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"Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger."
The psalmist praises God for his majesty and one of the reasons is that out of the mouth of babies and infants, God establishes strength and stills the enemy. God is that majestic that he can still enemies with the words out of the mouths of babies and infants, i.e. the weak and vulnerable, the not-strong. Perhaps babies and infants, the weak and vulnerable, are actually better vehicles of God's strength because it's clear who the strength is coming from, from God. I think it speaks to how we're, myself included, often hoping to be better in this and that way and in that way glorify God, but when what's better is to be clear how you're weak and vulnerable so that all the glory goes to God. Treasure in jars of clay showing the surpassing power belongs to God - 2 Cor 4.
Thinking about Jacob's life reminds me of my own, grasping and struggling to get my own way, until finally I came to a point where I was afraid and more humble and could wrestle with God. He asked me for my name, who am I really, and then gave me a new name. Though it was difficult and felt hopeless at times, I somehow persevered and didn't let God go and in the end finally could appreciate and experience God's blessings as blessings. And now Jacob as he comes back to the land of his forefathers could be the kind of person to continue God's promise and blessing into the next generation. May that be true of my life as well.

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Through watching several apologetics videos, I have been recommended several different apologetics YouTube channels. One of them being "christsforgiveness". This channel features Pastor David Lynn, who goes out in public and tries to preach Biblical truth and have several apologetics conversations with people. These conversations are very insightful and he does a decent job at being respectful to have conversations with non-believers and try to defend the Gospel and the Bible in terms of many controversial topics (i.e. LGBTQ+, abortions, etc.). He is bold in defending the faith, though I feel that sometimes he can lack some compassion. However, he makes some great points that we can take when approaching and answering questions on some of these controversial topics. This channel covers several different topics, so feel free to check it out!

https://www.youtube.com/@christsforgiveness

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The story of Jacob wrestling at the River Jabbock with God is a personal story for me, a prayer that P. Steve and Eunice had for me, that I would struggle with God and persevere in my struggles as Jacob did, telling him my name, who I really was and receiving a new name, a new identity. So thankful for this story and for God who is a God though He is sovereign and Creator and Alpha and Omega, still struggles with us. What a privilege.

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Something I appreciated again as Jesus meets people of all backgrounds and situations and personalities and positions is that his approach to each person was different. He loves them each in their own way in the way they need to be loved. John the Baptist, the syrophonecian woman, the disciples, the Pharisees. Hope that I can grow to become more like that too.
Also got the chance to appreciate the fact that Jesus uses the term Son of Man for the first time.

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In Genesis, we see Jacob preparing to meet his brother face to face for the first time in 20 years. Despite his accumulation of wealth, family and blessing that he desired in his youth, no amount of possession could cover up the guilt of wronging his brother. In this season of his life, he is fully convinced of his wrongdoing and tries to come up with away to appease his brother by offering gifts to prepare his way, but at the end of Ch 32 we see Jacob left all alone as he sends off the people he cherished the most. In his state of utter vulnerability and helplessness, he meets an angel and is given the opportunity to wrestle. Here I was challenged to see Jacob's humility and hope to continue wrestling until he prevails and is blessed. I can imagine someone giving into the hopelessness at the coming judgement with the possibility of losing all that he loved, but here I see Jacob full of hope and someone continuing to desire the blessing of God. I'm inspired by that picture because despite my sins or my regrets, one redeeming quality I can hold onto is the hope in God's promise or blessing for my life. Even after sending forth all his flock, his servants, his posessios, his wives and children, the one thing Jacob does not want to let go is the blessing of God and that is something that I want to imitate in my life as well.

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Those that follow God and worship Him while fearing His wrath are the smartest and happiest. He protects those that follow Him, as Psalm 5:11 states. The concentration of this chapter seems to be words, and it would be in our best interest to use our words to follow and worship God rather than evil. I will take verse 5:3 to heart and use it as a reminder to pray more often.

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Dartmouth College - Based on my experiences from Vision

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Dartmouth College - Based on my experiences from Vision

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Amy Carmichael was a missionary in India, who was inspired after hearing Hudson Taylor speak at the Keswick Convention of 1887 of the great need in that country. Even though she suffered from neuralgia, a disease that made her whole body weak/achy/bedridden, she still followed her calling to go. She served in India for 56 years of her life without ever returning back to her homeland serving orphans in the southernmost region of India. In 1901 she rescued what was called a Temple Child, as she found out that many young girls were dedicated to the gods and forced into prostitution to earn money for their priests, and started an orphanage to care for these girls known as the Dohnavur Fellowship. This exploitation of young girls, as young as 8 years old is called the Devadasi system, where they are offered up to the temples as a way for their families to sustain a means of income. Carmichael's impact reached thousands of children, including young boys born to the temple girls and eventually in 1948 India outlawed temple prostitution. The Dohnavur Fellowship continues to this day, supporting 500 people with additional nurseries and hospitals built in over the years. So thankful for Carmichael's faithfulness and heart for these children, that she was able to fight for their physical and spiritual freedom in Christ!

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Shared my testimony at All Nations Retreat

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Shared my testimony at All Nations Retreat

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I had the chance to share my testimony with one of the youth at the All Nations Retreat. After John Cai's message on Lordship, I asked her if she had ever heard Lordship explained in that way before and she said no. She explained a little bit of her background and I told her that Lordship was a new concept for me too when I started to seek God. I had the chance to weave in my testimony and said that even if we made a similar decision in the past, that as a Christian we are always finding new slices of the pie to surrender under God's Lordship and that I've had to do that many times in my life! So thankful that she was able to make a decision at the end of the retreat!

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I chose this topic because I think that there are many people who believe that they can be good without God or without believing in God. In this apologetics video, it explains this question. If there is no God, what objective is there for moral good or bad? Without an objective reference point, then there is no way to measure actions or standards and all that we're left with is one person's viewpoint. God's nature provides the objective reference point for us to determine what is good and bad. We know from our experience that when someone steals from us, that it is a felt injustice - it was "wrong" for them to do so. Therefore the moral argument ends like this, "If God does not exist, objective moral values and duties do not exist. But objective values and duties DO exist, therefore God exists."

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Case for Resurrection Part 1 & 2 - Grace

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Case for Resurrection Part 1 & 2 - Grace

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Part 1 establishes the historical facts surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus: the empty tomb, the post-burial appearances, the disciples claim that Jesus rose from the dead.
https://youtu.be/4qhQRMhUK1o
Part 2 goes through the different possible theories for what could've happened and evaluates them based on the historical facts and finds that in each one of them, they're lacking. Only the theory of the resurrection holds all of the historical facts to be true.
https://youtu.be/6SbJ4p6WiZE

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Did Jesus Rise from the Dead? - Part One: The Facts

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"O LORD my God, in you do I take refuge;

save me from all my pursuers and deliver me"
In the context of this Psalm where David is hurt by the words of this Benjaminite, it's challenging that the first words that comes out of his mouth is trust in God. All kinds of words can come out when we're hurt, words of anger towards God for why it's happening to me, words of self-pity, words of insecurity and withdrawal. I myself tend towards these things so it's challenging to see David's trust in God and at the end his confidence and trust in God so that even though nothing has changed in his situation, he can praise God in the midst of his pain.

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I have seen just how accurate these verses are during my time at Vision. Surrounding myself with Christian friends has grown my faith exponentially in just one week; imagine what a lifetime of that could be like! This semester I will be inspired by Proverbs 1:7, 15, and 16, as they show that my priorities should lie in the knowledge of the Lord and in the relationships I have with others following His path.

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David is such an amazing example of faith. This week at Vision I’ve learned not to be scared to share my faith through reading 2 Timothy, and this cements the idea. David had thousands of people who hated him for his faith, so why should I fear one or two? True happiness that lasts comes only from the Lord, not from the approval of people I don’t know. I will remember David’s trust and joy that the Lord would deliver him from anything, and I will not fear those that are pursuing worldly matters.

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What really resonated with me in these chapters was Chapter 12. Abram tried lying for convenience, which is something that I often do, and it turned out horribly. Plus, the manner in which he lied implies that he didn’t trust God to deliver him from danger and evil. From now on I will do my best to remember Abram and the unnecessary plagues upon Egypt when I want to tell a lie.

