Facebook Discipline

Social networking has gotten really popular. Most young people have a Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, Linkedin, Tumblr, Google(+), account. Social media platform is getting new applications and new sites very often. Now we have Instagram, which I, have become really addicted to. I had a camera bug when I was younger but developing film (I had my dad’s old SLR) was a bit pricey for me. Also, I couldn’t afford a Polaroid camera which was something I really wanted. So now, especially with the smart phone, it has become easier to “sync” our life and our memories to our social networking accounts.

But just how important is it to have our Facebook milestones and our “thumbs up” from people who “follow” us? How do we actually use such influence to glorify God? Of course, I’m not asking this to increase our ‘virtual’ check ins to church, but how many times are we actually there on Sundays or the other days in the week, ready to worship God with our hearts, souls, minds and bodies? When we have lunch or do roadtrips with friends, do we actually have meaningful talks with them or are we waiting for a moment that we can hype up or complain about on our blogs or twitter statuses? How many times have you taken a picture of a majestic sunrise and have just said, “God, You are amazing for creating this, and this is on sunrise repeat everyday!” When we add or remove friends, how many times do we really stop and pray about that person on our list or maybe even check up on them and see how they are really doing, aside from occupying ‘important’ Facebook space.

This is a post to spur thinking, to myself and to readers about how even our “Facebook walk” really represents our walk as Christians.

1. Discipline our offering of our time - There was a time when I was ALWAYS on Facebook, and I really had no idea why. I wasn’t playing any online games nor do I chat with people. It seemed like I was just watching the feed and commenting on anything and everything I can. I was just stuck in an addiction. However, it becomes a realization, when you are at school or at work, should you really be on Facebook that much? Colossians 3:23 teaches us to do everything we do, in word and deed, for the glory of God. If you are working and on Facebook, you are not being a good employee. In my opinion, no matter what psychology says about our minds being capable of multi-tasking, it poses a problem if we are on Facebook 24/7. If you are distracted as an employee or student, simply put in economic terms, you are not efficient nor are you productive. So, if you are hyper-facebooked, get off Facebook and work/study! If you are hypo-facebook, maybe you can check in on your friends sometimes especially those you have not seen in awhile. This point is not to say that every time spent on facebook is ‘evil’, ‘sinful’ or ‘shameful’ but it is important to have discipline in all aspects of our lives as Christians and this includes our virtual lives.

2. Watch your profile picture updates -  We live in the party age and the physical beauty age. Vanity is a character trait that people promote and self-esteem is a value that people embrace. Our society has become addicted to the concept of ‘what are we wearing today’ or ‘bathing suit day’ or better yet, ‘happy hour and club pictures’. Our profile pictures reflect who we are, and better yet, we choose our own profile pictures so they reflect our ability to make choices as well. So before, you upload that picture of you looking all amazing and sexy for a dinner date, think about it… does the world really need to see it? Will it change someone’s life and lead them to think about Christ? Or is it just to maximize server capacities in a distant location? Again, changing profile pictures is not wrong, but we should watch our motives and be mindful, always.

3. Aim to decrease our abilities to be passive-agressive - This is something I’m hugely guilty of, because it is just really easier to vent online than approach people and communicate with them. It is easy to bash on the passive-agressives and complain about them on your status or twitter feed also, but really, you become the king or queen of the Passive-Aggressive society when you do that. It doesn’t add to anyone’s meaningful social network experience, nor does it subtract from it. The Bible has a wisdom-filled concept about this, talk to the person one on one, then bring a friend and then a church leader. Aim to resolve the conflict and keep praying for reconciliation. Our friends need Jesus too, and they are experiencing life at almost the same pace as we are doing so remember that and be understanding. God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in our relationship with Him, and this relationship leads us to have fruitful relationships with others.

4. Be mindful of your communications online - I’m not much of a chatter nor a visual chat person, but it is something that distance has given me an opportunity to lift to the Lord and ask on how to further be like Him in this opportunity. Most of my close friends are far away, in different countries. Some do not have access to frequent technological devices so this season is really a time to explore snail mail, video chats, phone cards and shipping rates just to keep in touch. However, Ace taught me that any conversation that does not lead to changed hearts in Christ is probably not a fruitful conversation. That is a lesson that really strikes me everyday, because I still do struggle with anger issues, selfish heart issues and meaningless chatter/gossip issues. Especially with friends, it is easy to just gossip, be mean or be resentful instead of remembering that I have a faith to live out and represent. It is a reminder that, I, as do all of us, need Christ everyday because individually, we cannot do it. In him, with him and through him, all things are possible. This is a post that is meant to challenge each of us. This is a post that is not meant to make us think of the people in our Facebook friends list who are guilty of some of the points listed above. If your mind is already wandering to them and their misdeeds, stop and look at your own account, maybe even look through your timeline or twitter feed. This is a post that is meant to challenge each of us to stop, think and repent to Christ alone. Martin Luther has said that Christianity is daily repentance to Christ. Practicing that can be challenging and wherever you feel weakest in, in Christ you are strong.

