>>>Click here for photos
Friday, March 17
Saturday, March 4
Baking in His Glory
The morning runs with Dr. Sherbino has been amazing. The weather was awesome. The rising sun baked us in His glory as we ran.
Friday, March 3
Waiting in Him – Shadows Proves the Sunshine
It was worth the wait, and I am still waiting. I went back outside, climbed up into the tree again. Sitting on the tree branch, with the river rushing by underneath me, there was stillness. My thoughts return to the struggles of this world, and how we are called to struggle for His sake. A whisper echoed in my head, “Joel, I know your struggles. And I have been with you in your struggles. I promise you this, there will be many more challenges and struggles to come, but above all else, I promise I will be with you through all these struggles.” As I opened my eyes, to seal His promise, the setting sun broke through the clouds and shone onto the riverside.
Glimpses of Cambodia flashed through my mind; the “Killing Fields” in the 1970’s, the persecutions and the oppressions. Yet, a nation in much need of God’s love. A nation with 10 million in population, but only about 10,000 Christians. Is that you calling, Lord? I must admit, I am falling in love – Falling in love with the nation of Cambodia. Though I might be going there with OMF this coming May, but yet I sense a deeper calling. “I will go, Lord, if you lead me…”
Here I am Lord
By Daniel L Schutte
Chorus
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go, Lord, if you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart
Verse 1
I, the Lord of sea and sky
I have heard my people cry
All who dwell in dark and sin
My hand will save
Verse 2
I, who made the stars of night
I will make their darkness bright
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?
Verse 3
I, the Lord of snow and rain
I have borne my people’s pain
I have wept for love of them
They turn away
Verse 4
I will break their hearts of stone
Give them hearts for love alone
I will speak my words to them
Whom shall I send?
Verse 5
I, the Lord of wind and flame
I will send the poor and lame
I will set a feast for them
My hand will save
Verse 6
Finest bread I will provide
'Til their hearts be satisfied
I will give my life to them
Whom shall I send?
Fear overwhelmed my heart. ‘What ifs’ surfaced. I recalled the clench in my parents’ face when I mentioned the possibility of missions to Cambodia. What will my grandparents think? What will my future wife think? What will her parents think? The questions and fears are endless. Yet, looking into the setting sun, joy and reassurance conquered the fears. “Finest bread I will provide, ‘til their hearts be satisfied. I will give my life to them, whom shall I send?”
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
Glimpses of Cambodia flashed through my mind; the “Killing Fields” in the 1970’s, the persecutions and the oppressions. Yet, a nation in much need of God’s love. A nation with 10 million in population, but only about 10,000 Christians. Is that you calling, Lord? I must admit, I am falling in love – Falling in love with the nation of Cambodia. Though I might be going there with OMF this coming May, but yet I sense a deeper calling. “I will go, Lord, if you lead me…”
Here I am Lord
By Daniel L Schutte
Chorus
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go, Lord, if you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart
Verse 1
I, the Lord of sea and sky
I have heard my people cry
All who dwell in dark and sin
My hand will save
Verse 2
I, who made the stars of night
I will make their darkness bright
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?
Verse 3
I, the Lord of snow and rain
I have borne my people’s pain
I have wept for love of them
They turn away
Verse 4
I will break their hearts of stone
Give them hearts for love alone
I will speak my words to them
Whom shall I send?
Verse 5
I, the Lord of wind and flame
I will send the poor and lame
I will set a feast for them
My hand will save
Verse 6
Finest bread I will provide
'Til their hearts be satisfied
I will give my life to them
Whom shall I send?
Fear overwhelmed my heart. ‘What ifs’ surfaced. I recalled the clench in my parents’ face when I mentioned the possibility of missions to Cambodia. What will my grandparents think? What will my future wife think? What will her parents think? The questions and fears are endless. Yet, looking into the setting sun, joy and reassurance conquered the fears. “Finest bread I will provide, ‘til their hearts be satisfied. I will give my life to them, whom shall I send?”
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
Struggling Upstream
“There was an old owl who lived in an oak
The more he heard, the less he spoke
The less he spoke, the more he heard
So why cannot we be like that old bird?”
Today we spend the afternoon in complete silence: not a word spoken, not even a hum. Before we began, we joked about how some of us will go insane without speaking for 5 hours. To me, I thought how different will it be from backpacking? I’ll just spend my time walking along the river and enjoy the cool breeze. Soon I realized that this is nothing like backpacking. I realized that while backpacking, I’d sing under my breath. As I walked, I wanted to recite the “breath prayer”:
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.”
However, I found it extremely difficult not about to whisper it under my breath. So I decided to continue walking along the riverbanks with the “breath prayer”, Heidelberg Catechism, Psalm 1, all echoing inside my head.
Then I stumble upon a pack of ducks, struggling to swim upstream. I wondered why don’t they just fly and not be pushed around by the current. Then I realized they were looking for food.
