went to kids club to help out a bit yesterday. expected the kids to behave the way they do, not sitting still, some noisy, some playful and being really enthusiastic in the things that they do. one of the little boys was misbehaving, disrupting the lessons a little, so an adult pulled him aside to talk to him. he came back to his seat, quiet and unsmiling, unlike what he was 5 minutes ago. somehow, i found myself sitting next to him. i asked him some questions, hoping that they'll be encouraging and give him some attention. he responded with nods at the beginning but started to ignore me when he was not being chosen to answer the questions asked by the teacher in front after raising his hands a few times. after the lesson ended, he ran to the front towards the snacks with the rest of the kids and soon was talking and smiling again. some thoughts ran through my mind. i haven't really had a lot of chance talking to kids, so i always felt that i had an issue interacting with them or was unsure how to react to them. then again, it does take some for some children to warm up to you and i could be thinking too much about it anyway... towards the end of the whole session, i got to talk to some of the little girls, perhaps because they were girls, it was easier to talk to them and easier to have them being comfortable with my arm around their shoulders. chatted with ms and c a little before i left. i'm glad joined them, helping and seeing the children and knowing at least i got to connect with some of the them.

it took me awhile to fall asleep last night. i was thinking of some things and started thinking about the children i met that afternoon. then, this conclusion came to me: that it's not easy to love someone who doesn't treat you the way you want or expect them to or someone who rejects/ignores you (like the little boy). and it always seems easier to love somebody who accepts you readily (like the little girls). But i guess, nevertheless, love shouldn't be different in either scenarios. Christ came to die for us and He was rejected and humiliated by the world. Yet His love for us never changed and never changes. Still abundant, still flowing. With this thought in mind, we ought to love the more 'difficult' people, people who seemingly reject you, with the same measure of love as or even more than those who love us back.

"You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?" Matthew 5:43-47

A brother once mentioned that we should love the people (in that particular case it was a group we were reaching out to), love them, sincerely and honestly, until they ask why. It'll only be a matter of time before Christ will show Himself to them through us, if we allow Him to, with that constantly open channel of love.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.” Jeremiah 29:11,12

God's time above

the heart's desires.

thank You, Jesus!! (:

pour out the ocean within, Lord

and occupy my heart.