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Upon rereading 2 Timothy 3+4, I’ve found that I can relate more, and 2 Timothy 4:16-17 has been very comforting during Vision. Paul experienced times when he preached and wasn’t welcome, but he prayed for help and God delivered him “out of the mouth of the lion.” This text is so rich for evangelism, and it’s encouraged and inspired me through this trip.

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"How long O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?"
Although Wisdom calls out in the streets and in the markets, she makes it plain for anybody to find and hear and respond, yet the human condition is that we don't want wisdom. We want to be simple, we hate knowledge, we delight in our scoffing and rejection of God. We are the way we are because it benefits us in some way, even the unhealthy patterns in our lives and there because they give us some other kind of benefit. Wisdom's call is described as reproof. So the response is repentance. I hope that can grow in my humility to receive truth and knowledge in whatever shape or form it comes and be able to repent, turn around, have metanoia about the ways I'm foolish so that I can grow in wisdom and discernment.

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Yesterday was our second day at Dartmouth, which meant more dining hall outreach :) I was feeling really encouraged going through 2 Timothy 1-2 again for DT and witnessing other vision students going out of their comfort zones to be bold in their faith. It was significantly more crowded in the DH than the day before, and I felt really intimidated by the large crowds, but I decided that I was going to follow through with it. I ended up sitting with a girl named Zoe, a freshman studying law/politics. I asked her about her interest in law, and we ended up talking about how power often motivates people’s actions. I mentioned how we see that a lot in today’s world and how being motivated by power often leads to hurt and a lot of the issues we see in society, to which she agreed. Then I asked, “Since you’re interested in law, if there’s something you could change about our world, what would it be?” She mentioned how she would change the fact that people often fail to take the feelings of others into consideration. I asked about her experience with friends/if there was something that led her to that conclusion, to which she said no, but I could almost tell there was something from the look in her eye. I didn’t want to pry, so I shared a bit of my testimony, being hurt by friends many times during high school and feeling discarded once they no longer needed me. We talked about the problem of viewing relationships as transactional and how it’s hurtful because this view fails to recognize that every human has value. I shared G of the GOSPEL acrostic, explaining how God values every human being, and I asked if she had any religious background. I found out that she grew up Christian, but isn’t actively seeking Christian community on campus. I sensed some discomfort when I started asking about her spiritual background, and I could tell that she wasn’t at a place to share. I ended up telling her about the Happiness talk and Sunday service, and we talked a bit about how people often turn to the wrong things for happiness — trying to fill the void with things that are not able to satisfy. She ended up having to leave for class, but I’m praying that God will continue to stir her heart and that she would experience God’s love in new ways + see that the gospel is still relevant to her!

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First time doing dining hall outreach [Katie Wong]

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First time doing dining hall outreach [Katie Wong]

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Thursday (1/12) was our first day at Dartmouth! We had two options for lunch: going to the student center (not for outreach) or going to the dining hall to meet students. Dining hall outreach has always seemed somewhat intimidating, but after reflecting on the life of D.L. Moody + others just the day before, I felt like God was nudging me to be bold, so I opted for the dining hall. To my surprise, I was more excited than nervous! Once we got to Dartmouth, I teamed up with one of the staff + another student but decided that I’d go solo if I saw a student sitting alone. This is when the nervousness kicked in, but I decided that I was going to follow through with the commitment I had just made. IMMEDIATELY as I walked into the seating area, I noticed a girl sitting there by herself. I prayed that God would give me courage and asked if I could sit w/ her. I learned her name (Yasmine) and asked about school + her life, found out that she’s a freshman, and then asked about her spiritual background. She replied saying that she’s muslim. I wanted to try and dive into deeper spiritual conversation, so I mentioned how often times identity+purpose are deeply intertwined with faith, and asked how that played out in her life. She took a while to respond, eventually saying that she didn’t know, but it seemed like she had never really considered those Q’s before. I forget the exact follow-up questions I asked, but Yasmine seemed somewhat uninterested, so I decided just to ask more about her life, family, and how she ended up at Dartmouth. Our conversation got cut short because she had to run off to class, but I ended by encouraging her to think about those questions because they greatly impact how you orient your life — what your priorities are, how you’re going to live your life, and whether you know if you’re living for the right thing. We ended on a good note, and she wished me good luck for my last semester. I was somewhat disappointed when she headed out because I was left eating alone at this two-seater table when I was supposed to be there talking to students. I was thankful that Isaiah had covered 2 Timothy 3 during the previous night’s plenary and that he encouraged us to just show up — even if you don’t feel like you have a lot to give, the least you can do is show up. That’s how I felt coming out of this experience because I didn’t have a huge breakthrough with Yasmine, but I realized this could be my sacrifice to God, just making myself available to be used in whatever capacity God chooses. I ended up finishing my food alone and prayed for Yasmine. I’m really grateful that I came out of this experience with greater burden for students who do not have the gospel, and I’m excited to go out again, initiating spiritual conversations + sharing the love of Christ with those at Dartmouth :)

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(This is a reread, and it was for yesterday)

I realized from rereading 2 Timothy 1:9 just how powerful it is that God knew we would be sinners before the world even began, and He still loved us enough to create us. It’s a beautiful relationship we have with Him, that He was willing to create us knowing that THE price would have to be paid as a result. I feel as though I overlooked this verse the first time, but I like that I noticed it more during this reread.

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I have a non-Christian friend that I texted, asking if I could pray for her, as she’s really struggling being stuck at home for winter break with her parents (with whom she has a very broken relationship). She agreed, and I sent her my prayer for her, and she seemed very thankful. I was also greatly encouraged when she asked me about my own personal struggles and said that she would pray for me as well. I’ve been praying to God daily for a spiritual breakthrough with her and Vision has really encouraged me to put myself out there a bit more. I’m just so glad to know that we have THE God who listens.

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I did some Dining Hall Outreach for the first time and I shared the gospel with the girl I talked to. She didn’t seem all that receptive (although only God can tell how she really felt about it), especially because she recently experienced a traumatic event. I tried my best to show sympathy and explain why evil exists, because she was curious. I invited her to more of our Vision events and I hope that she comes; God works in so many interesting ways. Please keep her in your prayers 💕.

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I was very blessed by today's Psalm and was challenged by David's humility towards God in asking for His mercy, even though he knows that what he deserves is rebuke and discipline. In the commentary that I read, it said that when we are rebuked / disciplined by God, it is less of a marker of God's anger and is a true marker of our adoption - for only a father would discipline their sons or daughters. In the end, David is reassured that God hears his prayers and that He is indeed a God of mercy therefore he can turn in victory over his sins and enemies.

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Lehigh University (30m from Riverlodge!)

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Lehigh University (30m from Riverlodge!)

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https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1zwdNCwmAouG1nGD0yboTRu18IYipbhNFUhgxllXU_hc/edit?pli=1#slide=id.g1c7909ddc99_0_45

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What a wonderful blessing it is that we can turn to God when we are languishing, when our bodies are wearied, when our souls are troubled. As I get older, I thank God that he is someone I can turn to for deliverance whether it's a physical ailment or some emotional burden. And I thank God that he hears our plea and accepts our prayers. Such desperate moments are God-given opportunities to depend on God.

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We wrote testimony boards and I shared mine with the group at Vision. From practicing sharing among friends, I feel prepared to share my story with new people. Plus, I got to really think about my testimony, as I’ve never written it out like this before. I now have identified the key points in my journey towards faith, so that I’m better equipped to share and relate with others.

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Deuteronomy 8:2 And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.

I was reminded how much God desires us to remember our past history with him, through all the thick and thin. God wants a personal relationship and part of that is acknowledging the past, so that we can go with God towards the future with humility and gratitude.

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Genesis 15: 1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”

This is one of my favorite verses in the Bible. It's actually the verse that helped me be at peace about working full time for church. At first I was scared to let go of me and Michael's careers and devote our whole lives to serving the church without contingency plans. But I remember at a team retreat hearing a message on how Abraham felt so vulnerable after turning down a huge amount of plunder and offending the King of Sodom. God saw that Abraham did that to show trust and devotion to God, so he came to him and used the metaphor of God being his "shield" which is exactly what Abraham desires at that point, someone to cover him, protect him, and that's what God did for him in that moment. That's what this story did for me in my time of feeling very frightened to depend fully on God. I experienced God being my shield, and ever since I made that decision God has always provided for us! PTL!

