Farmer of Hearts - How Not to Miss God’s Voice

Yesterday we talked about the importance of "living in the present moment" which is the prerequisite for us to find God in all things. Although God is not bound by time and space, we cannot live outside of the "here and now". Therefore, the only time we can truly "find God" and "encounter God" is in "this moment"! This concept is important for Christians who want to "live in the present moment" and a reminder that we must keep in mind if we want to find God in all things!

If you enjoy taking pictures, you may have had the following experience. When you were reviewing some photos taken during your travels, you were surprised to find that you were at a certain tourist attraction, but you have no recollection of it! This discovery can be quite startling! "Did I really visit this place?" "I am in the photo, but how could I not remember being there?" Sounds familiar? We may find excuses for ourselves, saying that our memory is really poor. But it could be because in our efforts to capture beautiful memories through taking pictures, our so-called "memories" end up only existing in the photos, rather than in our minds and emotional experiences.

We often get carried away and are preoccupied with planning for the future, such as in the example above, where we hope to leave behind beautiful memories for the future. Ironically, the busy modern lifestyle leaves us with very few opportunities to reminisce about the good times of the past. Even if we have such opportunities, our memories of the good times would be very vague, or even non-existent, because we were "physically present but mentally absent" at the time of taking photos or for other reasons.

The purpose of photos is to help us remember and relive the good times of the past, but for those times that left no memories, the photos lose much of their value. The result is that we only have "records" but no "memories". If the entire experience is devoid of experience or content, what good memories are there to relive? Such photographic records are not very helpful to us because they not only fail to bring back good memories but also deprive us of the precious experience of enjoying the good times then and there, an experience that cannot be replicated. If our goal is to capture some beautiful photos, aren't there plenty of more beautiful photos on the internet?

There are many examples of this in life. The most concerning area is not the relationship between people and events or places, but between people themselves. In the relationship between people, the most important "recording" is not the pictures, but the interaction between people at the moment, the eye contact, spiritual dialogue, and heart to heart connection. These opportunities for physical interaction between people are often irreplaceable, and cannot be replaced by any new technology or artificial intelligence. What is needed is not external help, but our full commitment "with all our heart, all our soul, and all our mind". Jesus is waiting for us, to get to know and meet us. But when we are not "living in the present moment", we cannot listen attentively, and it is even harder for us to sincerely care for the person we are attending to, making it difficult for us to find God in others, let alone serve Jesus in the least of our brothers! (Ref. Matthew 25)

A person can only be considered truly "alive" when they are both “physically and mentally present", consciously living according to the intention with which God created us, rather than merely existing as a body without a soul. As long as we are still breathing, we should strive to live in the "here and now", to be a real person, serving Jesus in the present moment, thereby also accumulating meaningful memories for ourselves.

So, whether we are focusing on photos that are of little use, or temptations that can distract us from the present moment, we must make a resolute decision to let it go. When we live to this day and find ourselves with an amazing photo library and various unnecessary or even excessive accumulations, but because we do not live well in the present, we find our "relationship bank account" with God and others empty. How regrettable it is!

This example illustrates how terrible it is not to "live in the present moment" because such a life is like we have never lived at all! Life merely hovers between the "past" and the "future", but does not linger in the "now", nor does it "save up" in the present moment! This is also the pitiful state of us who primarily live our lives through our "minds" and "work". Do we really want to waste our lives like this? On the contrary, our "hearts" instill in us a desire to experience what the “present moment” holds for us, so that as we face the person, the situation, and the environment before us, we are willing to be fully engaged, and to offer up completely this “present moment” of ours. What is more beautiful than to become fully human by living with our hearts, which is also how God wants us to find Him in our lives?

Reflection

Have you ever made mistakes similar to the one mentioned in the meditation? Now I invite you to carefully examine the impact these habits have on you.

When you interact with others, are you able to be fully present and fully engaged in the conversation with the person in front of you?

Have you ever missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity because you were distracted or not being fully present?

Today’s Prayer

Dear God, in today's reflection, I've discovered I have many bad habits, which have caused me to often fail to "live in the present moment", thus missing out on numerous opportunities to communicate with others, care for them, and find and serve You among others.

In fact, I know that even in my interactions with You, I often find myself distracted, being physically present but mentally absent, failing to engage and converse with You with all my heart, all my soul and all my mind. I am sure I have missed many messages You intended for me.

Please help me not to constantly focus only on my own concerns, and teach me to be like You, to be present and attentive to the people I love, and willing to sacrifice myself for those I love.

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The following is the “Farmer of Hearts: Finding God in All Things” team, including FLL staff and volunteers. Please kindly pray for them. May God protect them and sustain their physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Project Manager: Michael Lam
Writer: Paul Yeung
Editors: Bonny Chan, Rosa Tse
English Editors: Bonny Chan, Paul Yeung
Mandarin Editor: Anthony X.
Cantonese Narrator: Margaret Woo
English Narrator: Bonny Chan
Mandarin Narrator: Teresa Ma
Audio Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Margaret Woo
YouTube Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Arnold Chan
Graphics: Francis Lai, Rosa Tse
Website: Patricia Young, Angela Wong
Podcast: Angela Wong
Social Media: Yollie Leung, Carmen Tsang, Rosa Tse
Theme Music:
“Friends Only” by Introvert Pianist https://www.youtube.com/@introvertpianist
“Watercolor Lilies” by Aaron Kenny https://youtube.com/@contactkennya

At this stage of the retreat, it’s time to ask about your current status. If you've been following along with the retreat, you may find yourself in one of two states, with two distinctly different mindsets. The first is that you're thoroughly enjoying the content of the retreat and the opportunity for meditation, to the point where you may have even forgotten the theme of the retreat. The second possibility is that you have been eager to learn more practical skills to help you more easily find God in your daily life. No matter which category you belong to, or if you find yourself experiencing both thoughts and emotions at the same time, I am grateful for your continued participation in this retreat. Together with “farmers of hearts” from around the world, you have been tilling the soil of your heart, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you to encounter Jesus and learn to find Him in prayer and meditation.

