.”
then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. then he looked at the class and asked, “what is the point of this illustration?”
one eager beaver raised his hand and said, “the point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some more things in it!”
“no,” the speaker replied, “that’s not the point. the truth this illustration teaches us is: if you don’t put the big rocks in first, you’ll never get them in at all.”
what are the ‘big rocks’ in your life?
your relatinship with God?
your husband or wife?
your children?
your loved ones?
your health?
your education?
your dreams?
a worthy cause?
teaching or mentoring others?
doing things that you love?
time for yourself?
remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you’ll never get them in at all. if you sweat the little stuff (the gravel, the sand) then you’ll fill your life with little things you worry about that don’t really matter, and you’ll never have the real quality time you need to spend on the big, important stuff (the big rocks).
what are the ‘big rocks’ in your life? put those in your jar first.
