Christmas- a day to remember the birth of my Savior and giver of the ultimate gift (eternal life), Jesus Christ. This day is to remember that Jesus humbled Himself and came down to this sinful world fully God and fully man to ultimately live on this Earth sinless, influence tons of people esp. the 12 disciples, and die on the cross for everyone's sins (while we were all still sinners), and rise from the dead on the 3rd day signifying victory and meaning to all the suffering He went through for us.
It sounds like Christmas should be a grand day of celebration and I should be excited about it.
But when I think about it. We should remember what Christ did every living moment of our lives and be reminded and learn of the implications of the cross and the empty tomb.
Given this, should I be excited today?
I think we should be excited and have our joy and the love we experience from God overflow out of us every single day.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Love by Jaeson Ma
Now Hollywood wants to make you think they know what love is.
But I'm a tell you what true love is.
Love is not what you see in the movies.
Its not the ecstasy, its not what you see in that scene
you know what I mean? I'm telling you right now, true love is sacrifice.
Love is thinking about others before you think about yourself
Love is selfless not selfish. Love is God and God is love.
Love is when you lay down your life for another
Whether for your brother, your mother, your father or your sister
Its even laying down your life for your enemies,
That's unthinkable, but think about that
Love is true
Think.
Chorus
I'll put you in front of me
So everybody can see
My love, this is my love
I know that I'll be alright
As long as you are my guide
My love, this is my love
Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast
It is not proud. Love is not rude, it is not self-seeking
It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs
You see love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, it always perseveres
Love never fails. Love is everlasting
Its eternal, it goes on and on, it goes beyond time
Love is the only thing that will last when you die
But ask the question why? Do you have love?
Chorus
There is no greater love than this than he who lays down his life for his friends
Now are you willing to lay down your life for your friends?
You're probably willing to lay down your life for your mother
your father, or your best friends
But are you willing to lay down your life for even those that hate you?
I'm going to tell you who did that
The definition of love is Jesus Christ. He is love
The nails in his hands, the thorns in his brow
Hanging on a cross for your sin my sins
That is love he died for you and me while we still hated him
That is love
God is true love, and if you don't know this love
Now is the time to know, perfect love
Chorus
But I'm a tell you what true love is.
Love is not what you see in the movies.
Its not the ecstasy, its not what you see in that scene
you know what I mean? I'm telling you right now, true love is sacrifice.
Love is thinking about others before you think about yourself
Love is selfless not selfish. Love is God and God is love.
Love is when you lay down your life for another
Whether for your brother, your mother, your father or your sister
Its even laying down your life for your enemies,
That's unthinkable, but think about that
Love is true
Think.
Chorus
I'll put you in front of me
So everybody can see
My love, this is my love
I know that I'll be alright
As long as you are my guide
My love, this is my love
Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast
It is not proud. Love is not rude, it is not self-seeking
It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs
You see love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, it always perseveres
Love never fails. Love is everlasting
Its eternal, it goes on and on, it goes beyond time
Love is the only thing that will last when you die
But ask the question why? Do you have love?
Chorus
There is no greater love than this than he who lays down his life for his friends
Now are you willing to lay down your life for your friends?
You're probably willing to lay down your life for your mother
your father, or your best friends
But are you willing to lay down your life for even those that hate you?
I'm going to tell you who did that
The definition of love is Jesus Christ. He is love
The nails in his hands, the thorns in his brow
Hanging on a cross for your sin my sins
That is love he died for you and me while we still hated him
That is love
God is true love, and if you don't know this love
Now is the time to know, perfect love
Chorus
Saturday, December 12, 2009
home winter 2009 day 1
got home round 7 w/ parents away doing something and end up having to take care of my youngest bro. ended up fun tho. talked to other younger brother and played brawl w/ both of 'em.
parents get home round 10. had to move my car so they can park their car into the garage. backed up too far and got onto a curb. couldn't see it. it was too dark. nothing happened to the car.
dad scolds me telling me that I should've seen it cuz my right side view mirror goes down and lets me see my back corner.
I respond saying dat it was too dark for me to see anything.
He retorts saying "I have to see it"
I snap back saying "I can't see it!"
