Identity in Christ

So, I was at retreat last weekend for my sorority, and I had such an amazing time bonding with my beautiful sisters. I was so blown away listening to such a Godly woman talk about what it means to have an identity in Christ, that I felt like I should share her message with you all:

The dictionary defines “identity” as the condition of being one’s self. As we experience the hardships and struggles of life; we are so desperate to know who we are that we start grasping on to things to save ourselves. There are so many adjectives that we describe ourselves as, but sometimes we forget to describe ourselves as “daughters and sons in Christ.” Why is that? How is it that we can easily rile off twenty adjectives that describes who we are, yet we forget that our only adjective should be that we are Christ’s sons and daughters?

How is that we label ourselves as:

• Accomplished
• Busy
• Hip
• Well-known
• Attractive
• Smart
• Girlfriend/Future wife/Wife-in-training/Wife (or Boyfriend/Future Husband/Husband-in-training/Husband) (<—I love the “wife-in-training” saying for some reason..)
• Daughter (or son)
• Camp counselor
• Girl (or Guy) with a plan
• Beautiful/ Handsome
• Dreamer
• Wealthy
• Super-Christian
• Loyal Friend
• Gifted

…but yet, when we were in high school, we absolutely despised being labeled as being preppy, geeky, nerdy, freaks, and jocks?

Whether you think that one, some, or all of these adjectives perfectly describes you, you have to realize that the day these adjectives work for us, is the day that you become prideful.

1 Corinthians 4:6-7 states: “Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, ‘Do not go beyond what is written.’ Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other. For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?”

The theme behind 1 Corinthians 4:6-7 is that you shouldn’t be prideful. Pride is past it’s proper size and has been blown up into proportions.

When you’re prideful, you become empty, painful, busy and fragile. Pride lets us focus on something OTHER than God. Pride gives you a sense of “specialness.”

Are you prideful towards God? Prides makes for a busy life. If you compare pride to a pendulum, you’re either boasting about what you have or comparing what you don’t have to someone else. We tend to say “I’ value her (him) and I’m worse than her (or him).”

But see, the greatest thing of all is that we’re more wealthy when we don’t boast. These adjectives are temporary and they will strip through your fingers.

• Accomplished: there are always going to be people who are more accomplished than you. Other people’s accomplishments have a way of making you feel like you’re not measuring up (like if one of your friends gets accepted into Harvard Law School and you’re still finishing your Bachelor’s degree.)
• Busy: School and stress makes us busy worrying about things that don’t matter.
• Hip: Is it worth having expensive clothes and shoes to outshine others?
• Well-known: Being well-known isn’t the greatest thing in the world. Sometimes, having a few close friends instead of a lot of friends is a hundred times better. (:
• Attractive: There are always going to be people who are more attractive than you. Attractiveness is a the devil in a sense- it causes you to compare yourself with other people. Just be yourself.
• Smart:  Like accomplishments, some people may be smarter than you (Einstein, anyone?!) Sometimes not being as smart allows you to think through things more clearly.
• Girlfriend/Future wife/wife-in-training/Wife (or Boyfriend/Future Husband/Husband-in-training/Husband)): this adjective is a pet peeve of mine.  I feel like this is the adjective that people use to define themselves before they rattle off any other adjective. It may just be me, but using this adjective to define yourself means that you’re making yourself somebody else’s “property” in a sense. There’s nothing wrong with being somebody’s boyfriend/girlfriend/fiancee/husband/wife, but be yourself, and be who you are. You don’t need anyone else to define you.?
• Daughter/Son: Yes, we all are sons and daughters, but you know what’s so great? We are sons and daughters of Christ. I can’t think of a more humbling adjective than this.
• Camp Counselor: So, I know that being a camp counselor is a milestone for college kids. Personally, I’ve never been one. But then again, I’ve never really been a camp person. I feel like “camp counselor” is a popularity adjective- as in if you’ve never been a camp counselor, you’re just not “cool.” We should strive to be counselors to people everyday, not just during the summer season.
• Girl (or boy) with a plan: I’m completely guilty of this adjective. Growing up, I had this long list of things I wanted to do (and who I wanted to be). I was a very strong headed child- I wanted to go one college for all four years, go to medical school, get engaged at 24, get married a year after, and have lots (and lots!) of children. College has a way of telling you that your plan that you have for yourself never works. I’m going in a completely different way than I wanted to. I think at a certain point, you have to be content with the plan God has for you. Only God knows how you’re supposed to live your life. It’s terrifying trying to distinguish the plans that you have for yourself, and the plans that God has for you. Sometimes you just have to ask yourself, “Is this my will or is it God’s will?”
• Beautiful/Handsome: I’m a strong believer, that as a society, we’re extremely guilty of this. We use this as a place marker for who we think we are. We unconsciously compare ourselves to other people every day. The media is partly to blame for this phenomenon too. As women, we look at stick thin (and obviously unhealthy) models in Vogue and strive to be like them because we think that’s what attracts men. And men are obsessed with going to the gym to get bigger and stronger so they can look “manly.” We allow our comparisons to other people to affect our self-esteem- that maybe if we looked better, then we’ll be liked more. Maybe looking beautiful or handsome is a survival instinct that has been primed into us from the beginning of time. Or maybe it’s because society has made us so self-conscious that we can’t feel better about ourselves until we’ve “beaten” out other people by looking like Miss America or like a model on the cover of GQ magazine. It’s not a competition. You are beautiful and don’t let anyone tell you any differently.
• Dreamer: I feel like this ties into being a girl/guy with a plan. It’s not necessarily bad to be a dreamer, but are our dreams exactly what God wants? Are you dreaming to make yourself happy or are you dreaming for others as well? God knows you better than you know yourself.
• Wealthy: I’m sure that you’ve all heard the saying that “you can be rich and a be poor, and you can be poor and be rich.” You can be rich and desert everyone around you if money is a priority. And you can be poor and be rich in love because there are so many things that are important to you than money. Our character shines a lot more when we don’t let meaningless things control our life.
• Loyal Friend: Part of being a loyal friend is being open and sharing concerns, as well as celebrating the wins and being there to support the losses. But, in being a loyal friend to others, don’t lose yourself. Learn that sometimes, every friendship doesn’t go smoothly. Sometimes, you have to force yourself to stop caring when the other person doesn’t anymore. You deserve more than giving your life up for someone who doesn’t care.
• Gifted: I feel like “gifted” is such a bad word. We’re all good at different things. Some of us are better at school and getting good grades, and others are good at playing sports or an instrument. We’re all “gifted” at different things, but you shouldn’t let it define you.

