Resilience

I am thankful for the blessing of human resilience. The world is never constant, and change is inevitable. Hence, we can only adapt to the twists in occurrences, and respond towards them flexibly but positively. I have always been one to adjust easily into any circumstance. I anticipate the future with the same hopeful attitude, with both excitement and fear. Venturing into unfamiliar paths means having to grow up fast and conform to new environments. It is definitely going to be a drastic shift in my life. However, I am ready to pursue it no holds barred. God is always on my side, and I will count on Him to help me succeed in all my endeavors.

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Overcoming Anxiety and Receiving Strength

Many of us readily seek God and praise Him during happy times. However, when stress and anxiety start to come our way, we forget that He is more powerful than our strife. Instead of seeking refuge in Him, we count on ourselves to carry the burden. Lately I have been slacking in school due to the myriad extracurricular activities I participate in. In addition to being Vice President for Beta Theta Omicron, Skyline College's chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, I am also a member of the Earth Day Committee, Online Chair for Relay 4 Life San Bruno 2012, Public Relations Coordinator for the Environmental Club, a volunteer at the Pacifica Community Center, and tutor to Nancy, a visually impaired student. Although small duties when looked at separately, they stack up when combined. I know it is always better to help. Nonetheless, spreading oneself too thin does not benefit anyone either.

2 Corinthians 9:8 reminds me that: "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." He promises to give me more than what is sufficient to fulfill my responsibilities, I just have to ask and petition for strength from Jesus Christ. He will not give me obligations that I cannot handle, or work that I cannot use to glorify Him.  When God blesses us with wealth, whether in the mental, physical, material, or spiritual context, He expects us to use these to give back to others.

Tonight, I only pray that God chisels me into becoming more Christ-like. What is the purpose of serving others if I complain about my lack of time and turn bitter in the process. God wants us to "Do everything without grumbling or arguing" (Philippians 2:14), simply reiterating that when we do good, we have to do so with a willing heart. All our endeavors need to be God-centered in order for us to reap most out of what we sow. As pursuing what is human desire will wear us out, whereas "to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace" (Romans 8:6).

In closing, I feel a different energy and exuberance as when I began writing this entry. I was overwhelmed and ready to give up at first, but now I am filled with ease that Jesus will walk and lead me through my busy schedule. I put my complete trust in Him, that His grace and mercy will sustain me and I will overcome this temporary adversity. God is able to keep us from falling, and He is able to provide. God definitely does not give us a problem-free life. But once we are sober and realize our necessity to have His will overrun ours, the world becomes easier to manage. God's plan for me is perfect, and I will continue to honor Him through thick and thin.

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." - 1 Peter 5:6-7

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"An Evening to Remember"

Philippians 4:4 (NIV) states, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" So rejoice we did at SCFC's "An Evening to Remember". I do not remember feeling so at peace and happy as I had been last night. It was not the fact that we played a role in contributing to the show's success. Rather, it was the spiritual community that we were able to build, not only within our Christian Fellowship Club, but also with the audience, and fellow performers, the Point Loma Nazarene University Choir and the Mountian International Dance Academy. God was with us.

The Skyline Christian Fellowship Club

The show was a combination of various acts taking different artistic forms, all aimed at glorifying God. God has blessed us with so many talents, so it was our honor to give back our praises to Him. The performances were all clearly well-rehearsed. There were skits, a dance, a chorale, and video presentations. Each and every one fired up, moved, and inspired by the Holy Spirit. And we are so thankful for God's sustenance. He keeps our spirits alive, even when we are physically exhausted from preparing for the event. The program began with praise and worship, followed by a short skit entitled "The Heart Department". The skit was originally by the Skit Guys, portrayed this time by SCFC's Timothy and Anthony. The skit is very British and humorous, conveying a holy message about the heart   Jesus Christ is the only way to make it live.

"The Heart Department"

"God's Chisel", another skit by the Skit Guys, came after. This time, the original clip was shown on the big screen at the theater. "God's Chisel" depicts the believer's walk with God, and the struggles we experience in trying to renew our ways. The chisel represents God's disciplinary action, and His attempts to shape us into better versions of ourselves. This process is a difficult and painful one for most of us, as we all have that secret sin we refuse to give up. We are all beautiful, but we are blinded by sin. When we decide to let go of our control and let God do His work, we will be surprised to see the masterpiece that we are in God's eyes.

 

Mountian International Dance Academy was also such a great addition to the evening's performances. They presented a diversity of cultural and ethnic dance pieces. They were a mixture of modern and traditional choreography. The audience were in awe of their talent and dedication to the art, and we felt even more blessed that they are dancing for God. I enjoyed all of their dance numbers. They performed quite a lot, but my favorite is still the Chicken Dance by a solo female artist. She has my utmost respect.