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Gen 15:6 And he believed the Lord and he counted it to him as righteousness.
This verse is really important and is referenced by Paul in Romans. God gets to count Abraham's faith as righteousness. It's like a gift, counting Abraham as such though not inherently so. And it's not moral uprightness but faith and that becomes righteousness. That's really good news and the hope for all of us that just by faith I'm saved and deemed, counted as righteous in God's eyes.

Gen 19:16 But Lot's wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. This is another referenced verse. I was also struck that Lot lingered and the angels had to pull him out of Sodom out of God's mercy. Even though they both knew very clearly that it was all going to destruction, still they had given their hearts to Sodom. They had built a life there, invested, grew in status there so that Lot even sat at the gate. So much so that even when it was getting destroyed, they couldn't let it go. Don't I know as well that this life is temporary and that it will all be destroyed, then why am I tempted by the call of comfort and settling down? I must take heed.

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"But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you."
I love this verse. It is truly out of God's steadfast love. This is what defines the righteous and the wicked. It's that I have turned from my wickedness and thrown myself upon God's steadfast love. And what's the reward? God's house, worship in his holy temple. The church, the body of Christ, corporate worship. This is the rich abundant life God wants for all of us.

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These chapters reassure us God’s word is THE word; the only truth. Humans will pursue other learning, but they will never find the truth if they don’t read the Bible. These chapters also reassure us that persecution is a normal part of the Christian experience, and this encourages us to keep going. Plus, by reading this, we know we are not alone in this good fight; every person that lives godly in Jesus is persecuted. The Lord will deliver us from evil, so there’s nothing to fear.

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There are so many verses in this chapter that are quoted frequently by Christians, and it’s a very important chapter to remember on the winter Vision trip in addition to my everyday life. I know I need to apply things such as not being ashamed or scared to share Christianity to my daily life much more often, so I am very glad for the studying we have done on this chapter already at Vision. I’ve learned that God views the soldiers that keep marching on despite trials as good, and that I am already fully equipped for evangelism. All I need are the power, love, and sound mind that God has already equipped me with.

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Previous DTs and Personal Study

For the Psalms, on interesting thing in Psalm 4:4-5 is how anger is not necessarily sinful. Therefore, the question is when anger actually becomes sinful and how to prevent it. For King David, the key to not sinning as a result of your anger is through "pondering" it in your hearts and being "silent". Rather than just pondering on what made you angry, what is more likely is the pondering of the whole event objectively (with the idea of "being silent" being to prevent you from injecting your own narrative in it so that it looks worse than it actually is. This seems to refer, then to the process of reflection, where you put down all things objectively so as to right size the events and the emotions associated with them.

Just sharing from this most recent DT (Genesis 22), this marks the third time (note that it is the third number here, which usually symbolizes the "completeness" of something) that God states his promise to multiply Abraham's offspring. This only happens after Abraham prepares to sacrifice Isaac, his one and only son. This says something about the nature of sacrifice to God, since the only times when he pronounced this to Abraham was when Abraham gave up something in faith to God, even when anything and everything else would've told him to do otherwise (the first time with Lot, where he gave up the first choice of the land, the second time  with the King of Sodom, where he gave up riches, and this final time where he gave up Isaac). For God, these acts of sacrifice, which came/would've come at a strongly personal cost for Abraham, were something that he treasured greatly. My thought is that it is because it shows genuine, pure, unadulterated faith in him. Perhaps it is best seen in a marriage or in any super close relationship, where the person on the other side of the relationship shows you that, though they are imperfect, they take you at your word and are faithful to you, even if it costs them something great. Surely as well, these acts of sacrifice also are reminiscent of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for us. Because of these things, the sacrifices would be considered beautiful. I'm pretty sure God sees it like that too.

In Proverbs 11, what struck me were verses 23-26. These, similar to the story of Abraham, show that it is the one who is blessed in their giving, and not the one who acts for the sake of self-preservation, who is blessed. For those who give, although they might not get back what they had given in the first place, they will get something greater than what they had first given. Meanwhile, the one who holds back continues to suffer from want and ends up with the experience of being cursed (perhaps because a self-preservation mindset constantly has the feeling that they need more, something that is never satisfied, while the giving mindset comes from a person that finds that they don't need more, meaning that they feel secure in some way, whether it be in that area or in some related area that affects it).

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lesson learned: you really can share your testimony with literally anyone. [Minah]

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lesson learned: you really can share your testimony with literally anyone. [Minah]

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I had been going to the same hairdresser ("Mr. H") for quite some now, but I didn't think I would be sharing my testimony with him. He saw me working on my DT that I didn't get to finish in the morning and asked if I was doing QT ("quiet time"), and understood immediately what DT was when I explained it to him.

I got to tell Mr. H all about Gracepoint, how I started coming out, and how I felt burdened for my parents who don't go to church, to which he responded, "What a good thing, that God has given you the privilege of leading them to salvation!" I felt so encouraged in that moment that I wanted to call my parents right then and there (maybe I should have 🤔).

But the story doesn't end there! Mr. H started to share about the church that he himself attends; their elementary through middle school students come regularly and have no trouble making friends because there are many of them. On the other hand, high school students seldom come or don't seem to want anything to do with the messages or praise. College students are a rare sight overall - very few of them continue to attend church in school, and even fewer come back to their home church during break. It was easy to tell that Mr. H really wanted more for these students and for them to cling into their faith, no matter how small it was.

I began to feel burdened and told him that I knew exactly what he was saying because I had seen it firsthand and experienced similar things. I shared a little bit more on how I had no intention of finding a church in college, but God still managed to lead me back to Him.

Mr. H seemed more hopeful for the kids in his church after hearing my story. I will continue editing and updating this post since I am still waiting for the first part of my hair to be done :')

I'm so thankful for God guiding me through this conversation and giving me a temporary but powerful boost of courage to share my story :) Cheers!

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The Case for Life: A Scientific and Philosophical Defense of the Unborn by Dr. Sean McDowell - [Stanley]

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The Case for Life: A Scientific and Philosophical Defense of the Unborn by Dr. Sean McDowell - [Stanley]

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1) The unborn is alive
- Mom, dad, sperm, egg => All alive

2) The unborn is separate from the mother
- Unique DNA, distinct organism
- ~6 weeks heartbeat
- Bodily autonomy argument => We don't always have the right to do whatever we want with our bodies. Example: When it harms others.

3) Human but not Person? What are the differences between born and unborn?
- Size
- Level of development
- Environment
- Dependent
Intrinsic value and right to life don't come from any of these things. If we deny any of these, we'd also discriminate against other people groups.

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The Case for Life: A Scientific and Philosophical Defense of the Unborn

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Should Christians Support Gay Marriage? by J.D. Greear - [Stanley]

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Should Christians Support Gay Marriage? by J.D. Greear - [Stanley]

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A) Bible has at least six very clear passages prohibiting or condemning homosexual relationships.

B) But can’t we believe that it is wrong and still allow marriage? Christians don’t think every wrong thing should be illegal.
Should we apply that to gay marriage? No, marriage is such a building block.

The differences between genders is necessary in the home where love is demonstrated. Homosexuality in the home distorts a child’s understanding of his/her sexuality.
When this breaks down–whether through same-sex marriages or polygamy or whatever–the family breaks down, society breaks down

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Listen to this episode from Ask Me Anything Podcasts on Spotify. This week we wrap up our marriage and family series. Pastor J.D. jumps from talking about traditional marriage and family to answer a controversial family question.

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If God, Why Evil? by Dr. Sean McDowell - [Stanley]

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If God, Why Evil? by Dr. Sean McDowell - [Stanley]

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What is evil?
"My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust, but how had I gotten this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line. What was I comparing this universe with when I called it unjust?" -C.S. Lewis
Evil is a corruption of what is Good

The problem of Evil
1) If God is all powerful, he can stop evil
2) If God is good, he would want to stop evil
3) Evil exists
4) Therefore God does not exist

A) God cannot make Free beings and prevent them from doing evil. God cannot make a square circle.

B) God allows evil and suffering wakes people up to think about eternity and trust him.

