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2 months ago
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Advent Conspiracy from Seeds of Hope on Vimeo. A Hypocrite?
Continue reading »For God did not give us a spirit of fear and timidity,but a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline.-2 Timothy 1:7-
Now I look back, I fight with this ugly thing called fear everyday.
It's not just any fear, but mostly it's the fear of rejection.
I see it everyday, and I have to knock it down. Not every time was successful because I gave in.
A liar tells a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive.
A hypocrite pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, that he does not actually possess. In short, a hypocrite pretends to be what he is not.
God, at many times, would surface that dirt for me to see.
Not a pretty scene. But He said it with utmost passion,
"Tell me why you're pretending to be someone you're not?"
He took me back to this February and I saw His fingerprints during this season of heart surgery. I see changes in the ways I interact with family, friends, other people, and Jesus. The heart I thought was completely opened up was mostly shut.
I can now talk to Jesus about anything, and the freedom I feel when I share with Him is something I have never felt before. This also stands true when I share with people now.
Jack's words were right on during leaders' meeting this past Sunday. When we have the Holy Spirit inside, we don't just have power and love, but also self-discipline. And ALL THREE are required when we decide to have the Spirit live within us. We can demonstrate the POWER of God, we can LOVE God and love others, but we also need to live out a DISCIPLINED lifestyle -- not only be rooted and grounded in His words but also LIVE THEM OUT.
Our hypocritical lifestyles cannot keep our fire burning, but rather distinguish it even faster because fear starts to attack us. Telling others (or even ourselves) we're full doesn't stop our hunger within. The best way to check our spiritual conditions is to look into our hearts and not how many times we say "Hallelujah". Lord I repent for all the times I abuse Your grace, and I thank You for showing Your abundant mercy. I want to live a life of power, love and self-discipline. Without these three, I cannot grow deeper and keep the fire burning! I need them.
I am thirsty. I am hungry.
I need the Word to consume me until it's like fire in my bones.
JohnnyBreak Every Chain (This is not who I am!)
Continue reading »I felt so tired yesterday.
Our Black Friday jewel 42inch beautiful LCD TV arrived and we all had a good time enjoying the beauty. However, the tiny whisper still draws me near, "Do you love me?"
I woke up today feeling extremely awful. Didn't know why but I started to have a headache as the day rolled on. Went to the chiropractor and found out that one of my muscles by my right shoulder blade was super tight, and he massaged it (or rather put me in some groaning because it was seriously hurting!). After the massage pad with heat, I went to school, with headache still.
My spirit told me that this is not me. Even though I have been falling these past couple days, but I know I'm also getting back up. And I know with all my heart that this is an attack, a chain that's waiting to be broken. But I was very weary.
There are no accidents.
I decided to study my Hip Hop history test at the music center. I almost sat down on the first floor but somehow I decided to go to the second floor because I could look out of the floor-to-ceiling glass windows instead of walls. After sitting down I heard from the classroom next to me someone playing some pop chord progressions on the piano. I was extremely tired and I had a headache. I closed my eyes and prayed, "Jesus. I need You." I felt my headache ceasing, and I started to study. I guess Kanye West's "Jesus Walks" kinda helped (hah...) but after a half an hour, when I was listening to some Hip Hop tracks, I heard As The Deer coming out from the classroom. I stopped what I was doing, and I knew that Jesus was there with me, and that was really enough for me because I felt strength and peace entered within me and tears started to form in my eyes. How deep is the Father's love for us! He will NEVER, EVER leave. He chases after us with full passion.
I decided not to worry about the test and went into a practice room and had an intimate time with the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit (and Steinway & Sons, of course). As I kept on singing "Holy Spirit Thou Art Welcome" and "Spirit of the Living God", my headache came back. Not only that, I started coughing. I knew that God was dealing with me and He's setting me free from all these junk that's been just blocking His way into me. So the song "Break Every Chain" came to me and I started playing and singing it and let Him break all the chains and set me free. That forty-minute encounter with the Father, Son, and Spirit was worth so much more than the many congregational worship times. He is stripping away the things I've been holding on to. It does not feel good during the process (just like my doctor massaging that one tight spot that hurt like being punched in the face), but afterwards I could be free and clean without pain.
I know who I am, and having no-reason headaches and shoulder blade pain (which actually caused the headache) was not me. I probably have built up the weariness and the stress which caused the muscles to be tense, but being down and under was not ME. I pray for every person who are stressed out and feeling the sky's falling down, that they would call upon the name of Jesus and be freed from pain, stress, and chains! It happened to me tonight, and I pray that you would not miss any chance to encounter the God who is LOVE.
Johnny
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JohnnyThe ONLY Calling
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LOVE GOD
With all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
LOVE OTHERS
As ourselves.
GO and DISCIPLE NATIONS and
BAPTIZE them in the name of
The FATHER, SON, and HOLY SPIRIT and
TEACH them to obey everything Jesus has
COMMANDED us.
This is the definite calling, and as we answer this call, we ought to surrender everything we have and leave everything behind and run forward and not look back. I asked myself, "Am I able to give up everything I have -- my time, energy, money, school, friends, event family -- for this calling?"
