Remember me

Not feeling so great this morning, so I snoozed. Waking up, I realized there were so many parts in my life I needed to work on... some parts worst than others.

So I said a little prayer and picked up where I left off on Psalms, and God had a message for me:

"Praise ye the LORD, O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever.

Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can show forth all His praise?

Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that does righteousness at all times.

Remember me, O LORD, with the favour that Thou bearest unto Thy people: O visit me with Thy salvation;

That I may see the good of Thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of Thy nation, that I may glory with Thine inheritance."

Psalms 106:1-5

Today in History

I really like history... so here's a little flashback of history for the day. The tsunami happened to be 6 years ago today, how time flies.

"For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.

He was despised and rejected by men;
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not."

Isaiah 53:2,3

Sorrow is better than laughter

A good name is better than precious ointment,
and the day of death than the day of birth.
It is better to go to the house of mourning
than to go to the house of feasting,
for this is the end of all mankind,
and the living will lay it to heart.
Sorrow is better than laughter,
for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.

Ecclesiastes 7:1-3


It had been a while since I last experienced lost of loved ones. Last night when my Aunt (by marriage) passed away in the ICU, this chapter of Ecclesiastes came to mind. And as I meditate upon it again this morning, it's very true.

I've been to a number of birthday parties, graduation parties, weddings, anniversaries... but the sorrow that our family experienced last night, along with the prayers that were directed to our Heavenly Father really brought home the fact that we were mere humans. No celebrations on this earth can remind us of where relying on the extent of our power ends, and depending upon our Savior's faithfulness really begins. "...for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart."

Like a Child

I got these by email a while back...
made me smile from time to time. :)

Letter to God:

Which one made you smile the widest? :)

"But Jesus said, Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven. And He laid his hands on them and went away."

Matthew 19:14,15

....................

"Peter said in reply, See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?

Jesus said to them, Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.
But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

Matthew 19:27-30

Are you a good wrestler?

"James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire,
wanting nothing."

James 1:1-4

...........................

Oh, who am I kidding with? The way I've lived my life up to this point. I cannot be the first person in line to say, "Thank you Lord for the trials, for the afflictions... for they have made me stronger!" This morning my words are more, "Is that how one's supposed to feel, when more often than not, found in the winning side of the battle?" I say this road of faith is rough, and often times I am too much of a complainer... a whimp, to try and thread this narrow road.

To a similar tune, apostle Peter says in his first letter...

"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ."

1 Peter 1:7

"...As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance."

1 Peter 1:14

The book of James is such a practical book, especially for these End Times. Did you know that the name James is the Greek version of the Hebrew name Jacob? I did not know that till 2 weeks ago. :) I think it's neat how names given to different individuals at different life situations, have quite a significance in the Bible. In her book "Patriarchs & Prophets", Ellen White describes Jacob's experience during the night of wrestling and anguish (Genesis 32) as a representation of the trial through which the people of God must pass just before Christ's second coming.

"Such will be the experience of God's people in their final struggle with the powers of evil. God will test their faith, their perseverance, their confidence in His power to deliver them. Satan will endeavor to terrify them with the thought that their cases are hopeless; that their sins have been too great to receive pardon. They will have a deep sense of their shortcomings, and as they review their lives their hopes will sink. But remembering the greatness of God's mercy, and their own sincere repentance, they will plead His promises made through Christ to helpless, repenting sinners. Their faith will not fail because their prayers are not immediately answered. They will lay hold of the strength of God, as Jacob laid hold of the Angel, and the language of their souls will be, "I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me." (Patriarchs & Prophets p.202)

...........................

"If thou has run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how can thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?"

Jeremiah 12:5

New Testament

Gratitude

‎"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.... It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” -Melody Beattie

Morning already

Haven't been sleeping right lately. I don't know why.. going in and out of sleep every three hours or so, with weird dreams here and there; hence the semi-sore throat yesterday. I think something's on my mind.

Please pray for me, taking the board exam in about two weeks.

Advice from an old friend this weekend...

"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are."

(John Wooden)

Gentle Healer

Gentle Healer is the Truth, the Life, the Way.

Persimmon

One of my fav fruits. Crunchy and juicy at the same time.. how weird. :)

A'-men

Do you know what the word 'Amen' means? We say it so often.. in the end of every prayer. People sometimes say it at church when they agree with something. Do we understand its true meaning?

Jesus, in the last book of the New Testament, is referred to as the Amen.

