100% and Onwards

It's official - I will be interning with Cru this upcoming year! It's been a very long journey but I'm thankful for this summer. I didn't predict the support raising to be this challenging, but I also didn't predict how rewarding this whole process would be.

I've never been the type to take risks, especially in situations that I know I might fail in. But trusting in God and witnessing Him pull through (even at times when I couldn't see it) taught me it's worth persevering. So as I learn more of what it means to "step out in faith" I'm looking forward for the school year to finally begin.

Students return to campus on Sunday! Let's get everything started.

Living Through the Cycle

This summer, I've been reading from the Book of Psalms during my quiet times (one-on-one personal time with God). I've been very encouraged by it especially in light of my support raising process because the Psalms capture the emotions and feelings of this roller coaster ride so perfectly.

Why?

As I read them, I noticed the same 3 themes constantly appearing over and over again. Here's how it usually plays out: the author desperately cries out for God's presence in a dead-end situation (Psalm 22), discovers peace and refuge in God's comfort (Psalm 23), and joyfully rejoices in God's strength and deliverance (Psalm 24). Isn't it interesting how it's always in this cycle?

What's odd is that I find myself going through this same cycle! Not just once, but all the time. I always fear that I will never get through this situation, always doubt that God can bring me out, and always amazed that God actually delivers me through. Well, I'm glad that God is greater than my fears and doubts combined!

But it doesn't end there. What is most interesting isn't how often I doubt God (though you'd think I've learned my lesson by now right?) but how faithful God is. Just listen:

"God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,

though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam,

though the mountains tremble at its swelling."

Psalm 46:1-3

A promise that never lets me down or disappoints. So powerful that He promises to be there, even past the time our Earth crumbles. Think about that! I'm learning more and more that there's nothing in this world that won't disappoint me. And it might take something beyond this world to not let me down. So if God does in fact promise these things, then I think I just found the greatest joy that can ever be offered.

What Does God Look Like?

Have you ever asked yourself this question? I know I've thought through it before many times, trying to wrap my mind around God's nature and characteristics. Check out this quick video -- it does a nice job of explaining why Jesus can point us to the answers we're looking for.

Finding Joy Through Perseverance

Everyday when I wake up, I think of support raising.

During the day, my mind often drifts to support raising.

At night right before I close my eyes, the last thought is usually support raising.

And I'm not sure that's what God intended support raising to be. Take a look after the jump.

A Good Day

Today was a good day. It had nothing to do with the weather - in fact it's been drizzling all afternoon, a huge contrast from the string of sunny days Boston's been receiving lately (hard to come by). My good day had nothing to do with anything physical either, like feeling pumped after a hard workout or having a good hair day (even harder to come by).

Today was good because God showed me he has the perfect timing. This morning, I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing. It turned out to be a friend John whom I served with last summer in Wildwood, NJ. He lives in Indiana so we rarely get a chance to talk. We caught up with one another and swapped stories of our summer. It was a blessing to hear about his growth, a sign that he's still bearing fruit in his life.

Then in the afternoon, my roommate Matt called me. We're both raising support this summer for our upcoming internship with Crusade. We spent most of the time sharing about the challenges of support raising, and the lessons God has been teaching us. It was also a time to reflect on the past month and think of ways to push through the rest of the summer. I'm thankful that God is challenging me to place my faith in Him and trusting that He will provide all my finances. I'm even more thankful that I'm going through this with a close brother. Having this opportunity to share and pray with Matt put my heart back in place.

To me, these are the days I treasure and hold on to. Those moments when I feel dry or unmotivated, God sends the exact person to check up on me. And then through sharing and confessing to one another, God does the refreshing and my soul feels revitalized again. Is this what God intended community to be? I believe that this is evidence God has given us community to share and celebrate His name together. God gives us situations to go through so that we can lean on one another. When the going gets rough, we pray for God to give us His strength to push through. When we feel like more than conquerors, we celebrate and praise God for His victories. Thank God for these good days!

Links! Links! Links!

It has been one crazy semester so far! It's always cool to witness God transforming hearts and changing lives, through seeing it with my own eyes or hearing someone share about it. It's also humbling to know that even in my last semester of college, that I still continue to be weak and I realize more and more how much I need God in my life.

My college church, Amherst Koinonia Church, has grown through some major heart surgery over the past few semesters. Three semesters ago, everything was looking rough. Our pastor had just decided to leave, relationships were not mended, and members were not walking with the Lord. There was just no sense of community. But thankfully God decided it was time for open heart surgery. It wasn't comfortable at all; as a matter of fact it took a lot of uncomfortable situations to make it happen. In small groups, brothers began being more real to each other and more vulnerable. God tore those walls down and we started talking about real issues in our everyday lives. Then the next step was to reach out to the communities around us. That brought us closer together because we were taking steps of faith together, initiating spiritual conversations and developing relationships with people. And there was a lot of confrontation and reconciliation that had to be done along the way. Because of our upbringing and culture, that was completely uncharted territory. But we worked our way through it together, and God has finally mended those hearts.

It's a great depiction of community and it's interesting how my home church is covering the topic of Biblical community right now in our college Sunday School. Coincidence? No way jose. Crazy thing was, I remember this series back in my Freshman year 4 years ago. And it totally rocked my world. Sharing and letting others into my life? Wow, God has such a perfect plan.

This semester, we're gonna grow deeper and deeper in our relationship. This weekend is a very special weekend. The East Coast Asian-American Student Union is hosting their annual conference at Umass Amherst. And I don't think it's a coincidence AT ALL that it's being hosted here. God is presenting a grand opportunity for us. And we're gonna step up to the plate this weekend. There will be over 1000 Asian American students on campus, and we're going to step out in faith again to spark some spiritual conversations. We had a few last night and we're continuing to do some today also. If you could pray for us, that would be great! We're learning to go more and more out of our comfort zones. We need God's strength and humility!

Till next time!