Examining Our Hearts Before A Holy GOD

One thing I realized is the importance of examining our hearts, actions, relationships, and lastly our lives from time to time. By evaluating our hearts, we can see if what we are doing is bringing glory to GOD. In realization of our sins, we are reminded that we need a Savior and we cannot do it on our own. Grace then is fallen into place to show us why we believe in the Gospel and how important it is. Secondly, evaluating our hearts before partaking in communion is soooo sooo important. If our hearts are so cluttered with distractions or hindrances that draw us away from the cross, then it would be a sin to take communion as Christians.


1 Corinthians 11:17-34 (English Standard Version)

The Lord’s Supper
17But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. 18For, in the first place, when you come together as a church,(A) I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part,[a] 19for(B) there must be factions among you in order(C) that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. 20When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. 21For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry,(D) another gets drunk. 22What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise(E) the church of God and(F) humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.

23For(G) I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that(H) the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for[b] you. Do this in remembrance of me."[c] 25In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death(I) until he comes.

27(J) Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord(K) in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning(L) the body and blood of the Lord. 28(M) Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some(N) have died.[d] 31(O) But if we judged[e] ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32But when we are judged by the Lord,(P) we are disciplined[f] so that we may not be(Q) condemned along with the world.

33So then, my brothers,[g] when you come together to eat, wait for[h] one another— 34(R) if anyone is hungry,(S) let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things(T) I will give directions(U) when I come.


Let us be reminded of the GLORIES OF CALVARY! The GLORIES OF THE GOSPEL! ALL GLORY GOES TO GOD!

So why is the GOSPEL SOO IMPORTANT?
Here is a quote from C.J. Mahaney's Living the Cross Centered Life "We never move on from the cross, only into a more profound understanding of the cross. The cross and its meaning aren't something we ever master."

We can NEVER fully understand this amazing grace of our loving Father. This is because we are sinful beings and we are incapable of saving ourselves. It is really easy to just know the Gospel and to graduate from Jesus and move onto Paul. To better summarize it: John 3:16 (English Standard Version)

For God So Loved the World
16"For(A) God so loved(B) the world,[a](C) that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not(D) perish but have eternal life.

Hearing the Gospel over and over again should compel us to fall more and more in love with our creator and maker of heaven and earth. For God SOOO LOVED THE WORLD that He GAVE HIS ONLY SON, that whoever believes in HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BY HAVE ETERNAL LIFE!!!

Psalm 32- Blessed Are the Forgiven

Psalm 32 (English Standard Version)

Psalm 32

Blessed Are the Forgiven

A Maskil^a]">[a] of David.

¹^A)">(A) Blessed is the one whose^B)">(B) transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
²Blessed is the man against whom the LORD^C)">(C) counts no iniquity,
and in whose spirit^D)">(D) there is no deceit.

³For when I kept silent, my^E)">(E) bones wasted away
through my^F)">(F) groaning all day long.
⁴For day and night your^G)">(G) hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up^b]">[b] as by the heat of summer.
Selah

⁵I^H)">(H) acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, "I^I)">(I) will confess my transgressions to the LORD,"
and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.
Selah

⁶Therefore let everyone who is^J)">(J) godly
offer prayer to you at a time when you^K)">(K) may be found;
surely in the rush of^L)">(L) great waters,
they shall not reach him.
⁷You are a^M)">(M) hiding place for me;
you preserve me from^N)">(N) trouble;
you surround me with^O)">(O) shouts of deliverance.
Selah

⁸I will^P)">(P) instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will^Q)">(Q) counsel you with my eye upon you.
⁹^R)">(R) Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
which must be curbed with^S)">(S) bit and bridle,
or it will not stay near you.

¹⁰^T)">(T) Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds the one who^U)">(U) trusts in the LORD.
¹¹^V)">(V) Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous,
and^W)">(W) shout for joy, all you^X)">(X) upright in heart!

Options

God is ultimately the one who plans out everyone's future. Whatever He gives me in the future, I will do His will. Although it may take time to let it soak in. In the meantime I've been researching for graduate schools. What is a sophomore looking at grad schools already? It has been about a month since I had last seen my academic advisor who made an academic plan for my graduation date of 2011. If I pass all my classes, I will be graduating with the junior class. With the remaining time I have left in UCM, I really want to invest my time with my Sisters and Freshmen class, and especially in the DIVE ministry. I also do want to spend my time building friendships at SFBC as well.
During my time at Mount Hermon, the speaker really emphasized the importance of serving in a church, because Christ gave us the church. Perhaps that is what God really wants me to do, is to serve.
Looking into grad programs feels so surreal. I cannot believe I am over the half mark of my college career moving onto the "real world". Which means no more late night runs to In-N-Out, road trips to Davis/Sacramento on a school night, late night chats/sleepovers, and all-nighters (well, maybe in grad school).
In terms of my post graduate plans as of now I have six options: (If all goes according to plans)