"And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the A'-men, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God. I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: it would be better if you were cold or hot." Revelation 3:14,15

Wikipedia describes Amen as a declaration of affirmation. The root word for Amen comes from Hebrew aman which means to nourish and make strong. The word emunah (faithfulness) also comes from aman.

The Greek adaptation of the word when reading the New Testament comes out as: "Surely, Surely" or "Verily, verily" or "Truly, truly"..sounds more familiar now? :)

From the Old Testament...

"And he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes." Isaiah 65:16

Faithful and True are such genuine words. Can this sinful self really grasp the true meaning of these words? When we have a problem or burden in our lives, how often can we find a friend who is faithful and true? A friend who would truly understand our troubles, who would listen and actually pray for us when they say "I'll pray for you."

Yes Jesus is faithful and true. The Amen lived His life on this earth a faithful and true witness of the Father. He came to nourish and make strong the true character of the Father. He asks you to follow His footsteps didn't He? So can we be faithful and true to our friends also? Not showing favoritism, but be genuine to every single soul we encounter, point them to the source of the Living Water, so they thirst no more. Can my friends see Jesus in me?

I hope your prayer lives can be enriched by this simple message. When we say that word in the end of every prayer, we affirm that He indeed is faithful in listening and answering to our troubles. So next time you pray, you can 'surely' say it with conviction.

And btw, Amen is also the last word in the Bible...

"He who testifies to these things says, Surely I am coming soon. A'-men. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. A'-men (faithful and true)."

Revelation 22:20,21

Wonderful

Wonderful the feeling

When God, the Giver of Life, is the One who wakes you up in the morning

When He's the One to remind you that it's in fact a start of another day

Another day to walk with Him

He then tells you, that He wants to talk before you go on with your day

Before the sun shows its true strength

Before your body even shows any signs of hunger

He promised we will find Him

Will understand His will

In prayer and in scripture

*******

"I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me."

Proverbs 8:17

Any Upbeat Songs, Andrey?

That's the kinda question I usually get from people riding with me. haha. Sometimes also go along with.. "Oh i had my ipod earlier too, should've brought it along."

Isn't music an interesting one. I heard music has the ability to directly effect our mood, whether the cortex part of our brain that handles logic allows it or not. How does music effect you? Does it establish itself a special part in your heart as it does in mine? :)

I wished i could play more instruments. All through college, i always wanted to play the cello, just so i could be part of the orchestra. I thought of how amazing it'd be to practice orchestra music twice a week and be in the middle of it all.. of all that music making.

Have you heard of David the musician?

"And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him."

I Samuel 16:23

Let your eyes look directly forward,
And your gaze be straight before you.

Ponder the path of your feet;
Then all your ways will be sure.

Proverbs 4:25,26

What say we to the different kinds of music this world has to offer...

Indonesia

Pray with me this morning for the people in Indonesia...

Molten lava flows from the crater of Mount Merapi captured in this extended time exposure photograph taken from Klaten district in Central Java province. An avalanche of heat clouds that can kill anything in their path streamed nine kilometres down the slopes of the volcano.

(AFP/Sonny Tumbelaka)

Villagers flee their homes following another eruption Mount Merapi in Klaten ,Indonesia, Friday, Nov. 5, 2010. A new eruption at Indonesia's volcano has forced authorities to widen the 'danger zone' to 12 miles (20 kilometers) from the fiery crater. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

Psalm

"I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed."

Psalms 37:25,26

Can these be my desires too?

Two things have I required of Thee; deny me them not before I die:

Remove far from me vanity and lies:

Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

Lest I be full, and deny Thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

Proverbs 30:7-9

'Till the Storm Passes By

...from Monday Oct 25

Waiting for Trash-Day-Tuesday

Don't worry.. I eventually helped her raking the leaves.

After this shot. =P

He said, "Make sure just one car in the background, k!?" lol

Then the storm came Tuesday...

No need to check if it was really raining...

Just today, October 30

Oh my hot sauce.. you're not supposed to be there.

October

Upper Peninsula, Michigan '08

October is almost over. How time flies.. And it rained again this morning. Another gloomy Sabbath day. I love it. hehhe. There are times I wish to enjoy going to church with bright sunshine. But more often than not, I enjoy my rainy days.

