Single Focus

These days, I'm beginning to understand how hard it is to be single-focused. To be consumed with one thing so much so that I don't care about anything else but that. It could be viewed as mean because you are bound to "ignore" or "not care" for other people's views or things. And I think that's why even for Christians who are so focused on one ministry or agenda can be viewed as selfish or mean.

But I don't think that's what apostle Paul means when he says "I consider everything else rubbish/trash/dirt compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord (Phil 3:8)." I thought this verse meant that everything else sucks and has no meaning compared to the knowledge we have in Christ. But I heard a sermon where it's not that everything else is trash, but everything ought not to consume us or we should give too much weight on other things because Christ is that much better!

This is what I desire... this single focus of knowing Christ!

For your viewing pleasure...

Good "Impression"

Claude Monet's (Impression, soleil levant; Impression, Sun rise)

I'm not a art person, but this picture had a good impression on my mind. I was fascinated to learn that one of the characteristics of art from the Impressionist era is that the painting is made so that the viewer sees the painting "moving" in the viewer's mind/perception. The brush strokes are intentionally done in this way so that can be viewed that way.

When I look at this picture, the water and the sky perceives to be moving by the cleverness of the painter's strokes. We know that the painting doesn't move, but in a person's mind, we can imagine the water and the sky moving when we see the picture carefully.

I believe that sometimes this is how it is in our prayer life. Sometimes we view God and prayer as something rigid and boring. Many times we don't pray because we feel that since God is "unchangeable," our prayers will not "move" him to change anyway. But many times we forget that God is not rigid, but he's always moving in our history and in our life especially, but we often time forget. Our imagination or "impression" of who God is distorted. We limit God by not praying. We feel that prayer doesn't do anything for us, so we cease to pray. But just like prayer moves our hearts, the Bible clearly tells us that it moves God's heart as well. If it doesn't, why would we pray in the first place? Abraham moved God's heart, and he "changed" or delayed his plans to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for the sake of his servant. I believe that this should be our prayers.

That we would find favor with Him so much that he would "change" his heart so that our hearts would change more and more. More in his direction, to his likeness.

Moving Forward...

“To me, there are three things we all should do every day. We should do this every day of our lives. Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought. And number three is, you should have your emotions moved to tears, could be happiness or joy. But think about it. If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special.”

"My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me."

"Don't give up, don't ever give up!"

Jim Valvano quotes: Coach of North Carolina State U., 1980-1990; won NCAA championship, 1983

Lately, I've been down in spirit. I'm not getting "burnt out," but sometimes I just feel like just giving up stuff that I'm doing in life. I realize how bored I get with things in life.

But when I pray, I feel my Father (God) telling me not to give up. Don't give up because he believes in me. That gives me a reason to live. That gives me purpose. Before, I would just stop doing things, stop showing up to church if I didn't feel like it, or even isolate myself from people because I just didn't feel like it.

I don't want to let my father down; because he believes in me... I don't give up because not because I am strong enough to get out of that situation, but because He told me that I can't... I trust Him... I believe in Him... because he believed and trusted in me first.

Friends...

Why do I even have a blog if I don't even write consistently? Ok, so this is what I've decided to do. I think I think too much on this blog thing. Whatever is on my mind at that time, I'll just write. I don't care what others say or comment.

So today, this is what's on my mind...

The more and more I think back on my life, I realize that I don't have anyone that I can call "best friend." This thought makes me sad. Why did I think about this all of a sudden? It's all my QT's fault.

Proverbs 18:24
²⁴ A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

I started to ask myself, "who is my friend?" Do I have a friend that is "closer than a brother?" Am I surrounded with "companions" that is going to cause me my ruin?

Ok... I'll stop here, because I don't have a clear answer.

Books I've read or reading...

I want to start posting up good books that I've read or reading... I will try to rate them so that I can recommend them to my (faithful?) blog readers.




4 stars out of 5



4 stars out of 5

Basically, it's Lesslie Newbigin. You don't expect anything bad from his books. It's just a classic Newbigin. I recommend it. Newbigin gives great insights on how to deal with Western society and it's culture. Must read!

I can't help it...

but to open my mouth and share and sing this GOOD NEWS!

Psalm 40:9-11

I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly;
I do not seal my lips, as you know, O LORD.
I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness and salvation.
I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly.
Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD;
may your love and your truth always protect me.

How can I keep from singing your praise - by Chris Tomlin

How can keep from singing Your Praise?
How can I ever say enough?
How amazing is your love?
How can I keep from shouting your Name?
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing