It has been a long time since my last post, and I have realized that this is starting to turn into more of a monthly thing, than one that is more frequent. I must say that it is not only because of all the work and school that engineering has to offer, but also because of how I choose to spend my free time. Yes, I have free time! I have joined my school's Korean Christian fellowship - even though I'm not Korean ( it's really not a big deal). The group is pretty multicultural, despite the fact that it's "Korean". Everyone there was so welcoming and nice that I felt like I had always been there, after my second time attending. Perhaps it was because I already felt like I somewhat knew them, since my sister had talked about them and her experience in the fellowship while she was still there.
What is a fellowship? In case you were asking, I am here to explain! For this kind of context, and from what I have observed and experienced, a Christian fellowship is a bunch of people gathered together, where anyone is welcome - Christian or not, and they gather to discuss, share, and grow together in our faith. Being a Christian is a difficult thing to do, and so by being in a Christian fellowship like this, we can grow together. When I say grow, I mean this in many different ways. Firstly, and most importantly, growing means growing in Christ - by learning more about Him, through prayer, or by studying the Bible, by understanding how we should be living our daily lives. Choosing to be a Christian is choosing this lifestyle - it isn't really a religion, in my opinion. True, it may sound like there are "rituals" to be done, and things that seem strange, but anything out of context can be strange. What I am trying to say is that a Christian fellowship helps to connect people to Christ, and through Christ, to each other.
I've learned that the relationships one can build through a Christian fellowship can be very strong. For example, I've been attending the same church for my entire life, until I went to university. During those many years of being at that one church, I've met so many people, and developed so many relationships with lovely people. These are the people I can count on to set me straight when I do something wrong, to comfort me when I am in despair, and to remind me always, of how great, and powerful God is, and what He is continuously doing in my life! Although I moved on to university, I am not too saddened by the fact that I won't be able to see my church friends as often, because I know that we are brothers and sisters in Christ, and because of this family-like bond I have with them, I know that they always have my back and that this is a kind of friendship that I am not afraid to lose (that isn't capable of being lost... did I lose you?). I am aware that many people come and go, in my short lifetime, but I have also learned that God has different plans for different people, and that they must go do what they have been made to do. I know that the bonds I have made with these people will never truly be broken, no matter how long it has been since we last talked. My only hope and concern is that they continue to walk in their journey towards God, and find other people to accompany them along throughout the different parts. Moving on is always a difficult thing to do, but I always remind myself that even though I may not see them, or hear from them, they will always be a part of me because they have made an impact in my Spiritual life, and I will always remember and love them for that.
I'm not quite sure where this post is going, to be honest. So let me try to get back to what I was going at earlier, with this post. So since I've joined the Korean Christian Fellowship here, I have met many people, and also realized that I've become less introverted. Meeting new people has started to flow a bit more smoothly for me, I am not as awkward as I used to be, or as I had imagined (phew). I think this is all about a change in my perspective, in the way I view people now. Not to say that I've grown up that I know everything, there is still much to learn and experience, but I'm trying to say that I have changed my perspective on meeting new people and making new friends to journey with on our walks of faith! It is so exciting! Every part of my walk in Christ is an adventure, whether I'm alone, or with other people - sometimes they are the same, sometimes they are different, but what matters most is that we cherish and make the most of each adventure and opportunity we have together to experience and spread God's glory!
Last week was a very busy week for me, aside from school. I have joined the worship team for my fellowship, and also joined the worship small group - which is more like a time where we get to know a smaller group of people in the fellowship a bit better, and improve our musical skills. Last week was hectic but also very rewarding and a very happy time for me because of worship. Music is a universal language, and what I mean by that is that anyone can join in, anyone is free to make music, and there is no wrong answer. Sure, you can play a wrong note or play in the wrong key, but everyone understands this language, everyone is welcome to it, and you don't even need to play the same instrument! Music already connects the people playing with each other, but musical worship is even stronger. In my opinion, I feel like I open up faster to people with whom I participate in musical worship because of our brother/sisterly bond in Christ, as well as through music. The act of worshipping God and praising Him for all the things He has done is just so magnificent, that I never want to stop! After every worship session I find myself focused on God, and my heart filled with adoration and I almost want to cry, because I remember just how great God is and because of how He has changed my life over the years.
