New Year '11

Christmas has come and gone; and the New Year is almost here.  It's that time of the year which naturally prompts reflections on the past year and contemplations of the coming year.

I look back over the year with gratefulness for having made it through another year in all areas - work, church, family&friends, etc.  I'm glad to have had the opportunity to serve at church, COA, etc.   It is a blessing to be a part of a church in which I can visibly see God causing growth and being at work.  Also, in these tough economic times, I'm especially grateful for God's provisions.  Even, as the year winds down, I'm glad to have had the time to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas, to make preparations for the New Year, and to spend time with family & friends.  It was nice to spend Christmas day with my family, riding the gondola, playing miniature golf, and going out to eat.

Looking towards the coming year, I already have my area of focus; and both my new Bible Study and Small Group series; and I am praying about new areas in which God will stretch, use, and develop me.

Acts 1

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."  (vs 8)

This verse essentially gives us the structural outline of the Book of Acts:

• Chp 1-7  - The Church in Jerusalem (Jews)
• Chp 8-12 - The Church in Judea and Samaria (Transition)
• Chp 13-28 - The Church in the ends of the known world at the time (Gentiles)

While Chp 1-12 primarily narrates Peter's ministry, Paul's ministry to the Gentiles is the focus Chp 13-28.  In the Book of Acts, we will see the transformation of a group of frightened Christians in the Gospels after the Crucifixion, into Leaders of the Early Church, being models of courage and faith, spreading the flame of the Holy Spirit to the world.

Through the use of Scriptural quotes, Peter pointed out that everything that has happened was a fulfillment of prophesy, including the betrayal of Judas.   In this passage, we see that the leadership of the Early Church were formed by Apostles, chosen by Christ; witnesses to Christ's ministry, Resurrection, and Ascension; taught authoritative truths, given the mission of being His witnesses, and were people of prayer.

Hands and Feet

My Church Sunday Fellowship class had the blessing of experiencing what it was like to be the "hands and feet" of Christ to some of the needy and homeless in the community tonight at COA.

We had enough food to be able to generously give seconds and even thirds.  The pineapple glazed ham and cream of mushroom green beans actually turned out really well.   And several of the people we served commented on how much they enjoyed the food.

We also were able to give them each a gift package as they were leaving; and one person even called the pre-dinner worship service speaker to say how much they appreciated what we put into the gift package.  The worship speaker said that he was going to take the leftover gift packages to pass out at another location where many other homeless people "live".

Not only were those we served blessed; but, we were also, maybe even more so.  There were some who were newer to the class, and this was their first time - several of them commented about what a fulfilling and special experience it was.  Many also said they would definitely continue to be involved ongoing in our monthly outreach.

There were other similar stories of blessings; and I'm sure that God was at work in other ways that I am not even aware of.  What a blessing to be able to take part in God's Work!

Hope

Reading a story today that described "hope" as a wishy-washy emotion, I had to disagree, particularly for Christians.  Similar to "faith", when founded upon God, the "hope" that we have in glory and our "hope" in God is assured.  We know it will happen and we can rely upon Who God Is.  It is not something that should constantly change or is fleeting.   It is actually needed for motivation in life and to inspire endurance.

Last night, I heard a comment that everything that is built has a foundation; and it reminded me that having the right foundation is important.   In applying this to hope (and faith), the foundation that our hope is built upon is essential for its stability and fulfillment.

This brings to mind the hymn "The Solid Rock".    It's lyrics reflect what has just been said:
"My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
....
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand."

Giving

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

God provided the ultimate example of sacrificial giving, when He gave His Son to be born on earth and to die for our sins.  That's what we are really celebrating this time of the year.

In the spirit of giving, it has been special to be able to plan what we will be giving and serving at COA this week.  Since our scheduled outreach this month happened to fall on Christmas week, we have the opportunity to make the meal a little more special and to give a package gift.   My prayer is that all will work out and go smoothly; and that it will be a blessing to those who receive.  May they catch a glimpse of the Father's love and compassion and the true meaning of Christmas.

We bought the food last night:   Smoked Ham, to be sliced and served with a pineapple slice with glaze made from the pineapple syrup and brown sugar; Green Beans mixed with Cream of Mushroom soup; Hawaiian rolls; and cookies.   The prep and re-heat should be relatively simple - we will slice and "assemble" the ham, pineapple, and glaze on baking sheets.  And we will bake the cookies.  At COA, we will just put the baking sheets in the oven to heat the ham; and cook the green beans and cream of mushroom soup on the stove.  It should make for a nice pre-Christmas meal.

For the packages, we had some of the Church children decorate brown paper bags with Christmas pictures and messages.  Then we are planning to pack in donated items (McDonald's gift certificates, Christmas cards with verse, hygiene items, food (candy, cookies, etc), and a pen, pencil, or notebook).   We will fold the tops, punch two holes, loop and tie with curling ribbon.   Should serve as a nice simple gift.

May God be glorified and may all those involved be blessed.   I place it all in God's Hands.

Flexible

This weekend, I was accused of being rigid and inflexible.   I suppose I can understand, since it was coming from a person that I considered to be undisciplined and lacking in organizational skills.  However, as always, it is worth taking the time to evaluate the credibility of the criticism, and see whether there are areas I can improve upon. 

My first thoughts would be that this person's perspective is still incorrectly skewed by earlier false accounts, which have biased his view; and he does not have the capacity to see beyond that earlier impression and form his own opinions.   Add to that,  the contrast to his own personality, and resultantly, it's not surprising that he would hold to this view.

While this picture I have painted of my "accuser" is less than positive; that is not the intention.  In actuality, I consider him a generally nice person and would even call him a friend; which is one of the main reasons I am not dismissing his remarks outrightly.  And my view of him is not just a defensive response, but is really based on evidence and observation from the years we have known each other.

However, beyond the expectation that an unstructured person would consider organization and details "rigid"; is there any solid basis behind the accusation?  Well, my other thought is that this person probably doesn't know me very well and hasn't seen me outside of the "leadership" role; for, I do have friends who consider me extremely flexible, to the point where I have earned the nickname "Gumby".    I find it somewhat amusing, that I have been placements at opposite ends of the flexibility spectrum.

So, where am I in reality?  And is there something I need to address? 

Alright, here is what I think.  In areas that are not so important, I believe that I am very flexible.  However, in the areas that are essential, I will stand firm.  Also, in situations where I am in a "leadership" capacity and thus have responsibility, I will do my best to ensure that I pay attention to the details; for as it is often said, the difference between good and great is in the details. 