C) God understands our suffering because Jesus suffered and died. And then he conquered the grave which gives us confidence to trust God in the midst of our suffering.

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v. 3 O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch

In the commentary/footnotes, the phrase "I prepare a sacrifice for you" can also be read with "I direct my prayer to you". This posture of David lifting up a prayer to God in the morning really stood out to me. Starting the day off with God is something that I want to imitate, especially this year.

v. 11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.

I had to look up what exult meant and when we exult in something we feel/show triumphant elation or jubilation. This is a great word to describe how we should feel as God's children! There's no need for me to fall into despair due to certain situations or drown in self-pity because God has given me the gift of eternal life and given me a purpose to live this life!

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What is the difference between Biblical love and worldly love? (Cindy Zhao)

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What is the difference between Biblical love and worldly love? (Cindy Zhao)

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A listener asked on a podcast "Why do I have such a hard time loving others?" and "Why does it seem like people who do not believe in God seem to be capable of loving others?" Hank Hanegraaff says that one cannot genuinely love without the understanding of the biblical concept of love. Love requires commitment- commitment to God first- and the feeling is the fruit. We as Christians strive for the standard of loving our neighbor as ourselves, though we may sometimes fail. Worldly love is more akin to lust and it cannot be as great of a standard than biblical love, which is patient, kind, does not envy and boast, etc. In Christ, we die to self and strive to love like Jesus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31X2XZ6B3lk&list=WL&index=7&ab_channel=BibleAnswerMan

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What does the Bible say about social media? (Cindy Zhao)

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What does the Bible say about social media? (Cindy Zhao)

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The Bible does not speak directly about social media, but it gives us insight to how to behave when using it. The way we act on social media should not be different from our actual selves. We should not use social media as a platform to complain and settle disputes within the church like how the Corinthian church brought their disputes to public court to be settled by nonbelievers. This is because there are many nonbelievers who do not have the same interest and it gives them a skewed impression of the church. We should not let our emotions get the best of us, despite how emotionally charging social media can be. We should also not let the secular, worldly desires take a hold on us and affect our desires and act in ways that continue to feed our flesh. Instead, we should use social media (if we choose to) as a tool to edify our speech to be encouraging and kind. Even if we may post something controversial to the world as it represents the truth of God, our response to any disagreement should be gracious because our words are powerful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9n3ZvwqkZwU&list=WL&index=2&ab_channel=oneminutepreacher

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYCpS8yVfn0&list=WL&index=2&ab_channel=AbundantGraceChurch

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What does the Bible say about justice? (Cindy Zhao)

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What does the Bible say about justice? (Cindy Zhao)

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Humans care so much about justice because we are made set apart from other beings in this world. We are all made equal in God's eyes, but sin causes people to preserve self and take advantage of others, rather than treating them with the dignity they deserve. Everyone is guilty of injustice. Christians need to live for restorative justice- seeking out vulnerable people and helping them, not manipulating them- and creating systems that promote justice, which is only possible if we live radically selfless life, which is God's will for us (Jeremiah 22:3; Psalm 146:7-9; Micah 6:8; James 2:14-18).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A14THPoc4-4&list=WL&index=1&ab_channel=BibleProject

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Are deathbed conversions legitimate? (Cindy Zhao)

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Are deathbed conversions legitimate? (Cindy Zhao)

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The short answer is yes, it can be. Hank Hanegraaff answers this question briefly by bringing up the criminal being crucified with Jesus who repents and is promised eternity in paradise. However, Hanegraaff says that what we do now matters and that everyday we should participate in the kingdom because we are storing up treasures in heaven. Though one can be saved in the last moments of their life, the degree of reward in heaven is not as high. It is foolish and a mockery to know about God and believe in Jesus and choose to live for ourselves and wait until the end of our lives to make Jesus Lord. Many people, even Christians, are deluded in believing that they are promised eternity in heaven with God when they repent at the last moments because it is a "good deal" without allowing Jesus and truth to rule their lives now, which is the wrong reason to seek salvation. That is to say, we never know when we will die, so it is wise for people to believe now and repent for their sins and make Jesus Lord and Savior in their lives.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecTh62AUl5o&list=WL&index=1&ab_channel=BibleAnswerMan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CzjBkBoKl8&list=WL&index=2&ab_channel=JusttheBible

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What does the Bible say about cremation? (Cindy Zhao)

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What does the Bible say about cremation? (Cindy Zhao)

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Cremation is becoming more popular in the Western world, which can be due to it being more economical than burials and that funerals are becoming more secular. Burial was the usual procedure for a dead body in the Bible. It was usually done the day someone died to prevent the spread of disease. There were very few instances of cremation in the biblical world. The Greeks would cremate a decimated body and bury the bones. However, there is no direct command on what to do with the body after physical death. We should just lead with love and practice the second commandment. Some Christians may argue that the body still needs to be shown respect after death as the spirit resides in the material and immaterial body. However, what matters is that the life and funeral of the individual is Christ-centered and testifies in every aspect to the truth and hope of the Gospel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLzOVtd7y6o&list=WL&index=2&ab_channel=Spirit%26Truth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMLdmoRASYo&list=WL&index=2&ab_channel=LeMarsBibleChurch

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What does the Bible say about the death penalty? (Cindy Zhao)

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What does the Bible say about the death penalty? (Cindy Zhao)

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God created the death penalty because God values life (Genesis 9:5-7). If one takes a human life unjustly, they forfeit their right to life. The death penalty is a necessary and moral consequence for murder. God made this the consequence because it will deter many from committing murder due to fear of the consequence (Romans 13:4). God knows how sinful people can all be, especially if we can get away with all the bad we can do. There may be flaws in the governing authority, but when the death penalty is applied appropriately and justly, God approves of it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkKtD711KuM&list=WL&index=2&ab_channel=GenerationChurch

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vv. 4-5
For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil may not dwell with you.
The boastful shall not stand before your eyes;
you hate all evildoers.

v. 7 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
will enter your house.
I will bow down toward your holy temple
in the fear of you.

vv. 4-5 is pretty scary bc God is so perfectly good and holy that he hates evildoers.  Wicked people cannot dwell or even be in his presence.
This is bad news for us sinners, bc it makes sense because if God is indeed good, he Must hate sin. God must condemn sin and cannot compromise with it. Then this means left to ourselves we can never be in GOd's presence, we rightfully deserved to be banished from his presence.

But v. 7 is a relief because it says "but I" which is something every Christian has experienced. There is a big turn of events bc God has shown un his abundant steadfast love through sending Jesus to die for evil people. So it's based on Christ's sacrifice that we're able to be made righteous and can enter into God's house, and in response we gratefully worship him.

I'm thankful that I do not have to be righteous on my own bc looking inside there's nothing good in me. But so thankful that God took the initiative to make me righteous through his son!

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1/9

V. 11 “But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you”

I was really blessed by today’s DT passage, especially the reminder that I have permission to rejoice. I’m reminded that I can cling to joy, not because my situation is easy/perfect, but because God is good and his character is unchanging. As I reflected more on God’s character (attentive, righteous, just, gracious, and generous), I was just in awe that someone like God would care about someone like me. Yet, that is the God we serve, and because of Christ's work on the cross, his righteousness is imparted to me. This is why I’m able to come before God, and it is only through the abundance of his steadfast love (v.7). Through all of the ups and downs of life, especially uncertainty for the future, I can be certain that God remains the same, and because of that, I can rejoice.

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Reading the genealogy of Jesus, I'm always encouraged by the women in the genealogy. They represent the same people who throughout Matthew respond to Jesus positively, those who knew their need, those who didn't come from a religious background, those who had done despicable things in the past, but they become the blessed ones that can repent and receive the kingdom of God. I need to have that kind of perspective towards the failures of my past and the failures of my present. These don't disqualify me to receive the kingdom of God but actually become an opportunity for me to respond to Jesus' first message: repent for the kingdom of God is near.
This is actually echoed in Psalm 82. The weak and needy are those who will cry out to God for rescue.

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Thankful for the Proverbs and that God is like the father wanting to give us wisdom by giving us the Proverbs. Thankful that through a lot of the work of my leaders and God's intervention in my life, I have learned more how to fear the Lord and that has indeed changed my entire life. It is the beginning of wisdom, of understanding the world and how to live in it with obedience instead of before when I knew God's Word but refused to live it out because of fears. I feared much more other things rather than God Himself. In order to gain wisdom though I need to grow in my humility and teachability to be able to learn from every situation and gain the wisdom I need for the future.

