tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50643365499070052372024-03-08T18:54:12.818+07:00Thoughts of a Minister's DaughterJoannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04888035607196813436noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064336549907005237.post-10741354078862660122014-03-23T15:00:00.000+07:002014-03-31T20:00:08.373+07:00Hey God? It's Me Calling....<p dir="ltr">Dear Reader,</p>
<p dir="ltr">Ever since I left for university in February 2014, it has been a whirlwind of emotions and events.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The first week was especially difficult for me as I missed home terribly. I cried every single day. I would see think to myself, "Dad would like this book! Mom would definitely get that lip-balm! My brothers would love this game!" and I would suddenly be hit with the longing for home. At night, I'd wish that the family dog was with me just so I could cuddle her and so I would not be that cold.</p>
<p dir="ltr">As the weeks passed, I became accustomed to remain constantly in contact with my family. Whenever a difficult situation arose, I would call home. </p>
<p dir="ltr">After a particularly embarrassing event occurred, I didn't care that it wasn't the usual time I called home or that my parents were probably not in. I just called, no second thoughts. </p>
<p dir="ltr">I spent time talking to my siblings, who cheered me up in their own special way. Just by telling them what had happened and listening to their voices, I felt the embarrassment fade away. By the time the call ended, I was ready to face reality. </p>
<p dir="ltr">But as I walked home, I realised I hadn't called one really important Person. I realised that it was so easy for me to call my family, but so difficult to call the One Who is closer than them. </p>
<p dir="ltr">It was with a huge effort on my part to call out to Jesus. I had to squash the feelings that told me I had already talked to Him yesterday. I had to fight the thoughts that said I didn't have to. So it was with this internal struggle that I raised my eyes to the sky and said,</p>
<p dir="ltr">"Hey, God? It's me calling."</p>
<p dir="ltr">It's a struggle for me to pray at times. I think this is something everyone can relate to. I'm not saying I suddenly found it easier to pray, because I didn't. </p>
<p dir="ltr">What I am saying is that, when I have struggle in prayer or reading the Word, something tugs at me and says, "Have you called out to Jesus?"</p>
<p dir="ltr">And that's the best time call out to Him.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Yours, <br>
Joanna </p>
Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04888035607196813436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064336549907005237.post-77341596942601964042014-01-31T22:11:00.001+07:002014-01-31T22:11:19.606+07:00A Question About Hell<p dir=ltr>Dear Reader,</p>
<p dir=ltr>My family and I visited the home of our eldest relative - a Chinese tradition for the Lunar New Year. This eldest relative is beloved of the family, and the Christians have been hoping and praying for his salvation. </p>
<p dir=ltr>He always refuses, as he believes that he must stay with traditional Chinese religion in order to be reunited with his wife in the afterlife. </p>
<p dir=ltr>As Christians, we know there is a heaven and a hell. All sinners who reject Christ's atonement for their sins will go to hell, a place of eternal torment. </p>
<p dir=ltr>Stop and think. Hell is a place of fire and brimstone. There's no water. One remembers his thirst. (See story of the rich man and Lazarus in the Bible.) One burns. Now imagine that lasting not for a second, but for an eternity.</p>
<p dir=ltr>The doctrine of hell isn't something that is talked about. Many churches don't teach this simply because we do not understand why there even is a hell in the first place. </p>
<p dir=ltr>We ask ourselves. Why would a loving God who created man in His own image condemn that same creation to eternal torment? Since God is so loving, hell can't be real, we reason. </p>
<p dir=ltr>I never studied theology. I don't know all those fancy terms and phrases. All I know is this.</p>
<p dir=ltr>When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, there were severe consequences. Man now knew both good and evil. God, being holy and righteous, could not allow man to come before Him as he was. Sin stained man and separated man from God. </p>
<p dir=ltr>"All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." -Romans 3:23</p>
<p dir=ltr>God did not want this separation, so He established a plan of atonement and redemption, culminating in Christ's death and resurrection. Man no longer had to be separated from God, since atonement was given as long as they chose to accept it.</p>
<p dir=ltr>Why do people go to hell? </p>
<p dir=ltr>I think God honors one's choice. If you refuse Christ's atonement, you condemn yourself to be punished for your sins.</p>
<p dir=ltr>This is my rather imperfect understanding of it. To be honest, it's a question I find myself contemplating recently. </p>
<p dir=ltr>Do you have any insight into this matter, my dear Reader? I would love to know what you think on this topic and to hopefully enlighten my understanding. I would be most grateful if you could reference Scripture as well.</p>
<p dir=ltr>I am looking forward to reading your comments on this matter. </p>
<p dir=ltr>Until then, may God watch over you and yours.</p>
<p dir=ltr>Sincerely,<br>
Joanna</p>
Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04888035607196813436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064336549907005237.post-78949111741075349502014-01-23T22:26:00.001+07:002014-01-23T22:26:44.457+07:00Blogging, Self-Advertising and Social MediaDear Reader,<br />
<br />
The other day I read a few articles about how to improve one's blog. I agreed with some points, like posting meaningful content on a regular basis (something I truly have to work on).<br />
<br />
But the last two points made me pause. They advised me to share on various social networks on a regular basis and to aggresively promote. In other words, self-advertise.<br />
<br />
For the record, I don't mind sharing the links to my blog posts, especially on Facebook since my family members don't actively check my blog. But I share the link for each blog post once per network when it first comes out and no more. I refuse to do more than that.<br />
<br />
I put myself in the reader's shoes and think. I don't like to follow people who keep posting links with no explanation or conversation. In fact, I un-follow such people who just advertise their blog links day-in and day-out for every single day. I don't like people who follow/friend me just to get me to follow/friend them back (and they proceed to unfollow/unfriend after I follow/friend).<br />
<br />
Some people would probably say that I'm being naive and childish. Maybe so.<br />
<br />
I don't care about the number of followers I have on Twitter or the number of friends I have on Facebook or Google+. These numbers don't mean that my blog is being read.<br />
<br />
What I care about is this. Do the words I write mean anything to those who read it? Does my blog help people? Does it glorify God and magnify His name?<br />
<br />
It doesn't matter if my readership is small because I don't aggresively promote. If what I write matters at all, word will spread.<br />
<br />
Let God be the one to promote my blog. Let Him be the one to admonish my words. <br />
<br />
If only one person is affected by the blog, praise God. <br />
<br />
This probably sounds crazy and goes against everything taught by successful bloggers.<br />
<br />
What do you guys think? What are your thoughts on this? <br />
<br />
May God bless you.<br />
<br />
Yours Truly,<br />
JoannaJoannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04888035607196813436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064336549907005237.post-31204034000023059772014-01-10T21:44:00.002+07:002014-01-10T21:44:18.662+07:00The Racial CardDear Reader,<br />
<br />
I remember an incident that happened some years ago, when I had just finished my first full-length novel. Eager for criticism, I presented a copy to a Christian lady I esteemed highly. We met again after she finished reading it. Strangely enough, out of the many things I had expected her to criticise (like plot development and description), she selected the way I dealt with the issue of race in my story.<br />
<br />
"I find it offensive, as an African-American, to be called black," she told me. "And why does a black person always have to be a villain?"<br />
<br />
I was frankly astounded and her words made quite an impression on me. In the story I had tried to even the races in the two sides (good and evil) so that it would be clear that it was not a matter of skin color, but of character. Evidently, it had not been enough. I had also thought the word "black" was an acceptable description, but I quickly learned it wasn't, either.<br />
<br />
This situation -- and others that followed -- made me wonder. Why do we focus so much on the color of a person's skin? Why do we play the racial card? Christians seem to look at this as well.<br />
<br />
What does the Bible say about race?<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #ea9999;"><span class="text Gal-3-26" id="en-KJV-29129">For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #ea9999;"> </span><span style="background-color: #ea9999;"><span class="text Gal-3-27" id="en-KJV-29130">For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #ea9999;"> </span><span style="background-color: #ea9999;"><span class="text Gal-3-28" id="en-KJV-29131">There
is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is
neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.</span><span class="text Gal-3-28" id="en-KJV-29131"> <span></span></span><span class="text Gal-3-28" id="en-KJV-29131"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #e06666;"><span class="text Gal-3-28" id="en-KJV-29131"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: #e06666;"><span class="text Gal-3-28" id="en-KJV-29131"><span style="background-color: white;"><span>Galatians 3:26-28, KJV</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #e06666;"><span class="text Gal-3-28" id="en-KJV-29131"><span style="background-color: white;"><span></span></span></span><span class="text Gal-3-28" id="en-KJV-29131"><span style="background-color: white;"><span> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #e06666;"><span class="text Gal-3-28" id="en-KJV-29131"><span style="background-color: white;"><span>And again, in Colossians 3:11 (KJV), it is stated:</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #e06666;"><span class="text Gal-3-28" id="en-KJV-29131"><span style="background-color: white;"><span></span></span></span><span class="text Gal-3-28" id="en-KJV-29131"><span style="background-color: white;"><span></span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: #ea9999;"><span class="text Gal-3-28" id="en-KJV-29131"><span>Where