In areas relating to this person, I have actually worked hard to give as much leeway as possible; but, have stepped in whenever I felt necessary.  And, I am aware of what might have happened were I to leave it all up to chance.  It is definitely not the case that I discount divine intervention; however, my approach is to use prayer as well as planning and action.

So, I conclude that I have not been unnecessarily inflexible; and that I know when to be flexible versus when to stand firm.  I can picture the results of what would happen were I to change from what I am currently doing; and do not see that as good or beneficial.  So, I will "stay the course"....

Imaginary Friend

I watched the sweet and touching Lifetime movie "Sundays at Tiffany's" yesterday, and it had me wishing that I had an "imaginary friend" like Michael.  Is "the soul mate you're destined to marry" just a myth?   Would reality be hard-pressed to live up to the made-up imaginary dream?  I can see why kids would have imaginary friends - it's easy to want someone there who will be with us all the time, who loves and cares for us, who understands us, and who fulfills our need for companionship and friendship; especially when there is no one else who fills those areas.

Christmas '10

"I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth.  And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God"  (Job 19:25-26)

This verse has been in my mind ever since we did the study in Job a few weeks ago.  I've associated this verse with Christmas ever since I heard the musical piece in Handel's Messiah that was based on it.  In a way, it is also related to our "Beauty for Ashes" theme, in that it gives the eternal perspective in the midst of suffering and  expresses hope in the resurrection.

I am grateful for time to pause and ponder the true meaning of Christmas.   The presents have been wrapped and the cards are written.   I was actually pleased that the card I sent this year to those in my class reflected the "Beauty for Ashes" theme nicely - the front had a picture of the manger, and the inside was a picture of the crown of thorns; and the verse quoted was Matthew 1:21 "You shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins."  Christ's resurrection was the Beauty raised from the Ashes of the crucifixion.

It is in "stillness" that we are better able to listen to God's "voice"; and in taking the time to be still, I did feel led to give an additional gift and send another card.  I already received a response for the card; and I trust that God uses these as part of His Plans, whatever they may be.

I have time now to focus on the Person whose birth we are celebrating - Jesus Christ.....  Another passage that has been on my mind is Philippians 2:6-11 about Jesus, "Who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.  Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. "   That's the Christmas message, that Jesus though equal with God, chose to empty Himself, took human form, died on the cross for our sins;and then was resurrected and is worthy to be worshipped.  Amen!

2 Corinthians 4

We are concluding our "Beauty for Ashes" series with the 2 Corinthians 4 passage for several reasons....

The passage touches on several of the topics we've studied in the series, like light shining in the darkness, and death to life; as well as some of the subtopics like focusing on our calling, ultimately giving glory to God, etc.

Also, the last verses, "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."  (vs 17-18), basically give the reason why we have Hope and "do not lose heart".   We believe that God can raise beauty from the ashes, based on the eternal perspective and the blessings that we have through salvation.

In vs 7, "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."; essentially, Paul is saying that even if we have weaknesses; God can use weak vessels and it only makes it more clear that any great results are from God and not us.

And, vs 8-9 have always been encouraging verses in the midst of troubles:  "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;  persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."  This illustrates the trust that God is able to deliver and save.

To summarize the series:  Essentially, in this fallen sinful world, we inevitably face Ashes (i.e. mourning, broken hearts, darkness, death, etc); but, in the midst of it all, believers have the HOPE that God is able to raise Beauty (i.e. dancing, healing, light, life, etc).  When God bestows Beauty for Ashes, it is ultimately for His Glory, and our natural response is to PRAISE Him, because of WHO HE IS.

Acts - The Early Church

I just finished the outline for the next Bible Study series in my class, which will be "Acts - The Early Church".   It will be interesting to study in detail how the Early Church began.  It will be, at the same time, a good complement to the "Journeys of Paul" Tour. 

As I started reading "The Church Awakening", I'm thinking that maybe studying Acts may reveal areas the church today may need to re-address, particularly in areas related to the original design for the Church.

Also, in studying and reading more about the apostle Paul, I cannot imagine how he must have felt after becoming a Christian and realizing that he had persecuted and watched other Christians being martyred.   But, that was probably what made him such an effective and amazing apostle, for he truly understood what it meant to experience GRACE.

The Acts study will cover almost all of 2011, finishing in November.  I am in anticipation of what God will reveal to us through this study.

Back on Track

The last few weeks, I wandered off the main path and onto side roads; but, I think I'm back on track now.  I realized that I was going down the wrong road when I started noticing all the "signs":
Not keeping my mind on things above,
Lamenting my thorn again,
Losing motivation, and
Hiding from facing the challenges of real life.

Fortunately, I had not wandered too far away; and in fact, had kept on a road that didn't take me too far off.   I have actually been diligently exercising pretty much every weekday, taken care of things on my To Do list, and even hosted my visiting relatives for dinner.  I had also started outlining my next Bible Study series and also preparing for my Community Group series.

So, it really is just in one main area that I went off track, although I did get a chance to read a few inspiration and sweet stories.  One of the story books involved Mrs Miracle, which was made into a Hallmark movie, and there were some quotes from the book that I especially liked:

• "People are like tea bags—you have to drop them in hot water before you know how strong they are."
• "It’s hard to stumble when you’re down on your knees."
• "When you flee temptation, don’t leave a forwarding address."
• "The best vitamin for a Christian is B1."
• "God isn’t politically correct.  He’s just correct."

And now, I've started reading some books that will actually be useful in preparation for my next series and for my Journeys of Paul tour next year:  "Paul" and "The Church Awakening", both by Chuck Swindoll.

John 5

"“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life."  (John 5:24)

Death to Life is the ultimate example of God being able to raise Beauty from the Ashes.   While Jesus is able to heal physical illness like He did with the invalid at the pool of Bethesda, more importantly, He is able to heal spiritual illness and death due to sin.   As the Son of Man, He is given authority to judge and to give "life to whom He is pleased to give it"; and He has the power to do it because He is equal with God, and judges justly because of WHO HE IS. 

Committed

I heard the group Committed for the first time last night on Sing Off.   They were really talented; and in my opinion, were clearly the best group in the show.   There were actually quite a few good groups, and it takes a lot of ability and talent in order to sing acappella and make the accompaniment sounds that they do.   I enjoyed listening to them sing - it makes me wish I could sing like that.  In addition to showcasing their talent, it was great that Committed was able to talk about their faith, church, and gospel roots.  It's wonderful that they were giving glory to God.

