Restore

just got back from EVERYWOMAN, and the night was called "restore".

Ps Annie talked about restoration being a process, and when God restores, He does not restore us back to the original state but it's more than just that, it's larger.. He expands us.

she talked about the Dark Night of the Soul (or is it dark Knight of the soul?)

on FRIDAY, when Jesus died, it was like the darkest hour.

she mentioned about that period of time where something happened and she just shut God out, being blind and very cynical to the things that happen in church, etc etc..
only to realise her dependence on God all this while.

i can identify so much with that, as memories come back to me of how i experienced the same thing, the same feelings, the same emotions when i *ahem* missed my med chem test.

i was asking all the why questions you can find under the sun, why this why that, why me? why didn't you?....

but it was a refining process. i'm out of it, at least for that particular incident and He made me a conqueror!

dark night over, yay!

on EASTER SUNDAY, Jesus resurrected! and through His resurrection, we get restoration of joy, of peace, of what was robbed and stolen from us, He defied destruction!

but.. on that SATURDAY, after He died, his disciples still believed. they STILL believed although He was dead. buried. they didn't know that resurrection sunday was coming, but they still believed.

we know, we know the story, we know that after that dark hour comes the resurrections and restoration, so all the more we should B.E.L.I.E.V.E. =) it may seem like the darkest hour now, but light is coming soon, so hang on in there!

I was telling Val why i like CCC (Hobart) that much. there is just that sort of real-ness in their message, in them, in what they do, that makes me so amazed, inspired, motivated to be more like Jesus.

they openly share their failure, their falls, their story and how God was there through it all.
they don't just say hi, i'm good thank you, how about you? i'm fine, everything's going to be alright, i'm a minister and i should be next to perfect... (you get what i mean?)

and the heart of the church (if churches have hearts) is simply generosity in all that they do. we're not perfect but you can be the best you with Jesus.

i'm glad i'm in CCC! =)

speaking of hearts. i learnt today that..
atherosclerosis (plaques in heart arteries) --> Angina (chest pain) --> Heart attack (and if you survive) --> arrhythmias (irregular heart beat) and Heart failure

it may not always be in that order, but this leads to that and that leads to this, this exacerbates that and that exacerbates this, it just goes round and round..

it is difficult to come out of it once your heart's damaged.

so, love your heart, treat it well, take care of it, guard it with all that you have:
eat healthily,
rest enough,
exercise more!

God bless! =)