there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision,
Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #e06666;"><span class="text Gal-3-28" id="en-KJV-29131"><span style="background-color: white;"><span>This means that we are all equal in Christ, regardless of the color of our skin. In Christ, there is no such thing as one race being superior to the other. </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #e06666;"><span class="text Gal-3-28" id="en-KJV-29131"><span style="background-color: white;"><span>We are to love our fellow man. How are we supposed to do that if we think, even subconsciously, that we are superior to them simply because of different skin color?</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #e06666;"><span class="text Gal-3-28" id="en-KJV-29131"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: #e06666;"><span class="text Gal-3-28" id="en-KJV-29131"><span style="background-color: white;"><span>I have never cared about my skin color. What does it matter in God's great plan? From small, I have cared more about a person's character then his skin color. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #e06666;"><span class="text Gal-3-28" id="en-KJV-29131"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: #e06666;"><span class="text Gal-3-28" id="en-KJV-29131"><span style="background-color: white;"><span>Race does not define us. It does not define who we are in Christ. And the Bible clearly shows that we should not let race interfere in our bonds with one another. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #e06666;"><span class="text Gal-3-28" id="en-KJV-29131"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: #e06666;"><span class="text Gal-3-28" id="en-KJV-29131"><span style="background-color: white;"><span>Let's not play the racial card. Let's play the Christ card. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #e06666;"><span class="text Gal-3-28" id="en-KJV-29131"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: #e06666;"><span class="text Gal-3-28" id="en-KJV-29131"><span style="background-color: white;"><span>Yours,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #e06666;"><span class="text Gal-3-28" id="en-KJV-29131"><span style="background-color: white;"><span>Joanna</span></span></span></span>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04888035607196813436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064336549907005237.post-50501702500828334442014-01-01T23:32:00.001+07:002014-01-01T23:33:26.020+07:00New Year's Day, 2014 and the Night Before<p dir=ltr>Dear Reader,</p>
<p dir=ltr>The night of December 31, 2013, was not what I had expected. </p>
<p dir=ltr>Of course, we had the customary "Goodbye to the Old Year, Hello to the New" service. That was not unusual. Walking back home through a crowd of sweaty, dazed, maybe slightly drunk partygoers was a little unusual. </p>
<p dir=ltr>But being locked out of our family home for a good thirty minutes was completely unexpected. (A barking dog, a worried maid, three closed doors, and one metal latch contributed to that outcome.)</p>
<p dir=ltr>And fireworks occurred until the early hours of the New Year. And then I had a particularly disturbing nightmare.</p>
<p dir=ltr>Not exactly an auspicious start, am I right?</p>
<p dir=ltr>Other than that, January 1, 2014, passed quietly for me. My family went out for grocery shopping and spent the remaining time at home doing chores or amusing ourselves. I watched "Despicable Me 2" and did cross-stitching. </p>
<p dir=ltr>What lesson did I take from these events?</p>
<p dir=ltr>I can choose to let the events of the past affect my behavior and choices for the present and future. </p>
<p dir=ltr>Or I can choose to place my past where it belongs - in God's hands - and to not worry about the future - which is also in His hands - because He is with me in the present moment. And for forevermore He will be, as long as I cling to Him.</p>
<p dir=ltr>This goes for you as well, my dear reader. Shall we dwell and linger on the past, refusing to look forward? Or shall we move to the future with wisdom gained from past mistakes?</p>
<p dir=ltr>As we endeavour to grow in God in the following year, may He give us strength and wisdom to do what is right.</p>
<p dir=ltr>May God bless you all.</p>
<p dir=ltr>Yours Truly,<br>
Joanna<br>
A Minister's Daughter</p>
Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04888035607196813436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064336549907005237.post-70757663075772845392013-12-31T00:00:00.000+07:002014-01-01T00:01:44.656+07:00Farewell, 2013Dear Reader,<br />
<br />
As I look back on the story of my life in the year 2013 (poetic, no?) I realize that I have changed. This is undoubtedly by God's grace.<br />
<br />
I recall being frustrated and anxious in January 2013. I had wanted to quickly finish my high school program on time in order to get my transcript and to submit applications to the Singaporean universities I had my eye on. I was enthralled by the K-pop group U-KISS and was close to worshipping them. I was bursting with the agony of hiding my sin from my family. And most importantly of all, I felt that I was unworthy to be noticed by God.<br />
<br />
Let's move on to February, where I finally sent in all the documents needed for my applications to the Singaporean unis after graduating from high school. Guilt was gnawing at me, and, in a mini-breakdown, I confessed my sin to my family. It wasn't a pleasant thing. And I cried for a week after, overwhelmed by the fact that my family and God -- yes, God -- still loved me no matter what I had done. For the first time in this year... I knew beyond a doubt that God could forgive my transgression.<br />
<br />
March, April, May passed me by as I struggled to relearn the biblical principles I should have known by heart and to regain the trust of my family.<br />
<br />
Then June came. And it was then that a huge blow was delivered that had me question my self-worth. The Singaporean universities rejected my application. While I was wallowing in self-pity, my parents forced me to pick myself up and send off more applications, this time to Australia. I remember doubting them, inwardly shaking my head and bitterly preparing myself for another rejection. But then, God worked a miracle, and I was accepted at one of Australia's famed Great Eight universities. Shock gave way to gratitude to God, for paving the way, for showing me what He wanted me to do.<br />
<br />
July, August, September, October disappeared in a flurry as God guided me step-by-step into what He had planned for me. Those months also passed as my obsession with U-KISS grew.<br />
<br />
Two momentous things happened in November. Firstly, with the support of those around me, I made a strong, firm decision. I wasn't going to let U-KISS take over the place that should belong to God, and by His grace, I severed my ties to that group and fandom. (I made a new friend from that experience, though, and, since we both left the U-KISS fandom, we are both spending time growing in the Lord.) The second thing is that I won NaNoWriMo! (A contest where you write a 50,000 word novel in thirty days -- more info at nanowrimo.org)<br />
<br />
It's the end of December now. I've spent most of this month with visiting relatives and guests (quite predictably). But if you were to compare my current state of mind with that of January 2013, you would find, I hope, a difference.<br />
<br />
I'm at peace, knowing that God holds my future in the palm of His hand. I am free from the burden of guilt that had weighed me down, because He removed it. And I have the desire to grow in Him.<br />
<br />
This is my last post for 2013. I will always remember this year as the time when God showed His grace and mercy on my life.<br />
<br />
Thank you all, my dear readers, for sticking with me during this adventure. Hopefully, I will see you all in 2014. May God bless you all.<br />
<br />
Yours Truly,<br />
Joanna<br />
A Minister's DaughterJoannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04888035607196813436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064336549907005237.post-27193864956319460872013-10-31T22:09:00.003+07:002013-10-31T22:12:13.887+07:00How Should Christians Deal With Halloween?Dear Reader,<br />
<br />
Today is October 31st, commonly celebrated as Halloween.<br />
<br />
On this day, houses are decorated with carved pumpkins and spooky decorations. Children dress up in costume and go to trick-or-treat for candy. Adults gladly give out candy and organize parties to celebrate the holiday.<br />
<br />
I find Christians mixed on their response to Halloween. Some say that we should use it as a platform for evangelism. Some say that there is nothing wrong with celebrating Halloween. Some say otherwise.<br />
<br />
Here's what I think.<br />
<br />
We should take whatever opportunity to share the gospel. However, we must pray for wisdom and for that opportunity, if it be from God or from man.<br />
<br />
For example, I will remain very skeptical of the idea of holding haunted houses to evangelize, regardless of how many people are converted. Those people could have chosen to become Christians in the blur of temporary fear and not in the beauty of genuine conviction.<br />
<br />
As for celebrating Halloween, are we really trying to kid ourselves? It has been argued that we should be able to celebrate Halloween as we celebrate Easter and Christmas. This argument is based on the fact that all three originated as pagan holidays.<br />
<br />
I strongly disagree with the idea that Christians should celebrate Halloween.<br />
<br />
I have heard former Satanists testify that Halloween is a very sacred day for them. They would perform blood sacrifices - often human - on this day. Satanic rituals would be carried out. Halloween, unlike Easter or Christmas, is deeply and irrevocably associated with Satan and darkness.<br />
<br />
As Christians, why should we take part in that darkness?<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #ea9999;">"And what communion hath light with darkness?"</span> -2 Corinthians 6:14, KJV<br />
<br />
If we whole-heartedly celebrate Halloween like we do with Christmas, we would be taking part of that darkness.<br />
<br />
Christians have been set apart. We are the "light of the world" and the "salt of the earth." We have to be careful with our actions. Consider the following.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">"Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men."</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">-Matthew 5:13, KJV</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