Encouraging Others

"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear."  (Ephesians 4:29)

I blogged about "words" earlier this year; and as I thought about what area I needed to focus on most next year, "Encouraging Others" came to mind.  While I can include encouragement through deeds and actions secondarily; I will primarily focus on encouragement through words and communication; since this in itself is a big enough area to improve upon.

I've observed what a positive effect it can have on others when they receive words of appreciation or encouragement.   I know that for myself, having "words of encouragement" as my love language, it helps fill my tanks and meet a need.  Ephesians 4:29 is the perfect verse to reflect my theme for next year - it's a reminder to watch what I say, to focus on edifying others with my words and seeing their needs, and to ensure that my words "give grace".

There is so much in my life that negatively affects my ability to encourage others.  I am extremely shy, and when nervousness is added to that, my ability to communicate is greatly diminished.  I also did not grow up in a family whose cultural background includes encouraging others.  On the contrary, it is one that often uses criticism as motivation instead.  Even in general, communication was never one of my strengths.  I grew up being taught that it was better to listen than to speak; and for the most part am more comfortable just being quiet.  I am just now starting to purposefully try to communicate better and be more encouraging.

So, I really look forward to seeing what God will teach me in 2011 related to "Encouraging Others".  This truly is an area that I would benefit greatly growing and becoming better in.

Home

Since a home can give some insights into the person who lives there, what does my home reveal about me?

• Built well and in a good neighborhood - Quality and reliability is important; and I'm also practical and careful in my choices
• Comfortable, Organized, and neat, but not extravagant or sterile -  I enjoy spending time here and I like to be organized and neat; but, I don't overspend, am not focused on the material aspect, and have other priorities (so, not overly focused on being spotlessly neat and clean).  Being welcoming is important, without guests having to worry about being overly careful or neat
• More attention focused on the inside than the outside -  I do consider the heart and character of a person more important than the externals
• Contains a variety of different items (e.g. piano, pool table, library of books, etc) - I try to be well-balanced and have a variety of interests like music, reading, etc

Come to think of it, my car actually says similar things about me (i.e. reliable, practical, organized, etc)

CHRISTmas is here

Like the song says, "It's Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas".....

I've always loved Christmas decorations, and was just able to finish putting mine up around the house.   Then, the women's ministry at my church put on a Christmas event over the weekend, and I was able to help with the video projection for that.   I was blessed by the encouragement and words of appreciation from several people.

Everything at the event was also decorated beautifully, and I was able to use one of the ideas for my dinner gathering with my family and aunts last night - folding a napkin where the edges meet in the middle in the back so the front is almost a diamond shape with a long pointed end.  For the dinner:

• The turkey turned out very moist, since it was small enough (10 lbs) to fit into the bag and fully into the roasting pan with the cover on.  It was also able to fully cook, fairly evenly (breast-side down).   However, with it fully enclosed, it didn't have the browned outside skin as it would when exposed directly to the oven; and seemed to have a more "steamed" appearance; but, I suppose that's the trade-off with having it less dry.   I debated just putting it under the broiler to brown it the last few minutes; but, I didn't want to risk drying it out.
• The yams, mashed with honey, cinnamon, and nutmeg; and then baked with marshmallows on top is fairly easy to make and is good.   This method is preferable to the cutting of them into pieces and putting a couple of marshmallows on each.
• For the stuffing, I used the boxed mixture I bought before Thanksgiving; but, it came out salty.   In the future, I just plan to make it from scratch, like I did for Thanksgiving.
• The Chinese dishes I incorporated turned out okay -  Singapore noodle with shrimp, stir fry (bok choy, baby corn, and straw mushrooms), and beef rice noodle.   The only thing with the beef rice noodle, is that I used flap meat, and it was still a little chewy, not quite "soft" enough  (not sure what's the best type of beef to use).   

However, in the midst of all this, I am constantly trying to remind myself that CHRISTmas is really about CHRIST.  That's why I love nativity scenes, as a reminder that CHRIST was born.  On my tree, I also have cross ornaments, as a reminder of why CHRIST was born.

Job 42

"The LORD blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first." (Job 42:12a)

Job's name seems to be primarily associated with suffering; yet this last chapter in the book reminds us that God restored him and blessed him abundantly after the major calamities in his life, and Job lived out his days "an old man and full of years".   In line with our study series, Job was literally sitting on the ashes; but, out of all that God did raise beauty.  While God may not always restore losses; but, there are blessings that can come out of the experience.  In Job's case, we see that he learned to recognize God's sovereignty and "saw" God in contrast to  just "hearing" of Him.  Essentially, he was able to grow closer in his relationship with and increase in his knowledge of God.

It is so true, that often, it is through our greatest sufferings when we grow most.   Our faith is refined, character is developed, and we learn more about God and of ourselves.   I would not be who I am today, if I did not experience the trials encountered in my life.

Post-Thanksgiving '10

"Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting."  (Psalm 107:1)

My heart is thankful and my spirit is grateful for the wonderful blessings of my great God.  He alone is worthy of praise is worship.  Amen!

He has truly blessed me abundantly and has given me so much.  I am especially grateful for His gift of salvation.

It was nice to be able to spend time with family yesterday.   While the dinner preparation did not go without glitches, everything turned out okay.

• The turkey actually was really good, and my concern about marinating too long with lemon was unfounded.   The rosemary and lemon smelled and tasted good.  I also roasted the turkey in a bag with the breast-side down; and the it breast-meat turned out well.  The drumstick and thigh, though needed a little more cooking afterwards.   
• However, the beef stew was a disaster.   First, when I was washing the slow cooker, it slipped and fell and broke.  Then, I decided to cook it in on the stove, but I stepped away right before browning the meat; and the pot smoked and caught on fire; causing my smoke alarms to go off.     Then, when, I was reheating the stew right before serving, it got burnt, and my whole kitchen (and the dish) smelled like it.  Fortunately, this was the only ruined dish.
• The mashed potatoes were smooth and creamy - the milk was actually enough, and the sour cream wasn't really needed.   Next time, I will probably just heat milk with butter and garlic; and skip the sour cream and chives.
• Raisins actually went well with the cranberry sauce - would probably do it again
• Stuffing turned out pretty well.  Next time, I will not leave it in the oven to reheat, because it got dry.  Also, I will not use honey cornbread or honey bread; since it caused to stuffing to be a little sweet; so regular cornbread and bread would be better.  Putting cornbread in, is actually more work - having to bake it and then crumble it.   I might just stick to just toasting regular bread and cutting it into cubes.  I did add celery and that went well.  I might skip the egg also next time.
• I did a thin layer of the mashed sweet potatoes and topped it with a layer of marshmellows.   That turned out well.  I added cinnamon, nutmeg, honey, and maple syrup.  I probably didn't need the syrup, since it was sweet enough already.
• The spiced pumpkin bread was good; and pumpkin butter was a really good complement to it.
• I felt that simmering the apple cider in the slow cooker was okay; except that it seemed like it got less sweet over time.
• There was nothing really of note for the rest of the dishes - green beans, asparagus, gravy, dutch apple pie, rice, and corn soup

I am grateful for God's provision; and for blessing us with so much.