An encouragement I must write because it was impressed upon me is that every social networking account you have, no matter how dormant it seems, is an open door, an opportunity you have to witness to people about Christ and His work in your life and the lives of those around you. Do not worry about the harvest, it is the Holy Spirit’s job to keep working on each person’s heart, including yours but run the race with endurance and with a gentle and teachable heart. God bless, you guys! What area in social networking do you struggle with the most? How do you surrender this to Christ daily? Write me a note and tell me about it. I’d love to hear from you. :)

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. - 1 John 3:2

Highlights from Tahoe

I’m back from a weekend in Tahoe. We had a young adult’s retreat and after a really busy semester of school and work, I was ready to just fellowship and learn more about the Lord.

1. We had a dinner stop at Chic-Fil-A and it was my first try at the place. Pretty interesting chicken finger, but I still love my leatherby’s one. Undefeated still.

2. It was interesting to have 4 people in one car all singing worship songs until Tahoe. That was, until we switched to Christian rap. It felt really great and the drive was actually fun.

3. We hiked and took in a lot of sights. We didn’t get to see emerald bay, which was really on my list but that’s okay. One of the guys was talking about how great it was, it pulled me in. Playing around with my camera and did a lot of different shots. Some are on my Instagram and I’ll post some pictures up soon. We went hiking and just enjoyed the scenery.

4. We discussed the book of Titus and I love how it was an informal yet very informative bible study. Despite reading that book so many times, there are still so much lessons you can learn from it every time. I’m very thankful that the Lord uses the word to teach us, refine us and enable us to be living testimonies of his grace.

5. We made cupcakes and had a secret club. I had some time hanging out with some of my sisters and brothers in Christ. We had meaningful conversations, I still do horrible small talk. It was great knowing how they grew in the Lord and how the Lord is still working on them. Good reminder for us to keep building each one up, knowing that even ourselves are perfect yet.

6. Two of my “kindred” friends, i say kindred because our weirdness shows up when it’s us three together…. we went to a western town in Nevada called Virginia city. We took a walking tour and took a lot of pictures, grabbed some souvenirs too. i went a little bit wild when I saw all those boards on Mark Twain. I was excited to see a mark twain bookstore. I grabbed one of his lesser known works, a poem that he wrote during the Philippine American war. :) This reminds me that I have to read Innocents abroad and get all his other books because I’ve always admired his wit and candor. We ate at a saloon and I ate a Western burger and it was a non-guilty one because even the onion rings in it felt light and healthy. We also took a western photo as a group and I looked awkward with my Chesire cat grin and pointed revolver (a colt army model 1860, i think… i don’t know my guns. :( ) at the camera. It was fun to hold and steady though. I loved the dressing up and i chose a big feathered hat! We also stopped by a mansion and churches. It was fun trading trivia with people who love and appreciate history as much.

7. There were a lot of stones and I was so torn in getting some to use as jewelry with wire wrapping techniques. It was too short of a day to go through everything so that means I’ll just have to go back again.

8. We got back at midnight! But it was a great day of fellowship and sightseeing. Definitely great seeing the sunset at the route passing by Donner lake.

9. Another lesson is how character is seen during tough times. Very important lesson from this retreat, I think. It is a good reminder that God taught me to be very mindful of my self-discipline and also the testimony that i bring.

How does a simple act change a life?



[Source: simplelivingdianebalch.blogspot.com]

For those of you who don’t know me personally, I grew up quite a messy kid and always playing with my guy cousins. That meant digging in the dirt for earthworms, fishing and traipsing around in mud and running after chickens. I spent half my life living a provincial life in a run-down farm with a poultry business. That is a part of my life that probably still sticks a little bit.

