July is a new month!

So i've been super busy with SASC-SI, the Southeast Asian Student Coalition Summer Institute these past few weeks and let posting in the blog slide, but I'm determined to start up again...so here we go! More posting and info about SASC-SI to come!

"I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. " John 17:15, NLT

This passage I had to view in context, because as it is, I didn't really get it...initially...it sounds like don't "kill" them and send them to heaven, but protect "them" from the evil one....hrmmmmm

soooo it makes a lot more sense in the context, since this is Jesus' prayer before he offers himself up as the living sacrifice. This is for his disciples. That Jesus has given them the word of God, and because of this, the world hates them because the Word is something that's from heaven and not of the earth...am I making sense?

so this passage is part of Jesus' prayer to his dad to ask him to keep his disciples in this world to spread the word, and to keep them safe in the face of adversity.

Often, I am afraid to speak the word of God, to share his love and compassion. I am reluctant because I don't want to "force" anyone into believe. I understand that people have beliefs and I don't want to be pushy...but is keeping Jesus and God to myself selfish?

Patience?

"I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. "

Psalm 40:1, NLT

Psalms are interesting...I should read them more often! The key word in today's passage for me is "patiently". I've been very blessed in life, given everything I need and more...I don't have much to ask for...However, in my life there have been key turning points in my life that I cried out for help, but I never felt that God turned his head to me and heard me cry..

I know he's always there no matter what...but I want to concretely feel his presence...but blessed are those who do not see and yet believe right?

I guess, in those around me, I found answers, hope, strength. God works in many ways, and I think, that through the hundreds of people who I am blessed with in my life, God turns his head towards me, hearing my cry, and responding with love in abundance.

Oh Praise Him

"Praise the Lord with melodies on the lyre; make music for him on the ten-stringed harp. Sing a new song of praise to him; play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy. " - Psalm 33:2-3, NLT

Oh no!! I missed a day! This is a lot harder than I thought, but I'm going to stick to this!
Music is such a beautiful gift in this world. Whenever I feel completely stressed out or overwhelmed, I can just play some music, lie on the ground on my back and just drift away with the music. Music as PRAISE is awesome, and its my one of my favorite parts of Catholic mass. The 10pm Mass at Newman Hall in Berkeley is especially special...The Alleluia is AMAZING. Everyone in the congregation sings and you just FEEL the music, the spirit, His presence in the place. I'll put up a recording as soon as I get one to share with y'all. I remember people telling me that singing is saying a prayer x2...and although that doesn't mean much because a prayer is a prayer, singing is still my favorite way to praise God. And...maybe its just me, but for me personally, I feel like I sing "better" when singing praise songs, haha.



This is an amazing video...he starts off so reluctant...I do this all the time while walking around campus too...I sing when no one is around, but when I see others...I hesitate. Bit as the song progresses, he gains more confidence and sings regardless of the people around him, praising freely and openly~

you are my strength

"He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. "

Isaiah 40:29, NLT

It's not easy doing this, but since I've started, I've been more reflective during the day, keeping the passage I read in the morning on my mind throughout the day. He gives power to the weak, and strength to the powerless....power to the weak...but if he were to give power to the weak, then why are there so many people on the streets? so many people who are powerless and dying from war..starvation..injustices? Why don't the hundreds of thousands of children being sold into the sex industry have the strength to get out of the situation that they're in?

I know from Kairos a long time ago that...in order for there to be compassion and love, there needs to be suffering..but damn if I were God, I would be so fed up with all the evil in the world...enough is enough right? I guess, I guess, God can only give people so much strength and so much power...that its up to those around the weak and powerless to lend each other our own strengths and powers...to fight for each other because God is in us right? The holy spirit is what gives us our strengths and our talents and he works through us right? So in a way, HE gives power and strength THROUGH US! COOOOOOL!!! =]

Lets give each other strength to live each day to the fullest!

