The Rescue

August 29, 2012  **Wednesday. Starbucks. 8:06am**

A long time ago, my teacher had told us a story about a river that flowed through a town.  

One day, the few of the people were found dead down river.  The police and other authorities immediately arrived at the scene. Soon thereafter, there were many other deaths. No one was able to figure out why this was happening.  The deaths were multiplying daily. They built a morgue and filled it with various personnel and opened up a large lot to bury the dead down river.  No one ever thought to travel upriver until a life guard happened to be hiking near the woods in that area.  This life saver noticed something strange and questioned why it was so.  It was then their efforts was redirected up stream to find the reason for their deaths instead of just burying the dead.  This simple observation saved many lives. 

See, I strive to become a World Changer when I grow up.  I want to be a part of the life saving rescue efforts.  By finding out the initial causes and creating ways of prevention; I can help change and make an impact in the world by learning how to save lives.  

My journey through NHCC will be a part of what will enable me to become the world changer, life saver, redirector of traffic, and just shine the light in the darkness that I strive to be.  This is impossible but with God, He makes things happen! 

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God's Friendship

August 28, 2012  **Tuesday. Starbucks. 8:22am**

Job 29:2-4

"I long for the years gone by when God took care of me, when he lit up the way before me and I walked safely through the darkness.  When I was in my prime, God's friendship was felt in my home."

When people go through rough patches in their lives, it is natural that they speak of times past.  They all dwell on the "good ole days" and "way back when".  These days are the highlight of many people's lives. Some view it as good memories and move on in a healthy way; others see it as good times but have not moved on, causing them to constantly look back with regret.  Job's circumstances were very dire and seemed hopeless.  He had friends who surrounded him, who spoke life and encouragement to him, and a times, did the "smack in the face" with words.  It trips me out that after Job's series of unfortunate events that Job and his friends could not utter words to console him for seven days!

I know that when I hit bumps on the road or even when I'm hanging out with a bunch of friends, they constantly talk about the past.  In light of their conversations, they often laugh or wonder why things happened the way they did.  When I look a my past, at this moment, I see and remember mostly those tough and trying moments of my life where I struggled with issues and bad choices.  During this time, I don't recall being God's friend.  I had no concept of what that was--sure, I knew what a friend was, but to really have a heart knowledge-to really live out how a good friend is, I never understood it, so in turn, I was a bad friend.  God is always have been and will always be our friend.  Sometimes we hang out with him as our best friend. We wear BFF T-shirts and necklaces to prove that we are best friends. How many of those times in our lives do we treat God as that guy in the background--the one in our outer circle, the guy we put our back to, the guy that we sometimes are embarrassed to be around, the guy who is there but we are hanging out with "cooler" friends?  I know I do, sometimes very often.

Lord, I wanna be your friend.  I wanna hang out with you as you stand next to me.  Not on the outskirts, behind the circle of friends, the one who is ignored.  I wanna hang out with you; like in Psalms 51:12b says, "...make me willing to obey you".  Help my heart to want to have you next to me, that I know who you really are-your character, your unfailing love, and your faithfulness.  Teach me to be cool like you, to hear your intimate voice, to really know you.

I love Facebook but I wish I could visually see God's friendship via his wall and see our postings and messages by this type of social media. Seeing it this way would be cool and all but truly, I want and deeply desire the intimacy of God's friendship felt at my home, my heart, as my dear close friend not just to add to my friend list.

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Breath

August 25, 2012  **Saturday. Starbucks. 8:01am**

Secret Revealed

August 24, 2012  **Friday. Starbucks. 6:56am**

1 Corinthians 15:51

But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret.  We will not all die, but we will all be transformed!

In this passage, Paul speaks to the Corinthian church about the first Adam and the last Adam, which is Christ; about death and baptism. In verse 46 says, "what comes first is the natural body, then the spiritual body comes later."  He goes on to say in verse 50, "What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.  These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever."  Throughout history people will always be concerned with death.  This passage assures the followers of Christ that we all die but there is a promise in living for the Holy God.

To me, death is just a necessary evil we all face.  We all will die one day.  I've heard it said that there are only two guarantees in life: death and taxes.  Sure, we can avoid taxes--until it finds us, but death is one thing we cannot avoid.  No matter how hard we hide.  Knowing this truth that Paul reveals is so wonderful that it enables me to keep doing what I'm doing for Christ.  I am a bond-servant and knowing that i will one day be transformed into a heavenly creature, one only God can create, is beyond imaginable!

