So i was at the YMCA the other day and i noticed there were a lot of people in the treadmill room. I'm not surprised since this is around the time for New Years resolutions. I'm sure for the typical American, losing weight or getting in shape is always at the top of their list and is perennially one of the first to be lost. I can't really say that losing 15 lbs. or getting that six-pack is on my to do list, but i havent really made any definitive resolutions yet. But two days ago, during the new years eve sermon by pastor Kim got me thinking in a good way. If this whole Christianity thing for real to us, shouldnt everything about it be real to us? As in not just the Shepard God and God the father, but God almighty, and our perfect God? Isn't the God we worship the one who created the stars and the heavens? Is this not the God that parted the Red Sea and gave life to the dead? And yet often times i catch myself praying for such little things. I pray with this kind of mindset at times, 'You know God if you can do this that'd be really cool. But if not, that's alright. I mean i know i've asked for it a lot of times so if it doesnt happen this time then ill just ask again later.' So what's one of my resolutions this year? I want to pray with earnest expectation for things that seem out of reach. We're not praying to the god of our own limited abilities. We're talking about the God with all the power and all the glory. So what type of prayers am i talking about? Im talking about my school which seems too engrossed in sin to ever be saved. I'm talking about seeing this church grow into the hundreds. I'm also talking about entire nations being saved from religious oppression.
Exodus 15:11-12 Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
holiday hoopla
:/ This blog is late again.... I dont know why i keep forgetting about this. Well anyway
So its finally break! big sigh*. I know a lot of us have been looking forward to this for a really long, i know i was. I remember yesterday, which was the last day of school, during morning prayer i was thinking of a lot of things really: chem test, what to do after school, what gifts to get and such. But when everyone came in, i just thought about all the times i've said to myself, "I need to meet God during the hard times". But what about the good times? It's really easy to run after God when there's no other options, but when there is other options, what do we do? It's easy to look at all the quick fulfillments , those that last even just a couple hours. But during that morning prayer, i tried to pray for giving up those things. I prayed for giving the day to God, when most of the times we think it should be for ourselves. Now was i successful, not completely. I still was anxious about my chem test, and i still thought about where to eat for dinner and such. But as the holiday season is here, its so easy for us to make all the hoopla about us. When does God come into the picture? Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”
So its finally break! big sigh*. I know a lot of us have been looking forward to this for a really long, i know i was. I remember yesterday, which was the last day of school, during morning prayer i was thinking of a lot of things really: chem test, what to do after school, what gifts to get and such. But when everyone came in, i just thought about all the times i've said to myself, "I need to meet God during the hard times". But what about the good times? It's really easy to run after God when there's no other options, but when there is other options, what do we do? It's easy to look at all the quick fulfillments , those that last even just a couple hours. But during that morning prayer, i tried to pray for giving up those things. I prayed for giving the day to God, when most of the times we think it should be for ourselves. Now was i successful, not completely. I still was anxious about my chem test, and i still thought about where to eat for dinner and such. But as the holiday season is here, its so easy for us to make all the hoopla about us. When does God come into the picture? Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”
Friday, December 12, 2008
love and adversity
"A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity"
Proverbs 17:17
This is the verse i read this morning and it didnt really seem like that morning would be anything more then a regular morning. But that verse stuck out when i was reading the chapter and now it's seeming much more applicable now. I look back at all the times i've neglected my friends and family and how often i have the opportunity to reach out to them, but i dont. I've never been really an emotional, touchy-feely type guy but thats not a viable excuse for leaving a brother or sister hanging. I know its so tough trying to go thru this walk even with the support of a church and friends and i cant imagine what it would be like doing it on your own. A friend is to love at all times, not just when its convienant or it seems at hte right moment. Love bears all thigsn , believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
Proverbs 17:17
This is the verse i read this morning and it didnt really seem like that morning would be anything more then a regular morning. But that verse stuck out when i was reading the chapter and now it's seeming much more applicable now. I look back at all the times i've neglected my friends and family and how often i have the opportunity to reach out to them, but i dont. I've never been really an emotional, touchy-feely type guy but thats not a viable excuse for leaving a brother or sister hanging. I know its so tough trying to go thru this walk even with the support of a church and friends and i cant imagine what it would be like doing it on your own. A friend is to love at all times, not just when its convienant or it seems at hte right moment. Love bears all thigsn , believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
Friday, December 5, 2008
To die is to gain
"For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." -Phillippians 1:21
I like reading the first chapters of many of the epistles in the new testament because they seem to me like a mission statement in a way. The beginnings are usually very formal, but as it continues, these very candid and straightforward statements are made. Even though they can be very short, these statements speak such volumes because of the faith it demonstrates. Paul is basically saying, i wish to end this temporary life on earth and move onto an eternity of joy in heaven. However, there is work to be done and so i will use Jesus Christ as my sole motivation to carry on. Wow, talk about faith to move mountains. "according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death." If that was my answer to the question of 'what if your life purpose', then i feel like my heavenly father would be proud. I know that it's going to take a lot of discipline and work to reach a faith to that point, but with a day to day approach, i feel like i can make those strides.
