healing.

what a powerful word.

healing.

being renewed, restored, rejuvenated. not only in the spiritual sense, but in every sense.

you know what healing brings forth?

unspeakable joy


(hey! like the junior high christmas song ;D)

i want joy. i want to seek joy. it doesn't start with a change of circumstances. like my parents ALWAYS told me... it starts with your attitude.



we are ever changing. everyday we should be different.

how are you different today?




this passage from pastor Francis Chan's book, Crazy Love describes me:

Worry implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what's happening in our lives.

Stress says that the things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace towards others, or our tight grip of control

i can't say that this one quote from this one book changed my perspective. but realizing the validity of this statement doesnt just make you think twice about why you think the way you do... it makes you think over and over and over again. and then you reminisce about every example that further validates this statement.




most people can agree that life is too short and too valuable to be so concerned with petty things. but what most people don't realize is that what they value is petty as well.


by the way... this dog is nothing but "petty" or small. it was HUGE! that's my six year old baby STANDING next to it! o.O




what do we live for?



how can we not feel joy or love when seeing the beauty of things we can't even imagine creating.


let's be like children. let's aim for unspeakable joy.





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coming together...?

as crappy as things have been and as much as i've been complaining, there's something i can't deny:

things will always come together in time.

it's like i know and understand this fact, but maybe i expect too much. i expect everything to be dandy when i wake up one morning. but as i reflect on the last 4 months, i realize that one thing at a time starts to make a little bit of sense.


i have my most emotional, deep thoughts during my ridiculously long drives to and from work. as i was driving, this song was on KOST103.5. and i cried. by myself. i haven't believed what is said in this song or lived it out at all. things haven't been easy. and honestly, these aren't the petty things that can be looked over and glossy-ed up. but my reaction to these situations have been everything but uplifting.

He raises me up.

it's hard living at home. it's hard following these rules. it's hard to feel so insignificant and helpless. it's hard to feel undermined and untrusted. it's hard to feel confused. it's hard to feel misunderstood.

He raises me up to more than I can be.

this is beyond me. it was always beyond me. but pieces are sort of coming together. i have flaws and habits and traits that need to be fixed. maybe that's why im here. maybe...





it's so weird. i love them, and i can't live without them... but when do i grow up? mm.


"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

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2010.

new year. is it really that epic?

i've come to terms that the new year, is just another day. it's another midnight leading to another day. do we really need "new year" celebrations?

new decade. is that even epic?

everyday is a new day. every new midnight is a new "start". often times, we feel like we fail because we give ourselves "resolutions" that we don't achieve. why do we need to start the new year with a celebration?


don't get me wrong. it is significant in some ways. but what's more significant and real, is that you get a new start everyday. don't limit yourself to a celebritory day to start something new or to make a change. the human mind and will is strong. if people can use it for good, how much better could the world be?



at church yesterday, pastor choi spoke. he spoke about a simple concept that makes so much sense, but is somehow so impossible and hard to do.

good people make up a good church.

this is applicable to any group: a neighborhood, a school, a classroom, a band... every member or person within that group must be "good" for the group to be considered "good". it makes sense. one person can ruin it. and that's what a church is supposed to aim for. to be a group of believers that can be open and can love and can embrace people. to accept everyone because that's what the "good" thing is to do. we need to love, and we all need to do it ourselves for the church to become stronger and more dependent and loving.


how can we, as individuals, become better? we must push for this. we must aim to be better in every aspect of our lives. only in this way can we strive to be a better group of people displaying love, community, and fellowship that changes the world.


the base is love. simple as that.


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