Waking up this morning in the shadow of still-very-overcast sky, I could hear the leaves shifting by the wind. Wondering if it actually rained this morning, I looked out, and sure enough, the car that I just washed on Thursday is soaking wet in the driveway, with falling leaves sticking here and there. :)

Rainy Sabbath days bring me to a more contemplative mood. Also makes me talk less when I'm at church. I just smile at people. :) As I sneak back in to the sanctuary when everyone is eating, I noticed that the piano keys also sound better on rainy days... as I play my favorite hymns. It's true! ^^

Change of season is inevitable eh? cannot stop the moon from rising. Well, Fall has officially nipped the air, and is here to stay. I noticed with all these rainy days, seasons have the ability to sneak in on us. I remember last spring, as it rained a lot... the next thing you know, sunny days came and the days just got longer. A week or two of alternating rain, then suddenly sunset was at 8 o'clock. And the opposite is happening today.

"For everything there is a season,
and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace."

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

...........

But my Alpha and Omega never changes...

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

Hebrews 13:8

"Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of His, and give thanks at the rememberance of His holiness. For His anger endureth but a moment; in His favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."

Psalms 30:4,5

Con te Partiro (Time to Say Goodbye)

Chorus:
I'll go with you
To countries I never
Saw and shared with you
Now, yes, I shall relive them
I'll go with you
On ships across seas
Which, I know,
No, no, exist no longer
With you I shall relive them

How Long...

Reading from Psalms these days... (will I ever get through it? :)

"How long will Thou forget me, O LORD? For ever? How long will Thou hide Thy face from me?

How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;

Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

But I have trusted in Thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in Thy salvation.

I will sing unto the LORD, because He hath dealt bountifully with me."

Psalms 13

Corgis :)

(old pictures from summer 2008. San Diego)

Plan to leave Darien, IL today and head to michigan school for the weekend. It's a gud two hour drive.. hmm I wonder whether I should put a new sermon or two on my mp3 player. Singing along my favorite songs get old after about 20 min. :)

Pastor and his wife have been so good to me here. Everytime I hand Auntie Lynn the month's rent at the beginning of each month, she always shows happiness and gratitude. She once told me that me coming to the house was really an answer to her prayer. Oh, how they were also an answer to my prayer.

I remember having a conversation with my older sister about 3 weeks before clinical started. Back when I still had no accommodations set up. I shared with her,

"Oh, my prayer is simple. I just pray to God for a nice family that'd have a room for me. And if it's not too much to ask, one that also have a piano in the living room."

I'm sure Yuli somewhat rolled her eyes a little bit there. Oh, Andrey.. I just pray you find something somewhere before clinicals start so you won't have to stay at a nearby motel (I told her of a motel nursing and medical students would stay in, near the hospital). That was proly her prayer too.

But God is faithful. He still listens to my cries. His grace is truly fresh every morning.. and I mean this in every possible way.. the same grace that would embrace this wretched, prone to falling individual, so he could still have hope to face tomorrow.

"But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for Himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto Him.

Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah."

Psalms 4:3,4

"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face:

now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three;

but the greatest of these is love."

I Corinthians 13:12,13

Mi Mancherai

Mi mancherai, se te ne vai

Mi mancherà, la tua serenità

Le tue parole, come canzoni al vento

E l'amore che ora porti via

I will miss you, when you go

I will miss your serenity

Your words, like songs in the wind

And Love, that you take away.

.......

Spoken in Due Season

"A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it! The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath."

Proverbs 15:23,24

Betroth you to Me forever

Ahh not too many personal entries lately. I see favorite Bible verses that I've encountered as the week goes. I see random music videos on youtube. But not too many regurgitated feelings from within. lol. I guess it's a guy thing to not share too much personal stuff than necessary. It's hard enough to share in words when face-to-face with a friend, much putting thoughts into writing. :)

So back in Illinois to study for my med-tech boards exam and find work. To finally try to put an end to my patient parents' suffering of supporting me. "Lion cubs learn the art of stalking, crouching, and flanking maneuvers from their mother. Still the learning begins roughly around 2 years of age where they experience it for themselves" (lionking.org :).

"Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old."

Proverbs 23:22

"There is a generation that curses its father, and does not bless its mother... There is a generation-- oh how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up."

Proverbs 30:11,13

Starting my best again to get on the ball on my Bible reading early morning. Have not been exemplary this past summer. Reading from Hosea, the prophet who pleads for Israel before Assyrian captivity (from the History of Redemption; linking the 2 reading together).

"Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry and children of harlotry, for the land has committed great harlotry by departing from the LORD." Hosea 1:2

"For she said, 'I will go after my lovers, who give me my bread and my water... Yes she will seek them, but not find them. Then she will say, 'I will go and return to my first husband, for then it was better for me than now.' " Hosea 2:5,7

Hosea chapter 2 ends with God saying...

