08.20.11
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A Blessed Sunday

Last Saturday, my bro had asked me if I wanted to go to church with him in the morning. Normally, when I’m up in LA, I try to make it back down for Exodus on Sunday morning. When he invited me I was a bit hesitant for selfish reasons and my insecurities. First off, it was early, which means we would have to leave at 8:30am, secondly, it was unfamiliar.  So I kind of struggled in what to do because I had been praying for a long time for my brother to go back to church and he finally did so the right thing for me to do would be to support him.  But I was kind of feeling insecure.  And he also told me that they had Bible study right after church too and that was even more uncomfortable – going to a Bible study where you don’t know people – sharing in groups…remember, I don’t like that, it’s uncomfortable.

Originally I had decided that I would just go to church and then drive back to SD right after the service and skip the Bible study but then after some thought, I figured I would just go.  It was a Baptist church.  The service was a bit traditional, something I hadn’t experienced in a long time, since junior high.  There were a lot of hymns, some scripture readings with responses, some talking, communion, and all that before we even got to the message.  The message was short.  The service was interesting.  Definitely not something I was familiar with.  After service, there is about a 30 minute break period where people just hang out and drink coffee and eat snacks.  It was so crowded there.  Everyone seemed so young.  I mostly just stayed with my brother and one friend that he knew.

Then we went to Bible study which was about winners and losers of the Bible and it mainly focused on King Solomon.  It was kind of a lecture style study which was nice and made me feel more comfortable.  I could just listen and not be picked on or have to sit in a small circle with people and share things.  It was actually pretty nice and interesting.  We compared Kings and Chronicles a lot and went through a lot of passages which was kind of nice because I actually haven’t been in a study for a while.

The best part of the day which was a total blessing was that I went to lunch with my brother and just my brother.  For many years (yes, years), I have always wanted to do this.  I wanted to just hang out with my brother and just talk about life and whatever.  My brother and I have been close but not super duper close where we just talk and that is something I had been longing for for a very long time.  I guess it was always hard because of the age difference but I always knew that it would get better as we got older.  I really love my brother so it was such a blessing.  I was so happy that these words can’t really describe it.  We had lunch and talked about jobs, the family, church, random things.  It was so nice!  I loved it.  I just pray that we will continue to grow closer to each other.  :)

08.20.11
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Things People Should Know How to Do

Awhile back I was gathering a list of things people should know how to do but I did it all in my head so I’ve forgotten a lot of them. Maybe you can help me out.

  • Read – duh.
  • Type – you won’t believe how many people can’t type!
  • Change a Flat Tire – good to know in case of emergencies
  • Buy a Car – not everyone gets to do this w/o their parents – what are you going to do when you grow up?
  • Buy a House – how do you even buy a house?! I don’t know…how am I ever going to buy one.
  • Drive Stick – you never know – in case of emergencies
Hmm..what else?
08.05.11
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Relaxing

I had a surprisingly relaxing weekend a few weeks ago which is rare.  It’s a little odd because I find myself thinking that I’m busy all the time.  All the time!  Yet, I think I’ve blurred the line of what’s really busy and what’s not.  I think the time spent hanging out with people has blurred into the time spent doing other things like playing basketball or going to Exodus and who knows what else.  And I think that sometimes when I do have a free moment – I immediately think about what can we do today as in what can my friends and I all do today.  Sometimes I do feel like there’s no time to do laundry, haha.  Anyway, a few weeks ago it was relaxing and I was hanging out with people too.  On the one morning, I had an office event at mission bay – it was actually nice out and pretty chill.  Then in the afternoon, I played a casual game of frisbee golf at the neighboring park – that was also super relaxing.  And then to top it off – the next day we went and walked around La Jolla Cove.  I forgot how much I love walking along the beach.  :)  It really puts me in a different mindset.  I always am reminded of how beautiful God’s creation is at the beach and it puts me at such a peaceful state of mind.  I used to always go to the beach and watch the sunset and pray when I was stressed.  So as we were walking around, I found myself unconsciously walking ahead of everyone because I was just so lost in the moment, gazing into the ocean, admiring how beautiful it was and just praising God.

Thinking back to that day actually reminds me of a point A. made that day, that humans are never satisfied.  It is so true.  It’s always too hot, too cold, nothing to do, too many things to do, tired, too much energy, too stressed, too routine, there’s always something.  We need to remember that God can satisfy us in everything.

07.31.11
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Writing about writing

I always think about things I’m going to write about but I never seem to get around to them…

Some of these things include:

this one relaxing weekend I had a few weeks ago; forgiveness; retreat; and the book I just finished reading.

And now, instead of writing about one of those, I’m writing about writing one of those…haha.

I think often times I want to gather my thoughts and then sit down and have time to write.  However, that never happens.  So I guess, I shouldn’t do that, I should just write whatever I can think of at the time and leave it at that, else it’ll never be written.  So it’s like sharing scattered thoughts which I do frequently vs. having something more planned out.  I guess it doesn’t matter anyway.

07.08.11
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conflict

God must want my attention.  Well, He’s got it.

2011 seems to have been so far…a year of conflict.  Conflict with many situations, many people, and many things.  And I’ve been trying to grasp the lesson and message from it.

I’m also experiencing the craziness that ensues due to my tendency to escalate unconfirmed scenarios in my mind.  Yes, I have made that realization, but it’s really difficult for me to not.

But I must say, it is important at times to step back and get an alternative perspective – to take a look at the bigger picture and understand what really matters and what doesn’t.

We could all use a little wisdom.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. (James 1:5-6).

Again and again, Proverbs 3:5-6 resonates:

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Every single part of that passage is so important.

Let us pray boldly.