Lord, You alone are amazing.  You are the very thing I cling to daily.  Every morning I listen to Rebecca St. James's song, "Breath", and I can not help but to use that song as my everyday theme.  You are the one I am so desperate for.  You are the air that I breath.  You are the only one I strive to live for.  Today, as I start my first day of my 2nd year, the year we "Develop" I pray that you will not only go before me, but walk along side of me.  Remind me that you direct my steps, my path, my ways.  Let them be your ways.  Remind me not to hang out with those creepers at the Pity Party, or the complainers of the Complaint Corner.  Show me those who love you, who serve you, who have the overwhelming joy to just be with you.  I love you so much.  Remind me of this day, the day that I start my development process in my journey with you at NHCC.  Thank you for being God.

The Secret is Revealed.  Those who love and follow Christ will be forevermore transformed.

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Pity Party

August 23, 2012  **Thursday. Starbucks-Village Park. 9:47pm**

Job 10:1-2

I am disgusted with my life.  Let me complain freely.  My bitter soul must complain.  I will say to God, "Don't simply condemn me--tell me the charge you are bringing against me.

According to Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary: 10:1-7 Job, being weary of his life, resolves to complain, but he will not charge God with unrighteousness. Here is a prayer that he might be delivered from the sting of his afflictions, which is sin. When God afflicts us, he contends with us; when he contends with us, there is always a reason; and it is desirable to know the reason, that we may repent of and forsake the sin for which God has a controversy with us. But when, like Job, we speak in the bitterness of our souls, we increase guilt and vexation. Let us harbour no hard thoughts of God; we shall hereafter see there was no cause for them. Job is sure that God does not discover things, nor judge of them, as men do; therefore he thinks it strange that God continues him under affliction, as if he must take time to inquire into his sin.

This is hard core, man.  "If anguish on earth renders the grave a desirable refuge, what will be their condition who are condemned to the blackness of darkness for ever?" Whoa, so those times when I wanted to end my own life and craved death, my condition would have a greater sense of despair?  That's super deep and crazy to even fathom.

Lord God, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SAVING ME!!! Saving me from myself, saving me from this unfathomable depth of despair, saving me from eternal damnation, saving me from the weeping and gnashing of teeth.  WHOA, I am an utter failure without you; BUT YOU GOD, loved me so much that you saved me those times when I was on the brink of death; those darkened nights as I heavily contemplated the benefits of death and the ease of becoming you, one who decides to take death into her own hands. These benefits--leaving my loved ones, no more heartaches or heavy burdens to bare, or the benefit of releasing my unknown dreams into the grave--or so I thought as benefits, were really just a pile of poopy lies. You knew, at those times that these were not benefits of death but the very things that will lift my spirits higher; the very things that will cause me to excel in this life, the very things that, out of the overflow of my heart for you, will cause me to become the very world changer that I now strive to become. All I can say is: Thank you.

Most days the Pity Party hangs out across town. Some days they cruz on by the neighborhood.  I know they're there, they exist only to wait for an invitation. Not Today, guys I get to hang out with the cool kids--Those who love and serve God.  Keep your Pity Party on your side of town....

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Complain, Complain, Complain

August 22, 2012  **Wednesday. Starbucks. 10:00am**

Job 6:5-6

Don't I have a right to complain?  don't wild donkeys bray when they find no grass, and oxen bellow when they have no food? Don't people complain about unsalted food?  Does anyone want the tasteless white of an egg?

Wild donkeys and oxen do not cry out or make a fuss if they have enough to eat.  They will, though, if they are in areas where the food supply is sparse.  Job had a lot to complain about.  His children were killed, fields and animals were destroyed, and he had boils all over his body.  These are complaints that are worthy of complaining about.

I was reminded of a scene in a movie, Ever After with Drew Barrymore where her step sister throws a tantrum when she finds out Drew's character is the one the Prince is in love with.  There are so many times where I am in her shoes.  Where I just need a few minutes to complain, throw a mini temper tantrum, be selfish, or cry.  I've complained about so many things that may have not gone my way, where I have not received something I truly wanted or desired; simply complained.  We have a right to complain--it's where our heart is, our heart's condition after the fact that matters.  I hope that after "wearing and spoiling my baby girl chonies" I can get over it and move on with my adult life wearing clean big girl panties.