Also, what about those who have not yet matured in the faith? Who are still uncertain and might easily stumble? Halloween could be a stumbling block for them.<br />
<br />
In short, as a Christian, I don't believe in celebrating Halloween. It's one of the ultimate celebrations of darkness.<br />
<br />
Instead, on this day, my parents lead our family in fasting and prayer. We know our God is stronger than this world and the dark forces. And we fast and pray for those around the world who are in the grip of those forces.<br />
<br />
Yours,<br />
Jo<br />
A Minister's Daughter<br />
<br />
1 Corinthians 8Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04888035607196813436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064336549907005237.post-69676047691448998452013-09-11T22:17:00.001+07:002013-09-11T23:14:41.985+07:00Ready to Die?<p dir=ltr>Dear Reader,</p>
<p dir=ltr>Today is the anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks. </p>
<p dir=ltr>It has been twelve years, and yet the event has left such an impression that it has not been forgotten by the world.</p>
<p dir=ltr>But, as many others undoubtedly have written on that matter, I will not endeavour to do so. </p>
<p dir=ltr>Instead, for now, allow me to share what I think about those behind the attacks, namely the Muslims.</p>
<p dir=ltr>Consider the following. </p>
<p dir=ltr>The Muslims were and are not afraid to die for the sake of Allah. They were and are willing to lay down their lives, their time, their resources, for the promise of eternal paradise. They pray five times a day. They faithfully follow the precepts and commands given in the Qur'an and other holy works. </p>
<p dir=ltr>And they do all of this without any thought of self-gain. </p>
<p dir=ltr>Let that sink in.</p>
<p dir=ltr>Christians, if I may, I would like to ask the following. </p>
<p dir=ltr>If you were to die tonight for the sake of the gospel, what thoughts will run through your mind? If you were given the choice of denying Christ and living or of clinging to Him and dying, which would you choose?</p>
<p dir=ltr>Simply put, are you ready to cling to Jesus, even if it means the end of this life? Even if it means death?</p>
<p dir=ltr>Are you willing to sacrifice your time and resources to make Christ known? Are you willing to spend time in prayer? Are you willing to cast aside your flesh to obey the law and precepts laid out in the Bible?</p>
<p dir=ltr>Think about it. </p>
<p dir=ltr>Many times, we don't ask ourselves these questions because they make us uncomfortable. In our prosperity and in our comfort zone, we tell ourselves that we don't have to think about such matters since we will never be in that type of life-and-death situation. We think those questions are irrelevant to our circumstances.</p>
<p dir=ltr>Does anyone agree or disagree?</p>
<p dir=ltr>Honestly, I tell you that, in a life or death situation, I don't know what I'll choose. Jesus? Or my life?</p>
<p dir=ltr>But what profits a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his soul? </p>
<p dir=ltr>Hey, listen. It's likely that you won't ever be in such a situation. </p>
<p dir=ltr>What I'm asking is, do you have the conviction for you to be willing to die for Christ?</p>
<p dir=ltr>The Muslims are always ready to die for the sake of Allah. Christians, are you prepared or ready to die for Jesus?</p>
<p dir=ltr>"We Muslims pray five times a day and obey the Qur'an. We do everything we should. What about you Christians? We ask, what can we do for God? But you Christians ask, what can God do for me?"</p>
<p dir=ltr>The above quote came about in a conversation between a Muslim and a Christian, a friend of a friend. </p>
<p dir=ltr>Something to ponder and pray about. </p>
<p dir=ltr>Would love to know what you think.</p>
<p dir=ltr>Love you all dearly.</p>
<p dir=ltr>Yours truly,<br>
Joanna<br>
A Minister's Daughter</p>
Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04888035607196813436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064336549907005237.post-24330010094370564142013-08-31T19:29:00.002+07:002013-08-31T19:29:54.459+07:00The Cyrus Case: A Warning to Parents and Teens AlikeDear Reader,<br />
<br />
As I am certain most of you know, last Sunday Miley Cyrus - former star of <i>Hannah Montana,</i> a series loved by many, including me - shocked people with her performance at an awards show.<br />
<br />
(Before you worry, no, I didn't watch the performance. I learned about it when I was reading Fox News. ^^ )<br />
<br />
Many articles have been written concerning this (some links at the end of this post), social media platforms like Twitter and Tumblr have gone a-talking.<br />
<br />
So why do I add yet another article to the pile?<br />
<br />
Because there is something in what-I-shall-now-dub-as-the-Cyrus-Case that is hardly being emphasized.<br />
<br />
It is the fact that Miley Cyrus had a somewhat Christian upbringing. She attended church, wore a purity ring, was even baptized.<br />
<br />
She was clearly raised as a church kid.<br />
<br />
That means she knew what was right and what was wrong, as shown in the Bible. But she made a series of bad decisions that led to the Miley we see now.<br />
<br />
This should warn us teens and remind us. We can be raised as church kids. We can know everything there is to know in the Bible.<br />
<br />
But that doesn't mean we have a personal faith. Personal convictions.<br />
<br />
If we don't have personal faith and convictions, the chances of becoming like Miley are higher. Much higher.<br />
<br />
Pray that God helps you to develop that faith, those convictions.<br />
<br />
This should warn parents as well as remind them. Be careful with the decisions you make when it comes to your children's futures. And always keep them close, always keep a close eye on them.<br />
<br />
Billy Ray Cyrus, the father of Miley Cyrus, has always said that he "regret" signing on for <i>Hannah Montana</i> and that he wished it never happened. In one heart-breaking interview, he said that he wished he had been a better parent.<br />
<br />
Simply sobering.<br />
<br />
Remember the Cyrus Case. And, as we pray for God's mercy on us and our families, let us not forget to pray for the Cyrus family and others like the Cyruses.<br />
<br />
Remember that we are all sinners and that God can forgive if we reach for Him.<br />
<br />
Yours Truly,<br />
Joanna<br />
A Minister's Daughter<br />
<br />
Links to Articles:<br />
<a href="http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/40834-the-church-learns-a-lesson-from-miley-cyrus" target="_blank">The Church Learns a Lesson From Miley Cyrus</a> by Larry Sparks<br />
<a href="http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/40825-did-your-child-discern-the-immorality-in-miley-cryus-vulgar-performance" target="_blank">Did Your Child Discern the Immorality in Miley Cyrus' Vulgar Performance?</a> by Joseph Mattera<br />
<a href="http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/miley_dad_regrets_hannah_eaD8G2RwZpK4bWC630RE0H" target="_blank">Miley's dad regrets 'Hannah'</a> by New York Post<br />
<br />
You can search for more articles similar to what I have linked, but I limited mine to Charisma News and New York Post.<br />
<br />
Song of the Moment: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYLoigK4WSI" target="_blank">"He Is With Us"</a> by Love & The Outcome<br />
<br />
Twitter: @JOei2911Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04888035607196813436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064336549907005237.post-85390176650142682232013-08-22T17:21:00.003+07:002013-08-22T17:23:08.302+07:00Ear Piercings and Listening to God<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dear Reader,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Last Sunday, as I was getting ready to go to church, I had a heart-stopping moment when my earring simply refused to go through either of my pierced ears. I had not worn earrings for a week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Mom, don't tell me the flesh grew back AGAIN?!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My mother came over and, with her help, I managed to put my earrings on. Though she did tell me that the skin was starting to grow again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Let me explain my reaction and why exactly my heart lurched in fear.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I was nine years old, I requested to have my ears pierced. This wasn't an unusual request since most girls would have already had them pierced by that age.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My earlobes were pierced (ouch!) and I kept the earrings in for a month in order to ensure the holes would stay open for the rest of my life. After the month passed, my mom removed the earrings to let my lobes rest for a week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And the flesh grew back in that one week! I couldn't wear earrings at all!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I had my ears re-pierced when I was seventeen. (I have no desire to repeat that painful experience!) Since then, I have noticed that when I don't wear earrings for a week, or even a few days, the flesh would grow back slightly. That is why I wear earrings almost constantly to ensure that complete coverage of the holes never occurs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Which brings me to the point of this anecdote.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the Bible, ears refer to listening. (No surprise there!) I bring to your attention the story of the Golden Calf, in Exodus 32.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="background-color: #e06666;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"And Aaron said to them, Break off the golden earrings... And all the people broke off the gold earrings which were in their ears... And he received them at their hand, and... made it a molten calf" (Exodus 32:2-4, KJV)</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you see the significance of this action? At that point, the Israelites told themselves that they were no longer going to listen to God. So they broke off the golden (gold speaks of divinity) earrings. And they cast those earrings into an idol, the golden calf. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
I don't know about you, but, whenever I think of my ear piercings, I think about this story. And when the incident at the beginning of this story occurred, I thought of this story even more.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Many times, if I'm really honest, I don't want to follow God's will. To me, it seems painful to do so, especially when it means that my flesh, my worldliness, is going to get cut again. There have been times that I stopped reading the Bible just because what I read cut me through and through. </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