The Chicken Dance

The show was also served as a venue to building and revisiting friendships in Christ. Strangers who we used to pass by without greeting at campus became our brothers and sisters, because of the bond that we share with God. I can never thank Him enough for blessing me with these beautiful people to share His walk in the light.

Meeting acquaintances and building friendships during intermission

In addition to "The Heart Department", SCFC had another skit we have been practicing for awhile. If you have read my previous post, our dedication and hard work to the "Lifehouse Everything" skit will be very apparent. "Lifehouse Everything" has been renditioned in different churches and Christian congregations all around the globe. Below is a video recording of ours.

"Lifehouse Everything" illustrates the experience of the typical Christian; battling the temptations of lust, wealth, addiction, fame, and depression. We all go through our downs in life, but "Lifehouse Everything" reminds us that we are not alone. In spite of our constant shortcomings, Jesus Christ continues to come to our rescue. He shoos away our demons, and deliver us from darkness. When we lift up our sins to Him, they stop being a burden, and become our testimony. Walking with God is not easy, but He is always there to help us through.

God's love is redeeming, self-sacrificing, and perfect.

For the final act, the Point Loma Nazarene Choir performed a repertoire ranging from sacred classics to contemporary gospel music. Both genre soothing to the ears anyway. The Point Loma Nazarene Choir is comprised of high-class singers of different majors. They are based in San Diego, and travel yearly for their nationwide tour. SCFC's "An Evening to Remember" was their first stop for the 2012 tour. We know God will open more doors for such an achieved, but humble group of singers. We are so grateful for the time and effort they put in for the glory of God.

The Point Loma Nazarene University Choir

"It is the part of a Christian to take care of his own body for the very purpose that by its soundness and well being he may be enabled to labour... for the aid of those who are in want, that thus the stronger member may serve the weaker member, and we may be children of God, and busy for one another, bearing one another's burdens, and so fulfiling the law of Christ."
- Martin Luther

We are one big happy family!

We praise God for the privilege to be used for His glory. This is only the beginning of our larger mission: To share God's Salvation through Jesus Christ (John 3:16), to live Holy Lives (1 Peter 1:13-16), preach the Gospel (Mark 16:15), and share God's Love (1 John 4:7-21). We will gather as brothers and sisters as one in Christ to offer prayer and worship to our Almighty God (Matthew 18:19-20). After we have offered God the best of us, He will give us back through His Holy Word. Through Bible Studies or Sermons, His Word will minister our Spirit, Soul, and Body (Hebrews 4:12-13). We will also have fellowship with each other (Acts 2:41-47). We are God's Ambassadors to be examples and lead students to the way, the truth, and the life which is Jesus Christ.

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"Lifehouse Everything"

The Skyline Christian Fellowship Club (SCFC) never fails to brighten my day. This past week has been a stack of tribulations for me. I was worried over various family matters, busy with school, and just stressing about my personal life in general. But God never lets me forget His grace, nor does He ever abandon me. I cannot thank God enough for surrounding me with a family of believers who constantly remind me of His love.

My SCFC Family

Today I attended SCFC's Praise and Worship service. I usually go to the Thursday Bible Study group, so it was my first time to meet some of the Tuesday members. It was a pleasant experience; different people, but the same God. There is nothing better than coming together to seek the Lord. Like Jesus has promised, "For where two or three come together in My name, there I am with them" (Matthew 18:20). We are so blessed to be in His presence.

Join us for a night of inspiration!

Our Christian Club has a special event on Friday, March 2nd, entitled "An Evening to Remember". It will be held at the Skyline Theatre at 7:00 pm. We are collaborating with the Point Loma University Choir and Mountain International Dance Academy, hoping to convey God's love and spread His gospel to the audience. Additionally, SCFC has also prepared a short but moving skit that we are stoked to share with everyone. It is our rendition of the well known "Lifehouse Everything" drama. SCFC has worked really hard to perfect this play, so we only desire that God will be glorified through the show.

Jesus protects us from the enemy.

"Lifehouse Everything" depicts the beauty of salvation. Jesus Christ only yearns to cleanse us and spend time with us. Yet we fall into temptation, back slide, and shy away from God. Nonetheless, He does not forsake us. God sends His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins, that we may have a second chance in life. "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). He never gives up on us. He incessantly fights our battles and guides us to the light. All we have to do is accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He is just waiting for us. "Lifehouse Everything" brings a powerful message: God's love is redeeming, self-sacrificing, and perfect. 

Jesus wants a relationship with us.

Listen to "Everything" by Lifehouse here:

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Everlasting Solution

Feeling empty and stoic about my life, I remind myself that: "We can lack nothing, because Jesus died so we can have it all". My brother Freddy texted me these words some time ago. The message is brief and simple, yet its content impressive and powerful. I have known the reality of God's love since I was officially saved in 2002. Unfortunately, like many Christians, I tend to forget the significance and value of His truth. We have been blessed with the greatest Gift of all, Jesus Christ, by the grace and mercy of God. Yet we incessantly count on ourselves to fix situations, when He has already provided us a permanent, everlasting Solution.