Lord, help me to remember to keep my big girl chonies on; that you are ultimately in control.  If things do not go my way, remind me that my plans/ways/wants are not really what you have for me.  Teach me to have patience, understanding, and love during my spoiled little girl times.  I only want what you want, and not to complain for things that I want.

Complain, complain, complain and throw your tantrum all you want, but it really isn't gonna get you anywhere, you'll just have dried tears and snot all over your face, rumpled clothes and a swift kick in the butt from Daddy.

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January 28, 1978

August 21, 2012  **Tuesday. Starbucks. 8:53am**

Job 3:1-26

At last Job spoke, and he cursed the day of his birth.  He said: 

"Let the day of my birth be erased, and the night I was conceived. 

Let that day be turned to darkness. Let it be lost even to God on high, and let no light shine on it. 

Let the darkness and utter gloom claim that day for its own.  Let a black cloud overshadow it, and let the darkness terrify it.  

Let that night be blotted off the calendar, never again to be counted among the days of the year, never again to appear among the months.  

Let that night be childless.  Let it have no joy. 

Let those who are experts at cursing--whose cursing could rouse Leviathan--curse that day.  

Let its morning stars remain dark.  Let it hope for light, but in vain; may it never see the morning light.  

Curse that day for failing to shut my mother's womb, for letting me be born to see all this trouble.  

Why wasn't I born dead? why didn't I die as I came from the womb?

Why was I laid on my mother's lap? Why did she nurse me at her breasts? 

Had I died at birth, I would now be at peace.  I would be asleep and at rest. 

I would rest with the world's kings and prime ministers, whose great building now lie in ruins.  

I would rest with princes, rich in gold, whose palaces were filled with silver. 

Why wasn't I buried like a stillborn child, like a baby who never lives to see the light?  

For in death the wicked cause no trouble, and the weary are at rest.  

Even captives are at ease in death, with no guards to curse them.  

Rich and poor are both there, and the slave is free from his master.  

Oh, why give light to those in misery, and live to those who are bitter? 

They long for death, and it won't come. They search for death more eagerly than for hidden treasure.  

They're filled with joy when the finally die, and rejoice when they find the grave.  

Why is the life given to those with no future, those God has surrounded with difficulties?  

I cannot eat for sighing; my groans pour out like water.  

What I always feared has happened to me.  What I dreaded has come true.  

I have no peace, no quietness.  I have no rest; only trouble comes.  

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High Five For Jesus

August 20, 2012  **Monday. Starbucks. 11:31p**



This is my friend, Jay from my HSE days in San Diego.  I love his approach to witnessing and he is super cool!

Enjoy!

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Beauty Treatments

August 18, 2012  **Saturday. Starbucks. 10:08am**

Esther 2:12

Before each young woman was taken to the kin's bed, she was given the prescribed twelve months of beauty treatments--six months with oil of myrrh, followed by six months with special perfumes and ointments.

Esther was a Jew by birth and chosen by the king after Queen Vashti refused him.  These beauty treatments that she went through were very extensive.  Twelve months of spas, manicures, pedicures, make up, the works can be very special but rigorous.  Esther was special enough and blessed to have become chosen to be a representative of the Jewish people for such a time as this!

To have the chance to spend a year with beauticians would be heaven for me!  I can imagine just the things that I would be immersed in.  So cool!  This verse spoke to me because the women who when through these treatments were virgins and hand picked by the king--so no ordinary girl would imagine going through this regimental treatment.  In the year she spent beautifying herself, I would like to think that this time is my time of preparation for my future husband.  There may not be twelve months of oil or myrrh but in purity, holiness, and righteousness; I can be like these virgins waiting for the king.

Lord, as I seek purity in mind, spirit, and body; I pray that I can focus on at least twelve months of beauty treatments with you.  Show me what that looks like, how it feels and means to be immersed in oil and myrrh.  I want to wait and spend time with you, as you prepare my future husband.  But Lord, selfishly, right now I don't want to be in the shadow of any man.  I want your light to shine through me, and pridefully I want to be the face that represents you that others see.  Thank you for being that beautiful savior who I love so dearly.

The beauty treatments I seek after is you.