Indeed, even if you do not feel that you can find God in all things, if you follow this retreat seriously, you have actually encountered Jesus in meditation, which is equivalent to finding Him. Therefore, even if the retreat were to end today, your harvest should be rich. Even if you cannot immediately find God in the things right before your eyes, you will find Him in prayer more easily than before.

If you have the first mindset, you should thank God because you are "present" in the retreat, let Jesus who is present touch you, and enjoy the time of "encountering God". If you have the second mindset, you may be someone who focuses on "doing things", valuing "fruitfulness and effectiveness" and measuring the value and benefits of work or tasks with tangible results. This is understandable. However, the drawback of this mentality is that it will take you away from the "present" and into the "future" state because the expected results are not in the present moment but in the future.

When we depart from the "present" and live in the "future", we cannot encounter Christ in the here and now or find God in our surroundings and circumstances. So, if we live or operate in this way, even if we learn more techniques to find God in all things, we won't be able to live out what we've learned. Therefore, the techniques we will introduce later in this retreat will be of no use if we live like this.

In fact, “farmers of hearts” with the first mindset have also experienced, within these short twenty-plus days, noticeable changes in their thinking. They’ve found themselves more capable of finding and experiencing God in all things, and life has become more substantial and peaceful.

There are two main reasons for this. Firstly, their "presence" enables them to absorb and comprehend the content of the retreat more easily, making it easier to encounter God in meditation and receive His messages. Secondly, the insights and messages they have received bring about changes in their awareness and mindset, making it easier for them to sense and identify the presence of God and recognize Him in all things. This solid foundation will help them more effectively find God in all things as they acquire more skills.

Please note that this doesn't mean that if you have the second mindset, which focuses more on efficiency, you are hopeless. The key is that we must first "be present" before we can "work" effectively. Without "being present", our efforts will be less fruitful. We are usually "present" with our hearts and "work" with our minds. Your heart must lead your mind, as the heart can help us stay in the present moment, while the mind may not. In order to live well, we cannot rely solely on our minds. A person who lives with the heart is more grounded and can live in the present moment more easily than someone who lives with the mind. This is also the key to whether you can get the maximum benefit from this retreat. Its importance cannot be underestimated!

As we enter the final stage of this retreat, that is the last two weeks, I invite you to revisit any topics that you may have had difficulty understanding, accepting, or implementing during the retreat. Give yourself the opportunity to spend more time reviewing those topics, clarify, and incorporate the essence into your thinking and daily living, making them a part of your life and actions. More importantly, for those retreat contents that you find challenging to digest or accept, humbly seek the help of Jesus to release you from the things that are holding you back and to seek His will in them.

Reflection

Are you someone who can "live in the moment"? What are the obstacles that prevent you from living in the present more easily? How will you help yourself?

Do you tend to live more with your mind or with your heart? How would you make improvements to better "live in the moment"?

Have you benefited from this retreat and found it easier to find God in all things? How would you adjust yourself to gain even greater benefits from this retreat?

Today’s Prayer

Lord Jesus, in today's reflection, You have urged me to pay attention to whether I am living with my heart or with my mind. Am I communicating and interacting with You with my heart, or am I doing so with my mind?

No wonder I sometimes feel distracted and am unable to live in the present moment. I know I should engage with You more deeply from my heart and live more attentively. Yet, I often focus on efficiency and rely on my own abilities, neglecting Your presence and that You alone are the Mighty One.

Please, don't let me be deceived by my own abilities and pride, replacing You with my own mind and Your infinite power with my limited self. Lord, please help me learn to be more humble, to love You more humbly, and to be loved by You!

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The following is the “Farmer of Hearts: Finding God in All Things” team, including FLL staff and volunteers. Please kindly pray for them. May God protect them and sustain their physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Project Manager: Michael Lam
Writer: Paul Yeung
Editors: Bonny Chan, Rosa Tse
English Editors: Bonny Chan, Paul Yeung
Mandarin Editor: Anthony X.
Cantonese Narrator: Margaret Woo
English Narrator: Bonny Chan
Mandarin Narrator: Maria Bai
Audio Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Margaret Woo
YouTube Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Arnold Chan
Graphics: Francis Lai, Rosa Tse
Website: Patricia Young, Angela Wong
Podcast: Angela Wong
Social Media: Yollie Leung, Carmen Tsang, Rosa Tse
Theme Music:
“Friends Only” by Introvert Pianist https://www.youtube.com/@introvertpianist
“Watercolor Lilies” by Aaron Kenny https://youtube.com/@contactkennya

Most of you are probably familiar with the concept of "life planning". There are many courses available that cater to this strong demand, especially among the younger generation. They are full of aspirations for the future, hoping not only to "get ahead of the starting line" but also to grasp sufficient information and skills to plan for and establish a better future and a perfect life. This is reasonable and also a hallmark of those who are idealistic.

Why is the concept of “life planning” so attractive and so motivating that people will implement it regardless of the cost? For example, some people, having got off after a day of hard work, continue to study tirelessly to obtain certain degrees, qualifications, professional certifications, or licenses, etc. The biggest driving force behind all this is that they are all chasing dreams, dreams that require planning to be realized, dreams that fascinate them.

Dreams have no age limit; every "living" person needs to have dreams. Those without dreams and direction in life can only be said to be surviving, not truly "living." Dreams can be divided into two levels: one for oneself and one for others. One cannot live solely for oneself, so pursuing dreams for oneself is of a lower level. Since the "Christian spirit" is about living for others, it is naturally the direction every Christian should embrace. And Christ's dream should also be our dream.

What is "Christ's dream"? Christ's dream is the highest level of dreams. He looks after our personal good and the good of others. In terms of fulfilling each of our own good, Jesus hopes that we can receive and preserve the salvation He freely gives us. In terms of fulfilling others, Jesus hopes that through our response and participation, the Good News of salvation He has given us will be widely spread, so that the greatest number of people can benefit from it together with us. And through everyone's participation, Jesus hopes that we can all sanctify ourselves, so that we can gradually become like God and restore ourselves to the way we were created.  When all of us can become more and more like God, we can forever be in communion with the perfect God and fulfill the Heavenly Father’s ultimate dream, which is to be united with His beloved children forever and enjoy eternal happiness!