This reminds me of what Sarah Yang shared the other Sunday about Ananias and Sapphira how they were struck dead because said they would give God their ALL yet still kept a part of ALL.
And I believe God takes our commitment very seriously, especially when it comes to doing what HE COMMISSIONS us to do. He will chase us down until we really have nothing to lose because HE gives and takes away. He wants it ALL.
Lord, I am willing though my flesh is so weak.
But You know my heart. You have chosen me.
You will lead me on, like You promised.
You did it all for LOVE, now it's my turn to sacrifice.
JohnnyYou'll Lead Me On
Just Beautiful.Continue reading »
He said to me, "I'll lead you on."
I'm still flesh and bones, desiring what are lesser than the Best.
"Why do you satisfy with anything but the Best?" He asked.
"I don't know. But those do not satisfy me. You do."
"Then fight pride with humility, lust with purity, and greed with generosity."
Dad, I want to be humble, pure, and generous. I really do.
Make me more like You.
I know that's a dangerous prayer, but You promised. You promised.
You'll lead me on.
Johnny
Breathe
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Take a deep breath.
And understand that it is the air you're breathing
that's keeping you alive.
On average a person breathes 24,000 times a day.
Go ahead, take another deep breath.
Each breath you breathe tells the story of a God who so loved the world.
What if the air is not transparent, but rather BRIGHT RED.
Count your blessings in every breath.
You have at least 24,000 reasons to give thanks every day.
johnnyQuit
Ever been in a marathon or a long run wanting to quit mid-way? I ain't a quitter but the thought of stopping what I have been doing has been ringing in my head like an alarm clock - loud and annoying. I went to Bridge last night and had a wonderful time praying. I was immensely touched by His love as we held hand in prayers. Tonight I went to E Square and we talked about repentance. I love how people interact with each other and the atmosphere was filled with joy.Continue reading »
I don't understand. I am just confused. Why is it that no one would have time for Wave? Was it the right decision to have tonight off because no one could or wanted to go to the conference in Irvine? I'm probably not suitable to be leading a home group if people don't even feel "at home" when we gather, right? Or could it be me? I probably should care for more people and make more phone calls. This is my fourth year at UCSD, and it's not until now that I really feel that it sucks. It really does. I cannot even care for people face to face and hang out with them, and they expect to show up at "my" house on the most eventful night of the week? I don't think so. I hate being not able to play badminton three times a week anymore because I'm stuck in San Diego. I hate not being able to spend time with my family and friends because I have to be in SD. Weekends are not really weekends. There's not enough time on the weekends to see people. Wave, sometimes workshops, and Sunday service takes away the entire day. Then, for the 90th time, I head back to San Diego. At least someone's with me to keep me company.
School has been just okay but I think I have never felt such a dislike toward school academics. I don't know why. Right now my head feels like exploding and my heart feels like to rest a bit. My spirit is so willing to come to Jesus. Lord, make me more like You, Jesus. This is the feeling I had back in February when first started a long break from any ministry-related work. I just want to drive my head into a wall. I want to change. I desire a breakthrough. And I seek You, Jesus, because I KNOW Your strength is made perfect when I am weak and Your grace is abundant.
I am not a failure. I am Your Son. Come and wash over me and make me white as snow. Save me from falling. I want more of You in my life. Help me here, Lord. I can't, but You can.
JohnnyWest Africa: TOGO
I've shared what I received from this trip with people verbally here and there for the past month or so, but I've never really typed it down. Not that I am lazy to type it all out...not. Anyhow, so here it goes:Continue reading »
In my previous post, written on the morning of the African voyage, I asked myself why I was going. There could be so many answers such as Because we're going to record some sick tracks, Because Luke is coming along, Because Jack and Annie asked me (did they?), or Because I just want to go. Maybe the closest answer would be that I would really like to go on a mission trip at least once every year since my life-changing trip to Cambodia last summer.
@ 3rd Annual River of Life Youth Conference West Africa(Click it to join the PARTY!)
The first morning as we were having breakfast together, each of us shared our various expectations of this trip and what we wanted to see or gain from this journey. I did not know what to expect besides the mission to record some original songs from this part of the world, take it back, produce them and let the world hear the sound. I also was really expecting to see some crazy healing and miracles to take place during our stay here in Lome, Togo.
Celebrating Pastor Jame's Birthday! Delicious meal!(Click it to see the A-Team!)
In General
During the first day, we visited the local prison, went on a radio station, and also performed "Friend of God" in French and promoted the youth conference on the most popular TV talk show here in Togo. The youth conference took place over the next four days. And I have never been so physically tired and drenched like I had during this African trip. Every day is jam-packed with things to do, especially to record their songs, take loads of pictures, video recording, speak at workshops... But it was so worth all the sweat (literally!). I love how they worship God -- their love for Him displayed on their countenances. Just seeing their hunger and desire to receive drove me on to give out everything I have, knowing I might not have much to offer but my poorly-spoken French, my hugs, and my love for these beautiful people on the other side of the world.
Annie with a lady healed of stomach pain right after prayer!(Click it to see the resemblance of their love.)