Peace and much love
I like reading the first chapters of many of the epistles in the new testament because they seem to me like a mission statement in a way. The beginnings are usually very formal, but as it continues, these very candid and straightforward statements are made. Even though they can be very short, these statements speak such volumes because of the faith it demonstrates. Paul is basically saying, i wish to end this temporary life on earth and move onto an eternity of joy in heaven. However, there is work to be done and so i will use Jesus Christ as my sole motivation to carry on. Wow, talk about faith to move mountains. "according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death." If that was my answer to the question of 'what if your life purpose', then i feel like my heavenly father would be proud. I know that it's going to take a lot of discipline and work to reach a faith to that point, but with a day to day approach, i feel like i can make those strides.
Peace and much love
Thursday, November 27, 2008
gobble gobble gobble
Happy thanksgiving all you koreans out there. Did you guys enjoy eating good korean/bad american food? Lol i ate chinese food on thanksgiving..... somethings wrong about that
"But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:23-24)
I'm sure all you guys have heard this verse before, or at least the phrase worshiping in "spirit and in truth". I won't lie though, i had somewhat of an idea what that meant but not to the full extent. I was doing some reading (pretty good book) and they had a whole section on what that meant. They gave a description of someone who worships in spirit and not in truth, and also one who worships in truth but not necessarily spirit. I have to say, those descriptions fit me many times in my walk. Someone who sings all the right hymns, speaks the perfect prayer, and walks the righteous walk without having sincerity is just a hypocrite. To worship with spirit is to do it from the "inside out". I will admit many times we as Christians often just regurgitate some chrisitan phrases and use them as fillers, like starting every prayer w/ a thanks, or "shine our light", "you are our rock" etc. Im not saying these phrases are bad, but saying them without a genuine heart isnt real worship. And then on the flip side, you can be the most passionate person in the world, but if its about how great the music is, and how grandiose the person's voice is, then there's no truth. It's defintely a tough thing to do, worship God in BOTH spirit and truth, because a lot of times the balance isnt there. But you really cant have one without the other, can you? I'm glad i thought about this because next time I feel like my emotions are running high, i gotta ask myself, is this gospel centered worship? On top of that, if im praying a "christian" prayer, is my heart really speaking the same words as my lips? If heaven is going to be 24/7 worship of God, i should defintely get some good practice on earth :)
"But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:23-24)
I'm sure all you guys have heard this verse before, or at least the phrase worshiping in "spirit and in truth". I won't lie though, i had somewhat of an idea what that meant but not to the full extent. I was doing some reading (pretty good book) and they had a whole section on what that meant. They gave a description of someone who worships in spirit and not in truth, and also one who worships in truth but not necessarily spirit. I have to say, those descriptions fit me many times in my walk. Someone who sings all the right hymns, speaks the perfect prayer, and walks the righteous walk without having sincerity is just a hypocrite. To worship with spirit is to do it from the "inside out". I will admit many times we as Christians often just regurgitate some chrisitan phrases and use them as fillers, like starting every prayer w/ a thanks, or "shine our light", "you are our rock" etc. Im not saying these phrases are bad, but saying them without a genuine heart isnt real worship. And then on the flip side, you can be the most passionate person in the world, but if its about how great the music is, and how grandiose the person's voice is, then there's no truth. It's defintely a tough thing to do, worship God in BOTH spirit and truth, because a lot of times the balance isnt there. But you really cant have one without the other, can you? I'm glad i thought about this because next time I feel like my emotions are running high, i gotta ask myself, is this gospel centered worship? On top of that, if im praying a "christian" prayer, is my heart really speaking the same words as my lips? If heaven is going to be 24/7 worship of God, i should defintely get some good practice on earth :)