From the moment we were born, what lies before us is a road to "return to our Father's house". This path will not only fulfill God’s dream, but also fulfill our own dreams. The more closely our dreams match God’s dreams, the smoother our journey “back to the Father’s house” will be. And God's dream is to ultimately achieve unity between Himself and His people through the ultimate relationship He has with us, a marital relationship in which each person would become selfless for each other, and is willing to offer up oneself completely to the other person. This is the dream we should strive for throughout our lives!

Our life on earth is like a drop of water in a vast ocean compared to our eternal life. If we are willing to spend our whole life making "life plans" for our transient life on earth, shouldn't we start investing more time and effort as early as possible to plan for our eternal life?

Reflection

How did you make a “life plan” for your life? Have you taken the time to make similar plans for your eternal life? Why?

What is your life's dream? Is this dream about yourself or others? Have you dreamed about your eternal life?

Now I invite you to come before God and ask Him to give you a Kingdom dream and give you direction to start planning for it.

Today’s Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for inviting me to examine my own perspective today, making me realize that I have been short-sighted and self-centered, failing to include You and the others You love in my dreams.

Thank You for giving me Your vision today, allowing me to begin to understand Your dreams and the differences between Your dreams and mine.

Please instill in me a humble heart and fill me with Your spirit, so that I may gradually make Your dreams my own and spend time planning for my eternal life, for our future together, and for our ultimate relationship.

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The following is the “Farmer of Hearts: Finding God in All Things” team, including FLL staff and volunteers. Please kindly pray for them. May God protect them and sustain their physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Project Manager: Michael Lam
Writer: Paul Yeung
Editors: Bonny Chan, Rosa Tse
English Editors: Bonny Chan, Paul Yeung
Mandarin Editor: Anthony X.
Cantonese Narrator: Margaret Woo
English Narrator: Bonny Chan
Mandarin Narrator: Mel Lo
Audio Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Margaret Woo
YouTube Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Arnold Chan
Graphics: Francis Lai, Rosa Tse
Website: Patricia Young, Angela Wong
Podcast: Angela Wong
Social Media: Yollie Leung, Carmen Tsang, Rosa Tse
Theme Music:
“Friends Only” by Introvert Pianist https://www.youtube.com/@introvertpianist
“Watercolor Lilies” by Aaron Kenny https://youtube.com/@contactkennya

In yesterday's reflection, Jesus made a promise to you that He will hold a wedding feast with you in the Kingdom of Heaven, and He has already begun preparing for this wedding. What about you? Have you started? How will you prepare?

We often use the term "the wedding of the century" to describe those wedding banquets where the brides and grooms spare no effort and time to make their wedding a celebration that impresses their relatives and friends and leaves unforgettable memories for themselves. Isn't the wedding banquet in heaven between Jesus and us more than just a wedding of the century? Jesus, the groom-to-be, has begun to prepare for the wedding banquet, so we shall not slack off!

Apart from the arrangements for the wedding banquet, spiritual preparation is even more crucial. The Church requires couples preparing for the sacrament of matrimony to attend marriage preparation courses and undergo a final evaluation by the clergy before they are considered ready for the sacrament. Those who do not participate or have poor attendance cannot receive the sacrament of matrimony within the Church. Imagine if either the bride or groom-to-be were absent from the course, can they get away with it?

If we must prepare for earthly, temporal marriages so seriously, how much more should we prepare for our eternal marriage? Can we afford to be absent from the "marriage preparation course" that our Heavenly Father has prepared for us? Of course, preparing our hearts for the wedding with Jesus isn't about going through a course, but rather through private sharing and communication with Him to deepen our personal relationship with Him.

The focus of many marriage preparation courses is to enhance the understanding between the engaged couple, especially concerning their views on marriage and ways of interacting with each other. These preparations are extremely important for promoting communication, reducing conflicts, and increasing mutual acceptance and understanding. Many couples fall into the trap of not understanding each other's thoughts and emotions, harbouring hidden resentments or frustrations. These suppressed emotions can easily lead to mutual distrust, which cannot be ignored!

Have you ever had the experience of being misunderstood or misunderstanding others? The feeling of being misunderstood is quite unpleasant, isn't it? The feeling of not being understood and feeling wronged is not something others can understand! And this misunderstanding can cause varying degrees of wounds for both parties involved. What's even more unfortunate is that these misunderstandings, which may seem small at first, can have significant and far-reaching negative effects, even leading to relationship breakdowns, and should not be taken lightly.

Because Jesus cannot physically converse with us, we should imitate how He communicates with the Father, to encounter and know Him in prayer, especially listening attentively to the love messages that the Lord wants to tell us. While our God listens to our grumbles and complaints, He doesn't actively express His own hardships to us. Thus, if we are unaware of the difficulties He faces, we won't know how to empathize with and treat Him. This can easily lead to misunderstandings in our relationship, which in turn can lead to the negative conditions we have discussed in this retreat.

As we mentioned before, if we don't understand the nature of God, there will be a significant gap between our expectations and demands of each other. Understanding the pain that God experiences for the sake of loving and saving us and His unspeakable hardships is crucial for us to understand God and His nature! This further illustrates how important it is for us to spend sufficient time in prayer every day, to listen to and meditate on the messages God wants to give us and attend to His feelings, in order to better prepare us for the heavenly feast He has promised us!

These foundations also pave the way for us to more easily find God in all things!

Reflection

Have you ever thought that returning to the Father's house is like a marriage, an eternal union with God and never to be separated from Him? Now, I invite you to experience this scene in meditation.

Are you ready to enter into a covenant with God, to be united forever? Do you think you know God well enough? What will you do to better prepare yourself?

