Tuesday, May 20

Just to share some thoughts regarding the YN Re-encounter over the weekend...

Before the retreat, God showed me two things: to come for this retreat not having any condemnation of myself but instead with emptiness in my heart to desire for Him and having firm foundations of my faith so that Christianity will not be a leap of faith into uncertainty, but a step of faith into certainty of a life lived, died and resurrected. Bearing just these, I went for the retreat, waiting for God to fulfill His purposes for me...

During the retreat, God showed me that my lack of having an eternal mindset...

1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
-Colossians 3

Living out these words is the key to experiencing my total freedom in Christ, for I do not need to be bonded by the earthly things which tend to trap me and thus preventing me from experiencing the total freedom. I will continue to mediate upon Colossians 3:1-17 to help me overcome my bondage and experience the freedom I need...

After the retreat,what I really experienced was the deeper hunger for God. The retreat didn’t satisfy my hunger but there was a moment of great joy on the second night during worship, a joy which I have not felt for a long time but I desire a greater level of joy in God which I believe I will receive as I hunger for more of Him. Ironically, I ended the retreat with the same want as what I want to receive from the retreat at the start. However, this desire comes after a greater conviction and understanding of the roots of my faith. This retreat is definitely the first church event which I’m not satisfied with what I’ve received and leave me wanting for a bigger spiritual breakout in my life.

jel; 10:56 pm