Life through the eyes of emery

In awe

I am in awe of God and how real He is. I just got back from a church camp for young adults. Very reluctant at first, but everything was paved for me. I asked for people to go with, He provided 4 new friends who signed up with me within a week, and 2 lovely roommates too. Had heaps of crazy fun & laughter with skits and musicals - these guys have amazing creativity!

I went up for prayer one of the nights and that was when I was in awe of how real God is. I didn't even mention anything to the Pastor, and his wife's words to me was 'There is no condemnation in Christ'... and the 2nd thing the Pastor prayed for was for 'forgiveness', basically to forgive someone. And the verse for the camp was "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!.." Isaiah 43:18-19.

Another thing I read about forgiveness through a random book in the bookshop was in Matthew 18:21-24:

Then Peter approaching asked him, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt.

At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.' Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan.

When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, 'Pay back what you owe.' Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'
But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair.

His master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?' Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart."

What a beautiful illustration... and what a change of heart I had after this experience, that I could actually forgive another & make contact again...something which I struggled with for so long.

I asked for Strength...God gave me Difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for Wisdom...God gave me Problems to solve.
I asked for Prosperity...God gave me Brain and Brawn to work.
I asked for Courage...God gave me Danger to overcome.
I asked for Love...God gave me Troubled people to help.
I asked for Favors...God gave me Opportunities.
I received nothing I wanted...I received everything I needed!

People always perceive Christians as judgmental, weird people who think they are too good for themselves. But those are just stereotypes, of course u can put many labels to other groups of people as well for that matter. To me, true Christians are no more than mortal human beings who have found God & their purpose for living. What could be greater or more life changing than that?

posted by emeryz @ 5:31 AM