Do you feel you have given God enough time to express His love for you, His feelings, and His sorrows? I invite you now to welcome God into your heart and let Him speak to you.

Today’s Prayer

Lord Jesus, I've always seen You as my God, or as the Master whom I follow, or at best, a friend, according to Your wish. But when I learned that You desire to be my other half, and that You are sincere and serious about it, it really surprised me. Frankly, I'm not used to it...

Please give me some more time to adjust. I know I need to prepare myself. When the appointed time comes, in the Father's house, at the banquet You have prepared for me, I will promise to be united with You for eternity, never to be separated from You.

Grant me a heart that longs for You more. Make me willing to spend more time with You every day, to get to know You more, and to love You more...

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The following is the “Farmer of Hearts: Finding God in All Things” team, including FLL staff and volunteers. Please kindly pray for them. May God protect them and sustain their physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Project Manager: Michael Lam
Writer: Paul Yeung
Editors: Bonny Chan, Rosa Tse
English Editors: Bonny Chan, Paul Yeung
Mandarin Editor: Anthony X.
Cantonese Narrator: Margaret Woo
English Narrator: Bonny Chan
Mandarin Narrator: Mel Lo
Audio Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Margaret Woo
YouTube Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Arnold Chan
Graphics: Francis Lai, Rosa Tse
Website: Patricia Young, Angela Wong
Podcast: Angela Wong
Social Media: Yollie Leung, Carmen Tsang, Rosa Tse
Theme Music:
“Friends Only” by Introvert Pianist https://www.youtube.com/@introvertpianist
“Watercolor Lilies” by Aaron Kenny https://youtube.com/@contactkennya

Our theme for yesterday's retreat was: When “Selfless Love” Meets “Senseless Love”. If this situation occurs between a man and a woman, it is not hard to predict how the story will unfold. This "encounter" will not have a positive outcome. Unfortunately, for believers in general, the description is quite fitting when it comes to their relationship with God.

Our understanding of how much God loves us and how He loves us is usually limited to head knowledge and quite superficial. When asked, it's not difficult for us to say that God loves us. But how deep is the love of the Lord, how much has He secretly sacrificed for us behind the scene, how has He faced dilemmas and struggles, encountered difficulties that no one would be able to comprehend, and things that can never be shared, stories that are left untold… for all these, how much do we really know? And if we know, how deeply do we feel it? Faced with our Father’s selfless and almost "blind love" for us, do we really want to respond with our selfish and senseless love? If such a state occurs in temporal human relationships, for sure that relationship will not last. Why do we believe that our eternal relationship with God can develop in this way? Shouldn't we take some time to reflect on how we can break this unequal relationship? Let's consider it from another perspective.

In Jesus' farewell discourse, in the Gospel of John, chapter 14, verses 1 to 3, He said to His disciples:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14: 1-3)

Here, Jesus clearly expressed His and the Father's desire. He eagerly looks forward to living with as many children as possible in the Heavenly home. How can we tell that God is excited? Let us first imagine that if we want to invite a good friend to our home for a gathering, we would certainly clean our house thoroughly. This is not just being polite to our friend but also to provide the best hospitality, making them feel at home! Isn't Jesus making similar arrangements for us? Hmmm... Is the heavenly home really so messy and dirty that it would require Jesus to spend so much time preparing a place for us?

If we believe that Jesus is not lying, and with His serious attitude, He must be extremely excited, and looking forward to our arrival in the future, and thus meticulously preparing everything for us. We would prepare pleasant surprises for important guests to delight them. Similarly, can we imagine that Jesus' excitement and the degree of importance He places on us far exceed our ways of entertaining important guests here on earth?

After saying that He is preparing a place, Jesus also states that He will come again to take us to Him! This is no longer a simple welcoming of guests but a gesture of welcoming one’s bride! (cf. John 14: 3) It is obvious that God wants to prepare a wedding feast for each one of us in the Heavenly home, to solemnly receive us and have a grand celebration of our union. Jesus further declares, "where I am, there you may be also." (John 14: 3) This is a clear proclamation of His love for us!

Are you flattered? Are you nervous? Are you starting to feel excited too? Would you doubt that the person whom Jesus is eagerly looking forward to welcoming and marrying is not you but someone else? However, Jesus assures us, "In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places." (John 14: 2) He takes each of us equally seriously! Do you understand?

Reflection

Do you feel that your current relationship with God is an equal relationship? What areas in this relationship do you want to improve?

Imagine that Jesus is in front of you, solemnly saying to you the words He said to his beloved disciples in His farewell discourse. Can you feel the deep affection He has for you?

Have you noticed a stark contrast between the seriousness and affection you have for God and the seriousness and affection He has for you? What feelings do you have in your heart that you want to tell Jesus?

Today’s Prayer

Lord Jesus, the words You spoke to me today personally have truly left me astounded! Are You serious? Have You thought it through? Do You really want me? You must know my heart! How I have treated You over the years, You must be well aware... Are You out of Your mind? Why... I just don't understand.

You clearly know that my affection for You is far less than Your love for me! I know Your wisdom is way higher than mine. But I truly can't comprehend why You have loved me to this extent. Aren't You being a bit impulsive?

I really don't know how to face You, how to respond to Your inexplicable love for me. What do You want me to do?

Lord Jesus, please tell me...

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The following is the “Farmer of Hearts: Finding God in All Things” team, including FLL staff and volunteers. Please kindly pray for them. May God protect them and sustain their physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Project Manager: Michael Lam
Writer: Paul Yeung
Editors: Bonny Chan, Rosa Tse
English Editors: Bonny Chan, Paul Yeung
Mandarin Editor: Anthony X.
Cantonese Narrator: Margaret Woo
English Narrator: Bonny Chan
Mandarin Narrator: Mel Lo
Audio Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Margaret Woo
YouTube Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Arnold Chan
Graphics: Francis Lai, Rosa Tse
Website: Patricia Young, Angela Wong
Podcast: Angela Wong
Social Media: Yollie Leung, Carmen Tsang, Rosa Tse
Theme Music:
“Friends Only” by Introvert Pianist https://www.youtube.com/@introvertpianist
“Watercolor Lilies” by Aaron Kenny https://youtube.com/@contactkennya

I hope that at this stage of the retreat, you will better understand God’s feelings and His helplessness.  If we had not sinned, betrayed Him, or deviated from His righteousness and teachings, Jesus would not need to endure the crucifixion for us, and the Heavenly Father would not have to agonize and be torn in seeking a way to save us, given His own nature of justice and mercy. There is absolutely no parent in the world who suffers more miserably than our Heavenly Father!

