Strangely Content
For some reason, this week, God has placed just strange sense of contentment where I am in my life. While reality poses different struggles, and there are very real aspects of my life that do cause me to be anxious, I’m thankful for the work that God is doing in my heart.
Jesus continues to remind me His timing is perfect. God’s promises are so refreshing to hear in the midst of life’s worries and troubles. How can I not trust Him when He has done so much in my life, and continues to work in my life? I’m reminded of His grace and mercy in that I do not deserve this relationship with God. I’m blessed to know God, and be able to grow intimately with my Lord.
I ask that you continue to keep me in Your unfailing love Jesus
my tumblr!
So I finally gave in and made a tumblr… Ah the power of social media peer pressure.
Anyhow, I’ll be using that site mainly to just put up quotes, links, etc that I enjoy alot. I’ll be using this blog as I’ve been- writing my thoughts. Thanks!
Semester Reflection
I’ve been growing to learn that each season of life has its joys, blessings, and hardships. Following Jesus was never meant to be easy. For me, being a disciple of Jesus is to understand that I will face failures. I will face hardships. I will face challenges. But in all these things, as a Christian, I have the one hope that matters. I have a Hope that is Living. One sermon this past semester that really hit me was when Pastor Zac spoke about what despair meant. He defined despair as being hopeless and fearful. The combination of the worst type of feelings one can have. Having nothing to look forward to is so detrimental. It sucks the life out of you emotional, and even physically. Living with fear is being under constant stress and worries. The message that Pastor Zac spoke was quite simple. It was something that I have heard many times as young kid going to sunday school, church camps, etc. Jesus gives peace, and overcomes all fear and hopelessness. God gives us the ultimate hope in Jesus Christ.
Reflecting about the message of hope, I am reminded of Romans 5. During my senior year in highschool, I was given the opportunity to help plan a “praise night”, or “worship night”. It was an event that our highschool fellowship/youth group held. Focused around having an extended time of praising God through music and singing, we invited many other youth groups to come and reflect on a certain theme. Our theme for that night was centered around Romans 5:1-5.
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Paul, talking about the process of how we have been saved through Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross, speaks of a hope that we can boast of. A hope that the Holy Spirit instills in our hearts. An everlasting hope that no one can take away from me because God has shown his love for me on the cross, and I can now have a relationship with Him. The hope that Jesus has already overcome despair. Getting to know Jesus frees us of fear and hopelessness because Jesus gives us the comfort that everything in the end in His hands, and He has already been victorious. We are not trapped by our sinful nature, our failures, our misgivings, and our inability to get out of this mess ourselves. Jesus has shown me that despite my worries of my grades, my academics, my future career, my health, my relationships- those things does not warrant despair. Things WILL fall apart.
I have failed so many times this past semester. I have failed in so many things my whole life. But the love of God overcomes. Sometimes, ya just have to sit and reflect about the simple things. Truly think about what they mean, and the simple things.. the simple truths blow your mind away. God’s love is stronger than the sting of death. God loves me, and will never stop loving me. Repeat that statement to yourself. God loves you. God loves me. Despite my failures as a student when I did not perform well. Despite my failures as a friend when I was not there when my friends needed me. Despite my personal struggles of pride, and tendency to passionately argue about matters when I should just let go. God loves me. And He desires to change me with His love. This is the hope that we have in Christ, and something that has convicted me the past semester. In the times when I felt depressed, and I didn’t know why, God was there with me. Even when I did not hear Him, listen to Him, seek Him, He has sought me and comforted me. Too many times I kept looking at other places to find comfort. But the ultimate comfort is in Christ, and I am so thankful. This challenges me to love more. I have a hope that does NOT disappoint. A hope that does NOT disappoint! Can we say that about anything on earth!? Can we say that about our technology? laptops? Our phones? Our friends? Family? Even ourselves? No, we can’t. The only thing that I can confidently 1000000% say that never fails, is God. Therefore, my hope will be in Him. It’s not a matter of how strong MY faith is. It’s a matter of how STRONG the person or thing my faith is in- and my God never fails. Time and time again, the past three years God has been reminding me of that. Thank you Jesus for reminding me of how faithful You are.
Something key things about this past semester God has ben so faithful in and reminded me of the Hope He provides:
- I’m reminded of how important and simple my life needs to be centered around the basics. It really is about loving Jesus, and loving others. Through a series of bible studies we did in small group through John 13-15, one repeated commandment that Jesus gives is love God, and love others. Such simple commands, but tremendously hard to follow. It’s hard to love others by giving up my pride during arguments. It’s hard to love others by giving up my position about something that I am passionate about, and hurt someone unnecessarily.
- Getting to know the freshmen class- this past semester has been an immense blessing in getting to know many freshmen who remind me of how much I’ve grown. Getting to know the freshmen has weirdly reminded me of the reality that I’m finally 20 and hit a new decade. That’s not even that old, but it seems like its been a while. I have come so far, yet I have so much more to grow. Likewise, I am very excited to see my freshmen friends grow in Jesus. I’m reminded that I need to keep praying for them. There are many things that I want to do to make them grow, to help steer them the right way. But in the end, dependence on the Holy Spirit is the wisest thing I can do through prayer!
- Small group leading has been challenging. Being a leader of others is hard. It’s hard to figure out what are people’s needs and meeting them. It’s hard to be selfless. It’s hard give up what my desires are, and figuratively wash my small group members’ feet as Jesus literally washed His disciples’ feet to symbolize what He was all about.