"I will betroth you to Me forever, Yes I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in lovingkindness and mercy,

I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, And you shall know the LORD.

Then I will sow her for Myself in the earth, And I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy;

Then I will say to those who were not My people,

'You are My people!'

And they shall say, 'You are my God!' "

Hosea 2:19,20,23

Does Jesus Care?

Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth and song;
As the burdens press, and the cares distress,
And the way grows weary and long?

Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near?

Does Jesus care when I've said goodbye
To the dearest on earth to me
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks
Is it aught to Him, does He see?

O Yes, He cares
I know He cares!
His heart is touched with my grief
When the days are weary, the long nighs dreary
I know my Savior cares

Like a Tree

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish."

Psalms 1

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Did you know back in Israelites time, not any tree can be planted by rivers of water? Only those that are specially chosen for bearing fruit. Doesn't that say something about you and I? Oh how privileged we are to be connected to this Water of Life. We have been 'specially chosen'.. to bear fruit in due season.

To walk not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful are like progressions of our faith. Once we're committed to someone, we'll stop walking.. we stand, then we sit (funny analogy huh? i thought so too :).

My prayer this morning is for our faith to be evermore planted in him, deep into the grounds. Hidden from the surface, where only our private-self and the Holy Spirit can work on.

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Hebrews 12:1,2

Grace

Discretion

Praise the Lord, undergraduate studies done! :) What has been a long journey; from 'really-knowing-what-to-do' out of high school, to 'maybe-not-so-much-after-all', to 'why-do-these-things-smell-so-bad?' lol. But God has been there through it all. What am I saying.. He's been there all the days of my life.

I really do not know how to thank Him.. where to start? The fact that He's always provided for me financially through my parents, how He's always provided me with housing. Oh how He loves you and me. Reading from Jude and Proverbs this morning.

"Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James..." Jude 1

A little background: (if I can explain this correctly...) James=half-brother of Jesus. That makes Jude a half-brother of Jesus. Oh, the humility that's being shown here...

"But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."

"Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen."

Jude 20, 21, 24,25

Jude's way of walking with Lord seems simple enough: Keep ourselves in the love of God, continue to ask for mercy, and know that He is able to keep us from falling. Let not that great deceiver, that roaring lion, convince you otherwise.

"He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of His saints."

Proverbs 2:8

"When wisdom enters into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speak froward things; Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness."

Proverbs 2:10-13

Vain

Unless the LORD builds the house,
its builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchmen stand guard in vain.

In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for He grants sleep to those he loves.

Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from him.

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one's youth.

Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

~Psalms 127

In The Morning

Do not be Proud

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

~Romans 12:14-16 NIV

He Inclined unto Me

Today's 4th of July. Such a hot & humid day. Earlier I got kind of bored, so I went for a drive to a local 'outdoor mall' to see which stores were open today. As I stepped out of the house, a rush of warm air greeted me, phew!

It was a couple of hours before sunset when I decided to have my little run. Still very much humid out, although now it's showing a little overcast. I wondered what it would take to run 2 miles around these suburb streets. So I went to my car, set the odometer to zero, and off i went to simulate my run (so left on Bel Air and right on 69th then head back=2.2 mi :)

On the way back, just on the last long stretch of road heading back home, water droplets were showing up on my windshield; even more a minute later. "So what can I do right? At least now I know my route." ^^

It's amazing how much cooler it got. I mean it didn't suddenly get chilly or anything, but the rain was so refreshing. I decided to grab my camera and just sit in the front porch and enjoy the rain. In that moment, I asked God, that when He gives me a wife one day, I hope she'd be one who would also enjoy hearing rain drops after a long hot & humid day.

"It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife." Proverbs 21:9

"It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman." verse 19

"House and riches are the inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD." Proverbs 19:14

Man, the attic on a hot day can get really really hot. hahha.

"I waited patiently for the LORD;

And He inclined unto me,

And heard my cry.

He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,

Out of the miry clay,

And set my foot upon a rock,

And established my steps.

Many, O LORD my God,

are Your wonderful works

Which You have done;

And Your thoughts toward us

Cannot be recounted to You in order;

If I would declare and speak of them,

They are more than can be numbered."

Psalms 40:1,2,5

Listening to this skillful guitar player while sorting out the pictures...

Mr. Rafael Scarfullery