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Your Love - Casting Crowns

August 15, 2012. **Wednesday. Starbucks. 10:51am.**

Your love is extravagant
Your friendship, it is intimate
I feel like moving to the rhythm of Your grace 
Your fragrance is intoxicating in our secret place
Your love is extravagant

Spread wide in the arms of Christ is the love that covers sin
No greater love have I ever known You considered me a friend
Capture my heart again

Spread wide in the arms of Christ is the love that covers sin
No greater love have I ever known; You considered me a friend

Capture my heart again
Your love is extravagant
Your friendship, it is intimate

Can Handle

August 14, 2012 **Tuesday. Starbucks. 12:59pm**

1 Corinthians 10:13

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience.  And God s faithful.  He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand.  When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

In the beginning of chapter 10, Paul teaches the Corinthian church about Israel's idolatry away from God.  The beauty of this verse is that Paul reassures the church about God's faithfulness.  He continues in verse 14, encouraging them to flee from worshiping other gods or things.

Earlier today, as I had coffee with my best friend; she reminded me of what I told her when we were 17.  We were discussing life in general and she said, "yeah, like you told me long ago-'God will not give us anything we can't handle' and this held true ever since then."  I'm amazed that she actually listens to me and something I said to her over a decade ago is something she holds dear to her heart!  I had a chance to point her back to this scripture and I love how God's word is so sharp that it cuts to straight to the heart!

Lord, thank you for your faithfulness.  Thank you for my best friend.  Thank you for Starbucks and coffee and hanging out.  You are awesome.  Thank you for not allowing us to go through things that we can't handle.  Thank you for pushing us in ways where you know we can handle, but thank you most of all, that in the dark times; when we think we can't handle things, Thank you for the knowledge that you are still there with us!  I love you so much, more everyday!

I can handle things because you said in your word that I can!

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Off to a {very} Late Start

August 11, 2012  **Saturday. Starbucks. 2:58pm**

1 Corinthians 7:20-23

Yes, each of you should remain as you were when God called you.  Are you a slave?  Don't let that worry you--but you get a chance to be free, take it.  And remember, if you were a slave when the Lord called you, you are now a slave of Christ.  God paid a high price for you, so don't e enslaved by the world.

Dictionary.com had two definitions of a slave:

"(1) a person who is the property of and wholly subject to another; a bond servant. (2) a person entirely under the domination of the some influence or person: a slave to a drug.  

If you were to apply this definition to the verse above, when asked, "are you a slave?" a person who is fits the definition should not worry but take any chances to be free.  Jesus died for our freedom on the cross.  We are no longer property of and neither are we subject to another.  

To me, a bond servant was one who serve his or her master with out being paid but in back in the bible days, they had a time frame to when they could be free men/women.  I don't remember what the details were but It was like a time where you could work your way out of bondage.  Correct me if I'm wrong but to me, I consider myself more of a bond servant to Christ since He paid for my freedom.  Event tho I'm a free woman, I take these words to me to serve Christ as such.  I know I may not be explaining it correctly, it is because i have not really processed it in a way that I can fully explain it.  The statement that I do make at this point is that "I am a bond servant to Christ."  

Lord, I know that these words can not fully explain what I actually mean or feel.  I don't even know if it seems like I'm the one making the sacrifice to serve you, sometimes I always think that people may look at my service/me being helpful/me being nice as something that I just do...but I GET TO DO IT.  You don't need me, you ALLOW me to be a part of the work that you are doing in and through my life.  The freedoms that I receive living in Hawaii, in America, to have the freedoms, the ability, the capacity to do all that I've done, want to do, and what you will bring in my life is something that I DO NOT want to take ADVANTAGE OF.  Help me in keeping me grounded.  To not take advantage of being here.  i <3 font="font" nbsp="nbsp" you.="you.">

Today I'm Off to a very late start but as I have the freedom in Christ, I am not a slave, but a bond servant for Christ.  

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Must be Faithful

August 09, 2012   **Thursday. Starbucks. 12:02pm**

1 Corinthians 4:2

Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.

Paul's letter to the Corinthian church is very bold in every aspect.  This ancient city of Greece was very prosperous and was well known for it's worship of the Greek goddess: Aphrodite.  Here in the beginning verses of chapter 4, Paul explains to the Christian Corinthian church that he and Apollos are "mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God's mysteries."  In Luke 16:1-12, the story unfolds of the shrewd manager who blew away his boss's money.  Christians are put on a higher pedestal and are judged more because of what we believe in.  Whenever Christians or those who proclaim the faith, they are extremely examined and closely watched.

