|
|
Luke 6:38 - give, and it shall be given unto you... AGAPE.com
is visited:
|
Happiness is really determined by our perspective in life and not by circumstances. If we learn to be grateful despite our circumstances, we can greatly improve our happiness by just counting our blessings. The story is told of a poor man who was given a loaf of bread. Despite his hardship throughout most of his life, he chose not to be bitter of his condition and be grateful to the little things that came his way. The farmer thanked the baker, but the baker said, "Don’t thank me. Thank the miller who made the flour." So he thanked the miller, but the miller said, "Don’t thank me. Thank the farmer who planted the wheat." So he thanked the farmer. But the farmer said, "Don’t thank me. Thank the Lord. He gave the sunshine and rain and fertility to the soil, and that’s why you have bread to eat."
As a testimony to the Lord's goodness, my son Pei Wen and I were involved in a car collision with a taxi on the afternoon of 20 December 2004. Although my car was severely smashed at the front left portion, all of us including the taxi driver and his 2 passengers were miraculously unhurt. While I was annoyed by the accident - the damage caused, the time wasted in reporting the incident, the loss of use of my car etc., I was happy for my son who reminded me that it was just my car that got badly damaged and not him who was seated at the front passenger seat, just inches away from the impact. A split second difference would have resulted in a terribly worse outcome! In Matthew 10:29-31, the Lord Jesus said to His disciples: "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Romans 8:28 says: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." This verse promises that if we trust in God and love Him, God will work in all things for our good. Romans 8:29 says: "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." Hence, God can work in bad circumstances to make them beneficial for our edification. He has a high purpose for our lives. That purpose is to save us from sins and to make us Christ-like. From this accident, we have learnt that when we encounter a bad situation, we need to remember that God is in control of all things and all events in our lives and that He allows them to happen to teach and to mold us to be more like Him. Thank you Lord once again, for your mercy, grace and protection. Kee Sin, 20 December 2004.
1 Thessalonians. 5:16-18 - Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. |
| ||||||||