Thanksgiving '10

I have so much to be thankful for.  God is gracious and His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Thanksgiving Day is actually still five days away; but, I'm, somewhat surprisingly, fairly prepared for it.   I took care of cleaning and organizing the house; planned the menu; and bought the food.   I even marinated the turkey, although, I'm a little concerned that I did it a little too early.   This year, I decided to use a lemon rosemary marinade with garlic, olive oil, butter, and poultry seasoning.   We'll see how it turns out....

The other items I have planned on my menu are beef stew, stuffing (I'm planning to make it with bread and corn bread), asparagus, green beans with fried onions, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin bread, corn soup, and Dutch Apple Pie.  This year, I also plan on adding some orange and raisins in the cranberry sauce.

I now have time to focus on the true meaning of Thanksgiving, to have a grateful heart, and remember the abundant blessings from my Father in Heaven.  I am reminded of one passage we studied in our current class series:
"That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever."  (Psalm 30:12)

John 21

I can only imagine how Peter must have felt after having denied Christ three times, being the one who had said “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” (Matt 26:33) But, whether or not he still felt like it, he just was a natural leader (e.g. John 21:3).  We're not told why he and the disciples went fishing, but, they likely just didn't know what else to do; and went back to what they used to do before Jesus called them to be "fishers of men" instead.  By providing a large catch of fish, after they had caught none the night before, Jesus probably effectively reminded them of their calling and showed them that they are most effective in obedience to Him.

With quiet grace, Jesus, their Lord and Savior, serves them breakfast.  And, in a conversation with Peter, in vs 15-17, Jesus lovingly restores and reinstates Peter as teacher and pastor of the Church.  First, Jesus addresses him as "Simon", maybe to bring him back to the beginning and rebuild the foundation, because Peter didn't quite feel like "the Rock".  When Jesus asks "do you agapeo me more than these?",  Peter felt he could only reply "I phileo you"; because he didn't feel like he could claim to love Christ supremely and unconditionally, after the denial.   The second time Jesus asks, He drops the "more than these" because maybe Peter didn't feel like he could admit to loving Him with supreme priority.  The third time, Jesus used Peter's word "phileo", and Peter was grieved, probably b/c this seemed like Christ acknowledging his flawed love.  But, each time (once for each denial), Christ still commissioned Peter to feed and shepherd His flock.  And He even told Peter that he would glorify God even in his death (vs 18-19).

Through this passage, it makes clear that even if we may have experienced personal devastation and feel like we have failed God, He can restore us, and we can still be used by Him as long as we LOVE Him and are willing to "bear the cross".  In fact, we may even be better able to be used because of it.   We know that God was able to use Peter as one of the great leaders of the early Church.  Maybe, the boldness and courage he showed in Acts, like when he appeared before the Sanhedrin and responded to their command to stop teaching about Christ by saying that he could not stop teaching what he had seen and heard, came from what he had learned through his experience with denying Christ and knowing that he never wanted to go through that again.

Also,  we will be most effective when doing what He has called us to do.  And, we are to be focused on following Christ, and not be distracted by what others are called to do (vs 20-23).

More Cooking - Quesadillas

I made Quesadillas yesterday, and they turned out really well.  I just pan fried cut-up chicken breast meat with onion and taco sauce.  Then in a separate pan I heated the flour tortilla in butter till brown on both sides, poured in the cooked chicken, added cheese, and folded the tortilla in half.  And then, flipped it a couple of times to cook evenly in and out.  Next time, I can add cilantro and maybe mexican seasoning to the chicken meat for extra flavor.  And of course, it can be served with salsa, guacamole, and sour cream.

RTB

I went to an RTB lecture where Hugh Ross was speaking in response to Stephen Hawking's book "The Grand Design".   While Hawking concedes that there is design, he questions who the designer is; and postulates that once the laws of physics are put into place, there is no longer a need for God or the Designer.   Hugh Ross showed that the premise can be scientifically proven to be incorrect.

Some of the areas focused on are:

• Biblical cosmology says that there is a singular beginning (e.g Gen 1:1), continual expansion (e.g. Isaiah 40-51), constant physical laws (Jer 33:25), and a pervasive law of decay (e.g. Rom 8:20-22). 
• SpaceTime theorems show that an external agent is needed for expansion, which shatters the assumption that all causes are natural.  
• Data also shows that the Bible is not only qualitatively correct, but also quantitatively (e.g predictive temps matching known measurements). 
• In studying Dark Energy or the Cosmological Constant, we see that as the universe gets older there is stronger dark energy and therefore greater expansion.  Also, that this expansion has to be fine-tuned "just right" (too fast and too slow won't allow matter to properly form, but remain in gaseous state) -> needs external agent and existence of miracle
• If cause is not personal but man is, this causes a problem since greater cannot be derived from lesser, since personal > impersonal
• From scientific testing and data, we still do not find any galaxies, stars (e.g. sun), planets, or moons that are the same as ours that would be able to sustain advanced life

Overall, people have admitted being adamant about denying the existence of God, since they don't want to submit to the authority of God due to the rebellious nature of man.  However, scientific evidence is growing for the existence of a Creator.   And from scientific testing and data, we still do not find any galaxies, stars (e.g. sun), planets, or moons that are the same as ours that would be able to sustain advanced life; so our universe is still uniquely created for life.

Origins of Life

• Biblical Predictions - early, under hostile conditions, complex/diverse/abundant, miraculous/instantaneous, and marine only
• Deistic Predictions (matches Hawking's view) - later after enormous time, under benign conditions, huge/concentrated soup, first life very simple, and one species only

=>  Problems with Deistic view:  no time, no soup, oxygen/uv crises, and no homochirality source


A term that came up during the Q&A which applies to many discussions I have often come across is "doctrinally insignificant".    Hugh specifically used this in context of describing the Old Earth vs Young Earth debate.