People in TogoLome is the capital of Togo, though not as "modern" as Ghana or Benin's capitals, people DO use internet, they DO surf the web and send emails at "internet cafes". I should not have presumed that the people in Africa are not educated and poor and have to walk miles to draw water from wells. In this city, people do get educated, and it only costs an university student $80 USD to to receive a year of college education! Yes, most of the people in the country are still living in the villages (which I will share about later in the post), living day after day under harsh conditions; however, seeing these educated youth and young adults at the conference, I saw them as the hope of the future of Togo, and their contribution to this nation will then provide for their fellow Togolese living in poor villages.
@ village, this guy remembered Jackbecause he went to the Youth Conference!(Click it to feel the joy through this picture.)
Deliverance SessionSpeaking of signs, wonders, and miracles, something really interesting happened during the morning session on the last day of the conference. To be honest, I was really expecting to lay hands of the sick, blind, deaf, mute, lame, and see God's healing power fall upon them and thus set them free from these bondages. However, I saw nothing of these sort AT ALL. (I know, what a bummer!) God had something else planned (of course, always better than our plan..). During that session, pastor Clement was sharing (in their local language, EWE, with English and also French live translation), and he called two people to come up and sit on the stage. I thought he was going to honor them, but after he finished his sharing and gave out an alter call, I finally knew why he called these two people up on the stage.
Then, for the next hour and half, I felt like I was watching the movie "Furious Love" right in front of my eyes -- they were having a deliverance session on a hot, sweaty Saturday morning. There were people on the stage and off the stage being delivered. Many Africans would worship different idols and seek counseling from witchdoctors or practice voodoo rituals, and thus trading their souls, even the lives of their families with the enemy without fulling knowing what they had done.
One of the two people called on the stage was a young girl, probably 18 years of age, needed four adults to hold her down so that the pastor could anoint her with oil. And eventually, they even cut off her hair! Later on we found out why: the demonic spirits wouldn't let her go and they were still clinging onto her hair, which let to freedom, and a free haircut. That was one of the most intense time I have ever been in: people screaming, shaking, dancing, worshiping, spinning, but in the end, all things had to bow down to the Lordship of God, the King of Kings, and the Holy Spirit. In the US, we hold powerful night services, but in Africa, who cares if it is bright or dark, God is the same all the time! Total awesomeness.
After that crazy session, I realized that the people in Africa must see signs, wonders, miracles ALL THE TIME because the battle in the spirit is so real, and they are definitely even more experienced in praying for these crazy things. So my craving for healing, signs, wonders, and deliverance stopped after having a live deliverance movie played right in front of my eyes. It was certainly quite an interesting experience that I rarely would encounter here in the West.
Luke's our lady-magnet... check out his dance moves!(Click it to see his muscles/her beautiful smile.)
Village Experience
Very much like what we would see on TV--poor villages lacking all kinds of resources with villagers walking for miles to retrieve water from wells. It's a different world out there. Words cannot describe how in need these people are, yet I see something more precious in them that I do not have: DESPERATION. I use the word "precious" because I realize the way they pray and their mentality while praying are coming from the deepest part of their soul. They understand EXACTLY what it means to be "hungry", to be "thirsty", and thus asking God to "give them this day their daily bread" is not some words they have to reiterate before their meals. I see their faith to believe because they have nothing else to lose and no one else to look to.
I shared with one of the young adults from the church in the city, "You know, Julius, this is the place where Jesus would visit. I finally see the reason why." The villages is the main harvest field--many believed in voodoo, witchcraft, or Islam also because they want to have something to hold on to. And we can offer that firm Foundation that always stands, a Tower of refuge to hide, Cloud by day, Fire by night, and a Well that never runs dry.
Of course the van had to get stuck in the mud...Can't have a fun trip without some mud-fun!(Click it to see how I single-handedly pushed it out... not)
Last But Not Least
Despite all the workshops, all the visits, and all the recording sessions, what I could give out was actually one thing--LOVE. Who cares about the language barriers, culture collisions, and reality shocks? Luke shared with me after the trip that he loves to LOVE the people in West Africa, and he found a way to love beyond words, and to see the smiles on their faces and just to know that they are loved is enough. I can't agree with him more. After all, my primary mission is not to preach, nor teach, nor provide... these are all great but they come secondary to LOVE, which is my commandment. My friends and family, do you love to LOVE? My encouragement for everyone is that don't wait until you are ready, or when you can finally speak a foreign language to GO, we sure weren't ready (hah...) for whatever was going to happen, but out willing hearts wanted to go.
Grace, Wenshian, and James telling YOU to GO!Well... probably just James =D(Click it to see Jame's awesomeness close-up.)
So there you have it--my long entry summarizing my voyage to a land of harvest, beauty, and God's workmanships created to do His will and advance His Kingdom upon the earth. I give thanks to God, who provided me and our team with financial blessings from our friends and family (that's YOU!) all over the nations. Thank you for your prayer support also... it's definitely a battlefield there and your prayers empowered us to keep walking in the frontline!
