blind eyes open
-1 Corinthians 6:19~20-

Before you read this post, you gotta check out the testimony video above! Jesus is so good =D


Man we had a heck of a good time this morning practicing, even though we started out slow & a bit "not together", but after getting into the worship mode, it was like LeBron James making that sweet buzzer winning shot yesterday (watch video below). Paul actually came and just worshiped. He is such an encourager and a model for all to see -- with such a heart on Jesus that nothing else matters; I love this man of God!

I have to confess, I get quite frustrated when the band's "not totally there" during practice. I definitely want to give our best because He totally deserves the best out of each of the musicians. And I know we can do our best. I feel like a coach sometimes, but I definitely apologize for my frustration and anger sometimes. You know that I love you all and it's been such a joy and honor to worship Jesus together!

I just love to worship, and ever since September I have been playing & singing for every Sunday, literally! I'm not here to complain haha... I LOVE DOING WHAT I'M DOING and definitely this is one of the things I'm drawn to, and maybe called to for the rest of my life, only He knows! However on the other hand I'm definitely looking forward to my 1.5 month traveling during this summer to Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Cambodia!

SCHOOL OF DISCIPLES
1) Kevin & Sean
Ted & I went to visit Kevin & Sean, who got into a serious accident which caused skull fracture and surgery. Praise God that they are safe and the surgeries went well. Kevin has been resting at home for over a week and Sean arrived home earlier today. We got to chat with Kevin a bit and both Ted & I felt that Kevin's heart was softened by the Lord through this accident because over a month ago Kevin also got into another accident which the car was totaled but he was safe. Before we left the house, we prayed together and once again ask God to protect Kevin and his family from any sort of attacks from the enemy, and that their faith would be strengthened in this time of physical restoration. Channel, the girl who was in the passenger's seat, fractured her lower spine and is now on wheelchair/crutches temporarily; she can walk eventually after going through physical therapies. Let's join in prayers to see Channel to be completely healed in the name of Jesus!

2) Treasure Hunt
I went treasure hunting with Ted and Eric. It was Ted's 2nd time and Eric's 1st time to treasure hunt, so both of them were a bit nervous, especially Eric (he did a great job!). Well, I found one treasure: Dark Horizontal Stripe Shirt - a lady wearing it @ 99 Ranch Market. She couldn't really understand what we were talking about, however she asked us to pray for her to find a job so we did. Dark striped shirt, check. And that's pretty much the only treasure we've found today. Approached many other people @ 99 Ranch Market but all kindly rejected. I feel like the Chinese community has a culture of rejection and I want to see that culture to be transformed by the love of Christ!

Eric got a very specific thing written down: a LONG-HAIRED CHINESE LADY in RED sitting outside of 99 Ranch Market @ around 5:30PM! We got to the market at around 5:10, and he started to wait outside for his treasure. Man I love his heart! He felt quite discouraged because the treasure did not show up, but Ted and I just simply encouraged him for his faithfulness! Lord, thank you for Eric, and I believe You will give him a double treasure next time he goes out hunting!

WAVE
Cooked some pan-fried dumplings aka Pot-Stickers. Oh yes, I COOKED and they were GOOOOOD! After that we (Enoch, Aaron, Jasmine, Tina) had a beautiful time worship the Lord, just to get connected with Him and pray to Him. We also interceded for the team up in Seattle and believed that God would pour out His spirit during the meeting that many hearts would be touched and changed forever by the love of Jesus! Later into the night, Stacey, May, and Steven dropped by and we all prayed for Steven and had a great time praying some funny stuff over him; it was joyous =D Steven, Ima gonna miss you buncha bro! You better come back, you hear?

LAKERS v. Nuggets: 103 - 97
Kobe Bryant, the greatest finisher there is besides Michael Jordan and Larry Bird! I certainly hope to see the Lakers in the Finals against the Cavaliers. Sweet!

KRIS ALLEN
If you have never watched American Idol, this year's winner, Kris Allen, is a worship leader and a missionary to many African countries. A brilliant musician full of love from the Lord. I just pray that the Lord would invade media and pop culture with His appointed people through national television shows and expose those who dare to confess their strong faith in You, Jesus, and bring Your presence back into the mainstream media! COME ON! PRAISE THE LORD! An article talking about this: CLICK HERE!

