September 28, 2012 **Friday. NHCC Library. 9:40am**
Isaiah 54:1-3
"Sing, O childless woman, you who have never given birth! Break into loud and joyful song, O Jerusalem, you who have never been in labor. For the desolate woman now has more children than the woman who lives with her husband," says the Lord. "Enlarge your house; build an addition. Spread out your home, and spare no expense! For you will soon be bursting at the seams. Your descendants will occupy other nations and resettle the ruined cities."
The prophet Isaiah foretold of the issues and visions concerning Judah and Jerusalem. It was during the times of Uzziah {9th king of Judah}, Jotham {11th king of Judah}, Ahaz {son of Jotham}, and Hezekiah {son of Ahaz and 13th king of Judah}. These kings ruled the land and served the people who repeatedly persisted in idolatry. They often heeded to the words of Isaiah and some of the kings became very prosperous but as pride took over their hearts, they fell away from the words of the Lord. As Isaiah continued to seek after God, chapter 54 continues the saga of the servant's absolute triumph after his cruel death. This is the foretelling of the coming Messiah, Jesus. In these verses, Isaiah speaks of the redemption opportunity to be fulfilled. The "desolate woman [will now have] more children than the woman [with a] husband". This is the redemption theme that the bible tells and tells again. A chance to be redeemed! The prophets cry out but the people of Israel turn their backs away from a loving God.
As an application to these verses, I believe that this is what I am called to do. My heart's desire is to occupy and purchase my father's house and use it for God's glory to be able to transform it into "Jovie's Home for Girls". A safe haven for those little girls who are broken-hearted, abandoned, and alone. "Your descendants will occupy other nations and resettle the ruined cities." It's my missions heart, where God has placed me into, and this is what I seek after: to give God the glory minus my prideful and selfish heart.
Lord, it is ultimately you, who I seek after. You who should get the glory. Humble my heart, scrub my heart, clean out my heart that it is filled with you. Decrease me that they see you in a version that looks like me. Open up these doors and remove the cobwebs, cockroaches, and filth that needs to leave for you to reside in my life. I allow you and give you permission to do what you need to do through and in me for your glory to shine, even though I say it with a scared but open hands. My feet are ready to go.
If this the the heritage of your servant, Lord, send me.
< 3
Friday, September 28, 2012
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Words of the Wise
September 4, 2012 **Tuesday. Starbucks. 10:08am**
Proverbs 22:17-19
Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my instruction. For it is good to keep these saying in your heart and always ready on your lips. I am teaching you today -- yes, you -- so you will trust the Lord.
Solomon was a very wise man. The fact that he asked for wisdom over anything else was very wise. The book of Proverbs has a bunch of wise words. This book is for the wise, many useful advice that we should follow, some are common sense but others are very convicting. God was about loving him and loving others. Proverbs is a book filled with words of advice on how to do these very things, especially how to love others, to be kind, and treat others with respect. Pastor Wayne talks about how many of the people in the bible are "Divine Mentors". These people were written about to teach us ways of life, to teach us about how they lived, and what to do and what not to do. This weekend at Camp Agape, Gabe did a spoken word and I love how said that the people of the bible were homeless men and women who teaches us the ways of the world. His spoken word was very powerful--straight from the heart.
As I go to school and learn from my professors, I want to not only listen to the words but to APPLY these to my heart and life. Pastor Mike Ward says that this is the most important thing of learning about God. To Apply the facts and use it towards giving God glory. To make him famous and let his light shine through us.
Lord, help me to hear your words, listen to the wise, and apply them to my heart and life. I pray that this prayer is not in vain but that I will truly be transformed into the person that you want me to be but at the same time, be the same person -- one who is passionate about your people, one who seeks your ways, the one who will not neglect or be rude to those who I can be irritated at. Teach me to "scrub my heart" daily, teach me to pray, and teach me to love.
The words of the wise is priceless. It's the cost of listening to those wise words that I will value.
< 3 >
Proverbs 22:17-19
Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my instruction. For it is good to keep these saying in your heart and always ready on your lips. I am teaching you today -- yes, you -- so you will trust the Lord.