The contradiction between our sinful nature and God’s nature makes it extremely difficult for our Heavenly Father to discipline us, and extremely difficult for us to accept His discipline. Although we are created in the image of God, our selfish desires and sinful nature cause us to drift further and further away from this perfect image. Originally, as we make decisions based on our free choice, all consequences are supposed to be borne by us alone and have nothing to do with God. However, because of God’s nature of "loving us to the end", He innocently bears the consequences of our choices! And because our sins create an immense gap between us and the perfect nature of God, this endless chasm and debt of sin make it impossible for us to overcome and repay. Ultimately, this God who loves us to the utmost but is also absolutely just by nature takes the most inconceivable step – by personally assuming human nature. In the most humble and lowly manner, He has endured humiliation and suffering, dying on the cross to bear and redeem all debts of sin for us. The Lord's suffering and death not only secure for us complete absolution of our sins which deserve death, but through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we also regain freedom, no longer imprisoned and enslaved by sin. Yet, our Heavenly Father, who loves us to the end, watches with anguish as His beloved only begotten Son is shamefully insulted and crucified on the cross.

But the story has not come to an end! Because God cannot bear to see us lose the salvation earned by Jesus for us because we continue to sin, He does not hesitate to use all means, including sending the Holy Spirit into our midst, establishing the sacraments and the Church that administers the sacraments, entrusting the Church to the protection and companionship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and most importantly, continuing to be present among us through the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. All of this is to fulfill Jesus' promise to us: "And remember,  I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20). Everything that God has done is to enable us to preserve salvation and not lose the eternal life He has promised us.

Can we see that God, out of love for us, first created us, then died for us to redeem us from sins, and finally, exhausted every means to ensure that we can ultimately attain salvation? In short, for you and me, God spared no effort, in ways imaginable and unimaginable.

What baffles us the most is that God is well aware of the ugliness and weakness of human nature, as well as our sinful nature. He knew early on that not only would we fail to learn from Jesus to obey the Father, but we would continue to betray and forsake Him. Yet, He continues to silently endure our indifference and rebellion, tolerating our heartlessness and unrighteousness. He even bestows upon us the title of adopted sons and daughters, desiring to be with us forever in our heavenly home!

In the face of such a God, can we still be so heartless as to not accept His love and continue to hurt Him cruelly? Will we continue to disregard God's passion, approaching this relationship with a utilitarian mindset and responding to Jesus' requests and invitations with indifference, causing God more distress and pain?

Reflection

Have you ever taken the time to meditate on everything that God has done for you? Why? At this moment, are you willing to savour everything that God has done and all the sacrifices He has made for you?

Can you feel the sentiment of God, who, out of love for you, spared no cost? Can you find any love on earth that can compare to the love God has for you?

Now, I invite you to stand before God, experience His feeling of not being understood, feeling the grievances He endures out of love for you, and witness all His struggles.

Today’s Prayer

Heavenly Father, I have always tried to understand Your love for me in my head, but I have failed to fully appreciate Your indescribable selfless love with my heart. Today I really feel the hardness of my heart. How heartless and callous I am towards You! I feel really sad, guilty and ashamed.

Faced with Your love and my heartlessness, I cannot fathom how I have allowed myself to deviate so far from Your goodness, from the plans You have intended for me. I thought to myself, am I not created in Your image? Why have I become like this?

Father, I implore You to transform me. Give me a tender heart. Let me feel what You feel, and truly experience Your love for me. Just as You have chosen me, I also desire to choose you!

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The following is the “Farmer of Hearts: Finding God in All Things” team, including FLL staff and volunteers. Please kindly pray for them. May God protect them and sustain their physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Project Manager: Michael Lam
Writer: Paul Yeung
Editors: Bonny Chan, Rosa Tse
English Editors: Bonny Chan, Paul Yeung
Mandarin Editor: Anthony X.
Cantonese Narrator: Margaret Woo
English Narrator: Bonny Chan
Mandarin Narrator: Mel Lo
Audio Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Margaret Woo
YouTube Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Arnold Chan
Graphics: Francis Lai, Rosa Tse
Website: Patricia Young, Angela Wong
Podcast: Angela Wong
Social Media: Yollie Leung, Carmen Tsang, Rosa Tse
Theme Music:
“Friends Only” by Introvert Pianist https://www.youtube.com/@introvertpianist
“Watercolor Lilies” by Aaron Kenny https://youtube.com/@contactkennya

Yesterday, I invited you to explore why you follow God. In the reflection, I also asked about your ultimate desire in life: is it the joy of eternal life or the Father Himself? You might wonder, aren't they the same? If there's the Father, there's eternal life, and vice versa, right? Yes, but that's not the crux of the question.

The crucial point lies in whether there are correct motives and attitudes behind this desire. The focus of our reflection yesterday was to rectify or purify the "utilitarian" mindset within us – the impure attitude that focuses on our own interests.

Our focus and goals should be centered on God Himself, rather than the benefits He brings to us. Only when our focus is on God can we have the correct motives and drive to establish a relationship with Him. Otherwise, our attention remains on how to meet the basic requirements of being a Christian using our own abilities, without focusing on  cultivating a relationship with God, or simply establishing a superficial relationship. This is a common pitfall that many Christians easily fall into.