And the Magnificent Seven (myself included): James, Wenshian, Grace, Jack, Annie, and Luke. Though the trip was physically tiring, we still managed to have some fun moments at the villages, tranquil moments at the pool, and stressful moments at the airport. I love you all, and I learned a lot from you during the trip (sweet magic tricks, Luke...)! I can't wait for my next mission trip. Now... it's time to work on some amazing African music! Stay tuned for the West African Sound~
Be blessed by God and be a blessing to others!Johnny
ps. Dubai Layover
Our team stopped by Dubai for an extra day during our transfer flight back to the States. Going from the lowest places on the planet (African villages) to the richest city in the world was quite an experience for all of us. There are people suffering, and there are also people taking a vacation at a seven-star hotel, and I felt that God's telling me that they are no difference in His eyes--all His children, all His beloved, and I should be content and thankful for everything I have.
View from our beautiful hotel on the 40th floor. Incredible.(Click it to see how twisted this building looks. Ha.)
Be joyful always.Pray without ceasing.Give thanks in all circumstances,For this is God's will for You in Christ Jesus.-1 Thessalonians 5:16~18-
Hate to say goodbye to Togo...Thus we all had some FAN MILK before we departed!We'll be back just to have s'more of those!(Fan Milk is the most amazing milk ice cream ever...OMG)
Togo, West Africa
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It's 5:05am and I'm pretty much packed and ready to go on this once-in-a-lifetime journey to the far, far away land of West Africa. I still have that question ringing in my ear: Why am I going to Togo? I think one of the answers is that ever since my Cambodia trip last summer, I've made a decision to go on a oversea mission trip at least once a year. And the other reason could be that I want to have that heart for the nations. I will never, ever forget that afternoon prayer meeting with the local missionaries in Cambodia where I could not stop bawling and pounding the floor with a heart aching for the land. I can still remember that intensity and the burning within as I type.
I remember back in February I really came to God and ask Him to purify my heart and my whole being, knowing that trials were sure to come. Now, six months later, my heart has certainly felt lighter, and since my stepping back into the worship leading rotation, I've felt another level of freedom in worship which I've never encountered before during corporate worship times. There's so much to learn, so much challenges to face. Like Jack's been saying, leaders should always take initiatives and CAST VISIONS. CAST VISIONS. CAST VISIONS. CAST VISIONS.
My heart is very excited for the next two weeks and how my life will be once again never the same! O Jesus come, I want You. Holy Spirit, thanks for living in me, though sometimes could be a rough place to live in, but whenever that happens, Your joy always kicks in and make all things new.
Je suis prêt! On y va!
I'm ready! Here we go!
johnnyFather's Day - 8/8
Father's Day falls on the eighth day of the eighth month for Chinese people because the word "eight" sound very much like "Dad" in Chinese (and in many other languages). A week ago after the Sunday service, the worship band gathered with Jack and had a short meeting mainly because for the past month or two the worship on Sundays were not "there". We all knew in our spirits that something's missing. But honestly, I didn't know what exactly was missing... maybe I'm not sensitive enough to the Holy Spirit? Maybe the band didn't click, or because of the lack of practice? Jack mentioned to the worship leaders that song picking is very important because all songs would have a better and powerful flow if they are surrounded by a common theme that connect each other and sometimes in response.Continue reading »
So the songs were about God as a Father and the Love of the Father that heals, delivers, and set people free as they realize that they do not have to do a thing to receive the Father's love because they inherit whatever Jesus had when they accepted Him in the first place.
As I was going through the songs, many more songs caught my attention, so this was the final list:
I Know Who I AmAll For LoveIn Your PresenceChild of GodBring Restoration
During our band practice in the morning, we spent the last 20 minutes just blessing God and give Him all the honor, glory, and praise with our playing and our voices. It was one of the most powerful moments for sure. I did not know what was coming. As we started to sing I Know Who I Am, somehow I felt like God is going to restore identity in people's hearts once again as they sing this song over themselves. As we started singing All For Love, definitely an Impact all-time favorite song with beautifully written lyrics on the love of Father and the Cross, the love of God started to be poured out all over the room, and His presence was so tangable, so thick. And it kept on increasing as we sing "In Your presence, all fear is gone" and the simple, prayerful chorus:
Father You're all I need, my soul's sufficiencyYou're my strength when I am weakThe love that carries meYour arms enfold me, till I am onlyA child of God
Once again the song focuses on the identity of God as a Father and us as children, and our need for Him to come be our strength and carry us through the storms in His embrace. As I was considering whether we should close with this song or sing Bring Restoration, somehow my spirit started to declare freedom in this place as we sang a little new song to God, and He used Bring Restoration to break chains and loose bondages. It was beautiful. He is beautiful.
Your son, johnny
Robbie & Maritha
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Photo from Katie Neal Photo
Even though I've really known them for only six months during my freshman year @ UCSD, but their impact to me is long-lasting. I love Robbie's steadfast heart and his will to go the distance to reach his goals and to encounter God, and I love Maritha's heart of compassion, love, and purity. Congratulations to you both as you are starting to fulfill a new chapter of God's written destiny! This is the second wedding I've attended this year, and once again I see God all over the newlyweds -- John & Cheryl, Robbie & Maritha -- their journey has been orchestrated by the Maker of the Universe! How I long for that day too, as I exchange my vow with my beloved one, whoever she may be, that I will see God's hand all over my marriage, because He's just so great at it. During their wedding today I really felt the Bridegroom King leaning down, poised for His coming. How beautiful, how glorious, how magnificent that day will be! Our weddings would lose all the glory compared to the Wedding of the Lamb! Come, Jesus, come.