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Samuel Morris was born as Prince Kaboo, who was captured by a rival Liberian tribe at 15. He was constantly whipped and was able to escape, finding another boy on a plantation from whom he learned about God. He went to church one Sunday and heard about the light Saul saw, and Morris shared that he saw the same light and gave his life to Jesus. He was always interested in learning more about Jesus and followed other believers who pursued biblical truth and understanding. One thing that challenged me was how his life was a true example of believing in Jesus in tough times. Though he was abused by others and experienced danger, others witnessed his peace and constant prayer, which led them to also give their lives to Christ. He had a great impact on others, despite only living 20 years on this earth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oepb7dJnxoY&t=541s&ab_channel=VisionVideo

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What stood out to me from today's DT was the common topic of sleep! In Psalm 3:5, David says that he can sleep and wake each day because the Lord sustains him. In Psalm 4:8, he says that he can have peace as he sleeps because he can dwell in God's safety. I was reminded of how in the small, daily aspects of my life, I can be reminded of the sustenance and peace that God provides.

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Ben

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Ben

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Charles Thomas Studd, or CT Studd, was a missionary to China, India, and Africa in the late 1800s. CT grew up in a rich family where 2 other of his siblings and he are all well-known cricket players. At 18, CT was saved but backslid in his faith for the first 6 years. Yet God kept working in his life and led him eventually to China. He was one of the "Cambridge Seven" who offered themselves to Hudson Taylor for missionary service in the China Inland Mission and in February 1885, sailed for China. At 25, CT received a great inheritance from his dad and decided to give most of it away for missionary work. After he got married, his wife and CT decided to give away all their savings to support God’s work. From this moment on, they are entirely dependent on God’s provisions! So inspiring! After enduring many hardships in China, in 1894, the Studds had to move back to England due to their health decline. In 1900 the Studds sailed for India. After a couple of years, CT again felt God’s calling for him to go to Africa as he saw the dire need for pioneer mission work in central Africa, some of the most unreached places. He is determined to go despite his wife and doctor’s objections due to his poor health conditions. As a young man he staked his career, in China he staked his fortune, now he staked his life. His answer to the Committee was: “Gentlemen, God has called me to go, and I will go. I will blaze the trail, though my grave may only become a stepping stone that younger men may follow." Leaving his wife and four daughters in England, CT sailed, contrary to medical advice, for the heart of Africa in 1910, where he continued to work until his death in 1931.

CT’s life is characterized by surrendering to the Lord over and over again as he pioneered many mission fields and initiatives. I really want to imitate his fully devoted heart. He risked everything that this world can offer and literally give everything, including his life and family, to the mission work. He demonstrated to me what it means to follow Christ without remorse, and without looking back. And finally, the most famous quote from CT, “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

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Boundaries: When to Say Yes and How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life is a self-help book written by Dr. Henry Cloud, a Christian clinical psychologist. The book ties in Christian ideals and biblical and real-life examples to teach people how to set healthy boundaries in their life, both with other people and with themselves. Cloud argues that setting boundaries allows people to better manage their time, energy, and emotions, as well as show how to deal with difficult people in healthy ways. The advice given is good within itself, and explaining some of the concepts in a Christian setting is helpful and unique. However, apart from a couple sections, much of the information and advice in the book is the exact same, just regurgitated in different ways. This causes the book to feel too repetitive and boring to focus on the helpful information. This also plays into the Christian examples, as they start off fantastic, but can also feel too repetitive. This book was also written in 1992, so a couple of the information seems outdated or out of pocket currently. I do like the advice in and of itself and what the book seeks to accomplish, but would enjoy the book more if it was half the size, as I feel like much of the repeated information can be easily summarized. Overall, I would rate the book a 5/10

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Amy Carmichael was an Irish missionary to India who was inspired and convicted to missionary work after hearing Hudson Taylor speak about missionary work at a convention. Amy suffered from neuralgia which caused her to be rejected from missionary work in China due to her unfit health. She later boarded a ship to Japan, where she shared the gospel and led the captain to Christ by the time they arrived in Japan. After a brief return home, Amy then moved to Banagalore, India where she founded the Dohnavur Fellowship that became a safe haven for many girls and young women that were forced in temple prostitution. Amy, to the distaste of other local missionaries, began to dress in traditional clothing of the Indian people and began to give Indian names to the girls she rescued. Amy was a faith filled woman who continued to trust in God even after being rejected to foreign missions work in China. She was confident that God had plans to use her life to bring the gospel to others. Amy was also very clear on discipleship, teaching the kids that God expects 100% dedication and that should be respected. When one young girl wrote to Amy asking her what missionary work was like, Amy replied "Missionary life is simply a chance to die". Amy spent most of the final 20 years of her life bedridden, unable to walk, yet in that time she was able to write 13 of the 37 books she wrote throughout her life, carrying on her legacy and the work God was able to accomplish through her.

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The Story of Amy Carmichael and The Dohnavur Fellowship (2005) | Full Movie | Hilary Oliver

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It's sad to go through the history of the various kings of Judah and see the ups and downs. Of all the kings very few are said to have had been faithful to God and even the ones that did, there are events that are noted that taint that faithfulness to God. But at the same time, I think it's very realistic to all of our stories, none of us are fully true and faithful to God 100%. What's reassuring is that God is faithful to His promise to David throughout the whole time.
In the psalms, there's a theme of struggling with holding onto God while the people all around them pursued other gods and while it seemed like pursuing God didn't result in anything good. Really good psalms to go back to in the midst of increasingly secular world where Christians are more and more rare.

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Ps 3:2-3 Many are saying of my soul, "There is no salvation for him in God." But you, O Lord are a shield about me, my glory and the lifter of my head.
I've struggled with this accusation through a lot of my Christian life. Not from actual enemies but from my own head, doubting whether God had really forgiven me but like v.3 I'm reminded that it doesn't actually depend on me, it's really about God. He is the shield. He is my glory. He is the lifter of my head. I crucified him on the cross but He chose to be crucified so that salvation belongs to our God and not to me or anyone or anything else. Praise God.

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Was struck by Abram's call: go and I will make you into a blessing. In some ways, it reflects my own spiritual journey. I had to leave all that was familiar in order to obey God. It's amazing Abram's faith and trust in God and how he just picked up and went totally based on God's Word. I had a hard time really leaving everything behind and God knows there's more I need to leave in order to receive God's promises of salvation and blessing and making me into a blessing.

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Spiritual conversation with my family - Joanna

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Spiritual conversation with my family - Joanna

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Thankful to have spiritual conversations with my mom, my brother, and my sister in law when I visited them in Portland.

Mom- she's an atheist and has been through some sad things with my sisters' passing 5 years ago and my dad's cancer diagnosis. I appealed to her to seriously study Xianity esp. bc life is short and she doesn't have that many years left when her mind is clear and thinking still sharp. She was reluctant at first but agreed to do C101 1x/week with me. So please pray for that time! :)

My brother - he's pretty closed off to xianity right now, and says he just can't believe that God exists and there's only 1 right religion. Was pretty put-off that Xians claim the truth and that all other religions are wrong.  So I'm praying that God would soften his heart and he'd be open in the future.

My sister in law - She's gone to church before, and learned that she does believe in the gospel. However, she's so busy with her job, being a mom of 2 young kids, that she hasn't regularly gone to church in years. Praying that she will have a personal encounter with Christ, and recommit her life again. She feels burdened for her kids though to have Christian influence, so please pray that through her kids she'll go back to church.

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Psalm 4: 4-5 Be angry, and do not sin;
ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.
Offer right sacrifices,
and put your trust in the LORD.

Here, the Bible is so real. God knows that there will be maddening and frustrating situations in life. Here, David is being attacked by enemies. God doesn't say be zen about it, and don't be angry. It's not a sin to be angry over unjust situations. But he says, you will be angry, but do not sin. Meaning do not seek vengeance against those who do you wrong. If you've ever been deeply hurt by someone this is incredibly difficult. But it can only happen by listening to God's instructions, "ponder in your own hearts on your beds, be silent." IOW to reflect on who God is, he is the one you can put your trust in, he's the one who will bring about justice in your life. And God did this by bringing about justice through Jesus, not by punishing wrongdoers, but he took on the punishment that we all deserved. And when you ponder on this, your anger and desires for vengeance dissipates.

