Maxim of the Day #12

The root of disobedience is unbelief; the root of obedience is faith. ~ Viola Deo

9 Spiritual lessons from Toy Story 3

Finally, got a chance to watch Toy Story 3 with my hubby the other night :). Such a wonderful surprise date night done by my hubby:)

Anyway, since I used to watch Toy Story & Toy Story 2, I am super thrilled to find there will be the final version of it. (dunno whether they would be tempted to do the fourth installment like Shrek or not).

And this is will be my first post about 'other' ramblings.

Watching the movie makes me laugh...a lot:D Yet there are touching moments, and I realized the moment I walked out of the movie theater, there are some spiritual lessons which we can learn from Toy Story 3.

SPOILER-WARNING: If you haven't watched, better go watch before you read further. If you have watched, let's check it out:

1. Every being has its own purpose, defined by its Maker.

Even toy has its own purpose. And if toy, which made by human being has its own purpose and destiny, wouldn't us as the human being has? And the purpose and destiny is not something it invented by itself, but given by its Maker. Toys are made to be with the human owner.

2. The purpose is to be there for the Owner, not only to be played with.

I am really struck when I heard this statement (who says toy have no spiritual wisdom? :P) I guess we can say that toy's happiest and most fulfilling moment is when they got played by the owner (play in a good way of course, not damaging ways). However, they realized being toy does not mean being played all the time. There will be playing times and there will be non-playing times with the owner.

In spiritual realm, most of us thrilled when we are 'used' by God. When we are able to fulfill our most longing desire, which most would equate serving the Lord in a fruitful ministry. However, we do not realize that in the first place, we are created to "be there" for Him. Serving is part of our relationship with Him, but it is not the main thing. The main thing is that we are created for Him and to be with Him. So if today, you don't feel that you are 'being played with', do not be discouraged. Do not even trade the thrill of 'being played with" (a.k.a. success in ministry) with 'being with' (a.k.a. abide with Him). Even a toy can learn to accept this wonderful truth :)

3. The destiny seemed to be better for independence in the first place, but eventually, to be with your rightful Owner is the best destiny of all.

Contrary to the toy, we are not rejected or neglected by our God in the first place. However, we are being lied to (by the enemy) about His intention toward us. The similarity here is the response. Reacting to the rejection (or even the misunderstanding of the rejection), the toys choose the independence way.

"I will learn to care for my own, no need to cling to my Owner anymore."

"No owner, no heartache."

Sounds familiar? In the beginning, and even up this point, human race has chosen the same path. Independence from the rightful Owner. And look how terrible condition we found ourselves in. Just like the toy which found themselves in horrible condition without its owner, we can also see ourselves there. Our independence bring worse destiny than what we hope for in the beginning. (I really wonder why the toys reflect our condition so much, may be because we're the one who created it? :P)

4. It is never too late to return to your Owner, even when you had made a wrong decision to leave Him.

OK, the owner of the toys do not know the toys made a decision to leave Him. But our Owner does. However, we can learn that it is never too late to return from the toys. Hey, if a toy can feel sorry and return, what about us?

5. Beware of dwelling in the heartache, because the root of bitterness may take place in your heart.

If you watch the movie, you will certainly know this is the reason of the main villain choose to be evil. His heartbreak over the disappointment with his owner caused him to be a villain.

6. Bitterness is contagious; when you choose to feed on your bitterness, it is not only affecting you and your own world view, it is also affecting the people around you as well.

The main villain demonstrated the effect of contagious bitterness. Because of his bitterness, he caused so many toys lived in heartache and misery. How about us?

7. There is always hope, even on the verge of hell.

This one referring to the most tense scene in the movie. The toys are at the brink of fire. The fire somehow reminds me of hell. And we learnt that the toys almost didn't make it to survive. Yet they survived, because...

8. To be saved from hell, you can not rely on your own, you need help from above.

Somebody saved them from above. The toys trying hard to save themselves, even to the point of pulling each other, but the force which bring them to the fire is greater than their own power to run from it. Finally, they realized they come to an end of themselves, and ready to face the destruction. However, help comes right on time. One of their friend is out way up there, from above. Yup, the help is from 'above' :) (we also have Friend in the high place-you know, and He'll save us from the fiery hell as well, right on time :)).

9. What looks good on the outside, may not be good inside.

The main villain outer part is soft, and he love to hugs a lot too. And smell wonderfully good (strawberry). Yet, on the inside, he is mean and bitter. Guess we can't judge toy from its appearance, can we?

OK, I ended here, but I am looking forward for those who have watched to add on the lessons above. Any spiritual lessons you learn from the movie? Kindly add, I am waiting for your comments :))

Rock, Water, and ...

Rod... no, it's not scissor :P

Today the topic would be about water, rock, and ...ehm... rod :)

Yesterday I have written a posting about knowing GOD. We can learn to know different characters of GOD (which is conveyed to us through His name). Today we will learn one of the characters of God from one of passages about rock.

There are several meanings regarding GOD as our Rock. However in today posting we will learn from the first account about the Rock mentioned in the bible.

"Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink." ~ Exodus 17:6 (NKJV)

The verse above is God's command to Moses when he asked to God about the response to Israelites' complaint.

And you may wonder why the Israelites were complaining. We know they are led by God Himself through the desert. We know God has proven His faithfulness so far in the journey. When the Israelites complained about bitter water in Marah, He made the water sweet so that they could drink. Then they came to wonderful place called Elim where there were plenty of waters and palm trees. But the journey continued on, and they were craved for meat and bread. And God gave them quails and manna, in the middle of wilderness.

Up to this point we would have think: "Gee, what a wonderful journey they had, they even had a delivery service in the middle of desert and they didn't even have to pay tip or wait for long time."

However, as the journey continued, they came to the place where there is no water to drink at all. It is interesting to know that before they came to this place, which is called Rephidim, they were camped in the place called the Wilderness of Sin.

The Wilderness of Sin. The meaning of Sin is "thorn" or "clay." While the place they come to is called Rephidim, which means "resting place". And more to this, it is God Himself who commanded them to move to this new place.

Now, if you are moving from "place of thorn" to "place of rest", wouldn't that be a better place? You are also moving closer to your initial destination, which is the Promised Land. Above all, God is guiding you along the way. He has done so many miracles which proves His faithfulness.

But the Israelites found themselves having no water to drink in the middle of desert.

Water, the very essence human being need to stay alive. Desert, the most awful place on earth to be without water.

This very fact made the Israelites mad. So mad that they tempted God and almost stoned Moses to death. They even accused Moses that he brought them out of Egypt to kill them with thirst!

In such critical moment, Moses cried out to God and God answered him by pointing him to a rock.

And God promised He would be standing before Moses there on the rock. He commanded Moses to strike the rock with his rod so the water will come out of it and the people may drink of it.

Needless to say, the Israelites finally got their craved water to stay alive. Water out of a rock.

And from this occasion we learn one of the meaning of calling God as Our Rock.

This particular passage provides a model which will be fulfilled by Jesus, our Rock of salvation for us.

In our journey of life, we will need living water. In the wilderness of this world, there will be no other source of living water. Only God Himself can provide for us. And He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, the one who was struck at on the cross, to flow the living water for you and me.

Have you tasted the living water which flows from Jesus, Our Rock of Ages?

Lord, thank You for revealing to us the Source of living water. Thank You Lord Jesus for your sacrifice on the cross to give us the living water. Surely You are our Rock of salvation. Amen.