Someone once told me, "you are the only version of the bible someone will read".  That really changed my view of being a Christian.  I sometimes have a hard time claiming my Christianity.  I have a hard time because of those ahead of me who gave Christianity a bad name.  Those who are on the pulpit or in church, who are either hypocritical or sin to the point where there is no repentance.  I fell away from the church at 18, for this very reason.  As I strive to become a leader in the church, I strive for being above reproach and making sure that my character and heart is always in check.  Verse 3 and 4 says, "As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority.  I don't even trust my own judgement on this point.  My conscience is clear, but that doesn't prove I'm right.  It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide."

Lord, keep me in check.  Keep me in line with your word, your truth, your ways.  I know I'm not afraid of what others say but I want to be held above reproach to those who see me.  Since being a Christian means to be like Christ; when others see me, I only want them to see you.  I give you permission to take out the whip if necessary...help me to "scrub my heart" daily.

As any manager or follower of Christ, One Must BE FAITHFUL.

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What's Important

August 07, 2012  **Tuesday. Starbucks. 11:06am**

1 Corinthians 3:7-9

It's not important who does the planting, or who does the watering.  What's important is that God makes the seed grow.  The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose.  And both will be rewarded for their own hard work.  For we are both God's workers.  And you are God's field.  You are God's building.

The bible has told this story about the seed, the field, the workers, the watering, planting, the whole process of gardening of people many times.  If you look at agriculture itself, there are so many steps that take place in the growth of a plant.   Just like people tho, there are millions of millions types of plants, methods of growth, but not very many farmers.  This process of gardening is how the bible talks about in the story of unreached believers.  See, they are believers--people are just unreached.  God instilled himself in others from the very beginning.  He created us that way.  Why do you think so many people long for, look for, and search the world for something they do not know what they are longing, looking, or searching for?  The field is just filled with lost individuals who has a part of God in them, they just don't know what that is.  We, as followers of Christ, it is our duty to first learn the way of the farmer, experience the work of the farmer, and ultimately--LIVE the way of the farmer.  The gospel also mentions the life/career of the fisherman to be similar.  We are to be farmers and fishers of men.

In Mark 2:3-5, the story says, "four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat.  They couldn't bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head.  Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus.  Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "My child, your sins are forgiven." {emphasis mine}.  I want to apply both scriptures in my life by living the way of the farmer/fisherman and those who helped the paralyzed man down to Jesus.  You see, sometimes we are only in someone's life for a few minutes.  Those few minutes can matter dramatically in an unreached believer's life.  Aaron Nunez, my professor says, "You matter for Eternity".  In the few long minutes it took the guys to dig a hole in the roof and lower the guy down mattered because the paralyzed man not only received forgiveness of sins, he was also healed!!!  I emphasized "seeing their faith" because it wasn't the faith of the paralyzed man that Jesus noticed, but the four dudes....  We can have faith for the unreached that can bring others to healing and salvation!  I don't know about you, but that is pretty bad ass!!!

Lord, I hope that my faith in you, my hope in you, my belief in you is great enough that others are not only healed but receive forgiveness of sins!  You always find ways to trip me out and I am constantly blown away by your goodness and faithfulness.  I love that.  Thanks for being God.  You are a pretty cool dude.  ;p

What's important is God.  God is the one who grows the seed.  God is the one who heals.  God is the one who saves.  What is important is God, NOT ME.

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Splendor Reveal Yourself

August 06, 2012  **Monday. Starbucks-Pearl City. 9:35am**

1 Corinthians 2:10 

But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit.  For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God's deep secrets.  

The dictionary defines Splendor as, (1) "brilliant or gorgeous appearance, coloring"; (2) "an instance or display of imposing pomp or grandeur"; (3) "grandeur; glory; brilliant distinction"; (3) great brightness; brilliant light or luster".  The bible often speaks of God's glory and how bright it is. The sun is the closest thing that is bright that I can see, other than man-made lighting. This brightness is hard to imagine when we only have the sun to compare in light.  If God created the sun, but he is brighter than that; I would go blind!  Acts 9:3-4 illustrates how bright the light is; "...a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him.  He fell to the ground...."  During Paul's conversion, God shone a light so bright that he was blind for 3 days! Oh geez...crazy bright light.  

