Refreshing

It's so nice to be able to catch up with people especially with your relatives.

This past week, I had the opportunity to hang out with some of my relatives from the States and it truly has been such a blessing!

Honestly, they're not the closest cousins of mine since we only meet on a yearly basis but even though that's not the case, when we have conversations with each other, it feels as if we've known each other for such a long time! Indeed, they're part of my favourite cousins list! Teeheee.

I think the fact that they're very strong Christians and that they're very easy going and very nice makes it so easy to connect with them. Sure we have our perky jokes with American stereotypes and Canadian stereotypes but I think aside from these things that bring us together, it's really cool how God comes into play in a family situation as well.

Indeed God is the greatest mediator; hands down. God does indeed connect people.

God is so good

God is so good. God is so good. God is so good, He's so good to me.

Jesus is real. Jesus is real. Jesus is real, He's so good to me.

I love Him so. I love Him so. I love Him so, He's so good to me.

He cares for me. He cares for me. He cares for me, He's so good to me.

I'll do His will. I'll do His will. I'll do His will, He's so good to me.

He loves me so. He loves me so. He loves me so, He's so good to me.

He answers prayers. He answers prayers. He answers prayers, He so good to me.

God is so good. God is so good. God is so good, He's so good to me.

Sickness... swings?

This month has been like hell to me. Except hell is probably a lot warmer and not as pleasant?

Anyway, I've been getting sick so often, it's actually starting to concern me. I don't think there was a week (This month) that had me going for a full week. I'm always missing at least one class. The doctor doesn't know why I'm always sick but it's probably because I'm always stressed out that I'm getting these crazy migraines and sinus stuff. Then he said that there's probably nothing wrong with me.

Especially after our fellowship's "Fast for Japan night", I've been thinking to myself the question, "Do I depend on God enough?", "Do I only depend on Him when I'm in need?", "Do I even depend on Him?" I'd normally like to say, "Yes, I do depend on Him when I'm in need or not in need." Or, "My eyes are always fixed on God." But I guess after being sick for this long, it's sorta been like, "Do I really have my eyes fixed on God?" Or perhaps more like, "I think I only depend on God when I'm not in need, when I don't need help." Which is totally weird in my opinion 'cause normally, wouldn't someone want someone's help if they're in need of something?

I need to surrender my everything to God. I thought I've already done so, but I thought wrong. Or maybe I did surrender something to God, but that's not enough.

I also need to run the race and endure. I've been struggling with endurance for a while now. But when I need help, shouldn't I been running with my eyes fixed on God? Running towards the great finish line? Knowing that the prize is good that I want to continue the race? Isn't that perseverance? My mentor challenged me to memorize a verse that I've been trying to memorize. To be honest, it was really, really hard. The verse was too long but this verse has always been in my heart and now that I have it memorized, I can easily think of it without whipping out my bible!

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be perfect and complete, not lacking anything." - James 1:2-4

Is there such thing as... too nice?

Today, what I've realized that... maybe I am too nice.
Aside from the frequent "scoldings" I get from my sister for being too nice, I've never really realized it until now...

Lately, I've been really tired. Tired of school, tired of my friends at school, tired of problems at home and tired of being nice. But why do I still persevere through it all and... continue to dread through school, continue to hang out with my friends, whom I have so much trouble loving, strive to help others and their issues, and strive to be nice.

I wonder, am I really being nice? What is nice?

I just want everyone to be happy. Of course, with God as my first priority and no other compromises.

I'm just so tired. I really just want some time for myself.
Lately, I've been thinking, maybe I should drop out of school after this year and come back a year later and finish my high school years then continue onto post-secondary life.
I've been longing for a year to have a "long" me-and-God moment; to see what He wants for me and discover for myself, does being a Christian necessarily mean being overly nice? Sure, we should be meek, but meekness and taking advantage of are two very different subject matters.

Perseverance is all I need right now.

I am a follower of Christ. A trader and not just a missionary.
I need to re-discover what a trader is.

Hey there!

Hey God,

So lately, I've been meditating quite a bit.

It's so frustrating knowing that I'm such a sinful person. It disgusts me.
Sometimes, I just... hate myself, Lord. But knowing that You created me perfectly the way You wanted me to be, makes me love myself.

Lord, I praise Thee for brothers and sisters in Christ. As a body of Christ, we should laugh together, cry together, and comfort one another.

Lord, I praise Thee for Your creation. Everything part of nature, was creatively crafted to show how much You're worth. Even the the mountains and tall trees bow before you, and the ocean roar in Your prescence.

Lord, You are truly amazing beyond understanding.

I pray that I'll live a life pleasing to You. Not only through actions, but through my faith, through my every thought, Lord, may they all be pleasing to You.

You are a God that does not tolerate sin, yet You love me, and I thank You for it.

I want to worship You, my God.

"Take my life and let it be, consecrated Lord to Thee"

I want to live my life just for You!

God, I know I'm super far from perfect, but I will try my best to live out a life pleasing to You!

Again, let not only my actions be pleasing to You, but my thoughts as well.

8.9 Magnitude Earthquake in Japan

I assume that quite a bit of people know about the earthquake (And after-shocks) that had/are happening.

It really breaks my heart to hear about this. A nation that I love so much, a nation that I've been longing to reach, yet so many of the unreached either died or are suffering some traumatizing things.

Yet some people choose to ignore it, like they chose to ignore other earthquakes that had happened.

When will I go out? I don't know, but I know that God will provide an opportunity to serve these people.

God is a God that provides. God is good. He will provide comfort and shelter for the needy.

Simple JOY #3

"To be thankful for life's simplest gifts"

I guess this entry would sorta be a random one.

Well, not really. Interestingly enough, during Sunday School, we discussed about the difference between happiness and Joy.

Happiness, coming from the root word "Happening", means to feel "content" after something happens but the feeling of being content doesn't necessarily last.

While, for Joy, it's an eternal thing, nothing really has to "happen"

Lately, I've been thinking quite a bit about life; How I'm so thankful for it.
I'm so thankful that God saved me from making a terrible mistake.
And I guess, after all life is a mystery, life is unfair, life is filled with people that hate me, but in the end, I'm still super happy that I'm still alive today...

Life is beautiful, and I thank God for giving me life.