Why Christmas?

Jesus
The Name above all Names
The Lord of Lords
The King of Kings

Jesus
A humble babe
Came at the exact moment
Planned from eternity past

Jesus
The wonder of the world
The Messiah spoken of
Through prophets centuries ago

Jesus
The hope of mankind
The Savior, the majestic One
The Lover, the God

Jesus
Coming to serve, not to be served
Gave His life up for unworthy sinners
Took the wrath that we deserved

Jesus
The reason for this season
The reason for this life
The reason for eternity

Joni

This is a very amateur book review because I have no idea what is entailed in book reviews. Maybe I can just call this a reflection. Anyway, Joni is such a good read. You can say it's an inspirational and uplifting book. But it's not just a feel good, improve self-esteem kind of book. Joni points to the source of hope - God. Her strength and dependence are on God. We see her struggles of giving up her preferences and even strong desires to the Lord. She is real and not some unrelatable super woman, but an honest sinner whose heart is changed by the grace of God. Even though I haven't had a conversation with her before, I know if I ever do, I could converse with her like a great older sister I'd admire, not just some aloof famous author. It is alsooooo awesome to see how occupational therapy is mentioned and played a part in her life in encouraging her to express her joy through art. As I wrestle with thoughts on my future role as an occupational therapist, this encourages me that I can use OT as a means in which glorifies God as people use the gifts and talents given by Him for His glory. In book review-y words, I highly recommend this book. She includes a lot of detail of events, and she is a wonderful writer including great depth in what she learns (unlike my poor grammar and inability to write eloquently). I know I'm a little late in reading this book, considering I've known about her since 2004 and some of you know her personally. I enjoyed her Lifetime of Wisdom book as well. Looking forward to reading more of her writings.

[I enjoyed reading this throughout the past couple weeks in bed and when I didn't feel like doing my paper for school. :) ]

lessons from Joni

Before my accident, I didn't "need" Christ. Now I needed Him desperately. When I had been on my feet, it never seemed important that He be part of my decision-making - what party to go to, whether to go to a friend's house or a football game, etc. It didn't seem that He would even be interested in such insignificant things. But, now that my life was reduced to the basic life routines, He was a part of it because He cared for me. He was, in fact, my only dependable reality. (97)

"Look, how many times have you heard somebody - we've done it ourselves many times- pray piously: 'Lord, I'm such a sinner. I deserve hell and Your worst condemnation. Thank You for saving me.' We tell God in one breath that we aren't worthy of His goodness. Then, if we happen to run into some trouble or suffering, we get bitter and cry out against God: 'Lord, what are You doing to me?!' Y'see? I think that if we admit we deserve the worst - hell - and then only get a taste of it by having to suffer, we ought to try somehow and live with it, don't you?" (Joni's dad)
"Do you think I deserved to be paralyzed - that God is punishing me?" (Joni)
"Of course not, honey. That was taken care of on the cross." (Joni's dad) (113)

Finally I realized I wasn't getting anywhere with my rebellious temper tantrums against God. I began to see that it was my way of sinning. Before my accident, sin consisted of the things I did. But now, there was no opportunity for me to give action to sinful thoughts. I began to see that sin was an attitude as much as an act. Before the action, the mind frames the thoughts and attitudes that become the basis for our rebellion against God. I saw that anger, lust, and rebellion - although "merely" attitudes - were sinful. Sin wasn't just all the bad things I did, but an integral part of my makeup. Although there was no opportunity for me to physically rebel against God, I sinned nonetheless. It was part of my nature. (115)

Joni: An Unforgettable Story by Joni Eareckson Tada

so beautiful

http://theworksofgod.com/2013/11/20/nicu-shows-why-we-should-take-care-of-babies-rather-than-kill-them/

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly

A previous post I wrote about addressed a little with the distraction of media. It's always the Christian battle as to who/what we allow to take up our hearts and minds. I usually put short quotes, but this article from desiringgod was simple yet a very good reminder. I hope to really love the Word of God as from God, not something I just think I should read for 10 minutes every day, close, the end. I can have a rich life.


By Jon Bloom

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16)

This verse from Colossians is so full of nourishment that there is no way to put the whole thing in our mouths at one time. It’s going to take a few blog bites to chew on it.

Today, all I want to do is chew on the first word: “let.” Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.