Jesus gives us the right questions. God decided you were so valuable to him. YOU ARE WORTH IT.

“Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, ‘Who do the crowds say I am?’ They replied, ‘Some say, John the Baptist, others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.’ ‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Peter answered, ‘God’s Messiah.’” ( Luke 9:18-20)

Source: Life is a Beautiful Struggle

Marriage Isn’t For You

“You don’t marry to make yourself happy, you marry to make someone else happy. More than that, your marriage isn’t for yourself, you’re marrying for a family. Not just for the in-laws and all of that nonsense, but for your future children. Who do you want to help you raise them? Who do you want to influence them? Marriage isn’t for you. It’s not about you. Marriage is about the person you married.”

Marriage Isn’t For You

Behind the Camera

Dayve Rampas' photostream on Flickr.

Left Without Turning Back

Life is pretty busy these days as I have to juggle between works, and studies. I'd like to thank all who have wished me on my birthday (and 'after' my birthday). Thank you for spending a few minutes (or seconds) to write a nice birthday message. I hope I've replied everyone, I really appreciate all the wishes, and even printed them out to put into my scrapbook.

It doesn't matter if the birthday wishes come from a total stranger, as long as it's sincerely wished. Friends are blessings from God, but those who are just mingling around to knock you down are lessons that not all people can be your friends, because some of them would come and teach you about life. Yet, being sincere and honest can sometimes misunderstood by some people. Being misused is another issue, yet, this taught us a very good lesson of who to trust, and who are worth to be ignored. This reminds me of the advices from my late grandpa (before he passed away), "Apa macam sekali orang lain kasi ketuk ko sampai jatuh, ko jalan terus saja." (Never looked back when people knocked you down.)

For people who have called me as one who have mental problem or crazy, I'd say 'Thank you' for addressing me like that. I'd like to quote an article (shall I post journals or research, too?) for people who love to address me (and the others, who knows?) as 'crazy'...

"...You could make a very long list of all the supposedly “crazy” business leaders who accomplished truly great things. That list would have to include people like Steve Jobs, Thomas Edison, Howard Hughes, Richard Branson, and Ted Turner. In the world of literature, that list would have people like Allen Ginsberg and Sylvia Plath and Vladimir Nabokov on it. In politics, your list of crazy people would have to include Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi..."

The 'wrecked' ship may shrink and pollute one part of the ocean, but that won't turn the whole ocean into a place that cannot be wondered and awed by others who still appreciate the mysteries of the ocean. And over time, the 'wrecked' ship may just stay down there, deep under the ocean, admired by a few, and a home for the others. The ocean, on the other hand, will still be awed, amazed, and feared for its beauty, and power to destroy.

Last but not least, never looked down on others... If you're the one who brought them up there. Why? Because you never know what you've taught them, and you never know what are their SWOT. LOL! Once again, thank you for all the birthday wishes, and I pray that God showers you with blessings and happiness. I got birthday wishes from Whatsapp, LINE, WeChat, Private Messages, Twitter, SMS, and calls. Last but not least, to the one that never fail to lend his shoulder, I love you so much, Mr W.

p.s: Wine and cheese get better with age. Yet, some people get better and others get wiser. Growing old is inevitable and one has to learn by themselves through their experiences.

Beneath the Façade of Friendship

A true friendship is a feeling of love, sharing and caring. Friendship is not a façade for someone to play 'hide-and-seek'. It is a feeling that someone understands and appreciates you as you are, without any exaggeration, flattery and pretensions. Moreover, a true friend stands by you through thick and thin, and they will never stab behind you.

