do you want to only be right?

Hello Ladies!! How are you all?? I hope everyone has been great and has managed to keep heart over these past few weeks during exams and school!

So I have been reading the book "Sit, Walk, Stand" by Watchman Nee recently - it's a really good book! I recommend it to anyone, although it has taken me a while to get around to, I think that God has really brought it to me right when I needed!

There have been a lot of great take-away's from the book that I've been trying to apply and keep in mind - and I've chosen to share this one w/ y'all for now ^_^

The question of "right" or "wrong".
Often times, it is so easy to think of our situations in terms of right and wrong. Someone wronging us, how we were more right than someone else...

In his book, Watchman Nee says that we can become preoccupied with what is and what is not right, and whether we have been justly or unjustly treated.
and Nee says some stuff that I find really eye-opening:

"The whole question for us is one of cross-bearing. You ask me, 'Is it right for someone to strike my cheek?' I reply, 'Of course not! But the question is, do you want to only be right?' As Christians, our standard of living can never be "right or wrong", but the Cross. The principle of the Cross is our principle of conduct. Praise God that He makes His sun to shine on the evil and the good. With Him it is a question of His grace and not of right or wrong. But that is to be our standard also: "Forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you." [Ephesians 4:32] "Right or wrong" is the principle of the Gentiles and the tax gatherers. My life is to be governed by the principle of the Cross and of the perfection of the Father: "Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." " [- Sit, Walk, Stand pg. 32]

Nee then goes on to illustrate his point with an example,

"A brother in South China had a rice field in the middle of a the hill. In time of drought he used a waterwheel, worked by a treadmill, to lift water from the irrigation stream into his field. His neighbour had two fields below his, and, one night, made a breach in the dividing bank and drained off all his water. When the brother repaired the breach and pumped in more water his neighbour did the same thing again, and this was repeated three or four times. So he consulted his brethren. "I have tried to be patient and not to retaliate," he said, "but is it right?" After they had prayed together about it, one of them replied, "If we only try to do the right thing, surely we are very poor Christians. We have to do something more than what is right." The brother was much impressed. Next morning he pumped water for the two fields below, and in the afternoon pumped water for his own field. After that the water stayed in his field. His neighbour was so amazed at his action that he began to inquire the reason, and in course of time he, too, became a Christian." [- Sit, Walk, Stand pg. 32-33]

"So, my brethren, don't just stand on your right. Don't feel that because you have gone the second mile you have done what is just. The second mile is only typical of the third and the fourth. The principle is that of conformity to Christ. We have nothing to stand for, nothing to ask or demand. We have only to give. When the Lord Jesus died on the Cross, He did not do so to defend our "rights"; it was grace that took Him there. Now, as his children, we try always to give others what is their due and more." [- Sit, Walk, Stand pg. 33]

"Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for you." - Ephesians 5:1-2

haha I could keep going and going - so many great things.. but I'll put it into a different post ^_^

we're only any good if we apply what we read and learn as well.
I really took a lot out of this, the value placed on acting out of love, and not trying to justify things as who was in the right or wrong, since if we were going on deeds and actions and earning - we all fall short of the Glory of God. Praise the Lord for His grace, and the chance we have to pour out grace and love on others!

I've also been keeping the rice field story in mind for this past week because it doesn't mean that Christians should allow themselves to be walked all over, but that our 'reaction' in Christ can be more powerful than simply seeking our form of "justice". hehe I especially like the line "If we only try to do the right thing, surely we are very poor Christians. We have to do something more than what is right."

I know I still have a long way to go, but through Christ, there is so much more =)
haha ok, enough of my rambling... Take heart dear sisters =D Keep on hard after Him!

Looking forward to seeing you all soon!

seeking a country

Hello Ladies!!

How are you all doing?? I hope school is treating you well + you haven't been too bogged down by work and stuff - the end is near, which is... good and bad; good b/c it means more relaxing, bad because we miss out on all the friends and the crazy, but fun bits of the school routine!

Jen - How did the elections go? I hope work isn't killing you!
Kat - How is all the crazy practicing going? Any changes with your friends?
Michelle - I hope you're not crazy bogged down with work!! What are you planning for summer?
Valerie - How are you feeling finishing 1st year? Did you work out your housing plans?
Noelle - Are you excited to be finishing? What are you plans?

Everyone - How has your walk with God been? Anything we can pray for you?

Something I wanted to share with you all -
I was reading Hebrews 11 the other day - and I came upon this verse:

"13All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them." - Hebrews 11:13-16 (NASB)

And my thoughts on this verse are twofold:

First, although this currently applies most for those in the situation of University graduation - it can also apply to anyone who needs to leave a group of friends, or place etc (maybe for you ladies as you might not see the same people over the summer); for me here @ Western, there has been seed sowing, and fellowship, and encouraging and building up of the body. However, as I (and other grads) leave and graduate, the things that we've started or had a hand in - we really won't see them come into fruition in our "lifetimes" at University, but we see them from a distance, knowing that God will do great things and will move powerfully in years to come. This works for any situation really - that sometimes we put in works and efforts, but we must leave the full fruition to someone else, trusting that God will continue to work.

Second, involving desiring a country, in a way this relates to the first in that, if God sends us away, we need to trust in His sending, because we are seeking to do His will, and to obtain a 'heavenly country'. Especially for those graduating, but for anyone who needs to leave somewhere that is good - it's tough. I've done most of my spiritual growing at Western, I love the fellowship there and all the people, and I'm going to miss it greatly. I suppose, that if I really wanted to stay @ Western because I'm clinging onto what I think is good - I could find a way to come back; but God tells us that He has better in store.

Think about Abraham - God sent him out to find the promise land, and had Abraham said that where he had come from was so good that he wanted to stay there, he would have missed out on the blessings of the LORD; and although he never got to see his descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky - his bit of faith was needed to start the ball rolling.

So this is just a little bit to take heart over; God has the best in store for us, may we trust and be willing to go where He sends us. And that for you all - even though in the summer you may not see the same people, you can still definitely keep in touch - and there is always the next year to prep, pray, and be excited for ^_^

" Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that." " - James 4:14-15 (NASB)

hehe my family came by yesterday.. moved out some stuff.. haha my empty spaces look so crazy. I won't be at service this weekend - needed to stay in London b/c I have a huge essay due on Monday, but I look forward to seeing you all soon!! Let's finish strong. God bless y'all.