Psalms 51:1, 17 (ESV)
"Have mercy on me, Oh God, according to Your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions . . . The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."
Some Psalms can be so very very depressing. A quote from Psalms to match the sky outside.
Thank You for leading me through this transaction. Thank You for Friday!
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Overflow
When we arrive at eternity's shore, where death is just a memory and tears are no more
We'll enter in as the wedding bells ring, Your bride will come together and we'll sing "You're beautiful!" - "You're Beautiful"
God continues to show me glimpses of the wedding supper of the lamb that is to come in my current life. And my cup runs over.
Thank You. For everything.
We'll enter in as the wedding bells ring, Your bride will come together and we'll sing "You're beautiful!" - "You're Beautiful"
God continues to show me glimpses of the wedding supper of the lamb that is to come in my current life. And my cup runs over.
Thank You. For everything.
Monday, May 27, 2013
With vs. For
I just read an article that argues that humanity's biggest problems are not mortality and limitations but rather isolation. The article is excellent and it is incredibly well-written. It is long (very long), but if someone with as short of an attention span as I have is able to finish the entire thing, then I'm sure you can as well.
Rethinking Service
After reading the article, I was reminded of a couple of recent revelations that I've received.
1. In my peer counseling class, we are taught that we are there to empower the client - to walk the decision-making journey with the client until the client makes a choice (hopefully a wise and informed one). We are not there to solve the client's problem.
2. In my Communication post last month, I posted a link in the comments section for a video that points out the paradox of increasing isolation inf our high-tech world of connectedness.
Read the article.
Thank You for being with me forever.
Rethinking Service
After reading the article, I was reminded of a couple of recent revelations that I've received.
1. In my peer counseling class, we are taught that we are there to empower the client - to walk the decision-making journey with the client until the client makes a choice (hopefully a wise and informed one). We are not there to solve the client's problem.
2. In my Communication post last month, I posted a link in the comments section for a video that points out the paradox of increasing isolation inf our high-tech world of connectedness.
Read the article.
Thank You for being with me forever.
Stress
Some say that stress brings out the best in them.
Stress does not bring out the best in me. I know this because the best in me is the fruit of the Spirit. And when I'm stressed I don't see myself being very loving, joyful, peaceful, forbearing, kind, good, faithful, gentle or self-controlled.
You would think that in times when I need to rely on God the most, I would exhibit the fruit of the Spirit the most. Just more proof (for me) that I am still stubborn in my pride and necessity to control.
Thank You for helping me in my unbelief.
Stress does not bring out the best in me. I know this because the best in me is the fruit of the Spirit. And when I'm stressed I don't see myself being very loving, joyful, peaceful, forbearing, kind, good, faithful, gentle or self-controlled.
You would think that in times when I need to rely on God the most, I would exhibit the fruit of the Spirit the most. Just more proof (for me) that I am still stubborn in my pride and necessity to control.
Thank You for helping me in my unbelief.
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Mercy and Truth
My friend shared a revelation in my cell group the other day that really touched me. I'll try to paraphrase it, but she really does a much better job of explaining it:
"God's mercy is new every day, but one can only seek and accept God's mercy by confessing the truth - that one has sinned and is therefore needing of mercy."
Without God's truth, mercy is not necessary or needed.
"God's mercy is new every day, but one can only seek and accept God's mercy by confessing the truth - that one has sinned and is therefore needing of mercy."
Without God's truth, mercy is not necessary or needed.
Anchor
"You only have authority over the storm you can sleep in." - Bill Johnson
In Mark 4:35-41, Jesus sleeps in a boat during a storm, is woken up by the disciples, and then proceeds to rebuke the storm and command it to be still. He also asks the disciples whether they still have no faith.
I'm going through a storm right now. A deal I'm working on is getting close to the finish line and the last minute changes and the crunch-time work are really messing with my peace. I literally find myself losing sleep because of my work-related anxiety. And then, when I do wake up, I find that I have to take some time to remember a few scriptures regarding God's promises just to be able to walk out that door - Jeremiah 29:11 is a favorite one.
In the past, as a way to make myself feel better, I would compare my problems with other peoples' and to convince myself that things really weren't so bad. But that approach soon proved to be quite worthless. It only made me feel worse that I felt bad when I should have felt good. Instead, I've found that, for me, the one sure thing that works is to remind myself of who God really is - to anchor myself in His truth.
I hope to permanently break these chains of work-related anxiety soon. I know He is working. And I know He wants me to partner with Him on this particular chain-breaking mission.
Thank You for Your grace.
In Mark 4:35-41, Jesus sleeps in a boat during a storm, is woken up by the disciples, and then proceeds to rebuke the storm and command it to be still. He also asks the disciples whether they still have no faith.
I'm going through a storm right now. A deal I'm working on is getting close to the finish line and the last minute changes and the crunch-time work are really messing with my peace. I literally find myself losing sleep because of my work-related anxiety. And then, when I do wake up, I find that I have to take some time to remember a few scriptures regarding God's promises just to be able to walk out that door - Jeremiah 29:11 is a favorite one.
