Friday, January 12, 2007
Day 1: The Way to Wholeness
Good morning!
Today I have decided to embark into this journey of discovering this book, the Book of Leviticus. At the first impressions of it and skimming through it and even tried to read it entirely, I must admit that it’s really a boring book. So many rituals and ceremonies to remember that I can easily lost track. The contents and the meaning of the book is very hard to grasp! Until later I saw this book at a bookshop and decide to buy this book, “The Way to Wholeness” for my dear friend’s 25th birthday last year. Last Wednesday she was kind enough to let me read first so that I can study it and intend to share to all of you in this blog. I think this guide book will be wonderful one and I have the conviction that the author will slowly reveals the real beauty of Leviticus J
So, let’s get started now.
The central theme verse that sums the whole entire book of Leviticus is Leviticus 20:26, “You are to be holy because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.”
The keyword in this verse is holy. For many of us the word holy carries a weighted meaning of what it means to be or how to be holy. So, what does the word holy mean to you?
There are people often associate holiness as in people choose to live a life of aestheticism, isolating themselves into high mountains or going to somewhere remote to meditate. Another people would often associate holiness as in they become very super religious and living grimly without pleasures in life.
But guess what, the book helped me to see a different picture of what holiness is all about! In fact, holiness is BEAUTIFUL and GLORIOUS. The Bible has spoke of it many times in Psalms, both 1 Chronicles and 2 Chronicles, emphasizing the wonders of holiness.
Did you know, that the word holiness got almost the synonym to the word wholeness which comes from the Old English words? The Old English word is hali or haliq, which has many varied shades of meaning as wholeness, completeness, health and even wealth!
So what do you think God is trying to tell us? I think God is trying to tell us to be complete. To be whole. Just like Him.
In God, there’s not a single imperfection. He lives in harmony with Himself. But what about you and I? You and I still wretched, broken, chaotic and incomplete. And these, we are aware of the inability to be cope with our daily life. At times, we usually think we can put on the mask to cover the shame and guilt so that others will not see. We pretended that we are someone great. We think that we can handle our own problems. But sadly, under the masks that we wear, we are still hurting and felt lost deep inside our hearts.
Today, I am grateful to know that God have looked beyond our weaknesses. He knows us well. He knows our limits. He understand the struggles that we have to bear. So this book of Leviticus will offer another hope for us, that is God will be the one will stand side by side with us as we decide to embark the journey to become holy. So please bear in mind that the central theme verse that sums the entire book of Leviticus is the verse above mentioned.
We will surely come to realize that this book is not a boring book, rather this book is penned by God out of His amazing love that He has for each of us. And this is always been my conviction, God will surely help us and reveal the mystery of His words to us when we sincerely yearn for it.
OK, I gotta stop right here now. Tomorrow I will continue to share the first chapter of Leviticus. So stay tuned J
Good morning!
Today I have decided to embark into this journey of discovering this book, the Book of Leviticus. At the first impressions of it and skimming through it and even tried to read it entirely, I must admit that it’s really a boring book. So many rituals and ceremonies to remember that I can easily lost track. The contents and the meaning of the book is very hard to grasp! Until later I saw this book at a bookshop and decide to buy this book, “The Way to Wholeness” for my dear friend’s 25th birthday last year. Last Wednesday she was kind enough to let me read first so that I can study it and intend to share to all of you in this blog. I think this guide book will be wonderful one and I have the conviction that the author will slowly reveals the real beauty of Leviticus J
So, let’s get started now.
The central theme verse that sums the whole entire book of Leviticus is Leviticus 20:26, “You are to be holy because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.”
The keyword in this verse is holy. For many of us the word holy carries a weighted meaning of what it means to be or how to be holy. So, what does the word holy mean to you?
There are people often associate holiness as in people choose to live a life of aestheticism, isolating themselves into high mountains or going to somewhere remote to meditate. Another people would often associate holiness as in they become very super religious and living grimly without pleasures in life.
But guess what, the book helped me to see a different picture of what holiness is all about! In fact, holiness is BEAUTIFUL and GLORIOUS. The Bible has spoke of it many times in Psalms, both 1 Chronicles and 2 Chronicles, emphasizing the wonders of holiness.
Did you know, that the word holiness got almost the synonym to the word wholeness which comes from the Old English words? The Old English word is hali or haliq, which has many varied shades of meaning as wholeness, completeness, health and even wealth!
So what do you think God is trying to tell us? I think God is trying to tell us to be complete. To be whole. Just like Him.
In God, there’s not a single imperfection. He lives in harmony with Himself. But what about you and I? You and I still wretched, broken, chaotic and incomplete. And these, we are aware of the inability to be cope with our daily life. At times, we usually think we can put on the mask to cover the shame and guilt so that others will not see. We pretended that we are someone great. We think that we can handle our own problems. But sadly, under the masks that we wear, we are still hurting and felt lost deep inside our hearts.
Today, I am grateful to know that God have looked beyond our weaknesses. He knows us well. He knows our limits. He understand the struggles that we have to bear. So this book of Leviticus will offer another hope for us, that is God will be the one will stand side by side with us as we decide to embark the journey to become holy. So please bear in mind that the central theme verse that sums the entire book of Leviticus is the verse above mentioned.
We will surely come to realize that this book is not a boring book, rather this book is penned by God out of His amazing love that He has for each of us. And this is always been my conviction, God will surely help us and reveal the mystery of His words to us when we sincerely yearn for it.
OK, I gotta stop right here now. Tomorrow I will continue to share the first chapter of Leviticus. So stay tuned J
Thursday, January 11, 2007
A Friend ... Accepts you as you are.
Believes in you. Calls you just to say "hi."
Doesn't give up on you.
Envisions the whole of you (even the unfinished parts).
Forgives your mistakes. Gives unconditionally.
Helps you. Invites you over.
Just likes being with you. Keeps you close at heart.
Loves you for who you are.
Makes a difference in your life.
Never judges you. Offers support.
Picks you up. Quiets your fears.
Raises your spirits.
Says nice things about you.
Tells you the truth when you need to hear it.
Understands you. Values you.
Walks beside you.
X-plains things you don't understand.
Yells when you won't listen.
Zaps you back to reality. (Author Unknown)
Believes in you. Calls you just to say "hi."
Doesn't give up on you.
Envisions the whole of you (even the unfinished parts).
Forgives your mistakes. Gives unconditionally.
Helps you. Invites you over.
Just likes being with you. Keeps you close at heart.
Loves you for who you are.
Makes a difference in your life.
Never judges you. Offers support.
Picks you up. Quiets your fears.
Raises your spirits.
Says nice things about you.
Tells you the truth when you need to hear it.
Understands you. Values you.
Walks beside you.
X-plains things you don't understand.
Yells when you won't listen.
Zaps you back to reality. (Author Unknown)
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