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Kshama Jayaraj is a founder of a Christian church in India, who is currently working to share the Gospel in India and Ireland with the inspiration of Amy Carmichael, an Irish missionary who spent decades helping vulnerable Indian children, building an orphanage. The attendance of church is at an all-time low and she works to try to improve it. She persists through the several religious divisions that exist in India and the UK. She is very creative in her approach in sharing the story of Jesus to attract several different age groups (i.e. adding dance to worship and puppets for younger children). What I found most inspiring was her dedication and determination to the work. She also learned along the way how it was the most effective when she took the time to build relationships with those who she is trying to reach and demonstrate how being a Christian is more than attending church. To do all this, she had to unlearn a lot of social systems and thought processes imposed on her growing up in India to love and do for others like Jesus.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-dRFZdqYbg&list=WL&index=7&ab_channel=Parable-ReligiousHistoryDocumentaries

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Parable - Religious History Documentaries

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The Incredible Irish Woman Who Inspired Christianity In India | Reverse Missionaries | Parable

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I was really touched by the relational nature of God: the way that He is a God of second chances and continues to bless man after falling away from Him and the way that He constantly reaffirms Abram of his promise. I was particularly struck by Genesis 12:7-8 where along Abram's journey of walking with God, God and Abram reaffirm their commitment to one another. I found this to be a really tender picture of God and Abram's relationship and saw Abram's response of building an altar and calling upon the name of the Lord as a child-like response to God's promises.

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George Muller was a Christian evangelist who grew up in the early 1800s and was quite rebellious. He grew up to study theology due to his father's pressure to obtain a good salary. He attended a bible study to make fun of Christians but received a revelation by John 3:16. He started his Christian journey with disregarding the Bible, but quickly realized that God's Word and studying it is important to the faith. He recognized how much closer he felt with God as he spent time studying the word and spending time in prayer, that through meditation regularly the word began to change him. He did a lot of missionary work and shared the Gospel in several impoverished communities. He recognized how important it was to first service the physical needs. He built an orphanage that still exists today. He never asked others for help, rather he would pray to God for long periods of time and waited for prayers to be answered. This was very inspiring because Muller proved how one needs to stay in the presence and will of God to achieve things of God. He did not move until he was told what to do from God. He fully trusted in God's timing and will.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQ8DKz1mpa8&list=WL&index=6&ab_channel=RevelationTV

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GEORGE MULLER Documentary | A Cloud of Witnesses | FULL

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Personal reading. Pretty interesting on how Solomon describes the diligent and the slothful, such that the only difference between them is the work they put in. Both the diligent and slothful experience want, they both have the resources and they both work, but the slothful doesn't do anything with what he has and, as a result, constantly craves but doesn't get his craving satisfied (since he does not do the work to get it) and he becomes an impoverished slave who can only do what he is forced to do (not what he wants, since he cannot even force himself to do that), from which, of course, he gets nothing except, perhaps the necessities to survive, which he could not have gotten on his own (his laziness is what left him impoverished). This, of course, however, is just existing, not living.

On the other hand, the diligent is able to gains much and finds himself soul satisfied.

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Read for DT. These chapters mark the end of Noah's story and the beginning of Abraham's (with a little bit of genealogy in between). The thing that caught my attention was God's wonderfully vivid promise of making Abraham's (whose name at the time was Abram) offspring that numbers like the sand on the seashore, which he gives to Abram right after he generously allows Lot the first pick of the land while he would take whatever is left (meaning that he would most likely take second best). This is a lot like the promise in Chapter 15 where God reassures Abram —who was feeling discouraged right after taking a large step of faith and still not seeing anything yet—of this promise, this time using the stars (probably because it was dark). This brings me back to Angell Shieh's message, which talked about how God sees when, for him, we choose not to take first best (e.g., the most practical) choice. It's amazing, because the more we rely on God the way he wants us to, the more we get to see him move in ways that we couldn't see or imagine and the more we find out that second best is actually the best decision when God's involved.

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Read this because I never read a book from Lee Strobel (author of "The Case for Christ"), and it's is fitting for the season. It's sort of a shortened version of "The Case for Christ", going over some of the questions that one might have on the historicity of Jesus' life, ministry and death, (and, of course, since it's Christmas, addresses questions of historicity regarding Jesus' birth). The book reads in almost autobiographical style, as Strobel goes over his own previous experiences that led him on his path to discover the truth of who Jesus was, the different interviews he had with notable experts in the fields he was researching, etc. While much of the apologetic content is made with facts and reason, there was one interview where a formerly Jewish person had gone through all sorts of difficulties and found God personally through reason paired with many other experiences. This presents a pretty compelling Case for Christ and Christmas, not only because it provides good explanations for the reasonableness of Christ, but it also displays different ways people came to Christ, even including a testimony from someone who was, at one point, largely atheist. Also, it is about 1/3rd the size of "The Case for Christ", being only 100 pages (that's also makes it easy to remember, so you can track your progress through the book!), and Strobel writes in a very easy-to-understand way. Therefore, "The Case for Christmas" would not only be a good read, but a relatively easy one. For sure, this is one that you could also give to others if they have also had any questions about Christ and Christmas. Try it for yourself! It's easy points for the Winter Challenge (just trying to be fair here lol). Even if you do it for just he challenge, I am confident you will get some enjoyment outside of just the points!

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Genesis 12 starts the story of Abraham’s journey with God and one thing that I noted this time around was that Abram was 75 years old when he set out on this journey to the unknown in faith and trust in God, and it occurred to me how this must be a hard thing after probably having experienced a lot in life already and being at an age where settling down into a peaceful predictable life must have been the norm and safest option. Maybe it’s because I’ve just spent time around my parents and grandparents who are older and feeling how so much of their life is driven around desire for security and comfort, predictability. What Abram is doing is the exact opposite of that I think, and especially illustrates a rich trust in God, despite not having been given proof that things will necessarily work out. He’s not perfect either, as in the latter part of the chapter he seems to waver in trust thru some of his actions, giving into his fears for his life and making some poor decisions to save himself in the face of the Pharoah, and in that sense it’s relatable, yet despite small failures he’s still in the overall scope of his life living faithfully in following God. That’s the kind of continued faith that I need to hold steady to, and continue to practice, not giving up just because I have moments where I feel like settling or fail to fully trust God.

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For DT today, we read Genesis 4-8. It is cool to see how God sees Noah and gives him all he needs not only for his own life to be saved, but so that he may work toward saving the lives of his family along all the animals, similar to how Christians are not just saved but are also called to bring others to salvation as well.

One of the things described in Proverbs 10 is how the fool is always filled with all sorts of words and babble while the wise person listens and receives reproof, instruction and commandments.

It is also something to note how the mouths of the righteous know "what is acceptable" while mouths of the wicked know "what is perverse". It seems that the difference here is where the focus is, such that, wherever you fix your gaze upon (whether that be what is acceptable or what is perverse) is where you will be drawn toward.

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I was struck by Genesis 8:20-22, where Noah presents the burnt offering, and God decides that He would never send another flood to cleanse the earth. Although the flood provided a fresh start for humanity, it didn’t address the issue of human sinfulness and the need for reconciliation. In other words, the flood only provided temporary cleansing. I think the story of Noah shows how faithful God is to His people and His word. God remembered Noah, and all that He said would happen did happen. This eventually points to God’s faithfulness in sending His Son, who would provide permanent cleansing, bringing atonement not on the basis of works but of grace.

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I think it says something important that we are all here today. God thought that we were all worth continuing the human race, if you think about it. He could’ve called the human race a failed project and wipe us out completely, but He didn’t. Instead, He saved Noah and his family, and wanted us to keep going. Rather than a total reset, God saw that every person after would be worth continuing humanity, and each of us must be save-able. After all, we have a promise from God that there will never be a wipe-out of humanity like this again. That has to mean that each and every person we see can be saved; it’s never too late. It’s so powerful to think that we were loved enough before we were even born to make humanity worth keeping.