I snap at my mom too b/c she was questioning a scratch dat I couldn't see from where I was standing.
Once I got a look, I said idk.
Haven't gotten a hug from them. They're avoiding me? I think.
eff! what an awesome start! :( :( :( :'(
How the heck am I going to survive 3 weeks?
parents get home round 10. had to move my car so they can park their car into the garage. backed up too far and got onto a curb. couldn't see it. it was too dark. nothing happened to the car.
dad scolds me telling me that I should've seen it cuz my right side view mirror goes down and lets me see my back corner.
I respond saying dat it was too dark for me to see anything.
He retorts saying "I have to see it"
I snap back saying "I can't see it!"
I snap at my mom too b/c she was questioning a scratch dat I couldn't see from where I was standing.
Once I got a look, I said idk.
Haven't gotten a hug from them. They're avoiding me? I think.
eff! what an awesome start! :( :( :( :'(
How the heck am I going to survive 3 weeks?
Sunday, November 29, 2009
community of grace
I realized this weekend that I can not encourage anyone when they perform that it'll be okay if they mess up and that there is no pressure if that person is not a part of a community of grace.
realizing that breaks my heart. It made me sad seeing people practice and performing just to give a good performance. It made me sad seeing people perform making perfect bulletins so as not to have one blemish when people look at this one aspect of the church.
i couldn't do anything to encourage anyone, to relieve any pressures b/c saying it'll be ok if they mess up or that thing's don't have to be perfect would be a lie since my home church does not seem to be a community of grace but instead of performance and shame.
sad. I wish i could do something but only thing i see that could change things is to open the eyes of the whole congregation at once b/c it does not seem to work individually b/c no matter what i say, what they will experience will still be performance and pressure and shame.
sigh...
realizing that breaks my heart. It made me sad seeing people practice and performing just to give a good performance. It made me sad seeing people perform making perfect bulletins so as not to have one blemish when people look at this one aspect of the church.
i couldn't do anything to encourage anyone, to relieve any pressures b/c saying it'll be ok if they mess up or that thing's don't have to be perfect would be a lie since my home church does not seem to be a community of grace but instead of performance and shame.
sad. I wish i could do something but only thing i see that could change things is to open the eyes of the whole congregation at once b/c it does not seem to work individually b/c no matter what i say, what they will experience will still be performance and pressure and shame.
sigh...
Saturday, November 28, 2009
emotions
my dad was/is emotionally distant. He doesn't care much for emotions. He is just not a very emotional person, feelings are not high up on his list for reason to do things and stuff.
All he wants is us to be happy. For people to be happy. When people or I am not happy he wonders in a confused look why can't I just be happy. He sometimes even gets frustrated when people aren't happy.
I realized this even more today. This fact, this reality makes me sad.
it is hard for me to finish this blog right now. I just don't know where I'm going with this.
I want my dad to know me. All of me, including my emotions and the reasons for my emotions and accept and understand them.
I wonder if my dad is emotionally healthy...I hope he is...
I love my dad. (big statement for me...don't know if I could say that during or before my freshman year)
All he wants is us to be happy. For people to be happy. When people or I am not happy he wonders in a confused look why can't I just be happy. He sometimes even gets frustrated when people aren't happy.
I realized this even more today. This fact, this reality makes me sad.
it is hard for me to finish this blog right now. I just don't know where I'm going with this.
I want my dad to know me. All of me, including my emotions and the reasons for my emotions and accept and understand them.
I wonder if my dad is emotionally healthy...I hope he is...
I love my dad. (big statement for me...don't know if I could say that during or before my freshman year)
Sunday, November 22, 2009
crossroads
oh man...went to crossroads '09 conference in so cal this past weekend and it was just...oh man. it was just 1st of all really awesome to be able to rest, be spoiled by the staff, and just able to focus on God and think about things. Think about my life, my future, God's will, Davis Epic, Epic worldwide, and etc.
One of the principles I learned this weekend is that following/discerning God's will is not getting the solution to life's problems or answers to specific questions on what to do after I graduate but it's all about how I do things and that I bear good fruit, know God better, and be thankful.