In the past, as a way to make myself feel better, I would compare my problems with other peoples' and to convince myself that things really weren't so bad. But that approach soon proved to be quite worthless. It only made me feel worse that I felt bad when I should have felt good. Instead, I've found that, for me, the one sure thing that works is to remind myself of who God really is - to anchor myself in His truth.
I hope to permanently break these chains of work-related anxiety soon. I know He is working. And I know He wants me to partner with Him on this particular chain-breaking mission.
Thank You for Your grace.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Training and Qualification
"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;"
Isaiah 61:1 (ESV)
I think training is incredibly important - I couldn't do half of the things I am doing in my job if I was not properly trained.
But I believe that qualification, true qualification, comes only from the Lord. Although it is technically true that the training I received from law school and my law degree "qualifies" me to do my job, the fact of the matter is, I am constantly learning in my job. No one person knows all the answers except for God. And because God is in me, He qualifies me to do the work - perfectly according to His will. When I relied on my own strength alone, I discovered very quickly how unqualified I was to do anything of real importance in this world (which, essentially, is synonymous with His will).
Isaiah, with the Spirit of the Lord GOD, is qualified to bring good news to the poor, to heal broken hearts, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and to free prisoners (all part of God's perfect, loving will). This same Spirit of the Lord GOD is within me, and if Isaiah can, then I can, and you can.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;"
Isaiah 61:1 (ESV)
I think training is incredibly important - I couldn't do half of the things I am doing in my job if I was not properly trained.
But I believe that qualification, true qualification, comes only from the Lord. Although it is technically true that the training I received from law school and my law degree "qualifies" me to do my job, the fact of the matter is, I am constantly learning in my job. No one person knows all the answers except for God. And because God is in me, He qualifies me to do the work - perfectly according to His will. When I relied on my own strength alone, I discovered very quickly how unqualified I was to do anything of real importance in this world (which, essentially, is synonymous with His will).
Isaiah, with the Spirit of the Lord GOD, is qualified to bring good news to the poor, to heal broken hearts, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and to free prisoners (all part of God's perfect, loving will). This same Spirit of the Lord GOD is within me, and if Isaiah can, then I can, and you can.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Biggest Spiritual Struggle
What are you (am I) so upset about?
Pride in the form of self-pity and complaining. Dang thing never leaves me alone.
Pride in the form of self-pity and complaining. Dang thing never leaves me alone.
Graduation
I graduated from my peer counseling class yesterday!
When I graduated from law school, I was elated at the thought that I would never have to take classes ever again. I knew that I would continue learning, but I was looking forward to never having to sit down in a classroom setting again. The past 13 weeks though, have revealed to me that learning in a classroom can be really enjoyable if the subject is interesting to me.
I have an engineering degree, a liberal arts degree, and a law degree. Except for some specific classes, I really did not enjoy studying for any of those degrees. I guess I just went through the motions.
But now, maybe, after all those years of searching, I am beginning to have a better idea of what it is that I enjoy doing and learning about.
Thank You for Shanghai Eve Center!
When I graduated from law school, I was elated at the thought that I would never have to take classes ever again. I knew that I would continue learning, but I was looking forward to never having to sit down in a classroom setting again. The past 13 weeks though, have revealed to me that learning in a classroom can be really enjoyable if the subject is interesting to me.
I have an engineering degree, a liberal arts degree, and a law degree. Except for some specific classes, I really did not enjoy studying for any of those degrees. I guess I just went through the motions.
But now, maybe, after all those years of searching, I am beginning to have a better idea of what it is that I enjoy doing and learning about.
Thank You for Shanghai Eve Center!
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Isaiah 25
6 On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples
a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine,
of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.
7 And he will swallow up on this mountain
the covering that is cast over all peoples,
the veil that is spread over all nations.
8 He will swallow up death forever;
and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces,
and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,
for the Lord has spoken.
9 It will be said on that day,
“Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.
This is the Lord; we have waited for him;
let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”
Thank You for hope!
a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine,
of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.
7 And he will swallow up on this mountain
the covering that is cast over all peoples,
the veil that is spread over all nations.
8 He will swallow up death forever;
and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces,
and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,
for the Lord has spoken.
9 It will be said on that day,
“Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.
This is the Lord; we have waited for him;
let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”
Thank You for hope!
Monday, May 20, 2013
Humidity
Growing up in Houston, summers were always hot and humid. As soon as it got unbearably hot, I knew that my summer break would inevitably arrive just around the corner. I guess all those years have instilled a Pavlovian response in me. Yesterday was incredibly hot and muggy and all I could think of was, "When is my summer break coming? When am I going to get to just lounge around, rest, and do nothing for 3 months?"
I miss my summer breaks. I miss watching hours upon hours of useless television programming with my sister and my cousin. I miss wasting my days and feeling no guilt or shame.
