Lesson 1

Yesterday was a difficult day.
I'm not entirely sure why, but it was. Nevertheless, I got through it. 
I managed to stay at home, and for that I was proud of myself for it.

I'm starting to discover the joy of singing and worship, just by simply strumming a few chords on the guitar and humming along. There is definately power in praise. Whenever the psalmist came across any sadness or troubles, he still praised God. So, I'm learning to be still a little more, which definately a big step

I listened to another of John Piper's sermons. About knowing the will of God. It was really good....Look it up on his website, it was on 22/08/04. He talked about how there are aspects of looking at the will of God; the will of decree, and the will of command. The will of decree is that God is sovereign, and he governs and controls all things. However, there are things on earth that take place that he hates (sin). How can that be? It sounds contradictory. So, there is the will of command. This is the will that we disobey. We do not follow God in the way that he commands us to do so. Paul reminds us in Romans that we should be renewed and transformed, this is so that we can discern the will of God's command and do it. Our actions are so spontaneous that we do not think before we do things, that's why we have to constantly practise. 

So, it is the will of command that we need to seek- not what God wants us to do in the future, but to seek how to be constantly renewed in the our mind and spirit so that we are able to discern between right and wrong. The only way to do this is through reading God's word... the scripture equips us with ALL things. The Bible is God's revealed will of command...it is final and decisive and we DO NOT need to seek his will from anywhere else. 

So, that sermon really made me think. Especially since I've been focussing so much on what I think God wants me to do with my life.....

Anyways, the picture at the top is of 'Chinese New Year' cake. We only ever usually eat it during Chinese new year. However, someone made it last week and brought it to the Bible study group. I thought that it was a little strange that someone would make it now. But,...I guess that everyday can be a fresh, new start....doesn't just have to be once a year.