Read Robbie & Maritha's Story! (Click)
Photo from Katie Neal Photojohnny
When God is the Best, There's No Second Best
Continue reading »Love is blind, some says. But I propose that love is not blind. When you really care about that person, you would do ANYTHING for that person, even unto death. And right now, I simply need to come before the Lord and say: "Here I am, I would do anything for You, even unto death." I believe the brothers and sisters in China prayed this dangerous prayer which was answered time and time again. I wonder whether I have the faith to do the same thing. And now I need to do solely is to love the Lord my God with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, and all my strength and love His people.
I was praying to the Lord and a message from Bill Johnson came to me: when God is First, there is no Second. when God is the best, there is no second best. I believe this is the prayer and my yearning for this season. Let God be the best.
Watched more of Kim Walker's sharing on worship leading and song choices. Each one really put what I feel to words, and once again worship in its simplest form is to connect with God with a heart ready to love Him and receive love from Him. O how I want to get into that posture day in and day out, from the rising of the sun to the setting of the moon!
Today, I was supposed to teach some piano, but it ended being a prayer and deliverance session with the Holy Spirit where this person, having headaches because of depression, having depression because of rejection and heartaches from a relationship, encountered the God that is above all depression, all issues, all problems. After coming before the Lord and confessed sins and forgive whatever that's needed to be forgiven, whether it's others or self, the headache was lifted off, and energy came back bit by bit as I played on the keys with soaking music and hymns. O I just love the presence of the King because we bow down in all humility before Him and surrender our rights and life to Him and Him alone! Man that just gets me all pumped down (as in to bow even lower)! We closed with one of my favorite songs: Bring Restoration. I believe this song is the prayers of many during this week. We will sing this on Sunday!
While men fail us, God never fails and His promises are always true, and His love never-ends.
johnnyA Lifestyle of Worship
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I shared on worship for 10 minutes or so this past Sunday, but I felt like I kinda missed what I was going to say... oh well, I need to work on my sharing skills and organization. Worship is really about our connection with our God, and our love for Him and His love for us. That's really what worship is. Nothing more and nothing less. After listening to Kim Walker's sharing, my heart was stirred. How can we connect with our God and tap into His presence much easier on Sunday... only by being in a constate state of worship during the week. O God I long for you even more!
johnny Psalm 16
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1-2 Keep me safe, O God, I've run for dear life to you.I say to God, "Be my Lord!"Without you, nothing makes sense.
3 And these God-chosen lives all around—what splendid friends they make!
4 Don't just go shopping for a god.Gods are not for sale.I swear I'll never treat god-nameslike brand-names.
5-6 My choice is you, God, first and only.And now I find I'm your choice!You set me up with a house and yard.And then you made me your heir!
7-8 The wise counsel God gives when I'm awakeis confirmed by my sleeping heart.Day and night I'll stick with God;I've got a good thing going and I'm not letting go.
9-10 I'm happy from the inside out,and from the outside in, I'm firmly formed.You canceled my ticket to hell—that's not my destination!
11 Now you've got my feet on the life path,all radiant from the shining of your face.Ever since you took my hand,I'm on the right way.
I'm not letting go. My choice is you and there is no other choice. And I am Your choice. Man that just hits home. I love this psalm in The Message version. Lord, I will never treat Your name like brand names. Your name is worthy of all praise! In the NIV version, this psalm talks about God at our right hand and we are at His right hand. When God's at our right hand, we will not be shaken. When we are at God's right hand, we're filled with joy and eternal pleasures. I sense a win-win situation ;)
I shall start my prayers with the first two veres: Keep me safe, God. Be my Lord. Without You, nothing makes sense anymore.
And I'll end my prayer with: I've got a good thing going and I'm not letting go.
O how my heart longs and yearn for more of You. I will run to You!
johnnyDevotion from Pastor Tong
加拉太書 2 章 15-19 節Continue reading »
「我們這生來的猶太人，不是外邦的罪人；既知道人稱義不是因行律法，乃是因信耶穌基督，連我們也信了基督耶穌，使我們因信基督稱義，不因行律法稱義。因為凡有血氣的，沒有一人因行律法稱義。我們若求在基督裡稱義，卻仍舊是罪人，難道基督是叫人犯罪的嗎？斷乎不是！我素來所拆毀的，若重新建造，這就證明自己是犯罪的人。我因律法，就向律法死了，叫我可以向 神活著。」
人喜歡分門別類，每個禮拜來教會聚會，十一奉獻，參與服事，就覺得自己比較屬靈，比較靠近神，因為我們做到了某些要求。事實上並非如此，很多人因行為自以為義，因為遵行律法是比較容易的。但神鑑察我們的內心，神看重內心過於外表的一切，這就是為什麼耶穌嚴厲責備法利賽人，因為他們只注重外表的律法，忽略神真正的心意。其實，法利賽人不是壞人，他們都是行為端正、極其敬虔的人。但他們卻以為可以靠行為來到神面前，所以苦待己身，卻沒想到神喜愛一個真正悔改的罪人，甚於一個自以為義的人。其實人在神面前，無論多好多壞，不過是五十步與百步的差距而已；在神面前人都犯了罪，虧缺了神的榮耀。
人之所以得救稱義，不是因為行為，因為沒有人行為是完全的。我們能得救，在耶穌面前被稱為義人，完全是憑著信心。我們相信神的救贖，相信耶穌的代替，相信神為我們罪的緣故，預備了救贖的方法，就是耶穌為我們承受神對罪惡一切的刑罰，好叫我們因著祂成為義人。憑信心就是相信並接受，當我們敞開心，歡迎耶穌進入生命時，就是接受祂、相信祂成為個人救主。就好像我到你家敲門，你打開門一看是劉牧師，就請我進到家裡；同樣信心就是如此，當耶穌在你心門外叩門時，你打開門歡迎耶穌進來，祂就要進入你生命，帶來改變，帶來新生命，將你從罪惡中釋放出來。
與劉彤牧師同心禱告
主，感謝你的信實是這樣真實，讓我們在每天生活中可以靠著你稱義、得救。求你的靈提升我們，學習憑著信心，不是依靠自己的勢力才能，也不是依靠自己的行為，在你面前得力。感謝禱告奉耶穌得勝的名祈求，阿們！Time Seems So Slow
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Can time go even slower as Your presence permeates?