Friday, November 21, 2008
may the words of my mouth and hte meditation of my heart
"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight. O lord, my strength and my Redeemer" -Psalm 19:14
Whenever i hear those words i think of a son looking at his father in expectation. I can picture a son telling his father of what he did, his grades at school or maybe how he did in his little league baseball game, and the father pats him on the back and says good job my son; the son then gleams with joy. All we have to do now is transcend that around 100 times greater and there we have our meeting with our heavenly father. It's so hard sometimes to imagine that because we, or at least I, immediately think of my own father or some other fatherly figure. Maybe its just our own imperfect nature that constantly puts us down because we just reflect on our weeks and realize how little we do, or in some cases how much wrong we do. I get down on myself thinking how much i disappoint God but at the same time, the book that's in front of me is giving me God's encouragement personally, individually. God is TELLING me, Jonathan Lee, draw near to me and i will draw near to you, or cast all your care upon him, for He cares for you" Those are the words of MY father. I just wish that at the end of all this, God my father can say to me, the words of your mouth, the meditations of your heart, the works you have done for me, and the life you have lived is pleasing to me, my good and faithful son and servant. Amen?
Whenever i hear those words i think of a son looking at his father in expectation. I can picture a son telling his father of what he did, his grades at school or maybe how he did in his little league baseball game, and the father pats him on the back and says good job my son; the son then gleams with joy. All we have to do now is transcend that around 100 times greater and there we have our meeting with our heavenly father. It's so hard sometimes to imagine that because we, or at least I, immediately think of my own father or some other fatherly figure. Maybe its just our own imperfect nature that constantly puts us down because we just reflect on our weeks and realize how little we do, or in some cases how much wrong we do. I get down on myself thinking how much i disappoint God but at the same time, the book that's in front of me is giving me God's encouragement personally, individually. God is TELLING me, Jonathan Lee, draw near to me and i will draw near to you, or cast all your care upon him, for He cares for you" Those are the words of MY father. I just wish that at the end of all this, God my father can say to me, the words of your mouth, the meditations of your heart, the works you have done for me, and the life you have lived is pleasing to me, my good and faithful son and servant. Amen?
Friday, November 14, 2008
1:31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
1:32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
1:33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
:6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
What was ironic was that as i was reading the book Pastor Stephen assigned, Spiritual disciplines, there was a part in the 2nd chapter or so when it talked about when to read the book. In fact, i was close to falling asleep and it said that was exactly when not to read! O_o well that really woke me up and the words after stuck w/ me to say the least. The first chapter of proverbs backs up his points about the importance of the word. One of the reasons our faith is so weak at times is because we dont have any physical evidence of what God is saying; many of us arent fortunate enough to experience a full-blown out miracle or sign like Moses or Abraham did, but why fret or become complacent? The physical evidence is the bible itself. I think the value of the word isn't instilled enough becuase many times we kind of "nod mm hmm heard that before", and yet how often do we read? the statistics he gave were kind of scary, espeically for those who claim to born again. To be born again, we have a new life, a new life founded upon what? HIS word. I pray that we turn to that amazing gift of word daily, for spiritual and even everyday practical help. Amen to that?
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