But we have to read the Bible. If not... our worldliness can grow. Like the flesh in my ear. </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
And, trust me, it is painful to get rid of that excess flesh. Spiritually and physically. </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
That incident reminded me I needed to return to reading the Bible in order to hear God's voice. It's interesting to see how God can minister to a person and speak to a person through little incidents.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
So. Are you listening to God this week? You never know when a little incident could bring something crucial to your growth as a Christian. :) </div>
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<br /></div>
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Hope you all have a blessed day. :) Do drop me a letter sometime. :)</div>
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<br /></div>
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Yours truly,</div>
<div dir="ltr">
Joanna</div>
<div dir="ltr">
A Minister's Daughter</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Exodus 32</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Update: Those images have all but disappeared from my mind, praise be to God! God is so wonderful. I no longer have the desire to read that sort of graphic material. The battle can be won, thanks to Jesus. Okay.. now I'm crying. Moving on. I'm still recovering from that teensy-weensy obsession with the pop group. It's not as bad as before. Trusting God to remove this unhealthy obsession from me.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Instagram and Twitter: JOei2911</div>
Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04888035607196813436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064336549907005237.post-32903661662018705972013-08-07T17:32:00.000+07:002013-08-09T18:40:32.408+07:00I'm Not Him<div dir="ltr">
Dear Reader,<br />
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
I am not like my younger brother.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
My brother is very diligent in his studies, got perfect scores, and could learn languages easily.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
And me? I was a girl who would procrastinate, would get not-so-perfect scores, and would have a difficult time learning languages, no matter how hard she tried.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
Take note. My parents NEVER compared me with my brother. </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
In fact, they would always say, "As long as you do your best, it's ok that the score isn't good. Just try to do better next time."</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
I would always try to do better. From a young age, I was very aware that my parents didn't exactly have much money, even though they didn't talk much about that subject to us kids. And, as the eldest child, I felt I had to set an example for my younger siblings.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
So I was determined that I would do my best in studies to somehow make up for it.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
But I would often fail to accomplish my goals. The first time I got a sixty-two on an exam I got so upset and angry with myself. Why did I keep failing? </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
Why could I not be like my brother?</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
After many years of this, of trying to get scores that would equal my brother's, I got so frustrated that I simply gave up. I no longer cared to strive for excellence in my studies. </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
What was the point of trying to excel when, in my eyes, I would always fall short of my brother? When I would always fail to be a good example?</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
I would still get grades good enough to pass my exams. But I no longer strived to achieve a mark higher than my brother.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
But I clung to one consolation: I did well in Literature, unlike my brother.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
So when he got 100 in a Literature exam, a score I had not achieved, it was a huge blow to me.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
Would I never be enough?</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
All of that frustration made me think seriously of suicide.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
You might laugh at it. But to my mind at the time, my reasoning was that my parents would no longer have to worry about having a worthless daughter. (My words and thoughts, not theirs.) </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
My brother would be everything a good child should be.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
I also started hurting myself for my perceived failures. I could not cut myself, since I knew my parents would find that out easily. So I resorted to other methods. I'd scratch myself, pinch myself, bite my arms, bang my head against the wall or other hard surfaces like books. I would do as much as I could without leaving a permanent mark.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
I also set up secret schedules to "atone" for my wrongs. I'd stay up late or get up early to reflect on my wrongs or to study hard as punishment. I would lessen the amount of food I ate in attempts to punish myself.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
I felt like a failure who deserved all of that.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
Yes, I know the Scriptures. They say, "We are more than conquerors." "You can overcome all things through Christ." "You are precious in God's eyes."</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
But they meant nothing to me at the time.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
I had convinced myself that my self-worth laid in my studies and in being a good daughter and sister. </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
When all of that is taken away... What am I worth?</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
On the days when I really hold on to what God says in the Bible, I don't think that I am a failure. I remember that I am a child of God, created in His image. I remember that it is okay to be not like my brother, because God made each of us unique and special. He knew us when we were in our mother's womb.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
On the days when I can't really feel what God says, when it feels tempting to just use my own strength to atone for my failures, I remember that Someone already has atoned for me and that He sees me for me. He never compares me to my brother because He created us differently, with different strengths and weaknesses that complement each other.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
I'm not my brother. That's okay.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
We are all special in God's eyes. Each and every one of us.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
We just have to remember that.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
Love you all dearly. </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
Yours truly,<br />
Joanna<br />
A Minister's Daughter</div>
Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04888035607196813436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064336549907005237.post-22670150685009084552013-07-17T15:01:00.001+07:002013-07-17T15:01:44.004+07:00The Fellowship of the Saints<p dir=ltr>Dear Reader,</p>
<p dir=ltr>It can often be easy to forget that we actually need to fellowship with other believers.</p>
<p dir=ltr>In fact, it can be rather tempting to just forgo the whole idea altogether, reasoning that we are able to get strength in our alone time with God and that we don't really need to spend time in a church.</p>
<p dir=ltr>I have been there, believe me.</p>
<p dir=ltr>I'm a minister's daughter, but I often have to attend church services where people other than my father were speaking and where the sermons were dry, bitter, full of hatred, theological jargon, etc.</p>
<p dir=ltr>And, many times, when my dad ministered in other places, the congregation would look at me and my siblings, silently judging us since we were the minister's children.</p>
<p dir=ltr>It was during those times when I wished that I wasn't a minister's daughter and that I didn't have to attend church.</p>
<p dir=ltr>What was the point of going to church if all I was going to get was (1) impractical and unbiblical sermons and (2) passing judgments? </p>
<p dir=ltr>What was the point?</p>
<p dir=ltr>I struggled with this. Scratch that. I still struggle with it.</p>
<p dir=ltr>I heard people say not-so-nice things about my dad. I saw many ignore my mom because of skin color. </p>
<p dir=ltr>And this is in a church, people. </p>
<p dir=ltr>The church, the place where these sort of things shouldn't happen, has these things happen.</p>
<p dir=ltr>But does this mean we should ignore the church? Does this mean that we should come out of it and live by ourselves in Christ?</p>
<p dir=ltr>I don't think so. However much I might want otherwise.</p>
<p dir=ltr>The Bible says that we should not ignore the fellowship of the saints. That we actually need this fellowship. </p>
<p dir=ltr>Wait. Say what?</p>
<p dir=ltr>"And let us consider one another to provoke to love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as you see the day approaching." -Hebrews 10:24-25</p>
<p dir=ltr>(I recommend reading the whole passage, though.)</p>
<p dir=ltr>But the point stated here is that by going to church, to fellowships, we learn how to better prepare ourselves for Christ's Second Coming.  </p>
<p dir=ltr>Not gonna lie. Many times, people in the church do things they shouldn't do. How on earth are those people going to help us grow?</p>
<p dir=ltr>Simple. They force you to build your character. </p>
<p dir=ltr>"Iron sharpens iron" says Proverbs 27:17. </p>
<p dir=ltr>This is the reason we fellowship. To encourage one another to grow. To sharpen one another's character - intentionally or unintentionally. </p>
<p dir=ltr>So, if you are having doubts as to whether you should continue going to a church that doesn't seem to help you grow, I would encourage you to pray about it and seek counsel. God knows your situation better than anyone else, so He is the best person to ask.</p>
<p dir=ltr>And also, for those of you who don't have those doubts, I would like you to ask yourself... Are you treating others the way you want to be treated? </p>
