let's GO.

when i think about the Lord

how He saved me, how He raised me
how He filled me with the Holy Ghost
how He healed me to the uttermost
when i think about the Lord
how he picked me up turned me around
how He set my feet on solid ground

i've been thinking about this song a lot. what an absolute joy to know that God loved me, even before my own parents loved me, way before i even knew who He was. He picked me up, turned me around, set my feet on solid ground! PTL!

it makes me want to shout hallelujah!
thank you, Jesus!
Lord, you're worthy of all the glory,
and all the honor and all the praise!
Hallelujah! thank you, Jesus!
Lord, you're worthy of all the glory,
and all the honor and all the praise!

- When I Think About the Lord by Shane Barnard

at rock harbor, the current series is "a life that demands explanation". do you live your life set apart from the world? does your lifestyle make people curious to know what makes you so happy, so hopeful during the good and the bad times? even though you profess to have Christ on the inside, do your outward actions reflect that? does the joy and peace of having Christ in your life make people ask questions? are you a light? do you stand out in a crowd of non-believers?

it's been a blessing to hear about this topic of being "set apart" from the world and hearing church friends excited to live radically for Jesus. it scares me to get lukewarm, going through the motions of "that Christian thing", getting too comfortable with my faith, which hinders my own spiritual growth and also stunts the growth of His kingdom. it's like holding in an all-powerful cure to all diseases from everyone in the world because of laziness or fear of how someone's going to respond. that's just silly.

a resident sent me a video of jaeson ma sharing a message at the University of Texas (i encourage you to watch both parts). he explains that often time, today's Christians are so caught up in having people come to them. come to church, come to bible study. and while that it is all good to be bold enough to invite people... instead, he suggests to GO. go out and preach the gospel, go and talk to strangers, go and take those risks, go and serve the Lord. leave the security of your comfort zone. im really trying to do this and i've learned it ain't easy. it's scary and i still doubt myself, but i think that's where the problem is because it's not about me. it's about giving these daily missions to God because only because of Him and through Him and with Him can we find the strength to actually do anything at all.

pray for boldness.
pray for wisdom.
pray for opportunities.

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But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone
who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
But do this with gentleness and respect,
[1 Peter 3:15]

it may seem difficult to explain so much,
but dear Lord, give me the courage and wisdom to try.

lost.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
[Psalm 34:18]

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lately, my heart's been set on the lost. for those searching for identity, for those trying to find meaning, for those trying to find a purpose in life, for those trying to attain happiness. the things people try to fill those voids with just set them deeper into isolation and doubt. i know... i've been there. there are a lot of people on my prayer list and i pray that--in His time-- they will see the joy and peace they can have in a life centered on faith, grounded on the Creator of all things, provider of all things, sovereign over all things.

God gives you this very life to enjoy, all He asks for is your life in return. some may argue that submitting in that way leads you into a life of restriction, limited by a set of strict rules. but it is not that at all. i'd say it's a pretty fair trade. by devoting your life to a good & faithful God, you receive the free gift of eternal life, free from the shame and guilt of sin because of a sacrifice made on the Cross. you gain this hope that despite of all that shady business you were involved in before, you are made completely new, wiped completely clean. i can't get over that fact, so simple but so ridiculously amazing! it's seriously so incredible and mind-blowing how an almighty God who created the most ginormous things on earth could care for a single person, forgiving you for things that may even be difficult to forgive yourself for. because of this, you'll want to abide by His commandments, you'll want to give your praise and show your gratitude to this wonderful God for taking you in... no matter what you've done before, no matter how broken you are, or how unworthy you feel. truth is, none of us deserve what He offers, but praise God for his grace and mercy that He gives out of His abundant love.
praise God for everything.

Who am I?
That the Lord of all the earth,
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt.
Who am I?
That the bright and morning star,
Would choose to light the way,
For my ever wandering heart.

Not because of who I am,
But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who you are.

I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling,
And you've told me who I am.
I am yours.
I am yours.

-Who Am I by Casting Crowns

on my heart.

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
[Matthew 28:18-20]
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I'm not backing down
I will stand my ground
Lifting high the name of Jesus

Holding out Your light
To a world in need
Living out the love of Jesus

Though the battles rage
Your blessing still will come

(CHORUS)
To the ends of the earth we will go
To the ends of the earth we will go
Fill us with power
Fill us with power

For the truth of Your word we will stand
For the truth of Your word we will stand
Give us your courage
Give us your courage

Be our strength and song
Till the battles won
Cause your face to shine upon us

Stretch your hand to say
Our God never fails
Nothing is impossible for you

Though the battles rage
Your blessing still will come

Would you breath on us (x4)

- "Give Us Your Courage"- Tim Hughes
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dear Lord,
guide me through this time of making big decisions.
please give me wisdom and courage.
purify my motives
& let the desires of my heart be pleasing to You.

breathe.

O LORD, my heart is not lifted up;
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me.

But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother,
like a weaned child is my soul within me.

