How the rain helped to prove a relationship point

I joined a Vietnamese club during week one, but I arranged with the tutor, Jim (not his real name) that I will keep in touch about further attendance. For two weeks I could not go, so I felt convicted on the third week. Just because of the relationship with the unbelievers, and their knowledge of my faith. I did not hide my convictions, and expected continued difference (Notice: The Vietnamese do things according to their felt needs. If it does not fit their schedule to attend a social club, it is fine just to stay away without notice. They also don't believe in being good, for no good comes from being good.). I just felt it rude not to make arrangements.

That Thursday I cycled the 5km to the Café in pouring rain. More than soaked, I was also convinced of not needing Vietnamese classes. I'm only staying a year, and my housemates can teach me. Anyway, I don't like cycling alone at night, or breaking down and having trouble (Ironically, my bike's chain broke on the way back, so I had to walk the 5km home at 21:00 at night. I thank God for my housemate who came to pick me up). 

But, on arrival, Jim was waiting at the door. I explained that I would not stay nor continue to attend the club. Some evenings my friend who attended the club only came home at 23:00, a time I did not feel comfortable with when driving alone. But, I felt it necessary to come to talk with him in person to apologize. Astonished he asked me about the reasons I would go to such lengths and discomfort. Why I would come at night, and in the rain, if this is the main objection.

It was then I realized that God truly changes the way we think. I told him that as a child of God, and follower of Jesus, relationships are very important to me. That it is not my needs that dictate what I do or how I act. That people are not just things or means to ends, they are all individuals and that we as children of God believe that God has personal relationship with each. And because God has relationship with me, loves me, I can love others. That just knocked him over. We took him a Bible the following Saturday, and on the coming Saturday we will meet before club to talk more about faith. 

In the presence of the Almighty and most Holy God

Holy Holy Holy is God Almighty!!!
Jesus Christ is more beautiful and attractive than any person I know. Well, to be honest, He is the perfect man anyway! And to make Him more attractive He grants people the privilege to grow in likeness to Him through the power of His Holy Spirit.
Somehow I got caught in a lei that only through man can we know and grow towards God. This was only partially true, for it is the man Christ alone, and that through His spirit.
I came to know the following to be true: You can not buy or work for the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit. In my proud prejudice I tried to manipulate those men I fell in love with who portrayed Jesus' character. Like the Simon who wanted to buy the power of the Holy Spirit from Peter and John in Acts 8, I tried to buy a second hand relationship with God, and in a way ended up either worshipping that man, or depending on myself. God, in His loving you kindness came to embrace me, sending a crowd of believers praying for me, and revealed the all-so-clear mission of His children that I had to submit under His Holiness.
Submission is never easy, just as Simon cried out to said to Peter and John that they should pray for him, I also pleaded for others to pray with and for me.
The message became clear that I needed to enter into His presence and ask. God hears the cry of His children's hearts and remembers His promises onto them. This became mistakenly clear to me as God reached out to me and continues to grant me the freedom from the bitterness and bondage I was in.
I started by saying that you cannot buy or work for the presence of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, and I want to proclaim the good news that in being broken and vulnerable in the presence of God and other believers you can receive it. To stay in His presence you only need to love Him, for God said that those who love Him, submit and obey Him, and He comes and lives with them, and never leaves them - John 16.

Allowing rubbing off for the benefit of maturing

It is time to be honest and vulnerable with you regarding the places and views in my life where I am being showed how unsorted I truly am.

One of the most influential and valuable people in my life is a friend who sets out to challenge others on what they believe and how their faith gets hands and feet.  This friend has been rubbing off on me to.

One of the things he pointed out regarding community and fellowship is the difference between together and next to.  When looking at toddlers playing, you will notice the difference between playing next to each other in relation to playing together.  I can definitely relate to this as I tend to life next to others.  I live my life detached from others.  This in effect leaves me lonely, and in truth nullifies what I call relationship with others, and what it truly is.   

Setting out at the beginning of this year to try to live and understand the meaning of relationship, my worldly logic had to change to see what it means.  Only the logic of Christ can show the true meaning when put to practice.  To not only be changed by His truth, but also by the people He sets up in our lives to influence us.  The brutality of my honesty in a gathering a while back revealed my own faulty views. I confessed that I do not like others rubbing off on me.  You can imagine my surprise then I found this view horribly skewed.  In my ignorant selfish practises, I robbed myself and others of much needed community.

If the best thing for me is God, and the best thing for you is God, and He askes us to love others as we loves ourselves, then our faith becomes priority to be shared and sculpted by others.  I find stories of faith and life extremely interesting, and I value the sharing of these stories greatly.  Therefor, the question puzzling me is the true value of these stories if it does not change us, bring us closer in relationship and build unity in love to become the faithfully mature bride.