Summers are not the same now. Some part of me is glad that I've matured enough to accept responsibility, including accepting the truth that the days I've been given are a gift to be stewarded. But another part of me desperately wants to run away, go back to Houston, and live those carefree summer days all over again. Yet in my heart, I know that even if I were able to go back to those days, they would not satisfy.
The adversary always tells me the that the grass is greener on the other side. The adversary tests me with thoughts about running away, and I actually start feeling sorry for myself. But God is my strong tower, my shield, my deliverer, my anchor, my very present help in times of need. I have made my covenant with Jesus and He has never and will never fail me. He is the spring of living water that quenches my every thirst - He alone satisfies.
Thank You for knowing and providing for my every desire and need.
I miss my summer breaks. I miss watching hours upon hours of useless television programming with my sister and my cousin. I miss wasting my days and feeling no guilt or shame.
Summers are not the same now. Some part of me is glad that I've matured enough to accept responsibility, including accepting the truth that the days I've been given are a gift to be stewarded. But another part of me desperately wants to run away, go back to Houston, and live those carefree summer days all over again. Yet in my heart, I know that even if I were able to go back to those days, they would not satisfy.
The adversary always tells me the that the grass is greener on the other side. The adversary tests me with thoughts about running away, and I actually start feeling sorry for myself. But God is my strong tower, my shield, my deliverer, my anchor, my very present help in times of need. I have made my covenant with Jesus and He has never and will never fail me. He is the spring of living water that quenches my every thirst - He alone satisfies.
Thank You for knowing and providing for my every desire and need.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Ecclesiastes 2
"I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself." But behold, this also was vanity . . . Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 2: 1, 11 (ESV).
Meaninglessness ultimately comes not from being weary of pain but from being weary of pleasure. - Ravi Zacharias
I once talked to a non-believer friend of mine and flatly asked him what he thought the whole point of existence was. His answer (as best as I could understand it) was that the whole point of existence was the journey of chasing after pleasure. He readily admitted that each pleasure could only satisfy momentarily and that after the pleasure faded, he inevitably had to chase another, more intense, more powerful form of pleasure.
After listening to him, I retorted with: "Then why don't you just kill yourself?!"
Not the most wise, empathetic, or even appropriate answer, I know, but, once, very many years ago, I actually went down a similar train of thought as him, and all I could find at the end of that train of thought was meaninglessness. What's the point of it all, if nothing, absolutely nothing, can ever fully satisfy my appetite for pleasure? And if nothing can fully satisfy, then why am I still struggling to stay alive?
God didn't let me rest on those answers. He showed me, gently and over a length of time, just how much I could be satisfied in Him. He never gave up on me.
And now, He gives me the grace to say everything is beautiful.
Thank You for your Love. It changes everything.
Meaninglessness ultimately comes not from being weary of pain but from being weary of pleasure. - Ravi Zacharias
I once talked to a non-believer friend of mine and flatly asked him what he thought the whole point of existence was. His answer (as best as I could understand it) was that the whole point of existence was the journey of chasing after pleasure. He readily admitted that each pleasure could only satisfy momentarily and that after the pleasure faded, he inevitably had to chase another, more intense, more powerful form of pleasure.
After listening to him, I retorted with: "Then why don't you just kill yourself?!"
Not the most wise, empathetic, or even appropriate answer, I know, but, once, very many years ago, I actually went down a similar train of thought as him, and all I could find at the end of that train of thought was meaninglessness. What's the point of it all, if nothing, absolutely nothing, can ever fully satisfy my appetite for pleasure? And if nothing can fully satisfy, then why am I still struggling to stay alive?
God didn't let me rest on those answers. He showed me, gently and over a length of time, just how much I could be satisfied in Him. He never gave up on me.
And now, He gives me the grace to say everything is beautiful.
Thank You for your Love. It changes everything.
Intimacy
What you and I want most in life is intimacy.
I see Your face, You're beautiful.
Thank You for loving me.
I see Your face, You're beautiful.
Thank You for loving me.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Works Righteousness
The concept of earning salvation always turned me off.
I grew up trying my hardest (in everything), grew disillusioned with the diminishing returns of hard work and pretty soon gave up on fruitlessly chasing perfection. Enter Min-Max! If you don't know what Min-Max is, it's essentially searching for the most efficient use of resources (including time).
After accepting Jesus Christ, Min-Max has had to give way to grace in my life. Grace is me never being able to earn the ultimate prize but still getting it because of Jesus' blood. The acceptance of grace in faith allows me to give my all to God - without worrying about perfection since the ultimate prize is already mine.
Unfortunately, when it comes to work... I tend to slip back into old patterns of Min-Max. The astute reader will, of course, ask: "Isn't work part of giving your all to God?" And to him/her, I say: "You're right, following Jesus is a 24/7 thing, not compartmentalized or subdivided based on my preference." I guess I need more passion for Jesus at work.
Thank You for interceding. Even in my work.