A lot of things have been boggling my mind lately, random thoughts and questions about circumstances that are out of my control. These although do not involve me directly, hurt me, because I see my loved ones suffering. I take the problems into my own hands instead of lifting them up to God, and this has not helped me or restored the issues at all. I communicated my advice and opinions about their broken relationships, marriages, and teenage misbehavior management. However, without consulting God's Word first.

I was overwhelmed with unease. Hence, I tried to find immediate resolutions myself, when I should have sought for God's answers. Philippians 4:6-7 says "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Oftentimes, we fail to remember God's love and grace. When faced with strife, we react impulsively, and take action on our own. While God is only waiting for us to approach Him.

Jesus is inviting everyone who is weary and burdened to come to Him, and He will give us rest (Matthew 11:28). We can easily be stress-free if we choose to surrender our worries to God. But the ball is on our court to give up our cares or not. Troubles are inevitable, but when we leave them with Him, they become less arduous to handle. As a matter of fact, we may even stop feeling the whole weight of the tribulation.

I am still concerned about my loved ones' well-being. However, I have decided to relinquish my concerns and distress to God in prayer. At this point, there is really nothing I can do. The reasonable and better choice is to trust in God and leave the driving to Him. I am uncertain as to where my loved ones' predicament will lead to, but I believe God's will will prevail above anything. And with Jesus Christ, the everlasting Solution on my side, I am assured everything will turn out fine in His time. Like Freddy said, "We can lack nothing, because Jesus died so we can have it all". Letting go and letting God.

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My Constant Struggle to Glorify God

Glorifying God is not as easy as it seems. It is not simply saying "All Glory to Him" when we receive a compliment, nor is it exclaiming "Praise God!" when we attain success. These are good outward displays of our appreciation and thanks for Him, however, what matters most in God's eyes is our hearts. The enemy is constantly lurking, waiting for the perfect opportunity to attack us and postpone God's perfect will. While our purpose may be selfless and our desires are innocent, we can never avoid the temptation of taking and enjoying the credit that is rightfully God's.

For the past year, I have made it a point to go beyond myself for other people each time I have the opportunity. I made it my personal goal to give back as my response to the numerous blessings God constantly showers upon me. I co-coordinated a successful service program for our honor society called CLICS (Computer Literacy and Internet Competency for Seniors) for our local community, where we provide senior citizens with one-on-one computer instruction. I volunteer my time to help fundraise for various nonprofit organizations like UNICEF, Make-a-Wish, and the American Cancer Society. And I tutor a partially blind student for most of my free-time, hoping to positively impact her academic and educational journey. People tell me I am such a kind soul, and that I deserve all the good things in life. However, I find myself questioning my motives, and become bothered with the same problem over and over: Am I doing this for God's glory, or for the personal gain of feeling pious and receiving praise?

I spoke to one of my good friends about my inner struggle. I shared how it has disturbed me immensely, as glorifying God becomes difficult when the issue of pride and self-esteem enters the picture. Thankfully, I communicated my concerns to someone who shared the same struggle. He told me how all of us are blessed with talents and gifts, whether it be in the form of singing or a giving heart, to bless others back with God's love. My friend has always been complimented for his angelic voice. He sings at his church choir, and is well-admired for this talent. Each time before he sings before the congregation, he prays that God be glorified through his service. It is a constant struggle to give the spotlight to God, when it is effortless to just embrace the glory. The enemy will always aim to confuse our intentions and muddle our thoughts, yet when we perseveringly seek God amidst all this cloud, we are assured that His purpose will always prevail.

My conversation with my friend has reminded me to consult God first before pursuing any endeavor. Good works are great, but when they are God-centered, the results will be to a much more significant extent than we could ever realize. I remember the story of Cain and Abel. Both of them had given their burnt offerings to God, Cain brought fruit and ground, while Abel sacrificed the firstborn of his flock (Genesis 4). God was happy with Abel because this was the offering He had asked for. Unfortunately, though Cain's offering was well meaning, this was not what God wanted from him. No matter how much I give back to others, if these deeds are not what God calls me to do, then I am pleasing myself and not God. Knowing and understanding God's design for our everyday lives will not be as complicated if we only focus on building a relationship with God. Develop a friendship and kinship with Him first, and all the answers to our cares will follow.

Glorifying God completely is still a battle for me. I want my actions to be inspired and moved by the grace of God, that others may see His love when they see me. It is easy to publicly proclaim glory be to God, however it is difficult to magnify His glory through our beings if our intentions are not fixed upon Him. Our chief goal in life should be to glorify God, and I will not stop praying that God overflows me with His love and presence. So that "now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death" (Philippians 1:20 NIV). Giving back is commendable, but to give back as driven by the Lord is amazing.

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