Genesis 8:1-9:17

Studying the Genesis 8:1-9:17 passage, I can see that it contains much more than the cute storybook version of Noah's ark that I learned as a child.

The Flood was God's judgment upon the terrible wickedness of the human race.  As recorded in possibly one of the saddest passages in Scripture:
"The LORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The LORD regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the LORD said, 'I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.'"  (Genesis 6:5-7)

After the Flood, the condition of man still had not changed and "every inclination of the human heart is [still] evil from childhood" (Gen 8:21b).  Yet God still makes the covenant that "Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life"  (Gen 9:15b)  and gives the rainbow as the sign of this covenant.  This displays HIS great Mercy, Patience, and Grace; a reminder of His Faithfulness to keep His Promises.

Noah also provides a good example to follow.  He patiently waited for God's command before leaving the ark, even after gaining assurance of dry land and new life using the raven and dove.  And the first thing he did upon coming out of the ark was to build an altar and offer burnt offerings.   Walking off the ark, he probably saw first-hand, the devastation of the earth and everything in it.  What a stark reminder of man's sin and the need for forgiveness; and of God's power and judgment.

I came across a quote this week, "In order to see the rainbow, you must first endure the rain."   After the rains and floods, God gave man a chance to begin again, even offering the same blessing that he did after the Creation, to be fruitful and multiply; with the reminder of the sanctity of life and that man is created in God's image.  In the midst of the difficulties of the "rain", what a blessing to have the hope displayed in the rainbow, of God's Grace and Promises.

I am truly grateful that God is with us through our challenges; and just today, I experienced His guidance and the comfort that comes from the hope that He is able to cause all things to work together for good.

More Cooking

I've come to really like the Roast Rub - Herb & Pepper from Super Spice.  This time, I did try the rub with rotisserie chicken; and it turns out the baked chicken was better.  The oil is needed in both cases, to provide some moisture for the rub and to prevent burning on the pan; since the juices from the chicken aren't really released until towards the end.

I also made ginger garlic green beans with soy sauce and a touch of fish sauce.   The flavor was pretty good; and provides a little variation from the standard stir fry.

I also steamed an acorn squash, with honey, cinnamon, and nutmeg.   After it was soft, I scraped out the insides and blended it.   It was not bad; but, seems to be a lot of work for not a lot of food.   It came out similar to my mashed yam dish; and I actually like the yam flavor more than the squash.

Psalm 30

"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness"   (Psalm 30:11)

As God lifted David from the depths of life-threatening illness, death, and "mourning"; David lifted up or exalted God's name in praise, and used the analogy of being clothed in joy and gladness, "dancing" in celebration.  Verse 5 is the "Beauty for Ashes" message:  
"For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning."

In vs 6, David confessed his sin of arrogance; and cried out to God for His mercy (vs 2, 8, 10).  Once again, the themes of salvation, deliverance, and praise are threaded through this passage as well.

I am encouraged, that God's message is becoming more clear, as I see the recurring themes emerge in this series.   Essentially, in this fallen sinful world, we inevitably face Ashes (i.e. mourning, broken hearts, darkness, etc); but, in the midst of it all, believers have the HOPE that God is able to raise Beauty (i.e. dancing, healing, light, etc).

Come before Winter

"Make every effort to come before winter."  (2 Tim 4:21)

It's been awhile since I had previously gone through Chuck Swindoll's book "Come before Winter and Share My Hope".  I decided to use it as my next devotional, for I've always found Paul's last letter to Timothy to be particularly poignant, containing heartfelt words from a faithful minister of the gospel to one whom he loved like a son.

There were some things that were said in the Introduction to the book that really spoke to me, being very applicable at this time of my life:

• "People...occasionally find themselves in depressing places of confinement or restraint, with no sense of purpose or direction.   I call such experiences the winter of our lives."  - I do feel like I'm going through a "winter" season.   Though I have much to be grateful for, and even have meaningful areas of ministry, I feel like I'm just "going through the motions"; almost as if I'm in hibernation, waiting for spring to come.

• "No other season in life's annual cycle better represents reality as we attempt to live out what we claim to believe.  Just as a calendar cannot skip those bone-chilling months, we cannot escape the barren days!" - This is similar to the message through our studies on trials, that we should expect these as part of life.   I like the comment made in the book that winter can be endured with much greater success if we prepare for its arrival.

• "Perseverance steadies our course.  Though days are bleak and time seems to stand deathly still as the darkness thickens, He stays near."  - This is a reminder and promise I need to hang onto.

• "Finally, in grace, God's other hand pulls back winter's drape." - This is the HOPE that we have as believers.

In short, this is the message of the "Beauty for Ashes" series - we will inevitably face "winters" in our lives; but, we have the HOPE that this season will pass and there will be joy and renewal in "spring".

More Cooking

Having bought chicken and vegetables this week, I ended up making the following:

• Baked chicken using a marinade rub.   The rub is pretty good, and the dish turned out fine.  I had intended to make rotisserie chicken; but, forgot to use that setting on the oven (maybe next time)
• Brussel Sprouts with honey mustard sauce.   The honey mustard actually balances out well with the natural "bitterness" of the vegetable.  I did blanch them first in water (next time, probably should do it for a shorter time).
• Tex-mex chicken with vegetables, which turned out to be more of a chicken vegetable soup (with corn, tomatoes, and broccolli)
• Broccolli stir-fry.  I used Hoisin sauce; but, the oyster sauce is much better.  However, adding the fish sauce was a good little accent.
• Ginger Mushroom Chicken.  This actually turned out really well.   I cut the chicken breast into thin slices and added honey and cornstarch.   Over high heat, I put ginger, garlic, and mushroom in a pan; and then put in the chicken and teriyaki sauce.  The chicken turned out to be flavorful and juicy.
• Chicken Breast.   This was really simply done with just oil on high heat; and then sprinkled with a chicken seasoning while cooking.   The pounding of the meat till it was tender and even really helped.

I am grateful for the blessings and provisions of food; and a chance to experiment with cooking.

New Fall Shows

It's actually kind of funny that this Fall season I've found myself watching a couple of shows that are not normally "my kind of shows" - Hawaii Five-O and Nikita.   These would generally fall more into the category of Action-Adventure dramas.   And it turns out, that unlike my usual track record, these two shows are considered "hits" and currently are not in danger of being cancelled.  It made me wonder if this means that my tastes have shifted to fit more with the general mainstream; or that these just happen to be interesting shows that appeal to a wide audience. 

