DARE/Arrow today. Just checked my tag and found its been inactive for four days! Why doesn't anyone wanna tag me? My friends have all been tagged recently...
Anyway, I'll post the message shared at DARE and Arrow. But before that, an update on my personal life.
On Thursday I had dinner with DG. Not everyone could make it and I was too late to go skating. Missed Siying and couldn't be a part of the group photo. Sigh.
On Friday I had lunch with DG and afterwards Linus, Justin and Hair also came to my house. Mindy stayed but for a brief interlude.
I feel like a burden has been lifted from my shoulders. Today's message really spoke to me, and it was during DARE that I cried with the most abandon in church :) Here is my summary of the message preached by pastor:
There are testings in our lives. Who has never faced a trial or challenge, no matter how small or big? But don't worry. Out of each one, God will bring out a testimony of His might! Now, I am not saying that God created your troubles. Satan is usually the one behind them. Sometimes, your troubles are self-inflicted. But God CAN and WILL make them all work out in the end! Here is evidence from the Word:
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28.
Everything! The good, the bad and the ugly parts of your life, the tribulations, will work together for your good! But look closely at the extract. Who are the ones "who are called according to his purpose"? That's all believers! "To them who love God", that qualifies every believer!
"Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." Romans 8:30.
We are all like raw diamonds. Hidden in the deep darkness of the Earth, God found and mined us out into the light. But no matter how valuable a raw diamond is, it can never become as valuable as a refined one. We are shaped by the events in our lives and once we become refined, we will glitter in God's light!
Whenever you have a condemning thought that does nothing but put you down, it is the work of Satan. Don't let these thoughts destroy you! Things like: "I'm not good enough","I can never make any friends", "I am a weakling". Reject them!
And for you to click these! *UPDATE* Thanks for the help!
And this button!