When I was 18, I decided to go to a youth retreat, one that ultimately changed my life. Before that, I swore I would not be part of anything remotely similar to that. I was sort of rebellious, and just a little detached from everything else. If color was the “in” thing, I would be in black complete with eyeliner and a scowl. My view of fashion in high school was wearing knee or calf length baggy pants with a white or black tank top and wearing sneakers (Please do not think Avril Lavigne because that was not me at all). I hung out with people who loved art, computers and unpopular music [at least at that time]). So somehow, God really brought people in my life who influenced me at least to check youth camp. One of the things I loved to do was play volleyball and having nothing but sandals, sneakers or flip-flops, there were times I opted to play barefoot, in really ugly sand [more like sticky sand].

Imagine the state of my feet by the time our competitions would end. My feet would look as if I’ve been walking barefoot for a few weeks. They were really dirty. Imagine the surprise when the team of pastors said that they would be washing our feet. As a girl, I literally panicked. I turned around to look for a garden hose, none. I debated dipping in the pool, it was locked. So, my only choice, it seemed was to come for a foot washing before our big dinner banquet.

I shuffled my feet, and figured I’d just stick to the last of the line. Somehow, I got shifted in front of one of the lines and I faced one of my youth pastors who had a smile and a very white towel, almost seemed as if it was new. I mumbled that my feet were very dirty. He did not disagree with me, but said that that was what the foot washing was for. I asked if I could just dip my feet and kind of wiggle my toes to loosen the sand and gunk, he told me to just sit back and let him serve me. I decided to acquiesce.

He grabbed one of my feet, dipped it in the basic and used his hands to scoop water and rinse and scrub my feet. My face was heated red by the end of just one foot because of how the water was turning almost gray. He didn’t say anything, didn’t go in an endless tirade of how my feet were very dirty and that teen girls should know better than play barefoot. He just washed and served.

After that, he grabbed the fluffy, white towel, dried off my feet and said, “Just like new. Jesus loves you, Krista. Just for being you.”

One simple act of service. One simple weekend of seeing people who loved Christ and loved others and my defenses were broken down. Their heartfelt devotion to glorify God by serving others just broke down my cynicism and woke me up to how I was being, thinking and acting.

The next day, I recommitted my life to Christ. And that’s a story that can be saved for next time.

In John 13, Jesus said, “Unless I wash you, you have no part of me.” The washing is important to our Christian faith. We are reminded of how we are cleansed in Christ and also, how we are called to do the same to others regardless of their response.

I pray that I never forget that. I pray that I never forget to fall at the feet of Jesus, every moment of every day until my last day. Amen.

Of evangelism, high-fives and fist bumps.

So, today is a Friday. It was different because for once I had no work, school and work seminar to attend to. Basically, spent the day with one of my almost younger sisters, Annabelle. Made her some breakfast - 5 egg omelettes with onions, mushroom, 3 bell peppers, kielbasa and cheddar and mozarella cheese. It was topped with parsley and ketchup/sriracha sauce. It was a time to catch up, pray and just spend some quality time together.

It was 90 degree weather today so I invited the BS group to come earlier and take a dip before the study. I was gonna jump in but had to back out because I’m still feeling a bit ill. Hopefully well by tomorrow.

I made dinner which was Baked Ziti with Chunky mushroom sauce and garlic bread. Desert was ice cream because we missed out on National Doughnut Day (I had the app but not the time this year. Haha.) Thinking of doing grill stuff next 2 weeks.

We talked about Evangelism today, a lot of emphasis on our calling as Christians and getting equipped with the Holy Spirit. We spent a lot of time in matthew, acts, romans, 1,2 corinthians and Paul’s GEPC book. It was fewer kids than usual, it was most of the college kids this week. It was a good discussion, light yet filled with biblical truth.

One question that was asked in light of everything else is what does hinder you from sharing the gospel to others? Answers ranged from insecurity, fear, threat of persecution, unsureness of own faith, etc. The questions made me think. Honestly, there are days I feel like the old lady who is just too serious for her own good. A lot of people have remarked that I do live in my own head of philosophical inquiry, vague artistry and literary appreciation. There are times I do lapse out of conversation and start following a rabbit trail of analysis about something that piqued my interest. I like taking things apart in my head and deconstructing things, especially ideas and literature. One area that this group has helped in refining me as a Christian is to make it lighter. So today, I was goofy yet serious. I was dishing out high-fives and fist bumps like a cast member of a reality show and oddly, the BS group did seem more comfortable about it.