Solomon was a very wise man. The fact that he asked for wisdom over anything else was very wise. The book of Proverbs has a bunch of wise words. This book is for the wise, many useful advice that we should follow, some are common sense but others are very convicting. God was about loving him and loving others. Proverbs is a book filled with words of advice on how to do these very things, especially how to love others, to be kind, and treat others with respect. Pastor Wayne talks about how many of the people in the bible are "Divine Mentors". These people were written about to teach us ways of life, to teach us about how they lived, and what to do and what not to do. This weekend at Camp Agape, Gabe did a spoken word and I love how said that the people of the bible were homeless men and women who teaches us the ways of the world. His spoken word was very powerful--straight from the heart.
As I go to school and learn from my professors, I want to not only listen to the words but to APPLY these to my heart and life. Pastor Mike Ward says that this is the most important thing of learning about God. To Apply the facts and use it towards giving God glory. To make him famous and let his light shine through us.
Lord, help me to hear your words, listen to the wise, and apply them to my heart and life. I pray that this prayer is not in vain but that I will truly be transformed into the person that you want me to be but at the same time, be the same person -- one who is passionate about your people, one who seeks your ways, the one who will not neglect or be rude to those who I can be irritated at. Teach me to "scrub my heart" daily, teach me to pray, and teach me to love.
The words of the wise is priceless. It's the cost of listening to those wise words that I will value.
< 3 >
Saturday, September 1, 2012
See Forever
August 31, 2012 **Friday. Starbucks-Mililani. 10:18pm**
2 Corinthians 4:17-18
For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
Many people tend to look at their current troubles or issues as long term. Some may not have hope that it will ever pass, so they become doubtful and lose faith. Paul and his co-workers of the faith contiunued and pressed on in their journey to proclaim the faith for the very reason that others will not doubt or lose faith. They knew that God's glory to shine through is the most important, the most vital for the life of those around him. When people become grateful and appreciate what God has done for them, it is at that moment that God really appears. This is what I call the "awe factor".
The "awe factor" is something I personally pray for. It's that moment when I'm in doubt of things and the times I may lose faith; this moment of "awe-ness" that I long for. I was just talking to a classmate as I had a chance to give him a ride to the dorms about this very thing. Times when we go through struggles and rough patches of our lives that we become hesitant, doubtful, and sad. He told me that it comes with a mature character to know that things are going to be okay, to not run away.
Lord, let your glory always and constantly shine so brightly. Remind me that our present problems will not last long but to endure in what we are going through. It is in the preserverance that will produce the character that you want in us and for us. Thank you for your unfailing love. I love you.
Some times I can't see past my problems but with you, Oh Lord, you show me how to see forever.
< 3 >
2 Corinthians 4:17-18
For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
Many people tend to look at their current troubles or issues as long term. Some may not have hope that it will ever pass, so they become doubtful and lose faith. Paul and his co-workers of the faith contiunued and pressed on in their journey to proclaim the faith for the very reason that others will not doubt or lose faith. They knew that God's glory to shine through is the most important, the most vital for the life of those around him. When people become grateful and appreciate what God has done for them, it is at that moment that God really appears. This is what I call the "awe factor".
The "awe factor" is something I personally pray for. It's that moment when I'm in doubt of things and the times I may lose faith; this moment of "awe-ness" that I long for. I was just talking to a classmate as I had a chance to give him a ride to the dorms about this very thing. Times when we go through struggles and rough patches of our lives that we become hesitant, doubtful, and sad. He told me that it comes with a mature character to know that things are going to be okay, to not run away.
Lord, let your glory always and constantly shine so brightly. Remind me that our present problems will not last long but to endure in what we are going through. It is in the preserverance that will produce the character that you want in us and for us. Thank you for your unfailing love. I love you.
Some times I can't see past my problems but with you, Oh Lord, you show me how to see forever.
< 3 >
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
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!
< 3 >
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
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.
< 3 >
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.
< 3 >
Saturday, August 25, 2012
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.
< 3 >
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.
< 3 >
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