I grew up trying my hardest (in everything), grew disillusioned with the diminishing returns of hard work and pretty soon gave up on fruitlessly chasing perfection. Enter Min-Max! If you don't know what Min-Max is, it's essentially searching for the most efficient use of resources (including time).
After accepting Jesus Christ, Min-Max has had to give way to grace in my life. Grace is me never being able to earn the ultimate prize but still getting it because of Jesus' blood. The acceptance of grace in faith allows me to give my all to God - without worrying about perfection since the ultimate prize is already mine.
Unfortunately, when it comes to work... I tend to slip back into old patterns of Min-Max. The astute reader will, of course, ask: "Isn't work part of giving your all to God?" And to him/her, I say: "You're right, following Jesus is a 24/7 thing, not compartmentalized or subdivided based on my preference." I guess I need more passion for Jesus at work.
Thank You for interceding. Even in my work.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Testimony
... For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. - Revelation 19:10
I testify that God is good - exceedingly, unfathomably, incredibly, unwaveringly, infinitely, prodigally, Good! I prayed to God and He listened. He turned His face to shine upon me and filled me with His peace.
I asked Him to allow me to come home to Shanghai in time to make my peer counseling class. He knew how important this class is to me and He moved mountains and seas (and a loan document review meeting) to ensure that I would make my class.
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. - John 15:15
Thank You for being my friend.
I testify that God is good - exceedingly, unfathomably, incredibly, unwaveringly, infinitely, prodigally, Good! I prayed to God and He listened. He turned His face to shine upon me and filled me with His peace.
I asked Him to allow me to come home to Shanghai in time to make my peer counseling class. He knew how important this class is to me and He moved mountains and seas (and a loan document review meeting) to ensure that I would make my class.
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. - John 15:15
Thank You for being my friend.
Children
A friend of mine told me today that she's pregnant! In the midst of my busy day in Hong Kong, this was the best news I received all day.
During my Moganshan trip, my friend asked us whether we thought the world would be a better or worse place in 500 years. I responded with: "Better." But I was surprised by how many of my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ responded with: "Worse."
I want the world to be a better place. I want the Kingdom of God to establish more and more of its presence on this earth as time passes by. I think that's partially why I can't wait to have kids of my own.
Thank you for hope.
During my Moganshan trip, my friend asked us whether we thought the world would be a better or worse place in 500 years. I responded with: "Better." But I was surprised by how many of my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ responded with: "Worse."
I want the world to be a better place. I want the Kingdom of God to establish more and more of its presence on this earth as time passes by. I think that's partially why I can't wait to have kids of my own.
Thank you for hope.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Slavery
"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1 (ESV)
"But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness." Romans 6:17-18 (ESV)
"Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:30 (ESV)
I remember once hearing a sermon from pastor Tim Keller claiming that we are all slaves to something - be it our own pride, our own desires, our relationships, our material possessions, or our career... And Paul seems to concur in that description - that before being set free by the blood of Christ, we were all slaves of sin. What strikes me though is that, after accepting the grace of Jesus Christ, I actually go from being a slave of sin to the freedom of being a slave of righteousness. It's difficult for me to grasp the concept of being free while at the same time being a slave of righteousness, but then I think about the cost of my freedom - the cost of God humbling Himself to come to earth to redeem me on the cross with His blood and life, and I gradually become more and more accustomed and accepting of my being a slave of righteousness.
All I know is that I've never felt so free in my life - free to choose what God wants for me, free to love Him and to receive His love, with no guilt and fear.
My friend over at Hammer of Allegri likes to remind me that "heaven is a dictatorship" - a benevolent dictatorship with a deserving king, but a dictatorship nonetheless.
So who/what do you submit to?
Thank You for the easy yoke and light burden.
"But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness." Romans 6:17-18 (ESV)
"Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:30 (ESV)
I remember once hearing a sermon from pastor Tim Keller claiming that we are all slaves to something - be it our own pride, our own desires, our relationships, our material possessions, or our career... And Paul seems to concur in that description - that before being set free by the blood of Christ, we were all slaves of sin. What strikes me though is that, after accepting the grace of Jesus Christ, I actually go from being a slave of sin to the freedom of being a slave of righteousness. It's difficult for me to grasp the concept of being free while at the same time being a slave of righteousness, but then I think about the cost of my freedom - the cost of God humbling Himself to come to earth to redeem me on the cross with His blood and life, and I gradually become more and more accustomed and accepting of my being a slave of righteousness.
All I know is that I've never felt so free in my life - free to choose what God wants for me, free to love Him and to receive His love, with no guilt and fear.
My friend over at Hammer of Allegri likes to remind me that "heaven is a dictatorship" - a benevolent dictatorship with a deserving king, but a dictatorship nonetheless.
So who/what do you submit to?
Thank You for the easy yoke and light burden.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
With Everything
In Revelations 2: 4 God charges the church of Ephesus on abandoning the love they had at first [for Jesus].