So a few points on the study tonight:

1. We talked about Jesus’s ministry and death for our sins as fulfillment to the prophecy in the Bible.

2. We talked about His command to his followers and disciples until He comes back to fulfill the prophecies in Revelation.

3. We talked about the Holy Spirit and its role in equipping us for every good work.

4. We talked about light and the metaphor it presents in evangelism.

5. We defined evangelism and also equip. We identified struggles as Christians to share the gospel to others.

6. We talked about growth and how God pursues those who are His.

So 10-12 fist bumps later, we were saying good nights and planning next week. I’m spending a weekend out of state next week with some churchmates so I’m thinking of making the group a cake while one of my co-leaders facilitates the group discussion. Pray for Christ’s continuing work, I have a strong desire for this age group and this group to grow in Christ. Praying for a discipleship opportunity also, need to get connected as well. To God be the Glory.

The Perfect Gentleman

Last week, I was arranging an art exhibit at the preschool I work at. Looking on pinterest, there was this resourceful idea of using used cardboard boxes, painting them and using them as geometric easels for paintings. I decided to hit my local thrift store for some old frames and luckily, they had them for sale at 50% off. I was able to grab some really nice ones and a bunch of plastic cover-ons that are just handy. But that’s besides the point.

I spent my weekend painting the boxes in bright colors with my ever helpful parents. The boxes took two car trips to the local preschool. I had to put them down all in one time, and was faced with the dilemma. How do i get from point A to point B with minimum number of trips? is it possible to carry it all in one trip by piling them on top of each other despite my line of vision being completely obstructed and my safety possibly compromised.

My dilemma was… “this were my boxes and responsibility. However, they were just so heavy and I couldn’t possibly make it to my destination without dropping something or losing my own balance!”

He appeared out of nowhere and volunteered himself, really tall guy and carried all the boxes without much breaking a sweat. Afterwards, he told me, “Good day maam. It was great meeting you.”I felt something akin to gratefulness and just affection for his thoughtfulness. I did not have any more to carry. I felt light and could walk properly and could see where I was going.

Somehow, as I look back at it, I am reminded of our own burdens and our own sins. More often than not, it blocks our vision, blocks our purpose and weighs us down. It does affect our destination if we don’t realize the load we carry and the fact that… We cannot carry it.

One thing though… those burdens are our responsibility, they are ours to bear. One man stepped in, His name above all other names, Jesus. He stepped in, not from nowhere but somewhere, and volunteered in our place. He hung on the cross for burdens He did not own or was responsible for, and he broke more than sweat. His body was broken, bruised, pierced, bled and died for our transgressions. He offered this gift for us to receive, and when we receive it He cleanses us and gives us a new heart (Ezekiel).

Our culture and society has images and definitions for a perfect gentleman: someone who opens car doors for you, respects your parents and you, carries things for you and usually ‘romances’ you with gifts and fun dates.

The Bible has one perfect model of a gentleman and He was a gentleman until the death. He gave up His own life for this very purpose, this very calling. He devoted His entire life for this.

Some Signs that He a Perfect Gentleman:

1. Preparation and Maturity - If you look at the four gospels, it tells of Jesus’ growth and maturity from being a child to being an adult. When He was twelve, He grew in knowledge of the Scriptures and surrounded Himself with good teachers. He prepared Himself by choosing to mature. His maturity didn’t come with the age and didn’t come after adolescence and young adulthood, He just pursued it and prepared for it alongside His parents and other teachers.

2. Productivity - He had a calling and He actively pursued it. He was busy and He worked as a carpenter and then He was also a teacher and He traveled a lot. He was always doing something that glorified God.

3. Sacrifice - His ministry, three years as it was, was filled of His sacrifice. He walked everywhere and there were times that He did not have any place to lay His head on. He still continued until the end. There were times that it got doubly hard, and one telling time that it was obviously very hard for Him to accept what He had to do, but despite crying with blood, He still acted out of obedience to God and offered Himself as sacrifice.

4. Teachable and Wise - He learned from the learned and the best teachers around at that time. He kept learning and He passed on the knowledge to people around. He mentored people especially the disciples and always ate and conversed with people from all walks of life.

