My discipler

"I don't simply scold people one.. but I simply whack people =)"

Sharon's the first person in ECF who has irritated me so with her persistence and ways not-understandable to me.

She's also the first in ECF I verbally fought with.

She's the one whose eyes I fear gazing on my work because she is bound to say something.

She's the one who scolded me for being unfocused.

However,

Sharon's also the very first person I ever used the word "jie jie" on.. before that, I didn't even know what it meant.

She's the first I worked in a ministry (ppt) with in ECF.

She ministered to me during Victory Weekend, she took me in and persisted with me as her disciple, she's been so gracious as to tolerate my arrogance and pride.

She taught me humility, focus, efficiency, leadership, patience...

In her own ways, she makes me feel special.

If to be a disciple means to follow and imitate, then I'm glad she's my discipler.

God, thank You for disciplers.

(disclaimer: not that no one else has impacted my life, but note the topic - this post is about my discipler)

MP3

I have NO idea how this came up, but it was during a discussion about language and nicknames.. and THIS is how our conversation turned out:

Carol Yong says (1:55 PM):
and you,..can be.
Carol Yong says (1:55 PM):
PING PONG!
Merr-Peng !ping says (1:55 PM):
.......
Merr-Peng !ping says (1:56 PM):
IM ALREADY MERR PENG WHAT MORE DO U WANYT
Carol Yong says (1:56 PM):
teeheeeheeeee
Carol Yong says (1:56 PM):
hahahahha
Carol Yong says (1:56 PM):
MERR PENG PING PONG!
Carol Yong says (1:56 PM):
mp3
Carol Yong says (1:56 PM):
:Dhahaha
Carol Yong says (1:56 PM):
hahahahahahahahaha
Carol Yong says (1:56 PM):
hahahahahahahha
Carol Yong says (1:56 PM):
stroke of genius, tht
Carol Yong says (1:56 PM):
hahahahha
Merr-Peng !ping says (1:57 PM):
YOR
Merr-Peng !ping says (1:57 PM):
MP3
Merr-Peng !ping says (1:57 PM):
U ARE SO LAME
Merr-Peng !ping says (1:57 PM):
U ARE SO LAME
Merr-Peng !ping says (1:57 PM):
SO LAME
Carol Yong says (1:57 PM):
i am such a genius
Carol Yong says (1:57 PM):
MP3!!!

LAME JOKE 3rd DEGREE!

Discipleship

I remember the time when I was clueless about discipleship - every time a discipleship session came around, I was nervous (if I had to share a word or recite a scripture), I was reluctant (because I usually wasn't ready), I didn't exactly like it (because I was nervous and reluctant)

Then as I advanced in my spiritual life, I became used to discipleship. I took it as a routine, as a time of sharing, a time of building, but I remember not always looking forward to discipleship because of the impact of the lessons I'd have to learn each time we had a session - due to my short-tempered-ness, pride and arrogance, it was.. hard! I recall a lot of anger, irritation, rebellion which came to the point of much undesired verbal disputes and resulted in nights of guilt.

Now, I'm not saying discipleship is bad! Let me finish. Note I mentioned, due to my personal issues, discipleship was hard. Contrary to how I used to feel about discipleship not too long ago, I have learned to not just appreciate it, but love it and desire for it.

So how did I come from boring, frustrating and guilt-trip to appreciate it, love it, desire it?

Well.. could be many factors. Could be I've grown to be more teachable... could be I've been built-up many times in discipleship.. but also could be the discipler =)

Sounds like I'm trying to butter up to my discipler, does it? I will talk about my discipler in the next post haha

I have come to discover and embrace discipleship as quality time spent with people close to me, where we get to share our life experiences, what we've learned, what we heard from God; a place of building character, building personality, building passion; a group where I really feel loved, where we can pray for one another, where things are revealed and we can be sure it will remain P&C.

It's very hard to explain clearly how differently I perceive discipleship as compared to before.. it's so different, I really cannot believe it myself.

I really have no message of moral to my post today, just felt like voicing out my thoughts on the subject (which I normally don't do, voicing out that is). But even so, I hope my post encourages my readers and sheds new light on matters they may not have been clear about.

God, thank You for discipleship.

Praise God!

Week 11 and the workload of my final project is overwhelming.

So many scriptures come to mind, it's hard to pick just one...

Hebrews 12:5,6 - And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."

Hebrews 12:7 - Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?

Job 23:10 - But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

Gal 3:4,5 - Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.

James 1: 2-4 - Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:2-4 has always been an "impactful" scripture for me. I am extremely burdened by my work, and for some reason I am rather unproductive in the days.

Sometimes I wonder if I do enough for God? Sometimes I wonder if I'm doing enough at all?

Time is too fast, my progress is too slow. God, Creator of all time, if You would slow down the clock for me, so I could advance a little further, I would appreciate it so..

God, Creator of all creativity, if You would refresh this artsy mind You have gifted me with and provide me with ideas and visions of visuals and media that I could make happen to glorify Your name and extend Your Kingdom, I would appreciate it so..

God, Creator of man, thank You for reminding me of You, Your endless love and faithfulness. Take my hand and lead me through this excruciating final semester to the level of honoring You with my work.

Praise God!