Can the fire burn brighter as I am lost in Your embrace?Paul's sharing tonight brought truck loads of conviction to my heart like a heart attack would. Every word piercing through my body straight into my spirit. When all has been said and done, and afte a day's work, we still need to come before Him and bless Him, love Him, serve Him, get into His presence since everything I have He has given me.
I need to worship. I need that revered love, adoration, and devotion to my Savior, my King, my Maker. During Paul's prayer I was once again reminded how I entered into this world. I could care less of anything else just to bow down before Him and give Him all my heart, soul, mind, strength, and spirit because He has saved me from the grave. I owe Him my life.
Oh Jesus my Jesus, would You come and walk into this room and take me through the fire and rain and the testing. You won't relent until You have MY all. And I shall be set free from the deafness of Your door-knocks and the blindness of Your glory! Who am I that You are mindful of me? And what did I do to deserve what You've done?
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. - Rom 12:12
Paul's words carried the sword of freedom, and it is the season for changes to happen and chains to be broken and routines to be changed. It is so difficult to even spend a good half an hour with Jesus... it is time to press in and persevere! I will shout Hallelujah for the rest of my life! That is my life anthem to my King. Hallelujah!
johnnypsalm 89
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30 "If his sons forsake my law
and do not follow my statutes,
31 if they violate my decrees
and fail to keep my commands,
32 I will punish their sin with the rod,
their iniquity with flogging;
33 but I will not take my love from him,
nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.
34 I will not violate my covenant
or alter what my lips have uttered.
35 Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness—
and I will not lie to David-
36 that his line will continue forever
and his throne endure before me like the sun;
37 it will be established forever like the moon,
the faithful witness in the sky."
Tears were in my eyes when I came to verse 33. How deep the Father's love for all of us! How vast beyond all measure! Who can compare to His unfailing promises and His unending faithfulness? There's no one like our God! He's a God who does not and cannot lie! Lord, I won't let go of Your promises. I won't forget Your love.
johnnyMa Famille
These people God has put in my life are what's really important to me. I love them with all my heart. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord! I believe it! I proclaim it! Hallelujah!Continue reading »
johnnyLowest Place
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God has so many promises, and I definitely need to remind myself of them many times because God doesn't say "O wait and see that the Lord is good" but rather "O TASTE and see that the Lord is good"! I want to taste God's goodness, and I've been tasting it every day!
This month of preparation before the trip to West Africa is going to be quite exciting because on one hand I need to trust in the Lord for His provision but also do my best to come up with my share of financial support. O God I trust in You! I certainly hope some doors would be opened up (or rather I'll have to knock on 'em first) for me to teach some piano! I need to kick my own butt to start writing a theme song for West Africa with Annie and Luke...
He brought me out into a spacious place;he rescued me because he delighted in me.-Psalm 18:19-
You give me your shield of victory,
and your right hand sustains me;you stoop down to make me great.-Psalm 18:35-
Somehow I still can't get over with how God rescued me because He simply delights in me and how He stoop down just to make me great. This is mind-blowing. I don't need to know the reasons, maybe He'll tell me when I see Him, but if someone told me He's going to give me the shield of Victory and sustain me for the rest of my life, heck I'd take the deal in a blink of an eye.
Like what Steve Chua shared @ Regeneration on Ezekiel's River and the song "I've Got a River of Life" which we sang on Sunday, I'm not satisfied with ankle deep, knee deep, nor waist deep water, but getting lost in the river and let go. When Steve was sharing, I thought about my snorkeling time in Hawaii a couple months ago and how it was simply impossible to take control of where I was floating because my feet could not touch the ground. Many times I would try very hard to try to grab onto a rock to temporarily stabilize myself, but when the wave came, I could not hold on anymore.