<p dir=ltr>Think about it. Are we really being or trying to be a true fellowship of saints? No one's perfect, but that doesn't mean we don't strive towards having better characters. Because people can change with the work of the Holy Spirit.</p>
<p dir=ltr>In my situation, it just forced me to rely more on God and His Word, something I had been lacking. I had to recognise that there was a reason why people wanted to judge my behavior. However, I think that is a story for another day.</p>
<p dir=ltr>I hope and pray that all is well with you, my readers. I missed blogging, but I had issues in real life to deal with.</p>
<p dir=ltr>May God bless you. Love you all dearly.</p>
<p dir=ltr>Yours truly,<br>
Joanna<br>
A Minister's Daughter</p>
<p dir=ltr>Hebrews 10:24-25</p>
<p dir=ltr>Song of the Moment: "If We Are The Body" by Casting Crowns</p>
<p dir=ltr>P.S. I will be out of town for the next few weeks. Unsure if I can get a post up, but I will try. Also, I would appreciate any advice on what to expect in uni. I will be going next year, but it helps to be prepared. Thank you in advance! May God bless you greatly.</p>
Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04888035607196813436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064336549907005237.post-1444958754840764922013-06-28T15:33:00.001+07:002013-06-28T15:33:40.450+07:00His Ways Are Higher<p dir=ltr>Dear Reader,</p>
<p dir=ltr>If you recall, in my last post I spoke of my disappointment and confusion when I was rejected by two Singaporean universities.</p>
<p dir=ltr>I was left wondering what on earth God wanted me to do. </p>
<p dir=ltr>And most of all, I wondered if the problem was me. </p>
<p dir=ltr>Had I been arrogant when I applied to those unis? Was I a failure for being rejected?</p>
<p dir=ltr>I didn't know. </p>
<p dir=ltr>And that made me very reluctant to apply to other unis for fear of another rejection. Of once more missing what God wanted me to do.</p>
<p dir=ltr>My parents had to practically force me out of my self-pity party and drag me to apply to other places.</p>
<p dir=ltr>And you know what? I'm glad they did. </p>
<p dir=ltr>On their advice, I applied to places in Australia, secretly doubting I'd be accepted. </p>
<p dir=ltr>To my shock, I was accepted by a uni that ranked higher than the two Singaporean unis that rejected me. It is one of Australia's well-known Great 8 unis.</p>
<p dir=ltr>And I was left amazed and in awe of what Jesus has done.</p>
<p dir=ltr>Is this His will for me? Was this where He had wanted me all along?</p>
<p dir=ltr>Only God knows. </p>
<p dir=ltr>What I do know is His ways are higher than our ways.</p>
<p dir=ltr>Many times His plans are not the same as what we plan. </p>
<p dir=ltr>Thank God for that. </p>
<p dir=ltr>I hope this encourages you as it has encouraged me. </p>
<p dir=ltr>Keep trusting God and believing in Him. He knows our future, our hopes, our dreams, our hearts.</p>
<p dir=ltr>Yours truly,<br>
Joanna<br>
A Minister's Daughter</p>
<p dir=ltr>Jeremiah 29:11</p>
<p dir=ltr>Song of the Moment: "Lord, I Offer My Life" by Don <u>Moen</u><br>
</p>
Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04888035607196813436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064336549907005237.post-73242489369423579802013-06-12T21:49:00.001+07:002013-06-12T21:49:13.226+07:00When Things Don't Go Your WayDear Reader,<br />
<br />
What do you do when things don't go the way you want them to?<br />
<br />
I had thought that my life was pretty planned out for the next few years. I'd go and study my Bachelor's at a uni in Singapore, since Singapore is close to my family and friends. I'd study well, go to church, make friends, experience independence while missing that dependence.... this was the life that I had constructed in my mind.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Never had I thought that my applications would be rejected.<br />
<br />
With that, my dreams came crashing down, and I am left wondering what God wanted me to do.<br />
<br />
It's like there's no floor underneath my feet and I'm falling with nothing to catch me.<br />
<br />
My best-laid plans have just gone way off track.<br />
<br />
Ever experienced that?<br />
<br />
I've been forced to take a step back and re-evaluate the choices I have made since before finishing high school earlier this year.<br />
<br />
And thankfully, my parents have been the ones who helped me take that reality check.<br />
<br />
I've realized, that from before, my heart had been set on going to Singapore. I had not wanted to go elsewhere because I felt that anywhere else would be too far from my family.<br />
<br />
I decided on that before really consulting God. So God closed those doors because I wasn't listening to Him and to His will for my life.<br />
<br />
We are told that God has a plan for our lives, that His thoughts to us are thoughts of peace (Jeremiah 29:11, KJV).<br />
<br />
So when we decide to not listen to Him and His plan and think that our way is better.... well, I think we all know what happens.<br />
<br />
The funny thing is, after I was rejected by those Singaporean universities, my parents learned that life in those universities was actually very stressful and competitive. That students would work all day and night just to be better than the rest.<br />
<br />
(That is actually normal behavior in Singaporean culture. One has the mentality to be better than the rest. It's even harder if you don't have the finance to be on par with the other students. Only the grace of God enabled my friends to succeed and complete university in Singapore.)<br />
<br />
So... it turns out that what I thought was good (Singaporean uni) was actually not so good.<br />
<br />
And it only hammers in the fact that God knows best.<br />
<br />
So now, I've learned that when things don't go my way, I've got to take a step back and ask God, "Is this what you wanted me to do?"<br />
<br />
It isn't easy, believe me. In my mind, I actually threw a mini-tantrum. (-_-") And I cried. A lot. When no one was watching.<br />
<br />
Don't laugh. Even though it's childish, I admit.<br />
<br />
My post was delayed because I was busy seeking God's direction. My parents, after discussion and prayer, feel that I should apply to Australia, even though it's farther from home than Singapore. I have done so... and I'm praying that this is what God's will for me has been all along.<br />
<br />
I'm still a child in so many ways. But thank God for being a wonderful Father.<br />
<br />
Love you all, and may God bless you and keep you.<br />
<br />
Yours truly,<br />
Joanna<br />
A Minister's Daughter<br />
<br />
Jeremiah 29:11<br />
<br />
UPDATE: I've been fasting lately. Strangely (or maybe not so strangely), the immoral images that used to fill my mind have all but vanished. To God be the glory. God, please continue to give me strength. As for the secular music issue, I'm listening more to Christian music and it's helping. The obsession is weakening... I think. But still, prayer would be appreciated. :)Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04888035607196813436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064336549907005237.post-23640873303941514302013-06-04T21:17:00.002+07:002013-06-12T21:53:57.963+07:00Liking the Bad Guy?<span style="background-color: #ea9999;">EDITED: A few readers pointed out some flaws in my thinking. I thank them for doing so and have edited my post accordingly. Hopefully the edited version clarifies my thoughts. </span><br />
<br />
Dear Reader,<br />
<br />
I have noticed a very disturbing trend lately.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
I was talking to some acquaintances of mine about a movie that had come out. When we were talking about favorite characters, almost all of them told me that they liked the villain.<br />
<br />
I was shocked. And I asked, "How can you like the villain? He did so many bad things in the movie, like lying/cheating/killing people/etc."<br />
<br />
Their response?<br />
<br />
"He is just misunderstood."<br />
<br />
Misunderstood. Seriously?<br />
<br />
The funny thing is... they don't mind dating the villain if the person existed in real life.<br />
<br />
Basically, the trend of liking bad guys is rising. We are seeing this not only with fictional villains, but also with real life people.<br />
<br />
Personally, I think that this is a perversion of normal behavior. Normally, you don't like the bad guy in a story; you'd like the good guy.<br />
<br />
What does this have to do with the Bible or with Christian life, you wonder?<br />
<br />
It has everything to do with the perversion of the Bible.<br />
<br />
The Bible says the following: "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?" (2 Corinthians 6:14-15, KJV).<br />
<br />
I have seen girls want to date guys with a known character and history that aren't good. Yet they still want to date these boys because they believe that they can change the guy. The girl wants to be the one to "rescue" the guy from his evil ways.<br />
<br />
Can I just facepalm at this?<br />
<br />
This NEVER works out in real life. Snap out of the delusion that a bad guy will change for you, girl. Any change that he might make will only be temporary.<br />
<br />
Girl, you can't even save your own soul. What makes you think that you'll be able to save his?<br />
<br />
Only Jesus can save the lost. <br />
<br />
Not you or me.<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">"When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." -Mark 2:17, KJV</span><br />
<br />
I am not saying that you do not reach out for the lost. I am not saying that you should turn your back on them.<br />
<br />
What I am trying to say is that for Christians, we have to be careful that, in our endeavor to reach the lost, we do not compromise our own beliefs.<br />
<br />
We love the lost, but we cannot change the basic beliefs of Christianity for them. We cannot say that sin is alright when it isn't.<br />
<br />
We have to remember that we can only draw people to Christ by showing our love for them, and that those people cannot be saved by our love alone.<br />
<br />
Love you all dearly.<br />
<br />
Yours truly,<br />
Joanna<br />
A Minister's Daughter<br />
<br />
2 Corinthians 6:14-15<br />
<br />
UPDATE: I'm better now. I listen more to Christian music, and the immoral images don't come to me. Still need to work on the obsession with secular music groups, though.Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04888035607196813436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064336549907005237.post-84866659106311533082013-05-28T21:56:00.001+07:002013-06-01T14:53:43.013+07:00Alone in the CrowdDear Reader,<br />
<br />
Ever heard the saying, "Alone even though you're in a crowd"?<br />
<br />