In trying to determine why I am drawn to watching these shows, as opposed to the ones I typically watch, I do think that these blend characteristics from other genres as well, and thus are able to attract different audiences.  These shows go deeper than just shoot em' up action and adventure with lots of dangerous stunts.  They develop the characters, like Michael being so conflicted and Steve showing a caring side.   The writing and the acting are interesting and multi-dimensional; and it does not hurt that the casts are attractive.   Overall, these do depict "good vs evil", with good mostly prevailing.

Want

"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want."  (Psalm 23:1)

How much of discontent is just felt but not truly real?   As I honestly evaluate my life, I can clearly say that God has blessed me, even abundantly so. 

I'm not saying that my life is perfect, but, that is to be expected while we are here in this fallen world.   What I can say is that God has given me the opportunity to do and experience most everything that I've ever really wanted to; and there essentially isn't anything that I wish I could do but haven't been able to.  As in the story that I am reading, for many, their wish list would include things that they feel like they are not supposed to do.  But, for me, there are no temptations that lure me to want to disobey or disappoint my God.   I recognize that God's ways are best.   Besides, I know from experience, that at times when we do get what we wish for, but, it's not in line with God's best for us, it doesn't satisfy anyways.

It is possible that I just don't have grand expectations; and that I probably should dream more.  Yet, I really have been able to experience some amazing blessings, and besides, it's also Biblical to be content in our circumstances and to have a grateful spirit.    While I don't always live my life free of the feelings of discontent, especially when it comes to my thorn; but, when I really think about it, I cannot help but be THANKFUL.

2 Samuel 22

The song of praise that David offered to God in 2 Samuel 22 is also recorded in Psalm 18.  While Psalm 18 may have been sung early in David's life and then had been recounted again in 2 Samuel 22 towards the end of his life, the consistency in both texts is yet another evidence of the reliability of the transmission of Scripture over time.

As we study the passages in this "Beauty for Ashes" series, some recurring themes and topics are starting to become clear, such as praise and salvation.  It's interesting to see that 2 Samuel 22 follows a similar structure as the last passage we studied, Psalm 147; in that it starts with Praise, then recounts what God has done, includes a reference to Creation and nature using powerful images of theophany, and then includes a contrast between deliverance for the humble whom God delights in and the casting down of the haughty.

It is an encouragement to be reminded that at times when we might feel like we are "drowning", "overwhelmed", "afraid", or even facing death, distress, disaster, or "enemies who [are] too strong for [us]"; we know that we have a God Who is our rock, fortress, and deliverer; Who hears our cries for help; and Who is able.

Secrets

I've also been reading "Secrets of Six-Figure Women" by Barbara Stanny.  I came across it in a used bookstore, and didn't intend to get it; but, as I browsed through it, it seemed to have some interesting points that I thought could be useful.

One particular quote from the book that stood out for me was:  "Once we realize our challenges are purposeful, they need no longer be painful.  Once we stop seeing them as stumbling blocks, we can start using them as stepping-stones."   It's interesting how this even fits in with the lessons through the "Beauty for Ashes" series.

The other thing the book points out, is how important it is to be passionate about what we do.   I'm still pondering how realistic it is for all of us to be able to find work that we are passionate about and be able to make a living at it.  Practically, I see obstacles (e.g. lack of background and experience, lack of ability or talent, etc).   However, it is something worth considering, for I could see how it could make a difference.

The Grand Weaver

I started reading "The Grand Weaver"  by Ravi Zacharias again.

As we were doing the study on "Healing the Brokenhearted" in class, I was able to use something mentioned in the book - that our hearts are either Hard, Broken, or Tender.   It is when our hearts are broken that we could allow God to heal, and then we can develop a Tender heart, one that is in tune with God's heart and has compassion for those who have gone through what we have.  On the other hand, those who reject the healing might cause their hearts to become hardened through bitterness.

Also, in a section on "The Search for Success", Ravi said "Making it to number one really means knowing where God wants you to be and serving him there with your best efforts.  The goal, then, is to find the threads God has in place for you and to follow his plan for you with excellence."   That describes well what I have been learning about my perspective on success.  Ravi further says, "No, the goal is really not to be number one, nor is it to follow the dreams of others.  God, in his extraordinary way, can bring failure to you... in order to help you find your true calling."

Related to that, there were a couple of things that I've been thinking about.   The Figure Skating Grand Prix season has started; and as usual, watching motivates me to consider what areas I can pursue and excel in.  Also, during Community Group last week, we were reminded to be "the salt of the earth"; and I was convicted that while I do serve in various areas, I don't feel like I have any recent activity where I can really say that I have effectively "added flavor" to the world.   This, once again, reminds me of the call to evangelism and outreach; which as my pastor said on Sunday is one of the evidences of our faith.  God is at work; and I am listening and praying for His guidance.   I also thank Him for the encouragement He gave through something that was said to me on Sunday related to my thorn.   God truly does care; and He truly is able to heal the brokenhearted.

Before the Morning

"Do you wonder why you have to, feel the things that hurt you..."

This opening line to Josh Wilson's song "Before the Morning" has always caught my attention.  And listening to the words of the rest of the song, it is actually quite related to the "Beauty for Ashes" series in my class.   When we talk about the Hope that we have, it is in the context of the pain we are going through.   I really like the reminder that "the pain [we've] been feeling, can't compare to the joy that's coming", which is essentially what Romans 8:18 says:  "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."   This is depicted well in the picture of the "darkness before the morning".

BEFORE THE MORNING LYRICS - JOSH WILSON:

Do you wonder why you have to,
feel the things that hurt you,
if there's a God who loves you,
where is He now?

Maybe, there are things you can't see
and all those things are happening
to bring a better ending
some day, some how, you'll see, you'll see

Chorus:
Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
that you still have a reason to sing,
'cause the pain you've been feeling,
can't compare to the joy that's coming
so hold on, you got to wait for the light
press on, just fight the good fight
because the pain you've been feeling,
it's just the dark before the morning

My friend, you know how this all ends
and you know where you're going,
you just don't know how you get there
so just say a prayer.
and hold on, cause there's good who love God,
life is not a snapshot, it might take a little time,
but you'll see the bigger picture

Chorus

Once you feel the way of glory,
all your pain will fade to memory
once you feel the way of glory,
all your pain will fade to memory
memory, memory, yeah

Chorus 2x

com'n, you got to wait for the light
press on, just fight the good fight
because the pain you've been feeling,
it's just the hurt before the healing
the pain you've been feeling,
just the dark before the morning
before the morning, yeah, yeah
before the morning

Beautiful

"[God] has made everything beautiful in its time."   (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

The reminder of a story I loved as a child, "The Ugly Duckling" by Hans Christian Andersen, is what gave me the encouragement that I needed today.  What a wonderful story of the "duckling" who grew up thinking it was ugly only to be transformed into a beautiful swan.