So come and rush over me and let the river flow in the lowest place, I gotta get lower and lower!
johnny
fun fact: the Dead Sea, the place where the River of Life heads to as described in Ezekiel 47, is the lowest place on the planet! how cool!
simple layout
found this simple and beautifully made template at bloggerbuster. took me a little while to get everything working, but i have to say i love it! i'm just going to keep it simple and clean. i just need to have simple faith, a faith that is only a size of a mustard seed, because it's then mountains can be moved and victories won.Continue reading »
Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! Hebrews 12:1-3
everyone should have The Message version. it's totally awesome to read.
still studying. still hanging on the cliff until wednesday afternoon!
it's in my weakness that Your strength is made PERFECTO.
johnnyOne or the Other
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It wasn't so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn't know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It's a wonder God didn't lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.
-Eph 2:1~10- (The Message)For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.
-Romans 7:19~21- (NIV)
What's mercy without judgement? Mercy would not have its power if there is no judgement. To God, they are two sides of the same coin. He created salvation because He desires to demonstrate who He is. As written in Ephesians 2: "Saving is all his idea, and all his work...God does both the making and saving." Not us. We cannot save ourselves by reading more Bible, singing more worship songs, going to more conferences, though they are essential to our walk with Christ.
What's mercy without judgement? Mercy would have its power if there is no judgement. To God, they are two sides of the same coin. He created salvation because He desires to demonstrate who He is. As written in Ephesians 2: "Saving is all his idea, and all his work...God does both the making and saving." Not us. We cannot save ourselves by reading more Bible, singing more worship songs, going to more conferences, though they are essential to our walk with Christ.
Maybe I'm not making it clear enough. We're all in the same boat of doing-the-things-we-hate in Ephesians 2. And when we want to do good, evil is right there (Rom 7). It's the Garden of Eden all over again. As we are in God's eyes "locked gardens and sealed fountains" (SoS 4:13), we ARE the embodiment of Garden of Eden. We have to make choices between the Tree of Life and the Tree of Death EVERY DAY, whether we like it or not. We either feed our spirit men with eternal substances or fulfilling carnal desires with a moment of satisfaction.
Go big or go home!Following Jesus is not an easy task. We do not get to heaven simply because we accepted Jesus and were baptized in water when we were still babes, but through obeying what God commands: Love Him with all our heart, should, strength, and mind, and Love others as yourself (Luke 10:27).
Christianity should never be about names or fame. It's not about lighting and glitter. It's not about numbers. It's about making decisions with the love for God and others. It's about doing good works and singing songs with a heart that loves God and others. It's about casting our crowns before the Almighty instead of casting stones at our brothers. Christianity is never meant to be an "easy religion." We either go big or go home. THERE IS NO IN-BETWEEN because God will simply spit us out of His mouth as written clearly in Rev. 3:16. It's a matter of LIFE and DEATH, and the choice is ours.
This is the reality: We either stay as slaves of sin or become tramplers of the snake. We need to realize our identity in God as His sons and daughters and the authority we have in God's Kingdom over the kingdom of darkness. When we follow Jesus, battles are ensured to come, and our job is to win them with the assurance that the war has been won two thousand years ago on that Cross with Christ's sacrifice. We are prone to fall, but He picks us up and carries us because when He places challenges before us, He wants us to partner with Him to conquer them!
Once our eyes are opened to this eternal truth, it's so easy to share this love and take it to the streets of suffering, pick up the cross and follow Jesus into the homes of the broken, and be of ambassadors of Light in the valley of the shadow of death. It's time to get our of the four walls of church and BE one!
The clock's ticking.
JohnnyThe In-Between
Continue reading »**I always enjoy my friend Sarah's notes. Thank God for people who write beautiful and eloquent entries and books!**
So much of our lives are spent in the in between—in the place between the birth of a dream, or God’s initial calling, and the point of actual fulfillment. We want to step out in faith and follow His leading, but the stakes are so high. The possibility of supernatural success pulls us forward, but the potential for failure threatens our progress with menacing realities supported by human logic. It would be so simple for the Lord to just put a burning bush every ten feet, assuring us beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are on the right path, headed in the right direction. He could easily illuminate every dip and pebble on the road and give us an accurate road map of approaching terrain. But usually, He doesn’t. Sometimes, for reasons often unbeknownst to us, He gives us just enough confirmation to make us responsible to follow in obedience, but usually not enough to eliminate the risk. He may give us a glimpse of His plans, but not quite the whole package. And so we are left with unanswered questions that require us either to depend on Him in faith or succumb to unbelief. As difficult as it is, we must struggle to follow in obedience, fighting against our natural desire for stability and safety.
But Jesus didn’t come to give us a safe kind of religion. In fact, He didn’t come to give us religion at all. He came to give us love. And what kind of love is this? Certainly not the kind we are most commonly presented with. Not the kind consisting of pungent cologne and over-priced chocolates. Not Hollywood. Not Nashville. Not Woodstock. It is a real kind of love. This love is dirt under the fingernails after a day pulling someone else’s weeds. It’s a sore back from doing your neighbor’s laundry. It’s a hunger in your belly after giving up your meal for somebody hungrier than you. It’s the scars on the hands of our Savior. It is messy. It is at times unsightly and unpleasant. It is unexpected. And it is beautiful.