I was a homeschooled child who moved around a lot. By the time I was 15, I had moved at least ten times, over many cities and over three countries.<br />
<br />
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Because of this, I cherished any bond I made with friends in the various cities I lived in. Because of the nature of my dad's ministry, those friends were often older than me. More like young adults while I was only a child.<br />
<br />
But I didn't care at the time. They cared for me, loved me, took the time to play with and look after me and my younger siblings.<br />
<br />
So naturally, once I was 15 and was more or less firmly established in one place, I hoped to find a youth group where I could form similar bonds. I thought that it was time I made friends with people my own age, and I believed that I could find them in the church youth group.<br />
<br />
So I entered that youth group service with high hopes and dreams.<br />
<br />
Which were dashed when no one came up to talk to me after the service.<br />
<br />
Sure, the youth pastor's wife and a couple of teens welcomed me when I first came in. But afterwards, when I hoped to have more in-depth conversations, I was left alone.<br />
<br />
I went home thinking that maybe everyone was busy and that it would be different next week.<br />
<br />
Nope. Zero. Zilch. Nada.<br />
<br />
No difference as weeks passed. And I only got lonelier.<br />
<br />
I began to long for my older friends from other places. But I didn't want to bother them because they were busy with their own families, their own lives.<br />
<br />
I then thought, "Maybe I'm not approachable? Maybe that's why they don't want to talk to me?"<br />
<br />
So I forced myself to be more of a participant in the youth service. I thought that maybe they would be more willing to talk to me if I participated more in activities. So I began to go to whatever meetings I could go. Tried to welcome newcomers, but more often than not they already had friends in the service.<br />
<br />
Worst of all, when I tried to talk to some of the other girls, I realized I was on a completely different wavelength. They were interested in fashion, shopping, vacations. I was interested in stationary, reading, writing.<br />
<br />
It's no surprise then that I got along better with the guys than the girls.<br />
<br />
I finally resigned myself to the facts that, when I went to youth service, the only ones who would greet me were the leaders and some teens and that I would probably not have meaningful conversations.<br />
<br />
I felt so empty. So alone. Even though I was in a crowd.<br />
<br />
Familiar story, yes?<br />
<br />
My parents would normally comfort me when I felt like this. They'd say, "You still have us and the boys [my younger siblings], Jo dear. And, most important of all, you have Jesus with you." Then, very gently, they would tell me, "If you want a friend so much, dear, why don't you pray for God to give you one?"<br />
<br />
Oh, how I prayed for one. I couldn't really understand how to make Jesus my friend since, to me, all I was having was a one-sided conversation talking to empty air. I knew Jesus was all powerful... but how could He talk to me like my parents did?<br />
<br />
In His love, Jesus sent me this group of older ladies to befriend me. I found comfort, encouragement, and fellowship with them, and I wasn't so lonely any more.<br />
<br />
But when I went home and was staring up at my ceiling just before I went to sleep, loneliness would once again overwhelm my soul.<br />
<br />
During the day, when I have my family and friends to talk to and when I have books to study, I didn't feel lonely. During the night, without all of that... that creature named loneliness would haunt me.<br />
<br />
It wasn't until recently, when I picked up the Bible after a long time, did I begin to have some inkling of what it meant to have Jesus as my friend.<br />
<br />
All along, in prayer, I'd think that I was just telling God about my day and that I could not really expect a reply.<br />
<br />
But then, when I began to read the Bible... it was like Jesus was speaking to me and telling me that He was always there for me. That I wasn't alone anymore.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">"Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, </span><span style="background-color: #e06666;">lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world</span><span style="background-color: white;">. Amen." -Matthew 28:20</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></span>
And when I read other scriptures and verses, it was like He was reassuring me that His love for me was never-ending. That I'd always have somewhere I could run to.<br />
<br />
I tell you, it makes me want to cry with tears of joy. In fact, I'm getting teary-eyed just thinking about it.<br />
<br />
When feelings of loneliness start to overwhelm me, I think about what He said to me in His Word, His Letter of Love to His Bride, the Church. The Bible.<br />
<br />
And I'm not lonely any more.<br />
<br />
Family and friends can only do so much to relieve these feelings of loneliness. It is only Jesus that can make you feel not alone, even though you might be alone in the crowd.<br />
<br />
Do you feel lonely? Pick up the Bible and start reading through it. It's Jesus writing a letter to you. :)<br />
<br />
God bless you and yours.<br />
<br />
Yours truly,<br />
Joanna<br />
A Minister's Daughter<br />
<br />
Matthew 28:20<br />
<br />
P.S. I am happy to inform you that you can now find me on Twitter and Tumblr. No Instagram, though, since I don't really take pictures. Oh, and please make sure that your profile isn't intimidating. I won't follow you back if it is. :P<br />
Twitter: @JOei2911<br />
Tumblr: daughterofaminister.tumblr.com<br />
<br />
UPDATE ON ME: I'm still struggling with my k-pop obsession. Terrible. As for my other struggle, I had woken up in the middle of the night because of the family dog, and nasty (read: immoral) images suddenly popped up in my head. *sighs* More Bible reading and listening to Christian music for me.<br />
<br />
Song of the Week: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lmi9IBP209s" target="_blank">"He Said"</a> by Group 1 Crew feat. Christ August. YouTube link to their official video. :)<br />
<br />
And I'm signing off for real this time. *poofs*Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04888035607196813436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064336549907005237.post-50925706810987940722013-05-14T18:18:00.006+07:002013-05-15T14:33:51.610+07:00Idol-WorshipDear Reader,<br />
<br />
Have you ever looked at a picture of a celebrity and think to yourself, "That person is so cool/handsome/etc.?"<br />
<br />
Or seen him/her act or sing and think, "He/She is so talented!"<br />
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Then you, curious to learn more about the person, look up the celebrity on the Internet or in magazines, etc.<br />
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Before you know it, you have become a loyal fan. So dedicated, in fact, that you want to get posters/albums/movies/magazines/etc. that are about him/her. You want to know as much as you can about him/her, like birthday, favorite color, etc.<br />
<br />
If you are like me, a homeschooled kid whose activities are monitored by parents, you probably plotted in your head on how to get those things without your parents knowing.<br />
<br />
Sound familiar?<br />
<br />
Well, then. Congratulations. You have fallen into idol worship.<br />
<br />
You're probably staring at this post and thinking, "Idol worship? I'm not worshipping or praying to him/her!"<br />
<br />
But you think about him/her all the time, right? Imagine about a time where you can meet him/her, make him/her fall in love with you, and the two of you ride off into the sunset together....<br />
<br />
I should know because I think those things too.<br />
<br />
Idol worship is when something replaces God in your heart and thoughts. When you think more about that person/thing than about God. And when we elevate that person/thing to such a high pedestal that we don't ever think they could ever fall from.<br />
<br />
That's worship.<br />
<br />
It doesn't have to be a celebrity. It could be anything. A book, an author, money, material possessions....<br />
<br />
It's a scary thing since, in many cases, it is not easily recognized as such.<br />
<br />
For example, I like this Korean boy group called U-KISS (it's actually an acronym for something, but it escapes my mind at the moment). At first, I thought to myself, it's innocent, the boys in the band are hard-working and great role models, and the songs are innocent in nature. But before I knew it, I had become obsessed with the group.<br />
<br />
It's getting in the way of my relationship with God.<br />
<br />
I won't lie to you. It's an ongoing struggle right now. In fact, I would appreciate it if you can pray for this obsession to be removed from me and that God give me a desire and obsession for Him.<br />
<br />
The reason I'm sharing this with you is because I want you to know how real the danger of idol worship is.<br />
<br />
We can all fall to this temptation at any moment. Many times we don't even realize it until we're in too deep.<br />
<br />
Our Lord is a jealous God. He doesn't want us to look to other gods when it is He who supplies all our needs. When it is He who saved us from eternal damnation. He is ever-willing, ever-determined to call us back to Him when it seems that we are straying.<br />
<br />
And, honestly, I'm straying. But God is helping me with this. And I know that He can and will help you too.<br />
<br />
You're probably asking, "How are you dealing with it, Jo?"<br />
<br />
Since my problem deals with a real-life celebrity group, this is how I'm working on the problem. Removing the links to their songs and videos on my computer. Playing Christian songs.<br />
<br />
I'm now asking God to help me realize that I still need His help and strength to do the final steps. Leaving the fanclubs I have joined and deleting the fanart I have collected.<br />
<br />
I thought that I had learned my lesson. That I had to rely on God for His help and strength. I thought I had it all down.<br />
<br />
But God has a way of showing us that we still have so much more to learn.<br />
<br />
So never think that you know it all. Always remember that God knows us better than we do ourselves and that, as long as we live on this earth, we will still struggle with our flesh.<br />
<br />
Love you guys bunches, and remember to keep me (and each other!) accountable. :D<br />
<br />
Yours truly,<br />
Joanna<br />
A Minister's Daughter<br />
<br />
Jeremiah 29:11<br />
<br />