I have the hope that we as believers will, in the day of glory, be transformed from the ugliness of fallen sinfulness into true beauty, which is the reflection of our Creator.  That's the ultimate beauty for ashes story.

Psalm 147

Psalm 147 is one of the five Hallelujah Psalms that begin and end with that call to "Praise the Lord"  (Hallelu - praise ye, Yah - the LORD).   God is extolled for healing the brokenhearted and binding up wounds, particularly of Israel after the exile.  In this hymn of praise in three stanzas (vs 1-6, 7-11, 12-20),  God has revealed Himself, His Power and Wisdom, through Creation and His word; and His people are exhorted to respond in praise and thanksgiving.

As the Deer

"As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God." (Psalm 42:1)

This verse often comes to mind, and "As the Deer" has always been one of my favorite worships songs.   Today, it struck me that this well describes the longing I often feel, for in this fallen world, it would seem natural that our born-again souls should desire to be in the presence of our Holy God.

Pressing On

Climbing up a steep mountain - sometimes, that's what I feel like I'm doing.   The lesson reinforced this week was that there are times I just need to keep pressing on, even when I don't feel like it.  And afterwards, there is a sense of accomplishment for having completed it, despite initially not feeling like doing it (similar to exercising).

I also stuck with the plan all week, and I'm keeping my mind on things above.  I was productive, and do think that continuing will be good for me in the long run.  I'm also taking the time to read some good books; and even picked up some new cook books that I'm excited about trying out.   Yesterday, I made vegetable chow mein, with bok choy, bamboo shoots, straw mushrooms, and "vegetarian mock abalone".   Next time, I think I will add baby corn.   In terms of seasoning, I tried many different ones, but, haven't decided what combination is best (e.g. soy sauce, hoisin sauce, oyster sauce, chili sauce, fish sauce, etc).   I also cooked snow pea sprouts (Dou Miao).   This may be one of my favorite vegetables, along with spinach.   I don't like to add much to it, since I like to be able to keep the flavor.   I think it just needs garlic and salt.

On Saturday, I had a chance to go to a COA fundraising dinner.   It was encouraging to see some of the people who went through or are going through the COA program turning their lives around.  The opening prayer, by one of the people in the program, was offered with so much joy that it brought a smile on many faces.   It reminds me that God desires what we offer from the heart, more than any well-rehearsed eloquent words.  Also, Markus Flanagan was the emcee, and he was really funny and quick-witted.  He mentioned how much he liked doing the COA event, since it is so different from the cynical atmosphere of the Hollywood industry he works in.

Sunday, I put into practice what the lesson in class was - that at times of discouragement, I could turn to the God for encouragement and reassurance.   It is neat to see that the class continues to grow.  Our roster now has over 40 people - amazing, considering we started with about 4.  I just pray that God will continue to use me; and that His Truth will be taught accurately and effectively.

Matthew 11

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."  (Matthew 11:28)

How often this verse has been quoted from this very familiar passage.  When I started preparing for this week's study, little did I know that this would not be as simple a passage to study as I expected, and the common application of the verse is actually not the main point being made.   Even the title included in my original outline, "Encouragement for the Discouraged", didn't seem to be so accurately relevant anymore.  A more apropos title might have been "Rest for the Weary".

On top of that, I was still dealing with the struggles associated with being thrown for a loop from the last study, when opposed for applying the Isaiah 61 passage to a broader audience and in a broader sense.  I am typically very careful in how a passage is applied; but, I do still stand by the broader application since it involves the ministry of the Messiah, and the blessings and promises related to salvation and restoration, which would be the same for both Gentile believers as well as the Remnant during the Millennium.   However, the benefit of encountering that challenge is to remind me to be more alert about application, which helped with this passage.

I initially thought to approach this as encouragement from Jesus to a discouraged John the Baptist in prison.   However, the passage never clearly says what John is going through.  He could be discouraged, doubting, or even confused since Christ's ministry isn't what he maybe expected (e.g. judgment and deliverance politically).   All we can say for sure is that he was seeking confirmation that Jesus was the Messiah; and Christ did give him that verification by showing evidence of His ministry as the Messiah (as prophesied in Isaiah 61).  Jesus went on to speak well of John and affirm his ministry as a prophet and fulfillment of the prophecy as the one who would prepare the way for the Messiah.

He denounced the unbelieving generation and critics, as well as the cities that did not repent despite the signs.  He then prays about God's sovereignty in choosing who to reveal Himself to.  This all then leads to the familiar verse.   In this context, this clearly refers to salvation rest for souls burdened by sin, and maybe even weary from trying to "work" for it by following the Law.  In relation to the "hidden" vs "revealed", it is important to remember that God is always Just, and none of us deserve salvation.  He chooses to reveal because of His Grace; and there is a balance between God choosing and our choosing to accept.  Similarly, our sin plays a part in unbelief and not being able to see the truth, as indicated by the references to the "wise and learned" vs the "little children".

Overall, with the theme of this series being "Beauty for Ashes", which is that Christians can have hope in the midst of devastation and tears; the passages studied so far show that this hope is rooted in the eternal perspective embodied in our salvation through Christ.

More Cooking

Most of the things I cooked last night were not really noteworthy.  Some were just staples and some didn't turn out well enough for me to really want to make it again.  But, there were a couple of things I wanted to note:

• Beef with tomatoes stew - could be considered "tex mex", especially corn were added.  Pan fried onion with bell pepper.  Removed, and then seared the beef.  Added tomatoes with basil and oregano, and put onion and bell pepper back in.  Added red wine.  Simmered for about 3 hours, till beef was soft.  This tasted pretty good and isn't too difficult to make, being a "one pot" dish.

• The other way I used the London Broil was to oven bake it with oil, vinegar, onions, garlic, soy sauce, brown sugar, and pepper.   The sauce was good.

• Potato pancakes - this could work pretty well, if I were to make each "pancake" smaller, so that the edges could crisp without the potatoes overcooking.   The fresh onion, garlic, and parsley really brings the flavor out well.  However, this tasted really good when topped with melted cheese; so, an alternative might be to make a shredded pancake casserole, with all the same ingredients and just baked with a cheese topping.