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Going from Solomon thru the next few generations of the kings of Judah, the summation of their years of being king is whether they were faithful at key points in their lives. That’s what it means to be a good leader in God’s eyes.
Psalm 73 is a famous psalm that gets referenced a lot and has been something I’ve gone back to when I struggle with wanting the world and feeling like Christian life is too hard. I went into the sanctuary of God and discerned their end. Life is short. Eternity is long.

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William Borden was born in 1904 to a wealthy family in Chicago. His family was so rich that he was gifted a trip around the world with a personal chaperone for his 16th birthday 🤑. But this gift turned into a pivotal moment, as the suffering and darkness he saw when traveling in the east led him to commit his life to the saving work of preaching the gospel of Christ to the Muslim people of China.

No one was happy about this decision. Yet in the onslaught of friends and family telling him that he would be wasting his life and fortune away, he responded by writing a 2-word phrase at the back of his bible “No Reserves”

He went on to Yale, and was a powerful presence for Christ on his campus. He was smart, and due to his education and family connections, he had MANY lucrative job offers. But he set his mind to go to Princeton Seminary and become a missionary to the east. When his father heard of this, he sternly declared that becoming a missionary would mean having no place in the family business, all would-be fortune would be forfeited. William responded by writing another 2-word phrase at that back of his bible “No Retreat”

On Route to china as a missionary, he stopped in Egypt so he could learn Arabic to communicate with the Chinese-Muslims. Yet while there, he contracted the fatal disease spinal meningitis. There’s no happy ending, he would die in Egypt at the age 25, without ever making it to china. On his death bed, him companion asked him for final words. He responded by writing his final 2-word phrase at that back of his bible “No Regrets”

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William Borden: Millionaire to Missionary

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What goes into personal development? What do we need for spiritual growth? “How People Grow” seeks to address these questions.

In the first section of the book, “Paradise Lost”, the authors point out that personal growth is multi-facet and requires an accumulative model that depends on God, Son, Holy Spirit, and the church, and so much more. We cannot achieve spiritual progress purely on ourselves. We need God and others. In the second section of the book, “Master Gardener”, the authors elaborate on the separate roles of the Trinity in spiritual growth: the grace of God gives us redemption, the example of Christ calls us to follow, and the Holy Spirit finishes the tasks on behalf of us. In the next section of the book, “the best climate”, the authors reveal the necessity for us to grow within the body of Christ and how the power of acceptance and forgiveness can help us turn from our wrong ways. In the last section, “the path for growth”, the authors lay out tools that can help us grow: Bible, grief and suffering, righteousness, discipline, spiritual poverty, obedience, sin and temptation, truth and reality, the importance of activity, and time.

One part that really struck me is the power of acceptance and forgiveness. For me, it has always been hard to be vulnerable to everyone about my personal issues and to work them out in the context of the community. Part of me just wants to keep it private and deal with it myself. But this book points out that God’s plan A for our growth is for us to be with people, not alone. And when the community brings about acceptance and forgiveness, it will help us heal and give us the confidence to face our true selves and take action toward it.

Highly recommend it for anyone interested in promoting personal and spiritual growth. Many practical tips!

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In ch. 1, we’re introduced to Job, who is blameless, upright, fears God and hates evil. With this in mind, it seems unfair that God draws Satan’s attention to Job (1:8), and even Job’s friends claim that Job’s suffering results from unrepentant sin. I once watched a sermon that covered this part of Job, and the speaker brought up “representative warfare,” giving the example of David and Goliath. In representative warfare, you send out your strongest fighter, and their fighting individually leads to collective victory. God’s highest level of trust is when He can trust us with trouble, and God knew that Job could lose everything except his commitment to the Lord. From this perspective, I'm challenged view suffering as an honor and an opportunity to uphold my commitment to God, responding in the same way as Job, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (1:21).

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Through Job's response to suffering in Job 1:20-22, and how he says "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord". I was reminded of Paul's response to suffering in Philippians 4 where he talks about learning to be content in any circumstance, which ultimately comes from understanding who God is. No matter what happens in our lives, God is God, and His name is worthy of blessing, honor and praise simply because He is God and He is our creator. God doesn't promise a stable life without suffering, but I'm thankful that God is unchanging even when circumstances do. I'm reminded that no matter what happens in this life, I can always bless the name of the Lord and make Psalm 103 my anthem. I'm very challenged by Job's response and hope that can be my response to suffering in life.

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What Are you going to do with your life?

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What Are you going to do with your life?

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In good o’fashion Baptist in-your-face style, GD Greer address college students, and makes clear his point through this 148 page read; “Don’t waste your life…only what’s done for Christ will last.” His primary source of evidence is reminding his readers of exactly what scripture says, and presenting examples after example of people who have lived a life full-send for God. Some of his verdicts: Suffering in this world is terrible, but eternal suffering is worst, so preach the gospel, stop thinking of God as your co-pilot…HE’S the one steering and you’re in the back seat, and “The only reason you and I have the gospel today is because someone crossed that uncomfortable and inconvenient cultural boundary to get it to us.”

Why read this? This book is THE mindset we are trying to develop as we consider our walk with Christ here on earth. Go all out for God, with full joy, knowing the mission at hand is the most important thing, along with the people God has entrusted you with, even if severe opposition comes, it’s worth it…..and it’s like really short like I said 148 pages you can skip the epilogue if you want making it even shorter, size 13 font….read it!

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I was really challenged by Noah's response in Genesis 8:20-22 and how he built an altar and offered sacrifices to God. He went through EVERY animal to make sure that it was clean and to take out parts of each clean animal and offer it up to God. He took the time to praise and honor God instead of trying to settle down right away, and he only offered the best to God. This is the appropriate response to grace and the kind of response that God is pleased with. I want to grow in this kind of response because this is the kind of praise and honor that God deserves. God is our creator who didn't have to spare us from judgment. God has given me a second chance at life through the Gospel, and I want to respond as Noah did, not using this life to try and settle down and built it on my own, but offering what I have to God, taking every part of my life and offering it up to God.

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The description of God’s grief over the condition of man’s heart so full of evil struck me like I never read it before: it grieved him to his heart. The pain and grief. His beautiful creation, what he had once called very good. And the Bible said he regretted that he made man. The good and holy God filled with grief. I can only barely begin to understand what my sins do to God and how he could later then vow to never blot out man even though He knows our hearts are full of evil. It’s only at the cross where justice and mercy could meet. He cleans the world not with a flood but with His own blood.

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“If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.””

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭4:7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

This verse stood out to me — God tells this to Cain after he is upset that God does not want his offering. He is unable to control his anger, and instead of examining what was wrong with his harvest, he killed his brother. We can see that this contrasts God’s advice in v.4:7. Cain succumbed to the sin “crouching at the door” and was unable to rule over it. Its desire was to bring him far from God — and it succeeded in doing so.

While we are sinners, we must be careful not to let sin derail our lives. We can rejoice that Christ died for us so that we can have a relationship with God.

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I'm reminded of these things about sin that are the same today as they were since the beginning of time:
1. Satan tempts us in the very same ways today. He sows mistrust in God in us. He tries to get us to doubt God's goodness and take things out the right boundaries and timing they are meant to be in.
2. Sin takes us further than we want to go. Sin begets more sin. For Adam and Eve it was hiding and shame. For Cain it was murder and jealousy. Sin leaves an endless ripple effect that we won't realize until the end of time.
3. Sin always ends in separation from God. For Adam and Eve it was removal from the garden. For Cain it was removal from God's presence.
Thanks be to God who is merciful and gracious. He was merciful to Adam, Eve, Cain. And he is merciful to us. In ways we can't see to be sure..., in his ways of redemption and of course always in the cross that will stand forever.

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I’ve noticed some very interesting things in these chapters. It is stated that Eve’s descendants will be able to bruise the head of Satan’s (as there is now a rivalry between them). Later in the Bible there is a verse that says that Jesus can CRUSH Satan’s head. I like this distinction because it shows that no matter how hard we try, the best we can do against Satan and sin is a bruise; we need Jesus to completely obliterate it.

Also, these verses show to us that when we sin, we need to tell God about it in explicit detail, as Adam, Eve, and Cain have modeled for us. After each of them sinned, God asked them what they did, even though have knows everything. He wants us to come to Him and tell Him.

