Kim Jong Il's Passing

So today the news has reported that Kim Jong Il has passed away. Looking at facebook, many people are happy with the death, some even mocking it. I mean whatever floats your boat I guess. Finally I came something very insightful from the man, the legend, the P. Min.  He writes this on his facebook status:

One of the cruelest leaders of one of the cruelest kingdoms, Kim Jong Il, died just as his father Kim Il Sung died. One day North Korea in its cruelty and suffering will be but a distant memory in human history. Jesus our King lives forever and “His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation.” [Daniel 4:3]

North Koreans suffer every hour, every minute, every second. It's an unfortunate thing to hear about and witness and even more unfortunate that many of these people never will get to know Christ. However I asked myself the question of, What if I was living in North Korea. What if America turned into a third world country? Would I still be thankful?

This death has led me to be more thankful to know Christ. Even though I am not the greatest Christian in the world, and I continue to fail. I am thankful that if I was to suffer through the United States Kingdom, I know that Jesus' kingdom will reign from now till eternity. America is going through a time where many people have lost their jobs, money is hard to come by, social classes fighting non stop, etc. Will I be thankful if I lose my job? I want to have kingdom goggles. Eyes on the prize and not myself. No matter the outlook, no matter the difficult circumstances we go through, it's Jesus' name and his kingdom that will be here forever. I look forward to the day, when I am part of the Kingdom of Heaven forever. 

"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." - CS Lewish

Kingdom worker: Quality over Quantity

The Church I became Christian at, Covenant Fellowship Church, their vision was Matthew 9:37:38.  When I left the church, I was fired up to be this awesome faithful Kingdom worker. I served as a youth group teacher, Sunday School teacher, Small group leader. I did all these things. But as I look back, how much of an impact did I make serving in those areas? Was I faithful in my personal life? Did I pray enough? Did I read enough?

Sadly, no. I feel that I failed so many times. I did all these things, but I feel that the quality sucked. God doesn't need my time. He doesn't need my services. He just wants my heart. I need to remind myself of that.

As I have begun this new chapter in NYC, God has so much for my future. I want to learn from the younger. Learn from the older. I pray that I do my part in this city. I want to be a quality worker. I hope you are faithful and do your part. It's a beautiful thing when we do our part. From all across the world. To the ends of the earth. May we ALL do our part.

Matthew 9:37-38

New International Version (NIV)

³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. ³⁸ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Joyful day at work

Most days, I don't like my job. Work makes me feel pretty worthless at times. My livelihood is at stake with my job so of course its a concern. Today was a bit different. I had joy at work today. Even though I had nothing to do.

What was the trick?

Read the bible. Meditate on it. Apply it.

Psalm 1

BOOK I
Psalms 1–41

 ¹ Blessed is the one 
   who does not walk in step with the wicked 
or stand in the way that sinners take 
   or sit in the company of mockers, 
² but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, 
   and who meditates on his law day and night. 
³ That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, 
   which yields its fruit in season 
and whose leaf does not wither— 
   whatever they do prospers.

Follow up to previous post

As I sit here doing more reflecting, this is what I came across from one of the few man who I can say I respect so much. The man, The Legend, the P. Min.

As you travel between the promise and the promise land, you must guard the eyes of your heart. When the focus of your heart turns from what you have to what you do not have, it is time to work on your heart before it takes your feet towards the things that are detrimental to your journey. Addiction starts with dissatisfaction with what you have and attraction to what you do not have. This then can lead you to an addiction to something that will be difficult to overcome once you are hooked. You need to be the one whose heart runs ahead of your feet towards home, pursuing the One who bids you to follow Him. When God painfully seems to takes things away, He is healing you and loving you; in tears tearing things away from your heart to bless you with eternal freedom for your eternal joy. He gives and takes away for His glory and for your eternal and infinite pleasure. Journey is long but you will never be alone.

You are not alone. I am not alone. Thankful for the body of Christ. Pastor Min Chung, thank you for helping me to love God a little bit more tonight.

Remembering the Promises of God

As I stay up because I dread to go to work. As I stay up because I am bored out of my mind. As I look to overcome this couple day old dry spell where I am bored, I looked back in my past. Today's sermon on demon possession reminded me of the times when I was oppressed. But it also helped me reflect on the times when God was so faithful and he comforted me through his voice and vision.

We all go through struggles. We all go through dry times. Were in a war. We are in a battle everyday. We are in a fight every second of our lives. One thing is for sure. Through all the battles that I have lost, through all the fights where I failed, God has been there to lift me up, wash my feet, heal my scars, and pick me back up on my feet.

God has always been there in my life and yours. Today, I proclaim to remember the promises that God has given me. Though I might lose the fight at this hour, with my God and Savior Jesus Christ, I WILL NOT LOSE THE WAR.

LET'S GO!

Not to us

What is Love? Baby don't hurt me.....

I love that song. Epic SNL act.

Anyways, if you really want to love, you have to learn to love unconditionally. In order to love unconditionally you need to risk being hurt. Today I am committing myself to love unconditionally. All throughout my life, I've been guarded, and I'm not going to lie, I've hurt a lot of girls in my life time. But for some reason, today maybe cause I've been stuck at home because of the hurricane and all I did was watch chick flicks and reflect, I need to change my mentality. Love is not meant to be for selfish gains. Love is meant to give fully to others. As Jesus calls us to love, he calls us to pray. If I can pray for someone unconditionally I think I can love. I want that kind of love with my future spouse. To love her, to pray for her, unconditionally, till the end. So with that said, I learn and do now, so I can get better when it comes to loving unconditionally.