Another way to say it is, don’t stop the word of Christ from filling you to satisfaction. Or stop stopping it.

Here’s the thing: we are frequently impoverished spiritually by our own not letting ourselves be rich. On our shelves or bed stands or in our tablets or computers is a bank vault of “true riches” (Luke 16:11). But the pawnshop trinkets of worldly words are deceptively attractive. We can even be on our way to spend our time (the currency of life) on the riches in the vault and end up spending it in the pawnshops along the way.

What Paul wants us to do is neglect things that make us poor and not neglect things that make us truly rich.

What to Neglect

If the word of the Wall Street Journal or World Magazine or Wired Magazine or David Brooks or David Letterman or David McCullough, or John Mayer or John Steinbeck or John Paul II or John Calvin or Richard Dawkins or Richard Branson or Richard Baxter or Bono or Bach or blogs (even this one) dwells in you more richly than the word of Christ, you’re poor. You might be impressive at a dinner party or around a conference table or at small group. But you’re poor. You’re storing up dust.

You don’t need to be in the know.

You don’t need to be admired among the literati or respected in the guild. You don’t need an impressive net worth. You don’t need to be well traveled or well read. You don’t need to be conversant in Portlandia or know how many Twitter followers Taylor Swift has. You don’t need to be politically articulate, or up on the mommy blogs or the young, restless and reformed buzz. You don’t need to see the movie. You don’t need to read the novel. You don’t need to look hip.

What Not to Neglect

But what you desperately need, more than anything else in the world, is the word of Christ dwelling in you richly.

No one speaks like Jesus Christ (John 7:46). He is the Word of God and the Word that isGod (John 1:1) He is the Word of Life (1 John 1:1) and when he speaks, his word is living and active (Hebrews 4:12) and he shows you the path of life (Psalm 16:11) and his words give you hope and joy and peace (Romans 15:13).

Jesus is the one human being in all of history who speaks the very words of eternal life (John 6:68) and when you listen and believe his word, it becomes your life (Deuteronomy 32:47), your food (John 6:51), your drink (John 4:14) and your light (Psalm 119:105).

Only Jesus has the words of life. Only him. That’s why the Father pleads with us, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him” (Mark 9:7).

Everyone else’s words are dust in the winds of time and to chase them is to chase the wind (Ecclesiastes 1:14). The precious few helpful, enlightening, even mortal life-preserving words are only of superficial help to us and in the end will blow away.

The only exceptions are those that help us (and others) listen to the word of Christ.

Let It!

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. Don’t neglect it. Listen to his word. Soak in his word. Memorize his word. Eat and chew it slowly. Don’t stop it from benefitting you.

Neglect the TV, blogs, social networks, video games, theaters, magazines, books, hobbies, chores, and pursuits that keep you from the Vault. Neglect the impoverishing pawnshop trinkets of words that will turn to dust in a day, a week, or a few years.

When it comes to life, time really is money. Time is how you spend your life. Don’t waste it. Spend your best time buying “true riches."  

Wasn't sure whether to make a different post, but I think this relates: As I gain more knowledge in this world through school, blogs, facebook, pictures, church, peers, etc. it becomes more clear to me that nothing really is neutral. I know I've learned this before, but everything has a bias, a worldview they're coming from. Especially in school and media, although subtle and seemingly unbiased, they interpret life through different lenses. And it's so crucial to be able to think and discern these messages. Church obviously come from a biblical lens, or well I hope it does. I'm not intellectual with politics or society, but my understanding is that although America may try to be fair and neutral, (sometimes looking down to Christian values as being biased,) their law making and such come from some sort of worldview that is still biased and not neutral. How do we determine what is "right"? "fair"? Something to think about.

to LIVE is CHRIST

It is quite convicting to see people who aren't Christians making the most out of life much more than I am. In a sense they may be worldly, but the passion and enjoyment they seek, if geared towards God, how wonderful that would be. I don't know if Christians even enjoy the gifts of God as much as others do! God didn't give us gifts in this world for us to ignore, but to enjoy in light of Him that He may be glorified. Yes, there is a balance of not making things into idols and also remembering that this world is not our home. To live is Christ and to die is gain. It's a win-win situation, but I often make this life into a lose-lose situation - complaining about life, being bored, settling for little things... but also not storing treasures in heaven, delighting in the Lord in light of the eternal life He's given.