This video is a Spoken Word that was recorded at 3rd Cup Cafe & Venue in the Royal Kunia area of Waipahu.  As soon as I have the words, I'll post them up.  @ :43 Arnel Data says, "Who am I?...Splendor Reveal Yourself..." I love those chosen words. Awesomeness. <3 nbsp="nbsp" p="p">

Lord, reveal your splendor but in a way that I see clarity and courage to truly see you.  Your beauty is so great, so grand, so unfailing, so extravagant, my human self can not truly begin to fathom the wonders of it.  It changes every moment, second, every time...but you still stay the same.  I love you.  Those words is all that my frail human language can ever speak. I love that your love is never failing.  I love that you love me.  I love that you love those who I love.  I love that those who love you also knows and loves me.  Because of that everlasting love, I love you.

Splendor reveal yourself, but please don't let me go blind!

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Foolish Preaching

August 05, 2012  **Sunday. Starbucks-Ward. 8:02pm**

1 Corinthians 1:21

Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe.

Paul begins to speak to the church in Corinth about divisions of the church.  He pleads to the church in vs. 10, "...live in harmony with each other. Let there be no division in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose."  See, God is so smart, he dumbs it down for us.  Then he uses that foolish thinking to bring others to Him.  I love how vs. 18 says, "the message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction!  But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God."  Wowzers!  People reject the story of Jesus's death because they are headed to a very bad place but those who know the truth know the POWER behind it!  It's funny how Paul says in vs 25, "this foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God's weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength."  He goes on in vs. 27-29, "God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise.  And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.  God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can boast in the presence of God."

I always wonder where thoughts come from.  My thoughts, my best friend's thoughts, thoughts that are verbally spoken from others.  Where do they come from?  Some of these thoughts becomes someone's way of living, things they turn to when they need them, or some are just plain silly.  Today, as I promoted my school at a High School, I had a chance to talk to a teenage girl, about 16 years old.  When I asked her "how I can pray for her," she said, "please pray to help God to show me where to go in life."  So cute.  What she said, the words she chose, is the very reason I want to teach English to these kids of Hawaii.  I asked her, "Do you think God needs help?" She gave me a puzzled look and I had to repeat what she said to me.  She then corrected herself by saying she was the one who needed help.  Sometimes our foolish thinking gets us in trouble, thankfully God brings us back, gives us fresh perspective.

Lord, sometimes our thoughts creates Foolish Preaching in our heads and sometimes it is reguritated out and looks eactly like gross crap.  Thank you that you are so smart.  It took you only 6 days to create the universe.  The universe that is so magnificent, so wonderous, so amazingly beautiful, that we as humans will never comprehend how unfathomable it truly is.  In one week, you spoke it out into exsistence.  No biggie.  Not a big deal.  What trips me out, God, {as I spoke with Laura during Dr. Randy's message at church yesterday} is that it took you 9 months (10 according to Laura) to create us.  To intricately knit our human bodies together in our mother's womb (psalms 139:13) and to be so initmate with us you know our very thoughts (psalms 139:4).  OMG, you are super good.

Foolish Preaching can lead to destruction but the POWER of the Holy Spirit brings out salvation to those who are not so foolish.

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The Weight of the Ark of the Covanent

August 04, 2012  **Saturday. Starbucks. 10:27am**

2 Chronicles 35:2-4

Josiah also assigned the priests to their duties and encouraged them in their work at the Temple of the Lord.  He issued this order to the Levites, who were to teach all Israel and who had been set apart to serve the Lord: "Put the holy Ark in the Temple that was built by Solomon son of David, the king of Israel.  You no longer need to carry it back and forth on your shoulders.  Now spend your time serving the Lord your God and his people Israel.  Report for duty acccording to the family divisions of your ancestors, following the directions of King David of Israel and the directions of his son Solomon."

The Holy Ark of the Covanent was something that was super cool.  This container held the very stones that held God's handwritings of the Ten Commandments.  Pardon my french, but this box was pretty bad ass.  Yeah, those words are not very "Christian like" but you have to admit that the Ark of the Lord is something to really be amazed at.  It is said that it also held Aarons' rod, a jar of manna, Moses's first Torah, as well as the Holy stones.  Just the jar of manna trips me out since Genesis says that manna will not be good past the first day--it would be gross and moldy.  But there is something else that I observed with this scripture.  See, Josiah said to "put the holy Ark in the Temple...You no longer need to carry it back and forth on your shoulders.  Now spend your time serving the Lord our God and his people of Israel."  What I see is that since the people during these bible days were literally putting God's good news on their shoulders and carrying this burden back and forth whereever they would go.  Can you imagine how heavy that would be?  That's hard work! Okay, Wikipedia says, "It is to be 2½ cubits in length, 1½ in breadth, and 1½ in height (as 2¹⁄₂×1¹⁄₂×1¹⁄₂ royal cubits or 1.31×0.79×0.79 m, or 4.29 × 2.59 × 2.59 feet"  and on top of that, it is to covered in gold.  Dude, gold is heavy and I've seen pictures of this thing!  OMG!! 

