the sinner seek devotion.

I always thought I was really bad at lifting others up. There are people who’ve told me that I’m a really serious guy, I don’t really have a joyful spirit… and I’m supposed to make people feel good?! (or so it seemed to me then lah.)

Honestly, I see people’s flaws and weaknesses 99.9% of the time and can’t help giving ‘constructive feedback’ on how they can improve. But I now realise how imbalanced I was… why choose to focus on what someone cannot do instead of what someone can do?

Some of you may have watched the validation video that was shown during service a while ago. You know, that impression was really deep and I pondered really hard how I could apply all the stuff I learned. Recently, I picked up a book by John C. Maxwell that spoke to me even more on the topic of motivating others.

And you know something…?

Last night, God showed me a glimpse of how a short but sincere note of encouragement can release that potential in others. Those words can do what no amount of teaching, sharing and discussion can achieve. The power of belief, the power of faith in someone to outdo himself/herself.

People are always so self-conscious of their weaknesses (as many of us know) but I think people are also very self-conscious of their strengths and just need that little bit of assurance to help them realise what they can do.

Thank you for calling back and telling me how you thought the note touched you. Thank you for sending me a private message on facebook about how important those few words during our short conversation mattered to you.

As much as you guys felt encouraged, you have no idea how much I’m encouraged too!

You know (yeah, I know that I keep saying ‘you know’), I don’t want fanciful, pretty-looking, huge cards with millions of words squeezed into a space. I don’t want generic stuff (because it shows that you’re obligated and don’t really know someone on a personal level).

But I do appreciate it even if the card is cui-looking, contains only 3 short sentences, talks about personal interactions we had or even if there weren’t a card, a verbal encouragement would have done just as much good.

And if you haven’t noticed, I’ve just described how my cards were. I spent one night cutting those tiny pieces of yellow paper and writing just 3-5 really short sentences on them.

But this you can trust me, I meant every word I wrote and every word I spoke

I pray that Christmas would be a merry one, beyond the lights and sounds, but a merry one in your hearts.

We don’t have to go to the other side of the world to witness these things before we do something about it. Take a 10-minute walk around my neighbourhood and chances are, there are people who need that hope, people who need that hand.

And I’m sitting pretty at home.

How can I be at ease if I bought a new mobile phone for its fancy features when others can’t even afford meals?
How can I be at ease if I complain about my wardrobe needing a makeover when others have to sew on patches of cloth to existing clothes to wear them longer?
How can I be at ease chomping and munching down food at posh restaurants and complain about gaining weight when others can’t afford 3 square meals a day?
How can I be at ease if I feel jealous that my friends fly to europe while I fly to malaysia on a budget airline when others don’t have a chance to step out of their neighbourhoods?
How can I be at ease if I’m all merry with my friends in church and outside church when others out there struggle with suicidal thoughts, sicknesses, poverty, addictions and loneliness?

The question is: now that I’ve heard this, seen this and known this, how can I still live my life the same way as before?

Lord, I am guilty.

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