Yesterday, I was driving down on Ashburn Village Blvd. faithfully obeying the speed limit of 35 mph while everyone was whizzing by me what seems like 50+ mph! If you get caught speeding on this Boulevard, you pay an additional $200 fine. I would rather keep that in my bank!
It came to a surprise to me that as I drove closer to Farmwell Blvd where the traffic jams in, a lady in a car horrendously cut in front of me forcing me to slam the brake and swerve away avoiding an accident! Go figure! One thing I did not keep in my heart was "self-control". It wasn't a wise thing for me to do. I pulled over to another lane to talk to the lady. I must say that she was very, very annoying and arrogant! I told her to "watch how you drive!" and she simply waved at me with an arrogant smile. Now, that's adding fuel to the fire brewing in me.
Ahhhh... What was I doing? What was I thinking? As I drove toward the messy intersection of 28, I thought to myself, "Why didn't you just let it go? Why didn't you just let God take care of this. He knows what He is doing." Mark, didn't you remember this verse, "God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well." (2 Thessalonians 1:6-7) Indeed, if I didn't rave on telling her to "watch herself" but maintain my composure showing Jesus to her and when she sees that, guilt may hit her. But that's not important! The only thing that is important is keeping "self-control" in the bank of my heart.
"Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." Ephesians 15-16 (NIV)
"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity." Colossians 4:5 (NIV)
Lord, I thank You for this life you have given us! I thank you for the trials we face and endure because they help shape us into becoming more like Your Son. Thank you for showing me my imperfections to see the perfect Jesus Christ. This helps us know we need Jesus because He is the "perfector of our faith"! It is my prayer that everyone will come to know You and Your great love. Help every Christian to be "wise in the way they act toward others" so that they may see Jesus in us in our everyday encounters. Jesus, You are my great Friend! I love You!
Wednesday, September 15, 2004
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
Miracle Net
I stayed home yesterday to do some work via the internet since my office internet is still down due to a server company filing chapter 7 bankrupty. It's been down since July! So I got alot of work done: emailing members, updating the website, downloading pictures, reading Christian articles in heartlight.org, christianitytoday.com and other sites and more! It's amazing how the information highway is so important to us today than 10, 20, 30+ years ago! Just at the click of the mouse, you get information from far away places (the server!). You didn't have to leave home or office to retrieve information!
This reminds me of the Centurion during Jesus' time. In Luke 7:1-9, the Centurion came to Jesus asking if He can heal his highly valued sick servant. After series of conversation about "authority" and "not deserving a person in the home", the Centurion said, "..Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed." (v.6) Jesus was amazed at his faith! A non-Jew believing that Jesus can simply, I must say again, s.i.m.p.l.y. say the word and his servant will be healed. Jesus has not seen such faith, even in Israel! Just at the "click of his heart" He reached out to the Centurion's servant and healed him! Imagine Jesus reaching out through the airwaves, or His loving compassion flew at high-speed into the servant's life! It looks as if it was a "miracle on the net!"
Lord, please help us have this faith the Centurion had! In our struggles, troubles, conflicts, please help us depend on You, Your love, Your power, Your compassion, Your grace and lead us through them into a place of rest. We don't deserve Your grace but You freely gave it! We sink ourselves in Your loving arms and feel the warmth of Your love. Help us send this love You gave us through the net (sending e-cards or emailing) for we know You will provide miraculous result from them! May we depend on Your power in our daily service through the net.
This reminds me of the Centurion during Jesus' time. In Luke 7:1-9, the Centurion came to Jesus asking if He can heal his highly valued sick servant. After series of conversation about "authority" and "not deserving a person in the home", the Centurion said, "..Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed." (v.6) Jesus was amazed at his faith! A non-Jew believing that Jesus can simply, I must say again, s.i.m.p.l.y. say the word and his servant will be healed. Jesus has not seen such faith, even in Israel! Just at the "click of his heart" He reached out to the Centurion's servant and healed him! Imagine Jesus reaching out through the airwaves, or His loving compassion flew at high-speed into the servant's life! It looks as if it was a "miracle on the net!"
Lord, please help us have this faith the Centurion had! In our struggles, troubles, conflicts, please help us depend on You, Your love, Your power, Your compassion, Your grace and lead us through them into a place of rest. We don't deserve Your grace but You freely gave it! We sink ourselves in Your loving arms and feel the warmth of Your love. Help us send this love You gave us through the net (sending e-cards or emailing) for we know You will provide miraculous result from them! May we depend on Your power in our daily service through the net.
Monday, September 13, 2004
One!
What a day it was yesterday! The Fairfax Deaf group worshipped God - praising Him, singing to Him, clapping to Him, meditating with Him, praying to Him, rejoicing before Him, pouring out before Him, and various -before Him's! :) It was a fabulously beautiful day!
What made the day beautiful was that people came to Fairfax to worship God! They are beautiful people with beautiful feet (..How beautiful are the feet.. - Romans 10:15) showing Jesus and showing Jesus and again, showing Jesus! That's what God expects from His worshippers! At the close of the worship we give to God, Ricky and Sally Newman came forward placing their membership with us at Fairfax. They have been added to His number (the church!). What a joyful moment that was! Then everyone adjourned outside for a church-wide luncheon with hamburgers/hot dogs and goodies and a great time of fellowship under the beautiful day! So this is the day, this is the day, this is the day to worship the Lord. I will rejoice, I will rejoice, I will rejoice and be glad in it! The members and I say, "Thank you, Lord, for this day!"