How do I apply this scripture to my life?  Easy.  Put God's law, His word, His ways in my heart {the Temple of God--my heart, my mind, my life} put God where He belongs so I can love and serve not only God but His people.  Psalms 119:11 says, I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." (NLT)  I don't want to work extra or too hard if I don't have to.  I'm a pretty lazy, selfish, conceited, and prideful human being.  A professor at my school has this saying, "I want to make Jesus famous".  Many has applied this to their way of their Christian life.  This has kinda rubbed me the wrong way.  (1) Some famous people can sometimes make a bad name of themselves.  (2) Some Christians have given Christianity a bad name.  (3) Jesus doesn't need us.  We get to be apart of His work.  And lastly because of the fact that I'm all those things listed above, (4) I wanna make Jesus so famous that the Heavenly Angels becomes my fans...now that's being so self-centered.  ;p hahaha!!! but i still love God and He still loves me. 

Lord, I know I'm a very lazy, selfish, self-centered, conceited, and prideful.  I want to only make you famous so I can be famous among your heavenly angels.  I want your angels to know me, to help me, to fight with me.  You said that "we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against might powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places."  You are God and the winner of this battle.  Although the fight is not over, knowing you are the victor, I can be confident that as you teach me, train me, and work alongside of me, I can learn, have endurance, and preservere to become a strong mighty warrior.  Help me to put your Ark of the Covenant into my heart, so I don't get weary in the everyday-ness of life.  I want your yoke around me, as you are the strong one beside me.  I love you so much, I become so lost and dependant on you.  Your love is extravant.  Your friendship is intimate.  

It is not necessary to carry the weight of the Ark of the Covanent on my shoulders anymore.  Life is so much more lighter. 

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The Voice of Truth -- Casting Crowns

Who art thou, woman?

August 02, 2012   **Thursday. Starbucks. 9:03a**

Romans 16:1-2

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea.  Welcome her in the Lord as one who is worthy of honor among God's people.  Help her in whatever she needs, for she has been helpful to many, and especially to me.

Chapter 16 is a shout out to Paul's dear friends who have helped him out throught his time.  Back in these bible days, women were rated as less than second class citizens.  It was only fairly recently when Woman's Rights were established that women were treated somewhat fairly.  There are some instances where some women in many places of this world where this unequality still happens to this day.

An important aspect that I see in this scripture is that Phoebe, no not my sister-in-law, but this Phoebe was a deacon of the church.  I see her as my Auntie Pina at my family's church.  My auntie Pina has established herself as a very strong Christian woman.  She has helped so many people, she runs a food bank out of her house, and the mother of two outstanding grown sons who are very dependable at the church.  As a grandma, she teaches her two grandkids to love the Lord and to be good kids.  I hope to see myself in likeness of her--an example of what a true servant to Christ looks like.

Lord, you have placed auntie Pina in my life for so many reasons but I love this reason the most: because you love the both of us.  In the Message it says, "His love was not cautious but extravagant.  he didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everthing of himself to us.  Love like that." Ephesians 5:1-2.  You are very intentional with us and I hope to be intentional too.

Who art thou, woman?  You are a woman loved by the very God who CREATED and LOVES you!

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Selfish or Selfless?

August 01, 2012  **Wednesday. Starbucks. 7:17p**

Romans 15:13

I pray that God, the soure of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him.  Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul is addressing the context of the people who only want to please themselves. Verse 2 says, "we should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord", he is encouraging them to not only be selfish, but selfless.

I love how Paul is so encouraging and prays for others.  God is the source of hope and sometimes I forget this.  I tend to look inward (at myself) and try to find some kind of hope there.  There is only one hope, the hope that is in God.  Having His hope and looking towards Him, causes an overflow in ourselves that we become selfless.

Lord, there are so many times I become selfish and only trust in things that I can do. Things I can accomplish.  Things I find hope in myself.  Help me, show me, guide me daily to your hope.  The hope in you.

To be selfish or selfless, that is the question.  I want to be overflowing with the Holy Spirit, which is hope.

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