"When we live with a poverty identity, the problem is not that we ask too much of the Father, but that we settle for too little. We settle for hammering together some kind of spiritual survival with the hope that things will be better in eternity. But the bible never presents our life on earth as a meaningless time of waiting for the good stuff that comes later. The biblical model of waiting is not simply about what you will get at the end of your wait, but about who you will become as you wait. God has promised you real, abundant life in here and now. We have a Father. We have a home. We are rich. We struggle a great deal, but we can expect much as well."
Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands by Paul Tripp

cs lewis

Sometimes when a struggle gets too hard, I just want to be indifferent. Thanks to a dear friend for this reminder.
A tough quote from Lewis.

To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. 

"The Cross also exposes me before the eyes of other people, informing them of the depth of my depravity. If I wanted others to think highly of me, I would conceal the fact that a shameful slaughter of the perfect Son of God was required that I might be saved. But when I stand at the foot of the Cross and am seen by others under the light of that Cross, I am left uncomfortably exposed before their eyes. Indeed, the most humiliating gossip that could ever be whispered about me is blared from Golgotha's hill; and my self-righteous reputation is left in ruins in the wake of its revelations. With the worst facts about me thus exposed to the view of others, I find myself feeling that I truly have nothing left to hide.

"Thankfully, the more exposed I see that I am by the Cross, the more I find myself opening up to others about ongoing issues of sin in my life. (Why would anyone be shocked to hear of my struggles with past and present sin when the Cross already told them I am a desperately sinful person?) And the more open I am in confessing my sins to fellow-Christians, the more I enjoy the healing of the Lord in response to their grace-filled counsel and prayers. Experiencing richer levels of Christ's love in companionship with such saints, I give thanks for the gospel's role in forcing my hand toward self-disclosure and freedom that follows."
The Gospel Primer: “Exposed by the Cross Part 2,” by Milton Vincent

though you slay me

Sad to hear of recent deaths... I hope this would be of encouragement

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/a-song-for-the-suffering-with-john-piper

Though you slay me
Yet I will praise you
Though you take from me
I will bless your name
Though you ruin me
Still I will worship
Sing a song to the one who's all I need

joy in forgiveness

In small group, we discussed how we should be the happiest or most joyful people in the world. God has forgiven our sins. How blessed are we?
If You, LORD, should mark iniquities,O Lord, who could stand?But there is forgiveness with You,That You may be feared.O Israel, hope in the LORD;For with the LORD there is lovingkindness,And with Him is abundant redemption.Psalm 130:3-4, 7

Because we’re born wanting to prove ourselves worthy of God’s love, one of Satan’s favorite weapons is the irrational shame of canceled sin.
Repentance does require remorse, but not despair and depression. If our sin has been canceled (Colossians 2:14) and our condemnation called off (Romans 8:1), we shouldn't live and act and feel like the unforgiven. But we do.
Your words can be the God-given reminder that Jesus paid it all, and hell has no claim on those who are his. http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/meet-the-miracle-next-to-you-this-morning 

How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,

Whose sin is covered!How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity,

And in whose spirit there is no deceit!When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away

Through my groaning all day long.

For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;

My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah.I acknowledged my sin to You,

And my iniquity I did not hide;

I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”;

And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.
Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones;

And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.Psalm 32:1-5, 11

more on prayer

Finally, as you get to know your heavenly Father, you’ll get to know your own heart as well. As you develop your relationship with him, it will change you. Or more specifically, he will change you. Real change is at the heart level. We keep forgetting God is a person. We don’t learn to love someone without it changing us. That is just the nature of love that reflects the heart of God. Because God’s love is unchanging, the second person of the Trinity, Jesus of Nazareth, now has a scarred body. The Trinity is different because of love. As you develop your relationship with your heavenly Father, you’ll change. You’ll discover nests of cynicism, pride, and self-will in your heart. You will be unmasked. None of us likes being exposed. We have an allergic reaction to dependency, but this is the state of the heart most necessary for a praying life. A needy heart is a praying heart. Dependency is the heartbeat of prayer. So when it starts getting uncomfortable, don’t pull back from God. He is just starting to work. Be patient.
A Praying Life by Paul Miller

church

What is the church and how am I supposed to think of it?