1. Apply and go to UCDavis Credential & Master's Program OR Master's College Masters of Arts in Education (Semester)
2. Apply and go to UCD Credential & Master's Program (Semester) AND Master's College Master's of Arts in Biblical Studies OR Biblical Counseling (Summer)
3. Apply and go to Master's College in Biblical Studies OR Biblical Counseling (Summer)
4. Go overseas & teach English in South Korea OR China and after fulfill options #1 or 2
5. Get a job/internship and go to school later
6. Apply and go to Undergraduate SFSU in Event Planning

P.S.- I'm soo excited! I borrowed Christian Theology by Erickson. I canNOT wait to read it!

Transitioning into sermons. Today is the first time listening John Piper giving a sermon. The way he preaches is something I am not use to. In the sermon "How Much Does God Love This Church", he shared about his thoughts and analysis, and used verses here and there to support his points. Hence, the verses were all over the place, but overall I feel that some of his points were good. I took some notes on his sermon.

How Much Does God Love This Church
John Piper

"I am more concerned with nominal hell bound church goers (who feel the love of God) than born heaven bound Christians (who don't feel the love of God)

In terms of nominal hell bound <- are on the way to hell.

The difference between the two- the bottom line is what makes them happy.

For nominal hell bound church goers- there is no change in what we want, but we go to get it from the church. They feel really love because "my life is going better"
^John Piper's more concerned about these Christians.

We have desires and turn to Jesus to have them met, but no chance in what we want. Just finding it until we get it.
^Not of new birth

Self @ the bottom, our foundation is found in Jesus
The bottom si replaced by Jesus.
They HAVE GOD- the way the speak to each other and of God. Are they most excited when they talk about God? Or more excited about worldly things.
Christians who don't feel the love of God are saved.
Do you feel more saved by God when Christ frees you?

God loves us. He makes more of us born again Christian, than we ever dreamed He could or would.

We can't make others feel loved by God. -Only capture Biblical balance in the way that He loves us.
Why does God perform all of these amazing acts of love toward us in a way that reveals He is loving us for His own glory?
Why does God relentlessly display His amazing acts of love for us in a way that continually draws attention to the fact that He's doing it for His glory?

The design of the Lord is not making much of me is making much of me in making much of God.
God's centeredness is greater than self centeredness
^feel loved at the same time with God centeredness (even though it's not about us)
We are more loved by God when we are loved this way than any other way.

God shows His love for us when...
1. God is showing love to us by predesignating us for adoption (Eph. 1:6)
2. God shows His love for us by creating us (Isaiah 45:6)
3. God sent us a Savior- glory to God. We get the Savior, He gets the glory. It's a bigger love that way.
4. When Christ died for me. He took it so that I might not live for myself.
5. In the way Jesus prays for us (John 17:24)

God makes much of us by...
1. Commending our lives
2. Making us fellow heirs who own everything. (blessed are the meek for they shall inherit th e kingdom of God. We are heirs of Abraham)
3. At the table He is serving us (Luke 12:37)
4. Appointing us to judge angels. (1 Co. 6:3)
5. Ascribing value for us & rejoices over us (Matt 10:30-31, God sings)
6. Giving us a glorious body like Jesus' body (Phil. 3:31, Matt 13:43)
7. *Granting us to sit on Jesus' throne (Rev 3:21, Eph 1:2- Church is Christ's Body. God, son, us- everywhere the Lord extends will be through us)

John Piper's Spectacular Sins Book

Spectacular Sins- And Their Global Purpose In The Glory Of Christ: John Piper

Free PDF book download!! :)

Click HERE

"Jesus Christ, who was in the beginning with God, and was God (John 1:1), created the universe. He did this as God the Father’s equal and as his agent. “All things were made through him” (John 1:3; 1 Cor. 8:6; Heb. 1:2). And he did it to display his glory. “By him all things were created . . . and for him” (Col. 1:16). By him and for him. All things were created by Christ and for Christ. The Son of God, who has become a human being—the God-man, Jesus of Nazareth—in perfect concert with his Father, created the universe for the display of his all-satisfying glory.
And the apex of this grace is the murder of the God-man outside Jerusalem around a.d. 33. The death of Jesus Christ was murder. It was the most spectacular sin ever committed.
At the all-important pivot of human history, the worst sin ever committed served to show the greatest glory of Christ and obtain the sin-conquering gift of God’s grace. God did not just overcome evil at the cross. He made evil serve the overcoming of evil. He made evil commit suicide in doing its worst evil.
Evil is anything and everything opposed to the fullest display of the glory of Christ. That’s the meaning of evil. In the death of Christ, the powers of darkness did their best to destroy the glory of the Son of God. This is the apex of evil. But instead they found themselves quoting the script of ancient prophecy and acting the part assigned by God. Precisely in putting Christ to death, they put his glory on display—the very glory that they aimed to destroy. The apex of evil achieved the apex of the glory of Christ. The glory of grace." (Piper11)