Learning/Being reminded of this gives a lot more freedom in my choice, especially knowing that I don't have to get it right the first time, but it also gives a lot more freedom so...I still gotta figure things out. good thing i'm a 3rd year. :-P
which leads to my next point. being a 3rd year and going to this conference does clear things up and how to finish up my college years in terms of following His will while I'm in college and that is continuing to bear good fruit, knowing Him better, and being thankful of what He has done, and is doing in me and through me.
i also learned that there are Muslims in this world that not only are unable to hear the gospel as much as we do and aren't very receptive to it but they also do not have the freedom to accept Christ if they choose to because of their culture.
and that broke my heart and frustrated me b/c we are in a country where we are able to freely share the gospel on campus where there are ppl dat are more receptive than the average person in the world and these ppl are free to accept Christ if they choose to and yet we do so little.
I am excited tho, that we in Davis Epic are doing a lot more than last year with 11:33, Sac State, UCSC, and evangelism training but I wonder where our hearts are at considering the lost and also just how long are we goign to keep this up. I really hope we are just warming up and are going to be a light on this campus, the surrouding Sac area, California, and the rest of the Earth not just this quarter or this year or till I graduate but until this whole world is reached out to, until the Great Commission is fulfilled and Jesus comes down to Earth for the 2nd time.
I want to see and for us to experience just how mighty to save our Saviour is. (we sang the song Mighty to Save after we learned bout the Muslims). I pray that God shows just how mighty to save He is and that He has conquered the grave to us and the rest of the world through us and other laborers He is sending.
Let us be 100% sent. "Let the whole world see, We're singing for the glory of the risen King" Shine your Light Jesus, to us and through us.
One of the principles I learned this weekend is that following/discerning God's will is not getting the solution to life's problems or answers to specific questions on what to do after I graduate but it's all about how I do things and that I bear good fruit, know God better, and be thankful.
Learning/Being reminded of this gives a lot more freedom in my choice, especially knowing that I don't have to get it right the first time, but it also gives a lot more freedom so...I still gotta figure things out. good thing i'm a 3rd year. :-P
which leads to my next point. being a 3rd year and going to this conference does clear things up and how to finish up my college years in terms of following His will while I'm in college and that is continuing to bear good fruit, knowing Him better, and being thankful of what He has done, and is doing in me and through me.
i also learned that there are Muslims in this world that not only are unable to hear the gospel as much as we do and aren't very receptive to it but they also do not have the freedom to accept Christ if they choose to because of their culture.
and that broke my heart and frustrated me b/c we are in a country where we are able to freely share the gospel on campus where there are ppl dat are more receptive than the average person in the world and these ppl are free to accept Christ if they choose to and yet we do so little.
I am excited tho, that we in Davis Epic are doing a lot more than last year with 11:33, Sac State, UCSC, and evangelism training but I wonder where our hearts are at considering the lost and also just how long are we goign to keep this up. I really hope we are just warming up and are going to be a light on this campus, the surrouding Sac area, California, and the rest of the Earth not just this quarter or this year or till I graduate but until this whole world is reached out to, until the Great Commission is fulfilled and Jesus comes down to Earth for the 2nd time.
I want to see and for us to experience just how mighty to save our Saviour is. (we sang the song Mighty to Save after we learned bout the Muslims). I pray that God shows just how mighty to save He is and that He has conquered the grave to us and the rest of the world through us and other laborers He is sending.
Let us be 100% sent. "Let the whole world see, We're singing for the glory of the risen King" Shine your Light Jesus, to us and through us.
Monday, November 9, 2009
heart for the lost
right now, when I think about the lost, those who do not know Christ and are going to go to hell when they die or when Christ comes, when I think about them, especially the ones I'm close to, my heart breaks and I want to cry.
is this what it means to have a heart for the lost? to grieve for the lost?
if it is, I hope and pray that the breakage of my heart for them continues and is ever present. I pray that it never ceases and that I also take the initiative, being empowered by the Holy Spirit, to preach the gospel to them in every opportunity I have and leave the results to God.
is this what it means to have a heart for the lost? to grieve for the lost?
if it is, I hope and pray that the breakage of my heart for them continues and is ever present. I pray that it never ceases and that I also take the initiative, being empowered by the Holy Spirit, to preach the gospel to them in every opportunity I have and leave the results to God.
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