Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Cut to the Heart

"36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day."

This comes from Acts 2. 

I really like the phrase they used, "cut to the heart". I love metaphors and this is one that I really like. 

I'm not quite sure how to explain what it means to be "cut to the heart". I guess it is what it sounds like. You are struck by a profound realization of something. You may be disturbed or strongly convicted to want to do something about what you've just realized. 

In this passage, Peter is telling people that they have killed Jesus - the man who did no wrong, who was blameless. They killed God's only son. This was and is big news. Having killed someone of such high status, the people were upset. They were distraught. They were convicted and wanted to know how they could somehow make things right. So Peter tells them to repent and get baptized (verse 38), since Jesus died for our sins already, all we need to do to "get right" with God, is to accept the sacrifice Jesus has offered to make in our place, so that we may be saved from eternal death. 

There are few moments in one's life where we feel cut to the heart. The realization that we have sinned, and the conviction that brings us to repent, to change who we once were and to become renewed so that we may truly live - that is a time to be cut to the heart.  


In Colossians 1:9-14  it says,

"We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

Let this be a prayer for me.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Psalm 143

Today I have been renewed with strength and a fresh mind. I have been a little discouraged lately, but after speaking with a few people over this weekend, I have been lifted back up and am ready to give my all again to this week.

This Psalm contains one of the theme verses of my blog. I just wanted to share this Psalm as I read it today. It reminds me that everything I am doing is all in God's will. I don't need to worry about whether things will turn out or about how people will respond. I need only obey and follow God's instructions, to learn what it means to do His will.


1 Lord, hear my prayer,
    listen to my cry for mercy;
in your faithfulness and righteousness
    come to my relief.
2 Do not bring your servant into judgment,
    for no one living is righteous before you.
3 The enemy pursues me,
    he crushes me to the ground;
he makes me dwell in the darkness
    like those long dead.
4 So my spirit grows faint within me;
    my heart within me is dismayed.
5 I remember the days of long ago;
    I meditate on all your works
    and consider what your hands have done.
6 I spread out my hands to you;
    I thirst for you like a parched land.
7 Answer me quickly, Lord;
    my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me
    or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
    for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
    for to you I entrust my life.
9 Rescue me from my enemies, Lord,
    for I hide myself in you.
10 Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
    lead me on level ground.
11 For your name’s sake, Lord, preserve my life;
    in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.
12 In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;
    destroy all my foes,
    for I am your servant.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

To God Alone

Sometimes we get so caught up in what we are doing that we don't remember why we are doing it. I like this song because it really emphasizes that the life we are living now isn't one without a purpose. It is a life meant to glorify God alone. So we must always be careful not to get so caught up in something we are doing - whether it be school, work, social life, or something else that we start neglecting God. We must remember that God is the reason why we are where we are today.


To God Alone - Aaron Shust

Can You take me by the hand?
Can You use me as I am?
Break me into who You want me to be

When the time is finally right
Will You open up my eyes
And show me everything You want me to see?
This life is not my own

To God alone be the glory
To God alone be the praise
Everything I say and do
Let it be all for You
The glory is Yours alone
Yours alone

Take the offering I bring
You want more than what I sing
Can I give You every part of me?

Turn these pennies into gold
Take this life I call my own
Until I'm running after Your heart
I'm needing to let go

To God alone be the glory
To God alone be the praise
Everything I say and do
Let it be all for You
The glory is Yours alone

We will rise and we will fall
But You remain after all
You're glorious and beautiful
You're beautiful

The glory is Yours alone
Yours alone
Yours alone

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Lean On Me

Community is when you have a group of people who invest in each other's lives. They are a group of people who care for, support, and are there for one another. We form communities because we are social people. One of the benefits of a community is that they are there for you during rough times. But something I've been noticing in my community is that people don't act like the community is something that they can benefit from. It seems that once something rough happens they want to ignore the community that is there; the community that is ready to care for them. It seems that they don't realize that by avoiding the community is partially defeating the purpose of having the community in the first place. Why be part of a community if you aren't willing to offer up your burdens so that they can be lifted up? Why be part of a community if you are going to leave it when "things get too hard" or when you get "too busy"?

Aren't communities supposed to help you especially during critical times such as these? So why doesn't anyone act like it? Sometimes people think that they're going to keep their burdens to themselves so that they won't bother other people. Or maybe they think that they can solve their problems on their own and don't want to get others involved. Whatever the reason, I feel that it's not true. I feel that communities should be able to help people - if you need help, someone will give it to you. If you're afraid of feeling bad or being a burden, then help someone next time.

Psalm 46: 1-3  “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and mountains quake and with their surging.”

Lean On Me - Al Green

Lyrics:

Some times in our lives, we all have pain, we all have sorrow.
But, if we are wise, we know that there's always tomorrow.

Lean on me, when you're not strong, and I'll be your friend,
I'll help you carry on. For it won't be long, 'till I'm gonna need
somebody to lean on.

Please, swallow your pride, if I have
made, you need to borrow. For no one can feel those of your
needs, that you won't let show.

You just call on your brother when you need a hand, we all
need somebody to lean on. I just might have a problem that
you'll understand, we all need some body to lean on.


If, there is a load, that you have to bear, that you can't carry,
I'm right up the road, I'll share your load, if you just call me.

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Your Presence is Heaven to Me

Today was one of those days where I just go on Youtube and look for new worship songs to learn to play on guitar.

I stumbled upon this lovely song, Your Presence is Heaven to Me - Israel Houghton & New Breed

Lyrics:

Who is like You Lord in all the earth?
Matchless love and beauty, endless worth
Nothing in this world can satisfy
'Cause Jesus You're the cup that won't run dry

Your presence is heaven to me
Your presence is heaven to me

Treasure of my heart and of my soul
In my weakness you are merciful
Redeemer of my past and present wrongs
Holder of my future days to come

Your presence is heaven to me
Your presence is heaven to me
Heaven to me, God

Oh Jesus, Oh Jesus
Your presence is heaven to me
Oh Jesus, Oh Jesus
Your presence is heaven to me

All my days on earth I will await
The moment that I see You face to face
Nothing in this world can satisfy
'Cause Jesus You're the cup that won't run dry
'Cause Jesus You're the cup that won't run dry
You never run dry


On a side note, these two songs have been stuck in my head lately:

I Hear A Symphony - The Supremes

I Believe I Can Fly - R Kelly

Saturday, June 1, 2013

The Summer Coop Dilemma

So it's summer and it's a weekend. That means I don't have to go to work and I don't have to study either. However, I do have a bunch of things to work on.

I need to learn my testimony in mandarin, read a bunch of books, clean my bathroom and floor, and do a bunch of things for my club.

I can also practice piano/guitar, and learn bass.

The only problem is that it's summertime and really nice outside. So it's a nice day, and I want to go out and play. But everyone is busy with school things and it costs money to go out and do work somewhere nice. It used to have been better because there were a lot of other people who were on coop here with me, but most of them found coops elsewhere or graduated... so... that just leaves me...

So what do I do? Stay at home and chill on my own, doing the above? Invite someone over to do something with me? Ask someone if they want to study/work together? Maybe I just have to get to know my friends' schedules better and work something out with them.