I love music, and because of my relationship with God, which is a personal one, musical worship plays a very key part in my life, and I can't imagine what it would be like not to have it. Worship is not just about singing along to lyrics and to music, or just randomly playing an instrument. Worship is about understanding, believing, and really feeling the song, what we're singing, and what we're playing. You don't even have to sing in the same language as someone else you are worshipping with! The beauty of musical worship is that you aren't being judged by your musical talent, or skills you may or may not have - worship comes from the heart, and is meant to be genuine. You are free to worship in whatever way you are most comfortable!
As life goes on, and I reflect about all the things that have happened in my life, all the good and bad, I see how God has worked in my life for the better, and just knowing that He is always with me and wanting the best for me is so powerful that it gives me the motivation to keep going, to keep strong and also to let everyone else around me know about Him so that they can also be overwhelmed with joy when they realize what God did for them, before they even knew Him. I am so excited to continue on my journey (I feel like I paused it when I was typing this up, even though I know time doesn't stop for me), especially with my new friends here. God is love, love is here, and it is meant to be spread and enjoyed by all people!
As always, I want to leave you with a song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=au3EGgISYMc&ob=av2e this was one of the song the worship team did last week! < Right click and open it in a new tab so you can keep reading and listen at the same time!>
To end, here is something I just read, and happened to relate to this post - oh wow.
this is today's (Nov.17, 2011) devotion from http://utmost.org <-- they post a new one every day!
By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing . . . I will bless you . . . —Genesis 22:16-17
What is a fellowship? In case you were asking, I am here to explain! For this kind of context, and from what I have observed and experienced, a Christian fellowship is a bunch of people gathered together, where anyone is welcome - Christian or not, and they gather to discuss, share, and grow together in our faith. Being a Christian is a difficult thing to do, and so by being in a Christian fellowship like this, we can grow together. When I say grow, I mean this in many different ways. Firstly, and most importantly, growing means growing in Christ - by learning more about Him, through prayer, or by studying the Bible, by understanding how we should be living our daily lives. Choosing to be a Christian is choosing this lifestyle - it isn't really a religion, in my opinion. True, it may sound like there are "rituals" to be done, and things that seem strange, but anything out of context can be strange. What I am trying to say is that a Christian fellowship helps to connect people to Christ, and through Christ, to each other.
I've learned that the relationships one can build through a Christian fellowship can be very strong. For example, I've been attending the same church for my entire life, until I went to university. During those many years of being at that one church, I've met so many people, and developed so many relationships with lovely people. These are the people I can count on to set me straight when I do something wrong, to comfort me when I am in despair, and to remind me always, of how great, and powerful God is, and what He is continuously doing in my life! Although I moved on to university, I am not too saddened by the fact that I won't be able to see my church friends as often, because I know that we are brothers and sisters in Christ, and because of this family-like bond I have with them, I know that they always have my back and that this is a kind of friendship that I am not afraid to lose (that isn't capable of being lost... did I lose you?). I am aware that many people come and go, in my short lifetime, but I have also learned that God has different plans for different people, and that they must go do what they have been made to do. I know that the bonds I have made with these people will never truly be broken, no matter how long it has been since we last talked. My only hope and concern is that they continue to walk in their journey towards God, and find other people to accompany them along throughout the different parts. Moving on is always a difficult thing to do, but I always remind myself that even though I may not see them, or hear from them, they will always be a part of me because they have made an impact in my Spiritual life, and I will always remember and love them for that.
I'm not quite sure where this post is going, to be honest. So let me try to get back to what I was going at earlier, with this post. So since I've joined the Korean Christian Fellowship here, I have met many people, and also realized that I've become less introverted. Meeting new people has started to flow a bit more smoothly for me, I am not as awkward as I used to be, or as I had imagined (phew). I think this is all about a change in my perspective, in the way I view people now. Not to say that I've grown up that I know everything, there is still much to learn and experience, but I'm trying to say that I have changed my perspective on meeting new people and making new friends to journey with on our walks of faith! It is so exciting! Every part of my walk in Christ is an adventure, whether I'm alone, or with other people - sometimes they are the same, sometimes they are different, but what matters most is that we cherish and make the most of each adventure and opportunity we have together to experience and spread God's glory!