P.S. So, yeah, contrary to popular belief, I'm definitely not perfect. Just kidding. XD Please leave your comments below or give me a shout-out if you have the same problem. :)Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04888035607196813436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064336549907005237.post-40144497658915717202013-05-02T22:11:00.001+07:002013-05-15T14:33:16.941+07:00When We All Fall DownDear Reader,<br />
<br />
You may have noticed that I have not posted in a while.<br />
<br />
That is because my heart broke and my mind reeled when I heard the news about the Boston Marathon Bombing and the events that followed.<br />
<br />
I'm not American. So why did I even care so much?<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
I guess because to me... it was a sign. It is the first terrorist attack on American soil since 9/11.<br />
<br />
The sovereignty of the country... the security in which Americans and other peoples had trusted in... was suddenly gone like the wind.<br />
<br />
And it had brought an entire country to a standstill.<br />
<br />
I'm not going to delve into the question of what went wrong. I'm not even going to try to point fingers.<br />
<br />
I'm just going to say the following.<br />
<br />
It was a wake-up call.<br />
<br />
From these events, it is decidedly clear that we cannot trust in man. Man will always fail us. Everything fails eventually.<br />
<br />
The only one who never, ever fails is God.<br />
<br />
When we decide to trust ourselves or put our trust in something other than God, we eventually trip and fall flat down on the ground.<br />
<br />
Because by doing so... we are proud. We are proud of our own abilities, of our own efforts, of our accomplishments.<br />
<br />
By doing that, we are basically telling God that we don't need His help to succeed in life.<br />
<br />
That we don't need Him.<br />
<br />
"Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." -Proverbs 16:18, KJV<br />
<br />
That's a scary thought, isn't it?<br />
<br />
The events that occurred should wake us as Christians.<br />
<br />
We should realize that this is a call for us to not put our trust in man.<br />
<br />
It is a call for us to put our trust in God.<br />
<br />
Because we will all fall down into destruction when we don't.<br />
<br />
"Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord." -Jeremiah 17:5, KJV<br />
<br />
The only time when we should willingly fall down is when we worship the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.<br />
<br />
So this is my call to you Christians out there.<br />
<br />
Who are you going to fall down for? Your pride or your Savior?<br />
<br />
God is calling us back to Him. Don't ignore His call.<br />
<br />
One never knows when he will breathe his last breath. There is no excuse for ignoring our Savior's call.<br />
<br />
Love you all and keeping you in my prayers. Be attentive to God's call in your life.<br />
<br />
Yours truly,<br />
Joanna<br />
A Minister's Daughter<br />
<br />
Jeremiah 17Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04888035607196813436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064336549907005237.post-85403972609851250572013-04-11T22:01:00.001+07:002013-05-15T14:35:58.447+07:00Getting Burned<span style="background-color: #e06666;">This is a continuation of my earlier post, <a href="http://daughterofaminister.blogspot.com/2013/04/playing-with-fire.html" target="_blank">Playing With Fire</a>, as it came to my attention that many people felt the same way or went through the same problem, but didn't know how to deal with it. I don't pretend to know the perfect solution. But this was how it went down for me.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>Dear Reader,<br />
<br />
It is said that when you play with fire, you will get burned.<br />
<br />
When I relapsed into reading that sort of material at age sixteen, I knew I was in trouble.<br />
<br />
If you are like me, you had probably been taught the whole Bible doctrine. Sin is bad. Call out to God and He would help deliver you from sin.<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="background-color: white;">But when we're actually in that sort of situation, those words often seem meaningless.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br />
We are left wondering if God actually hears us. If God actually cares that we are sinning.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br />
Because deep down somewhere, we expect a lightning bolt to come down from heaven and a voice saying, "What you are doing is wrong!"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">One part of me wanted to test God. Wanted to see if He really cared about me as much as the Bible says. I wanted so badly for the people around me to see this monster of sin within me and drag me away from this mess.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">Wanting to hide, yet wanting to be discovered.</span><br />
<br />
I didn't know how to deal with this. I was getting desperate for a solution as all my self-imposed ones were simply failing.<br />
<br />
Then the leader of my prayer group came forward with the same problem. She was bold enough to confess to us all that she had done the same thing as I had and that she had looked into programs to help her kick the habit. She recommended the online program, Setting Captives Free.<br />
<br />
Not knowing what else to do and sick of sinning over and over again, I joined that program. I read all the testimonials about people being set free from porn, and I thought, "Maybe this is what I need."<br />
<br />
Within two months I was back to my old ways.<br />
<br />
Why?<br />
<br />
The program was good. The system was good.<br />
<br />
So what was the problem?<br />
<br />
Me.<br />
<br />
I had not wanted to let go of this sin, even though it was slowly burning me.<br />
<br />
What do I mean when I say it burned me?<br />
<br />
Those things caused me to feel all sorts of things. Like the following. Would any guy want me in that way? Would I ever feel those things one day? Am I pretty enough for a guy to want me? When I read the descriptions of the girls, I'd think to myself, "I can never compare to that, I'm not beautiful."<br />
<br />
I thought a lot of other things, but those are the milder ones. It damaged my mind, even though I was physically fine.<br />
<br />
So how did I came out of it?<br />
<br />
Not in the way you'd expect.<br />
<br />
All of these feelings welled up in me until I basically exploded. I was tired. I didn't know what to do. My almost-gone conscience kept whispering and telling me that it was wrong.<br />
<br />
So, in a flurry of tears, I confessed to my mom what I had been doing.<br />
<br />
Mom was shocked. But she didn't push me away, like I had been secretly expecting. I had thought she would be angry with me and yell at me.<br />
<br />
She didn't.<br />
<br />
She instead quietly took me aside and asked me gently why I had done it.<br />
<br />
I broke down even more.<br />
<br />
However, I was still stubbornly thinking that God could not help me. That I had to cleanse myself first. This was a destructive way of thinking that resulted in the fact that I couldn't get free.<br />
<br />
It wasn't until some months later, when I confessed the truth to my dad as well, that I could completely and honestly say I could not cleanse myself.<br />
<br />
Complete confession. Complete belief that what you had done was wrong. That you need God to save you. That you can no longer rely on your own strength.<br />
<br />
I once thought that was impossible to do, impossible to believe.<br />
<br />
But God's grace is sufficient for me.<br />
<br />
Since that second confession (which I made in March 2013), I haven't touched that material.<br />
<br />
It's foolish to think that I haven't touched it because of parental restrictions. If I wanted to, I could still read it and still sin. When there's a will, there's a way.<br />
<br />
Then what is stopping me?<br />
<br />
Conviction.<br />
<br />
It is one thing to say that you know what the Bible says inside-out.<br />
<br />
It is another to completely and utterly believe the Bible from the very depths of your heart.<br />
<br />
Simply put, on the advice of my parents, I began praying more and reading the Bible. I read the Bible out loud and every day. I started to limit my time on the phone and on the computer, and I would meditate on the Bible.<br />
<br />
If you're wondering what meditate is... Ever watched a movie/read a book that you could not stop thinking about? That you would play over and over in your mind to figure out what happens next or what a person's motive was? Meditation is something like that. (I didn't know what it meant to meditate, so I decided to put in a little explanation for those of you who were as confused as I was.)<br />
<br />
Right now, I have been convicted by what I had been reading in the Bible. I'm now taking an honest look at myself, and I don't like what I see in me.<br />
<br />
Why, I don't even know what God sees in me. I may never know that.<br />
<br />
What I do know is that God's love is never failing. Who can even imagine His love towards a sinner?<br />
<br />
I'll end with this.<br />
<br />
If you're struggling with this problem, let me tell you this. I know it's difficult to let go. You're probably feeling guilty over your inability to rid yourself of this sin. You've probably heard a thousand times that you need to cast your burden on God.<br />
<br />
So do it. If you can't confess publicly right now, come to God. Honestly like you mean it. Tell Him that you need Him. Then cut out whatever's causing you to sin. It is better to lose an eye than for the whole body to be cast into hell.<br />
<br />
Read the Bible as often and as much as you can. Pray as often as you can.<br />
<br />
It'll be slow-going at first. But your faith will rise and grow stronger.<br />
<br />
If you are not struggling with this problem, I still have something to tell you. Prevention is better than a cure. If you recall what I said in my earlier post, I relapsed when I stopped reading the Bible daily. So read it daily and believe every word written in it. Pray when the temptation comes.<br />
<br />
God loves and forgives, but we must be willing to go to Him. Don't get burned.<br />
<br />
Yours truly,<br />
Jo<br />
A Minister's Daughter<br />
<br />
P.S. Hopefully I'll write a more light-hearted post for the next one. :)<br />
<br />
Hosea 2:1-23Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04888035607196813436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064336549907005237.post-3462477829832423882013-04-08T18:11:00.000+07:002013-05-15T14:34:56.679+07:00Playing With Fire<br />
<b>EDIT:</b> <i>I wrote this blog post with the homeschooling community in mind. However, as some of my readers pointed out, the issue of sin is a universal thing. I have changed the wording to reflect this, but I would like to emphasize that homeschoolers would still face the problem of sin.</i><br />