Steps in the Right Direction

I'm only two days into my new plan or "wiser path"; but, have already noticed progress, indicating that these are steps in the right direction.   Though I may still end up taking steps backwards, as I have done before, hopefully, recording this may provide encouragement to continue.  In the past couple of days, I've been able to at least address almost all the items on my "To Do" list.   Some of these things have been "hanging over my head" for weeks, and some even months or years.  I attribute this progress to being more focused and determined, avoiding things that can "pull me down" by keeping my mind on things above, and as a result, having more "energy" to face challenges.

Under Construction

I should probably be perpetually wearing an "Under Construction" sign, since God will be at work on me for the rest of my life, hopefully forming me into the person He created me to be, that I may become more and more like Him.

He is still developing me in the area of evangelism.   From all appearances, I'm not doing so well at it; but, at least I am making an effort to reach out, praying about it, and being open to learn.  I was also able to forward some resource links to my friend, some that were sent to me, and others of organizations that were known to be good resources as well (e.g. STR, InterVarsity).   The book that I'm reading says that the three things that we should talk about when sharing our faith are:  sin, repentance, and the cross.

He has also shown me where setting my mind on things above would likely help me to better deal with struggles in areas and feelings related to my "thorn".   For example, I can focus more on reading the many Christian books that I have; and to use my "leisure" and "unwinding" time for exercise and "chores".   I would consider this plan to be the wiser path to walk.  And, I would do well to remember not to let the few "sparks" of interest turn into a full "campfire", unless I am sure that that is where God wants me to "set up camp."

May God continue to be at work in me and on my life.  "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in [me] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."  (Phil 1:6)

Worship

We had a Worship Summit at Church yesterday.  

Morris Chapman was the main guest musician for both the event, as well as for the Sunday morning worship service.  It was so moving, when at the start of rehearsal, in response to being asking to open us in prayer, Morris went to the piano and "sang" his prayer to God.

Dr Ross Jutsum was also a guest pianist at the event.   He reminded us that "Worship is not just for Sunday Morning, it is a way of life."   

And from a video clip on making of "Heart of Worship", it said "Worship is not just how it affects us, but what we give to the LORD."   We should rather not have church than to have one that does not worship; and we should remember that God desires the sacrifices of the heart.

Buddy Owens was the main speaker in the event, and he gave several insights into worship:

• Never confuse style or talent for anointing, which comes from prayer and enters when we are on our knees
• Worship leaders have an obligation to be worshippers themselves as well
• Our expression of love and worship to God shouldn't just be in public
• When we worship, we bring ourselves into subjection to His Glory (in line with the "river of God's grace")
• You can tell how a person worships by the way they live their life
• Psalm 89:15 - learn to "acclaim" the LORD, i.e. be able to welcome Him enthusiastically into worship
• Worship begins by saying "Thank You"; for once we thank Him for what He has done, we will soon praise Him for Who He is
• Before we ask God for more, we should thank Him for what He has already done, so that our requests are really acts of worship
• A resentful heart focuses on what one does not have; a grateful heart appreciates what one does
• Psalm 105 - "Call on the Name of the LORD", i.e. ask God to do what He is able to do because of Who He is, in line with His Character

Repertoire

I just finished memorizing my third piano piece, in meeting my goal of having at least three pieces in my "repertoire".   Unfortunately, I've forgotten all the pieces that I had previously memorized for the Music Guild when I was taking lessons, for it would be nice to have a larger, more varied, "repertoire".

However, I am pleased with these ones that I have now committed to memory, for they are hymns. As mentioned in a previous blog entry, I had memorized "My Jesus I Love Thee" and "I Need Thee Every Hour"; and I have now added "All Hail the Power".  These particular arrangements were all from "Lisa Nelson Hymn Arrangements for Solo Piano".

The words from hymns are often especially meaningful and full of theological content.   And, coupled with beautiful arrangements, this music is truly a gift from God.

Isaiah 61

"...to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes..." (from Isaiah 61:3)

This passage is where the title of my next Bible Study series, "Beauty for Ashes", comes from, as well as many of the other lesson headings for this series. 

To exemplify the amazing consistency and overall unity in Scripture, Luke 4:16-21 describes Jesus reading the Isaiah 61:1-2a verses and saying "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."; for, He is the Messiah, the "anointed" One, as mentioned in the first verse.  Verse 1 also shows the working of the Trinity, the Father who sends the Spirit to empower the Son, in His "beauty for ashes" type ministry (e.g. good news to the poor, healing the brokenhearted, comforting the mourners, rebuilding the ruins, etc).

The emphasis is on salvation and restoration.   Even "Beauty for Ashes" is the picture of ashes sprinkled on the head in mourning and sorrow being replaced by a beautiful crown or a victory garland.    Throughout the passage, mourning refers to godly sorrow for sin leading to repentance, and comfort to forgiveness of sin leading to salvation.

We are reminded that all of this is done for God's glory (vs 3) and because of Who He Is (vs 8).   And our natural response should be to PRAISE HIM (vs 10-11).  This is why, as SCC said, even in grief, we can have HOPE.

Messages

There are some messages that just clearly seem to be from God.   No, He doesn't audibly speak to me directly, nor does He show up in front of me in a "burning bush".  But, he does sometimes send me a "note", like from a book or a Bible passage; or gets my attention through something someone says or through a sermon.

In the past few months, He's been telling me to work on the area of evangelism.  Just today, an email from STR shared some reminders when reaching out:
"One, respect people.
Two, begin at their beginning.
Three, don’t push.
Four, use questions.
Five, be clear."

He's also been making me more aware of those who are struggling with feelings of depression; and the devotional I'm using "In the Arms of God" by Dr James Dobson with quotes from "When God Doesn't Make Sense" give encouragement in this area.   There are reminders to submit to the sovereignty of God, that He "works for the good of them who love Him", and that "He is infinitely just and His timing is always perfect". 

One quote that particularly stood out:  "Jehovah didn't explain to Joseph what He was doing through years of heartache.... He was expected, like you and me, to live out each day in something less than complete understanding", especially since "Scripture tells us that we lack the capacity to grasp God's infinite mind or the way He intervenes in our lives."

We are not to be surprised by trials, and we would be less prone to fall into depression if we are expecting them.  Also, during refinement by fire, it is good to remember 2 Corinthians 3:18, "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."