Last week was a very busy week for me, aside from school. I have joined the worship team for my fellowship, and also joined the worship small group - which is more like a time where we get to know a smaller group of people in the fellowship a bit better, and improve our musical skills. Last week was hectic but also very rewarding and a very happy time for me because of worship. Music is a universal language, and what I mean by that is that anyone can join in, anyone is free to make music, and there is no wrong answer. Sure, you can play a wrong note or play in the wrong key, but everyone understands this language, everyone is welcome to it, and you don't even need to play the same instrument! Music already connects the people playing with each other, but musical worship is even stronger. In my opinion, I feel like I open up faster to people with whom I participate in musical worship because of our brother/sisterly bond in Christ, as well as through music. The act of worshipping God and praising Him for all the things He has done is just so magnificent, that I never want to stop! After every worship session I find myself focused on God, and my heart filled with adoration and I almost want to cry, because I remember just how great God is and because of how He has changed my life over the years.
I love music, and because of my relationship with God, which is a personal one, musical worship plays a very key part in my life, and I can't imagine what it would be like not to have it. Worship is not just about singing along to lyrics and to music, or just randomly playing an instrument. Worship is about understanding, believing, and really feeling the song, what we're singing, and what we're playing. You don't even have to sing in the same language as someone else you are worshipping with! The beauty of musical worship is that you aren't being judged by your musical talent, or skills you may or may not have - worship comes from the heart, and is meant to be genuine. You are free to worship in whatever way you are most comfortable!
As life goes on, and I reflect about all the things that have happened in my life, all the good and bad, I see how God has worked in my life for the better, and just knowing that He is always with me and wanting the best for me is so powerful that it gives me the motivation to keep going, to keep strong and also to let everyone else around me know about Him so that they can also be overwhelmed with joy when they realize what God did for them, before they even knew Him. I am so excited to continue on my journey (I feel like I paused it when I was typing this up, even though I know time doesn't stop for me), especially with my new friends here. God is love, love is here, and it is meant to be spread and enjoyed by all people!
As always, I want to leave you with a song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=au3EGgISYMc&ob=av2e this was one of the song the worship team did last week! < Right click and open it in a new tab so you can keep reading and listen at the same time!>
To end, here is something I just read, and happened to relate to this post - oh wow.
this is today's (Nov.17, 2011) devotion from http://utmost.org <-- they post a new one every day!
By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing . . . I will bless you . . . —Genesis 22:16-17
Abraham, at this point, has reached where he is in touch with the very nature of God. He now understands the reality of God.
My goal is God Himself . . .
At any cost, dear Lord, by any road.
At any cost, dear Lord, by any road.
“At any cost . . . by any road” means submitting to God’s way of bringing us to the goal.
There is no possibility of questioning God when He speaks, if He speaks to His own nature in me. Prompt obedience is the only result. When Jesus says, “Come,” I simply come; when He says, “Let go,” I let go; when He says, “Trust God in this matter,” I trust. This work of obedience is the evidence that the nature of God is in me.
God’s revelation of Himself to me is influenced by my character, not by God’s character.
’Tis because I am ordinary,
Thy ways so often look ordinary to me.
Thy ways so often look ordinary to me.
It is through the discipline of obedience that I get to the place where Abraham was and I see who God is. God will never be real to me until I come face to face with Him in Jesus Christ. Then I will know and can boldly proclaim, “In all the world, my God, there is none but Thee, there is none but Thee.”
The promises of God are of no value to us until, through obedience, we come to understand the nature of God. We may read some things in the Bible every day for a year and they may mean nothing to us. Then, because we have been obedient to God in some small detail, we suddenly see what God means and His nature is instantly opened up to us. “All the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen . . .” (2 Corinthians 1:20). Our “Yes” must be born of obedience; when by obedience we ratify a promise of God by saying, “Amen,” or, “So be it.” That promise becomes ours.
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