Therefore, when setting life goals, we need to figure out what we truly desire in our hearts. Is it the relationship itself, or the benefits gained through the relationship? If our ultimate goal is to attain eternal life instead of longing to be with our Heavenly Father, not only is it unfair to God, but our original intention is also misguided and somewhat selfish. This mindset will lead us away from God's will and His teachings, and will ultimately harm or even destroy our relationship with God. In serious cases, our choices will cause us to lose the eternal life that God desires to give us.

In the eternal kingdom, we have only one ultimate relationship, and that is with God. The establishment and cultivation of this relationship must begin in the present life. If we have no relationship with our Heavenly Father, why would we have a reason to return to the Father's house? When we understand that eternal life means being with the Father forever, it becomes easier to comprehend that we should not wait until our return to our heavenly home to build a relationship with God. Instead, we should strive to establish an intimate relationship with God in this life, preparing ourselves well to dwell with the Father in the eternal heavenly home after our brief existence in this temporary world comes to an end.

I believe no one will deny that there is no shortcut to building relationships between people. Time, patience and selfless love are the most basic and important elements. Since God wants us to put Him first, He certainly wants us to have a closer relationship with Him than any other relationship between humans. Therefore, we should understand that if fleeting relationships in the earthly realm require a substantial effort to cultivate, how much more does the eternal relationship between God and each one of us require our attention and tender loving care?

Reflection

Is your relationship with God the centre of your faith and spiritual life? Why?

Now, please take a moment before the Lord to examine the motives behind your relationship with Him. Are there areas that need correction or purification?

In your communication with God, besides various requests, do you engage in inner dialogues with Him? How would you go about deepening your relationship with God?

Today’s Prayer

Abba Father, thank You for giving me the opportunity today to examine my relationship with You. Whether it's my motives or expectations of You, I realize I have many impure intentions that seriously deviate from Your will. I feel ashamed of my selfishness and ask for your forgiveness for all my trespasses.

Please, once again, help me purify my thoughts and motives, so that I won't only consider my own interests but also be mindful of Your feelings. Grant me a new perspective and mindset, so that I may be more willing to set aside time and space to encounter and commune with You in prayer, preparing myself to live with You forever in the heavenly home.

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The following is the “Farmer of Hearts: Finding God in All Things” team, including FLL staff and volunteers. Please kindly pray for them. May God protect them and sustain their physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Project Manager: Michael Lam
Writer: Paul Yeung
Editors: Bonny Chan, Rosa Tse
English Editors: Bonny Chan, Paul Yeung
Mandarin Editor: Anthony X.
Cantonese Narrator: Margaret Woo
English Narrator: Bonny Chan
Mandarin Narrator: Mel Lo
Audio Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Margaret Woo
YouTube Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Arnold Chan
Graphics: Francis Lai, Rosa Tse
Website: Patricia Young, Angela Wong
Podcast: Angela Wong
Social Media: Yollie Leung, Carmen Tsang, Rosa Tse
Theme Music:
“Friends Only” by Introvert Pianist https://www.youtube.com/@introvertpianist
“Watercolor Lilies” by Aaron Kenny https://youtube.com/@contactkennya

We acknowledge that the reflections of these past few days have been challenging, much like the challenging requirements Jesus sets for being His disciples. Jesus wants us to face our relationship with Him, to understand who He truly is for us, and not just establish a relationship based on hearsay or imitation of others’ relationships with God. He also prompts us to reflect on our identity as His followers, so as not to waste our precious Christian life. While the opportunity to be a Christian is an honour, we must ask ourselves: do we genuinely feel honoured, or do we feel reluctant, or even burdened?

Let’s recall why the rich young man ran up to Jesus to seek counsel from the one whom he called "Good Teacher". He seemed clear about what he needed – he earnestly sought salvation, to "inherit eternal life". What about you? Why do you run up to Jesus and follow Him? Is it a thirst for divine blessings? A desire based on a fear of missing out? Seeking inner peace, and peace of mind? Pursuing the joy and the reward of eternal life? Or perhaps specific and individual reasons? Regardless of your original purpose or intentions, now is the time to dig deeper into your motivations and goals.

Without a clear and convincing goal, life lacks direction, let alone any motivation to move towards a worthwhile life goal. Such a life becomes a mere routine, surviving day by day, dealing with challenges as they come, or spending a lifetime constantly pursuing the next achievement or opportunity for pleasure. Without goals or ideals, life becomes mere existence, devoid of meaning and value. If the goal of life is limited to the present world, the efforts to accumulate our "treasures" will also have an "expiration date". Therefore, it is worth spending time reflecting on why we choose to be Christians and why we exist in this world.

As Christians, if we don't know what goals we are striving for, it is impossible to understand why Jesus has such high expectations of us. Without understanding, there is no trust, and we cannot have a good relationship with the Lord, let alone enjoy the life and identity of being a Christian! Everything becomes futile and dull, and even painful and bitter. Do you have such feelings or experiences?

Suppose we also share the rich young man's desire, earnestly hoping to "inherit eternal life". We need to further ask ourselves, why do we wish to attain eternal life? Is it the same as longing for “eternal happiness”? We need to be honest with ourselves and with God. If we desire to "inherit eternal life", the only way is that we long to return to the Father's house. This "Father's house" is the dwelling place that Jesus promised to prepare for us, where we can eternally "dwell with the Lord".

On the contrary, if what we long for is not eternal communion with God but the "eternal joy" and "eternal abode" that God promises to bestow upon us, then our hearts will focus solely on pursuing those gifts and rewards, disregarding and neglecting the God who gives us these gifts out of love.

If this is the case, no wonder we feel puzzled, frustrated, and even disgusted by the requirements of our Lord Jesus, who has given us great gifts! It’s no wonder that we don’t take these demands seriously, and even feel that Jesus is harsh and unreasonable and intentionally making things difficult for us, without realizing the painstaking efforts of Jesus and the deep love behind it all.

At this moment, we need to ask ourselves: is our eternal goal the gift itself, or the One who gives the gift? If it is the former, shall we re-examine this intention? Is it fair to our God, who gives us gifts and loves us deeply? How would our Heavenly Father feel?