The church is Christ's bride.


Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. Ephesians 5:25-27
And we are composed of different parts (1 Cor 12). I remember reading the book Slave by John MacArthur and thinking, we, believers, are all slaves/servants of God. We all live for the purpose of glorifying God. Where is this pride in me coming from? As the body we encourage one another, strive for holiness, bear each other's burdens. God desires purity in the church, meaning integrity and honesty.


Reading JM's Opening up Acts book he says: 

The second result of the church's purity was evangelistic success as 'all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number' (Acts 5:16). Some may complain that a firm stance against sin will turn people away from the church and God, and that we should concentrate on 'love' and 'tolerance'. But that would be the opposite of what God desires. Real love is truth, and cannot tolerate sin (1 John 1:5-10, 4:8). In fact, a firm stand for personal purity was exactly what energized the early church into greater evangelism. They submitted to God and gave the devil no foothold in their lives (James 4:7). This evident purity kept the fakes and phonies outside because of their fear of God (v.13a) and prevented unbelievers from infiltrating the church, like tares sown among the wheat (Matt. 13:24-30). Only genuinely born again Christians would be a part of such an assembly. This purity made even the outsiders hold them in 'high esteem' (v.13b) for their love for one another.... Once people saw the power of the church in its purity and love, they could not help but be drawn towards the love of God.

Quite contrary to our normal thinking that we must be tolerant. But purity of the church shows something. It shows God's holiness and love for us, and in turn we love one another as we keep each other accountable towards Christlikeness. This can be repelling but also appealing to unbelievers when they see this unique radical love.
I was discontent sometimes serving in the children's ministry. There's little fruit and a lot of doubt whether they're just regurgitating what I am saying when they have the "right answers". My buddies who serve the older students seem to have a loftier task - bigger issues, but also means bigger fruit. But that's silly of me to think. Jesus loves the little ones too and these are precious souls. Sometimes I think of my colleagues who became believers in college and how they say they didn't pay attention when they were kids or didn't get a grasp of the gospel then... I am going to be that teacher that the kids will look back and say I didn't pay attention to or understand her. haha. But that's ok. I am to spend and be spent for souls. As a body, whether we serve in the same or different ministries, it's neat to see how we pray for one another's burdens and encourage each other in the way we serve others. I love how in years past and now when a brother/sister and I would serve in different areas of church but still cared for the other's ministries because of our love for the Body. I hope I continue to have that mindset and love for the Body... it is Christ's bride whom He gave Himself up for.

Since today is Sunday...
"Every day belongs to God. But Sunday is the Lord's day in a special way. Jesus has owned it uniquely ever since that first Easter when He stepped out of the empty tomb. Think of it. On that morning, for the first time, He had conquered death. He had atoned for our sin. He had made a way for us to come boldly into the presence of the Father. And every Sunday since has been an anniversary of that amazing morning. The Savior has risen - and everything has changed"
Stop dating the Church by Joshua Harris

doesn't He care?

God is creator and created all things. He is sovereign and in control over all.

Sometimes when situations or trials occur we wonder if God is there. When there are people sick, when we struggle with sin, when souls are hardened against the gospel. Doesn't He care? Doesn't He care more? He won't do what He has given me abilities to, but really how am I able to do those things to begin with?
He is my strength.

Is He big and is He needed?

prayer is such a necessity... He does care. He does care more.

School is starting tomorrow, and possibly my last first day of the school year for the rest of my life! There's always this anticipation for first day, what will classes be like? Who will I sit next to? Ok, maybe not as exciting now as it was in elementary school. I'm excited to see my classmates from last year, talk about the hopefully ok summer. 

But then there's the dread and fear of whatever comes with school, relationships, uncertainty of future. Again as I mentioned way back, I thought I was set for life once I got into grad school. In a sense, maybe I have a direction in my career, but this career is not the answer to life. It's not. It plays a great role, but it's not my life ambition. I definitely do not feel that satisfaction with getting into graduate school as my frustration before getting in led me to think. The Lord is my only hope.

I hope this remains my motivation in my career and relationships and just life... 

