Light, Camera....and Love.

I love being challenged on how I think and be able to take another perspective on issues that I think about a lot. Today was one such day. I met with my mentor/friend who challenges me so much every time I meet with her. She got to the core of the issue and lovingly confront me on how I love people. I told her I was struggling with the whole idea of loving certain people and she pointed to the story about the prostitute who was dragged by the pharisees to Jesus. Jesus didn't condemn the prostitute and stun the pharisees by asking them if they are without sin. It was one of those light bulb moments when I realized who am I to judge and am I not doing the same things the pharisee was doing to the prostitute if I have hard time loving people who are "sinners". So much to chew on and really look at who am I loving on. Am I only loving on people who are just like me or am I loving everyone like how Jesus loved? Jesus loved people deeply and gave us what true love look like. I think today's meeting was time of humbling me and I am so grateful for my mentor/friend who let me come to realization about how I live my life. I think I have been so hung up about the little things, I am missing the bigger picture of loving people. One question that sticks out to me most is how can I love someone when I cannot accept the whole person's identity? I have much to learn about love and need a lot of help from Jesus. I want to be more like Jesus and to love people as He did. What would this world look like if everyone loved each other as ourselves and stop thinking about just about ourselves? There wouldn't be all this pain and suffering people go through if everyone loved each other. Maybe, if one person loves another person truly and that becomes a chain reaction, then, that would be just amazing! "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. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him." John 3:16-17. God loved us so much and sent His Son to save us, not to condemn us, so who am I to condemn? I want to live a life of love and not bring judgment on people who may have different way of living then I do. I give it all to Jesus and I want Him to reign in me. Love surpasses all wrongs and embraces us just as we are. Thanks for reading and may Christ's love dwell richly in you!

God is ... Love

This last weekend, Craig Groeschel, pastor of LifeChurch.tv delivered the message on God is...Love. It's true, I heard all my life that God loved me but I'm not sure half of that time I heard that I truly believed it. Lately, all I can think about is how can a great God love me. I am amazed by His Grace and I don't think I truly understand how much God loves me. God loves each and every one of us that He would send His One and Only son to experience death and cleanse of our sins. God loves us so much that He came down to earth and became one of us. I think that God gives His Grace and Love to us and it is up to us either to accept it or decline it. My life without Him would contain chaos and fear. Even in the dry season when I feel like God is in the distant and I am at my worst, I know that He is with me through it all. Who am I that He would call me His own? I think I would be the smallest in the Kingdom of God if there ever was one. I constantly fail in loving my neighbor as myself and I am not sure I am loving my enemies as Jesus commended. I want to love like Jesus and follow hard after Him. To deny myself and take up His cross. Can I do that? Not on my own power but with His, I can. How do you see God? My God is Love and He loves me just for who I am. Grazie Signore. May Christ love dwell abundantly in your heart! Thanks for reading! :)

All Things New...

Yesterday was my first day of my new job and I also went to Hillsong United concert that I needed. I really love the Hillsong United's heart that it's not about the show but about encountering God by worshipping Him in singing the songs. Lately, I am just so amazed by His Grace and how can a Great God love us, sinners. Christ died for us and He died for me, smallest of all. I feel so minuscule and sometimes I wonder how can God use a person like me in this world, but He does. He is using me constantly even when I don't realize He is using me. For instance, my story is His story. Whenever I tell people about why I look the way I do and the joy that fills my heart, it's all Him. He's my reason for living and being here in DC. I can't imagine not having Him in my heart. Past weekend, Pastor Mark spoke about God is ... Spirit and I am still chewing on that. I think sometimes we as Christian forget about the Holy Spirit and I think I am coming to learn that I need the Holy Spirit in my life. God the Father, God the Son and God the Spirit. I thirst and hunger for His coming. There's so many people who are searching for something to fill the longing they have. I wish with all my heart that they will stop searching because the answer is right in front of them; but who am I to say stop the search, I can't. More I read the Bible, more I become intrigued and in awe of God. His Love is beyond all measures and so amazing. I fail. I stumble. I am imperfect. However, His Grace has pick me up from the dirt and He whispers that He loves me just as I am. How can I keep on sinning when we have a God who loves us first? So many questions and thoughts to ponder. May God fill you with His love and may you experience His Grace. Thanks for reading! 

New Adventure

It's been couple days now since I found out that I was officially hired for a position at my current company and the initial excitement has slowed down. I was so excited and happy to be hired (especially in the economy we live in) and I was smiling the whole day. I love adventures and taking on life; however, I do not like to put myself in risk though. I like to be daring but there's also part of me that talk myself from going for whatever challenge I may face at a certain situation. As much as I was thrilled about my new job, there also came the worries of if I would meet the expectation of my new supervisor and how I would perform in my new job. I know it's silly of me to start thinking this way but I am still recovering perfectionist and people-pleaser. I am an optimist and I see every opportunity as building more experiences in life and meeting new people; however, I am also a worrier. I see my new job as a new adventure and new chapter in my life. My first real permanent job with benefits and working in a company with good cause. I know that there's going to be challenges ahead but there's also going to be great opportunities. I pray that my new job will help advance the kingdom of God whether that be me sharing my faith with my co-workers through words or my life examples. I am looking forward to the new adventure and what God will do through and in my life. :) Thanks for reading!

Thankful - New Job!

I am utterly grateful to God for His provision and timing. I was hired for a desired job and will be starting this position soon! I am thankful and my heart is overwhelmed by His love. What an amazing God! Thank you Lord for who you are and who you created me to be!

Still Waiting...

What a week it has been! Last Friday, I had an interview and on Monday, I was called to a second interview for the same position. So, I had the second interview this morning and decision is in God's hand. I came to realize that God's timing is the best timing. I look back this time last year, I was still in graduate school trying to figure out if I was doing God's will and this time around, I am just giving it all to God. I am learning that it's not what I do but what He does through me. As I await the decision about the position I interviewed for, I pray that whatever the decision, may God be glorified and His Will be done. :)

Waiting ... Once Again.

"Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." -Psalm 27:14

So, last Friday, I had my interview for the position in the current company I am working for as a consultant. Interview was almost a hour long and questions asked were challenging and thought-provoking to say the least. I responded to the questions as best way I could answer the interviewers and I hope that my responses were what they were looking for in the candidate they want to hire for this particular position. I won't know about the decision from the interviewers until couple weeks but I have hope in the LORD who is all-knowing and is in control of all situation. Whatever the decision, I pray that I am in the center of His Will and not on my own ambition. Right now, all I can is wait and pray that He will lead me to a job that is in His Will, not mine. Also, in the process of waiting, I will continue to apply for more jobs and see if I get any more interviews while at it. Song that really struck me this weekend was "Everything" by Tim Hughes. I want Christ to be my everything and the lines that jumped out to me were:
"God in my hoping There in my dreaming God in my watching God in my waiting
God in my laughing There in my weeping God in my hurting God in my healing"
And the song continues with "Christ in me, Christ in me, Christ in me, Hope of Glory. Be my everything. " To check out the lyrics to "Everything": http://www.higherpraise.com/lyrics/awesome/awesome4260.html
So, here I am waiting and watching that wherever Christ leads me, I will follow Him. May Christ fill you with His overwhelming love and grace! Thanks for reading! :)