making decisions like a godly student

The typical local (Singapore) university offers its students an array of activities, from musical groups to sports groups to clusters of students being intellectually challenged every other moment while on campus. There are opportunities to lead a team, start a project, come up with new initiatives. Even as a Christian on campus, one will definitely get exposed and be encouraged to be involved with one, or more, campus Christian ministries. The list goes on and on and on. The activities are definitely attractive, because each of those posters pasted around uni are targeted at a specific group of students with a particular interest in the related field, and the appeal is real, so is the distraction.  

One can't possibly join all activities that appeal to his palate. In this half of the semester alone, if without restrictions of time, I would have been involved in more than ten co-curricular activities, or more commonly known as CCA. I have to be thankful that there's a definite limiting factor that's holding me back from wanting to push myself over the threshold of stress and work-life management. Learning to plan my time around God has definitely been helpful in sorting out what I have to be responsible for and which activities I should be choosing in such a way that I won't displace God from his rightful place. The danger still remains when we think that we can rely on our own strength and think that we can do more all the time. 

I met with some helpful speed bump recently. A good wake up call as some may call it. Missing an important test a week back gave me a stern reminder that I'm starting to mess things up, and it's screaming at me to get back on track. My bible readings have gone off track, I couldn't focus on my work and I'm getting very involved in my CCA. As a student, I should be performing my roles and responsibilities. They include attending lectures, going for the assessments, integrity and honesty, doing my tutorials, etc. The motivation, however, is likely to be different for a Christian who is a student too. Mine is so that I could honor God, by fulfilling my responsibilities in the role that he has given me. 

Sometimes, it is helpful to have a structure to life. Structures can help us focus better at times. Of course, the focus and motivation of having such structures should be set right in the first place. I have recently began to think of how I can plan my time such that I can spend more time reading the bible and meeting people, while at the same time meeting the deadlines and contributing to team projects. 

I did not plan much for this semester and was carried away by too many distractions. In more than one way I am thankful for the recess week. I have time to re-focus myself on God's word, and be ready for the fight ahead. 

Strive on in God's strength as His prayer warrior. 

the desire to serve

We have 24 hours each day. Conventionally, a third of a day's time would be spent on the bed, getting sufficient rest that we need, as determined by sleep scientists as the optimal amount of rest per day. We spend some more time waiting dragging ourselves out of bed, getting from place to place, going about our daily routines. How much time is left to serve?

The issue here is not so much of how much time we have, because that is something that we cannot change. I am not saying that we should deprive ourselves of sleep by going to bed late at night and wake up in the wee hours of the morning to read the bible and to pray for other people, or even to think about them. Planning the precious 16 odd hours well is important. 

I am not going to give advice on how much time exactly you should be spending to read the bible, or the amount of time to be allocated to talking to people each week. I have no means to control that, I am not God. The motivation should not be that of feeling better because I have spent more time talking to someone about Jesus this week. The focus should be on Jesus Christ. He gave us life. His death defeated sin for good, and those who are in Him will overcome sin too. It is from the recognition of Christ that stirs up a desire for us to serve Him wholeheartedly. No one can force you. Service would be meaningless if there's no commitment, or conviction. 

As a Christian, I am still learning the meaning of true service. I do not think that I will be able to reach this point that I could say that I understand fully the meaning of service. But it's the burning passion to serve that drives me forward to serve even more, in the glory of Jesus Christ, the Lord over my life. I know how much his love means to me, I am humbled by the grace that I have been shown. It is by his grace that I am who I am today. Even if I am going to be in rags, without a qualification, have nothing to my name, I know that I have Christ. It hasn't been the easiest of uni life the past few weeks, but it is nothing compared to the pain that Christ has gone through for my sake. 

In Christ I am found.  

overworked

My body feels tired, my mind feels tired, and I severely lack quality sleep and rest. After 10 days of non-stop work, thinking, brainstorming, travelling out of residence for events, meeting people, attending conferences, preparing for talks, and meeting more people for projects, I have to say that I'm tired and I need some rest.

I finally managed to find some time to catch a breather today, just to keep things in check and refocus myself. I am constantly reminded of Paul's message to the Colossians. The immensity and greatness of God never bores me. It tells me how small I am, and that I should be thankful for the gospel. Yet, a lot of times, I feel like a part-time Christian. The truth, however, is that there's no such thing. It's binary. Yes, or no, not both.

Taking my mind off work to read the bible has helped me to find rest and comfort. My focus is on Christ. I have put off the old, and already put on the new, and I shall live in a manner that is Christ-like to reflect that. Results, resumes, exposures, and 'good team dynamics' can only bring me that far in life. Jesus brings life.

'Focus on Christ, focus on Him alone.'