And He said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ Matthew 22:37 

Especially in school, I use my mind for the Lord; God gave us minds to think. Let us think for the Lord and let us love the Lord.

the nobodies

"But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence" 1 Corinthians 1:27-29. God's favorite instruments are nobodies, so that no man can boast before God. In other words, God chooses whom He chooses in order that He might receive the glory. He chooses weak instruments so that no one will attribute the power to human instruments rather than to God, who wields those instruments. Such a strategy is unacceptable to those whose whole pursuit in life is aimed toward the goal of human glory.
(Twelve Ordinary Men, 13)

Wishes on a birthday

A quote shared with me for my birthday:

I believe it ought to be our continual aim and desire to go forward, and our watchword on every returning birthday, and at the beginning of every year, should be "more and more" (1 Thess 4:1): more knowledge, more faith, more obedience, more love. The will of the Lord is our sanctification, and it ought to be our will too.

 Holiness by J.C. Ryle

Summer is coming to an end

I’ve never looked forward to ending summer this much. But I enjoyed parts of it and I will share two:

One highlight is my sweet Melody getting married!

It is by far my favorite wedding. The whole weekend with rehearsal lunch which entailed pretty much like a class hangout throughout the day, then the next day just getting ready with my class girls and others, taking pictures, sitting right next to the beautiful bride at dinner… what a wonderful weekend. And to have been able to see Melody and Peter grow from just friends to their dating relationship to now marriage is such a privilege… especially when I may not have approved in the beginning ;) But I wholeheartedly approve now.

Now they're in New York and it is amazing where God leads us.


By the way, the prime rib was delicious and big.

And the view was beautiful

 
This video is one of the few things that make me smile these days, I don't think they'd mind me sharing =)
http://vimeo.com/71535491

And for some reason it makes me think of John 3:29-30
He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. He must increase, but I must decrease.

The second part of summer is actually the mundane, seemingly ordinary conversations. In the booklet from my college fellowship's senior banquet a few years back, I said one thing I enjoyed most was meeting up with people. And so this summer, it has been those times with friends and family and children at church - the simple high five, hug, smile, poke, laugh, encouragement, comment that are extraordinary, as well as talking on the kitchen floor, lying on the ground, climbing a tree like we're a hundred years old, discussing theology or food. I don't crave for big events like I did when I was young to feel like I'm alive. I crave to see God in the ordinary things.  (I'm not disclaiming big events) It could be Joni and Friends-like every day; it just takes more effort to see the Lord in the ordinary times, but He is there and here.

it was a glimpse of heaven (continued)

I am not sure what happened with my last post. I must've really been sleepy and just cut the post short with no connection with the last paragraph to the rest of the post.
I think my point was, being in a hospital where the patients can very well be me in 10, 20 years or tomorrow, I am more keen to the futility or vapor-like life before me. It still boggles my mind how heaven, a place of perfection and great joy, can best be tasted on this side of eternity through weakness, disability, and brokenness, not wealth, comfort, or entertainment that's meant to stimulate our minds. But again, I think the answer is we sense God's presence more in those times because we know we need Him more. God's presence is what makes heaven, heaven. And well, maybe in trials God seems quite distant, but the desperation in our cries just hits the spot with truth regarding our state before God.

Ok, that's it for now. Hope that made a better ending to the previous post.

it was a glimpse of heaven

it was a glimpse of heaven

Just some thoughts after Joni and Friends Retreat. (draft)

In contrast to my emotions after JAF in high school, I don’t have that longing feeling of wishing it were once again JAF week. With the reality that JAF would end I thought more of what does this retreat even mean?

The more I’m aware of my sins, the more I see my depraved state before God. As I have grown in the Lord and know more of His love and abundant grace, the more (I hope) I love Him. So the worship time in past years at JAF was great, but I never sensed that “glimpse of heaven” until this year. I felt emotions in the past, but emotions void of Truth can be quite futile. I think I’ve learned things from JAF a little later than most people. But I am glad I got a sense of what desperate joyful souls may look like at worship. I do love many mellow worship songs, but even so, where is the passion? Where is the love? I may think - I don’t want to pretend I love God or be too noticeable so people won’t be distracted by arm movements or swaying of the body to the worship songs. But when I’m excited about some good food, do I give a straight face and say “ -_- Let’s eat some meat” so that I would not bring attention to myself? Or “K That puppy is cute”. No, there’s some jumping and thrill in the face and shoving of friends to get their attention. Not that I’m there where I am not self-conscious about how I am in the worship hall where it really can be a distraction. And everyone has their way of worshipping, I for sure don’t move more than a few inches. But I must say for a person who doesn’t dance or know how to, worship time is a time my body is most excited to dance. Glad I am less afraid to do so at JAF.