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The Case for a Creator [Marisa Kingston]

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The Case for a Creator [Marisa Kingston]

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I read the book The Case for A Creator by Lee Strobel, who was an investigative journalist with a love for science, previously an atheist before the end of his investigation of whether science really can explain the universe. In this book, part of a 3 book series, he presents a case for the existence of God based on scientific evidence, investigating experts in a variety of fields including physics, astrophysics, and philosophy. These experts provide arguments and evidence for the complexity and design of the universe, the fine-tuning of physical constants, and the existence of consciousness as evidence that a higher creator, aka God, must exist. Strobel also goes on to address objections atheists have proposed against a possible God, as well as the implication of believing in one. He goes very in depth into scientific principles, but certain sections are much denser in content than others, and a couple places have lost me. In the beginning it was extremely engaging and eye-openingly fascinating, but over the course of the book some of the sections were losing me. I will say that he does explain everything well and treats both sides of the evidence of science and faith equally. I also find it very fascinating of the many examples of scientists who, through more research, believed in God and Christianity, even bringing more scientists into the faith through logic. I would have thought the opposite would be true, and hence found many of the topics fascinating. However, I would recommend this book for those who love and know previous knowledge on science, as it is included as 80% of the book. Overall, this book does provide great logical evidence for God to exist, but was personally too heavy of a read to me. 6.5/10

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God creates. God forms. God separates. God calls. God forms man in his own image. God breathes into man the breath of life. God places. God notices that it's not good for man to be alone. God provides a helper. God provides meaningful work. Even when we have sinned, God searches us out and lovingly asks, "Where are you? "Where is your brother?" and "What have you done?" And even then, he provides a covering for Adam and Eve, and a mark of protection for Cain. He abounds in love and grace. Indeed, God is all-powerful and the Creator of everything, but he loves us deeply.

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Reading through Genesis 4, I thought it was interesting that God calls Cain out in v. 6-7, saying that Cain still can please Him, but it involves overcoming sin. What follows in chapter 4 shows how we are helpless against the power of sin apart from Christ. I’m reminded of Romans 7:19, where Paul says, “For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.” This is a picture of all of us, apart from Christ, slaves to our own sinful passions and unable to control ourselves. I’m thankful that the story doesn’t end here, but this is why God sent His Son — to save us from the penalty and power of sin. I’m thankful that God gives me the desire and ability to do what is right and that even when I fail, I can bring all of it to Christ, knowing that He has paid for all of my failings: past, present, and future.

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Philippians 1-4, Proverbs 2-4, Psalms 1-2 & Genesis 1-4

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Philippians 1-4, Proverbs 2-4, Psalms 1-2 & Genesis 1-4

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One thing gained from Philippians was how Paul was able to remain grateful as a result of the deep relational bond that he felt with his fellow Christians, such that their joy becomes his, even though he is in prison and people are stirring up trouble against him while he is gone

With proverbs, there is a constant use of turning away from something (either in terms of engaging in the action of turning away or refraining from turning away). This, however, requires someone to have something to fix their eyes on (Solomon says to keep your eyes on his words, which convey wisdom. In the same way, we can keep our eyes fixed on God's word, which can be done by actively engaging with it)

For the Psalm DT, my attention was grabbed by Psalm 1, where all the actions that are described with the person who associates with the wicked are actions that indicate delight (think about if you delight in someone). So, if you want to delight in the Word of the Lord, you can do the same actions, but toward God and his Word)

For the Genesis DT, the last verse in chapter 4 (4:26) says that the people began to call on the name of the Lord. This indicates that before then, they were not doing so. This is a good image of the relational break that sin had caused, and also just how faithful God is, since he continued to interact with man at times, having mercy on, providing for and protecting them, despite the fact that humans themselves, instead of calling out to him, hide themselves from him. He ends up taking the steps toward being with them (as he does through Jesus), despite their constant moves away from him.

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From today's DT, I was really struck by Genesis 4 and Cain's progression of sin. In v. 6-7, God says to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted?" God knows exactly what Cain wants - acceptance. Cain thinks that Abel is the only one standing in the way of him gaining acceptance. But being accepted is NOT in the context of comparison or competition, but in his relationship with God. God just wanted Cain to present his best to God, but Cain ended up complicating it by comparing himself to Abel. The consequence of Cain's murder in v. 12 was that he became a fugitive and a wanderer, but I was thinking about how actually, Cain was always a wanderer because he didn't know where his true acceptance was. I found Cain's pursuit of acceptance to be very relatable, especially living in a world where we compete for recognition, value, and acceptance. But I'm thankful that when I come before God, all I have to do is offer my best and focus on pursuing Christ.

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I was reminded in Psalm 2 of how even though it seems like "earthly kings" and evil continue to rage and set themselves against God and His righteous ways, that in the end, God and His goodness will be what prevails. I was also blessed by the picture of the congregation of the righteous in Psalm 1, and knowing that here on earth and one day in Heaven I will get to stand together with that congregation of the righteous.

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I was reflecting on the picture of a tree planted near water, and as someone who used to be into taking care of plants, I thought it was apt to compare this to someone who delights in God’s word. A little bit of sunshine and water each day sustains a plant in the long run, and so it is the same for someone who reads and study God’s word each day. This coming year I want to be saturated in God’s Word more through DT and verse memorization, and I hope I get to experience more delight in His Word!

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Two things stuck out to me in reading these chapters:
1) The reminder in Genesis 6:5-7 that we serve a relational God and that it grieves Him when we sin. Reading v. 6, which says, "The Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart," nearly brought me to tears. Through this, I was again reminded of the seriousness of sin and how my own sin affects God in this way. But at the same time, filled with awe/gratitude that God would be willing and gracious enough to save someone like me. Through the story of Noah, I'm reminded that even though there was so much evil deserving of wrath and judgment, there was still grace, and I'm so thankful that this is the God we serve.
2) The description of Noah in Genesis 6:9 — righteous, blameless in his generation, and that he walked with God. I think there are many ways that people want to be remembered in today's society, often in terms of worldly status or wealth, but v. 9 paints an entirely different picture. At the end of my life, this is how I would want others to describe me — not as someone who had any righteousness of my own, but as someone who walked with God and was obedient to His guidance. I think this is what it looks like to live a blessed life, and it would be a privilege to be remembered in this way. I am also challenged to be as surrendered as Noah, willing to do all that the Lord commands (Gen 7:5), even if it means looking crazy to the outside world, but knowing God is pleased.

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I started a new Bible in a year plan! After reading these chapters, I was in awe of God's gentleness + tender care toward Adam and Eve, asking, "Where are you?" and clothing them even after they admitted to eating the fruit. This is a picture of God's heart toward us as rebellious people. I'm so thankful that it's out of His love for humanity that He didn't leave me in this hopeless situation but sent His Son instead — calling into existence things that do not exist (my own righteousness) and saving me from the penalty that I could never pay myself.

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Beginning the new year with psalm 1, I see that the beautiful picture that God has in mind for me this year is to be like a tree planted by streams of water. God's vision for my year isn't so much to chase after the next exciting thing, but to remain rooted in his Word so that I would bear fruit. As I think about a theme for the year, I think that this can be a year of deepening in the Word of God, especially as we'll be studying through the Bible in our DTs.

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I was amazed at God’s love that he could see us, he could see all the betrayal and the sin that was going to happen to finally His own sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and say looking at the creation of man as it is very good. Just for our relationship with Him, for the chance of spending eternity together, God not only considers us worth creating but it is very good. Amazing love, how can it be.

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Was really blessed by today's DT. It was a chance for me to reflect about what it means to have a blessed life in the world's eyes vs. in God's eyes. I was reminded of my former life and how I achieved what I thought would be the blessed life, but left me feeling empty and tossed around like chaff. I'm so thankful for how God has changed the trajectory of my life because of the Gospel and get to experience the blessing of being rooted in God's word and driven by the mission of the Gospel. Psalm 1 challenges me to continue meditating on the law of the Lord day and night and to live the blessed life according to what God desires. I was also reminded by Psalm 2 how I too have rebelled against God and rejected God him for lesser gods and authorities. But I'm thankful that God has offered me forgiveness and salvation through Jesus and that I can serve him and take refuge in him!