In our cell group, we are doing a study called "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan and I'm in charge of leading the word this week. This week's lesson asks us to examine our love for God - a daunting prospect, to be sure, as I know I don't love God enough - not even close. But I do know that there are brief moments in my life where I do love Him - where I do love Him with everything of me.
I remember the first time I heard Hillsong United live - my law school buddy David invited me to go to their concert in Times Square. And I can still remember the incredibly charged atmosphere as Hillsong United sang "With Everything" - especially that moment when the song broke down to a series of "whoas". There's something amazing about joining hundreds of people repeating the same praise to God. The lyrics sang by each person may be exactly the same, but I knew even then, that those "whoas" meant something different to each person singing it out. And God knows. He has always known each person's heart.
"With Everything" is one of those songs that helps me remember the cost of following Jesus. And at the same time it reminds me that the reward for following Jesus vastly outweighs the cost. This song reminds me of my first love, encourages me to repent for abandoning Him, and moves me to love Him with everything of me - again.
Check out the song - the whoa's come in at 4:24. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J9jNneZtY4
Thank You for the cross.
In our cell group, we are doing a study called "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan and I'm in charge of leading the word this week. This week's lesson asks us to examine our love for God - a daunting prospect, to be sure, as I know I don't love God enough - not even close. But I do know that there are brief moments in my life where I do love Him - where I do love Him with everything of me.
I remember the first time I heard Hillsong United live - my law school buddy David invited me to go to their concert in Times Square. And I can still remember the incredibly charged atmosphere as Hillsong United sang "With Everything" - especially that moment when the song broke down to a series of "whoas". There's something amazing about joining hundreds of people repeating the same praise to God. The lyrics sang by each person may be exactly the same, but I knew even then, that those "whoas" meant something different to each person singing it out. And God knows. He has always known each person's heart.
"With Everything" is one of those songs that helps me remember the cost of following Jesus. And at the same time it reminds me that the reward for following Jesus vastly outweighs the cost. This song reminds me of my first love, encourages me to repent for abandoning Him, and moves me to love Him with everything of me - again.
Check out the song - the whoa's come in at 4:24. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J9jNneZtY4
Thank You for the cross.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Rain and Peer Counseling
It's the rainy season here in Shanghai. Every year, a few weeks into spring, Shanghai will experience an extended period of rain (typically a week to two weeks of intermittent rain) which will usher in the heat and humidity. Typically, after this rainy season, older homes will start smelling like mold and hung laundry will not dry completely - easily my least favorite time of the year.
I'm not a huge fan of rain. Rain gets me thinking - gets me to think too much. But as I walked to work this morning in the rain, I found myself not being in an introspective, contemplative, or solemn mood but instead in a mood of praise. I found myself enjoying the sound of raindrops hitting my umbrella, the image of small ripples formed on the ground as raindrops fell from the sky and merged themselves with puddles, the quiet serenity of the hum of falling rain, the eerie deserted streets, and the sight of birds frolicking and grooming on the wet grass.
Rain has a purpose. Rain sustains life. Isaiah 55:10 says:
10 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
I can choose to rejoice in the rain or I can choose to focus on my annoying wet socks, wet shoes, and wet pant legs. Either way, it doesn't change the fact that it is raining.
---
At the end of my peer counseling course last night, the instructor gave us a case study. The client is a mother of a 15-year old son who stays up late each Friday night to play video games with his friends and as a consequence does not wake up on Saturdays until 3:00 pm. The client, concerned about her son missing lunch, will bring lunch up to her son's room every Saturday and wake him up. She is becoming increasingly upset about the entire arrangement.
As soon as our instructor finished giving us this case study, all the students (including myself) immediately began to give helpful suggestions to the mother on to how to set proper curfews and house rules. Our instructor listened attentively for about ten minutes then asked a very simple question: "Why is it that no one has asked the client - What does this (your son's late waking) have to do with you?" We had missed the point of the exercise completely.
The main purpose of counseling is to empower the client - to help them to make decisions and take responsibilities for their decisions. If the client was already certain that she wanted her son to follow a strict curfew, then she would have done so already and would not have come to the peer counselor. The reason she is seeking counseling is because she is unsure about what to do - and there really are no right answers in this scenario - the only right answer is the answer that the client decides on and pursues. Just like the reality of rain, I am oftentimes powerless to change the circumstances of my life (and/or change the people in my life). What I can do; however, is to choose how to view and approach these circumstances and these people. I may not be able to change the circumstances and the people in my life, but I can always change myself and my attitudes and actions towards them.
Thank You for letting me choose - Thank You for waiting 26 years for me to choose You.
I'm not a huge fan of rain. Rain gets me thinking - gets me to think too much. But as I walked to work this morning in the rain, I found myself not being in an introspective, contemplative, or solemn mood but instead in a mood of praise. I found myself enjoying the sound of raindrops hitting my umbrella, the image of small ripples formed on the ground as raindrops fell from the sky and merged themselves with puddles, the quiet serenity of the hum of falling rain, the eerie deserted streets, and the sight of birds frolicking and grooming on the wet grass.