[Psalm 131:1-2]

wow.

time, moola, energy, patience, technology, people, friendship, comfort, protection, His Word, guidance, love, understanding, peace, joy.
whatever it is... God provides.
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Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow,

for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.

Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

[Matthew 6:31-34]

translation.

“In every temptation let us look up to a crucified Christ, who is fitted and qualified to support tempted souls. Oh my soul, whenever you are assaulted, let the wounds of Christ be your city of refuge where you may fly and live.

Let us learn, in every trouble which presses us—whether it be sin, temptation, or any other evil—to translate it from ourselves to Christ. And all the good in Christ—let us learn to translate it from Christ to ourselves.”

—Thomas Brooks, The Golden Key to Open Hidden Treasures

flusteration.

And let us not grow weary of doing good,
for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone
and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
[Galatians 6:9-10]

dear Lord, revive me from these busy days and this exhausting weekend. i am so tired and i know i need to rest in You, but sometimes my pride prevents me from completely surrendering my life to You. i have not been right with You in the last couple of days, i have not been honest with the real burdens of my heart. i allowed the overpowering sins of doubt, anxiety & fear to seep through. forgive me and please purify my heart. hear the cries of my heart that even i ignore. You know my thoughts even before i think them. the Christian life is not easy, but remind me that You alone give us a reason to fight for that unexplainable joy and maintain that peace of mind. only You can satisfy. i praise You for being compassionate and forgiving to horrible people like me. use me and mold me to become like Jesus, selfless, sacrificial and altogether loving. Lord, You are sovereign and have an incredible authority over all things. Lord, i pray that i completely trust in that amazing power over my own life. teach me humility. Your timing is so perfect, work in their hearts. Lord, i pray that i not forget that Christ died for my sins and with that also my burdens and my problems and my troubles. and because of this, i have so much hope beyond this life. dear Lord, let my thoughts, my actions, my attitude and my life reflect the wonderful promises that are given to us by God through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us
an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
as we look not to the things that are seen
but to the things that are unseen.
For the things that are seen are transient,
but the things that are unseen are eternal.
[2 Corinthians 4:17-18]

full plate.

there's so much i want to do... in the next days, weeks, months, years!! in a span of 10 months, i won't have my college comfort zone to keep me safe. decisions, decisions. so many places to explore and new opportunities to pursue. so many people to reconnect with, to share with, to pray with, to grow with. im so frazzled, excited and overwhelmed with my growing Life List. i don't even know where to start. i know i can't do this on my own.

The heart of man plans his way,
but the LORD establishes his steps.
[Proverbs 16:9]

dear Lord, guide and direct my steps towards these ginormous goals,
only if they are according to your will, of course.
remind me that your timing and plan for me is oh-so-perfect.
plant me where you feel it is best to be used for your glory.
oh Lord, above all things, i pray that i serve You
and not my selfish desires.
oh Lord, i pray that these plans may be pleasing to You.

prayers.

Residents lined up in a muddy street to receive relief goods after floodwater subsides in this aerial picture Monday, Oct. 5, 2009 in Angono town in eastern Manila, Philippines. Typhoon Parma weakened into a tropical storm that linger to Philippines coastline coast drenching northern provinces as well as Taiwan killing 16 people and causing widespread flooding and landslide. -Yahoo News

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my heart dropped in sympathy for the those in the Philippines who faced this disaster firsthand and also for those who have relatives & loved ones in the affected areas. on sunday, pastor ed explained how so many people do not have clean water, no clothes, no shelters, lost their loved ones, undergoing diseases from sanitary issues etc etc. relief goods are being transported over there, but not nearly enough considering the already impoverished status of the country. if you cannot contribute in tangible goods, i hope you pray for those in the Philippines and other countries that are affected by these storms. so many tragedies occurring all over the world every day. i pray that we remember that God is faithful and trust in His providence through it all.
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i was looking through photos and came across pictures of kids playing in the mud or adults smiling as they swim through the murky water. it kind of surprised me. maybe they're kids and do not understand the gravity of the situation... or maybe those in less fortunate countries really understand how to appreciate little things, how to be grateful for the very little they actually have. it was so saddening to learn more about the event in the Philippines and all over the world. but it's also always disturbing to hear complaints of people here. we have so much here to be thankful for, but still exhaust ourselves with our inability to be content. we can easily complain about any and everything. the price of things, the quality of things, having too many things, not having the coolest things, losing things, not having the better&best things. what is the benefit in focusing on these materials and amplifying what you are lacking? ultimately, they're just things-- replaceable, forgettable things that may satisfy for like two days, but then what?
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i praise God for satisfying my soul above all things. i feel confident and comforted in His promises of a greater life beyond what i have here, which brings an unexplainable peace and joy in my heart. i thank Him for everything (and everyone) that i do not deserve, but through the sacrifice of Christ, i have the blessed opportunity to enjoy such things. Lord, show me how to love with humility and gentleness. teach me how to live with a servant heart and a life of gratitude to You, the supplier, creator, sustainer, and provider of all things. use me Lord to show others the good fruit of living a life for You, not for my own personal gain, but for your glory always. to God be the glory forever and ever.