by Angeline Ho
Hi everyone,
My name is Angie. I attended Treasure 5 in February this year and I would like to share with you how God’s love endures, is forever faithful and is truly present even in the times we unknowingly walk away from it.
Prior to attending Treasure, I always considered myself to be a wanderer in life and was rather proud of it. I was going through life without any true purpose, working day to day and finding comfort in my travels abroad perhaps as an excuse to inject some sort of meaning and excitement in my life. And through my time of aimless wandering, I’ve slowly distanced myself from God even to the point of deliberately maintaining that distance so it wouldn’t feel as bad when I was unfaithful to God.
It was through Treasure that I realized although not all who wander are lost, those who wander do so because they have yet to find home – a place where our heart resides.
It hit me on the first night of the retreat where the words on the screen “Oh wanderer come home” spoke to me. It felt like a personal invitation from God gently calling me to come back to Him, to stop claiming my identity as a wanderer but to claim my identity as his beloved one.
Treasure also challenged me in many ways. It gave me a new perspective of how God is more than a want but truly a need. I’ve learned that the phrase “God only help those who help themselves” was a lie and that our merits can never be exchanged for God’s love and mercy. God has no favourites, He loves us no matter how great the sin. With Him all things are made new again. He is never tired of forgiving, patiently waiting for us to turn back and come home.
As I found my home in Him, I also found home journeying with my community where we share our lives, our brokenness, our victories. We receive and give in our own ways and pray for one another together. They are constant reminders that God is my life’s greatest treasure – For where your treasure is, there will your heart be.
For those who are still wandering in life, do not despair. Have hope! God is forever faithful and is here ready for you when you want to come home.
Praise God!