Rain has a purpose. Rain sustains life. Isaiah 55:10 says:
10 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
I can choose to rejoice in the rain or I can choose to focus on my annoying wet socks, wet shoes, and wet pant legs. Either way, it doesn't change the fact that it is raining.
---
At the end of my peer counseling course last night, the instructor gave us a case study. The client is a mother of a 15-year old son who stays up late each Friday night to play video games with his friends and as a consequence does not wake up on Saturdays until 3:00 pm. The client, concerned about her son missing lunch, will bring lunch up to her son's room every Saturday and wake him up. She is becoming increasingly upset about the entire arrangement.
As soon as our instructor finished giving us this case study, all the students (including myself) immediately began to give helpful suggestions to the mother on to how to set proper curfews and house rules. Our instructor listened attentively for about ten minutes then asked a very simple question: "Why is it that no one has asked the client - What does this (your son's late waking) have to do with you?" We had missed the point of the exercise completely.
The main purpose of counseling is to empower the client - to help them to make decisions and take responsibilities for their decisions. If the client was already certain that she wanted her son to follow a strict curfew, then she would have done so already and would not have come to the peer counselor. The reason she is seeking counseling is because she is unsure about what to do - and there really are no right answers in this scenario - the only right answer is the answer that the client decides on and pursues. Just like the reality of rain, I am oftentimes powerless to change the circumstances of my life (and/or change the people in my life). What I can do; however, is to choose how to view and approach these circumstances and these people. I may not be able to change the circumstances and the people in my life, but I can always change myself and my attitudes and actions towards them.
Thank You for letting me choose - Thank You for waiting 26 years for me to choose You.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Weather
I love sleep. Years ago, one of the leaders of my church youth group once asserted that: "if I didn't worship God, I'd worship my pillow." That statement fits me pretty well.
I am especially fond of sleeping during rainy, foggy, sleety, or just plain gray weather. And my body seems to have a sixth sense capable of detecting when the outside weather is particularly bad and instructing my body to continue to sleep. I know it's a sixth sense because if you've ever been to my bedroom, you know that it's like a sensory isolation chamber. I have curtains that completely block out all light coming from my windows, I have an air purifier inside my room that runs constantly creating a nice soothing hum, and my walls are pretty sound-proof (they only let in the sounds of my neighbor's remodeling their apartment). However, even with all that sensory isolation, my body just seems to instinctively know when the weather outside is bad and I should therefore spend more time sleeping in.
It's a rare gift, I know, and I know that God will reveal to me, in His time, how to use this rare gift for the advancement of His kingdom. In the meantime, I promise to use my amazing gift for good and not for evil.
Thank You for Tempur-Pedic beds and pillows. And comfortable sheets and comforters. And I guess also alarm clocks... I guess...
I am especially fond of sleeping during rainy, foggy, sleety, or just plain gray weather. And my body seems to have a sixth sense capable of detecting when the outside weather is particularly bad and instructing my body to continue to sleep. I know it's a sixth sense because if you've ever been to my bedroom, you know that it's like a sensory isolation chamber. I have curtains that completely block out all light coming from my windows, I have an air purifier inside my room that runs constantly creating a nice soothing hum, and my walls are pretty sound-proof (they only let in the sounds of my neighbor's remodeling their apartment). However, even with all that sensory isolation, my body just seems to instinctively know when the weather outside is bad and I should therefore spend more time sleeping in.
It's a rare gift, I know, and I know that God will reveal to me, in His time, how to use this rare gift for the advancement of His kingdom. In the meantime, I promise to use my amazing gift for good and not for evil.
Thank You for Tempur-Pedic beds and pillows. And comfortable sheets and comforters. And I guess also alarm clocks... I guess...
Monday, May 6, 2013
Working from Rest: Revelation and Identity
I am called to work from rest. I am called to work from resting in (1) What God has said to me about my own life and (2) Who God has said I am in Him.
To me, (1) is revelation and (2) is identity, and I need to accept and understand both in faith. Without (1), I do not know the path that God wants me to take. Without (2), I will not be anchored securely enough in my identity in Him to undertake the path that God wants me to take (or to receive His gentle correction when I do take the wrong path), much less do anything else. These are both concepts that I have come to gradually understand with the help of sermons, the bible, encouragement from friends, and the Holy Spirit.
All striving ceases when I perfectly rest in (1) and (2). There is no more doubt. I can step out in faith and trust that God will guide and protect me. He will bless the path He has called me to undertake or else He will (as I am His son) lead me away from the path that He has not called me to undertake. Either way, His will is done. It is my sincere prayer that God in me increases to the point that I am able to stop striving and perfectly rest in Him - feel free to remind me/keep me accountable of this.