JAF was a glimpse of heaven, but why can’t it be like this every week? And not just in regards to the worship time, but the serving and loving and putting others’ interests above our own? It is rare for us to serve those who may not be able to give back. And not just in terms of ministry. It is quite easy to serve in a ministry because the motivation may be from duty and physical results may be seen even with a lack of love. But to serve at your own will because of love, that is rare. Well, maybe it isn’t rare, but rare in my life at least.

Now, working in the hospital where I see patients who received their disability at an older age, I have had more realities hit me. These patients can very well be one of us. We all also will one day be old and many of us will have some sort of disease, it’s just the timing and those who get it earlier have a head start on dealing with them.

Sleepiness is getting to me… so maybe more to come? Or maybe not.

A glimpse of heaven

It’s that time again where we will be going to a place we have now called “a glimpse of heaven”. I haven’t been to Joni and Friends (JAF) Family Retreat in four years and I feel like a different person than when I went in high school. JAF was always a place of fun and excitement, and I’m sure it will again. Knowing the centrality of the Gospel has made me even more aware of and concern for people’s souls, whether it’s the families’ or even the volunteers’. And maybe I will need to learn much too as I’ve always been humbled by the lives of these families affected by disabilities. I am not sure what to think of JAF coming up this week. Is it a mission field or a retreat for myself or both? But I know God is sovereign and He will work mightily regardless. I’ve posted this quote before but I like it:

"One of my renaissance experiences was to get among kids who were on a different spiritual level than my own, and enjoy fellowship with them. I found a very subtle snare in so doing. I sought their fellowship in order that I might minister to them, 'be a help,' you know, to the 'weaker' ones. What a rebuke came when I sensed my real motive - that I might minister. Love hacks right at this, for she refused to parade herself. I learned to recognize no 'spiritual planes,' but simply to love, purely, in every group. Trying to 'be a help' even has a smell of good works in it, for it is not pure. Our motive is only to be - do nothing, know nothing, act nothing - just to be a sinful bit of flesh, born of a Father's love." 

-Shadow of the Almighty

I know it’ll be a special time. But why is it a glimpse of heaven? Is it because the worship time is more alive? Is it because there’s so much laughter, games, free time, cute kids running around?

Maybe it’s because these families affected by disabilities are more in tune to reality, the state of who we are as desperate people before the universe’s Almighty God. I added this verse to the top of this blog as a reminder of what we are to do:

For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You. 

2 Chronicles 20:12

Oh to See You

Christ, the King of every age
Enthroned in light ere worlds were made
Come in mortal flesh divine
Into our dark came heaven’s light

Hanging on a cross of shame
I see the wounds my hands have made
“Forgive them Father,” now He cries
And with a breath my Savior dies

Oh to see you, Jesus, I can hardly wait
To behold Your wounds of grace
To express my love and thank You face to face
My heart is Yours, for You I long

Look into His empty grave
The bonds of death could not constrain
Sin and fear and death are dead
For Christ arose and crushed their head

Coming soon to claim His Bride
All the redeemed He’ll purify
We’ll need no sun or moon to shine
For the Lamb will be our light!

© 2012 Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP)

"Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Revelation 22:20

Nor Cal, we meet again

    

until next time...

convictions

I wonder why God doesn't make things black and white. Why are there gray area issues where I have to think? Whether they are in terms of drinking, holding hands when dating, moving for school, or even doing the color run (haha yes, had to go through that)... and whatever else... it's a pain to me at least to have to figure out what's best. Don't want to be legalistic. Don't want to make mistakes. Don't want to stumble another. What's the right way to think? It drove me crazy the first time my convictions conflicted with a close friend. I don't even remember what the issue was... but what I learned then and now is that one thing it caused me to do is love. Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8 are passages that talk about our liberties. And even though I have not studied on this topic, and I know there are books out there, just from reading these passages, it shows me that we should do things with the motive to please the Lord. We must be convinced in our mind.