<span style="background-color: #e06666;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #e06666;">I would advise you to read with caution. I am aware that some parents extensively censor what their children read. However, I believe that this is something people need to know.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
Dear Reader,<br />
<br />
The descent into sin isn't an immediate one. It is a slow process that drags you in, bit by bit.<br />
<br />
My very first encounter with things of a sexual nature was when I was maybe seven/eight. It's been so long ago that I hardly remember.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />
My parents had bought a movie about ballet dancing. They had to go somewhere for a while, so they said that I could watch a movie since I had behaved well.<br />
<br />
I chose to watch that movie. Only to find a sexual scene in it.<br />
<br />
My parents were not aware that there was such a scene. They thought it was harmless, since it looked like it was just about ballet. They were naturally shocked when I told them about it once they returned.<br />
<br />
However, that scene stayed with me. Even now, when I look back, I can recall fuzzy details about what I had seen.<br />
<br />
It wasn't until I was thirteen/fourteen that I delved further. I was reading something on the Internet and it had described - in detail - sexual intercourse.<br />
<br />
Of course, the first time I saw it, I stammered and quickly closed the page.<br />
<br />
But later on I opened it again. And read.<br />
<br />
All the while, as I read, I felt something screaming inside of me, "Don't!"<br />
<br />
But I read. And I awakened forbidden desires before the time.<br />
<br />
We all know that we should save our virginity for marriage. It is something our parents teach us, our pastor teaches us, our church teaches us, the Bible teaches us.<br />
<br />
But, in my mind, I excused myself, thinking, "But they never said I shouldn't read about it. It's just for knowledge. It's nothing big. I'll never actually have sex before marriage since my parents are actively aware of who I'm friends with. Just one time, and I won't read it again."<br />
<br />
I was wrong.<br />
<br />
I managed to shove it away from me for some years by reading the Bible everyday.<br />
<br />
At age sixteen I stopped reading the Bible daily. Not long after, I started reading those things again.<br />
<br />
I constantly read this pornographic material. I would read them on my phone at night when my family was asleep. Sometimes, when I dared, I would even read them during the day when I'm surrounded by people.<br />
<br />
Give the devil an inch and he'll take the whole yard.<br />
<br />
So what's the point of this?<br />
<br />
Don't play with fire. Don't even go looking for that material.<br />
<br />
Because once you do, I promise you that it's very difficult for you to desire to remain pure until marriage.<br />
<br />
It will sear your conscience. I read so much until my conscience barely made a sound in protest when I did.<br />
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I began to lust. I began to sin in my mind. I'd imagine doing the deed.<br />
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I began looking for porn just to fulfill this.<br />
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Thank God for the anti-porn laws in my country. Thank God for suddenly snapping me awake at that moment.<br />
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If you have never gone through this, then praise the Lord. And maintain that mental purity. Don't ever think, "This will never happen to me." IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE! I should know. I once thought that too.<br />
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If you have gone/are going through this, then I want to tell you something right now. God can forgive. God's love is great. You might think, "This time I've gone too far. This time, God can't possibly forgive a sinner like me. How can He accept a sinful one like me?"<br />
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News flash for you. HE IS ABLE TO FORGIVE! The only catch is to rely on HIS STRENGTH, NOT YOURS! Because if you rely on your own strength, if you think, "I've got to cleanse myself of this sin first before I can approach God," you. Will. Fail. Miserably.<br />
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I tried to do the same. And it would go on and on in a never-ending cycle of sinning, resolving to not do it again, trying to cleanse myself, failing, and sinning.<br />
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So don't think that. Throw yourself into God's arms. Hold up the white flag of surrender. Tell God, "I'm sorry! I can't rely on myself anymore. I know I'm not strong enough. I need You to help me."<br />
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He will help you if you mean it. Just like He is helping me, even now.<br />
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The struggle to remain pure will last all your life. But it's a worthwhile effort.<br />
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Don't forget Jesus loves and forgives. Don't play with fire.<br />
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Yours truly,<br />
Jo<br />
A Minister's Daughter<br />
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Hosea 14:1-9Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04888035607196813436noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064336549907005237.post-37206323680381800102013-04-04T16:59:00.001+07:002013-05-15T14:37:02.446+07:00A Bit About MeDear Homeschooled Teen/Homeschooling Parent,<br />
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My name is Joanna Oei. You may call me Jo for short if Joanna is a bit of a mouthful.</div>
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I started this blog because I want to help you. I know how difficult homeschooling can be. The loneliness. The desire to be normal like the other teens. The pressure of living up to everyone's expectations. The idea that our parents are being overly demanding. The question of believing the same as our parents do.</div>
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The wanting to know if there is even a point to this life. </div>
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Yes, we do feel these things, even though it doesn't look like it on the surface. </div>
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Many times we feel them but we hide them. Because we don't want to disappoint our family/church. Because we want to avoid long lectures/scoldings from our parents. </div>
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I can tell you honestly that I've felt all of the above at one point or the other. I contemplated running away, harming myself, and even committing suicide, as I got deeper into depression over the idea that I wasn't good enough for my family. These thoughts began when I was very young (around ten/eleven years old).</div>
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Out of those feelings came a horrible addiction - an addiction to reading graphic material. It nearly led to watching pornography. </div>
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But it was God's love that drew me back. That made me realize my reason to live. That made me realize that He is the One Who determines my self-worth. That made me realize my sin and His amazing grace.</div>
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Do not misunderstand me. My parents are wonderful, God-fearing people, my dad being a missionary and my mom being a housewife. I consider my home life to be a good one.</div>
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Then, why did I feel all of the feelings I described earlier?</div>
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Because I lacked a relationship with God. </div>
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I read the Bible. I know the Bible stories inside out. I studied books on Christian beliefs and on the great Christian ministers.</div>
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But knowledge doesn't necessarily equal faith. </div>
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It was only earlier this year that I realized I had fallen far from the faith my parents have. I have since repented and am asking God to help me grow in Him.</div>
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If you had doubts about your faith, about where you are going in life, about the various unique problems we homeschooled students face, then this blog is for you. </div>
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This blog is for you, my fellow homeschooled students. I want to help you avoid the mistakes I made by showing what I went through. And I want to help you if you are experiencing any of the problems I face. </div>
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This blog is also for you, my dear homeschooling parents. Hopefully... this will give you insight into some possible thoughts of your teen. This is not meant for you to confront your teen and ask, "Why do you do this? Do you really feel something like this?" No... this blog is meant for you to ask yourself, "Does my child feel/do this? If he/she does, then what do I do about it?"</div>
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Ultimately, only God is the One who can help you. So keep your eyes on Him. Whatever problems you face, I can only give you imperfect solutions. God gives you the perfect one.</div>
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I look forward to hearing from you. Don't be afraid to tell me your thoughts. Be it in the comments or in an email. </div>
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God loves you. Don't forget that.</div>
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Yours truly,</div>
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Joanna</div>
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A Minister's Daughter</div>
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Jeremiah 29:11</div>
Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04888035607196813436noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064336549907005237.post-85668636558371657292013-01-24T11:45:00.000+07:002013-05-15T14:37:22.003+07:00Hi Everyone!So I've had this blog for forever but I haven't done anything with it.
I guess I'll just say hi and hope that I know what I'm doing. (Actually, I don't, but meh.)
I'll come out with an actual post sometime soon.
Later!
-JoJoannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04888035607196813436noreply@blogger.com0