Reflection

Being a Christian should be an honour. Now, please ask yourself honestly, do you feel honoured? Or do you feel a sense of reluctance and helplessness, or that it is a burden?

The rich young man ran up to Jesus, seeking salvation with an expectation to "inherit eternal life." What about you? Why do you run to Jesus and desire to follow Him?

Now, in the presence of the Lord, sincerely face and examine yourself: Is your eternal goal the gift of "eternal life", or is it the God in front of you, the One who "created you, loves you, and saves you" and presents you with gifts?

Today’s Prayer

Father in heaven, how have You endured my contempt, indifference, and even disrespectful treatment towards You? How could You bear it? I have consistently approached You with the wrong mindset and attitude, insulting You as my God and even as a gift-giver! I have never taken the time to truly understand or appreciate how much You have given me and how deeply You love me. Before You, I have been incessantly demanding this and asking for that, like a creditor seeking repayment from a debtor! How on earth did You endure it?

From today onwards, I hope You will feel a little better! Thank You for Your tolerance and boundless patience, enduring my rudeness, selfishness, pride, and my abuse of the freedom You gave me, constantly hurting You!

I pray that You enlighten me to use the free will You have given me to choose to approach You every day, to ask about and understand Your feelings. I am determined to rectify my mindset and behaviour, and to learn to focus on You, but not just on the gifts You have given me!

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The following is the “Farmer of Hearts: Finding God in All Things” team, including FLL staff and volunteers. Please kindly pray for them. May God protect them and sustain their physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Project Manager: Michael Lam
Writer: Paul Yeung
Editors: Bonny Chan, Rosa Tse
English Editors: Bonny Chan, Paul Yeung
Mandarin Editor: Anthony X.
Cantonese Narrator: Margaret Woo
English Narrator: Bonny Chan
Mandarin Narrator: Rene Ren
Audio Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Margaret Woo
YouTube Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Arnold Chan
Graphics: Francis Lai, Rosa Tse
Website: Patricia Young, Angela Wong
Podcast: Angela Wong
Social Media: Yollie Leung, Carmen Tsang, Rosa Tse
Theme Music:
“Friends Only” by Introvert Pianist https://www.youtube.com/@introvertpianist
“Watercolor Lilies” by Aaron Kenny https://youtube.com/@contactkennya

In yesterday's reflection, we realized that the image of God in our hearts is also influenced by how we understand His requirements for us as disciples. If we misunderstand the underlying reasons for these requirements, it will greatly affect the image of God in our hearts, as well as our mutual identities and roles in our relationship with God. In serious cases, this can become an obstacle in our relationship with God and a stumbling block to becoming a disciple that is up to Jesus’s standard. It is evident that having a correct understanding of this aspect holds great significance for a Christian who takes their relationship with God and the fulfillment of the disciple's mission seriously!

In the process of establishing a relationship with us, God's focus is not only on forming an emotional bond or attempting to win our favour by any means, as this is not the focus of His love for us. God's greatest desire is that we can receive salvation. This involves how we make good use of our time on earth, how we live according to the teachings of Jesus, how we actively respond to the evangelizing mission that He has entrusted to us, and the individual callings from the Father. Throughout the process, God hopes that we continually sanctify ourselves, becoming more and more like Christ, ultimately entering heaven in a state of holiness, forever united with God and never to be separated from Him.

In the process of establishing a relationship and obtaining salvation, our responses and actions play a crucial role. Whether it is faith or our relationship with the Lord, it is not merely about intellectual knowledge or the cultivation of emotional bond, but it also takes practical actions for the manifestation of a faith that is both genuine and mature.

Therefore, to fully live out one’s faith, it is not enough to meet the minimum requirements of being a Christian. Avoiding sinning or strictly adhering to rules and creeds alone cannot fulfill the conditions and requirements set by Jesus for us as Christians. We also need to understand that "Christian" and "disciple" are synonymous. As Christians, we cannot deny that we also play the role of disciples. All followers of Christ are His disciples.

Therefore, in the Gospel that we reflected upon yesterday, when Jesus presented the conditions for being His disciple to the crowd, He was speaking to each of us as His followers. In Luke 14:28-32, Jesus continued His teaching on this topic, saying: “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it. Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace.” (Luke 14:28-32)

Here, Jesus painstakingly gives us two examples to illustrate that, just as in any undertaking, we must first calculate the cost and be aware of the sacrifices needed to achieve our goals. Similarly, as Christians, we need to earnestly understand and practice the various requirements that Jesus commands, being prepared to make the necessary effort and pay the cost. The prerequisite is that we must possess an unwavering spirit of sacrifice to consistently implement Jesus's demands without giving up halfway.

We can sense the seriousness of Jesus, which is equivalent to cautioning us not to take on the role of a Christian lightly. The meaning between the lines is: "If you want to follow me, don't do things halfway without completing it wholeheartedly! If you're not going to do it seriously, you might as well not do it!" It's that clear.

This aligns with the description of God’s sentiments in Revelation 3:15-16:
“I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:15-16)

Let us all take this to heart, and understand that the nature of God's love for us is not to condone our complacency but rather to express a sentiment of a Chinese saying “One who loves deeply rebukes earnestly.”

Reflection

In your relationship with God, do you tend to focus on pursuing knowledge, emotional connection, or do you also earnestly take action to fulfill the requirements Jesus has for you as a disciple?

Do you find Jesus's requirements for disciples reasonable? Why?

Now, I invite you to open your heart before the Lord and feel God’s genuine love for you once again.

Today's Prayer

Lord Jesus, today You've allowed me to sense the fatherly affection You share with the Father, and it truly makes me understand the challenges You face. While You desire emotional closeness with me, You also hope that through Your gentle guidance and discipline, I can thrive and grow amidst life's difficulties and constant trials. May my faith and spiritual life mature so that I can effectively use my life, striving to fulfill Your requirements for me as Your disciple. I aim to gradually become more like You and align with Your heart's desires.