Brothers and sisters, don't forget about "one". Read and re-read Jesus' parables in Luke 15.
What made the day beautiful was that people came to Fairfax to worship God! They are beautiful people with beautiful feet (..How beautiful are the feet.. - Romans 10:15) showing Jesus and showing Jesus and again, showing Jesus! That's what God expects from His worshippers! At the close of the worship we give to God, Ricky and Sally Newman came forward placing their membership with us at Fairfax. They have been added to His number (the church!). What a joyful moment that was! Then everyone adjourned outside for a church-wide luncheon with hamburgers/hot dogs and goodies and a great time of fellowship under the beautiful day! So this is the day, this is the day, this is the day to worship the Lord. I will rejoice, I will rejoice, I will rejoice and be glad in it! The members and I say, "Thank you, Lord, for this day!"
Brothers and sisters, don't forget about "one". Read and re-read Jesus' parables in Luke 15.
Saturday, September 11, 2004
Ping!
Last night, I played softball for the Fairfax Church of Christ Class Acts team. We won both games and everyone did a very good job. I got a chance to meet David (last name withheld), a new player on the team, and he signs very little. It was good to meet him because he told me that he has a co-worker that is deaf with the USDA (agriculture department). Now, I wonder what God is going to do about this?
Today, my daughter, Amanda has a softball game. Then my youngest daughter, Alyson, has soccer practice. Then we will go to Baltimore to see the Holladays'. Cliff Holladay is the son-in-law of Billy Leavell, Becky's husband. He is working with a church near Baltimore. Pray that God will bless our day today, as well as yours!
Here's the verse I was reading today. Paul wrote to Timothy with strong and loving encouragements in 2 Timothy 2:1-4: "You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs - he wants to please his commanding officer."
In case you were wondering why I had the word, "Ping!" as a title, I finally hit one, good, nice long ball toward the fence and got a double (on second)! It reminds me of Timothy's frustrations with many churches Paul sent him to. He was a young minister loving the Lord with his life. There will be times when you struggle as a minister or servant just as I struggled to hit one good ball out of 8 (despite some ground balls and bloopers!)! Paul urged Timothy to be strong and endure hardship! That's what it takes to be a servant - being strong and enduring hardship!
God is good! : )
Today, my daughter, Amanda has a softball game. Then my youngest daughter, Alyson, has soccer practice. Then we will go to Baltimore to see the Holladays'. Cliff Holladay is the son-in-law of Billy Leavell, Becky's husband. He is working with a church near Baltimore. Pray that God will bless our day today, as well as yours!
Here's the verse I was reading today. Paul wrote to Timothy with strong and loving encouragements in 2 Timothy 2:1-4: "You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs - he wants to please his commanding officer."
In case you were wondering why I had the word, "Ping!" as a title, I finally hit one, good, nice long ball toward the fence and got a double (on second)! It reminds me of Timothy's frustrations with many churches Paul sent him to. He was a young minister loving the Lord with his life. There will be times when you struggle as a minister or servant just as I struggled to hit one good ball out of 8 (despite some ground balls and bloopers!)! Paul urged Timothy to be strong and endure hardship! That's what it takes to be a servant - being strong and enduring hardship!
God is good! : )
Thursday, September 09, 2004
Puppyville
Hey! This is my first blog on this Blogger! :)
Last Saturday, we brought home, Hope, our new black lab. She's an extremely cute friend! Our kids love her. One challenge we faced was having to spend tremendous amount of time watching, supervising, playing, walking, picking up excess waste (both in the home and outside) and serving our puppy with love, attention and care.
One blessing that we noticed since Saturday was that Hope brought the family closer together. Living in the East (west D.C.) requires us to be on the move! When we go from one place to another, check emails, upload information on a server, meetings with members, ECA's (extracurricular activities) for kids and the list is endless, our quality family time diminishes! Isn't that wonderful that God created animals like Hope. Dogs are man's best friends! God uses them to cure our hurts, despression, disappointments, and even divisions (among families). With one lick from a pet like Hope, they make us feel loved! Isn't God wonderful that He created these to see His love?
Before I close, I want to say, congrats and praise the Lord, to Laurel Starkey for completing (yes, she actually crossed the finish line!) the 5,000K race last weekend (it's actually 3 miles) and she did it in 34 minutes!
Last Saturday, we brought home, Hope, our new black lab. She's an extremely cute friend! Our kids love her. One challenge we faced was having to spend tremendous amount of time watching, supervising, playing, walking, picking up excess waste (both in the home and outside) and serving our puppy with love, attention and care.
One blessing that we noticed since Saturday was that Hope brought the family closer together. Living in the East (west D.C.) requires us to be on the move! When we go from one place to another, check emails, upload information on a server, meetings with members, ECA's (extracurricular activities) for kids and the list is endless, our quality family time diminishes! Isn't that wonderful that God created animals like Hope. Dogs are man's best friends! God uses them to cure our hurts, despression, disappointments, and even divisions (among families). With one lick from a pet like Hope, they make us feel loved! Isn't God wonderful that He created these to see His love?
Before I close, I want to say, congrats and praise the Lord, to Laurel Starkey for completing (yes, she actually crossed the finish line!) the 5,000K race last weekend (it's actually 3 miles) and she did it in 34 minutes!
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