- And once again, as break starts, I am reminded of how much my life needs to focus on prayer, seeking Jesus by reading the scriptures, and just sitting in His presence.. mmmmm.
Getting Enough Sleep and Staying in the Ministry
Getting Enough Sleep and Staying in the Ministry
It’s always hard as a college student to remember that sleep is a gift that God has given us. Of course there are times when too much sleep is bad- but sleep deprivation on the other hand is not physically and spiritually healthy either.
prayer according to J.C. Ryle
From Prayer —
Nothing seems to be too great, too hard, or too difficult for prayer to do. It has obtained things that seemed impossible and out of reach. It has won victories over fire, air, earth, and water.
Prayer opened the Red Sea. Prayer brought water from the rock and bread from heaven. Prayer made the sun stand still. Prayer brought fire from the sky on Elijah’s sacrifice. Prayer turned the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness. Prayer overthrew the army of Sennacherib.
Well said Mary Queen of Scots, “I fear John Knox’s prayers more than an army of ten thousand men.” Prayer has healed the sick. Prayer has raised the dead. Prayer has procured the conversion of souls. “The child of many prayers,” said an old Christian to Augustine’s mother, “will never perish.” Prayer, pains, and faith can do anything.
10 Signs You Are Nearing a Burnout/Meltdown
Re: 10 Signs You Are Nearing A Burnout/Meltdown:
My counselor shared a statistic with me two years ago that floored me – 90% of the people entering ministry do not retire from ministry. They either quit or have some sort of moral/ethical failure that disqualifies them
psalm 23
Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me.
Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil.
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
my valley of vision
There’s a prayer that I’ve found that has been something that I have been trying to meditate upon once the school year started.
Found from a book called The Valley of Vision, the book is a collection of Puritan prayers and devotions. Ever since college, I have found a great liking for these old-school collection of prayers from good ol’ Puritans. While the language and writing style of the prayers are not of what I’m used to, nor is actually praying written by someone, these prayers have been such a light to my soul. Seeing the gospel-centered-ness and how edifying these prayers can be in such poetic prose (yes, the nerd in me is happy) has caused me to fall in love with these prayers. Of course, these prayers are just a guide and not a manual of what words should be said. In the preface, the editor underlines that the book is not intended to be read as a prayer manual.
the soul learns to pray by praying; for prayer is communion with a transcendent and immanent God who on the ground of his nature and attributes calls forth all the powers of the redeemed soul in acts of total adoration and dedication.
Amen to that. Praise God for these collections of prayers and devotionals that the Puritans have left for the glory of God! Prayer has always been a tough discipline for me to follow through with. However, as the editor notes, it is so true that one learns to pray by actually engaging in prayer. Whether it’s just starting off with 5, 10 or 15 minutes every single day, it truly does take “practice” to learn prayer. Like any other things in life, it is through repetition and practice that one hones their skill. Most importantly, approaching it with the mindset that prayer is what draws us closer to God and help us grow intimacy with Him, just like any other relationship we have is key! He is truly listening, and also wants to speak with us.
Here’s a sample of prayer that introduces the collection. It has really helped remind my heart, mind, and soul how much I need to Jesus in my valley of vision daily.
Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,
Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision,
where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights;
hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold they glory.
Let me learn by paradox
that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is the place of vision.
Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,
and the deeper the wells the brighter thy stars shin;
Let me find thy light in my darkness,
thy life in my death,
thy joy in my sorrow,
thy grace in my sin,
thy riches in my poverty,
thy glory in my valley.
It’s been hard to even remember to pray, let alone pray this prayer. I hope to read this prayer out loud once a day to remind myself how much I need Jesus. Less of me, and more of Jesus! Hopefully that will be true in my own personal life. Only by the power of the Holy Spirit!
an heart issue
In a time and setting where getting smashed and hammered every weekend is the ideal situation of having fun, this article hopefully can be helpful.
There is no doubt that wine and alcohol in itself is anything negative. Like anything that God has provided, all that He provides is good. In the end, it’s how we use it and approach whatever He gives that matters.
Being drawn to getting drunk and losing control to do whatever, is just as dangerous as being addicted to playing video games 24/7, seeking comfort through binge shopping online, or . God ultimately tells us that man shall not live on bread alone- obviously living is more than just satisfying our appetites that God has given us. It’s when we approach our appetites and desires in a way that we place Jesus Christ second, and us first, is the ultimate sin. It’s not just about drinking alcohol, playing video games, etc. It’s a heart issue of where do we truly find satisfaction and comfort? Do we trust in things that we think can satisfy us, but most probably can’t? Whether if it’s finding comfort and temporal satisfaction in alcohol, sex, pornography, relationships, or even food- it’s not really about these things. God does not call us to be legalistic and say “NO more alcohol”, or “NO more video games” We first have to have a heart check of whether or not we are really listening to Jesus’s call that He is the Living Water. That only He can give us the eternal satisfaction- and hopefully that will move us to see that we will desire to honor and obey Jesus’s call to seek and dwell in Him only and nothing else.
It’s not about condemning drinking alcohol itself, enjoying playing video games, or going shopping often. All these things are things that we can enjoy within certain parameters. Because, with our sinful nature, it is quite easy to abuse what is given to us. Our sinful nature naturally desires to please ourselves and do things that we see fit for ourselves. However, true transformation by the Holy Spirit necessitates an attitude of how can Jesus be the center of my heart in everything I do? Hopefully that’s an attitude that I can continually grow into this upcoming year in everything I do.
