Beloved

I was thinking about idolizing vs honoring others (esp. famous Christian figures/pastors/artists, or even YWAM/Bethel/Hillsong etc.) and was searching myself whether to see if I had elevated anyone on a pedestal..  And I was reading Matthew 23: "But you are not to be called `Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth `father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called `teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ. And in Corinthians, where Paul says: For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe--as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who water...

 Following Jesus Christ as early as you can is the best thing you can do for yourself. I realized, if I had done the things God had asked me to do, my life would've been a lot better. That by the grace of God I am here, and I've gotten much more out of my life than what I deserve because of his mercy, grace, and favor. And the prayers of my parents and grandmother. Following Jesus Christ as early as you can is the best thing you can do for yourself. You'll get the most out of your life that way.  I thought I had lived my life pretty well, but I see all the areas in my life that had fallen short. I was thinking more highly of myself than reality.

 I was at dentist for teeth cleaning today, and and there was build up that required cleaning. The less I clean regularly and the more I build up, the harder it is to clean up. Same with food mess I make. If I clean it up right away, they come off easily. If I let it sit for a while, then stains are harder to remove. So with sin, and repentance. A slip is easier to fix than a habitual sin. Our hearts also get hardened. Lord, lead us to repentance daily and cleanse us from inside out. Bring us to a deeper place of repentance and bring conviction of sin. Make us into clean vessels for you. Enable us to walk in a higher level of holiness.

I don't have control I don't need to know

I have been struggling with work for many months. I was praying in frustration re:work, and last night I asked God to show me any blockers that I had with work. I believe He brought me to a place of repentance, of the times that I have judged other people for not working/not being faithful/being lazy, etc. and I went through many of "forgive me for judging <someone> for <something>". This morning when I looked at work, I didn't feel as many distractions/negative feelings that I was feeling. Since last year, I've also said "it seems that my mind is battlefield." This morning as I was having an easier time with work (see previous paragraph), I realized, oh have I judged other people for their minds? Then I said, "Forgive me for judging others for being weak in their minds/not smart" etc., and I felt a lot more peace in my mind.  I also remembered the time when I judged/didn't show compassion to my friend who was going through struggle...

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request. (1 Chronicles 4) I don't need Google, give me Jesus. (2017) There should be more to life than marriage, jobs, and comfort.. https://www.blogger.com/blog/posts/664047028201381259 Cut off all generational sins/iniquities/bad habits at my generation, and multiply generational blessings at mine so that I can pass everything forward exponentially. May I steward everything well, for Your Kingdom and Your glory. Give me the nations. Give me fire that will consume me, those around me, and the world. Holy Spirit, come like rushing wind, be the river of life flowing freely from me, and like fire. In 2020, I realized how much my grandma's intercession has helped me; that I d...

New wine in new wineskin. Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past; see, I am doing a new thing. Do you not perceive it? Even now it springs up from the ground. I  make way in the desert, streams in the wasteland. Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead.. Don't go back to your old ways! Don't go back to Egypt; don't lose focus. Enter the Promised Land. New season -- go forth my child, and fight. The marching orders have come down. Take over the land I have assigned to you. Israelites, at Desert of Kadesh, when they focused on the giants in the promised land, they lost hope. Joshua and Caleb, on the other hand, focused on God who was greater than the ones in the world.  Peter started sinking when he took eyes off of Jesus and looked at the storm. God will pull you through this; He is faithful. Don't lose focus; persevere -- endure, but also know that HE will pull you through this. HE will make your paths straight. HE will carry you till th...

As much as I tried to surrender control and let go, it was very hard and I kept coming back to it until God addressed (and is still doing so) the underlying issue of fear. So, if the anger is a symptom of fear/sadness, we can manage it but tackling it won't get rid of the root.. Someone told me -- for addictions, etc. trying to cut things out can be helpful, but filling that void with the better thing works better, which was the case for me. A couple of years ago, God delivered me from addiction I had since grade 5 when he led me to read His Word regularly; I wasn't even trying to cut out the addiction but when I filled that need for comfort with God, the need for addiction to soothe myself went away.

 I don't want it to be the case, that I have not because I ask not. Give me big, bold prayers for Your Kingdom! For you are able to do abundantly more than I could ever ask or imagine. Give me more than what I ask for, give me your best -- auto-correct my prayers when they are too little!

Don't settle; I want heaven's best. I will not go back, I throw off everything that hinders and fix my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith. I will not be complacent, I want to maximize this life for His Kingdom, for His glory. To love Jesus and to prepare His way. To prepare the bride. Awake, Church!

Psalm 29 Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness. The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD thunders over the mighty waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightning. The voice of the LORD shakes the desert; the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, "Glory!" The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever. The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace. God highlighted to me a few months ago that "spiritual warfare is a battle...

The number of times God has brought up "You're not alone" in the past few days.. through a coworker, a random YouTube video, through my church community..  Thank you for the comfort, thank you for the reminder, thank you that you are the God of Immanuel, the God with us.

May the LORD bless you and enlarge your territory      as He did for Jabez (1 Chr 4)          and keep you from falling. May He uphold you with His righteous right hand     all the days of your life          and bless you with His loving kindness               for His mercies are new every day                    and His goodness endures forever. You are His beloved, with whom He is well pleased. (Isa 43) Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. Even the wild animals honor him. Honor Him, you people of the earth,     honor Him, bride of Christ          for He is your LORD May He answer the desires of your heart     as you seek Him, Hi...

All my life I've been running to get somewhere not realizing I had already been bought the price has been paid and he has said it is finished My identity is safe with you now out in open and spacious place I am free to live                                   dance                                        love                                             run I want you to have fun, He said. I want you to eat. I want you to live                                        enjoy life I like it when you dance I like it when you laugh, smile Run, my...

