I went for a program called "Jumpstart". Well it is basically about helping people to know about their talents & gifts, and to use it fully in their calling that God has set for them in life. It was a 3 days program (25-27 Nov) and the speaker for this program is Derek Chong. He is a very good speaker and I like his talks because he focus more on how to be a Christian in This REAL LIFE! Oh, he’s funny also.
Actually i had a dilemma on making the choice of whether or not I should go for this program. On Friday 26, there is suppose to be a Catholic Student Group (CSG) gathering and I really wanted to go there. At first my decision was not to go to the jumpstart and I chose CSG. CSG is my life for this semester, I feel that it is where God wants me to be (besides I’m happy doing what I’m doing there, which is making friends and to be with my friends ^^). However, God gave me a choice that I cannot say no, a chance to serve Him. He gives me situations as if He is trying to say, "Yo, nick! You wanna go CSG? How ‘bout bring this two pretty girls, Stephanie and Debbie to Jumpstart! I prepared a car for u already. So it should be no prob lah". Ohh God, i would love to bring them there. Just say the word and it shall be done. (later on i was told that the gathering was canceled…kwang…kwang…kwang…ok nick, u made the right decision..hehe..)
Now you know the purpose of me going to the Jumpstart. However, I was not really excited for this program. Yah, what’s the big deal of going to this program anyway. I've known my own gifts already. I will just sit there, listen to the talks and SMILE! yah..I’ll be a good boy. I’m going to give the widest smile that i can give... (Oohh..I’m being so soooo highly of myself...nevermind, next week i go to confession...hehe..^^).
It is until the last night of the program that i feel "GLAD!" that i went there. Me and Debbie were talking to Derek before the program starts and i feel the urge to ask for his opinion about people who have gifts/talents but tend to hide it because for them by doing that they are humbling themselves (not showing off is what i mean)...I’m so glad that i ask his opinion. I'm so glad that I’m there to have the opportunity to ask. I'm so GLAD! Thank You God! Derek told me that being Humble is being who you are and that gifts is what makes you, you! The devil can use “humble” to make you confuse of the truth! The entire sessions for the whole night was starting to really make sense to me. What use are the gifts if you keep it to yourself? Gifts from God are meant to be shared. Not to keep for yourself. How can you serve God with everything that you have if you are trying your best to hide your gifts and not using it fully?
This has been my problem for a long time. I’ve asked myself a lot of times, “How to be HUMBLE?”…and in my head, being humble is by keeping quite, not to talk too much. Whatever things that comes from God to me, I’ll keep it to myself. I’m going to be a good Christian, which is by SMILING! Oh, yeah! This is the BEST “humble” that I can do. If there is a competition of being humble, then I’ll surely win…haha (just a joke k, though I know its not funny...but pliz laugh!..^^)
I believe every Christians have gifts from God. Please don’t think that only HOLY people can have gifts from God, and that includes the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:1-11) . The Holy Spirit is soooo kind O.K!!! I too believe that I have gifts from God. Gifts that are meant to be shared to people. From time to time I figure out what God wants me to do with these gifts, a calling maybe, but I prefer calling it a JOB and so far I love doing it. However these has been making me more and more sensitive about being “HUMBLE”. As not to show off that I have these gifts (be a humble good Christian) so I tend to keep quiet and SMILE! I was being a very Good Christian by doing that >_<.
I’ve had these gifts for a long time. I think I was born with these gifts. It made me who I am right now. Oh, wow! Some people have the gifts of playing music, and it makes them who they are, it is a part of them. Mine is different though (not going to tell what it is, but those of you who are close to me can guess, I think..hoho..). Now then I know that I was actually not using all that I have to do this Job! Uhhh…very disappointing…Nick..nick…why are you like this…fuhh..(sigh)…
Romans 12:3 ~ For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
Romans 12:5-8 ~ We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.
For I am who God created me to be. “IF” I am a badminton player, then I will show my skill as a badminton player to the world. I am not going to play football, because my gifts are not playing football but if I say that I know how to play football very well when I don’t have the talents to play football then that is when I’m not being humble. Badminton is my thing (example only ok). If I keep my talents to myself, then I’m not going to achieve a lot of things, I’m not going to bear any GREAT fruit.
John 15:16 ~ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.
Our Almighty God, The Most Cool God, shows His humility by saying, “I Am Who I Am” ~ Exodus 3:14.
Some people might have the similar experience with me and I hope that God will use this sharing to guide you. Amen!
Time to EAT!! WACHAAA!!
Hugs and a kiss to you all!
