Tuesday, September 12, 2006
In reply to Joyce's post...
"hmm.. what do you think are the practical ways we can use to reach out to friends more effectively?"
Was thinking about this the past 2 days. :) After some reading up, some sharing from Ellson and some happy experiences with some non-Christian friends the past few days...
1. Just treasure and enjoy your friends' company.
2. And pray for them. God'll help and guide you when the time is right. :)
3. And don't be afraid to shine in your God-given strengths and talents! It attracts others!
In a nutshell, I think Jesus sums it up very well: "You are the salt of the earth... You are the light of the world..."
This REALLY is our identity, honestly. Just being ourselves, when we walk right with God and people, somehow others WILL be attracted to us. Like moths to a lamp. :) Don't ask me why - I'm finding this to be true! I guess this is the salt part.
But not just being our own natural God-given personalities... we also should shine in the strengths that God has given us - whether it's speaking or singing or thinking or writing or dancing or running or listening or whatever else... In that way, others will respect us more for it - like hw, by God's grace, people respect me for my insights and analyses... [i'm still gobsmacked whenever i think about this - God is AWESOME!!! never imagined such a thing can happen in my life...] And it does add to my credibility as a witness when i tell people (not for my sake, but for THEIR sakes) that I get As and A+s for my essays. This helps to make them more open to what I share in future - whether it's something on work ethics or about God or about politics or something like that.
So I guess that is the light part. :) "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
So guess if anyone feels that he/she isn't very outstanding in school or in social circles or relating wif others, it's ok. We DO have strengths that really can attract pple to Christ thru us. This Bible verse helped me a lot in speaking up even though I was very shy and insecure: "Only let us live up to what we have already attained." (Philippians 3:16)
Like what Ps Jeff said last Saturday: "We don't fight for victory - we fight FROM victory!" And God has already given us the victory - it is within us thru Christ who lives in us!
Hope this helps... :) If you have any more ideas regarding Joyce's question, do share! so that we can all learn from one another... feel free to correct me too if needed!
Bless!
YA