Do we take what God has asked us to do, and run with it without asking how? Without involving Him in the process? May we be like David who inquired of the LORD. 2 Samuel 2 In the course of time, David inquired of the Lord. “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” he asked. The Lord said, “Go up.” David asked, “Where shall I go?” “To Hebron,” the Lord answered. 1 Samuel 23 When David was told, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are looting the threshing floors,” he inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” The Lord answered him, “Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah.” But David’s men said to him, “Here in Judah we are afraid. How much more, then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!” Once again David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord answered him, “Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines into your hand.” 2 Samuel 5 When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar the p...

Confession: I have been avoiding non-Christian media and sources (which I think is a good thing to do, for reasons stated below) but I think a "holier-than-thou" attitude had crept into my heart. God has been speaking me through channels that I was not expecting, humbling me and showing me that I had boxed in how he could speak to me.. But also: I believe this was more of God redeeming these things, showing me that he CAN use non-Christian media, but NOT saying that we should go watch anything/everything.  (1 Cor 10)    "I have the right to do anything," you say--but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything"--but not everything is constructive. I would like to exhort my brothers and sisters to discern what media they take in. As what we eat affects our bodily health (e.g. from unhealthy to healthy (my opinion): poison, junk food, processed food, eating out, added sugar, eating healthy..) what we take into our mind will affect our sou...

Today, the LORD was asking me to surrender my perfectionism and regrets of the past, so that I could soar higher.. Here are some songs & phrases & verses that came to me during worship. "I lean not on my own understanding; my life is in the hands of the maker of heaven. I give it all to you, trusting that you'll make something beautiful out of me... There is nothing I hold onto.." "When the oceans rise and thunders roar, I will soar with you above the storm. Father, you are king over the flood; I will be still and know you are God. Find rest my soul in Christ alone; know his power, in quietness and trust.." "Come with me, be with me, sit at my feet; fly higher, soar like an eagle; I have so many great things planned for you, I want you to experience all of it. Come to the deeper waters, where your faith will be tested; this is where you can be carried, not near the shore where you can stand on your own" (Earlier in the day, He had given me Jame...

 Luke 15 "Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours..." "My son, you are always with me , and everything I have is yours. ..." Romans 8 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace...' For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs -- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. 2 Timothy 1 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

God has recently been highlighting "fire" and "baptism of Holy Spirit" for me. The prayer that has been resonating is, Father, give me a fire that will consume me, those around me, and the nations! Give me the nations. 나를 태우고, 내 주위를 태우고, 열방을 태울 불을 내려주소서 If this resonates anyone, may we be praying big, bold prayers. https://youtu.be/MZaWyCt8HK0 Edit: Ha! This was in my reading today, God is so good "He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." (Luke 3 16) A couple of months ago, Psalm 2 resonated in my spirit -- "Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession."  My initial reaction was, 'I thought this was only for Jesus' but it kept resonating, so I prayed "Give me the nations!!!". Then one morning in January, I was reading Revelations and this stirred up something deep down in my belly --  "To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority ov...

What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away. (1 Cor 7) Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like the others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sle...

 For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. (2 Cor 5) It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. ... You my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. (Gal 5) Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your spiritual act of worship. (Rom 12) Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. (Matt 16) If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take...

(1 Timothy 6) But godliness with contentment is great gain; For we have brought nothing into the world, because neither can we carry anything out. But having food and covering, with these we will be content. But those who intend to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge men into destruction and ruin. For the love of money is a root of all evils, because of which some, aspiring after money, have been led away from the faith and pierced themselves through with many pains. (Luke 12) And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. (John 12) He must become greater; I must become less. (John 3) Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16) The he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants t...

Do not be discouraged, do not be dismayed I will uphold you with my righteous right hand

아가, don't cry I take your mistakes and turn them for good I am that good When you are weak, I am strong My grace is sufficient for you My power is made perfect in your weakness I am He who carries you      till the end of your days Fear not, for I have called you      I have Redeemed you I will uphold you with my righteous right hand I am the LORD your God who brought you out of Egypt   out of the land of your slavery You are learning to dance, my child     I am proud of you You are my beloved     with whom I am well pleased I take delight in you     I rejoice over you with singing I will uphold you with my righteous right hand Fear not, my child     for I am with you I am the God of Immanuel     the God with you I will never leave you nor forsake you     I will carry you till the end of days Who is it that condemns?     It is God who justifies He who did not spare His own Son  ...

Psalm 20 Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. 여호와께서 자기에게 기름 부음 받은 자를 구원하시는 줄 이제 내가 아노니 그의 오른손의 구원하는 힘으로 그의 거룩한 하늘에서 그에게 응답하시리로다 어떤 사람은 병거, 어떤 사람은 말을 의지하나 우리는 여호와 우리 하나님의 이름을 자랑하리로다 Psalm 37 If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. 여호와께서 사람의 걸음을 정하시고 그의 길을 기뻐하시나니 그는 넘어지나 아주 엎드러지지 아니함은 여호와께서 그의 손으로 붙드심이로다 Isaiah 40 너는 알지 못하였느냐 듣지 못하였느냐 영원하신 하나님 여호와, 땅 끝까지 창조하신 이는 피곤하지 않으시며 곤비하지 않으시며 명철이 한이 없으시며 피곤한 자에게는 능력을 주시며 무능한 자에게는 힘을 더하시나니 소년이라도 피곤하며 곤비하며 장정이라도 넘어지며 쓰러지되 오직 여호와를 앙망하는 자는 새 힘을 얻으리니 독수리가 날개치며 올라감같을 것이요 달음박질하여도 곤비하지 아니하겠고 걸어가도 피곤하지 아니하리로다 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fatho...