But what it is NOT is safe. Jesus wasn’t beaten and tortured for you and I to remain secure in our suburban housing districts with our nicely manicured lawns and convenient back-yard swimming pools. While there is nothing inherently wrong with these things (I myself have been blessed to live in such a place), I think our freedoms can all too easily become our prisons as we build up cages for ourselves, not so much to keep ourselves in, but rather to keep the mess of the world out. But Jesus didn’t die for us to live like this. He calls us out of ourselves into the life outside that will only be lived when we agree to live it. We are called to follow Him into a life of love, adventure, self-sacrifice, and service. But in the process of seeking out His path for us, we often come to this point of the in between. It is a frightening point where we must not only break down our cage, but also jump off the cliff, give away our money, pack up and leave, man up and stay, or whatever else God might call each of us individually to do.
And why is it that it that God doesn’t just lay it all out for us and tell us the outcome of everything? Why does He often give us just enough confirmation to compel us to action, but not enough to eliminate all doubt? I think it is because it is in this in between place that faith is cultivated. It is here that we learn to trust and to persevere, and these are the qualities that produce the character in our hearts that God is after. The book of James says that the testing of our faith produces perseverance. And Paul writes in Romans that from this perseverance comes character, and from character, we learn to hope. “And this hope does not disappoint us,” he writes, “because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”
And so when we are afraid that we will hit bottom after jumping off the cliff, we can remember this: hope does not disappoint.
And when we are afraid that after giving our money away we won’t be able to earn enough to pay next month’s bills, we can remember: hope does not disappoint.
And when God tells us to pack up and leave, or man up and stay and we are afraid that the dreams He has placed within our hearts will come crashing down on us, we MUST remember: hope does not disappoint, for God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. He will never leave us or forsake us. David writes in the Psalms, “I have never seen the righteous forsaken, or their children begging bread.” Scripture is filled with divine promises of provision, both spiritual and material, for those who rely on Him and trust His goodness. And He will honor our desire to step out in faith.
I think God is more interested in making us holy than making us happy. And the holiness will eventually result in happiness, but for the present, there is much pruning to be done. In the inbetween there is the joy of His presence, strengthening and encouraging us, filling our hearts with His hope that does not disappoint. The process is often painful, but will one day result in a harvest of righteousness. And so sometimes the Lord will keep us waiting, keep us trusting, keep us believing in faith while He intentionally leaves out the details. Because it is most important that we learn to trust our heavenly Father and rely on Him for everything.
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
As we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
Matthew 6:9-13
by Sarah NorthupChapter 4 - The Release Test
Continue reading »An effective leader knows how to empower others.
This test is very essential because it tests the heart of a leader toward those he mentors and trains. This chapter examines whether his heart is selfish (cares more about himself) or selfless (cares about developing and empowering others).
1. Are you a leader who can spot potential in others? How?Okay. This question got me. Larry writes, "Attentive leaders are those who can spot potential in others. They can look at someone and see the dreams inside of them regarding what they can become for Jesus Christ... People need others who will help them unlock their dreams and then release them to use their gifts." So here I am reading this chapter, and all that's going through my mind is "how I can be an attentive leader who can spot potentials in others".I am definitely still in the process of learning to see into others the dreams that God has put within their hearts and draw those dreams out and help them to partner up with the Holy Spirit and make those dreams realities! How? I would do whatever I can to have them take classes and go to seminars to learn about their "callings" and "talents" God has predestined! Jack, my spiritual dad & my brother-in-law (some people call it the in-love instead of in-law), he really has an gift of seeing the potential within others and put them in the right places so that their talents can grow and multiply! I want to have that kind of gift, too, Jesus.
2. How are you making room for new leaders in your organization?
Well, I don't have an organization per se, but right now I have someone who I co-lead the home group with, and so far we have not had any "new leaders" yet, but I believe in the future I will come back to this question!
3. Are you secure enough in your leadership to trust others to carry on with the work that you've started?
What a question. I admit that sometimes I would have this insecurity attack, and I can still remember there were many occasions when I gave away the work I've started to someone else but I would not be able to let go of it (hence the release test)! So now I really need God to take away any insecurity within me and give me grace to trust Him and trust those whom I empower! Larry writes, "Only a dysfunctional parent would try to keep his son or daughter at home to help him fulfill his own vision."
4. How have you personally helped a young leader break through to new levels of ministry potential?
I do not think I can answer this question just yet.... so.... SKIP! Maybe there are small breakthroughs but I just can't seem to remember at this moment.
5. How many potential leaders are you currently mentoring, and who are they mentoring?
As of now, I am mentoring a brother, but he's mentoring someone just yet. I know he will! I really want to pour out my life upon someone else so that he will pour our his life for someone else! More, Lord!
6. How is releasing young leaders directly correlated to spiritual mothering and fathering?
Mentoring is basically the same thing as spiritual parenting. Like leaders releasing those they trained, Larry writes, "A secure parent releases his children, encouraging his son or daughters to excel to greater heights than he ever did. Parents get under their children and find out what is in their hearts and help them fulfill their own vision... [Parents] do not necessarily do everything for their children, but they help find those who can serve as resources to them." That pretty much sums all six questions up!
"Genie, you are free!"
stay tuned for Chapter 5 - The Priorities Testjohnny
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