As of us, why face the challenges in life knowing there is a treasure waiting for us in heaven? Because by struggling to swim upstream in life, against the current of this world, we will be spiritual feed and nourish. If not for the struggles, our growth flat lines.
Then I climbed a tree the hung over the river and sat in silence and meditated. Boy, I never realized remaining in silence is so tiring. It is as though my mind is working overtime staying alert to God’s voice.
NIV Matthew 26:36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." 40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. 41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." 42 He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done." 43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. 45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"
Must stay alert and wait for God’s voice with anticipation. Temptations for go to sleep, so I should head back outside. Already spend an hour journaling; I should spend the reminding 90 minutes waiting in Him.
“When you are waiting, you are allowing your soul to grow up. If you are not silent, you will never hear God’s voice.”
The more he heard, the less he spoke
The less he spoke, the more he heard
So why cannot we be like that old bird?”
Today we spend the afternoon in complete silence: not a word spoken, not even a hum. Before we began, we joked about how some of us will go insane without speaking for 5 hours. To me, I thought how different will it be from backpacking? I’ll just spend my time walking along the river and enjoy the cool breeze. Soon I realized that this is nothing like backpacking. I realized that while backpacking, I’d sing under my breath. As I walked, I wanted to recite the “breath prayer”:
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.”
However, I found it extremely difficult not about to whisper it under my breath. So I decided to continue walking along the riverbanks with the “breath prayer”, Heidelberg Catechism, Psalm 1, all echoing inside my head.
Then I stumble upon a pack of ducks, struggling to swim upstream. I wondered why don’t they just fly and not be pushed around by the current. Then I realized they were looking for food.
As of us, why face the challenges in life knowing there is a treasure waiting for us in heaven? Because by struggling to swim upstream in life, against the current of this world, we will be spiritual feed and nourish. If not for the struggles, our growth flat lines.
Then I climbed a tree the hung over the river and sat in silence and meditated. Boy, I never realized remaining in silence is so tiring. It is as though my mind is working overtime staying alert to God’s voice.
NIV Matthew 26:36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." 40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. 41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." 42 He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done." 43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. 45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"
Must stay alert and wait for God’s voice with anticipation. Temptations for go to sleep, so I should head back outside. Already spend an hour journaling; I should spend the reminding 90 minutes waiting in Him.
“When you are waiting, you are allowing your soul to grow up. If you are not silent, you will never hear God’s voice.”
Thursday, March 2
Resonance
Arriving at the Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre, the first thing that hit me was the acoustic of the chapel. In the circular chapel, every snap and even whisper resonates in the tiny chapel. Especially during the worship, where all our voices erupted into beautiful melodies, I felt the presence of angels worshipping with us.
Also the symbols in the chapels were a treat comparing to our protestant sanctuaries. From the statue of the ascension of Christ, to the tabernacle, the names of God symbols on the back wall, the central lighting symbolizing the descending of the Holy Spirit, and the beautifully sculpted alter; my senses were overwhelmed in the chapel.
Another thing that resonated throughout the evening was our laughter. It is good to be with the presence of brothers and sisters.
NIV Psalm 133:1 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! 2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes. 3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
Also the symbols in the chapels were a treat comparing to our protestant sanctuaries. From the statue of the ascension of Christ, to the tabernacle, the names of God symbols on the back wall, the central lighting symbolizing the descending of the Holy Spirit, and the beautifully sculpted alter; my senses were overwhelmed in the chapel.
Another thing that resonated throughout the evening was our laughter. It is good to be with the presence of brothers and sisters.
NIV Psalm 133:1 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! 2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes. 3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
Solitude
Before coming into this Spiritual Formation Retreat, an old dream resurfaced as I prepared myself for the solitude and quietness. The old dream of thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. 2000 miles, 4-6 months journey from Georgia to Maine along the Appalachian Mountains. Solitude. I dunno if I ever have the chance to fulfill this dream, but I do know that the motives are now different.
When I first acquired this dream, I wanted 4-6 months away from the busyness and challenge of life. However, if I were to embark on this journey now, it will be about solitude, spending 4-6 months in silence listening to God’s voice. How amazing that will be like?
Well… this is only my human dream… let’s see where will God lead me?
When I first acquired this dream, I wanted 4-6 months away from the busyness and challenge of life. However, if I were to embark on this journey now, it will be about solitude, spending 4-6 months in silence listening to God’s voice. How amazing that will be like?
Well… this is only my human dream… let’s see where will God lead me?
Wednesday, March 1
Spiritual Formation Retreat
Heading out to Spiritual Formation retreat now and Volleyball Finals this weekend. So excited. Will post when I am back. Peace.
Laugh
I was laughing in my Systematic Theology II class this morning when I remember a news report on 680 News on my way to school this morning.
The average adult laughs 15 times a day; the average child, more than 400 times.
We need to laugh more.
The average adult laughs 15 times a day; the average child, more than 400 times.
We need to laugh more.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)