"When you see this, and feel the force of it, the way you look at the world changes. I am writing this book because I think the days that are coming will demand from the followers of Christ this change in the way we look at the world. It seems to me that Christians in the West are being coddled. We suffer little in the name of Christ. Therefore, we read the Bible not with a desperate hunger for evidences of God’s triumph in pain, but with a view to improving our private pleasures.
Therefore, we read the Bible selectively. We pick a text here and there to fit our felt needs." (Piper12)

It is sooo true.

Will Power.

FATHER GOD ALMIGHTY,
Please give me the strength to say NO. I do NOT want to go down that road. Protect me with your never ending LOVE and PRESENCE. Etch me to become more and more like me. God, You are so good to me!

It's so much to ask, but please pray for me for the next two days. Thank you!

I remember during the near end of summer a dear friend of mine shared with me this exhortation in Yosemite when I was going through several trials. After some efforts to pursue a friendship, losing a friend of about a year and a half is such a painful sight. There is no doubt in my mind of how much this friendship meant to me, but I know that whatever the will of God it is, I must and will abide in God. And now facing an unbearable amount of trials without this friend makes it all the more difficult. Even as I write this, I am reminded that although friendships are gone, the WORD OF THE LORD STANDS STEADFAST. Christ is sufficient.

James 1:2-18 (English Standard Version)

Testing of Your Faith

²^A)">(A) Count it all joy, my brothers,^a]">[a] when you meet trials^B)">(B) of various kinds, ³for you know that^C)">(C) the testing of your faith^D)">(D) produces steadfastness. ⁴And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be^E)">(E) perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

⁵^F)">(F) If any of you lacks wisdom,^G)">(G) let him ask God,^H)">(H) who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. ⁶But^I)">(I) let him ask in faith,^J)">(J) with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like^K)">(K) a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸^L)">(L) he is a double-minded man,^M)">(M) unstable in all his ways.

⁹Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, ¹⁰and^N)">(N) the rich in his humiliation, because^O)">(O) like a flower of the grass^b]">[b] he will pass away. ¹¹For the sun rises with its scorching heat and^P)">(P) withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

¹²^Q)">(Q) Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive^R)">(R) the crown of life,^S)">(S) which God has promised to those who love him. ¹³Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. ¹⁴But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. ¹⁵Then desire^T)">(T) when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and^U)">(U) sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

¹⁶Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. ¹⁷^V)">(V) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from^W)">(W) the Father of lights^X)">(X) with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.^c]">[c] ¹⁸^Y)">(Y) Of his own will he^Z)">(Z) brought us forth by the word of truth,^AA)">(AA) that we should be a kind of^AB)">(AB) firstfruits of his creatures.

I was doing devos in Psalms 31- Into Your Hand I Commit My Spirit

Psalm 31 (English Standard Version)

Psalm 31

Into Your Hand I Commit My Spirit

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

¹^A)">(A) In you, O LORD, do I^B)">(B) take refuge;
^C)">(C) let me never be put to shame;
in your^D)">(D) righteousness deliver me!
²Incline your ear to me;
rescue me speedily!
Be^E)">(E) a rock of^F)">(F) refuge for me,
a strong fortress to save me!

³For you are my rock and my fortress;
and for your^G)">(G) name’s sake you lead me and guide me;
⁴you^H)">(H) take me out of^I)">(I) the net they have hidden for me,
for you are my^J)">(J) refuge.
⁵^K)">(K) Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O LORD,^L)">(L) faithful God.

⁶I^M)">(M) hate^a]">[a] those who pay^N)">(N) regard to worthless^O)">(O) idols,
but I trust in the LORD.
⁷I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love,
because you have seen my affliction;
you have^P)">(P) known the distress of my soul,
⁸and you have not^Q)">(Q) delivered me into the hand of the enemy;
you have set my feet in^R)">(R) a broad place.

⁹Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am^S)">(S) in distress;
^T)">(T) my eye is wasted from grief;
my soul and my body also.
¹⁰For my life is spent with sorrow,
and my years with sighing;
my strength fails because of my iniquity,
and^U)">(U) my bones waste away.

