Group pride

Last Thursday we were talking about pride vs. humility during our training session and Karen shared about racial prejudice.
I was quite shocked when I heard that the first intern in IFI knelt down in front of her world history class classmates to ask for forgiveness of what her country had done during World War II. That led me to some other thoughts. Her humility gave me a refreshment about what humility is about.

Well, pride...It is not just I consider myself better than the others..
I think I am good/humble/religious....
Have you heard of group pride? I think there is one...
We think our country is good. We are PROUD of our country...It is not wrong to love our country but if we look down upon other countries, that kills. Don't ever think we only need to deal with our personal pride.

I have been thinking about "Put no confidence in your flesh". I am surrounded by a world that put so much confidence in the flesh. I have known someone who said "I don't believe in God or Buddha, I rely on myself..." Pride prevents people from knowing God! Also, before coming to the US, someone around me told me not come to the US because of how great China is doing and how much more opportunity I will have if I stay in China. Oh well. I didn't say anything because I didn't know what to respond. Now, reflecting back to what I have experienced, it is worthy to come here to gain my education, and know God. Hopefully the group pride didn't work.

Pride destroys. Keep a humble heart and be ready to be proven wrong.

God's Creation

It has been a long time that Columbus was covered by snow and rain this winter. When the temperature finally increased to 60 last Thursday, my friends and I was so excited and decided to go running outside. We went to the Olentangy Trial, and I am so glad that we made it because it was such a good time for us to go running on a such beautiful day. Although some of the trial was still muddy and wet with leaves and branches, we still enjoyed the weather and time together. 

The beautiful sunshine and surrounding environment remind me of the creator of all these treasures, the almighty God. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. (Genesis 1:31). God has created the earth and everything on the earth with morning and evening, with different seasons and scenes which is so amazing. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:16-17). It clearly shows that everything we see and we have come from Him and only God has the power and ability to create such beautiful things on earth. He is the creator and ruler of everything. Just like David praise the Lord “Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent. He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind; he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire. He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved” (Psalm 104:1-5). God, you are very great.

Mark 6:1-6

Today, I am reading Mark 6:1-6.

Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. ² When the Sabbath came,he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.

“Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? ³ Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph,^[a] Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

⁴ Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” ⁵ He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. ⁶ He was amazed at their lack of faith.

I realized I made the same mistake as those townspeople did. When I was writing a letter to my potential donors, I saw my friend's name. I knew that he was saving money so I told Estera that whether I sent him a letter or not. Estera said she had the same kind of concern before but Rich told her, "You don't know what will happen..(Something similar)". During fundraising, I made lots of prejudgment before I did it. However, I probably was limiting God's work because of my prejudgment based on my feeling or my association with the people I am asking for funds.

Jesus could not do any miracles there because they were skeptical about his authority. Hey, I don't want God to not be able to do a miracle on me as well~I want god to be amazed by my faith instead of my lack of faith~

Sum it up:

By Amity