today, i went for a full-day girls-only seminar called 'The Cross in a Girl's World' by UCCF. did have an initial major struggle before going for the event, because firstly i didnt noe anybody else going, and secondly i subconciously wanted to 'run' from wat God was really calling me to and what he wanted me to hear. In the end, though, was really glad i decided to go, and even made frens there as well. even sending that email to say that i was going was a big enough struggle for me, because if u know me, i rarely do something 'alone' and not knowing if i'm gonna know anyone there. but this time, i decided tt i needed to do it, to break through.

it was a series of talks and seminars mainly on the topics of a pure life and hope as a christian girl. would summarise my three biggest lessons of the day in the following words..things which i used to think i 'knew' very well, things i thot i didnt need reminding about, things i thot were obvious..but until i realised it really applied to me, and it wasnt that simple anymore.

1. What Christ did on the cross for us, we would never have been able to do for ourselves. no matter how hard we try, how diligently we set rules for ourselves, we sin. no matter how hard we try using our own efforts to reconcile ourselves with God, we will never be able to do it. but yet, all this is changed because Christ died on the cross for us, people who were totally undeserving. All this would not be possible if not for the cross. We need the cross, and we need Jesus.

2. His grace is perfect, total and complete. Because of Christ dying for us on the cross, we are now perfect and blameless. It was not such that some sins were forgiven, and others werent. All were forgiven. the great exchange has made us perfect in God's eyes, and this is all that really matters. No matter what kind of sinners we were in the past, His grace has already accepted us. This is wat should motivate us to live Christ-centered lives, and not the selfish desire to be seen as 'perfect or holy Christians'

3. I long for eternal life with God in a new heaven and a new earth. so often, our myopia allows us only to view 'here and now' as what would last forever. In order to satisfy ourselves now, we fall into sin which jeopardises this long-term relationship with God. I heard this line today: 'If God were to destroy everything evil and imperfect and 12 midnight today, where would we be at 12.01?' Whether we like it or not, we deserve hell and eternal death. Yet, heaven has already included us, and we have eternal hope. Our daily choices determine our eternal destiny, and we must persevere on in this life in purity. focus on the long-term, not the short term.

so many big lessons, many things to think about. all the scriptures we came across today were really at the heart of tackling the problems we face with sin, and one of the verses that struck me the most was Isaiah 53:5...

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

i almost shudder at that thought, that we are completely pure and perfect and right with God just by accepting this saving grace.