"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love." 1 John 4:18 (ESV)
Paul in Philippians 1:21 says: "For me, to live is Christ, and to die is to gain." What a bad, bad man. I am not fully there yet, but I know that with the Father's love, Jesus' blood, and the Holy Spirit's power, I'll get there.
Thank You for your revelations. Thank You for my identity.
To me, (1) is revelation and (2) is identity, and I need to accept and understand both in faith. Without (1), I do not know the path that God wants me to take. Without (2), I will not be anchored securely enough in my identity in Him to undertake the path that God wants me to take (or to receive His gentle correction when I do take the wrong path), much less do anything else. These are both concepts that I have come to gradually understand with the help of sermons, the bible, encouragement from friends, and the Holy Spirit.
All striving ceases when I perfectly rest in (1) and (2). There is no more doubt. I can step out in faith and trust that God will guide and protect me. He will bless the path He has called me to undertake or else He will (as I am His son) lead me away from the path that He has not called me to undertake. Either way, His will is done. It is my sincere prayer that God in me increases to the point that I am able to stop striving and perfectly rest in Him - feel free to remind me/keep me accountable of this.
"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love." 1 John 4:18 (ESV)
Paul in Philippians 1:21 says: "For me, to live is Christ, and to die is to gain." What a bad, bad man. I am not fully there yet, but I know that with the Father's love, Jesus' blood, and the Holy Spirit's power, I'll get there.
Thank You for your revelations. Thank You for my identity.
Psalms 46:10 (The Beginning)
The sermon I listened to that got me thinking about being still.
http://www.ibethel.tv/watch/1637/be-quiet-and-sit-down/2013/04/21
Also available for free on podcast under: "Bethel Church Sermon of the Week"
I really do believe that the time I spend being still with God and meditating on His truth is my only viable source of perfect comfort, faith, courage, peace, and joy in my times of anxiety, confusion, helplessness, and sorrow.
http://www.ibethel.tv/watch/1637/be-quiet-and-sit-down/2013/04/21
Also available for free on podcast under: "Bethel Church Sermon of the Week"
I really do believe that the time I spend being still with God and meditating on His truth is my only viable source of perfect comfort, faith, courage, peace, and joy in my times of anxiety, confusion, helplessness, and sorrow.
Psalms 46:10 (continued)
Be Still My Soul
Be still, my soul, the Lord is on your side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to your God to order and provide;
In every change, He will remain.
Be still, my soul, your God will undertake
To guide the future, as in ages past.
Your hope, your mind, your will let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright.
Be still, my soul, the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's joys restored.
Be still, my soul, be still my soul
And praise Him, and praise Him.
I prefer the original reworked version by Page CXVI in their Hymns III album. But the Re:Hymns version found in the link below is quite good as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eENMWnD73eA
Be still, my soul. And praise Him.
Be still, my soul, the Lord is on your side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to your God to order and provide;
In every change, He will remain.
Be still, my soul, your God will undertake
To guide the future, as in ages past.
Your hope, your mind, your will let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright.
Be still, my soul, the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's joys restored.
Be still, my soul, be still my soul
And praise Him, and praise Him.
I prefer the original reworked version by Page CXVI in their Hymns III album. But the Re:Hymns version found in the link below is quite good as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eENMWnD73eA
Be still, my soul. And praise Him.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Psalms 46:10
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
He is/will be exalted in my heart. And I hope in yours as well.
Be still - He is God. Blessed week, y'all.
He is/will be exalted in my heart. And I hope in yours as well.
Be still - He is God. Blessed week, y'all.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Hope.
Check out this article from NYTimes: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/03/health/suicide-rate-rises-sharply-in-us.html?hp&_r=0
TL:DR - More Americans die a year by suicide than motor vehicle accidents. Suicide rates in the last decade have risen by more than 30%. The highest increase came from men in their 50's i.e. the Baby Boom generation. Although the reasons for committing suicide are complex, there is a correlation between rising rates of suicide and economic downturns.
Proverbs 13:12 says: "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life." (ESV) What do you place your hope in?
Too often I place my hope in money - in the security and comfort that money can bring. But I've learned that money never satisfies me - there isn't enough money in this entire world to satisfy me. And when I place my hope in money, I pursue money as a zero-sum game - I think that I have to get the dollar, or someone else will.
I remember how miserable I was the first year and half after I came to Shanghai. I was trying so hard to save up money to pay off my law school loans, and it always seemed like I was never saving enough. My hope was so tied up with paying off my law school loans that I fully expected my life to change drastically once I did pay it off. At that time, I thought: "Once I pay off my law school loans, I can go do whatever I want to do! I'll be free!"
But that sense of freedom never materialized. Even after I paid off my law school loans, I was still anxious and fearful and lost. After I finished paying off my loans, all of my income was now disposable and I could spend it on whatever I wanted to! Ironically, I kept saving out of fear - fear of losing my steady income. I so wanted money to comfort and save me from my own anxiety and fear and sense of hopelessness, but there just wasn't enough money in this world! I would set little savings goals for myself thinking: "I'll be happy and feel safe if I save up this much money," only for that savings goal to continue to increase and increase and increase. And at the same time, my anxiety, fear, and hopelessness would rise at the same rate that my savings goal rose.