Friends don't do things like lovers usually do. They don't kiss passionately. They don't have sex. They don't do things 'romantically'. Yet, some people are squeezing out the advantages out from their friends, especially those who have close friends of opposite sex. It cannot be blamed when one has the fear of losing his or her close friends. We all have that 'fear'. It's not novel, but sometimes we are unconscious with the actions taken due to that 'fear'. For instance, some guys would tell others that they had sex with his best friend. The reason is obvious - Either because he doesn't want to lose her, or it's because he wanted to keep his ego or pride on the line. The consequences of such action might be intolerable as this involves downgrading the dignity of a woman, and a friend. He might have a 'temporary' winning cup, but once the secret is revealed then the game is over. A 'true friend' would forgive and forget, but does that still make a friend to stick with you after all the trusts have been broken into pieces? It happens around us, everyday. Sometimes, we do hear this thing happened to our dear friends, yet, we are unable to help them. Instead, we would keep distancing ourselves from this kind of people. The disappointment is there as the trust has been broken. Think thoroughly before you say a thing or even share the stories of your close friends to others. You might need to consider that not all of us would love to listen to the story, but having a juicy gossip is enough to make us considered as updated.

What would you do if you heard when one of your friend badmouthing or making a false statement of his or her close friend? Who would you trust after you've listened to both sides of the story?

Beneath the Covers

It has been a long time since I stopped blogging as life has been pretty busy when the age is crawling up. I missed blogging so much that sometimes I 'tweet' nonsensical things over my Twitter and Facebook. I don't know how long this would be but I hope this space won't be left unattended for aeon. I will start soon (when?). Perhaps, a few days after all my works are done? Yet, I'm adding another 'time-consumer' into my 24-hour lifeline. I hope it won't go wasted. It's 4am and I really need to get my forty winks or I might get a lecture from 'the-love-of-my-life'. Will be back later.

Belajar English itu Mudah

Buku fizikal ENGLISH ITU MUDAH ini adalah merupakan satu buku yang mengupas semua yang berkaitan dengan grammar English dalam Bahasa Malaysia. Ia mengandungi 18 topik setebal 129 halaman mukasurat.

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Buku Fizikal English Itu Mudah - Belajar Grammar English Dalam Bahasa Malaysia

I'm unworthy; You still love me.

1. All relationships have one law: Never make the one you love feel alone, especially when you’re there. 
2. Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not. Wear it like armor, and it can never be used to hurt you. 
3. Yes, I am a Christian. Yes, I can be the biggest hypocrite ever. I backslide, I stumble. I fall. I stray onto the wrong path. But God is working in me. I may be a mess, but I’m His mess. And He is slowly straightening me out. And the day will come when I will be by His side, His work in me completed. And until that day, I will take His hand, and let him do in me whatever needs to be done, no matter how painful it will be for me. When He is finished, it will be all worth it.
4. Hundred weeds or a hundred wishes!
5. You’re going to come across people in your life who will say all the right words at all the right times. But in the end, it’s always their actions you should judge them by. It’s actions, not words, that matter.
6. The more you know who you are and what you want, the less you let things upset you.
7. And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you. Because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.
8. What defines us is how well we rise after falling.
9. Love this angle on "not enough"
10. In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.
11. Sometimes, God lets you hit rock bottom, so that you will discover that He is the rock at the bottom.
12. If you can’t figure out your purpose, figure out your passion. For your passion will lead you right into your purpose.
13. Our lives are storybooks that we write for ourselves; wonderfully illustrated by the people we meet.
14. No matter how many times you’ve blown it, God’s grace is bigger than your mistakes and His plans for you are perfect.this is a truth.
15. We are the silver lining in any and every dark cloud we could ever find. There is no need to go looking for the light when you bring it with you.
16. Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, and don’t put up with people that are reckless with yours.
17. Keep your head up
18. People think that being alone makes you lonely, but I don’t think that’s true. Being surrounded by the wrong people is the loneliest thing in the world.
19. I think it’s very healthy to spend time alone. You need to know how to be alone and not be defined by another person.
20. You’ll meet only a few people in your whole life who are truly abandoned houses- rundown, worn out, collapsing at the seams. I’m not asking you to take a hammer and nails and pin up their rafters, fix their leaky faucets, or put new panes of glass in their broken windows; I’m asking you to simply open their door, and spend a little time memorizing their floor plan. Get to know them. And when the time comes, I want you to draw back their curtains and, once and for all, let the light in.
21. Guys should have to touch your heart and mind first, before he touches your body.
22. Religion is man, searching for God, but Christianity is God, searching for man, which is why salvation is freely mine, forgiveness is my own. Not based on my efforts, but because of Christ’s obedience alone.  In every other aspect of life, you know that logic is unworthy. It’s like saying that you play for the Lakers, just because you bought a jersey.
23. Constant reminders are sometimes necessary...    "Remind yourself that it's okay not to be perfect."
24. God doesn’t love a future you, He loves you today. Because our whole lives, we’ve feasted on sin, and we couldn’t pay the tab. Yet, Jesus walks over to our bill, and says “I’ll take care of that.”