5. Humility -He was God, yet He came down in a lowly manger with no birth announcements over the paper, Twitter or Facebook. His birth was no national headlines, really and there were no hospital reservations or paparazzi following Him around. In His humility, He pursued a broken and distant people and went after His chosen sheep who have gone astray

6. Forgiving - He forgave the woman caught in adultery and saved her life and soul from being crushed by the religious leaders. He showed the way to life by speaking the truth and loving others. At the cross, He cried out for the forgiveness of those who know not what they do, a statement so powerful that it affects people to this day and brings people to repentance.

7. Servant of others - At the upper room, he served his disciples by washing their feet, feet that have been grimy and dirty from a long time of traveling. He knelt down, washed their feet and yes, He washed the feet of Judas with the full knowledge that He was going to be betrayed by this man because of the prophecy. Yet, He still loved and served despite the response.

8. Responsibility -He was killed for a crime He did not commit, for a death He did not deserve and punishment He did not earn. He took responsibility for our sins, our shortcomings, failures and hearts. He gave up His life for this very purpose. He was responsible all throughout.

9. Respected and honored His mother - Even as He hung on the cross, He thought of His mother and asked a dear and beloved friend to care for her. He honored her until His last breath.

10. True friend - As a friend, Jesus gave second, even third chances. Peter had a lot of experiences with this from sinking in the sea after walking on water, cutting off a servant’s ear, to denying Him three times. He raised Lazarus from the dead. He healed Peter’s mother in law. He went to the houses of people and visited with them. He cared for His friends, their families and even random strangers.

Isn’t it humbling to see how perfect Jesus is and how much He changes it us to make us more like Him? Typing up this list reminds me of how lacking we are, no matter how much we try with our own efforts, but empowered by the Holy spirit, we are equipped for every good work….

For the random stranger we bump into at the store or train station.

For the difficult relative or coworker that just is real hard to get along with.

For the child who appears exceptionally bratty and loud.

For the friends that challenge our patience at times.

For the questioning acquaintance who fires objections to our faith and laughs at us.

For the people who have hurt us, continue to hurt us and will hurt us.

For the academe that might exclude us for possessing a different worldview

For the job that may challenge our integrity and our material security

For the relationships that may refine us, break us and take us out of our expectations and comfort levels

For churchmates who may seem detached or have impersonable traits

For people we just can’t seem to “like”.

For company that we cannot seem to resist because we just love them a lot.

He is the perfect gentleman who can teach us and renew our hearts so that we shine our lights for His greater glory.

Dear Lord, may we remain humble and open to correction. May you heal our hearts from any trash or gunk that makes us treat people badly. May you open our eyes to see things beyond our own earthly perspectives. May we learn to love others as you have loved them and us. May you give us a heart that aches for the lost and those who go astray. May you give us a heart to serve, love, and keep the fight of faith until the end. Amen.

And to that gentleman who carried the boxes, thank you. I am really grateful.

Woodpeckers and Reality

Last week, I spent a very visually rewarding time in dreamland. I dreamt that I actually slept outdoors in a tent with a clear top, looking at all the stars and constellations in the night sky. The moon was also apparently beautiful and golden in this dream too. I dreamt of a peaceful running stream, the smell of pine trees and the smell of campfire that has been carefully doused out. Add that to the smell of roasted marshmallows (rare and never burnt) and I was probably in a sleep-state of heaven.

Which is why I found it weird when I started dreaming of an annoying little woodpecker on what appears to be a giant dose of Red Bull. I woke up to the sound of jackhammers, yes plural, and this woke me up from my camping dream (which I was not sure why i was dreaming of either. I love the outdoors, don’t get me wrong, but have just spent so much time on the ground growing up that I may not willingly go to a lot of camping trips in my lifetime).

It was fine since it was a day, but ever since then I awake to jackhammers. I wake up really early, pray and then doze off again because I stay up late due to insomnia. I am not a morning person, and this noise is really bugging me. It will stay that way for three months until the place is renovated.

However, the Lord revealed something to me today by way of memory. The verse is in Psalm 3 and it was the psalm David wrote when he was having conflicts with Absalom. The verse reads, “I lie down and sleep, and wake again for the Lord sustains me.” It reminds me of something as simple as waking up to a new day is a blessing in itself, no matter what the circumstances. I am humbled, again, that my heart is in need of constant reminder, constant molding and grace that is in Christ. The reality is no matter how comfortable we get, sleep or otherwise, there will be times that we get downright uncomfortable and we won’t have control over the circumstances. What we can pray for is a heart that is reminded of the reality of Christ’s ongoing work in us.