¹¹Because of all my adversaries I have become^V)">(V) a reproach,
especially to my^W)">(W) neighbors,
and an object of dread to my acquaintances;
those who see me in the street^X)">(X) flee from me.
¹²I have been^Y)">(Y) forgotten like one who is dead;
I have become like^Z)">(Z) a broken vessel.
¹³For I^AA)">(AA) hear the whispering of many—
terror on every side!—
^AB)">(AB) as they scheme together against me,
as they plot to take my life.

¹⁴But I^AC)">(AC) trust in you, O LORD;
I say, "You are my God."
¹⁵My^AD)">(AD) times are in your hand;
^AE)">(AE) rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!
¹⁶^AF)">(AF) Make your face shine on your servant;
save me in your steadfast love!
¹⁷O LORD,^AG)">(AG) let me not be put to shame,
for I call upon you;
let the wicked be put to shame;
let them go^AH)">(AH) silently to Sheol.
¹⁸Let the lying lips be mute,
which^AI)">(AI) speak^AJ)">(AJ) insolently against the righteous
in pride and contempt.

¹⁹Oh, how abundant is your goodness,
which you have stored up for those who fear you
and worked for those who take refuge in you,
^AK)">(AK) in the sight of the children of mankind!
²⁰In^AL)">(AL) the cover of your presence you hide them
from the plots of men;
you^AM)">(AM) store them in your shelter
from the strife of tongues.

²¹Blessed be the LORD,
for he has wondrously^AN)">(AN) shown his steadfast love to me
when I was in^AO)">(AO) a besieged city.
²²I had said in my^AP)">(AP) alarm,^b]">[b]
"I am^AQ)">(AQ) cut off from^AR)">(AR) your sight."
But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy
when I cried to you for help.

²³Love the LORD, all you his^AS)">(AS) saints!
The LORD preserves the faithful
but abundantly^AT)">(AT) repays the one who acts in pride.
²⁴^AU)">(AU) Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
all you who wait for the LORD!

AMEN.

Once Again

It has been awhile since I have listened to "Once Again" by Matt Redman. After finishing the 8th chapter of Living the Cross Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney, I can't think of a better song to represent the chapter.

Living the Cross Centered Chapter 8, The Scream of the Damned

"This cry represents the most agonizing protest ever uttered on this planet. It burst forth in a
moment of unparalleled pain. It is the scream of the damned- for us."-R.C. Sproul.

It wasn't the nails that keep Jesus there. What keeps him there is what placed Him there- His passion to do the will of His Father, and His love for sinners like you and me.

Jesus could not save both Himself and us- He refused to save Himself that He is able to save others.

WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATH OF JESUS.

"Until you see the cross as that which is done by you; you will never appreciate that it is done for you." -John Stott

We all carry these very nails in our pocket.

Jesus does not complain while being hung on the cross. Instead He says, "Father, FORGIVE THEM, for they do NOT know what they DO."

Jesus experiences God's wrath when dying on the cross.
^ Experiences dying on the cross alone- desolation.
Alone- Jesus is/must be forsake by the Father- God is a holy God and because man is sinful man MUST be utterly removed from the presence of the holy God. -utterly separated
Jesus didn't feel forsake
Jesus is forsake -Jesus is rejected by God BOLDY say
"Nothing shall separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus"
HE WAS FORSAKEN SO THAT WE MIGHT BE FORGIVEN- GIFT FROM GOD!!!

Christ rejection, abandonment of the cross, Christ has been indeed raised from the dead (most thrilling + affirming part of the good news. If Christ has not been raised, our faith is futile; we are still in our sins."

THANK YOU JESUS for the cross.
我爱你, saranghaeyo, I love you, Ich liebe Jesus, Yo amo a Jesús

*

When I see others super duper passionate and encouraged about the Gospel , it makes me all the more encouraged to see their growth in our Lord Jesus. But WOW, when others share with me how this puny blog (where I just jot down my thoughts) is encouraging them, I am really blessed to know that it brings encouragement to others. PTL! God uses the body of Christ to build one another up by using edifying and loving words.

If only I had a camera, I can capture pictures of God's creation. Merced is such a beautiful place to take pictures.

Random Quotes:

"The Christian gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet I am so loved and valued that Jesus was glad to die for me. This leads to deep humility and deep confidence at the same time. It undermines both swaggering and sniveling. I cannot feel superior to anyone, and yet I have nothing to prove to anyone. I do not think more of myself nor less of myself. Instead, I think of myself less."
-- Timothy Keller, The Reason For God (New York, NY: Dutton, 2008), 181.

Sorry, I just had to put this in: "A woman's heart should be so lost in God that a man needs to seek Him in order to find her." -- Unknown

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." - 1 Corinthians 10:31