THE CROSS

Hana came back from her 2-week mission trip to Vietnam and Cambodia last Tuesday (Aug. 1st). However, I didn't get to see her till Saturday AND Sunday AND Monday :-). Anyway, I'm really glad that she's back.

Yesterday at the Bible Fellowship, Hana shared about her most favorite part of the mission trip. It took place at the last village that she and the team visited in Cambodia. There's a lady sharing her testimony to the crowd when Hana's team was there. The lady said that one day she recalled about carrying the cross and following Jesus. It's actually in Matthew 16:24 which says:

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."

Then the lady continues, "But I told God that my cross is too heavy. I'm poor. I can't feed my family."

At night the lady was dreaming about being given some crosses to choose. She tried to carry one by one. However, she couldn't find the perfect cross for her. It's too big. It's too heavy. It's too long.

So in the morning she woke up and prayed, "Dear Lord, thank you for the cross. This is the perfect cross for me. I can carry this cross."

I am amazed by the story that Hana shared with us about this Cambodian lady. I am completely amazed by how strong the lady was. God definitely has picked the perfect kind of cross for each one of us. The one that fits us the most. The temptation and suffering that we have are not too heavy that we cannot carry on. But they are not too light either that we take God for granted. The perfect one for us to continue being dependent on Him.

It made me think about my cross! Will it get heavier? I'm sure it will. But I'm sure God will give me grace to take it up and move on.

GOD WILL NEVER GIVE UP ON ME

One day I decided to quit...I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality...

I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.

"God", I said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?" His answer surprised me...

"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"

"Yes", I replied.

"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo." He said.

"In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would not quit." He said.

"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant...But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots.  Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle." He said to me.

"Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots?"

"I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you."

"Don't compare yourself to others." He said. "The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful."

"Your time will come", God said to me. "You will rise high"

"How high should I rise?" I asked.

"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.

"As high as it can?" I questioned

"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."

I left the forest and bring back this story. I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you. He will never give up on you.  Never regret a day in your life.  Good days give you happiness; bad days give you experiences; both are essential to life.