Stuff That Matters in Life

Katy’s Weblog

My purpose

Filed under Bible, Generalby Joyful

I just emailed to a friend and said, “It’s a good thing size doesn’t matter to God!”

We go to a small church. After 20 years, we are still a small church. Are we doing something wrong?

In I Corinthians 3: 5-8, Paul is rebuking the Corinthians for taking sides in following certain leaders like Apollos and Paul. “What, afterall, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe – as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. . . The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor (emphasis mine).”

There are many good books on church growth. I don’t know precisely what a “successful” church is suppose to look like. But I know what will be rewarded by God – each will be rewarded according to his own labor. You can be planting your whole life, or watering your whole life, and never harvest. Yet you will be rewarded according to your labor on that one purpose God has given you.

Size doesn’t matter. I will be rewarded according to how I labor on the purpose God gives me.

I need to be faithful in the little things God gives me to do.

Day 14

Filed under Generalby Joyful

At first only one or two baby hamsters ventured out. This morning I saw 4 of them scurrying around the cage. After a few unsuccessful attempts, two of them climbed up the ladder to the loft where the water and food is located. Going down is easy, they just fall! It was funny to watch them.

I am worried about Dusty the dad. He’s been very mellow the last few days. I see him fussing over the babies, cleaning them and ushering them into the nest. Definitely unusual for a dad!
Lucky is very hyper, climbing and nawing on the cage bars. Definitely not unusual for a mom to want to get out!

Day 13

Filed under Generalby Joyful

The baby hamsters eyes are now open, as of yesterday. The pinkness is almost all gone, now covered with gray/brown/white fuzz. They venture out of the nest on their own, and then the mom or dad would usher them back. I guess they are not independent yet, perhaps like a teenager, who still needs to go home for food and clean clothes. We’ve been giving them slices of apples, the hamsters that is, not my teenagers.

Dusty the dad is looking very chubby. Do hamsters know how to control their appetite or do they eat as long as there is food?

These are interesting passages:

Acts 20:22 Paul was compelled by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem, “not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.”

Acts 21:4 “Through the Spirit [the disiciples] urged Paul not to go to Jerusalem.”

Read more of “Decision making”

No hamster talk today. Mike says I am getting too involved, but they are like my babies!

Elliot is taking theater arts, and has been practicing for his role as minister! He officiates a wedding in this student-written play. Yesterday they did their actual performance in front of a live audience of students during second period. Besides being relieved that it’s over, Elliot came home very pleased with the positive response. One of his friends told him that he was really good, that he was made for the part!

I would be thrilled if Elliot grows up to be a pastor. I pray that all my children will serve God wholeheartedly no matter what profession they are in.

Day 5

Filed under Generalby Joyful

Dusty the dad is looking heavy! Scary how “human” they can be: just like a dad to gain weight along with his pregnant wife, but Lucky has already shed her weight. He has no excuse!

The babies are darker today, losing more of their pink newborn look. They make a lot of squeaking noises. I hope we can find good homes for them.

My Birthday

Filed under Generalby Joyful

Do I have any deep profound thoughts on this my special day?

Well, I don’t feel any older, but there is no escape from looking older. I have a great life, and a better one to come after this. I can only thank God for the abundant life I have in Christ.

Safe! It looks like all the baby hamsters are alive! Everyone moved out of the small igloo and into the bigger and luxurious nest that I thought was dad’s new house for himself. I realized I didn’t give them enough materials to build, so I’ve been giving them more napkin pieces to shred. Now they have a house as big as the one I dumped out when I cleaned out the cage 5 days ago. Well, I guess Dusty is a pretty good dad afterall. I thought he was selfishly getting a more comfortable house for himself.

Read more of “Day 4 and San Juan Capistrano”

Day 3

Filed under Generalby Joyful

The mom Lucky seems to be a pretty good mother overall. She stays with her babies at all times, except when she comes out to eat and drink. Dusty, the dad, made himself another house. It was probably overcrowded in the little igloo.

I saw one baby accidentally dragged out when Lucky came out to eat. When she saw the baby, she carried him/her to the dad’s house, and promptly went back to her own nest. While the little one will keep warm with the dad, he/she will not get nursed. Will he/she survive? Will Lucky or Dusty take him/her back to the nest along with the other babies? Will the dad eat him/her????

I am so anxious about the babies. My maternal instincts ……..