Lessons as a husband #1

Recently, a brother of mine asked for ideas to continue to his writing… I suggested to him that he could start writing about some lessons from God about being a husband.

It’s a gd reminder to myself that I shld reflect on my own journey as a husband. As I journey my walk to be god-fearing husband as God called me to be.

Disclaimer:  It will be my personal reflection of a husband and does not reflect all husband in general.

Happy birthday to me, I’m 18.

Yesterday was my 18yo spiritual birthday… Yes I am a 18 yo christian.

I received the Lord on 17th July 1992 at 10ish before I slept… there wasn’t any supernatural feeling or earthshaking moment. Everything happened in a the quietness of the night.

I fell asleep shortly after.

The next day, everything seems normal until I was approaching the sch gate. There were a couple of adults giving a small blue booklet like thing. I was curious and took a copy of it… I flipped thru and realized that it was a bible which only contain the new testaments with Psalms & Proverbs.

After entering the gate, I went immediately to my form teacher’s room and told her about my incident the night before. She was delighted. She mentioned that the moment I made that decision, the angels in heaven were sounding their trumpets and singing with joy… I didn’t quite understand what actually she meant back then.

Life went on as usual… I didn’t notice any changes in my life. On the contrary to my friends, they noticed that I had changed. It was 6mths or so, they told me that I have changed. I sworn less and I was more patience. It came as a surprise to me.

From that day on, I believed that God had helped me change my life. This life is no longer mine but His. Along the way, I fell into temptation, I struggled in my sins… many things I was defeated, wounded, discouraged, etc. However, I knew I am not alone I am fighting this long battle with my Lord.

Till this day, I couldn’t find any reasons or excuses why I should forsake my faith. I dunno how to tell people I want to give up Christianity. The Lord had seen me through many victorious and darkest moments of my life.

Happy 18th birthday to me… there are more yrs to come. 🙂

Jeremiah 29:11 (New Living Translation)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

My encounter with a 18yo gal

I had gd time interacting with a 18yo gal… I had the opportunity to befriend her when she was 15yo during one of the youth camps.

Those the short conversation with her I realised that she had matured since the last time I saw her… I thanked God for her growth. Those she is only 18, she already exhibit maturity which many her age would be still immature & irresponsible. Thru her twitter, I know she struggle much to excel in her studies and projects. She endured sleepless night trying hard to meet the deadline set before her. I applauded her for her willingness to struggle and do her very best as a student.

Personally, I think God gave her a wonderful parents who imparted her with godly and gd values… I praise God for her and her parents.

Being involved with the youth ministry, I had seen many youth grown… some become God fearing adults, while some decide to follow their hearts…

It pains my heart to see the latter. At times, it angered me to see them walk the path that I know God would preferred them not to… I would pray that one day they will return to God and choose to follow him faithfully.

Recently, another young becoming adult teen that I know cause much pain, frustration, saddness, grief to her family… seeing the family going thru these… I felt sad for them. My prayers are for the family… praying that she will turn back and obey them. Turn away from her wayward ways and embrace in the arms of those who truely love her.

As I reflect on my mentors and leaders who many times advised again and again not to have a gf or bf when we are teens… More often than not, we felt that our leaders are trying to prevent / hinder the r/s. They dun understand our position, they dun understand r/s. On the contrary, they know and had already go through that path and want to prevent us from premature hurt and pain… They love us enough to be the bad person to speak against us having r/s during our teens years.

In the end we end up bruised and wounded… esp those fairer gender they usually took longer time to heal because they are more emotional beings.

With our myopic sight we tend to choose our bfs/gfs based on feelings instead of looking at the qualities of person. More so if we choose our bfs/gfs who are pre-believers. They dun understand the things of God. Hence, the r/s is usually based on experiences and feelings than our r/s with Jesus and how we can build our r/s stronger towards God. The former usually head towards trying to please each other… overtimes, when the feeling dies down… their bfs/gfs move on because they got tired and disappointed. While the latter, encourages each other to focus on Jesus… their r/s grow stronger and strengthen on the foundation of God. Even if the r/s fails, they usually end up in a happier note coz they had matured in God and letting the r/s to go might be a better choice. They end up encouraging each other to move on than tearing each other down. I dare to say this because I personally knew of some close friends who parted their ways and become best of friends instead.

I learnt over the yrs that it is always helpful to speak to a old and spiritually matured mentor or leader when we decide to pursuit a particular guy/gal… they are usually are more objective and see the guy/gal in a different perspectives.  They can analyzed and gave wise advise. Furthermore, they will pray alongside for God’s timing and wisdom as you pursuit e guy/gal.

I do see that this way of seeking advises are getting lesser and lesser… and I pray that God will change the hearts of the teens and young adults to approach the matter of heart with caution and wisdom. 🙂