Jesus, looking back today, I wonder why sometimes I would want to not having You in everything I do!
Johnny

Man I haven't been busy like this for a long while!

Got so many balls to juggle these past 2 weeks:

- Mission Trip:
flights, schedule, lodging, visa, passports, and vaccine shots (ouch!)
- My album:
contacting duplication companies, finishing up the artwork (woo!)
- Fundraising for Mission Trip:
is the album going to raise enough fund?
- My next year housing:
LORD, Let us get that gorgeous place!!!!!
- My music research paper which I haven't started:
Music that Heals Human Body/ Music Therapy
- Song Submission:
Collecting worship songs from all my friends: deadline around MID JUNE. I need to get cranking on my song writing!
- Pondering on Live Worship album sometime later in the year...
- Considering Double-Major in Economics and Music starting next schoolyear, going to talk with departments
- Register for Fall classes:
2 Econ classes, 1 Music class, and 1 Art class (PUMPED!)
- Music class reading...
I love reading it but I hate reading it at the same time... super LONG!
- My gorgeous MacBook Pro is starting to die on me...
need to clean this baby up and load her up with a new battery and a charger and get her back to slim, fast, and fit!
- Lakers vs. Nuggets. Kobe you better do your best!
- Economics never comes to my mind as much as the ones above... hmmm... =P


Johnny

TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS

Words and Music by Helen H. Lemmel
1922

O soul are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There's light for a look at the Saviour,
And life more abundant and free.

Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion -
For more than conquerors we are!

His Word shall not fail you - He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well;
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell.

Amen.
Johnny

When the world says, "Who do you think you are? You can't make it."
You tell it to shut up in a very mean manner.

*******************************
Each day as life gets hard
I would pick up that guitar and
Start fooling with some chords
And dozing into a different world

When the joy feels so far away
And the crowd left me astray
I'd remember the same ol' tune
Telling me "Don't worry, I'm coming soon."


What if He comes knocking
Will I be able to notice?
Scared of being left out
Again I'd sing that chorus

Am I disqualified or
Should I be satisfied with
All the coldness and death that's
Building up walls and making me
A frog in the well again?


*******************************

This really expressed what I'm feeling right now.
I do not want to gain the world and lose my soul. I really don't.
Life becomes dull, boring, and meaningless without Jesus.

Johnny

ps. My buddy BP wrote a post and really spoke deep into my heart.

I got my first feather was back in November 08 when I was by myself praying on the head of the serpent.


And on May 5th, I was once again on the head of the serpent praying, and then out of nowhere this feather appeared in the midair. It's been over 5 months since my last feather. Craziness. I know that angels are always with me, but seeing a feather really boosted my faith to a deeper level, knowing for sure that I am under the protection under His wings! I love those awesome surprises from the Lord! Has God surprised you with some cool stuff lately?

Johnny

Craziness. One-third of 2009 has passed.

I want to recall what happened during these past 4 months; I couldn't name them all. But would I wish I could do more during those four months? Yes. Now I look forward to the next four months, now knowing what exactly will happen, but I want to live the next four months to the fullest so that in September I will look back and see I have outgrown my April-self. What happens after a breakthrough is the pursuit for another breakthrough.


glo-ry (noun)-
magnificence; great beauty.
adoring praise or worshipful thanksgiving.
something that is a source of honor, fame, or admiration; a distinguished ornament or an object of pride.

Sometimes Paul's letter can be very wordy and full of prepositions. I love Romans 5 and I want to understand every single word Paul wrote. What does it mean to "rejoice in hope of the glory of God"? I mean it sounds good and "intelligent" and all that, but what does it really mean?

Maybe I cannot understand this little phrase fully, but through reading it over and over, I believe this is what I should do: to REJOICE in HOPE - in Hope of the Glory of God. There is glory in the Lord, and there is hope in that glory, and there is joy in that hope. Knowing the root of the joy is just as important, if not more important than knowing the root cause of a sickness or disease. I need to constantly remind myself of who I am and to feed my spiritman healthy food on a constant basis in order to conquer the storms and to walk through the valleys. Thank You Jesus, I lay my burden at Your feet and I rejoice in hope of the glory of the Lord.

Jehovah-Jireh, I trust in You!

Johnny