Sing Praise

His brilliant splendor fills the heavens, and the earth is filled with his praise. " -Habakkuk 3:3, NLT

Give thanks to the Lord, our God and King,
His love endures forever
For He is good, He is above all things,
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise

With a mighty hand and outstretched arm,
His love endures forever
For the life that's been reborn,
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
Sing praise, sing praise

Forever God is faithful,
Forever God is strong
Forever God is with us,
Forever and ever


PRAISE IS AMAZING. There are so many amazing songs of praise that just lift me up, that drives my passion, that brings me closer to Him, His Word and His Love. I remember listening to Air1 on the radio while driving around in Cupertino and the right song would just play for the right moment of my life...bringing me comfort in trying times. I would be soooo down, then "In the Light" by DC Talk would play. I remember hearing "I am Yours" by Casting Crowns and tears would just come down because the lyrics were just so filled with love. This love is why I believe. This love is the brilliant splendor that fills heaven and earth and beyond, always overflowing and never ending.

<3

"As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of the Lord Jesus Christ. " -1 Thessalonians 1:3, NLT

Mannn! Only the 2nd day and I "miss" a post! Rawr! I will keep to this!

The Thessalonians must be good people if Paul thinks about their loving deeds and enduring hope! I don't know much about them, but they sound like cool people. It's even cooler that they are able to do that because of Jesus. This passage reminds me that everything I do, is because I have the love of Jesus. The amazing things I'm a part of like VSA Culture Show and SASC, I have the energy, strength and LOVE through God and through Jesus. Even in my relationships, the love that drives those connections...at the very core of everything is God.

God is Love.

<3

Take Heart

"Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. " -John 16:33, NLT

I think my Mom showed this passage to me once...or a passage similar to this. it was when she was really frustrated with my little brother (Vinh) because he was moving out of the house. He's going to school at De Anza and lived at home while doing so. I built a room in the backyard when I was still in High School to have my own space. Once I moved out, he moved in and started having parties there every so often. These parties involved hookah and drinking...a lot of drinking in which his friends would puke all over the floor. After a year...2 years? of this, my parents asked him to stop, and to move back into a room in the house, but he refused and moved out. This was a really hard time for my parents because they really just want the best for him you know? I mean, party, but don't overdo it you know? Be respectful to the house and to the parents...but I guess he wanted his freedom and that's what he got. At the age that he's at (almost 20) there's really nothing we can do. He needs to be free...to learn and to grow up for himself. All we can do is be sure he knows that we're there for him if he ever needs anything. Granted, i haven't been the best big brother, I hope its not too late to at least let him know that I'm there for him. My Mom sees this whole ordeal as one of her trials and sorrows. This passage is powerful in a sense that whatever the trials may be...Jesus has overcome the world...overcome EVERYTHING. That no matter what happens, he's there to help us get through it. He's there whether we know it or not, and he's watching over Vinh...wether he's drinking or dancing or smoking, waiting for him to start going to church again...and waiting for him, along with my mom and dad, to come home again..

edit: Now that I think about it, the passage she showed me was something more along the lines of...suffer now, and then enjoy eternal happiness in heaven. When I read it, I really didn't agree with it at all...It seemed as if that passage gave my mom a reason to just submit to the sorrows of this life, and gives her longing to wait for "eternal life" later in heaven. Iono...it was just unsettling for me, because the life that we have now, we should live to the fullest, challenge everything...waiting for it to end and passing it off as required suffering just doesn't make sense..

edit again: I just bought my mom a photo scanner so we can scan our old pictures..here are some of Vinh back in the day..haha what a cute kid (except for the calling me fat part)

I've been meaning to start this...

Everyday I get a Daily Verse from Air1 (link) and I want to take the time to pray, reflect on that passage in this space...just thinking out loud. I also want to be able to put any thoughts related to faith here, as a journal of sorts, so I can grow in faith =]. I hope...I pray that this will be something that I can commit to since I just graduated and SHOULD be having more free time, heh.

Peace Always,

JV