5 One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God. 7 For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; 8 for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. (Romans 14)

 And it goes on saying to not stumble our brothers for whom Christ died. Overall, these issues causes us to think and work through... for the sake of loving our God and our brethren. So I guess it is worth it despite all the brain energy =P

click click

on the computer or tap tap on the iphone. (actually, in class we learned more people are having thumb problems in this generation because of text messaging!). It's so crazy how easily the internet, games, the phone can grab my attention. But it gives a little drop of satisfaction that feels binding to something, and I wonder what have I gained from this time I spent? The "satisfaction" isn't really satisfaction. It makes me think how we may say to people that the world (school, career, relationships, etc.) will not satisfy but only God can. Yet we also know that the more we know God the more we want to know Him. So there's some sort of "seeking more satisfaction" in that aspect too. So what's the difference?
JC Ryle says, "The pleasures that the worldly man gets by his ways are hollow, unreal, and unsatisfying. They are like the fire of thorns and crackling for a few minutes, and then quenched for ever. The happiness that Christ gives to His people is something solid, lasting, and substantial... It ends in a crown of glory that fadeth not away."

Videos like these -the aurora, the mountain (ok, yes it is still the internet) just can you imagine what it would be to see these in real life? Instead of on just a few inches screen? Someone commented on the video, "I want to shake the hand of the person who took these videos." I would rather say, "I want to know the one who made these mountains, stars, rocks, sky, etc." What, or rather, Who will I let grab my attention?

The Seven Sayings of the Saviour on the Cross

One of my favorite authors is Arthur W. Pink and he wrote The Seven Sayings of the Saviour on the Cross. Something I have done before is seven weeks prior to Easter I'd begin to read this book. (I think Charles gave us the link to this book freshman year.) There are seven chapters with seven sections, and so I'd read a section each day leading up to Easter. I love it. I miscounted the weeks so I thought I'd start next week but it was suppose to be last Sunday.

Anyway, join me if you like.
http://www.pbministries.org/books/pink/Seven_Sayings/

Sadly, I know someone who doesn't like this author, so you may not like him either :(

oh well :)

another reminder

another re-post

A little over a week ago, I got some sort of stomach problem, maybe the stomach flu. I must say, it was one of the most painful sickness I had in a long time. I prayed, prayed, prayed for healing or to just die (not to sound morbid). But it made me dwell on the Lord and reflect on my heart. It made me understand just a little more the pain Christ endured on the cross even though I know my pain was so small compared to that. It's just sometimes I think that He only suffered for a day, so was it that bad? But it was even though it was just for a day. The wrath of the eternal God poured out on Christ for the sins of the world. Anyway, it was good for me, the sickness. Somehow it drew me nearer to Him.

Oh, but I quickly recovered after five days and went back to school. I got caught up with studying. No time to read or pray. No time to meditate. I don't really need God's help anymore. 

I'm such a fool. Do not forget the Lord, He is God.

Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statues which I am commanding you today; otherwise, when you have eaten and are satisfied, and have built good houses and lived in them, and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiply, and all that you have multiplies, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, and out of the house of slavery.

Deuteronomy 8:11-14

rarity

Holiness by JC Ryle

"You live in days when a lingering, Lot-like religion abounds. The stream of profession is far broader than it once was, but far less deep in many places. A certain kind of Christianity is almost fashionable now. To belong to some party in the Church of England, and show a zeal for its interests; to talk about the leading controversies of the day; to buy popular religious books as fast as they come out, and lay them on your table; to attend meetings; to subscribe to societies; to discuss the merits of preachers; to be enthusiastic and excited about every new form of sensational religion which crops up - all these are now comparatively easy and common attainments. They no longer make a person singular. They require little or no sacrifice. They entail no cross. 

But to walk closely with God; to be really spiritually-minded; to behave like strangers and pilgrims; to be distinct from the world in employment of time, in conversation, in amusements, in dress; to bear a faithful witness for Christ in all places; to leave a savour of our Master in every society; to be prayerful, humble, unselfish, good-tempered, quiet, easily pleased, charitable, patient, meek; to be jealously afraid of all manner of sin, and tremblingly alive to our danger from the world - these, these are still rare things! They are not common among those who are called true Christians and, worst of all, the absence of them is not felt and bewailed as it should be."

Cabo

just a little taste of cabo