I acknowledge that I've consistently disappointed You in the past and misunderstood You in various ways, making You sad. Now, I sincerely invite You to enter my life as the Lord, and reveal to me Your deep love and all the hardships within it.

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The following is the “Farmer of Hearts: Finding God in All Things” team, including FLL staff and volunteers. Please kindly pray for them. May God protect them and sustain their physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Project Manager: Michael Lam
Writer: Paul Yeung
Editors: Bonny Chan, Rosa Tse
English Editors: Bonny Chan, Paul Yeung
Mandarin Editor: Anthony X.
Cantonese Narrator: Margaret Woo
English Narrator: Bonny Chan
Mandarin Narrator: Rene Ren
Audio Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Margaret Woo
YouTube Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Arnold Chan
Graphics: Francis Lai, Rosa Tse
Website: Patricia Young, Angela Wong
Podcast: Angela Wong
Social Media: Yollie Leung, Carmen Tsang, Rosa Tse
Theme Music:
“Friends Only” by Introvert Pianist https://www.youtube.com/@introvertpianist
“Watercolor Lilies” by Aaron Kenny https://youtube.com/@contactkennya

From yesterday's reflection, we learned that God, who seeks our greatest good, knows very well how we can obtain the greatest strength and grace from Him. He has graciously given us two pieces of divine wisdom, assisting us in fulfilling the mission of being Christians, so that God's plan may be fully realized in us.

The first wisdom teaches us to "seek heavenly things first," entrusting other matters and worries to God for Him to take over and care for on our behalf. The second wisdom instructs us not to rely solely on our own abilities to follow God and fulfill our God-given mission, recognizing our own weaknesses. We must live within the Church and partake in the sacraments administered in the Church, especially the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation, in order to obtain heavenly strength and spiritual nourishment. This is essential for us to have the heart, strength, and endurance needed to faithfully follow Christ.

With this foundation, we can further understand the conditions and attitudes required to be a disciple in the eyes of Jesus. In Luke 14:25-27 and 33, it is recorded:

“Now large crowds were traveling with him; and he turned and said to them, ‘Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple... So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.’ “(Luke 14:25-27, 33).

Let's try to imagine that Jesus needed to "recruit and enlist" for the Church He was establishing. He was like an employer, and the passage above was His public recruitment advertisement, the method of attracting disciples! In this Gospel passage, Jesus outlines the conditions and costs of being His disciples. To put it simply, you must be absolutely loyal to God, possess a spirit of generosity and total dedication, and be willing to sacrifice everything in order to qualify! Jesus wants us to clearly understand and agree to these terms before we "sign the contract" and begin working! In this regard, Jesus, as an employer, is indeed very fair and even-handed!

However, let us not forget that "this job" does not come with wages, at least not wages on earth. If you were an applicant, would you choose this job? By earthly standards, Jesus could be considered the worst employer in the world. But God's standards are not earthly standards. The followers He seeks are not petty, or even workers who seek reasonable compensation. But we know that such workers do not exist! Therefore, we cannot view this relationship with an employer-employee perspective, nor should there be conditional exchanges or expectations of any reward. We should not even treat the conditions outlined by Jesus in light of Him recruiting His disciples.

After all, unless we admit from the bottom of our hearts that we are recipients of God's immense favour and we desire to do everything we can to repay the favour, no one in the world would be so foolish as to willingly follow Jesus according to the conditions listed by Him! No?

In the face of the demands from Jesus, a more appropriate attitude for us, besides repaying love with love, is to willingly and sincerely acknowledge that those conditions are definitely not for the benefit of God but are reminders given by Jesus for our greatest good. If we confess that God's plans for us are the best, then the path He guides us on is the only way for us to inherit eternal life (Mark 10:17), to embark on the journey to holiness, and to open the door to receiving God's power and grace!

Our attitude adjustment in this regard is crucial for whether we can successfully become a disciple that is up to par or, more simply, become a child willing to reciprocate love to our Heavenly Father.

Reflection

In what perspective and mindset have you adopted to understand the conditions for being His disciples that Jesus laid out in the Gospels? Have you ever wished, in turn, to receive reasonable rewards when following the Lord?

In your journey of following Jesus, do you tend to focus solely on your own benefits, such as the reward of eternal life or inner peace, without considering how much you are willing to give to meet the requirements set by Jesus?

Now, I invite you to examine your relationship with the Lord in the presence of God. Do you acknowledge yourself as someone who has received immense favour from God and is deeply loved by the Lord?

Today’s Prayer

Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that in my journey of following You, I indeed had selfish desires, hoping to gain certain benefits. In my heart, I thought that was understandable!

I've held an attitude, even unnoticed by myself, viewing my relationship with You as a reasonable exchange of conditions. I never realized that, in reality, You owe me nothing. On the contrary, You bore the countless debts of my sins. The conditions You outlined for me are not meant for me to repay my debts, but are for my greatest good.

I thank You for helping me understand these truths today, enabling me to reposition myself to rectify and restore my relationship with You.

I look forward to this new relationship bringing me closer to You and fostering a deeper love for You, and… bringing a bit of comfort to You…

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The following is the “Farmer of Hearts: Finding God in All Things” team, including FLL staff and volunteers. Please kindly pray for them. May God protect them and sustain their physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Project Manager: Michael Lam
Writer: Paul Yeung
Editors: Bonny Chan, Rosa Tse
English Editors: Bonny Chan, Paul Yeung
Mandarin Editor: Anthony X.
Cantonese Narrator: Margaret Woo
English Narrator: Bonny Chan
Mandarin Narrator: Rene Ren
Audio Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Margaret Woo
YouTube Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Arnold Chan
Graphics: Francis Lai, Rosa Tse
Website: Patricia Young, Angela Wong
Podcast: Angela Wong
Social Media: Yollie Leung, Carmen Tsang, Rosa Tse
Theme Music:
“Friends Only” by Introvert Pianist https://www.youtube.com/@introvertpianist
“Watercolor Lilies” by Aaron Kenny https://youtube.com/@contactkennya