Can't believe it but I won't be a jerk to girls anymore. No more heartbreaking. Hahaha.

People walking....

Why is it that people walk with their arms so violently. It's really annoying. Everytime I walk past a person, I always have the fear of getting hit in the balls. Like no joke. I am constantly seeing their arm movements and as I pass them I smoothly put my hand over my genital region to prevent any form of attack.

I generally find this happen to (no offense) overweight people. I like to walk in peace and not always have to be worried about getting hit anywhere near my jewels.

Another day on a crowded sidewalk in NYC....another day to worry about getting hit in my balls.....fantastic.

Praying for the Holy Spirit

In College, I thought my prayer life was ok. Prayed. Repented. Prayed for the world. Prayed for my family. Prayed for my friends. Prayed for my church. The list goes on.

Lately, I've been attending a church called Joy Manhattan. I guess you can say they are a charasmatic church. However on one Sunday evening, the pastor encouraged everyone to pray for someone who has some sort of physical ailment. He was guiding the congregation on how to pray. At first, my prideful stubborn heart was like, "WTF IS THIS SH*T? I'M NOT A F*CKING KID." Something along those lines. Bottom line, I did not participate because #1, I don't necessarily believe in anyone laying their hands on someone and #2, I just felt like it was too fake. But basically he was trying to ask the Holy Spirit to heal some of these people by prayer.

I left during the end of it. I was like forget this. I'm not doing this. This is not very biblical.

Later on during the week, I was listening to Christian music at work and started praying. I remembered the sermon on Sunday and how the congregation was praying for healing. Sometimes you need time to soak things in but the one thing that I came out with from that Sunday was, there is nothing wrong praying those leap of faith type prayers.

So I started praying this prayer. "Lord send your Holy Spirit into this office. Let your Spirit touch hearts in this office." I wasn't expecting revival but I wanted to lay a foundation in this office. I wanted Jesus to be the center of this office.

Usually my prayers were "Lord be with this office. May you bless co worker A, co worker B, etc. But there was a difference in my prayer. I really believed that God can change this office. I really believed that God can change this world. Instead of just saying it, I actually had faith that God can do it. I believed in the small things but did I believe in the big things. Knowing that God can do anything, God can do big things, shouldn't I be more passionate about my prayers? Shouldn't I pray with more fire? More intensity? More faith? Werd.

Matthew 17:20

New International Version (NIV)

²⁰ He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

"Encountering the Love of God"

She pretty much sums it all up starting at 6:30.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoC1ec-lYps

"Without the love of God, were just up here making noise."

"But the LOVE OF GOD CHANGES US. WERE NEVER THE SAME AFTER WE ENCOUNTER THE LOVE OF GOD. IF YOU HAVEN'T ENCOUNTERED THE LOVE OF GOD, YOU WOULD KNOW, BECAUSE YOU WOULDN'T BE THE SAME. YOU WOULDN'T BE THE SAME AGAIN."

Do I live a life where I have encountered the love of God. Need to do a damn better job of it.

Ephesians 3:17-19

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Reaching out to my Coworker - Hilarious

me: U SHOULD THANK JESUS
FOR THE JOB
giovanna.loja@gmail.com: ahhahhahaah
im going to tell you that when youre deprssed
me: WHEN UR DEPRESSED
SERIOUSLY
LISTEN TO XTIAN MUSIC
ITS SOOOOOOOOOOOOO SOOTHING
AND COMFORTING
12:18 PM I FEEL LIKE WLAKING THROUGH CENTRAL PARK W/ BIRDS FLYING AROUND ME
AND LANDING ON MY SHOULDER
I FEEL SO AT PEACE WHEN I LISTEN TO XTIAN MUSIC
FO REAL
giovanna.loja@gmail.com: this is holarious
12:19 PM me: OMG
IM GETTING TEARY EYED
LIKE NO JOKE
THE LOVE GOD CHANGES YOU
YOURE NEVER THE SAME
AFTER YOU ENCOUNTER THE LOVE OF GOD
IF YOU ENCOUNTER GOD
YOU WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN
WOW
AMEN
12:20 PM giovanna.loja@gmail.com: ok
im happy for you
12:21 PM dude turn that shit off
me: WOW
SO GOOD
giovanna.loja@gmail.com: no headphones!! thats the rule
me: NO I WILL NOT TURN IT OFF
AND I DONT CARE
I AM THE KLUV
giovanna.loja@gmail.com: i cant take it anymore
so funny
12:22 PM me: I WILL BE BOLD FOR CHRIST

Generational Sin

Today on the train ride back, I thought about my future family, my future wife, and my future kids. Then I thought about sin, specifically generational sin. I thought about how everytime I sin, I choose myself. I don't choose my family, I don't choose my future wife, I don't choose my future kids. In the moment of sin, It is about me. It is about what I want. But what about what others want. I realized how if I chose not to sin, that time that I could be looking at things I shouldn't be looking at on the internet, could be a time used to pray for my future family, etc. We sin on a daily basis. But think about what we can do for God's glory when we choose not to sin.

Deuteronomy 5:9b-10 states, “I do not leave unpunished the sins of those who hate me, but I punish the children for the sins of their parents to the third and fourth generations. But I lavish love on those who love me and obey my commands, even for a thousand generations.”

Lord on behalf of myself and my ancestors, I repent for the sins that have been going through our family generation after generation after generation. Holy spirit, give me the strength to be obedient to the calling that has been given unto me. May the generation that comes after me be obedient to your calling God. Amen.