That mounting anxiety, fear, and sense of hopelessness tortured me daily! And that was after I had already paid off my law school loans and was sitting on some savings. Now imagine if I had lost my job prior to paying off my loan! I can't even begin to imagine how lost and hopeless I would have felt! Thank God I never had to find out.
Nothing in this world is fit to bear the burden of my hope - absolutely nothing: not my family, not my friends, not my career, not money, not anything. I am convinced of this truth more and more each day. Nothing in this world can bear the burden of my hope because when you place your hope on something, you are effectively worshipping it - it has become the center of your existence. You have idolized it. And nothing in this world can bear the burden of worship, nothing but God. God alone is able to bear the burden of worship - He alone is worthy to be worshipped because He is God.
It's a daily struggle for me to not sink back into my old patterns of idolization. It's easy and tempting for me to idolize money, idolize relationships, idolize myself. These things do bring me satisfaction - but the satisfaction they bring is always short-lived and never enough. The alternative is to worship God. To trust Him and walk with Him.
"But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33 (KJV).
Thank You for being the source of my hope. Thank You for your enduring promises.
TL:DR - More Americans die a year by suicide than motor vehicle accidents. Suicide rates in the last decade have risen by more than 30%. The highest increase came from men in their 50's i.e. the Baby Boom generation. Although the reasons for committing suicide are complex, there is a correlation between rising rates of suicide and economic downturns.
Proverbs 13:12 says: "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life." (ESV) What do you place your hope in?
Too often I place my hope in money - in the security and comfort that money can bring. But I've learned that money never satisfies me - there isn't enough money in this entire world to satisfy me. And when I place my hope in money, I pursue money as a zero-sum game - I think that I have to get the dollar, or someone else will.
I remember how miserable I was the first year and half after I came to Shanghai. I was trying so hard to save up money to pay off my law school loans, and it always seemed like I was never saving enough. My hope was so tied up with paying off my law school loans that I fully expected my life to change drastically once I did pay it off. At that time, I thought: "Once I pay off my law school loans, I can go do whatever I want to do! I'll be free!"
But that sense of freedom never materialized. Even after I paid off my law school loans, I was still anxious and fearful and lost. After I finished paying off my loans, all of my income was now disposable and I could spend it on whatever I wanted to! Ironically, I kept saving out of fear - fear of losing my steady income. I so wanted money to comfort and save me from my own anxiety and fear and sense of hopelessness, but there just wasn't enough money in this world! I would set little savings goals for myself thinking: "I'll be happy and feel safe if I save up this much money," only for that savings goal to continue to increase and increase and increase. And at the same time, my anxiety, fear, and hopelessness would rise at the same rate that my savings goal rose.
That mounting anxiety, fear, and sense of hopelessness tortured me daily! And that was after I had already paid off my law school loans and was sitting on some savings. Now imagine if I had lost my job prior to paying off my loan! I can't even begin to imagine how lost and hopeless I would have felt! Thank God I never had to find out.
Nothing in this world is fit to bear the burden of my hope - absolutely nothing: not my family, not my friends, not my career, not money, not anything. I am convinced of this truth more and more each day. Nothing in this world can bear the burden of my hope because when you place your hope on something, you are effectively worshipping it - it has become the center of your existence. You have idolized it. And nothing in this world can bear the burden of worship, nothing but God. God alone is able to bear the burden of worship - He alone is worthy to be worshipped because He is God.
It's a daily struggle for me to not sink back into my old patterns of idolization. It's easy and tempting for me to idolize money, idolize relationships, idolize myself. These things do bring me satisfaction - but the satisfaction they bring is always short-lived and never enough. The alternative is to worship God. To trust Him and walk with Him.
"But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33 (KJV).
Thank You for being the source of my hope. Thank You for your enduring promises.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Vacation
I went to Moganshan for this year's May holiday. It was a terrifically relaxing and fun trip, with great views, great friends, great food, but only so-so beer - Moganshan beer is really quite bland.
God showed up at Moganshan. It was supposed to rain quite heavily on the two days we were there, but the amazing thing was that it only seemed to rain when our group was resting in the hotel! When we first arrived at our hotel, it rained while we had a planning meeting/lunch in our hotel room, and the only other time it rained was during the night while we slept. Even more proof that God listens and prayer works.
I can't wait to see where God shows up next. Thanks for listening.
God showed up at Moganshan. It was supposed to rain quite heavily on the two days we were there, but the amazing thing was that it only seemed to rain when our group was resting in the hotel! When we first arrived at our hotel, it rained while we had a planning meeting/lunch in our hotel room, and the only other time it rained was during the night while we slept. Even more proof that God listens and prayer works.
I can't wait to see where God shows up next. Thanks for listening.
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