I’d ramble some more, but I have a glazed doughnut and iced coffee sans whipped cream waiting for me. Plus a houseful of cleaning, best time to do it is when it’s an empty house.

God bless you guys today, and may you be reminded of the reality of Christ’s love and grace today.

A call and a reminder

“Jesus loves me, this I know.

For the Bible tells me so.”

Posted above are likely familiar lyrics to all of us who grew up in a church setting or with families who taught us hymns and the Bible. It is a very simple stanza that brings comfort that yes, Jesus does love us and we know this because the Bible tells us so.

The Bible starts with a story of creation so perfect until sin entered the picture. The beauty in that is that God still pursued man, and He still has a heart for his creation, a heart of a parent, a heart of a God who so loves. He saw the sin, allowed the consequences to happen and provides a way for a man to comes to repentance. This story continues on to people who turned away from Him constantly, yet He provides comfort and sends prophecies of Him sending a lamb for sacrifice and Jesus comes, sinless and perfect to die on the cross as an atonement for our sins. He conquered death and resurrected and promised to come again; He called twelve men (and many more) who shared this very gospel and were willing to be used as instruments for His name. That is one awesome love story that begins in Genesis and continues until Revelation and each book is filled with so much, if we just take it and read it with an open and contrite heart.

So… what’s the point?

Reading the Bible doesn’t make us a Christian, but accepting Christ as the only way to true salvation is the start. Then He sends us the Holy Spirit so that our renewed minds and new hearts are protected, preserved and ‘processed’ continually and renewed more as we continue to walk in the faith.

God’s love is a love that accepts us for who we are, that is true. Every human individual is broken and in need of grace. However, this love is so amazing that we don’t stay the same. Our wholly desires for sin do not stay in our new and regenerated heart, it is simply not possible. This love transforms us… it makes us more like Christ that we are able to shine a light to this world.

This very simple childhood song served as a reminder today of two things. It is a call for us to respond to such a love, and it is easy to just say, “Well I’ve heard of what people have to say about the Bible, or I read it once and it wasn’t for me” but think about it. God loves you, yes you as a singular person, and if this post can be as bold as to ask, How do you choose to respond? If you accept and receive this gift of salvation, read the bible and then don’t stop there, obey the Bible and trust it no matter what our culture or revolutionary leaders say. It is Jesus versus other ideas, what will you choose to place your trust on? Study the bible and pray for the Holy spirit to guide us as we read so that we can truly possess it, profess it and practice it.

\Secondly, this song is a reminder for us that His love is written in the Bible. It is not in Oprah, Dr. Phil, parties, purposeless relationships, not on Twitter, Facebook. The story of God’s love is in the Bible, so study it, embrace it and there comes a time when you will have to defend it against a world that does not believe. It is a love story that involves Jesus Christ losing His life so that everyone who comes to Him for repentance are saved and are reconnected to Him. It is a love story that reconciles, hopes and transforms. It is a love story that has happened for thousands of people from the past. It is a love story that happens now in the hearts of those who truly believe and obey Christ. It is a love story that can happen to you.

Think about it… Jesus loves me, this I know because the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong, they are weak but He is strong.

Talking about Love

After a lovely dinner of baked macaroni in red and bechamel sauce, strawberry cheesecake and orange soda, we discussed some bible passages about love. We looked at God’s command to his disciples in John to love one another as this will show the world that you are in Christ. It’s a very simple verse but we discussed how it was a change-maker and challenge to a Christian to live a life worthy of the calling we receive. We discussed the Good Samaritan as well and the famous love verse, discussing our struggles with loving people and which part of the verse is really hard for us and how Christ helps us by being the perfect model for us.

We had a first timer to our study, and he said he’d come back for the food, company and maybe the spiritual food (he laughed at that). May God continue to work in this group. A few months ago, I was battling God on this because I was getting busy with school and work and I felt like I wasn’t in a good place emotionally. But I’m trusting Him on this and letting Him lead, because like the lecrae song, I’m the background and He’s the lead. It’s great to see the understanding and fellowship going on. It’s great seeing our youngest blossom and just be on fire about this and that she tries to drive back to study with us and lead worship.

Dear Lord, You said in your word that when two or three gather in Your name, You are there in the midst of them. We pray for our group that you safeguard us, keep our doctrine biblical and help us always have love for each other. You know who are Yours and may you soften hearts and humbly break us so that we become surrendered to your saving grace and lordship in our lives. Thank you for Your love, for Your word and Your work.